Reply #25: Oh, come come now. [View All]

[varkam]

Don't get your panties in a twist. I don't think the OP meant that the "church" literally ignores science and common sense (after all, they did come around eventually to admitting the earth was NOT the center of the universe) - just that it's generally been opposed to anything that contradicts things in the bible; which, of course, modern science has a wonderful track record of doing.

First, I don't mean to offend anyone. I have no problem with spirituality but organized religion ignores both science and common sense.

Based on your post, I assume that's all you read. I fail to see how you can demonstrate the following:
a)The poster's intent was to insult and offend believers.
b)The poster has a problem with spirituality.
c)The church accepts and embraces science and common sense.

Arguably, point c is the easiest one to attack - as the notion of accepting scientific knowledge is somewhat subjective. However, it's pretty easy to see that a lesser claim is (to use a big word like you did) demonstrably true: The church is hostile to scientific progress and the application of scientific knowledge when these are contrary to the tenets of their faith. Take, for example, the whole AIDs issue (which you would've read some about had you finished the OPs post). The church is against contraception because of tenets in the Xtian faith. In other words, the Church's stance is that sex should only take place for the purposes of reproduction and anything else is simply unnatural.

Well, we've known for quite a while now that unprotected sex leads to an increase in STD transmission rates. Hell, our rates in the US are sky-high when compared with some of the european nations (trust me, they have just as much sex, if not more, as we do here). We've known for a long time that AIDs is a horrible condition which can be spread through various means; among them is sexual contact. We've also known for quite a while that, in addition to the other trials and tribulations facing the indigent in Africa, AIDs infection rates are unacceptably high. An easy solution to alleviating this problem would be for organized religion to take a relaxed stance on contraception. Which, to the church's credit, they are doing currently.

To their discredit, however, they are only re-examining that policy for married couples wherein one partner has HIV/AIDs. It's a start, but it's a tiny baby-step of a start. But, that only took them...hmmm...since the late 80's? Almost two decades? Hmmm....

Not to mention the church's stance against stem-cell research (which is critical research for developing cures for numerous currently incurable conditions such as Parkinsons). And this continued suffering and death for millions that could be alleviated by a greater scientific understanding of human biology stands why? Because it contradicts tenets of faith.

Yes, the "church" truly is a bastion of scientific progress and common sense. (That's sarcasm, by the way)

edit: I can't spell (or use the spell check, apparently)