I thought Pat Robertson did. Live and learn.

Of course not all theist agree on the same belief. Hence all the different denominations even within the same belief systems, not just in Christianity, but also in Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, etc. All atheists do not share the same non-belief either. I certainly do not agree with the Realiens for instance, though they are indeed atheistic in their belief system.

Dotard, I completely agree with you. I lived in the bible belt for my entire life, before escaping to a more sane part of the world. I went through pregnancies where the chief of the hospital (an OB/GYN) was my doctor and surgeon, who refused to do genetic screening on my fetus because he didn't condone terminating the pregnancy in case the test results were abnormal.

My relatives are brilliant doctors/sureons and devout fundamental Christians. The only conclusion I come to is that they avoid thinking about, looking at, or considering logic only in this area because it is too painful and would require too much change and adjustment of their entire family/cultural structure and way of life.

Although, I am interested in a possible genetic link where atheism is concerned. It seems to have made it's way down through my family tree. My grandfather was a lawyer and strong atheist, my mother is a closet atheist, and then down to me. I would say I was actually born an atheist... always questioning authority and doubting.

(July 20, 2009 at 5:11 pm)Faith Tester Wrote: I have asked this question to a lot of people. Why do we see tonnes of intellectuals (scientists, philosophers, doctors) who are all perfectly sane fall for ideas like birth without sex

Parthenogenesis, virgin birth, is a real phenomena witnessed by scientists.

Many reptiles, fish, insects, and of course plants can give birth without a male and apparantly has been induced artificially by scientists in other species.

Quote:Parthenogenesis is a form of asexual reproduction in which females produce eggs that develop without fertilization. A parthenogenetic offspring is sometimes called a parthenogen. Parthenogenesis is seen to occur naturally in aphids, daphnia, rotifers, and some other invertebrates, as well as in many plants. Komodo dragons and the hammerhead- and blacktip sharks have recently been added to the list of vertebrates—along with several genera of fish, amphibians, and reptiles—that exhibit differing forms of asexual reproduction, including true parthenogenesis, gynogenesis, and hybridogenesis (an incomplete form of parthenogenesis). As with all types of asexual reproduction, there are both costs (low genetic diversity and therefore susceptibility to adverse mutations that might occur) and benefits (reproduction without the need for a male) associated with parthenogenesis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parthenogenesis

(August 2, 2009 at 5:18 pm)Anto Kennedy Wrote: Parthenogenesis, virgin birth, is a real phenomena witnessed by scientists.

In relatively simple (non-vertebrate) animals and a few other species but so what? It's hardly a [expletive deleted] miracle!

Kyu

WHY CAN'T OTHERS SEE?

BECAUSE THEY REFUSE TO LOOK!

PERIOD

Stop yelling at us.

Anto,

Doesn't that kinda detract from the miracle of the virgin birth?

Rhizo

(August 3, 2009 at 2:30 am)maldives Wrote: WHY CAN'T I SEE?

BECAUSE I REFUSE TO LOOK!

PERIOD

fixed

"We all peer at God through our assholes in a flashbulb of ecstacy." - William Burroughs

(August 3, 2009 at 3:51 pm)fr0d0 Wrote:

(August 3, 2009 at 2:30 am)maldives Wrote: WHY CAN'T I SEE?

BECAUSE I REFUSE TO LOOK!

PERIOD

fixed

Or rather twisted (as is the theist's usual way).

Kyu