1. Researchers use neuroimaging to study ESP

Comment #108197 by rokort on January 6, 2008 at 8:32 am

Comment #107909

I thought the culture's infatuation with all this ESP shit went away after James Randi debunked Uri Geller.

Well, Diacanu, I'm not sure where you live, but here in Holland some pretty popular commercial TV-station will start a program late January in which Uri Geller will search amongst 10 candidates for the new: Uri Geller!

Next to this we have here every day 'Astro TV', where someone situated between images of the universe and Buddha (...) takes questions from people calling in. Like: "My husband is dying of cancer, how will 2008 be?", and then the looney in charge of answering puts down some Tarot cards to 'assist' her in the answer wich is that "it will all work out fine". And the caller pays for this 'consult'....

Plus don't forget that *barf* authentic psychic-intuitive *barf* Char Margolis. Every darn week on TV, where she torments my screen with her verbal diarrea. She's very popular. That's why she has the prime-time slots on TV and Darren Brown only the Saturday morning ones on that same station.

So, I'm not sure the interest for things as ESP is fading. Still a lot of work to do for skeptics. Way too many people still out there that go for 'somethingism'.

2. Interview with Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #80800 by rokort on October 23, 2007 at 4:43 am

21. Comment #80580 by Fanusi Khiyal on October 22, 2007 at 8:14 am

International law is a chimera, that is, dream and monster. A law is only a law if it can be enforced. That is, if there is a sufficient threat of force backing it up. So we can either ask for a one-world government, or a world hegemony (which would have to be an American one, because no other country is both civilized and powerful enough to do so), or be reduced to the global hypocrisy of the United Nations.

(italics by me, rokort)

You are aware a LOT of folks in Europe laugh their guts out when reading this? Because it's so sad, so sad, if this is truly your thought on law enforcement or *cough* US supremacy *cough*.

Gimme a break. Could you define 'civilized' and 'powerful' for me? You mean the social welfare system, shopping addiction, the love of violence, and the erosion of democracy, all for the sake of more money for a happy few?

I'm still in limbo about the best strategy of how to deal with Islam 'there' and 'here' and appreciate the arguments between you and brian, but i find it hard to digest the war rethorics coming from your mouth (well, fingers) since they make you sound like someone reacting on emotion. Exactly the kind of emotion certain God-fearing people in US Government use to cheat us into (their) Armageddon.

3. The Price of Freedom

Comment #77895 by rokort on October 11, 2007 at 3:29 am

Nighttripper

In a popular late night talk show (Pauw & Witteman) Britta Böhler, the lawyer and spokesperson of Ayaan, yesterday explained that the documents you talk about were one year old (and therefore in no way address the security issues today), she sent them only to members of Parliament, plus she mentioned that the news that Hitchens has money for Ayaan is nonsense.

So whether Hitchens now has arranged sufficient funds for Ayaan - I don't know. Maybe they just like confusion.

And that Hitchens wants to collect money for Ayaan plus that Harris and Rushdie are raising their voice in sympathy is getting attention in the national newspapers too, they talk about an orchestrated character of the protest since Hitch et al. seem to have a lot of insider information...

It looks we're having front-row seats to something getting close to a trans-continental soap opera. Too bad it doesn't make me laugh.

4. Ayaan Hirsi Ali: abandoned to fanatics

Comment #77698 by rokort on October 10, 2007 at 8:06 am

USA_Limey

OT:
It's 'week of Democracy' here on TV in the Netherlands, and yesterday there was a documentary about Hugo Chavez, his 2002 period, by Kim Bartley en Donnacha O'Brien (here). I can recommend it and to be honest, it was very insightfull (i've always been wary of this guy but my opinion might be up for a re-evaluation). For example, the 'Old Power' - like military and rich folks, many descendants of white Europeans - was always heavily supported by the church and the US, while the people in the street were absolutely in favor of Chavez.

It all seemed pretty sincere. I couldn't help but feel sympathy for 'the poor ordinary people of Venezuela' when expressing their disgust of the military and sympathy for Chavez on many occasions.

5. Ayaan Hirsi Ali: abandoned to fanatics

Comment #77686 by rokort on October 10, 2007 at 7:01 am

Pantore,

if you don't seem to take some people here serious (using the word 'ignorant' three times in a couple of sentences, for example), why would we do you the favour in return?

You were born with all the knowledge there is i suppose? It all came falling from the sky, straight into your head?

And when are you going to answer my question in another thread about what you have done lately to raise awareness regarding the, let's say, imperfections of religion?

EDIT: thread, not threat.

6. Ayaan Hirsi Ali: abandoned to fanatics

Comment #77654 by rokort on October 10, 2007 at 2:21 am

Like bartvo (10. Comment #77503) mentions:

it is imperative, before judging, to get to know the other side of the story.

Though i understand where they are coming from and i agree with them that an advocate of free speech should be protected when necessary, i'm a bit disappointed by Sam Harris and Salman Rushdie, and Christopher Hitchens in his Slate article.

Their arguments are not based on the proper information and their reasoning seems stifled by emotion. How much of this is their own fault though? Is this an example of how journalism works when a message has to cross an ocean or of not taking enough time to think things through before speaking out?

If it were up to me Holland would pay for her indefinitely and i'm ashamed our Government doesn't do this, that they are not willing to stand up for freedom of speech here – but caving in to extremist so to speak. On the other hand, she has a greencard now, wants to live in the US, so why wouldn't they pay for her then?

7. We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Brothers

Comment #77353 by rokort on October 9, 2007 at 5:44 am

zoltix

now let me thank you for your clarifications. I wholeheartedly agree with large parts of your posting. I hear you when you say you rather live here than there. I find it grueling to see the consequences of Islam across our planet and in my own society.

Nevertheless, part of the problems we see world-wide is a reaction to the way the US is spreading their idea of freedom. Especially in the long run 'the American way of living' is at the expense of many others, if not our entire planet.

If anybody wants to free people from tyranny that's fine, but don't do this under false pretense. I don't buy the 'we have to bomb them before they bomb us' approach. Especially not in a region where brotherhood through Islam is so strong. The consequences we see are evident in the West and East. Radicalisation is the response, a survival mode from their perspective, with a silly book as their excuse. Dangerous indeed, and if it were up to me under no circumstance any public influence of the Koran should be allowed in a free society, and it should be made clear that the oppressive and submissive elements of this religion are not okay, also not in private. This should not blind us for the potential other people have when stripped from their superstition though. Even the most radical religious apologist can be seen as someone who got stuck in radical ideas. If you want to start talking sense into someone show him reason through education, don't bomb his family.

8. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #77314 by rokort on October 9, 2007 at 3:01 am

Maybe I should have sent this as a PM, but what the heck:

Dutch Patty
The question wasn't for you, but I'll answer it later.

Why I am so blunt is this: on the website here I am every day deeply humbled and impressed by the veracity and knowledge of the people who are willing to spent time responding. A lot of them go at length trying to make their point in a logic and sensible style, many times expressing deep knowledge or commitment on the subject. You and Pantore cry foul while seemingly not caring about indulging us some more on the facts feeding your propositions. Repeating 'we should read more' doesn't do the trick. We all have limited amount of energy to share and would like to see this go to waste while being informed properly – I have been corrected this way on another thread, and rightly so. It's not a contest, so barking your opinion will not score you any points.

What I sense – but, of course, correct me when I'm wrong – is that you seem frustrated about/by her. Though easy to say now, I'm not surprised that you work with Muslim Youth. Your postings sounded as if you were personally touched. What do you see in your workplace that doesn't match up with what Ayaan tells us? What do the kids tell you? What promise Ayaan didn't keep? What in her thinking doesn't match with the real world? What makes you think she has lied? And I don't mean a minor thing as Ayaan lying about her name to get entry into Holland, because in her defense – though I wouldn't be surprised if she deliberately put it this way, what would you do? – let's mention she used the name of her clan, which is normal where her family comes from. So 'unsubstantiated character assassination' as Russel Blackford puts it, is not a way to go here. I could easily say: 'In those 18 years you mention to have been working with 2nd and 3rd generation Muslim Youth I've only seen things grow worse, so what have you been doing to screw things up?' It's way too easy and cheap. Where can we find what we have to read as you keep telling us? What makes you think she had the means to change in such short time in a more direct manner the situation too many Muslim women seem to be in – patronized, illiterate, confused – but didn't use them?

I praise Ayaan because she made it from an anxious young woman in a totally strange country to an independent, eloquent and knowledgeable woman. What a travel she has behind her. She has her style of putting the finger at the right spot when it comes to pointing out the oppressiveness and ludicrousness of the Kuran and the lack of emancipation in Muslim circles, and I value her view also because she has been subjected to it. That's her story. Compare this with the story of the guy who started a committee for Ex-Muslims here, Ehsan Jami. He comes from Iran, and we both now the system there. Apparently living under tyranny can inspire you to speak out loud against the atrocities associated with it. And this seems to touch a nerve. The reactions from the Muslim world confirm Ayaans' ideas in a rather painful way. It's never okay to shoot the messenger, and it's shameful that these words are extremely ironic this time. What she says makes sense and it's unacceptable that because she has the courage for it she's in danger. In order to address problems you have to speak them out first. It's not the Muslims per se, but their adherence to the Koran that threatens an open and free society. What we do here now is damage control, instead of addressing the source. We've tolerated the nonsense of religion long enough. Cultural relativism is not a solution. Though popular here (see this insightful article 'against' Hirsi Ali's idea's and actions) it doesn't deliver.

Now to come back to your question:

Let me put it like this: I live and work in 'De Baarsjes' and 'Slotervaart', two neighborhoods in Amsterdam with Muslims – mainly Turkish and Moroccan immigrants with their kin - as the mayor minority. Where Mohammed Bouyeri - the guy who assassinated filmmaker Theo van Gogh because he made the movie 'Submission' from a script by Ayaan Hirsi Ali - grew up is only a couple of minutes by bike. The biggest mosque of western mainland Europe was planned just around the corner of my house, until the scandal broke out that the Turkish organization (on a higher levels supported by conservatives from Saudi Arabia) behind this was corrupt, to the expense of a lot of savings money from Turkish Muslims. Almost everything I drink and eat I buy in Turkish, Moroccan, Pakistani or Egyptian cafeterias, shops and markets. I talk to Muslims virtually every day, discussing the Islam and our country with them over tea or dinner. I do this always with men, so I would love to hear what the women and sisters of these men have to say, that's why I am delighted that perhaps you do have this experience and would like to elaborate on their views. I work in an academic setting on the molecular biology of cancer and come from a small village where there were only white people and at least as many churches as letters in the alphabet. And though the above might be a tedious and insignificant account of my ordinary life, I want to share what shapes my world and feeds my ideas. Though living in a country where – like in Scandinavia or France, for that matter – speaking out against religion can be seen as unnecessary or noise (I have been forbidden by my colleagues to use the word "God" before noon), I do my best in dialogue with my Dutch and Muslim friends to point to the sheer stupidity in the Kuran and Bible on one hand, and counteract the prejudices family, friends and colleagues have about Muslims on the other. Most of my family and colleagues never talk to a Muslim but all have polarized views. They need to be informed because it's difficult for many of them to understand that the source of the problems we face might be religion itself. Next to this I write letters to national newspapers or representatives of local politics arguing against the influence of religion in public life and legislation. It is my opinion that in order to address the problems with immigrants here we have to acknowledge it is also because of the role of the Koran in Muslim life which rather prevents than stimulates a coherent society. Next to this I have been invited recently to come talk at local schools about the importance of education and the fun of science. Though doing a PhD keeps me busy enough and my efforts probably will only have little impact, I find it necessary to spent time on all this because I don't like how things are developing. I will reunite with my girl in San Francisco to go do postdoctoral research there next year, but will try to stay involved here.

I asked Pantore about his investments in telling the world the Islam is a dubious religion to illustrate that it's too easy and not pretty to discredit someone who does dare to do this by saying 'she is a joke' (something perhaps notoriously Dutch though, it's crowded with opinions here too). I merely tried to challenge him to think about how brave Ayaan really is. Maybe that's presumptuous, but I come here to be challenged. By reason.

9. We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Brothers

Comment #77023 by rokort on October 8, 2007 at 7:53 am

zoltix

I am not trying to take some of your statements out of context, but when you say

The initial and ultimate source is the political ideology of islam.

or

Because the free world is superior economically, technologically and militarily the jihadists do not have an army to conquer dar al-harb

or

Totalitarianism is the real danger and currently, islam is the leading exponent

i can't help but have the feeling you have a very one-sided view. Next to asking myself what you mean by 'superior'.

It's not that the US has bombed dozens of countries since the 2nd WW because they are so concerned for the people in it. Now that it provokes such radical elements who start responding (in a hideous way and supported by some very illogic ideology - don't get me wrong) it suddenly is allowed to act as if it's all 'the enemy's' fault and treat whoever alligns themselves with this other ideology is inherently worthless and can/should be treated as dirt?

You might want to check out the following books on your 'superior free world':

Confessions of an Economic Hitman - John Perkins
Legacy of Ashes; A History of the CIA - Tim Weiner
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism - Naomi Klein

10. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #76991 by rokort on October 8, 2007 at 4:29 am

Pantore

Thanks to your and Dutch Patty's responses on this thread i understand better and better why the Dutch are sometimes regarded abroad as emptyheaded loudmouths who think they always know it so damned well. Your comments (see also 28. Comment #76026) are like a fart in the wind.

Tell me, what have you done lately to try to solve the problems there are with religion in this world?

11. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #76542 by rokort on October 6, 2007 at 6:15 am

Dutch Patty

as your fellow countryman i would strongly advice you to refrain from bold statements or offensive language, it doesn't do your case any particularly good. Like when you start talking about Bush against someone who seems to be living in Sweden...(Philster61 that is)

12. Teachers 'fear evolution lessons'

Comment #76531 by rokort on October 6, 2007 at 5:38 am

It's sort of off-topic, but i wanted to share this, for what it's worth: yesterday the Council_of_Europe accepted a resolution that creationism shouldn't be taught in Science class in school because 'creationism can be a threat to Human Rights'. It called upon all 47 member states to constrain from teaching creationism.

Resolution here
Background on it here

Unfortunately it's nothing more than an advice...


EDIT: sorry, can't get a proper link to the resolution working
EDIT2: yes i can!

13. I am creating artificial life, declares US gene pioneer

Comment #76527 by rokort on October 6, 2007 at 5:01 am

We cross lifestock to get cows that produce more milk or meat. We radiate vegetables in a search for bigger and tastier ones. In other words: we introduce mutations to select for animals and greens that yield more profit. We don't know what we mutate, just as long we get more bang for our buck regarding the end-product. No problemo here (well, i don't see any large scale protesting).

Now when somebody in a highly controled setting makes an organism or something alike suddenly there's worry? I think Craig Venter is truly at the cutting edge of what science can deliver: solutions to problems.

14. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #76266 by rokort on October 5, 2007 at 9:25 am

Dutch Patty

I will read more on Ayaan.

I also know that many Muslim women in Holland are Berbers, illiterate, and flown in from Morocco (or Turkey) for a planned marriage with someone they never met - i've lived in a Muslim neighbourhood in Amsterdam for the past 5 years, so i know a little bit about the society and women Ayaan talks about.

What i don't understand though is how you think that teaching the 'true Koran' (what on earth is that?) will change the brutal and illogic oppression of Muslim women by men. I suppose - but please correct me if i'm wrong - you mean like many Catholics did with the Bible, give it a more humane and women-friendly interpretation.

Living in Holland gives you the opportunity to live an independent and prosperous life, and i see many Moroccan girls do just that, they take way more initiative toward this goal than many Moroccan men do. BUT, it's for the oppression BY MEN in their proximity (husband, brothers, family) with the excuse 'because the Koran says so' that still far too many women are not given the chances they deserve. And that's what Ayaan also tries to communicate: that the Koran how it's interpreted by men who (like to) control the life of women is evil. It's about submission. For this she should be lauded, to me it's a little bit too easy to say that she also should take care of all the victims of submission. We know education works, let other people deal with this.

15. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #76238 by rokort on October 5, 2007 at 7:19 am

@ Dutch Patty

could you elaborate on the "being the selfcentered person as she is she only thinks about herself"? What's your evidence?

And could you then perhaps tell me how she should have addressed the stupidities in the Koran regarding the role and abuse of women?

I think we should applaud she dares to take a stance like she does/did. Muslims have the tendency to take EVERYTHING you say against the Koran as an insult and using the strategic of being humble, staying nice, or shoving issues like genital mutilation under the carpet a lot of countries, including the Netherlands, have helped create the problems we see now with 'integration' of Muslims.

16. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #76217 by rokort on October 5, 2007 at 5:39 am

@ mmurray (32. Comment #76197)

I totally agree 100 bucks per hour is a lot of money but i've read/heard in various newsmedia that she has 3 shifts of two security men each working 8 hours a day, 7 days a week. And again i read yesterday in a national newspaper the total sum of her security is more like 3 million dollars in total, not 6. On top of salary for security there's money spent on logistics when traveling and securing places where she goes.

I can't verify whether 100 dollars an hour is a lot of money for security staff. To me it is but i wouldn't know what's normal in that business.

17. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #75919 by rokort on October 4, 2007 at 4:38 am

Russel Blackford (19. Comment #75887)

I'd like to know how that figure was calculated. Six million dollars to cover six bodyguards? Those are awfully expensive bodyguards.

2 men for 8 hours in 3 shifts makes 6 men for 24 hours. 100 Euro's/Dollars an hour per man is 4800 Euro's/Dollars a day for 6 men. Times 365 is 1.752.000 Euro's/Dollars. That already get's you well on the way toward 6 million (though i have also read something that was closer to 3 instead of 6 million)

18. The Problem with Atheism

Comment #75913 by rokort on October 4, 2007 at 4:17 am

I have difficulties with some of the allergic reactions against introspection aired here. It seems to me that Sam says we need not shy away from meditation or contemplation for at least two reasons:
First, meditation is not a dirty word. It's not easy to encapsulate the mental reaction to meditation in words since it's so personal but it sure can teach you to be appreciative and feeling 'in place', like a push in the back to come out for what you stand for. And forgive me for mentioning it, but I wonder whether folks regarding it a waste of time have ever given it a try? If not why the objection? That doesn't mean I think you should or that it works for you of course. It might take some time to find out what method resonates. Maybe a warning is even warranted since it can be addictive. ; )
Second, what follows from practicing meditation/introspection is a more subtle understanding of religites – provided you don't mind crawling into the world of a believer. It shows you what conditioning yourself to believe in something - by exercising rituals and contemplation - does to your 'feeling' of well-being. Though reasoning itself can unmask the illogic of the claimed higher morale of religious people, introspection might lead to better understanding of the addiction to religious dogmas by the deluded. We read the Bible or Kuran to get to know the words religious people are infected with don't we?
Meditation might also inspire or help you develop certain moral values about life on earth, something a determinist or materialist probably isn't a stranger to. Meditation or introspection doesn't bite reason.

I think there's nothing mystical about introspection. Like sports can make you feel physically fit (we don't say a 'runner's high' is a mystical experience although it's a comforting, powerful and positively startling encounter with something inside yourself) meditation can make you feel 'in balance'. My deepened appreciation of the way things are is the result of a self-inflicted alteration of my neural circuits – no woo-woo needed. Logic does to reasoning what meditation can do to focus. I don't see it as a delusion but as using an ancient experience to release certain hormones and alter brain activity. Nobody is or will be hurt. What I have learned from (Tibetan) Buddhist philosophy is comparable to the advice on how to live a good life Seneca wrote in his 'Letters to Lucilius', telling me also that one doesn't necessarily need meditation to understand what might bring inner peace or a deeper sense of connection with life around us.

And though my mother might not appreciate the confession that follows next: I've tried enough different drugs to come to the conclusion that it's only a chemically and temporarily induced infatuation for alternative realities. Incomparable with the sustained effect of triggering the 'happy-center' by hijacking your neural circuit yourself.

But I could be wrong about all this. Science will tell me.

19. Keeping the faith at school

Comment #73477 by rokort on September 25, 2007 at 4:24 am

"I come here because other Christians are here. It's just so much more comfortable because I'm around students who understand," says Grade 7 student Kevin Small. "You're not scared you're going to be left out because you don't, you know, take drugs or alcohol."

Like grades 7 and 8 students in Ontario's public schools, Knox students are told abstinence is the healthy choice for teens.

Like their Catholic school counterparts, they also are told during health class that sexuality is a gift from God meant for a man and a woman who are married.

"Write on the board that No Sex + Married Sex = Safe Sex" reads the health curriculum document used by many Ontario Christian schools from the U.S.-based Christian Schools International – meaning that truly safe sex is either no sex, or sex within marriage.

Am i getting old or are these subjects: drugs, alcohol, and sex something a 7th grader can't or shouldn't know too much about first hand so anything they claim to know here can hardly be their own opinion? Next to the disgusting insinuation that without doing drugs or alcohol you won't make friends in the 'non-Christian world' of course.

(which means QED for RD on the stance of 'mental child-abuse')

ps: Richard Morgan; 'rokort' is short for Roderik Kortlever. 'ro' is what my friends call me and 'kort' is Dutch for 'short', so since Roderik Kortlever is quite a mouthfull i like the abbreviation to 'rokort', to make my name 'kort'. I have used it ever since my first swim on the web somewhere halfway the nineties and never bothered to change it.

20. Griffin's 'offensive' Emmy speech to be censored

Comment #70837 by rokort on September 17, 2007 at 3:58 am

FYI,
she'll be on CNN with Larry King tonight:

http://www.cnn.com/CNN/Programs/larry.king.live/

21. Griffin's 'offensive' Emmy speech to be censored

Comment #69703 by rokort on September 12, 2007 at 9:23 am

From the 'About us' section of the catolic league website http://www.catholicleague.org/about.php
(thnx to bamboospitfire)

Is the Catholic League Necessary?

Absolutely. Harvard professor Arthur Schlesinger, Sr. once observed that prejudice against the Catholic Church was "the deepest bias in the history of the American people." Yale professor Peter Viereck commented that "Catholic baiting is the anti-Semitism of the liberals."

Maybe I'm stupid, but I'd think a rather significant bias in the history of the American people was the one that wiped out almost all Native Americans. But apparently this is not as bad as somebody saying "Suck it, Jesus!"

Religious people really do seem to think they are the most important creatures on earth, everything resolves around them, and that every disagreement with them automatically is hate-speech, aye?

22. Young Muslims begin dangerous fight for the right to abandon faith

Comment #69436 by rokort on September 11, 2007 at 8:48 am

Galactor

via eo.nl i just came to a link where they say that there's a book questioning the existence of Napoleon with the same line of reasoning used for denying the existence of Jezus. Well, there's enough data on the existence of Bonaparte so.......tadaaaa: Jezus existed!

I don't care whether Jezus was there some time ago or not, but this is what we're 'up against': people that don't care about facts or anything, just a convenient truth. And they don't give an arse that the whole world is watching.

And you're right, Dutch aren't all that tolerant, it's more about indifference, indeed. Well, not for me it ain't!

23. Young Muslims begin dangerous fight for the right to abandon faith

Comment #69422 by rokort on September 11, 2007 at 8:00 am

Galactor,

i was outraged when this became known, about the EO changing the mentioned BBC documentaries. Unfortunately, most of my friends, family and colleagues were like: why bother?

Comments ranged from "what do you expect from these nutcases" to "evolution is also nothing more than a lie", and that's most people wanted to say about it. What i think -although one could argue we have a rather benign group of IDers here- is that the constant twisting and lying and at the same time deliberate defamation of science is not something a lot of people bother about because they think it's harmless. Even when people have been killed or molested it's like: "well, you cannot say religites are all bad because only a few are angry or acting bad" (and how many times have we heard this before?).

Therefore the disputes here between pro- and non-faith heads is mostly nothing more than name calling and non-sequiturs. It's more about how things are said than what is said. When i mention in public i loathe Muslim law then i'm chastized for daring to make such a statement, all in the name of "tolerance".
Same old, same old, as if religion cannot be criticized.

Still a long way to go. Also here...

24. Young Muslims begin dangerous fight for the right to abandon faith

Comment #69383 by rokort on September 11, 2007 at 3:35 am

Below is my quick and dirty translation (source here) of the letter sent out today from the Committee of Ex-Muslims to fifty politicians, scientists, journalists and writers:

Dear,

The Committee for Ex-Muslims invites you to sign the 'Declaration of Support' now that the establishment of the Committee for Ex-Muslims is here. This declaration will be made public halfway through September at the official presentation of the Committee for Ex-Muslims, with mentioning of all signatories. We hope for at least fifty but rather a hundred signatures.

This invitation will be sent to dozens of Dutch and Belgian people visible in/to society; most of you are known in the area of freedom of religion and life's principles in relation to Islam. We have strived for a reasonable reflection of society: left and right, faith or no faith, Muslims or no Muslims, science, journalism, art, and especially politics. All party chairmen of the The House of Representatives of the States General will get an invitation.

The Committee for Ex-Muslims was established in April by Ehsan Jami and currently has five members. At the same time a committee of recommendation of the Committee for Ex-Muslims was established that, as of the beginning of august, will continue as Support Committee for Ex-Muslims.

The Committee for Ex-Muslims, the name says it already, consists of Ex-Muslims. They stand up for their right to individual freedom with regard to religious and life's principles, a right the Islam doesn't acknowledge.

The Support Declaration with the establisment of the Committee for Ex-Muslims is a sign from society, of people that stand up for that same right, but then especially because one of the ground rules of our society, individual freedom and life's principles, is under heavy pressure.

The declaration also serves to make known to Ex-Muslims they are not alone when standing up for this right. With all other activities of the Committee for Ex-Muslims, amongst which one has to think about criticizing Islam, the signatories of the Declaration of Support have nothing to do. We note that the Ex-Muslims are only named in the title of the Declaration.

The Committee for Ex-Muslims consists of signatories. Not like with the ones we invite to sign the Declaration of Support, there's only been a limited striving for reflection of society when constructing the Committee for Ex-Muslims. The Committee for Ex-Muslims has only a modest function: we mutually agreed about the text of the Declaration of Support and we invite you to sign the Declaration together with us. To make extra clear: if you sign it that's all, you will not be admitted in the Committee for Ex-Muslims.

The Declaration of Support is roughly 1200 words and consists of three parts:
* there's pointing out of a problem, namely fear for retaliation amongst people that are born in an Islamic environment when they want to lead their own way in religion and/or life's principles, for example by changing religion or when becoming an atheist, and wanting to openly testify this.
* a few short references to Dutch legislation, especially the horizontal acion of Article 6, and international law on human rights.
* crude propositions to attack this problem thoroughly and come to a recovery of individual freedom of religion and ones life's principles.

In case you consider to sign we would like to know this asap per email. We then also need a postal address of you. Shortly hereafter you will receive two printed versions of the Declaration via mail together with a stamped return-envelope. When you don't agree with the Declaration you send both copies back. Otherwise sign and return one copy and keep the other one for your own archive. By asking for dispatching of the Declaration you oblige yourself to not spread this till after its publication in September.

Regards,
Committee for Ex-Muslims

…and then comes a list of people in the committee…[rokort]

25. Young Muslims begin dangerous fight for the right to abandon faith

Comment #69350 by rokort on September 11, 2007 at 1:13 am

Dear Richard,

as a native Dutch speaker you can also send them to me if you like (if only to reduce the burden for pewkatchoo).

When you need another address than my pm let me know.

26. The Rise of Atheist America

Comment #68901 by rokort on September 9, 2007 at 3:39 am

Besides the virtual polemic of a knife stabbing a Bible on the cover of their magazine, how about this bunch of misrepresentations and lies to show the agenda:

WND's monthly Whistleblower magazine provides a powerfully eye-opening analysis of what's really behind the current atheist phenomenon

…angry, in-your-face, atheist manifestos

...anti-God bestsellers

...the publishing world will further cash in on the anti-God juggernaut

...arrogant denial of God and condemnation of religious people characterize today's popular atheist books

The nation's school system was created for the express purpose of propagating the Christian faith

America was founded by Christians

Today, however, many Americans are infatuated with outright, full-bore atheism

Somehow, atheism – just like homosexuality, which used to be considered shameful and something to hide – is now becoming hip, sophisticated, enlightened, even a badge of honor.

-sigh-

But, WorldNetDaily has the answer and remedy against the atheist-disease!
So, a few 'highlights' of the September issue that will help ward off the plague:

"How to outlaw Christianity" by Chuck Norris, who says 30 million Americans profess there is no God, and shows how atheist organizations are working to undermine Christianity

"Separation of atheism and state" by Bob Just, who explores the nightmare scenario America is headed for – and also points the way out

"Dawkins: Religion equals 'child abuse,'" in which the Oxford scientist compares Moses to Hitler and calls the New Testament a "sado-masochistic doctrine"

"Teachers rebel over atheism promotion" by Bob Unruh, who profiles a school district that makes teachers dispense handouts promoting atheist summer camps for children

And this all to bring back the *cough* safe and religious *cough* environment the USA 'once' was:

"Many Americans are becoming attracted to atheism," said WND Managing Editor David Kupelian, "and there are real reasons for it – reasons we need to understand if we ever hope to see a return to 'faith, hope and love.'

If WND's idea of reality weren't so pathetic I'd laugh. Or is it cry?


ps: I hope i didn't use up my blockquote quota for the rest of the month. Sorry for that.

27. Shop targets U.S. hunters with camo Bibles

Comment #66170 by rokort on August 29, 2007 at 6:54 am

pewkatchoo;

Though once a while i do think and sometimes even dream in English, apparently i still have to do a much better job in order to be understood. And i have to admit, sometimes when speaking my native language my friends also go like "what the hell are you rambling about this time, man?!"

So: Must and will try harder to get the right message accross next time.

And what's wrong with thinking Monty Python and Fawlty Towers are the most funny things EVER?

28. Shop targets U.S. hunters with camo Bibles

Comment #66154 by rokort on August 29, 2007 at 4:39 am

V;

my apologies that it seemed i was offended or something (if i understand you right this time), which i wasn't at all. I always seriously enjoy your postings. I guess i have to keep working on my English! Some days it's hard to translate into another language what i really think, and apparently to translate back what other people really mean. Again, sorry for that. Will try harder to say what i really want to say with better choice of words.

Another good lesson for thinking twice before responding, thank you. And I hope this one is cogent enough now. ;-)

29. Shop targets U.S. hunters with camo Bibles

Comment #66141 by rokort on August 29, 2007 at 2:44 am

V;

Let me mention that i made that remark to point to the fact that not necessarily you need to go out shoot animals for food anymore. I have the impression that (too) many hunters say they 'need' to shoot for food but that it's more about being out there, hanging out with friends, and perhaps trying to make up for feeling insignificant by showing off 'real male dominance'. Next to the fact that hunters in Alaska cannot be compared to hunters in less rural places/more industrialized area's for example.

But like you say, and hungarianelephant acknowledges, we've become disconnected with life that ends on our table (or in the waste-basket). This has led to assuming it's normal to eat meat every day and not thinking how the animal lived its life and how it ended. Because we think we deserve, need or have to consume so much meat we've created a lot of misery.

I have killed and prepared a diverse array of animals to serve as food. Now i mostly eat vegetarian food because i've learned it's pretty tough to kill an animal you like and i've come to realize we don't need that much meat. My ideal would be to have my own pig, goat, some chickens, and vegetables from my own backyard. Be self-supporting. To not see animals just as food, but raise them with love and appreciate the circle of life. One could argue that's a very selfish or even hypocritical way of looking at things because I decide about an animals' life, but nevertheless I think it's still better to do it like this and eat meat only once a while than shop for it always. I understand you need space for this, but it wouldn't hurt to cut down on meat consumption or stop treating animals as objects only.

Since anything can be extracted from the 'Big Book' this idea of going back to nature in a sensible way must be found somewhere in the Bible as well, otherwise it might be hard to convince the happy hunting camo Bible aficionados.

30. Shop targets U.S. hunters with camo Bibles

Comment #66121 by rokort on August 29, 2007 at 12:23 am

JesusH:

Sad and disgusting some of the comments on this thread, proves again how most atheists on this board are just as stereotyping, hateful and dogmatic as the people they criticize

Not just a stupid remark. First of all there's only a few anti-hunting remarks (and why not? There's enough people shooting the crap out of animals just to make themselves feel better. We have shops and fridges these days, you know), so second, therefore most atheists on this board are sterotyping, hateful and dogmatic?

Where on earth you get the hateful and dogmatic from?
So I wonder who is stereotyping here.

31. Shop targets U.S. hunters with camo Bibles

Comment #65590 by rokort on August 25, 2007 at 2:27 am

These products also highlight the U.S. evangelical love affair with hunting, fishing and the great outdoors.

Lingner said the evangelical enthusiasm for the outdoors went beyond the macho culture of the U.S. South.

"Because we believe that God created all this, when we are outdoors it is really a spiritual experience and we see how awesome it is. It makes being outdoors that much more meaningful," he said.

So because God made it they 'see' it's beauty. Apparently they can't find beauty and happiness by themselves or understand how to appreciate something just for what it is. And then of course destroy it by looting and shooting from their pick-up. It's like saying all the time: God made it for ME, ME, ME!!!

How deluded can you be? If it weren't so sad i'd laugh my butt off. Don't even know where to start to say how absurdly ignorant this whole Happy-shooting-Christian-with-camouflage-Bible crap is.

Religion poisons EVERYTHING

32. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65422 by rokort on August 24, 2007 at 6:08 am

CNN also has a poll on their website about how Christians identify themselves.
Apparently more as a Christian than American. Whatever.

But then comes question 6 from the chart Killing for religious beliefs, part 2

Would you be willing to kill another person in order to uphold a religious belief or advance a religious case, or would you not be willing to kill another person for any of your religious beliefs?

Although it's 'just' a poll and the error margin might be around 3%, 5 (five) percent says Yes!

I hope i'm not reading this right. 1 in 20 Americans seems to be willing to shoot my brains out when feeling threatened to uphold his/her belief. That sounds disgusting to me, especially since religious folks like to use the language of war when pointing toward Atheists as being the biggest threat to religion in general and Christianity in particular.

33. The age of endarkenment

Comment #64817 by rokort on August 22, 2007 at 1:31 am

@ stuartM02 (Comment #64624)

The paper can be found here: http://www.springerlink.com/blabla
And an accompanying Editorial here: http://www.springerlink.com/content/blablabla

Transcript from the Editorial:

However, in the following paper it can be seen that the group has now expanded to include some eminent histaminologists not previously known for their work on high dilutions. They have approached the problem in several ways. Firstly by performing a multi-centre European trial which showed that there was a small but statistically significant inhibition of basophil activation with high dilutions of histamine. Those data had been based on manual counting of stained basophils and could therefore have been subject to observer bias. A flow cytometric protocol was then employed in 3 of the participating laboratories. Again high dilutions of histamine inhibited basophil degranulation. Thus their findings indicate that high dilutions may indeed have a biological effect. The authors are unable to explain their findings but wished to encourage others to investigate this area. It is with this spirit of openness that the journal, after submitting the paper to a rigorous reviewing process, has agreed to publish the paper.

Since i'm at a research institute i can download these papers, but am not sure anybody can. If you (or anybody for that matter) is really interested send me a PM and i can forward you the PDFs.

The lack of critique towards the 'evidence' that Homeopathy works plus ignoring the counter-evidence tells me that Mike Adams, who wrote the article j42lewis mentioned in Comment #64501, needs at least some introductory course in how to recognize true from false plus on how to let go of wishful thinking. And with him many i'm afraid.

I'm all for having the possibility to make heard unusual theories or out-of-this-world type claims regarding the natural world but we have to stay very, very skeptical. Otherwise you keep getting these claims by pseudoscience dressed up as real science and people will keep continuing claiming things that will only inflame the integrity of science and might lead to confusion among the layman. Part of making clear how science works is vigorously unmasking peudoscience, and of course praise again to RD and others for doing that.

34. PZ Myers sued for a negative review in a blog post

Comment #64600 by rokort on August 21, 2007 at 1:34 am

So someone with just ideas/hypotheses that can be easily refuted by heaps and heaps of hard data wants to find legal ground to be respected as having 'shown' an alternative explanation for a phenomenon of life.

Mmmmm, where have i heard this before and what did Judge John E. Jones III say about that one?

35. The age of endarkenment

Comment #64410 by rokort on August 20, 2007 at 2:52 am

I just heard and read somewhat shocking in the news here in the Netherlands:

If you are unemployed the organization that takes care of your unemployment benefit (UWV) can help you find your way back into the jobmarket. In order to prepare yourself for the big, bad and dangerous world called reality it's okay (i mean: UWV pays for it, and via taxes we supply the UWV with money) to use Tarot carts, horoscopes and spiritual healers to help you find a job....

Ironically enough, but no surprise i'd say, it's the religious parties in Parliament (Christians, Reformed) that object the most, saying it's no State-responsibility to sponsor 'woo-woo practice'.

Now who mentioned RD and others are overdoing it with their attack on this nonsense? Au contraire, there's still a long way to go. So keep the articles like the one above flowing!

36. Authors at Google: Christopher Hitchens

Comment #64153 by rokort on August 18, 2007 at 5:46 am

My apologies, but my contribution won't be only about the war in Iraq.

I was struck by a comment from a guy in the audience made roughly halfway the video (around '30 minutes to go'). It went something like this:

In the US we have the most advanced, wealthy, powerful nation in probably the history of the world and [we] have probably the most freedom-loving - almost inverting, no, not inverting but, like really, espousing - philosophy of freedom and individuality to, you know, propagate that throughout the world. Yet, [we] also have the most religious nation.

Or, to paraphrase Oprah Winfrey: "The USA is the only country in the world where you can be born poor and die rich. Now ain't that wonderful ladies and gentlemen in the audience and at home?!"

What a misconception. Isn't this look on reality that people in the US have not one of the problems itself? Not only is it an insult to every clan or nation ever wandering our planet, but whenever i'm in the US i'm always struck by the shallowness, poverty and backward mentality of the people, regardless which state (be it East, Central, or West) I'm in. And, to be honest, the philosophy of freedom and individuality aren't that espousing to me either, for the simple reason that you are accepted as long as you don't bully anyone, aka shut up or avoid issues related to religion and politics. So where's the wealth and freedom then? Of course there is, but not to the extent that is claimed over and over. My conclusion then is that this 'superiority' which is talked about simply isn't there. There's no ground for claiming such, otherwise could someone please explain me why there's such a mess both inside and outside the US because of the US?

'Audience guy' seems to think there's wealth and freedom in the US despite the influence of religion. I think there's not so much wealth and freedom because of religion and religion-based politics. Especially conservatives seem to think that because of religion or only with religion you (can) have the moral upper hand, and that this has lead to the US being such a wonderful and prosperous nation. Unfortunately this message about the US being great 'n all has been sold so many times that even bright people or freethinkers swallow it but can't always see it's false. When you say something many times enough people start believing it. Religious indoctrination obscures problems.

And to end with a comment on Iraq: if we (US AND Europe) would be really compassionate about the people in Iraq, that would have lead to different tactics, plus it would give us no excuse not to help people in North Korea, Congo, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Myanmar, or even Iran. Sadly so we seem to be stuck in our own prejudices.

37. These preachers of hate must be exposed

Comment #63587 by rokort on August 15, 2007 at 2:23 am

Wee Flea, Russell,

Maybe I should have been less absolute in my choice of words, but what's left of a statement when it's followed by a list of exceptions? Of course I know there's decent and sincere religious people or benign religions, but I can't see why I should divide between Abrahamic religions since it's been documented and argued enough they're 'all' a big fan of punishment and prosecution.

I'm aware it's a bit off topic but I think that you don't need to be religious to be a good person. Religions (yours' too David, not just extreme ones like Wahhabi) base their morals on myths, with the result: 'What would have become of me without God?', or ' God wants me to be nice'. Secular people don't necessarily need Godly guidance or -rules to be kind, don't necessarily need excuses to behave compassionate. They 'know' (although that's a tricky one, as discussed by Bonzai, Robert Maynard, and others here) that morals are based upon some intrinsic capacity of our brain science cannot fully fathom yet, or just because of logic and reason – influenced by socio-ethnic background perhaps. It is possible to lay out moral principles that seem very reasonable without interference of any deity.

Religites claims to be morally superior, otherwise they wouldn't shove their ideas (on women for example) down our throat like they do now. Interestingly enough, religious devotee lie and deceit whenever it suits them -we've all seen the Channel 4 documentary as another nice example- so what's left of their moral then? When religion is stripped from the 'positive' moral the remainder is a whole lotta riffraff of nasty crap. That's what I meant by: it's no good, but about fear, hate and suffering.

And regarding that Dutch Bishop GBile: the man has tried to be provocative before. For example he has said that it should be legitimate for poor people to steal bread, or that abortion is okay. He's not taken too serious here. We have more issues with Geert Wilders. He's the leader of PVV (Party for Freedom – a sort of one-issue Party against Muslims) and said last week that he wants a ban on the Qu'ran since "it's the Mein Kampf for Muslims". As a result his party jumped from 9 to 19 (out of 150) seats in Parliament in the polls...

38. These preachers of hate must be exposed

Comment #63352 by rokort on August 14, 2007 at 2:27 am

Although undoubtedly the cross-contamination between Saoudi and British politics will be complicated, it baffles me that tolerance is served as a castrated lamb to its Muslim slaughter again and again.

As if the Enlightenment has been for nothing, the despicable religious morals get the upper hand over secular thought, for the sake of 'dialogue'. Dialogue between diametrically opposite fundies....., what a sh1te! (to paraphrase pewkatchoo). Such is the consequence of not being rational.

Apparently it's difficult for a 'Western' mind to accept religion is a bad thing, perhaps because the adage 'God is love' has been tolerated for too long. Well, how much more proof that ain't the case? Religion is all about fear, hate and suffering. Nothing more, nothing less.

39. New age therapies cause 'retreat from reason'

Comment #62549 by rokort on August 10, 2007 at 4:56 am

Re: 174. Comment #62528 by Veronique

Merci Veronique.

Actually, the 24th (is that 'cusp' enough?) i'll turn 37.
And if wine will secure me becoming a joyfull spirit as thou; Cheers!

40. New age therapies cause 'retreat from reason'

Comment #62509 by rokort on August 10, 2007 at 2:27 am

tuibguy and Veronique

Make that a third (also on "Cusp of Leo") who is not an obsessively neat, disciplined and driven Virgo...


(is this okay English?)

41. New age therapies cause 'retreat from reason'

Comment #62022 by rokort on August 8, 2007 at 12:42 am

re dhweaver (129. Comment #61741):

It's even more easy than that, all you have to do is apply cream and pray (or is it prey?, depends on perspective i guess):
http://www.behealed.biz/

Based on the divine Trinity of Dishonesty, Ignorance and Intimidation. Wave the god-cart and any crap can and will be sold as a solution.

EDIT: teaser, from website

Our belief: God Is The Source of All Healing!


Even though we believe strongly that P.D.Q.! may help you, due to the strict guidelines of the F.D.A. (Federal Drug Administration) we cannot and do not make any claims about what P.D.Q.! Herbal Skin Cream or P.D.Q.! Recovery Dietary Supplement can do for you. We cannot offer testimonials, nor do we show photos that may indicate results that you may expect. We believe you were led to this website by God. We pray that you will have faith to try P.D.Q.! Herbal Skin Cream if you have skin lesions that concern you, or P.D.Q.! Recovery Dietary Supplement for boosting the immune system. Therefore, we offer the following Disclaimer:

Our Prayer Policy: Many scientific studies now show that prayer, especially intercessory prayer (prayers for someone other than yourself) may exert influence to bring about healing. Each person that orders P.D.Q.! or requests prayer will specifically be named in prayer by the team at P.D.Q.! Sales. May God Bless You!

42. Arrogance, dogma and why science - not faith - is the new enemy of reason

Comment #61822 by rokort on August 7, 2007 at 2:59 am

Oh dear...so much work ahead of us still. Perhaps journalists/columnists should be held more accountable for what they write. It doesn't seem she has thought for more than 2 seconds about what RD tries to translate to us about evolution, religion, and ratio. Why is she entitled to airing an opinion on such scale then? So we can mock her?

But more important: howcome yesterday evening South Park episode 615 (Dutch TV; Comedy Central) was about psychics (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Biggest_Douche_in_the_Universe), while only very recently on this site the discussion on New Age etc started, because RD's book comes out soon.

This can't be a coincidence, right? Must be our minds bending the TV-programming, if i think rationally. Yup, that the episode was aired yesterday should be proof enough that our collective thinking on the no-use of irrationality created a universal energy bending the brain of the person aligning the episodes. Halelujah!

43. New age therapies cause 'retreat from reason'

Comment #61651 by rokort on August 6, 2007 at 5:30 am

From the article above:

Satish Kumar, a spiritualist and the editor of the ecological magazine Resurgence, whose fans include the Prince of Wales and the Dalai Lama, tells Prof Dawkins: "I represent the entire history of evolution, I was present in the beginning, the first big bang, and I'll be here for billions of years to come."

Maybe it has been mentioned on a thread before, and my apologies if so, but in the magazine Resurgence i found articles by Deepak Chopra on his vs Prof. Dawkins' ideas on creation/evolution/life.
It gives an idea of their different points of view:

part 1: http://www.resurgence.org/2007/chopra242.htm
part 2: http://www.resurgence.org/2007/chopra243.htm

44. After Blair, Labour MPs opt for 'God Delusion'

Comment #61626 by rokort on August 6, 2007 at 3:24 am

Very interesting to see these guys seem heavily interested in biographies (3 outta 5). Does that mean they are more concerned with their colleagues than in issues the general public is dealing with?

45. New age therapies cause 'retreat from reason'

Comment #61622 by rokort on August 6, 2007 at 3:10 am

Though drive1 and discipline have raised questions whether it's a wise thing of RD to object to new age therapies etc, for me the reason why he does this is simple (and has been addressed by jonecc and SteveKisko as well): RD is professor of the public understanding of science, and therefore he educates about the use of reason in dealing with life. I can imagine he doesn't feel like he was born to become some "leader" of an atheist movement, so why would we have to expect him to behave as such and focus on the irrationality of religion only? When he started writing on religion after some of his evolutionary biology books we didn't ask him to stick with biology either.

In no way can we claim that he should only focus on one subject i think. He's clever enough to do more than that and do it well.

46. Who's Minding the Mind?

Comment #61405 by rokort on August 5, 2007 at 3:50 am

Comment #61237 by SteveN

It seems to me that Derren Brown is either a student of such studies or even a pioneer in the research. His ability to manipulate the subconscious with subtle visual and aural clues is quite astonishing, I find. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyQjr1YL0zg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=befugtgikMg and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p958woXcYcI for example. I find the last one (the heist) quite disturbing, actually.

Wow! Thanks for those links.

Indeed, if this is not set up, then Derren Brown should hook up with neuroscientists to empirically investigate what brainparts are involved here and how, though no doubt quite some folks might be interested in his work for a whole other reason...

47. New age therapies cause 'retreat from reason'

Comment #61388 by rokort on August 5, 2007 at 2:38 am

Again and again i'm amazed by how much it feels like coming home every time roaming this site. When reading or hearing Deepak Chopra i always had the feeling it was nothing more than a highly commercialised rip-off of some Buddhist teachings. The kind of deeper wisdom everybody can develop (and are sold as cliche's printed on ceramic tiles to hang on your wall at home) but with some Eastern transcendent sauce over it now sold as the new soulfood.

Thank you Prof. Dawkins for taking a stand against irrational thinking.

48. They let anybody onto the faculty at Oxford nowadays

Comment #60869 by rokort on August 3, 2007 at 3:08 am

Nice piece PZ.

I listened to an interview on the radio this morning with Eugène Sutorius. He's known as the first attorney in the Netherlands who in the 80's started the whole debate on euthanasia here by supporting doctors who had euthanised patients and had gotten into trouble because there wasn't clear legislation on this. Now there is, and most people here find the laws on euthanasia acceptable.

He came accross as a very intelligent and reasonable man but i nearly choked on my cerials when he started talking about the role of religion in his life. He didn't run away from the nasty side of religion or the insignificance of earthly life or anything, but what struck me was that he constantly said that we don't have a clue how we came here or how the universe is constructed and THEREFORE we have to be irrational on the matter of god.

He doesn't understand or doesn't want to understand we DO know more and more about how we came here and how the universe is constructed and he simply neglects science for that matter. This simple thing makes all the difference for a lot of religious people i think. It's not necessarily an easy task to homeschool yourself on scientific stuff, so all the more easy for religites to persuade people to just accept irrational explanations and forget about skepticism and inquiry.

The beauty, wonder, facts, and education of science should be way higher on the priority-list of schools, and in a more lucid way woven into our daily lives. Plus if it were up to me, a scientist shouldn't be "allowed" to be religious. If he/she can't be rational on god, how can i trust their scientific scrutiny?

49. Don't eat at the Outback Steakhouse on Route 3...

Comment #59028 by rokort on July 27, 2007 at 2:40 am

from the comments (which is now disabled) to the RighteousResponse Youtube movie:

redsky (5 days ago)
I am assuming that the terrorist actions being planned against Christians and Muslims on Richard Dawkin's website aren't supported by the majority of aethiests. I wonder what the BBC and the British press will say. Let's find out shall we?

Don't know much about this Redsky, but should we take this serious? Is this a one-man's idea or a more general feeling amongst "the attacked"?

O how i loathe this typically conservative abuse of language and the truth. Spreading fear seems to be their only bussiness sometimes.

50. Texas Leads U.S. in Teen Birth Rate

Comment #59015 by rokort on July 27, 2007 at 1:24 am

So if i get this straight they don't get enough info from their parents and school says don't do it.

Just another example that the religious are affraid to talk about the simple truth. So let's not and keep on wasting lives and kids' futures. Beyond pathetic.

edit:

"A lot of parents want to talk to their child about sex and dating, but they don't know how to start the conversation,"

ever thought about: "your mother/father and i would like to talk to you about dating and sex" ?

*...sheesh...* [rolls eyes]