1. Bush Vetoes Measure on Stem Cell Research

Comment #51117 by slpeterson on June 21, 2007 at 2:31 pm

Bush isn't pro-life. He's pro-birth.

2. Quackbuster causes too much flak for university

Comment #50162 by slpeterson on June 15, 2007 at 11:20 am

I laugh at people who think the regulatory agencies who oversee the pharmaceutical market (or the medical profession) are in any way "watchdogs." They are a cartel-enforcement agency, an oligarchy.

There is a lot of "alternative medicine" quackery, but there is a lot of quackery in our chemical treatment/surgery industry. The difference is one group is well-funded, well-marketed, and has cartel protection. It is the same con as the priesthood in times of antiquity, don't trust someone's word just because he wears a white coat.

Peer reviewing just requires a culture of censorship (which we have) and more "experts" on the payroll. Or just the good-old boy system of you support my paper and I'll support yours.

Conspiracy theory is an emotionally-loaded term used to bring the hammer down on debates when facts won't work. Calling someone a "conspiracy theorist" is an ad hominem attack.

3. Hamas Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony

Comment #47670 by slpeterson on June 5, 2007 at 8:45 am

It was WESTERN intelligence groups (including Mossad), by creating indoctrinal schoolbooks and other material, and creating the superheroes that controlled the movement, that basically re-awakened and unleashed the monster of Islamic fundamentalism in the middle east. They wanted a buffer between Europe and the great atheistic Soviet beast. They have also watched their religious rivals (Israel) annex their nation one piece down the barrel of American-supplied guns. Now our chickens have come home to roost.

Religion has always been used as a psychological weapon and a way to control the masses. Frankly I think that was the reason religion was invented in the first place.

4. Hitchens and Prager Debate

Comment #46238 by slpeterson on May 30, 2007 at 4:27 pm

I would NOT be relieved to know that the 10 men just came from bible study. Actually, that would be enough to get me to turn the other direction. Most hate crimes or acts of violence I've witnessed have been outspoken Christians. It seems like nothing whips up the power of the mob more than religion-inspired hate.

5. Catholic Church Reconsiders Limbo

Comment #43422 by slpeterson on May 21, 2007 at 10:49 am

The Onion specializes in the kind of low-key, dry, sardonic humor that doesn't club you over the head and I think it takes a lot of flak for it. It uses a mock-journalistic format and irony to make points rather than drive its point into your head like a sledgehammer. For many people I think it's too subtle.

This isn't the funniest Onion piece on religion I have ever seen, the best has to be in their book Our Dumb Century, for Jan 1, 2000, "Christian Right Ascends to Heaven" with a picture of Jesus at the top of a heavenly stair and Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, etc ascending. (Clearly, Jerry Falwell has gotten a head start.) I can't quote it exactly since I don't have the book anymore, but there is a Robertson quote along the lines of, "We are excited to share eternally our love and fellowship with our lord in Heaven. There will also be a shared hatred of gays."