Comments by jimbob

101. Some non-Christians feel left out of election

Comment #121803 by jimbob on February 4, 2008 at 7:32 am

As much as I hate to do it I will hold my nose and vote for McCain because he's a damn sight better than Billary or Hussein Obama.

So, do you think McCain will keep his word and nominate judges like Alito and Roberts?

102. Female Muslim medics 'disobey hygiene rules'

Comment #121800 by jimbob on February 4, 2008 at 7:24 am

Sounds like the UK government needs to hire Aayan Hirsi Ali as a consultant.

Just like government should be secular, so should the rules for employment -- and the safety of clients should override any supernatural dogmas when the rules are drafted.

103. Documents detail church coverup

Comment #120735 by jimbob on February 2, 2008 at 12:10 pm

Epeeist wrote:

As many people here are aware I am a fencing coach, my wife is a teacher. Both of us are therefore involved with children on a daily basis.

If either of us committed offences against these children we would be rightly convicted in a criminal court. If our employers colluded in our actions by covering them up they would also be criminally liable.

Ah, but you would be thrusting with a an atheist sword -- that's immoral!

104. Hitchens V. Boteach

Comment #120718 by jimbob on February 2, 2008 at 11:25 am

A very good friend of mine (a professor of physics) married a wonderful lady who grew up in iran (she is now a naturalized US citizen with a science Ph.D.). Shortly after the Iraq invasion she took him to Iran to meet her family. I was quite worried about his safety, and cautioned him accordingly.

When they returned, I asked him about the trip. In particular, I asked him what the Iranians typically said to him when they found out he was a US citizen.

His answer was that they almost invariably said: "Tell Mr Bush to free us next!"

I have not embellished this story, but I imagine some of the Hitch haters who have commented (above) will give me an earful anyway.

105. Documents detail church coverup

Comment #120706 by jimbob on February 2, 2008 at 11:04 am

Just imagine what would happen if, in all of these similar stories, the word "atheist" was there instead of "priest!"

106. Sentenced to death: Afghan who dared to read about women's rights

Comment #120395 by jimbob on February 1, 2008 at 3:06 pm

Looks like Bill Donogue of the catholic league is jealous:

http://www.catholicleague.org/release.php?id=1384

Wonder if he'd like to have Bill Mahar shot?

107. U.S.: 'Demonic' militants sent women to bomb markets in Iraq

Comment #120276 by jimbob on February 1, 2008 at 11:33 am

Please, please, please you four horsemen -- don't miss these chances to nail the morality issue.

Get together and issue a press release (or call a conference) to lay out just how yahweh-dogmas poison humanistic morality.

It's an opportunity to reach the majority who have never heard of your books, and it's a chance to really impact the myth of religion = morality!

108. Morality and the 'new atheism'

Comment #119569 by jimbob on January 31, 2008 at 4:59 pm

This would all be quite funny if it wasn't for the fact that yahweh-based dogmas (and others) are an obstacle to humanistic morality -- but the dogma book thumpers have everybody convinced that the opposite is true.

That's why I was hoping that our horsemen could use the Afghan reporter death sentence outrage to increase public realization of the (im)moral reality of dogmatism (and to help the reporter of course).

109. Sentenced to death: Afghan who dared to read about women's rights

Comment #119341 by jimbob on January 31, 2008 at 2:04 pm

GoneGolfing:

Your points are well taken, but....

- Many in the USA have never heard of those books.

- When Bush advocated for more "faith-based" programs in his state of the union address the other day, there were a lot of democrats applauding.

Thus, if our four gallant horsemen could get the media's attention on a topic such as this, it is my humble opinion that a lot more awareness would be raised.

A this-is-what-we-have-been-trying-to-tell-you opportunity?!

Might help save a journalist's live as well?

110. Sentenced to death: Afghan who dared to read about women's rights

Comment #119257 by jimbob on January 31, 2008 at 12:33 pm

First, I'm intrigued by the idea that the court in the Hague might have something to say about this. Should we be advocating in that direction?

Second, I'm disappointed by the lack of response to my earlier post (#39). Am I the only one who sees this as an opportunity to really mail the religion-equals-morality fallacy?

111. Sentenced to death: Afghan who dared to read about women's rights

Comment #118927 by jimbob on January 31, 2008 at 7:14 am

I'd like to humbly suggest a different idea:

My suggestion is that the "four horsemen" issue a joint statement asking for religions to desist from ignoring humanistic morality.

They should stress that this type of abomination is EXACTLY why zealous faith in dogmas threatens the future of us all.

They should call for all political leaders to condemn this immoral nonsense.

And they should invite all leaders of the major Yahweh cults to admit that literal adherence to their texts produces immoral actions of the most depraved kind.

Richard -- please consider taking the lead on this -- with some urgency if you can!

I invite others on this discussion board to echo this request if they feel it has merit.

112. New atheists or new anti-dogmatists?

Comment #117160 by jimbob on January 28, 2008 at 10:58 am

Third, it's a lot harder to defend DOGMA than it is to defend GOD.

I just noticed that DOGMA written backwards is AMGOD!

Holy flying teapots -- it must be a divine sign!

113. New atheists or new anti-dogmatists?

Comment #117071 by jimbob on January 28, 2008 at 7:52 am

The physicist Steven Weinberg has said that, left alone, "you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion." If you change the word "religion" to "dogma" or "faith" you have my view - and the view I suspect people like Weinberg, Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris are really getting at.

Amen -- except I'd humbly suggest "dogmatic ideology" in place of "religion" in Weinberg's adage.

If I recollect accurately, I suggested something like this when I first joined this list. My view was (and is) that the ideologies of the likes of Stalin and Pol Pot are quasi-religious dogmas -- and the penalties for heresy and apostasy as the same as within any oppressive religion.

The other thing that had me chuckling was the recollection of my early days in the USA. When asked about my religion, I would reply that I was a devout anti-dogmatist. Invariably, I immediately got the impression that the askers thought this was an actual religion!

114. Ore. Court: Boy Has Say in Circumcision

Comment #116355 by jimbob on January 26, 2008 at 9:57 am

What happened to the that bit of the Hippocratic Oath that says "first do no harm"?

Nothing happened to it -- it was never there.

However, a common adage to medical professionals is primum non nocere.

115. Launch of 'Atheists in Foxholes' Book Anthology

Comment #116121 by jimbob on January 25, 2008 at 2:43 pm

As someone who sees arbitrary allegience to a flag as not much better that arbitrary allegience to a God, (both being, in almost all cases, a product of the geography of your birth), I can't understand the mindset of the military mind. I'll probably get slammed for that; and rightly so I suppose in many ways.

Well, I guess when my dad volunteered for the RAF in WWII, he did so because he something of an idea of the "mindset" of uncle Adolf.

When he recounted his experience of seeing Buchenwald a day after it was liberated, he certainly didn't seem to be concluding that his decision to volunteer was some sort of "arbitrary" thing.

Do you think George Scales would agree with you?

116. Launch of 'Atheists in Foxholes' Book Anthology

Comment #116061 by jimbob on January 25, 2008 at 12:38 pm

How about George Scales as the first entry?

117. Banned From Church

Comment #115436 by jimbob on January 24, 2008 at 7:40 am

Wonder if Ted Haggard ever "disciplined" members of his congregation?

;-)

118. Questions Delay Creationist Master's Degrees

Comment #112523 by jimbob on January 17, 2008 at 12:28 pm

First class in the creation science curriculum: "Oxymorons 101"

119. Ben Stein Bribing Schools to See His Anti-Evolution Movie 'Expelled'

Comment #112522 by jimbob on January 17, 2008 at 12:26 pm

Since when is evolution an "ideology?"

120. How Evolution REALLY Works

Comment #112519 by jimbob on January 17, 2008 at 12:21 pm

As I watched this I couldn't help thinking about how creationism has "evolved" to survive the environmental pressures (education) on it!

121. Huckabee Wants A 'Faith-based' Constitution

Comment #112069 by jimbob on January 16, 2008 at 9:17 am

This is precious! First, he makes it obvious that he doesn't know where Pakistan is -- and now he shows he's an ignoramus when it comes to history too!

What an irony when a BAPTIST wants to change the constitution. Quick, somebody send him a copy of the correspondence between Jefferson and the Danbury Baptists!

122. George Scales, War Hero and Generous Friend of RDFRS

Comment #111410 by jimbob on January 14, 2008 at 2:29 pm

George -- thanks for what you did for the cause of freedom in the 1940s -- and thanks for what you are doing for the same cause now!

Your back may be ailing, but what a pity many of our contemporary "leaders" don't have half your backbone!

123. Fish out of water: Your Inner Fish

Comment #111073 by jimbob on January 13, 2008 at 12:37 pm

So, those who still insist on ID have to face up to the reality that the designer must have been drunk on all six days!

124. Another critic who hasn't read the book

Comment #109111 by jimbob on January 8, 2008 at 11:11 am

Hey, why let facts get in the way of a good story?

125. Stop House Resolution 888

Comment #108191 by jimbob on January 6, 2008 at 8:17 am

Oops -- there goes #9 again!

126. The Pagan Christ

Comment #101954 by jimbob on December 21, 2007 at 9:03 am

The gospels are "faith documents!"

No kidding!

Happy Solstice to all readers!

;-)

127. For the Love of Christ

Comment #101930 by jimbob on December 21, 2007 at 7:34 am

The 27-year-old self-proclaimed prophet is hellbent on "raising up warriors for the Lord,"

"Hellbent?" Interesting metaphor from Newsweek!

If this guy is martyred will there be 72 massage parlors waiting for him?

128. Abstinence Programs Face Rejection

Comment #100189 by jimbob on December 18, 2007 at 11:20 am

The bottom line is that religious dogma underpins "abstinence education." Like "faith-based" social programs, such approaches are unconstitutional, and should be terminated.

...of course, that's in addition to the evidence that indicates that abstinence makes the lust grow stronger!

;-)

129. Creationists plan British theme park

Comment #99352 by jimbob on December 16, 2007 at 12:21 pm

The charity is called the "AH Trust" -- does the "AH" mean what I think it means?

;-)

130. Creation college seeks state's OK to train teachers

Comment #99071 by jimbob on December 15, 2007 at 12:36 pm

Graffiti scratched into the staff toilet cubicle wall at Creation College:

Here I sit, my cheeks a flex'n,
Trying to graduate another Tex'n!

;-)

131. Happy Newton Day!

Comment #99067 by jimbob on December 15, 2007 at 12:26 pm

Now before you all get carried away with this Newton thing, remember, gravity is ONLY A THEORY!

;-)

132. Believe it or not

Comment #97540 by jimbob on December 12, 2007 at 9:43 am

The prefix "a" simply means "without." Perhaps it's helpful to point that out in conversations about atheism --- and follow by illustrating with other a-words (amenorrhea, amorality, amotivation, etc.). The final emphasis could be to point out that believing in deities necessarily means a person has become arational. If that doesn't clinch it, my usual last shot is to emphasize that a rational atheist's view of humanistic morality is (fortunately) not impeded by the common obstacles found in most religious dogmas.

133. The empty myths peddled by evangelists of unbelief

Comment #97117 by jimbob on December 11, 2007 at 1:02 pm

This notion of atheism, or secular humanism as just other kinds of religion, and having lots in common with religion is such a pain!

I keep on thinking of the Fundamental Bill of Human Rights (http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html) when this comes up. To me, the FBHR is akin to the US Constitution as a secular "We the people" kind of script.

A good question for writers such as John Gray is to ask how they would categorize the FBHR. Is it some sort of religious proclamation, or is it a secular statement of a moral code. If it's the latter, then how do most religions measure up to it?

In my opinion, such a comparison highlights how religion typically constitutes an obstacle to humanistic morality --- which is quite a contrast to the views the Pope expressed recently!

134. The empty myths peddled by evangelists of unbelief

Comment #97108 by jimbob on December 11, 2007 at 12:45 pm

One of the "four horsemen" needs to satirize this sort of view. I.e, write the script for such articles in a way that reveals the cliches, the straw men, and the lies.

Kind of "how the be a flea" manual?

135. An Open Letter to Richard Dawkins

Comment #96981 by jimbob on December 11, 2007 at 7:51 am

Catholicism is struggling, and as such, badly needs to create an external enemy to divert attention away from its own shortcomings. Atheism is that convenient enemy.

Perhaps the loudness of the noise from the Holy Father Morris is because he is experiencing a Mother Teresa-like crisis of doubt?

136. Of Dickens and Darwin

Comment #96446 by jimbob on December 10, 2007 at 2:48 pm

In a didactic caucaupheny, interdicted by hermeneutic spiraling sympathetic manifestations, there will be the epistomological seminalistic gestations of the new cosmic altering paradigm.

Yeah, well I don't know what it means either, but I'll fight anybody who says it makes less sense than "postmodern science!"

137. Is Infant Male Circumcision An Abuse Of The Rights Of The Child?

Comment #96211 by jimbob on December 10, 2007 at 7:03 am

A married relative opted for circumcision in his late 30s because of persistent irritation that efforts at good hygiene failed to stop. He reports that it made no difference to "sensitivity" for him or his spouse, and he wished it had been done in infancy.

An n of one I realize, but then it's hard to get a controlled study on this one approved (let alone get volunteers to participate!).

138. Biologist fired for beliefs, suit says

Comment #96208 by jimbob on December 10, 2007 at 6:56 am

Double Bass, you sound pretty tasty right now (speaking as one deprived of English beer).

Apart from that, you are dead right. All the real scientists I know don't believe in evolution. However, seeing the overwhelming evidence, they are highly confident that the theory represents reality.

Let's always point out that the language of faith and dogma is inappropriate for science.

139. Keith Olbermann talks about the Romney 'Religion' Speech

Comment #95554 by jimbob on December 8, 2007 at 3:13 pm

Wasn't George H the guy who said you can't be a patriot unless you are religious?

A very choice for Mitt's intro!

140. Bad Faith Awards: Vote for the winner now

Comment #95391 by jimbob on December 8, 2007 at 8:54 am

I vote that Chuck Norris should tatoo a picture of Mother Teresa on his forehead.

141. Richard Dawkins - Science and the New Atheism

Comment #95388 by jimbob on December 8, 2007 at 8:45 am

...and then there's always the point about it being unlikely that a human brain could have evolved without meat-eating ancestors.

142. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #95201 by jimbob on December 7, 2007 at 2:54 pm

Yep, it's good to see this political race evolving.

Oops, wait a minute, let me re-think that!

143. Colouring book warns kids of pedophile priests

Comment #95122 by jimbob on December 7, 2007 at 11:44 am

But hold it! According to the humble Donohue the problem isn't pedophilia --- it's homosexuality!

144. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #95010 by jimbob on December 7, 2007 at 6:55 am

I read Romney's speech, and I read JFK's

Mitt, you are no John Kennedy!

Why? Because JFK actually appeared to understand the 1st amendment.

While everybody in the USA should pay more heed to the prohibition on religious tests (Article 6 of the constitution), it's probably about time US voters started asking for a different test for those running for public office:

A test of their actual knowledge of the content and application of the constitution.

Maybe, then they'd note the difference between "One nation under god," and "We the people."

145. Papal encyclical attacks atheism, lauds hope

Comment #92377 by jimbob on November 30, 2007 at 11:25 am

It just occurred to me that it was probably reading this type of tripe that turned mother Teresa into an atheist!

146. Papal encyclical attacks atheism, lauds hope

Comment #92328 by jimbob on November 30, 2007 at 9:52 am

History has proven wrong ideologies such as Marxism which say humans had to establish social justice because God did not exist, the Pope wrote.

Never a truer thought written in ignorance?

He's right, it's ideologies that are the problem --- and religious ideologies are at the forefront.

Watch out for the atheism = marxism slur. It's going to be a common dishonest strawman strategy as rationality continues to chip away at religious power.

147. Islam and the modern world don't mix

Comment #91368 by jimbob on November 28, 2007 at 7:08 am

Lashes for the rape victim, now the same for the teddy bear lady! Then, when you thought it couldn't get any nuttier we get the "Turkey Delusion!":

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/europe/11/28/dawkins.turkey.ap/index.html

148. Discover plagiarism at the Discovery Institute

Comment #91091 by jimbob on November 27, 2007 at 7:32 am

Oops, there goes #9 again!

149. Romney's Mormonism is fair game

Comment #89654 by jimbob on November 21, 2007 at 11:38 am

The question is how much will the religion of any candidate figure in their presidential actions? Rudy G has said more than once that he would nominate supreme court justices from the same mold as Thomas and Scalia. That's far scarier to me than some mumblings about duck hunting in heaven!

150. Romney's Mormonism is fair game

Comment #89597 by jimbob on November 21, 2007 at 7:59 am

Rudy G needs the same scrutiny after what he has said about nominating supreme court justices!

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