Asking Whether Adam and Eves Kids Committed Incest May Have Led to Murder of Pakistani Student

[beam me up scottie]

Asking Whether Adam and Eve’s Kids Committed Incest May Have Led to Murder of Pakistani Student
April 16, 2017
by: Hemant Mehta

The other day, we learned that Mashal Khan, an activist in Pakistan, was shot and beaten to death by fellow students at Abdul Wali Khan University after being accused of blasphemy.

Now, with more reporting on the matter, it’s becoming apparent just how thin-skinned his killers were and how little “blasphemy” took place (not that any amount of it warranted a death sentence).

For example, what was Khan saying that angered people so much?

Aziz ur Rehman, a caretaker at the hostel who witnessed Khan’s debate with his fellow students, said he brought up arcane subjects such as whether the offspring of Adam and Eve — the original humans in Islamic texts as well as Judeo-Christian ones — would have married each other, raising the issue of incest.

That’s such a basic question that religious apologists always have ways of responding to it. Even Answers in Genesis tackles this one. Their answers are never satisfactory, but even they know it’s something they need to address. It’s not offensive, in any case.

***

Rehman, the caretaker, said Khan was alive when the police arrived, but that they did not approach the hostel until it was too late.

“They could have easily saved his life but they stood away from the mob … I heard one officer say it’s good that they sent this non-believer to hell,” he said.
The police denied that version of the story… but of course they would. Why save a so-called blasphemer when the mob might come after you next?

http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2017/04/16/asking-whether-adam-and-eves-kids-committed-incest-may-have-led-to-murder-of-pakistani-student/

"The idea of the sacred is quite simply one of the most conservative notions in any culture, because it seeks to turn other ideas – uncertainty, progress, change – into crimes."

- Salman Rushdie

[treestar]

1. In 7th grade we studied Greek Mythology

Where the Titans who were all siblings, 6 of each gender, were married to each other to continue from there.

Problem is Adam and Eve had two sons, and later the sons had wives of mysterious origin.

Still not worth killing anyone over.

[trotsky]

2. Maybe he just had some land they wanted?

I've heard that religion is NEVER the reason for these crimes.

Perhaps the city or the university is spelled differently in two articles about this - that would certainly be cause to dismiss the entire incident as never having happened, too.

[beam me up scottie]

3. Indeed.

You really have to be a dedicated apologist to deny that these murders weren't motivated by religion or that they're a hoax.

To publicly doubt knowing it can result in your death at the hands of a mob is courageous. The least - and I mean the very least anyone can do is acknowledge that this is a religious hate crime. But apparently that's still asking too much.

RIP Mashal Khan.

[safeinOhio]

4. Wait until someone ask if

Eve was a transgender clone.

[beam me up scottie]

5. Then there's that whole Y chromosome question.

Jesus and genetics:Thorny questions revolve around Christ's Y chromosome

"But there's a problem with arguing Jesus came about through cloning or parthenogenesis - he would have been born a girl. In the past few decades, science revealed that to be male you need a Y chromosome, and the only place you can get one is from a man."

[DetlefK]

6. The funny thing is, such questions will never be settled because science changes.

- "Science says a thing."
- "What does that mean for religion? We should discuss that."

- "No, wait, the theory was wrong. Here's a better theory about the thing."
- "Ehrm, okay, so... Forget our discussion from last week. There has been a new scientific discovery and we have to do the theological debate all over again in the light of this new information."

- "Hold on, we have a third theory. It covers the same area as the second theory but from a totally different physical viewpoint. We'll get back to you."
- "As I said. We have to..."

- "Sorry to interrupt you, but this whole field of research has turned out to be related to another field of research. We have merged them and are now starting from scratch with new theories that can explain both fields at the same time."
- "OH, FOR FUCK'S SAKE."

[beam me up scottie]

8. This is why it's hilarious to watch theologians try to co-opt science.

Creationists have built an entire industry around rewriting scientific research and calling the end product 'theories'. They even hire scientists to promote these crackpot 'theories' although the majority of them pretend to be experts in fields they've never studied. They're just used as frontmen because they have degrees in science - much like the tiny sliver of scientists who 'debunk' climate change.

Answers in Genesis has a book section that offers discerning creationists educational literature about astronomy, biology and other subjects. It's quite eye opening:

Taking Back Astronomy

Two Views

The Bible claims to be the authoritative Word of God. If an all-powerful, all-knowing God did indeed give us the Bible by inspiring men to write it, then Scripture would certainly provide a solid foundation for our way of thinking. The Bible provides answers to the most important questions people ask: What is the purpose of our existence? How did this world come about? What happens when we die? Why is there death and suffering in the world? How should we live?

Furthermore, the Bible is a history book which has demonstrated its accuracy time and time again. When it comes to matters of origins, it makes sense to consult an accurate history book, one recorded by eyewitnesses. Ultimately, we can base our beliefs about origins on the Word of God, or the speculations of other human beings. When it comes to the details of the creation of the universe, we can choose to trust God (who was there), or man (who was not).

...

Many critics have suggested that we should not start from the Bible—that this is unscientific. However, if the Bible really is absolutely true, if it really is accurate history, wouldn’t it be unscientific to ignore this information? Is it logical to deny recorded history, and choose to rely instead on guesswork? Since all scientific evidence must be interpreted in light of some worldview, it seems very reasonable to base our worldview on the infallible Word of the Creator. I have found that the Bible is a sure foundation for a worldview that is logical, moral, self-consistent, and consistent with the evidence.

https://answersingenesis.org/answers/books/taking-back-astronomy/introduction

Challenge the world’s thinking on origins!

A “survival guide” for biology class! This book helps teens discern the chronic bias towards belief in evolution that permeates today’s four most popular high school biology textbooks. Virtually every chapter in each of the secular textbooks contains implied or explicit references to evolutionary beliefs, which are misrepresented as irrefutable facts. However, in Evolution Exposed these misrepresentations are cross-referenced with online articles and publications that provide both scientific and biblical answers. Key terms are defined, articles are summarized and false ideas are refuted.

Evolution Exposed is thoroughly indexed by topic so anyone can use it as a reference. Christian students are equipped and inspired to recognize and respectfully challenge evolutionary indoctrination (in class, research papers, and normal interactions outside of school). Using tables, web links, charts, and illustrations, documented facts that counter evolutionary teaching in a powerful and organized fashion are synchronized with each textbook’s sequence.

https://answersingenesis.org/answers/books/evolution-exposed-biology/

[DetlefK]

10. The history of science is a little bit a hobby of mine...

And it all began with religion. All "scientific" theories up to the Middle-Ages were ultimately based on religion. The concept of "laws of nature" was obscure and basically only known to philosophers and occult alchemists.

But the religious explanations were found to be insufficient in providing answers. "Renaissance-magic" was developed, a weird mix of Christianity, astrology, numerology, occult rites and a crude version of psychology.

It was the Renaissance-"scientists" who discarded explanations that were based on the Bible alone. It was them who contributed the concept of "experiments" to science. Galileo was one of those experimental "scientists".

And finally, the era of magic ended and the era of the "scientific method" began:
1. The literary historian Isaac Casaubon disproved key claims of the writings this magical movement was based on, throwing it from mainstream into obscurity.
2. The numerology proved no match for mathematics. It was mathematicians like Newton, Descartes and Mersenne who worked hard to replace numerology with cold hard math.





The Bible as a source of scientific information was not discarded recently and not because of those damn liberals.
The process to discard the Bible as a scientific source was slow and painful and took (approximately) from the 16th to the 18th century. And it was discarded by believers.

[rug]

11. You ignore the Franciscan, Roger Bacon.

[DetlefK]

12. Dammit, his name was on the tip of my tongue.

[DetlefK]

7. Oh, wait. I've got another one!

"Which model of the universe is correct? The ptolemaic model or the chaldean model? In which sequence do the 7 planets of the universe orbit around Earth? The connection between the Bible and this cutting-edge science will lead to new realms of enlightenment."

[beam me up scottie]

9. You should write for AIG.

I see a promising future in biblically inspired sciency type research.

[Lordquinton]

13. In America we just get told to be quiet

This is more reason to speak up when we can.

[beam me up scottie]

14. Good point.

We're told we need to be quiet and if we do speak we should be polite and respectful. After all we don't want to upset anyone. Just wait your turn and eventually those nice Christians on the right will accept women and lgbt people as equals who deserve the same rights as the majority.

[Lordquinton]

15. Same as the comments about women's rights in other countries

It's not as bad here, therefore you can't complain.