Comments by Roel

1. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220803 by Roel on July 29, 2008 at 4:55 am

What on earth is "artificial contraception"? What other contraception is there, anyway?

Thinking of it, is there such a thing as "artificial conception"?

2. Losing Sight of Progress

Comment #215443 by Roel on July 21, 2008 at 11:24 pm

4. Comment #215424 by belacaleb : I wonder here why we would consider vestigialism to be a "backwards progression"?

Why would we consider evolution to be progression in the first place? Progression is a value judgement, not a scientific concept. Only conscious, intelligent beings judge. Nature doesn't.

3. The Return of Religion

Comment #212267 by Roel on July 17, 2008 at 12:25 am

The whole article, though well written, is just another example of "religion answers questions that science does not".

Mr. Scruton, tell me, what reason is there to accept the answers your particular religion is giving?

I understand you may feel a gap or lack of some kind in your life if you would loose your religion. Learn to live with it -- it is not going to be filled with something substantial.

4. MnIndy interview: Unrepentant science-heathen PZ Myers still intends to prove 'this cracker is nothing'

Comment #211392 by Roel on July 16, 2008 at 12:20 am

24. Comment #211091 by irate_atheist

The action was a bit 'crass' but I have no time for the whining of the lunatic 'victims'. They choose to believe in this absurdity, they should expect to have the piss taken out of them. If only it was done more often and more publicly.

This is the core problem, isn't it? The religious are free to choose what is offensive and what is not.

If I call a muslim a moron, he's offended. If I call a roman catholic a moron, he's offended as well. Calling anybody a moron is offensive, no matter who or what the person is.

However, if I call Muhammed a pedophile in a roman catholic's face, he couldn't care less. If I desecrate a Hosti in a muslim's face, he wouldn't care either, would he?

What if I decided that wearing crosses on a necklace is highly offensive?

5. Religious bigotry upheld in court

Comment #208657 by Roel on July 11, 2008 at 5:59 am

I's like to add that there are no such things as "gay rights". There are human rights, and they are good enough for homosexuals and heterosexuals alike.

6. Religious bigotry upheld in court

Comment #208656 by Roel on July 11, 2008 at 5:54 am

It keeps puzzling me that disallowing the religious to discriminate, is discriminating...

This one really pisses me off: “"Gay rights should not be used as an excuse to bully and harass people over their religious beliefs," she said.”

Bully and harass?

7. Prayer refusal pupils 'disciplined'

Comment #205266 by Roel on July 7, 2008 at 1:39 am

The incident is believed to have taken place during a practical demonstration of how Allah is worshipped.

Enough said... an exact demonstration of how the worship of Allah is forced upon children.

8. Stephen Hawking's explosive new theory

Comment #201751 by Roel on June 30, 2008 at 8:02 am

Come on, Manson, it's a newspaper article for goodness' sake!

9. Charles Darwin was not the father of atheism

Comment #201745 by Roel on June 30, 2008 at 7:57 am

Then why do so many theists have so much trouble with Darwin?

10. Texas Supreme Court rules church can't be sued in exorcism

Comment #201629 by Roel on June 30, 2008 at 12:44 am

Many people fail to see that freedom of religion is a personal right. It allows you to practice your religion the way you want, but explicitly not to impose it to others. Not even if the other is a member of the same church as you are.

11. The $10,000-a-Month Psychic

Comment #201627 by Roel on June 30, 2008 at 12:38 am

You don't need to be a psychic to know that there is poor coordination between the company's research and marketing teams. There always is.

12. My Response to Rabbi Shmuley Boteach

Comment #177505 by Roel on May 9, 2008 at 7:52 am

I am sorry, but you should now better than to compare anybody to Hitler, even if it's just his voice you're talking about.

13. Atheists to celebrate at Darwin Day in Coconut Creek

Comment #121794 by Roel on February 4, 2008 at 7:13 am

I completely agree with gcdavis and Steve Zara.

None of the issues are just for atheists. For example, seperation of church and state. Christians may celebrate their sundays for free. How would they like it if a majority of jews changed that into saturdays?

By the way:

You don't have to apologize for [...] what you believe.

Well, that's the point, isn't it? We don't believe.

14. Science can answer how questions but only religion can answer why questions

Comment #87399 by Roel on November 12, 2007 at 3:14 am

It is true that science cannot answer why questions, but that doesn't mean that religion can.

15. The US is a Christian Nation

Comment #87398 by Roel on November 12, 2007 at 3:08 am

No offense, but I really don't understand your preoccupation with the founding fathers. I'm living in The Netherlands, and in no debate whatsoever anyone ever says "What would William of Orange have said about this?" What if someone proves that the founding fathers were not secularists? Would that change your mind?

16. The US is a Christian Nation

Comment #87396 by Roel on November 12, 2007 at 3:00 am

The question is not whether the US is a christian nation. The question is: if it is, should that affect your political and justice system? If your answer is yes, then please be sincere to admit that you're against democracy.

17. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #75658 by Roel on October 3, 2007 at 8:19 am

Detox 125, Janet Factor 129,

Okay, point taken. We agree that theology is not the scientific discipline that studies this subject, don't we?

18. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #75232 by Roel on October 2, 2007 at 4:57 am

To #75223 by detox on October 2, 2007 at 4:36 am:

Your argument sounds fair, but you fail to give a reason why the same does not apply to leprechaunology.

Biology is the scientific study of life, which we can see all around us. Quantum Mechanics are the scientific study of extremely small particles, for which we have sufficient (scientific) reasons to assume that they exist (whatever that means). Art History is the scientific study of arts, which we often see inside or outside a museum.

So, what is theology the scientific study of?

19. Letters: Theology has no place in a university

Comment #75179 by Roel on October 2, 2007 at 1:53 am

"To argue for the position he advocates requires a working knowledge of the philosophy of science and religion, epistemology and metaphysics."

Why don't the same rules apply to those who do believe in God?

20. John Safran vs. The Mormons

Comment #8484 by Roel on November 21, 2006 at 11:28 am

If you have problems watching the movie from this page, you watch it on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRmC0DaE6rE

There's also more stuff from John Safran.
Enjoy.