Date: Tue, 19 Oct 1999 11:08:47 +0200
From: "Gatherer, D. (Derek)" <D.Gatherer@organon.nhe.akzonobel.nl>
Subject: RE: HEA report on religion and mental health
To: "'memetics@mmu.ac.uk'" <memetics@mmu.ac.uk>
John:
It explains the HEA/Bible-believer partnership, the hypothesis of the study,
the
motivation for conducting the study, the questionable methodology, the
framing of the
results to support a particular finding, etc.
Derek:
There is no "partnership". Also what grounds do you have for claiming to
know the "motivation" of the study? Surely all science is motivated by a
desire to learn more about the world? The hypothesis and methodology are
valid, as far as I can see. The results are not 'framed to support'
anything. The results are the results - just honest scientists at work.
Derek:
>Why do you think the HEA was
>"used"?
John:
I think it is possible. Justification for more likely theories are welcome.
Derek:
So you have no evidence.
>These are generally top-notch scientists we are talking about.
John:
How do you know that?
Derek:
This is the HEA we're talking about here, not the Creation Science Dept. of
some Mid-Western pseudo-university.
>They're not easily used by anyone.
John:
So you assert, I have no information one way or another, but I generally
become MORE
suspicious when arguments from authority appear...
Derek:
Honestly, I'm not arguing from authority, just requiring that the
reputations of good colleagues are not impugned without reason....
>There is quite a body of
>research that shows that religion is psychologically beneficial.
John:
Agreed. There is also quite a body of research that shows that ET's are
secretly
performing penetrating explorations of primates orifices in neighborhoods
across
America.
Derek:
Ahh.. now I think you are pulling my leg??
John:
I'm proposing skepticism based on suspicious circumstances under which many
frauds have been perpetrated.
Derek:
Frauds? That's a pretty strong allegation.
>Again, don't you think that we should leave words like "barbecue" out of
>it??
John:
Correct, I should have said "the most agonizingly gruesome tortures
imaginable in
service of the greater glory of YHWY".
Prejudice? The Inquisition is a matter of history, not prejudging.
Derek:
I think we're getting off topic here. This is not about the Inquisition.
It's about whether or not religion is psychologically good for you. The
overwhelming body of evidence, by reputable and independent scientists, says
yes.
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