201. McDonald's Makes Jesus Cry

Comment #206426 by DamnDirtyApe on July 8, 2008 at 11:06 am

16. Comment #206417 by mordacious1 on July 8, 2008 at 10:57 am

oops. erm.. well, obviously I misunderestimated your wordings there.

There is no conspiracy! Now, go back to sleep.

202. McDonald's Makes Jesus Cry

Comment #206409 by DamnDirtyApe on July 8, 2008 at 10:51 am

Woah there buddy, McDonald's still need to make up for being generally awful at making food. I'm fine with them doing whatever charity work they want. Just not at the cost of subjugating the world to the tenuously titled 'beef patty' burger.

Mord, chill, I'm in Canterbury.

203. McDonald's Makes Jesus Cry

Comment #206378 by DamnDirtyApe on July 8, 2008 at 10:20 am

...I... I don't know what to say. I'm nearly laughing out loud over here.

204. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #206306 by DamnDirtyApe on July 8, 2008 at 8:52 am

Bwahahahaah!!!

I just read the reviews off amazon.com for the book.

The Atlas's scientific shortcomings are more than overcome by its incredible usefulness as a most beautiful doorstop. Suffering from gusty drafts always slamming your office door at the most inopportune times? Look no further, friends - a perfectly designed implement has arrived!

Paralleling American Creationist works, this Islam-based "textbook" is founded on outdated scientific theories and religious texts - hardly a sound basis in which to dismiss evolution. The author, "Harun Yahya" is actually 51-year-old former interior-design student named Adnan Oktar. While interior design is a noble field, it's not what one would expect to count on when deciding the person has the scientific background for any substantive discussion of evolutionary theory. Although the title is accurate - "Atlas of CREATION" not "Atlas of Evolution", the product description that "living things are exactly the same today as they were hundreds of millions of years ago" and that "life forms emerged suddenly with all their complex structures" is incorrect - by accident or intention. While I respect all religions, misleading people is always wrong, and this book misleads in pretending to be something it is not. If you're reading for creationist arguments, this is the right book, if you're looking for sound discussion of evolutionary theory, then "anywhere but in this book" applies.

I was born in the USSR. Since day one in school I was taught that Darwin's theory of evolution was correct. This book most definitely proves the Communist theory is wrong. I've read the book and I like it.

205. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #206243 by DamnDirtyApe on July 8, 2008 at 7:35 am

Can we get David Robertson back in here? After this nonsense, all is forgiven!

Oktar is a sick fucking piece of work. I truely pity you Ertu. Even if half of what's described about him is true, I'm already wanting him to go to a very unpleasant prison for a very long time.

Please, put down those books. Go outside, get a coffee or an ice cream or something. Chill out, rethink your life.

206. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #206133 by DamnDirtyApe on July 8, 2008 at 6:08 am

'Oh god, make my enemies rediculous...'

Holy crap it worked. I'm worried this thread is going to start to catch up with the epic 'lying for jesus' one.

207. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #206049 by DamnDirtyApe on July 8, 2008 at 3:48 am

Can we just start an 'epic science vs religion thread' on the forum and just direct all these guys there?

Get a google link for it too, right now its pointing to the world of warcraft forums:

http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=epic science versus religion thread&meta=

While I've nothing against leveling up and quests in a virtual fantasy world, I personally don't like to part with that much money.

208. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #206039 by DamnDirtyApe on July 8, 2008 at 3:35 am

Sigh, perhaps they are trolls. I don't think i've heard such bilge from anyone I would classify as Sane or Sober.

209. [UPDATED] Venomous Snakes, Slippery Eels and Harun Yahya

Comment #205992 by DamnDirtyApe on July 8, 2008 at 2:33 am

Ertu,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scientific_method

Please read it. There's plenty of links to the other topics it brings up, and a few interesting historic figures. Not all Scientists are White Victorian Gentry! The origins of the Scientific method go back far beyond that.

People were using reasoning much like modern Scientific thinking long before modern physics and biology made their big discoveries. These people did things like improve farming, invent mathematics, make impressive buildings, navigate accross the oceans. This type of reasoning had none to do with Religion, and everything to do with useful things that helped people get by and LIVE BETTER LIVES IN THE WORLD. And you know what? By following this method, slowly and surely, we've gained wonderful things -

Medicine, Electricity, The internet that you are using right now.

You mistakenly label us as Darwinists. We are Scientists. We accept the world today has come about through a combination of natural forces, hard work by -people- and the use of reason. No one magicked the internet into existence. And there is no evidence that animals and plants just spontaneously appeared. I think Pasteur disprooved that before Darwin.

210. Harper says new mosque shows 'the true and benevolent face of Islam'

Comment #205463 by DamnDirtyApe on July 7, 2008 at 10:00 am

I'm sure they ment to say the 'cherry picked happy version of islam'.

Why do I get the feeling that particular cut and paste version of the quran will be very short?

211. Churches' secret talks to stop gay surge

Comment #205406 by DamnDirtyApe on July 7, 2008 at 8:41 am

It's good to hear that the church is willing to have debates on the key issues - behind close doors where no one can hear what they really think.

And 'surge'? What, are they going to start to ship out gay people to Iraq or something?

.. I'm just trying to inject a little humour and irreverence into - milenia of hate and division.

212. When too much Rapture is barely enough

Comment #205274 by DamnDirtyApe on July 7, 2008 at 2:18 am

Teratornis has some good points. I do think there are humanist christian groups.

I think Sophie Lancaster's friends and family were a bit like that when I heard about her funeral on the news. They were basically Atheists for Jesus.

I'm fine with things akin to the 'Jefferson Bible' approach. Its more of a philosophy of life thing rather than a irrational faith. Or this one:

www.lolcatbible.com

Anyone know if there's a lolcat quran in the works? If it is, they may need their own protection fund.

213. Christians challenge teaching of evolution

Comment #204414 by DamnDirtyApe on July 5, 2008 at 12:11 am

There's no end in sight... perhaps we need a page on the internet called the 'epic ID refutation page'. Just one huge enormous page that sums up every argument against evolution we've seen so far. And crushes them beneath a logical tidal wave.

It's save wasting time arguing the same damn thing over and over again.

214. Group Asks for Divine Intervention to Ease Oil Prices

Comment #204171 by DamnDirtyApe on July 4, 2008 at 9:18 am

Dear lord, please make my gas under $100 a barrel.

*I know you're busy, so i'm rubbing the end of war, hunger and suffering off the to-do list.

215. Crack annoyance squad wanted

Comment #203633 by DamnDirtyApe on July 3, 2008 at 9:18 am

The back to the future one was a work of absolute genius.

John Howard the former Australian PM always walked to work the same way. So one day, they drive along the route with him - with the Delorean from Back to the Future. Trying to persuade him to get in to go back to a time when he's still popular.

216. Did newborn Earth harbour life?

Comment #203629 by DamnDirtyApe on July 3, 2008 at 9:13 am

Didn't they find some life-relevant organic molecules in the sun recently?

Perhaps some of the key components of proteins were (probably still are!) constantly being forged, and the earth's proximity to the sun means it was constantly being seeded with them.

The sheer volume of material would certainly throw probability out the window. With those conditions it would only be a matter of time until exotic chemical reactions began and bam! Proteins, enzymes and bears, oh my!

217. Science is thrilling - except in our schools

Comment #203626 by DamnDirtyApe on July 3, 2008 at 9:09 am

Thus his opinion on the highschool requirement for memorizing the periodic table was in his words: "Bullshit".

218. New Zealand man sells his soul to 'Hell'

Comment #203621 by DamnDirtyApe on July 3, 2008 at 8:55 am

Bah, don't sell yourself short fellas!

Soul for sale, £50000 ono. One previous owner.

219. Evangelical Christians sign up to a 'Church within a Church'

Comment #203529 by DamnDirtyApe on July 3, 2008 at 5:03 am

48. Comment #203528 by Kramokian on July 3, 2008 at 5:01 am

Ask Ted Haggard.

220. Obama Wants to Expand Role of Religious Groups

Comment #203210 by DamnDirtyApe on July 2, 2008 at 1:14 pm

I sodding hate politics.

I did expect this from McCain, but Falcon is right, we really should have expected it from both of them.

221. Fire the starting gun! The Darwin year begins...NOW!

Comment #202864 by DamnDirtyApe on July 2, 2008 at 4:30 am

I also celebrated by ordering one of the new RDF mugs, nice looking mug...might even hold a whole beer.

222. PZ Myers - Expelled from Expelled

Comment #200686 by DamnDirtyApe on June 28, 2008 at 5:24 am

Nah, Expelled from Expelled is just the thing that PZ's going to be tagged with forever :D

Its not a bad thing, Lucas is tagged with Star Wars, Dickens with Great Expectations, Vic Reeves with the man with the stick.

PZ is now unfortunately labelled by his interactions with those lying expelled buffoons. But like a battle scar it should be worn with pride.

'one of the kinks trying to get a duvet into a breadbin.'

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=OS5hxriyZxw

223. Creationist critics get their comeuppance

Comment #200190 by DamnDirtyApe on June 27, 2008 at 3:49 am

bwahahah... Its almost Colbert-like, I wonder if that site is actually justa big joke.

224. Creationist critics get their comeuppance

Comment #200037 by DamnDirtyApe on June 26, 2008 at 4:51 pm

Give that man a Nobel and buy him the whole damn bar!

225. Creationist critics get their comeuppance

Comment #200018 by DamnDirtyApe on June 26, 2008 at 4:02 pm

I want to do a bit of a number crunch here...

It took 22,000 generations for the e.coli to form a strong citrate consuming strain, quite a significant adaption for such a small genome.

Assuming It took 2 million years to go from Homo Habilis to Homo Sapien.

Now... Assuming 15 year generations in that timespan...

133,333 generations, to turn rock tooling ape men into Rocking fans of Tool!

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=wS7CZIJVxFY


... I probably don't have the slightest clue what i'm talking about, but I hope my nonesense is at least worth humouring.

226. World Youth Day condom protest against Pope

Comment #199172 by DamnDirtyApe on June 25, 2008 at 9:08 am

I'm convinced the article is trying to lump Atheists with the Raelians. Good grief, If anyone can get hold of someone from this coalition can they find out what really went on from their perspective?

This would be like the Anons having a joint protest with Scientologists against facists. It plain doesn't make any sense.

227. Saudi Marriage Officiant : 'It Is Allowed To Marry A Girl At The Age Of One'.

Comment #198990 by DamnDirtyApe on June 25, 2008 at 1:29 am

Fanusi is right as usual. I can absolutely believe the mindset of the radical nazis is actually quite compatible with the fundementalists. They share quite a few pastimes, like bomb making and kiddie porn.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7469180.stm

Wronger than the wrong way through wrongtown.

228. Saudi Marriage Officiant : 'It Is Allowed To Marry A Girl At The Age Of One'.

Comment #198894 by DamnDirtyApe on June 24, 2008 at 4:32 pm

70. Comment #198799 by ThoughtsonCommonToad on June 24, 2008 at 1:53 pm

I have also noticed that irony. White supremacists like the BNP for example condemn Islam merely to try and ride the wave, but actually agree with a lot of what Islam has to offer, the punishments the second class status of women etc.

229. World Youth Day condom protest against Pope

Comment #198599 by DamnDirtyApe on June 24, 2008 at 9:35 am

Other groups in the NoToPope Coalition are the Socialist Alliance, Resistance, Atheists Sydney and the Raelians, a religious sect that has claimed to have cloned the world's first human being.

230. Philadelphia Set to Honor Darwin and Evolution

Comment #198539 by DamnDirtyApe on June 24, 2008 at 8:29 am

Mr. Ham, who also leads Answers in Genesis, a nonprofit group promoting a literal interpretation of the biblical creation story, defined the clash of ideas as "Christianity versus the relative morality of secular humanism" and said they were "two fundamentally different worldviews."

231. Carlin on Religion

Comment #198264 by DamnDirtyApe on June 23, 2008 at 1:05 pm

Concur with the man's wisdom.

ALL GLORY TO THE SUN!

232. Sarcasm Seen as Evolutionary Survival Skill

Comment #198183 by DamnDirtyApe on June 23, 2008 at 10:21 am

I think Zara has cracked it...

233. The Flea Delusion

Comment #197642 by DamnDirtyApe on June 22, 2008 at 12:16 pm

Roger that. Definately a delusion delusion - delusion.

234. Christianity 'could die out within a century'

Comment #197408 by DamnDirtyApe on June 22, 2008 at 1:59 am

I look forward to the day when religious texts are shelved in the Mythology section with the other ancient gods.

235. Muslim countries win concession regarding religious debates

Comment #196581 by DamnDirtyApe on June 20, 2008 at 7:24 am

Steve man, I hear what you saying, and I know what you want, but It simply isn't happening.

It's called 'the greater internet dickwad theory'.

Ordinary person plus Anonymity = Bastard.

We lose our manners, we express ourselves more angrily and crudely. It is the trouble with internet forums. Even here, most certainly even me.

As for the UN... why!!! Why do they do this? argh........ twunts. I hope they're steamed in heck by Tom Cruise.

(sorry, I was trying to get us back on topic, its all that came to mind!)

236. The Mother, The Child, The School Board And The Psychic

Comment #196105 by DamnDirtyApe on June 19, 2008 at 9:57 am

ha ha... I'm not going to dispute Yes are musically gifted, but just like The Mars Volta's Album 'amputechture' - it just doesn't work for me.

I may be a lousy no good punk who keeps getting on the lawn, but I likes my music. crass, led zep, bits of pink floyd, anti-nowhere league, as my oldies... more recent stuff would be Tool, Anti-flag...

We could be here all day, Say no to yes, etc. :D

237. The Mother, The Child, The School Board And The Psychic

Comment #196073 by DamnDirtyApe on June 19, 2008 at 9:15 am

22. Comment #196016 by Steve Zara on June 19, 2008 at 7:58 am

Nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo..... anything but Yes....

238. The Mother, The Child, The School Board And The Psychic

Comment #196010 by DamnDirtyApe on June 19, 2008 at 7:43 am

*I say 'has' aspergers, I need to correct that. I don't mean to imply its some kind of illness.

There's plenty of people who are of that 'position' in the mental spectrum who are mighty fine intelligent folk.

(Then there's my friend who likes the band 'Yes'. oh dear.)

239. The Mother, The Child, The School Board And The Psychic

Comment #196009 by DamnDirtyApe on June 19, 2008 at 7:41 am

My Nephew has Aspergers. His behaviour can raise... problems. Fortunately his mum's wise to it and the school does not employ psychics.

240. Oystein Elgaroy - the Christian defender who became an Atheist

Comment #195295 by DamnDirtyApe on June 18, 2008 at 2:57 am

clearthinker, ctrkev et al,

Please feel free to browse this site and the extended discussions. I recommend looking up comments by regular posters such as Brian, Steve, Barry, Phil, Irate et al. Even Richard pops by from time to time, plus we regularly get reposts from the likes of PZ, Dan, and Sam.

Treat it like an investigation. Think for yourself, make your own judgements based on the facts as you see them. Allow yourself to be open to evidence, but try to focus on the simplest most plausible explanation. That way you don't dedicate your entire life to invisible undetectable pink elephants.

That's also the process that's brought you cars, planes, and this computer sat in front of you.

241. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #194797 by DamnDirtyApe on June 17, 2008 at 9:35 am

Hey come on guys, this guy sounds like he's trying to figure it out.

242. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #194795 by DamnDirtyApe on June 17, 2008 at 9:33 am

Excellent to hear Jethro!

You sound like you're getting it - Natural selection resulted in us, and we now seek to escape the vicious spiral. Clearly the process is not all bad.

243. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #194617 by DamnDirtyApe on June 17, 2008 at 4:36 am

I think the length of this discussion thread will become longer than the age of the earth :D

244. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #194576 by DamnDirtyApe on June 17, 2008 at 1:32 am

7779. Comment #194567 by Goldy

= WIN. RtG is self defeated.

245. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #194557 by DamnDirtyApe on June 17, 2008 at 12:31 am

RtG you are forgetting (or rather ignoring, prefering to launch personal attacks) why he suggested spontaneous life in the first place - he is trying to suggest the purely logical alternatives to the creation of life. That as he said is one of the many purely logical possibilites.

In a position of pure logic spontaneous generation of life is not only plausible but achievable. You only need to play a video game like civilisation to see that. Sure, its only a simulation, but one of pure logic.

That's what I love about video games, its a real sandbox for pure logical concepts. You can meddle in basic physics, you can test the behavior of intelligent reasoning agents. Plus you can blow the crap out of them with those blue plasma grenades.

You should play Spore when it comes out if you're into Intelligent Design.

Of course video games are nothing like reality. They're far too simple. And we haven't figured out how to simulate everything. But the sandbox of logic is something we human beings should play in. :)

246. Gay brains structured like those of the opposite sex

Comment #194058 by DamnDirtyApe on June 16, 2008 at 10:51 am

This whole discussion reminds me, I must remember to go check out Turing's bench next time I go home to Manchester. I've never properly had a look at it.

247. Gay brains structured like those of the opposite sex

Comment #193962 by DamnDirtyApe on June 16, 2008 at 8:48 am

So wait a minute... when Eddie Izzard says he's a Male Lesbian... he's a man... with a woman's brain... wired like a man's... oh no I've gone cross eyed.

248. Breaking the Silence

Comment #193858 by DamnDirtyApe on June 16, 2008 at 6:43 am

Since we're talking about feminists I'll throw in another name too, a native UKer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shami_Chakrabarti

- I had a look on Facebook for her as well - there's one hate and one death threat group. That's what you get for opposing the erosion of civil liberties - in the UK! Sickening.

42 Days detention? We're not going to learn the secrets of life, the universe and everything from people detained without charge.

249. As the world becomes smaller, the need to understand each other's faith grows

Comment #193430 by DamnDirtyApe on June 15, 2008 at 3:23 pm

I suggest Tony go spend some time himself and try to coexist with some people of different faith. In Iraq.

250. As the world becomes smaller, the need to understand each other's faith grows

Comment #193262 by DamnDirtyApe on June 15, 2008 at 4:59 am

Can we make one of the RDF objectives to be bigger than the TBF?