1. It can be right to discriminate against the religious

Comment #202647 by Tetsujin on July 1, 2008 at 7:07 pm

I don't know about anyone else, but the first time I heard of the hijab/salon case I thought it was made up.

How does someone justify working for a trendy hair salon that, for all intents and purposes will help their clients become more sexually attractive, if you can't justify using the same services yourself.

In any case, as a business model, customers look at the servicescape of any business when making their decision and good entreprenuers know this is a key competetive aspect. Imagine going to a buy a tailored suit but having all the employees in a long flowing kurta or thope. You probably want to shop at a store that has employee well dressed in suits.

2. Opponents of Evolution Adopting a New Strategy

Comment #188685 by Tetsujin on June 4, 2008 at 11:38 am

just another case of MS Word taking precedence over proofreading

3. The Great Evangelical Decline

Comment #188684 by Tetsujin on June 4, 2008 at 11:35 am

"Every year, their core values are violated more flagrantly by the media, scientific discovery and mainstream behavior."

That line just made me giggle, and I'm not the giggling type.

Perhaps the author should have used the word "challenged" or another word that didn't imply that somehow scientific discoveries are made in order to violate someone's core values.


"Hey Jim, the test results came back. It turns out you're not a socialist."

4. Opponents of Evolution Adopting a New Strategy

Comment #188679 by Tetsujin on June 4, 2008 at 11:29 am

This is wonderful if we also get to educate kids about the strengths and weaknesses of religious dogma. Why little Susie needs to die of bone cancer so that you have the opportunity to decide if you want to accept Jesus, or how Muslims confuse themselves with concepts of free will and predestination.

At least we have or are close to answers for the weaknesses... the creationists have had nothing for centuries.

While we're at it, let's talk about the weaknesses for the atomic theory and gravity.

5. The Challenge of the New Creationism

Comment #187976 by Tetsujin on June 3, 2008 at 5:14 am

I'm sure if it was put in different words it wouldn't be as creepy.

A simple "That's a wonderful picture" or "That's a cute picture" might have been a better than the borderline stalker statement.

I'm sure it was well intended.

6. The Challenge of the New Creationism

Comment #187859 by Tetsujin on June 2, 2008 at 9:53 pm

I loved it, already bookmarked and favourited.

7. Teacher tortures, kills boy

Comment #186874 by Tetsujin on May 31, 2008 at 2:47 pm

Count von Count:

My guess on this matter was that the teacher had certainly "learned the Koran." Would you say this is true? I haven't (yet) read the Koran.

Edit: could someone tell me how to insert quotes?


Depends on what you mean by learned. For those of you who are not familiar with traditional south asian schooling. Information is thrown at you, kids are expected to memorize it, and purge all of that onto the exam or oral test at the end of the year.

Same goes for Islamic schooling. Urdu and Arabic use a similar script but when it comes to the words themselves the kids have no idea what they're reading. Absolutely none! You can have a 12 year old hafiz (someone who can sit and recite the quran by memory from cover to cover), the style of the writing is repetetive or "poetic" and it's easy enough to recall.

In the days when I didn't go to an islamic school I recited at home. My parents took the approach of rewarding me for memorizing surahs. So i made some pocket money at the age of 8 or whatever. It's cute and all but what am I going to buy at that age? I can actually appreciate it now that my version of the Quran had arabic on one side and english translations on the opposite page.

How does a child refuse? You risk insulting or disobeying your parents or your teacher. In islam a teacher has the same rights as a parent, and in some cases more. By puberty parents want their kids to be practising muslims, it's a matter of pride for the family and for the sake of allah, to ensure they do their part in making another life miserable as their parents made their lives miserable and teaching it how to do the same for others.

So no, they haven't learned anything. Verses are parroted back and forth and a grandiose picture is painted of the benevolent and shallow god we should praise 24/7 or he somehow throws a fit and stops answering your prayers or just maybe he won't save you if you jump off a cliff.

Say "insert verses/prayer" before you enter your house
Say "insert verses/prayer" before you leave your house
Say "insert verses/prayer" before you eat
Say "insert verses/prayer" after you're done eating
Say "insert verses/prayer" before you go to the bathroom
Say "insert verses/prayer" when you wake up
Say "insert verses/prayer" before you go to sleep, and you won't have nightmares

Sounds funny?
The whole system is founded on having god on your mind 24/7/365, the moment you don't you're a sinner.

This guy probably thinks he's a saint for preventing another heretic from questioning god.

If you're interested, www.islamicboard.com, I have the same username etc...

I'm sure they'll appreciate the influx of free thinkers... :) just kidding.


PS: I didn't grow up in Pakistan


Also, I'm at work so edited for grammar and spelling will come later.

8. Teacher tortures, kills boy

Comment #186767 by Tetsujin on May 31, 2008 at 9:31 am

As a former muslim, I can tell you that beatings are common in madrasas.


Correction: I was never really a muslim, just told to be one from an early age.

9. Proving ID is Creationism

Comment #182695 by Tetsujin on May 20, 2008 at 9:41 pm

I can understand that one would rewrite a book with the intention of modifying an idea to perhaps take into account new data or new information you come across.

There's simply no integrity in this. How does one come across when you've pointed out that the whole fabrication was a simple "Find" -> "Replace All".

I can almost feel hatred for someone like that.

10. Missing matter found in deep space

Comment #182692 by Tetsujin on May 20, 2008 at 9:31 pm

This article is far too short for my liking. I need more info on this. Has anyone heard of this before or seen it in a magazine or journal?

11. Bible Theme Park Faces Opposition in Tennessee

Comment #180712 by Tetsujin on May 15, 2008 at 3:32 pm

HAHA, let them have a little fun. I'm not sure how kids are going to react when instead of mickey mouse they see St. Paul or David.

Would they let little kids hurl stones with slingshots and some steel giant Goliath?

You know as a fantasy world this appeals to me, even as an athiest. Remember kids, none of it is real.

12. UC Berkeley is going to court over Evolution website

Comment #180666 by Tetsujin on May 15, 2008 at 1:31 pm

So what exactly is the other side's story?

There's no contradiction, and that all of the apparent scientific findings that do contradict religious dogma are inherently wrong?

Where does that stop?

13. 85% of Americans Want a Presidential Debate on Science

Comment #179557 by Tetsujin on May 13, 2008 at 11:52 am

"...Issues also considered serious by a majority of U.S. adults include global economic competition (55%), poverty (53%) and climate change (53%).... "

So...

Issues not considered serious by a large minority of U.S. adults include global economic competition (45%), poverty (47%) and climate change (47%)

So, you could literally flip a coin and see if the "average" american cares.

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

Comment #175666 by Tetsujin on May 5, 2008 at 8:26 pm

I only got as far as 7:35 on the first video.

"Who created the Aliens?" For just a moment I fooled myself into thinking he'd ask "Who created god?"

15. The Neanderthal Debate

Comment #174719 by Tetsujin on May 3, 2008 at 10:30 am

He's an editor?

16. Truly Bizarre : Indians Throw Babies 50ft From Roof To Thank God.

Comment #174717 by Tetsujin on May 3, 2008 at 10:26 am

...either that or drown it in milk.

Seriously, someone give these people condoms.

17. Was the new finger a 'natural' miracle?

Comment #174473 by Tetsujin on May 2, 2008 at 1:28 pm

This isn't really news. Check out Ted.com there was a featured presentation on limb regeneration filmed back in 2006 and posted on their site in july last year.

I can't remember the video exactly but I thought he said at that time that it was 2 years ago.

http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/142

Sorry, I'm new here and don't know how the make the hyperlink.

Edit: wow.... it did the link itself.... kudos to the site designer

18. Are they running for President or Pastor-in-Chief?

Comment #134461 by Tetsujin on February 27, 2008 at 8:20 pm

Putting yourself in their shoes, how would you sidestep those ridiculous questions without raising concerns or losing votes? Keeping in mind that this is a popularity contest.