<![CDATA[The Nirmukta Freethought Community - All Forums]]> http://nirmukta.net/ Sun, 05 Feb 2012 05:54:48 +0000 MyBB <![CDATA[Rising religious events leave city police exhausted]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Rising-religious-events-leave-city-police-exhausted Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:16:10 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Rising-religious-events-leave-city-police-exhausted http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyde...858208.ece]]> http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyde...858208.ece]]> <![CDATA[Is Nationalism a valid point of view?]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Is-Nationalism-a-valid-point-of-view Thu, 02 Feb 2012 11:30:02 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Is-Nationalism-a-valid-point-of-view – George Bernard Shaw]]> – George Bernard Shaw]]> <![CDATA["...opportunities are better within the caste system than outside it."]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-opportunities-are-better-within-the-caste-system-than-outside-it Mon, 30 Jan 2012 10:27:48 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-opportunities-are-better-within-the-caste-system-than-outside-it
http://www.thedaily.com/page/2012/01/19/...almia-1-3/

Context, Maya is a garbage collector/cleaner who's been going to the writer's house since 1977. She plans to quit doing her job, now that her son is reasonably well off as a government employee and network-marketer...

Quote:But the choice (to retire) may not be hers much longer.

Upon retirement, she had planned to either pass her “business” to her children or sell it to another dalit for about $1,000. But about six months ago, municipal authorities started dispatching vans, Western-style, to collect trash from neighborhoods, the one service that protected Maya from obsolescence in an age of sophisticated home-cleaning gadgetry.

Maya and her fellow dalits held demonstrations outside the municipal commissioner’s office to stop the vans. They finally arrived at a compromise that lets Maya and her pals collect trash from individual homes and hand it to the vans for disposal. But Maya realizes that this arrangement won’t last. “I got branded as polluted and became unfit for other jobs, for what?” she wept. “To build a business that has now turned to dust?”
...
Her son, however, is pleased. He believes that this will finally force his siblings to develop skills for more respectable work instead of joining their mother. But Maya shakes her head.

And she might be right. Post-liberalization, the most dogged and determined dalits are able to escape their caste-assigned destiny and get rich. But for the vast majority, as Maya says, opportunities are better within the caste system than outside it.

This is a line of argument that seems to be common to staunch casteists and this apparently progressive author: under the current socio-economic and political system, lower caste people are better off within their own castes. [/quote]]]>
http://www.thedaily.com/page/2012/01/19/...almia-1-3/

Context, Maya is a garbage collector/cleaner who's been going to the writer's house since 1977. She plans to quit doing her job, now that her son is reasonably well off as a government employee and network-marketer...

Quote:But the choice (to retire) may not be hers much longer.

Upon retirement, she had planned to either pass her “business” to her children or sell it to another dalit for about $1,000. But about six months ago, municipal authorities started dispatching vans, Western-style, to collect trash from neighborhoods, the one service that protected Maya from obsolescence in an age of sophisticated home-cleaning gadgetry.

Maya and her fellow dalits held demonstrations outside the municipal commissioner’s office to stop the vans. They finally arrived at a compromise that lets Maya and her pals collect trash from individual homes and hand it to the vans for disposal. But Maya realizes that this arrangement won’t last. “I got branded as polluted and became unfit for other jobs, for what?” she wept. “To build a business that has now turned to dust?”
...
Her son, however, is pleased. He believes that this will finally force his siblings to develop skills for more respectable work instead of joining their mother. But Maya shakes her head.

And she might be right. Post-liberalization, the most dogged and determined dalits are able to escape their caste-assigned destiny and get rich. But for the vast majority, as Maya says, opportunities are better within the caste system than outside it.

This is a line of argument that seems to be common to staunch casteists and this apparently progressive author: under the current socio-economic and political system, lower caste people are better off within their own castes. [/quote]]]> <![CDATA[Do atheism needs temple?]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Do-atheism-needs-temple Fri, 27 Jan 2012 07:07:51 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Do-atheism-needs-temple Alain de Botton "wants to borrow the idea of awe-inspiring buildings that give people a better sense of perspective on life". Gurdian has published an article specifing the Dawkins opposite stand for this furistic building. What do you guys think of this?]]> Alain de Botton "wants to borrow the idea of awe-inspiring buildings that give people a better sense of perspective on life". Gurdian has published an article specifing the Dawkins opposite stand for this furistic building. What do you guys think of this?]]> <![CDATA[Building a FAQ on Affirmative Action]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Building-a-FAQ-on-Affirmative-Action Thu, 26 Jan 2012 18:27:49 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Building-a-FAQ-on-Affirmative-Action
The topics we can cover fall broadly into these categories - Moral validity of affirmative action, data which supports the moral premises.

Of course we will need specific FAQs for different forms of affirmative action like caste reservations, and gender reservations.]]>
The topics we can cover fall broadly into these categories - Moral validity of affirmative action, data which supports the moral premises.

Of course we will need specific FAQs for different forms of affirmative action like caste reservations, and gender reservations.]]> <![CDATA[The Salman-Rushdie affair:Have we become a nation of philistines?]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-The-Salman-Rushdie-affair-Have-we-become-a-nation-of-philistines Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:12:04 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-The-Salman-Rushdie-affair-Have-we-become-a-nation-of-philistines
It seems that religious nutcases and rogues are hell-bent on expelling all that is of value from our nation's public/social arenas. The bilious forces of religion are at work again. They have crawled out of the woodwork to lay siege to yet another bastion of Creative Arts.
Earlier, they came for M.F. Hussain. He was almost driven away into exile. He found Qatar a safer space than our 'tolerant' nation. Now, they are after Rushdie. I don't think Rushdie will be coming to India anytime soon. Another (literary) artist driven away.
I am horrified at how rapidly the fickle, vulgar mob has been gaining leverage in India. Decisions are not made by sagacious people deliberating over the finer points of each argument. They are not the result of an enlightened, informed national consciousness. Rather, it is the decibel-level of a group's cries and the associated reportage that dictates how important a matter is. The scenario has become a sordid spectacle of knee-jerk reactions and palliative measures to soothe 'hurt sensibilities'.
The mob has become an object of terror, a veritable Behemoth that lurches from one issue to another, threatening- with its gnarly,outstretched hands- to force us back into fusty, blissful ignorance. It lays to waste whatever it directs its unlettered gaze upon. The most piddling of perceived slights touches off a series of wrathful reactions. Books and effigies are burnt, works of art vandalized and people hurt. That is 'faith' for you.
The mob is hectoring us to cease our poems and songs of freedom. It is shouting us down whenever someone from among our ranks tries to produce a work of free expression. In its iconoclastic zeal, it is chiseling the faces off our Venuses. It is smothering creative voices. It is demanding the 'offenders' be sacrificed on its reeking altars to appease its sanguinary lust.

Shall the philistines rule? With their persistent heckling,shall they bring to naught all that we cherish- art, literature, culture and music?

"We have exiled beauty; the Greeks took up arms for her." - Albert Camus


NAUSHIRVAN]]>
It seems that religious nutcases and rogues are hell-bent on expelling all that is of value from our nation's public/social arenas. The bilious forces of religion are at work again. They have crawled out of the woodwork to lay siege to yet another bastion of Creative Arts.
Earlier, they came for M.F. Hussain. He was almost driven away into exile. He found Qatar a safer space than our 'tolerant' nation. Now, they are after Rushdie. I don't think Rushdie will be coming to India anytime soon. Another (literary) artist driven away.
I am horrified at how rapidly the fickle, vulgar mob has been gaining leverage in India. Decisions are not made by sagacious people deliberating over the finer points of each argument. They are not the result of an enlightened, informed national consciousness. Rather, it is the decibel-level of a group's cries and the associated reportage that dictates how important a matter is. The scenario has become a sordid spectacle of knee-jerk reactions and palliative measures to soothe 'hurt sensibilities'.
The mob has become an object of terror, a veritable Behemoth that lurches from one issue to another, threatening- with its gnarly,outstretched hands- to force us back into fusty, blissful ignorance. It lays to waste whatever it directs its unlettered gaze upon. The most piddling of perceived slights touches off a series of wrathful reactions. Books and effigies are burnt, works of art vandalized and people hurt. That is 'faith' for you.
The mob is hectoring us to cease our poems and songs of freedom. It is shouting us down whenever someone from among our ranks tries to produce a work of free expression. In its iconoclastic zeal, it is chiseling the faces off our Venuses. It is smothering creative voices. It is demanding the 'offenders' be sacrificed on its reeking altars to appease its sanguinary lust.

Shall the philistines rule? With their persistent heckling,shall they bring to naught all that we cherish- art, literature, culture and music?

"We have exiled beauty; the Greeks took up arms for her." - Albert Camus


NAUSHIRVAN]]> <![CDATA[this is a wonderful part of the cyberspace!]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-this-is-a-wonderful-part-of-the-cyberspace Sun, 22 Jan 2012 06:58:13 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-this-is-a-wonderful-part-of-the-cyberspace
I am Naushirvan from New Delhi. I am 23. I love reading ( a lot), painting, cooking( occasionally), listening to music and gardening. Oh, and I love poetry too ( English and Urdu). I freed myself of all religious notions about a year ago, and have not looked back since. I feel free and really amazed as I envisage the beauty and complexity of the world around me. I find human creativity and curiosity much more engaging and worthy of admiration than silly,old stories written by ignorant men long ago. I do not like how religion lays claim to human culture and artistic achievement.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the people at Nirmukta.com who have ensured a fresh supply of some very good articles. Thank you, folks!]]>
I am Naushirvan from New Delhi. I am 23. I love reading ( a lot), painting, cooking( occasionally), listening to music and gardening. Oh, and I love poetry too ( English and Urdu). I freed myself of all religious notions about a year ago, and have not looked back since. I feel free and really amazed as I envisage the beauty and complexity of the world around me. I find human creativity and curiosity much more engaging and worthy of admiration than silly,old stories written by ignorant men long ago. I do not like how religion lays claim to human culture and artistic achievement.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the people at Nirmukta.com who have ensured a fresh supply of some very good articles. Thank you, folks!]]> <![CDATA[Perspectives: Why are pseudoscientific treatments so popular?]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Perspectives-Why-are-pseudoscientific-treatments-so-popular Wed, 18 Jan 2012 11:53:37 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Perspectives-Why-are-pseudoscientific-treatments-so-popular
0. The margins of profit in dispensing 'alternative cures' can be extremely high compared to modern medicine. An illustrative example is that no research expenditure is involved in developing a 'detox diet', unlike say the billions of dollars and thousands of manhours spent by Pfizer to develop Lipitor. The industry of 'alternative medicine' only needs to invest in marketing, which it does very effectively.

1. Many followers of 'alternative medicine' are introduced to quackery at times when they suffer from such ailments as those that are quite bothersome, but are not fatal, and do not lead to complications. These include, common cold, allergies, shingles, milder forms of piles, fistula, chronic lower back pain, chronic fatigue, migraines, etc. Often, the symptoms from these ailments can be managed using over-the-counter medication. Most cases of such afflictions go away on their own, without medical intervention. It is not that people with these ailments should not see their physician. The irony is that it is usually through their doctor of 'modern medicine' that they first learn about the relative mildness of their ailment. However, in their suffering, people resort to 'alternative cures' such as acupuncture, and when the disease or its symptoms do disappear, they attribute it to the 'alternative cure'. This is due to confirmation bias. They then commit a second fallacy by generalizing based on their anecdote, that the 'alternative cure' should also be able to heal all other diseases. As these biases creep into their reasoning, people only spiral deeper and deeper into a world of delusions that is built upon logical fallacies. This is the point where faith in 'alternative medicine' can become dangerous. Folks start trusting their homeopaths, ayurpaths, unanipaths, naturopaths, and assorted quacks to diagnose and treat serious ailments such as bacterial infections, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. and in extreme cases, cancer. They start proselytizing. Relatives and friends are encouraged to 'just try it out for themselves', 'to have faith', and to 'avoid the poison of modern medicine'.

2. People are exposed more today than ever before to medical information via news media and social networks. There is an inherent bias towards sensationalist 'negative' news in today's media. If there is news about medical malpractice or big-pharma-mistakes, it is more likely to be highlighted in the media. A news item such as, 'Cancer survival rates in children for some forms of cancer has jumped 65% in the last 40 years' is hardly as sensational as a dramatic claim that vaccines cause autism. Thus, blogs and news media are full of stories of suffering that is attributable to 'the practice of modern medicine'. Purveyors of 'alternative cures', and others with vested interests have a very sensitive nose for such news. They spin these personal stories into extraordinary tales of how 'chemicals' of 'modern medicine' are the root cause of all suffering. Poor science journalism, which is so common in mass media is another factor leading to distrust in medicine. Scientific research in medicine is routinely misrepresented in popular media. This leads to headlines that alert people to non-existent flaws in medical research.

3. Compared to hard data and scientific research, anecdotes are more powerful in convincing people. The proselytizers of the earlier paragraph are excellent publicists for 'alternative medicine'. All of their interactions with friends and family involve enthusiastic stories of how scientific medicine is bullshit, and 'alternative treatments' work without 'the harmful side effects characteristic of modern medicine'.

4. Big pharma is sometimes guilty of bad science. This hardly helps scientists and pharmas fight the narrative that modern medicine is a conspiracy.

What are your perspectives on why people are so credulous when it comes to quackery?]]>
0. The margins of profit in dispensing 'alternative cures' can be extremely high compared to modern medicine. An illustrative example is that no research expenditure is involved in developing a 'detox diet', unlike say the billions of dollars and thousands of manhours spent by Pfizer to develop Lipitor. The industry of 'alternative medicine' only needs to invest in marketing, which it does very effectively.

1. Many followers of 'alternative medicine' are introduced to quackery at times when they suffer from such ailments as those that are quite bothersome, but are not fatal, and do not lead to complications. These include, common cold, allergies, shingles, milder forms of piles, fistula, chronic lower back pain, chronic fatigue, migraines, etc. Often, the symptoms from these ailments can be managed using over-the-counter medication. Most cases of such afflictions go away on their own, without medical intervention. It is not that people with these ailments should not see their physician. The irony is that it is usually through their doctor of 'modern medicine' that they first learn about the relative mildness of their ailment. However, in their suffering, people resort to 'alternative cures' such as acupuncture, and when the disease or its symptoms do disappear, they attribute it to the 'alternative cure'. This is due to confirmation bias. They then commit a second fallacy by generalizing based on their anecdote, that the 'alternative cure' should also be able to heal all other diseases. As these biases creep into their reasoning, people only spiral deeper and deeper into a world of delusions that is built upon logical fallacies. This is the point where faith in 'alternative medicine' can become dangerous. Folks start trusting their homeopaths, ayurpaths, unanipaths, naturopaths, and assorted quacks to diagnose and treat serious ailments such as bacterial infections, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, etc. and in extreme cases, cancer. They start proselytizing. Relatives and friends are encouraged to 'just try it out for themselves', 'to have faith', and to 'avoid the poison of modern medicine'.

2. People are exposed more today than ever before to medical information via news media and social networks. There is an inherent bias towards sensationalist 'negative' news in today's media. If there is news about medical malpractice or big-pharma-mistakes, it is more likely to be highlighted in the media. A news item such as, 'Cancer survival rates in children for some forms of cancer has jumped 65% in the last 40 years' is hardly as sensational as a dramatic claim that vaccines cause autism. Thus, blogs and news media are full of stories of suffering that is attributable to 'the practice of modern medicine'. Purveyors of 'alternative cures', and others with vested interests have a very sensitive nose for such news. They spin these personal stories into extraordinary tales of how 'chemicals' of 'modern medicine' are the root cause of all suffering. Poor science journalism, which is so common in mass media is another factor leading to distrust in medicine. Scientific research in medicine is routinely misrepresented in popular media. This leads to headlines that alert people to non-existent flaws in medical research.

3. Compared to hard data and scientific research, anecdotes are more powerful in convincing people. The proselytizers of the earlier paragraph are excellent publicists for 'alternative medicine'. All of their interactions with friends and family involve enthusiastic stories of how scientific medicine is bullshit, and 'alternative treatments' work without 'the harmful side effects characteristic of modern medicine'.

4. Big pharma is sometimes guilty of bad science. This hardly helps scientists and pharmas fight the narrative that modern medicine is a conspiracy.

What are your perspectives on why people are so credulous when it comes to quackery?]]> <![CDATA[Hi]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Hi--985 Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:16:51 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Hi--985 <![CDATA[writing a book]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-writing-a-book Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:35:16 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-writing-a-book <![CDATA[Atheist Next Door]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Atheist-Next-Door Sat, 14 Jan 2012 09:27:47 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Atheist-Next-Door
I'm an atheist from B'lore. I'm not a scientist - all the formulae and equations give me the shivers - and you don't need to be one to deal with religious sophistry; I'm into IT - here to make some friends and interact with fellow atheists.]]>
I'm an atheist from B'lore. I'm not a scientist - all the formulae and equations give me the shivers - and you don't need to be one to deal with religious sophistry; I'm into IT - here to make some friends and interact with fellow atheists.]]> <![CDATA[Hello, and advice needed]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Hello-and-advice-needed Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:35:36 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Hello-and-advice-needed
http://northindia2012.wordpress.com/

While I am a strong proponent of free speech, I'm very concerned about this group of young Christians, who are now in New Delhi whose goals include evangelizing young children. Moreover, the young missionaries have more than a few misconceptions about India and its people (see January 11 post and paragraph on the 9-year-old child prostitute).

1) Does anyone have any insight on what these missionaries may be doing, or know what "Genesis Street" and the "mission house" refer to?

2) Is there any simple way to stop or protest this sort of activity? It may be possible that some Delhiite activists (who feel adamantly against evangelizing young children, etc.) to take some time to talk to these people, if we can locate them. These missionaries obviously obtained visas to India claiming that they were going to be there to educate underprivileged people or to do some charity work, and I doubt that either of those are going to be happening.

_________________
EDIT: I also forgot to mention the superstition that many evangelical Christians, including this missions group, adhere to. This is evidenced in the email sent to the parishioners about this missions trip (from our pastor, a very kind person otherwise):

"Yesterday the team experienced bizarre situations which led them to ask for more prayer. While showing the film 'Passion of the Christ' power goes out 3/4 way through, particularly the part when Jesus carries the cross to Golgotha. Interestingly, their home was the only home on the block whose power went out. Also yesterday, a mother and her young child came early to register for the school. They went up to the second floor through a tight spiral stairway with no railing. One thing lead to another and either the child or mother or both fell 10ft down the stairway and had to be hospitalized.

There are more details about yesterday but I wanted to give you a taste of what happens when God's presence is in a place whose domain is the evil one.

Those who are praying, pray for the team's safety and courage as they pass the half way point of their work. Pray that they will have confidence in Jesus rather than be gripped by the fear of unknown."]]>
http://northindia2012.wordpress.com/

While I am a strong proponent of free speech, I'm very concerned about this group of young Christians, who are now in New Delhi whose goals include evangelizing young children. Moreover, the young missionaries have more than a few misconceptions about India and its people (see January 11 post and paragraph on the 9-year-old child prostitute).

1) Does anyone have any insight on what these missionaries may be doing, or know what "Genesis Street" and the "mission house" refer to?

2) Is there any simple way to stop or protest this sort of activity? It may be possible that some Delhiite activists (who feel adamantly against evangelizing young children, etc.) to take some time to talk to these people, if we can locate them. These missionaries obviously obtained visas to India claiming that they were going to be there to educate underprivileged people or to do some charity work, and I doubt that either of those are going to be happening.

_________________
EDIT: I also forgot to mention the superstition that many evangelical Christians, including this missions group, adhere to. This is evidenced in the email sent to the parishioners about this missions trip (from our pastor, a very kind person otherwise):

"Yesterday the team experienced bizarre situations which led them to ask for more prayer. While showing the film 'Passion of the Christ' power goes out 3/4 way through, particularly the part when Jesus carries the cross to Golgotha. Interestingly, their home was the only home on the block whose power went out. Also yesterday, a mother and her young child came early to register for the school. They went up to the second floor through a tight spiral stairway with no railing. One thing lead to another and either the child or mother or both fell 10ft down the stairway and had to be hospitalized.

There are more details about yesterday but I wanted to give you a taste of what happens when God's presence is in a place whose domain is the evil one.

Those who are praying, pray for the team's safety and courage as they pass the half way point of their work. Pray that they will have confidence in Jesus rather than be gripped by the fear of unknown."]]> <![CDATA[Nirmukta Petitions]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Nirmukta-Petitions Fri, 13 Jan 2012 01:17:09 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Nirmukta-Petitions
Recently, we drafted two petitions. The first was by Imran Hussain, a letter to the Governor of Karnataka protesting the Karnataka BJP govt's move to introduce Bhagavad Geeta compulsorily in all schools.

The second was by me - an appeal to Richard Dawkins not to attend the Gale Literary Festival in solidarity with the Tamils there.

We need some mechanism to circulate drafts, get and incorporate feedbacks from our members and see that these letters / appeals / petitions reached the concerned persons, agencies, bodies. Someone has to take up the role of a secretariat to do this work. Maybe the core group can do it or we can call for volunteers to do so.

My suggestion would be to create a sub - forum here called petitions which contain petitions, appeals and press releases about our Nirmukta's interventions in various social, cultural, political and economic issues that concern humanity.

I apologise for not knowing if this has been discussed before. Request the admins to shift this post to the appropriate place.

Geeta]]>
Recently, we drafted two petitions. The first was by Imran Hussain, a letter to the Governor of Karnataka protesting the Karnataka BJP govt's move to introduce Bhagavad Geeta compulsorily in all schools.

The second was by me - an appeal to Richard Dawkins not to attend the Gale Literary Festival in solidarity with the Tamils there.

We need some mechanism to circulate drafts, get and incorporate feedbacks from our members and see that these letters / appeals / petitions reached the concerned persons, agencies, bodies. Someone has to take up the role of a secretariat to do this work. Maybe the core group can do it or we can call for volunteers to do so.

My suggestion would be to create a sub - forum here called petitions which contain petitions, appeals and press releases about our Nirmukta's interventions in various social, cultural, political and economic issues that concern humanity.

I apologise for not knowing if this has been discussed before. Request the admins to shift this post to the appropriate place.

Geeta]]> <![CDATA[Ajita Kamal]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Ajita-Kamal Mon, 09 Jan 2012 11:58:53 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Ajita-Kamal
A formal note of his demise and a brief bio will be posted on Nirmukta.com in the next few days."

-Nirmukta team]]>
A formal note of his demise and a brief bio will be posted on Nirmukta.com in the next few days."

-Nirmukta team]]> <![CDATA[Critical readings of the Bhagawad Gita]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Critical-readings-of-the-Bhagawad-Gita Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:33:51 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Critical-readings-of-the-Bhagawad-Gita
The Truth About The Bhagavad Gita, by Prabhakar Kamath - Hypothesizes that the Gita is not a work with a coherent theme, but is the result of editing by subscribers of three different schools of thought:

  1. The Brahmanic Gita promoting the doctrines of the Gunas and Karma.
  2. The Upanishadic Gita promoting the doctrines of Knowledge of Atman and Buddhiyoga.
  3. The Bhagavatha Gita promoting the doctrines of Lord Krishna as the avatar of the Supreme Lord and Bhaktiyoga.

More Truths About the Bhagavad Gita, by V.N.K Kumar - Assumes that Mahabharat is real history and examines the consequences of that assumption.

The Bhagavad Gita Revisited - Part 1 and Part 2, by Namit Arora - Many Hindus hold Gita as a moral authority. These two articles examine how good are the moral lessons one can draw from the Gita.]]>
The Truth About The Bhagavad Gita, by Prabhakar Kamath - Hypothesizes that the Gita is not a work with a coherent theme, but is the result of editing by subscribers of three different schools of thought:

  1. The Brahmanic Gita promoting the doctrines of the Gunas and Karma.
  2. The Upanishadic Gita promoting the doctrines of Knowledge of Atman and Buddhiyoga.
  3. The Bhagavatha Gita promoting the doctrines of Lord Krishna as the avatar of the Supreme Lord and Bhaktiyoga.

More Truths About the Bhagavad Gita, by V.N.K Kumar - Assumes that Mahabharat is real history and examines the consequences of that assumption.

The Bhagavad Gita Revisited - Part 1 and Part 2, by Namit Arora - Many Hindus hold Gita as a moral authority. These two articles examine how good are the moral lessons one can draw from the Gita.]]> <![CDATA[Cow Urine Soda]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Cow-Urine-Soda Fri, 06 Jan 2012 10:04:53 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Cow-Urine-Soda

The video is over 2 years old, so the soda can be considered a flop.]]>

The video is over 2 years old, so the soda can be considered a flop.]]> <![CDATA[Pleased to be here]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Pleased-to-be-here Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:30:55 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Pleased-to-be-here <![CDATA[Bringing up a 6 year old Freethinker.]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Bringing-up-a-6-year-old-Freethinker Tue, 03 Jan 2012 08:00:05 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Bringing-up-a-6-year-old-Freethinker Bengaluru Freethinkers

[Image: 6Zclz.png]]]> Bengaluru Freethinkers

[Image: 6Zclz.png]]]> <![CDATA[Delete anti-religious posts: Delhi Court to networking sites]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Delete-anti-religious-posts-Delhi-Court-to-networking-sites Sun, 01 Jan 2012 05:47:40 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Delete-anti-religious-posts-Delhi-Court-to-networking-sites
[Image: 25-12-pg8c.jpg]

Quote:A Delhi Court on Saturday ordered 22 social networking sites, including Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, to remove all "anti-religious" or "anti-social" contents in the next one-and-a-half-month and file compliance reports by February 6, 2012. Additional Civil Judge Mukesh Kumar
related stories

Twitter to block Taliban's account?

passed the order on a suit filed by Mufti Aijaz Arshad Qasmi seeking to restrain the websites from circulating objectionable and defamatory contents.

Kumar had on December 20 issued summonses to the social networking sites and asked them to remove objectionable photographs, videos or texts that might hurt religious sentiments.

The order comes a day after a criminal court issued summonses to the sites for facing trial for allegedly webcasting objectionable contents. The court had also directed the Centre to take "immediate appropriate steps" and file a report by January 13.

Representatives of Yahoo India Pvt Ltd and Microsoft on Saturday told the court that they had not got copies of the order and complaint against them and pleaded the judge to provide the same. Qasmi's counsel told the court that he would supply the relevant documents to them.

Monitoring contents on the Internet, particularly those generated by users, has been a controversial issue and IT minister Kapil Sibal had recently raised the issue with representatives of some of these companies and discussed ways to ensure such contents are not posted.

The websites - asked to remove objectionable contents - include Facebook India, Facebook, Google India Pvt Ltd, Google Orkut, Youtube, Blogspot, Microsoft India Pvt Ltd, Microsoft, Zombie Time, Exboii, Boardreader, IMC India, My Lot, Shyni Blog and Topix.

A Google spokesperson told HT: "We comply with valid court orders wherever possible, consistent with our long standing policy. We're yet to receive the details of this order and can't comment on this specific case."

Yahoo, Microsoft and Facebook could not be reached for comments.

Source:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/technology...86483.aspx
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[Image: 25-12-pg8c.jpg]

Quote:A Delhi Court on Saturday ordered 22 social networking sites, including Facebook, Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, to remove all "anti-religious" or "anti-social" contents in the next one-and-a-half-month and file compliance reports by February 6, 2012. Additional Civil Judge Mukesh Kumar
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passed the order on a suit filed by Mufti Aijaz Arshad Qasmi seeking to restrain the websites from circulating objectionable and defamatory contents.

Kumar had on December 20 issued summonses to the social networking sites and asked them to remove objectionable photographs, videos or texts that might hurt religious sentiments.

The order comes a day after a criminal court issued summonses to the sites for facing trial for allegedly webcasting objectionable contents. The court had also directed the Centre to take "immediate appropriate steps" and file a report by January 13.

Representatives of Yahoo India Pvt Ltd and Microsoft on Saturday told the court that they had not got copies of the order and complaint against them and pleaded the judge to provide the same. Qasmi's counsel told the court that he would supply the relevant documents to them.

Monitoring contents on the Internet, particularly those generated by users, has been a controversial issue and IT minister Kapil Sibal had recently raised the issue with representatives of some of these companies and discussed ways to ensure such contents are not posted.

The websites - asked to remove objectionable contents - include Facebook India, Facebook, Google India Pvt Ltd, Google Orkut, Youtube, Blogspot, Microsoft India Pvt Ltd, Microsoft, Zombie Time, Exboii, Boardreader, IMC India, My Lot, Shyni Blog and Topix.

A Google spokesperson told HT: "We comply with valid court orders wherever possible, consistent with our long standing policy. We're yet to receive the details of this order and can't comment on this specific case."

Yahoo, Microsoft and Facebook could not be reached for comments.

Source:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/technology...86483.aspx
]]> <![CDATA[Greetings]]> http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Greetings--972 Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:01:49 -0600 http://nirmukta.net/Thread-Greetings--972 I am a little bit of an atheist, little bit of an apathesist, more of a humanist a little bit of a feminist, but more vary of the power of a collective, that under a banner of any name can harbor the crazies. I joined the community to introduce my self and because being a lurker is a bit creepy. Sorry to opine before introducing myself(I commented in the parenting thread). Though I lean towards personal freedom and 'don't care much' in general, I do believe there is a time a place to be thoughtful or active rather than apathetic(but that too is totally up to my judgement..heh).]]> I am a little bit of an atheist, little bit of an apathesist, more of a humanist a little bit of a feminist, but more vary of the power of a collective, that under a banner of any name can harbor the crazies. I joined the community to introduce my self and because being a lurker is a bit creepy. Sorry to opine before introducing myself(I commented in the parenting thread). Though I lean towards personal freedom and 'don't care much' in general, I do believe there is a time a place to be thoughtful or active rather than apathetic(but that too is totally up to my judgement..heh).]]>