101. Pope's exorcist squads will wage war on Satan

Comment #104626 by Duff on December 29, 2007 at 3:08 am

This is going to be the best pope ever!! Demented Medieval Pope, directly out of central casting. The last one was a nice guy, but this crank wanker is just perfect! I hope he lives for many many years. Think of the damage The Rat can do.

102. Top Ten Stories of 2007

Comment #104049 by Duff on December 27, 2007 at 5:28 pm

Michael P.
Perfect choice for a headline story! "Jesus once again fails to return to earth!!!"

Everyday I pass a sign on a mennonite property that states, JESUS IS COMING
ARE YOU READY
I am sorely tempted to...never mind.

103. New journal to target education in evolution

Comment #104046 by Duff on December 27, 2007 at 5:21 pm

robotaholic,
Hang in there, Sir. Your head is certainly in the right place.

Al Rawandi,
Why do I get the sneaking suspicion that you think the muslim version of ridiculousness is a little less ridiculous than the christian version of ridiculousness. They are equally ridiculous, my friend. And don't blame the silly Israelis for the sorry state of the muslim world. The muslims got themselves into their sorry state long before 1945.

104. Wisdom From The Founding Rationalists

Comment #104038 by Duff on December 27, 2007 at 4:56 pm

gkkalai,
You should get on you metaphorical knees and thank Thomas Jefferson for saving your metaphorical minority ass.
Were it not for the likes of Jefferson, we would have been another hundred years wallowing in the sickening morass of white man's superiority over the colored masses.

105. Top Ten Stories of 2007

Comment #103646 by Duff on December 26, 2007 at 11:55 am

A sorry collection of stories that should make every religious person proud.
1. The Taliban, a pathetic religious org. takes hostages of another group of religionists trying to convert the other pathetic group.
2. Sour grapes and snide asides at atheists.
3. None of the arse kissing republicans are good enough for the self righteous evangelicals.
4. A crank who wanted to be martyred is instead content to be married to a televangelist and as a consolation, at least make a load of cash.
5. A religious denomination breaks apart because one half doesn't hate minorities enough.
6. More religious torture in the mideast.
7. Two religious cranks bite the dust leaving the world better off and the religionites are actually crying about it.
8.A religious crank apostatizes and then re-apostatizes back. Reason for one group to celebrate and the other to curse the dirty blaggards who took him away. He was probably Flewingly alzheimered, were the truth to be known.
9. The really right wing cranks tried and fail to have the lesser right wing cranks thrown out. Jesus is love.
10. Finally, a small crack has opened in the cranks efforts to control women and their bodies. Calooh, Calley, of frabjous joy!

Who wouldn't be proud of those ten wonderful stories? Mankind becomes enlightened and ennobled by religion every day, in every way.

106. Huckabee Stands by Christmas Campaign Ad

Comment #103182 by Duff on December 24, 2007 at 12:21 pm

Some of you folks have forgotten you were ordered never to refer to this clown without including the Hitche's description. In the future, it is always, Mike "Smirking Hick" Huckabee.

107. Disquiet over schools' moment of silence

Comment #103180 by Duff on December 24, 2007 at 12:15 pm

A proposition: Make prayer mandatory in every school class. Everyday, a different student must say an original prayer they have prepared. The sniggering and ribbing will make the daily prayer a source of humor and derision that will cheapen prayer in the minds of the children for the rest of their lives. I know, thats how we used to do it in Idaho back in the old days.

108. Al Qaeda: We're open to questions

Comment #101830 by Duff on December 21, 2007 at 2:30 am

Al,
It isn't racism which leads me to believe arabs are backward. They didn't used to be backward, they were THE leaders in the sciences when the jews were still herding goats. They became backward because of the direction their religion evolved to take them. The jews have since left them in the dust because the majority of the jews became secular and they marginalized their own backward, orthodox religious elements.

109. For the Love of Christ

Comment #101820 by Duff on December 21, 2007 at 2:21 am

This clown is no different than all the other televangelists. He's found a way to make a living off the simple people, and I might add, in the process find the girls who are sinners. Pretty good scam, actually.

110. 2007, a bad year for God squadders

Comment #101798 by Duff on December 21, 2007 at 1:57 am

You boys are all too nasty. I don't think the author is much of a believer, I think he was just being facetious. His last sentence was just a nod to the old credo quaia absurdum excuse, throwing a crumb to the intelligent believer (sorry about the oxy).

111. Al Qaeda: We're open to questions

Comment #101560 by Duff on December 20, 2007 at 2:07 pm

al Rawandi,
The arabs aren't suicide bombers because of Israel. They are suicide bombers because they are products of a non-productive, non-competitive, un-modern, backward, embarrassing society, cause primarily by the backwardness their religion imposes on them. The Jews just came along at an inopportune moment and made fools of them.

The muslim world will continue to be marginalized unless and until they join the 21st century. If on the other hand they choose the 12th century, they are going to be in contention with and have the contempt of the modern world. And guess who is going to win that battle? Suicide bombers will take you only so far.

At some point al Zawahiri and his ilk will acquire a nuclear weapon and detonate it somewhere in the West, and if they do, Arabs and Muslims alike will forced to modernize or they'll be erased from the earth.

112. Three wise men just legend: archbishop

Comment #101500 by Duff on December 20, 2007 at 12:58 pm

Are we entirely sure this isn't an Onion piece? Would an archbishop actually say Jesus' mother was Mary and his father was Joseph??? I don't friggin think so!

113. Al Qaeda: We're open to questions

Comment #101491 by Duff on December 20, 2007 at 12:41 pm

I would like to ask the kind Mr. Zawahiri why, if Allah has the best interests of his Muslim people at heart, has HE failed to give them their own technology so that they don't have to rely on the evil, "scientific" technology of the godless West to get their message out? And why can't HE protect you, sir, so that you don't have to keep living in assorted caves the way your ancestors did a thousand years ago? Just asking.

114. What Your Brain Looks Like on Faith

Comment #99994 by Duff on December 18, 2007 at 3:18 am

As the believer rises through the ranks he looks up to the top guy as the one who has the direct line to god and then all the sudden he makes it to the top and goes in to talk to god and there is.....nothing. OOOPs. It must be a bummer of a letdown.
You just know all the top guys are faking it.

115. This Is Not a Test

Comment #99991 by Duff on December 18, 2007 at 3:07 am

Ok, here's the rule. No one on this blog refers to Huckabee ever again as anything other than "that smirking hick Huckabee".

116. Synthetic DNA on the Brink of Yielding New Life Forms

Comment #99742 by Duff on December 17, 2007 at 1:17 pm

In 200 years, or sooner, there will be a church which worships the god Ventnor, or maybe he'll be called Venthor, their creator.

117. Dawkins: I'm a cultural Christian

Comment #99740 by Duff on December 17, 2007 at 1:12 pm

I am the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary of the Suppress Simple People Party and its Minister of Clinginess. Our party is not politically correct, nor do we condone anything considered culturally significant by simple people, ie., religious festivals, miracles and ID publications. But we do exchange gifts and sing nice songs when in the company of more complex people, but frown and roll our eyes when simple people expound upon simplistic notions. And we like good food.

118. Jumbo shrimp, creationist astronomy

Comment #99245 by Duff on December 16, 2007 at 4:14 am

So science can't explain why the solar system is the way it is. If goddidit, then I'd like to see their next video explaining why god did it the way he did.
Why did god make some of the planets spin backwards?
Why did god put rings around some of the planets?
Why did god make the planets out of different elements?
And my own personal favorite, as these questions relate to the entire galaxy, why so many extra stars that we can't even see?
Science has answers. Let's hear gods answers.

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

Comment #99095 by Duff on December 15, 2007 at 2:02 pm

They moved the school to Dallas not because of the good airport, but because Texas has an inexhaustible supply of simple people.

120. Happy Newton Day!

Comment #98959 by Duff on December 15, 2007 at 3:00 am

Professor Dawkins, we Americans have been celebrating Newton's birthday for nearly a hundred years with a delightful, sweet cake filled with sweetened figs.

I'm sorry for that. I apologize.

121. Atheists' sign sparks controversy

Comment #97099 by Duff on December 11, 2007 at 12:09 pm

Isn't it interesting that the christians have god, the creator of the known universe, his son, jesus, the holy ghost, mary, a shi*-load of angels and various and sundry saints to help them out and we poor atheists have nothing more than our little brains to fight with, and yet they cry at being picked on. It hardly seems fair. We don't even have any magical underwear.

122. An Open Letter to Richard Dawkins

Comment #96875 by Duff on December 11, 2007 at 3:19 am

If atheists had killed half the population of the earth it still wouldn't make religion true.

123. Biologist fired for beliefs, suit says

Comment #96103 by Duff on December 10, 2007 at 2:06 am

I thinks it was really, really nice how several of you took some valuable time to respond to the comments of ADH. Your responses were cogent, reasoned, intelligent and most of all, scientific. But, I'm afraid, because ADH is a stupid, moronic, uneducated fuckwit, your efforts will go unrewarded.

124. Former Evangelical Minister Has a New Message: Jesus Hearts Darwin

Comment #95160 by Duff on December 7, 2007 at 1:17 pm

This guy is simply hustling the Templeton Foundation. He's tired of living in his van and wants the million bucks.

The evangelicals will never believe in evolution. All the evidence in the world isn't going to make them accept Darwin. They will continue to say, "I didn't evolve from an ape", and "atheism is the root of all evil."

125. Colouring book warns kids of pedophile priests

Comment #94948 by Duff on December 7, 2007 at 3:19 am

"Trust me, my child, when I tell you not to trust me."

Are we sure this didn't come from the Onion?

126. Highway to hysteria

Comment #93950 by Duff on December 4, 2007 at 1:36 pm

Didn't that Oden dude have a big chaw of tobacco in his cheek?
Its sooo hard not to meet these people and tell them to their faces how utterly, completely stupid they are - with the exception of Pat Robertson, who is a genuine, cynical, snake oil...no he's stupid, too.

127. Atheism's Wrong Turn

Comment #93311 by Duff on December 2, 2007 at 4:23 pm

Poor religionists, suffering from "cosmic loneliness". I want to cry.
I suppose we must cut them some slack because the "difference in life experience, social class, intelligence and the capacity for introspection will prevent a free community from reaching unanimity."
In other words, they are simple, unwashed and lacking intelligence, or to be more kind, wisdom. So what else is new?

128. Papal encyclical attacks atheism, lauds hope

Comment #92522 by Duff on November 30, 2007 at 5:24 pm

Herr Doctor Ratzzzzinger hast said,
Vee vill never be beholdin zu den scientistiten, sie haben uns nothing gegeben. Nicht den guten healthly dingen, nor den really guten bioligishe thingen. Gott hat uns alles gegeben. Ich will nicht alle die different dinge describen das gott uns gegeben hast, but es ist a lot of dingen. We mussen alle trusten in got, und nicht die scientisten.

129. GOD VS. SCIENCE: A Debate Between Natalie Angier and David Sloan Wilson

Comment #91992 by Duff on November 29, 2007 at 5:01 pm

Home,
I don't have a clue what your talking about, but I think David Sloan Wilson is on the hunt for the next Templeton Prize. Suck up, David.

130. Response to Orr

Comment #91712 by Duff on November 29, 2007 at 3:29 am

Well, maybe not god, but Dennett is at least Santa.

131. This Friday: Debate between Dan Dennett and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #91530 by Duff on November 28, 2007 at 2:00 pm

Dennett bulldozed. I don't think so. He has one of the best minds in the business and has a quick wit. Should be very interesting.

132. 'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrested

Comment #91223 by Duff on November 27, 2007 at 5:05 pm

You bad people, stop denigrating Islam. They don't need your help.

133. Discover plagiarism at the Discovery Institute

Comment #91220 by Duff on November 27, 2007 at 4:53 pm

Evil, in the defense of Jesus' truth is not evil. By golly, by gosh!

134. Golden Compass author hits back

Comment #91218 by Duff on November 27, 2007 at 4:32 pm

"Why do kids put beans in their ears...just cause their folks say no." Thanks Billy Donahue, you, who reminds me of the archtypal catholic priest/child molester. What a great spokesperson for that nasty little pope in Rome.

135. Mitt the Mormon

Comment #91217 by Duff on November 27, 2007 at 4:23 pm

One additional thing, if I may.
If Bill Clinton can be asked about his underwear, can't Romney be asked about his? And even more important, can he be asked what he uses to dye his hair...except for his sideburns, of course.

136. Mitt the Mormon

Comment #91214 by Duff on November 27, 2007 at 4:18 pm

There are two pertinent things mention in this article that are true about Mormonism and not generally known by non-Mormons.
Mormons do believe that the garden of eden was in Missouri. They also believe that they will someday be summoned to pick up and move to the new Zion, you guessed it, in Missouri. To be very specific, they believe it is in Far West, a town near Independence. That is one of the reasons that Mormons keep a healthy supply of canned goods. Some will say it's in case of emergencies, but I clearly remember being taught it was for an emergency transit back to the garden.

The other thing Mormons believe is that the "priesthood" will someday save the constitution. I forget which "revelation" this was from Joseph Smith, but Mormons have always believed that someday a member of the church will become president of the US. Joseph Smith had declared himself a candidate, but was assassinated. Wow, did god give him the short end of the stick! When Mitt's father, George, became a candidate, Mormons felt the prophesy was going to come to pass and you can believe they really believe it is going to finally happen with Mitt. I fear their hopes are going to be dashed again.

When is god going to get his own president and, no less important, when is HIS team going to win the super bowl?? God can't seem to catch a break.

137. Rock of Ages, Ages of Rock

Comment #90802 by Duff on November 26, 2007 at 12:00 pm

I can't help but have a little sympathy for these poor christian "scientists". The cognitive dissonance must be causing some pretty serious stress. Well, not too much sympathy.

138. Taking Science on Faith

Comment #90558 by Duff on November 25, 2007 at 2:08 pm

I'm not a physicist, a scientist, or even particularly well educated and I immediately read Davies as a godly apologist. Trying for the Templeton??? Who would be surprised?

139. Taking Science on Faith

Comment #90393 by Duff on November 25, 2007 at 1:57 am

Yes, yes. We all know scientist's faith is just the same as the religionist's faith. Except that quantum uncertainty doesn't keep scientists from making incredible predictions and measurements. Lets see you make any kind of a prediction with your pathetic religious faith.
What a pathetic piece. But what does one expect from a scientist who has chosen to commit intellectual suicide because he can't throw of his childhood brainwashing.

140. The absurd world of Martin Amis

Comment #90388 by Duff on November 25, 2007 at 1:43 am

Wow! Thank you Mr. Morris for clearing that up for us. I'm so relieved to learn that muslims don't really hate jews and that it's an exaggeration to think they are misogynists. And to learn that political islam has nothing to do with terrorism. That is really comforting! I'll sleep better tonight.

141. Tony Blair: Mention God and you're a 'nutter'

Comment #90386 by Duff on November 25, 2007 at 1:30 am

If Iraq is the result of the prayers of our elected officials, it is clear evidence that god either does not exist, or, god and his elected officials are all nutters.

142. Romney's Mormonism is fair game

Comment #90359 by Duff on November 24, 2007 at 2:55 pm

jhylkema,
Well, of course the church has fallen away from the church Joseph Smith established. Count your blessings.

143. Romney's Mormonism is fair game

Comment #90292 by Duff on November 24, 2007 at 3:26 am

I'll only say this once, so pay attention! Warren Jeffs is NOT a mormon. Did you get that?

The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints is a far far cry from mormonism. I'm not saying mormons didn't used to be that way, but they have become so mainstream, so homogenized they are in no way the same as those crackpots who live on the Utah Arizona border.

144. Romney's Mormonism is fair game

Comment #90231 by Duff on November 23, 2007 at 3:40 pm

There is no question that Joseph Smith was a consumate con man. However, having grown up as a mormon, I can tell you that the average mormon is a very considerate, kind, thoughtful citizen of which ever country he comes from. The fact that they are delusional and seriously wrong has nothing to do with the society as a whole. They are philosophically basket cases, but their hearts are in the right place. They may be wrong, but they seriously believe they are a good influence on the comity a wellness of the United States. Denigrate their beliefs, if you wish, and they should be denigrated, but they are pretty good people, as people go. I guess what I'm trying to say is that mormons aren't going to become suicide bombers or anything sick like that. There are a lot more seriously delusional religious types out there whom we should be afraid of.

145. Are the 'New Atheists' avoiding the 'real arguments'?

Comment #90228 by Duff on November 23, 2007 at 3:25 pm

What a marvelous article and many very pointed and telling comments. Finally a slam at the religionists who claim the atheists don't get theology.

Perhaps the comment that pleased me the most was by WARDSIE, who questioned whether the good Rowan Williams' adherents could be required to have a working knowledge of theology in the same way he demands of the anti-theists. Touche', Wardsie.

146. Romney's Mormonism is fair game

Comment #90066 by Duff on November 22, 2007 at 4:08 pm

I can guarantee you that Romney is always wearing his "special underwear", called garments by the faithful. Every faithful mormon who has been "through the temple", that is, has either been married in the temple, or been ordained an elder in the church, always wears their garments. It is a sign to god that you are faithful to "his" church and to "him".

As ridiculous as mormonism is, and believe me, it isn't anymore ridiculous than any other religion, I don't think any of you need worry too much about Romney's obedience to the church being a problem. The leaders of the church, as much as they claim direct revelation from god, aren't fools. They are keenly aware of the delicacy of the situation and will bend over backward not to appear to influence Romney in any way. I can't imagine any situation where they would bring influence upon him that isn't already brought by his unique view of the world that is influenced by his upbringing. That upbringing will dictate that he will work exceedingly hard in such a responsible position. It will require that he be honest and forthright. It will force him to "give unto caesar" with his utmost effort. He will be a tireless, diligent president, and certainly one who would be degrees of magnitude better than the current president. (But then who wouldn't?)

I think Romney would be a hard working, diligent servant of the people of the United States. And the fact that he is a mormon will make him work even harder so make the non-believers realize that he isn't beholding to the church.

All that being said, I wouldn't vote for him unless the only other candidate was a dunce like Huckabee. Clinton or McCain would be much better presidents than he.

147. The Transcendental Argument for God

Comment #88485 by Duff on November 17, 2007 at 3:31 am

DG,
God is this, and God is that??
I thought that to give god attributes is to limit him/her. You are a limiter of the first magnitude. Shame on you, you god limiter you.

148. 'Expelled' Movie: The Extended Trailer

Comment #88427 by Duff on November 16, 2007 at 3:03 pm

Anyone, and I mean anyone, who gives an actor credence simply because he/she is an actor deserves to be dope slapped for being so stupid. Having been an actor for thirty plus years and having dealt with actors of every stripe, I'm telling you here and now, actors are, with rare exceptions, uneducated, poorly read and pathologically drawn to new age idiocy.
The first rule is to discount anything an actor says, then if they prove to be smart and well read, (you must be very careful here) you are allowed to cut them a little slack. But if you believe that because they are famous they have something meaningful to say, you deserve to be led down that famous path.

149. For the glory of God

Comment #88423 by Duff on November 16, 2007 at 2:42 pm

The Dalai Lama (it should be Llama) says that the believers that do these sort of things are "not sincere". They are the most sincere believers there are. They are true believers. The worst kind. Spare us from the true believers in all their permutations and stripes! Would it be too much to ask for a pox on all true believers?

150. 'Expelled' Movie: The Extended Trailer

Comment #88273 by Duff on November 15, 2007 at 4:53 pm

I am Ben Stein. I'm stupid. Really. I'm not mud, but I'm close to mud. The evidence shows that I am not even close to Galileo, or Einstein because I can't get tenure, simply because I don't believe in Darwin. I'm smart, but I've been warned because I don't believe in facts or science I'm going to be disregarded.
It's my duty to get the word out. If you're stupid, you won't be granted tenure. And then who will fight this battle for the stupid, simple people?
I'm Ben Stein. Believe me, I know I'm Ben Stein, because I'm stupid.