Dear Santosh:
You know what? Don�t you think that with all your talent, intelligence and brilliant scientific mind, you could contribute to science and scientific work by say helping put man in Mars; finding cure for cancer or AIDS, or inventing substitutes for Gas(oline) for the many (SUVs) vehicles that consume millions of gallons of Gas (oil) over which wars are fought? Wouldn�t we Goans be really proud of you, for any such invention or contribution to the community.
Don�t you think it is a pure waste of your talent and time to invest in your ridiculing people for their religious beliefs?
Let me give you a glimpse of your sense of scientific explanations ridden with �cheap shots� -- provocative, and offensive remarks and subsequent delusive apologies from your (Santosh Helekar�s) past posts. Let the audience decide what right Santosh has to make such obnoxious and objectionable remarks:
Santosh, I invite you to re-examine a few of your earlier statements below:
Joe Vaz wrote:
I had cited just two examples of a miracle by definition: Red Sea parting as depicted in the movie "The Ten Commandments" (i.e., not simply a low tide); JESUS RAISING THE DEAD MAN LAZARUS TO LIFE (John, xi).
Santosh Helekar wrote:
As I alluded to before, NOBODY SAW THESE GAMES. Joe Vaz, Have you seen them?
THE ABOVE MIRACLES ARE AN APPEAL TO IGNORANCE because those who insist in the literal reality of these events are asking people to believe in things that are in violation of scientific principles and everyday experience.
In response Joe Vaz wrote:
IMHO (In my humble opinion), your statements above are insulting,
outrageous and totally out of line, in the context of the biblical examples cited above.
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Here�s a post by ROHIT, and Santosh Helekar�s rebuttal:
On Wed Jun 19, 2002 - "santoshhelekar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Subject: Re: [Goanet] re: Canonization
Rohit <Satyamevajayate2�> wrote:
Now, if you guys like to hoist yourself on the pedestal of rationalism, go ahead. Leave the Catholic Church alone! Your cheap potshots at the Catholic Church speak more about your intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy than a faith and tradition that is more than 2000 years old.
"And the forces of evil shall not overcome it."
Rohit.
In response "SANTOSH HELEKAR" wrote ridiculing Rohit on GoaNet:
Dear Bhatcar Satyamevajayate,
Thanks for your email. We have already filed for protection in the
bankruptcy court. If you are asking for donation for a religious cause, we have no money to contribute in your pot-shot. We can only provide you moral saapport against the forces of evil. These evildoers have to be punished. We can send Forsu to hoist your flag on a pole. He cannot hoist it on the pedestal because both pedestals of his cycle are broken. Forsu charges Rs. 25 for this job. You will have to pay the money. We are bankrupt. Please give him Rs. 50. We want Rs. 25 for eating.
Forsu will meet you near the Catholic church alone. 2000 years old? No, it is only 200 years old. Regarding rationalism, our society is closed. All ration cards have expired. You cannot do tradition on our stock market right now. You can only play motko in Bosteaoanchem bar. You can also drink a lot of spiritual drinks there. You can become an intellectual after drinking spiritual drinks.
Yours faithfully,
President Pandurang Fernandes Dhovi Khopti Independent Republic of Chimbel ----------------------------------------
AN APOLOGY BY SANTOSH HELEKAR:
--- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
I also deeply honor the pious belief that the act of canonization by the Pope is an infallible and irrevocable act.
Finally, I would like to apologize to all who took offense in my above statements, and in anything I wrote in any of my previous posts on this subject.
Sincerely,
Santosh Helekar
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Now, let me briefly respond to your questions from your recent post:
Joe wrote:
I don't see the need for you to critique and criticize a simple yet harmless statement of faith such as "God is Love" or "Peace is one of God's gifts".
Santosh writes: [So you really don't see the need to appreciate another point of view.]
Joe�s response:
Yes, everyone has a RIGHT to his point of view, but has NO RIGHT to be disrespectful and ridicule other people�s religious beliefs.
Joe wrote:
However, I'd rather you challenge the scientific community on something worthwhile than ridiculing some fellow human's belief in God. IMO, it is a futile effort on your part, -- to try scientifically refute the existence of God, -- something you know is simply impossible. "Providence" is not something you can deny or deduce/refute through scientific experiments.
Santosh wrote: [I am sorry, but as usual you are mischaracterizing what I am trying to do. I have never ridiculed people's belief in God. I have never tried to scientifically refute the existence of God. I don't think it is even possible to do such a thing. Those who have followed the arguments I have presented in this forum over the years would have realized that I am merely trying to provide rational explanations for natural events for the benefit of people who are receptive to such explanations.]
Joe�s response:
I don�t know if you are saying you have �selective memory� of what you said, or you deliberately choose to do so. You can revisit your past remarks -- reproduced above to refresh your memory. Then, what would you be apologizing for, if there were no wrongdoings by you?
Joe wrote:
I am certainly not saying you are stupid, the point is you are a smart, intelligent human being who hopefully can allow a poor soul to live with his/her belief, and not stoop so low as to ridicule every person that ventures to mention God or `peace', without any malice toward none.
Santosh writes: [Thanks again on stupidity. I already occupy a rather lowly position. It is not possible for me to stoop any lower. But things look pretty good from down here.]
Joe�s response: It amuses me, regarding your claim on stupidity.
It is you <Santosh Helekar> who wrote:
<Must be a really stupid professor. The analogies presented by the student do not make any sense at all.>
Santosh, can�t you recall that it is you who called the Professor stupid? I added saying, yes: Stupidity is absence of wisdom.
-----
Santosh writes:
[As far as ridiculing others is concerned, I recognize that you have that singular privilege. That recycled chicken-crossing joke about the Buddha that you circulated some time ago, was well-deserved ridicule of those who dare to hold beliefs different from yours, even though it was only moderately funny. The scornful anecdote about the atheist professor who was stumped by the pious student was very appropriate as well.]
Joe�s response:
Santosh, my friend, now you are making false accusations. Please show me in what fashion or form I ridiculed Buddha? If not, please hold you peace.
As far as recycling is concerned, it can be done in many forms. Are you telling me that what you said in the following statement is not �recycled� explanations of science, or do you claim it to be your own invention?
Santosh wrote:
[�Hundreds of scientific experiments have demonstrated that heat is a measure of the motion of molecules,...�]
Finally, my friend Santosh, can you explain the following superstition and its relevance:
--- In Goanet2003, "Santosh Helekar" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in:
GOENCHEM PRIZE ...
The prize will consist of a citation plaque and Rs. 13,666 (Thirteen thousand six hundred and sixty six rupees). THIS PRIZE AMOUNT, donated by three anonymous Goans, IS CHOSEN BECAUSE IT CONTAINS THE UNLUCKY NUMBERS 13 AND 36, AND THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST 666.
Santosh, don�t tell me that your UNLUCKY 13 & THE NUMBER OF THE BEAST 666 are irrelevant, -- and then claim that all the rest of what you wrote in �Goenchem Prize� is relevant.
For you say that many distinguished scientists think that science & God cannot co-exist in a human mind. Therefore, I ask, do these same �distinguished scientist� think that 'superstition' and 'science' can cohabit in the mind of a scientist?
Of course, I can understand your quest for being some kind of a celebrity among the younger generation, and that�s okay, -- but please don�t do it at the cost of ridiculing any religion or religious beliefs.
SCIENCE HAS NOTHING TO SAY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER ABOUT THE EXISTENCE OF GOD OR ABOUT PEOPLE�S SPIRITUAL BELIEFS.
I wish you well, my friend Santosh Helekar.
Best wishes,
Joe Vaz
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They are beautiful. They are in danger. http://server1.msn.co.in/Slideshow/BeautyoftheBeast/index.asp Our four-legged friends.
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