"Chris and Leo"'s skeptic Club

[Chrs]

In the world that's all natural, somewhere. Lies a tree house.

On the side of this tree house, is carved:
For he who is allowed in Naturalism 101
A bundle of endless*, naturalistic fun!
At the bottom, it is scribbled:
*Except it's not endless. We're naturalists...

Leo and I decided to just make a little thread to chat in about lots of topics. Because we can... Anyone welcome, except those who can't come in.

So... topic, Leo?

[Leonhard]

Wow this sure is a cosy little treehouse, I brought a picnic basket! As for a topics hmmm... can we all agree that the moderators and owners of tweb are all awesome?

We'll have to have a quest to discover which topic will carry a conversation.

[Chrs]

I agree that all the moderators are awesome. Want some lemonade?

Have you seen this? http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8435320.stm

[Chrs]

Ooh, topic:

I was watching QI on iPlayer, and I heard Stephen Fry talk about Polygamy. He says: "The thing about polygamy is that it's seen like incest, really bad, and it's illegal. Which I find strange, because if you commit adultery, which is deceitful, it's not illegal. While if you say to two people 'Hey, I think you're both great, and I want to marry both of you', it's illegal"

What's your opinion, my evil-doing friend?

[Leonhard]

I remain a comfortable bachelor so far. I havn't found one whom I'd like to spend my time with, much less two people. I have only dated one person and that's about as far as my experience goes into love affairs. The thing about marriage though is that its a legal institution that awards certain rights for a couple who vows to remain monogamous. The intent of that law, as far as I understand, is both to make it easier for a couple to raise an offspring as well as making it easier for them to take care of eachother.

Now polygamy in general doesn't seem to be very popular. I don't know of anyone, except an odd set of fictional characters I once ran across in a book, who considers such things in earnestness. Polyamory, which is the mutual love shared amongst three or more people, is something some people experiment with. Its fringe, strange and a part of humanity which isn't well explored. I don't know if there's something in the way we humans work that just make having multiple lovers difficult. Certainly the biblical patriarchs seemed to suffer from having multiple mutually bickering wives.

There's one thing that bugs me and that is if we consider Christianity is true, then why is God dead set against homosexuality? There's little wrong with it as I see it. Between two consenting and responsible adults, there's nothing unhealthy about it either. It seems a simple natural variation on human sexuality. I see nothing wrong with drafting a set of legal rights like hospital visitation etc, for homosexual couples. What's your take?

[Chrs]

remain a comfortable bachelor so far. I havn't found one whom I'd like to spend my time with, much less two people. I have only dated one person and that's about as far as my experience goes into love affairs. The thing about marriage though is that its a legal institution that awards certain rights for a couple who vows to remain monogamous. The intent of that law, as far as I understand, is both to make it easier for a couple to raise an offspring as well as making it easier for them to take care of eachother.

I have a different opinion of marriage; I think "marriage" should be the religous side, and dealt with as such. while the legal side should be dealt with in the same was as civil partnerships (IE, any two consenting adults).

Now polygamy in general doesn't seem to be very popular. I don't know of anyone, except an odd set of fictional characters I once ran across in a book, who considers such things in earnestness. Polyamory, which is the mutual love shared amongst three or more people, is something some people experiment with. Its fringe, strange and a part of humanity which isn't well explored. I don't know if there's something in the way we humans work that just make having multiple lovers difficult. Certainly the biblical patriarchs seemed to suffer from having multiple mutually bickering wives.

- Well, I don't know why it's so unpopular.

There's one thing that bugs me and that is if we consider Christianity is true, then why is God dead set against homosexuality? There's little wrong with it as I see it. Between two consenting and responsible adults, there's nothing unhealthy about it either. It seems a simple natural variation on human sexuality. I see nothing wrong with drafting a set of legal rights like hospital visitation etc, for homosexual couples. What's your take?

A large amount of the Christians I know in real life actually don't believe that homosexuality and Christianity are mutually exclusive. To me, any sort of sexual relations between consenting adults is fine (regardless of number, gender, activity type..) - With the legal rights thing, see my post earlier about the marriage/civil partnership idea.


Also, Michelle says you're right on the mods being awesome.

[Chrs]

Calling Leo, Calling Leo!

I haven't seen you around in ages. Are you okay? Nothing's happened, has it?

Take care,
Chris

[Kane]

I think Stephen Fry is absolutely right: it is strange that it is legal to deceive when involved in a marriage, but illegal to be honest when wanting to marry two people simultaneously.

But I think that has to do with religion only in part. A large part, mind, but not all to do with it.

I think civil legislature condones the religious undergirding of monogamy. But because legislature, in modern democracies (*cough*), feel fit to arrange the ways in which we can relate to people, they therefore legislate the precedent that polygamy is wrong and illegal.

My wife, who is the real contributer of the thoughts above, suggests that if the government was pressed on this issue, they would not suggest that polygamy is morally wrong, necessarily. They would, however, be likely to state that it is administratively a nightmare. Think of the taxes!

[FiFi]

Hi guys, can I come in?

Just been arguing with Christians and I could do with a cuppa. My head's buzzin!

[Chrs]

Hmm? Sorry, you woke me. This thread's been dead for a long time.

How goes?

[FiFi]

Not bad. I'm new here. Got lost a bit in the religious wing, but I think its much nicer in here. Quieter.

Chris and Leo - father and son from the hit witch-based TV series Charmed?

[Chrs]

Not bad. I'm new here. Got lost a bit in the religious wing, but I think its much nicer in here. Quieter.

Chris and Leo - father and son from the hit witch-based TV series Charmed?

I never liked Charmed, really.

Also, Leo is older than me