Comments by jenlaferriere

1. In a Novel Theory of Mental Disorders, Parents' Genes Are in Competition

Comment #282678 by jenlaferriere on November 12, 2008 at 3:07 pm

Like the article says, it's a needed shot of imagination that will bring on new research and further innovation. This is speculative and as the author points out, most assumptions they make will prove to be wrong.

Where would we be without ideas, and without those who are willing to test hings out?

Comment #268917 by jenlaferriere on October 22, 2008 at 12:19 pm

Sounds like a great read.

I'm just not sure that it will be read by those that need the message. I can imagine the fleas now: Society with God, Society Possible Without God?... etc.

Those will get read by the christian right.

I live in what is commonly referred to as the Canadian Bible Belt (Alberta) and coming from a city like Ottawa, the seat of Canadian governemnt and one of the most secular and progressive cities in Canada I often get into conversation with evangelical christians, who are not interested in learning that their views are so wrong... I doubt this or any other book will get to them. Unfortunately.

3. Religion out of medicine, a new message for Ontario doctors

Comment #232509 by jenlaferriere on August 18, 2008 at 8:31 am

I belive that I was refused medical service in Ontario, based on religious consciousness...

When I was 17, mymother and I went to the doctor together to get me onto birth control. The doctor refused to do it. In ontario you need to be 14 in order to make your own medical decisions, yet he would not prescribe, even with my mother conscenting.

I am therefore, very much in favor of this new legislation...

4. The rebellion of the child-brides

Comment #230199 by jenlaferriere on August 14, 2008 at 12:23 pm

It is appaling this this is happening enywhere in the world; Yemen, Britain, or in the US under some Mormom polygamist sects. This is just another silent epidemic... "le0ts keep it in the family, in the community" using religion as a "reasonable" explanation for the exploitation, rape and abuse of children and women is unfortunetely still accepted in so many situations. And the whole concept of calling someone Islamophobic... If you mean opposed, appalled, critical, repulsed... then maybe yes; maybe we need a little more religion-phobic individuals.

5. Defend the Individual and So the West

Comment #229408 by jenlaferriere on August 13, 2008 at 2:38 pm

I am currently reading how book, Infidel. It is such a good book, truly inspiring. But since it is an autobiography, she doesn't seem to give much opinion within it's pages. It's great to get a sense of the strong intellectual/critical voice that she is known for. Great article.

6. How Anecdotal Evidence Can Undermine Scientific Results

Comment #216652 by jenlaferriere on July 23, 2008 at 11:20 am

I have many friends who are chiropractors and they are very educated individuals who have varying degrees of religious belief, but all of them are against vaccination. Two of them in particular where never vaccinated as children and have had very healthy lives thus far. They have made some strong arguments against vaccination, all of which I do not feel I can truly render for this discussion *sorry*. it seems that anti-vaccination is an quite a hot button issue within the chiropractic community.

My point is that there seems to actually be research out there suggesting vaccination can be harmful.
Anyone have details that they can share...

7. A Natural Selection

Comment #216646 by jenlaferriere on July 23, 2008 at 11:15 am

Great examples. For myself, I'm still learning about the details of evolution and this was very interesting and informative.

Gives me more ammo for suture discussions on Evolution vs. ID

8. New legal threat to school science in the US

Comment #207367 by jenlaferriere on July 9, 2008 at 3:22 pm

al-rawandi:

I am so depressed to be an American today.

I have a few other ideas.

1) Voter IQ tests. Gotta beat 100 to get in the booth.

2) Targeted euthanasia, unborn, born, whatever. Fucking kill the morons.

These people (I hope) will not hold positions on the bench. Nor be anything but manual labor

Unfortunetly, it's comments like your second idea, that lead some people to believe that Atheists do not honor and respect human life... which according to them leads to eugenics etc, etc.

I usually agree with your comments on here and you have a lot of knowledge and insight. Yet this time I need to say. I do not aggree.

"nuf said.

9. An Original Confession

Comment #207364 by jenlaferriere on July 9, 2008 at 3:17 pm

Apettway:

That would be awesome! I have read the God Delusion and also bought the audio CD. I listen to it in the car. People always comment on how nerdy I am, but the truth is, sometimes you need to hear/read things a few times before they stick. I always get frustrated when religious people can't explain their beliefs or opinions. I feel I need to make sure that I can explain and support mine.

10. IT'S A GODDAMNED CRACKER!

Comment #207183 by jenlaferriere on July 9, 2008 at 9:20 am

Pewkatchoo.... THAT MADE MY DAY!

maybe I should have buttered up the lord! It may have made his BS a little easier to swallow. :)

11. A trip to the Creation Museum

Comment #207175 by jenlaferriere on July 9, 2008 at 9:11 am

Wait, Creationist Museum , in...Canada!? WTF

I knew there were some religious fundies in western provinces, but I didn't thought of a creationist museum.

Well, at least it's not going to happen here in Quebec, for now...

Well, I grew up in Northern Ontario in a very French-Canadian and mostly Catholic environment. When I as in High School,my high school was the only french high school in the city, And so although it was a catholic High school, there was no public equivalent. So prayer at school was marketed as a daily meditaiton... Not at all an orthodox environement.

However, when evolution came up in our science class, All bets where off... in the end this was part of the turning point for the establishment of a French "public" High school in the city.

The funny thing is though, the "public school" is mostly attended by Pentacostals and is quite a bit more rigid in it's religious teachings than the catholic high school is, even to this day.

*** My point is, French Canada is not immune... although there are A LOT MORE fundies out here in the west.

12. IT'S A GODDAMNED CRACKER!

Comment #207162 by jenlaferriere on July 9, 2008 at 9:00 am

I used to think it was a sin to chew it! I would just wait till it got soggy enough to swallow, usually having to pry it off the roof of my mouth first... It was always so ackward.

13. Atheist soldier sues Army for 'unconstitutional' discrimination

Comment #207156 by jenlaferriere on July 9, 2008 at 8:57 am

This concept of a christian military is an extension of a government that claims to be protecting a christian nation, doing the "good deeds" in the name of a christian god. The US governments realiance on faith in matters of policy is scary as hell! (forgive the pun) When this tendancy creeps into the military sphere, that's even more disturbing.

14. A trip to the Creation Museum

Comment #206601 by jenlaferriere on July 8, 2008 at 2:17 pm

There is a Creationist Museum here in Alberta (Canada) as well (http://www.bvcsm.com/). It was built as a "rebuttal" for the Royal Tyrrel Museum http://www.tyrrellmuseum.com/ which is a museum of paleontology with a lot of great information on evolutionary biology and all that millions and millions of years stuff. I've never been to this creationist museum. I think it would be one of the most frustrating moments of my existence.

Robotaholic: The answer is unfortunetely yes. You can open a museum about anything...

15. Does the Pope wear Prada?

Comment #204340 by jenlaferriere on July 4, 2008 at 8:35 pm

Having grown up in the Catholic faith, the one thing that I have always actually enjoyed about the faith was the art, the iconography... the esthetics. Although I know the wealth of the church was ammasses through many not so "saintly" actions through the years, the esthetics of catholocism is still something quite unique and has contributed a lot to art through the ages.

Dogma, and dogmatic tradition is another story though...

16. Did newborn Earth harbour life?

Comment #203595 by jenlaferriere on July 3, 2008 at 8:02 am

That's a good question Ygern. I think that would really be quite interesting... I'm looking forward to hearing more about this as the details become available.

Think of what the Yough Earth Creationists would think of that.

17. Logical Proof of the Existence of a Divine Creator, Why Atheism is Not Logically Sound

Comment #191300 by jenlaferriere on June 10, 2008 at 2:16 pm

I just hate reading creationists thinking they are speaking cohenrently and intellegently when they don't even understand what they are trying to disprove. So many "arguments" used when trying to discredit and disprove the reason and logic of evolution are a complete misunderstanding of what evolution really is.

Also, since when do atheists believe that the planets formed out of nothing... There was a process and we understand that process, because as atheists, we pride ourselve on knowledge, logic and critical thought. *they should try that sometime* Also, the statement that human missing an argument, makes no sense.... evolution mean that we will have developped everything we need for life.

*this is my first post... couldn't help commenting on this one!