1. Richard Dawkins' US Tour begins this week

Comment #137988 by Pentecost on March 3, 2008 at 5:53 pm

I've got my ticket *gloat*. See you this weekend RD.

2. Christopher Hitchens on Real Time with Bill Maher

Comment #136857 by Pentecost on March 1, 2008 at 9:49 pm

@Saerain
Hitch has written about Romney vis-a-vis religion.
http://www.slate.com/id/2179404/
http://www.slate.com/id/2178568/
And briefly about Obama's church:
http://www.slate.com/id/2181460/

The criticisms about Obama's church seem to have more to do with the pastor and that single church, rather than the denomination. The United Church of Christ is actually one of the most progressive protestant denominations in the US - the only one I know of that will ordain gay ministers - and seems to be the lesser of all evils.

3. Christopher Hitchens on Real Time with Bill Maher

Comment #136853 by Pentecost on March 1, 2008 at 9:35 pm

Wow! Didn't realize this was the Bill Maher love-fest page. No need for people to get their shorts in a bunch. Maher is scientifically illiterate while arrogantly attacking people's characters for being "religulous."
@ Thanny. I would also add that Hitchens is an equally arrogant (though infinitely more entertaining) war-monger. I'm free to have these opinions and you are free to disagree, but try using an argument rather than taunting my lack of humour (or at least lack of interest in the sex and pot jokes that Maher beats to death. He'd probably get a kick out of robotaholic's Buddha ref.) And I'll look into that grown-up thing you mentioned.

4. Christopher Hitchens on Real Time with Bill Maher

Comment #136817 by Pentecost on March 1, 2008 at 7:08 pm

Since this is the clear-thinking oasis, I should point out that Maher has some crackpot theories about medicine. Plus, he is a raging misogynist and a poor comedian. He is the type of arrogant persona that turns people off to atheists.

5. Velociraptor and prehistoric co. breathed like birds: study

Comment #86236 by Pentecost on November 8, 2007 at 7:35 pm

Why is this a surprise? Everyone already knows that chicken tastes just like dinosaur!

Also:

http://pandasthumb.org/archives/2007/04/did-trex-taste.html

RD.net - Please keep posting cool science! It nurtures my souless psyche.

6. Why Christians should take Richard Dawkins seriously

Comment #80185 by Pentecost on October 20, 2007 at 1:42 pm

This article was just posted at 3quarksdaily. http://3quarksdaily.blogs.com/3quarksdaily/2007/10/why-believers-s.html

Repost your comments.

7. Fruit fly parasite's gene invasion raises questions over evolution

Comment #66783 by Pentecost on August 31, 2007 at 11:47 am

mdowe,

There are very few (known) examples of prokaryote (bacterial) genes becoming incorporated into a eukaryotic geome. This is a very exciting find for bacteriologists, at least.

-P

8. Vote for the Time 100 - Are They Worthy?

Comment #34581 by Pentecost on April 24, 2007 at 3:08 pm

Smile for the camera? Latigra? Blue Steel? Anything but rational curmudgeon.

9. For Some Hispanics, Coming to America Also Means Abandoning Religion

Comment #32226 by Pentecost on April 16, 2007 at 8:36 am

14. Comment #32220 by scottishgeologist on April 16, 2007 at 8:25 am

Scottishgeologist: lemme guess, you only go for rock oldies!
(I had to!)
-P

10. For Some Hispanics, Coming to America Also Means Abandoning Religion

Comment #32219 by Pentecost on April 16, 2007 at 8:20 am

"I need God in my life, but I told the pastor, I get sleepy," she said. "You have to stay in church from 1:30 to 5. I think if services were shorter, more entertaining."

Funny!

However, I would like to make the point that chistianity is so popular in America because it is NOT boring. Churches in America have to compete for members (and their money). Megachurhes are like rock concerts. Even smaller churches have choirs and multimedia performances. Sermons are getting shorter and after-service social receptions longer. And preachers are expected to be young, energetic, entertaining and charasmatic (e.g. ted hagggard, rick warren as the most well known) and selectively focus on the nice versions of god and jesus. And who, even here at richarddawkins.net, does not like gospel music?

11. For God's Sake

Comment #31644 by Pentecost on April 13, 2007 at 3:32 pm

62. Comment #31642 by briancoughlanworldcitizen

That will not happen any time soon. At the moment, the best we can hope for is a candidate that doesn't pretend to own a gun or hunt

12. For God's Sake

Comment #31641 by Pentecost on April 13, 2007 at 3:26 pm

#31638 by pissinintothewind:

I don't know. I'm a poor mind reader. However, I have read both of Obama's books, which give me the sense that his motivations for joining an historically black church are based on finding a community and cultural/racial identity and on his involvement in community organizing through the HBC. In addition he appears to distain irrational arguments, even religious ones, which leads me to believe that he is a closet atheist. Hillary, who I regretfully elected as my home state senator is a complete fake, who has only recently worn religion on her sleeve (or around her neck to be exact).

13. For God's Sake

Comment #31635 by Pentecost on April 13, 2007 at 2:53 pm

Re: the article. I'm a bit more optimistic than most here. I see the political power of the religious right unraveling. While rejection of religios superstitions may never fully happen in the US, the next presidential election will bring more rational people into the fold. However it irks me to see that front running candidates with viability (i.e. Obama and Clinton) still feel the need to present themselves as genuinely religious people.