מה טבו Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 I happened to be reading news on the progress in creating an HIV vaccine. While it is incredibly difficult to do, I believe that we will see one in my lifetime - probably before I turn 40. A successful vaccine could theoretically eradicate the disease. It's been done before with other plagues. That being said, the vaccine won't stop AIDS. It won't stop AIDS because bishops and preachers and imams will tell their followers not to get it. The same people who spread lies about the efficacy of condoms and rail against the HPV vaccine will do everything they can to stop the HIV vaccine. And people will die as a result. Because bishops and preachers and imams have always thought that people deserved to die for not doing what they say. How much further along would we be in AIDS research had it not been for the fact that for some 2 decades as the disease was spreading, nobody would fund research because it was God's punishment for gays? And this is the greatest disease threatening humanity. Far worse than AIDS or any other killer bug is this mutant strain of religion. It is this religious virus that tells people to not wear condoms, to refuse vaccines for HPV and to give their money to faith healers instead of taking medical treatment, to blow themselves and others up, to censor science if it dares say something the religion doesn't like. It is this religious sickness that tells people to die and to kill. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taphophilia Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 I agree with you. Not only do we have the AIDS epidemic but we have crippling poverty. The way to overcome poverty is to empower women to be more than farm animals forced to a life of endless breeding. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Piprus Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 You've brought up a number of significant points, Tovah... Most importantly, though there has been considerable research on an AIDS vaccine, at this point that research is at an impasse, based on the fact that the latest clinical trial for an AIDS vaccine failed to show a positive treatment effect. That will have to go on. An initial failure in this kind of initiative simply means "look for another solution". The religious biases will still need to be fought with the basics..."It's a disease, like polio, like yellow fever, like sleeping sickness. The purpose of medical research is to treat sickness and relieve suffering, not to determine whether an illness is a curse from some deity." I sincerely hope humanism trumps superstition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankey Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 I happened to be reading news on the progress in creating an HIV vaccine. While it is incredibly difficult to do, I believe that we will see one in my lifetime - probably before I turn 40. A successful vaccine could theoretically eradicate the disease. It's been done before with other plagues. That being said, the vaccine won't stop AIDS. It won't stop AIDS because bishops and preachers and imams will tell their followers not to get it. The same people who spread lies about the efficacy of condoms and rail against the HPV vaccine will do everything they can to stop the HIV vaccine. And people will die as a result. Because bishops and preachers and imams have always thought that people deserved to die for not doing what they say. How much further along would we be in AIDS research had it not been for the fact that for some 2 decades as the disease was spreading, nobody would fund research because it was God's punishment for gays? And this is the greatest disease threatening humanity. Far worse than AIDS or any other killer bug is this mutant strain of religion. It is this religious virus that tells people to not wear condoms, to refuse vaccines for HPV and to give their money to faith healers instead of taking medical treatment, to blow themselves and others up, to censor science if it dares say something the religion doesn't like. It is this religious sickness that tells people to die and to kill. I like your attitude. If a theist can say that....and hopefully there are more like you.......then there is hope. People need to practice their religions in a way that does not molest nor hinder science. Problem is faith can not reason through faith and reason itself can only disspell faith, which many....but not all... resist. I am a Transhumanist . If any religion is the "True" religion then why don't they let us become the "gods" they think some of us want to be, through science, and see if the creator itself does anything to stop us. hehe. The tower of babel is a good example. Let science do its own thing without any superstitious 'reasonings' getting in the way. Its funnny that it is human beings who are ALWAYS the ones who do Gods dirty work. Where is religions God? It doesn't exist obviously. Still, its good to hear some theists show concern and demonstrate open mindedness to human progress. Things need to change, but how? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankey Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 I worded things a certain way on purpose. People have a negative view of Transhumanism just as they do science. Transhumanism is sooo on topic here. That is, if you care about beneficial progress through science. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thurisaz Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 Still, its good to hear some theists show concern and demonstrate open mindedness to human progress. Things need to change, but how? We need to get rid of the opportunity for morontheists to indoctrinate others in the dogma of their cult, and make decent education both available and desirable to everyone. Literally everyone. One Niflhel of a task of course... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankey Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 Still, its good to hear some theists show concern and demonstrate open mindedness to human progress. Things need to change, but how? We need to get rid of the opportunity for morontheists to indoctrinate others in the dogma of their cult, and make decent education both available and desirable to everyone. Literally everyone. One Niflhel of a task of course... That does seem to be the only way......... Problem is Liberal theists use faith just like the fundies do. A debate between them on God would not work within the paradigm of faith. Faith is bullshit. Neither has a leg to stand on in deciding what God allows and doesn't allow. Thats because they worship an empty idol. The liberals and the fundies. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monk Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 Not to sound toooooo crude or evil, but if these folks continue believing that sort of thing, they'll be far more likely to die than the people who get the vaccines/medical care/etc. THEREFORE, it's highly possible that we'll eventually be rid of such insanity, because they might die out before they reproduce. I mean no disrespect to sane theists by this statement...it's just an observation. What do you think? Is it possible they could die out quicker than they could reproduce AND gain converts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankey Posted October 5, 2007 Share Posted October 5, 2007 Not to sound toooooo crude or evil, but if these folks continue believing that sort of thing, they'll be far more likely to die than the people who get the vaccines/medical care/etc. THEREFORE, it's highly possible that we'll eventually be rid of such insanity, because they might die out before they reproduce. I mean no disrespect to sane theists by this statement...it's just an observation. What do you think? Is it possible they could die out quicker than they could reproduce AND gain converts? No. I think many will take advantage of the fruits of science as usual and then go back to supporting politicians who hinder science based on superstitious reasoning. Voting for "values" is the only way to faerie land. Nothing is as important as that. Fucking neocons. We need a science party and not a "values" party. By and large science does not advance as fast as it could because theists are a bunch of assholes who would rather play with their invisible friend. But who knows, maybe some theists will help bring about change. I most certainly welcome that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monk Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 I've no love for any politicians...particularly neo-cons. It's all about number one. I'd just like to see a serious politician run for office who gave a damn about something other than his wallet. As for theists, let them "play with their invisible friend" while science keeps advancing and continuously making the theist position untenable. Science party....hmmmm.....Dawkins for Pres and Harris for VP??? haha....I'd vote for 'em! But then again, they're far too intelligent to run for office. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mankey Posted October 6, 2007 Share Posted October 6, 2007 I've no love for any politicians...particularly neo-cons. It's all about number one. I'd just like to see a serious politician run for office who gave a damn about something other than his wallet. As for theists, let them "play with their invisible friend" while science keeps advancing and continuously making the theist position untenable. Science party....hmmmm.....Dawkins for Pres and Harris for VP??? haha....I'd vote for 'em! But then again, they're far too intelligent to run for office. Some theists don't like us talking shit about their ridiculous beliefs.....and some of them....deep down inside......would like to see science help in making a better tomorrow. We bitch and make fun of them enough and maybe they.....the majority......will do something. We are all connected. We atheists are the sons, daughters, aunts, uncles, granparents of theists. They can't shut us up because we are all connected.... Hard fact. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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