Comments by Laurie Fraser

151. Porn pastor's wife vows to stand by him

Comment #237734 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:53 am

Correct, Quetz - remember intelligent design and the female breast?

Comment #237733 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:52 am

No, Peace, isthat has spoken. The sun is precisely one million years old. Not 4.6 billion, not 6,000. We have it from the horse's mouth, so to speak, and we shall hold him to this unusual "fact."

153. Porn pastor's wife vows to stand by him

Comment #237728 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:48 am

Quetz - it's French for "I have a stiffy."

irate - in that case, my man, you have my authority to call it as you see it!

154. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #237727 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:46 am

Well, Vaal, I'm trying to get my head around what subjects he could possibly teach, considering that his comments about any and every subject are so occluded by stupidity.

In fact, I am reasonably convinced that he/she/it is too stupid for any position other than lollipop man, which he would probably fuck up anyway.

155. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #237720 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:35 am

isthatclear - may I ask you what subject/s you teach?

156. A flea we missed?

Comment #237719 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:33 am

Tyler - "Perhaps we should stop treating Robertson like a rational-thinking adult, and more like a child, who constantly seeks assurance from a higher source of authority, while walking around with a security blanket, all the while mocking what he clearly doesn't understand. "

Absolutely spot on!

157. Porn pastor's wife vows to stand by him

Comment #237716 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:31 am

Phew! You're really pissed off by that remark, aren't you? One might ask what DR's credentials on the useless waste of resources are - I mean, just look at what he does for "work". Gotta be lots of needless carbon emissions coming from that bullshit factory in Scotland.

158. A flea we missed?

Comment #237714 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:28 am

Careful, irate, David's going to call you just another clone of Styrer, if you keep up that sort of language, you gas guzzler, you.

159. Petrol pump pilgrims keep faith

Comment #237713 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:26 am

Comment #232520 by J Mac

J Mac, you are most welcome in Australia! (As long as you change your name to Bruce :) )

160. Porn pastor's wife vows to stand by him

Comment #237710 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:22 am

We should not mention "ad hominem" around David, Quetz. You know how he gets that little frisson whenever he types it.

161. Porn pastor's wife vows to stand by him

Comment #237706 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:15 am

Tyler - Styrer is trying to communicate the assertion that Mr Robertson's opinions are less than authoritative, and that he has an ambiguous anatomy. (You just have to read between the lines.)

162. Porn pastor's wife vows to stand by him

Comment #237703 by Laurie Fraser on August 27, 2008 at 4:09 am

Irate, you're such a bitch! At least our David's not into porn and fake health reports - although, come to think of it, imagine how much more he could extract from the flock if he went down that path.

By the way, Styrer - I thought I was the spelling nazi on this site!

163. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #237123 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 11:42 pm

Hi, Coco - thank you, very well.

Well you must be in the tiniest of minorities (or, perhaps, it's my poor debating skills.)

I don't think we have any choice but to debate with the faithful, but I remain pessimistic about our chances of using reason to sway great numbers of them. If that were the case, they would ALL desert the faith, surely.

having said that, though I think that a *culture* of reason insinuating itself throughout society has, and will continue to have, an effect on superstition generally.

164. Imagine No Religion' signs to go up around town

Comment #237112 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 11:11 pm

76? That's way beyond chimp age, no?

165. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #237111 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 11:10 pm

Yes, but what sort of a "good" question can a theist ask? The only one I can think of is the question about possibility versus certainty - in other words, questions of epistemology.

166. Imagine No Religion' signs to go up around town

Comment #237109 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 11:06 pm

Yeah, likewise. It's who you get. I had a major hard drive crash on a brand new machine a couple of weeks ago. It had data that hadn't been backed up which I really needed. Computer repairer shop told me "no, sorry, is kaput, can't do anything." I was mentioning the story to Quine, and he gave me some ideas. I rang the repairer, said "try this", and 24 hours later they said "Fixed: all data recovered. Your mate's good."

I like that.

167. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #237106 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 11:01 pm

Sorry, J Mac - I got completely derailed myself! Have edited; poor old SyDaemon must have thought I was a total nutter.

As to your question about faith-heads ever being converted by logic, the answer is an overwhelming NO! And I think it is because they have immunised themselves so powerfully against reason and clarity of thinking just in the matter of "faith", that anything you may care to argue with is received as if it's already heretical, and therefore inadmissable. And the way you describe your "conversion" is, possibly, the only way it happens.

168. Imagine No Religion' signs to go up around town

Comment #237102 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 10:55 pm

Aw, come on, mate - it was just a little harmless joke. I do recall that conversation, now that you mention it.

Actually, while I think of it, that is one of the things that really bugs me when you have to phone for technical support. You are invariably treated like an idiot. Even though I run a recording studio with a fairly impressive digital recording system, whenever I have to speak to a support person, it's as if I looked at my first computer just yesterday, in their eyes.

169. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #237098 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 10:49 pm

Too true, SyDaemon

170. Michael Coren: Stéphane Dion finds God

Comment #237096 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 10:43 pm

Dalai Drivel - you don't have a preferential system in Canada?

171. Imagine No Religion' signs to go up around town

Comment #237095 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 10:41 pm

Not a computer issue, or I would have dealt with it

Haha - ROFL. And this is a bloke that can't even get an avatar together?!?

172. Imagine No Religion' signs to go up around town

Comment #237092 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 10:35 pm

Funny you mention the subject, as I'm working on a piece for the blog about telemarketeers from Calcutta, who always ring as we're about to sit down for dinner. So, have developed some tactics - and had one really hilarious time with a guy from Chennai (sp?) that

No, on second thought, wait for the full story.

173. Imagine No Religion' signs to go up around town

Comment #237089 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 10:28 pm

Ooh - don't you hate that? That's globalism for ya - put your tech support offshore and assume the customer is so desperate to have your crummy merchandise fixed that he'll stay hanging on the phone for half an hour before he gets to speak with a person whose command of English is, well, you know.

Isn't capitalism wonderful?

174. A Teacher on the Front Line as Faith and Science Clash

Comment #237088 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 10:25 pm

J Mac - agreed. That is precisely the method I use in my classes, and it seems to work well, as the occasional creationist student is a) forced to work within learning frameworks that are distinctly materialist, and b) cannot therefore hide under a "But I don't believe in this stuff" copout.

175. Imagine No Religion' signs to go up around town

Comment #237085 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 10:18 pm

Yeah, Mord - time to derail a thread?

*checks out front door for sound of jackboots on driveway*

176. Imagine No Religion' signs to go up around town

Comment #237083 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 10:12 pm

Anyone who think's that a little kid's birthday party is the work of the devil deserves everything they get, wp. I make no apologies!

177. Imagine No Religion' signs to go up around town

Comment #237079 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 9:57 pm

Offensive to Christians? How terrible.

A taste of their own medicine, perhaps. Does a J.W. ever think that his presence at my home might be offensive to me?

178. Robot with a Biological Brain: new research provides insights into how the brain works

Comment #236668 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 3:31 am

I don't think they can, Billy, as they were created by imperfect, material humans, as distinct from a perfect, metaphysical being that, er, doesn't exist. (And that's a prerequisite for having a soul, apparently.)

179. Robot with a Biological Brain: new research provides insights into how the brain works

Comment #236652 by Laurie Fraser on August 25, 2008 at 2:28 am

Very soon there will be - probably as a consequence of this research - a memory chip the size of a molecule - that can be injected into your brain - will accelerate your thinking up to a trillion times.

Excellent, dr joneZ! I vote we inject the first one into Joe Morreale - it might get him up to about spider monkey level.

180. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #236624 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 10:47 pm

For a very good and concise encapsulation of biblical history, John Shelby Spong's books are excellent.

181. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #236623 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 10:45 pm

wp - as in the landed gentry.

182. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #236612 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 9:48 pm

Are you calling me old, Goldy? I'll have you know that, although I may be 55 in body, I have the mind of a three year-old!

183. Q&A with Richard Dawkins after lecture at UC Berkeley

Comment #236611 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 9:45 pm

I love the way isnot clear keeps referring to his "students", as if that gives him brownie points. With your grasp of reason, puppy, your students will be lucky to work holding the stop and go sign for council roadworks.

184. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #236609 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 9:40 pm

Some of us who are not of the booted and horsed brigade have to work for a living! I checked out what this facebook thing is with my students. Don't know if it's really for me.

185. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #236568 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 8:00 pm

Facebook? What the hell is that? Is it something I need?

186. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #236563 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 7:50 pm

Laurie,

I can feel you reading through all of the posts. I know you are out there. I'm waiting.

You're psychic, then, wp. Yes indeed - I've been reading right through this thread, and it's a doozy. I really don't know what to make of it. I left it yesterday at a point where I thought there was some perspective on the issue. Well, that thought has been blown out of the window.

Quite simply, and without wishing to cause any offence to anyone, I think the discussion has been superficial. I think Fanusi, as much as I agree with him on the subject of Vermeer, is completely unconvincing on this subject, and I think you, wp, have been too keen to take up the same kind of refrain without considering a number of prior issues (although I commend you for your doggedness.)

The two issues that, to me, are really at stake are the causes of Islamic "home-grown" jihadism, and the entire question of human rights in civil society.

Anyway, aren't you supposed to be swanning around the countryside, young lady?

187. Priest Antonio Rungi wants beauty contest - for nuns

Comment #236536 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 6:44 pm

This is BRILLIANT! I can't wait for when they line them all up and ask those great questions:

What is your most fervent wish?

To finally get rooted by Jesus when I get to heaven, Father.

188. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #236027 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 3:50 am

Bugger! Just wrote a long, detailed response to your question, wp, and got timed out. Hate that.

189. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #236011 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 3:08 am

I smell a rat in this whole business. Here we are, talking about Islamic jihadism and the best ways to prevent, prosecute and punish its exponents, when there's a dirty big elephant sitting in the room.

I refer, of course, to the reasons why jihadism has become such a major disruptor of our (in the West) security. We have to admit that, in large part, the promotion of Western strategic interests in Asia and the Middle East over the past thirty years or so has had the real effect of alienating even moderate Islamic countries from what they see as an intrusive, belligerent ideology: the idea of Western "democracy" and the political and economic agendas concealed within that.

And when those ideologies have been enforced with guns blazing, that alienation has turned to absolute hatred, for many in the Islamic world. I'm not excusing terrorism, by any means, but I believe it is important that we recognise that the West has been a major instigator of its own problems. While we in the West continue to rattle all sorts of sabres as a response to terrorism, and ignore constructive outcomes, like getting out of the Iraq and Afghanistan fiascos, and brokering a genuine settlement of the Palestinian and Lebanese situations that looks at the role of Israel and its legitimate and illegitimate claims, the West will be seen by Islam as acting in bad faith.

These sentiments are not about appeasement, but about concerted efforts to actually do something about the situation, and not just win short-term right-wing populist votes to maintain lazy, incompetent and corrupt administrations in the West.

190. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #235982 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 1:37 am

I prefer locking them up and feeding them a diet of pork rind and bacon for life

No, Bonz - they might start liking it. Lock them up in a cell with Dick Cheney for life - that'd do the trick for the lot of 'em.

191. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #235981 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 1:34 am

Big call, but I'm tempted to agree. I've got View of Delft and Officer with a Laughing Girl on the wall as well, so I suppose I must like him, a lot!

192. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #235974 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 1:23 am

What? You're a Vermeer fan too? Oh, frabjous joy!

Edit: I'm staring at the girl with a pearl earring as we speak.

193. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #235965 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 1:15 am

bloody hell, Fanusi, we agree on some things! I'll light a candle for us both at Mass tonight! :)

194. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #235962 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 1:13 am

A bit harsh, Fanusi - I think Steve's point is fair, considering the propensity of the legal system to fuck up. If a "supposed" terrorist was executed, then turned out to be innocent (we had a case recently where that scenario, without the execution factor, nearly eventuated), then there'd be hell to pay. Besides, capital punishment is barbaric anyway.

195. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #235960 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 1:08 am

True, Fanusi - there is much more circumstantial (if you like) evidence for a Jesus or Lao-Tzu; I'm prepared to accept the historicity of Jesus, but I have an open mind about his existence as a conflation of contemporaneous teachers/-types etc.

196. A flea we missed?

Comment #235957 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 1:04 am

We love homosexuals, as long as they don't act on their base, perverted instincts, SG. (That's the message, isn't it?)

197. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #235956 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 1:02 am

Come come, wp - you're being disingenuous. You know what Steve meant. ;)

198. Channel 4 announces return of Undercover Mosque

Comment #235949 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 12:51 am

Fanusi, if you go with option 3 for those who incite terrorism, then Bush, Cheney and Rice would be the first on the tumbrils. :)

199. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #235936 by Laurie Fraser on August 24, 2008 at 12:26 am

I don't think so, flying goose. The baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist was another example of the gospels being written to accommodate prophesy (can't remember the source, offhand, Bible is mislaid somewhere). I'm pretty sure I'm right on this - Don, any further info?

Although, I agree - one would think in purely eschatological terms, it should have been the other way around.

200. Why Dawkins is right and his critics are wrong

Comment #235924 by Laurie Fraser on August 23, 2008 at 11:48 pm

Comment #235922 by Don_Quix

Yeah, *very* good point, Don.