₦airaland Forum

Some more atheists philosophical writings here: http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/nontheism/naturalism/

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7339508.stm Have often wondered about this but now I know.

interesting article about CE http://www.huhuonline.com/news104.html

[size=20pt]Benny Hinn Healing Crusade Ends in Controversy[/size]

By Leo Igwe

http://www.csicop.org/sb/2006-09/hinn.html

In April 2005, American Evangelist Benny Hinn arrived in Nigeria for his much-advertised Healing Crusade. He flew into the country aboard his Gulfstream III jet with a retinue of bodyguards. But a few days later, Hinn left Nigeria in annoyance and disappointment. He was irked by the low turnout at the event: only an estimated 300,000 people attended the crusade instead of the six million that had been expected.

Hinn was visibly angry because of the huge amount of money he had invested in the crusade. "Four million dollars down the drain," he is said to have shouted on the final day of the event. The vice president of Benny Hinn Ministries, Jon Wilson, gave a breakdown of the money. He said $3 million was spent on hotel accommodations and technical infrastructure, while $1 million more was used up by members of the local organizing committee.

But the Benny Hinn Healing Crusade generated a lot of interest and debate in the local media. A Nigerian pastor, writing in The Guardian, one of the national dailies, urged the Pentecostal leaders to "bury their heads in shame," given the "prevailing rot" in their churches. And as a face-saving measure, the Pentecostal Federation of Nigeria (PFN)-the umbrella group of most Pentecostal churches in Nigeria-had to expel Bishop Dr. Joseph Olanrewaju Obembe, the president of the PFN chapter in Lagos, General Overseer of the El-Shaddai Bible Church, and a coordinator of the Benny Hinn Healing Crusade, and other pastors who served on the local committee.

With the growing decline in religious belief in America and the entire Western world, evangelists are looking to Africa for converts, followers, and disciples. Many Pentecostal churches in Africa receive millions of dollars in aid from their American counterparts to "bring Africans to Christ." Luis Bush, a cousin of president George W. Bush and one of the leading evangelists in the US., supports missionary work in more that thirty African countries. Other American evangelists, such as Benny Hinn, Todd Bentley, and Oral Roberts, as well as the German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, sponsor miracle crusades across the continent.

Pentecostalism has therefore become a thriving business in Africa. In fact, it has become the shortest route to wealth and affluence for the continent's teeming population of unemployed youths. Local pastors employ all sorts of tricks and techniques to extort money from gullible folks (as well as foreign friends). They use this money to build magnificent churches, erect costly dwellings, buy luxurious cars and aircraft, and live ostentatiously, while their church members languish in poverty, misery, and squalor.

In most cases, pastors tell the faithful to give money to God so that God will bless them in return. They tell the people of the divine favors that come to those who pay their tithes and make offerings regularly. Or they use the biblical injunction that says, "givers never lack"-though in Africa, they often do-to squeeze money out of the people. In Nigeria, there have been instances where people have even stolen money to give to their pastors and churches. In March 2003, a cashier in a hotel in Abuja was arrested for allegedly stealing nearly forty million naira (about $40,000) from his employer. The man later confessed to the police that he gave the money to his church, Christ Embassy. And in another case of theft for God, a bank clerk stole forty million naira from his employer and gave ten million to his church as seed money, in the belief that the seed would germinate and yield several times that amount in return, as promised by his pastor. The man, according to the BBC's Focus on Africa magazine, got appointed to the office of assistant pastor. But before his seed could germinate, the crime was detected and he was arrested.
Miracles in Africa

Africans are suckers for magic, miracles, and paranormal claims. Generally, among Africans, there is a deep-seated belief in supernatural forces that intervene and alter human destinies for good or ill. These spiritual forces are believed to work in magical and miraculous ways, through signs and wonders that confound the human mind. And the evangelical churches are capitalizing on this superstitious element in African thought and culture to peddle and propagate their paranormal services. They promise divine healing and instant solutions for problems and diseases.

Pentecostal pastors claim they have the power to make the deaf hear, the blind see, the lame walk, and the infertile give birth. Recently, Gilbert Deya, a self-proclaimed archbishop from Kenya, got himself into trouble: he said he could make infertile black couples give birth to miracle babies. But police investigations revealed child theft and baby trafficking. (See my article "The Kenya Miracle Babies Scandal," in the September 2005 Skeptical Briefs.) Some years ago, a Nigerian pastor, Temitope Joshua, of the Synagogue of All Nations, announced to the world that he could cure HIV/AIDS.

In 2001, German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke was reported to have raised a person from the dead. There have been a lot of such indiscriminate claims of miracles and divine healing by Nigeria's televangelists and end-time preachers-Chris Oyakhilome, Enoch Adeboye, David Oyedepo, Helen Ukpabio, Matthew Ashimolowo, et al. These faith healers use the money from miracle seekers to put up billboards and sponsor radio and television programs advertising their miracles. Last year, the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission had to ban the broadcast of miracles on national television.

Faith healing is the greatest threat to scientific medicine and health-care delivery in Africa. Miracles have no basis in science, reason, or common sense. All claims of divine cures and healing cannot be reconciled with the dire health situation in Africa. Africa has the highest infant-mortality rate in the world. And millions there are still dying of preventable diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. According to the United Nations, 6,000 African children die from-and 11,000 become infected with-HIV/AIDS every day. And if there are indeed people with supernatural powers to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cure all ailments, why are human beings suffering and dying? It is quite obvious that all claims of miracles and faith healing are fake. As the French philosopher and writer Ernest Renan rightly pointed out, "No miracle has ever taken place under conditions which science can accept."

Experience shows, without exception, that "miracles" occur only in the presence of persons who are disposed to believe in them. So, faith healers are just taking advantage of the African predicament. They are cashing in on the desperation and gullibility of Africans to enrich themselves and to promote their churches.

Africa needs science, not superstition; critical thinking, not dogma; open mindedness, not blind faith; reason, not revelation; and industry and technological advancement, not the Holy Spirit and miracles. Africa needs skepticism, not Pentecostalism.

Source http://www.csicop.org/sb/2006-09/hinn.html

I am NOT surprise! Neither am I surprised that he has followers in this sea of desperation and credulity.

JayFK,

Back to the topic of this thread. While you will learn a great deal from any of the books/authors I mentioned above, my particular favorites are David Eller and George Smith. They both have two very good books about atheism.

I received the latest of David Eller's book today, called Atheism Advance and am very impressed with the first few pages I have read. This first book on the subject, Natural Atheism, is also very good.

As a philosophy student, you might also fine Michael Martin's treatment interesting. If you can afford it, get them from Amazon. In fact, the US prices are very enticing to a bibliophile like myself.

Another avenue to investigate is popular science books in cosmology, biology, evolution and geology. Book I have found of great interest in the last few months are;

1) Finding Darwin's God, Kenneth Miller
2) Wrinkles in Time, George Smoot
3) At the Water Edge, Carl Zimmer
4) When Life nearly died, Michael Benton

Other title well worth checking are;

1) The language of God, Francis Collins
2) Relics of Eden, Daniel Fairbanks, http://www.amazon.com/Relics-Eden-Powerful-Evidence-Evolution/dp/1591025648/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1207695069&sr=8-1

what does this tell you about him?

I do not believe in a personal God and I have never denied this but have expressed it clearly. If something is in me which can be called religious then it is the unbounded admiration for the structure of the world so far as our science can reveal it. (Albert Einstein, 1954)

http://www.spaceandmotion.com/albert-einstein-god-religion-theology.htm

imhotep:
He was entitled to his opinion about God. Its a free world.

To Einstein, this meant that the universe was deterministic and could be modeled with the right equations/theories.

He flatly rejected quantum mechanics because of its resorting to probabilistic models of the universe.

BTW, quantum mechanics is heavily based on relativity.

Does any of his equation contain a God coefficient? How is the concept of God useful in explain and understanding quantum mechanics, relativity, etc? Deterministic or probabilistic; does that require a god for understanding?

imhotep:
He believed in a non-personal God who is at work in the universe --- a universe he studied for decades on end. He was later to become the father of modern physics.
Many other atheist-scientists have based ALL of their works on Einstein.

To hold that rejecting ALL notions of God would NECESSARILY lead to better science is baseless to me.

Let's assume he was right as you seem to suggest, given he was such a clever guy. In what sense is a non-personal God useful to anyone?

Imhotep,

May I just ask, in what sense do you think Einstein understood God? Is it in the same sense as you or was it in a metaphoric sense?

For anything other than physical and biological health, I think the genetical similarity/variations are just a relic of our evolutionary past. As our societies advance in the understanding of our past, these difference will pale into insignificance.

The important thing is cultural homogeneity and empathy. It is not long ago that most of western Europe was fragmented into little kingdoms, clans governed by warlord and little kings. The imperialism of the Romans (with their road, common language in latin and currency) essentially opened up Europe and help lay the foundation for many of what seems today like a homogeneous culture. A common religion too, in Xianity helped forge that similarity.

I am extremely glad and please you have seen the light relatively early in life and not be mired by the scourge that is religion and superstitious belief. Freedom from religion is really liberating. In fact, for the thoughtful atheist, it seem to endow a better understanding of reality and a healthy mind state.

I came to non-belief at about 20 years old, although I had starting doubting the religious claims much early, about 12/13 when I realised that much of the christian claims were really not dissimilar from the tradition African myths. I really started question when I was about 16 and for me the final straw was the issues of SIN and EVIL. I lost what remaining belief when I realised that sin and evil cannot be reconciled with a good god.

I spent many years in the 90s reading the bible and scholarly biblical works and am very much into philosophy and philosophical scrutiny of religious claims. This study has illuminated my understanding of reality no end.

My greatest regret is that my close African friends and family are trapped in this barbaric belief system. I have brothers who are doctors and engineers but when it comes to scientific understand, they are no different from 10 year old children. They are scared to read anything scientific that might in any way contradict their belief.

I think the intellectual fabric of any society is at risk if that society founds it guiding precepts on premises that are not rationally defendable. Just see how many people are exploited today by such religious claims in Africa and the world at large. See how the religious are hampering medical and societal development by impeding stem cell research, banning the use of condoms, teaching unscientific dogma etc. The sooner religions is eradicated form the face of the planet, the better the human condition.

To finish, I will quote one one my hero, Voltare (hope you have learnt some French over there in Canada)

Ecrasez l'infame.

JayFK:
hey huxley what part of the country are you from?

Hello,

Am not from Nigeria. Am actually from Cameroon, where I was born and lived until I was 20. I now live in UK. Many many years ago, I lived in a small Cameroonian town close to the borders with Nigeria. In fact, my family used to do the weekly shopping in the Nigeria town (I think it is called Ekom). There's a well establish Nigeria community in the southern regions of Cameroon and I have spent all my life amongst Naija people. I have Nigeria in-laws, aunts and uncles. My next door neighbour here is Nigeria. My wife and her friends are great fans of Nollywood movies although I remain to be convinced.

In my current worldview, nationalism and national affiliations play a very insignificant role. To paraphrase Tom Paine, "The universe is my country and to do good is my religion"

I see you express atheistic tendencies. Can explain how you came to this view?

Read Theodore Drange at http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/theodore_drange/bible.html

Out of 100 ladies surveyed

85 had a white handbag
75 had black shoes
60 carried an umbrella
90 wore a ring

How many ladies at least must have had all four items?

donchichi:
Let your current age be x and that of your two sons be y and z.

In 7 years time,

(x+7) + (y+7) +(z+7) = 89
x + y +z +21 = 89
x + y + z = 89 - 21 = 68.

The 68 value is the combined age of you and your two sons right now. So in 9 years;
(x+9) + (y + 9) + (z + 9);
x + y +z +27.

Remember
x + y + z = 68.

So x + y +z +27 = 68 + 27 = 95

Correct.

Quicker solution: In 9 years time, they while be two years older than they will be in 7 years time. Since there are three people, 2 x 3 = 6.

So in nine years time, the sum total will be 6 greater than the sum in 7 years. thus

89 + 6 = 95.

Brian and Ryan are brothers. Three years ago Brian was seven times as old as Ryan. Two years ago he was four times as old. Last year he as three times as old and in two years time he will be twice as old.

How old are Brian and Ryan now?

In seven years time the combined ages of myself and my two sons will be 89. What will it be in 9 years time?

What is the product of:

(x-a)(x-b)(x-c)(x-d) . . . . (x-z)

Bruce A. Smith, http://www.amazon.com/Path-Reason-Philosophy-Nonbelief/dp/0875865801/ref=pd_ybh_11?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=03YYVKMZ5AWA3GTFFMZJ

JayFK:
Thanks dude. You know Flew became a deist and accepted Jesus' resurrection?

Yes, am aware of the so-called conversion of Flew to deism. But he wrote some very influential works about non-belief and are still difficult to refute. Flew is very old now and has been exploited by some christains to make a case for their fraudulent religion. I doubt Flew accepts the resurrection as historical.

Have added some more authors. Enjoy!

JayFK:
Does anyone know of any good atheist authors like Dawkins, Hitchens or Bertrand? or any modern day philosophers?

Walter Kaufmann, http://www.amazon.com/Critique-Religion-Philosophy-Walter-Kaufmann/dp/0691020019/ref=sr_1_131?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208547042&sr=1-131
Kai Nielsen, http://www.amazon.com/Atheism-Philosophy-Kai-Nielsen/dp/1591022983/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208381499&sr=8-12
Owen Flanagan, http://www.amazon.com/Problem-Soul-Visions-Mind-Reconcile/dp/0465024610/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1208192048&sr=8-1
Paul Draper, http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/nontheism/naturalism/
A. C. Grayling
Antony Flew
Michel Onfray, http://www.amazon.com/Atheist-Manifesto-Against-Christianity-Judaism/dp/1559708204
Daniel Dennett
George H Smith
William Harwood
Richard Carrier
Michael Martin
J. L. Mackie
Sam Harris
Julian Baggini
Theodore Drange
Nicholas Everitt
David Eller
David Mills
Dan Barker
Bart Ehrman
Victor Stenger
John Allen Paulos, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/22/books/22kaku.html?8dpc=&pagewanted=all
Bruce A. Smith, http://www.amazon.com/Path-Reason-Philosophy-Nonbelief/dp/0875865801/ref=pd_ybh_11?pf_rd_p=280800601&pf_rd_s=center-2&pf_rd_t=1501&pf_rd_i=ybh&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=03YYVKMZ5AWA3GTFFMZJ

John Allen Paulos, http://www.amazon.com/Irreligion-Mathematician-Explains-Arguments-Just/dp/0809059193/ref=pd_bxgy_b_text_b

Colin McGinn, http://www.pbs.org/moyers/faithandreason/watch_mcginn.html

Also check out the book "Philosophers Without God" on Amazon. All the above authors can be got from Amazon.

http://www.philosopedia.org/
http://philosopedia.org/index.php/Who%27s_Who_in_Hell

What are the primary intellectual achievements of contemporary African societies and cultures?


I must admit from the start that I have not research this subject a great deal and would like to hear what you guys have and think about it. So feel free to correct/advise me.

1) What are the great institutions of learning in Africa and what are the products of these institution?

2) Who are the great African scientists, philosophers, inventors, social innovators, economist, engineers etc of the 19th, 20th, 21st century? And what are they producing?

3) African societies consume a great deal of artifacts and knowledge generated from outside of Africa. How can we ensure that we participate fully in the universal goal of discovering knowledge?

4) What is education's primary goal? To enlighten the mind about the nature of reality or to equip the individual with the skills to get a job?

5) How long shall African societies carry on in this state of intellectual dependence as we seem to be doing little to address the pathological hatred for intellectual inquiry?

What are the primary intellectual achievements of contemporary African societies and cultures?


I must admit from the start that I have not research this subject a great deal and would like to hear what you guys have and think about it. So feel free to correct/advise me.

1) What are the great institutions of learning in Africa and what are the products of these institution?

2) Who are the great African scientists, philosophers, inventors, social innovators, economist, engineers etc of the 19th, 20th, 21st century? And what are they producing?

3) African societies consume a great deal of artifacts and knowledge generated from outside of Africa. How can we ensure that we participate fully in the universal goal of discovering knowledge?

4) What is education's primary goal? To enlighten the mind about the nature of reality or to equip the individual with the skills to get a job?

kobe:
A number P is divisible by 2, 3, and 15. Find a number P, such that P + 30 is also divisible by 2, 3, and 15.
Show your work.

I don't think this one is very well defined. In fact, P can be any multiple of 30, thus

30, 60, 90, 120, ,

kobe:
Let the function f be defined by f(x) = x² - 7x + 10 and f(t + 1) = 0, what is one possible value of t?

t = 4 or 1

(t+1)² -7(t+1) +10 = 0

t² - 5t + 4 = 0

(t-1)(t-4) = 0

whence t = 1
or t = 4

QED

kobe:
If the positive integer y leaves a remainder of 2 when divided by 8, what will the remainder be when y + 9 is divided by 8?

y = 8n + 2

so, if we add 6 to y, it will make it a multiple of 8. So we are left with a 3.

So the remainder is 3.

Very interesting paper about the DNA sequencing of human genome compared to other apes.

http://www.pnas.org/cgi/reprint/92/2/532.pdf

4Him:
Excellent answer Huxley . . . i just couldnt figure out how to work with the "two digit number" information.

Thanks for the compliments. I remembers setting a similar problems to a class of students learning mathematical modelling some years ago.

sqrt(x-4) + 10 = sqrt(x+4)

Square both sides;

(x-4) +20sqrt(x-4) +100 = (x+4)

20sqrt(x-4) = -92

x = (-92/20)^2 + 4