1. Aliens need Christ's redemption, too

Comment #201755 by liberalartist on June 30, 2008 at 8:06 am

This reminds me of the South Park episode where they battle the televangalists and try to prevent them from poluting another planet with their "missionary work". Quite funny. But who knew these crazy people were serious.

2. Mormons urged to back ban on same-sex marriage

Comment #199141 by liberalartist on June 25, 2008 at 8:31 am

I agree with Cartomancer, we should do away with marriage completely. There are many laws across the US that harm women due to marriage (for example you won't be punished as much for beating up your wife as for beating up a stranger in many states). And it really bugs me that married persons get better tax breaks than me! I say the easiest way to solve this problem is tell all these religious people their marriages are null and void by the government!

another reason why the US government has no business in the marriage racket: "Marriage between a man and a woman is ordained of God,"

3. Philadelphia Set to Honor Darwin and Evolution

Comment #198703 by liberalartist on June 24, 2008 at 11:26 am

I think I learned more about creationism and ID in this article than I learned about evolution. What a waste!

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

Comment #198671 by liberalartist on June 24, 2008 at 11:00 am

so basically women are slaves in the muslim world. To marry off your daughter at the age of one, three, nine, or sixteen is to treat her as livestock. Nothing more, nothing less.

5. World Youth Day condom protest against Pope

Comment #198654 by liberalartist on June 24, 2008 at 10:49 am

oh, how I miss the days when youth protested against the establishment and rejected authority. Now they pant after the pope as if he were Elvis! So only a rag-tag group of feel-good christians, liars and atheists are left to protest against one of the biggest ani-human rights violators on the planet. so sad.

6. Pastors Challenge Law, Endorse Candidates From Pulpit

Comment #196870 by liberalartist on June 20, 2008 at 2:16 pm

"Both the Democrats and Republicans recognize how important "faith voters" will be in this year's presidential election, and each is working to court religious groups."

and what about the rest of us? bastards.

"The Democrats this year are courting religious voters like never before and will open this summer's convention, for the first time, with a prayer meeting."

Makes me feel like I have no one to vote for in November.

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

Comment #195488 by liberalartist on June 18, 2008 at 10:20 am

Oystein,
Congrats on throwing off the shackles of religion.

8. Rapture site sends unbelievers their last chance ... via email

Comment #194724 by liberalartist on June 17, 2008 at 8:04 am

There's a sucker born every second, as they say. Isn't it sweet how christianity and capitalism go so well together, or is it christianity and exploitation? yeah, that too.

9. George W Bush meets Pope amid claims he might convert to Catholicism

Comment #194715 by liberalartist on June 17, 2008 at 7:54 am

We have come a long way from the Kennedy era. Won't it be nice to have a president who spends less time praying and more time running the country? Bush buries himself in religion because he doesn't have any answers of his own, and he is attracted to Catholicism because it has a so-called "supreme authority". Does it get any more pathetic than that?

5 more months, only 5 more months.......wait, that's just the election, 7 more months, ugh!

10. The Great Evangelical Decline

Comment #188820 by liberalartist on June 4, 2008 at 4:34 pm

If people are leaving the Souther Baptist church I wonder if it is just to join another. In the south there is a church on every corner, but a friend of mine said the other day that is because people become dissatisfied, leave their church and form their own.

Lucas said: "all our worrying and whining about creationism is similarly overblown."

I would have to disagree. Yes, their numbers have been overblown, but their power has been real. The supreme court now rests in their favor 5-4 and that will have impact for another decade or more. It is something to be concerned about and I plan to keep up the fight. It is not enough that we outnumber them if we stand by and let them legislate science out of the curriculum.

11. Opponents of Evolution Adopting a New Strategy

Comment #188815 by liberalartist on June 4, 2008 at 4:10 pm

with people defending this bill this way:

...believes that Earth's appearance is a recent geologic event â€" thousands of years old, not 4.5 billion. "I believe a lot of incredible things," he said, "The most incredible thing I believe is the Christmas story. That little baby born in the manger was the god that created the universe."

it has no chance of standing up in court. Let him be the mouth piece for this movement and I am not worried. And Bluebird, thanks for the MO update, its good news.

12. Physicist Claims First Real Demonstration of Cold Fusion

Comment #187522 by liberalartist on June 2, 2008 at 9:25 am

Is this too good to be true? I remember the 1989 experiment, it was on the cover of Newsweek and everyone thought they had found the new energy source. It all seemed quite exciting, but turned out to be a real disappointment. I am skeptical, but I could really use a new energy source, gas prices are cutting into my budget big time!

13. Senate bill allows display of Lord's Prayer, 10 Commandments

Comment #186489 by liberalartist on May 30, 2008 at 11:00 am

Annabanana, I can relate to your frustration - I live in Alabama. We had a judge defiantly put the ten commandments in his court house - a huge marble statue with the commandements engraved on the top. It made the national news and he later ran for governor. I am happy to say he is not our governor and he was impeached as a judge.

Too often, christian nut jobs do this sort of thing and cause problems that more reasoned people are either ignorant of or afraid to oppose. And yes, I would agree that most American's haven't got a clue what's in the 10 commandments or what's NOT in the consititution! It is ridiculous that elected officials waste their time and our tax dollars on this rubbish. Hopefully they will feel the ridicule come election time.

14. Lab agrees to test Shroud of Turin for new theory

Comment #183616 by liberalartist on May 22, 2008 at 11:23 am

BigJohn: "Why does the image on the shroud resemble a medieval artist's depiction of Jesus?"

Actually that is not a coincidence. The artistic image of Jesus became standard at about the time the Turin was shown around in the Middle Ages. So I don't know who the real Jesus (if he existed) was, but the dude that posed for the Shroud is damn famous!

15. Kenya mob reportedly burns 11 'witches'

Comment #183606 by liberalartist on May 22, 2008 at 10:40 am

This isn't the first I have heard about people being accused of witchcraft, in the other case it was children accused by their own families. I am curious, is this a recent phenomenon or has it always been present in various African countries?

16. Sun's properties not 'fine-tuned' for life

Comment #183603 by liberalartist on May 22, 2008 at 10:30 am

it may not be special, but its ours, damnit, all ours.

17. MPs reject calls to cut abortion limit

Comment #183020 by liberalartist on May 21, 2008 at 8:45 am

Its good to know women's rights are strongly protected in Britain. Recent court cases in the US have gone the other way. An example is the so-called "partial birth-abortion case" which didn't stop late-term abortions, just outlawed the safer procedure. Thanks to Bush, its not just a conservative court, it is now a Catholic controlled Supreme Court.
http://www.law.cornell.edu/supct/html/05-380.ZD.html

18. Edgar Mitchell ushers in the Next Epoch in Evolution

Comment #183012 by liberalartist on May 21, 2008 at 8:25 am

seems to me he describes "god" in a similar way as Einstein did, and was of course later misquoted.

19. 16% of US science teachers are creationists

Comment #183007 by liberalartist on May 21, 2008 at 8:10 am

As long as a community welcomes the teaching of creationism and no one in that community is willing to stand up and say no, the students of said community will receive a crappy education. Thus is the American edcuational system. Then when they get to college they can't make it in the sciences. This is just one problem with our education in the US, I don't know if anyone has noticed, but we've mainly been importing our technological and scientific prowress for years.

20. Non-religious summer camps develop niche

Comment #183002 by liberalartist on May 21, 2008 at 7:53 am

I think Camp Quest is a great idea, and if I had kids I would send them there. I was a member of Girl Scouts and it was a great experience. I loved going on camping trips and experience the great outdoors, which wasn't a regular experience for me. Today, the outdoors is practically foreign to my nephews who spend most of their day in front of a computer. What I liked about the Girl Scouts (as opposed to Boy Scouts which are different organizations) is that it was secular and open to all types of women. Kids need opportunities to get close to nature and learn real science. They also learn independence by spending a week away from parents.

21. Mayor challenges pope during Genoa visit

Comment #182167 by liberalartist on May 19, 2008 at 10:21 am

"...suggested to Pope Benedict in a public address on Sunday that the Church could not impose its views on the personal choices of citizens in a lay state."

YEAH! I wish we had politicians saying that sort of thing in the US.

"Critics of the existing law, mostly in the centre right, say abortion has replaced contraception"

If they didn't fight access to contraception, abortions would decline. The hypocrisy of these idiot men in skirts just astounds me at times. Keeping reproductive rights from women isn't just immoral, it's criminal.

22. Malaysia woman scores rare legal win to quit Islam

Comment #181075 by liberalartist on May 16, 2008 at 11:52 am

I am currently reading "Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism" by Susan Jacoby. I am learning a lot I didn't know about various historical figures, Stanton (my new avatar) being one of them. They had to fight to maintain our separation of church and state. Our country today could be like Malaysia if it weren't for them. I think its about time to create a new holiday - "Freethinker's Day" :)

23. Malaysia woman scores rare legal win to quit Islam

Comment #181028 by liberalartist on May 16, 2008 at 10:15 am

This makes me ever so grateful to be a member of the western world where freedom of religion is the norm. It is horrible to think so many people in this world don't have such basic freedoms.

BLT with extra bacon?! Sounds yummy :)

24. Americans pray at the pump for cheaper petrol

Comment #179762 by liberalartist on May 13, 2008 at 4:40 pm

I spent $3.69 on gas this morning and somehow the first thing NOT to come to my mind was to pray about it...but I did curse a few politicians, oil barons, and their pesky lawyers.

25. 85% of Americans Want a Presidential Debate on Science

Comment #179761 by liberalartist on May 13, 2008 at 4:37 pm

yeah, we want a lot from our politicians but wantin' ain't gettin'....

not to be cynical or anything.

26. Vatican: It's OK to believe in aliens

Comment #179760 by liberalartist on May 13, 2008 at 4:31 pm

religion has to get fuzzier and fuzzier to accommodate all the scientific discoveries. This is a case a priest who doesn't really follow all the old vatican rules and just wants a "feel-good faith", one that appeals to everyone and everything, even aliens!

Alkal - they already say evolution is okay, well so long as it means god created evolution. See, with every new scientific discovery, they must apply "god" in order to keep a step ahead, and their delusions intact.

27. Is Liberal Catholicism Dead?

Comment #176448 by liberalartist on May 7, 2008 at 11:14 am

I work at a Jesuit college and see firsthand the reverence that is shown to priests and how they view themselves in a superior way. The catholic church says that its followers must confess to a priest, rather than directly to god. This puts the priest between god and follower, so the priest is "closer" to god, therefore the priest is a superior authority figure. This gives them power over their followers and power corrupts, everywhere. That corruption takes the form of politics, child rape, greed, etc....

Why do you think they are supposed to be called "father"?

28. The detail in the Devil

Comment #176118 by liberalartist on May 6, 2008 at 3:40 pm

"A graduate of the University of Missouri ..."

oh, how embarrassing.


Rod-the-Farmer, I may not have 50 years in, but I got all the rest done, so does that mean I'm posessed or reasoned???

29. Is Liberal Catholicism Dead?

Comment #176114 by liberalartist on May 6, 2008 at 3:16 pm

I think agnosticicm is the next logical step from "liberal church". So while fundamentalist congregations are growing, the overrall number of religious people declines. Eventually we will be world of atheists/agnostics and fundies. Boy doesn't that sound like fun!?

The growth of religous conservatism in the US and the growth of the hispanic population have all been good things for the Vatican. They see potential to take back what they nearly lost thanks to Vatican II. But if the catholic church thinks they are going to change peoples minds about birth control, women's roles in the church, etc., they are deluding themselves. Let them try, and lets see how many more followers say, chuck it!

30. Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks

Comment #176043 by liberalartist on May 6, 2008 at 12:20 pm

I find it ironic that atheists and islamic fundamentalists agree on something - Islam is a violent religion.

Sam - I thought this was a great article, you are a good writer. Now I have to go finish your survey...

31. Museums teach society lacking in science literacy

Comment #173109 by liberalartist on April 30, 2008 at 11:08 am

I love going to science museums, its like being a kid again! And it is always better with my nephews. dlitt: thanks for the solar system activity - I am going to do that this summer with my nephews when the family goes on vacation. I will be the only atheist there, but lucky for me my family are all pro-science, they will be impressed :)

Americans - support your local science museums, and tell your representatives to support them too!

32. The List: The World's Worst Religious Leaders

Comment #159459 by liberalartist on April 12, 2008 at 8:28 am

me thinks this writer be a christian...

33. German Church admits aiding Nazis

Comment #158201 by liberalartist on April 10, 2008 at 7:55 am

The catholic church's first priority is preservation, that means it will allign itself with the "devil" (i.e. Hitler) to survive, it will spread lies about condom use to keep the catholic babies popping out, or it will back a good cause if the outcome works in its favor.

Individuals within the organization may be good or bad, but the Catholic Church, as an institution, cares only about power and control.

34. Commentary: Democrats finally getting religion on religion

Comment #158190 by liberalartist on April 10, 2008 at 7:36 am

I also sent it to Obama.

It doesn't take a miracle for an ass to write for CNN, its standard procedure. Though FOX only hires mega-asses.

35. Commentary: Democrats finally getting religion on religion

Comment #158181 by liberalartist on April 10, 2008 at 7:25 am

Okay, this is what I wrote to Hillary Clinton:

If you want to strengthen our democracy then please restore our wall of seperation between church and state. I have learned that you will be on a CNN special Sunday to discuss faith and morality (as if one begets another!). I will be listening closely. What drove me to the democratic party from being independant was the take over of the Republicans by the religous right. Please do not pander to them, they won't vote for you anyway. There are millions of non-religous people in this country and millions more religous people who believe in our wall of seperation. Does morality mean denying sex education to young people? Withholding rights from gays and lesbians? Invoking god's name as we start a war? denying condoms to Africans so they won't use a contraceptive? Providing tax breaks to mega churches and millionaires?

I am an atheist and a voter, I am asking for reason to be returned to our government and I am asking you to acknowledge me as a citizen.

36. Protests no concern for outspoken atheist

Comment #155141 by liberalartist on April 4, 2008 at 7:43 am

thanks for the run-down Paula, sounds like you had a great night!

Richard - get well soon, I think you are due for a rest!

'Darwin's Rottweiler'?? really? That's as bad as the "militant atheists" claim. They have to put exaggerated labels on us because they have no legitimate arguements.

37. Cult leader Pyotr Kuznetsov tries suicide after realising he was wrong about doomsday

Comment #155109 by liberalartist on April 4, 2008 at 7:17 am

"The people in the cave consider themselves Orthodox Christians and not cult members."

what's the difference?

My crazy fundamentalist aunt doesn't like barcodes either, they think it is the sign of the devil or some such nonsense.

I feel sorry for the kids. At least the guy tried to kill himself and not everyone else in that cave.

38. CEAI Action Alert for Science Teachers

Comment #154415 by liberalartist on April 3, 2008 at 7:43 am

And people wonder why American education system sucks? Perhaps it is because total morons are teaching our children religious crap instead of science. I am sure if he were a history teacher he would be teaching the kids all about the founding of our "Christian" nation. Floridians did the right thing; lets just hope it doesn't get undone. They obviously have not given up the fight. Just when you think a state has gained a sense of reason, fundies make a comeback and the fight starts all over again(Kansas comes to mind here).

39. Saudi Arabia Leader Calls for Interfaith Dialogue

Comment #150000 by liberalartist on March 26, 2008 at 11:45 am

DamnDirtyApe, I think your quote is appropriate for a lot of people in this world. The Western religions are manipulators and have had centuries to refine their techniques.

Rod-the-Farmer, actually I think 'one god' is the worst. It seems to allow fanaticism to take hold in people. I guess with multiple gods, it's just too easy to drop one god for another, but if you have only one "true" god, then you have nowhere to go but give "him" up or die trying to convert others. So many people have begun to give "him" up that these religions have to work together to combat it! I guess the enemy of their enemy is us.

40. Saudi Arabia Leader Calls for Interfaith Dialogue

Comment #149960 by liberalartist on March 26, 2008 at 11:10 am

I find it funny that these religions are willing to work together to rid themselves of their biggest problem (atheists). Then they can get back to destroying each other.

As for Bin Lauden - he and his religion can go F#@# themselves!

41. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #149952 by liberalartist on March 26, 2008 at 10:59 am

For people to embrace this type of barbaric religiosity, they must be insane. If this isn't child abuse, I sure don't know what is. If I lived in Wisconsin, I would be contacting the attorney general right now demanding they prosecute the parents for, at minimum, negligent homicide. Those kids need to be removed from that home pronto. The parents have already proved they are incapable of caring for them.

42. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #149932 by liberalartist on March 26, 2008 at 10:40 am

Happy Birthday Richard from a southern yankee :)

43. Wicked untruths from the Church

Comment #149209 by liberalartist on March 25, 2008 at 9:08 am

"Then, when the Bill becomes law and, over time, the advances save lives, the bishops and their flocks can quietly benefit from the measures they so denigrated, have the operation, swig the medicine and move on, sanctimoniously, to the next bit of opposition."

this is what really makes me mad about religious nuts; they complain about evolution, but then take antibiotics without even thinking how they are developed or why they need a new one. they are hypocrites and idiots living off the backs of others.

44. Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90

Comment #146732 by liberalartist on March 19, 2008 at 10:21 am

I think it is sad that we have lost someone who inspired many people around the world. But what better way to pass our short time on this planet, than by making a difference.

Now, I'm off to the library....

45. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #145237 by liberalartist on March 17, 2008 at 11:47 am

Christopher Hitchens said it best...pure poison!

This place sounds like a cult. I wonder if they get tax exemption in Australia?

46. Beauty ad banned after Christian outcry

Comment #142540 by liberalartist on March 12, 2008 at 4:50 pm

I didn't find the ad offensive. Have they even looked at Bernini's "Ecstasy of St. Teresa"? Now that's erotic!

47. State Approves Evolution As 'Scientific Theory'

Comment #129766 by liberalartist on February 19, 2008 at 2:55 pm

Mike O'Risal - thanks for the input. I currently live on the gulf coast of Alabama. But I do get out (to Rhode Island) once in a great while and what a world of difference.

I am looking at PhD programs for next year and since the best education is not in the south, I have hope for my future.

48. Fleabytes

Comment #129755 by liberalartist on February 19, 2008 at 2:41 pm

"The universe is as it is, regardless of what he believes, and there is simply nothing to support the view that there is any kind of supernatural being behind it. Nothing. There is nothing in Robertson's arguments that can't be explained by a combination of physics, chemistry, biology, evolution, genetics, psychology, sociology and the leitmotifs of ancient storytellers. "

exactly. Reading this was so much better than working today :)

49. State Approves Evolution As 'Scientific Theory'

Comment #129675 by liberalartist on February 19, 2008 at 12:57 pm

Canada's even colder than Wisconsin, isn't it? Such a dilema, but I am getting tired of the simple-mindedness down here in the south y'all!

50. State Approves Evolution As 'Scientific Theory'

Comment #129670 by liberalartist on February 19, 2008 at 12:53 pm

party our asses off sounds like a good result. As a fairly mobile American, I am constantly torn between living in the temperate zone of my current habitat and the deep freeze of more rational states (I'm thinking Wisconsin here). So your suggestion of California has many appeals for me. I came across a book the other day called Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach which is about California breaking away from the Republic for ecological reasons. Which is probably why I made the suggestion in the first place. I have not read this book yet, so will not recommend.