--- In evolutionary-psychology@yahoogroups.com, "pascalbercker"
<pbercker@...> wrote:

--- In evolutionary-psychology@yahoogroups.com, "Nils K. Oeijord" <n-
oeij@ wrote:
>
> Hi all!
>
> I'm not a believer myself, so this posting, like the other messages,
is
> intended to bring relevant and lacking EP knowledge to the members of
> this group. I'm absolutely not spreading religious messages, as
> thoughtless people may believe. Browse the source below if you are
> interested and start deeper thinking about the religion instinct.
>
> Link to interesting facts on the greatest scientists, philosophers,
> writers, artists, and musicians:
>
> http://togodandjesuschrist.tripod.com/godandthegreatestminds/
>
Well, if we're going to start comparing lists of which great minds were
theists or atheists, let me throw in my 2 cents worth and offer the
following list of "famous" atheists, from wikipedia (yes, I said
wikipedia!) that challenges Nils absurd thesis that great minds are
never atheists. The following list can be found at:

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

Lists of atheists by profession
List of atheists (activists and educators)
List of atheists (authors)
List of atheists (film, radio, television and theatre)
List of atheists (music)
List of atheists (philosophy)
List of atheists (politics and law)
List of atheists (science and technology)
List of atheists (miscellaneous) - shorter groups: Business, Comedians,
Historians, Military, Social Scientists, Sports, Visual arts, and the
genuinely miscellaneous Other.

So, whose list is more credible? Let me suggest that my list is more
credible. Why? To begin with, Nils's list is from the following
*Christian minister* Michael:

Michael received his education in Canada, the US and in Italy. Beside
years of formal theological studies, Michael holds Bachelor degrees in
Psychology and Education, and a Masters' degree in Adult Counseling and
Education. He also has teaching qualifications in History, English,
Contemporary Studies and Guidance. Michael served in the Christian
ministry in both Italy and Canada until 1990. Because of health and
family reasons, he left the full-time ministry and has been teaching
and counseling full-time at the high school level, and part-time at the
college level. He also serves his congregation as a part-time minister,
counsels, researches and writes.

Clearly Michael the Christian minister has a Christian axe to grind,
and his education is not exactly *rigorous* ( a Master's degree in
adult counseling!?!). Moreover his website cannot be edited - and
therefore cannot be *corrected* - by his readers.What I am curious
about is why Nils thinks that this website is *authoratative* in any
way, shape or form. Is there something Nils knows about Michael the
misnister that we don't? Or did Nils just do a google search and
directed the EP readers to the nearest website that happened to confirm
his own prejudice and bias?

I, on the other hand, can tell you a little bit about just how far you
can trust (or not trust) the wikipedia entry. Indeed my guess is that
many of you know a little something about whether or not you can trust
a wikipedia entry, whereas you know basically nothing about Michael the
minister. As is well known, Wikipedia is a kind of collaborative
project, were various experts can make their contribution, and more
importantly can be *corrected* by other experts who have an interest
and expertise in the subject matter. Moreover wikipedia almost always
provides further references that the interested (and possibly
skeptical) reader can pursue and confirm (or disconfirm) for
themselves. And furthermore you can also pursue the general subject
matter of whether or not you can trust or not trust wikipedia entries
since a simple google search will direct you to many scholarly studies
about this very topic, whereas there is basically nothing you can
investigate about the trustworthiness - or untrustworthiness - of
Michael the minister. All in all it seems to me that Nils either does
not know - or does not care - about fairly simple rules of evidence.



Pascal Bercker

--- End forwarded message ---