(March 19, 2010 at 8:10 pm)RedFish Wrote: @Thor... Yep, those first 7 would be an acceptable start in my opinion.
See cannabis and glaucoma articles. Maybe religions using cannabis could demonstrate reduced blindness? A property of the substance though, not their 'belief'.
And this is why I said that I wouldn't instantly believe even if someone could show me these things. First, I would want further study to determine if there is something common to believers that might affect the stastistics. Perhaps believers have a tendency to drive slower than nonbelievers. This could explain a lower accident death rate for believers as well as a longer life expectancy.
Of course, I have to wonder why religion has no apparent bearing whatsoever on your life expectancy, standard of living, cancer rate, etc... You would think that "God" would make sure that the people who pray the right way are rewarded. But where you live is a much larger factor than what you believe. Muslims who live in the US have a much higher standard of living than Muslims who live in a theocracy like Iran. An atheist living in the US has a much better life than a devout Christian living in Somalia. Kind of indicates to me that believing in and praying to a deity are inconsequential as far as your standard of living and level of health care.
Science flies us to the moon and stars. Religion flies us into buildings.
God allowed 200,000 people to die in an earthquake. So what makes you think he cares about YOUR problems?
God allowed 200,000 people to die in an earthquake. So what makes you think he cares about YOUR problems?