The Godless Illusion

The Great Debate That the godless are deluded

Sydney University 24 August 2013

The Case Against

Ian Bryce VP, Secular Party of Australia

www.secular.org.au http://www.sydneyatheists.org/

I will show that the delusion lies with religion.

And Islam in particular.

TWO PARTS

A: What science tells us:

Islam, and all religions, are false

B: What morality tells us:

Islam leads to the worst violations of human rights

A: What science tell us

A: Firstly… Where science comes from. Many researchers, many countries,

hundreds of years, constant checks

Compare Religion: eg Islam Spot the weak point?

ISLAM

ANGEL

GOD

HADITHS

Quran

Hamza’s justification of Islam

The Quran’s Challenge: a Literary and Linguistic Miracle http://www.hamzatzortzis.com/essays-articles/exploring-the-quran/the-inimitable-quran/

Allah will burn you forever in the fire. Unbelievers will be tormented forever with fire. When their skin is burned off, a fresh skin will be provided. 4:56 Allah will make disbelievers' lives miserable in this world and torture them forever after they die. Cut off the hands of thieves. It is an exemplary punishment from Allah. 5:38

A: Science: Physics ALL RELIGIONS:

Miscellaneous gods interfering with earthly affairs

A: Science: Physics SCIENCE: The four forces ultimately account for ALL that

happens in the universe since the big bang.

No room for God to intervene! Physics and religion are incompatible. Both cannot be true.

A: Science: Medicine

ISLAM

[Mohammad narrated]: …suddenly someone came to me and cut my body open…from [my] throat to [my] pubic area… He then took out my heart… My heart was washed, and was filled [with Belief from a golden tray], and then my heart was returned to its original place. Hadith Volume 5, Book 58, Number 227, courtesy Steven Marton

SCIENCE The heart is for pumping blood, not holding Beliefs. Thinking occurs in the Brain. Surgery requires many procedures and precautions which were not known in the seventh century. Grays Anatomy, any university

A: Science: Reproduction

CHRISTIANITY

A woman was made pregnant by a ghost:

And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. Luke 1:35

SCIENCE Human reproduction is commenced by the fertilizing of an egg by a sperm. Two sources of DNA are required. Any university http://www.openbible.info/topics/conception

How could you study medicine at university, if you believed that?

A: Science: Life and death

CHRISTIANITY

A man died (on Friday) , and rose again after 3 days (Sunday) Mark 16:9

SCIENCE The rate of decay within the human body after death is normally split into two distinct categories. These are: Autolysis: A process of self-digestion … Putrefaction: Bacteria escaping from the intestinal tract… www.exploreforensics.co.uk › Pathology‎

You cannot study forensics!

A: Science: The Mind and Afterlives #1

SCIENCE The MIND is a function of the brain. It is entirely dependent on physical support systems. When the body dies, the mind stops.

A: Science: The Mind and Afterlives #2

HINDU … the soul similarly passes into another body at death. A sober person is not bewildered by such a change. Bhagavad Gita text 13

CHRISTIANITY

…unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven. ‘ Matthew 8:3-4

"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched." Mark 9:43

A: Science: The Mind and Afterlives #3

ISLAM

And those who… believe in Allah and do righteous good deeds, they are dwellers of paradise, they will dwell therein forever. Quran 2:82

There [Paradise]for them are pure companions [virgins]; there for ever they abide. Quran 2:25

…a sensual Paradise where believing men are rewarded by being wed to 72 virgins (houris) with "full grown", "swelling" or "pears-shaped" breasts. Hadiths

All religions contain some sort of afterlife… Given real knowledge, Total nonsense!

A: Science: Paleontology: Origin of humankind

CHRISTIANITY

Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils… and the man became a living creature. Genesis 2:7

SCIENCE The human species evolved from more primitive creatures. No supernatural involvement occurred. Any natural history museum or university

ISLAM

[Your lord] created man, out of a mere clot of congealed blood Quran 96: 2

A: Science: Astronomy

CHRISTIANITY

The sun stopped in the midst of heaven and did not hurry to set for about a whole day. Joshua 10:13

SCIENCE The sun is at the centre of the solar system. The earth orbits around the sun. The moon orbits around the earth. Any university

ISLAM

And the sun runneth on unto a resting place for him. That is the measuring of the Mighty, the Wise.

Quran 36: 38 You can’t study astronomy if you believe ancient superstitions!

A: Science: Engineering: Flight

Some more detail

I used to teach aerospace engineering Created my own courses 4 universities Hundreds of students, from all backgrounds

Design of Space Vehicles

Ian Bryce ianrbryce@gmail.com

1. Astrodynamics

2. The space environment

3. Rocket Propulsion

4. The Launch Process

5. Launch Vehicle Systems and Design

6. Spacecraft and their subsystems

7. Spacecraft Missions and Payloads

A: Science: Engineering: Flight 1. CHRISTIANITY

As I looked, behold, a stormy wind came out of the north, and a great cloud, with brightness around it, and fire flashing forth continually, and in the midst of the fire, as it were gleaming metal …

when those rose from the earth, the wheels rose along with them… I heard the sound of their wings like the sound of many waters, When they stood still, they let down their wings. Ezekial 1:4-20

A: Science: Engineering: Flight

2. ISLAM

[Gabriel] did take His servant for a Journey by night from the Sacred Mosque to the farthest Mosque…

Quran 17:1

“A white animal which was smaller than a mule and bigger than a donkey was brought to me." [buraq]. The Prophet said, "The animal's step (was so wide that it) reached the farthest point within the reach of the animal's sight. I was carried on it, and Gabriel set out with me… Hadith Abbas bin Malik

A: Science: Engineering: Flight 3. SCIENCE Aeroplanes are held up be aerodynamic lift derived from wings moving through the air. Rockets are propelled by expelling a jet of gas from their engine. Bryce, Space Vehicle Design

A: Science vs Religion

Conclusion

• There is total conflict between Religion, particularly Islam, and scientific knowledge.

• This applies to all fields of science, history, geography etc.

• If you attempt to study at university while convinced that the Quran is true…

• You will be very confused and handicapped.

Cognitive Dissonance.

Compartmentalised Brain

A: Science vs Religion

Conclusion

• You will be locked into beliefs from the Iron Age.

• You might as return to live in a cave.

• Return to the Dark Ages.

This is what the Fundamentalists have in store for you.

More about the historical Record

Mankind has created thousands of gods.

Why should one be any more real than any

other?

When God Speaks for Himself – Mark Tier

More about the historical Record: The origins of Islam?

Thanks to Steve Marton for this material

What did Mohammad have to gain?

• A united people.

● Unquestioned authority and power.

• Laws and rules empowered and accredited his laws or rules to God thus making them unquestionable.

• An invisible police force

• Discipline and control over his people

• Avert blame for military loss?

● Have a battle ready army?

• Enrichment of his family and Levite tribe?

No questioning – the Bible • Comandments: No other gods before me • “Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you,

neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God which I command you.” Deuteronomy 4:002

• M,J & M were not to be questioned under threat of

death...not by God of course, but by M, J & M's followers ● “Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy

people” Exodus 22:028 ● “supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of

thanks, be made for all men; For kings, and for all that are in authority; tTimothy 1:2001 to 2:003

● Christian soldiers were advised to “be content with your wages” Luke 3:014

No questioning – the Quran

• • “O you who believe! do not put questions about things which if declared to you may trouble you” UoV Quran 5.101

• • “He (God) cannot be questioned concerning what He does and they (everyone else) shall be questioned.” UoV Quran 21.23

• • “do not give to each other counsel of sin and revolt and disobedience to the Apostle” UoV Quran 58.9

• Whatever was unclear or dubious in the Quran, well that was just the way it was.

Make soldiers fight to the death?

Promise paradise - Invent an afterlife!

• “whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the

same shall save it” Luke 9:024

• “fear not them which kill the body” Matthew 10.028

• Find paradise

• “And do not speak of those who are slain in

Allah's way as dead; nay, (they are) alive, but

you do not perceive. UoV Quran 2.154 to 2.156

Belief in an Afterlife motivates terrorists to this day.

eg Mumbai 2008 attacks: Confession by Kasab:

“…to enjoy sex with beautyful virgins

waiting for you” http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/india-news/mumbai-

terrorists-promised-sex-with-virgin-in-heaven_100133962.html

Jesus: Kill non-believers

• “Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I

came not to send peace, but a sword. “For I am come

to set a man at variance against his father, and the

daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law

against her mother in law And a man's foes shall be

they of his own household.” Matthew 10:034 - 10:036

• “Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I

tell you, Nay; but rather division” Luke 12:051

Mohammed: Kill non-believers

“The punishment of those who wage war against

Allah… is only this, that they should be murdered or

crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off

on opposite sides … UoV Quran 5.33 - 5.34

A confused god

• “Surely (as for) those who believe then disbelieve, again believe and again disbelieve, then increase in disbelief, Allah will not forgive them nor guide them in the (right) path.” UoV Quran 4.137

• Reminiscent of “There are known knowns. These are things we know that we know. There are known unknowns. That is to say, there are things that we know we don't know. But there are also unknown unknowns. There are things we don't know we don't know.” Donald Rumsfeld

B: What morality tells us

B: Morality

There is a long list of atrocities of every type

by fundamentalists.

We will look at some currently in the news.

B: Morality 1. Bacha Posh – dressing girls as boys

Some areas of Islamic Afghanistan

If a family has only daughters, they are in shame - they have to invent a son. Live, dress, play, school as a boy.

At puberty, turned back to a girl – need suddenly adapt to being inferior.

Ref: Science Show, Wikipedia

• Demonstrates the inferiority of women

• Based on the Qur’an and teachings for 1400 years.

• Gross violation of human rights • Great suffering when they have to

change back – permanent psychological damage.

B: Morality: Leaving a belief system

Most religions threaten to punish anyone leaving the faith

Islam is the worst.

Compare Freethought systems – you are encouraged to think for yourself.

B: Morality: Segregation of sexes

Security expert Professor Anthony Glees (UK universities)

said Student Rights’ research indicates there is a "failing in our higher education system... We can, and should, stop radicalisation on campus by extremists who believe in segregation, otherwise more students and graduates will eventually embrace terror." He added: "Terrorists are not born, they are made.“ http://www.theweek.co.uk/uk-news/52973/islam-extremists-new-generation-british-universities-hamza-tzortzis

B: Morality: The Kenya Mall atrocity

B: Morality: The Kenya Mall atrocity

69 dead so far.

The Somali militant group al-Shabab said it carried out the attack…

Witnesses said the gunmen at the Westgate tried to identify Muslims by asking shoppers the name of Mohammed's mother. They shot those who didn't know.

• The Quran says its OK to kill Infidels • Fundamentalist Islam has a continuous history of doing

so ever since • Still doing it today • Where are the decent Muslims protesting?

B: Morality: Subjugation and Terrorist organisations

Muslims living among non-Muslims?

Detailed in the Quran and Hadiths

• Convert

• Kill

• Conquer - Dhimmitude

B: Morality: Dhimmitude

Involves:

• Subjugation

• Elements of Slavery

• Rape is permitted if there is any revolt

• No say in government

Is compulsory Detailed in the Quran Practiced throughout history Espoused by modern Islamist groups In a Caliphate (Sharia law), the non-Muslims are Dhimmis

B: Morality: Subjugation and Terrorist organisations

New generation of extremists preaching at British universities

Professor Anthony Glees - University of Buckingham - directs its Centre for Security and Intelligence Studies (BUCSIS). He said Student Rights’ research indicates there is a "failing in our higher education system... We can, and should, stop radicalisation on campus by extremists who believe in segregation, otherwise more students and graduates will eventually embrace terror." He added: "Terrorists are not born, they are made."

http://www.theweek.co.uk/uk-news/52973/islam-extremists-new-generation-british-universities-hamza-tzortzis#ixzz2fiaatIB3

B: Morality: Subjugation and Terrorist organisations

Hizb-ut Tahrir 1953…‎a‎group‎seeking‎to‎impose‎Islamic‎states or caliphate ruled

by Islamic law and with a caliph head of state elected by Muslims.[1]

Treatment of Apostates: Draft Constitution declares that Muslims who

"have by themselves renounced Islam... are guilty of apostasy

(ridda) [and] are to be executed.

Treatment of Infidels [incl Australians]: non-Muslims in a Muslim country

become Dhimmis – subjugated, dominated, denied any role in

government,.

Hamza was a member until recently.

Spokesman: Wassim Dourehi

B: Morality: Freedom of speech

“We as Muslims reject the idea of freedom of speech, and even the idea of freedom. We see under the Khilafa (caliphate), when people used to engage in a positive way, this idea of freedom was redundant….”

- Hamza Tzortzis 2008 http://www.hamzatzortzis.com/clarifications-and-responses/clarifying-my-views-on-freedom-of-speech/

Hamza clarifies: “the opinions of Hamza have changed since then.”

Conclusion • Fundamantalist Islam is completely incompatible with science

and other knowledge.

• The historical record shows that Islam (and most religions) were invented by individuals or groups, to extend their power, wealth and influence.

• Religions, particularly Islam, have the worst human rights record.

• This cannot change as long as we are not allowed to question Islam.

• Islamist organisations are dedicated to establishing Caliphates, and Dhimmitude (slavery), around the world.

• Many Islamists, in Australia, at universities, and here tonight, have such designs on Australia.