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Title: Americans believe in God -- and hell, UFOs, witches, astrology: poll (and miracles - we could use one)
Source:
Raw Story
URL Source: http://rawstory.com/news/afp/Americ ... n_God_and_hell_U_12042007.html
Published: Dec 4, 2007
Author: AFP
Post Date: 2007-12-04 17:15:46 by robin
Keywords: None
Views: 1571
Comments: 110
An overwhelming majority of Americans believe in God and signicant numbers also think that UFOs, the devil and ghosts exist, a poll showed Tuesday. The survey by Harris Online showed that 82 percent of adult Americans believe in God and a slightly smaller percentage -- 79 percent -- believe in miracles. More than 70 percent of the 2,455 adults surveyed between November 7 and 13 said they believe in heaven and angels, while more than six in 10 said they believed in hell and the devil. Almost equal numbers said they believe in Darwin's theory of evolution (42 percent) -- the belief that populations evolve over time through natural selection -- and creationism (39 percent) -- the theory that God created mankind. Seventy percent of Americans said they were very (21 percent) or somewhat (49 percent) religious, while around one-third of those polled also said they believe in UFOs, witches and astrology.
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#1. To: (#0)
The predilection toward belief in nonsense owes a great deal to both government schools and the church. Neither (especially the church) encourages critical thinking and analysis. Michael Shermer of the Skeptic Society speculated that people ascribe to these kinds of beliefs to give their lives meaning.
Hmmm...It appears that if this believing doesn't work then pill popping and shopping provides that illusive meaning for life.
There's no doubt that people try to give their lives meaning through the acquisition of "stuff." What other explanation is there for celebrities who go bankrupt after raking in hundreds of millions? Intoxication may be a means to deal with life rather than a way to give it meaning.
Indeed, most of "religion" is simply the history of man trying to map out a plan for the meaning of life and the relationship between God and man. My personal experience has been that atheists and highly "skeptical" people tend to be boring, drab, sometimes cold and generally lifeless. Kind of like: What's the point? Show a little creativity.
And yet, when CSICOP was presented with statistically significant evidence of astrology, they refused to acknowledge it and half the board members quit in a huff. Skeptics are just a different type of fanatic.
Shut your whore mouth, Mr. President.
Forgive me, I transposed the two--they go shopping, then partake in pill popping and gorge at the substance abuse buffet. It was a horse before the cart faux pax on my part. I'd bet a high percentage believe that terrorists are lurking behind the bush. They should have asked, so we could assess how successful the MSM propoganda campaign is doing. I envision little old ladies in Podunk, Nebraska, hiding under the bed praying and believing for a miricle. : )
Skeptics count the misses in addition to the hits. They don't count only the hits, discard the misses, and then conclude that the hits constitute compelling evidence. Skeptics use double-blind tests to validate claims. Confusing correlation with causation is a common mistake. For example, take the claim that "strange behavior" takes place during a full moon. It certainly does, but it also takes place when there is no full moon. BTW, there is no statistical evidence than more strange behavior takes place during a full moon. People simply tend to notice it more because they expect to see it. Statistically significant evidence of astrology? Let's see it.
I haven't experienced the same thing as you. The atheists I know tend to be very intelligent, well-read, and sociable. Perhaps the ones you know simply have different interests. Some people call themselves atheists simply because they are rebelling. I don't personally know any like that.
Here ya go. A long read, but interesting. Written by one of the founders of CSICOP. http://cura.free.fr/xv/14starbb.html
Shut your whore mouth, Mr. President.
UFO's? Is that like me and my neighbor talking over the fence and he asks "Is that the 577 from Phoenix?" referring to blinking object moving through sky and I tell him I don't know?
"Most of the trouble in this world has been caused by folks who can't mind their own business, because they have no business of their own to mind, any more than a smallpox virus has." - William S Burroughs
As for me and grandpa, we believe.
My mother worked in an ER for 20 years. I once asked her and a nurse there if there was any difference in patients during a full moon. Both said yes, the nuts came out. BTW, the most humorless fanatics I have never met in my life are people who believe in evolution.
Fortune favors the prepared mind. A zombie, however, prefers it raw.
How about those of us who believe that humans are monkeys cross-bred with alien DNA?
Shut your whore mouth, Mr. President.
I believe while they're so busy getting their minds wrapped around these things, their country is being STOLEN.
My mother worked in an ER for 20 years. I once asked her and a nurse there if there was any difference in patients during a full moon. Both said yes, the nuts came out. Are you sure they weren't simply repeating what they've heard others say, or maybe perpetuating an urban legend, or were they speaking from personal observation? Also, did they take an accounting of odd behavior on nights when there wasn't a full moon or did they only seem to notice when there was a full moon? ...the most humorless fanatics I have never met in my life are people who believe in evolution. That's perfectly understandable. A child observing a conversation between adults might make the same observation.
Oh yeah, like he is a real credible "skeptic". Get back to me when he does some real scientific research on 911.
Mark If America is destroyed, it may be by Americans who salute the flag, sing the national anthem, march in patriotic parades, cheer Fourth of July speakers - normally good Americans who fail to comprehend what is required to keep our country strong and free - Americans who have been lulled into a false security (April 1968).---Ezra Taft Benson, US Secretary of Agriculture 1953-1961 under Eisenhower
I read the article. Unfortunately, most of it consists of accusations of a conspiracy rather than a presentation of scientific evidence. The contention revolves around something called the Mars Effect. Advocates of the Mars Effect make the common mistake of concluding that two events that occur together share a causal relation. I could point out that there is more traffic on the roads when the sun occupies certain positions in the sky, but the events aren't causally related. It's just a coincidence. It's quite possible that countless other coincidences could be mistakenly attributed to the Mars Effect. For example, suppose it was shown that there is an increase in the number of pizza deliveries when Mars occupies certain sectors.
More people attend government schools in Europe than in the US, but you don't have hoardes of Bible thumping religious nuts, UFOlogists, and cult members in Europe that you get around here. I think that religion and superstition has always been a big part of American culture, even back in the days when there weren't any government schools.
I think we all know that corellation does not equal causation. To prove causation, we must conduct an experiment and force babies born during those times and control times to become famous athletes, then see which group was more successful in achieving that end. But you asked for an example of statistically significant astrology, so I sent you that. Doubtless you can find the original articles online, but it's probably a lot easier just to dismiss the thing out of hand as "coincidence".
Shut your whore mouth, Mr. President.
I Googled "Mars Effect" after I read the article and didn't find any substantiation, only regurgitation of the original claims and refutation. In order to prove causation it would be necessary to isolate the subjects from countless other potential causal factors which is logistically impossible. What happened is essentially this: somebody observed two events occurring together and concluded that they were causally related. That isn't how science is done. People are, by nature, pattern-seeking animals and the more familiar the pattern the more frequent the recognition. Sightings of Jesus in tree trunks, burnt toast, mortar, etc. are good examples. A person could spend a lifetime charting planets, moons, comets, and asteroids and find all kinds of coincidences which appear to be causalities. Why would a person want to squander his efforts on such foolishness when he could be working on something substantive and legitimate?
I am short on time at the moment so I don't have time for a detailed deconstruction but note the following: By conflating all of these together it is an assertion of equivalence i.e., that UFOs=Witches=Astrology. When you see that kind of false reasoning you can know that the author is dishonest or is working PsyOps. Which of those has a substantial body of objective evidence and credible witnesses? UFOs. Which of those has the government consistently attacked via derision and their various operatives such as Michael Schermer? UFOs. Why? Because it is a world view shifting datum which holds the potential to upset the 1984 society that is being built. The "Septics" Society and others of their ilk, such as the less than amazing Randi, have over and over again been shown to lie, use strawmen, and character assassination to advance their agenda of defending the official paradigm.
"When I die I want to go peacefully in my sleep like my grandfather - not screaming in terror like his passengers." - Unk.
Why? Because it is a world view shifting datum which holds the potential to upset the 1984 society that is being built. Here's one of the reports from the 50's that I find especially interesting.. Is that like me and my neighbor talking over the fence and he asks "Is that the 577 from Phoenix?" referring to blinking object moving through sky and I tell him I don't know? What do you suppose these things are Dak? The "Skeptics" Society and others of their ilk are part of the consensus. Consensus is where scoundrels hide and skulduggery is king. Consensus is not science, and science is not consensus.
Mark If America is destroyed, it may be by Americans who salute the flag, sing the national anthem, march in patriotic parades, cheer Fourth of July speakers - normally good Americans who fail to comprehend what is required to keep our country strong and free - Americans who have been lulled into a false security (April 1968).---Ezra Taft Benson, US Secretary of Agriculture 1953-1961 under Eisenhower
There isn't a shred of evidence of visitation by aliens in flying saucers. Even with the proliferation of billions of cameras, camera phones, and video cameras there still isn't any compelling evidence. All of those old b/w photos of flying saucers are nothing but people tossing pie pans and hub caps into the air. Witnesses are always referred to as credible. They're often unsure of what they've seen. Many have conflicting testimony. Michael Shermer is a government operative? That's laughable. He and Randi have done outstanding work exposing charlatans and quacks. I especially like the way Randi exposed Uri Geller, Peter Popoff, and James Hydrick (who later confessed to being a fraud).
Post 23 too far down the thread for you to see? It might pop your little bubble Alan, so proceed with caution if you dare.
In fact Alan, take a peek at post 22 while you're at it...
You seem like a fairly bright guy Alan, so why can't you understand there's something more than pot covers flying around? We are but one planet of a solar system of eight others. Our solar system is but one of billions of others in this galaxy, and our galaxy is but one of billions of others in THIS universe alone. It is ridiculous to think we are the only ones. Do you think pie plates flew over Washington DC (repeatedly) in 1952? Or that thousands (over 500) of them flew over Farmington, NM, in 1950? Is this a pie plate or pot lid too Alan? Here's another interesting "pie plate" for you to watch.. Is this little guy a pie maker Alan? On June 24, 1947, Kenneth Arnold claimed that he'd seen nine "crescent shaped" aircraft near Mount Rainier. He said they reminded him of saucers skimming over water. An editor of the Eastern Oregonian reported that Arnold saw "round" objects. Other reports noted "disc-shaped" objects. Within a few weeks, there were hundreds of reports nationwide of sightings of flying "saucers." It's interesting how sightings become contagious. The U.S. military built and tested many flying wings during the 1940s. Here's the Northrop N-1M. It's maiden flight was in 1941. The Germans also built flying wings. Where do people know about flying saucers? Why were there a bunch of flying saucer and alien invasion movies made in the 1950s? Science-fiction magazines from the 1920s: Orson Welles' 1938 radio broadcast of War of the Worlds
This one is computer generated. I've seen it before. There are several on YouTube. The b/w is far too fuzzy to make out anything.
Please don't resort to ridiculous swamp gas explanations to explain the 1952 Washington DC sightings (visual AND radar), or the 1950 Farmington mass sighting. The aerial characteristics and flight performance of the objects in those cases are way beyond anything yet produced, so get off the "we had cresent shaped aircraft" kick. In regards to the two videos I posted (post 29 & post 30), are those Northrop N- 1M aircraft being imagined as flying saucers from Mars due to a radio broadcast in 1938?
Not if you watch the entire video.
Concerning the craft flying over the lake, it does APPEAR to be fake, but with the camera moving, going out of focus in parts, and zooming in, it'd have to be one HELL of a computer in order to generate a moving object that stays in perspective throughout the video..
You still have no explanation for the 1952 Washington DC sightings or the 1950 Farmington, NM sighting.
Let me guess, you're going to try to tell me these are migrating birds, right? Right! Or swamp gas. Or the witnesses were all drunk.
Shut your whore mouth, Mr. President.
Looks like the US Army needed some target practice back 1942, since they couldn't knock out of the sky whatever it was that hovered over LA for hours early one February morning..
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#2. To: Alan Chapman (#1)
Michael Shermer of the Skeptic Society speculated that people ascribe to these kinds of beliefs to give their lives meaning.
#3. To: abraxas (#2)
#4. To: Alan Chapman (#1)
Michael Shermer of the Skeptic Society speculated that people ascribe to these kinds of beliefs to give their lives meaning.
#5. To: Alan Chapman (#1)
Michael Shermer of the Skeptic Society speculated that people ascribe to these kinds of beliefs to give their lives meaning.
#6. To: Alan Chapman (#3)
Intoxication may be a means to deal with life rather than a way to give it meaning.
#7. To: Indrid Cold (#5)
#8. To: Vitamin Z (#4)
#9. To: Alan Chapman (#7)
Statistically significant evidence of astrology? Let's see it.
#10. To: robin (#0)
#11. To: Dakmar (#10)
I've already said too much.
#12. To: Alan Chapman (#7)
BTW, there is no statistical evidence than more strange behavior takes place during a full moon.
#13. To: YertleTurtle (#12)
BTW, the most humorless fanatics I have never met in my life are people who believe in evolution.
#14. To: robin (#0)
#15. To: YertleTurtle (#12)
#16. To: Alan Chapman (#1)
.....Michael Shermer of the Skeptic....
#17. To: Indrid Cold (#9)
#18. To: Alan Chapman (#1)
The predilection toward belief in nonsense owes a great deal to both government schools and the church. Neither (especially the church) encourages critical thinking and analysis.
#19. To: Alan Chapman (#17)
Advocates of the Mars Effect make the common mistake of concluding that two events that occur together share a causal relation.
#20. To: Indrid Cold (#19)
#21. To: robin, Alan Chapman, TwentyTwelve, all (#0)
"...while around one-third of those polled also said they believe in UFOs, witches and astrology."
#22. To: Original_Intent (#21)
Which of those has the government consistently attacked via derision and their various operatives such as Michael Schermer? UFOs.
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#23. To: Dakmar (#10)
UFO's?
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#24. To: Original_Intent (#21)
#25. To: Original_Intent (#21)
#26. To: Alan Chapman (#25)
There isn't a shred of evidence of visitation by aliens in flying saucers. Even with the proliferation of billions of cameras, camera phones, and video cameras there still isn't any compelling evidence. All of those old b/w photos of flying saucers are nothing but people tossing pie pans and hub caps into the air.
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#27. To: Alan Chapman, Original_Intent (#25)
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#28. To: FormerLurker (#27)
#29. To: Alan Chapman (#28)
(Edited)
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#30. To: Alan Chapman (#28)
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#31. To: Alan Chapman (#28)
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#32. To: FormerLurker (#27)
#33. To: FormerLurker (#30)
#34. To: Alan Chapman (#32)
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#35. To: Alan Chapman (#33)
The b/w is far too fuzzy to make out anything.
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#36. To: Alan Chapman (#33)
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#37. To: Alan Chapman (#33)
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#38. To: Alan Chapman (#32)
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
#39. To: FormerLurker (#38)
Let me guess, you're going to try to tell me these are migrating birds, right?
#40. To: Alan Chapman (#32)
You appear to be a major trouble maker...and I'm getting really pissed. - GoldiLox, 7/27/2006
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