I apologise if this video was already mentioned or has been posted but to be sure that you know how this man things you should see this little part of his speech at the Washington prayer breakfast this year.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DT-Aku0lLAo

"The 21st century will be poorer in spirit, meaner in ambition, less disciplined in conscience if it is not under the guardianship of faith in god."

"I only say there are limits to humanism and beyond those limits god and only god can work."

This is very frightening if you know that this man should solve the problems in the Middle-East…

http://www.beliefnet.com/story/228/story_22894_1.html

If you want to know more about Obama's beliefs and his hope to be 'an instrument of God's will'...

"The prayer that I tell myself every night is a fairly simple one: I ask in the name of Jesus Christ that my sins are forgiven, that my family is protected and that I am an instrument of God's will. I'm constantly trying to align myself to what I think he calls on me to do. And sometimes you hear it strongly and sometimes that voice is more muted."

Or about secularization, the Obama way...

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/us/politics/01obama-text.html?ref=politics

"I'll establish a new Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. The new name will reflect a new commitment. This Council will not just be another name on the White House organization chart â€" it will be a critical part of my administration.
(…)
We know that faith and values can be a source of strength in our own lives. That's what it's been to me. And that's what it is to so many Americans. But it can also be something more. It can be the foundation of a new project of American renewal. And that's the kind of effort I intend to lead as President of the United States."

Brr… sad and scary!

Apparently Obama doesn't understand the basic principle that there's no freedom OF religion, without freedom WITHOUT religion...

A missed opportunity...

Comment #158044 by emmet

I agree with you on the Stalin and Mao-thing. The answer that Harris gives to a similar question is much briefer and more to the point (See on this site: Sam Harris debate with Rabbi David Wolpe | American Jewish University, 4th Jan 2008 : Does God Exist?).

Having said this, I must admit I love Hitchens (C.!) as a debater. And, despite his brother's weak and sometimes pathetic responses (like the pornography thing…), he was in great shape that evening.
Although I've heard (almost) all his arguments several times, I never get tired of him and it's always a treat to see him overwhelm his opponents and throw his audience into rapture.

Let's keep on building up that wall!

People who are interested in this project should read this article in The Economist this week:

"The science of religion

Where angels no longer fear to tread

Science and religion have often been at loggerheads. Now the former has decided to resolve the problem by trying to explain the existence of the latter."

http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10875666

I stand in awe of thee, Paula Kirby! ;-)

Yours gratefully,

Libertas

The University of Ghent (Belgium) recently gave 200.000 euro to Professor Johan Braeckman, a philosopher of science, to promote the knowledge of the evolution theory and to counter the rise of creationism in Flanders (the Dutch-speaking part of Belgium, 60% of the population). I know, it's a pity it's just 7% of £1.9 million, but I think that money is better spend.

Although I must say I'm curios what the results will be… nature or nurture… They will "try to prove whether belief in God conferred an evolutionary advantage to mankind."

Should the answer be positive, I'm proud to say that I - like all atheists - am a mutant!

http://www2.irna.ir/en/news/view/menu-236/0802132117231203.htm

Following repetition of publication of insults against Holy Prophet (PBUH) Danish Ambassador to Tehran was summoned to IRI foreign Ministry on Wednesday evening.

According to Foreign Ministry Media Department, Soren Husland was informed of Iran's serious concern about the re-publication of an insulting caricature about Prophet Muhammad in a Danish daily.

Head of the Foreign Ministry's Central and Northern Europe Affairs, Hassan Baqeri during the meeting with the Danish Ambassador, while condemning the blasphemous act, asked for serious moves made by the Danish officials against such insults against the beliefs of over 1.5 billion world Muslims, and efforts aimed at avoiding their further repetition.

Baqeri added, "Sanctities and values of the entire faiths need to be respected and it is not acceptable to insult them and remain silent on excuse of safeguarding the freedom of speech."
He added, "Justifying such blasphemous acts that are against the foundations of humanity and the basics of democracy is totally unacceptable."
The Danish Ambassador, too, expressing regret over the repetition of the act that can intrigue the religious feelings of the World Muslims, said that he would reflect Iran's serious concern to his affiliated government.

Wouldn't it be hilarious, if it wasn't such a tragedy...

If you want to read (or hear) more about Huckabee's views on amending the Constitution by copying and pasting the bible ("The Bible was not written to be amended. The Constitution was."), or his opinions on gay marriage (he compares it with the marriage of a man and an animal…) or abortion (he compares it with slavery…) there's an interview with Huckabee on Beliefnet.com. Read it and weep.

This is the link: http://www.beliefnet.com/story/228/story_22873_1.html

And bye the way, they even have a "God-o-meter"on that site, "a scientific measure of God-talk in the elections".
The adjustment criteria are:
"The needle on God-o-Meter goes up if a candidate…
1. Discusses his/her faith and how it would influence his/her presidency publicly or in an advertisement, or has staff or surrogates do the same.
2. Publicly quotes from the Bible or other scripture, uses overtly religious language, or discusses personal religious life, even outside the context of how it influences his/her policy positions, e.g. discussing personal prayer life or own sinfulness.
3. Frames issues in religious or spiritual terms, e.g. environmentalism as "Creation Care" or one-man/one-woman marriage as "God's plan."
4. Delivers a speech or makes an appearance in an overtly religious setting, e.g. a house of worship, denominational convention, religious college, etc.
5. Lobbies a religious leader/activist/organization/denomination for support, either personally or through staff and surrogates.
6. Receives an endorsement or is the object of favorable comments from a religious leader/activist/organization.
7. Buys ads in religious media, e.g. Christian radio or a Mormon magazine.
8. Embraces an issue important to a key religious constituency, e.g. a Republican vowing to appoint Supreme Court judges who would overturn Roe or a Democrat vowing to retain President Bush's Office of Faith-Based Initiatives.
9. Takes steps to build or strengthen a faith outreach program.
10. Grants an interview to a religious broadcaster or publication.
The needle on God-o-Meter goes down if a candidate…
1. Says his/her faith doesn't inform policy positions.
2. Declines to discuss his/her personal faith life when asked, e.g. by a debate moderator.
3. Consistently strikes a secular tone by foregoing mentions of God or faith in situations where it would be appropriate to do so
4. Makes a remark offensive to an important religious constituency, e.g. a politically incorrect joke.
5. Is seen to be disingenuous in discussing his/her faith.
6. Is knocked by a religious leader/activist.
7. Watches support of a religious leader/activist he/she was lobbying go to a competitor.
8. Takes stand on an issue that rankles a religious community.
9. Declines an invitation to participate in an overtly religious event "

I was disappointed with the interview -- only because I wanted to hear more of Dawkins, especially since I'm just finishing the book.

But it's good to see him promote the book and his ideas, even in the context of Colbert's shtick.