151. Pope speaks out against 'designer babies'

Comment #23196 by HappyPrimate on February 26, 2007 at 5:37 pm

Just a note. Remember that the saintly Mother Teresa believed all must suffer to know the greatness of god. Assist only enough so that the very poor and ill can earn money to give to the church. The more children the poor have, the less able to educate them and so ignorance and subserviance to the church will continue. Keep them ignorant above all so that he can tell them what to believe and how to behave. Control the masses of humanity through fear. Sadly it continues even with all the advances of today. Too many people are just too afraid to think for themselves and reason out the absurdities.

152. James Cameron finds grave of Jesus & Son

Comment #23195 by HappyPrimate on February 26, 2007 at 5:23 pm

I would strongly suggest everyone check out thoroughly the Discovery Channel website on this documentary. It will answer all of the questions that are being raised here. While it may not be slam-dunk proof, it sure comes very very close to proving that Jesus was a normal human person who married and had kids, died and was buried - no resurrection. I am looking forward to watching the program.
On the matter of the program Decoding the Exodus, I enjoyed the fact that they could NOT come up with any substantial proofs other than the Egyptian tablet claiming the expulsion of the evil ones around about the time the exodus was supposed to have taken place. It seems highly likely that a group of nonconformist were expelled to provide harmony in Egypt. Sort of like throwing out the hippies from an ultra conservative community. Anyway, that is what I got from it.

153. Atheists come in last

Comment #22871 by HappyPrimate on February 23, 2007 at 5:37 pm

the great teapot

Thing is - you cannot have a true democracy in a country that does not have a secular constitution and laws protecting its citizens against religious oppression. That is why the Middle East will never be democracies in the true sense. They insist on having their religious laws dominate. I give credit to Turkey for trying, but they are having great difficulty being secular. I do not see it lasting.

154. Atheists come in last

Comment #22864 by HappyPrimate on February 23, 2007 at 5:22 pm

I am very impressed with the poll that 45% would admit out loud that they would vote for a Presidential candidate who claimed to be an atheist. That indicates to me that we have a fair number of reasonable people out there. Far more than I would have guessed. I give a lot of credit to Dr. Dawkins for this. I look forward to seeing that percentage figure increase in size.

As a comment to the above posters, all anyone needs to do is read the autobiographies of Thomas Jefferson and Ben Franklin to get the scoop on why and how they made sure the US Constitution was a godless document. The books are not large or expensive and are both well worth the read. I would also suggest reading Common Sense by Thomas Paine which was the publication that got the colonists stirred up enough to revolt. Very informative. I also feel very sure that if the founding fathers had had the benefit of Darwin's Origin of Species, that they would have dropped any reference to being Deists. They were obviously highly against organized religions, but had no basis to make the denial of a god, which, of course, Darwin could have given them. Our godless Constitution is the best thought out document ever written and shows they were so very aware of the dangers of religion getting into government. Most people don't talk about it much in public, but it is written about A.Lincoln that he lost is belief in god when his son died.

Remember - Religion is regarded by the common people as true, by the wise as false, and by the rulers as useful. Lucius Annaeu Seneca (4BC-AD65).

155. Fossils: The Devil's Handiwork

Comment #22256 by HappyPrimate on February 13, 2007 at 6:19 pm

I loved this clip. Had to watch it twice. Thanks so much for the great laugh after a tough day at the office.

156. Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #20468 by HappyPrimate on February 2, 2007 at 6:59 pm

Wonderful interview. I am off to order her book. It may be that the women of Islam will have to be the warriors of reason and rationality. I hope more like her are out there and can escape as she has.

157. Root of All Evil? Discussion

Comment #20464 by HappyPrimate on February 2, 2007 at 5:48 pm

I am pleased to know that so many people in Canada were exposed to the program Root of All Evil? because it demonstrates so much of the lunacy of the super-religious in the world today and the harmful effect of their actions or intended actions. I thought the evangelical guy got tramped not only by Dr. Dawkins, but the audience as well. I must echo other comments that I too would be very happy if such a program as this could be aired in the US but sadly I do not believe any broadcaster would have the guts to do it. There have been some daring programs on PBS but not as in your face as this one. I also note that this was obviously shown before Ted Haggard was exposed and I wonder if the conversation would have been different if shown post-exposure.

158. Stephen Fry and Christopher Hitchens debate blasphemy

Comment #19387 by HappyPrimate on January 26, 2007 at 8:30 pm

As one who is unfamilar with these speakers, I really enjoyed listening to the expression of their thoughts and views. I thought both men and the host were relaxed and discussed the subject matter with great zeal. I will listen to this again tomorrow. Thank you Sancus for the post. Very interesting and enjoyable.

159. Do You Believe in Magic?

Comment #18943 by HappyPrimate on January 23, 2007 at 9:36 pm

I think our ancient ancestors felt very helpless in this world full of unpredictability and dangers and simply wanted some way to find a bit of contol (an edge) over the outcome of things in their lives. So if something good happened, just notice what you did right before it happened, and, next time you want that to happen again, do what you did before. If the good thing happened even once more, then you have a superstitution born. You must repeat that preceding action or the good thing won't happen and if it doesn't it could be a bad thing. Multiply that over the eons and you have a whole slew of superstitions that cover just about everything. Might even lead to religions?

160. 12 Year Old Girl Prodigy Paints Pictures of God

Comment #18942 by HappyPrimate on January 23, 2007 at 9:23 pm

As a painter myself for many years I know what it feels like to get an image stuck in your head and it won't go away until you put it on canvas. However I have never felt it was divinely inspired. She has been influenced by things she had seen in the real world whether she realizes it or not. As an artist, if she in fact does paint these pictures, she has a mind's eye for color and composition which she has developed naturally. Her selection of subject matter can be influenced by anything her imagination can conjure which relates to a momentary glimpse of another picture she has seen or story she has heard. If her mother was an atheist, this girl was influenced by another person, possibly a grandparent who showed her pictures and/or told her stories. She has been told they were divinely inspired because they are pleasing to look at, not because they were. The fact that her Jesus figure is so typical of what you see in Bibles and Sunday school books is my evidence. She has a far above average capacity to learn and I sincerely hope her intelligence is not wasted.

161. Some stars and planets in scale

Comment #18941 by HappyPrimate on January 23, 2007 at 8:59 pm

Oh the beautiful and scary cosmos. Getting your brain around the vastness of our solar system, not to mention our own galaxy and then all the other galaxies. Its a really BIG thing this universe. We humans and our little wet rock are sooooooooo small. When our star and planet are gone, will life elsewhere miss us? I think not.

162. Guest Host Bill Moyers with philosopher Daniel Dennett

Comment #18939 by HappyPrimate on January 23, 2007 at 8:46 pm

I very much enjoyed the interview. I loved the Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell interviews and have purchased the DVDs of the Power of Myth. They were first broadcast on PBS (around 1985)when I was beginning my search for truth and reality based thought. Those interviews may be credited for opening my mind to search further. I recently read Dennett's book Breaking the Spell. I did not enjoy it as much as RD's books because his books are so philosophical based rather than fact based. There is certainly a place for philosophy I'm sure but my brain prefers facts. Still I am glad I read it. I am now reading his book Darwin's Dangerous Idea. So far so good.

163. Zeus devotees worship in Athens

Comment #18929 by HappyPrimate on January 23, 2007 at 5:52 pm

Thanks Josh for posting this. My main reason for suggesting it was the phrase - the followers of the Olympic gods as a handful of miserable resuscitators of a degenerate dead religion who wish to return to the monstrous dark delusions of the past -. Little does he realize that there are quite a number of us who think that phrase belongs to his religion as well. If there was a monstrous dark past, it was the Dark Ages and the Inquisition era, not the progressive times of ancient Greece and Rome. And, who exactly is deluded here?

164. Noam Chomsky Interview on Faith

Comment #18445 by HappyPrimate on January 20, 2007 at 11:38 pm

I really enjoyed this clip. Thanks for posting. Although I have heard of him, I am not very familar with him. I found his insight and expression of thought clear and reasoned. I would like to hear more from him in the mainsteam media.

165. Sex and the Single-Minded

Comment #18389 by HappyPrimate on January 20, 2007 at 10:44 am

This article is far to kind to Dr. Keroack. Where are the scientists with the tar and feathers?

166. Can Jews and Evangelicals Get Along?

Comment #17994 by HappyPrimate on January 17, 2007 at 9:27 pm

Poor Zev. A delusional Jewish person. He would do well to read Susan Jacoby's History of Freethinkers which gives a solid clue to where all this evangelical stuff comes from in the US. It has been brewing since the Constitution's ink was still wet.

167. 'God Is Not a Moderate'

Comment #17988 by HappyPrimate on January 17, 2007 at 9:05 pm

Not only is Sam right on all points, he says it so well. I admire how clearly he expresses himself.

168. BeliefWatch: Ivy League

Comment #17982 by HappyPrimate on January 17, 2007 at 8:35 pm

Although this article does not provide enough detail on the proposed course, I would assume the opponents were riled by the context the course would be put in. Maybe they could just have such a course attached to the curriculum for psycology majors and entitle it Various Superstitions of the World. Studying the effects would be intriguing. Otherwise, students desiring to study theology can attend specialized institutions. There are plenty of those available, unfortunately.
From the home of Rev. Jimmy Swaggart's Bible College!!

169. Atheist Outreach: Group Coaxes Unbelievers Into the Open

Comment #17823 by HappyPrimate on January 16, 2007 at 7:25 pm

I' love to be more open and vocal about my non-theist status, but in the deep south of the US, it can be just plain dangerous. I chose my words carefully and I think people who really know me understand. A few know for sure. I would adore a group to join as we primates are social animals after all.

170. For Human Eyes Only

Comment #17404 by HappyPrimate on January 13, 2007 at 10:14 am

The ideas about the whites of our eyes being so prominent are intriguing but is there any evidence to show when in our evolution that this became a trait? Was it before language? Or was it after language? That could be most important. I think it is important also to note that we are seeing that trait in the domestic canine.

171. Federal Way schools restrict Gore film

Comment #17307 by HappyPrimate on January 12, 2007 at 9:06 pm

While I am not fond of politicians particularly, I believe they are people too. Mr. Gore has consistantly been an advocate for environmental issues, for legislation to keep the people who are packed and ready for the rapture from trashing the place for those of us who will remain here. LOL I believe he really does care and I am grateful he is using his mite to bring the information forward to the masses. He is a brilliant man and I believe he has done his homework on this one. He is to be congratulated for standing up the the nay-sayers. He didn't have to do this, he could have sat home or traveled or whatever he wanted, but he chose to fight for something he feels is worthwhile for humanity. Go Al!!

172. FiveLive debate on faith and discrimination

Comment #17283 by HappyPrimate on January 12, 2007 at 5:16 pm

After reading all the above comments, I didn't have the will to listen to the nonsense. As I see it, faith is discrimination based and that is a fact. Where is the issue for debate?

173. The Nodder

Comment #16956 by HappyPrimate on January 9, 2007 at 6:50 pm

I would like to echo the sentiments of this letter writer in his praise of TGD. As the years have slipped by far too quickly, I find my best time for reading is the morning in lieu of bedtime. I have in fact had surgery on my neck and can only take the nodding in the AM.

174. In Search of Lost Time

Comment #16272 by HappyPrimate on January 5, 2007 at 7:09 pm

I know evolutionary biology is Dr. Dawkins' subject, but I really enjoy all the sciences and this is interesting. We tend to forget how far humanity went in technology before the onset of the Dark Ages. We lost so very much and religion kept us wallowing in ignorance for literally ages. Had we not have suffered the Dark Ages, I wonder if we would be living on other planets by now.
Just my musings.

175. The New Atheists

Comment #16254 by HappyPrimate on January 5, 2007 at 6:12 pm

Thanks to those who are willing to take the daunting lead and stand in the front lines like Dr. Dawkins, Sam Harris, Julia Sweeney and others, we may be heard. Please keep it up. Your inspiration to the rest of us is terrific. Nevermind if they say you are arrogant, they are hearing you. The tip-toe method got us stomped on too long. I am pleased with this exposure in the media.

176. Hybrid embryo work 'under threat'

Comment #16242 by HappyPrimate on January 5, 2007 at 5:09 pm

In GWB's State of the Union speech last year, he stated that there would be no human-animal hybridizing in this country. It sort of got a laugh because, as usual, most of the public here have very little knowledge, let alone understanding, of the science going on in the world. Most average citizens would suppose that the mad scientists are artificially breeding human-animal hybrids to do awful things to *real* humans. Something on a scale of a Frankenstein-Bovine creature. If you ate its meat, you might be considered a canibal. They simply don't get it, even if it is explained simply. They are terrified also that some sort of *animal* cells could be administered and incorporated into their bodies. Would this then make them less than human? Would they loose their exhalted status of being a special creation apart from the animal kingdom? They are afraid of this most. It is an easy fear to play on. Silly, but true. As far as tampering with nature, we all eat food that has been tampered with everyday.

177. Without God, Gall Is Permitted

Comment #16235 by HappyPrimate on January 5, 2007 at 4:45 pm

This article reminds me of the conversation RD had with Ted Haggard in *Root of All Evil?* program. Because he really has no defense for his position, he then blames the other side, the side of reason and evidence, as being arrogant. Mr. Schulman would have us writing and speaking poetically about evolutionary biology, cosmology and the other sciences as well as our position as non-theists. Moan about our desolate lives without a god to cling to. I say this article is so full of non-sensible slime he should be embarrassed for anyone to read it. And, his reference to the Victorians? -- What has that got to do with the 21st century? We don't talk or act like those people. Why should we aspire to take their track? Cause it sounded prettier?
I don't think we need or want to bow to such nonsense.

178. Atheists challenge the religious right

Comment #16126 by HappyPrimate on January 4, 2007 at 6:27 pm

I absolutly adore the media attention that Sam Harris and Dr. Dawkins have stirred up. I am going to support the lobbying group with all my might. It is thrilling to see a flicker of recognition for the nontheists. I think I like nontheists better than the old moniker atheist. Let the combat begin.

179. Letter From America: Atheists throw down the gauntlet

Comment #15911 by HappyPrimate on January 3, 2007 at 7:11 pm

To reply to Frostbit -- I live in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, 80 miles from New Orleans. YES they do believe God had everything to do with the storm and those who survived it and were rescued are now convinced that God did it! That is what I live in everyday here. LOL!!! The article is dog doodoo. I can't put a bumper sticker on my car that supports my political or nonreligous beliefs for fear that damage will be done to it. Non-violent? You tell me.

180. No religion and an end to war: how thinkers see the future

Comment #15910 by HappyPrimate on January 3, 2007 at 7:00 pm

Anybody hear Rev. Pat Robertson's predictions for 2007? A nuclear terriorst attack no less. But he says he had been wrong before. In any event, the future is impossible to forecast and while we might work for one outcome (such as as outlined in the article) we may well be sadly disappointed. As a US citizen, I was astounded that we came so close to becoming a theocracy I could hardly breathe. I still am worried that we are not out of the woods yet. Should the planet suffer any sort of truly catostophic enviromental event, all civilized systems could break down. Read Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs and Steel. We constantly walk a thin thread. As for me, I keep my fingers crossed, not that it will do any good.

181. Executing Saddam Hussein was an Act of Vandalism

Comment #15909 by HappyPrimate on January 3, 2007 at 6:47 pm

While I agree it would be fascinating to study people such as Hussein and Hitler, these high profile people cannot be allowed to live on in captivity without gaining some sort of following and resulting power. The mass murderer Charles Manson was able to maintain an influence and may still have one although people have somewhat become a bit bored with him over the years. Here in Louisiana, we have several serial killers on death row. I would like to know what turned these men into killing machines but I will not blink at their execution. Prisons all around the world have plenty of subjects for study if that is what is needed. As for Saddam, I believe it most certainly could have been handled better, but it had to be done. After hearing and reading about the outrage of his execution, I thought -- What? Where was this outrage when we all witnessed the Taliban execute women all over Afgan. in 1992? Perspective please!
Thank you.

182. Robert Wright interviews Edward O. Wilson

Comment #15642 by HappyPrimate on January 1, 2007 at 6:56 pm

I have begun to read The Diversity of Life by E. O. Wilson and find it very engaging. I would recommend him very much. Good science made interesting and very down to earth (literally).

183. William Crawley, BBC Belfast, names Richard Dawkins as Person of the Year 2006

Comment #15621 by HappyPrimate on January 1, 2007 at 4:36 pm

I think it is marvelous that Dr. Dawkins received this honor. He is out there to make enough noise (coherently) about the silliness in the beliefs of religious people so that maybe they will fight back by learning where he is coming from. If they do that, they will learn more science. He must provoke people out of their delusions. It won't work for all but there may be enough to get the ball rolling. Also, his speaking out is such an inspiration to us to sing along.
Congrats! Happy 2007!

184. John Safran vs. The Mormons

Comment #15454 by HappyPrimate on December 31, 2006 at 12:22 pm

I shall keep my copy of Orign of Species next to the front door from now on. If I peep out and see any of the many different Bible thumpers that roam my neighborhood, I shall hold my copy of Origin to my breast and offer them a reading. Usually I just tell them I've given up fairy tales and myths, but I like putting the shoe on the other foot better. Thanks!

185. Not Yet The Majority But No Longer Silent

Comment #15449 by HappyPrimate on December 31, 2006 at 11:53 am

While I agree that we should not be silent, I for one do not wish to martyr myself. Where I live in the US I have to be careful when and to whom I speak about my nonbelief. These people can be dangerous. Some of my co-workers think of me as a Know-it-All because I seem to have read an article on everything that they bring up. So I try not to give input unless specifically asked. I can't help it if I read and they do not. Now if I called myself a Bright, what would the result be? I really feel very lonely as it is as I have no one who shares my thirst for knowledge or nonbelief. I am grateful for websites such as this one that keeps me sane.
RH in south Louisiana

186. God's Enemies Are More Honest Than His Friends

Comment #15322 by HappyPrimate on December 30, 2006 at 11:10 am

To Ryan B.
Yes. I did not and do not take the word of my parents as gospel truth and it has served me well. To date, my parents will proclaim I should do this or that because of their authority to be infallible (Pope like?). I listen, dig deeper into the matter at hand by gathering knowledge about the subject, and then make my own decision which does not many times line up with their instruction (advice?). My parents have threatened to disown me on several occasions because of this. I am not the submissive, obedient child I should be. How many times have I heard Honor your father and mother from my parents. To them it means do as I say or I disown you (kill you off in my mind). Lovely. Might I also add that beatings to submission were not uncommon in my household? Still, they are my parents and I will do nothing to harm them. I just do not trust them.

187. How Old is the Grand Canyon? Park Service Won't Say

Comment #15314 by HappyPrimate on December 30, 2006 at 10:09 am

I visited the GC as a 9yo and again as a 39yo (about 15 yrs ago). While I was not able to appreciate it at 9, at 39 I found it awesome. Standing on the south ridge looking out, my eyes filled with tears. It was a moving (spiritual?) moment for me to see millions of years laid bare before my eyes. I truly felt my place in the vastness of time. Small, very small. I was so thrilled with the experience. It is tragic that anyone should see it as designed or formed by a single event. I believe I should write my Senator and Representive immediately. I will not tolerate my tax dollars being used to spread religious propaganda.

188. Richard Dawkins with Jeremy Vine

Comment #15240 by HappyPrimate on December 29, 2006 at 8:48 pm

Don't know if Brian C. will see this, but I very much like the idea of a New Age of Reason or an Age of Reason II (sort of like WWII - a war to end all wars). Living in the southern US and being an atheist is challenging to say the least. I have, with the inspiration from Dr. Dawkins and a few others such as Sam Harris, begun to speak up a bit. However, I must admit as I applied my Darwin fish sticker to my car, I trembled in fear of reprisal by way of damage to the car. Nevertheless, it is still there a year later and so far no damage.
Loved the lecture, wish I could have been there. I was clapping loudly also.

Cajun Country Gal

189. Rachel Maddow Interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #15223 by HappyPrimate on December 29, 2006 at 6:02 pm

Just getting around to listening to some of these interviews. Thanks to all who submitted them and thanks to Josh for this wonderful site!
Comment - When I was young, in the 1950s, I distinctly remember Catholic women all wore head scarves to church. As I was raised Baptist, I thought that was a bit strange. I later learned that it was a custom due to the adherance to St. Paul's teachings which the Catholics seem to hold very dear. St. Paul hated women. All you have to do is read what he is supposed to have written on the subject of women. When I learned that he suffered from a physical affliction, I surmised that it probably kept women from seeing him as attractive and that might be why he hated them so much. He was a dirty old frustrated man. If he truly existed himself. I didn't like him even when I called myself a Xian.

190. God's Enemies Are More Honest Than His Friends

Comment #15219 by HappyPrimate on December 29, 2006 at 5:35 pm

I am a fan of Sam Harris and have read both End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation. However, I seriously doubt many Xians will pick these up for casual reading. Most would be terrified to even touch them for fear of it being sinful. Too bad. On the other hand, those who are on a personal knowledge quest will benefit greatly. I am so delighted to have Sam and Dr. Dawkins speaking out for science and reason and wish we could get more influential persons to do so as well.
A comment to Beyond Belief who wrote about the teacher's "demand" that she speak to her child about spilling the beans on Father Christmas -- Well, in my case as a child before I entered the first grade (age 6), my mother called me in one morning while she was still in bed. I hopped up and she said "I've got something to tell you. Since you are about to start school I don't want other children to be the ones telling you this." She went on to tell me that she and Dad were really Santa Claus and that he really didn't exist but was a sweet story told to all children. I immediately sat back stunned in disbelief that I had been LIED to by those I trusted the most in my little life. I recall asking about the Easter Bunny -- no he was fake too, the Tooth Fairy (I really liked that one) -- no she was also fake. Then my next question was "What about God and Jesus?" Naturally I put those invisible entities into the supernatural category as well. "Oh no, they are REAL" said my mother. I didn't quite believe her. After all she had just told me all those other entites I had been trained to believe were real weren't. I was one angry little six year old and my relationship with my parents never recovered. I am 55 now and still put little stock in what my elders tell me to believe without solid proof. I therefore do not think that lying to children even when it may be fun to see how gullible they are, is an appropriate thing to do. I would tell that teacher that it is high time that the other kids in her class are brought up to speed on reality and since she is supposed to be charged with teaching facts to her pupils, the fostering of such a falsehood is not in their best interest.

191. Penn Jillette Interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #15083 by HappyPrimate on December 28, 2006 at 8:10 pm

The video was priceless! I would love to see it on prime time TV. Great interview with Dr. Dawkins as well. I am actually happy to read in the foregoing comments that a few Xians took the time to tap in. A seed may have been planted and as we all know, it is liable to evolve.

192. Woman beaten on Jerusalem bus for refusing to move to rear seat

Comment #15069 by HappyPrimate on December 28, 2006 at 5:13 pm

I am not at all surprised by the events this article reports. Although I would never harm a Jewish person, I know that the really religious ones are just as nasty and oppressive as any fanatical Muslim and some Xians. I worked for one once. Not a good experience. I felt as if he could have had no qualms about killing me as an infidel. I truly fear all religious "believers." They do not hold life as sacred as we atheists and indeed feel the right to run all over us and even kill us as a justifiable deed. These religions all consider women no better than chattel. I live in the southern US and if you think it is all gone in this country, I am here to tell you it is not.

193. Moral Minds: The Evolution of Human Morality

Comment #14984 by HappyPrimate on December 27, 2006 at 7:29 pm

I am familiar with the concepts discussed in this interview. However, I suggest that if anyone wants to investigate the origins of our morality, read Frans de Waal's books. He is a primatologist and has written a number of wonderful books about our closest cousins and shows that morality is evident in our closest cousins and was probably evident in our common ancestor. I also suggest looking at all social mammals and you will notice they too exhibit rules of conduct and morality. My three dogs demonstrate a well developed sense of "fairness" when treats are distributed, they know if one gets more than another and will sulk until the situation is made fair. Their's is not as sophisticated a system as ours, but the roots are there nevertheless. However, if you put several two year old humans in a room together alone, you may see quite a bit of raw animal behavior (biting, hitting, screaming) without much empathy evident. Therefore, I think it reasonable to say that we acquire a good bit of our moral sense from our parents and culture and this is true in the animal world as well.

194. Comets hold life chemistry clues

Comment #14971 by HappyPrimate on December 27, 2006 at 3:40 pm

I find this most fascinating. The evolution of meterorite organtics striking our planet and initiating the process of single cell life which then goes on to evolve into you and me and all the other wonderful creatures seems very logical to me. I will anxiously await to see how the evidence piles up for this and the process by which the transformation actually occurs. I've heard it proposed that intense heat at the impact could possibly provide sufficient energy. Hopefully the science can be proved rock solid (no pun intended but I like it anyway). I really like thinking of myself as made of STARDUST!!
It is a shame Carl Sagan is going to miss these really fantastic new discoveries. But the rest of us will have to enjoy it and know he would approve.

195. Sunday Sequence with William Crawley

Comment #14922 by HappyPrimate on December 26, 2006 at 9:24 pm

I can hardly believe I just sat through this clip. Fortunately, I used the time to file bills so it was not a complete waste of time. Supposedly educated adults bantering about the meaning of various texts of their sacred book(s)(there were other than Xian speakers). No one it seems thought to bring up the question of whether or not these books can actually be relied upon. Where their verification comes from or what was the history behind their writings. For me the study of ancient myths shed the light on these books' origins. The Book of the Dead is really interesting reading. Clearly Moses was raised in Egyptian culture and religion. If they truly want to "get to the bottom" of meanings, they should dig much further back than a few thousand years. It also wouldn't hurt to spend some time with a few chimps. Our cousins are so revealing of our own intermost nature. Sadly, they are simply stuck at a point in time (the Bronze Age) and can't get past it. Maybe some people's minds just are evolved enough. RD was brilliant when he was allowed to speak and I regret we were not able to hear more from him. I do not have any university degrees, but I have a mind that is inquisitive enough to dig deep for the answers I seek and enough reason to know the difference between deluding myself with propositions that hold no water and those that are water tight. I just can't believe those who have had the opportunity I haven't had for an extended formal education could really believe what they said. It did however afford me a laugh or two.

RH in Cajun Country

196. A Christmas thunderbolt for the arch-enemy of religion

Comment #14887 by HappyPrimate on December 26, 2006 at 11:53 am

After reading the whole of the article, Mr. Cornwell (or was it God) comes off as arrogant and not very well read.

Really enjoyed TGD! Thanks RD.

RH in Baton Rouge, LA

197. Richard Dawkins on the Mike Dickin Show

Comment #14886 by HappyPrimate on December 26, 2006 at 11:46 am

Very good interview of RD. Depressing to hear the callers desparately trying to justify their beliefs. As an ex-Xian, I can relate a bit to the fear they feel of letting go of something you've been taught was so true and right from the time you could understand language. Sort of like being on a high and windy mountain top secured by big strong arms that suddenly vanish and you are then aware that it is up to you and you alone to navigate the cliffs below. Some us can see the way down clearly at some point, but others never can. If they don't have help, they just won't try. RD is a man (along with others) with a rope to throw them if they will catch it. Sadly, many simply push it aside and wail.

RH in Baton Rouge, Louisiana

198. Beneath The Surface

Comment #14882 by HappyPrimate on December 26, 2006 at 10:09 am

What a delightful interview. I have listened to many interviews with RD and this one is by far the best I have heard. RD, when not having to be defensive, is so beautifully expressive. I will come back to this interview in future as I found it so soothing. Thanks for the post!

RH in Baton Rouge, Louisiana