1. The Religion of Peace Strikes Again

Comment #296910 by Hellene on December 4, 2008 at 6:38 am

And completely on the "off topic" :


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

2. Richard Dawkins and Aubrey Manning

Comment #296809 by Hellene on December 4, 2008 at 4:42 am

I downloaded the QuickTime versions. Beautifully light, shot, and edited. Kudos to the "Crew".

3. Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson Debate

Comment #295681 by Hellene on December 2, 2008 at 7:33 pm

Religion... neurosis all the way down.

4. Does Religion Make You Nice?

Comment #294871 by Hellene on December 1, 2008 at 1:22 pm

509. Comment #294832 by jgirolamo

"Again, try this, diassemble an alarm clock, put the peices in a container and shake. How many billions of years would it take to become an alarm clock?"

What you would end up with is a bunch of dust.
Alarm clocks do not reproduce.

5. Children of God?

Comment #294084 by Hellene on November 30, 2008 at 3:22 pm

Why is belief in supernatural beings so common? Because of the design of human minds. Human minds, under normal developmental conditions, have a strong receptivity to belief in gods, in the afterlife, in moral absolutes, and in other ideas commonly associated with 'religion' … In a real sense, religiousness is the natural state of affairs. Unbelief is relatively unusual and unnatural.

6. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #292846 by Hellene on November 28, 2008 at 8:22 am

Bernstein,

It's my birthday. Gonna donate?

7. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #292826 by Hellene on November 28, 2008 at 8:14 am

Hello to all.

It's my birthday! I'm all of 51.
No, don't send flowers. But if you would like to see me smile go to the "child witches" website and donate $10 or $20:

http://www.steppingstonesnigeria.org/

Go to the "How to help" tab.

And here is a link to the fundamentalist church that contributes to this misery:

http://helen-ukpabio.com/


Thank you.

8. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #292469 by Hellene on November 27, 2008 at 6:04 pm

Lets not forget "Deadwood".

9. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #292457 by Hellene on November 27, 2008 at 5:10 pm

1966. Comment #292449 by Frankus1122

Heroes here for free:

http://www.nbc.com/Video/

10. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #291278 by Hellene on November 26, 2008 at 8:44 am

1263. Comment #291269 by DarwinsPitbull

So she didn't did she?

11. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #291061 by Hellene on November 26, 2008 at 5:27 am

Conservative atheism ... the new black.

12. Why we believe in gods

Comment #290626 by Hellene on November 25, 2008 at 2:43 pm

34. Comment #290536 by DarwinsPitbull

... then George Carlin is god, literally.

13. Letter to the European Parliament on Turkey's banning of RichardDawkins.net

Comment #290126 by Hellene on November 24, 2008 at 5:05 pm

23. Comment #290110 by fatcitymax

I'm sure that all the secular Turks appreciate your support.

14. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #290115 by Hellene on November 24, 2008 at 4:35 pm

672. Comment #289837 by NormanDoering

A comment from "Steamthing.com".

I think we missed this folks:

I might be a bit off-topic here myself, but your series of excellent thoughts and explorations on Proposition 8 and gay marriage in general prompt this comment. Despite the passionate argument by many conservative Christians that gay marriage is somehow a perverse comment on straight marriage, marriage licenses are the issue here, and I'm dismayed to see that so much of the effort here in California to oppose Prop 8 seems to stray from this central point, in response to the skewed and bizarre rhetoric of Prop 8's supporters.
The legal institution of marriage is not, and never has been solely about the joining of two souls in the sight of God, even though that is the central view held by religious people of many faiths. Marriage is a social contract that defines the ownership and inheritance of property, both real and personal, and about the rights of two previously unrelated individuals (more than two in some religious groups) to share their property and each other's bodies in life, in sickness and in death. A marriage license supersedes legal claims to the property and bodies of married persons by their blood relatives and by government agencies in manifold ways that civil unions do not address. (Spousal inheritance of Social Security benefits is just one of the most obvious.)
These are the key issues at stake for gay people, whether or not they are religiously inclined themselves. Marriage licenses are about money, not love, and that should be enough to carry the day. But larger issues are also at stake nationally in the Prop 8 battle, and this might be one reason that so many out-of-state conservatives have contributed to the Prop 8 cause. Proposition 8 overturned a California Supreme Court ruling on gay marriage, and if its supporters succeed in protecting its passage in the new court battles in Sacramento, no state court ruling nationwide that is opposed by conservatives will be safe from reversal.
Some people I've spoken with about Prop 8 see it as a run-up to the larger national battle on abortion rights, and as part of the effort by Christian conservatives to dictate their beliefs to the entire American population, not just to the members of their churches. The radical conservative movement has long sought to refute the Bill of Rights and to co-opt the rule of law in the furtherance of their goals. Thus Edward Meese's well-known statement during the Reagan administration that the Bill of Rights was an "outmoded document," and the struggles over appointments to the Supreme Court and other courts across the country.
While many hope that the new Administration will achieve a relaxation of political partisanship in the cultural wars that we have all endured over the past thirty years, the increasing fury over Prop 8 and other current social issues suggests that partisanship and its dirty warfare tactics are just going to get worse in the near future.
Posted by: Will | Monday, 24 November 2008 at 03:35 AM

15. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289722 by Hellene on November 24, 2008 at 6:00 am

If it can happen to omiphiles, it can happen to Jews, Armenians, and small Nigerian children. This is about compassion. Where do atheists get their values from? The dollar?

16. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289478 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 6:58 pm

372. Comment #289476 by Bernstein

"As a reminder - and I feel this has become necessary given the extent of the infection - doing and saying nothing about an issue (e.g. gay rights), does not necessarily make you an opponent of it."

I don't understand. What's stopping you?

17. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289474 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 6:47 pm

368. Comment #289472 by mordacious1

Diacanu is very fast, keep up or get cut.

18. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289462 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 6:37 pm

"they piggyback on whatever success atheists might enjoy, whilst giving little back in return. "


That's one of those Hitchean phrases that stands on his own.

19. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289455 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 6:32 pm

353. Comment #289454 by Bernstein

Hold a mirror to that. Look closely.

20. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289452 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 6:27 pm

350. Comment #289450 by Diacanu

(grinning)

That fucking thing is really sharp. Can you at least warn us before you drop in and start hacking limbs off?

21. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289451 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 6:21 pm

349. Comment #289449 by Steve Zara

"the Bernstein Paradox"

It's like gay welfare. If you are not gay why pay into it?

22. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289447 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 6:15 pm

I am gay-ticus!

23. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289444 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 6:09 pm

Singing


"Have you seen your mother baby...standing in the shadow"

24. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289440 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 5:59 pm

336. Comment #289435 by mordacious1

"If the cretinists singled out a group who were otherwise not harming anyone and started ostracizing them for no other reason than "it says so in my book", then I, as an atheist, would feel compelled to support that group. "

Yeah. Like those kids in Nigeria being branded as witches.

The accusers:

http://helen-ukpabio.com/

The victims:

http://www.steppingstonesnigeria.org/

25. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289430 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 5:50 pm

Mordy,

Jan Chan is a special case. His thought patterns are influenced by his autism. Or he is playing on that theme very well.

26. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289426 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 5:46 pm

304. Comment #289397 by decius

A good point. But misogyny was very pervasive during that time. Pure love was between men. Women for procreation.

27. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289422 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 5:43 pm

317. Comment #289412 by Steve Zara

That one goes in my stash. Thank you Steve.

28. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289414 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 5:36 pm

314. Comment #289409 by decius

My personal belief is that it is a neurosis about their sons. It falls in with daughters "not as valuable". Living vicariously through your progeny. Etc...

29. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289405 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 5:23 pm

308. Comment #289403 by Bernstein

And I wouldn't be surprised if you where either. In a Ted Haggart sort of way.

30. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289401 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 5:16 pm

305. Comment #289398 by Bernstein

"That's the beauty of it. We're all now also fighting for gay rights and thinking it's always been our idea."

You are assuming I'm not gay.

31. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289394 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 5:01 pm

Steve Zara,

How dare you force Josh and Professor Dawkins to post an article on Proposition 8. You with your hidden agenda.

32. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289380 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 4:34 pm

Frankus

My favorite Steve Zara quote was about "prodding it and having it kick back at you". Very homosapien.

33. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289364 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 4:01 pm

277. Comment #289343 by Bernstein

"The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8"

If you do not like the article, the ensuing comments and think that they are not appropriate, perhaps send an email to Josh?


By the way what happened to the link with the falling statue? In the comments section was a link to the "Nigerian witch children" documentary. Didn't have time to save that link. Anyone?

34. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289139 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 8:39 am

131. Comment #289128 by Roger Stanyard

Here are my political objectives;

1) Don't mess with the science.

2) Compassion.

35. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289131 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 8:31 am

All this nonsense over who gets to touch your "pee-pee".

And who you are allowed to love.

36. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289112 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 8:01 am

Keith Olberman on proposition 8 :



http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27652443#27652443

37. The Religious Support Behind Proposition 8

Comment #289097 by Hellene on November 23, 2008 at 7:50 am

But what if my son turns out to be an omiophile?
Who will carry on the family name... my genes?

*sob*

38. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288702 by Hellene on November 22, 2008 at 8:17 am

Jan Chan

Take a look at this link:

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/sheila_patek_clocks_the_fastest_animals.html

39. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288701 by Hellene on November 22, 2008 at 8:15 am

483. Comment #288699 by Steve Zara

I don't disagree. It was the first one that came up in my feeble brain.

40. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288696 by Hellene on November 22, 2008 at 7:55 am

Jan Chan

1) In support of your position on global warming:

http://www.michaelcrichton.net/speech-ourenvironmentalfuture.html

Be careful quoting him though, he is dead wrong at some points.

2) If you are interested in prosthetics this from a good friend of mine who is missing a leg. Look to the relationship between the ball of the foot and the toes. This is the most difficult part of a foot prosthetic, getting that "rolling spring" as he put it.

3) On species extinction. Consider a species that has been made extinct by man. But locked away in its DNA was the cure for cancer. There is value in preserving bio-diversity.

4) And this is the difficult part. Be aware that your mild autism can be both a blessing and a curse. But I suspect you already know this. Be careful how you express yourself verbally outside your dorm. There are people who will not express their disagreement with you verbally. They will do it physically. No... don't argue, don't explain... be careful.

41. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288103 by Hellene on November 21, 2008 at 6:47 am

Jan Chan

It's true this can be a rough crowd. Particularly if you take things personal. Anyway I have to go teach a class with those poor students that have a "Professor who never debated an undergrad before".

You are very cute.

42. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288097 by Hellene on November 21, 2008 at 6:38 am

119. Comment #288091 by AForce1

I don't think that Jan Chan is flexible enough at the moment.

43. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288090 by Hellene on November 21, 2008 at 6:33 am

112. Comment #288084 by JanChan

"ARGHH... I said, stop insulting me, stop spinning, get educated scientifically"

"I don't want to play truant just because of a stupid website debate. "

This is an opportunity for you to hone your debate skills.

Your welcome.

44. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288087 by Hellene on November 21, 2008 at 6:26 am

103. Comment #288074 by dochmbi

"The reaction should be: Let's find a way to use the forests responsibly as a renewable natural resource without causing harm."

JAN CHAN take note. This was the type response I was looking for in comment #34. This is a statement in which debate can actually lead to a solution. I have not seen any any really coherent posts by you so far. Your debating skills are at a "D" so far. Let go of the "Spin" as a defense. You have courage. Learn to debate in a way that will change minds if it is important to you.

Also when you reply take a moment and site who you are responding to. It's polite blog etiquette, and minimizes confusion.

45. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288079 by Hellene on November 21, 2008 at 6:14 am

98. Comment #288068 by JanChan

"Stop spinning."

I'm sorry but every time I see this I think O'Rielly.
Stop with the "spinning". It's a very worn out catch phrase, not a very good debate tactic.

Please?

46. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288066 by Hellene on November 21, 2008 at 6:03 am

90. Comment #288060 by JanChan

"If you want evidence stop posting ridiculous personal insults at me..."

When have I insulted you?

47. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288061 by Hellene on November 21, 2008 at 5:59 am

88. Comment #288058 by al-rawandi

Are the Hippies still in the trees? Can you get a permit?

48. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288049 by Hellene on November 21, 2008 at 5:51 am

67. Comment #288037 by JanChan

"I said not act to protect the environment at the expense of ourselves."

OK, good start.

So I'm asking, not spinning, lets say building a highway. There is lets say a "frumple" in the way. Highway commission decides the road is more important than the frumple. Road gets built. Frumple goes extinct. 150 years later the road is no longer used for xyz reasons. So I ask was it worth it? Extinction of a species for short term economic gratification?

49. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288036 by Hellene on November 21, 2008 at 5:42 am

Jan Chan

What regulations should be in place to protect the extinction of species?

50. Bush set to relax endangered species rules

Comment #288028 by Hellene on November 21, 2008 at 5:35 am

Jan Chan


A coherent reply to post #34 perhaps?