1. Vatican vetoes Barack Obama's nominees for US ambassador

Comment #364223 by jimbob on April 14, 2009 at 11:25 am

The USA already has 4 ambassadors to the vatican: Scalia, Thomas, Roberts, and Alito.

2. Toronto church leader denounces atheist 'attack ads'

Comment #329578 by jimbob on January 29, 2009 at 1:39 pm

"These ads are not saying what the atheists believe, they are attacking what other people believe," he said. "And if you look at the dictionary definition for ... bigot, that's exactly what it is, to be intolerant of someone else's belief system."

3. New Bus Campaign

Comment #319505 by jimbob on January 14, 2009 at 2:41 pm

I suspect that the current "stop worrying and enjoy your life" reinforces the [erroneous] notion that lack of religion promotes immoral hedonism. Thus, I suggest something like:

Heaven and hell? For goodness' sake, let's grow up and be happy and free!

...or, slightly longer:

There is no heaven and hell? For goodness' sake, let's grow up and be happy and free!

4. Catholics ordered to keep quiet over Virgin visions

Comment #318434 by jimbob on January 13, 2009 at 12:52 pm

I have a mole that resembles the virgin Mary on my ass. Will the whole team of psychologists, theologians, priests and exorcists have to look at it? How closely?

;-)

5. The religious find a friend in the law

Comment #317655 by jimbob on January 12, 2009 at 7:21 am

How about a longer message:

Don't waste your time praying to fictional characters from bronze-age mythology? Go do something that really helps the world!

6. Richard Dawkins on board with a pro-atheist message

Comment #317641 by jimbob on January 12, 2009 at 7:11 am

Great to see the campaign doing well. One tiny change I'd have liked to have seen would have been "gods" [plural]. That way, the point about most people already being atheistic with regard to most deities in history could have helped get the basic message across.

BTW, off topic but worth sharing: I just heard a George W from his farewell press conference this morning. He told the assembled media that they had "misunderestimated him" during his presidency.

For once, it's hard to disagree with him! ;-)

7. Wanted: More science and math teachers in the US

Comment #308123 by jimbob on December 29, 2008 at 1:48 pm

However, I think you'd agree that a BS in Biology (or chem, physics, etc.) is MUCH more demanding than a BS in physical education. Shouldn't more work be rewarded with higher pay?

8. Wanted: More science and math teachers in the US

Comment #308099 by jimbob on December 29, 2008 at 12:49 pm

I teach science in the US. There is absolutely no financial incentive to teach here. We are paid the same amount as gym teachers.

9. The Ten Days of Newton

Comment #306326 by jimbob on December 24, 2008 at 12:22 pm

One of Newtons inventions is missing! If you want to know what it is, and where to read about it, go to: http://www.samosbooks.org/astronomical_minds.html

The book is a great Solstice present!

10. President Obama: Bad News For the New Atheists and Other Fundamentalists

Comment #279101 by jimbob on November 5, 2008 at 2:36 pm

This without-superstition-life-has-no-meaning opinion is just that--an opinion!

The premise of this opinion seems to be along the lines of "I believe, therefore I am," and it's self-deceptive corollary seems to be "If you don't believe, you are not!"

Time will tell with Obama, but given the contrast with the likes of bible spice, I'm very optimistic!

11. Richard Dawkins embarrassed after death and subsequent resurrection

Comment #273930 by jimbob on October 29, 2008 at 12:18 pm

What's so remarkable about walking on water? Where I live (Minnesota) people walk across lakes several months of the year!

12. Why I left Young-earth Creationism

Comment #258756 by jimbob on October 2, 2008 at 10:36 am

Glenn, shrug off the rest of the dogma. You'll feel like the weight of a young earth has been lifted from your shoulders!

13. Coming soon: 'In God We Trust' tags

Comment #256466 by jimbob on September 29, 2008 at 6:53 am

If Florida were less religious it might be more apt to state the truth and have the following slogans:

In gouging tourists we trust!

and/or:

In exploiting minorities we trust!

14. Participating In Religion May Make Adolescents From Certain Races More Depressed

Comment #243153 by jimbob on September 5, 2008 at 8:09 am

It seems there is a new study on religion every couple weeks, and each time they take the opposite stance ... religion improves your health! .... religion makes you depressed .... religion makes you jump higher! ..... religion makes you impotent.

15. Palin's Church May Have Shaped Controversial Worldview

Comment #242143 by jimbob on September 3, 2008 at 12:23 pm

Oh man -- I thought the nutty preacher competition was a dead heat between McCain's and Obama's fruitcakes, but this Pastor Kalnins guy has just propelled the GOP into the lead!

Reinforces my long held view that it's better to be a licensed publican than a registered republican!

;-)

16. B.C. health official says mumps outbreak began with unimmunized religious group

Comment #238453 by jimbob on August 28, 2008 at 7:24 am

A concept these people don't understand:

herd immunity.

Even if they did, I wonder if they'd care about putting everybody else at greater risk?

17. No credit for creationism

Comment #232571 by jimbob on August 18, 2008 at 11:02 am

The blonde girl was priceless.

18. Daniel Dennett's Darwinian Mind: An Interview with a 'Dangerous' Man

Comment #232567 by jimbob on August 18, 2008 at 11:01 am

The Reverend Mackerel's God can co-exist peacefully with science. So can Santa Claus, who need not exist in order to make our yuletide season more jolly.

19. Catholic leaders block contraceptive advice for 30,000 Scots girls

Comment #232559 by jimbob on August 18, 2008 at 10:55 am

Apart from the obvious nonsense, a key point here is whether these catholic schools are taxpayer funded? If they are, UK taxpayers should be up in arms!

20. After Bibles seized, U.S. group won't leave Chinese airport

Comment #232552 by jimbob on August 18, 2008 at 10:51 am

What an irony to see one group of dogmatists stymied by another!

21. Poll: Should the motto 'In God We Trust' be removed from U.S. currency?

Comment #230186 by jimbob on August 14, 2008 at 12:03 pm

People should have to take a quiz before they vote:

On US currency "God" refers to:

A. Allah
B. Jehovah
C. Yahweh
D. All of the above
E. None of the above

Then we could all sit back and laugh at the confusion and stupidity!

;-)

22. How Our Culture Keeps Students Out of Science

Comment #225878 by jimbob on August 7, 2008 at 1:11 pm

Maybe Dilbert has something to offer on this topic?

On another note, don't go knocking self-esteem. The problem is not with this important motivational and mental health variable, but rather, is that many folks think it is a synonym for conceit.

23. The moment of truth

Comment #223384 by jimbob on August 2, 2008 at 6:26 am

Earlier I commented that one of the four horsemen should lead the campaign for the Dershowitz suggestion(http://www.rossde.com/editorials/Dershowitz_marriage.html).

Since some don't like the term "civil union," I suggest we should try to get Christopher Hitchens to lead the campaign.

Thereafter, the alternative to traditional marriage would be known as "getting Hitched!"

;-)

24. The moment of truth

Comment #223170 by jimbob on August 1, 2008 at 4:29 pm

I'm not going to quibble about the terminology Cairnarvon, it's the secular-religious distinction that counts.

Once again, I'll opine that Dershowitz has it dead right (see: http://www.rossde.com/editorials/Dershowitz_marriage.html).

I'd love to see one of the horsemen start pushing for this!

25. The moment of truth

Comment #223104 by jimbob on August 1, 2008 at 1:19 pm

Most of this is about marriage -- and it demonstrates the absurdity of welding the civil contract parts of it to religion.

We should all start campaigning for this change!

26. Workers' Religious Freedom vs. Patients' Rights

Comment #223059 by jimbob on August 1, 2008 at 11:35 am

Bush loves capital punishment, so wouldn't it be a bummer if his executioners refused for moral reasons!

27. Council ban on atheist websites

Comment #221154 by jimbob on July 29, 2008 at 11:47 am

witchcraft, priestcraft, imamcraft, rabbicraft, etc., what's the difference?

28. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220913 by jimbob on July 29, 2008 at 7:16 am

Of course the Catholic hierachy has a novel and sure method of contraception: learn to derive all sexual pleasure from grooming and raping choir boys- no babies ensue from THAT practice.

29. Texas State Board of Education approves Bible course for high schools

Comment #213913 by jimbob on July 19, 2008 at 8:19 am

Suggested disclaimer sticker for the textbooks:

This textbook contains material on religion. Religion is dogma and mythology, not factual, regarding the existance of living things and supernatural phenomena. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully, and critically considered.

30. Ten Commandments' of race and genetics issued

Comment #213105 by jimbob on July 18, 2008 at 7:08 am

As MLK observed, we should judge people on the content of their character, not the color of their skin.

For some reason I thought of that as I watched Reverends Jackson and Sharpton on the TV last night! (Bet a dollar Hitch will have something to say about that soon!).

As for me, when I fill in forms that categorize "race," I check "other" and write in "human."

;-)

31. The Return of Religion

Comment #211761 by jimbob on July 16, 2008 at 9:41 am

Strident? Keep telling the same porky pie and hope it will stick!

As for "satisfying the need." Yes, when life is confusing, an imaginary friend can be so comforting.

32. Fury at funeral songs ban

Comment #211702 by jimbob on July 16, 2008 at 8:59 am

Suggestion to the grieving family members: Tell the priest that you now realize why Hitler was such a fan of the catholic church (he admired their resistance to changing dogma) -- and then leave the church!

33. Periodic Table of Videos

Comment #210406 by jimbob on July 14, 2008 at 1:17 pm

My vote goes to secularium!

34. Church Cancels Teen Gun Giveaway

Comment #210252 by jimbob on July 14, 2008 at 6:46 am

Friday evening, Ross said the gun giveaway had been canceled. Pastor emeritus Jim Vineyard, who ran the event, injured his foot and wouldn't be able to attend.

35. Host Desecration is Old Anti-Semitic Nonsense

Comment #210250 by jimbob on July 14, 2008 at 6:43 am

You are what you eat -- ergo: god is crackers! ;-)

36. Faith schools undermined by 'Government witch hunt'

Comment #201749 by jimbob on June 30, 2008 at 7:59 am

"Faith" is still seen as virtue. Perhaps we should all start using the term "dogma schools."

37. Charles Darwin was not the father of atheism

Comment #201744 by jimbob on June 30, 2008 at 7:57 am

But it wasn't his science that destroyed his residual faith; it was the death of his 10-year-old daughter, Annie. Darwin's alienation from his former faith was driven by bitter personal experience, not cold, scientific analysis, as those who hail him as faith's nemesis might like to claim.

38. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #200278 by jimbob on June 27, 2008 at 8:33 am

All this marvelous discussion, but nobody has yet noticed the mistaken spelling of the prefix.

It's "Anus," not "Anous!"

(Unless that's the proper UK spelling!).

;-)

39. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #199130 by jimbob on June 25, 2008 at 8:11 am

Dershowitz has it dead right (see: http://www.rossde.com/editorials/Dershowitz_marriage.html)

I'd like to see Richard et al. get together with the like of Americans United to lobby for this.

If you agree, then show it by reinforcing this message!

40. What Happens When a School Board of Religious Zealots Will 'Lie for Jesus'?

Comment #197313 by jimbob on June 21, 2008 at 5:37 pm

I actually asked Dick Thompson, the attorney for the Thomas More Law Center, "What's your position on the 9th Commandment?" It was absurd to think that these reporters had made up anything, but yet that's what we were being told. We were supposed to treat that as no different than the fact that the school board members claimed they were telling the truth. It's that notion of "fair and balanced" -- "we print one side, and we print the other side, and that's it."

Another "Oops, there goes #9 again" moment.

This site should run a top 50 list of the best of these!

;-)

41. Science teacher dissed evolution

Comment #197187 by jimbob on June 21, 2008 at 10:05 am

By any chance was this wacko one of Chuck Norris' teachers?

42. Lawsuit filed over 'I Believe' plates in S.C.

Comment #196677 by jimbob on June 20, 2008 at 10:21 am

Republican House Speaker Bobby Harrell said residents asked for a way to express their beliefs, and legislators responded.

43. Darwinmania!

Comment #195454 by jimbob on June 18, 2008 at 8:47 am

I'd like to see a dual celebration since Abraham Lincoln was born on the same day.

44. Intelligent people 'less likely to believe in God'

Comment #192510 by jimbob on June 13, 2008 at 8:36 am

First, I have to admit to being convinced that race is linked to intelligence (members of the human race are typically much more intelligent than other animals).

Second, I'm also convinced that people with bigger feet have more sex (and there's a natural explanation for it).

Third, both points help explain why university folks are less religious (and I shouldn't have to explain why in this forum!).

;-)

45. Court Claim: Chimps Are People, Too

Comment #191129 by jimbob on June 10, 2008 at 9:14 am

Jimbob,
The president we elected was not a chimp. That would be an insult to Pan troglodytes, and certainly to Pan paniscus. The president we elected was a jackass (Equus aninus).

46. Court Claim: Chimps Are People, Too

Comment #191060 by jimbob on June 10, 2008 at 6:57 am

You Europeans are sooo behind the times. While you are arguing about whether chimps are people or not, we yanks elected one as president years ago!

;-)

47. The 14-year-old Afghan suicide bomber

Comment #191057 by jimbob on June 10, 2008 at 6:53 am

First, I have to say it's astonishing to find people arguing over spelling trivialities in a thread about child abuse and religion-sponsored murder.

The key question I have is why aren't the world's major religious and political leaders -- and the UN -- shouting their disgust at this sort of thing?

48. Is Science Killing the Soul?

Comment #180516 by jimbob on May 15, 2008 at 6:35 am

Sign me up for a "Soul 2" T-shirt!

49. 'Spiritual' dentist fined $10,000

Comment #180195 by jimbob on May 14, 2008 at 11:02 am

I guess there's some teeth in that verdict!

50. 85% of Americans Want a Presidential Debate on Science

Comment #179521 by jimbob on May 13, 2008 at 11:11 am

Great idea -- somebody ask McCain how, from a geological perspective, he can "see the hand of god in the grand canyon."