51. Atheists are nice people who will roast in hell, says Cardinal

Comment #177834 by riki on May 9, 2008 at 7:49 pm

I believe in heaven-on-earth and life-after-birth!

52. Churchgoing on its knees as Christianity falls out of favour

Comment #177341 by riki on May 9, 2008 at 12:18 am

Personally I think immigration policies (for any country) should have stops and checks to ensure some degree of integration.

53. Trouble ahead for science

Comment #177202 by riki on May 8, 2008 at 6:33 pm

I liked this quote in NS today

http://space.newscientist.com/article/dn13858-europe-recruits-astronauts-for-possible-moon-missions.html

"We want the youth of Europe to be interested in science, mathematics and engineering, and go into these careers whether it's in space or not," he said. "The astronauts are a focal point â€" they're icons for that inspiration."

54. The History Channel might do something right

Comment #176624 by riki on May 7, 2008 at 7:48 pm

Ars Technica posted this article yesterday which may be of interest.

'Evolution: what's the real controversy?'
http://arstechnica.com/journals/science.ars/2008/05/07/evolution-whats-the-real-controversy

55. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #175359 by riki on May 5, 2008 at 9:58 am

"Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks" great title btw.

56. Orangutan attempts to hunt fish with spear

Comment #175357 by riki on May 5, 2008 at 9:57 am

The question of what it means to be human is an interesting one. Especially if you consider the amount of bacteria in the human body. Apparently the human body contains 10 to 20 times more microbes than it does human cells. Ironically (according to New Scientist) if you remove the bacteria, you would no longer be human.

57. Pat Condell: Anthology DVD available now!

Comment #173653 by riki on May 1, 2008 at 3:42 am

He has a few videos on Liveleek
http://www.liveleak.com/user/patcondell

58. Pat Condell: Anthology DVD available now!

Comment #173578 by riki on April 30, 2008 at 9:41 pm

I do enjoy Pats rants, just as much as I enjoy slagging off Bush, over a cup of coffee with some Lebanese/Muslim friends.

But I was a bit surprised that RDF picked him up. I remember in one talk he mentions something about skinheads taking an interest in his videos and he quite rightly tells them to F-off. But it leaves me with the question, why did they identify with him in the first place.

59. Lynchings in Congo as penis theft panic hits capital

Comment #173416 by riki on April 30, 2008 at 6:44 pm

Hard to feel sorry for Witch Doctors who trade in this kind of mystic BS to start with. I was just reading this article on how they encourage killing albinos because they think of the condition as being a curse.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7348528.stm

60. Pat Condell: Anthology DVD available now!

Comment #173067 by riki on April 30, 2008 at 9:49 am

I enjoy Pats rants for what they are. One guy venting. But he's not a positive voice for change and some of his arguments are overly bias and simplistic.

Completely off topic but this was amazing http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7354458.stm

61. Pat Condell: Anthology DVD available now!

Comment #172703 by riki on April 30, 2008 at 12:25 am

Pat's always good for a laugh. Though the UK seems to be messed up with funding cuts to science, the prospect of ID cards, biometrics face scans, lap-dog status to the US, the proliferation of surveillance cameras and now being colonised by third world countries. He has plenty of material to work with.

62. How to reconcile Richard Dawkins?

Comment #172187 by riki on April 29, 2008 at 10:20 am

I'm surprised he didn't mention football riots and claim that as an act of godless inspired violence. It's a bit like saying, Stalin wrote a book and instigated acts of violence, therefore authorship leads to violence. You need to look at the real causes and underlying ideology. Religion isn't the only form of delusion, but it's up there with the best.

63. Religion a figment of human imagination

Comment #171734 by riki on April 28, 2008 at 6:26 pm

I think you'd also need a complex system of written and spoken language, to describe your imaginary world, so that others can live there as well.

btw the New Scientists Magazine subscription is great value. I've been a subscriber for about two years now.

64. Science leads to killing people

Comment #170751 by riki on April 28, 2008 at 12:06 am

I almost feel sorry for the creationists. At least they can still appreciate science for the Nukes. Let's put a stop to this horrible thing called medicine though.

65. Gods and earthlings

Comment #163412 by riki on April 18, 2008 at 10:16 am

"Dawkins is a Raelian"

Don't worry, a high percentage of Christians probably think that Moses was one of the twelve disciples. Facts don't really matter to them, even in Christian mythology, let alone Science.

Christianity is a slippery rope. They can twist it any-which-way they want. As long a they believe, that's the only thing that really matters. But show me two Christians that believe in the same thing.

66. Evolution: 24 myths and misconceptions

Comment #163147 by riki on April 18, 2008 at 3:08 am

It's great to see that New Scientist have published an article on this. Though I'm sure they'll take some heat from the Creationists.

btw who was it that said they wanted to be a fruit fly
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7350403.stm

67. Evolution: 24 myths and misconceptions

Comment #163055 by riki on April 17, 2008 at 11:20 pm

Get yourself a gay couple, a lesbian couple and a turkey baster. Then before you know it, you've got a baby with four parents.

68. Sexpelled: No Intercourse Allowed

Comment #162952 by riki on April 17, 2008 at 5:51 pm

Just in from New Scientist
http://www.newscientist.com/channel/life/dn13620-evolution-24-myths-and-misconceptions.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=top1_head_Evolution: 24 myths and misconceptions

69. Yoko Ono, Filmmakers Caught in 'Expelled' Flap

Comment #162412 by riki on April 16, 2008 at 10:30 pm

"no intelligence" at least they got that bit right.

70. Evolution fray attracts top scientist

Comment #162361 by riki on April 16, 2008 at 6:21 pm

During the Cold War, Maths and Science went through a boom period, fueled by the arms race.

The current "somewhat religious" war could be a boom period for religious zealots. Certainly the suicide bombers (excuse the pun).

But maybe also a growth period for other religious factions.

71. Teacher Expelled Over Religion

Comment #161806 by riki on April 15, 2008 at 5:43 pm

They should be sued for 'wrongful dismissal'.

BTW looks like the http://www.expelledexposed.com/ site is down with database problems.

72. Richard Dawkins' secular army must be stopped. God is behind some of our greatest art

Comment #160293 by riki on April 13, 2008 at 10:44 pm

I'm sure the Disney classics probably have a similar positive effect with conveying the odd moral tale. That doesn't mean we need to worship Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs or teach it as fact.

Either way I still can't see the connection between religion and morality. The faithful accept God unconditionally because he is God, not because he is good. That would imply conditional acceptance.

73. A New Flea

Comment #160145 by riki on April 13, 2008 at 5:57 pm

Can I suggest a title for Richards next book "Christianity Insanity"

74. Ancient serpent shows its leg

Comment #159344 by riki on April 12, 2008 at 1:56 am

No amount of evidence would sway Creationists. They've got their own deluded agenda.

75. Lungless frog discovered in Borneo

Comment #158580 by riki on April 10, 2008 at 7:22 pm

Saw this also on Yahoo http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080410/ap_on_sc/indonesia_lungless_frog

76. Richard Dawkins on The Big Questions

Comment #157514 by riki on April 9, 2008 at 8:10 am

I couldn't bear to watch it all. The Hitler/Devil thing was laughable.

77. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156261 by riki on April 7, 2008 at 7:50 am

I think you'd have a hard time selling any form of ideology to Australians, unless it involves beer or sport. Also, kids aren't as gullible as we'd like to think.

78. Dawkins warns of human extinction

Comment #155548 by riki on April 4, 2008 at 7:14 pm

Was the event/talk recorded? It would be good to see it posted online.

79. Upside-down church sculpture on hit list

Comment #154773 by riki on April 3, 2008 at 5:30 pm

There use to be a sculpture of a prostitute in Sydney. A number of people didn't like it and kept knocking it's head off. Eventually it started to look a bit like the Bride of Frankenstein. The point being, if you build controversial public sculpture, it's going to get vandalized.

80. Faith healing church parents charged over toddler's death

Comment #153635 by riki on April 1, 2008 at 5:43 pm

Isn't this an example of evolution at work?

81. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'

Comment #152416 by riki on March 31, 2008 at 1:54 am

Here's a few interesting videos, I don't necessarily agree or disagree with anything they say but worth a watch.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=30a_1204991129
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=a66_1206794408

82. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'

Comment #152377 by riki on March 30, 2008 at 9:25 pm

@ FightingFalcon

Would the 1st amendment give a Muslim Priest in the US the right to incite violence and terrorist acts against non-Muslims?

83. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'

Comment #152335 by riki on March 30, 2008 at 6:06 pm

You can't publish works that incite violence. But at the same time you need to defend freedom.

84. In His Name We Pray, Ramen

Comment #151756 by riki on March 29, 2008 at 10:19 am

Sounds like we (humans) are suffering from the Casper Hausen Syndrome, except our box is a bit bigger.

85. Beware the Believers

Comment #151572 by riki on March 29, 2008 at 2:18 am

It's pro science, pro dick in an irreverent way that would appeal to younger, hipper audiences. It's linked up on Bad Astronomy as well http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2008/03/28/creationism-thats-a-rap/

86. Beware the Believers

Comment #151535 by riki on March 29, 2008 at 12:20 am

So who was the Creator? Obviously not a Creationist. Well done!!

87. Fossil find could be Europe's first humans

Comment #150981 by riki on March 27, 2008 at 10:28 pm

I'm wondering do religious people worship God because he's good, or do they worship God because he's God.

There's a big difference, with implications.

The later would indicate absolute acceptance good or bad. Implying they would follow their maker even if he was evil.

While the former is conditional worship. Which implies the possibility of rejecting God if he wasn't good.

But I seriously doubt any God would want to be worshiped, it seems more like an insecure human trait.