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Comments by Barbara


1. It can be right to discriminate against the religious

Comment #202323 by Barbara on July 1, 2008 at 9:45 am

This is excellent news. However,...

I'm not so sure the girl who wasn't hired at the salon was wrong in suing the employer. Wearing a headscarf wouldn't impede her ability to perform as a hairdresser. If it's required that her hairdressing abilities be on display, she could keep a portfolio of her work at her work station. On the other hand, if the girl were refusing to perform a task that was essential to the job, of course, she should not be hired.

2. Richard Dawkins on Doctor Who

Comment #201109 by Barbara on June 29, 2008 at 3:54 am

I liked it. Richard spoke his lines convincingly. Good performance!

3. Stop distorting young minds!

Comment #199846 by Barbara on June 26, 2008 at 12:20 pm

(bolding mine)

... But failing that, religious indoctrination - which in a free society will occur, because one cannot outlaw religion itself, ...

If only it weren't so... just imagine.

4. Spanish parliament to extend rights to apes

Comment #199836 by Barbara on June 26, 2008 at 12:00 pm

I didn't mean to hijack the topic. It just seems logical to me that by recognizing the basic 'rights' of other species people would (might, hopefully) come to understand our NEED to keep them, and their environments, safe and healthy. It's all about sustaining a livable environment for all life.

5. Spanish parliament to extend rights to apes

Comment #199815 by Barbara on June 26, 2008 at 11:34 am

Vaal,

RAmen to that.

6. Spanish parliament to extend rights to apes

Comment #199809 by Barbara on June 26, 2008 at 11:30 am

al-rawandi,

That's true. But why wait for that to happen? Let's just stop having so many babies, dammit. ;) Most folks can't afford them anyway.

7. Spanish parliament to extend rights to apes

Comment #199797 by Barbara on June 26, 2008 at 11:15 am

al-rawandi wrote:

Hey I am all for reducing human populations. We need a couple more wars and a plan to euthanize stupid people, and I think we are on the right track.

Unfortunately, some people really think that way. There are much simpler, less devastating, ways to reduce the human population. I know I need not even mention what one of the biggest obstacles to this is. :(

8. Spanish parliament to extend rights to apes

Comment #199777 by Barbara on June 26, 2008 at 10:51 am

Any human 'rights' afforded non-human animals would have to be limited to the welfare of those animals (ie; protections from certain harms caused by human actions). I think this is a good thing and I hope these 'rights' will eventually extend to other animals as well. It may be just what is needed to curtail our encroachment on vital wildlife habitats and to help educate people on the problems caused by human overpopulation.

9. Science is not philosophy

Comment #198580 by Barbara on June 24, 2008 at 9:17 am

mordacious1 wrote:

Border

What was Eric's comment, my page shows a blank, someone deleted it?


I think that's the point Border Collie was making. Sometimes saying nothing says it all.

10. Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies

Comment #197977 by Barbara on June 23, 2008 at 2:50 am

Good night Mr. Carlin. You'll be missed for years to come.

11. The Mother, The Child, The School Board And The Psychic

Comment #195977 by Barbara on June 19, 2008 at 6:29 am

There's been so much worry over keeping religion out of our schools. And, now we have to worry about psychics too. Next, it'll be voodoo, or ghosts roaming around the classrooms. When will the insanity stop? This is depressing.

12. Vatican bans Dan Brown film Angels & Demons from Rome churches

Comment #194127 by Barbara on June 16, 2008 at 12:54 pm

It's fiction! It's intended as entertainment. I enjoyed 'The Davinci Code' and I plan to see 'Angels & Demons' when it's released. Some will like the movie, some will think it's crap. So what?

As far as shooting the film in the Vatican, I've never been there, never intend to go there, so I won't know the difference. I couldn't care less where this movie is filmed as long as the scenery reflects the feel of what the story is about. In my opinion, Tom Hanks is a top-notch actor and Ron Howard is a top-notch director. I doubt I will fail to be entertained by this new film.

13. Trailer for Religulous

Comment #190715 by Barbara on June 9, 2008 at 12:43 pm

I hope they invite the producers of Expelled to a preview,..........and let them watch it.

If they made a film of the procuders of Expelled watching the Religulous film,..........I'd pay to see it for the fun of watching them squirm in their seats. Well, maybe not.

14. A word for nonbelievers

Comment #189799 by Barbara on June 7, 2008 at 9:51 am

Note: I have not read all of the comments yet. I just want to add my 2 cents.

This billboard is a very good idea. Atheists who are afraid to "come out", because they suspect they will be ostracized by friends and family, need to know they are not alone. The organization of atheists, freethinkers, etc. is also a good idea even if their only goal is to demonstrate that atheism is not the evil it's so long been purported to be.

15. Stupid flies live longer: study

Comment #189192 by Barbara on June 5, 2008 at 5:58 pm

black wolf wrote:

Gee, this article doesn't answer any important questions.


Sure, it does! Now we know why humans don't live to be 900 years old like those goat herders we've heard so much about used to do.

16. The Great Evangelical Decline

Comment #188769 by Barbara on June 4, 2008 at 2:00 pm

As the true picture of evangelicals' problems has developed, panicked leaders are splitting into camps. Some say that the church is lax, soft, sold out. That what's needed is an even bigger dose of the medicine that the SBC fundamentalist takeover delivered. More authority, more strict interpretations of the Bible, more sermons about sin and suffering and sacrifice, more rigor about who is and who isn't getting to go to heaven.

(bolding mine)

An injured animal is chased down and finally cornered. The animal is afraid and tries to save itself with the last option it has. It bears it's teeth, growls loudly, and puffs itself up to appear more menacing. What it doesn't realize is that the people surrounding it only want to treat its' wounds and release it, safe and healthy, back into the world.

The animal is religion. Guess who the people are.

17. Senate bill allows display of Lord's Prayer, 10 Commandments

Comment #186420 by Barbara on May 30, 2008 at 9:13 am

Zoron said:

Well, like I keep saying USA is systematically turning into a ridicule of western civilization on so many levels now.

I hope USA will crumble economically and have the worst depression ever.


(bolding mine)

Thanks for your support. :-|

18. Mark Steyn vs. the 'Sock Puppets'

Comment #185744 by Barbara on May 28, 2008 at 12:18 pm

The world is going to Islam in a handbasket. I'm glad I chose not to have children. :(

19. Scientists discover 'frogamander' fossil

Comment #183644 by Barbara on May 22, 2008 at 12:08 pm

@ Kirk Cameron:

Take THAT, you moron!
_______________________________________________




P.S. The Atlas of Creation is a stunning, beautifully illustrated, work of crap.

20. MPs reject calls to cut abortion limit

Comment #182942 by Barbara on May 21, 2008 at 6:27 am

Has a determination ever been made as to what stage of development the embryo/fetus can feel pain? How early? For me, this would be a factor in deciding whether or not I'd consider abortion.

21. Texas Megachurch Minister Busted in Internet Sex Sting

Comment #181487 by Barbara on May 17, 2008 at 9:39 am

On May 6, Barron suggested meeting the girl in person. He eventually made the nearly 200-mile drive to Bryan on Thursday, when he was arrested. Police said they found a web-cam and condoms in his car.

There is no mistaking what this man was determined to do. Two hundred miles is a long way to drive to 'just talk' as is the claim made by so many of these predators.

Lock him away and never let him out!

22. The detail in the Devil

Comment #175999 by Barbara on May 6, 2008 at 10:35 am

And it happens to good people, Bradshaw theorizes, noting that targets tend toward the innocent, highly virtuous and unusually gifted. Bradshaw says diabolical inhabitations themselves are not unlike the scenario depicted in the horror classic The Exorcist, which, pea soup sprayings and spinning heads aside, is based on an alleged 1949 possession case involving a nine-year-old boy for Cottage City, Md.

"Hollywood trumps it up for dramatic effect, of course," says Bradshaw. "But I would say The Exorcist is the most accurate depiction of demonic possession."


As it happens, the town I called home in my childhood is just across the road from Cottage City, MD. If anyone is interested, a fellow named Mark Opsasnick has written a 5-part report that presents 'The cold hard facts behind the story that inspired "The Exorcist"'.

http://www.strangemag.com/exorcistpage1.html

The boy was troubled, but not possessed.

23. Life after Jehovah's Witnesses: website offers help to followers who lose their faith

Comment #175972 by Barbara on May 6, 2008 at 9:58 am

When the JW's come a knockin' I usually don't answer. I think I'll print some wallet-sized cards and keep them near the front door. The cards will have website addresses for exJW's and, of course, RD.net. When they hand me a pamphlet, I'll hand them a card.

24. For sale: 13-year-old virgin

Comment #160696 by Barbara on April 14, 2008 at 9:43 am

Nita is only 13 but has opted to follow her sisters into the trade. It is her own "choice", because, she giggles, "I won't have to do any housework."

In time, I suspect Nita will probably wish she had opted to sweep floors and scrub toilets instead.

This article left me nauseated.

25. In search of the God particle

Comment #157657 by Barbara on April 9, 2008 at 11:45 am

Okay! I'm completely ignorant about what this LHC thing can be used for. So, at the risk of making a complete fool of myself, I have a question.

If, when fully operational, the LHC will be the coldest place in the universe, will science be able to find a way to use some of this 'cold' to maybe stop the Earths' ice caps from melting?

My protective gear is in place. Let the onslaught begin.

26. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #157596 by Barbara on April 9, 2008 at 10:12 am

I haven't seen the interview yet. Based on the comments, so far, I'm all aflutter in anticipation. Does anyone know yet if this interview will be sold in DVD form?

Animavore wrote:

Dawkins states at the beginning of this interview that he is thankful to be living in such an era as this one but, I ask you, thankful to whom?

Think of it as 'linguistic shorthand.' The way Richard uses the word 'thankful' is a common way of saying 'happy to be so fortunate.' To have a feeling of gratitude or thankfulness doesn't require that there be a particular someone to be thankful to.

27. Get out of here, atheists!

Comment #156385 by Barbara on April 7, 2008 at 12:44 pm

Probably not quoted exactly:

I don't see you fightin' against guns in school.

I'm pretty sure Rob Sherman would speak against it if someone was lobbying to allow guns in school.

That lady sounded alot like a preacher. You know the kind that start in normal tones and then screech at you when it's point-makin' time.

EDIT: Oops! I see room101 has already made the 'preacher' connection.

28. Vatican: Islam surpasses Roman Catholicism as world's largest religion

Comment #153190 by Barbara on April 1, 2008 at 7:26 am

Vatican: Islam surpasses Roman Catholicism as world's largest religion

Let's look at the bright side. There are still lots more of 'us' (non-Isamic Faith-heads) than 'them' in the world.

29. 'We Make Our Own Heaven'

Comment #151498 by Barbara on March 28, 2008 at 9:10 pm

Nightline just aired this story. It looks more like a community gathering. They have food, games for the children, songs, and story telling.

Then comes the 'teaching how to think for yourself' part. Peter Bishop and some of the children (I could only see a few and they looked like 10 to 15 years old) were sitting at a table and discussing I-don't-know-what. It looked like an informal classroom setting. One could get the impression that Bishop was preaching to the kids.

From the little 8 year old girl, I felt like she was saying what she thought her parents wanted to hear. I kinda felt sorry for her.

It's not a bad place but I wouldn't take my kids there without first checking it out for myself over several visits.

30. 'We Make Our Own Heaven'

Comment #151467 by Barbara on March 28, 2008 at 7:48 pm

I'm not sure how I feel about this weekly 'humanist'/free-thinker gathering. The little girl sounds like a robot (in print).

31. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #150397 by Barbara on March 26, 2008 at 8:40 pm

Wow! I'm soooo late to this party. My apologies, Richard.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Luv ya,

Barbara

32. God's cure for gays lost in sin

Comment #146516 by Barbara on March 19, 2008 at 6:51 am

One option presented to the man was to force himself into a heterosexual relationship. In the meantime, he was removed from his leadership role in the church and isolated.

Wow! Shunned and isolated from the church community. Told to force himself into a relationship with someone to whom he's not attracted. That'll fix him.

Idiots!

33. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #145565 by Barbara on March 17, 2008 at 5:58 pm

A spokesperson from each of the 15 sects of Christianity in my area were asked to read, and comment on, the above article. The unanimous opinion given is paraphrased below:

Whatever God the people at Mercy Ministries prays to is not the God we worship. It is our opinion that those people are not 'true' Christians.

[/fictitious story]

34. Crossing the Divide

Comment #140334 by Barbara on March 7, 2008 at 6:35 am

#17 Goldy wrote:

It is this that makes me feel like Dawkins when he talks of religion being child abuse (I paraphrase - but I think we all know what he meant). However, I have to try and think on the other side - if this fear of Hell is real, then I can see why parents would want to keep their children safe. So it isn't child abuse.

This is something I think about often. I try to imagine what it must have been like to be a parent during the crusades and inquisitions. Seeing that people were being horribly tortured and killed because they didn't believe the 'right' things, parents would have been extremely fearful for the safety of their children. I can understand why a parent would have taught their children to 'believe', simply to ensure their safety. Of course, the children would one day be parents themselves and teach their own children to 'believe'... and on and on it goes, generation after generation.

So, when todays' parents indoctrinate their kids, they are not intentionally committing child abuse. They really think they're doing the right thing. I'm sure most of you will agree that we can't permit this to continue for many more generations.

35. How to abandon your God

Comment #139465 by Barbara on March 5, 2008 at 11:06 pm

Andrew Stich

without the spaces:

< blockquote > Text < /blockquote >

36. Fleas on the Horizon: In Defense of God

Comment #138513 by Barbara on March 4, 2008 at 1:10 pm

My response to this article is at
http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6536518.html

I had to make my points via a series of posts because of the limited space allowed for each comment. So far, I'm the only person to make any comment there.

37. Leaving the Faith

Comment #136281 by Barbara on February 29, 2008 at 5:07 pm

You know he's forty, right? :)


I'd like to be forty again.

38. Fleabytes

Comment #130525 by Barbara on February 20, 2008 at 7:08 pm

Paula,

What can I say that hasn't been said? You've written a wonderfully brilliant article/review. It was a pleasure to read. All of the praise you've received (and more) is well deserved.

Congratulations!

39. A match made on RichardDawkins.net?

Comment #128488 by Barbara on February 17, 2008 at 6:57 am

It feels weird to be so happy for two people whom I've never met.

Yorker and Veronique,

Congratulations and all the best to you both.

40. My Saudi Valentine

Comment #126745 by Barbara on February 14, 2008 at 5:54 am

Saudi Arabia is the ultimate authority on romance. It's examples of love and companionship between men and women is something to which we all should aspire.

*puke*

Happy Valentine's Day

41. What he wishes on us is an abomination

Comment #125264 by Barbara on February 11, 2008 at 6:37 am

Surely a greater impact could be made by someone with Yasmins profile renouncing the faith and then saying loud and clear why. It would give courage to others that they can just walk away. In Western countries they are not going to be 'hunted down and killed' for doing this; or if they are their murders should be treated as such and their killers prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

Ian,

Not being familiar with Yasmins' profile, I can only assume she is somewhat well known. Yes? If so, there's a difference between her and the average muslim woman. Yasmins' death at the hands of fundamentalists wouldn't go unnoticed and might result in the capture and conviction of the person who killed her (would the killer be deemed a martyr then?). However, the message to other muslim women would be sent loud and clear.

Yasmin may indeed be a real believer. Only she can know for sure. Either way, I hope she's able to make real changes that enlighten and better the lives of all of those who are oppressed and persecuted in the name of Allah.

42. What he wishes on us is an abomination

Comment #125234 by Barbara on February 11, 2008 at 5:27 am

@ Ian Bamlett:

Many of us have wondered why moderates don't speak out against the fundamentalists. This brave woman is doing that. She seems to want to make changes (for the better) from within this vile religion. If those changes can be made, in time, those who wish to leave can "Just get OUT and renounce the whole rotten filthy barrel" without being hunted down and killed for it.

43. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124822 by Barbara on February 10, 2008 at 10:29 am

There really are atheists who hate America. They are closeted in Iraq.

[Bad joke! Sorry!]

44. Happy Birthday Josh Timonen!

Comment #118973 by Barbara on January 31, 2008 at 8:27 am

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOSH!

Thanks for all of your hard work. A glass will be raised in your honor later today.

Barbara

45. Dawkins is third most prolific internet Briton

Comment #117749 by Barbara on January 29, 2008 at 2:25 pm

Congratulations, Dr. Dawkins!

@ tedlove:

Thanks for the youtube link. Lovely! Got anymore recommendations for us deprived Americans?

46. The devilish church practice of exorcism

Comment #114428 by Barbara on January 22, 2008 at 7:49 am

There's a long way to go yet. All I can say is, thank goodness that we have the Four Horseman and others to articulate our opposition to religion and its' vile effects. The internet also helps to inform and motivate more people than ever before.

Religion must die!

47. Ethical storm as scientist becomes first man to clone HIMSELF

Comment #113701 by Barbara on January 20, 2008 at 11:03 am

Please bear with me as I don't really understand how this works.

In a breakthrough certain to provoke an ethical furor, Samuel Wood created embryo copies of himself by placing his skin cells in a woman's egg.

Does this mean the skin cells from Samuel Wood came from a skin scraping?

If the embryo copies were not created by uniting sperm with egg, then how can anyone claim these embryo copies have a soul? (Doesn't the Christian Bible say something like 'Every sperm is sacred'?) Surely, these embryos couldn't possibly have souls since no sperm was used in their creation. Without a soul, where does the objection to stem cell research come from?

48. George Scales, War Hero and Generous Friend of RDFRS

Comment #111396 by Barbara on January 14, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Dear George,

Thank you so much for your generosity to RDFRS. It is a wonderful cause and people like you deserve recognition.

Good luck with your operation. With medical science doing truly amazing things these days, chances are you'll be up and back at 'em very soon.

Best to you,

Barbara
Maryland, USA

49. Why people believe weird things about money

Comment #111241 by Barbara on January 14, 2008 at 5:56 am

windweaver wrote:

Barbara, the article below may provide an answer for your husband's behaviour. There's a lot of clinical evidence to support the thesis that hoarding behaviour in humans is a form of OCD.

Thanks for the link. I should be grateful it isn't worse than it is but I think that's partly because I (try to, as best I can) keep it to a minimum. It is irritating though.

50. Why people believe weird things about money

Comment #111229 by Barbara on January 14, 2008 at 5:15 am

58. Comment #111193 by Darwin's badger

Off at a tangent slightly, my wife had the habit when we were younger (and considerably poorer) of buying things that we wouldn't need for ages with money that we needed at the time. "I've saved x..."

"Okay, can I have x, we need y."

"Hmmm..."

To be fair, it wasn't like she was blowing it on frivolous things, but when you're living hand to mouth, a winter coat bought in the spring sale for next winter can feel like one's priorities are slightly out of sync.

I think I'm on your wife's side on this one. Something like a warm coat for next winter is a prudent purchase when you consider how expensive they are when it's cold outside.

My husband doesn't make these thinking-ahead kinds of purchases. He buys stuff we really don't need. For example, we have 3 weed wackers, 3 rakes (we used to have 6), and 4 snow shovels in the garage. The worst thing about this is he refuses to sell or get rid of the ones he doesn't use. In nearly 19 years of marriage, I've never been able to figure out why he does this.

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