151. The Great Mutator

Comment #49689 by gcdavis on June 13, 2007 at 1:44 am

Coyne is a gem! His clarity is unsurpassed, so that a bloke like me with no science training can follow his argument.

I am curious to know how Behe can retain a university post whilst publishing books without peer review or does that only apply to papers?

It would be great to hear from any of his students and/or his colleagues if they frequent this forum.

Does Behe also assert that the earth is only six or is it ten thousand years old?

152. The New Atheists

Comment #49518 by gcdavis on June 12, 2007 at 8:40 am

pewkatchoo

Religion didn't give them their talent but did inspire them. Would you not agree that deep love for another human being can generate an intense emotional state familiar to many artists, especially poets and that religious devotion can inspire a similar state. Apart from talent is it not the intensity of that feeling that is present in all great art, no matter what inspired it?

I'm off to the pub in 15 mins for an early pint or three, nice debating with you.

153. The New Atheists

Comment #49511 by gcdavis on June 12, 2007 at 8:07 am

pewkatchoo

There can't have been many atheists in 1600, but no doubt Caravaggio benefited from a spending spree by Rome after the reformation. I think the devotional aspect is best expressed in music; Bach's St Mathews Passion for example always gives me goose bumps (even though I am really a John Coltrane man!) the emotion expressed is so intense that I can easily ignore the fact that his inspiration is bollocks.

154. The New Atheists

Comment #49478 by gcdavis on June 12, 2007 at 4:22 am

pewkatchoo

I defend my comments about art, the devotion, albeit misplaced, can and does often result in an intensely emotional response particularly in music and poetry but also in sculpture and painting. I agree that religious patronage could be seen to sully the artists work and for many of the patrons the commission might well have been for the sake of personal aggrandisement but for many of the artists the emotions were genuine even if what inspired them was flawed.

155. The New Atheists

Comment #49459 by gcdavis on June 12, 2007 at 2:49 am

We atheists share certain characteristics, we subject our world to rational scrutiny; we take personal moral responsibility when making decisions; we don't mind being in a minority. We have become atheists by different routes, some having to break free of a religious upbringing, others like me, reared in a family who although only loosely christian, feared that without some "christian" values I might go off the rails. I dispensed with god aged eleven only to find that most of my family had been closet atheists or at least agnostic all along.

But what about believers, what is it that drives their dependency? The analogy to drug use is apposite; an addict thinks only of their next fix, the fear of life without it is so great so as to obscure any route out of their addiction. Marx got it just about right, (Karl not Groucho)! Of course this comparison will seem grossly exaggerated to many believers but I think the underlying psychology is similar. To consider life without god is for them unthinkable.

Another characteristic of the believer is the need for a strongly paternalistic figure, someone who is powerful, who exercises control, who makes the rules.

Both characteristics betray a lack of confidence, an infantile subservience that leads inevitably to the need to belong to the family of your god, which is essentially what religion is.

The "great" religions have exploited this to enslave generation after generation with the fear of god's wrath and the promise of his largesse in the form of an afterlife.

The narcotic effect of religious belief has always had the ability to inspire deep devotion and has resulted in most of the greatest works of art of the last 2000 years. Particularly to the christian, this art has provided a reassuring backdrop to their faith.

Finally comes complexity, the more we know about things the more complex we realise they are. This complexity means understanding our world and our place in it has become ever more difficult for the ordinary person. For the religious, complexity can be discounted, as god knows how it all works even if we do not.

If my description of belief is anywhere near correct then we will have to offer the faithful a route out of their addiction, great though they are, all RD and the new atheists can offer is a bout of cold turkey. I think we have to offer them something else, maybe it is simply the example of ordinary people like us living decent, fulfilled and caring lives without god.

156. Can we really learn to love people who aren't like us?

Comment #49334 by gcdavis on June 11, 2007 at 2:10 pm

When my kids were young they used to insist that I make up story for them when they went to bed. Of course they always featured in them and the stories usually involved fantastical situations. Sometimes if I was on form they would want a continuation of the story on the following night. I would let my imagination take hold and for the duration I would suspend disbelief.

As they fell asleep I would kiss them, get up and go down stairs to watch the news or chat with my wife. I had left the make believe world behind, even my kids new it was make believe but it comforted them.

Darwin2
You still believe in that make believe world that you have constructed for yourself. It is your comforter, but it isn't true! As an obviously intelligent and mature man can you not see that?

157. Can we really learn to love people who aren't like us?

Comment #49328 by gcdavis on June 11, 2007 at 1:50 pm

Darwin2

"Our mission on Earth is to address and correct our mistakes and to take steps to learn, obey and master God's laws of physics so that we can ascend back to that perfect state of pure energy that God created us in and where we can fulfill our divine destiny. The law of physics that will enable us to accomplish this is the law of reincarnation and karma. The sooner we learn, obey and master the laws of physics, the quicker we will fulfill our divine destiny in life."

Pure Star Trek!

158. Don't Know Much Biology

Comment #49266 by gcdavis on June 11, 2007 at 8:08 am

I agree with alovrin and others about Jerry Coyne, he is a another great voice in the battle against ignorance and hypocrisy.

Another great "male" voice, but where are the prominent women in this debate?

159. Can we really learn to love people who aren't like us?

Comment #49201 by gcdavis on June 11, 2007 at 1:52 am

Peter Hearty
You have been busy, keep up the great work!

Martha
Thank you

The definition of atheism once again rears its head, for me it is simply an absence of belief. I don't believe in anything not just god, I don't believe in natural selection it is just the best explanation for the phenomenon that it seeks to describe.

Darwin2
Of course you are welcome here, the difficulty is that you and I are not speaking a common language; this often repeated maxim sums it up, "You can't reason someone out of a position that they did not reason themselves into in the first place"
At the risk of being insulting your belief in the supernatural seems childish; I stopped believing in Santa Claus when I was seven and in god when I was eleven. And the belief in a particular religion seems even more absurd, why do the myths of one faith seem more convincing than another? Well most children are brainwashed into the faith of their parents and there they remain.

Have the courage to subject you faith to the harsh light of reason and it will fall away, you will be the better for it. There is no certainty in life apart from the fact that we all will die. I am 61 so that prospect is not as remote as it seemed when I was young. I don't expect immortality or reward for the good I have done or punishment for my failings. When I die (hopefully not for another 30 years or so!) my body will rot but I will be remembered by those who loved me and by some who knew me.

Thats it.

160. Can we really learn to love people who aren't like us?

Comment #48832 by gcdavis on June 9, 2007 at 6:43 am

Here goes, this is my Thought for the Day

Morality without God

People of faith often claim a superior status when it comes to morality, they believe that adherence to their faith guides their moral choices, whereas the poor atheist drifts aimlessly about without a moral compass. So what is the origin of morality without god?

We are not surprised when we watch a bird feeding its young at the expense of its own hunger, many animals exhibit altruistic behaviour, but the explanation for this behaviour is clearly biological. The link between altruism in animals and morality in humans is important, if being "good" is part of a biological process then it exists in the absence of god or religion. As parental altruism is a prerequisite for the survival of human offspring, it is not surprising that as sentient beings we have reflected upon this behaviour and have codified it into good/bad, right/wrong etc, in essence a moral code that can be transferred to the next generation.

Morality derived from religious doctrine invariably regards the default position of human behaviour as "bad" and in need of correction. Religion portrays its own house rules as MORALITY when in fact they are simply rules, often cynically used to maintain control. They offer entry into paradise in return for obedience and subservience. In contrast our atheist morality makes no presumptions about the human condition.

Although the roots of morality lie within altruism and are biological it is within the family that they are nourished and the moral compass absorbed by each generation in the same way that language is learned. For the atheist, morality is a personal responsibility that cannot be shirked or escalated to a "higher" authority.

Maybe next time we hear the assertion that without belief in god we would all run amok, stealing, raping etc, we may be able to offer an alternative more plausible explanation why this is not inevitable.

#####
Reading it again I also have slipped into the polemical, oops!

161. Can we really learn to love people who aren't like us?

Comment #48828 by gcdavis on June 9, 2007 at 6:35 am

It turns out to be a hollow victory pewkatchoo

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/2193321.stm

Just an alternative TftD not even in the regular slot, simply a sop to the protestors. What riles me is the arrogance shown by the producer that morality is still confined to the religious

162. Can we really learn to love people who aren't like us?

Comment #48815 by gcdavis on June 9, 2007 at 5:56 am

pewkatchoo
Well that is a result!

After your tip off I have just found a link to it
http://ffrf.org/fttoday/2002/oct02/dawkins.php

Having read it I don't think it hits the right note. Thought for the Day is a slot where ethical and moral issues are aired, hitherto with a religious perspective. This was an opportunity to explain the origins of an atheists values, one of the question most asked of us by believers. Instead Richard has written a polemical piece.

"Humanity can leave the crybaby phase, and finally come of age." is not going to endear our views to any but the already "converted". Its a bit like the Apple "Think Different" ads, there is an element of conceit and smug superiority that is likely to offend

163. Can we really learn to love people who aren't like us?

Comment #48806 by gcdavis on June 9, 2007 at 5:35 am

If you are still online RD, maybe you could add you weight to the campaign waged over many years for an atheist contributor to (BBC)Thought for the Day to which Sacks is a regular contributor. I have made numerous complaints to the Beeb but they wont budge - yet!

164. Hamas Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony

Comment #47568 by gcdavis on June 5, 2007 at 1:50 am

Back in 1972 the then PLO massacred Israeli athletes at the Rome Olympics Islam was not part of the equation. It was a straightforward act of politically motivated terrorism in response to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories after the six day war. The perpetrators tried to escape; they were not inclined towards "martyrdom"

In the intervening 35 years the Palestinian struggle has become an Islamic one and we have seen the concurrent rise in Islamic fundamentalism in the Middle East and beyond and of evangelical Christianity in the US. They feed off each other's excess and vie to adopt ever more extreme positions. That future generations are being brainwashed with a more and more extreme version of both Islam and Christianity is indeed very alarming.

Despite large numbers of religious adherents most of Europe's institutions are secular but in the US a battle between secularism and evangelical Christianity is only just beginning. The fight is not for the "soul" but for the levers of power and it is a fight that we cannot afford to lose. It falls to US politicians and other opinion formers to see the warning signs and have the courage to stand up for secular values and publicly criticize religious dogma and practice when it conflicts with those values, and I don't see any sign of this, my gloomy prediction is a world sliding into inevitable conflict.

165. Shark virgin birth mystery is solved

Comment #43922 by gcdavis on May 23, 2007 at 4:08 am

As God finds us unworthy he has entrusted his second coming to the body of a fish. It is clear to me that God's revenge, namely climate change, will result in the flooding of our entire planet and that the future of Christianity lies in the "hands" of a Shark. (No change there then).

166. The root of all evil?

Comment #43667 by gcdavis on May 22, 2007 at 8:45 am

As I just happened upon this site I thought I would share it with you!

Quote
Deluxe Jesus Action Figure
There is no action figure more deserving of a deluxe edition than the Son of God. This 5-1/4" (13.3 cm) tall, hard vinyl figure comes with eight amazing plastic accessories: five loaves of bread, two fish and a jug for turning water into wine (not guaranteed to work for real). Also features "glow-in-the-dark miracle hands!"
End Quote

http://www.npw.co.uk/onlinesales/product.php?product_id=954&category_id=6&gallery_id=95

167. Freethinking Ruins All Things

Comment #42421 by gcdavis on May 18, 2007 at 7:17 am

SRWB

M & S - Marks and Spencers?

Yes its a yucky TV ad running in the UK

168. Freethinking Ruins All Things

Comment #42385 by gcdavis on May 18, 2007 at 6:25 am

It's significant how often apologists for religion use the word "sterile" in relation to atheists. It is always used as a pejorative term; well the antonym of sterile is "dirty", presumably not how they see themselves. I think the word they really mean is "barren", a word heavy with connotation. They see us as cold and mean-spirited, as spoilsports who prefer fact to fiction, who prefer to describe a sensation rather than to feel it, who think that artistic inspiration is inferior to intellectual rigour.

In contrast the religious invariably see themselves as generous, nurturing, and compassionate, the progenitors of morality, the inspiration for art and culture

How wrong they are. I have been an atheist nearly all my life. I have laughed and cried, I have felt the pain of my son dying when he was 28 while I live on into my sixties. I have three other children and wife and I love them all, I love music, art, sport, food, knowledge, running. I love my work as a designer and writer; I love a pint at the pub and comedy on TV. This is not sterile or barren, this rich and fulfilled*.

And I live this life without religion, without belief of any kind. There is no "lie" as Larison maintains. There is no contradiction between marvelling at the wonders of life and understanding how they have come about.

I strive to be an honest and ethical person but I do it because I know that by doing so I might make life just a little bit better for those I care about and not because a god demands it.

*...this is M&S rich and fulfilled, sorry, I can't stay serious for long!

169. Manufacturing belief

Comment #42331 by gcdavis on May 18, 2007 at 4:43 am

I have always been a fan of Wolpert but I find some of his comments here surprising:

"But what are memes? How do you decide whether something is a meme or not? And what you really want to understand is, how is it passed on and why does it persist? This is never discussed"

Has he read the Selfish Gene? I'm sure he wouldn't have a problem describing how Language is passed on, why does language persist?

170. Brazil's Indians Offended by Pope Comments

Comment #41434 by gcdavis on May 16, 2007 at 5:53 am

"I think (the Pope) has been poorly advised."

Wow, we all know who his adviser is!

171. Christopher Hitchens Explains It All for You: Move over, Sam Harris; another atheist wants the pulpit

Comment #40908 by gcdavis on May 15, 2007 at 7:35 am

"But then, what does Hitchens mean by religion? Under the same umbrella he groups Mother Teresa, voodoo, the pope, "fear-ridden peasants of antiquity," Muslim suicide bombers, animists, "arid monotheism," the archbishop of Canterbury, séances, Thomas Aquinas, an evangelical huckster "dressed in a Little Lord Fauntleroy suit," Muhammad, the "tawdry myths of Bethlehem," the "vapid and annoying holiday known as 'Hanukah,'" Mormons, "hysterical Jewish congregations," the "sordid" theology of Pascal, Martin Luther King, rednecks, "cobbled-together ancient Jewish books" (i.e., the Bible), WWII-era Japanese emperor worship, and male circumcision"
...and add to that Mithras, Thor, ancestor worship, the butchering Aztecs etc etc etc.

You have got in one Mr Jones! Yes they are all as absurd as each other except that you think that your one, Christianity is somehow different. What conceit, what arrogance, what ignorance!

172. Bill Maher interviews Christopher Hitchens

Comment #40873 by gcdavis on May 15, 2007 at 6:15 am

I agree with Yorker about Hitch, he has the common touch and he is also a bruiser! RD is a brilliant lecturer but when confronted with a hostile interviewer he is not at his best, I think under that polite exterior there is a man who sometimes seethes within. As for the comment by Phadrus, yes we are getting a bit of overkill but what frustrates me more is that none of this wellspring of atheism is being turned into positive action.

173. How dare you call me a fundamentalist

Comment #40358 by gcdavis on May 14, 2007 at 7:10 am

Dawkins is self evidently such a nice man that to see the religious establishment piling in with their pointless insults, snide remarks and bogus claims is reminiscent of bullies in the playground. His dignified and always polite response shames them all.

174. Pope: God Will Punish Drug Dealers

Comment #40352 by gcdavis on May 14, 2007 at 6:52 am

How about God punishing the pope for causing the deaths of countless ignorant people by denying them the right to use condoms.

175. True faith is greater than the ranters

Comment #40340 by gcdavis on May 14, 2007 at 6:34 am

Apologies that was a bit rude but I get so tired of listening to these second rate minds masquerading as the intelligentsia.

176. True faith is greater than the ranters

Comment #40337 by gcdavis on May 14, 2007 at 6:32 am

Why bother aguing with the old fart, another life-long thumbsucker, without the intelectual courage to see life as it really is

177. Let us pray for the soul of Richard Dawkins

Comment #40333 by gcdavis on May 14, 2007 at 6:22 am

I nearly spat out my coffee when I read this yesterday. Criticism yes, views with which I disagree off course but ill informed, petulance coupled with inaccurate reporting is not what I expect from a columnist of a major Sunday newspaper. I have cancelled my Observer subscription.

178. The Case Against Intelligent Design: The Faith That Dare Not Speak Its Name

Comment #40237 by gcdavis on May 14, 2007 at 1:18 am

Devolved
"Why do I question your beliefs? I don't buy into the 'science of the gaps' idea where the god of luck creates life.."

Because they are not beliefs

179. The Case Against Intelligent Design: The Faith That Dare Not Speak Its Name

Comment #40090 by gcdavis on May 13, 2007 at 4:27 am

What a brilliantly argued piece. If I had to extract one paragraph it would be this:

"The real issues behind intelligent design and much of creationism are purpose and morality: specifically, the fear that if evolution is true, then we are no different from other animals, not the special objects of God's creation but a contingent product of natural selection, and so we lack real purpose, and our morality is just the law of the jungle."

It is the fear of moral anarchy that motivates so much of religious belief in the US.

Did you see the Morgan Spurloch 30 days documentary where an atheist Mom stayed with an evangelical family for a month, for a Brit it was a real eye opener? The host family were expecting a fire breathing dragon that they could tame and then convert. The reality was a shy, serious woman who argued her case against considerable numerical odds, at prayer meetings and bible classes as well as at home. At about day 23 the rest of atheist's family turned up, and guess what they turned out to be the quintessential loving US family, just like the evangelicals.

The shock to the evangelical family was palpable; they really could not comprehend that they could share the common family values of love, self sacrifice, commitment and honesty with a family that had no need of religion.

To the evangelical mom this was a revelation; even the dad who had been strident in his views acknowledged that his opinion of atheists had changed as a result of the encounter.

180. Welsh Hindus fight to save Shambo the sacred bull

Comment #39231 by gcdavis on May 10, 2007 at 7:55 am

"We could no more allow the slaughter of Shambo than we could the killing of a human being. Ultimately, we will be willing to defend his life with our own."

Nice the hindus share our love of animals, I suggest sacrificing a moslem instead, they seem to like it.

181. Londonistan Calling

Comment #39098 by gcdavis on May 10, 2007 at 1:50 am

Another cogent piece of analysis from Hitch. Since its inception last year this site has published countless reviews and thousands of forum comments outlining "the problem", but precious few suggest a solution. In fact I have complained many times at the lack of interest in the Politics and Civic Action forums. I am not an activist and I don't have the answers but let's at least try and do something!

We face a global threat from fundamentalist religious belief; it varies from country to country. Hitch has described it in the UK, others written about the USA, Turkey, Denmark, Iraq etc etc, but a recent and unprecedented factor is how leaders of different faith have begun to collaborate in order to protect their privileges.

Maybe we need an international secular coalition to help mobilise opinion and publicise attacks on secular institutions throughout the world. If you look at feminism and how a few powerful voices in the 1970's galvanised the repressed ambitions of millions of women and changed western society forever and compare it to now; well there are powerful voices of reason challenging centuries old superstition and prejudice and we cannot let this moment pass.

There are of course existing web sites and established lobby groups like the National Secular Society in the UK that try hard to advance our cause but little progress has been made. Maybe we need an international conference, perhaps sponsored by the Gates Foundation to discuss the threat that the resurgence of religion poses to progress and to democracy. Alongside this we must demonstrate that morality and an ethical system underpins atheist ideology.

182. Better God-fearing than sneering

Comment #38789 by gcdavis on May 9, 2007 at 7:39 am

27. Comment #38708 by RichardHarty

"The explanation of science tends to reduce these experiences to less than they are"

No!

Science seeks to explain what they are, this doesn't make them less. I accept that my love for my wife and family can be explained biologically, pair bonding, kinship groups, altruism, selfish genes etc but this doesn't negate what I feel for them.

"I think if we stopped treating religion as a science and more like an art, it might prove far more useful. If we stopped using religion as the end of discussion and instead used it as creative discussion and exploration it could be a vehicle for transformation and growth."

Why?

Exploration, transformation, growth? Religion is the antidote to those things. Religion constrains and confines. Yes art is about exploration but not using a map with a single destination.

183. Better God-fearing than sneering

Comment #38702 by gcdavis on May 9, 2007 at 2:01 am

PS does anyone know Meritt's email at the Observer? She needs to know how inane her article is.

Try stephanie.merritt@guardian.co.uk

This formula works with some of their regular columnists.

184. Better God-fearing than sneering

Comment #38693 by gcdavis on May 9, 2007 at 1:14 am

"...both authors to disregard the good that comes from religious faith in terms of charity and spiritual comfort."

Spiritual comfort in other words lets pull the duvet over our heads, that sums up religion for me.

185. Now Muslims Get Their Own Laws In Britian

Comment #36974 by gcdavis on May 3, 2007 at 1:50 am

Forget the Express article the BBC exposed this six months ago

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6190080.stm

186. Now Muslims Get Their Own Laws In Britian

Comment #36684 by gcdavis on May 2, 2007 at 2:41 am

aleprechaunist Shared values are the nub of the issue. Not shared between small groups of people, but shared by us, the British. It irritates me when I see "community leaders" or "representatives of faith groups" being interviewed, all speaking for minorities that should have been integrated into our society and so not need this special pleading. And if they do not integrate we have to find out why and alter policy accordingly.

187. Now Muslims Get Their Own Laws In Britian

Comment #36664 by gcdavis on May 2, 2007 at 1:27 am

Point taken Bonzai but each country is different. The UK is a small crowded place. Recent stats show that in UK primary schools English is not the first language for one out of every seven children. Imagine the strain that puts on the education system. Since Poland joined the EU a few years back we have had 600,000 Polish migrants, most of them Catholics.

188. When Seeing Is Disbelieving

Comment #36663 by gcdavis on May 2, 2007 at 1:18 am

No surprise that politicians are the worst offenders. Self deception is a prerequisite. They are driven to seek power by their overblown egos but pretend that their motivation is for the good of "the people".

189. Now Muslims Get Their Own Laws In Britian

Comment #36660 by gcdavis on May 2, 2007 at 1:06 am

This first surfaced six months ago (not exactly a scoop for the Express) so I am reposting this comment

We haven't had much discussion about multiculturalism so I am about to leap in head first! Immigration to the UK is not a new phenomenon, throughout our history we have absorbed immigrants, most have come from Europe and have been racially and culturally similar and after a couple of generations most have become indistinguishable from the rest of the population. It is only since the WW2 that we have seen mass immigration; by people who looked and behaved very differently to us. They came from the Caribbean, India and Pakistan as well as sizeable numbers from West Africa and South East Asia. These immigrants have tended to live in fairly large communities rather than spread out and many have preferred to maintain this separation and insularity. This has given rise to the concept of multiculturalism.

I think the advocacy of multiculturalism in the UK is something we will live to regret, it encourages cultural apartheid and is a breeding ground for religious intolerance and extremism. The alternative to multiculturalism is surely an expectation that when immigrants come to our country they adapt to our customs, culture, law and language and that they abandon any native customs that conflict with those of the host nation.

So what or who is the host nation? Too big a subject to debate in one post; it suffices to say that it requires a notion of a British (or indeed English) cultural identity and that is a difficult to pin down. One characteristic is our traditional fairness and tolerance; another is our fervent support of free speech. We are subject to and protected by a legal system developed and refined over many centuries. It is not perfect, but it has many checks and balances that make justice more likely and crucially it is independent from government, religious and other pressures.

So where is multiculturalism leading us? Well according to the BBC Law in Action programme, one potentially dangerous development is that of alternative "legal" systems; these informal "village" courts, based on alien tribal and religious customs, have begun to appear within some ethnic minority/religious groups to resolve civil disputes.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/6190080.stm
How long before they try to expand their "remit?

Of course multiculturalism is inextricably bound to religion; hence this post that I hope will provoke a response. Finally I would be appalled if these comments should portray me as racist. I am not! But debate unfettered by political correctness is what atheists are good at

190. Darwin nearly failed to evolve in print

Comment #35486 by gcdavis on April 27, 2007 at 10:46 am

John Phillips re umeshbilagi's post. To refer to someone's opinion as gibberish particularly when they may not be writing in their native language is needlessly insulting.

191. Reply to a Christian

Comment #35414 by gcdavis on April 27, 2007 at 5:05 am

For much of human existence there has been certainty. The certainty of hunger, poverty, subservience, disease and death.

But now, at least for the developed world and despite our wealth, there is increasing uncertainty about jobs, how to raise kids, relationships, sexuality, security, trust.

In our uncertain world many people still crave certainty. Religion gives it to them.

192. Iran arrests 300 'insufficiently veiled' women

Comment #35409 by gcdavis on April 27, 2007 at 4:40 am

I agree with Philip1978 women are the best hope in reforming Islamic atiitudes. Perhaps women should try denial of sex, maybe that would change mens attitudes, or perhaps they would simply rape their wives.

And why are Islamic men so sexually insecure that they want to keep their womenfolk hidden.

193. Was Muhammad Epileptic?

Comment #35371 by gcdavis on April 27, 2007 at 2:38 am

It takes a book to dis a book!

Isn't it amazing that when it is written down an idea assumes credibility. And if it was written down a long time ago its authenticity is greatly enhanced. Add Holy to the name and bingo it's the word of god.

I wonder is such gems as "World War II Bomber Found on Moon" and "Adolf Hitler Was A Woman" from the 1980's Sunday Sport will be regarded as fact by 2500?

194. Darwin nearly failed to evolve in print

Comment #35364 by gcdavis on April 27, 2007 at 2:14 am

I am not sure what your point is umeshbilagi.

As a man of science I assume that you would accept that any scientific theory is open to revision or even rejection when a better explanation comes along. But even if the Darwin's entire thesis was wrong it is just too lazy too cite god as the explanation, so keep looking.

The other problem with god is his unfortunate association with religion. All religions exploit man's insecurity, ignorance and readiness to believe in myth and superstition, each one claims to be the word of god when clearly they can't all be.

Believe in a creator if you must, but please condemn all religion as a fraud.

195. Darwin nearly failed to evolve in print

Comment #35044 by gcdavis on April 26, 2007 at 4:20 am

.
.
.
.
.
.
Publisher: So you want us to publish your book erh?
God: Yes
Publisher: Got a name for it yet?
God: I thought "How I made the earth in six days, on the..."
Publisher: Too long!
God: How about Genesis?
Publisher: Sounds like a rock band
God: Well I did make it out of rock
Publisher: We need something snappy like First Among Equals
God: I think you'll find that's a Jeffrey Archer
Publisher: Damn! Kane and Abel?
God: Jeffrey Archer too
Publisher: I got it... The Bible!
God: Surely nobody would read a book with a title that nobody understands?
Publisher: Leave it to me, its all down to the marketing.....
etc etc

196. Study: Religion is Good for Kids

Comment #35018 by gcdavis on April 26, 2007 at 1:22 am

Opiates have that effect on people.

197. Pope abolishes limbo

Comment #33996 by gcdavis on April 23, 2007 at 2:38 am

I guess he was just too old to get under the bar!

198. Space tourist makes safe return

Comment #33986 by gcdavis on April 23, 2007 at 1:12 am

Resumably the same Simonyi that endowed RD's chair at Oxford

199. Dinesh D'Souza says I don't exist: an atheist at Virginia Tech

Comment #33376 by gcdavis on April 20, 2007 at 1:04 am

This is one of the most heartfelt, timely and profound pieces of rhetoric that I have heard in many years. Mapantsula, your students are very lucky to have you to support them through this appalling period of their lives.

200. Where Is Atheism When Bad Things Happen?

Comment #33368 by gcdavis on April 20, 2007 at 12:54 am

Where were the atheists?

Atheist's are people like everyone else
People of humanity who try to comfort the bereaved
People of wisdom who try to explain why it happened
People of power who to try prevent it happening again

So where were the christians?

They are busy trying to think up an excuse as to why god should let yet another tragedy happen.