Now here is a really provocative article.

http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/pto-20070622-000002.xml

Some quotes:

"....one-half, one-quarter, or even one-tenth of a wealthy man is still better than an entire poor man."

"....The maternal instinct leads a woman to prefer a tenth share in a first-rate man to the exclusive possession of a third-rate one."

"Most suicide bombers are Muslim"

See for yourself.

Steven,

interesting article. few comments in order:

"Men like blond bombshells" depends on a variable of cultures (ie scandinavians as I lived in their culture prefer brunettes and or Afros, etc..)

"Human are naturally polygamous" I think its a choice.

"most women benefit from polygyny, most men benefit from monogamy"..Open statement, there is as many as 50,000 polygamy cases in one state in the US (South Dakota). Oprah Winfrey dedicated a whole talk show including interviewing 12 women married to the same guy. Google it.

"Most suicide bombers are muslims"
Not sure where does few thousands kamikaze and the Marxsit Tamil tigers fit in. Also, in the rationale of '72 virgins' the analyst ignored the Muslim female suicide bombers. They are surely not expecting 72 men.

"Beautiful people have more daughters"
Probably right.

"midlife crisi is a myth"
Disagree, I just turned 40 and feel the need for a motorbike and playing guitar again. Its very real for me:)

"its natural for politicians to risk...."
Not sure maybe applies to the US only.

"men sexually harass women because they are not sexist"
Good one. Although women complain more than men about harrasement.
Even with a clear harrasement most men would just ignore it and not report. I think women are more likely to report it than to ignore.

Peace,

Thanks Steven, lots of chuckles in reading this.

On 2. 'polygamy...allows a few males to monopolize all the females...' Google 'sneaky f*@&er' for an alternative take that explains all our shapes and sizes.

On 8 'Midlife crises is a myth- sort of'. Is the crisis the dilemma caused by the conflict of nature and morality? Or merely the realisation that we give up our breeding rights when we choose to stay monogamous?

On the last, the line 'long before women entered the workforce, men subjected each other to such abuse, intimidation, and degrading treatment'. Very true, although much of it in Oz culture is good natured, designed to prick egos too healthy by half, and less about power.

Steven..well done. Another interesting study and hence valuable thread here.

I note with interest the section on 'Most suicide bombers are Muslim' but FH has rightly challenged this on the 'numbers'.. ok..fair enough there. I don't know the figures so cannot be sure.

The point which seems not open to challenge though, is that 'when religion is involved, they are always Muslims'.. well actually I can challenge that mildly, recalling the self immolation of a few Buddhist monks in Vietnam during the war.

BUT...
a) Polygamy by nature will result in more competition for mating rights among men.
b) The portrayal of 'paradise' as where men have 'laid on virgins' for their personal pleasure. Lets be clear about this.. its SEXUAL pleasure we are talking about. Its not even anything to do with 'love'..its 'all about sex' and sensual pleasure. This is staggering considering the claims of Islam about 'holiness' etc.

It's as though allll human restraint required for harmonious social relationships is suddenly cast aside for the sake of fleshly and sexual pleasure.. using these females as 'sex objects'.

The extent to which this mentality permeates the mind of the 'enthusiastic muslim' is demonstrated in the reply to me from one who uses a lot of 'Australianisms' in his speech "mate".. "G'dayyy"...

I quote this in another thread, but it bears repeating here.

"beach babes ..all you can ask for, laid on.. for your pleasure, each time you sleep with them, they are 're-virginized' for your next time" etc... "No stool, no urine" I was stunned to read this. It amounts to 'refined sex objects'

So, for the male who's 'mating rights' seem limited in this life, the next offers much more. High motivation if you can persuade a young child or teenager:
a) The Quran is the absolute word of God
b) This is promised to him.

Still, this does not explain entirely the Muslim suicide bombers who already HAVE good mating opportunities, such as one of the London group who had a young wife and child.

To explain this, we must look further. (Theology? Politics?)

Boaz,

“I note with interest the section on 'Most suicide bombers are Muslim' but FH has rightly challenged this on the 'numbers'.. ok..fair enough there. I don't know the figures so cannot be sure”

Not really I have a feel for numbers and analysis in general. If you ratio back (ie percentage of suicidals to total percentage of followers) then Kamikaze, Tamil tigers (few thousands in tens of millions) are much higher than few thousands in a billion +.

The issue of female suicide bombers still has no rational explanation.

“Still, this does not explain entirely the Muslim suicide bombers who already HAVE good mating opportunities, such as one of the London group who had a young wife and child”

That’s actually a good point and the same can apply to Palestinians since mariiage cost nothing and polygamy is already accepted in Gaza and the West Bank. I would have thought a promise of 72 acres of land, a home with 72 rooms or a passport with 72 pages is a far better motivation than 72 virgins : -)

Peace,

FH.. yes.. I can relate to that about Palestinians ...

Female suicide bombers ? I think that is a result of simple brainwashing and desperation. They are convinced that it is a 'noble' thing to do, and perhaps they don't focus on the 'reward' aspect as much as the 'obedience' aspect. Without knowing more facts, it would be unfruitful to speculate on the nature of any theological motivation.

Oh 2night at Bible study we had a nice time (while I was awake that is :)... had a realllly hard workout last night (at gym) which left me so hpyer this morning I got up around 5 and started work immediately (beanie on head, scalf around neck, 2 windcheaters and a jacket, blanket under me on the chair..and over my legs.. so cold) by around 6 my 'hyper' condition receded and 'sleepiness' kicked in, and 2night, the full degree of tiredness hit me. Still... I gleaned 2 important points from the vid we viewed.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papias <- worth a read regarding Papias, who was discipled personally by John the Apostle.

The SHROUD....
http://www.shroudstory.com/faq-carbon-14.htm (PRO)
http://skepdic.com/shroud.html (CON)

All of this of course is exactly on topic :) (not) but hey..I'm sleepy and its late.. Steven will forgive me this time I hope.

Have a nice rest.. and be on the alert for 'interesting messages' which come to you by night :)