1. Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies

Comment #197989 by home8896 on June 23, 2008 at 3:10 am

Goodbye George. Loved you.

2. Storm erupts over 'virginity' divorce

Comment #186446 by home8896 on May 30, 2008 at 9:47 am

This is ages and ages of valuing virginity in females and negating any value for male virginity all wrapped up in a pretty little "but SHE LIED TO HIM" bow. The fact is this law remains valid in France, and that is disheartening. At least that had no bearing on my marriage and divorce here in Kentucky.

Whatever, she's better being annulled from the guy. Let's just hope we don't see her name in the papers in a few weeks because her family honor killed her.

3. 1968 Supreme Court case of Epperson v. Arkansas

Comment #185915 by home8896 on May 29, 2008 at 4:40 am

I just can't take it seriously when I hear someone say "many people have their own definition of [Intelligent Design.]" If you can't even come up with one definition to agree upon, and everyone gets to define it however each person desire, then there's simply nothing to argue about. I mean, if everyone gets to define it their own ways, can I just define it as slow changes in the populations of animal species over time promoted by natural selection? At that point, I just couldn't listen to the ID lawyer seriously anymore.

4. The detail in the Devil

Comment #176465 by home8896 on May 7, 2008 at 11:56 am

In a world where "demonologist" can be used as a lofty and intellectually sound title, I weep. Please ignore the emotional needs and the psychological neuroscience being pioneered. All we really need is a good demonologist - who will never get to see a real demon in his life, and therefore I am left to wonder what he's been studying. Old books and such? Can one of my great grandchildren then one day aspire to being elfologists based on Tolkien and those who are so deeply moved by his elf world that they've begun writing in that mindset?

5. Dumb and Dumber: A discussion between Ben Stein and Glenn Beck

Comment #175564 by home8896 on May 5, 2008 at 3:44 pm

I haven't actually watched this one yet. I'll do that later. I just had to mention that Diacanu's post made me spit out my drink all over my computer. *is still laughing*

6. Ben Stein Vs. Sputtering Atheists

Comment #165075 by home8896 on April 21, 2008 at 3:13 am

The fact that this author starts out with the line about PC liberalism, then tries to play himself off as "having come from the other side" is so familiar. The whole "I used to be an atheist" familiarity here. Now, I guess we get to hear "I used to believe in evolution, until..."

7. Open Letter to a victim of Ben Stein's lying propaganda

Comment #164802 by home8896 on April 20, 2008 at 5:50 pm

Even here within these comments, the jaw-dropping misunderstanding of evolution is becoming obvious. Some things were more likely to succeed and did succeed in nature, with no hand determining the success. There is no application going on. We developed empathy and compassion. They benefited us. We strive to hone these hallmarks of humanity. This furthers our survival. How hard is it to see that? What is being taught that people would feel that humanity developing by being empathetic and seeking to control those who are not is such a difficult concept to grasp?

8. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #150332 by home8896 on March 26, 2008 at 5:59 pm

Oh geez, seems I posted on the wrong thread first, too!

Happy birthday, Richard. May this coming year be ever more exciting than even this past year!

9. Expelled Overview

Comment #149705 by home8896 on March 26, 2008 at 6:42 am

severalspeciesof

That explains Rush Limbaugh's endorsement of the film

10. Happy 66th Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #149698 by home8896 on March 26, 2008 at 6:25 am

Have a great birthday. Hope this next year is just as exciting for you.

11. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #148849 by home8896 on March 24, 2008 at 3:41 am

Well, I had very little intention of ever doing anything but maybe catching it on a streaming free website hosted in a different country one day. Now, however, the prospect of listening to Stein's nasally whine for however long the movie is repulses me. Thanks for the warning, Richard.

12. Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90

Comment #146081 by home8896 on March 18, 2008 at 3:35 pm

Bye Clarke.

13. Fleabytes

Comment #129698 by home8896 on February 19, 2008 at 1:25 pm

Very lengthy and detailed responses to these books. I give hearty applause for taking these people to task. Someone always seems to complain that no one reads their books the way they read TGD.

14. What he wishes on us is an abomination

Comment #125261 by home8896 on February 11, 2008 at 6:36 am

Change isn't going to happen overnight. If people who still wish to believe in some parts of their religion can banish the more hideous aspects of that religion, then that is a good first step. The all or nothing, black or white tactic is going to do nothing except marginalize those who seek change. To say to most people, I don't believe in any of this crap, and therefore you should change everything and do it now is going to fall on deaf ears. And many of the nasty traditions being supported by extremists can be changed from within. After that baby step is mastered, other parts can be approached. I'm not a big fan of all or nothing, and when it comes to changing something that is torture and destruction to human beings, even if those human beings have some deluded notions of imaginary friends (which is all I can hear when I see this all or nothing stance - "oh this writer doesn't count, and her opinion is worthless because she is still clinging to hope that there is a just invisible being out there"), is worth the effort. It will take those who aren't extreme to stand up against the extreme, first.

15. Sharia fiasco

Comment #124991 by home8896 on February 10, 2008 at 3:28 pm

It smacks of segregation - different laws for different people. And I think of the kids who are called Muslim children who have no say in it, and for the most part, women who are pretty much in social bondage to their husbands or brothers and don't dare rock the boat. It should definitely be one country for everyone, and not two different countries within the same borders. If there is an extremist faction that wants to put a wedge into the country, then that definitely needs to be kept out of power. If the majority of sensible Muslims are against it, they should also be encouraged to come out and say, "Hey I moved here to live unpestered, not to bring a wedge, so shut up, sillyheads." Or something...

16. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124531 by home8896 on February 9, 2008 at 5:52 pm

Diacanu

Good point.

But there is that old line "wherever they burn books, they will eventually start to burn people".

I'd rather that were nipped in the bud wherever possible.

17. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124526 by home8896 on February 9, 2008 at 5:34 pm

My full blown hate is restricted for people who are truly destroying human beings, not ideas... but there is anger at those who support and foster those individuals who take their messages to the extreme in literal sense. Living near Ham's 27 million dollar memorial to the destruction of reason means I'm exposed to a lot of ideas from excited tourists that bring out my contempt.

18. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124521 by home8896 on February 9, 2008 at 5:01 pm

I could fit the people I don't hate or have indifference toward on a small fishing schooner.

19. Battle of the Chambersburg billboards

Comment #124508 by home8896 on February 9, 2008 at 4:30 pm

Although I would really hesitate to say I hate America, there is a certain portion of Americans I am getting really close to hating, and they tend to post assinine billboards like this.

20. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #123082 by home8896 on February 6, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Well, Richard, while we're being pedantic, that's not schizophrenia. Totally unrelated.

21. Ad 'likely to offend gay people'

Comment #123080 by home8896 on February 6, 2008 at 12:36 pm

Just because of the title, I have to say this: I'm not gay and I'm offended, too.

22. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123070 by home8896 on February 6, 2008 at 12:28 pm

Wow, I expected Chris Hansen to show up any minute with the tone of voice and the spooky music.

23. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #122639 by home8896 on February 5, 2008 at 5:48 pm

Diacanu: Not sure you intend comments on the outburst, but you know you're one of the better responders here. I do know that pessimism, but I don't think Vox Day really is a taste of all of the future. Just a small hint of it. For the sake of anyone else, too, out there who wants to give up when faced with the shit that's out there, just remember that if you give up, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. Don't let this be all we get to read.

24. Christopher Hitchens Debates Timothy Jackson

Comment #122628 by home8896 on February 5, 2008 at 5:21 pm

Kudos to those who can put up with listening to this stuff repeatedly and argue it repeatedly. I got to Mr. Jackson talking about the Nazis and social darwinism and I just gave up. I just can't listen to this, over and over and over...

25. Blasphemy

Comment #122607 by home8896 on February 5, 2008 at 3:33 pm

Yes, well, it seemed apparent that this was aimed at the ones not living in the extreme conditions that this execution portrays to the rest of the world about Islam. Not even all of the East is as harsh as that, and if there was a loud enough voice from the less extreme factions, maybe something could be done. As well as the fact that if the entirety of the Muslim masses feel so oppressed and live in such terror of the extremists, maybe it's time we jarred them into action against what they tell us is a minority. And if it isn't a minority, then maybe they need to be more honest.

26. Blasphemy

Comment #122559 by home8896 on February 5, 2008 at 12:57 pm

I do hope that someone with clout is hearing things like this. This was a fantastic piece: eloquent, succinct. I wish I could do more than give a "hear, hear" in agreement.

27. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #122305 by home8896 on February 5, 2008 at 7:03 am

I find myself cringing now when I hear people use "theory" in place of "nutty idea I thought up while I was drunk, last night" which goes to show my consciousness has been raised over the last few years. I knew there was a difference in the two uses, but I'm now at the point where hearing it misused bothers me. I hope we can get everyone to that point eventually.

28. A Letter From Hell

Comment #122304 by home8896 on February 5, 2008 at 7:01 am

There's always a great Monty Python quote for nonsense!

29. Are Darwin's Theories Fact or Faith Issues?

Comment #122287 by home8896 on February 5, 2008 at 5:28 am

PJG:

Most people are amazingly ignorant of the theory of evolution and science in general. It horrifies me when I talk to JWs and other Bible literalists, I find it impossible to believe they attended, let alone understood, a single science lesson while they were at school.

30. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #120994 by home8896 on February 2, 2008 at 9:00 pm

Wow, I don't even have time to read all these posts, let alone answer them, even when they are light and weren't requiring an answer, as was my last post. The fact that it got response is staggeringly amusing. No, not the content, just that it got a response. I won't even begin to anecdote my own life experience and my mom's about psychological well-being correlations to religious upbringing. It's totally not causal, though, even I know that much...

31. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #120895 by home8896 on February 2, 2008 at 6:10 pm

1450 Blacknad: "Had a worthwhile discussion here the other night."

Rofl, yeah, that discussion really brought entertainment value to a whole new (lower) level.

32. Pope says some science shatters human dignity

Comment #120770 by home8896 on February 2, 2008 at 1:26 pm

PJG

Home8896

During the last World Cup, there was a joke here in the UK which referred to all the "England" (or "Ing-er-land") flags that people were flying from their cars...

"The world is full of arseholes. Thankfully, God gave us the flag of St. George so they can be easily identified". Maybe we should modify it slightly...

"The world is full of idiots. Thankfully, God gave us the Christian fish symbol so they can be easily identified".

Just a thought.

33. Pope says some science shatters human dignity

Comment #120622 by home8896 on February 2, 2008 at 6:24 am

The idea of human dignity is really odd to me. Every time I get in the car, I see an awful lot of people around me with Jesus fish stickies (or the more popular around here of the Jesus fish eating the Darwin fish as well as the other expressions of devotion to religion on their cars - license plates and bumper stickers) who just toss this myth of dignity out the window as soon as they get in their cars. There are plenty of other examples that show me that there's really no such thing as dignity. It's just one more myth used to comfort people into believing they are somehow special and tons better than the animals around them.

The more I watch people and read up on them, the less I believe in dignity.

34. Happy Birthday Josh Timonen!

Comment #118852 by home8896 on January 31, 2008 at 4:37 am

Thanks for the site and happy birthday. Cheers!

35. Loneliness Breeds Belief in Supernatural

Comment #116695 by home8896 on January 27, 2008 at 6:53 am

Well, as long as atheists blow off the whole loneliness issue with "well I don't feel lonely" sniffing, I suppose it's unlikely this issue would ever be addressed.

36. Loneliness Breeds Belief in Supernatural

Comment #116283 by home8896 on January 26, 2008 at 6:37 am

This is the crux of my problems. Unwanted isolation, deep loneliness, divorce, and yet the inability to entertain invisible beings. I suppose if I were indoctrinated, I would be in a situation where a church would become my whole world, right now. This is probably why so many acquaintances are trying to get me into some church or other. I really can't do the imaginary friend thing for long periods of time, and I did try for many years. So, this isolation is pretty cruel right now, and I still haven't quite worked out how to live in such a deeply religious area, alone with my kids, being the last of my family before my sons, for all intents and purposes, and truly wishing to reach out and make friends. The religious issue really does get in the way, though. It amazes me how insulted people are when I am frank about not being able to buy this stuff. There has to be something besides bars and clubs to do in a secular setting around here. I just don't know what yet. If I were more vulnerable, I certainly would probably give a church a try. Not even my cat is quite enough to fill this loneliness, though. I agree with what someone above said that if secular organizations could alleviate this problem, it would be a mighty blow to the hold churches have over most of us who long for human company.

37. Banned From Church

Comment #115035 by home8896 on January 23, 2008 at 12:51 pm

Alright, I couldn't read the whole thing. I came across two of their examples and both lead back to people wanting to know something about the financial records, and getting expelled and called gossips for doing so. What a neat way to keep people from looking too deeply into an organization when corruption may be at hand. There was a case nearby, in recent years, of a pastor getting arrested for fraud within his large church. I suppose losing 74 members out of thousands is nothing in comparison to being caught out on fraud.

38. Ethical storm as scientist becomes first man to clone HIMSELF

Comment #113581 by home8896 on January 20, 2008 at 5:29 am

This article was definitely an opinion piece. The close association of embryo and human and person throughout the article is infuriating. There is no attempt to view it from any other position. The quotes used to describe the scientists' side seem unfinished. It might not be overt in tone of being outraged by the idea, but the author seems to have gone out of his/her way to ensure the public feels outrage. I really hate reading this kind of drivel.

39. Man and God

Comment #103406 by home8896 on December 25, 2007 at 1:16 pm

I teeter back and forth about using my name. There is only one of me, though buried beneath a blogging program and other fictional online characters and pseudonyms - unless you combine it with my last name, which draws up one page of info through an obituary and a site I registered at several years ago. Yet, I was fired for having a webpage online in 2000 where I poked fun at my job and the customers there (a hidden and small free webpage that I used as a blog before the word "blog" was in major circulation), and so my paranoia is through the roof. I live near the creation museum and though not everyone buys into the crap in that place, they are all very hardcore believers here. I've got myself trapped because my life circumstances didn't offer me a decent path since childhood. I'm starting over at the very bottom, and dare not chance it. And I am angry that my nonbelief should even be an issue at all. I take refuge here, but I will do so semi-anonymously. I've left clues in places for people who know me, but you won't find me here just by googling my name.

(how'd I end up on top of both pages here?)

40. Man and God

Comment #103338 by home8896 on December 25, 2007 at 8:07 am

Um, so what is this "scientific" ideology Stalin was using, again? Why haven't I heard of it before now?

Also, let this article be a lesson about "highlighting" "words" "individually" in "quotes." It's annoying and unprofessional.

41. 2 fleas for the Christmas week

Comment #102769 by home8896 on December 23, 2007 at 3:35 pm

On a sidenote about fleas. I saw a book at Barnes and Noble two nights ago. It was a finance book, of all things. It was yellow with the small-to-large one word per line called something like "Good to Great" - now what the fuck is that??? A finance book drawing its cover from God Is Not Great?

As for the flea chosen for the week, again, with this trying to market to people who do not want to think about Mr. Dawkin's book and just want to be reassured that there are publishers responding to his book, instead... It's actually rather sad to me.

42. Jesus ad angers church groups

Comment #100684 by home8896 on December 19, 2007 at 5:36 am

I swear I've already seen this premise (though not this commercial itself) used for another company in the past. Why is it suddenly pissing off certain Christian groups?

43. Interview with Richard Dawkins: On Christmas

Comment #100674 by home8896 on December 19, 2007 at 5:02 am

Diacanu,

At the end of the day I do like what I want and do what I want, but this wall has been carefully maintained to the point where I don't even realize I'm doing it until I read the comments on posts like this and begin to wonder why.

44. Interview with Richard Dawkins: On Christmas

Comment #100668 by home8896 on December 19, 2007 at 4:49 am

Hm, well, I won't say that I don't understand that sometimes humans are not purely rational robots designed never to seem hypocritical and inconsistent. It's what we do best. However, living where I do, any participation in any manner tells the fundies I know that I secretly desire to be part of their cozy little congregations and worship God. Everything from singing religious songs to saying "Merry Christmas" becomes an open invitation to proselytize to me. Again. I sing the secular songs with glee. I have a visceral reaction to the religious ones. A highly rebellious one, I suppose. I'm tired of being preached at, and I keep my distance, because I've been burnt one too many times by people who wanted to draw me into their religions. My questions don't get answered or get ridiculous answers that I can't just accept. And the whole outsider/alien feeling consumes me again.

So it may be easy for Mr. Dawkins to be a cultural Christian and be able to turn his back on the message, but around here, even carols are thought to be a source of prying open a closed atheist mind. And I'm not ready to play those games again.

45. This Week's Flea

Comment #100429 by home8896 on December 18, 2007 at 3:37 pm

*laughs hysterically* "compelling answers" *snorts* *chortles* Oh, that's rich.

46. Creationists plan British theme park

Comment #99451 by home8896 on December 16, 2007 at 5:16 pm

rev... well thanks for that hearty laugh, if nothing else - and really someone should get you the "life lesson" statuette from Discovery/TLC with the caption that says something about wine and the internet not mixing.

47. Happy Newton Day!

Comment #99010 by home8896 on December 15, 2007 at 7:24 am

Oh, I only get irritable and rebellious about "Merry Christmas" because, around here, people really do believe they are being utterly attacked by secularists and that "Merry Christmas" is believed to be banned, though none of this is true. The woman in line with her friend, yelling about the horrid removal of Christ from Christmas and the evil secularists attacking her religion make me want to puke. So saying "Merry Christmas" around here is a symbol of Christian dominion solidarity, which gets up my nose.

48. Atheists' sign sparks controversy

Comment #97615 by home8896 on December 12, 2007 at 12:34 pm

Most (of the religious) people (I know personally) don't see god as a Deist, non-interventionist. And if all god wants is for us to make right decisions, then why can't we just come up with something that's not based on mythology and what is empirically good for everyone, regardless of interesting stories one is told in childhood? And then what purpose is God, if we can do it for ourselves, since God's not really interested in us?

49. Atheists' sign sparks controversy

Comment #97601 by home8896 on December 12, 2007 at 12:10 pm

Oh geez, already. This black/white crap is really off the charts. Coming up with a utopian vision of any future world is beyond laughable. The point is and always has been to minimize the things that do the most damage. No, a unified world of either no religion or one religion would not be the end of the challenges that face us. However, without the fingers-in-ears type of religious ideology, we'd have a starting point for turning to the rest of the shit that goes on in the world. I'm not nearly as optimistic as some, I guess, and this model of an atheist world holds no more value to me than a model of a Christian world.

50. An Open Letter to Richard Dawkins

Comment #97435 by home8896 on December 12, 2007 at 4:53 am

Almost 300 comments, and near the end, we have proof that the ideas presented all over this entire site are totally and utterly ignored.

"belief system" and [sarcasm]nooooooo, of course we never, ever, ever condemn the actions of anyone doing terrible deeds. Never, ever, ever.[/sarcasm] Yes, of fucking course we condemn any shitty actions by any shitty person. Regardless of some perceived "solidarity" or "in group" mentality we're supposed to have because the dorks didn't believe in God, just like us....

Okay, that's out of my system now.