Well, isn’t that how the Koran was originally put together?
http://www.sullivan-county.com/x/koran_form.htm

Same thing here, our great great grand son will laugh at us, they will said we are primitive civilization because 100-200 years from now, today’s scientific principles shall be totally different and some may contradicted to our’s.

It is an anagram of Presbyterians.

I don’t want to appear smug because we here in Sydney are actually second cab off that particular rank, and that New Zealand is first to greet the New Year, (good luck to them). Actually I spent NYE on a beach with some of my family in Adelaide SA, and that it was a further half hour later. I was acutely aware that it was really NYE still, not earlier with my friends who were home, nor later for other friends in the USA, or Britain, or other relatives in another state in Australia.

And then there is daylight saving time as well!

I get peeved that certain world events get pegged to certain dates. The best example is the day Neil Armstrong walked on the moon. By agreement if it is understood that any extra-terrestrial activity be referenced to a ‘Universal’ time, then that is legally GMT, UTS, Zulu. It is co-ordinated, but certain News organisations and their affilliates, particularly in the US, and because they think they created the news, have it date-stamped for their date. OK, I know that other news editors in other countries should not be lazy, but correct these anomalies. By that token, he walked on the moon on the 21st of July, 1969. Though we can share that anniversary at the very same moment, it has different days on which to do so.

(On a different track, the short-hand for the World Trade Center attack – 9/11 – is a variant of this and represents a local, US practice of date format, generally not used elsewhere. I understand that and comprehend its meening, but wish it was more logical.)

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not knocking the US on this score, just pointing out the inconsistencies.

Greenwich IS halfway through the day, half the world, with about three quarters (three fourths!) of the world population, are well and truly into that day, call it Monday or whatever. Actually about 80 percent of the population live east of the GMT line, but of course some of them have only just gone to bed in say, Germany, if they were up late after their midnight. Consider China – 1.2b and India another 1 billion or so, there’s one third with just two countries.

If I remember correctly, it gets back to the understanding of the difference between Cardinal and Calendar reckoning. This was thrashed out in the Year 2000, re the actual start of the Century, and for that matter, the Millennium. (I didn’t know it had a double ‘n’, but I did know it had an ‘i’ near the end! Now check ‘Aluminium’.)

Ivan.

Each day does not start at the date line, the date line is just where you convert from one date to the other–but it could be 3pm in the afternoon. Greenwich is opposite the date line, but there is no day that it is halfway thru.

I also often wonder this. It is not necessarily for the money alone, but for dogmatic philosophical reasons, eternal salvation, etc.

Imagine knowing that a certain dogma provides eternal salvation. But then you, over time, encounter overwhelming evidence that this dogma has to be wrong. You have to keep believing no matter what. On could almost feel sorry for such individuals.

” Fleming was even called a Communist for his “internationalist” notions, and reviled by some who believed that such interference with the nature of time was contrary to the will of God.”

http://www.histori.ca/minutes/minute.do?id=10182

But I would say, while the good Dr.’s comments are laughably in error. It might be a good faith effort TO Christians to explain why he is, even if it is obviously in error.

At the least you could respond to an attack by a Christian later who says you never pick on any other religions with a resounding ‘NU-UHH!’

/shrug

Not all. The Urantia Book is presented as a straightforward “Fifth Revelation of God to Man”.

“All religion is absolutist.”

No absolutes. No “believe this or go to hell”. No hell, just eternal progress of the mind and spirit and even this is voluntary. One can, at any time, choose to “be made as never was”.

“All religions preach unquestioning obediance.”

It doesn’t matter what you believe, or even if you believe.

“All religions command the faithful to give money.”

Nope. No money needs to change hands. Even reading the Book is optional, but if you wish to read it, it is online.

“All religions are guided by humans.”

Unfortunately, true. The Urantia Foundation has been taken over by a group of zealots who are trying to mold it into a standard human religion. The good news is that one can safely ignore them (See above).

Change those to ‘most’ religion(s) not ‘all’. Everybody always forgets the Buddhists, maybe because we’re not required to give up critical thought

Peer review consists of, “Did you give credit to the right deity? Good man!” and you’re done. Your papers get published (in the proper fundamentalist publications anyway), you get to do talks (to fundamentalists), and get additional funding (from fundamentalists, if you didn’t see that one coming). Predestined science: Your answer will be, “The Big Guy In The Sky” (with parmesan as desired).

Seriously, I wonder sometimes: How many of them really don’t buy a lick of their own BS but are more than happy to take money from idiots by pretending to?

“Clearly, moving airline hubsfrom England to Mecca would be an improvement in terms of the weather, but the magnetic arguments for moving Zulu Time re not, well, moving.”

The one little flaw with this plan is that everyone on this board would get beheaded for going anywhere near Mecca.

Anyone see a connection?

Gary 7

“Anybody who studies human chemistry knows that all circulation in the human body is to the right. All the components are called “dextro-rotatary,” which means circulating to the right. They call it dextro-rotatory, which means circulating to the right. When I’m circulating [the Ka'ba] from right to left, anti-clockwise, I increase my body’s circulation, and consequently I am filled with energy.

Interviewer: I get filled with energy too?

Abd Al-Baset Al-Sayyid: Yes, because the right-to-left circulation in my body increases.”

Well, duh. Who doesn’t know that?

The sarcastic other Michael

Now I’m confused; I thought I was the original!

Seriously, this guy sounds like any other fanatic fundamentalist. As for the way it reads, check out this link:

http://www.memritv.org/

A lot of the translations there sound very similar in their construction (not to mention their rambling). At least as scary as bible literalists, but, as someone pointed out, most of them don’t threaten to behead you if you disagree….

The other Michael

JanieBelle: how about “Mecca lecca ding dong”

I like that, too!

Christian Burnham:

Where are all those readers who normally criticize the BA for attacking religion? Or do they only get upset when the BA talks about Christianity?

Odd, ain’t it?

Dave, right on cue:

“I was going to tear this apart step by step, but c’mon, why bother”

Maybe because you would – if the guy were a Christian? Maybe because if you don’t you’ll expose your obsession with tearing religion down – as long as it’s a Christian one?

But I will give you points for actually posting about a religion other than a Christian one. Barely.

Dork. Like anyone cares.

Will:

I nominate Dave for the “Douchebag of the Thread” award.

Seconded.

http://gregladen.com/wordpress/?p=156