101. Creationism raised as Ont. election issue

Comment #68295 by Johnny O on September 6, 2007 at 4:21 pm

"They teach evolution in the Ontario curriculum, but they also could teach the fact to the children that there are other theories that people have out there that are part of some Christian beliefs

Only Christian beliefs? Surely if this is being done in the name of a varied education we should bring in all creation theories?

But Education Minister Kathleen Wynne – who is running against Mr. Tory for her Toronto seat – said teaching creationism alongside evolution would be a violation of the curriculum.

Briliiantly put. We have to hope that she gets in and by a massive majority to so the people of Ontario show these people that they have no foothold there.

102. Honest Mistakes or Willful Mendacity

Comment #68282 by Johnny O on September 6, 2007 at 3:44 pm

I have read a couple of the Flea books in the interests of getting a balance and also to see how religious people respond. From reading them I can only imagine that they are aimed at people who haven't actually read TGD, so that they can have some kind of response to people that have.

As to the interview... I can't believe they keep getting away with this nonsense. I wish the interviewers at least had some knowledge of TGD themselves so they can also take them to account for the gibberish they say.

Hearing Cornwell backtracking from a comment he made when Richard was off air, about him stating that "All religion was extremist", was disgusting. You can hear him clearly in the trying to add in the word, "Potentially", when Richard slaps him down again.

I only wish it could have gone on for longer

103. Interview with Richard Dawkins and John Cornwell

Comment #68279 by Johnny O on September 6, 2007 at 3:37 pm

Might I suggest you all start listening at about the 19 mins and 30 secs point? Listening to Pavarotti belting out "Nessun Dorma" is always inspiring and uplifting.

As to the interview... I can't believe these Fleas can get away with this nonsense. I wish the interviewers had some knowledge of TGD themselves so they can also take them to account for the gibberish they say.

Hearing Cornwell backtracking from a comment he made when Richard was off air, about him stating that "All religion was extremist", was disgusting. You can hear him clearly in the background trying to add in the word, "Potentially", when Richard slaps him down again.

I only wish it could have gone on for longer

104. The Mix Tape of the Gods

Comment #68157 by Johnny O on September 6, 2007 at 9:06 am

OK. I'll just fetch my coat...

And stay out!!

105. The Mix Tape of the Gods

Comment #68152 by Johnny O on September 6, 2007 at 8:56 am

Actually, when I made the wankers reference, your comment wasn't in my mind.

Then I apologise for being so touchy.

As a lover of humour myself, I've found by experience that it doesn't always go down well here, so I stopped trying to be funny.

I might try it myself, but sometimes it's hard not too

I don't think I was wrong in what I said since Tyler himself and others clearly agree with me.

Tyler, no offence meant mate.

How about you, are you a wanker? Sounds like you might be!

LOL... Like a monkey in a Zoo.

106. The Mix Tape of the Gods

Comment #68102 by Johnny O on September 6, 2007 at 6:07 am

Cheers for that Paul.

It must be amazing for the people who's voices were recorded, knowing that there is a possibility, (though incredibally remote), that their voices might be heard by other lifeforms. It boggles the mind to even try and imagine...

(Although the Latin one is just plain scary)

107. The Mix Tape of the Gods

Comment #68094 by Johnny O on September 6, 2007 at 5:42 am

No, it doesn't need to be atmosphere. Sound is a mechanical pressure wave that can travel through any medium such as water, wood, steel etc.

Thanks for that Yorker, 'atmosphere' was the wrong word to use so I stand corrected.

However, does that make you one of us wankers, that takes the piss? Or was that comment made in the same humorous way as mine and others was? I'm hardly going reference a film about a murderous Alien when trying to make a serious point am I?

108. The Mix Tape of the Gods

Comment #68017 by Johnny O on September 5, 2007 at 4:19 pm

CJ, Awsome link.

I was really freaked out listening to the voices saying the greeting in all those languages. I wonder who the little kid speaking in English is? It's like something out of Poltergeist...

109. The Mix Tape of the Gods

Comment #68016 by Johnny O on September 5, 2007 at 4:15 pm

Aren't radio signals sound waves?? How can sound waves travel at the speed of light?

Sound waves need some kind of atmosphere to travel in. C'mon Tyler, have you not seen Alien?

In Space, No One Can Hear You Scream

110. The God Delusion One-Year Countdown

Comment #67731 by Johnny O on September 4, 2007 at 2:36 pm

(Could that be a new collective noun, btw - a frenzy of fundamentalists?)

I believe the collective noun for Fundamentalists is a "Fuckwit"

111. Christopher Hitchens on BookTV

Comment #67510 by Johnny O on September 3, 2007 at 4:06 pm

That is the first time I've heard him speak in that way about his brother. He seemed almost sad about it.

I can't wait to hear the whole thre hours.

112. The God Delusion One-Year Countdown

Comment #67498 by Johnny O on September 3, 2007 at 3:40 pm

Am I being too naive and full of hope to think that TGD staying in the best seller list for so long is a sign of the changing American view of Religion?

Yeah, probably...

113. Anger over 'blasphemous' balls

Comment #66055 by Johnny O on August 28, 2007 at 6:15 am

Like Tumara and Veronique, I also think that America sometimes shoots itself in the foot with it's lack of understanding of other cultures.

Whilst I think this is true, I'd like to try and stick up for our American cousins. They are a fairly new country and in terms of the age of Western civilisation, they are very much the new kids on the block. They just happen to be a very big kid that has a stick.

Having served in the British Army I know that whenever we went overseas we were always briefed on local customs and what NOT to do. For example, always remove sunglasses when talking to locals, this helps with trust. In Africa, NEVER take a photograph without permission as some people think you are stealing their soul. In Bosnia, DON'T give the two fingered peace sign, this is a Bosnian salute and causes major offence to Croats and Serbs. (The same gesture with your thumb extended is a Serbian salute). In the Gulf we were told not to wave with our left hand, never show the soles of your feet. In Canada we were told not to dance in groups of the same sex... (I think this one was an overreaction myself).

My point being, there are lots of ways to offend a local populace and the main reason that Europeans know this better than the USA is that we have been stomping around giving "Johnny Foreigner a damn good thrashing", (Britain especially), for hundreds of years, we like to think we know better now, though I'm not so sure...

114. Shop targets U.S. hunters with camo Bibles

Comment #65632 by Johnny O on August 25, 2007 at 7:56 am

Please tell me that the article is satire.

If it was a video clip I'd expect Jon Stewart or Colbert to be doing the voice over.

My family and I went to Florida a couple of years ago and after being in a few gift shops started a comptetition to find the tackiest tourist present. These ranged from real crocodile claw back scratchers, to an "I Love Jesus" bucket.

The winner, which my son found, was a stand with three lamps on it. Each of the lamps was someone being crucified on a cross and JC in the middle. The thing that sealed the deal however was the writing on the box which said, "Let Jesus light up your life"...

We were laughing so loudly that we were asked to leave the shop.

115. Shop targets U.S. hunters with camo Bibles

Comment #65630 by Johnny O on August 25, 2007 at 7:45 am

"Because we believe that God created all this, when we are outdoors it is really a spiritual experience and we see how awesome it is. It makes being outdoors that much more meaningful,"

Which is why the drive there in their big gas guzzling truck to fuck it all up... genius

116. A Matter of Faith

Comment #65465 by Johnny O on August 24, 2007 at 10:09 am

walk, cheers for that.

Dr Benway , I think the "you cheese eating surrender monkeys!" you refer to are actually the French, remember them, the ones that said Saddam didn't have WMD? Crazy fools that they are. I'm Scottish, we don't know how to surrender ask the Romans and the English. We are in general a bunch of Godless heathens though, unless of course football is brought into it when suddenly 90% of the country is protestant Rangers supporters or Catholic Celtic supporters. Go figure.

pewkatchoo

I would not be so hard on our cousins

I was trying to ask it in as nice a way as possible, but those things you mention make it into the press over here because they are not the norm. Look how many MP's took TGD on holiday. And if we had been sent Aid boxes that contained bibles or anything remotely religious when I was in the Army, they would have been used to through at that twat Stephen Baldwin when he came on stage for the OSU shows.

We're not in the same league mate, not by a long way.

Philip1978

Why is it always Australia?

I think it's because all the English accents on American TV sound Australian. Where as we here in the UK can all do such excellent American ones... Y'all!!

117. Scientists should unite against threat from religion

Comment #65305 by Johnny O on August 23, 2007 at 2:32 pm

Galileo dared to challenge the beliefs accepted by the experts of his day, and he faced persecution.

This is so wrong it almost as ridiculous as the beliefs you hold. Copernicus was so scared of publishing his book, De revolutionibus orbium coelestium (On the Revolutions of the Celestial Spheres), that he delayed it's publication until he had died. Galileo was required to recant his heliocentric ideas; the idea that the Sun is stationary was condemned as "formally heretical." Part of his condemnation from the RCC says,

"The proposition that the sun is in the center of the world and immovable from its place is absurd, philosophically false, and formally heretical; because it is expressly contrary to Holy Scriptures"

So the persecution that Galileo faced had NOTHING to do with the "experts of the day". And for his crime he spent the last 9 years of his life locked in his house and all of his work was banned from publication, not just the offending heliocentric works.

We can only imagine how much scientific progress was held back by this decision. Religion, despite losing EVERY arguement it has ever had with science is a millstone around it's neck. It does nothing for the progress a humanity and if anything prohibits it.

However, that is only one part of the story. The church also preaches abstinence, which is obviously many times more effective than condoms at reducing one's chance of getting the AIDS virus.

And that's working just great isn't it? It's not just that they preach the sin of condom use, they also say that condom use spreads AIDS, which is just a grevious and shameful lie.

Thankfully, humans are not animals. We can choose to repress our instincts. I'm still a virgin. Sure, it hasn't been easy, but I've chosen to wait until I am married. And trust me, if a 20 year old male can do it, anyone can do it ;-).

Now I have no problem with waiting to have sex until it is in a meaningful relationship, (not my personal choice I must admit), but waiting until you are married is stupid. You wouldn't buy shoes without trying them on first would you? Sex is a natural and wonderful act that brings people closer together... when it works. It is physically and emotionally uncomfortable when it doesn't. You run the risk of marrying someone you are physically incompatible with and, as I assume you don't believe in divorce, staying with them for the rest of your life in an unfulfilling marraige.

118. A Matter of Faith

Comment #65291 by Johnny O on August 23, 2007 at 1:40 pm

This must have been asked before, but I'll be damned if I'm going to trawl the forums to find, so...

Do everyday Americans know how irreligious Europe is? Or that most of the civilized, educated world does believe in evolution? And that they are seen as a bit of a laughing stock, with their backwards beliefs? Even religious people would cringe if any British Prime Minister ended a speech with, "God Bless the United Kingdom".

Please don't think I'm Yank bashing, I'm only curious at just how ignorant the religious right really is.

119. Poll: Which religion do you associate with?

Comment #64902 by Johnny O on August 22, 2007 at 9:10 am

As long as it makes it onto the news and becomes a talking point for a few day that will be good.

No such thing as bad publicity...

120. Poll: Which religion do you associate with?

Comment #64854 by Johnny O on August 22, 2007 at 4:56 am

Atheism 72% 13262

and counting...

I was hoping to register as a Jedi, but wotchagonnado??

121. PZ Myers sued for a negative review in a blog post

Comment #64634 by Johnny O on August 21, 2007 at 4:47 am

I wonder if this case sets a precedent, if RD can then sue for all the scathing reviews of TGD? Surely being called a "fundamentalist Athiest" is every bit as much "Assault, Libel, and Slander." as PZ's review is?

Personally I hope common sense will prevail and Pivar will be told to stop being a twat and write a proper book... oops, is that slander?

122. Sikh girl will convert for a place at Catholic school

Comment #64594 by Johnny O on August 21, 2007 at 12:34 am

One of the pathetic things here is that they want to leave her there because she wants and has friends there.
That's lame parenting.

Got to agree with you there . My wife and I told our son he wouldn't be going to the same secondary school, (ages 11-16 for those not familiar with the British school system), as his friends because the exam results from there were terrible and he was cleverer than that. He was a bit upset, but did pick a private boarding school, where he has been going for the last 5 years. He is about to start the sixth form where he is taking several 'A' level science classes and hopes to go on to University to study engineering. He freely admits that it was the best thing that could have happened to him.

What about his friends I hear you all ask. Well, they mostly sit on a wall outside a chip shop and drink cider from a plastic bottle. But what does that prove eh??

123. God Bless Me, It's a Best-Seller!

Comment #64493 by Johnny O on August 20, 2007 at 9:14 am

I've never heard a person of faith argue that believers perform good works that non-believers do not or cannot also perform

Maybe not THAT specific, but there are plenty of debates on this site where Theologians or Priests/Reverends/Preachers, quite clearly state that there is no secular basis for morality.

Try these just for starters:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article1583398.ece
This is where the original challenge was set...
http://interfaithradio.org/node/199
And there are plenty more besides these two.

The Hitchens challenge focuses squarely on posing the question: "Do believers behave better, or about the same?"

No it doesn't. It asks the question, "Do people need Religion to act morally"? The anser is a definate NO.

124. Sikh girl will convert for a place at Catholic school

Comment #64487 by Johnny O on August 20, 2007 at 8:45 am

I wonder what Darwin2, Wee_Flea et al, have to say on this subject? Where is the Religious response to this disgusting course of action? What does the good book say about discriminating against children of other faiths? I realise the Old Testament would probably tell you to stone her, what about The New?

Come on guys... WWJD?

125. Democratic Candidates on a Personal God

Comment #64412 by Johnny O on August 20, 2007 at 2:55 am

(Just so you know, this is satire.)

Or is it?

126. The Pentagon Sends Messengers of Apocalypse to Convert Soldiers in Iraq

Comment #64207 by Johnny O on August 18, 2007 at 4:24 pm

_J_,

I'm not at all sure what you mean by your pudding comment?? My previous post is perfectly spelled, (thanks to the wonders of the edit button).

As for the Spotted Dick, my doctor assures me that it will clear up in no time at all.

So please try to stay on subject and away from these trifling matters...

127. The Pentagon Sends Messengers of Apocalypse to Convert Soldiers in Iraq

Comment #64095 by Johnny O on August 17, 2007 at 5:21 pm

And just to stay on subject might I suggest a way to get rid of this Operation Straight Up (OSU) lot?

Send them to do a show for the British Army. We'll soon have them buried somewhere out in the dessert. (With one 'S', so no spotted dick in sight lol)

What fucking disgrace

And bshemp333, keep your head down fella. Hope you get back without any injuries caused by bullets, bombs or crucifixes.

128. The Pentagon Sends Messengers of Apocalypse to Convert Soldiers in Iraq

Comment #64094 by Johnny O on August 17, 2007 at 5:13 pm

But personally, I find it quite fascinating to listen to some of the smarter fundamentalists thinkers, like e.g. Albert Mohler, who really construct a logically consistent alternative worldview to our naturalist/materialist conception of the world.

I hit your link and went and spent the best part of half an hour looking on his website... And?? I saw nothing new on it, so I'm not sure what you mean by "smarter fundamentalists thinkers".

It's all the same old, "Not the God I believe in...", "Atheist fundamentalists...", "Don't understand Theology..." crap that these people always write.

This bit actually made me bite my tongue when I laughed out loud at it...

According to classical theism, God is a necessary being; it is not so much as possible that there should be no such person as God; he exists in all possible worlds. But if God is a necessary being, if he exists in all possible worlds, then the probability that he exists, of course, is 1, and the probability that he does not exist is 0. Far from its being improbable that he exists, his existence is maximally probable

If that is an example of a "smarter fundamentalists thinker" I say bring it on, they must have IQ's not much higher than room temperature.

129. A Defense of Atheism

Comment #63967 by Johnny O on August 17, 2007 at 4:36 am

Nit-picking aside, I have to agree with Russell. I thought this was a well balanced review that covers a lot of the critisms that believers throw at TGD.

I was glad to see him use the phrase "consciousness-raising", which is what RD is trying to do, not to convert people to Atheism, (although that may become a happy by-product).

I'm going to send a link to this everytime I get accused of being an "Atheist Fundamentalist".

130. Church and State: Divided we stand

Comment #63687 by Johnny O on August 15, 2007 at 11:19 am

*cough*

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Declaration_of_Arbroath

Good post though...

131. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #63343 by Johnny O on August 14, 2007 at 1:58 am

Darwin2 you are a comedy genius. I think of you on the same lines as Colbert. Ridiculous arguments that no one with half a brain could believe in, but get people riled up enough to answer you... Brilliant!!

I mean, who can seriously come up with comments like...

Let's get scientific here and conclude that the probability that God exists is very high.

and follow it in a later post with..

At this time, I have absolutely no scientific evidence to support my beliefs.

Genius!!

And your comment...

As Harry Truman once said: THE BUCK STOPS HERE. We can apply this analogy to God.

Is straight out of the big book of fundamentalism. Brilliant!!

But when you wrote...

Failed solar systems and natural disasters are caused by bad individual and collective Karma.

I almost puked with laughing so hard, because if we're the only life in the universe(s), it must have been OUR bad karma that destroyed the failed solar systems?? Excellent!!

You saved the best for near the end though with...

I too see it as a vestige of primitive tribalism with no place in the modern world. However I do believe in one God but not their sick version of Him.

Where else could you have gotten any version of a god, except from, "their sick version of Him"? Superb!!

Might I suggest a few more for you? Start saying you believe in Zeus and that belief in Him is older than in the Abrahamic God so it must be true. Also perhaps you could come up with something as to why He would make other universes, (as you allude to in comment #39)? Why if Zeus is perfect does he need to create other universes just for us? In fact why ANY universe? Why not just a flat Earth that sits on the back of a turtle that is standing on the back of an elephant… oh wait, that's already been done.

Anyway, cool name, great posts and good work. Long may it continue.

132. Atheist 'Metaphysics' and Religious Equivocation

Comment #62076 by Johnny O on August 8, 2007 at 5:26 am

I had a believer subject me to 'can you prove you love your wife?'

You may not be able to prove your 'love', but you can prove the existence of your 'wife'...

133. Atheist 'Metaphysics' and Religious Equivocation

Comment #62073 by Johnny O on August 8, 2007 at 5:20 am

Therefore we accept and make peace with the unknown, for it will always be with us.

That is an absolutely fantastic turn of phrase, I might get it translated into Latin and make myself a coat of arms. What a brilliant "phylosophy" by which to live your life. It's not saying don't try and find out, only that there will always be something else we don't know.

Stag

For example, "apples are better than bananas" is clearly nonsense

Too right it is, because bananas are far superior to apples...

134. Could these books be part of the problem?

Comment #61305 by Johnny O on August 4, 2007 at 2:11 pm

There actually is a Religion For Dummies book. Authors: Rabbi Marc Gellman, Monsignor Thomas Hartman

It should be Religion IS For Dummies!!

135. Ducking the God Question

Comment #60523 by Johnny O on August 2, 2007 at 6:04 am

Aw c'mon Jaf - everyone likes Duckbilled Platypuses.

I believe the plural is Duckbilled Platypi?

And I hate the little face-like-a-duck-swims-like-a-beaver-egg-laying-but-it's-a-mammal-freaks.

Although if ever we needed proof that there is no Intelligent Designer, that'd be it.

Damn, I've changed my mind, I love the little swan-faced-evolution-proving-web-footed-fellas

136. The Flea Circus Invites a Newcomer!

Comment #60517 by Johnny O on August 2, 2007 at 5:45 am

In fact one Watersones manager told me that even when they sold C S Lewis's Narnia, an atheist came in to complain about how offensive it was to have religious book in a secular store

If that is true then I am as disgusted and outraged as you. Personally I have never been in a book shop that didn't have a religious section. In fact I often have to look harder to find the sciences. Lot's of cookery books, Z-List celebrity auto-biographies and lots about crystal healing. Anything with big words is usually to be found way up the back of the shop.

My local Waterstones has fairly good sized science and religious sections with lots of books that overlap. It has Sam Harris' Dan Dennet's and Anthony Grayling's books in the religious section, with Alister McGrath's 'Dawkin's God' in the science. The Dawkin's Delusion even sits right beside The God Delusion on the shelf of best sellers, (despite not being one).

Personally I think the Chronicles of Narnia are beautifully written books, whether you understand their religious significance or not. I gave them to my 10 year old Daughter as a box set for her birthday.

And just to help you pay the bills, I went in to Waterstones and ordered your book today… It better be good :-)

137. The Flea Circus Invites a Newcomer!

Comment #60260 by Johnny O on August 1, 2007 at 12:07 pm

very few secular book shops take Christian books

I have to say Wee Flea that that is total bollocks. Waterstones, Ottakers, John Menzies, WH Smith.... ALL stock Religious books. Not just Christian as you seem to wish though.

I have however popped into The Salvation Army shop as well as a Religious bookshop, (which should be called a Christian bookshop), where I live and neither of these stock The End of Faith, The God Delusion, Breaking the Spell or God is Not Great. In fact there was no counter arguement or even books of any other faith.

I did spot The Dawkin's Delusion, which I bought and read and have to say that it seemed to be aimed at people who had not read TGD. I was surprised at how small it was having heard McGrath talk endlessly without actually saying anything. I was disappointed that he never tried to address the issues raised in TGD, instead questioned Dawkin's ability to actually raise them.

This has put me off buying any of the others. If you think there are better ones out there, (your own perhaps??) then please tell me. I would really like to hear a good arguement for the existence of a God...

138. Don't eat at the Outback Steakhouse on Route 3...

Comment #59148 by Johnny O on July 27, 2007 at 3:32 pm

This new Athiest movement

I'm part of a "new" movement, excellent. I like being at the forefront of something rather than jumping on the bandwagon of something that's being going on for thousands of years. (Is it just me or did the Romans regard Christians as Athiests?)

This is clearly Satan's work

Like he can talk, could you see how his eyes changed colour? He's the devil incarnate...

139. The US map of faith

Comment #55609 by Johnny O on July 11, 2007 at 4:54 pm

I'm from Spain, and right now it's on the polls at 50% I think, and believe in evolution is 75% or so, ...it would not be red... and I CAN guarantee you that is less than that, for sure.

That's excellent and I wasn't aware of those statistics. My view was based purely on the occasional visits to Barcelona and Madrid and seeing so many churches and religious festivals.

That and the way so many footballers cross themselves when they score.

I am glad to be wrong :-)

140. Charles Darwin - Legacy

Comment #55563 by Johnny O on July 11, 2007 at 2:31 pm

A well done piece. How old is this? Dawkins looks younger.

I think it was filmed in 1998.

I sat and watched this plus hours of similar programmes on UKTV on Sunday, it was brilliant

141. The US map of faith

Comment #55557 by Johnny O on July 11, 2007 at 2:22 pm

Dang, I've said too much, now y'all will be moving here real soon. Our state motto is "Oregon, it's a nice place to VISIT", especially if you are from California

LMAO

I'd love to see one of these for Europe I suspect it would red in Portugal, Spain, Italy and some of the ex-Soviet countries but yellow almosy everywhere else.

142. Sean Hannity with Christopher Hitchens

Comment #55545 by Johnny O on July 11, 2007 at 1:35 pm

...at this moment in time we don't have evidence to support either contention...

Bingo!!

That is exactly why we don't believe it. Show the evidence for it and we "could" change our minds. Religious people, despite the lack of evidence, don't.

Why believe in something that can't be supported with evidence? In fact not "WHY DO" you believe it... "HOW CAN" you believe it?

There is no brainwashing required on our part.

143. Sean Hannity with Christopher Hitchens

Comment #55540 by Johnny O on July 11, 2007 at 1:26 pm

If you are told over and over by preachers and friends that you must accept their religion only if you are to be saved from the eternal fires of hell and you accept this without analyzing the propaganda involved here, you are brainwashed.

If you are told over and over by scientists and friends that it is impossible for God to exist and for consciousness to continue after death and you accept this without analyzing the propaganda involved here, you are brainwashed.

Would you like to make a wager on which of these two happens most?

The thing about most Athiests is that they do analyze the evidence. You can't do this for religion, because there is none.

144. Scientists Urge a Search for Life Not as We Know It

Comment #55327 by Johnny O on July 10, 2007 at 4:00 pm

But wait...the bible also does not mention marsupials or dinasaurs...wonder why that is...

Genesis Chapter 1: Verse 20
And God said, Let the waters bring forth abundantly the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth in the open firmament of heaven.

Genesis Chapter 1: Verse 21
And God created great whales, and every living creature that moveth, which the waters brought forth abundantly, after their kind, and every winged fowl after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

Genesis Chapter 1: Verse 24
And God said, Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind, cattle, and creeping thing, and beast of the earth after his kind: and it was so.

Genesis Chapter 1: Verse 25
And God made the beast of the earth after his kind, and cattle after their kind, and every thing that creepeth upon the earth after his kind: and God saw that it was good.

See... He made everything. I'm pretty sure he invented Velcro, Scatter Cushions and Aromatherapy Candles... I just haven't found those bits yet.

145. Now this is how to critique Ken Ham's creation 'museum'

Comment #54963 by Johnny O on July 9, 2007 at 1:25 pm

In fact I'll be happy to send anyone a genuine fossilised ammonite if they e mail me at
GETESMART@aol.com
(sod the expense!)

Graeme, I only live up the road in Hampshire and my kids would love one of those. I shall e-mail you and if you send them with your address I'll send you the money for the postage.

146. Bill Moyers interviews E.O. Wilson

Comment #54961 by Johnny O on July 9, 2007 at 1:14 pm

On Sunday I watched 5 hours of documentaries about Darwin, Evolution and The Galapicos on UKTV History, (a UK based cable/satelite channel).

In one programme, "Darwin's Legacy", Wilson popped up almost as much as Prof. Dawkins and I found him very engaging.

Although he doesn't directly address religion in this video, he does have many good points to make.

I got the following from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._O._Wilson

On the question of God, Wilson has described his position as provisional deism.[5] He has explained his faith as a trajectory away from traditional beliefs: "I drifted away from the church, not definitively agnostic or atheistic, just Baptist no more."[2] Wilson argues that the belief in God and rituals of religion are products of evolution.[6] He argues that they should not be rejected or dismissed, but further investigated by science to better understand their significance to human nature. In his book The Creation, Wilson makes a case for putting aside epistemological differences between religion and science and concentrating on what they have in common; namely, living nature.

Not necessarily what I believe but I really like the guy...

147. Sean Hannity with Christopher Hitchens

Comment #54956 by Johnny O on July 9, 2007 at 12:43 pm

Hitchens shows a prejudiced brain washed view of what heaven is

Ok, we have one group of people that looks at evidence and make reasoned decisions based on what they find. (Or more importantly DON'T find).

Or another group of people that meet up every Sunday to discuss their 3,000 year old ideas. Make their children go with them, telling them that if they don't do what the pointing man in the dress tells them, then they will burn in Hell for eternity...

Pffftt, who's brainwashed?

148. Sean Hannity with Christopher Hitchens

Comment #54953 by Johnny O on July 9, 2007 at 12:33 pm

You should check out the related links after the video is done. There's one with Hannity, Hitchens Colmes and discussing that repulsive fat bastard Gerry Fallwell. Right at the end of it, after causing a near riot Hitchens comes out with a classic line...

"If Fallwell had an enoma he'd have been buried in a matchbox"... LMAO

149. Evangelicals See Dilemmas in G.O.P. Field

Comment #54672 by Johnny O on July 8, 2007 at 12:31 pm

"You have to weigh things with your intellect but put it through the filter of your faith."

...and then ignore the intellect part.

150. Won't anyone stand up for God?

Comment #54508 by Johnny O on July 7, 2007 at 3:01 pm

Wow. Now, if the bible had one of those...

That's the problem with writing things on stone tablets. No Edit, no backspace, no cut and paste.

The one true Bible therefore suits whatever the moral zeigeist happens to be. We like gays, evolution, big bang theory and monkey tennis.

We are however still dubious about the mashing of potatoes and the making of chips, (or French Fries).