1. Religion - our maelstrom of ignorance

Comment #49737 by Science Goddess on June 13, 2007 at 7:38 am

To comment 49548:

CJ, what you say about juxtaposition of the variables is true. It's like saying the increase in autism (let' say) can be related to how many BMWs are purchased per year. (just a stupid example).

Having said that, more data is available from the nerds (in a good way) at Marginal Utility:
http://atbozzo.blogspot.com/2007/06/science-and-religion-2006-gss.html

Have fun!

SG

2. Hamas Kindergarten Graduation Ceremony

Comment #48220 by Science Goddess on June 7, 2007 at 5:09 am

So how is this video different from those "Faith Based" summer camps for children here in the Heartland? Remember, we saw those videos not too long ago. The fact is, both the Xtians and the Muslims indoctrinate their children with their own personal religious/cultural propaganda. I've always said that the Jihadists are the Inquisition with better weapons.
SG

3. Groundbreaking Research Has Scientists Talking With Apes

Comment #46896 by Science Goddess on June 2, 2007 at 5:27 am

When I teach introductory biology classes, one of the first things we discuss is the distinction between life and non-life. We investigate the gray area in between, such as viruses. I think I'm going to use this video as a jumping-off point to introduce human and non-human. I can use it for evolution of hominids, the differences/similarities between the two, self-awareness, learning, skill acquisition, etc. Those of you who are nay-sayers may not appreciate fully the distinctions we make, perhaps unconsciously, of human and non-human. It's becoming more and more a gray area.
SG

4. The Paradoxical Hatred of Christopher Hitchens

Comment #42912 by Science Goddess on May 20, 2007 at 5:10 am

Lewis Black has a great comedy routine (available somewhere on the web) that goes something like this:

"I would love to have the faith to believe in creationism,

but...........(are you ready?)........

I have THOUGHTS!

Hitchens has a brain, and he uses it!
SG

5. Goodness without Godliness

Comment #42906 by Science Goddess on May 20, 2007 at 4:57 am

Among many scientists, morality is viewed as the best way, evolutionarily, to perpetuate the species. Same for (more or less) monogamy, elder care, etc.
SG

6. Does God answer prayer? ASU research says 'yes'

Comment #26079 by Science Goddess on March 16, 2007 at 2:58 pm

What has bothered me about all these prayer studies is that there really is no negative control group. In vaccine studies, let's say, one group gets the vaccine, and one group the placebo. Then the groups are challenged to determine if the vaccine reduced the infection/symptoms. In prayer studies, which group is the "unprayed-for" group? And how do we know that nobody prayed for them? Oh, sure they weren't prayed for by the study group, but did they have friends/family who would be praying for them? They're uncontrolled studies, even if they pass the smile factor.
SG

7. William Crawley meets Richard Dawkins

Comment #23375 by Science Goddess on February 28, 2007 at 8:34 am

Two points:
If you don't think religion is child abuse, go look at "Jesus Camp" on Youtube.

Science isn't a fact, it's a process. The only "assumptions" are those that can be shown empirically

SG