1. Youngest galactic supernova (not aliens) found

Comment #180267 by condorito on May 14, 2008 at 12:57 pm

Also, if it's 28,000 light years away how could anyone have seen it so soon after the event. Surely the light would take 28000 years to get here, or am i being stupid? "

Surely it is 28,140 years old. The light reached Earth at the time of the American Civil War, but had already been travelling for 28000 years.

2. Pope's 'morning after pill' speech criticized

Comment #83775 by condorito on October 31, 2007 at 8:15 am

"It's always odd to hear about countries like Chile that are more socially progressive than the U.S. "

hmmm too bad the oligopoly in the pharmaceutical industry has colluded and won't sell the pill, despite the law that forces them to. They say they'll rather pay the fine.

3. Argentine Church Faces 'Dirty War' Past

Comment #71261 by condorito on September 18, 2007 at 8:35 am

Teapot Believer:

To be fair, I have to say that actually in Chile things were different. A significant part of the church opposed Pinochet's regime.

Diverse christian churches and the chilean jewish community, headed by Cardenal Raul Siva Henriquez, formed the "Comité Pro-Paz" (pro-peace committee), which provided social and legal assistance to those who were arrested or tortured by the military.

Two years after the coup, Pinochet dissolved the committee.

Later, the famous "Vicaría de la Solidaridad" was formed by pope Paul VI by request of Cardenal Raul Silva Henriquez. This institution survived through the whole military regime, continuing the work of the committee.

Of course, these remarkable actions where not performed because of their beliefs (which can justify anything, from total support of the military, to total opposition. Pinochet himself was a devote catholic). They helped because they were in a position that allowed them to do so. If you were not a member of the church and you helped someone who was hunted by the regime, you would have ended in the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

Needless to say, this has nothing to do with whether their beliefs were true or false. Of course every religion is idiotic superstition, but that's not the subject here.

4. Must the US president believe in God?

Comment #57657 by condorito on July 20, 2007 at 12:59 pm

Hello everyone,

Comparing with the US, it's very odd that Chile's president is a socialist, single mother and agnostic.

I mean, Chile is by far the most socially conservative country in Latin America. We didn't have a divorce law util a few years ago, and (even theurapetic) abortion is illegal, etc.

How can one explain such difference?

Maybe it is the case that in my country atheists ar far less outspoken and much more outnumbered, than in the US. Hence, the religious conservatives aren't even concerned about atheism.