










1101. Commentary: Democrats finally getting religion on religion
Comment #157935 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 7:16 pm
Tulsa, OK and Memphis, TN? Wow - not the best examples of America!
1102. Expelled Overview
Comment #157931 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Blind people are unable to perceive but still they can see the truth. Atheits are able to look at it but still they do not see the truth.
1103. Commentary: Democrats finally getting religion on religion
Comment #157928 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 6:54 pm
Can I ask if you live in America? I ask because I'm afraid that non-Americans don't really get the whole story outside of our country. Yes, we have quite a large number of religious fanatics. I'd be willing to say that we are the one exception to the rule of a country's prosperity generally equating to a decline in religious influence. At the same time, we continue to make tremendous achievements in all fields of science and math.
1104. Commentary: Democrats finally getting religion on religion
Comment #157907 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I don't see anyone supplanting America in the field of space exploration anytime soon - so long as our education system continues to provide qualified scientists.
I'm not too worried about China making the next great space accomplishment. They're still trying to get a man on the Moon - something we accomplished decades ago.
1105. Commentary: Democrats finally getting religion on religion
Comment #157903 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Unfortunatly it is difficult to win an election in America without appealing to religion and absolutly impossible to win if you're an atheist or an agnostic.
1106. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'
Comment #157891 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 5:27 pm
Heheheheh! Well, Bonzai, I did my bit for alternative motive technology - coating palladium onto ceramic tubes and alloying it with a variety of other metals to try and purify hydrogen. Thing is, oil is still quite cheap and readily available and the alternatives suggested and being followed now seem to involve using food to move. Guess that's showing we're reaching Malthusian levels...
Of course, just as every ethnicity and population, not everyone is the same adn not everyone is completely monolithic in thought. I say write a letter - it will probably be published - and let them know what a total fucking waste of time religion is, how stupid it is to get all uptight and offended over words regarding dead people and delusions. You can write well - do it.
As it is, I vented my spleen a bit on the democratic religious shit thread. Religion is more important to American voters than, say, the economy, than even world opinion. Spleen slowly filling again, but it'll be a while before it gushes forth again...
Think I'll write to Arab News myself now. As a bonus, they don't truncate letters like the Daily Telegraph does!
1107. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'
Comment #157883 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 4:59 pm
Bonzai, write a letter to Arab News. letters@arabnews.com
Maybe don't mention 12th century farting too much, though ;-)
1108. Commentary: Democrats finally getting religion on religion
Comment #157882 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 4:57 pm
How, may I ask, did American politics get to the state where religion is deemed more important than anything else, where religion makes or breaks a candidate? American popularity is at an all time low in world perception, not just in the Middle East but in Europe, America's closest allies.
Chinese and Indians are covering Africa with roads, schools, factories, cars, bike, clothing (yes, I know, these are all exchanged for coal, iron, oil and they provide their own workers) and getting Africans excited while all I read is Americans telling Africans to not have so many children by....wait for it...not having sex. And who is helping them with this great message? Religious Europeans!
I am in awe - how a civilisation can drain itself away from the world stage by seeking points for an afterlife that evidence suggests isn't there. What about the here and now? Jobs? Housing, schooling, science, space? Sci Fi had white guys in space when I watched it - how wrong were they! Space will be Chinese and Indian. There won't be any Stars and Stripes on Mars, will there?
I guess the Handmaid's tale is truer than Attwood wanted it to be...
1109. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'
Comment #157875 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 4:46 pm
And a couple of letter in the same publication...
Wilders Film
This is regarding the report, "Wilders Film Aims to Block Dialogue: WAMY" (March 31). Please. The movie is bad. Poorly made and simply "button pushing." But, it is not blocking dialogue at all. What should the reply to this video be? Dialogue! Tell the world why the movie is wrong. This is not the same as telling the world that the movie is dangerous and forcibly stopping it from being shown anywhere. That is dialogue blocking.
Sven H., United States published 10 April 2008
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wilders Film [2]
Although I am a Christian I truly believe that this film is very offensive and should have been banned by the Netherlands right from the start. Why in the world are they letting this third-rate and amateur filmmaker expose one of the world's greatest religions to such vulgar and offensive insults? Don't we have enough problems with religious extremists from both sides and I am forgetting neither Bush nor Osama Bin Laden? It is time to make peace and be friends in the name of our one and only true God and all his prophets (may peace be upon them). But Muslims must not get carried away by violent demonstrations and they must understand that this entire affair has been caused by a mad and irresponsible man.
Henry Rosan, United States published 10 April 2008
1110. Anti-Quran Film Fitna Pulled From Web Due to 'Threats'
Comment #157873 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 4:40 pm
In Arab News..
http://www.arabnews.com/?page=1§ion=0&article=108817&d=10&m=4&y=2008&pix=kingdom.jpg&category=Kingdom
Schism â€" Saudi Blogger's Answer to Wilders Film
Ebtihal Mubarak, Arab News
A scene from the video "Schism" shows a woman activist from an extremist Christian organization preaching violence to children. (AN photo)
JEDDAH, 10 April 2008 â€" A Saudi blogger has made a six-minute video entitled "Schism" by portraying texts from Christian sources out of context, similar to the way Dutch MP Geert Wilders made his recently-released anti-Qur'an film entitled "Fitna."
In his film, Raid Al-Saeed, 33, shows verses of the Bible that call for war and illustrated them with clips of extremist Christian groups that preach violence.
"I made it in less than 24 hours. In 'Schism,' I have used the same methodology that Wilders has used and that involves taking texts out of context," he told Arab News, adding that he made the film to prove that it is incorrect to judge Islam by watching "Fitna."
This is a point that he writes at the end of his short film. "It is easy to take part of any holy book out of context and make it sound like an inhumane book. This is what Geert Wilders did to gather supporters for his hateful ideology. To create 'Schism,'" he wrote.
Al-Saeed does not believe religious books call for violence and bloodshed. He said "Fitna" is "based on hate" and that Wilders has abused the "freedom of expression that he enjoys." He added that Wilders' movie reflects "his racism and hatred."
When Al-Saeed first posted his clip on YouTube on March 1, the video was removed within 12 hours with a message from the site that the clip violated its terms.
Al-Saeed wrote back to YouTube, asking why the movie was removed while "Fitna" remained available. He uploaded the film again and added a message for the site's administrators advising them to view Wilders' film before deleting the film.
His video has been viewed over 1,800 times and has been on YouTube since March 2. It is also available for viewing on Google.
Al-Saeed insists that his aim is not to spread hate but to tell the world that you cannot judge a religion or an ideology by taking things out of context.
1111. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday
Comment #157859 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 4:05 pm
I think the comments here are getting just a mite too personal now. Might just be me. It isn't enjoyable to read - I know it isn't meant to be. It is, in fact, rather uncomfortable and slightly unsettling. Is there a way things can be patched up? Indeed, is there a way thngs can be patched up without recourse to everyone else being the unwilling voyeurs?
As for the RM thing - I missed it. Time zones and stuff conspired against me here. Maybe my loss, maybe my gain, who knows.
This site is a wee haven for me. It fills those boring bits in between experiments and makes my day go by a bit more enjoyably. You may notice (bet no one does - I'm not that important...sniff, sniff :-( ) I don't post on weekends much, if at all, as my life seems to be booked pretty much all weekend. Fight then, not now. Please.
1112. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157762 by Goldy on April 9, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Well, I hvae to say, this was actually quite....illuminating :-)
Two men at dawn to defend the honour of a) women and b) another member of the community. Fists were held up, the rules explained and a fairly honourable fight ensued.
At the interval, discussions were conducted, evidence reviewed and a consensus reached. Bloodied noses were wiped, shirts replaced and hands shook.
If only world politics were conducted like this!
1113. Get out of here, atheists!
Comment #157323 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 11:13 pm
Goldy, I think the editor was shooting for ironyIn that case, I apologise and shall endeavour to unfuck all my comments :-)
What's going on, or is this place not as rational as it claims to be?
1114. Get out of here, atheists!
Comment #157301 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 9:36 pm
Sherman: What will you do to win the votes of the Americans who are atheists?
Bush: I guess I'm pretty weak in the atheist community. Faith in God is important to me.
Sherman: Surely you recognize the equal citizenship and patriotism of Americans who are atheists?
Bush: No, I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God.
Sherman (somewhat taken aback): Do you support as a sound constitutional principle the separation of state and church?
Bush: Yes, I support the separation of church and state. I'm just not very high on atheists.
Sherman: American Atheists filed the Pledge of Allegiance lawsuit yesterday. Does the Bush campaign have an official response to this filing?
Murnane: It's bullshit.
Sherman: What is bullshit?
Murnane: Everything that American Atheists does, Rob, is bullshit.
Sherman: Thank you for telling me what the official position of the Bush campaign is on this issue.
Murnane: You're welcome
"This is the Land of Lincoln where people believe in God," Davis said. "Get out of that seat . . . You have no right to be here! We believe in something. You believe in destroying! You believe in destroying what this state was built upon."
1115. Get out of here, atheists!
Comment #157298 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 9:28 pm
Why are Atheists so angry?!!
1116. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157284 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 8:37 pm
Stryer, let Richard Morgan fight RIchard Morgan's battles. PM Al if you must be belligerent.
1117. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157180 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Bonzai - good point re Chinese medicine. It is something the wife and I havae wee disagreements over :-)
Despite my protestations that religion will stunt science in the west and that the east will take over, I have read that most of the research facilities are in the west (the US, of course), that more money is spent in the US on pure science than anywhere else and that the political climate in China (not sure about India) means that science is a more technological based discipline, with emphasis on usable results.
However, I still wonder...
1118. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157173 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 3:52 pm
China was very advanced technologically but it had never had science in the proper sense
1119. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157141 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 3:21 pm
With doctors it is even worse.
1120. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157134 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 3:17 pm
It is a quality bit. I was supposed to write an article for them, but I couldn't bring myself to be positive about Saudi Arabia, so I sort of dodged it.
1121. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #157128 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 3:12 pm
I just said he was hypocritically whining. Just wanted to clarify.
1122. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157121 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Al
Arab News??? I know the editor, Khalid Ma'eena.
Didn't know you liked them
1123. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157117 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I want to know why. Why can't God direct an average doctor to say you?
1124. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157110 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 2:58 pm
Yussel, I know that there are traditions of discourse - Arab News mentions it quite often. I was trying to say that the traditions were, at persent, stronger before. Merely pointing out your use of tense. Religiosity, at present, does not seem to be wuilling to hear any dissenting voices. It may do again in the future.
1125. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157103 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 2:53 pm
Religious people, who do not hesitate to go to doctors, use the phone, fly in airplanes, drive cars, use computers, etc., will tell you with a straight face that science is unreliable.
1126. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157094 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 2:49 pm
I mean to say that even WITHIN religious traditions, there is room for open discussion based on sane principles.
1127. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #157086 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Aaron9, what was the point of your initial post? That Dawkins was lying? In a whiny tone? I guess you could read it as that, but then again, I believe this was a fairly private thing t people of like minds (sort of thing one does in a pub), hence the tone.
Have to say that the theists didn't come out too well in this either.
Calling Dawkins an ayatallah doesn't make sense either - ayat Allah refers to the Jewish god in it's Arabian manifestation. Dawk don't believe in God, so he can't be an ayatallah :-) Sorry to be pedantic. He can be a guru, however - I guess you can say he is, though many people, I believe, use this site as a club, a place to escape the religiousity of life (just think how much it influences us - hard to escape, I can tell you!). It is a sounding board of a place, where theories can be discussed and where those taking those faltering first steps without the cloying blanket of gods smothering their thoughts and feelings can breath deeply without fear of persecution.
But, staying on topic, I haven't read RD's piece above in any national paper (I read a few online), so I can only presume the tone was for a more private audience :-)
1128. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #157072 by Goldy on April 8, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Hmmm, must have missed something.
Anyway, I agree with Frankus in comment #157062 and with Bonzai and yussel123. Don't forget the power of education, mind. While a child might be too young to remember 11/9, the impact shouldn't be completely diminished. After all, that's the reason, aparently, why we are in some war against terror...
WWII ended about 22 years before I was born, but I still heard all about it and knew of it's impact. Knew of generals, politicians and battles - all from education. The impact was strong to me still.
If you want to find out how education can really impact of the memory of people, read any BBC Have Your Say on Tibet. Not the English language version is open to Chinese, they are flexing their typing fingers and giving vent to waht they see as gross distortion. This, of course, is becasue they were taught one thing and we in the west taught another...
I dare say of cretinism is taught as a scientific fact, we'll get the same thing happening here. Luckily for scientific progress, the east doesn't have that problem, so they'll take over, gladly.
1129. Get out of here, atheists!
Comment #156472 by Goldy on April 7, 2008 at 3:44 pm
This is the article I meant
http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200707/religion
1130. Get out of here, atheists!
Comment #156468 by Goldy on April 7, 2008 at 3:40 pm
Richard - have you read the comments in the Chicago Tribune blog? I think her mouth has done all the work for athiests :-)
Dr B - I remember seeing a time magazine cover from the 70s (I think) asking if God was dead. I read an article that said the trend in America now is for less God and more secularity while Europe has the pendulum swinging the other way. While I found a lot of the Americans I knew rather "religious", they were religious in the Homer Simpson way....
1131. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday
Comment #156462 by Goldy on April 7, 2008 at 3:32 pm
Wow. And all because someone told people to live in a cave then tried to kill himself in a cartoonish fashion.
I also never realised Americans used twat - Dr B, you're a font of pretty useful information :-)
Diacanu, you forgot to link your "fucks" with "fuckety". Have to admit, mind, it was like someone opening a window and letting some fresh air in! :-D
1132. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'
Comment #156435 by Goldy on April 7, 2008 at 2:42 pm
Steve
I'm a Darwinist regarding evolution.
1133. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #156092 by Goldy on April 6, 2008 at 5:06 pm
Good point. Why did God not make people as they are now then? Why all the waiting? The evolving, the finding stuff out....
Mind you, preaching to the converted, aren't we :-) You believe in God but not God as, say, the fundies believe. You believe in God as I would if I believed.
Odd thing, this religion thing. We all do it (as cultures, not people) even though the evidence around us points to there not being gods. Even if we don't believe in gods, we still evolve a religion so we can have somewhere to pray and meditate etc. The notion is so very intrinsic in us that we can't really see the absurdity of it all - indeed, we show great respect to those that wish to dress up funny and make pronouncements on our behaviour, indeed, on our very lives.
So very odd...
1134. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #156089 by Goldy on April 6, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Hello fstaheli!
I believe in God, that he created this earth
1135. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #156074 by Goldy on April 6, 2008 at 4:03 pm
Vadjong, we'll be accused of being Know-it-alls, a most dangerous athiest sect!
Still, better that than being an entemologist - they think they're the in sect! ;-D
1136. Lying for Jesus?
Comment #156052 by Goldy on April 6, 2008 at 2:58 pm
What did I miss?
Typical - go out, enjoy life, come back, log on and there's a fundy buggering off claiming he has a life to lead.
Liked this, though
The idea is absurd. Atheism is an absence of belief.
You believe that strongly, do you?
1137. Anti-gay Okla. lawmaker attracts 1,000 backers
Comment #154820 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 7:02 pm
The oldest democracy is Switzerland, I think...
1138. Beware the Believers
Comment #154818 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 6:56 pm
Let's just hope I can avoid their fate then...
1139. Biology prof expelled from screening of 'Expelled'
Comment #154793 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 5:59 pm
Theonlythingtofear, what flood?
Grand canyon would be a good discussion. Very interesting. Not here, though - not the right pplace, I believe.
So, you don't like athiest evolutionists? What sect - Wallacian or Darwinian? What are your views on religious evolutionists?
1140. Beware the Believers
Comment #154786 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 5:52 pm
upsidedawn, as I said before...
A Christian blowjob is done for the glory of God and in the knowledge that Jesus Christ is his only begotten son.
An athiest one is done for pleasure.
Strange to think the only thing different between athiesm and belief is a god or two. Everything else is just the same :-)
1141. Pastor attacks scientist's talk
Comment #154780 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 5:41 pm
Next time someone says "Darwinism" or "Evolutionist", I'd love to see the scientist on the other side say "Excuse me?" or "Sorry, I don't know what you mean"
1142. Anti-gay Okla. lawmaker attracts 1,000 backers
Comment #154778 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 5:38 pm
Indeed. In fact I think it should be made compulsory for all attractive young men between the ages of 16 and 25 - strictly for the good of society you understand...And the arbiter of beauty will be...?
1143. Beware the Believers
Comment #154771 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Anna, you had to ask...
http://ohprettylady.blogspot.com/2006/07/how-to-give-good-christian-blowjob.html
1144. Beware the Believers
Comment #154752 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 4:52 pm
upsidedawn
A Christian blowjob is done for the glory of God and in the knowledge that Jesus Christ is his only begotten son.
An athiest one is done for pleasure.
Kardy
The atheist will bite you if you call out to God during your rapture
1145. Anti-gay Okla. lawmaker attracts 1,000 backers
Comment #154749 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Studies show no society that has totally embraced homosexuality has lasted more than a few decades
1146. Beware the Believers
Comment #154639 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Think I must work on my typing too - my spelling is awful!
1147. Beware the Believers
Comment #154637 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Corylus, I think Al mentioned something about this recently. Rifles are good for shooting long distances but are ratehr irksome in wooded areas. Hand guns are not as accurate, but rather easy to carry adn if the prey is quite close, the accuracy is of sufficient levels as to make them very efficatious (forgive spelling).
I used to love rifle shooting at school. Still have an air rifle. Haven't shot at living things - supermarkets adn butchers cater to that for me, but there is something rather...magically fun in aiming at and hitting a target.
Takes all sort, I guess.
My wife used to do pistol shooting - I beleive she shot for her province in China
1148. Beware the Believers
Comment #154623 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 2:12 pm
Becomethe arrow - now that was one weird person! Wonder if he's still screaming in the alternate thread?
1149. Whale 'missing link' discovered
Comment #154610 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 1:59 pm
aragorn2007, you're joking, eh?
1150. Beware the Believers
Comment #154599 by Goldy on April 3, 2008 at 1:41 pm
Al, yes, I did. Name dancing at the dark recesses of my mind....had to find out :-)
I like Kardy too - he's OK. Can be annoying, but then so can my wife and daughter. Part of what makes people so enjoyable at times :-)