1. Sharia law 'could have UK role'

Comment #204235 by padster1976 on July 4, 2008 at 1:12 pm

Yep, that's one more step towards integration!

2. Group Asks for Divine Intervention to Ease Oil Prices

Comment #204234 by padster1976 on July 4, 2008 at 1:10 pm

"Twyman decided to take his movement from Exxon and Shell stations straight to the steps of the Embassy of Saudi Arabia in Washington, D.C., hoping to encourage the oil-rich country to raise the amount of barrels they release each day from 200,000 to 1.2 million. "

So he's not ACTUALLY praying to god then is he?!

3. Evangelical Christians sign up to a 'Church within a Church'

Comment #203187 by padster1976 on July 2, 2008 at 12:53 pm

I'm with the Kirbster on this one.

Yes it's good that we see the unifying ability of religion at work. I tip my hat to blair for his insightful bullshit about religion being the way forward and faith in the world yaddiyaddiyaddi.

Yet the way this has been reported has for me totally laid bare the hypocrasy and bias in our supposedly 'free' media. yeah, free to follow murdoch and big business agenda with a free ride for our christiainic- taliban.

Can you imagine what would have said if this was a muslim split? Would the characters involved be described a cosy 'traditionalists'? Of course not. We have our own taliban at work cause rifts and bigotry right here in the UK and not a single article (that I could find) deems to point this out.

Is surprising that religious people appear to gullible with zero critical skills?

4. Aliens need Christ's redemption, too

Comment #201699 by padster1976 on June 30, 2008 at 5:22 am

... we have fellows among the stars, Little Green Men, so to speak, who are our brothers in Christ.

... so there could exist "other beings created by God, including intelligent ones...

So that rules them out as believers!

5. Gay brains structured like those of the opposite sex

Comment #194875 by padster1976 on June 17, 2008 at 11:00 am

This was covered in the times. I was going to copy and paste it here but you'll have to look at it all via the link -

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article4138245.ece

I've copied the last paragraph as this is the special part. Put in context of the right wing intolerant agenda that the times promotes, think 'homosexual as ideology' and then this makes sense. Otherwise, its baseless BS that is merely put in to mislead.

'The research suggests sexual orientation is largely programmed into people early in life, according to Savic. However, other studies have shown a person’s lifestyle can lead to structural brain changes.'

'Persons lifestyle can lead to structural brain changes'.

Yeah, taking LSD or something like that. What's that got to do with being gay? As for the 'early life', that's very misleading as it states quite clearly in the piece that's its in the embryonic stage. The former term gives the impression that its post birth.

6. Hints of structure beyond the visible universe

Comment #193757 by padster1976 on June 16, 2008 at 2:30 am

Tyler Durden,

Why not?

7. Intelligent people 'less likely to believe in God'

Comment #192468 by padster1976 on June 13, 2008 at 5:53 am

Science answer to nonspecific questiosn -

Well based on emperical evidence backed up with theories and formula's, we are led to believe that 'x' is very reliable way to understand 'y'.

Religious answer -

'er, god did it'.

And then we read...

""Linking religious belief and intelligence in this way could reflect a dangerous trend, developing a simplistic characterisation of religion as primitive, "

Shurely shome mishtake?

8. Faith no more as World Youth Day fans flames of disbelief

Comment #191883 by padster1976 on June 12, 2008 at 3:47 am

The auther is a spineless religious apologism.

(If that last word is in fact a word.)

9. New British Petition: Stop the Nightmares

Comment #191881 by padster1976 on June 12, 2008 at 3:43 am

Signed.

10. Hints of structure beyond the visible universe

Comment #191678 by padster1976 on June 11, 2008 at 12:44 pm

If the visible universe is 13.7 billion years old, then if there is a much bigger section of the universe unseen, doesn't this imply that the universe could be a lot older?

11. The Great Evangelical Decline

Comment #188783 by padster1976 on June 4, 2008 at 2:26 pm

So how does this account for the prominent profile of the creationism et al?

Or is this the part of what A C Grayling described as the death throes of religion?

I always find this type of report as incongruous to what I perceive as a resurgent level of religiosity.

12. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #185582 by padster1976 on May 28, 2008 at 6:02 am

Teratornis -

Erm, you do know I was quoting and not posting my own view yes?

13. Repulsive but right

Comment #185119 by padster1976 on May 27, 2008 at 2:45 am

"a gay bishop"

There appears to be a trend to me (admittedly only 2 examples here!) that the most apologetic defenders of religion are from the fringe i.e homosexuals. Bearing in mind the outright hostility and bigotry that religion can inspire, to me it is odd that people would embrace something that offically would rather see them as 'unpeople'. It's like a jew being a member of the nazi party. It wouldn't surprise that there would be but one can see that it is at odds with what one would consider sensible. It does lend support that religion does fulfil a need (dependancy?) powerful enough to overcome the embedded bigotry.

The 2nd example was the blog that Sam Harris had with a chap who's name escapes me. He was very apologetic about religion and also gay.

I'm not saying its wrong to be gay and religious I'm saying that it strikes me as incongruous.

14. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #184852 by padster1976 on May 26, 2008 at 9:45 am

Woo- real batshit crazy stuff now!

"The Gift of Medieval Christendom to the World

1 September 2002


The West is very remarkable and unique in the world. The West has relieved human suffering to a unprecedented degree; the West has developed freedom to a unparalleled level, both in freedom of coercion by other men and in freedom of opportunity to rise above one's original station in life. This is demonstrated by an incredible standard of living where even its "poor" are rich by global standards. It is also seen in the full political rights of all and the accepted idea of equality of all-including women and minorities. It is most obviously seen in the elimination of slavery-that universal plague of mankind that still persists in the world today. Can anyone dispute the fact that untold millions who could, would cherish the opportunity to move here; while those who live here and have the freedom to leave, stay here?

The key question is "Why?" What is it about the development of the West that made it so remarkable and unique? Why in the West are all people important? What is the ultimate source of these ideals of freedom, equality and limited government? What was the defining ideological force that uniquely shaped the West's political development, especially in its formative medieval period?

I believe the best and really only answer to all the above questions is the gradual assimilation of Judeo-Christianity in the West. By arguing that humankind is "made in the image of God", medieval thinkers developed the idea of the dignity of the individual, not something arbitrary-man-given, but a reality, inherent in every person-God-given. This gradual assimilation of this ideal, for example, gave rise to the Cortes' in Spain, the Reichstag in Germany, the Estates-General in France and the Parliament in England. It gave rise to bills of rights, to limits over the powers of kings (i.e. weak governments), to property rights, to taxation by consent, to the development of common law and to that great document of freedom, the Magna Carta. No man, including the king, was better than all others.

How can we know if this is true? We must look at the indisputable historical facts without the fear of being labeled ethnocentric. Where in the modern world do we find freedom? Freedom, as we know it, can be found in Europe-before and after the totalitarians, in England, Canada, the United States, parts of Latin America, and parts of the Pacific rim. It is never found in the ancient world, though Athens and the Roman Republic came closest. It is never found in the rest of the modern world. Freedom is unique to the areas of the world that have been touched by Christianity.

I argue that the development of medieval political structures with their limiting of the power of the governments and the resulting freedom for commerce, and the freeing or releasing of human energy coincides with the assimilation of the ideas of the dignity of the human being-"created in the image of God". This was a gift of the spread of Christianity in Europe or as many call it "Christendom".

Most world history books identify all the characteristics used in my argument but, in my opinion, fail to give them the significance they deserve. These books do not really give an explanation of the coincidence of Christianity and the freedom that follows it around.

(I know the Enlightenment gets all the credit for the what I have said about freedom. But, where on the globe did the Enlightenment arise? In a vacuum or in Christendom? And again, the key question is "Why? Why did the Enlightenment spring up in Christendom?")

Don McLeroy

Member, State Board of Education

dmcleroy@cox-internet.com"

15. That's it. Texas really is doomed.

Comment #184850 by padster1976 on May 26, 2008 at 9:41 am

Here's his 'stuff' on sex -

"Many feel abstinence the only safe message

By J. Donald McLeroy

Special to the Eagle

11 May 1992

Many of us on the Bryan school district's Teen Sexuality Committee firmly believe that a strong abstinence message is the only safe and realistic goal of a sex-education curriculum for our local schools.
Teen promiscuity results in three major risks: ill-timed or unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted diseases-including AIDS, and emotional or psychological damage. In dealing with this problem, the committee is divided into two basic positions: those who favor a strong abstinence message, with contraception discussed in the context of marriage, and those who favor what is termed "comprehensive sex education" and believe we should give out all the appropriate information so that the sexually active teen will at least have the opportunity and knowledge to engage in what they call "protected' sex."
The comprehensive view agrees that abstinence is the best way to go but claim that "realistically" it is an unattainable goal. I will argue that the abstinence view is the realistic one and the only view that offers "protected sex." To begin, let us define what a healthy sexual teen is, according to the two positions, and then see if the behavior described is likely or not.
The goal of teaching abstinence is that our youth accept who they are and respect themselves and others. With a commitment to the fundamental values of self-discipline, restraint and, for some, religious morality, and with a mind that understands the three major risks of promiscuity, these youth value chastity until marriage.
The goal of the comprehensive view is that our youth accept who they are and respect themselves and others, yet indulge in the temporal pleasure of sex. With the comprehensive education they have been taught, they will be faithful to one partner for a period of time, and during sex always use contraceptives; if not prepared, they will abstain until "protected sex" is possible.
Are "the chaste" or "the protected" behaviors realistic? Are they an appropriate goal for a sexually active teen?
Today in our schools "the chaste" exist. Many of us reading this article are proof of the possibility of teen chastity. It has always been possible. It is just as natural to be chaste until marriage as it is to be promiscuous. The desired result of the abstinent view is totally realistic; it happens all the time.

Do "the protected" exist? To better understand this more complex behavior, let us look at a real example of it - the mature marriage. In the privacy of their bedroom, with careful planning, and where even with "spur of the moment" decisions all the necessary contraception is available, "protected sex" is practiced. Do teens have such a private place? Do they plan so carefully? Do they have the medicine cabinet located so conveniently? Are they so committed? What incredible teens these must be, what mature planners to always find a place with contraception always avail-able and easily usable every time.

In addition, they must be mature enough to overcome their egocentric thinking ("It can't happen to me"), their concrete short-term reasoning ("'Let's eat, drink and be merry."), and the stigma of being known as sexually active ("Psst - they're doing it."). Is such behavior realistic? I believe "the protected," the desired result of the comprehensive view, to be totally unrealistic. It rarely, if ever, happens.
We will now look at which view offers protected sex. "The chaste" are 100 percent protected against the three major risks of promiscuity, and with the specter of AIDS descending on our teens "the chaste" are becoming an extremely advantageous group. I urge all who are abstinent to remain so and those who are not to become so. "The protected" are not so fortunate. Even when they have always used contraception, always utilizing it correctly, they are still at risk for AIDS.
Joseph Sobran, a syndicated columnist, has observed about condoms that "if any other product was to fail so frequently, putting the user at so much risk, Ralph Nader would be calling press conferences to demand the federal government to clamp down on the whole industry."
The truth is "the protected" are only partially protected against pregnancy and STD's. Against the

third risk of promiscuity, the psychological and emotional risks, they are totally unprotected.
I consider the Teen Sexuality Committee to be doing an excellent job. It is accomplishing something no panel of experts could-it is giving our community a forum to discuss and debate its views on a volatile issue, thereby, keeping it under control. Through the involvement of parents, teachers and administrators, its recommendations and findings can help the school board as it seeks to address this subject.
After months of discussions and listening to visiting experts, some of us on the committee are convinced that "realistic" and "protected" are adjectives that should be reserved for the abstinent view.
The comprehensive view is neither realistic nor protective. To encourage sexually active teens to be chaste or to use contraception correctly is difficult, if not impossible. Considering the messages they are receiving from television, movies and music, and considering the unlikelihood of '4protected sex" happening, the abstinent message must be given chance, especially in our schools which should strive for the best.
J. Donald McLeroy is a dentist and a member of the Bryan Teen Sexuality Committee.

(This was originally published in the Bryan-College Station Eagle eleven years ago on 11 May 1992. Today, 12 February 2003, Don McLeroy serves in his second term on Texas' State Board of Education.)"

16. Town moves against Islamic school

Comment #184837 by padster1976 on May 26, 2008 at 9:30 am

It would be interesting to see who finances this Quranic Society - would it be like the Muslim Council of Britain?

I'm of very mixed emotions to this - I see the blatant racism yet can also see their fears. But where does this fear come from? Is it, like in the UK, from media outlets drumming up facist feeling or is there actual grounds for their position. There are some strong assertions there -

""Everywhere is being destroyed. Why don't we tell the truth. They're wrecking Australia. They're taking us over," she said."

""Why hasn't anyone got any guts? They've got terrorists amongst 'em... They want to be here so they can go and hide in all the farm houses... This town has every nationality... but Muslims do not fit in this town. We are Aussies, OK." "

Are there any actual examples of this?

I'm also conscious of the fact that like america, australia is made of immigrants that ousted the local indigenous population. Well, in the case of australia, that immigrant population was made of convicts as it was first put up as a penal colony. The irony of shouting about foreigners on the shores cannot be ignored in this context.

On another note, the idea of a specific faith school to me is completely wrong. Integration must be the key. Seperation at a young informative stage of development must only serve to strengthen segregation not only from the 'foreign' perspective, but also from the established local population. Hence we see such 'they're all witches' like calls.

17. Animal Science Without Evolution

Comment #184787 by padster1976 on May 26, 2008 at 7:20 am

I always think 'oh yeah' when I read something like this... "All this is accessible to a child, with Fulbright's engaging writing style"

So I went and had a look at the website of the publishers. They helpfully allow one to see samples and here is a delightful selection from their astronomy lesson.

"Light always travels in a straight line. It does not bend or go around corners. You know this because when you put your hand in front of your face to shield your eyes from a bright light, like the sun, it casts a shadow across your face. The light does not bend and go around your hand into your face. The reason it is shady under a tree is because light travels in a straight line that does not bend around tree branches."

So, Einstein's experiment with solar eclipse in 1905 discovered what exactly do with the warping of space time that er, made light bend?

As for the 'engaging style', read 'patronising'...

"How do we get color? Let me see if I can explain this so that
you will understand. Pay close attention."

And what about this...

"Blue waves are short, as in the picture below. Yellow waves
are long, as in the picture below that. I know it’s strange to think of color as different kinds of waves, but that is what it really is.

BLUE LIGHT HAS SHORT WAVES
YELLOW LIGHT HAS LONG WAVES"

Hows this then?

How does it all work? Well, when light hits an object, many of the waves of light absorb into it. To “absorb” means to “take in” or “suck up,” the way a towel absorbs water. Almost everything
absorbs at least some light waves. Some waves absorb but some don’t. Instead, they bounce off. The waves that bounce off the object bounce up into your eye. Your eye sees the bounced light waves. So, when you see a yellow object, you are really seeing the long yellow light waves that bounced off the object and hopped into your eye.

Your eyes and brain are what make it appear yellow. God made your eyes and brain in such a marvelous way. Your eye tells your brain what kind of light it is seeing, and your brain makes the
color appear as it does. Now, if there was no eye there to see the object, yellow light would still bounce off the object, but it wouldn’t go into anyone’s eye to see it as yellow. It would just bounce up until it hit an object that would absorb it. So, here’s a question: Is the yellow object still the color yellow if there is no eye there to see it? Hmmm…that is an interesting question. You decide."

Why hasn't the author mentioned the word 'spectrum' in all that shit? This would be comedy if it wasn't serious.

18. Huge hidden biomass lives deep beneath the oceans

Comment #184479 by padster1976 on May 25, 2008 at 1:12 pm

It makes the possibility of life being on Europa that much more excitingly possible.

Life is showing up in the unlikeliest places on earth - thermal vents under the sea and in the light water in nuclear reactors!

Cool!

19. Sun's properties not 'fine-tuned' for life

Comment #183531 by padster1976 on May 22, 2008 at 8:17 am

'Such atypical properties might somehow help explain why the Sun seems to be unique, as far as we know, in having an inhabited planet. '

But surely there's no causal link between the two. To say that the above average mass caused a habitable planet is nothing more than an assumption.

20. Surviving an unholy school war

Comment #182905 by padster1976 on May 21, 2008 at 5:39 am

I was 29 years old when I found out that I was left-handed as a child. I can't remember but siblings have told me of the smacks I had until I used my right hand.

For years I thought I was ambidextrous - I play snooker, wii and write ok with my left hand. Er, not quite the truth.

Guess what? Yes I have irish catholic parents that referred to my using my left hand as 'the sign of cain'. Nice eh?

21. Teenager faces prosecution for calling Scientology 'cult'

Comment #182863 by padster1976 on May 21, 2008 at 4:06 am

Decius -

'What happened to those officers who accepted "gifts" from the cult of scientology? '

Looks like they're handing out court summons.

22. Lab agrees to test Shroud of Turin for new theory

Comment #182860 by padster1976 on May 21, 2008 at 4:01 am

"Jackson, a devout Catholic"

So no bias there then.

23. Mayor challenges pope during Genoa visit

Comment #182478 by padster1976 on May 20, 2008 at 8:10 am

'Last Monday, the pope told Italy's pro-life movement that three decades of legalised abortion in Italy had devalued human life and left a wound on society. '

No - the wound would be from protecting child raping priests.

24. Indian village proud after double 'honor killing'

Comment #181343 by padster1976 on May 17, 2008 at 1:31 am

I note that the recent coverage of china's effort for their earthquake victims has been influenced by the west's large business interests. No-one can argue that if the earhquake hit tibet, we'd be looking at another Burma.

I wonder if western governments would comment on this awful act in india or be silenced for the same reasons.

Or would that damage 'social cohesion'?

25. Indian village proud after double 'honor killing'

Comment #181342 by padster1976 on May 17, 2008 at 1:26 am

'violent repression... has risen in tandem as... men fight to hold on to power, status and property. '


That one sentence sums up religion completely.

26. Citing Faith, Bush Defends War Actions

Comment #178053 by padster1976 on May 10, 2008 at 11:04 am

"The decision to remove Saddam Hussein was the right decision early in my presidency," Mr. Bush said, to a standing ovation. "It is the right decision at this point in my presidency, and it will forever be the right decision."

Yeah. just not the one you went to war for.

Mugabe? Omar al-Bashir? Kim Jong-il? Than Shwe?

Has anyone noticed the Burmese soldiers are kitted out in american military uniform?

That's what america does to dictators. Saddam must have not paid the bill.

27. Faith in Britain today

Comment #178050 by padster1976 on May 10, 2008 at 10:59 am

'religion is about truth and not social cohesion' -

Well that says it for me!

'truth' being what the catholic pedophile church says it is and the more civil unrest there is, the better.

28. Pope's Views on Science Invoke Spirited Debate

Comment #165705 by padster1976 on April 22, 2008 at 4:26 am

"He's an excellent theologian,"

Ha ha! I don't see that as a compliment!

29. Evolution: 24 myths and misconceptions

Comment #165209 by padster1976 on April 21, 2008 at 8:10 am

Damien -

Sad. Very sad.

'Gay Pride/ Power' is not the same as homosexuality. Er, one of those is the expression of the other in order to combat repugnant bigotry. Kind of the type you have.

What about black rights and enpowerment? Does that meant being black is an ideology?

Get a life you small minded person.

Same goes for rotaTOR.

30. Evolution fray attracts top scientist

Comment #163487 by padster1976 on April 18, 2008 at 12:09 pm

Vaal -

'Of course, they have Disneyland in Florida as well? I rest my case. :-) '

So what are they doing? Cueing up and wondering why they can't get on the ride?!

Ho Ho Ho!

31. Evolution: 24 myths and misconceptions

Comment #163484 by padster1976 on April 18, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Er, did Damien White actually call homosexuality an 'ideology'?

Are you kidding me?!

Damien,

Lets get this, er, straight...

An ideology, or, a base ideas and ideals that go to form the platform of economic or political theories as well as the set of beliefs and characteristics of a particular social group or individual, and somehow this has to with a man sleeping with another man and a woman sleeping with another woman?

Communism, Nazism, Capitalism are all ideologies - soooo, homosexuality would have to be an 'ism'?

'Homosexualism.' or 'Homosexism' Do these word exist? My spell checker doesn't like them.

When we see homosexual penguins, giraffes, dolphins, etc, are we seeing not natural behaviour in animals, but the insidious indoctrination of the minds of the young with their parents ideology?!

Oh course not.

Bee Eye Gee Ohh Tee.

32. Evolution fray attracts top scientist

Comment #162235 by padster1976 on April 16, 2008 at 12:17 pm

To Val -

The yanks probably turn up to watch the pretty light show and thinks it's magic.

Either that or they represent the enlightened population of florida. So that would be seriously in the minority!

33. School bars same-sex partners at formals

Comment #162229 by padster1976 on April 16, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Sweet shit! It's like something out of a madhouse -

'Christianity frowns on homosexuality.'

'If you believe what the Bible says, that's how you should behave or act. It boils down to what you believe. '

'"Most parents send their children to our schools because of the Christian values that our schools espouse, because our schools stand for biblical values,"'

Have these nutters thought about ANYTHING they say?

So do they have prawns in the school menu or do they go out sundays in a marauding herd looking for people working and put them to death?

Well, if you believe what the bible say... it how you should behave. Or is that silly because it will land you in jail. But being a bigot otherwise is fine!

I see, so being yourself is not to be 'encouraged' but bigotry... well hey no problem! Intolerance, hatred and bigotry - they're all 'biblical values'.

And to hear the 'outrage' if the religious even sniff that someone has thought twice about them and about their 'beliefs'.

Sometimes, well, most times these days, this planet just seems crazy.

34. German Church admits aiding Nazis

Comment #160482 by padster1976 on April 14, 2008 at 6:37 am

Someone should send this a page link to Michael Burleigh.

Anyone read 'sacred causes'? You did better than me - i got half way and couldn't stomach the facile pandering and biased crap that was contained within.

He just would not accept that the Caths helped the nazis or else it was part of some greater good done by the pope at the time. Pious XIII I think off the top of my head.

35. British schools are falling for the pseudoscience of Brain Gym. Why fill kids' heads with nonsense?

Comment #160480 by padster1976 on April 14, 2008 at 6:34 am

Comment 6 -

That was L Ron Hubbard

It's not just that - schools are generally places where reality takes a break.

It's why i left teaching in the first place.

36. Richard Dawkins: 'Growth in creationist beliefs a problem for schools'

Comment #156744 by padster1976 on April 8, 2008 at 8:15 am

I can vouch towards it being a problem -

My 4yr old nephew, whose mum is religious and dad is an agnostic, vouch that his isn't being brought up in a religious way. Not by them perhaps but now that he's going to school, he told me the other day that god AND jesus made the earth.

He also wants me to paint dinosaurs on his bedroom wall. Kids eh?

But the brain washing will surely only cause confusion at a later date when he realises that the dinosaurs are older than the earth as he's be led to believe.

37. In search of the God particle

Comment #156727 by padster1976 on April 8, 2008 at 7:52 am

As I understood it, the Higgs Boson is the only fundamental particle that has been predicted yet not found.

It's a shame that he squirms about the 'god' title - I absolutely agree with him however that in todays world, you just know that some people will not get the reference and take it literally!

It's like when I say 'god knows' when asked something.

Like maybe I'm thinking about this too much - I need a holiday.

Patrick.

38. Dawkins warns of human extinction

Comment #155913 by padster1976 on April 6, 2008 at 9:49 am

"A member of the audience who talked of his salvation by Jesus was dismissed by the Professor as being deluded"

Go Dawkins go!

39. Pastor attacks scientist's talk

Comment #155039 by padster1976 on April 4, 2008 at 5:17 am

'would not be balanced'

Read 'will actually be fair and not be biased towards religion in any way and may *gasp*, criticise religion!'

40. BBC 'too scared to allow jokes about Islam'

Comment #154585 by padster1976 on April 3, 2008 at 1:26 pm

So does that mean that the BBC will do a islam version of 'The Vicar of Dibley'?

What would that be called?

The Imam of Islington?

41. Supreme Court to consider Ten Commandments vs. 'Seven Aphorisms'

Comment #153460 by padster1976 on April 1, 2008 at 1:40 pm

And if they won't have them - they shouldn't have any!

Hurrah!

42. Fossil find could be Europe's first humans

Comment #151124 by padster1976 on March 28, 2008 at 7:24 am

davorg -

message board, blog, forum - hey! What's in a name.

Split hairs anyone? Pedantics corner anywhere?

So, blogs contain no nonsense, is that what you're saying is the difference? Because that doesn't sound right to me.

"What you've found there is a message board for users - which, hopefully, explains why it's full of such nonsense."

You've implicitly linked its content to determine what 'it' is.

My original intentions was to compare it to the entries on this website so I suppose this is a message forum.

I just can't keep up with webisms. To me the difference is slight but yes I will agree that a 'blog' is a form of online diary.

But surely the difference is format, not content.

Pedantic yes, but it seems to be important to you.

43. Fossil find could be Europe's first humans

Comment #150848 by padster1976 on March 27, 2008 at 1:19 pm

This a close second...

"
You have a very distorted view of the God who reveals himself as Love. God is not willing that anyone should perish, including you. He has made provision for each one of us to escape the torture you speak of. It is not inevitable.

God does not "get" angry, in the way you or I might. He has a permanent disposition of fierce anger towards sin because it is so alien to him. He is holy. If he tolerated sin he would not be God. It would not be right - each one of us has a sense of outrage when someone gets away with wrongdoing; how much more a holy and righteous God?

But God is not content to throw people into the lake of fire. He has gone to extraordinary lengths to make it possible for that not to happen to you and me. Because he loved you, SBQ, he took the full and righteous punishment for your sins and mine on the cross. The Bible says that "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself" This greatest act of love the world has ever seen has been much maligned. Please do not continue to scorn the very hand that would feed you. "

I like "God who reveals himself as Love. God is not willing that anyone should perish,"

and then...

"He has a permanent disposition of fierce anger towards sin"

But he's a tolerant guy right?

"If he tolerated sin he would not be God."

Then if he's 'GOD', why does he allow it?

44. Fossil find could be Europe's first humans

Comment #150843 by padster1976 on March 27, 2008 at 1:14 pm

This is my favorite from the first page - from a nice chap called Eric -

"God is not a Ford Focus! He is the everlasting Father - and beware the temptation to base your idea of his fatherhood on lesser, imperfect human fathers - of which I am one.

Fatherhood is not about masculinity in any negative sense - not macho-ness. God the Father is neither male nor female. Male and female human characteristics both derive from him, not the other way round. God is God, and we are made in his image.

Incidentally, for those who want gender-inclusive language in Bible translations, there is no such thing as a daughter of God. Men and women believers are all sons of God, because their relationship to the Father is through the Son, and they are heirs as sons were heirs in ancient middle eastern cultures. "

45. Fossil find could be Europe's first humans

Comment #150840 by padster1976 on March 27, 2008 at 1:12 pm

Unrelated post -

This has nothing to do with the above article but it's the newest and therefore I reckon that most people will look at it first check out the link below for the BBC's idea of a blog - open office hours of all things! Must be something to do with the censorship er I mean 'moderation'.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbreligion/F2213235?thread=5251222

Just read some of the drivel.

46. Saudi Arabia Leader Calls for Interfaith Dialogue

Comment #150106 by padster1976 on March 26, 2008 at 1:07 pm

I like the fact that christian post refer to and quote Bin Laden as if he is a worthy source of information - not the evil master mind after all then?

September when? Nine what?

'Vanquish' atheism = tolerance.

Explain that unprovable beliefs is no grounding for telling people what to do = you're a nazi!

Really, these people seem to live in another world.

47. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #150031 by padster1976 on March 26, 2008 at 12:07 pm

Happy Birthday!

48. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #149740 by padster1976 on March 26, 2008 at 7:40 am

"They are still in the home," he said. "There is no reason to remove them. There is no abuse or signs of abuse that we can see."

Really? Try opening your eyes.

I wonder what D'Snooza says about this.

49. It looks like Man crucified

Comment #148926 by padster1976 on March 24, 2008 at 4:23 pm

Boys boys! Allan and Spino - relax, take it easy! It's easter - time for chocolate eggs 'n' stuff. You've had a long weekend (hopefully) before work resumes.

robotaholic has a good philosophy - there's a spectrum of people's knowledge - so chill.

Just as people 'parrot' the beliefs of religion, it does not surprise me to find that atheism has its version also.

50. It looks like Man crucified

Comment #148511 by padster1976 on March 23, 2008 at 8:25 am

When I read this bit...

"Only someone with the brain of an Easter egg could seriously believe that the influence of religion over our lives is on the rise today"

I thought of the BBC news this morning when they were reporting on the commons vote on 'human/ animal hybrids' and their use.

Not only is that a shallow attempt to manipulate public opinion with the unsubtle use of emotive language, the BBC interviewed not the scientist but the catholic archbishop!

So what's his scientific background then?

So why have that on our screens when religion is not on the rise?

Our pious Blair? Or even the opus dei Ruth Kelly. Presumably, she's going to vote AFTER the self flagellation.