1. What do atheists do at Christmas?

Comment #306349 by Neuro on December 24, 2008 at 1:09 pm

For the reason of being born on XMas and he being arguably one of the best scientists, I never understood why religious people did not think of him as the re-coming of jesus or god.

Whatever...

2. Many Americans Say Other Faiths Can Lead to Eternal Life

Comment #303811 by Neuro on December 19, 2008 at 12:59 pm

Ian Bamlett

I agree with you on the fundamentalists at least sticking to the book and NOT cherry picking.

I've always said that I have a shred more respect for fundamentalists than moderates, who, for the sake of believing and being "good girl/boy", tend to mash religions and not even practice religions.

At least if the Bible says you should stone someone for 'X', fundamentalists do it.
How the hell can you "interpret" stoning to death as something different?

3. God No!

Comment #294647 by Neuro on December 1, 2008 at 8:33 am

Is Colbert an atheist/agnostic/whatever?

4. Vatican thanks Muslims for returning God to Europe

Comment #293393 by Neuro on November 28, 2008 at 9:10 pm

Thomas Preston, Beshear's Homeland Security chief, said he isn't interested in stepping into a religious debate, and he hasn't given this part of his duties much thought.

5. Astronomers capture first images of newly discovered solar system

Comment #283833 by Neuro on November 13, 2008 at 9:24 pm

...and to think, ONE light year = 10 trillion km (actually, 9.46).

6. Humanists Launch Godless Holiday Campaign

Comment #282162 by Neuro on November 11, 2008 at 6:47 pm

I am going to DC this weekend for the Society for Neuroscience conference.

I hope it's up by then, so I can see it on the metro (15th-18th)! I hope I can catch a sight on the 18th!

7. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #280537 by Neuro on November 7, 2008 at 6:02 pm

AoClay:


Thanks. I found the debate on RD.net.
Despite it being lame, it will be sort of nice to see a different debating technique/perspective.

8. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #280513 by Neuro on November 7, 2008 at 4:37 pm

ANYONE:

Does anyone know if Dan Dennett has ever debated someone? If so, is there a web address?

9. Premier debates with Dawkins

Comment #276883 by Neuro on November 2, 2008 at 5:08 pm

LeeC:

I would be interested in hearing your own ideas. It is fascinating and fun stuff to think beyond what is traditionally known or thought, I find.

10. People who've experienced God KNOW that God exists

Comment #276289 by Neuro on November 1, 2008 at 5:10 pm

Since the experience of 'god' or a 'god connection' can be artificially induced by temporal lobe epilepsy, transmagnetic stimulation of the [right] temporal lobe, hallucinogenic drugs (I am sure other methods exist), I assume that god is not so special since s/he is artificial (in reality and mentally).

11. Premier debates with Dawkins

Comment #276221 by Neuro on November 1, 2008 at 3:35 pm

Question:

I have been reading some of the beginning comments, and it got me thinking about the whole 'billion universes' or the multiverse. Anyway, so, would this be like a machine gun, where different constants are spit out in a new big bang every millisecond (so, different constants for different big bangs) and they automatically collapse (or all matter and anti-matter annihilate each other) and only the stable one forms... so this machine gun of Big Bangs could have been running for a trillion (or infinite) years before a stable set of constants were produced to produce a stabilized universe (or anti-matter/matter asymmetry)?

That is something I've never really heard, though I must admit I do not read physics that often! I have always heard about the multiverse but they never say if the other universes stay around. Would the other universes with different constants instantly "implode" or whatever because the constants were not stable... so it decays in less the 0.0000000001 milliseconds (pick your own very miniscule time scale) and another big bang is produced. How long do these "multiple universes" stick around? Unstable so they instantly decay?

So, one billion Big Bangs may have taken 2 seconds? Also, people seem to not mention matter/anti-matter (particles/anti-particles, etc...). Maybe all the other universes had a symmetry or equivalence of anti-matter/matter to where they just annihilated each other. Maybe other universes HAVE had the right set of constants but were annihilated by anti-matter/matter or is it possible to have a different set of constants and have another form of "life" exist ... it may be something that resembles life but in another form we do not recognize (not the tradition god, at least)?

Just some thought questions... any answers?

12. Barack Obama Exposes The Bible

Comment #275400 by Neuro on October 31, 2008 at 6:33 am

I sent in my absentee ballot already (voted Obama). Mainly on the ground of scientific and moral matters, but if he really is an atheist/agnostic/anti-theist/skeptic/doubter/humanist... I am even more glad I voted for him. Of course, the other choices were not that appealing, anyway.

13. Somalia: Rape Victim Executed

Comment #274124 by Neuro on October 29, 2008 at 4:18 pm

Disgusting.

14. Countdown: Palin Wants To Help Special Needs Kids By Doing Away With Science

Comment #272536 by Neuro on October 27, 2008 at 2:34 pm

I agree that Palin does not know shit about science. However, to give her credit, in that same interview, I believe, she did say that she would expand funding for agencies like National Institutes of Health (NIH).


PS- that guy they interviewed at the end of the clip is hilarious -- what an insult to Palin, haha.... and Christopher Hitchens slays me, hah. "...and you can vote against them if you'd like" "Sure will!"

15. If You Open Your Mind Too Much Your Brain Will Fall Out (Take My Wife)

Comment #270993 by Neuro on October 25, 2008 at 5:48 am

Hah. So true.

16. No-God squad climb aboard the atheist bus

Comment #270690 by Neuro on October 24, 2008 at 1:13 pm

Sadly, I can see the buses being vandalized because of this saying.

17. Memories Selectively, Safely Erased In Mice

Comment #269766 by Neuro on October 23, 2008 at 9:57 am

I need to read this research article. I still do not believe it. From the article from Science Daily, they make it sound like you can go months and months while having an established memory and then one day just decide you do not want to remember 'X'.

This article makes it sound like Tsien has figured out consciousness or even sentience in the mouse. Ha. What a laugh. I doubt it is as easy as the aforementioned scenario. I am going to check out the article now in Neuron.

I don't believe it quite yet -- though, I am naturally a skeptic about everything.

18. Creationists declare war over the brain

Comment #269568 by Neuro on October 23, 2008 at 6:31 am

*sigh

The 'soul' is the brain. The 'mind' is the brain. The brain is the brain!

Consciousness and mind, I think, are collective processes. Would we say that dogs are conscious? Yes. Are they as conscious as us? No.
Is an ant conscious? Questionable. Is it aware of its surroundings? Yes. So, is it conscious. Does it posses some sort of sentience? Hell, we don't even know how to define 'consciousness'!

I am very disappointed at Jefferey Schwartz. He is a brilliant man when it come to OCD. I'd even tolerate his dualism crap. However, speaking at an ID conference? Hell no. There goes my respect for him.

19. Sherri Shepherd, Bill Maher Spar Over God: Bill Tells Sherri She Should Go To Psych Ward

Comment #258169 by Neuro on October 1, 2008 at 2:00 pm

I was watching this live, and when he said that part I laughed so hard. You can tell she was pissed...

20. Cathedral seminar to equip clerics to deal with Dawkins

Comment #253705 by Neuro on September 24, 2008 at 7:24 pm

I just have to laugh. They are getting so desperate. Haha.

21. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Clive James

Comment #250920 by Neuro on September 20, 2008 at 8:10 pm

Good stuff.

22. Genes might not be so selfish after all

Comment #250799 by Neuro on September 20, 2008 at 11:19 am

Was this article written 10 years ago but only now being published? That's what it looks like.

23. The Holy Laughter Anointing

Comment #248487 by Neuro on September 16, 2008 at 10:08 am

DON_QUIX

I will check out that video. Thanks. Maybe it will then change my mind.

BRANDYSPPEARS

I will read the article.

RICHARDDAWKINS

Yes, you are not responsible for the descriptions that accompany the videos. However, you know that the video is driving a political agenda by interjecting her pictures in the video whenever necessary. Also, has RD.net posted videos of Rev. Wright's sermons (really asking - not making a snide comment, if RD.net has not)?


Maybe I am off base here for having thoughts that this video is driving a political agenda that does not make much sense to me. To me, by RD.net posting these videos it was saying, "Look, Palin's church is nutty - She's nutty - Don't vote for her." You most assuredly did not intend that effect on me, but that is the way it came across, and I bet with a lot of other people, too. The video is a great example of how religion can drive a group of people loony - but I do not think that is the underlying message in this video.

Anyway, those are my feelings on the previous two videos. I am done commenting on this issue.

Thanks.

24. The Holy Laughter Anointing

Comment #248473 by Neuro on September 16, 2008 at 9:43 am

Honestly, from /raw footage/ that I've seen of her giving a graduation speech, she did not seem as radical as these videos would lead you to believe.

Now, yes, Wright is not on the ticket. However, he made inflammatory speeches that were anti-US, anti-white. Palin's church makes ridiculous claims about what is going to happen.

Wright is representative of Obama.
The Assembly Church or whatever is representative of Palin.

In addition, Palin supposedly trying to "ban" books is erroneous, along with her trying to get Creationism taught in the classroom. I got these 'fact checks' from CNN's TV program.

25. The Holy Laughter Anointing

Comment #248469 by Neuro on September 16, 2008 at 9:35 am

CLATZ

Yes, I understand. However, these are not clips of Palin. These are clips that may be related to an organization that she is a (past/present) member to; however, these are not necessary indicative of what Palin's policies or attitudes are towards this. Why is RD.net not showing clips of Rev. Wright? I do not remember seeing his sermons and other various videos intertwining Wright and his church advertisements and Obama's talk.

In no way am I voting for McCain, but I think things should be equal - and, personally, I think that these kind of videos made by other people should not be shown. On that note, I feel that raw footage is okay, though.

26. The Holy Laughter Anointing

Comment #248460 by Neuro on September 16, 2008 at 9:18 am

What the hell is the point of this video? Honestly, with this video and the last one, you can stick Palin's picture and little tidbits in there anywhere. People need to start thinking.

I don't know. I am starting to think that RD.net is going downhill.


EDIT: The articles, videos, and audio clips relating to intellectual subjects, like science, philosophy, sociology, etc... are still superb.

27. YouTube Removes Viral Video on Palin's Churches For Inappropriate Content

Comment #248449 by Neuro on September 16, 2008 at 9:00 am

This is fake, right?

28. Letter from Sir Richard Roberts asking Reiss to step down

Comment #248070 by Neuro on September 15, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Ben Stein and his crew are going to have a good ol' laugh about this! This is a basic recapitulation of the 'No Intelligence Allowed' movie by Stein. "Big Science" does not allow for competition in science class (despite it not being science). Consequently, professors get rejected for tenure (or dismissed from the Royal Society). Ha. This is funny.

29. The President's Guide to Science

Comment #247900 by Neuro on September 15, 2008 at 8:55 am

If you go here, ScienceDebate2008, you can read McCain's & Obama's stance on some top science issues, such as stem cells and space exploration and global warming et cetera... ScienceDebate2008 posed the questions to the candidates a long time ago -- they just sent in their answers within the last two weeks.

I submitted the article. Hopefully, RD.net will post it soon!

30. Better Know a Lobby - Atheism

Comment #241132 by Neuro on September 1, 2008 at 8:40 pm

Simply hilarious.

31. On TV: The Genius of Charles Darwin: Presented by Richard Dawkins

Comment #235811 by Neuro on August 23, 2008 at 3:40 pm

Hm.

ANYONE:

I downloaded the parts from BitTorrent. However, only the audio works. They are in *.avi format and play in Windows Media Player. I renamed the avi files to *.wmv files; however, the same thing is wrong - audio works but video does not.

Also, are there any QuickTime downloads? I know they were up earlier for episodes 1 & 2. I do not see them.

Any ideas?

32. On TV: The Genius of Charles Darwin: Presented by Richard Dawkins

Comment #235535 by Neuro on August 23, 2008 at 7:37 am

Are there QuickTime downloads? I know they had them up for episodes 1 & 2... but what about 3?

33. Knights Templar 'Heirs' Sue Pope For Billions

Comment #233360 by Neuro on August 19, 2008 at 7:47 pm

The title of this article is very misleading. They just want 'recognition'.

Sovereign Order of the Temple of Christ has filed suit in a Spanish court, asking for an apology from the pope and recognition that land and property worth about $150 billion today was seized from the Templars.

34. Q&A with Richard Dawkins after lecture at UC Berkeley

Comment #233353 by Neuro on August 19, 2008 at 7:35 pm

Thanks for posting!

35. To learn biology, just pick up the console

Comment #231111 by Neuro on August 15, 2008 at 7:35 pm

Where do you play the demo?

36. To learn biology, just pick up the console

Comment #230900 by Neuro on August 15, 2008 at 12:16 pm

Ishruul


I see. Thanks!
I really just need the SPORE PC game and that creature booklet, correct?

37. To learn biology, just pick up the console

Comment #230849 by Neuro on August 15, 2008 at 10:26 am

This seems like it will be a cool game.

After watching the TED talk by Will Wright, creator of Spore, I just want to buy the game 10x more!


Has anyone ever played the regular SPORE versus the Galactic Spore edition?? Which one should I buy?

38. God's Warriors

Comment #230599 by Neuro on August 14, 2008 at 11:58 pm

Awesome. I will be back at school by the time it airs! I do not have CNN (cable, satellite, >4 channels, etc...) at home.

39. The God Delusion

Comment #229357 by Neuro on August 13, 2008 at 12:09 pm

I agree with thewhitepearl.

Also, it is not pulchritudinous. It hurts my eyes. It may be symbolic of the 'explosive' content inside, but it still hurts my eyes!

40. Optimism in Evolution

Comment #229233 by Neuro on August 13, 2008 at 8:52 am

Superb article. Yes, if only more newspapers printed this article, the media might get some more respect from me.

41. Judge says UC can deny class credit to Christian school students

Comment #229222 by Neuro on August 13, 2008 at 8:38 am

...religious material and viewpoints, including some that use such texts as "Chemistry for Christian Schools" and "Biology: God's Living Creation," or that include scientific discussions of creationism as well as evolution.

42. Antony Flew reviews the Index of The God Delusion

Comment #214629 by Neuro on July 20, 2008 at 5:45 pm

This is incredibly inane. Why the hell would someone review a book's /index/?

That is like criticizing a restaurant's food by reading the menu, not actually tasting the food. Dumb.

43. VOICES OF SCIENCE - Available Now on DVD

Comment #211338 by Neuro on July 15, 2008 at 7:49 pm

Ah, so, you can only watch the interview with Weinberg & Krauss? Do you have to buy the second DVD to see Buss and Myers, then?

The interviews with Weinberg & Krauss are excellent.

44. The Science of Religion and the Religion of Science

Comment #200416 by Neuro on June 27, 2008 at 2:34 pm

It should be video, god damn it!

45. The Latest Wedge Document

Comment #200412 by Neuro on June 27, 2008 at 2:25 pm

LUCAS:

My name's Lucas. I submitted the article.

46. Philadelphia Set to Honor Darwin and Evolution

Comment #198885 by Neuro on June 24, 2008 at 3:52 pm

ANYONE:

Is this going on now? Are the exhibits going on year-round or do they start next February?

47. Oystein Elgaroy - the Christian defender who became an Atheist

Comment #195092 by Neuro on June 17, 2008 at 5:38 pm

If only all people could reflect on their own beliefs in an objective manner...

I think a lot of people recognize these arguments, and they really do not have a good response to them. However, they are so emotionally attached to their religion, I suspect that they cannot let go just because of the aforementioned attachment and feel badly if they do.

Oh well.

48. Vatican bans Dan Brown film Angels & Demons from Rome churches

Comment #194294 by Neuro on June 16, 2008 at 3:23 pm

This is simply hilarious.

Oh, maybe SOMEONE can answer this:

In bookstores, why do they have 'Catholic Fiction' or 'Christian Fiction'?

My first point is: It seems kind of redundant.
Second, and more importantly, why can they publish Christian Fiction (screwing with the bible, altering details, etc...) but not shoot a movie where it alters endings, details, etc.

It just does not make sense to me.

Can someone explain?

49. Gay brains structured like those of the opposite sex

Comment #194283 by Neuro on June 16, 2008 at 3:17 pm

This is not really that new. If you go back in neuroscience literature, there is tons of biological and neuroanatomical evidence for a straight/gay difference. Plus, most males that are gay have feminine brain structures. Plus, studies in rats show that prenatal stress can affect how the rat acts (homosexual behaviors, such as the male arching its back to mate) and how the brain is organized.

50. George W Bush meets Pope amid claims he might convert to Catholicism

Comment #193453 by Neuro on June 15, 2008 at 4:14 pm

I laugh at how simply people can convert... you know, uproot their 'current' beliefs and switch to some new ones. It's like buying a car: trade your old car in, test drive some new cars, then buy a new one [and repeat in the next 10 years].