1. Anti-Evolution Film Misappropriates the Holocaust

Comment #172635 by Skepticon on April 29, 2008 at 8:08 pm

"Hitler did not need Darwin to devise his heinous plan to exterminate the Jewish people and Darwin and evolutionary theory cannot explain Hitler's genocidal madness."

No, but Hitler needed Christianity! Hitler united Catholics and Protestants against the Jews. No small task that. Positive Christianity was a key plank in the Nazi party platform. I understand why the ADL can't say that publicly, but they should.

2. Soldier Sues Army, Saying His Atheism Led to Threats

Comment #169620 by Skepticon on April 26, 2008 at 12:14 pm

What about the officer who berated Specialist Hall? What does it say about our military officers when they lack a fundamental understanding about the US Constitution? Are they not required to take an oath to DEFEND the Constitution?

3. Darwin's original theory of evolution goes online

Comment #164266 by Skepticon on April 19, 2008 at 10:57 pm

I was fortunate to see a exhibition of Darwin's work at the Chicago Field Museum. Most of the documents were facsimiles, but inspiring nonetheless. I just love looking at the handwritten notes and like to think that my lack of penmanship, childlike diagrams, and awkward sketches might turn into something as beautiful as Darwin's work -- probably not, but still the illustrations inspire me.

4. Rep. Davis: The Worst Person in the World

Comment #157808 by Skepticon on April 9, 2008 at 2:49 pm

Here's what I sent:

Three cheers for you Representative Davis for sticking it to those lousy Atheists!!!!

Who are they to demand equal rights! Who are they to want a say in our representative government!

Only people who look and think like us should be allowed to speak!

You're a Christian, right!

You're a white person, right!

Then you just go on demanding that everyone be just like you.

You can count on our support -- we support our own kind!

Cornelius T. Veritas,
Citizen of the United States"

5. CEAI Action Alert for Science Teachers

Comment #154125 by Skepticon on April 2, 2008 at 6:02 pm

As I was reading the introduction, I assumed he was against The Florida Family Policy Council (FFPC) since it, "is a state based pro-life, pro-family, pro-marriage educational advocacy group that is associated with Dr. James Dobson and Focus on the Family."

That intro alone cuts his credibility to zip.

And can't we petition to revoke the title "Dr." from Jimmy Bob Dobson? It really dilutes it.

6. Deadly Sins 101

Comment #144199 by Skepticon on March 15, 2008 at 10:01 am

Bonzai --

You think my referring to the Pope's past poor judgment is an atheistic sin? Okay, he was a youth and probably force into it. Generally I agree that referring to someone as a 'Nazi' is a cheap shot, but in this case it was literally true.

But I take your point; consider it rested.

I'd have thought the pedophile comment would have been more inflammatory -- that was my goal.

7. Deadly Sins 101

Comment #144174 by Skepticon on March 15, 2008 at 8:47 am

You'd think they could have included two very specific ones:

(1) Joining the Hitler Youth.

(2) Molesting children while wearing a priest's robes.

Sure, it would condemn the Pope and a good chunk of the clergy, but they've always got that 'confessional' out.

Should we come up with a seven deadly atheist sins?
(1) Fail to use critical intelligence.

Okay, maybe we just need one.

8. America: slouching towards the Enlightenment

Comment #135586 by Skepticon on February 29, 2008 at 5:42 am

There's been two trends in religion in America: empty-pew syndrome (people are leaving churches en mass) and supply-side religion (uber mega churches are springing up everywhere, complete with gyms, multimedia centers, and fleets of buses). So those that remain are demanding more and more services from their GodMarts (or WalChurches), including political action.

So while our numbers inch forward, theirs shrink modestly, we know that the crazies are concentrating their power. I'm afraid it's too soon to herald a new age of Enlightenment, at least here in the states.

Sorry if that's peeing on the campfire.

9. Dumb and Dumber: Are Americans Hostile to Knowledge?

Comment #127810 by Skepticon on February 15, 2008 at 4:12 pm

I've often thought it's time for an Ayn Randian style strike -- let's stop thinking for a month and see what happens. Then they'll come begging for the nerds to turn on the power!

Who's with me!

10. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124761 by Skepticon on February 10, 2008 at 7:06 am

How about a new sign next to that one:

A young boy in a Hitler Youth outfit, holding the Bible with the slogan: "Why do Atheists hate German National Socialists?"

11. Admitting that you have no religion is not politically correct

Comment #122067 by Skepticon on February 4, 2008 at 3:20 pm

Wilfrid Laurier University?

Never heard of it.

12. Huckabee Wants A 'Faith-based' Constitution

Comment #111991 by Skepticon on January 16, 2008 at 6:49 am

Annabanna wrote"...He seems to be more paying lipservice to his religion than Huckabee is."

I think that's right. They don't call him "Flip Flopney" for nothing. If he would repudiate the evilgenital voters then I would feel much safer, even if we wears his special underwear in the Oval Office, but he's definitely better than Huckleberry.

13. Huckabee Wants A 'Faith-based' Constitution

Comment #111982 by Skepticon on January 16, 2008 at 6:22 am

Écrasez l'infâme!
Écrasez l'infâme!
Écrasez l'infâme!
Écrasez l'infâme!

Crush the infamous Huckleberry!

14. The Mind of the Market

Comment #109554 by Skepticon on January 9, 2008 at 7:15 am

I'm a big fan of Shermer's work. But this strikes me as jumping on the Freakanomics bandwagon. The book Freakanomics is a good example of why one should stay in one's own discipline. In social science we call the drawing of conclusions about individuals from aggregate data the 'ecological fallacy'. I call making sensational conclusions based on limited data the 'freakanomical fallacy.' I hope Shermer doesn't commit this fallacy in his new book. Even though I'm skeptical of what evolutionary psychology can tell us about modern behavior, I'm looking forward to reading the book.

15. Disquiet over schools' moment of silence

Comment #103167 by Skepticon on December 24, 2007 at 11:39 am

How about a moment of reflection on the Constitution? The principal could read a passage from the document every day. Who could argue with that?

16. Huckabee Stands by Christmas Campaign Ad

Comment #103013 by Skepticon on December 24, 2007 at 7:29 am

Christopher Hitchens called Mike "Beahuckster" Huckabee this:

"A moon-faced true believer and anti-Darwin pulpit-puncher from Arkansas who doesn't seem to know the difference between being born again and born yesterday."

A-men, Brother!

17. The Pagan Christ

Comment #102062 by Skepticon on December 21, 2007 at 1:49 pm

None of this is new or news, of course. Pagans after the first Century C.E. argued that the New Testament was a fiction, which is why the Church later inserted the Josephus reference to Christ.

Sol Invictus bless us, everyone

18. For the Love of Christ

Comment #101705 by Skepticon on December 20, 2007 at 7:38 pm

"His father claims he's just happy that his son—once a failing high schooler—has found a way to make a living."

I'd rather have an out-of-work, middling high schooler than a employed nut.