1. We happy hooligans

Comment #185936 by Wendy M on May 29, 2008 at 6:54 am

What about the majority of religious believers, who are not expert theologians? Presumably, Underverse thinks they are equally ineligible to express an opinion on God's existence.

2. Religion 'linked to happy life'

Comment #146361 by Wendy M on March 19, 2008 at 2:06 am

Their findings, they said, suggested that religion could offer a "buffer" which protected from life's disappointments.

Professor Clark said: "We originally started the research to work out why some European countries had more generous unemployment benefits than others, but our analysis suggested that religious people suffered less psychological harm from unemployment than the non-religious.

"They had higher levels of life satisfaction".

Even though churchgoers were unsurprisingly more likely to oppose divorce, they were both less psychologically affected by marital separation when it did happen, he said.

If something like unemployment or divorce happened to me, I would definitely get worked up about it. That would encourage me to actually do something about the situation. In the long term, my wellbeing would improve because I would take a proactive approach. Perhaps religious people are more resigned to their fate because they believe it's God's will, and I wonder how proactive they are in dealing with their problems. Pain evolved to get us to take action, and using religion as an analgaesic may not be such a great strategy in the long term.

3. Christopher Hitchens on Real Time with Bill Maher

Comment #138260 by Wendy M on March 4, 2008 at 5:34 am

My parents are Buddhists, and I asked my mum if she believed Buddha was born in the normal way or not. She is pretty unconvinced about the miraculous birth stories, and I understand that this skepticism is compatable with Buddhism.

Nonetheless, my mum does believe some wacky things. In particular, she regards some people of her acquaintance as enlightened beings. This does give real power to these so-called Buddhas. Buddhists are entitled to question everything a "Buddha" says and does (Buddhas may, for example, make deliberate mistakes to help others learn), but they believe (edit: my mum believes, and her Buddhist tradition teaches) that Buddhas' motivations are pure and perfect. Buddhas are also omniscient and able to perform miracles. I do consider these "Buddhas" to be in the same category as prophets and messiahs, and I do not welcome their influence on my loved ones.

"Buddha" means "enlightened one" so I think the idea of enlightenment is pretty crucial to Buddhism. Perhaps we can profit from some Buddhist ideas, but I think we should be deeply suspicious of the label "Buddhism" unless we buy into the specific idea of enlightenment.

4. A natural phenomenon

Comment #137495 by Wendy M on March 3, 2008 at 2:03 am

I love that David Attenborough retains a childlike wonder and enthusiasm for the natural world. This is what makes his documentaries so very special. Seeing snakes through his eyes last week was a revelation. I reckon that he has some great programmes in him yet.

5. Fleabytes

Comment #136914 by Wendy M on March 2, 2008 at 3:04 am

Paula - thank you for writing this piece. As a recent ex-Christian myself, I appreciate your honesty and enjoyed reading your views.

Clearthinker, when I first read Paula's review, I decided to read your book. I did not abandon my faith lightly, and I wanted to read your own words instead of relying on a review. But having observed your spiteful word games on this thread, I won't be bothering. I would find it hard to honestly evaluate your arguments in light of the character you have shown here.

6. America: slouching towards the Enlightenment

Comment #135456 by Wendy M on February 29, 2008 at 2:00 am

I think the study neglected a very important question, namely marriage. Im pretty sure a large percentage of the people who shifted did so because their spouses were of another faith. It goes to show how religion is less about conviction and more about social practicality.

Yes, I had a friend who converted to Islam when she married her Muslim husband. They later divorced and she deconverted. She seemed sincere about her beliefs though.

7. Turkey in radical revision of Islamic texts

Comment #135435 by Wendy M on February 29, 2008 at 1:03 am

I belong to a Muslim community who believe in every single verse of the Quran, and where women are well educated and lead fulfilling lives, seeing Islam as liberating rather than repressive.

Naveed Malik

I can't help noticing that this letter was written by a man.

8. The Giant Tortoise's Tale

Comment #134327 by Wendy M on February 27, 2008 at 3:36 pm

I am really enjoying these Ancestors Tale videos. They are so informative, and Richard's enthusiasm is really infectious. Now I am longing to read more of Richard's books, having only read The God Delusion so far.

9. Hinduism and Buddhism offer much more sophisticated worldviews (or philosophies) and I see nothing wrong with these religions.

Comment #133946 by Wendy M on February 27, 2008 at 3:43 am

My parents converted Tibetan Buddhism when I was in my teens. Meditation and Buddhist philosophy may have useful applications. However, I think the unreserved respect many Westerners hold for Buddhism is cause for concern.

My mum admits that she regards two of her Buddhist teachers as enlightened. She did say that this would not prevent her from questioning anything they said or did. However, she would never question their motivation. This does worry me.

Tibetan Buddhism does teach the concept of Hell. They teach that we can be reincarnated there at any time, and only Buddhism holds the key to avoiding it.

10. Church is paying a high price for its celibacy rule

Comment #133383 by Wendy M on February 26, 2008 at 6:37 am

Good point, Tyler. Perhaps that's why the Catholics tried to ban masturbation too.

11. Church is paying a high price for its celibacy rule

Comment #133375 by Wendy M on February 26, 2008 at 6:29 am

As a woman, if I was given a choice between marriage (without birth control) and celibacy, I would choose celibacy. It would be a challenge, but giving birth to twenty children would be no doddle either. In a society where Catholics stuck to the church's teachings on birth control, convent life would be relatively appealing to many more women, and there would be more single men available to join the priesthood too. But I can't see that ever happening in a country where people have a choice.

12. State Approves Evolution As 'Scientific Theory'

Comment #130147 by Wendy M on February 20, 2008 at 6:26 am

Perhaps we should pass a law requiring Christians to "include scientific criticisms of the controversial theory" of God when they talk to kids about their beliefs.

13. Debate between Richard Dawkins and Madeline Bunting

Comment #127150 by Wendy M on February 15, 2008 at 1:46 am

The more Ms Bunting talked, the deeper the hole she dug for herself. I am not convinced that she really believes any of this stuff! So why is she working so hard to defend it? Her desperate attempts to redefine "truth" show that she is thoroughly duplicitous.