You are 600 Megabytes
Yes it is true. your DNA is about 600 megabytes compressed, making it smaller than any modern operating system like Linux or Windows.
That is a downer for some, who regard themselves as mystical and profound creatures. For others, like myself, it is very re-assuring and an explanation for my many mistakes. Hey, I am not perfect, I am just 600 Megs!
Remember those times when you converse with people in a meeting, party or any other given social situation and no one agrees with your story. You, the story teller, are absolutely sure you are right, you feel it, have actual proof for it, you dream about it, but you simply can’t convince people to think alike. Think like you that is.
Eventually you will start to doubt yourself, however strong your belief is. People are social creatures and their ideas and beliefs need to be validated by others. if not, you will loose faith.
This is what happens to people in any religion. It is extremely aggravating to them when others do not believe their stories. It makes them doubt themselves, eventually. The price for that is too high: they will loose their perspective on life, their bases, everything.
In order to avoid the point that they will doubt their reassuring stories they must change their environment. Others must convert and believe your story, or they will be stigmatized as outcasts, yes, even elimination and violence is justified to keep the story alive. All for the good cause.
Creationist are such a group of people raised to battle the ever growing herd of unbelievers and believers in the “wrong” (non Christian) ideas. Creationists make many claims to support their beliefs and to “emulate” real science that plays by strict scientific rules and a high degree of objectivity.
Embarrassingly, in the 21st century, the USA, the most scientifically advanced nation the world has ever known, creationists can still persuade politicians, judges and ordinary citizens that evolution is a flawed, poorly supported fantasy. They lobby for creationist ideas such as “intelligent design” to be taught as alternatives to evolution in science classrooms.
“Creation science” is a contradiction in terms. Intelligent-design theorists invoke shadowy entities that conveniently have whatever unconstrained abilities are needed to solve the mystery at hand. Rather than expanding scientific inquiry, such answers shut it down.
Why can’t religion “adopt’ true science, science that plays by proven and empirical tested rules? After all, science could well be the search for God and easily integrated with any religion.
Just because we are those people at parties or meetings that want to be heard, believed and validated. We are social creatures and feel embarrassed if our stories come up as fraud. We loose face and face is all we have.
This is why rational arguments will never convince creationists and other religious driven people. They are not interested in rationality but in social validation. All debates between religion and science will end in nothing. Why? Because we are just 600 Megs and 600 Megs is all we got.
Scientists know this but their stories are not as appealing, reassuring, simple and whole as those of their counterparts. People have a propensity to adopt simple and loud stories. Unfortunately.
Open all your 600 Megs to new ideas 
Nicely written article Padek, one thing that I’ve learned in life is that you don’t discuss religions amongst friends, if you still want to keep them, that is. “We loose face and face is all we have,” seems like loosing face is a big deal for Laotian people, which I don’t understand.
Interesting post. Is it possible to have religion science?
I don’t mind discussing religion with others, only if the other party brings it up. A serious conversation will not change the way I think.
I don’t think anyone should read into much of “We loose face and face is all we have” part. It is not aiming at anyone in particular, or any race, or any religion. Of course the picture of one particular religion might make people think it is toward one group of people.
Losing face (you can all it credentials, prestique, reputation, etc.,..) is a big deal for anyone, whether your are a president of the USA, a famous movie star, or a gardener.
I found this one article by Richard Dawkins and one part about religion being inherited made me think about my own belief.
[...] DJ: Interesting post. Is it possible to have religion science? I don’t mind discussing religion with others,… [...]
Hi DJ, I honestly think that Padek article was well written
I think a post such as this forced some of us
(not saying it in a sarcastic manner), his showing a photo of monks doesn’t make
me feel insulted as a Buddhist…when I saw your comment, it made me feel like
Padek and I can’t be in the same room, ‘post’ as a matter of speaking.
to think a bit more about our beliefs…but I’m sure we all perceived his message
in a different way, for we all have different level of knowledge and understanding
about the subject matter, the topic of religions are not in black and white,
and there’re no black and white solutions …we all have to come up with an answer
that we can live with.
I’ve noticed that it is a big deal, especially the Thai and
Lao people about loosing face…they might do things that’d not benefit or even
make sense at times to avoid loosing face, some even try to out do others…knowing
full well that they lack the resource and capacity to do so, but yet, must do, so that they
won’t loose face. Sometimes I think its rediculous; assuming
if I loose face…life goes on, big deal, no need to cry over a spill milk.
Most people don’t like it when other people point out their flaws, but
how one would improve if people around you were afraid to point things out to
you because they’re afraid that you might loose face…I, on the other hand welcome any suggestion…and yes I will definitely open all my 600 Megs for new ideas. :) (if I have that many)