101. Rock of Ages, Ages of Rock

Comment #90934 by RickM on November 26, 2007 at 5:45 pm

"If all the evidence in the universe turned against creationism, I would be the first to admit it, but I would still be a creationist because that is what the Word of God seems to indicate. Here I must stand."

Ad reductio absurdum?

Has it ever, ever, ever occurred to these people that their cut and paste mythological scriptures where created with an agenda in mind? With intent by the Priest Class to exert influence and control over unsophisticated, uneducated, illiterate, ignorant peasants of the late bronze age/early iron age. How can they possibly ignore this? WTF is wrong with these people?

Schizotypal magical thinkers.

102. Romney's Mormonism is fair game

Comment #89426 by RickM on November 20, 2007 at 5:03 pm

Please correct me if I'm wrong. It's my understanding Mormon's believe that if they live the righteous life they will eventually become a God and rule their own planet.

If that's not crackpot, I don't know what is.

Christians believe in virgin birth, walking on water, and resurrection (equally crackpot). But do they know that Romney things he will become a God?

I have yet to hear anyone ask this question of Romney. Perhaps no journalist know about it; perhaps they don't have the guts to ask. I strongly suspect most Americans don't know Romney things he will become a God.

103. New Ape Fossils Found in Africa

Comment #88590 by RickM on November 18, 2007 at 1:14 am

Since I'm first up, let me take the opportunity to thank those who post these great articles and give an old retired man something fun to do several times a day.

I really love reading this stuff; thanks.

104. Onward Science Soldiers

Comment #87969 by RickM on November 13, 2007 at 10:12 pm

Sane1,

Thanks for the mp3; got to get Stenger's book.

105. Malaysia firm's 'Muslim car' plan

Comment #87633 by RickM on November 12, 2007 at 4:26 pm

Martyr option: Explosive storage compartments including electrical ignition system with chrome button on dash labeled "Martyrdom". (Explosives available for nominal extra cost)

106. Church row evolves over fossil boy

Comment #86613 by RickM on November 9, 2007 at 5:38 pm

I hate the Priest Class; they are the true scum of the earth.

107. On Being Not Muslim Enough

Comment #86434 by RickM on November 9, 2007 at 8:13 am

Which begs the question. Will the species survive long enough to overcome evolutionary in-group/out-group social behavior?

How often do you hear, "I'm proud to be [Irish, Italian, American, French, black, white, American Indian, Chicago Cubs fan, Christian …]"? As if being [Irish, Italian, American, French …] is better then not being [Irish, Italian, American, French …].

One that really burns my ass is "he's a good Christian". So he's a better person then me? (I've been hearing this crap for the best part of 63 years and I'm fed up with it.)

Needless to say, I think the article is just sick.

108. Velociraptor and prehistoric co. breathed like birds: study

Comment #86426 by RickM on November 9, 2007 at 7:41 am

Great article; thanks for the post.

109. Fox News Discussion on 'The Golden Compass'

Comment #85807 by RickM on November 7, 2007 at 6:56 am

I'm sorry, I have to agree. Annie Laurie Gaylor is just way out of here league to attempt to argue in this venue.

110. Fox News Discussion on 'The Golden Compass'

Comment #85710 by RickM on November 6, 2007 at 11:12 pm

I disagree with JamesDB, re: watching Fox News. I watch it vs. CNN about 70/30. (They're next to each other on the remote and easy to click back and forth).

You MUST watch Fox News. You think they're bad? You have no idea how bad they are. They make no bones about it. They push far-right politics and God all day long. They don't even bother (or seldom bother) using the phrase "fair and balanced" anymore.

If you hear about Fox and don't spend some time watching it, you really can't have an appreciation of how awful they are.

As for the moron priest, he's a regular.

111. Go Ahead, Rationalize. Monkeys Do It, Too

Comment #85624 by RickM on November 6, 2007 at 2:10 pm

I have a Christian friend that things the Mormon belief that they will become gods and rule their own planet is silly. Equally ridiculous is Mohammed flying up to heaven on a winged horse. Yet virgin birth, walking on water and resurrection is just fine.

As far as Bonzai's "gut feeling" goes; when I was a kid my "gut feelings" told me Santa, the Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny were not credible. My oldest recollection of the Santa myth was just that. I distinctly remember being a small child and thinking the Santa thing was BS. The Tooth Fairy and the Easter Bunny didn't have a chance.

112. I didn't know the FLEA CIRCUS was back in town!

Comment #84989 by RickM on November 4, 2007 at 12:37 pm

I would buy one of these books if it addressed the serious questions about god; if we are created in the image of god, where does he poop? I have a beard, does god have a beard? If he does, why? Why does god have toe nails?

113. Pope's 'morning after pill' speech criticized

Comment #83605 by RickM on October 30, 2007 at 3:40 pm

It might also be noted, THE WORLD REALLY NEEDS MORE PEOPLE!

114. War in Heaven: Hitchens Meets D'Souza on Home Turf

Comment #81132 by RickM on October 24, 2007 at 8:06 am

D'Souza says, "I don't believe in unicorns, but I haven't written a book on the subject."

May I suggest; if there was a cult of unicorn worshipers that were trying to gain political power, a book or two would be written.

115. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath

Comment #79266 by RickM on October 16, 2007 at 3:55 pm

McGrath searches the mishmash of Christian mythology and tries to make sense of it; he fails. He never really addresses Hitchens' points and simply babbles on (embarrassingly).

116. Debate between Richard Dawkins and John Lennox

Comment #76114 by RickM on October 4, 2007 at 6:48 pm

This was terrible. Lennox takes broadsides and Dawkins can't return fire. I think it's fair to assume Prof. D. will not get into another one of these.

The thing was so frustrating; sheer bull shit. The same (reshaped) stupid arguments. And the dip-shit commentary that followed.........

117. Talking Action Figure Jesus

Comment #73505 by RickM on September 25, 2007 at 6:11 am

Is this funny, or what?

http://catholicshopper.com/products/media/DE_3975.jpg

118. Monkeys show sense of justice

Comment #72744 by RickM on September 22, 2007 at 3:17 pm

Gee, I wonder what scripture these little guys are reading so they can know what's fair. I wonder if they have a priest class to help out.

119. Taking exception to Jake

Comment #72494 by RickM on September 21, 2007 at 9:38 am

I am so sick of religionists setting up the argument between religion and science. The argument is not between religion and science, the argument is between religion and rational thought.

But then what would it say about religion if they spoke the truth; "Religion and 'rational thought' are not internally consistent".

120. VOTE on the 'Faith smackdown': Richard Dawkins vs Francis Collins

Comment #71651 by RickM on September 19, 2007 at 12:15 pm

Interesting. RD starts out with a strong lead.

121. Catholic school board in Halton may ban HPV vaccination

Comment #71575 by RickM on September 19, 2007 at 4:31 am

I'm tell'n you guys, the stupid genes are winning...there's no hope.

122. God Talk on 'The View'

Comment #71570 by RickM on September 19, 2007 at 4:00 am

I thought the village idiots were on Fox News; I was wrong.

123. God Talk on 'The View'

Comment #71569 by RickM on September 19, 2007 at 3:59 am

Shoot me; just shoot me.

124. Griffin's 'offensive' Emmy speech to be censored

Comment #69737 by RickM on September 12, 2007 at 1:11 pm

Blasphemous?

Isn't that a "so what" argument?

125. Interview with Francis Collins

Comment #69520 by RickM on September 11, 2007 at 3:19 pm

I would like to thank whoever mentioned Antonio Damasio. I watched his Princeton lecture at

http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/lectures/

and ordered

"The Feeling of What Happens: Body and Emotion in the Making of Consciousness"

126. Interview with Francis Collins

Comment #68944 by RickM on September 9, 2007 at 7:57 am

I simply do not understand this man. Collins seems to have mastered the art of making long loquacious statements that are filled with clear logic only to surround a distortion.

On the other hand, in his debate with RD he makes the following statement:

"Faith is not the opposite of reason. Faith rests squarely upon reason, but with the added component of revelation."

This is Collins' science. Need more be said?

Respecting altruism/morality, Collins hits a wall (see Robert Maynard's post #2, above). He seems to imply that science should predict that our genes should allow us to place one foot in front of the other, yet never slip and fall.

Interestingly, Collins selects Jesus as his religious avatar, rejecting Mithra, Osiris, Zeus, et al. As you know, this came about after having experienced a pastoral scene. Has Collins given up his life to J.C.? Has Collins been saved? I can't help but wonder if he prays.

127. Gene regulation in humans is closer than expected to simple organisms

Comment #66572 by RickM on August 30, 2007 at 1:20 pm

I think Buddha got the right idea.

Interesting article; forced me to look up "binding motifs".

128. Christopher Hitchens and Bill Donohue on Mother Teresa

Comment #66342 by RickM on August 29, 2007 at 6:06 pm

Donohue is a Superbuzzhead; no further comment necessary.

Saint Teresa; the first atheist saint?

129. Another view

Comment #66233 by RickM on August 29, 2007 at 12:02 pm

The human intellect runs the complete spectrum from brilliant to absolute stupidity. As the battle between reason and ignorance moves on, I wonder who will win; the ones in the white coats or their charge.

130. The world's oldest bacteria

Comment #66066 by RickM on August 28, 2007 at 7:37 am

Apparently the article was written by an English-second-language person, which is perhaps why it's a bit hard to follow.

But, a metabolically active cell that is 500,000 yo; that's something to write home about.

Also, see this article:

http://www.extremescience.com/OldestLivingThing.htm

250,000,000 yo bacteria were "revived".

131. Fallen Pastor Seeks Aid to Pursue Studies

Comment #66060 by RickM on August 28, 2007 at 6:40 am

monoape,

Ah, ha. I went over to the Coloradoconfidential page and added my humble priest rant.

I imagine there will be some Buzzhead replies. However I think the evidence is on my side.

OT - Saw a Bush snip on CNN this morning where he says the Islamofacists can't be religious people. He can't see where religious people would do what they're doing. Wonder what planet he's been living on. We should see some commentary on this one.

132. Fallen Pastor Seeks Aid to Pursue Studies

Comment #65984 by RickM on August 27, 2007 at 5:10 pm

BUT WAIT! Haggard is (or was) a member of the Superbuzzheads, i.e. the priest class. These are the most despicable, loathsome, vile, deceitful, manipulative, lying, murderous, immoral f-----g scum that ever walked the surface of the planet.

Why should we be surprised at anything he does?

And as for the Buzzheads (followers); any doubt they will cough up?

133. Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

Comment #65668 by RickM on August 25, 2007 at 12:38 pm

Interesting. There's not enough information here about Agnes, but do I detect a case of Major Depression?

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

Comment #65659 by RickM on August 25, 2007 at 11:33 am

IMMHO, and as a former aerobatic competitor/snow skier/software engineer/fisher/hunter/gun owner/Harley rider and life long atheist, camo bibles imply; no cure for stupid (as perhaps are some of the above posts).

135. A hole lot of nothing found by astronomers

Comment #65653 by RickM on August 25, 2007 at 11:14 am

I would press pause on this one. It needs confirmation.

136. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65438 by RickM on August 24, 2007 at 6:55 am

103. Comment #65422 by rokort:

"I hope i'm not reading this right. 1 in 20 Americans seems to be willing to shoot my brains out when feeling threatened to uphold his/her belief. That sounds disgusting to me, especially since religious folks like to use the language of war when pointing toward Atheists as being the biggest threat to religion in general and Christianity in particular."

rokort,

The Islamic extremists are said to be a small percentage of that faith. We see their effect.

If American Christians were to acquire sufficient political power, I have no doubt we would eventually see the same results. I saw one video where an interviewed Christian said he thought homosexuality should be a capital offense.

Sound crazy? I think not. It's there.

137. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65325 by RickM on August 23, 2007 at 3:44 pm

Okay, even though I am not as articulate as my friends here, and at the risk of embarrassing myself, I tossed in the following:

How strong is my faith? I have no faith. I am sixty three years old and I can honestly say I have never had faith. Faith is a belief without reason or in spite of reason. It is not a virtue.

Faith is a mandate imposed by religious infrastructures designed to exert power over unsophisticated, uneducated, illiterate, fearful, ignorant peasants of ancient times. The lies and distortions perpetrated by this infrastructure (the priest class) is the greatest horror every inflicted on the human species; century after century after century of terror, intimidation, persecution, murder and genocide.

The senseless claims of priests and faith followers are corrosive on intrinsic human morality. Irrational, mindless superstition deserves unrelenting opposition. Grow up; lightning is not about you, the earth is not flat, god is a myth.

138. Poll: Which religion do you associate with?

Comment #64922 by RickM on August 22, 2007 at 11:38 am

For those that don't know, CNN is running a series called "God's Warriors"; three two hour programs. The first was "God's Jewish Warriors" and ran last night. The second, "God's Muslim Warriors" will run tonight (Weds., Aug. 22nd, 9PM Eastern) and the third, "God's Christian Warriors" will run Thursday.

"Larry King Live" will return on Friday and review the series. I imagine the poll is for that Friday program. However (LOL), I suspect if the poll continues at 72% Atheist, he will completely ignore it. I'm not a fan of King, but I will watch the Friday program. Wonder who he will interview as a rep for the infidels? Hitchens, perhaps?

And yes, I voted. Even tho they don't have my religion - flying aerobatics while eating chocolate.

139. Ancient Protein Tells a Story of Changing Functions

Comment #64745 by RickM on August 21, 2007 at 3:31 pm

"Rather, the process of natural selection — survival of the fittest — ruthlessly weeds out mutations detrimental to the survival of a species."

Did he really have to say that!

140. A Matter of Faith

Comment #64740 by RickM on August 21, 2007 at 2:51 pm

JemyM wrote:
"...when you know that the abrahamic religions do not describe true events."

Yes, but they (the media) never get to that point. They just rotate around the edges, as in "I feel in my heart", "I know god exists", and so on; as if that's some kind of valid evidence.

Ticks me off.

141. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #63184 by RickM on August 13, 2007 at 12:30 pm

Now I know who buys those records; some stuck in 90's Brit DJ.

142. Christopher Hitchens and David Allen White discuss the impact of Christianity on Western Civilization

Comment #63177 by RickM on August 13, 2007 at 12:02 pm

Let's reexamine our attitude toward the serial killer after having considered that at some point in his life he helped an elderly lady cross a busy intersection.

Michelangelo inspired by God? Perhaps he was inspired to avoid death for heresy. What great works would he have brushed had he lived in a society free of superstition?

We can not "crack the mysteries of language"? I would like to know how White knows that. Haven't we cracked the mysteries of lightning? How "mysterious" lightning must have been. I can't wait for the wonderful explanations to be revealed in the future by cognitive neurology, followed by the creative denials by the superstitious (priests).

The domain of religion keeps narrowing. God is not great; god is bull shit.

143. Fossils in Kenya Challenge Linear Evolution

Comment #62665 by RickM on August 10, 2007 at 6:10 pm

Please see this post:

http://richarddawkins.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=21321

144. God in the Military - The Pentagon and its Christian Embassy

Comment #61933 by RickM on August 7, 2007 at 1:22 pm

Well guys, it looks like a cover up to me. This is from the DoD IG report:

"Having fully considered the facts and circumstances surrounding the filming and
broadcast of the video, we determined that DoDD 1300.17, "Accommodation of Religious
Practices within the Military Services," dated February 3, 1988, was not germane to this
investigation, as the matter did not involve members engaged in religious observance or practice.
We also found no evidence that the DoD personnel participated in the video for the purpose of
proselytizing, or that the video was shown to audiences within the Pentagon."

The IG report can be found here:

http://www.dodig.mil/fo/Foia/ERR/Xtian_Embassy_072707.pdf

145. Pentagon: Hold On, Christian Soldiers!

Comment #61932 by RickM on August 7, 2007 at 1:22 pm

Well guys, it looks like a cover up to me. This is from the DoD IG report:

"Having fully considered the facts and circumstances surrounding the filming and
broadcast of the video, we determined that DoDD 1300.17, "Accommodation of Religious
Practices within the Military Services," dated February 3, 1988, was not germane to this
investigation, as the matter did not involve members engaged in religious observance or practice.
We also found no evidence that the DoD personnel participated in the video for the purpose of
proselytizing, or that the video was shown to audiences within the Pentagon."

The IG report can be found here:

http://www.dodig.mil/fo/Foia/ERR/Xtian_Embassy_072707.pdf

146. Electrons to Enlightenment 4: Debating Darwin

Comment #61563 by RickM on August 5, 2007 at 6:37 pm

I want 53 minutes back plus another 15 minutes punitive damages. We must make these people pay for propagating BS.

147. Public Debate on Complexity and Evolution

Comment #61231 by RickM on August 4, 2007 at 9:16 am

I give up...I can't get the files here or at the original site to run more than 12-15 minutes. Should be one hour plus.

Am I the only one?

148. Interview with Michael Behe

Comment #61139 by RickM on August 3, 2007 at 10:54 pm

Incredible! On Amazon.Com Buzzhead Behe makes the following post:

[snip]
4:52 PM PDT, August 3, 2007
Dear Readers,

This past Thursday I was a guest on The Colbert Report, where I was interviewed about The Edge of Evolution by the inimitable Stephen Colbert. You can watch the video here.
[snip]

Behe is totally ignorant of the fact that Colbert is making a completely fool of him.

149. Inferior Design: Richard Dawkins reviews Behe's lastest book

Comment #53283 by RickM on June 30, 2007 at 2:38 pm

Behe is a sick man; where does he go from here?

150. Messiah

Comment #52603 by RickM on June 27, 2007 at 12:43 pm

The skeptic at the very end of the vid mentioned Mormans. Joseph Smith, the two bit huckster with the seeing rocks and golden plates has a follower running for president.

Do you think the news media would ask Mitt Romney if, as a Morman, he actually believes that some day he will become a god and rule over his own planet? Not likely. How many voters would be that gullible? Yet, many believe in virgin birth.