Sic Semper Tyrannis

AO

Science explains how the universe came about, and as a scientist I fully understand it and have no problem with it, because as a scientist and a Muslim I find no contradiction between believing in science and God.

But, science will never be able to explain how the laws of nature came about: Why is it that there are only four major forces in nature? Why is it that in the standard model of particle physics that explains all the atoms and subatomic particles, some of the parameters must be incredibly fine tuned in order to have what we have? Why is it that gravity is 10 to power of 16 times weaker than the other forces (yet it is the most crucial force in galaxy, star and planet formations? (There are theories on this one, but just theories.)

Once again, I love cosmology. Thanks for the good blog and article.

Mammad

AO

Another good blog, thanks for the recommendation. Should be an interesting read.

Mammad

What I believe you are referring to is your (and everyone else's) amazement at the beauty and order in the universe. But if you are awestruck by something that you cannot explain, you should not take it as evidence for another thing for which there is no possible scientific explanation. Unless you can show conclusively, and through scientific means, that Adam and Eve existed, we should assume that they do not exist.

I am sure you wouldn't expect your students to take your word for the existence of a new mineral for which there is no proof, would you? The same concept applies to religion.

Here, this article may be of interest to you:

//www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/sep/01/richard-dawkins-evolution-children-five

Of cosmology and Israel!

           AO, I would have liked to stick to cosmology on this blog had it not been for the RANT you included in your P.S.!

           So please don't blame me in bringing the Jews and Israel to this discussion. I only did that in response to your say, controversial statements!

            But there is more to it. They say learning Cosmology and Astronomy could be a humbling experience. I agree with that sentiment. It is in the backdrop of an immense universe that we have to find a meaning for our everyday life and realize that the childish myth presented to us as religions should be considered as such by humanity.

            It is in light of science and astronomy that we realize all those claims on "holy land" are nothing but absurdity and an obstacle to peace and prosperity for humanity.

        No one could say it better than Carl Sagan in "Pale Blue Dot"!

         Again, you are the one who soiled the beauty of science with your rant at the end of your post! Far from me!

I love cosmology

because it has taught me the most amazing things about the universe, as well as giving me a scientific foundation to believe that God exists.

Mammad

Disenchanted - please take Israel / Palestine and Jew obsessed

subject matters and discussions to another thread.  No one on this thread-with the exception of your poetic scientist sister below--gives a rat's behind about the issue.  Not our problem.  Also, please feel free to write yet another blog about it.  See if we care.

Divaneh Jaan - I believe you're right about the Lur and the Turk

hey, according to us Iranians, if there was something at the beginning, we must have had something to do with it after all. :-)

On the book subject, hope you get to read it as well.  The subject matter is quite fascinating. 

COP & RB - the whole God debate is stale

It's a fairy tale.  There is not much else to add.  Unless it can be proven through scientific means and subjected to the same level of scrutiny, it's not worth arguing about.

divaneh jaan, regarding the small bang

Give it time! After all, it took the big bang 14billion years to make its full impact...............the only question is if you can wait that long.

AO, criticizing Israel isn't the same as Jew-phobia!

       That is a clear distinction that Israeli Gov. and their lobby in US would like to ignore.

        You find plenty of the former in my blogs but none of the latter! Of course I am also critical of Judaism but that is in the context of criticizing religions in general. There, I am in company of many intelligent Jews like of Richard Feynman, Noam Chomsky, Marvin Minsky and many many more!

         So YES, I am against the injustice and violence that has visited upon many nations (Palestine, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Jordan,....) in the hands of Israeli governments and NO, I have nothing against Jews as other human beings that share this lonely planet with us. As a matter of fact I am admirer of many of them because of the contributions they have made to human culture and science like those I mentioned.

Before the big bang

AO jaan thanks for this blog, I will be looking forward to the book although I don't know if it will be released in the UK at the same time. I think the question of God and divinity for some of us is the yesterday issue and we are now curious about the real creation.

I however recently read that scientist have found that before the big bang there was nothing but a Lur and a Turk who then got fighting.

Dear Reality-Bites,

I had a small bang the other night but it didn't have the right effect.

I enjoyed the blog & all the

Comments in particular the AO responses to the comments.

The discussion

about god and the existence of god is a loaded subject, but I love to razz people about it. A lot of the "people of faith" buldge at the neck when you confront them with the question that everyone of them hates to hear:

"If God ALL Mighty created this Universe around us, then who, I ask, who created God?"

However, this is not half as bad as when you challenge the divine notion they have for "prophets" of their faiths.

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IRAN FIRST

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A couple of questions for all

Is God an aetheist?

Was there ever a small bang?

EA Jaan - what is really intriguing about this subject

AO jaan I take it you like the Big Bang Theory sitcom?!

I like that show a lot and it's among my top favorite sitcoms!  Will you write another blog after you read the book to highlight the "highlights"?

I don't think it is going to help improve our lives one way or another but it'll be nice to know what if anything "new" will come out of this person or any other person on this subject of evolution vs devilution! 

Everything is sacred

Disenchanted

I have never seen anything like that on IC!

Have you read any of your own blogs or comments on this site? 

P.S.was in fact utterly B.S.! :-)

          Lets say I know a thing or two about astrophysics and I am glad to see your excitement on a new book on subject of origin of universe. But the rant at the end was totally uncalled for.

        Your statement : "So, you may want to avoid reading this book or else you may burst into flames in a fit of anger for seeing a Jewish author recommended on an Iranian site—either that or you may have a heart attack in a fit of envy." 

          is absurd and baseless! I have never seen anything like that on IC!

..

was it that or tozihol masaeel.

If there is an earth quake  and some body on the second floor falls on his aameh........

the notfe is hallal !!

Maziar

I may be drunk but not as much as you

I have no clue who those old IC members are but I have seen  democracy in action for a few not all .....  

and oh , I do not give a damn of your name callings because that's the best you can do anyway.

I am not flagging this.  I am going to keep it as rcord , no I mean ercod ...  what was that damn thing .... oh I mean  RECORD ...   next time I will type when I ma sober .... Oooooops I did it again .. I mean I am sober

... good luck discovering the unknowns ..... 

I am out of here

Maziar Jaan

He has serious competition.  I think our beloved Imam Khomeini proved the Samavat val Arz in Tahrir Al Vasileh. :-)

I don't think he will "unwrap" anything

But he will attempt to go to "what was there before" the "Big Bing."  The idea of a singular explosion is being seriously challenged.  That's what he is focusing on. 

A O

So  Basically Mr frank is planning to PROVE for the Nth time that there is no FI samavat o FI l arz ?

koo gosh shenava ?

Maziar

Me too - atheist

Love to see how Frank will be able to unwrap the mystery of universe. Hope this is not a sales pitch. Anyway, the last time I read about this subject was the concept of "the universe was formed as the result of energy conversion to mass and the big bang was created”BTW – Not too optimistic that Frank’s book has something different to describe the Origins of the Universe

SK - Are you drunk commenting again?

Could you please provide us with some experts from this book of yours and save us time from reading the whole thing?  and that is if you have read it yourself 

Not only I cannot provide an "expert" from this book, I cannot even provide an excerpt.  And you are correct.  It's because I haven't read it yet.  That is because (speaking of reading) if you had actually read  this short blog before jumping in like a khoroos-e bi mahal, you would have noticed this part:

I am very excited about the upcoming book...

It's actually the first line of the blog.  Or better  yet, this one:

 ...will be released on September 27, 2011.

That's from the second sentence of the blog.

Now, without doing your homework for you, I will tell you that there are places where you can go to read about soon to be released books in the area of your interest.  Google it. Better yet, read a book (aside from poetry and the Elders of Zion).  You may benefit from it.  In fact, I will consider doing you a favor, and will post a summary of this book when I am done reading it.  I will do it in a form that you will understand: I will write a poem about it.

As far as Frank's ethnicity, you guys don't have a problem with Jews because of their religion per se.  You have a problem with them as an ethnic group.  And I don't know if he's an atheist.  Perhaps you can ask him.  OK, this time I will do your homeowrk for you and will Google his contact.  Here it is:

//www.pas.rochester.edu/urpas/faculty_page/frank_adam

And I don't know who you're talking about blocked, etc.  I don't keep up with "ommat-e hezbolllah" gossip.  Are you talking about Shah Gholam?  I noticed he was blocked.  That guy called everyone who disagreed with him on any issue a Zionist, Israeli, etc.  He was abusive.  He deserved it.  Oh, I also saw something about a BoosBoos, (or is it cous cous? I had cous cous the other day for lunch.  It was delicious).  I don't know much about that character.  Never read any of her blogs.  I think I read a comment bby her somewhere, and immediately knew what she was all about.  Another garden variety IR supporter.  I can smell them a mile away.  They actually smell like sweat and golab (rose water)-even through the computer.  

And please, you don't believe in democracy.  You flag every comment that you disagree with.  Hell, you will probably flag this comment.  You're just upset that your friends are not here.  But, no worries.  They'll be back under a different username.  IR supporters are like bad pennies.  

Plus, I have never thought of JJ as a dictator.  Well, perhaps a harmless dictator.  A  plump, lovable one who wears black socks with shorts and sneakers.

Anyway, gotta go and have a bowl of cereal.  Good night. 

COP Jaan

I share your sentiments.  I have been to a lecture by Frank and have read many things by him.  I'm sure I won't be disappointed.  

And as far as the warning, hey, I am a humanitarian. I don't want anyone to have a heart attack and die on my account . :-) 

famous atheist headstone inscription:

"All Dressed Up And Nowhere To Go".    lol

now where were we ? OK ...  Could you please provide us with some experts from this book of yours and save us time from reading the whole thing?  and that is if you have read it yourself 

Is the author an atheist too ?   If so, then. telling us that he is a Jew or a christian or a muslim absolutely makes no sense. 

and if you have missed the crowds you are trying to avoid then there are better ways to call them over.  Besides your democracy has banned them all from this site ....

AO Jaan, hastamet

As a fellow atheist and hungry for knowing what's really out there, I look forward to reading the book.

BTW, I liked your warning to the usual chest beaters of the greatness of the divine.

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IRAN FIRST

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