251. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305985 by Laurie Fraser on December 24, 2008 at 3:13 am

STARDATE 3008:

"A thousand years ago, the majority of humans believed that an extra-physical "being" created and controlled the Universe, and incarnated various "prophets" whose followers immediately set up "religions" that fought against each other, often with alarming and genocidal implications.

As Reason and Science inexorably demonstrated that such beliefs were illogical and unsubstantiated, their institutionalised expression began to crumble. By the mid-23rd century CE, all forms of religious belief had become relics held only by the certifiably insane, who were placed in special institutions on beautiful islands where they could live out their delusions without interfering with normal people."

And there, folks, is my christmas wish to you all.

252. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305969 by Laurie Fraser on December 24, 2008 at 2:45 am

David Robertson - will you, once and for all, either admit that evolution is the ONLY possible theory that describes life, or do you believe that evolution is only one of a number of competing (and equally valid) theories? Fess up, DR - what do you believe?

253. Dawkins Delusion (3rd article, Same Stupid Title)

Comment #305964 by Laurie Fraser on December 24, 2008 at 2:33 am

Why am I not seeing any comments on this thread?

254. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305963 by Laurie Fraser on December 24, 2008 at 2:32 am

Comment #305955 by Oystein Elgaroy

A telescope is a wonderful Christmas present.

255. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305952 by Laurie Fraser on December 24, 2008 at 2:05 am

You feeling OK, irate? :)

256. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305947 by Laurie Fraser on December 24, 2008 at 1:53 am

Comment #305941 by Vaal

You are the duck's guts, mate! Jesus would have preferred a telescope. Beautiful! So true; so poignant, really - wouldn't any intelligent ancient have simply marvelled at modern science? Just as we can marvel at what might be, in a thousand or more years - absence of disease, a rational world economic system free of inequality, no famine, no malnutrition, a stable population, sustainable energy sources, and so-on.

What gives fuck-heads like DR, DG, and the various brands of Wooter the right or confidence to proclaim that it's all a done deal; that everything is foretold in the precious book?

Sorry, David Robertson, but you can take your precious book - a worthless heap of stone-age barbarism - and stick it up your arse. There is no god. Every day is a bonus. Science saves lives. Everything you proclaim as revealed truth is bullshit.

257. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #305938 by Laurie Fraser on December 24, 2008 at 1:30 am

Brian - PM for you.

258. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305937 by Laurie Fraser on December 24, 2008 at 1:26 am

Begorrah, epeeist, that was a good comment you made on the Guardian site!

259. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #305935 by Laurie Fraser on December 24, 2008 at 1:22 am

Ah, irate - this is the second day in a row you've gone all lyrical on us!

Quine - noticed, as well. I think DG has really done his dash - it's just (as Oystein said), words, words, words, none of which make sense, so why bother engaging? Good bye, troll.

260. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305923 by Laurie Fraser on December 24, 2008 at 12:47 am

Geez, epeeist, you're a nark! Belt the poor woman over the head with logic, why don't you? At least I had the courtesy to simply tell her she was a psychological basket case.

261. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305913 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 11:59 pm

Or Afghanistan, Congo, Rwanda, Burma, Iraq, Palestine, etc., etc., etc. The "problem of evil" will exist as long as the DRs of the world believe in obscurantist fairy-tales. Wake up and smell the cordite, David.

262. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305910 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 11:48 pm

There's no evil at xmas, Quine - it's all sweetness and light.

263. What do atheists do at Christmas?

Comment #305909 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 11:47 pm

Comment #305901 by lastgreekstanding

That's beautiful, LGS. Here's one for you:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=PxCckD_Nm30

Mormons may be complete wackos, but the Mormon Tabernacle Choir gets as close to ungod as you can be.

264. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305907 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 11:43 pm

jgirolamo - with all due respect, many on this forum believe that you are suffering from a mental illness characterised by delusional thoughts bordering on the psychotic. I would urge you to read a little of Dorothy Rowe's work on the psychology of religious belief. I wish you a very happy christmas, and hope that you will find time to ask some serious questions of yourself, and why you feel compelled to harbour these hideously irrational ideas.

265. What do atheists do at Christmas?

Comment #305897 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 10:41 pm

Good on you, Sarmatae.

266. What do atheists do at Christmas?

Comment #305886 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 10:08 pm

Brandy - if you want truly crass, try this:

http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=f-b4i9GHM_Y

Warning: tasteless in the extreme (but strangely hilarious.)

267. What do atheists do at Christmas?

Comment #305842 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 6:06 pm

Lunch with my mother and sister and our families, then off to Boat Harbour for swimming, fishing, and the great Boat Harbour Boxing Day street cricket match (complete with streakers). No gods involved.

Merry Christmas to all at RDnet

Laurie

268. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305835 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 5:23 pm

Comment #305825 by Vaal

Spot on, Vaal; great comment!

269. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #305824 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 4:52 pm

Mike - even though I know you hold Marx in scant regard, you must give him credit for his devastating demolition of, amongst other things, Hegel's topsy-turvy idealism.

270. Hitchens Debates Rabbi Wolpe on God

Comment #305821 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 4:48 pm

I am inclined to come over all Bonzai

271. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305819 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 4:44 pm

Comment #305810 by mdowe

Not so bad, mate - I was only in it for the money. But I've still got my other jobs, where I am thankfully free to ram critical thinking into my students' heads as hard as I wish!

272. Would you Adam and Eve it? Quarter of science teachers would teach creationism (Response by Dawkins and Jones)

Comment #305803 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 3:54 pm

I've been thinking of putting in my application for a teaching degree, and an even more disturbing thought has occurred to me as of late. If I were asked this question during an admission interview, and I don't give a weaselling, politically correct, religion-friendly answer; do I then risk being rejected from admission for exhibiting religious intolerance? I have a sneaking suspicion that I do take such a risk.

Anyone out there with experience on such an admission committee care to comment?

273. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305419 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 2:11 am

Agreed, Brian. I know some beauties - like my friend who has devoted his life to the welfare of intellectually disabled people. or Fred Watson - an astronomer genius who plays a mean blues guitar. Gotta love 'em - and I've gotta go. Have a safe and happy xmas, mate; I'll see you on the other side.

274. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305413 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 1:55 am

Comment #305411 by Brian English

Spot on. Bless you, Richard (if an atheist can be blessed).

275. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305412 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 1:53 am

Ah, fuck that shit, mate. I don't care about credentials too much, although I am in awe of those people who have put away a PhD by the time they're in their mid to late twenties. Respect! But it matters not, when you come across a PhD who, after all his/her education, is still a fuckwit - and I've met several of them.

276. Jimmy Carr on Richard Dawkins

Comment #305408 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 1:48 am

Philip - you've scared him off again!

277. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305406 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 1:46 am

Don't envy, Brian. I didn't go to uni until I was 29, but it was the right age for me, 'cause I was ready for it then. My son's finished a 4-year degree before he was 25, and is now on his way to Master's and PhD. Good on him - horses for courses. I'm glad i spent some considerable time out in the world as a minstrel; shit, you don't get better grounding in the humanities than that.

278. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305400 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 1:29 am

Comment #305398 by Brian English

Sorry, mate - my last comment sounded insensitive; wasn't meant to be. I meant that, as I've seen your grasp and articulation of philosophical puzzles develop over the past year, I think that in a couple of years you'll be formidable. (Well, you're already formidable, but...er....you know what I mean.)

279. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305397 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 1:21 am

Comment #305389 by Brian English

Yeah, I knew about Pell's sister, and thought she was pretty brave to come out publicly. His response, which I can't find now (buried in the SMH vaults, no doubt) was enough to make a grown man invest in firearms. (Oops, probably shouldn't say that; Rudd's internet police will soon be monitoring everything we do.)

280. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305395 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 1:17 am

Exactly! You're really starting to get the idea of this "philosophy" caper, Brian. I'd hate to start arguing against you in a couple of years. Thank fuck we're (usually) on the same side of the fence.

281. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305391 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 1:14 am

Sorry, mate, you're out of date. This one beats Chadstone hands down. (If you believe that the size of a shopping centre is somehow related to "goodness".)

282. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305386 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 1:10 am

Comment #305383 by Brian English

I read that earlier today, Brian. Choice! I'm going to leave an extended comment on it when I'm sober enough. It's good, man.

283. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305384 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 1:08 am

Comment #305381 by Brian English

Ahh, Heineken on the keyboard, Brian! My mate Leigh has a t-shirt, which he proudly wears everywhere, which proclaims

"The Pope and Pell Protect Paedophile Priests."

He's yet to be assaulted.

284. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305382 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 1:06 am

Shameless plug no. 49728547

http://churchofrationalism.blogspot.com/2008/12/whats-important.html

285. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305377 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:58 am

A bebo is a pet amphibian, I'm reliably told, 8. Dunno how you'd check on one using a computer, though. See ya.

286. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305373 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:54 am

Comment #305369 by Brian English I know exactly what you mean, Brian. Sometimes you have to shelve a song for a while, and wait for the muse to invigorate you. Other times, though, it's just grunt work. I'll often just keep trying out different musical or lyrical lines until one seems to "fit", and that's often enough to plug me back into finishing the thing. Occasionally, I just scrap the whole thing as a lost cause (which is what is happening at the moment, with a piece I've been struggling with for months. I'm ready to burn it at the stake.)

My best advice? Just keep plugging away. I know that's not great advice, but perseverance has its rewards.

287. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305370 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:48 am

From uk.reuters:

The Catholic Church teaches that while homosexuality is not sinful, homosexual acts are.

288. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305364 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:38 am

Comment #305358 by 8teist

Loud and proud, 8:

"RATZI - GET FUCKED!"

289. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305361 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:36 am

Epeeist - I saw that earlier today. I particularly loved the line that went something like "the Catholic church does not consider homosexuality a sin; it is homosexual activity which is sinful."

Nice one, God! Let's create all of these people who are sexually attracted to others of their own sex, tell them it's OK to be attracted, but if they ACT on their feelings then they're goin' to hell. Beautiful, if it wasn't one of the most wicked things any human could say to any other.

290. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305353 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:30 am

8 - dead animals in the water tank (we had a six foot brown crawl into ours and drown once) do add a certain piquancy. I'm yet to be poisoned by them, though.

Brian - The Coopers Premium is a great drop, IMO. I know you're an old-style Boag's man, but come over to the light side, mate. Coopers for your everyday drinking; a crisp pilsener style for the refreshment that's in it. The Czech style is very nifty.

291. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305346 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:22 am

I wuv you, Bwian. (This is Heineken number 5 speaking.)

292. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305341 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:17 am

You bet it does, 8. Every time I drink town water I ask myself "Why did I do that?"

293. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305333 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:09 am

Comment #305331 by Brian English

I KNEW you were gonna say that!

294. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305332 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:07 am

It's raining here as we speak, 8 - not enough, though, to satisfy Sydney's profligacy. Good for me, though; my tanks are filling nicely.

295. Jimmy Carr on Richard Dawkins

Comment #305330 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:06 am

8 - if I had a hammer, I'd hammer in the morning; I'd hammer in the evening, 'til the neighbours called the cops...

296. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305327 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:03 am

Yeah, but your biggest problem is that Tassie is south of you, and, as you are well aware, water cannot run uphill ;)

297. Jimmy Carr on Richard Dawkins

Comment #305325 by Laurie Fraser on December 23, 2008 at 12:01 am

isthatclear

sonice to see posting you from again. am happy to with convey your excellent thoughts my comrades to. bit like irascible, though; code-breakers need alarms and moderately do. cna see not for in me life what is necessary to convince evilutionists that problem is god inferiority but catch-22.

Well, I hope that cleared that up.

298. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305322 by Laurie Fraser on December 22, 2008 at 11:53 pm

Brian, it's a disaster whichever way you look at it. Sydney is in a water crisis, and we are now facing the prospect of a desalination plant, rather than build infrastructure that will treat sewage at a tertiary level and return it to the Hawkesbury, which, for many years, has been dying the death of a thousand cuts. My mate Leigh, who has lived on the Hawkesbury all his life, tells me how he used to bring four-gallon kero tins full of river water up to the house for drinking water. If you did that these days, you'd die a gruesome death.

Edit: Act like a wombat??? You mean, crawl into a hole? Gees, you're tough. mate.

299. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #305319 by Laurie Fraser on December 22, 2008 at 11:47 pm

Brian, your avatar is becoming more and more infidelic. I think, by the time evil Goldy's face is entirely obscured, the real face of The Brian will emerge, and we shall know evil in all its glory.

300. Saudi court tells girl aged EIGHT she cannot divorce husband who is 50 years her senior

Comment #305259 by Laurie Fraser on December 22, 2008 at 9:24 pm

8! Where have you been hiding, old son? Can you get Goldy and Brian to behave themselves? I can't get a sensible word out of them. Brian starts out all right, but ends up just saying Hume Hume Hume Hume Hume. etc. Goldy gets into the swing of things then dissolves into baby talk. It's been shocking, man, shocking!