Comments by moderndaythomas

101. Faith no more as World Youth Day fans flames of disbelief

Comment #189834 by moderndaythomas on June 7, 2008 at 10:49 am

thewhitepearl

Reminds me of Katie Couric's report on Kenneth Copeland...An 18,000 square foot house and a personal jet (just to begin with.) His son justifies it by claiming they need that personal lavish lifestyle to spread the gospel.

If evolutionists could only organise like this. I'm willing to claim that I need a nice 45 foot Halberg-Rassy to circumnavigate the globe spreading the word of Darwin.
Any backers?
No?

Damn!

102. Faith no more as World Youth Day fans flames of disbelief

Comment #189829 by moderndaythomas on June 7, 2008 at 10:40 am

Steve Zara

Surely this is only fair?

And necessary. Casting doubt on evolution while all together side stepping the same medicine is cowardly and a clear indicator of zero rules of engagement.
It should not be equal time in science classrooms but time proportional to evidence.

103. Faith no more as World Youth Day fans flames of disbelief

Comment #189819 by moderndaythomas on June 7, 2008 at 10:28 am

God did not seem interested in stopping wars or hunger; only people could do that. Mainstream churches, it seemed to me, saved their firepower not to challenge poverty and inequality but to oppress homosexuals and women.

Bin there, still there, couldn't have said it better.

104. Reality wins in Texas!

Comment #189805 by moderndaythomas on June 7, 2008 at 10:07 am

So today at least I will sip my coffee in peace.

105. The day of judgment

Comment #189792 by moderndaythomas on June 7, 2008 at 9:29 am

Death to them!" Thus spoke Lenin, and his word, like Hitler's, became deed.

Sounds prophetic right there. I don't have to be a plumb bob reader to fear that this will happen again.

106. The day of judgment

Comment #189780 by moderndaythomas on June 7, 2008 at 9:00 am

Wojcik reminds us of the ripple of anxiety that ran round the world in April 1984 when President Reagan expressed that he was greatly interested in the biblical prophecy of imminent Armageddon.

Fitting for a man that so perpetuated the fear of communism, even your landslid victory, democratically victorious communism.

And I see that I have been misspelling poor Reagan's name. Sorry old chap, won't happen again.

107. A word for nonbelievers

Comment #189770 by moderndaythomas on June 7, 2008 at 8:29 am

I'd just as soon not waste anymore time and/or money trying to figure out if the nice young girl I just met is going to freak out when she finds out I don't believe in God.

The science section in your local book store is better than the produce isle.

And frankly it's tuff shit if this site and other meeting places like it are accused of "intellectual bullying". The prerequisite here is intellectuality and if you don't have it, you're out of luck.
I find that I'm not engaged in such conversations in the flesh because the average Christian has nothing to add but faith and a little poorly managed philosophy.
Arguing with them is like trying to scratch an itch that you can't reach. You never get there and it's never satisfying.

108. A word for nonbelievers

Comment #189764 by moderndaythomas on June 7, 2008 at 7:56 am

"In the 1980s, people were saying we're part of a great conspiracy, trying to take over the schools and courts."

Right, Regan's satellite communism. "Why should we subsidise intellectual curiosity".

Had a lady notice the Book that I was reading a couple of years ago. Sagan's "Broca's Brain". She said to me, "that's a bad book, don't read that".
She would have burned it soon as look at it and for that matter, burned me along with it, were it a different century.

109. Senate bill allows display of Lord's Prayer, 10 Commandments

Comment #186751 by moderndaythomas on May 31, 2008 at 8:55 am

"The historical documents bill passed by the Senate is a win because it will help to further educate people about the documents that formed the foundation of our country's history and provide deeper meaning to the great and rich history that we have in this country," said Sen. Larry Martin

What about the other foundations such as having the great distinction of being the first nation to practice germ warfare. They can display a smallpox infested blanket in honor of the generous gift once handed native Americans.

Or How about a dress displaying a scarlet letter to commemorate the wholesome adulterous wife gone sinner.

though not documents, per say, the Ten Commandments and the Lord's Prayer would make fine segues to these two examples.

110. Teacher tortures, kills boy

Comment #186740 by moderndaythomas on May 31, 2008 at 8:38 am

epeeist.

Agreed, I can't pretend to know a hell of a lot about the Islamic philosophy, or the policies of the land there, but in this case there had to be a certain confidence or righteousness in this teachers actions.

And we know that this confidence operates on a grander scale elsewhere and with other faiths.

111. Karma comedians

Comment #186729 by moderndaythomas on May 31, 2008 at 8:19 am

My last comment was edited: I dropped the word "seemingly", it didn't make sense.

It's sad that the natural, organic, and physical explanations for a thing go unrecognised or unacknowledged in favour of the sensational. Sharon should stick to crossing her legs on camera. I never did mind that much.

112. Karma comedians

Comment #186726 by moderndaythomas on May 31, 2008 at 8:14 am

some people have not been born [with two hands and two legs and half-decent brains] for a reason ... the karma is working from another lifetime. It is not only people with disabilities. What you sow, you have to reap

And who's the Nazi now?
There is a great danger in the words "Gods will".
It's not only a cheap out when your prayer goes unanswered.

113. Teacher tortures, kills boy

Comment #186721 by moderndaythomas on May 31, 2008 at 8:06 am

his teacher punished him for not learning the Qu'ran

And religions are insisting that they be free from scrutiny. It's no wonder that Islam and the Catholic church are united on this matter.

114. Louisiana's latest creationism bill moves to House floor

Comment #185839 by moderndaythomas on May 28, 2008 at 7:17 pm

"The real intent is to introduce classroom materials that raise misleading objections to the well-documented science of evolution and offer a religious idea called intelligent design as a supposed alternative."

Scrutinizing scientific ideas require the background of science. To scrutinize evolution with it's wealth of evidence and then to not scrutinize religion in turn is bad, bad,bad science. How is this happening?

115. Car dealership advert tells atheists to 'shut up'

Comment #185380 by moderndaythomas on May 27, 2008 at 5:15 pm

"Kieffe & Sons Ford on Sierra Highway in Mojave and Rosamond… If we don't see you today, by the grace of God, we'll be here tomorrow."

This is all they got? This is what Christianity has come down to?
Used car salesmen?
used car salesmen?
Used car salesmen!!!!!!!!!!

A guy walked into a bar and said to the bartender "all used car salesmen are assholes". The man sitting next to him said, "hey, I resent that!"
The guy said "why, are you a car salesman?"
"No" the man said, "I'm an asshole".

If there are any used car salesmen that frequent this site, my apologies.

116. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #185069 by moderndaythomas on May 26, 2008 at 8:59 pm

things that would help is a serious book by a serious scientist either about global warming or about how oil reserves are running out (or both).

It's been done. Off the top of my head I'd recommend "Two Mile Time Machine", "Billions and Billions",and "The Ingenuity Gap", to name a few.

The problem is that too many people don't speak science.

117. Animal Science Without Evolution

Comment #184997 by moderndaythomas on May 26, 2008 at 4:33 pm

Covering all the land creatures from parasites to primates,

Wait a minute, just what day did God creat parasites? I don't remember that one.

118. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #184996 by moderndaythomas on May 26, 2008 at 4:29 pm

My condolences.

119. How Are Humans Unique?

Comment #184513 by moderndaythomas on May 25, 2008 at 2:30 pm

EvidenceOnly

I agree totally, but one must watch one's language when children are about.

120. How Are Humans Unique?

Comment #184507 by moderndaythomas on May 25, 2008 at 2:04 pm

Bullet, you're fourteen? Sorry my man, I had thought I was messing with someone a bit older. Excuse my rhetoric. This would explain why the need for a definition of the term "theory".

121. How Are Humans Unique?

Comment #184504 by moderndaythomas on May 25, 2008 at 1:59 pm

Bullet, Bullet, Bullet, Bullet, Bullet.

If you want to test established theories for yourself, begin with gravity and jump off a ten story building.
If not gravity, try the germ theory and eat a nice steaming pile of dog sh*t.
I had asterixed out the "i" so as not to damage your nice christian boy sensibilities.

But seriously (and I can't believe I have to explain this), a theory to science is to the military a five star general. Evolution for all intense and purposes should be ranked as a law were it not for the fear (political) of damaging those christian sensibilities.

Christianity, however, has absolutely no evidence in support of it, which is why the cornerstone to any religion is faith.

122. The Faith of Flanders

Comment #184462 by moderndaythomas on May 25, 2008 at 10:44 am

grokes said:

Homer:

"Lisa, if the Bible has taught us nothing else - and it hasn't - it's that girls should stick to girl's sports, such as hot oil wrestling and foxy boxing and such and such."

I so have to put this on a T-shirt.

123. How Are Humans Unique?

Comment #184460 by moderndaythomas on May 25, 2008 at 10:35 am

The great apes; chimpanzees, bonobos, gorillas and orangutans; communicate almost exclusively for the purpose of getting others to do what they want.

Emphasis on almost.

This article has many anthropocentric qualities. I've always marveled at not how unique the human animal is, for there are few examples, but rather how similar we are.

humans beings are not cooperating angels; they also put their heads together to do all kinds of heinous deeds. But such deeds are not usually done to those inside "the group." Recent evolutionary models have demonstrated what politicians have long known: the best way to get people to collaborate and to think like a group is to identify an enemy and charge that "they" threaten "us."

I'm not arguing that sapiens are far more intelligent than the chimp, but are not chimps efficient at organised hunting? Do they not assault (wage war on) other primate communities?

124. The Faith of Flanders

Comment #184336 by moderndaythomas on May 24, 2008 at 5:02 pm

And some secular viewers outside the Sun Belt suburbs and the heartland -- who may have yet to meet an evangelical in the flesh and may even be hostile to the rise of religious conservatives

Hostile? NO! Not cuddly, fuzzy evangelicals.
I've always warmed to the idea of book banning and spreading the word.

This author seems to be give the impression that he's surprised at the hostility creationism gets. He's deluded.

125. Five Things Humans No Longer Need

Comment #184193 by moderndaythomas on May 23, 2008 at 10:06 pm

Frankus1122

Is it still the case that more absesses and cavities would lead to less reproductive success?

The Turkana boy, Homo habilis, is thought to have died from an abscessed tooth. He didn't have all of his molars in yet indicating that he was in his last growth spurt. About 13 or so.
What book I had read this in I couldn't tell you, but he didn't get a chance to leave any offspring.

Don't mind the improper spelling, I have no source in front of me.

126. Does Time Run Backward in Other Universes?

Comment #184192 by moderndaythomas on May 23, 2008 at 9:58 pm

I love entropy. It's apparent when I visit my sock draw.

127. Five Things Humans No Longer Need

Comment #184053 by moderndaythomas on May 23, 2008 at 1:51 pm

mordacious1

Add the Postal Service to the list too.

What's a postal service?

Fire1974

Does anyone know of a creationist who's gotten through Med-School?

I know a psychiatrist?

I don't have my top wisdom teeth. Half way there is better then not at all.

Actually I wonder if this kind of thing could be considered as an indicator of a gene becoming a fossil?
Our health no longer depends on the presence of large cheek teeth, so when the mutations occur and the teeth don't come, it otherwise goes unnoticed. And nature doesn't purge us from the population. In fact, the less teeth that we have in our skull translates to fewer cavities and abscesses.

128. Richard Dawkins lecture at ASU's Tempe Campus

Comment #184045 by moderndaythomas on May 23, 2008 at 1:30 pm

All of whom took on a faith that they were not born into. The list goes on and on. I can cite them too. Just don't lie Doctor: it's not very nice.
Respectfully yours,
Kristopher

Right, charity with agenda, the Christian way. Teach him to fish for himself, prays the lord.

Dawkins said;

" The God of the old testament is arguable the most unpleasant character in all fiction. Jealous and proud of it, a piety, unjust, unforgiving control freak. A vindictive, blood thirsty, ethnic cleanser. A misogynistic, homophobic, racist, infanticidal, genocidal, phylisidal, pestilential, megalomaniacal, sadomasochistic, capriciously malevolent bully."

I guess that's why they gave up the old one. When are they going to change the new one, I wonder?

129. Sun's properties not 'fine-tuned' for life

Comment #183932 by moderndaythomas on May 23, 2008 at 7:59 am

mesomodel

There could also be a gravitational definition, where if you step on one side of the line you are pulled toward the sun (albeit ever so slowly), and on the other side you are pulled toward some other star or massive distant object

Like somewhat of an "event Horizon", if that's what they call it. Though I understand that from an observers perspective, once an object crosses an event horizon, to the observer, that object becomes visible no longer. That would not be the case here of course.

The VIM site is now a shortcut on my screen. Thanks.

130. In God's Name

Comment #183314 by moderndaythomas on May 21, 2008 at 8:21 pm

Followers believe abortion and homosexuality should be illegal, there should be no sex before marriage and that the law of blasphemy should be strictly enforced.

For Christ's sake what now! Waiting until you're married to have sex? There's going to be a lot of 30 second consummations going on I tell ya. Or interior design television programs.
One thing's for sure, no body's going to be having good sex.

131. Lab agrees to test Shroud of Turin for new theory

Comment #183310 by moderndaythomas on May 21, 2008 at 8:10 pm

cornbread said;

it does not want attention drawn to the fact that it doesn't appear he was dead when he entered the tomb.

Ah, if he's not dead when he enters the tomb then he's not resurrected when he leaves.

Any way, all of this sounds like a Tom Hanks movie.
What I do know is that the image on the Shroud appears to an observer as though it were a portrait and not an impression of a body and face soaked into cloth by fluids as the the body lay on it's anterior side.
How the image should appear is more like an ink blot test; stretched out and distorted once layed flat on an even surface.
Try it for your self. Dampen your face and drape a paper towel over and down it.

132. 16% of US science teachers are creationists

Comment #182659 by moderndaythomas on May 20, 2008 at 7:18 pm

AoClay

I've met quite a few theistic evolution believing biology teachers. Even they are quite scary just because they tend to twist language (putting the cart before the horse, etc.)

I know the type. Slip in a schematic.
4.6 billion years ago the Earth forms, 3.6 billion years ago the first protocell forms,
evolution, evolution, evolution...the image of God/I mean homo sapiens.

133. 16% of US science teachers are creationists

Comment #182656 by moderndaythomas on May 20, 2008 at 7:04 pm

says Linda Froschauer, past president of the National Science Teachers Association based in Arlington, Virginia. "We do know there's a problem out there, and this gives more credibility to the issue."

At least someones admitting this is a problem.

Berkman, who notes that requiring all science teachers to take a course in evolutionary biology could have a big impact on the teaching of evolution in the schools.

An absolute novel approach to education. First educate the teachers. Why haven't they thought of it before?

134. Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology 'cult'

Comment #182649 by moderndaythomas on May 20, 2008 at 6:38 pm

London Chief Superintendent, Kevin Hurley, praised Scientology for "raising the spiritual wealth of society"

A wealth of steaming horse shit maybe.

So the word cult is not to be used in England eh?
Is there a site that someone from a humble commonwealth country such as mine, can email a little note on what I/he thinks of that I wonder?

135. Brown says embryo research is key to life

Comment #181856 by moderndaythomas on May 18, 2008 at 1:02 pm

Nancy supports stem cell research because Ronnie had Alz

Ronald and Nancy Regan both regularly sought psychic advice. So to say that she supported stem-cell research isn't saying much.
Had she given birth to an autistic child, to Nancy, facilitated communication would have been as good a treatment as any.

When a person with an active belief engine chooses real science, it's probably not the science that they're choosing.

136. These dim-wits believe in anything but God

Comment #181464 by moderndaythomas on May 17, 2008 at 9:02 am

Ailes

The real issue this brings up is, and excuse again my lack of expertise, the nature of the religious classes. I assume this is about courses in public (state-run) schools ? Are they (a) non-proselytizing and do you learn facts about world religions, history and culture, or is it (b) just an extension of sunday praise and worship ?

A good question. I'm not from the UK myself and and across the Atlantic in Canada, my kids have had some lessons in ancient cultures as well as aboriginal(native) cultures and spirituality.
But a modern, powerful and influential religion gets no time in schools.

137. Face to faith

Comment #181459 by moderndaythomas on May 17, 2008 at 8:53 am

Atheism is amoral. Amoral = Without morals.

I understood the different meanings between the two myself, but the connotations wind up being the same when they are thrown around by the wrong person.
Henri, I'm sure, isn't that person, but somebody is.

I'm particularly sensitive to misinterpretation and what many here call quote mining. I don't know about anybody else but it makes me cringe sometimes.

138. These dim-wits believe in anything but God

Comment #181449 by moderndaythomas on May 17, 2008 at 8:41 am

Henri

It is important, I believe, that children know about religion so that they can realise how absurd it is. Knowledge is power.

I also agree, but young children do little differentiating between real science and the impostor. Teaching about religion should be an elective at a later age more along the lines of anthropology, say.

139. These dim-wits believe in anything but God

Comment #181445 by moderndaythomas on May 17, 2008 at 8:36 am

Are they seriously suggesting that the only pupils for whom religious education should be compulsory, against their will, are the immature, thick and ignorant?

You said it, not me.

intone the parliamentary thought police.

Thought police that allow you to chose what to think for your self? Say that out loud and tell me if it makes sense.

We can easily substitute education for God.

They're on to us!

140. Face to faith

Comment #181434 by moderndaythomas on May 17, 2008 at 8:25 am

asinine

Good word usage! Going to start working that one in more.

141. Face to faith

Comment #181429 by moderndaythomas on May 17, 2008 at 8:18 am

When we have a curriculum subject such as RE that aims to increase children's understanding of all the different beliefs and values people live by today and to allow all children to reflect on and find their own answers to the "ultimate questions" in life

I suppose that this can be looked at as a step in the right direction, but to look at "humanism" as another belief system can be damaging unless the lesson stresses the pursuit of the naturalistic, organic evidence that these beliefs are built up from.

142. Richard Dawkins discusses Einstein's new letters

Comment #181306 by moderndaythomas on May 16, 2008 at 9:46 pm

ericross.

I'm not convinced that Einstein was an atheist. It seems more likely that he was a deist -- by saying that he did not believe in a personal god, he was implying that he did believe in some sort of a god. I also read in Time (in an article based on the recently published biography of Einstein) that he repeatedly denied being an atheist.

Anyone care to try to convince me?

Whether he did or did not harbour a belief in god is irrelevant. As a scientist, he knew full well that if it is a matter of belief, it therefore lacks evidence.
If you have a choice of believing, you have no proof. If you jump off a ten story building do you have a choice of believing in gravity?

143. Richard Dawkins Interview on TVOntario

Comment #181300 by moderndaythomas on May 16, 2008 at 9:30 pm

NowlinMD.

This is old.
It is possibly the most annoying Dawkins interview I have ever seen.

It's entirely old because these type of panels are, as always, relying on a two thousand year old "text book" for their information. But it serves as an indicator that there is still no progress of knowledge within the church.
They have nothing.

In the face of stark reason, if reason in not abandoned, they can never win.

144. Richard Dawkins Interview on TVOntario

Comment #181298 by moderndaythomas on May 16, 2008 at 9:21 pm

"If something is immune to criticism then a very special case must be made" Go Richard.

I tell my kids that they should always be suspicious of an organization that discourages open inquiry.

145. Richard Dawkins Interview on TVOntario

Comment #181296 by moderndaythomas on May 16, 2008 at 9:17 pm

"Are we good because of God?"

I like to think that I'm good because I'm good and not because I may go to hell. I have always found it humorous that Christians never seem to remember secular charities when boasting about their values.

146. Indian village proud after double 'honor killing'

Comment #181292 by moderndaythomas on May 16, 2008 at 9:04 pm

"The people who have done this should get an award for it," said 48-year-old Satvir Singh. "This was a murder of morality."

Un-fucking-believable!

147. Pelosi, Reid shunning Ten Commandments?

Comment #181284 by moderndaythomas on May 16, 2008 at 8:44 pm

Diocletian said;

After all, doesn't reading the 10 commandments sort of make you want to go out and get drunk?

Yes, drink beer and perhaps pull out the golden calf.
Oh, how would they feel if Ten Commandments week was followed by Golden Calf day?
There would be beer.

148. Pelosi, Reid shunning Ten Commandments?

Comment #181281 by moderndaythomas on May 16, 2008 at 8:37 pm

And if it has anything to do with the cause of Christ or with social values or family values, it's just totally ignored

I come into contact with the Christian "higher ground" theme frequently. As if Christianity has it's own brand of values out of reach of all who don't pray before every meal.

149. Bible Theme Park Faces Opposition in Tennessee

Comment #181081 by moderndaythomas on May 16, 2008 at 12:00 pm

I wonder if they'll have a Slutbucks?

150. Group finds Starbucks logo too hot to handle

Comment #181077 by moderndaythomas on May 16, 2008 at 11:55 am

the company might as well call themselves Slutbucks

Had a cup of Slutbucks this morning, mines a grande. little anti-climatic though. Finished it too quick, going to have to recite the alphabet backwards next time.

More Pages: Previous | 1 2 3 4 5 | Next