1. An Inquisition in science's name

Comment #51123 by WeeWullie on June 21, 2007 at 2:52 pm

Clearly someone who hasn't learned the REAL lesson from The Inquisition.

2. Beggars belief: Robin McKie on The God Delusion

Comment #47464 by WeeWullie on June 4, 2007 at 3:20 pm

In a struggle saturated with emotion, the use of emotive language produces significant effects. Which is why The God Delusion brought forth howls of outrage from the religiously-minded, and is why I instinctively dislike being described as ungodly (it has many entirely secular, and uncomplimentary, connotations).

I would much rather we (the nonreligious camp) restricted ourselves to the arguments, and left the use of emotionally charged language to the other side. After all, powerful arguments in support of our position are not in short supply!

3. Man to die over insult

Comment #47138 by WeeWullie on June 3, 2007 at 5:38 am

Good effort Logicel. I'll do the same. I definitely think this is the way to go.

Incidentally, I'm surprised this is happening in Pakistan. There are many large Pakistani ex-pat communities around the world who embrace Western lifestyles and secularism. Perhaps anyone with links to these communities could attempt to garner Pakistani support against this nonsense.

And President Musharraf seems to have been a pretty good ally in the war on terror.

4. Diary of a Deserter

Comment #46522 by WeeWullie on May 31, 2007 at 2:32 pm

Well done, Brian! Welcome to the world (the real one)! I'm sure you'll find that plenty of us non-believers are still good, moral, upright, people. Others amongst our ranks may not be quite like that, but at least out here in the god-less universe we can live according to our own consciences, rather than being bullied or bribed into being 'virtuous'.

Hope your family are not too hard on you for your 'desertion'!

5. Why Do Some People Resist Science?

Comment #46275 by WeeWullie on May 30, 2007 at 6:19 pm

Response to kaiserkriss:

Don't underestimate the power of 'pretty packaging'. The charisma of a 'prophet' (not literally in case of RD) is a big part of the trust or credibility people subconciously attribute to them. That's what this article is all about!

Not to mention the 'airtime' they receive from media outlets, which then carries their message to a wider audience.

6. Why Do Some People Resist Science?

Comment #46234 by WeeWullie on May 30, 2007 at 4:16 pm

KaiserKriss said:

"Puhleeese, that is "woolly" thinking! How shallow do you think people are?"

"Indeed, there might be some "hero worship" involved, however....."

So, which is it kaiserkriss? Congratulations on your "unwoolly" thinking.

7. Why Do Some People Resist Science?

Comment #46219 by WeeWullie on May 30, 2007 at 3:34 pm

"To end on a practical note, then, one way to combat resistance to science is to persuade children and adults that the institute of science is, for the most part, worthy of trust."

It definitely appears to be the case that much of the impact that RD has had on many of his converts is down to his personal impact - his good-looks, his intelligence, his ability to articulate his arguments, his certainty, his academic status and, of course, his British accent!

8. The Creation Museum: Prepare to believe

Comment #41266 by WeeWullie on May 15, 2007 at 6:29 pm

Anyone know a good arsonist?

9. Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

Comment #41258 by WeeWullie on May 15, 2007 at 5:42 pm

Hi Fouad Boussetta!

Don't you mean "Allahluia"? :)

10. Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

Comment #41243 by WeeWullie on May 15, 2007 at 5:09 pm

Russell Blackford, Comment#41205, Page 2

Well done, Russell! How nice! How mild and inoffensive your comment was! Covered all the bases, and wasn't offensive to anybody! And didn't leave anybody out or hurt anyone's feelings! How Nice! Well Done! Here's a Gold Star! You are now officially registered as A Good Person! And for this, you can feel very proud of yourself! Very Very Proud! Proud to be Good! Very Proud To Be Good! Very Well Done! What a Good Person you are!!

NiceNiceNiceNiceGoodNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceLimpNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceMoralNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceYawnNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceNiceZZZZzzzzzz........NICENICENICENICENICE

11. Christopher Hitchens - God is Not Great

Comment #40643 by WeeWullie on May 14, 2007 at 4:04 pm

That's very kind of you, Rtambree! Thank you very much! It would be churlish to refuse! And, after coffee, would you fancy a spot of 'slap and tickle'?

Actually, I rather like euphemisms - makes things more 'saucy', more, sort of ........naughty! Understated seems more erotic.

Maybe its just cos I'm English!

12. The meaning of freedom

Comment #40100 by WeeWullie on May 13, 2007 at 5:29 am

Response to Rtambree.

What is the connection between female membership of the MCC and religious dress-codes?

Are you equating the overthrow of oppressive religious dictates with the acceptance of women into Western male social clubs?

Are you trivialising the travails of down-trodden women in the Islamic world?

Are you equating Western males with the hyper-intolerant mullahs of Islam?

Etc etc.

13. Christopher Hitchens - God is Not Great

Comment #40094 by WeeWullie on May 13, 2007 at 4:56 am

Response to Flagellant.

Er, actually, we are NOT going to choose Gordon Brown. That's the problem. He's going to be foisted on us, with nary so much as a vote. And all because the other senior members of the Labour Party are so craven that they are not prepared to put Democracy before their own petty political ambitions (ie, if they unsuccessfully contest Brown's enthronement, they fear he will hold it against them and remove them from the Cabinet or fail to offer them a job).

Secondly, what is the connection between Australia's secular constitution and not 'dumping the Queen'? What's the connection between religion and republicanism? The Queen is simply a non-executive head of state. Perhaps the Australians (along with the Canadians, New Zealanders, Britons etc) simply prefer a non-intervening head of state that they don't have to have elections for (Me! Me! Vote for Me! No, don't vote for him, vote for Me!)- maybe they don't want a Bush or a Chirac or a Putin (can you hold that against them?). Please, let's not confuse the issue or muddy the waters. We're currently involved in a death-struggle with the religious woo-woos. If you want a debate on republicanism versus constitutional monarchy, then start a thread.

Anyway, good discussion. Good ol' Hitchens.

14. Atheist offers to send letters post-Rapture

Comment #38935 by WeeWullie on May 9, 2007 at 2:41 pm

So all believers get whisked off at the time of Rapture? And all non-believers get left behind? Without the believers?

Roll on Rapture!!!

15. Merkel wants EU to be vocal about Christian roots

Comment #23588 by WeeWullie on March 1, 2007 at 3:51 pm

To: the great teapot

Actually, what were YOU doing in English lessons?

There's no such thing as 'proper' bombing (how long is a piece of string?).

It should've said "You really could have bombed our country more EFFECTIVELY". :)

16. Out of Africa, in the Gut

Comment #22018 by WeeWullie on February 12, 2007 at 10:50 am

Fascinating.

I'm white British but was born and grew up in Kenya. Maybe I'm carrying H. Pylori !!