201. Religion beat became a test of faith

Comment #57967 by Duff on July 22, 2007 at 5:22 pm

NJS,
Not exactly a moron, please. At least he has made a positive step in the right direction. You probably don't understand how completely enthralling a religious concept can be and how difficult it is to cast it aside. He should be stroked a bit, not insulted for having made not a step, but a huge stride.
Anyone who comes over to the rationalist side should be lauded.

202. God '08: Whose, and How Much, Will Voters Accept?

Comment #57952 by Duff on July 22, 2007 at 3:36 pm

The real question people should ask Romney is whether or not he believes in the Mormon belief that the Mormon Priesthood will someday save the constitution. That is an historical Mormon belief that not many non-Mormons seems to be aware of. Of course, by itself, it isn't such a bad thing to believe that they will "save" the constitution, but its implication is that an "inspired" member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints will rise to the presidency and lead this country into a Mormon millenium. Every Mormon today is wondering: Is Romney our great leader who will save the constition? Zeus help us!

203. Face to faith

Comment #57828 by Duff on July 21, 2007 at 11:26 am

Why, every time I read something about "scholars of religion" do I want to laugh and cry at the same time?
Yeah, that's right, professor, the "scholars of religion" have a lot to teach Professors Dennett and Dawkins.

204. Bush, the ethicist-in-chief

Comment #56150 by Duff on July 14, 2007 at 4:24 am

When will you nasty people stop attacking our beloved president, accusing him of double standards, duplicity, etc..
To have double standards you have to have first thought about a thing. This president does NOT think. His thinking is done for him. Cut him a little slack, please!

205. The US map of faith

Comment #55567 by Duff on July 11, 2007 at 2:38 pm

You are a lucky s.o.b. Bruce. I had the misfortune to grow up in SE Idaho and Utah, the reddest of the red. You don't know how suffocating religion can be unless you've experienced one of those two places.
Now I live in Florida where the God Business is one of the biggest earners in the area. On the road to my house you have to pass four or five mega-churches, each one bigger and more predatory than the others. I can't seem to get away from these simple people.

206. A force for good?

Comment #55356 by Duff on July 10, 2007 at 6:19 pm

I know my definition of God is ridiculous so I'm going to define him in some other nebulous, unoffending way which might possibly pass muster with the other idiots out there who are desperately hanging on to their faith, etc., etc., .....

207. A force for good?

Comment #55353 by Duff on July 10, 2007 at 6:00 pm

I know my definition of God is ridiculous so I'm going to define him in some other nebulous, unoffending way which might possibly pass muster with the other idiots out there who are desperately hanging on to their faith, etc., etc., .....

208. A force for evil?

Comment #55348 by Duff on July 10, 2007 at 5:34 pm

Minstral,
You get the Alan Sokol award. Pure nonsense! Good job!

209. Won't anyone stand up for God?

Comment #54918 by Duff on July 9, 2007 at 10:11 am

Stephenray,
I thought the correct answer was; "because one leg is both shorter." And wasn't it: "what's the difference between a duck?"

210. Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature

Comment #54912 by Duff on July 9, 2007 at 9:57 am

As a, perhaps, interesting side note, it was generally the practice in Mormon polygamy (the old, original version, not the version practiced today by non-mainstream Mormons) that the members of the church "called" to practice polygamy had to, as a rule, be financially capable of supporting multiple families. The net effect was that it was the more wealthy Mormon males who got most of the women. And in many cases, they were "assigned" women who had no other prospects.
To the best of my knowledge, there were no suiciders among the Mormon men who ended up on the short end of the stick, even though Mormons believe if they are faithful, they will be given a faithful women to wed on the other side. Nobody specifies whether or not she is guaranteed to be a virgin. Pig in a poke, really.

211. Won't anyone stand up for God?

Comment #54622 by Duff on July 8, 2007 at 7:46 am

Let me see if I can sum up this fine article: "You atheists make really good arguments against the existence of Almighty God, but I refuse to believe it!! I won't do it and you can't make me!!! I'm going to go eat worms!!!!....Would some smart person help me?"
Pathetic is not the right term. More like sad and pathetic.

212. At a Theater Near You ...

Comment #53924 by Duff on July 4, 2007 at 8:28 am

Condemnation from a few English Muslims is hardly sufficient to change the Muslim world. The real question is whether or not there are leading Muslims in the Muslim world who have the courage and the wisdom to step forward and say, "No one did this to us, we have humiliated ourselves. We used to be one of the most advanced cultures in the world and now we are pariahs, making fools of ourselves and our religion. It's time to get out of the 12th century and get real or we will be left so far behind we will be the enemy of the entire world."
I won't be holding my breath.

213. In the name of the Father

Comment #51739 by Duff on June 24, 2007 at 1:20 pm

Lets see if I have this right, Bishop. Some atheists are bad too, so, its not fair to criticize religion. I don't think you get it. Is it
because you don't want to get it?

214. An Inquisition in science's name

Comment #51103 by Duff on June 21, 2007 at 1:30 pm

Through this whole silly letter I'm thinking, "what a maroon, this cartoon from Saskatoon, what a maroon"! Alright, so its Alberta.

215. We of little faith

Comment #49318 by Duff on June 11, 2007 at 1:27 pm

Whatever the laudability of the Buddhist beliefs, or un-laudability, most westerners join up to appear cool. A very uncool thing to do, if you ask me.
And Susan Blackmore's hair is occasionally green, too. I would have loved to have had more professors like her.

216. Tome truths

Comment #49313 by Duff on June 11, 2007 at 1:09 pm

I, for one, am fully in favor or Hitchens being the bulldog for the others. He is the perfect, quintessential attack dog, brilliant in an in your face way. Let Dennett and Dawkins supply the gravitas and let Harris and Hitchens go for the jugular.
What a great year it has been so far!
Now, if other well known people would jump on the bandwagon and publish.

217. Religion and Child Abuse

Comment #47700 by Duff on June 5, 2007 at 10:16 am

Bizarro,
While it is true that Americans "can" own guns, most Americans, when they grow up, usually put guns aside and think about other more important things. Some just never grow up and always consider their gun as their important, personal friend, fixating on the only warm thing they have ever gotten their hands on. You seem to be one of the them.
Ånd, if you can't think of anything that can be put in a childs mind in the absence of religion, then your child will truly have a vacuum where the brain should have been.

218. Should Science Speak to Faith? A dialog between Lawrence Krauss and Richard Dawkins

Comment #47381 by Duff on June 4, 2007 at 9:33 am

SharrieG,
To paraphrase Mark Twain; if you are a cynic before a certain age, you know too much, if you are not a cynic after a certain age, you don't know enough.
I guess I should go look up the actual quote, but thats the gist.

219. TB and the Question of Evolution

Comment #46804 by Duff on June 1, 2007 at 5:47 pm

If anyone out there thinks the Brownback pablum published in the New York Times is an innocent attempt to smooth over the "innocuous division" between religion and science, they should think again. Drug resistant bacteria will eventually be controlled, if science is allowed free reign, but if religious ideologues like Brownback are voted into office, science will be brought to heel by the religious who want it to conform to their simplistic concepts and any research that is"evolutionarily tainted" will end. Never miss an opportunity to confront an iron age wanker!

220. What I Think About Evolution

Comment #46670 by Duff on June 1, 2007 at 3:46 am

Anyone who knows anything about Brownback knows that he didn't write this piece. He is as dumb as he is religious - or did I just repeat myself.
The most special part of his premise is the usual religious failure of logic wherein the religious person, usually in the same sentence, posits that we cannot, of course, know what God/god did, because he is unknowable, and then they proceed to tell us that they know what God/god did.

221. I Believe In Evolution, Except For The Whole Triassic Period

Comment #46357 by Duff on May 31, 2007 at 3:01 am

Ridicule is the mothers milk of argumentation. Every thinking person should ridicule at least one fundie everyday.

222. The Dawkins delusion

Comment #46177 by Duff on May 30, 2007 at 1:29 pm

How dare you people say this was a nothing article. The man said Dawkins makes all these good points and yet people continue to not believe. Game, set and match. A veritable slam dunk by the righteous against the evil, atheist scientist.
You dastardly scientists may have all the facts, but we religionists have stubborness, blind faith, obtuseness and down right simple, but righteous thinking on our side. And we is gonna win.

223. A Look at Regent University

Comment #46176 by Duff on May 30, 2007 at 1:04 pm

The next time anyone suggests Dawkins and Hitchens are too unkind to the sweet religious folk, remember this documentary. What is really interesting is that Moyers, who has always been an apologist for religion, seems to be genuinely offended. This is a very good thing, if it is true.
No more gently gently, folks.

224. Another Christian Science Fair embarrasses itself

Comment #45118 by Duff on May 26, 2007 at 12:32 pm

Devolved, You put a smile on my face. Thank you for proving what many of us sincerely believe, and that is that religion truly is the only socially acceptable insanity. It takes true insanity to believe the truly unbelievable. The most common insanity in this country is the belief that the earth is only 6 thousand years old. Get some help, man.

225. I'm Sure God is Scared

Comment #44892 by Duff on May 25, 2007 at 1:59 pm

Coulter would never, never, ever go on a show with Hitchens. He is the sort of intellect a person like her is deathly afraid of. She is just smart enough to know he would mop the floor with her. Hannity and his ilk are both stupid AND egotistical so they don't see it coming until it smacks them in the face. Hitchens toys with them like a cat with a wounded mouse.

226. Atheists: Get off of our country!

Comment #44890 by Duff on May 25, 2007 at 1:46 pm

Ok, so it was a fake letter. I read the letter sections of many western newspapers and letters like this are pretty common/ stupid that is, not fake. It never ceases to amaze me how unlettered and narrow minded the majority of the people in this country are.

227. I'm Sure God is Scared

Comment #44883 by Duff on May 25, 2007 at 12:55 pm

Goatboy, surely you know the drill. If god sees evil in the world and he chooses to do nothing about it, he is not Benevolent. If he is Benevolent, but can do nothing about evil, he isn't Omnipotent. Therefor is he god?
If there is a god, I think we can be pretty sure he isn't a benevolent god.
Therefore, I'm with Dawkins, Hitchens and USA Limey, it wouldn't be a whole lot of fun to live under the control of the kind of god envisioned by the theists in ancient times to the present.

228. Exorcism exercise for fired-up faithful

Comment #44522 by Duff on May 25, 2007 at 3:37 am

I drove through North Palmerston once, during a visit to that wonderful country, and did notice a lot of pigs running around acting strangely. I wonder....

229. Baby's 'miracle' recovery in British hospital to give Malta its first saint

Comment #44516 by Duff on May 25, 2007 at 3:32 am

I guess it is also a miracle when it rains on those days the meteorologists say there is only a ten percent chance. Praise God!

230. Heliocentrism is an Atheist Doctrine

Comment #44514 by Duff on May 25, 2007 at 3:26 am

If anyone ever needed proof that the bible will make you stupid, this would be it.
This should also make everyone understand how dangerous it would be to elect a christian taliban like Brownback.

231. Lightning damages Jesus statue

Comment #44381 by Duff on May 24, 2007 at 1:05 pm

Good one, scottishgeo.. I should have thought of that one, and that is a very good site. Its my first question now when a JW corners me somewhere. Why doesn't God heal....?

232. Lightning damages Jesus statue

Comment #44371 by Duff on May 24, 2007 at 12:49 pm

It was "only a random act of nature," but if the lightning had harmlessly hit the ground nearby, you bet they wouldn't have called that a random act of nature. That would have been a sure sign that god had performed a miracle and cause the bolt from the blue to hit the ground harmlessly. Mindless ninnys.

233. I Don't Believe in Atheists

Comment #44364 by Duff on May 24, 2007 at 12:40 pm

This theologian lost me when he claimed abrahamic religions freed mankind and allowed them to be individuals. In which one of the mulitiple universes did that happen? Certainly not this one. That's nearly the funniest thing any of these theists have said.

234. Hitchens on Falwell, Part 2

Comment #44103 by Duff on May 23, 2007 at 10:17 am

To call Hannity a "pseudo-intellectual", Cybercoma, is not even wrong.

235. Prayer can improve physical health

Comment #44095 by Duff on May 23, 2007 at 10:06 am

Isn't it a miracle how prayers at the end of the dry season always brings rain? And these are supposed to be intelligent people and they still don't get the connection. It is sometimes embarrassing to be a part of this human race.

236. Ice Age blast 'ravaged America'

Comment #44086 by Duff on May 23, 2007 at 9:50 am

You did well, Epeeist. We liked it because your heart and your irony were in the right place.

237. Dental healer finds share of faithful believers

Comment #44081 by Duff on May 23, 2007 at 9:35 am

This from the newspaper in the town in which I live. I'm going to find this Chris O'donnell character and ask him why he wrote such laudable article about this major criminal charlatan.
In the local paper one of the pictures they included was of a bunch of menonite women lined up to have their inbred tonsilature reconstructed. I wonder how God fouled up so badly with some of his chosen people?

238. Despite what the scholars say, God isn't dead yet

Comment #43876 by Duff on May 23, 2007 at 3:14 am

It is childlike easy to spot these faith commentators who have not read the books they are commenting on.

239. Prayer can improve physical health

Comment #43673 by Duff on May 22, 2007 at 8:57 am

There are three - or more - ways prayers help a person who is sick:
1. Placebo effect
2. Placebo effect
3. Placebo effect
Unless of course the person is suffering from a severed limb, in which case all the prayers from all the believers in the world are not enough to get God to pay attention.

240. Christopher Hitchens Is a Treasure

Comment #43392 by Duff on May 21, 2007 at 9:01 am

Nice try, Novak. A little rhetorical cleverness to claim Hitchens is angry at the god he doesn't even believe exists. If you ever debate Hitchens, I would suggest you not use a ridiculous argument like that. He will wipe the metaphorical floor with your triteness.
Now, on the other hand, were you to suggest he is angry at the stupid theists, whom we all know are everywhere, he would probably accede that point.

241. The Paradoxical Hatred of Christopher Hitchens

Comment #42869 by Duff on May 20, 2007 at 3:24 am

I have this sadistic fantasy of Mr. Hitchens trapped on a tv sound stage and being grilled in front of a national audience by the two fat Limbaugh brothers. Those two verbose geniuses would have their intellects handed to them by Hitchens.

242. Manufacturing belief

Comment #42782 by Duff on May 19, 2007 at 2:28 pm

The only reason religious people will be selected for is because they tend to breed like rabbits. What a recommendation for the efficacy of religion. You are a rabbit, therefore, your progeny will be selected for.
My wonderful, deceased Mormon parents have over two hundred progeny in just 75 years. Frightening.

243. Kirk Cameron Proves That God Exists

Comment #40017 by Duff on May 12, 2007 at 5:15 pm

Their argument was stupid "for reasons too stupid to type"!! What a fabulous description!

244. Consciousness Comes from DNA

Comment #40016 by Duff on May 12, 2007 at 5:08 pm

If anyone thinks consciousness is simple and can be reduced to a few observations should read Susan Blackmore's Conversations on Consciousness, an overview of the people who really have thought about this subject. None of these things are as simple as we would like to believe. Don't commit the cardinal sin of oversimplification.

245. Unintelligent Design

Comment #40014 by Duff on May 12, 2007 at 4:57 pm

What we have here, folks, is a failure to communicate. No, what we have here is a failure to be even a thinking human being. I'm talking about the original article, not the follow on.
Did I read a comment about, yes from Hugh, about this guy being unusually idiotic. Idiotic would be a nicety, or would it be a litety?

246. French Muslim women opt for hymen surgical cons

Comment #39816 by Duff on May 12, 2007 at 3:18 am

Veronique,
What a wonderful thought, men wanting women to be virgins so as not to be able to judge their prowess. I suspect you are probably right. And if that upsets the men, then they should consider upping their skills and becoming one of the men who clever women like you would remember.

247. Is Christianity Good for the World?

Comment #39391 by Duff on May 10, 2007 at 1:32 pm

I wish you logical, evidence based atheists would stop picking on these religious guys for their "wooley-headed" responses. Cut them a little slack, people. How else are they supposed to respond?

248. 'No proof Jesus heals Aids'

Comment #37660 by Duff on May 5, 2007 at 12:32 pm

Brother Angley keeps all the money. God has given him exclusive permission to keep the entire loot. I've heard that Ernest wanted to give God a cut, but couldn't find a place to leave the cash, so until God shows up for his share Ernie just keeps it in his off shore account.

249. The moment a teenage girl was stoned to death for loving the wrong boy

Comment #37649 by Duff on May 5, 2007 at 12:22 pm

The most astounding thing about these kinds of honor killings is that they are usually done by the male members of the family. Thats her brothers and uncles, folks. It is tribalism only to the extent that religion is also only tribalism.
This kind of barbarity doesn't come about from simple in and out group competition, it arises because these simplistic people are obeying their holy scriptures.

250. Martin Amis reviews The Islamist: Why I Joined Radical Islam in Britain, What I Saw Inside and Why I Left by Ed Hussain

Comment #37639 by Duff on May 5, 2007 at 12:06 pm

Weefree, methinks thou strugglest too much. It is an endless, thankless, intellectually suicidal struggle to rationalize that residual faith you still have left in spite of all your education. Let it go. You'll be a more honest, happier person.