51. Petrol pump pilgrims keep faith

Comment #231922 by Logicel on August 17, 2008 at 10:15 am

Oystein, your humor continues to tickle me pink.

52. Petrol pump pilgrims keep faith

Comment #231918 by Logicel on August 17, 2008 at 10:12 am

"We believe not just in prayer - because we believe that faith without works is dead.
____

Also without works, prayer is totally ineffective (and therefore dead). Pretending that they have live faith (meaning they get off their arses to solve the problem themselves) allows them to quiet a bit that raging cognitive dissonance resulting from believing in magic. It seems in addition that these folks, who were active in reducing their petrol consumption, need to believe in belief, making harsh, uncaring reality more palatable for them.

53. Religion out of medicine, a new message for Ontario doctors

Comment #231906 by Logicel on August 17, 2008 at 9:54 am

Physicians are also allowed to refuse to do referrals in such cases.
_____

There is absolutely no excuse for such behavior. However, if I had the bad luck to go to one of these blinkered doctors, I doubt that I would trust their referral anyway.

54. Unintelligent Design

Comment #231902 by Logicel on August 17, 2008 at 9:49 am

Ah, the author penned Kluge! Nice gentle but very firm presentation of the obvious (different styles for different folks).

However:

in which new life forms represent random modifications of earlier life forms --
____

New life forms result both from random errors in the DNA code AND from the non-random influence of natural selection.

55. Big-brained Animals Evolve Faster

Comment #231231 by Logicel on August 16, 2008 at 3:15 am

royalhotair aka princezephyr, you gabbling limpet! (hat tip to Pharyngulite, Kensiya OM)

56. Big-brained Animals Evolve Faster

Comment #231226 by Logicel on August 16, 2008 at 2:29 am

Brian, I have not gotten to your link yet--still absorbing the Wikipedia article (believe your link is included in the Wikipedia article external links, so I will get to it eventually as I am fascinated by Cladistics).

I had chunked an earlier reading (about a year ago) of the Wiki art., so was pleased that I was able to understand most of what I read this time around. I wondered if the article was edited heavily since my earlier reading and checked the discussion page, and yes it has been, obviously for the better. It was a featured article a couple of years ago but was removed from the featured list (though it is still excellent).

Anyway, from the discussion page, here's a good definition of what Cladistics is: It's a methodology for elucidating evolutionary relationships.

Wonder if clades can be set up for memes? Also I see a slight connection between Cladistics and Logistics, esp. related to the moving and tracking of information. The tussle (seems like this new tool is a disruptive one!) between the Linnaean proponents and the Cladists is interesting also--I am definitely rooting for the Cladists as I appreciate a tool that shows the deep (and fractal) complexity of evolutionary history. The Linnaeanists' objection on the basis that known species, both existing and extinct, are finite, and therefore using such a complex tool is more trouble than it's worth seems pretty hollow to me. Ah, when you have so much time and effort invested in a way of seeing reality, it is not easy to give that way up.

Beeline, thanks for your comment #19.

57. Big-brained Animals Evolve Faster

Comment #230675 by Logicel on August 15, 2008 at 3:36 am

Apparently Hennig originally termed Cladistics as Phylogenetic Systematics which to me spells out what this discipline does. Still ploughing through the various articles, but am gratified to see that my first impression that Cladistics would have uses outside of biology had merit as it is used in other fields. I wonder how it could be put to use in family histories? As in focusing in the spread of diseases in an inbred group?

58. Big-brained Animals Evolve Faster

Comment #230660 by Logicel on August 15, 2008 at 3:04 am

Thanks neander, Brian, and Beeline for your responses.

Looking at the diagrams in the Wikipedia Clade article, my first reaction is that cladistics is to evolutionary history as genealogy is to family history. Is that a correct assessment? I will finish reading the Wikipedia article when I have the time.

59. Big-brained Animals Evolve Faster

Comment #230642 by Logicel on August 15, 2008 at 2:26 am

From my studying evolution in school decades ago, I can't recall the word, clade. In looking it up awhile back, I am still not the wiser. Is clade identical to genus? What does clade signify that species, genus, family, etc., does not? I would appreciate if someone could lead me in the right direction in understanding the implication of an clade.

60. We need to stop being such cowards about Islam

Comment #229846 by Logicel on August 14, 2008 at 4:03 am

...and using language that a third-rate streetwalker would be ashamed of...
______

Fanusi, what you consider to be a third-rate streetwalker (more aptly, sex worker) may be considered a first-rate one by some of her customers. And also, you may need to get out more if you think Kate's language is too gamey.

Kate is an alpha female it seems. Good for her.

Kate writes: I AM troubled and mad. But at least I'm not middle class.
______

Here's the way I look at the Classes:

Working class people are stupid and don't know it, often rejoicing in their plain speaking wisdom and their salt-of-the-earthness as authentic knowledge.

Middle class people are stupid, know it, try to do something about it and fail miserably.

Upper class people are stupid, know it, and flaunt it as they don't give a flying f*ck.

Common theme? Stupidity.

61. We need to stop being such cowards about Islam

Comment #229781 by Logicel on August 14, 2008 at 3:06 am

Stewart wrote: It is the perfect time to reevaluate and look very critically at why you had difficulty swallowing a good argument merely because of who it came from.
______

Kate (I am too intimidated to risk making a typo for her initials!) writes: I agree with the article. Gettit. I AGREE with the viewpoint. My point isn't the feckin article.

Kate has no problem 'swallowing'(I am now laughing so hard it hurts) the argument presented in this article.

Ad hom can be served by pointing out the character in some instances, for example, a person who is proven to be a consistent liar, his/her court testimony will hing on that aspect. But, I don't see how Hari's egotism needs to be considered in order to admire the article. In reality, I don't know Hari, and I don't pretend that I do just because I enjoyed a piece of writing by him.

62. We need to stop being such cowards about Islam

Comment #229703 by Logicel on August 14, 2008 at 12:44 am

Excellently written with a passionate undercurrent. Short, clear, and covers all the important points

63. The Afterlife for Scientologists

Comment #229386 by Logicel on August 13, 2008 at 1:45 pm

Each silly religion is considered unique and special by its followers. Religites focus on what they perceive to be differences among the many religions, instead of the glaring similarities--the main one being that they are all ridiculous.

64. Defend the Individual and So the West

Comment #228998 by Logicel on August 13, 2008 at 2:07 am

At first, I thought she was saying that the West has gotten too civilized, in the sense that we have encouraged the alpha male to tone it down so much that we have exposed our vulnerable side too openly. This confused me a bit, as the taming of the alpha spirit has advanced civilization.

But, now I see she is saying that civilization is very civilized indeed if it can defend its foundations, not only in the sense of open combat as was done previously against the Nazis, but also in enforcing consistently its already existing laws without making special exemptions for radically different cultures.

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

Comment #228508 by Logicel on August 12, 2008 at 6:01 am

Steve Z wrote: My view is that we have to keep pointing out the clear evidence of hypocrisy in the way he behaves and inconsistency, especially on matters such as evolution/creationism.
_______

My take is David Robertson's response of We all get along, happily accepting the gradient of beliefs encompassing YEC, OEC, and theistic evolution in our church members (paraphasing the dipshit) speaks volume of his intellectually dishonest approach and belies his bleating insistence that he is after the truth.

How can you be after the truth if you lack intellectual discrimination, when anything goes? DR idiotically confuses intellectual discrimination with bigotry. David Robertson does not give a clear answer to Steve's question because the truth is not important to him, while fudging over the conflicting evidence is, because all he wants to do is to continue in his blinkered, deluded manner. Therefore, it is most important for him never clearly to answer questions, and at this endeavor he succeeds enormously.

No hope for him, but as Steve and Corylus (I am following her example to bold the full spelling of his name to make sure that references to his hypocrisy stand out) have pointed out, his hypocrisy needs consistently to be exposed so if any of his followers are directed here they will be presented with many examples of David Robertson's blatant, pathetic, and smarmy hypocrisy.

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

Comment #228443 by Logicel on August 12, 2008 at 3:56 am

So v true, Billy

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

Comment #228440 by Logicel on August 12, 2008 at 3:50 am

Perhaps my opposition to irate_atheist's plan to pee on the plot (DRs of course) has already been brought up. DR does not merit the resulting lush greenery that will follow such an enriched pissing as would be done by irate_atheist.

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

Comment #228434 by Logicel on August 12, 2008 at 3:46 am

Comment #228412 by irate_atheist on August 12, 2008 at 3:11 am
avatarDo you think he'll have his cheque book buried with him?
______

Nah, since it is not Christian he will leave orders to have it cremated.

69. More reviews of 'The Genius of Charles Darwin'

Comment #228424 by Logicel on August 12, 2008 at 3:29 am

Yes, Eyre's review has merit, esp. liked "Dawkins's passion shone through gently, like light behind paper." Nice working metaphor. Perhaps she should give Gill a remedial class in writing?

70. More reviews of 'The Genius of Charles Darwin'

Comment #228421 by Logicel on August 12, 2008 at 3:24 am

Layla, #24, Thanks for identifying in which book RD referred to Gill as a loose cannon. To be precise, a humorous loose cannon. I would only agree with that phrasing, if humorous meant that his readership laughed at him, not that he made his readership laugh.

Gill is the kind of talented person who is so depressingly disappointing. Or perhaps he has no real talent, and he is just going by the seat of his pants.

71. More reviews of 'The Genius of Charles Darwin'

Comment #227703 by Logicel on August 10, 2008 at 1:36 pm

If I remember correctly, RD referred to AA Gill as a loose cannon in one of RDs books (can't remember which one). I thought that description at the time was an astute observation on the part of RD and made me chuckle; the only adjective that would do Gill even more justice would be the addition of miniature as in a miniature loose cannon.

Gill squirts his bombastic gurgles out with such boring regularity, one can depend on them to take the place of sedatives and risk falling into slumber in the middle of one of his journalistic pieces.

72. Richard Dawkins, the naive professor

Comment #226529 by Logicel on August 8, 2008 at 8:25 am

Decades ago I was told that faggot pertained to the bundle of sticks that were lit on fire under homosexuals a long time ago. I checked that aspect just now in Wikipedia, and though that ordeal may have happened in other countries, it never happened in Britain. However, it seems that fag connotes an old unpleasant woman and that seems to be the basis for the use in describing homosexuals. So when you are insulting an homosexual, you are complimenting an old woman? (teehee)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faggot_(word)

73. Richard Dawkins, the naive professor

Comment #225862 by Logicel on August 7, 2008 at 12:52 pm

It is honest and direct for RD to state in his TV program that it was because of evolution that made him an atheist. I am guessing that honesty is what is making pathetic murkies like Purves to feel uncomfortable.

The honesty and frankness of a well respected and admired scientist like Dawkins is much more disquieting to the religious status quo than if he did do what they falsely accuse him of, that is, of trying to stridently push his atheism onto others.

74. Richard Dawkins, the naive professor

Comment #225852 by Logicel on August 7, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Purves is a terrible writer! Her style is a breathless rant, but without proper snark--her snark is more petulant pouting without providing any insightful edge (or entertainment).

Stupid, too, in a Professor of the Public Understanding of Science. If you offer a choice between science on one hand and faith and tradition on the other, too many people will reject science. A subtle and well-evolved species like us can accept both ammonites and Alleluias. Live with it, Prof.
____

Stupid? How about this burning stupidity (and as a Catholic, Purves would embrace this astounding nonsense): Therefore, a cosmic Jewish zombie who was his own father wants you to telepathically acknowledge him as your master so that he can remove an evil force from your soul that was put there when a talking snake convinced a rib-woman to eat the fruit of a magical tree.

Moderates like you, Purves, are the problem--you wallow around in your inanity, giving credibility to the dangerous notion that belief without evidence, i.e, faith, is virtuous. Our evolved brains have been cobbled together through evolution, and though quite useful, can also fool us blatantly and consistently without the least bit of subtleness. It is quite easy to dance the cognitive dissonance jig like you, Purves, for which you will be confronted and criticized.

Live with it, Purves.

75. Interview with Paula Kirby on 'The Right Hook'

Comment #224723 by Logicel on August 5, 2008 at 12:49 pm

Excellent job, Paula! You have such a lovely speaking voice. Think the priest was beginning to squirm under your persistent, gentle focusing towards the end.

The priest ironically presented Jesus in a very communistic way. All I heard from the priest was that if everybody is not joined together via the 'love of Jesus,' then any other life style is fraught with problems. Apparently, the way of the 'jesus junkie' is the best for everybody at all times. How about law, justice, fairness, access to opportunity, etc.?

Christians are unable to accept reality--I doubt that they learn from mistakes. They embrace imperfection--their original sin--only so they can pretend that they have a hotline to perfection, via the son of god instead of working with what they got, their 'lowly' selves. They are just bizarre (and totally boring).

The priest wanted to make self-empowerment seem less than what it is, that no one can be self-empowered, only the love of jesus can do that. Barf.

76. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220445 by Logicel on July 28, 2008 at 12:52 pm

"The answer to AIDS requires deeper and more complex interventions, in which the Church is active on many fronts."
_____

Just not on the Y-front.

The Catholic henchmen just can't get away from using some version of The Courtier's Reply when they are put on the hot seat. Yeah, right, requires deeper and more complex interventions.

77. Texas Fiction Science

Comment #218990 by Logicel on July 26, 2008 at 12:36 am

The most incredible thing I believe is the Christmas story. That little baby born in the manger was the god that created the universe.
_____

Religites of his despicable calibre just can't grasp though they may be entitled to their own opinions, they are not entitled to their own facts. Evolution, as well being an scientific theory, is a fact.

78. Sydney brothels say Pope's visit will give business a leg-up

Comment #218985 by Logicel on July 26, 2008 at 12:15 am

Tom Coward, the symbol for the adult cabaret business is RICK (trades on the Nasdaq).

The rumor has it that for some of these young people, these world youth events is when they lose their virginity--often with each other.

79. Good Science Writers: Richard Dawkins

Comment #216392 by Logicel on July 23, 2008 at 6:01 am

I think Steve Zara's metaphor is quite good--works much better for me than RDs. However, it does not have that sound biting quality of RDs. Sound bites can get information out in the meme/mainstream, but often at the expense of in-depth explanation/knowledge. Sigh. A necessary compromise, I suppose. Or maybe not. Perhaps, we are just accustomed to the punch of sound bites, and we need to become receptive to better delivery vehicles for information.

80. Richard Dawkins on Al Jazeera English

Comment #215529 by Logicel on July 22, 2008 at 4:00 am

Comment #215446 by vesihiisi on July 21, 2008 at 11:34 pm
____

Your avatar made me chuckle.

81. The brain in love

Comment #215099 by Logicel on July 21, 2008 at 9:38 am

I think Helen Fisher should study the Vulcans because they are not so red in kiss and embrace as humans. They seemed to have transcended their reptilian ancestry.

Ms. Fisher seemed a bit more relaxed towards the end of her lecture--perhaps speaking in front of crowds does not come easy to her or she is just a high energy type but I felt tense all throughout her speaking!

Wonder what connection the love of the imaginary, that is, gods, have to do with the fact that loving is deep within our brains. Do humans have love to spare, extra love that is not mopped up with real relationships, so the leftovers get directed towards gods? Do addictive personalities tend to fall deeply into love more easily than non-addictive personalities (since it is connected to the ability to secrete hormones related to the sensation of pleasure)? If falling in love is similar to assessing risk and reward, is that why Pascal's wager comes in handy to explain why we should love God?

82. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #214213 by Logicel on July 20, 2008 at 1:29 am

Joe, you gabbling limpet!

(wonderful descriptive term used at Pharyngula for the likes of Joe)

83. The Return of Religion

Comment #212013 by Logicel on July 16, 2008 at 1:22 pm

Wonder if Scruton would consider Shakespeare strident? Probably not, so here's some specially chosen Shakespearean tidbits for you, Roger dear:

Thou yeasty lily-livered blind-worm.

Thou beslubbering idle-headed maggot-pie

And my fave:

Would the fountain of your mind were clear again that I might water an ass at it. (from Troilus and Cressida).

84. Fury at funeral songs ban

Comment #211223 by Logicel on July 15, 2008 at 3:57 pm

Humanist funerals are meaningful services. The absolute idiotic religious funerals I witnessed in my childhood only contributed to my disgust that I felt towards the clergy.

Often it is said that religion is used to mark important events. Well, it cheapens every event, whether it is a birth, a marriage, or a death. The clergy are just clueless, and yet the common held wisdom is that the clergy perform valuable services in this regard.

I have suspected for a long time that the so-called comfort that is associated with religion is a big, f*cking myth. And perhaps that is why for some religious brands, they are relinquishing their hold, because as the adherents mature, they can finally see with clear eyes, that there are many better ways to cope with life's challenges than putting oneself on the religious autopilot of intoning gibberish, swishing robes, and putrid incense.

85. MnIndy interview: Unrepentant science-heathen PZ Myers still intends to prove 'this cracker is nothing'

Comment #211130 by Logicel on July 15, 2008 at 2:13 pm

An Eucharist supposedly was desecrated awhile ago on youtube by The Science Pundit (I have not watched it, it was mentioned on Pharyngula).

I, myself, could not pretend to be a Catholic in order to spirit away a wafer. It would feel icky to do that, even though I am considered a Catholic by the Church, because I was baptized and confirmed. However, one needs not to be in a state of sin, and if so, must be confessed before receiving the host, so I don't fit the bill. The rules are dumb and meaningless, but those are the rules governing the so-called free giving out of wafers.

Despite all that, I still agree with PZ, that at this point, if he does get a consecrated wafer (and how can he prove that it is?), he needs to follow through and desecrate it.

86. Dalai Lama defends Islam as peaceful religion

Comment #210811 by Logicel on July 15, 2008 at 5:21 am

Fanusi, thanks for that link to that Penn & Teller youtube vid. Made my day, especially with Teller using that one clothing prop to be transformed into religious nuts.

When I see the Dalai Lama speaking, I see a priest, an imam, a rabbi. Same thing. Though the Dalai Lama tends to focus on the nurturing, feminine aspects of religion rather than the brute patriarchy of Islam or Catholicism, he has that same old 'hotline' to absolute truth and meaning for us all.

As Jesus junkies push their addiction to love down our throats, the Dalai does that with peace. And in doing so, both cheapen love and peace.

87. Pope confirms sexual abuse apology

Comment #209688 by Logicel on July 13, 2008 at 2:36 am

The function of a priest and the carte blanche that his flock renders to him, makes the function of a priest completely compatible with sexual abuse.

While Catholics would be quite wary in other realms regarding possible sexual child abuse, they throw out their caution without thought when dealing within their religious circles. There would be no Church if there were no followers.

Though the Pope is a bastard, the Catholic Church a fetid swamp of stupid rigidity and inanity, mind-boggling arrogance, and disgusting disregard for life and liberty, there are people who cleave to this farcial organization. Certainly they have been brainwashed, but they do live in the real world and have rational abilities, and yet 17% of the world's population go on bleating about their nonsense.

All the Catholics are to me, are role models on what not to do. And since there are many others who fit that bill, the Catholics are not even special in that regard, and yes, they do so want to be special and in tune with the unchanging, absolute truth. So very boring and so very useless. Not to mention mega stupid and mega fail.

88. An Irishman's Diary

Comment #209149 by Logicel on July 11, 2008 at 4:25 pm

Interesting article.

For the test, I got 100% on the first three levels, and 87% (forgot what the distinction is between a while (noun) and awhile (adverb) for the last level.

Though the test itself is solid, I found her explanations for the answers to be confusing. And rating our peerage on the scanty data of our age, sex, and city is a flimsy and possibly inaccurate (as I am a native speaker of English living in a French city) basis on which to take that assessment. One's educational level (and maybe even professional status) needs to be included.

89. Weak US dollar hits papal profits

Comment #208839 by Logicel on July 11, 2008 at 9:43 am

Gosh, what a shock, the Catholic Church is not telling the whole truth while it is pretending that it is?

90. PLEASE WRITE IN SUPPORT OF PZ MYERS

Comment #208199 by Logicel on July 10, 2008 at 5:34 pm

Sent:

Subject: In Support of PZ Myers

Dear Mr. Bruininks,

PZ Myers is my daily inspiration--he is a fantastic blogger writing about science and atheism. Because of him, I have a very positive opinion of the University of Minnesota and would love to visit your campus if I ever visit America. Frankly, despite living in a Catholic country, France, I do not comprehend Bill Donahue's archaic and shameful conduct conflating criticism/satire of religious beliefs to a hate crime. Perhaps he should read his country's Constitution?

Sincerely,
My full name

91. IT'S A GODDAMNED CRACKER!

Comment #206982 by Logicel on July 9, 2008 at 3:48 am

Or one could say to the likes of foaming-at-the-mouth Catholic idiots like Donahue, Polly want a cracker? and shove a giant cracker in his pie hole.

If you check carefully on the bottom of chalices, you will see in small print, engraved the following words: "Catholics: We are batshit crazy, and we are proud of it!"

92. IT'S A GODDAMNED CRACKER!

Comment #206974 by Logicel on July 9, 2008 at 3:30 am

Are Catholic Churches--since they serve food in the form of edible crackers--subject to the same sanitation rules to which restaurants are subjected?

Be great to see a department of Health notice on the Vatican doors, stating that this place is dangerous for one's health because of bats in the belfry.

93. A trip to the Creation Museum

Comment #206875 by Logicel on July 8, 2008 at 11:24 pm

No idea if there is a prominent photo of Ken Ham (a founder of AIG/museum) somewhere in the museum, but if so, I can imagine the child asking: "Why does this man look like a monkey?"

I felt so sad after reading this New Scientist's blog, what a truly demented, disgusting lot of brain dead people desperately trying to pass their brain dead state onto the next generation.

From the Wikipedia article (I wondered how the neutral point of view demanded for Wikipedia articles would handle this one, and I think that the emphasis on how deviant this museum is from the established perspective of science is done very clearly):

According to the founder of Answers in Genesis, Ken Ham, "One of the main reasons we moved there was because we are within one hour's flight of 69 per cent of America's population."
_______

I know FedEx has their main, logistical hub in Louisville, KY. The godbots, if not anything else, are superb at marketing/disseminating their 'wares.'

If a child is being handled in an abusive manner, we can alert the social service folks, when a child is abused mentally by being fed such crap, we can't do anything direct to help that child, only indirectly, by fighting and confronting these godbots' insanity.

94. Degrees of religion

Comment #205935 by Logicel on July 8, 2008 at 12:12 am

She wants to believe in the god of her ancestors (hence the need for religion for her, she believes in belief) and she wants to fit in a modern society at the same time.

Instead of merely criticizing harshly the muslim extremists she is doing something much more canny, she is declawing them and reducing their fangs into a mushy mass of toothless gums, by stating that religion is only meaningful and workable if she can shape it in a form that speaks to her.

This is how a religion becomes moderated from the ground up.

95. Origin of the Novel Species Noodleous doubleous: Evidence for Intelligent Design

Comment #205434 by Logicel on July 7, 2008 at 9:12 am

TEACH THE CONTROVERSY! FSM-ID must be taught in all science classrooms.

RAmen.

96. Origin of the Novel Species Noodleous doubleous: Evidence for Intelligent Design

Comment #205430 by Logicel on July 7, 2008 at 9:09 am

Look how thoughtful the FSM is, obviously designing the Rigatoni to allow for Penne insertion. Makes me hungry just realizing this merciful and bountiful generosity of the FSM.

97. Origin of the Novel Species Noodleous doubleous: Evidence for Intelligent Design

Comment #205427 by Logicel on July 7, 2008 at 9:06 am

Has the Al Dente Inquisition approved of this research?

Just think, this 'scholarly' research puts to shame anything that the IDiots are doing.

98. Religion's role in the climate debate

Comment #205252 by Logicel on July 7, 2008 at 12:45 am

Yes, fallacies galore.

The implication is that since the religious are supposed to believe that they are entrusted with the care of the planet by their insane overlord, that they do actually live by this creed. If that was the case, and since the majority of humans are religious, why are there so many environmental problems? All that indoctrination, brainwashing, threats of eternal damnation can't get folks to toe the environmental line? Try education next time, dipshits.

The religites are very taken with their stance that everything they do is imbued with truth, therefore, they are the truest environmentalists. Instead, they are just jackasses that sometimes manage to do the right things for the wrong reasons.

Unrelenting criticism of inane and dangerous religious beliefs are taking its toll--the religites are spending less time lambasting atheists and threatening them with hell, and more time spent pathetically polishing their permanently tarnished reputations.

99. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #204618 by Logicel on July 5, 2008 at 11:29 am

Benocrates, you think it's appropriate that the kids got punished?

100. When too much Rapture is barely enough

Comment #204614 by Logicel on July 5, 2008 at 11:21 am

My visceral reading of the rapture guy is one of a very frightened dude, anxiety rippling just under the surface, barely concealed by his idiotic smugness.

And you pious parasites (like David Robertson), this insanity is in part due to your insisting that religious faith (since you pious parasites always know that your faith is the true one, therefore only good can come out of it) is virtuous. Gaze upon your handiwork, you pious parasites (and their pathetic apologists). This is the work you have really accomplished in your lifetime, by simply giving credence to non-evidential faith.