1. We Urgently Need Your Help Now!!

Comment #197864 by thyrsis1971 on June 22, 2008 at 7:36 pm

I've sent my email as well, for what it's worth, and posted a copy on my blog. Here's the text (and I'm hoping that it's reasonably sensible, I was really tired when I wrote it), for anyone who cares:

"Governor Jindal,

I hope that you will neither sign nor allow to pass into law unsigned the piece of legislation before you known as SB733.

You have no doubt heard many arguments against this legislation already. If you should retain any vestige of your academic training, you will know that these objections are fundamentally correct. You will also understand that those who sympathise with the goals of this legislation do so from motives which are less honourable than they would claim. You've heard of the Wedge Strategy. You know the real motives of the Discovery Institute. If you don't, these things are easily discovered.

If you fail to veto this bill, not only will you demonstrate yourself to be sadly unworthy of the academic honours which you hold, but you will have shown your disdain for the real world and for the reputation of the State of Louisiana.

It will take work to undo the damage wrought by creationists acting in America and around the world. It will take time. Do you really wish to distract in the least from the work of saving this country - and possibly the world - from the bloody-minded follies of the last seven years to have to once again hash out this point?

I would urge you - do not allow this to pass. If you have any sense at all of the weight of this decision, you have but one choice: you must veto. Now. Do please locate your veto pen, Governor: the world is waiting."

2. Religious education as a part of literary culture

Comment #160747 by thyrsis1971 on April 14, 2008 at 11:01 am

*Sigh*. As ever, Professor Dawkins' rebuttal is better than http://skiingmountimprobable.blogspot.com/2008/04/mark-ravenscroft-doesnt-understand.html">mine - largely because he'd already written it in TGD. Thanks for the reminder - time to go back and re-read.

I must wholeheartedly agree about liking Wodehouse - scriptural allusions and all - too. I'm sure that Bertie Wooster's only genuine effort at anything in life was the work it took to win that Prize in Scripture Knowledge.