Comments by John L

Comment #208560 by John L on July 11, 2008 at 3:22 am

I sent an e-mail of support for PZ Myers to President Bruininks, and then sent a comment to the Catholic League, as follows:

Regarding the P.Z. Myers controversy.... I understand why Catholics are horrified by potential host desecration. Keep in mind that transubstantiation is a Catholic doctrine, and to everyone else, it's "just a cracker". However, the comments of some Catholics about the original issue of the college students "kidnapping" of the eucharist wafer, to say nothing of the death threats sent to Dr. Myers, are no different than the "Death to those who insult Islam" crowd. Is the Catholic Church trying to cash in on the "respect-our-religion-of-peace-or-we'll-kill-you" scheme that radical Islam is using? If so, can we expect the acts of terrorism required to back it up? Are we going to see internet videos of nuns beheading people? This ploy is backfiring on you.

2. Religious scholars mull Flying Spaghetti Monster

Comment #144985 by John L on March 17, 2008 at 6:20 am

As a former faithhead, and the holder of a B.A. in Religious Studies from the University of Alabama, let me clarify a few terms. I can say that not everyone in a religious studies program is a "true believer". I bet that about half of the people in my major were critical of religion. "Religious Studies", as taught in a secular college, is the study of how religion effects culture, history, politics, etc. This is in contrast to the "confessional" approach employed in a seminary or Bible college. My bet is that the guys who put on this event are our allies philosophically. Sounds like a classic "reducto ad absurbium".

A serious, academically sound study of religion is as corrosive to superstition as scientific literacy, but may be easier to grasp by those people who feel intimidated by science. I'd like to see it used more, as a compliment to scientific naturalism.