Benkei

It does matter because it makes clear cultures are not monolithic structures and therefore aren't useful in a discussion about blasphemy laws as these...

Really? You went into this discussion with a clear position without knowing what you're talking about? :-O

First, there are two problems. The issue that certain countries do not have a separation of religion and state and the issue of blasphemy (and apostas...

My point is that it isn't a useful term for philosophical debate due to the issues I mentioned.

I'm not knowledgeable enough to have an opinion. What makes you say this? So far he seems pretty resilient.

I think talk of culture is not very useful. Where does one begin and where does it end? If they are separate, what does it mean people from one cultur...

Baby talk is vocal practise (which is 50% listening!) that babies are capable of imitating (the other 50%). Regular words are often just too hard and ...

I'm still trying to figure this out. One of the main things I already try to teach my 2 year old is to try-and-try again. Any skill takes time and eff...

https://www.government.nl/topics/immigration/contents/options-for-entrepreneurs-and-employees-from-abroad/orientation-year-highly-educated-persons Not...

Not for Americans as far as I'm aware. I didn't expect you to be interested. ;-)

I'm covered in the entire world for unforeseen, emergency care for those things covered by basic Dutch healthcare. It's easy for a health insurance co...

Woops. I accidentally answered yes as I read "are you open to religious conversation"...

As far as I know there are no scientifically verified personality tests, so to that extent I scoff at them all until I see some proof. Nevertheless, I...

I doubt he is. I think reality conforms to the way he sees it. What he disagree with shall be denoted as fake news. Or he has some alternative facts.

Raised Catholic, now an atheist with appreciation of the divine as a state of being.

The left - right distinction doesn't work. I personally appreciate the ranges social conservatism to social progressivism and economic laissez-faire t...

it might very well be a cultural difference. Most mods are European.

I'm suggesting that if you prefer cash over people, people are going to die.

As a reply to someone else when Sapientia or Wosret mentioned you were everyone's bitch - certainly not an interaction with you. I haven't interacted ...

Can you start refraining again? Mr. self-restraint and self-control?

A CEO as narrowly considered in the Anglo-saxon world as one who maximises shareholder return is successful when he externalises costs or tries to bri...

Hell yes.

too subservient and therefore off-putting in her view. Complicated woman...

There's nothing in the Qu'ran on "laws" against blasphemy and apostasy, as matters of faith are the provenance of Allah to judge. There are no wordly ...

Probably it was so for about 10-15% of the voters in favour of leave. That tends to be the average for most societies for those voters that let themse...

He will appeal. It's interesting to see that someone has purposefully sent out a youtube video that was edited in which he said the Qu'ran was lying. ...

Would you agree with my definition then or would you add or change something?

Lucky you, because you can learn these skills although I find them a million times easier to apply in a work environment than at home. It really start...

For starters this discussion really depends on what we mean with persuasion. I think persuasion is about getting others to do what I want them to do i...

There are several ways of persuasion available to us that have nothing to do with force or manipulation. The problem with force and manipulation is th...

Well done. You've just described alt-right Americans. So the Netherlands is entitled to ban all US citizens for these beliefs regardless of their acti...

There's a lot of outrage over it on the internetz because it was a homophobic comment according to the complainants. I rolled my eyes. Must be an Amer...

Factually untrue. He could work in any other EU country.

I was being puerile. It's not the end of the world when it's the end of mankind. I'm still worried about the latter.

We'll be gone long before the world has ended.

Nah. He's just old. Well over 40.

Not as good as Gandalf...

You've been funnier.

It's true that the US was far more openminded about immigration in the past than most European countries, to the point it even welcomed them explicitl...

A lady is never disagreeable, which makes them unsuitable as philosophers. You get to pick one; lady or philosopher. But not both. :P

really? There's a few women around but I'm not sure about ladies...

don't shoot him. Just saying, because violence seems to be in vogue across the planet.

Years ago my parents moved from the middle class to the upper segment that gets to mingle with the rich. It involved a move from a "volksbuurt" (pedes...

There's some work on "Young Marx" as opposed to "Mature Marx". The author I read on this simply states there's no such things as "Marxism" as a finish...

Western Culture is a term people can fill out as they see fit to meet their own expectations of it. Much like the term "freedom". It's often used to d...

So you're as old as God. From anyone else I'd consider that an exaggeration.

Damn. You're old.

That's a lot of war torn regions too - except for Turkey. But that country is quickly deteriorating into a fullblown dictatorship. They all have in co...

Answering repression with state-sponsored repression to make people free. Great plan!

Amateurs. Leiden University had its first university course in 1575 and Leuven probably before that. Tssk. Tssk. No wonder US law is such a morass, it...