Re: Distant planet judged possibly habitable

On Fri, 27 Apr 2007 22:18:54 +0200 (CEST), in a place far, far away,
Jim Davis <jimdavis2@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> made the phosphor on my monitor
glow in such a way as to indicate that:

Rand Simberg wrote:

I asked what survival value other religions had. You
responded with one that they *didn't have*.

Nonsense. Whether "going to other planets to find extra-
terrestrial life" is a survival trait or not is precisely the
issue I raised.

Yes, it was the issue *you* raised. It certainly wasn't an answer to
my question. I'm still waiting for that. I won't hold my breath.

So? What's your point? The issue isn't whether or not their
beliefs are valid, but whether or not their religion is
successful. By both material and spiritual standards, it
seems quite robust.

No. It not *just* whether their religion is successful or not, it
is *also* about whether or not their religion successfully
involves "going to other planets to find extra-terrestrial life".
I know of no Mormons that have actually done this or actually has
their own planet as you suggested.

Again, you don't know all Mormons. You certainly don't know the ones
who have actually gotten their own planet.

(Cue Pauline Kael: "How could Nixon have won? I don't know anyone
who voted for him.")

Perhaps Mormons do have their own planets and it has escaped my
attention. Please feel free to fill me in on what I missed.

How in the world would you know that they don't? Serious question.

Perhaps they should reexamine their doctrines?

Why should they?

Again, if you or anyone else has any evidence that Mormons
actually have their own planets, I'll withdraw the suggestion.

Why is it their responsibility to convince you that their religion is
valid? Unless they're trying to convert you, of course, but I don't
think that's happening in this discussion.

Until then holding up the Mormons as a successful example of how
a meme can lead to a future in space is just silly.

It led to a future in a pretty damned inhospitable place. As
technology evolves, why not space?
.

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