Eeyore

Odds are that they exist among the ranks of people involved in important scientific and medical research (among many other crucial lines of work). And since the evidence seems to be that their sexual preferences - like those of all of us - are decided by biological processes over which they have no control, I'm not sure what killing them is supposed to achieve. Far better to get them to cooperate in studies that will help us better understand how the human brain works.

the_red_sheep

Pedophilia isn't a sexual preference per se though, it's a fetish. Biology would determine whether someone is gay, straight or bi, not whether they like people who are tall, small, old, young, fat, thin or someone who'll hang upside down and kick them in the nuts.

Castration rather than death is arguably the better way to deal with pedo's.

Eeyore

It's a difference in wiring in the brain. Paedophiles can't help their feelings any more than straight, gay or bi people can.

Millhouse

On that basis, we'll be letting them have civil partnerships with the kids in 80 years time and marriage about 15 years after that.

the_red_sheep

I think that’s very debatable, I’d suggest that it’s much more likely to be a learned behaviour picked up at the time of the individuals sexual maturity. Sexual preference, yes is in most cases biologically determined, whether someone is a paedophile, or is into necrophilia or bestiality is not.

the_red_sheep

Like they do now with old men and young girls in certain countries not so very far from here? Maybe the Middle East is more forward thinking than we give it credit for.

Eeyore

Not really. This is actually being studied by proper scientists, not lynch mobs, and the evidence is pointing clearly towards paedophilia being linked with brain structure and function.

Millhouse

that's good then. We can develop a screening test and kill them before they offend.

Boomhauer

In the Christianityn I was raised with, the New Testament supersedes the Old Testament. Whereas god in the later was a genocidal tribalist socipath, the former is one of compassion and pacifism.

Meow

I've never quite understood this. Both testaments form The Bible and are the basis of Christianity, so how can a Christian just pick the bits they want? If the Ten Commandments are in, isn't Leviticus too?

Millhouse

Isn't that the whole point of religion?

Meow

The point is control of the masses, but they do seem to pick the bits they fancy at any given time.

scrubbedexpat141

I think that's the only way religion can survive in these modern times.

I've got friends who are 'Christian' but accept the big bang theory...

You have to adjust to be able to keep subscribing to a religion because the overwhelming evidence is stacked against you.

This flawed logic, I actually find quite tolerable and almost endearing. If someone takes certain values from something I find pointless and it makes them happy / a better human / nicer, then so be it. If it provides some comfort, then who cares.

The problem with the extremists of any religion is their inability to see compromise and beyond all of the complicated contradictions.

britexpat76

“look carefully at any region of the world where you find intractable enmity and violence between rival groups today. I cannot guarantee that you’ll find religions as the dominant labels for in-groups and out-groups. But it’s a good bet.”

R.Dawkins.

Beaverstate

This is quite true.
I know several Mormon families and without exception they make the perfect neighbors.
I don't believe theirs or traditional Christian religion at all, but we get along just fine.