1. To learn biology, just pick up the console

Comment #231033 by apettway on August 15, 2008 at 2:51 pm

Here's a TED talk on the game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0_U9Tx17RA

Not quite evolution, but speaking as a middle school science teacher, I think it could generate interest in evolution as long as a teacher is there to point out the differences between the game and the real thing.

2. Daniel Dennett: Autobiography (Part 1)

Comment #220701 by apettway on July 29, 2008 at 12:06 am

Dennett is one of my heros. His book, Darwin's Dangerous Idea, changed my worldview (as did Dawkins' Selfish Gene). It's funny, I knew these two before the whole so-called "new atheism" thing. When I learned that they both had written books on religion I almost peed my pants.

I'm reading Freedom Evolves now and I have to say that Dennett's version of free will is more satisfying than any other.

3. An Original Confession

Comment #207345 by apettway on July 9, 2008 at 2:44 pm

If you don't want to bother reading "Origin", there is an alternative. Our man Dawkins has provided us with an audio version that is characteristically well done (with a few editorial additions throughout). It is really quite good and can be purchased from itunes.

Go forth and download!

4. CEAI Action Alert for Science Teachers

Comment #154188 by apettway on April 2, 2008 at 8:14 pm

"Reading this I got the feeling that reaching out to Science teachers could only backfire on this guy." ~CShepGuy

Damn straight. I am a molecular biologist that took up teaching just so that I can prevent these ignoramuses from screwing up good science. I wish I could say that most science teachers know enough about the nature of science and the philosophy of science to fall for this wrongheaded way of thinking, but I am afraid many that I have met would sympathize with this rhetoric.

5. God's cure for gays lost in sin

Comment #146763 by apettway on March 19, 2008 at 11:33 am

In my reading of the ENTIRE Bible, I think lesbians are going to do just fine in the afterlife. Here is a great line from one of the gnostic gospels:


Thomas 114:
Simon Peter said to them, "Make Mary leave us, for females don't deserve life." Jesus said, "Look, I will guide her to make her male, so that she too may become a living spirit resembling you males. For every female who makes herself male will enter the domain of Heaven."

Who knew?

6. Science of the Soul? 'I Think, Therefore I Am' Is Losing Force

Comment #52715 by apettway on June 27, 2007 at 10:37 pm

"As a scientist, I have nothing to say about the soul. It's not a scientific idea."

Not so fast.

The truth of the existence of a soul cannot be strictly off limits to scientific investigation. Only things that are outside of nature and HAVE NO EFFECTS on the natural world are out of the realm of science.

Things (if you can call them that) that have no manifestations in Nature might as well not exist.

7. Kirk Cameron Proves That God Exists

Comment #40228 by apettway on May 13, 2007 at 11:37 pm

Come one! The RRS kids should have been more prepared for the argument from design! There aren't many arguments for the existence of God, and certainly none of them are compelling.

I was squirming in my seat as I watched them drop the ball on that one.

I know the RRS kids are targeting a younger demographic, but I'm 28 and I was unimpressed.
(I did like the blaspheme challenge, though)

8. Atheism's Big Night In Little Rock

Comment #36300 by apettway on April 30, 2007 at 9:21 pm

I too, live in Arkansas. I've been a fan of Dawkins since I read TSG about ten years ago. I visit this site often and wish I had known he was coming to town.

To the comment that it is not as bad in Arkansas as people think: yes and no. There are plenty of people that are not religious here, but they are a quite minority. Just tonight I was mildly confronted by a coworker that heard through the grapevine that I was a Bright. It's touch and go here as far as "outing" yourself.