1. Six 'uniquely' human traits now found in animals

Comment #184405 by mjwemdee on May 25, 2008 at 2:35 am

One trait I wish anamals would have is being embarrased when farting.

2. Non-religious summer camps develop niche

Comment #184268 by mjwemdee on May 24, 2008 at 8:50 am

"It's clearly meant to teach that God cannot possibly exist," Chopich said. "... There's obviously some teaching going on, there's some philosophy there. It's not completely neutral."

3. Gimme that Old-Time Irreligion

Comment #181823 by mjwemdee on May 18, 2008 at 10:18 am

Much as I generally agree with Mr Leavitt sentiments, does anyone else find his writing style a bit indigestible? Prolix, grandiloquent, not to mention circumloquacious and tending to periphrastic verbosity...

4. Vatican: It's OK to believe in aliens

Comment #179741 by mjwemdee on May 13, 2008 at 3:42 pm

Funes urged the church and the scientific community to leave behind divisions caused by Galileo's persecution 400 years ago, saying the incident has "caused wounds."

5. $271 Million for Research on Stem Cells in California

Comment #177745 by mjwemdee on May 9, 2008 at 3:26 pm

Bravo California! However, as a Brit who is rather ignorant of US state politics, I had to smile at the irony of this progressive step being made only months before a new presidency might have facilitated it anyway.
Good to know that other countries besides the UK fall victim to this sort of political idiocy.

6. Is Liberal Catholicism Dead?

Comment #176138 by mjwemdee on May 6, 2008 at 4:54 pm

On ploughing through this absurd article, the following three words kept coming to mind: 're-arranging' 'deckchairs' and 'Titanic'.

7. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #164764 by mjwemdee on April 20, 2008 at 4:57 pm

Thankyou Richard, I wish your reply well, but I too fear that the damage is done. As Chris Jackson says (Comment #164743) your elegantly expressed explanation of the whole sorry mess will probably fall on deaf ears.

8. Victims: Pope Benedict Protects Accused Pedophile Bishops

Comment #161466 by mjwemdee on April 15, 2008 at 10:21 am

Pope Benedict told reporters on his flight this morning from Rome to Washington, D.C., he would do everything possible to avoid a repeat of the scandal.

9. School bars same-sex partners at formals

Comment #161462 by mjwemdee on April 15, 2008 at 10:15 am

Oh the hypocrisy. Oh the double standards. As the man says himself:

'...We love all our [gay] students as we do all people in our churches but...'

10. The death-of-god debate

Comment #148625 by mjwemdee on March 23, 2008 at 12:32 pm

A beautifully-written thought-provoking article.

Were religion merely "faith" it would indeed be incomprehensible. The trouble starts when it lays proprietary claim to normal words such as truth, goodness, beauty, virgin birth, resurrection and salvation, and redefines them to its own ends.

Words must carry agreed meanings if humans are to live happily together. [...] I cannot argue with a man who "believes" the Earth to be flat. Most people regard the idea as absurd unless the word flat is redefined to mean round. I feel the same about Easter's "resurrection of the dead".

11. Evidence can't shake your faith if your faith excludes it as evidence

Comment #134346 by mjwemdee on February 27, 2008 at 4:06 pm

Mr Campos - perhaps non campos mentis?

12. Archbishop's 8 March centennial message: Let Sharia Law govern women's lives, Amen!

Comment #128672 by mjwemdee on February 17, 2008 at 2:42 pm

The ABC (as he is now increasingly known) is a buffoon. I don't believe he was making a tactical move at all with his remarks. He just displayed breathtaking naivety about the true nature of Islam.

13. A match made on RichardDawkins.net?

Comment #128652 by mjwemdee on February 17, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Well well well, who'd've thought it?
RDF feels even more like a big happy family now.

I am so thrilled for you guys. Congratulations and greetings from the UK

mjwemdee

14. Ayaan Hirsi Ali asks for protection

Comment #128081 by mjwemdee on February 16, 2008 at 3:50 am

re Comment #128055 by Conrad

Exactly. What price 'Give me your huddled masses...' etc.

Maybe the French should ask for the Statue of Liberty back.

15. My Saudi Valentine

Comment #126604 by mjwemdee on February 13, 2008 at 4:21 pm

I'm sorry, but Saudi sounds just awful.

16. What he wishes on us is an abomination

Comment #125222 by mjwemdee on February 11, 2008 at 5:03 am

The last three posts (#125197, #125201, #125218) are spot on.

Yasmin Alibhai Brownhas gone up in my estimation for her candour and bravery with this article. But for an intelligent woman she still doesn't seem to make the connection: the only way to respect all religions equally is to respect none of them.

17. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #124670 by mjwemdee on February 10, 2008 at 3:12 am

I concur entirely with Steve Z (post #263)

I am old enough to remember a time when the Daily Mail used to have more integrity and objectivity than it does now, but the editors have long since decided on a policy which seems to be large based on calumny.

As far as the Bish is concerned, are we surprised that he now presides over the biggest schism in church affairs? No wonder the Anglican fundies (in Africa, America and elsewhere) are voting with their feet.

18. Female Muslim medics 'disobey hygiene rules'

Comment #121574 by mjwemdee on February 3, 2008 at 5:33 pm

Phwoooarrr! Elbows! I always find elbows really kinky.... (breaks out in hot flush)

Seriously...these people are a danger to everyone, including themselves. They should not be in charge of anybody.

19. Documents detail church coverup

Comment #120711 by mjwemdee on February 2, 2008 at 11:19 am

Does anyone else find this story incredibly confusing in terms of the actual reporting? I find it very badly written and some sentences just don't make sense. Most of the testimonies quoted are very badly edited.

However the general gist is pretty gloomy stuff, and thoroughly predictable. When you consider how the Catholic Church expects its members to live, and the quixotic nature of its tenets, is anyone surprised?

20. Happy Birthday Josh Timonen!

Comment #119551 by mjwemdee on January 31, 2008 at 4:52 pm

Congratulations Josh, on another trip around the Sun!

And thanks for the user-friendly site. We technologically-challenged ones in particular sure do appreciate it!

21. A Letter From Hell

Comment #116162 by mjwemdee on January 25, 2008 at 4:48 pm

This is hilarious.

I do think the church organist in the background needs more practice. That soundtrack was pretty hellish, I suppose...

22. Britain cannot put its faith in religiously divided schools

Comment #113828 by mjwemdee on January 20, 2008 at 5:18 pm

Comment #113652 by justdust

faith schools open up a Pandora's box of Trojan horses for our country.

23. The Moral Instinct

Comment #110802 by mjwemdee on January 12, 2008 at 3:50 pm

LorienRyan,

Agreed. But I can't help thinking:

'When I make a word do a lot of work like that,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'I always pay it extra.'
'Oh,' said Alice. She was much to puzzled to make any other remark.

24. The Moral Instinct

Comment #110799 by mjwemdee on January 12, 2008 at 3:24 pm

LorienRyan,

I know he is, of course ;-)

But he's been a bit careless explaining the point. If you take him literally, he appears to be grouping all five examples as behaviors. The only one I would concede is a behavior is marijuana use.

25. The Moral Instinct

Comment #110796 by mjwemdee on January 12, 2008 at 3:03 pm

'...many behaviors have been amoralized, switched from moral failings to lifestyle choices. They include divorce, illegitimacy, being a working mother, marijuana use and homosexuality.'

26. New attempt to end blasphemy law

Comment #110636 by mjwemdee on January 11, 2008 at 5:18 pm

A lawyer friend of mine tells me that there is still a law on the statute books that says that every true-born Englishman must, in defence of the nation, practice his archery skills at least once a year - I think New Year's Day was the traditional time for this. If this is true, I have to say I have been terribly remiss in my duty as a UK citizen...

27. The religiosity test: Doubters need not apply

Comment #110364 by mjwemdee on January 11, 2008 at 3:53 am

28. The religiosity test: Doubters need not apply

Comment #110363 by mjwemdee on January 11, 2008 at 3:53 am

Comment #107885 by Duff:

In the end, it will be between John McCain and Hillary Clinton. Neither of which are stupid, nor overly religious, and both of which will be fabulous presidents compared to the present holder of the office./blockquote>

Oh, I do so hope you're right.

29. Sorry to disappoint, but it's nonsense to suggest we want to ban Christmas

Comment #101951 by mjwemdee on December 21, 2007 at 8:58 am

Sorry to hear that but I have just checked back with the link and it's working perfectly. I suggest the problem may be with your PC

30. Sorry to disappoint, but it's nonsense to suggest we want to ban Christmas

Comment #101946 by mjwemdee on December 21, 2007 at 8:32 am

Quite so. Tonight, as we have done for the past few years, my partner and I will be going to watch the splendidly secular 'Burning of the Clocks' parade and bonfire on the sea-front at Brighton. This simply celebrates the winter solstice and greets the onset of lengthening days. It looks vaguely pagan, but attracts nearly 25000 visitors of all persuasions. No strange mythology or rampant commercialism attached. Great fun! see www.burningtheclocks.co.uk

31. Three wise men just legend: archbishop

Comment #101341 by mjwemdee on December 20, 2007 at 8:58 am

Re: Comment #101331 by PrimeNumbers:

A blithering idiot? A hypocrite? I think I prefer to be generous and see a human being who has made an enormous (and very public) life-choice error. Now he's trying painfully to make sense of it all. Let's be ready to welcome him in, rather than crow about past ineptitude.

Go on, Rowan, come clean...you know you want to!

32. Clegg 'does not believe in God'

Comment #100893 by mjwemdee on December 19, 2007 at 2:37 pm

Scottishgeologist (Comment #100861) has reminded me of one of Dave Allen's lovely jokes:
A Catholic priest was finding his pastoral duties pretty arduous and depressing, so without telling his Bishop he decided to consult a psychiatrist. The shrink listened carefully to all his woes, and said 'Father, what I suggest is this: take off your dog-collar, go into London, find a bar, and just enjoy yourself for the evening'.
The priest duly went incognito into Soho, found a lap-dancing club and sat down. A topless waitress approached him and said 'What'll you be having, Father?' The startled priest said: 'I took my dog-collar off - how the hell did you know I was a priest?' The waitress replied: 'I'm Sister Mary Benedict - and I go to the same psychiatrist.'

33. Creationists plan British theme park

Comment #99544 by mjwemdee on December 17, 2007 at 3:11 am

Please, why do we keep referring to these misguided people as 'true' believers? Is it just a figure of speech?

34. Bah, Hanukkah

Comment #94234 by mjwemdee on December 5, 2007 at 4:11 am

Yes, I fail to see why a planetary conjunction, even a close one, would look like a particularly bright new star.
Wouldn't two planets still look like two planets? And the conjunction wouldn't exactly come as a complete surprise. What little astronomy there is in the Bible at least recognises Venus. ('the evening star')

Of course, the clearest evidence of cosmic ignorance in the Scriptures is to be found in Solomon and in Psalm 104.

35. Bah, Hanukkah

Comment #94225 by mjwemdee on December 5, 2007 at 3:46 am

A wonderful article. A joy to read.

36. Sudan demo over jailed UK teacher

Comment #92526 by mjwemdee on November 30, 2007 at 5:33 pm

Sudan sounds like the biggest open-air lunatic asylum ever.

Re Comment No 7 by Jolly Bloger:

Yet, I read that Gillian's son in Liverpool is asking people not to lose any respect for Islam over this. Is the whole world just engaged in mass self deception?

37. Turkey probes atheist's 'God' book

Comment #92514 by mjwemdee on November 30, 2007 at 4:51 pm

Incidentally - can anyone direct me to an up-to-date list of all the foreign-language versions of TGD published so far?

Mjwemdee

38. Downward, Christian soldier

Comment #80691 by mjwemdee on October 22, 2007 at 4:23 pm

Comment #80650 by jeremynel

I agree. I love to hear from A C Grayling for his views, (I have all his books at home) but I do wish his editors would occasionally make him review his syntax. The clarity of his thinking is almost negated by this sort of labyrinthine prose.

39. Atheists aren't a bad lot

Comment #80513 by mjwemdee on October 22, 2007 at 3:11 am

So it's no surprise that believers would simply say, yes, these are very important. That's what their dogma says. But an atheist is less likely to approach morality dogmatically. She might feel, for example, that kindness is good but she can imagine circumstances in which it's not appropriate. To reflect that, she may rate it "important" instead of "very important." That wouldn't mean she's a less moral person. It would mean she's more thoughtful.

40. Christopher Hitchens at AAI 07

Comment #80048 by mjwemdee on October 19, 2007 at 6:20 pm

Comment #80037 by Riley
Their belief may be irrational, but that's the belief. Don't go trying to claim that they believe in things that they explicitly do not believe in.

41. Report on Hindu god Ram withdrawn

Comment #78987 by mjwemdee on October 15, 2007 at 4:41 pm

@ Crazymalc [Comment#78981]

Nice one, Crazymalc!

42. Teachers 'fear evolution lessons'

Comment #76342 by mjwemdee on October 5, 2007 at 3:08 pm

This is unbelievable

43. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #75086 by mjwemdee on October 1, 2007 at 5:47 pm

The Reverand David Heywood's letter is surely just another example of 'The Courtier's Reply' ?

(see links to P Z Myers blog Pharyngula)

44. Religion as a Force for Good

Comment #74605 by mjwemdee on September 29, 2007 at 5:01 pm

This article had absolutely nothing to say. It's like a mouthful of margarine.

45. The Saudi connection that belittles Britain

Comment #73627 by mjwemdee on September 25, 2007 at 3:20 pm

On the prompting of RD, I wrote a letter to my MP (Anne Milton, Cons., Guildford) asking her to demand an explanation why the CPS should be considering prosecuting the programme-makers at Channel 4 for this daring piece of investigative journalism.
To her credit, my letter was handled efficiently by her office who sent a prompt reply. But I fear the dear woman must be a bit confused. Her answer read:

'...You may be very disappointed to hear that the CPS is not prosecuting the makers of the programme...'

An attachment from the CPS itself, dated 7 September and signed by the DPP, Sir Ken MacDonald QC, states:

'...The prosecutor decided that, on the available evidence, there was insufficient evidence of incitement to racial hatred'.

So I have an MP who cannot understand where I am coming from, and a DPP who clearly doesn't recognise incitement to racial hatred when it is put in front of him. We are all doomed.

46. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #66283 by mjwemdee on August 29, 2007 at 3:22 pm

This is fascinating. I had no idea that Mother Teresa was plagued with doubt. And that these doubts were just as precious to the Catholic Church as her steadfastness in faith.
...She couldn't lose, could she?

47. The Politics of God

Comment #64495 by mjwemdee on August 20, 2007 at 9:17 am

Brilliant essay. I am going to read not only the entire book when it comes out, but also get myself a copy of Rousseau's Émile (which I was supposed to have read at university!)

The future looks bleak.

48. These preachers of hate must be exposed

Comment #63917 by mjwemdee on August 16, 2007 at 5:47 pm

I have just written to Anne Milton MP (Guildford, Conservative)

Well done Joan Smith!

The age-old thinking continues. Witness the speech made by Algerian President Houari Boumédienne to the UN in 1974:

One day millions of men will leave the southern hemisphere to go to the northern hemisphere. And they will not go there as friends. Because they will go there to conquer it. And they will conquer it with their sons. The wombs of our women will give us victory.
The Italian journalist Oriana Fallaci (currently indicted for 'vilification of Islam') quotes a Muslim cleric at an interfaith meeting in Turkey:
'Thanks to your democratic laws we will invade you. Thanks to our Islamic laws we will conquer you.

49. Richard Dawkins and the New Age fakers

Comment #63753 by mjwemdee on August 15, 2007 at 4:30 pm

Comment #63455 by doodinthemood

IS he a Leo? Michael Deacon (see his article posted here) seems to indicate that RD is an Aries.

OK, enough of this claptrap. Who cares?

50. Arrogance, dogma and why science - not faith - is the new enemy of reason

Comment #62262 by mjwemdee on August 9, 2007 at 6:55 am

Comment #62253 by dianalake

To people who say that Dawkins bashes God and not people who believe in him, perhaps you should read his books. He calls such people ignorant stupid and (although he would not like to say so) evil! My quote may not be quite right but it is the essence of what he says.