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

Comment #195999 by Tintern on June 19, 2008 at 7:05 am

In agreement with previous posts; hack the servers, set up deckchairs, watch the fun.

2. Vatican bans Dan Brown film Angels & Demons from Rome churches

Comment #195453 by Tintern on June 18, 2008 at 8:45 am

Talk about the kettle calling the pot black. To be fair though, I'd be annoyed if my organisation was being effectively discredited in popular culture by what must be the worst standard of fiction writing in years. Dan Brown is the Brett Ratner of "literature".

3. Seven new deadly sins: are you guilty?

Comment #141863 by Tintern on March 11, 2008 at 9:58 am

Oh for the sin of obscene wealth. Regrettably, this is one area where I am doomed to lead a blameless life. Although, with limited success, I like to believe drug use and lust make me suitably bad.

4. God rest you merry atheist

Comment #101868 by Tintern on December 21, 2007 at 3:47 am

Just to be crystal clear; the published author I have trouble with is the one who wrote this article, not Richard Dawkins. The idiocy of comparing Nazi rallies etc. to Christmas carols is more than enough to invalidate the already weak point of the article by someone who is "broadly a deist". Richard Dawkins should in no way retract. He's speaking of Christmas as he has experienced it over many years, and it sounds just like mine and those of everyone I know. If more public figures were this honest, things would be a lot better in all sorts of ways. Atheism should not play by dictated rules. It's supposed to be about real life.

5. God rest you merry atheist

Comment #101247 by Tintern on December 20, 2007 at 6:28 am

Comment 164 "why go to the rally in the first place and swell the numbers in the crowd?"

Indeed; this is why the comment leapt out at me from the article. Bar a certain time and place in history where it was very dangerous not to go and sing along, there really isn't a defensible way to simply happen to find oneself at a Nazi rally. It's a bit of a strange comparison to singing Christmas carols. A published author really should know better.

6. God rest you merry atheist

Comment #101182 by Tintern on December 20, 2007 at 4:11 am

"If I found myself at a Nazi rally I would not sing the Horst-Wessel-Lied;"
Yes you bloody would, because you know full well you'd be killed if you didn't. Stop making silly comparisons. And stop going to Nazi rallies if your don't like their music.
"Broadly a deist"? And you think druids are full of modern nonsense?

7. Mitt the Mormon

Comment #91299 by Tintern on November 28, 2007 at 2:14 am

It's no surprise that the press have tacitly agreed to give him an easy ride. Look at what they've gone along with for the last two presidential terms. It would be a huge surprise if they suddenly acted like real journalists and guardians of free speech.
Still, it is an ever-present disappointment that for a job as important as this, only nutjobs need apply.
What's needed here is continuous loop TV and internet playing the South Park episode about Mormons. It's brilliant, even if the end sucks.

8. Tests of faith over 'The Golden Compass'

Comment #83492 by Tintern on October 30, 2007 at 7:49 am

"without alienating the very bankable Christian masses"
Stating the obvious I know, but herewith the line which tells us exactly what cuts the studio will make.

9. 'Root of All Evil? The Uncut Interviews' Released on DVD

Comment #67936 by Tintern on September 5, 2007 at 8:32 am

Perhaps Ted Haggard could agree to the interviews being used in return for some royalties, as he and his wife desperately need the money to go back to college. It's a win win situation!

10. Anger over 'blasphemous' balls

Comment #66173 by Tintern on August 29, 2007 at 7:25 am

Is it really BBC News that 100 people didn't like the footballs some kiddies got their hands on?

11. Police plea on genital mutilation

Comment #55463 by Tintern on July 11, 2007 at 7:26 am

What's needed is a test case where someone claims to have suffered the procedure against their will , has that claim validated and prosecutes the people responsible. It may never come about however; apart from twats screaming cultural relativism etc., the source would be a child in an oppressive religious system having the will, courage, support and means to prosecute their own parents. It would be a hell of a step though.

12. In the name of the Father

Comment #54065 by Tintern on July 5, 2007 at 6:58 am

"this capacity to recognise, appreciate and respond to what is of worth that religion has its origin. If "submission and surrender" have a place, it is only in the final insight"

Boy, is this the wrong way around. In religions, submission and surrender come first because you're not allowed form your own opinion on your world. Imagine if people went around thinking for themselves, explaining with science and expressing with art. Chaos, I tells ya, chaos!
Though what can you expect from something as stupid as a Professor of Theology?

13. The Fastest-Growing Religion

Comment #42302 by Tintern on May 18, 2007 at 3:41 am

Interesting thing I came across once, perhaps a tad ironic. In general reading on Wicca, there was a lot of confusion on what they believe etc. but the clearest info on what they believe, or more accurately, how to treat them with regard to their religion, came from the US army chaplains' instruction manual or whatever you would call it. It was rather clear and straightforward with no bias against, just a good descriptive segment.

14. The Creation Museum: Prepare to believe

Comment #41485 by Tintern on May 16, 2007 at 7:19 am

Only one thing to do; a group tour. As soon as you've all got your ticket, whip off those sweaters to reveal a sea of Flying Spaghetti Monster shirts. And then, all in a row in the gift shop, ask individually for such books as "The God Delusion", "Letter to a Christian Nation", "God is not Great" and, in particular, "The Ancestor's Tale". For the last one, in case they don't have it, be sure to bring copies and sneakily leave them around the museum or discreetly hand one to children old enough to read it. Anarchy and misinformation usually cause pain. Why not go and have fun with it for once? Talk about a target-rich environment!

15. Furor over author Ayaan Hirsi Ali's visit stirs debate on religious freedom

Comment #41378 by Tintern on May 16, 2007 at 3:29 am

"ElBayly believes a death sentence is warranted for Hirsi Ali,"
just to clarify - this guy has enjoyed western democratic freedom since at least 1976, and he is a President. So when he comes out with wishing death upon a woman for escaping to freedom herself, his objections are listened to and printed?

16. Disney daughter calls Muslim Mickey evil

Comment #39207 by Tintern on May 10, 2007 at 7:08 am

How about a cruise missile smack onto the TV station? It's been done before - Al-Jazeera. Only this time you could arguably justify it. Doesn't solve the real problem though, that everybody is selling AK-47s and M16s and any other hand held weapon available as fast as they can. The fact that they're brought by people willing to give them to kids has never bothered a single businessman or politician/terrorist.

17. Sam Harris in conversation with Oliver McTernan

Comment #38837 by Tintern on May 9, 2007 at 9:34 am

McTernan seems to equate the fact that he works in the conflict regions of the world with moral superiority and a guarantee that he's right about his god. Apart from the fact that many good people work in dangerous and tragic areas of the world and come from different backgrounds, it is, among his many failings (whiny BS that Sam doesn't agree with him, for instance) strange to see a proactive person be so wishy washy about interventionism. Probably because it is, to use Sam's phrase, a deal-breaker. The entity is there or it is not. It is involved or it isn't. Nice to see Sam prove yet again that he is exceedingly polite, even when he should be bitch-slapping some ego-stroking goody two shoes.

18. Better God-fearing than sneering

Comment #38718 by Tintern on May 9, 2007 at 3:17 am

Better God-fearing than sneering? Like other posters, I must take issue with this. How can it be better to live in fear? An adult should be ashamed to make such a statement.
And, as regards the prohibition lists, one item at least isn't just from the odder sects. A favourite of Catholic priests was a prohibition on dancing. Though obviously a fear of men and women = lust, the phrase/excuse used to attack it was that it "brought the divil (devil with a nice Irish twang) into the house." As Ripley would say, "believe it or not."

19. Unholy row at clergy soccer game

Comment #38420 by Tintern on May 8, 2007 at 4:02 am

I guess this means the intergender interfaith beach volleyball tournament is off, then. Although, they don't actually touch the other team. They'd just have to stand there watching the Christian babes smack each other on the barely covered ass. Naughty hell-bound infidels!

20. We aim to misbehave

Comment #35036 by Tintern on April 26, 2007 at 3:50 am

Interesting to note the readily available comparison. The reason - one of, anyway - the battle against religion is so difficult is that they shout, scream, demand and behave unapologetically. Take a leaf from the enemy's book.

21. NEXT MONDAY: Bill O'Reilly interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #33413 by Tintern on April 20, 2007 at 3:49 am

I'm not worried about Dawkins not winning the argument and he is well able to stand up to bullies and morons like O'Reilly. But cutting the microphone and the other nonsense this jerk gets away with is, like Fox in general, beneath real standards of journalism and/or reporting. Let's not forget that Fox played a huge part in some dubious election results lately. Treating anything on Fox, particularly its lowest common denominator - O'Reilly - as legitimate media, is wrong. It is, as mentioned earlier, the current incarnation of Nazi propoganda.

22. For Some Hispanics, Coming to America Also Means Abandoning Religion

Comment #32154 by Tintern on April 16, 2007 at 2:26 am

Some hope here that secularisation does have a momentum of its own. Usually we only hear about the momentum of the growing religious fundamentalism. Its good to see people reject religion on their own terms; a change in life can be progressive.

23. U.N. Panel OKs Measure on Islam

Comment #29519 by Tintern on April 3, 2007 at 8:36 am

We need Monty Python's Life of Brian more than ever these days, but thank goodness they made it when they did.
"the guys who ran around drumming up outrage over the cartoons, some of which they had added themselves completely out of context."
Good point, Fishpeddler. It's sad to point out that the level of organisation that went into drumming up this hatred was something I only found out after more research, as most news organisations wimped out of pointing out this reality. Is it any wonder that fundamentalists are emboldened? Victory after victory against free speech. Why stop when you're winning?

24. Turkey: Creationism Documentary

Comment #25600 by Tintern on March 14, 2007 at 9:24 am

"And what exactly is their problem with homosexuality anyway?"
As usual, they're dying to try it or they're already at it and about to be caught. Forgive me for being blunt, but doesn't the pillar of Christianity appear to be terror of women and insatiable curiosity about other men? Apart from pure hatred of democracy and intelligence, nothing else dominates their diatribe more. Protesting too much?

25. Public Acceptance of Evolution

Comment #24916 by Tintern on March 9, 2007 at 8:49 am

In the book "The Quotable Atheist" by Jack Huberman, I found this nice and simple George Washington quote: "The United States of America should have a foundation free from the influence of clergy." If only.
A genuine enquiry; is this or similar written on any monuments, public buildings etc ?

26. Pope is warned of a green Antichrist

Comment #24206 by Tintern on March 5, 2007 at 9:12 am

"the Antichrist "will convoke an ecumenical council and seek the consensus of all the Christian confessions".
Somewhat revealing, isn't it, that their biggest fear is that people will get together and not worry about the details (the devil is in the detail, anyone?).

27. Houses of the Holy

Comment #24152 by Tintern on March 5, 2007 at 3:55 am

Why would he stop? There are enough aspects of life's daily struggles that are hard for the individual to change. When something like this that can easily be fixed individually causes people to just shrug their shoulders, what can you expect the corrupt to do but keep going?

28. The Dawkins Confusion: Naturalism ad absurdum

Comment #23684 by Tintern on March 2, 2007 at 4:21 am

Yet another tediously long article with nothing to say, no proofs or effective counter-points to offer. Unsurprisingly, as the simple request for proof stops this nonsense dead in its tracks.

29. James Cameron finds grave of Jesus & Son

Comment #23484 by Tintern on March 1, 2007 at 3:39 am

Comment #23270 by Corylus

I checked this out recently and it is indeed a 2001 film with Antonio. Reviews indicate a schlocky TV movie standard with the subject matter turning into an excuse for guns and action with all sorts of bad guys. You have to be careful with reviews, though. A lot of reviewers commit the unprofessional sin of judging based on subject matter instead of quality and entertainment. Giving the standard of many movies on wide release, it probably isn't as bad as they say. What I like about this and Cameron's latest hobby is that the more of this in the mainstream i.e. opening the Pandora's Box of religious contradictions, the less likely it is to be taken seriously in the future. Unlike another Discovery Channel "documentary" I saw recently which treated the resurrection as an historically intriguing mystery without once casting doubt on the historical existence of Jesus.

30. Pope speaks out against 'designer babies'

Comment #23247 by Tintern on February 27, 2007 at 5:59 am

Interesting attacks from this pope considering his background with a culture concerned with perfection. Nothing artificial? No screening for defects? No civil unions? What's next? Will dancing be evil again (admittedly my dancing should be banned but that's not the point)?

31. James Cameron finds grave of Jesus & Son

Comment #23245 by Tintern on February 27, 2007 at 5:44 am

One can only hope that this isn't another Titanic, but instead the next Aliens, which was Cameron's best movie by far.

32. Does Richard Dawkins exist?

Comment #21401 by Tintern on February 9, 2007 at 3:27 am

Guys,

You gotta relax, kick back and grin when the opposition scores an own goal. Nothing is more revealing of desperation in their ranks. Enjoy!

33. Give us back our bones, pagans tell museums

Comment #20992 by Tintern on February 7, 2007 at 8:05 am

Luthien,
Be careful or they could turn you into a newt. Although you may get better.

34. Believing In Things Unseen Is Not Delusion

Comment #20750 by Tintern on February 6, 2007 at 9:09 am

That was really really really boring.

35. U.S. 'Satisfied' With Religion's Public Role, But More Want Less

Comment #20727 by Tintern on February 6, 2007 at 6:55 am

"When Adam ate the apple in the Garden and learned how to multiply and replenish, the other animals learned the Art, too, by watching Adam. It was cunning of them, it was neat; for they got all that was worth having out of the apple without tasting it and afflicting themselves with the disastrous Moral Sense, the parent of all the immoralities."
- Letters from the Earth
This was Mark Twain's take on sex. Historical yet so enlightened. Talk about the need to learn from the past.

36. Give us back our bones, pagans tell museums

Comment #20717 by Tintern on February 6, 2007 at 6:11 am

"It is a different world view which, actually, like the scientific world view can be neither proved nor disproved."
Is he taking the p***? A scientific world view can change and assimilate proof and disproof. Given its neutrality from any religion, including pagan traditions, it has far more right to speak on potential historical interpretations than any system based on beliefs.

37. Tolerating intolerance is still this country's besetting sin

Comment #20709 by Tintern on February 6, 2007 at 4:33 am

"Undercover Mosque was broadcast three weeks ago, as the nation was obsessed with Jade Goody's behaviour on Big Brother. While Goody has the power to cause an international incident, it seems that weekly attacks on women, gays and Jews raise little interest."
Is anybody surprised that ratings trump all other considerations? Responsible TV is almost gone if it ever existed in a significant way. If Channel 4 gave a toss about the content, the programme would have had Big Brother's slots and advertising campaign. You can blame people for what they watch, we do have an off button we can press. But preachy TV channels with double standard bosses must share the blame.
Jade Goody's racism is a minor incident compared to her lack of ability to put together basic sentences and argue without shouting and bullying. Sod the ratings-grabbing racism issue; this matter should be causing a crisis of embarrassment among educators and their political masters for turning out morons.

38. Blashpemy Challenge Interview

Comment #20242 by Tintern on February 1, 2007 at 8:46 am

I love the idea of the Blashphemy Challenge. Sometimes you need to symbolically throw off the shackles. This particular shackle - that there is no going back and you're eternally damned if you speak out - is a prime example of outright bullying and needs to be stomped on with contempt. I greatly admire those who took the challenge and live in circumstances where it may matter to their daily lives. It must be a relief to have a channel through which you can speak up and, as I vaguely remember, a little teenage rebellion is fun. It can relieve isolation and teach you to stand on your own two feet in more ways than one. I would say that the good fight is in good hands for another generation.

39. Randi and 800 Other Amazing Skeptics

Comment #19162 by Tintern on January 25, 2007 at 10:01 am

I haven't seen the Richard Dawkins episode yet but South Park is hilarious, and it is so because of the fact that nothing is sacred - a lesson others need to learn. I recently saw the episode on the origins of the Mormon religion and it was ROFL ( as was the one where Cartman became a psychic detective). I guess like most things that are really good it has that rather human quality of dropping the ball now and then. Still, it does so with less frequency than others and even when it's bad relatively it still rules over most shows that pass for comedy with a message. It's a good benchmark for skepticism. I'll bet they'd do a brilliant episode about a skeptics' convention!

40. God's Hostages

Comment #19004 by Tintern on January 24, 2007 at 9:43 am

It is so encouraging to see momentum building to criticise both the holy books and the abhorrent practices which find justification therein. If they're not prepared to edit, then there is no defense against analysis. If you choose what's in the books, be prepared to be called on it. It is ridiculous that secular law has to struggle against "religious" law to achieve rights as inalienable as equality and freedom from violence and child abuse.

41. Zeus devotees worship in Athens

Comment #18807 by Tintern on January 23, 2007 at 3:56 am

This may be good in the "divide and conquer" way. The more silly fragmentation, the less ground support for any one. Bring back every god ever conceived and see how quickly the "respectable" ones are seen in a new light. Collection plates dry up, competition rises for who has the most fun ceremony etc. Who will breach the lines and go for sex as part of worship - that'll do some converting. Don't forget your Monty Python lessons. In "Life of Brian" the Roman occupiers faced the framgented opposition of The People's Front of Judea, The Judean People's Front and The People's Popular Front of Judea. Divide and Conquer, dilute the herd. It works.

42. Intelligent design to feature in school RE lessons

Comment #18795 by Tintern on January 23, 2007 at 3:19 am

This is excellent. It moves the issue to RE. The logic of Dawkins' arguments should hit home as, if I remember my own dim and dark past, we were just aching for a way to refute what we were being taught in Catholic school. Virtually none of us believed it but we lacked the verbal skills, the ammunition, to take it apart effectively. Most importantly, it isn't in science class. Let the education begin with the opinion of my fifteen year old niece in England on ID - "It's all crap".

43. Skyway to Heaven

Comment #18615 by Tintern on January 22, 2007 at 3:56 am

So if this caused a crash, would it be pilot error or pilot absence? What if it happens when the pilot and the stewardess/steward are being naughty with each other (as we know goes on all the time from hilarious comedies)? What if it happens while the pilot's in the toilet? How long before good manners are overcome by need and somebody checks and finds out? Let's just hope Ted Striker is on the plane, though I hear he has a drinking problem.

44. Evangelical Scientists Refute Gravity With New 'Intelligent Falling' Theory

Comment #18041 by Tintern on January 18, 2007 at 3:44 am

If Jesus makes everything fall then he must be the original cow tipper. No wonder he could only get guys to hang out with him. Explains a lot. Go new science!

45. Wash. school board restricts Gore's global-warming film

Comment #17860 by Tintern on January 17, 2007 at 4:28 am

If six parents complained about the film, shouldn't the article mention that a few approved of it? Is this not a fairly unbalanced piece of writing that an editor should correct? A reason for annoyance is the usual utterance that we'll all burn in the end etc. etc. However, a reason for hope is the news that children were viewing the film as fact. Smart kids holding out against such nonsense maybe gives us hope.

46. Atheists challenge the religious right

Comment #17238 by Tintern on January 12, 2007 at 9:07 am

"Their books have spurred widespread commentary, much of it a strong critique of their arguments and lack of religious knowledge."
This seems wrong to me, as the one thing evident from both Dawkins and Harris is a substantial knowledge of religions. Is the author offering the opinion that they lack religious knowledge or simply referring to that assertion as a criticism from others? Just curious; don't think it matters hugely to the overall point.

47. Pat Robertson: God told me of 'mass killing' in 2007

Comment #16178 by Tintern on January 5, 2007 at 9:25 am

The Lord didn't say it was nuclear, but Pat believes it will be something like that? A bit presumptuous, isn't he, second-guessing the Lord?
The Lord and his messenger need to be more specific. If it's nuclear then I'll have to build a shelter and that's a lot of effort - another Credit Union loan, planning permission, learning how to build something big and complex, shopping for food with a trolley instead of a small basket to stock up. I don't want to do all that just on this guy's hunch after the Lord himself decided not to say exactly what it was. Honestly, the standards of public service announcements are really slipping lately.

48. What are you optimistic about? Why?

Comment #15710 by Tintern on January 2, 2007 at 7:16 am

As Douglas Adams' "Hitchhiker's Guide to The Galaxy" states, 42 is the answer to Life, The Universe and Everything. So perhaps we're on our way to figuring the TOE out.
On a mildly serious note, if you ask someone like Richard Dawkins a weighty yet broad question requiring some simple yet epic summing up, I think the answer is good and positive. It must be nice for him to let loose and give himself over to a grand hope once in a while instead of constructing and dissecting every word which is what he is normally required to do.
Also, it would just be plain nice if, by the time the aliens arrived, we were kinda brainy.

49. Talk in Class Turns to God, Setting Off Public Debate on Rights

Comment #13952 by Tintern on December 20, 2006 at 8:44 am

I want to have been there when someone stood up and said to the Principal:
"But this apparently excellent teacher told the class that there were dinosaurs on the Ark. Dude,WTF!"
It's a South Park moment for sure.

50. The Panel with Richard Dawkins

Comment #12459 by Tintern on December 12, 2006 at 3:48 am

It was clear that the host was a fan, and great that he let Richard make some key points in an atmosphere that wasn't hostile (that must be a pleasant change from some encounters). Though five-ten minutes watching this to make sure I didn't miss Richard's spot was a trial. Talk about annoyingly unfunny! Still, more respect than the Late Late Show for rationally presented views, and a strong, unabashed recommendation for the book.