Comments by Lana

Comment #259457 by Lana on October 3, 2008 at 11:42 am

It's playing in several theaters near Washington DC. My husband and I might see it this weekend. I find Maher insufferably smirky at times but often funny. And I'd like to see anything that makes fun of religion.

2. The rebellion of the child-brides

Comment #230195 by Lana on August 14, 2008 at 12:18 pm

Uh, oh. Here we go again.

3. New legal threat to school science in the US

Comment #207732 by Lana on July 10, 2008 at 6:20 am

Thanks, Bill, for those encouraging words. (comments 41 & 43)

There are smart and thoughtful people everywhere and we shouldn't write off an entire state because of the yahoos. That's a great idea to have Dawkins and PZ come to LA next year. The publicity would be great.

4. Surviving an unholy school war

Comment #182009 by Lana on May 19, 2008 at 5:37 am

I second the comments of hungarianelephant. When I was in Catholic school in the 50's and 60's, the nuns would smack our hands with rulers. We wouldn't dare tell our parents because we'd get spanked by them under the theory that Sister must have had a good reason.

5. An Atheist Goes Undercover to Join the Flock of Mad Pastor John Hagee

Comment #176860 by Lana on May 8, 2008 at 7:26 am

A Catholic friend pointed out this excerpt to me the other day when it ran in Rolling Stone. She thought I'd like the headline - "Jesus Made Me Puke".

6. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123028 by Lana on February 6, 2008 at 11:28 am

Wow. That was amazing. But just what are those "rational, scientific" reasons to believe what they believe? Somehow, he never says.

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

Comment #120321 by Lana on February 1, 2008 at 1:06 pm

I read PZ's blog every day and I am definitely not a scientist. I think he and other scientists should debate these guys because they just might reach someone - not necessarily the participants but the kids who may be forced to listen to this stuff.

I know you risk giving credence to the other side, but I think it's worth it. Information is always good.

8. Banned From Church

Comment #115004 by Lana on January 23, 2008 at 12:16 pm

That makes no sense from a marketing standpoint. The church had been down to 12 members and it's kicking people out? And people who contribute 10% of their income?

It would be nice if this experience would make Mrs. Caskey realize it's all a crock.

9. Banishing the Green-Eyed Monster

Comment #91870 by Lana on November 29, 2007 at 1:31 pm

That's exactly right, dgr8test97. (May I call you digger?) It's a trust issue. Certainly, people may be attracted to others, but if they've given their word, they should abstain from acting on the attraction until they've extracted themselves from the relationship. I must admit I haven't always lived up to that ideal, but I've never tried to rationalize it away either.

Are others also unsettled by this article? It's like he's seeking the justification to cheat. I had never thought about his personal life before but I find this a bit disappointing for no rational reason.

10. Fox News Discussion on 'The Golden Compass'

Comment #85804 by Lana on November 7, 2007 at 6:36 am

I still don't know what point the priest was trying to make - that no one should make a movie that denigrates Catholics? If you think you'll be offended, don't see it. If you think it harms children, don't let your kids see it. I guess the segment was aired so Fox viewers would have a chance to get mad and self-righteous.

11. Ban teachers from religious dress, Quebec group says

Comment #77736 by Lana on October 10, 2007 at 11:04 am

People should be allowed to wear what they want to wear unless it interferes with their job. Yes, a full covering of the face would interfere. A scarf or a cross on a necklace wouldn't. I think the same rules should apply to students.

Big deal. Who cares?

I must admit there are times I'd like to be able to wear a scarf because of a bad hair day.

12. Logical Path from Religious Beliefs to Evil Deeds

Comment #75269 by Lana on October 2, 2007 at 7:52 am

That's one of the arguments I use when confronted with the "atheists have no morals" charge. If people allow some supernatural being to determine good and evil than what's to stop the being from changing his mind? People who depend on others to decide morality are dodging their responsibilities as an adult in this society.

13. Radical Christians in Iraq

Comment #71619 by Lana on September 19, 2007 at 11:11 am

They should also go to Afghanistan, there are lots of people to be converted there. Just ask the South Koreans.

14. God Talk on 'The View'

Comment #71614 by Lana on September 19, 2007 at 10:56 am

Now, that was embarrassing as an American woman. They're not typical, honest! At least I hope not. I think Joy (the one next to Whoopi) also made a few points, albeit in a too polite way.

15. 'Jane Doe' Testifies as Trial of Polygamist Leader Begins

Comment #70239 by Lana on September 14, 2007 at 1:19 pm

Corylus, I practice in the U.S., in Virginia, where the unspoken presumption often seems to be that the defendant must be guilty if the police said so. I don't know if having a woman as attorney helps or hurts in such cases. Some jurors might think, if his attorney, a WOMAN, doesn't think he's so bad than maybe he isn't. I don't know the psychology. I really had no problem separating the emotional from the facts and always hoped I'd get a jury that could do the same.

16. 'Jane Doe' Testifies as Trial of Polygamist Leader Begins

Comment #70227 by Lana on September 14, 2007 at 12:05 pm

Okay, Corylus, I can't let the lawyer comment pass. I used to be a criminal defense attorney and represented some pretty reprehensible people. How could I represent a child molester? Easy, he wasn't a child molester until a judge or a jury determined he was. My job wasn't to get the guy off but to make sure the prosecution did its job. If the prosecution couldn't prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, the defendant should go free. Actually, my job usually involved negotiating the best deal I could because most of my clients were guilty and didn't want to go to trial.

17. Review of Darwin's Angel

Comment #70225 by Lana on September 14, 2007 at 11:57 am

Wonderful posts, Northern Bright. Thank you for reading Darwin's Angel so I don't have to.

18. 'Jane Doe' Testifies as Trial of Polygamist Leader Begins

Comment #70211 by Lana on September 14, 2007 at 11:02 am

That poor girl. But I think she's brave. It's hard to overcome the indoctrination of a childhood. Her entire life she's been taught that she'll burn in hell for all eternity if she doesn't do what she's told. It's heartening that she rebelled at all. I think she has a chance.

19. RELIGULOUS: A Conversation with Bill Maher and Larry Charles

Comment #69899 by Lana on September 13, 2007 at 5:56 am

That makes a lot of sense, HeathenAngel. I also have trouble with his views on women. "All women would rather be called hot than smart" - that sort of thing. He's a smirking little jerk much of the time. But he's funny and sometimes insightful. And I love how he takes on religion. I wouldn't want to hang out with him but I don't miss his show.

20. The smallest signs of retreat

Comment #68424 by Lana on September 7, 2007 at 6:51 am

I truly don't understand what she's talking about. But I only read it once and I regret the time I wasted. Did you read the same book we read? Did she hear the same "debate" we heard? Talk about crazy reading.

21. Enemies of Reason

Comment #65477 by Lana on August 24, 2007 at 12:02 pm

Thank you for providing this. I thought it was very well done. But I don't understand people who think RD is strident and rude. He's a gentle, thoughtful man and far more polite than I would be faced with such nonsense.

I definitely would have smacked Deepak.

22. Come Out!

Comment #59708 by Lana on July 30, 2007 at 10:41 am

I don't remember where I saw it but I like:

Jesus loves you.
Everyone else thinks you're an asshole.

23. The Stupidity of Fox News is Truly Beyond Belief

Comment #52200 by Lana on June 26, 2007 at 1:05 pm

Sure, polls may show that 90% of people believe in god. But they disagree on exactly who it is and what he says. And I suppose one could speculate there might be a supreme being by observing all the wonders in life. But where is Father John finding evidence of his particular religion; the one involving virgin birth, resurrection, transubstantiation etc.? Oh, never mind.

24. The Conversion of the Casual Evolutionist - You can't spell love without evolve

Comment #44007 by Lana on May 23, 2007 at 7:15 am

This wasn't a book review, just a funny essay. And I thought it was funny. And I like that the book has gained enough attention to be used as fodder for humor writers.

25. Dawkins says religion is 'like sucking a dummy'

Comment #29300 by Lana on April 2, 2007 at 2:15 pm

His comment is the subject of the most recent Jesus and Mo.

http://www.jesusandmo.net/

26. Dawkins says religion is 'like sucking a dummy'

Comment #29299 by Lana on April 2, 2007 at 2:15 pm

His comment is the subject of the most recent Jesus and Mo.

http://www.jesusandmo.net/