201. When is a bishop like a suicide bomber?

Comment #53797 by jimbob on July 3, 2007 at 8:03 am

If you think the bishop is nutty, then check out Pat Robertson's site (www.patrobertson.com) to put him in perspective.

As an example, here is the summary from Pat's 2007 prayer retreat:

"In conclusion: Ahead is a year in which we celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. This year will begin with unimagined blessings yet will end, unless there is national repentance and prayer, with unspeakable acts of terror brought about by evil men. Then a great time of worldwide rejoicing in the Lord."

As George Carlin joked about the punitive, vindictive, pestilence-spreading big daddy in the sky "But he loves you!"

202. Floods are judgment on society, say bishops

Comment #53606 by jimbob on July 2, 2007 at 8:10 am

If Jefferson were still alive I'm sure he would be dismayed to see that "priestcraft" is still thriving!

203. Floods are judgment on society, say bishops

Comment #53605 by jimbob on July 2, 2007 at 8:10 am

If Jefferson were still alive I'm sure he would be dismayed to see that "priestcraft" is still thriving!

204. The Great God Debate

Comment #50145 by jimbob on June 15, 2007 at 8:56 am

What's up doc(trine)?

As usual, I liked CH's response to the Hitler, Stalin, Cuba, Pol Pot, et el., gambit. However, I still can't help thinking that a broader explanation that DOCTRINES (mostly religious in nature, but some others quasi-religious) poison everything, would make more sense?

I'm also anticipating an increasing (ad hominem) charge from the religious faithful that most atheists are marxist commies -- a charge that will certainly resonate with many US bible belters.

I wonder how many atheists DO believe in various faith-requiring doctrines -- not many I hope!

I'd love to hear CH comment on those points.

205. Tome truths

Comment #49344 by jimbob on June 11, 2007 at 2:59 pm

Well, I'd love to see those "cardboard figures... go soggy and collapse," but Hamas hasn't gotten the message apparently: http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/06/11/palestinian.schools.ap/index.html

Don't hold your breath waiting for muslim clerics to stand up to complain about child abuse.

Groan!

206. Evolution: God as Genetic Engineer

Comment #49272 by jimbob on June 11, 2007 at 8:58 am

Jaytee wrote:

"There is nothing really surprising about Behe's denial of reality; his agenda is not scientific, but political. I suspect he feels he is justified in 'lying for the Lord'."

Have you ever noticed the more people want the 10 commandments everywhere, the more they are likely to disregard #9?!

On the topic, wait 'till you see the PBS special "The Wall of Separation!" It's (ahem) genesis is analogous to the creation (pun intended) of ID as science!

;-)

207. Dawkins' Christmas card list

Comment #45833 by jimbob on May 29, 2007 at 11:13 am

A bit of care?!! But then I guess those Marxists ARE nice folks (oops, forgot about those millions of dead people!).

Maybe you are right? We wouldn't want the religious folks to label us A folk as rabid left wingers, eh?

;-)

208. Dawkins' Christmas card list

Comment #45821 by jimbob on May 29, 2007 at 10:54 am

"He told a packed Hay Festival audience that although the threat from creationists and the religious right is well-documented, science is also under threat from the other end of the political spectrum: "I think we face an equal but much more sinister challenge from the left, in the shape of cultural relativism - the view that scientific truth is only one kind of truth and it is not to be especially privileged."

...and he's right, and perhaps RD (and all of us) should make more of this?

I'd argue that the common thread is belief in doctrines -- religion probably being the most pervasive, but others (cultural relativism, political doctrines, etc.) being causes of the same problems.

I'd even submit that a better than usual response to the "Stalin/Pol Pot/et al., were atheists!" comment would be "yes, but they were all doctrinists!" (and the penalties for heresy and apostacy were the same too).

In short, religions aren't the source of ALL evil, but broadening the concept to "doctrines" gets much nearer to covering most.

209. Supporters of abortion have no future in Church, Pope tells faithful

Comment #39594 by jimbob on May 11, 2007 at 8:34 am

OK, so canon law says automatic excommunication follows from being pro abortion. Five of the 9 US Supreme Court justices are catholic -- 4 devoutly so. When is a senator or congressperson going to ask why they don't either recuse themselves from abortion-related cases, OR make the type of statement that JFK made when running for president?

This would be an especially pertinent question given recent appointee's comments about "activist" judges using "foreign law as basis for US judicial decisions.

210. Richard Dawkins on BBC 2's Newsnight

Comment #296 by Jimbob on September 25, 2006 at 4:09 am

I personnally believe athiest to be a more accurate and honest declaration of my position. Agnostic is too inprecise and open to interpretation. I don't live my life agnostically in relation to whether a god exists, I live my life atheistically. I don't have a problem with people calling it a belief system. It is a belief system. Its a belief I've arrived at through rational thought.