User talk:Baphomet.

Addition of Category:Superstition to Reincarnation
Dear Baphomet: Before adding controversial categories, such as Category:Superstition, to articles, such as Reincarnation, please make sure that the subject of the article really belongs in the category. The addition of a category to an article is considered a claim that the subject of the article is what the name of the category would suggest, and the article needs to contain information that backs your claim up, otherwise it will most likely be removed by another user. Best regards, NicholasTurnbull 22:25, 3 September 2005 (UTC)

I don't think it's at all controversial, no more so than the other categories. That the article does not mention what is a substantial, if not majority view that reincarnation is Superstition. The pseudo sience now added only makes this look more like a puff piece.--Baphomet. 23:26, 3 September 2005 (UTC)

Account suspension
Your username is confusing, as it ends in a period. Also, you have begun by changing around categories without any explanation. Please talk to us older contributors, about what you are doing before attempting to make any other edits. --Uncle Ed 23:16, September 3, 2005 (UTC)

The full stop was accidental. How can I remove it. As you are not my Uncle I find yours disturbing.--Baphomet. 23:42, 3 September 2005 (UTC)


 * I can change it for you, if you allow me to. -- user:Ed Poor 23:44, September 3, 2005 (UTC)


 * Please make a request at Changing_username. It only takes a minute, and I'd be happy to help you by doing this for you. :-) [[User:Ed Poor|] 23:47, September 3, 2005 (UTC)


 * It seems that User:Baphomet has already gone. I'll have to think of a new name and then ask for a change. Thank you for you help.--Baphomet. 01:00, 4 September 2005 (UTC)


 * Ok I have had it changed. Can I expect to cause as much excitement with any future edits?--WholemealBaphomet 02:18, 5 September 2005 (UTC)

Prayer
I have responsed on talk:prayer. Please also see the vote at categories for deletion. As for prayer itself, the article contains elaborate material that according to some (but by no means all) scientific studies, prayer does in fact have a beneficial effect. I think this is adequate to warrant its exclusion from your category. JFW | T@lk  11:13, 4 September 2005 (UTC)


 * There is no scientific evidence that prayer works. They only people to claim that have been a few US religious nutters, who wanted it to work, it has never been reproduced by independent researchers. As a doctor you should be ashamed of yourself pedling such rubbish.--Baphomet. 11:16, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

Provided you'd still like to discuss, I think Talk:Prayer is the appropriate forum. I have also responded there to your odd insinuation that as a doctor I should support your cause to label religious practices "superstition". JFW | T@lk  11:57, 4 September 2005 (UTC)


 * Do not communcate with me anymore. You have already shown your colours. I have no wish to converse with you.--Baphomet. 12:08, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

Your colour, dear Baphomet., is black and white. JFW | T@lk  13:34, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

Though your claim that there is no scientific evidence that prayer works is a valid claim, you should attempt to refrain from slurs and defamation. If commenting on a segment suggesting "scientific" evidence, I suggest that you provide counter points, remove biased links, and attempt to maintain NPOV and a standard of objectivity. Also please be careful in the reincarnation section, calling belief in reincarnation "superstition" in the article denotes a strong POV and violates wikipedia policy. --LucaviX 13:34, 4 September 2005 (UTC)
 * I don't beleive it's at all POV to point out the mainstreams view on a subject, and the offical view of Atheists, Christians, Jews, Muslims as well as science is that reincarnation is superstition. To not mention it is POV by omission, it is propaganda.--WholemealBaphomet 23:58, 4 September 2005 (UTC)

As to your claim of the idea of reincarnation being considered "superstitious" is the "official view" of Jews is entirely false. Reincarnation is a belief which is accepted by the Orthodox, particularly the Chassidim., and is a part of much of their literature and tales. Sufi Islam, the mystical branch of the religion, also maintains the belief in reincarnation. There are even some esoteric Christians who believe in reincarnation, as well. I would also venture to say that, even if these religions didn't hold any sort of belief in reincarnation, it is incorrect to say that they label it as "superstition." Superstition has nothing to do with unorthodox philosophical and cosmological beliefs and opinions; it is the incorrect belief in the sympathy or relation of certain actions and their consequences. For instance, it is superstition for me to believe that breaking a mirror is seven years bad luck. It is not superstition for me to hold to the notion of the transmigration of souls. It may certainly be incorrect (though personally I don't think it is), but it is not superstition. Furthermore, your crusade against articles with which you personally disagree is misdirected effort. If you want to demonstrate through statistics the majority beliefs of each sect in relation to a particular idea, you may certainly add a section stating your unbiased data; but an encyclopedia entry isn't the place to propagate your particular, subjective views.

Yogensha 14:49, 28 September 2005 (UTC)