1. Obama Chooses Divisive Inaugural Pastor

Comment #303784 by Manson on December 19, 2008 at 11:54 am

Don't forget folks, this is the same Obama that promised to not just keep funding Bush's "Faith-based" programs but EXPAND them in a big government give-away that is almost certainly unconstitutional.

He may have other good qualities, but this is not a shining moment of enlightenment thinking.

Better than McCain/Palin, but certainly not ideal.

2. Islamic radicals make mockery of hate laws

Comment #281518 by Manson on November 10, 2008 at 2:05 pm

"Islam is not a religion of peace," he said. "It is a religion of submission. We need to submit to the will of Allah."

3. Genes might not be so selfish after all

Comment #249288 by Manson on September 18, 2008 at 12:20 am

Is Professor Ebers right? I am in no position to judge...

4. Talk at today's meeting of the British Association for the Advancement of Science

Comment #246270 by Manson on September 12, 2008 at 4:13 am

I argue that 2 plus 2 = 5 should not be seen as a misconception but as a worldview.

Jackass.

5. Evolutionists Flock To Darwin-Shaped Wall Stain

Comment #243612 by Manson on September 6, 2008 at 11:56 am

Absolutely brilliant... gotta love The Onion.

6. Atheists: The Last Political Outcasts

Comment #238732 by Manson on August 28, 2008 at 2:10 pm

Mr. Obama lost my vote when he gave his 'take it one step further' speech regarding fantasy-based (formerly faith-based) cash give-aways. The "if the government can't do it, maybe the churches can with government money (i.e. our money)" approach is not a policy I can support on any level. Just like Roe v. Wade and Evolution. There is no middle ground in the separation between church and state.

His showing at the humpback church was icing on the cake.

It is unfortunate. I also can not vote for the republicans because, well, they aren't republicans anymore.

The libertarians are ideologues who don't know when idealism ends and practical, real-world application of principals begin.

Ultimately, the message that needs to be sent to the Obamas of the world is... take your pick. Either pander to the religious right, or choose your intelligent base of 10-15% rational/atheist/agnostics. It is Mr. Obama who must be realistic not me.

If that means McCain wins, then perhaps it will take the Dems 4 more years to realize that they need our vote too. Evolution in action.

Is a little pandering to reason, science, and rationalism too much to ask? Apparently so in 2008.

EDIT: For two small grammar errors.

7. Catholic leaders block contraceptive advice for 30,000 Scots girls

Comment #232739 by Manson on August 18, 2008 at 2:42 pm

I don't understand why the U.K. (or any government for that matter) doesn't just set up free immunizations at local shopping malls. That's where all the kids are any way.

Walk up, register, get your shot, get a cookie. Oh and feel free to take some safe sex brochures for you and your friends. Don't want the shot? Don't get one. Don't want the literature, don't take it. Done.

"To ask permission is to seek denial." --unknown

8. No credit for creationism

Comment #232721 by Manson on August 18, 2008 at 2:25 pm

This is precisely the "market" solution that might just work against these IDiots.

Instead of trying to save them from themselves, do the exact opposite. Let them fail and fail miserably. Let them teach whatever flat-earth, gravity-is-just-a-theory bullshit they want. But in the end, if their students can't get into an accredited college/university the game will collapse in one generation.

Edit: word order

9. Unintelligent Design

Comment #231894 by Manson on August 17, 2008 at 9:28 am

Clean, clear, intelligent... but at no time overtly intellectual, ivory tower, or condescending.

Bravo, sir.

10. The Afterlife for Scientologists

Comment #229220 by Manson on August 13, 2008 at 8:33 am

Poor Chef... never got away from the long arms of the Super Adventure Club.

You are 'clear' of them now, though. RIP

11. Obama Should Re-Think His Faith-Based Agenda

Comment #220699 by Manson on July 28, 2008 at 11:33 pm

I think it is time to STOP using the term "faith-based."

Let's call them what they are... religious.

Imagine Obama's speeches if he were to use honest language.

I propose direct government support of religious groups with billions of U.S. tax dollars because we can't trust the government to use the money properly.

Still sound constitutional?

Total pandering B.S. Another reason to vote Libertarian.

12. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204582 by Manson on July 5, 2008 at 9:50 am

Somehow I don't think this is what Daniel Dennett had in mind. ;)

13. Obama Wants to Expand Role of Religious Groups

Comment #203485 by Manson on July 3, 2008 at 2:38 am

Mr. Obama said. "Federal dollars that go directly to churches, temples and mosques can only be used on secular programs."

14. Stephen Hawking's explosive new theory

Comment #201759 by Manson on June 30, 2008 at 8:16 am

Roel,

Yeah, you're probably right. I must say I am a bit grouchy today. :)

That said, you must admit, the inconsistencies don't particularly lend themselves to clarity.

15. Stephen Hawking's explosive new theory

Comment #201732 by Manson on June 30, 2008 at 7:48 am

Prof Stephen Hawking has come up with a new idea...

The new theory believes original estimates of Big Bang expansion are wrong

"This proposal, with volume weighting, can explain why the universe inflated," Prof Hawking tells New Scientist.

like a blend of a God's eye view of every conceivable kind of creation

16. Band T-shirt draws charge

Comment #199374 by Manson on June 25, 2008 at 3:53 pm

The only time I use c*nt is when referring to Ann Coulter. It is really the only word that accurately describes the *itch.

Ok... maybe one of two such words.

17. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #199098 by Manson on June 25, 2008 at 7:22 am

I like what lawyer Alan Dershowitz proposes... separating marriage as a religious rite from the legal status of civil union.

Civil unions are between two consenting adult human beings and represents a legal agreement for purposes of state as well as business, insurance, etc.

Marriages are done by churches as rites of passage and can be restricted based on freedom of religion and speech. If the Mormons won't wed in marriage a gay couple, maybe the Episcopalians will.

Civil Unions on the other hand remain the jurisdiction of the state like any other legal contract.

Problem solved.

Edit: human beings, not human begins.

18. Science is not philosophy

Comment #198565 by Manson on June 24, 2008 at 9:01 am

Great article. One little nit, though...

ID is not a theory. It is at best a hypothesis. But more aptly just speculation since a hypothesis would require at least some shred of evidence.

19. White Patches Found in Mars Trench Are Ice, Scientists Say

Comment #197941 by Manson on June 23, 2008 at 1:28 am

Liquid water is an essential ingredient for life...

20. Senate bill allows display of Lord's Prayer, 10 Commandments

Comment #186357 by Manson on May 30, 2008 at 7:56 am

Perhaps we should see cases like these as gifts. Let's not forget just what a blow Dover has been to the enemies of reason. Cases like these are constitutional slam dunks that add credibility to the secular cause.

I say, bring 'em on. The dumber the better. Show us what you got. Every loss just adds to legal precedence further jeopardizing future efforts to bring religion into the public sphere.

21. Repulsive but right

Comment #184716 by Manson on May 26, 2008 at 3:08 am

Hitch does turn many off with his tone. He plays right into the "atheists are arrogant" red herring. This allows the opponent and supporters of the opponent to ignore the merits of the actual argument(s) and dismiss atheism as coming only from those with "chips on their shoulders." And, although RD is much better than Hitch, RD can also come across as condescending. Our hero here is Carl Sagan. Carl was so good when dealing with people. He is certainly missed in today's dialog.

Second, and this goes for both Hitch and RD, is that they are focusing on the symptom (religion) and not the disease (poor methods of discerning truth).

The reason why religion is undesirable is because it employs extremely deficient methods of knowing, which leads to less than desirable actions.

Hitch, Harris, and RD have all fallen into the logical trap that religion causes harm. Well, it also causes people to do good - or at least that's what religionists BELIEVE religion does for them. Of course, their ethics come from themselves and the community. But they don't think that. They FEEL it comes from god(s).

The disease is unreason and irrationality - feeling over thought - ideology over evidence - fantasy as reality. But religion has no monopoly on the "Disease of Unreason." The disease can take many forms such as Racism, National Socialism, or Social Darwinism.

The message from all of us needs to be that reason is our friend and evidence our ally - NOT religion is the enemy.

IMHO, I think Hitch, RD, Harris, and others should focus on the merits of reason and the dangers of unreason. Religion just happens to be one example of the dangers of unreason.

22. Animal Science Without Evolution

Comment #184679 by Manson on May 26, 2008 at 12:56 am

My thoughts exactly, DingoDave...

The article should read:

"[This book is] written at a level that kids [of all ages] can understand."

23. Evolution's Critics Shift Tactics With Schools

Comment #174958 by Manson on May 4, 2008 at 12:14 am

We all need to stop referring to these bills by their Orwellian names. The double-speak only advertises enemy propaganda. We either need to rename them to reflect what they really are...

"Flat Earth Still Gets an A in Science Class" bill.

or call them by their Bill number - as in Florida House Bill xxxx.