Agreed. I get pretty heated in the debate but wouldn't want anyone harmed, etc. Never been in a fight, even in school. I'm pretty peaceful other than my getting a bit heated. lol

polytheism is best solution.

yup.

I think this thread was handled pretty well overall.

It's tricky, in that antonyms are some of the slipperiest of words. Human nature is such that we much prefer to name things over things-which-are-not. To wit, the great delay in many cultures adding a zero to their numerical systems.

I would suggest terms like "empirical", "rational", or "intellectual rigour" as candidates, but each is fraught with its own lexical baggage and is not perfectly opposing either.

Why?

So say we all.

Yeah, though with rational or any label intellectual, the religious leaders will try to tack those onto their lines of thinking too.

The easiest way to win Pascal's Wager.

coolness and practicality

and coolness

Honestly, while I'm too much of an empiricist to be religious (I'm agnostic which is the only truly scientific religious mindset imho), I don't mind the moderately religious who know when to bend the tenets to make room for reality (and/or practicality).

It's the hardliner literal ones that get to me. At some point, there comes a time where some of their tenets just don't work in practice and that's when I start disliking them.

Adapt or die.

I'm not talking about non-consequential stuff like not eating pig, but things like denying scientific findings or public policies that work based on empirical observation because they clash with your tenets.

Why would you ever want to join Mensa? What a bunch of nonsense, wanting a pat on the pack without having to do anything other than being smart.

To my sensibilities, that reeks of complacency.

I have always believed that if you want to grow as a person, you should speak with people whose beliefs and thoughts are different from yours. Everyone likes the company of those who have similar world views, but it's less fertile to your mind.

So I hit "Random" and was humorously surprised to get this particular one ;-p

http://xkcd.com/765/

Adults shouldn't drink cows milk. It contains the same hormone that our bodies use to stimulate insulin protection as well as the extra that comes from the sugar. It also contains ingredients that promote leaks in the gut, which can lead to various illnesses as things that are supposed to remain in the gut before elimination are allowed to enter the blood stream.

Never had blood pancakes, but I used to eat blood infused tofu when I was in China. Not bad, as long as one isn't scared.

This I definitely agree with but like Magnitus said I draw the line when it becomes too much to actually be a reality (like literal bible believers).