51. Opiate of the masses - and evolutionary aid
Comment #260278 by AfraidToDie on October 5, 2008 at 5:03 am
21. Comment #260152 by ImagineAZ Another theory: it was all about power.
52. 'Space elevator' would take humans into orbit
Comment #259743 by AfraidToDie on October 3, 2008 at 8:16 pm
Who's lifetime? I doubt mine! Regardless, they've been talking about it for quite some time. Check out this article in Scientific American back in 2000:
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=going-up
First, they would need to build a base tower approximately 50 kilometers tall, out of the wind for stability and near the equator for alignment with the geostationary Earth orbit (GEO). The elevator itself would be a long cable tethered to the base tower such that its center of mass was at GEO, some 35,786 kilometers above Earth's surface. Four to six tracks would run up the outside of the tower and cable, carrying electromagnetic vehicles at speeds reaching thousands of kilometers per hour to platforms at various levels. The illustration shows the view from one such platform, looking back towards Earth..... scientists at the workshop estimated the elevator to cost about $1.50 to GEO, compared with the space shuttle's $22,000
53. It Takes Just One Village to Save a Species
Comment #253829 by AfraidToDie on September 25, 2008 at 12:32 am
We are the only species who have the intelligence to recognize we can overpopulate our planet and eventually overrun and destroy our forests and wild animal life. Yet we continue with individual nations having the economic philosophy that we can only prosper by continually increasing our gross national product (consumption). Has there been any really serious national effort by any country to support zero population growth before it is too late?
54. It's Time for Science and Reason
Comment #250618 by AfraidToDie on September 20, 2008 at 2:22 am
If you think about it, all children are secular humanists until they are brainwashed. Even so, I agree that we shouldn't put labels on children of any kind.
I wish an organization like this could put together a nationally syndicated Sunday morning show intended to promote secular humanists. The format might be hard to agree on, but just having an alternative broadcast in the same time slots that you have scores of religious shows would be wonderful, and perhaps go a long way to show those "on the fence" there are many others who don't accept all that religious crap they are bombarded with.
55. YouTube Removes Viral Video on Palin's Churches For Inappropriate Content
Comment #248708 by AfraidToDie on September 16, 2008 at 5:01 pm
67. Comment #248416 by rejohnsonil: take this video with a grain of salt. we should have a lot of questions about it. are all those nuts really from the same church? has palin done the whole insane "speaking in tongues" crap? or...is she just a shrewd politician that, while believing in religious nonsense, isn't ridiculously extreme. that said, she's still not going to get my vote.
69. Comment #248423 by Gregg Townsend: Ah, a skeptical voice of reason. Thank you rejohnsonil! In my mind there are many reasons to not vote for McCain or Obama... and certainly Palin's relationship with Pentecostalism should be a weight around McCain's neck but is hardly the worst of it
56. Sharia courts operating in Britain
Comment #247940 by AfraidToDie on September 15, 2008 at 10:01 am
47. Comment #247686 by aznxscorpion517
57. Pope condemns 'pagan' love of money, power
Comment #247651 by AfraidToDie on September 14, 2008 at 5:54 pm
Benedict blasted modern society's thirst for these new "pagan" idols as a "scandal, a real plague." ….. The late-morning Mass ended peacefully, with followers pressing for a chance to touch the pontiff's robes or clutch his hand as he left the field
58. Robert Winston criticises dangerous 'science delusion'
Comment #247531 by AfraidToDie on September 14, 2008 at 2:37 pm
: 39. Comment #247483 by Dhamma: Anyway, I'm not positive he's used the best method, and I fear some MAY have been more alienated from science due to him, BUT it could've happened anyway.
59. Our scientists must nail the creationists
Comment #247526 by AfraidToDie on September 14, 2008 at 2:22 pm
: 47. Comment #247208 by Ian H Spedding FCD: All Reiss was proposing was that science teachers practice what science preaches and I would have expected those scientists who have criticized him to have discovered that...
… If a student raises a question about the theory of evolution - or any other aspect of science - it should be answered as honestly and as openly as possible. They should also be told that if they submit for discussion a religious claim about the world, it will be evaluated by science in the same way as any other, which is on the basis of evidence and argument. Religious claims have no special privilege in science.
41. Comment #247189 by thewhitepearl: it is also possible to hold dissatisfaction in both parties. You seem to imply that one has to be either or. That is all.
66. Comment #247338 by s.k.graham: re #50. The "wasted vote" argument against voting independent or 3rd party is an oft repeated fallacy. How you vote sends a message to politicians
60. Our scientists must nail the creationists
Comment #247170 by AfraidToDie on September 14, 2008 at 4:35 am
32. Comment #247143 by thewhitepearl: The comment you made is a wee bit ridiculous
61. Our scientists must nail the creationists
Comment #247127 by AfraidToDie on September 14, 2008 at 2:31 am
2. Comment #247052 by robotaholic: the last few articles put up on this website have taken jabbs at Palin and McCain...ha ha, If they win, ha ha is all I have to say- she may believe in jebus but at least she doesn't THINK she's jebus ha ha
62. Christian Couple Staying Together For Sake Of God
Comment #246679 by AfraidToDie on September 12, 2008 at 7:24 pm
19. Comment #246638 by Aidan86: So the rational thing to do is to get a divorce when you are going through a rough patch? I think one of the biggest dangers we face when we get rid of religion is that of throwing the baby out with the bathwater and not taking things like marriage seriously.
63. Sleek Probe To Map Earth's Gravity
Comment #245495 by AfraidToDie on September 11, 2008 at 1:11 am
"GOCE will yield details of the Earth's gravity field to an accuracy and resolution that is simply unobtainable by existing terrestrial and space techniques," says Professor Philip Moore from Newcastle University, who specialises in gravity research
64. 'Big Bang' experiment starts well
Comment #245445 by AfraidToDie on September 10, 2008 at 7:27 pm
35. Comment #245430 by Aquambulus hirsutus on September 10, 2008 at 6:19 pm http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=350097273277 (in case anyone here hasn't seen it yet)
65. 'Big Bang' experiment starts well
Comment #245422 by AfraidToDie on September 10, 2008 at 5:06 pm
4. Comment #245259 by clodhopper: Blimey...I hope he's wearing long johns when e materializes.
9. Comment #245300 by Stafford Gordon: Tragically a young girl committed suicide because she believed the world would come to an end due to the experiment; I wonder where she got that idea from. .
66. Opening minds
Comment #243534 by AfraidToDie on September 6, 2008 at 5:38 am
23. Comment #242912 by Dhamma: Edited for some badly chosen words, and grammar. Again.. Maybe I should get some sleep instead. Or learn English
67. Origins - The BIG Questions: 2008 Skeptics Society Conference
Comment #243521 by AfraidToDie on September 6, 2008 at 5:02 am
Don't you think it does more to promote our cause to get our point of view out to theists, than for theists to get their point of view out to atheists? I doubt there is one atheist converted to theism, but having the chance to promote rational thinking to some theists who may have doubts would be to our benefit. Theists rarely open rational thinking to their flocks for good reason. We need to sponsor a Rational Thinker's TV program on Sunday mornings on local stations everywhere in the US and continually play debates and lectures from RD and others just to let it be known that there is another logical, rational way to look at things. As it stands, theists and their flocks wallow in isolation from the truth.
68. 'Rare' mammoth skull discovered
Comment #242442 by AfraidToDie on September 3, 2008 at 5:30 pm
31. Comment #241614 by Broshiesq on September 2, 2008 at 9:58 pm Um, yeah Andrew, I'm glad you said that, cause I was beginning to think it was just me, and that maybe I shouldn't have had that last hit.
69. 'Rare' mammoth skull discovered
Comment #241602 by AfraidToDie on September 2, 2008 at 6:55 pm
However, Dick Mol takes a different view
70. Theocratic Sect Prays for Real Armageddon
Comment #241595 by AfraidToDie on September 2, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I know the AFT botched Waco, but I can't help but be glad we have an organization that can investigate and take action where needed. We have government enforcement agencies to do the job the citizens are ill prepared to do on their own (nor should we). I don't know why they can't get him for assault on his bragging about kicking an elderly lady in the face. Nobody had the guts to boo him during that story because he rightfully scares the shit out of them. I wonder how many whackos have enough sense to just not ever come back after hearing that? "You know, Mildred, that guys a little far out for me. Maybe we should stay home from now on" :-)
71. Theocratic Sect Prays for Real Armageddon
Comment #241174 by AfraidToDie on September 2, 2008 at 1:00 am
What a paranoid crowd of followers. First, religion attracts those afraid to die, and afraid to go to hell, and adds a touch of "afraid of this macho tattoo 'kicking women in the face' asshole". It's all about fear. They are afraid NOT to follow him.
72. God Only SEEMS Nonexistent!
Comment #240816 by AfraidToDie on September 1, 2008 at 5:05 am
26. Comment #240638 by Shuggy: Why 3.14926... looks like a pretty irrational number to choose. (and 0.766... more than pi...?)
73. McCain's VP Wants Creationism Taught in School
Comment #240229 by AfraidToDie on August 31, 2008 at 5:49 am
129. Comment #240125 by Broshiesq: This is known as the "redistribution" of wealth, which is a euphemism for "take my shit and give it to the the other guy.
137. Comment #240154 by Mitchell Gilks: I think that, at least for this election, it is of paramount importance that all secularist americans (I'm not american, so I don't get a vote) vote democrat. You cannot afford to risk having the supreme court judge that is in his later eighties die or retire with a republican president in power, and have and have another right wing conservative christian in the supreme court. Giving them a 5/4 majority. If this happens then it is going to be damn hard, if not impossible to continue to keep religion out of schools, and secular life.
74. McCain's VP Wants Creationism Taught in School
Comment #239970 by AfraidToDie on August 30, 2008 at 4:38 pm
With IDiot logic so evident, I can't wait for the debate between her and Biden!
Has anyone ever asked those wanting to "Teach both" for the material they wish to use? I have a funny feeling it will look very much like "Of Pandas and People" and easily expose them as ID'ers. They should NOT be allowed to propose teaching both unless they provide the material they are proposing. Besides "Of Pandas.." and the bible, it would be interesting if they had anything else in mind.
75. A Teacher on the Front Line as Faith and Science Clash
Comment #236484 by AfraidToDie on August 24, 2008 at 5:22 pm
13. Comment #236414 by ingodwerust The poor man - and the poor kids. I don't think this is a purely American problem either. The article i thought was very good but not very encouraging
76. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong
Comment #235523 by AfraidToDie on August 23, 2008 at 7:11 am
This IS the point, and I concur completely. That is why RD's intro proclaiming "It's one reason why I don't believe in God" has no place in the classroom. I am not trying to protect Meadon's sensational comments, nor do I believe RD was trying to promote atheism. If I was a biology teacher, and teaching an intro to evolution to high school students, this series would be at the top of my list to play to them. However, that comment would make it questionable as to whether it could be shown in high school or elementary classes. OK, I'm done mentioning this since I am the only one that thinks it could possibly detract from the otherwise fantastic presentation.
Edit: this is the second time I've tried to correct my post as it was missing the quote I was referring to when I started this comment by "This IS the point…"
282. Comment #235480 by phasmagigas: science teachers ideally would have no mention of religion/creator in a science lesson, why should it? they should simply present the evidence for evolution and if teh question arises that could be something for a discussion with interested kids extra to the lesson.
77. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong
Comment #235335 by AfraidToDie on August 22, 2008 at 7:48 pm
I have some theist friends who really don't trust the idea of evolution, probably because their religion has indoctrinated them. And, since our schools in the US haven't been required to teach it for many years, they really don't know enough about it to think critically about the rubbish the church is feeding them. I have enjoyed sending them links to several of RD's lectures on evolution, knowing it was a great introductory. But with his early comment of "It's one reason why I don't believe in God", I don't feel like sending them the link as they'll think there might be a hidden agenda I'm promoting besides promoting knowledge about evolution (I guess that would be true). So be it. It was a great piece of work and I enjoyed it. RD even said he wouldn't make a good witness for the trials involving the teaching of ID, or am I misquoting that as well?
78. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong
Comment #235310 by AfraidToDie on August 22, 2008 at 5:37 pm
I think you are all too quick to throw Meadon under the bus. In the intro, RD says "It's one reason why I don't believe in God". Was that a necessary conclusion he hopes others to come away with? Not necessarily, but I can see how one might infer that as promoting atheism. So it brought the ire of RD and PK who called his conclusion a lie. Wow, my two heros just got a little testy, and calling a fellow atheist a liar might be a little strong. Everybody was sure ready to jump on the bandwagon. Anybody else see this comment as a personal conclusion (albeit mine as well) that should not be part of a class on evolution?
79. Q&A with Richard Dawkins after lecture at UC Berkeley
Comment #234912 by AfraidToDie on August 22, 2008 at 7:31 am
isthatclear: "Child farms
He does not understand with his limited knowledge and perception and conception that how God hears the prayers so he concludes god does not exists"
Comment #232855 by AfraidToDie on August 18, 2008 at 6:22 pm
5. Comment #232566 by Lucas: The blonde girl was priceless. Did you see the vacant look in her eyes as she said that crap? Kinda like a parrot on GHB. I've got a good guess about her future career, but I'll keep that to myself out of politeness.
But there's a lot of people lined up to help propagate her DNA ! Being blonde and dancing for money doesn't always signify stupidity. Interview most of the students from that school, and you'll probably see much of the same indoctrination. That's what we have to fight. Sounds like "JHJEFFREY" has a great idea and willing to use his law degree to attack. I haven't heard anyone trying to force religious schools to teach evolution, but it sounds like a great approach. With evolution now part of the Florida curriculum, perhaps theist schools will be required to teach it anyway?
81. Richard Dawkins Lecture at UC Berkeley
Comment #231363 by AfraidToDie on August 16, 2008 at 7:21 am
LaurieB - love your avatar...at least the place. Been there too! The view is almost enough to make me a pantheist :-)
82. Richard Dawkins Lecture at UC Berkeley
Comment #231237 by AfraidToDie on August 16, 2008 at 3:41 am
I never tire of reinforcing my consciousness awareness. I'll pass this link on to others who need a jumpstart.
83. Poll: Should the motto 'In God We Trust' be removed from U.S. currency?
Comment #230509 by AfraidToDie on August 14, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Who cares, we'll all be using pesos before much longer anyway. I've gotten so used to thinking of the word God in the same light as the word Nature, that it just doesn't bother me anymore. For me, it is a non issue, and I agree with the post that mentioned focusing on science and promoting reason and don't sweat the small stuff. I made my vote for removing it, and it is now 40 pct for removing it...bigger fish to fry. And Diacanu, before you beat me to the punch...
84. Congresswoman Slams Religious Right's Assault on Science's 'Edgier' Side
Comment #226381 by AfraidToDie on August 8, 2008 at 3:07 am
11. Comment #225944 by Border Collie ..
Americans aren't just against, afraid of, resentful of 'science' ... they are afraid of any thought, question, reason
85. Interview with Paula Kirby on 'The Right Hook'
Comment #224920 by AfraidToDie on August 6, 2008 at 2:57 am
Father McVerry: Nice man, does social good, but has lived his whole life following a well orchestrated fairy tale! What can be going through someone's conscious or subconscious that allows them to follow nonsensical teachings over 2,000 years old. But then again, he's placed himself in a position where he gets "looked up to" by those who claim to believe. He can't quit living the lie or his life would no longer have meaning. It is very sad.
86. Evangelically Serious Science
Comment #223850 by AfraidToDie on August 3, 2008 at 2:15 pm
12. Comment #223656 by Aley: Charlie Brooker also wrote a brilliant and typically hilarious review in The Guide yesterdayThanks for posting the link to this review. This is one of my favorite comments in that review:
"If the Bible had contained a passage that claimed gravity is caused by God pulling objects toward the ground with magic invisible threads, we'd still be debating Newton with idiots too"
87. What's wrong with science as religion
Comment #222845 by AfraidToDie on August 1, 2008 at 1:59 am
Giberson: But I want to believe that, through the eyes of my faith, this is how God created the world and that God cares about that world. Does this belief, shared by so many of our species, make me dangerous?
76. Comment #222794 by Old Sarum : Fine, but you might have noticed that many other people out there are indeed religious, & would certainly feel impoverished if you took their religious sensibilities away from them.
we just have to accept that different people value different kinds of engagement with the world :)
88. Richard Dawkins interviewed about 'The Genius of Charles Darwin'
Comment #222697 by AfraidToDie on July 31, 2008 at 6:13 pm
150 years ago, Darwin admitting to being atheist would be like being in Iran today and writing a book about being gay. Do any of us have any doubt that Darwin would have been an outspoken atheist today? I have no doubt whatsoevr.
89. Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Thinking about Morality
Comment #222254 by AfraidToDie on July 31, 2008 at 3:45 am
I'm not trying to say the study has no value, just pointing out what I think are pertinent factors. First, we are "cognitively" puting ourselves in the moral delimma, not the real thing. It is very much like trying to predict how we would react to a home invader when we possess a gun. Many claim they would "blow them away", but if you haven't been in that situation, you really don't know how you would react. There is the "shock value" of real life situations that cannot be simulated very well by cognitive thought choices. I could easily guess that in a real situation, the shock value of having to make such a judgement could let your mind believe that death to all might not really happen, or maybe the baby might not be heard, or other subconscience alternatives, realistic or not. I think they need to study people placed in real life and death situations where their choice of action determined the outcome. Asking people what they think they would do is interesting, but probably not what they might actually do. And yes, just my opinion.
90. Breeding for God
Comment #221533 by AfraidToDie on July 29, 2008 at 6:03 pm
Its Nature vs Nurture, and I don't believe anyone knows which has the stronger influence. There seems to be a correlation between intelligence and secularism, but perhaps that is only in the field of science. I hope it is Nature that dominates, and that education will hold the key to reducing the number of supernaturalists. But, I'm not totally convinced that is the case. I know many very intelligent people who are extremely religious. Perhaps it is only the upper tier of intelligent people where secularism is dominant? Perhaps the true relationship is between those who are extremely logical versus those who are more abstract thinkers? The logical appear to be more skeptical, don't they? But even if that is the case, is logic learned or is it more strongly related to a person's genetic code? Perhaps exposure to many individual's opinions can override demographics, and if so, the Internet may be the turning point to enlightenment? So many questions; so few answers.
91. VOICES OF SCIENCE: PZ Myers - Buy it now on DVD
Comment #218179 by AfraidToDie on July 25, 2008 at 3:15 am
16. Comment #217825 by christianapologetic: ...because maybe this creator (obviously a creator), want to keep a secret.
92. France rejects Muslim woman over radical practice of Islam
Comment #209752 by AfraidToDie on July 13, 2008 at 7:11 am
63. Comment #209717 by Matt7895 .. If you want to live in a closed, intolerant, church-driven, male-dominated society that is run by Islamic values, go home.
Comment #205140 by AfraidToDie on July 6, 2008 at 4:37 pm
WTF! Most of u r reading way too much in this. The survey obviously has flaws. They should have been able to weed out the idiots. Or better yet, once it was obvious they didn't understand, it would have been nice to figure out what percent of idiots are atheists vs. what percentage are theists, agnostic, etc. Now that would be interesting!
94. When too much Rapture is barely enough
Comment #204780 by AfraidToDie on July 5, 2008 at 6:26 pm
13. Comment #204600 by MorituriMax: Is this guy insane?
95. PZ Myers - Expelled from Expelled
Comment #201123 by AfraidToDie on June 29, 2008 at 5:16 am
It's all about overlapping conflict. As long as religious people let scientists investigate and educate, then there can be coexistence. When the "born agains" want to argue with science or impede it in any way, then they deservedly bring on "the battle". You can believe in ghosts all you want, and we can coexist and even debate it, but don't interject it in the classroom and push it on the public. Just live your delusional life without impacting others. When you start pushing irrational beliefs, you should expect (and deserve) a battle. RD, Hitch, PZ, and a host of other rationals were inevitable champions that were bound to emerge. It started out as defensive, and has rightfully shifted to an offense. Charge on!
Comment #197194 by AfraidToDie on June 21, 2008 at 10:19 am
I went to the link and sent him the following comment:
"I hope by now that you've heard a lot about what constitutes a scientific theory, and appreciate the many years of research that backs evolution. God did it, is NOT a scientific theory and evolution is the only strong theory of the origin of species that is backed by scientific research. Religion belongs in a philosophy class, not science. Please support our founding fathers and continue to keep church and state separate."
I may not be as eloquent or as educated as many of you, but I hope many of you register your opinion too. You'll have to fill out the "Parish" as well, but the last selection is "Out of state".
97. Divine Impulses: Ayaan Hirsi Ali
Comment #192851 by AfraidToDie on June 14, 2008 at 4:06 am
Without knowing much about Ayaan, other than watching several videos and reading various posts on RDW over that last year or so, it appears her message is one of enlightenment. Being anti-Islam (and atheist) does not alone make her a right wing neo-con, or else we'd all share that label. Her message could not be more clear.
Comment #189784 by AfraidToDie on June 7, 2008 at 9:13 am
Comment #189658 by mordacious1: Free Thought Radio has a nice "Imagine No Religion" billboard that they've designed and is available to anyone who wants to pay for the placement.
16. Comment #189668 by sb84: What's next? Study groups for The Selfish Gene? I thought atheism was all about making up your own mind. I think this interpretation of atheism is, at its core, religious
24. Comment #189686 by clearthinker: "atheists come from many different backgrounds and have many different beliefs so that the only thing that unites you is the lack of belief?"
99. Physicist Claims First Real Demonstration of Cold Fusion
Comment #187791 by AfraidToDie on June 2, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Oh my god, what will Teratornis do if he hears about this. Is there such a thing as Peak Fusion? Sorry Mr T, hope u have a good sense of humor to match your intellect? To "thewhitepearl", my wife just walked in and saw your avatar, and now don't believe me anymore when I say I'm surfing a "clear thinking oasis". I think she saw your phalanges :-)
100. Louisiana's latest creationism bill moves to House floor
Comment #186878 by AfraidToDie on May 31, 2008 at 3:03 pm
I don't think RD is "consumed" by the atheism topic. I've heard entire lectures by him on biology and science without mentioning the supernatural. However, his experiece in biology and evolution now blended with his newly found popularity with the growing number of atheists, is making him very rich. Groups seek him out to discuss the god delusion and buy those books, because of his unique style and expertiece. Yet, he still makes a stong effort to devote time to science. No, he's not consumed; myself and many posters here are consumed with atheism for various reasons. For me, it's a great place for us "cats" to get together often to discuss why we don't like to be part of the herd.