Comments on: Toward a sympathetic atheism http://usu-shaft.com/2009/toward-a-sympathetic-atheism/ Utah State University Secular Humanists, Atheists, and Free Thinkers Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:52:57 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Cherie M http://usu-shaft.com/2009/toward-a-sympathetic-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-677 Cherie M Wed, 16 Dec 2009 16:59:11 +0000 http://usu-shaft.com/?p=462#comment-677 I've heard of the heifer project and it seems amazing and one of the most pro-active and self-perpetuating charity projects I know of. I'd be happy to chat with some businesses here in Ogden once we've got projects going. The Ark idea seems great and like an excellent use of money with a wide-reaching impact, if we can manage to raise that much. I’ve heard of the heifer project and it seems amazing and one of the most pro-active and self-perpetuating charity projects I know of. I’d be happy to chat with some businesses here in Ogden once we’ve got projects going.

The Ark idea seems great and like an excellent use of money with a wide-reaching impact, if we can manage to raise that much.

]]> By: kleiner http://usu-shaft.com/2009/toward-a-sympathetic-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-671 kleiner Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:40:34 +0000 http://usu-shaft.com/?p=462#comment-671 SHAFT could consider trying to raise enough money for a heifer international "Gift Ark" - $5000. The irony of the atheist group buying an "ark" is funny. http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.2698725/?msource=kw2871 SHAFT could consider trying to raise enough money for a heifer international “Gift Ark” – $5000. The irony of the atheist group buying an “ark” is funny.

http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.2698725/?msource=kw2871

]]> By: kleiner http://usu-shaft.com/2009/toward-a-sympathetic-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-670 kleiner Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:37:53 +0000 http://usu-shaft.com/?p=462#comment-670 One of the most worthwhile places to donate is heifer international. They take donations of all sizes, but it is fun to buy a whole animal. What they do is give a family an animal (everything from water buffalo to bees). They also provide education about care, breeding, etc. (teach a man to fish sort of a thing). Plus they have a "pay it forward" obligation - the first offspring from the animal must be given to another family. You'd be amazed at what this can do. A for example: A goat ($120) can provide milk for a family (probably the most nutritive thing they'll get in their day) plus some (sell for cash) plus 2-3 kids per year (pay it forward or sell). A goat or two can literally pull a family out of starvation and start them out of poverty. We have the resources but not the political and personal will to solve world hunger. http://www.heifer.org One of the most worthwhile places to donate is heifer international. They take donations of all sizes, but it is fun to buy a whole animal.
What they do is give a family an animal (everything from water buffalo to bees). They also provide education about care, breeding, etc. (teach a man to fish sort of a thing). Plus they have a “pay it forward” obligation – the first offspring from the animal must be given to another family. You’d be amazed at what this can do.
A for example: A goat ($120) can provide milk for a family (probably the most nutritive thing they’ll get in their day) plus some (sell for cash) plus 2-3 kids per year (pay it forward or sell). A goat or two can literally pull a family out of starvation and start them out of poverty.

We have the resources but not the political and personal will to solve world hunger.

http://www.heifer.org

]]> By: James http://usu-shaft.com/2009/toward-a-sympathetic-atheism/comment-page-1/#comment-668 James Wed, 16 Dec 2009 02:41:41 +0000 http://usu-shaft.com/?p=462#comment-668 "Professor Kleiner, who frequents our SHAFT meetings and this blog, has challenged us to put greater emphasis on our humanist values–to articulate a secular ethic and act accordingly. I want to meet that challenge next semester." I actually have a post in the works (meaning "sketched out in my head") along these lines. Basically, I'm going to attempt to present an explanation of and justification for a system of ethics without any supernatural components. Per my interests, most of what I'll be writing about will come from a book about how to ensure ethical behavior in possible artificial intelligences. The ethics it discusses are founded on game theory, economics, evolutionary biology, and computer science. Hopefully someone finds it interesting. "We floated several service opportunities, but never developed and executed them." Sub For Santa never emailed me back, and as I understand, their deadline has passed. So, instead, I donated a (very small) amount of money <a href="http://childsplaycharity.org/" rel="nofollow">here</a>. “Professor Kleiner, who frequents our SHAFT meetings and this blog, has challenged us to put greater emphasis on our humanist values–to articulate a secular ethic and act accordingly. I want to meet that challenge next semester.”

I actually have a post in the works (meaning “sketched out in my head”) along these lines. Basically, I’m going to attempt to present an explanation of and justification for a system of ethics without any supernatural components. Per my interests, most of what I’ll be writing about will come from a book about how to ensure ethical behavior in possible artificial intelligences. The ethics it discusses are founded on game theory, economics, evolutionary biology, and computer science.

Hopefully someone finds it interesting.

“We floated several service opportunities, but never developed and executed them.”

Sub For Santa never emailed me back, and as I understand, their deadline has passed. So, instead, I donated a (very small) amount of money here.

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