151. The Case for Teaching The Bible

Comment #27926 by ghostbuster on March 27, 2007 at 9:17 am

You said it well, Quine!
We've studied communism and nazism ad nauseum, but we haven't studied one of the worst, repressive, cruel, expansive, genocidal "isms" of the world--Catholicism. I don't know how anyone could associate themselves with such a monstrous institution that has been the author of too many holocausts throughout recorded history. And that is not to say other religions have not done the same nor would be capable of doing so given the chance. Catholic means "universal" after all and was invented in the 4th Century by pagans and christians alike. We need to know these things to keep a proper persepctive. We need to know origins as well, since they are not clean cut myths arising from somebody who ate the wrong mushrooms. They have a history.
Truth, indeed, can set you free.

152. Gimme That Old Time Religion (Bashing)

Comment #27366 by ghostbuster on March 24, 2007 at 8:42 am

When a person's baloney detector is damaged (and not repaired) it can lead to further baloney getting more and more of a foothold. It is quite possible and has been demonstrated that moderate Christians can become radical with just a few pieces of well-presented propaganda. And not just Christianity either. Nuclearman is right.

153. Atheist banned from committee on religious education

Comment #27365 by ghostbuster on March 24, 2007 at 8:36 am

Interestingly, when comparative religious studies are included in a curriculum, students start to question the validity of all religions, including their own if they have one. It may not be as important to include humanistic studies after all (although I would like to see it added) since religion in a sort of funny way, might be shooting itself in the foot.

154. Germany Cites Koran in Rejecting Divorce

Comment #27297 by ghostbuster on March 23, 2007 at 7:24 pm

That it got a ruling in the first place is cause to pause. And, I am speaking of Canada, not Britain, where secular law IS being threatened. The Knights of Columbus (Catholic) refused to host gay marriage receptions on religious grounds. Judges refusing to perform civil ceremonies re gays (they've been excused, but I say if you can't do the job....), pharmacies not wanting to sell certain medications on religious basis, Sharia law was shut down--barely--but we have a very religious right wing political leader of the same ilk as Bush who would probably hold a majority government if put to the vote today and to get votes, he does pander. THAT does concern me. While Britain and much of Europe does not seem to pander to religion and in fact tend to have a non-religious majority, I come from a country that is very much inclined to do so(Quebec alone is a heavily Catholic province while Alberta holds the West in evangelical leanings--the province that our Prime Minister comes from.) So excuse me if I get alittle up tight about religious law in a secular country. My country is most certainly timid about upsetting religious elements, more particularly Christian elements, but certainly Muslim as well. We are being Americanized in every concievable way, including the importation of fanatical religious organizations under the banner of multi-culturalism. Morality is NOT relative, either to cultures or religions. The very fact that we have to waste precious time discussing the same crap that was discussed in the 4th Century while the world is winding down into an ecological abyss makes religion an even bigger crime against humanity than it already has been.
In Canada and the US more people are concerned about the use of "Happy Holidays" over "Merry Christmas" than they are about the damned environment.

155. Germany Cites Koran in Rejecting Divorce

Comment #27235 by ghostbuster on March 23, 2007 at 3:52 pm

This comes after my last post on veils in school in Britain ie Secular laws being overshadowed by religious law. Canada was smart enough to turn it down. Many religious laws are against human rights and human rights are NOT relative values. Soon, Hindus will want theirs, Old Testament laws, now being pushed by Dominionism in the US, will raise their ugly heads--on and on it will go. If a person cannot go to a country and accept its laws, then DON'T GO THERE.You certainly won't find me moving to Iran anytime soon and please take a gander at those countries that practice theocracy--they are not friendly democracies and why should they be---religion has never been freedom-friendly, and is, in fact, extremely hierarchal. They can't stand each other, even when they do believe in the same god. So why are we running so scared of offending them? Religion more often than not CREATES offensiveness but all demand respect. I will not respect any system that believes in injustices, inequalities, ignorance and abuse. And, nor should secular governments.

156. Polish woman wins abortion case

Comment #27229 by ghostbuster on March 23, 2007 at 3:37 pm

A baby doesn't make the choice to cause anything about a pregnancy; knowing that you were not wanted is a different can of beans. Of course the woman should have been able to make up her own mind but she wasn't allowed. The kid's here. It probably would have been a better idea to have put it up for adoption if for no other reason than to be out of this stupid affair.

157. Britain Proposes Allowing Schools to Forbid Full-Face Muslim Veils

Comment #27218 by ghostbuster on March 23, 2007 at 3:19 pm

I am well aware that I won't see religious displays banned in public places; in fact, I am waiting for the Muslim, Hindu, Buddhists, Satanists to start putting thier own displays up in government places. As well, the so-calledopen for public" religious halls frequently break human rights by NOT allowing gay marriage receptions--if you are open to the public you must respect secular laws against racism.sexism etc. Then, we have religious people not wanting to hand out prescription drugs, or hospitals not wanting to do medical procedures, civil judges not wanting to conduct business they don't believe in (ie) gay marriages, postmen not wanting to deliver "questionable" material according to their religion----it won't stop.
Not to worry anyway--what I see happening all around, humanity hasn't much hope of survival. Magic thinking will create a wasteland. And by the way, morality is NOT relative. Cutting women's genitals off, stoning gays, murdering defiant children are not values to be repected nor the religions that propose them.
Freedom of religion? How about freedom from it.

158. Britain Proposes Allowing Schools to Forbid Full-Face Muslim Veils

Comment #26898 by ghostbuster on March 22, 2007 at 7:57 am

In a State-run public school, you leave your religion at home. That includes ALL religion. No exceptions. That is where the problem lies is in the exceptions. In Canada we have had debates about religous laws being enforced by religious groups--it was turned down and rightly so. However, I also disagree with turbans/knives in the police force and in schools. Don't like it? Too bad. I no more what the laws of the old testament enforced here either (as the Dominionists are trying to do in the US). Human rights violation? Well, religions violate them right and left; secular States should not respect that. Comes to mind that a Muslim official wouldn't shake hands with a female official from a Western country for fear she might be unclean. THAT also should not be respected given he was not in his country. Frankly, I might just have jumped on him with a tampon in my hand.
Time we stopped giving in to religion on the grounds of respect since there is so little to repect. If we are to have a secular government, then have one. Let religious people practice freely in their homes, their churches, THEIR own schools (unless federally-funded, in which case, they have to teach secular science etc.) but stay out of the public domain. Give an inch and religion will start wanting to change laws to their favor as has happened in Canada.

159. Saving believers: Former Christian finds calling to preach the good news of atheism

Comment #26723 by ghostbuster on March 21, 2007 at 10:54 am

A good site is www.jesusneverexisted.com. I always thought the best way to discuss religion is to analyze the sacred writings; while it is almost futile to argue the non-existence of god (and Dawkins/Harris do their best) showing how scriptures are in error scientifically, historically, and even psychologically with the liberal addition of say, biblical inconsistencies, should rattle the sensibilities of anyone, at least anyone NOT involved in cults which pretty much includes all fundys.
But, we're not after fundys--we're after the fence-sitters who still have active parts of their brains intact.
It is, however, important to be at least modestly familiar with what sacred writings say; when "they" pop you with one, it is nice to "pop" them with another--often one they haven't heard of because most churches stick to the mild parts in their boring sermons. Fortunately, the majority of people are in the same boat and are aghast when they find out, for example, that the mythological Jesus was not really a nice guy.

160. Polish woman wins abortion case

Comment #26720 by ghostbuster on March 21, 2007 at 10:28 am

I also checked up on the legal status of sterilization and Beth is right. Not only that, just about all forms of birth control are next to immpossible to get for poor women. This means that this woman is living under the same standards as third world women--which means, myself included, we should shut the hell up about taking to task this poor lady. Both her and her child suffer several forms of societal abuse, and more to come apparently.
Thanks Beth for the education.

161. Polish woman wins abortion case

Comment #26719 by ghostbuster on March 21, 2007 at 10:17 am

No one's mentioned the poor kid. How about being 16 and finding out your mom got money because she had you instead of aborting you. Nice.

162. Polish woman wins abortion case

Comment #26625 by ghostbuster on March 20, 2007 at 5:59 pm

oops! Third baby not fourth!

163. Polish woman wins abortion case

Comment #26624 by ghostbuster on March 20, 2007 at 5:57 pm

Given that she is a single mother trying to raise her three kids, I wonder if the ex didn't come back after some absence (she doesn't use contraceptives because she isn't currently sexually active) then have sex-with-hope-he'll-return. Who the hell knows what happened, but the third baby deteriorated her eyesight, that should have been enough for tubal ligation. Didn't happen, and fourth baby shouldn't have happened nor anymore for that matter. Things are often more complex than they seem; the press doesn't give enough details and poverty never seems a good place to make good decisions anyway. She made a wrong decision, then she made a right one, then the State made a wrong one, then they made a right one. Life's a bitch ain't it.

164. Biology teacher fired for referring to Bible

Comment #26619 by ghostbuster on March 20, 2007 at 5:43 pm

Should have also referred to the Hindu scriptures and American Native legends etc. so they could see all the mythologies backed up by faith and the one science lesson backed up by evidence. Guy just wanted to stick his meme where it ought not to go--a memeophile so to speak.

165. The Fourth Flea!

Comment #26615 by ghostbuster on March 20, 2007 at 5:33 pm

Actually, Nails said it best. Cornwell should take his high-powered perception and focus it on the Bible, which needs believers who have a lapse in intelligence.

166. The History of Creationist Thought

Comment #26435 by ghostbuster on March 19, 2007 at 9:53 am

Well, we have all heard it before, but should a wayward religious person see it, they might understand it enough to get ticked-off. That's enough for me.

167. UK Christians 'suffer for faith'

Comment #26432 by ghostbuster on March 19, 2007 at 9:44 am

Funny, but the Jehovah Witnesses have always felt discriminated against; never mind that they discriminate against evryone else in their various bible studies and meetings. The bashing of other religions and non-believers is unending. Additionally, when they come door-to-door, they ask that you question your beliefs, but under their hierarchy, to question their own beliefs is considered a reason for disfellowship. In short, hypocrits! Now we have Christians feeling discrimminated against; translated means they have to consider the rights of others who are NOT Christians and give up some of the power their institutions have held for so long. Secularism challenges the power of all religions over democratic rights--as it should be. I have yet to see any church that wasn't hierarchal in make up, that given half a chance would like to have control over their flock in the same manner as most cults, including the JWs. And then, control or elimination of those who do not believe as they do. Even Jesus said, those who do not accept His reign should be brought before Him and slain.
Thanks, but no thanks. I'll discriminate against that for a very long time.

168. Pursue pleasure: it's the natural way to do good in the world

Comment #26332 by ghostbuster on March 18, 2007 at 5:49 pm

Whoever equated morals with religion have studied neither. Having actually read the bible, one can find passages that can support just about any viewpoint, which makes that book rather useless for any sort of guidance. It is also profoundly incorrect in many of its "truths", so much so, as to be it a worthless read if one is looking for truth. History, especially the Dark Ages, is a walking bill board AGAINST the morality of religion. The Council of Nicea in the 4th Century created the alliance of religion with power in a rather official way--catholic means universal and the men on that council were of many religions, pagan as well as christian.
Call what I say as a mad rant padster1976, but when I look at the misery this unholy alliance has caused, it damned well makes me mad. Alot of people think Richard Dawkins is "mad" too, or arrogant, just because he points out unpleasant truths. When Marilyn French points out how women have been abused cross-culturally and historically, she is called a man-hater. When someone questions the economic "truth" of capitalism, they are automatically called communists. Buzz-words to deflect from thinking about things that ought to be thought about.
When I think of the one poor soul whose feet were roasted off because he dared to challenge the Church, this is one soul too many who have been destroyed by religion.
I use soul figuratively.
Consider what might have happened if the Greek Enlightenment had been allowed to continue, if the Library of Alexandria were still intact, added to and learned about rather than wallowing in over a thousand years of superstitions and dreadful ignorance.
That would have been a thousand years of potential conscious-raising evolution; perhaps there would not have been a Pat Robertson in the 21st Century still arguing stuff from the 4th, Century or a grade-school drop-out running a powerful nation with his finger on weapons that could make all our arguments moot points.
I think we may not have the time to make enough of a difference.
But, there are other civilizations in the universe. If we become an evolutionary dead-end, it will matter only to us anyway.

169. Is Your Baby Gay? What If You Could Know? What If You Could Do Something About It?

Comment #26279 by ghostbuster on March 18, 2007 at 9:39 am

Genetic "selfishness" might not necessarily be for just one gene--it might also correlate to the species as a whole. What might be good for one gene might not be good for the species (for example, a gene carrying the potential of psychopathic traits, good for capitalism because it could lead the organism into elite positions without all that moral traffic getting in the way, thus ensuring its survival but it is NOT good for the continuation of the species). I do not think homosexuality should be tied to either bad or good genes anymore than blue or brown eyes. I doubt there is any one specific behavioral trait assigned to homosexuality--as I said, except for procreation, there probably isn't much difference. I am sure there were genius women, creative, adorable, sinister and mad but few got to express themselves either way in the old days. The cultural context of a person's success or failure is more important than a person's genetic potentials. Poverty alone has dismissed talented people; how many great men and women , straight or gay, have perished unheard of because of poverty?

170. Atheism hasn't hurt Fremont Rep. Stark

Comment #26276 by ghostbuster on March 18, 2007 at 9:15 am

I don't think non-believers can run for President? And don't forget the "communism" tag on atheists--surely that one would come up in an election bid.
But, the response was positive.
And like all good things, it starts with a minority.

171. Pursue pleasure: it's the natural way to do good in the world

Comment #26275 by ghostbuster on March 18, 2007 at 9:09 am

It is my opinion that the Chief and the Shaman were deliberate in spreading the myth that the "good life" was inherently evil so that the rest of the impoverished souls enslaved by them would no longer covet what the elite had. The peons would get THEIR rewards in the afterlife, especially if they suffered more than their neighbour.
"Sharing" is a dirty word among the elite. When peasants started wanting a share of the good life, well, out came the guns; the one thing that annoyed royalty when the crossbow was invented was that it became easily available to the common man who then threatened knights in armour and therefore the King (whose army was to protect him and his possessions). Then there's that nasty thing called "socialism" that demands "sharing", and worse, "communism" that challenged the authority of Churches. And why is non-belief such a hated attribute--at least in the U.S.? Non-believers are often critical thinkers, the very last trait politicians (and therefore the elite) want to encourage; not so easy to manipulate crowds who actually think, is it? And let's not forget that any "ism" can become a cult--(ie) North Korea, Stalin--in short, whenever you let somebody else do your thinking for you.
Many people have different definitions of what consititutes "the good life" and I dare say they are quite different between myself and Prince Charles. While I enjoy gardening, painting, music, science, I would also want to extend those pleasures to others. I want the little children in the Third World or in the First World gettos allowed the chance to find out what would make them happy. Prince Charles, I am afraid, would prefer to keep chasing foxes and eating caviar while potificating about Third World poverty. I doubt he cares whether an Iraqi child eats cavier or dump scraps---and sadly, much of what the wealthy have depends upon that child eating scraps. This includes MY life as well, since I am living in a First World nation that carries on its business taking far more than it ever gives. In fact, it has been shown that the more money a person has, the more pollution they cause.
It is not how much you do, but with how much love you do it with--I guess we all should try to share some aspect of our "good life" in relation to how good it is, with those who have so little.

172. Is Your Baby Gay? What If You Could Know? What If You Could Do Something About It?

Comment #26270 by ghostbuster on March 18, 2007 at 8:42 am

And, in fact, gayness could end up being a desirable trait in the future; there are too many people having too many babies anyway, the reason the world environment is going to hell in a handbag. Except for procreation, what the hell difference would it make? People are people--we are all in the same game, just trying to survive and be a little happy now and then.

173. Chimpanzees 'hunt using spears'

Comment #26210 by ghostbuster on March 17, 2007 at 5:14 pm

That will come when the first adult male uses his spear to kill another chimp. True hierarchy then begins as well as an arms race. It started long before chimps; even the lowly sponge started fighting over rocks, developing measures and counter measures to keep that rock. Two things the big brain added were Chiefs and Shamans--power and religion--mutually beneficial to each other for thousands of years. Try to break THAT spell.

174. Chimpanzees 'hunt using spears'

Comment #26205 by ghostbuster on March 17, 2007 at 4:48 pm

I am Woman hear me roar....

175. 'God Is Not a Moderate'

Comment #18083 by ghostbuster on January 18, 2007 at 8:24 am

When one's "baloney dectector" has been damaged by belief without evidence, one can then believe in just about anything. Moderates can be easily manipulated by extremists and/or those who need their support, into becoming extremists under certain conditions; additionally, people who normally would be "reasonable" about decisions can easily become "unreasonable" when powerful people need them to band together to do monsterous things. Hitler. George W. Bush. Religious and political dogma need to be examined at all times with critical thinking skills and applying those same skills to ask one's self why they believe something in the first place. We are all atheists to someone else's beliefs and yet the sacred writings of those beliefs are as nebulous in divine origins as our own. We must never walk towards holocausts under the banner of God, King and Country--the usual reasons given by whoever the elites happen to be at the moment.

176. The Only One in Step

Comment #14565 by ghostbuster on December 23, 2006 at 8:46 am

Now all Burgess and MacIntosh need to do is focus their high-powered perceptions on the Bible for which every scientific law available is broken--even down to God not being able to recognize the difference between a bird and a bat. This sacred writing is full of errancies, contradictions, immoralities, inequalities, historical inaccurancies and absurdities that if there were a God, it would be a downright insult to Him/Her/It/They.In fact, no better proof than the Bible is needed to declare this Abrahamic God of false. Other sacred writings of other religions shoot their own gods in the foot equally well, so science doesn't need to debate whether God(s) exist or not--a casual stroll through sacred writings pretty much does the job.

177. Atheists' bleak alternative

Comment #14561 by ghostbuster on December 23, 2006 at 8:32 am

If you really want to see bleak, tune into jesusneverexisted.com for a real view of Christian history--that Christianity created anything good wasn't because of Christianity, but in spite of it.