1. Anti-Darwinists turned away by Israeli academia

Comment #212163 by T4Baxter on July 16, 2008 at 6:11 pm

Seems to me that "anti Darwinian" sentiment works in our favor wherever it rears it's silly swede. If they are stupid enough to pan the parts of his thesis that have subsequently been corrected, they look like morons. If they are arrogant enough to attempt to subvert the credibility of all the fields of study that have subsequently appeared on the back off Darwin's work! I'm sure the academic community would waste no time at all, in giving them the good news.

2. Science is thrilling - except in our schools

Comment #203859 by T4Baxter on July 3, 2008 at 8:58 pm

Seems to me the 'science' children are likely to grasp and enjoy, is the process of discovering answers to simple questions. Simple questions in this reality, within which we spend most of our time, never have simple answers. At the most fundamental depths of understanding almost everything including psychological questions 'boil down' to physics and as such a child's mind can wind through avenues of thought for many years over the answers. My father would ask me "Which is more loving? to love out of obligation, or to love because you can't help it?". Where does a baby learn how to cry? When the present time becomes the past, where does it 'go'? They seem silly at first but inspire years of pondering up to the moment where you discover that the answers are being churned out by science on a daily basis. I believe that a stream of good questions prepares the brain for the answers, when your old enough to comprehend (ish) them. Also this way there is a deep feeling of appreciation and joy when the answers finally present themselves, often enough, raising brand new questions to which no one yet knows the answers. What an astonishingly awesome place (Britain) and time (now) to be alive in. I just hope the human race doesn't squander the efforts so far.

3. Evolutionarily Preserved Signature Found In The Primate Brain

Comment #199744 by T4Baxter on June 26, 2008 at 9:40 am

It seems pretty obvious that a homosexual gene won't be selected for as they tend not to reproduce so successfully, if at all. I'm aware that a large proportion go on to marry and have children as a heterosexual would (is it for the sake of having children, or do they 'change their minds'? another discussion perhaps) There was a story earlier, I believe it was on here, about similarities between the Gay male brain asymmetry and the straight female brain asymmetry which suggests it is a genuinely unavoidable trait, though, none the less, suggestive of a developmental 'screw up'. I think all parents, no matter how 'liberal', would be saddened that their offspring will not have a, comparably, normal life as, even in this day and age, they will be subjected to social pressures from classmates etc, which are not inflicted on heterosexual individuals. Kids are cruel.

4. We Urgently Need Your Help Now!!

Comment #196106 by T4Baxter on June 19, 2008 at 9:58 am

I Live in Britain and it has come to my attention that you may be passing the Bill SB 733 into law in your state of Louisiana. I think I speak on the behalf of the great majority of educated people when I urge you to truly grapple with the 'blueprint' of the "strengths and weaknesses" campaign. Craig Ventor's work (creating new life from four chemicals via a process of constructing custom DNA) is a direct product of studying evolution at incredible depths of complexity. We, as adults owe our children the most probable answers to their inquiries, so that they, can remove the 'weaknesses' from their children's education. Implying that the most likely explanation, though fantastic in it's accuracy, has area's of inquiry that could be deemed unsatisfactory, Is saying nothing at all, except perhaps, we would benefit from studying these areas further. The driving force behind this suppression of teaching the most probable explanation of our origin, is not a group of experts with a alternative hypothesis. They are simply attempting to slow the demise of their spiritual / philosophical position, in the face of ever growing, awe inspiring, evidence to the contrary. You stand on the precipice of credibility. A strong wind has put you there, I understand, but salvation does not lie at the bottom, only the craggy rocks of humiliation over time.

Yours sincerely

Richard Baxter

5. Couple charged in Norway over genital mutilation of daughters

Comment #191368 by T4Baxter on June 10, 2008 at 5:46 pm

Seems to me that the decision not to publish the underlying religious perspective of the parents is becoming the norm... Something terrible like FGM occurs often enough that the public should be better informed as to where to direct their feelings of disgust, and used as a basis to undermine the 'moral authority' of the perps position on mass.
"the Metropolitan Police said that they have just offered a reward of £20,000 for anyone giving information which leads to a prosecution for this crime. People found guilty of participating in, or allowing, this form of child abuse are liable to a maximum of 14 years imprisonment."
Maybe that will help?

As for Islam and race, you don't have to go too far to see (RDF website) that the word 'race' is practically meaningless, the difference is cultural, a product of 'memetics'. Some cultural ideas cause unnecessary suffering and are employed as a sexual suppressant. The males in some parts of Africa crush one of the testis of their sons as well, apparently in order that a one night fling is less likely to end in conception. That way only through marriage (ie repeated intercourse) are they likely to bear children. perhaps that could go some way toward explaining the mothers desire to take part when daughters are involved... I'm sure there are many reasons. (edit: Just to clarify, it is suspected that male mutilation is a defensive strategy of husbands in protection of their own wives! An evolutionarily usefull practice steeped in religion so as to protect the barbarism from criticism)

6. Holiday in Hellmouth

Comment #189931 by T4Baxter on June 7, 2008 at 6:15 pm

When people are accepted into a church they are often subjected to close scrutiny from within the congregation. They seem primarily interested in the level of piety you display, and your knowledge of, ability to convincingly interpret, the relevant holy text. There is a real hierarchy to clime as you might in any other social circumstance, and to be a success it is necessary to have, at least briefly, studied the bible. It seems that, if a person really wants to climb, and fast he/she has to claim a connection with God worthy of miraculous interventions, through them, and or, for them. Once the lie has been told, in a moment of weakness, your reputation within that church rides upon your total dedication to the anecdote. I get the impression it's their reputation being 'at stake', that initiates the construction of a defensive, and as such, highly emotional response to doubting the stories themselves. Almost daring you to call them a liar. My dad used to be the same.

7. Reality wins in Texas!

Comment #189925 by T4Baxter on June 7, 2008 at 4:57 pm

great news, I'm not convinced they can endlessly re-design themselves... If the courts have seen through the creationist wool so far, I can't see them entertaining any notion, that inadvertently asks the same thing of them. Undermining the current curriculum, which emphasizes a scientific interpretation of our reality, over a religiously compatible one is no easy task to camouflage. This latest bash is about as innocent as you can make it sound, so I reckon if this gets totally 'flanned' there won't be much room for manouver. What do you guys think?

8. Darwin still causing waves after 150 years

Comment #188848 by T4Baxter on June 4, 2008 at 7:35 pm

Hi everyone,I love this community of commentators! It's a shame our collective wisdom is wasted on this site... you know, we would serve ourselves better by choosing a specified creationist site, each month. And talk about the issues raised on this site, there! :) not only would it be great advertising for RDF it would give the creationist bloggers something to read that might actually help them in achieving that awesome feeling of joy only found though the most probable understanding of the reality we inhabit! The only comment I want to read on here is where your all gonna be at 'this month' :) I think that would kick colon... oh yeah and we can devastate the pallid arguments we discover wherever we tread.

9. Opponents of Evolution Adopting a New Strategy

Comment #188838 by T4Baxter on June 4, 2008 at 6:52 pm

Hi everyone,I love this community of commentators! It's a shame our collective wisdom is wasted on this site... you know, we would serve ourselves better by choosing a specified creationist site, each month. And talk about the issues raised on this site, there! :) not only would it be great advertising for RDF it would give the creationist bloggers something to read that might actually help them in achieving that awesome feeling of joy only found though the most probable understanding of the reality we inhabit! The only comment I want to read on here is where your all gonna be at 'this month' :) I think that would kick colon... oh yeah and we can devastate the pallid arguments we discover wherever we tread.

10. How Did the Universe Survive the Big Bang? In This Experiment, Clues Remain Elusive

Comment #185787 by T4Baxter on May 28, 2008 at 2:19 pm

It never fails to inspire a sense of alarmed bemusement when commentators like "chambers" logs in to a site and delivers a slice of deluded 'meta twaddle'. Hard to believe someone could go through the enrollment and login procedure just to make an empty appeal. He clearly hasn't read, watched, listened too: the wealth of information on this site.
Just wish he was still here to read that most his questions have been answered! The answers are here brother! go not into the darkness of ignorance on the leaking boat of stultification! theistic religion is a false prophet. Don't believe me?... thats not like you is it :)

11. What Genes Remember

Comment #184566 by T4Baxter on May 25, 2008 at 6:14 pm

absolutely right on the money Bartlettman. It's not the job of great minds to ponder on the curriculum of Hogwarts.

12. Brown says embryo research is key to life

Comment #181886 by T4Baxter on May 18, 2008 at 3:21 pm

Oh! Good show Brown!
I'm not entirely shocked as Gordon has often scattered seeds of suspicion, that he favors the benefits of a technologically advanced, science driven society with world class competitive brains.
Please don't destroy this fragile moment of relative joy for me, I'm well aware that Brown's caper is rubbing it's eyes with onion epidermis right now, Frankly, I'm of the opinion it's exactly what they deserve to be doing! Having said that, The next fool to gambol on, stage left. Will no doubt get his arm crushed reaching for his beanie hat, as he pops into the spotlight performing his latest 'hip hoperation 'you'th appeal' act. What can you do?
... Oh yeah, thats right: Drop the kids off go to work hit the 'food shop' eat, repeat.

13. Face to faith

Comment #181768 by T4Baxter on May 18, 2008 at 7:41 am

Lacking confidence in the existence of the Christian God has no sway on moral intuition, except perhaps, adding value to the lives of non Christians, who are no longer condemned to burn in hell.

14. The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing, ed. Richard Dawkins

Comment #180961 by T4Baxter on May 16, 2008 at 7:56 am

This could be the book for the next generation of children to refer to in the search for truth. An, introduction, effort of a science bible! I live in hopelessly optimistic hope.

15. Youngest galactic supernova (not aliens) found

Comment #180392 by T4Baxter on May 14, 2008 at 7:18 pm

"does gravity increase for a given mass as that mass gets denser?"

Yes it does, the same amount of mass of higher density (taking up less 'space') has a greater effect on the curvature of space time, gravity is relative to the geometry of space.

16. The Stupidity of Dignity

Comment #178965 by T4Baxter on May 12, 2008 at 10:20 am

Good Lord!
Great article. Everything that needed to be said in response is more or less in there. The underlying 'white elephant' seems to be a sense that despite their position of power, governments themselves are duped into inane wrangling over empty concepts by the religious representatives, suggesting they lack, not only an objective grasp on how to circumnavigate shallow rhetoric, but also the self preservation to consult all possible representative bodies that they might improve their probability of fulfilling the wishes of the broader demographic. If governments aren't doing that, what the hell are they up too?

17. 'My daughter deserved to die for falling in love'

Comment #178860 by T4Baxter on May 12, 2008 at 6:56 am

Errr where are all these 'so called 'moderate' Muslims escaping from the Islamic intolerance of there home countries? They hold the cards in there hands as they can't be tarnished as racist or 'anti-Islamic' where is the outcry of decent, loving, law abiding moderates? Can you imagine the effect of every 'moderate Muslim' condemning the honor killings and head-scarves etc etc as violations of human rights. Either they support it, or they don't. I want to hear the voice of reason, loud and clear from the Muslim communities, from children through parents to rabbi's and beyond, in unison. Not just the desperate appeals of enlightened atheists. They need to practice what they preach 'peaceful religion' through public condemnation of evidence to the contrary.

18. On Fitna, the Movie

Comment #178854 by T4Baxter on May 12, 2008 at 6:39 am

It seems to me that people miss the point at times, this is not anti immigration 'or' anti Muslim, it's both. The western liberal democracies are governed by the the grievances of the 'local demographic' through our constituencies, governmental representatives. They are bought before the house of commons and considered for implementation. If local politicians don't appeal to the majority, they loose the vote, simple as that. It is the nature of our political system that causes contention when immigrants desire the implementation of legal systems sympathetic to their cultural predispositions on matters such as abortion, stem cell research, the arbitrary 'value' attached to male vs female offspring. As the numbers of people with conflicting cultural perspectives grow, politicians are forced to either, adopt those ideals or be replaced by 'popular' vote, for someone who will. It's a time-bomb choice between: changing the value system of Islam to better suit those of the western democracies or changing the democracies themselves to appease the majority vote.

19. Citing Faith, Bush Defends War Actions

Comment #176918 by T4Baxter on May 8, 2008 at 10:38 am

Sweet, gentle, Jesus! how do you make the bad man stop?

20. Trouble ahead for science

Comment #176911 by T4Baxter on May 8, 2008 at 10:30 am

wow first post,
one can only hope this kind of ridicule becomes 'the rule'. I think most people want to avoid looking silly. good :)

21. What are your qualifications to question religion anyway? Just who are you?

Comment #166284 by T4Baxter on April 23, 2008 at 5:00 am

My qualification to question religion is an open mind. I have heard much of the evidence on both sides having converted from Christianity. Through inquisitive investigation from the historicity of Jesus, historicity of the old testament, the nature of the early church, Previous and directly comparable messiah stories based on the zodiac, genetics, evolution, chemistry, physics-history, quantum mechanics, double-blind prayer studies, mysticism, philosophy you name it. though I am a laymen in my understanding, a broader picture presents itself. Sadly, as much as I would like to defend the honor of my nearest and dearest, I've simply come to accept the overwhelmingly probable position that only a deist perspective is defensible in any real sense. If the position you are arguing is GOD is beyond the reach of science for example. 'the first mover etc'. You may as well throw the 'instructions' (bible) away, if thats the only sensible religious perspective. All arguments for the interfering GOD fall flat on their face, it seems.