riviersonderend

Wat gaan deur hulle gedagtes?

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Deur Denis Darzacq

Daar het onlangs ‘n onderhoud met Richard Dawkins in die Times Online verskyn. Dit is seker die eerste keer dat ek Dawkins werklik geniet het. Die artikel begin as volg:

Richard Dawkins believes that children should grow up reading the Bible and has a “soft spot” for the Church of England. He also believes some of the historic atrocities of human behaviour were not inspired by religion, but were a result of our “ruthless Darwinian past”. And he believes in the possibility of a transcendent “intelligence” existing beyond the range of present human experience. It is just that he refuses to call it God.

‘n Paar aanhalings uit die stuk wat vir my uitgestaan het:

“I am a scientist. It is my business to understand and help others to understand the nature of life in my case, or generally, as a scientist, the nature of the Universe. At the beginning of the 21st century, humanity is approaching a staggeringly impressively near-to-complete understanding. It’s hugely exciting to be a member of this elite species at this time when our understanding of physics, biology and cosmology are so exciting and near complete. It’s tragic that people are deprived of this not by misfortunes or lack of education, but by deliberate distortion, by organised of misinformation.”

…

But was there not, in his mind, a tiny possibility that one of these future physicists could discover God in one of these dimensions?

“Well, I’m convinced that future physicists will discover something at least as wonderful as any god you could ever imagine.” Why not call it God? “I don’t think it’s helpful to call it God.” OK, but what would “it” be like?

“I think it’ll be something wonderful and amazing and something difficult to understand. I think that all theological conceptions will be seen as parochial and petty by comparison.” He can even see how “design” by some gigantic intelligence might come into it. “But that gigantic intelligence itself would need an explanation. It’s not enough to call it God, it would need some sort of explanation such as evolution. Maybe it evolved in another universe and created some computer simulation that we are all a part of. These are all science-fiction suggestions but I am trying to overcome the limitations of the 21st-century mind. It’s going to be grander and bigger and more beautiful and more wonderful and it’s going to put theology to shame.”

…

“I do think that intelligent, sophisticated theologians are almost totally irrelevant to the phenomenon of religion in the world today. Regrettable as that may be.” Why so? “Because they’re outnumbered by vast hordes of religious idiots.”

Blykbaar kan dit OK wees:

When a man and woman have joined together in a loving and holy marriage union, they may sometimes find that their love for one another and for God spills over outside of their relationship. Or they may find that other people are drawn to the joy, bliss, and passion that they radiate. In such situations, the desire or opportunity may arise to involve a third individual in their relationship – to form a threesome. Is this a temptation into sin, or a calling to a higher spiritual love? The answer is not clear in all situations, so we must turn to the Scriptures for guidance.

Twee móóntlike sondes kan dit verkeerd maak: homoseksualiteit en owerspel. Maar omdat die Bybel net homoseksuele dade tussen mans veroordeel, is ‘n menage a trois met een man en twee vrouens aanvaarbaar. Hoe dan anders?

En owerspel? Nee, dit is nie werklik ter sprake nie. Gaan lees Numeri 5. Owerspel is net moontlik waar seks tussen ‘n man en ‘n vrou betrokke is. Twee vrouens kan nie owerspel met mekaar pleeg nie, behalwe as dit die vrou se man jaloers maak.

So wanneer is threesomes Bybels?

(1) To avoid the impropriety of male homosexuality, a heterosexual couple should not under any circumstances form a threesome with another man.
(2) Both women involved in the threesome must be willing to keep within traditional female roles (i.e., not taking on masculine appearance or behavior in or out of the bedroom) and recognize the male as the leader in the relationship.
(3) If the wife’s lesbian sex partner is unmarried, it may be permissible for the husband to have relations with her only with his wife’s consent.
(4) If the wife’s lesbian sex partner is unmarried, but the wife does not wish her to have relations with the other woman, the husband should respect this.
(5) If the wife’s lesbian sex partner is married, her husband must not have objections to the relationship.
(6) If the wife’s lesbian sex partner is married, the husband should refrain from having any sexual relations with her, and should make every effort to control his fantasies about her. He should concentrate his attention on his own wife.

Nou weet julle.

Ek vind meer en meer dat ons antwoorde op die wonder van ons bestaan die grootsheid van die vraag aftakel tot wollerige woorde.

God is ‘n lui, gebroke antwoord op ‘n onverstaanbare vraag.

In Hong Kong misluk pogings om die Bybel te laat klassifiseer as onwelvoeglik. Dit sou beteken het dat die Bybel in toegedraaide plastiek aan persone ouer as 18, verkoop word. Hulle het seker nie gelees van die pa wat sy dogters swanger maak, die kinders wat deur ‘n beer verskeur word, die verkragting van talle vroue en volksmoord nie.

Scotty se as is gevind. Hy is toe opgebeam. O joy!

In Izmir betoog ten minste een miljoen Turke teen pogings om die land se sekulêre karakter te ondermyn.

‘n Mediterreense dieët is goed vir jou. Dit halveer die kanse om sekere longsiektes te kry.

Pille wat “mind-altering experiences” beloof, is beskikbaar in Suid-Afrika. Vra jou vriendelike apteker vir ‘n dosis.

Die boek, Stumbling on Hapiness, is met die Royal Society Prize for Science Books vereer. As die pille nie werk nie, lees die boek!

In Noordwes Pakistan word Christene gedreig met bomaanvalle as hulle nie Moslems word nie. Die Christene se aktiwiteite is onislamities. Primitief.

Die Katolieke kerk in Los Angeles begin van haar eiendom verkoop om mense te vergoed vir emosionele skade weens kindermolestering deur priesters. Selfs al word die Vatikaan verkoop, sal dit nie kan opmaak vir al die maniere waarop die kerk mense gemolesteer het nie.

Die einde van ‘n era het aangebreek: Bronx en ander bekende instellings in Groenpunt moet plek maak vir ontwikkeling.

Wiccans is bang om hul geloof openlik in Amerika te beoefen. Sommige Christene dink mos hulle is Sataniste.

17 instellings wat kleiner kerke insluit, verkry toestemming om gays te trou. ‘n Lys van die kerke en instellings is hier beskikbaar.

Treur oor die verval van Afrika se vooraanstaande universiteite. Wat word van hoop as ‘n land se tersiêre instellings begin faal?