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Comments by steveroot


651. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65815 by steveroot on August 26, 2007 at 9:10 pm

135. Comment #65812 by ghuckin on August 26, 2007 at 8:46 pm
134. Comment #65802 by steveroot on August 26, 2007 at 7:13 pm

Hey Mr. Tooth Doc. Let's get Planet Earth back on the straight and narrow before we address Middle Earth.

Hmmm... a tool of Morgoth...

Seriously, isn't it just easier to deal with a fictional world? Isn't that why the bible was written anyway? ;-)
Steve

652. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65802 by steveroot on August 26, 2007 at 7:13 pm

130. Comment #65775 by ghuckin on August 26, 2007 at 1:20 pm
...Read the Bible as literature by all means, but read it with the same suspension of disbelief as you would Lord of the Rings.

What?? By the Silmarils... may the Valar overlook your silly remark!
Steve

653. Richard Dawkins and Alister McGrath

Comment #65619 by steveroot on August 25, 2007 at 6:27 am

1963. Comment #65583 by Dianelos Georgoudis on August 25, 2007 at 1:32 am

Well, as an idealist you have realized that the whole of reality – i.e. God – is structured as a person.

Finally we're getting somewhere... god created in man's image. I knew it!
Steve

654. I'm gonna be a MOVIE STAR

Comment #65556 by steveroot on August 24, 2007 at 8:03 pm

49. Comment #65411 by CJ22 on August 24, 2007 at 5:34 am
"a bowel full"?

He left out the semi-colon. :-)
Steve

655. A hole lot of nothing found by astronomers

Comment #65523 by steveroot on August 24, 2007 at 2:59 pm

11. Comment #65520 by Kakashi_monkey on August 24, 2007 at 2:50 pm
...There could even be some new phenomenon we haven't discovered yet causing this.

It's the Cosmic version of "The Neverending Story"!
Steve

656. A hole lot of nothing found by astronomers

Comment #65492 by steveroot on August 24, 2007 at 1:14 pm

Guys, PLEASE... stop! I've already wet my pants once today! ;-)
Steve

657. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65354 by steveroot on August 23, 2007 at 7:08 pm

89. Comment #65259 by Cyboman on August 23, 2007 at 11:35 am
...if the jealous, genocidal egomaniac of our Abrahamic faiths manifested himself in the real world for people to worship it would probably look and feel something like this:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3dC2aDHtEqk

I didn't realize the General was a trans-gender case- and a bad job, at that!
Steve

658. Diamonds unlock secrets of early Earth

Comment #65324 by steveroot on August 23, 2007 at 3:33 pm

Praise the Cosmic Jeweler!
Steve

659. Scientists should unite against threat from religion

Comment #65323 by steveroot on August 23, 2007 at 3:22 pm

17. Comment #64952 by nothing on August 22, 2007 at 1:28 pm
Is Bizzaro for real? Or just an atheist satirist playing around? Maybe his name is a clue?

He may be a virgin, but I'm guessing he's got a few crunchy kleenexes under the desk!
Steve

660. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65316 by steveroot on August 23, 2007 at 3:08 pm

93. Comment #65281 by Vadjong on August 23, 2007 at 1:00 pm

"Are you one of the millions of people who live by faith?(additional superfluous text deleted)"


A. YES. Ok, so I lied to get through the automated screening. You may call me a troll, but I will not burn in hell for eternity over it.

Good News!! *NO ONE* burns in hell!! Praise!
Steve

661. Scientists Induce Out-of-Body Sensation

Comment #65313 by steveroot on August 23, 2007 at 2:56 pm

Yeah, but it don't prove god don't exist.
Steve
(*FIRST*)

662. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65233 by steveroot on August 23, 2007 at 9:07 am

Comment by on August 23, 2007 at 8:59 am

65. Comment #65163 by Philip1978 on August 23, 2007 at 4:29 am
Steveroot,
Thank you very much, very kind of you!
Thanks for the laugh!
Philip


You're most welcome. I didn't mean it strictly as a joke: the more we know about who actually wrote the bible, the easier it is to accept that it is the work of man (in the generic, all-inclusive sense!). I learned what little I know about the Priestly Writer ("P", actually thought to be a group of priests), the Deuteronomist ("D"), the Yahwist ("J") and the Elohist ("E") from a book written by my father-in-law (Frederick H. Stitt) which he called "Adam to Ahab- Myth and History in the Bible". It was my first glimpse into the world of biblical scholarship, and it was fascinating. The bible does appear to contain some actual historical accounts, and apparently there is pretty good evidence for some of it. I note, however, that *none* of it makes (or even supports) the case for the existence of god. Rather, the myths shown to be "lifted" from earlier cultures and the "redactions" (nice word!) made by later "editors", made it clear to me that the bible is of exclusively earthly origin. Fred's second book, "Myths, Dreams and Theology in Early Christianity" provides a similar treatment of the New Testament. My favorite part was Chapter 6: "Original Sin: a Theological Mistake".

Interestingly, none of my "believing" friends or family members has read either book. I wonder why.
Cheers!
Steve

663. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65133 by steveroot on August 23, 2007 at 1:54 am

59. Comment #65120 by Philip1978 on August 23, 2007 at 12:25 am
I sent this off, thanks CruciFiction, I hope that helps...
(saves server space)
Thank you for your time,
Philip Priestley


Philip, you must be a modern descendant of the "Priestl(e)y Writer"! ;-)
http://www.hope.edu/bandstra/RTOT/PART1/PT1_TBC.HTM
Nice post!
Steve

664. I'm gonna be a MOVIE STAR

Comment #65129 by steveroot on August 23, 2007 at 1:40 am

...a certain familiar name is the associate producer, or ass-prod, as I'll henceforth consider him.

D'oh! Another lawsuit!
Steve

665. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65064 by steveroot on August 22, 2007 at 7:44 pm

20. Comment #65000 by sane1 on August 22, 2007 at 3:26 pm
Steve: Nice job!

Thanks! So many others have said things I wish I could have thought of. I am frequently impressed by the articulate, well-reasoned and often "ROFLMAO" humorous remarks. There is intellectual power here, and I learn a lot. As Peter Sellers put it in "Being There", "I like to watch".
Cheers!
Steve

666. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #64996 by steveroot on August 22, 2007 at 3:19 pm

For what it's worth, I sent the following:

I am the grandson and nephew of two Presbyterian clergymen. I spent five years in a church choir and hung out with a church group all through high school. At no time in my life did I ever actually believe in any god or other supernatural entity, except Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy. At this stage in my life, I consider myself a firm non-believer, or atheist. The encroachment of religion on politics and other peoples' personal lives is something I find worrisome. The "wall of separation" seems somewhat threatened these days.
For the record, so you have some idea of what sort of person would believe these things:
I am a 57-year-old white male. I am married (25 years yesterday) with two well-adjusted, successful, considerate children. I possess a doctoral degree in dentistry with a specialty certificate. I am on the faculty of a public university. I am concerned for the welfare of other people and for the protection of the environment.

Steve

667. The Bible's literary sins

Comment #64024 by steveroot on August 17, 2007 at 10:35 am

An interesting perspective on the OT as a compilation of bits of history and mythology is
"Adam to Ahab- Myth and History in the Bible",
by Frederick H. Stitt.
(http://www.paragonhouse.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=387)
Bad literature it may be (the bible, that is!), but there is corroborative evidence for some of it being historically true. It's interesting to read what biblical scholars make of the bible, especially the parts that are virtually certain to be myths. It's hard to read this and believe that the bible is the inerrant word of god; fundies won't like it.
Steve

668. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #63900 by steveroot on August 16, 2007 at 3:42 pm

225. Comment #63898 by He'sAVeryNaughtyBoy on August 16, 2007 at 3:30 pm
...Collective consciousness, multiple universe and earth being one of the hells we have fallen to - ...

Sounds like a cross between Arthur C. Clarke and C. S. Lewis...
Steve

669. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #63891 by steveroot on August 16, 2007 at 2:45 pm

207. Comment #63861 by steve99 on August 16, 2007 at 12:53 pm

However behind science is God, The Supreme Designer and Creator of All that exists.



As there is clearly no need for a designer, or creator, he is both pointless, and must be rather bored, not having much to do. Tell you what. If you can invent an unnecessary God, then I can invent a companion for him... perhaps they can play scrabble together or something to while away eternity...

See? I can play the "just make things up" game too!

Steve, you don't have to invent a companion for god- he's got one: his room mate, Chugs. They like to arm wrestle, which is good for us and Darwin 2 because if they played Scrabble, the laws of physics would be completely different!
Steve

http://www.metacafe.com/watch/135713/family_guy_the_big_bang/

670. When did the police start collaring television?

Comment #63770 by steveroot on August 15, 2007 at 8:07 pm

For here is Usamah spreading his message of inter-communal respect and understanding, as captured in Undercover Mosque: 'No one loves the kefir! Not a single person here from the Muslims loves the kefir. Whether those kefir are from the UK or from the US. We love the people of Islam and we hate the people of kefir. We hate the kefir!'

I think he's confused. *Everyone* loves the Kefir:
http://www.kefir.net/

Maybe he god a bad bottle. He should try again- possibly then he wouldn't be so constipated and cross.
Steve

671. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #63738 by steveroot on August 15, 2007 at 3:33 pm

159. Comment #63711 by darwin2 on August 15, 2007 at 1:51 pm
Comment #63598 by LeeC on August 15, 2007 at 3:43 am

"I am glad to hear God does not interfere... so what you are saying then is in the first 0.00000000000000000000000000000000000000000001 seconds of the universe after the big bang God fixed all the laws of physics and rested after a job will done."

Yes that is exactly what I am saying.

And the reason you think such a god would be the least bit interested in you or your infinitesimally small adoration is...?

Never mind. Too much real estate on this forum is going into this black hole. I'm taking D2's advice and skipping his posts from here on in.

But, now that *that* is dealt with, how 'bout my new avatar?? Almost (but not nearly) as good as Billy's! I snapped that one on my bike ride in to work this morning.
Peace be upon us all.
Steve

672. Another Flea is Born

Comment #63229 by steveroot on August 13, 2007 at 3:13 pm

25. Comment #62466 by RonnieG on August 9, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Some recent messages I've seen on a Lutheran church's sign here in the states (same one for all 3):

"Jesus built us a bridge with two boards and three nails."

"Want to avoid burning? Use Son block."

"Stop drop and roll does not work in hell."

On my way to work a couple days ago, I saw the following on a church billboard:

"Pause to think
and you'll have
cause to thank"

Obviously, they're not taking their own advice. There must be a market for these catchy slogans- does a church sign up for such a service ("Slogan of the Month")?
Steve

673. Unreasonably superstitious

Comment #62907 by steveroot on August 12, 2007 at 9:09 am

17. Comment #62880 by KeithMcW on August 12, 2007 at 7:13 am
Well, you're bound to lose weight on the Richard Dawkins fitness programme ... you wont be swallowing any of the bullshit fed to you by the faithheads, homeopaths, faith healers ... strewth, so much crap in the world.

The DVD is available. And there are attractive end-of-life benefits as well: having not swallowed etc., etc., you won't need Hitchens's recommended treatment to be buried in a small container. Very *green* indeed!
Steve

674. Unreasonably superstitious

Comment #62906 by steveroot on August 12, 2007 at 9:04 am

17. Comment #62880 by KeithMcW on August 12, 2007 at 7:13 am
Well, you're bound to lose weight on the Richard Dawkins fitness programme ... you wont be swallowing any of the bullshit fed to you by the faithheads, homeopaths, faith healers ... strewth, so much crap in the world.

Really looking forward to seeing the show. Missed "Root Of All Evil" but have seen snippets of it on youtube.

675. Unreasonably superstitious

Comment #62877 by steveroot on August 12, 2007 at 7:05 am

15. Comment #62853 by youmemeyou on August 11, 2007 at 10:53 pm

A considerable extent of superfluous critique originates in the assumption that the explicitly stated claims of superstitions are what is precisely so interesting about them. This is wrong.

Whaaaaaaaaat??
(goes off for an herbal remedy for thickness)
;-)
Steve

676. Curriculum for Baptist School

Comment #62444 by steveroot on August 9, 2007 at 6:22 pm

34. Comment #62435 by bluebird on August 9, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Ready, OK. gimme a G...
http://www.cheercca.com/camps.html

Look at the CCA Music Policy here:
http://www.cheercca.com/pdf.html
Good guidelines for appropriate lyrics, pelvic motions, structural undergarments... I wonder if the Catholics would be interested in this.
Steve

677. Curriculum for Baptist School

Comment #62428 by steveroot on August 9, 2007 at 5:10 pm

Well, I guess my child won't be a cheerleader. Cheer Guidelines here:
http://chfbs.org/athletics/athletics.htm
Steve

678. Another Flea is Born

Comment #62425 by steveroot on August 9, 2007 at 5:00 pm

Gee, for a moment there I thought the title was a parody of "The Village Idiot". Nice.
Steve

679. How could God allow 26 pilgrims to die in a crash?

Comment #62115 by steveroot on August 8, 2007 at 8:10 am

God likes an old woman in Texas:
http://www.comcast.net/news/strange/index.jsp?cat=STRANGE&fn=/2007/08/06/732882.html

But he does not care for commuters:
http://thomasfortoday.blogspot.com/2007/08/bridge-collapse.html
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=10030


Meanwhile, surgeons accomplish what god could not:
http://www.comcast.net/news/strange/index.jsp?cat=STRANGE&fn=/2007/08/07/733362.html
...but maybe she never asked.
Steve

680. New age therapies cause 'retreat from reason'

Comment #61533 by steveroot on August 5, 2007 at 3:39 pm

15. Comment #61432 by Nick6742 on August 5, 2007 at 6:21 am
If you treat someone for cancer, how can you cure them 'at some level'? Either they still have cancer or they don't.

I think "six feet under" qualifies as a "level". What' wrong with that?
41. Comment #61495 by maton100 on August 5, 2007 at 11:12 am
Look closely at the picture of the woman. She is insane.

Who cares about her sanity? I want to know who does her dental work! I can hear her greeting the dentist: "Eh, what's up, Doc?" (ROFLMAO!)
Steve

681. They let anybody onto the faculty at Oxford nowadays

Comment #61047 by steveroot on August 3, 2007 at 12:25 pm

70. Comment #60997 by phasmagigas on August 3, 2007 at 9:30 am
gerneral question. how do i do the block quote????? answer appreciated.

Phas, since they seem to be otherwise engaged, let me help (as others have helped me). At the top of the box for posting comments, there is this: "[Comment Posting Guidelines]". Here you will find your answer and more. Basically, at the beginning of the desired quote, type "<" "blockquote" ">" but minus all those quotation marks. To close, the center part will be "/blockquote" (don't forget the enclosing "<" ">").

I would like to say that the posts here are for the most part by folks whose grasp on the issues is _way_ beyond mine. My area of expertise is not relevant here. But I am enjoying the livin' Bee Jeezez out of the discussion, and am learning a lot in the process. My thanks!
Steve

682. Rapture Ready: The Unauthorized Christians United for Israel Tour

Comment #59698 by steveroot on July 30, 2007 at 9:23 am

28. Comment #59578 by Dr Benway on July 29, 2007 at 6:50 pm

Also, "it's a way to use your whole to worship the lord".
Oy veh! That's so horrifying. How might we encourage it?

Dr. B: It's not that bad- see the "w" in "whole"? :-)
Steve

683. A force for good?

Comment #58798 by steveroot on July 26, 2007 at 7:15 am

99. Comment #58794 by daveadams on July 26, 2007 at 6:59 am
...You cannot SEE love. You can only see its manifestations in others, or feel what you believe to be the emotion of love in yourself. You may well respond that love is concrete and that you can cut someone open and see the nerves and chemical reactions that cause it. But that is not love itself - that is what CAUSES it.

Well, it's said that "god is love". Nice explanation for what causes it, and it ain't supernatural.
Steve

684. How could God allow 26 pilgrims to die in a crash?

Comment #58795 by steveroot on July 26, 2007 at 7:00 am

I've never been a "believer", but a milestone in my development as an atheist happened in response to a similar event. An AMTRAK train had crashed in the South and there were several injuries and one death. I was on a platform waiting for a train and another passenger remarked that it was "a grace" that only one person was killed. The weird thing was that she called it a "grrrrrrace", kind of like Tony the Tiger, but I sensed that meant to imply that it was some kind of aggressive (yet curiously beneficial) behavior on the part of god. Probably some stupid church-learned thing. Anyway, I asked her if she would like to offer that explanation to the family of the dead person; she walked away and no longer speaks to me. PRAISE!
Steve

685. The hitch in Hitchens' thinking

Comment #58694 by steveroot on July 25, 2007 at 8:01 pm

Sonny and Cher had it right long before this idiot:
"I god you, Babe!"
Steve

686. How could God allow 26 pilgrims to die in a crash?

Comment #58692 by steveroot on July 25, 2007 at 7:50 pm

For reasons known only to God, the world is as it is.

No need for further inquiry.

RonnyG, obviously you are not thinking scripturally. When that appendix was created 6,000 years ago, it was to help digest sin. Since it has been overloaded, it has shrivelled to a fraction of its former glory. Praise!
Steve

687. Camp Joins Summer Fun With Teaching Hindu Faith

Comment #58623 by steveroot on July 25, 2007 at 12:16 pm

19. Comment #58622 by Spinoza on July 25, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Lol. Corylus, "summer camp" does not necessarily have anything to do with "camping".

...especially if it's _bible_ camp!
Steve

688. Islamic Creationist and a Book Sent Round the World

Comment #58527 by steveroot on July 25, 2007 at 5:49 am

27. Comment #58205 by pewkatchoo on July 24, 2007 at 2:30 am
http://www.living-fossils.com/about_author.php

He also seems to like his own face! But is that plastic surgery or is he just carefully preserved?

Maybe _HE_ is the "living fossil"! lol
Steve

689. Red Mosque Fueled Islamic Fire in Young Women

Comment #58395 by steveroot on July 24, 2007 at 5:21 pm

19. Comment #58291 by Quetzalcoatl on July 24, 2007 at 9:00 am
Welcome to the fold. That's three worshippers on the RD site. You should now be feeling good about yourself and slightly amused. That is a sign of my beneficence shining upon you.

There are no special thongs, though. What do you think this is, the Catholic Church?


Make that FOUR! any deity with a good sense of humor is one I'll gladly grovel before... well, at least wear a proselytistic t-shirt!

Here are some of the good things folks will do for you (from Dictionary.com):

Typical acts of worship include:

* prayer;
* sacrifice (korban in Hebrew);
* rituals;
* some forms of meditation;
* holidays, festivals;
* pilgrimages;
* hymns, psalms or worship music;
* dance
* the construction of temples or shrines;
* the creation of idols of the deity.
* living out Worship in Daily Life
Your slave,
Steveroot

690. All the mistakes of the godly are merely metaphor

Comment #57932 by steveroot on July 22, 2007 at 12:17 pm

Thanks, Logicel.
As my old chemistry prof used to say
"Leben and Lernen"! ;-)
Steve

691. All the mistakes of the godly are merely metaphor

Comment #57925 by steveroot on July 22, 2007 at 10:51 am

Someone left the italics on again!

Does this fix it?
Steve
Dang! I need to learn more HTML!

692. All the mistakes of the godly are merely metaphor

Comment #57605 by steveroot on July 20, 2007 at 6:50 am

31. Comment #57603 by sbooder on July 20, 2007 at 5:52 am
Let me explain it in really simple terms: Science – Real. God – Not Real.

I don't know- I saw a bumper sticker and a t-shirt yesterday, both of which said: "God is Real". That convinces me!
Actually, on the back of the shirt was the other part: "Live like He _IS_". How many levels of delusion is that again?
Steve

693. Believing the Unbelievable: The Clash Between Faith and Reason in the Modern World

Comment #56908 by steveroot on July 17, 2007 at 7:43 pm

I couldn't believe the sponsor was Allstate Insurance! How many policies will be cancelled, one wonders? No matter: they're probably not paying out for the abuse settlements.
Steve

694. Borehamwood eruv granted planning permission

Comment #56342 by steveroot on July 15, 2007 at 6:45 am

8. Comment #56077 by jonecc on July 13, 2007 at 3:43 pm
It occurred to me during a previous eruv controversy that on the surface of an approximate sphere such as the Earth any eruv boundary could be considered to enclose either the small area 'inside' it, or the whole of the Earth's surface outside it, since if you were to declare that larger area an eruv the boundary would be identical.


You're channeling Douglas Adams here! This reminds me of "Wonko the Sane" and his safe area "outside the asylum".

It's a great idea, but it won't fool the Teapot for a second.
Steve

695. Praying to a milk jug

Comment #55630 by steveroot on July 11, 2007 at 6:49 pm

The narrator's voice reminds me of David Sedaris. That makes it funny and quite acceptable to me. Plus the message makes so much sense. Anyone hear his story about the Easter Bell? ROFLMAO!
Steve

696. Small, Yes, but Mighty: The Molecule Called Water

Comment #55324 by steveroot on July 10, 2007 at 3:34 pm

I still remember the definition of "boiling point" from my general chemistry professor in 1969:
"the temperature at which the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the external confining pressure."
This explains why water boils at a lower temperature at higher altitudes.
Steve

697. Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature

Comment #55111 by steveroot on July 10, 2007 at 3:28 am

61. Comment #55104 by Henri Bergson on July 10, 2007 at 3:11 am
Steve,
You started this, let's finish it! "It's" is not always a contraction of "it is". It can be a contraction of "it has" - e.g. "It's been raining."

One more pedantic thing: "its" is also a possessive adjective as well as a possessive pronoun (i.e. equivalent to her and hers, respectively).

You will get no argument from me on that! I thought about it as I was falling asleep last night. Actually, Pewkatchoo started it! ;-)

Anyone who actually gives a rat's ass about this "correct grammar" thing will enjoy Lynne Truss's book, Eats, Shoots and Leaves- the zero-tolerance approach to punctuation. Look here: http://eatsshootsandleaves.com/ESLquiz.html

698. Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature

Comment #55039 by steveroot on July 9, 2007 at 8:21 pm

11. Comment #54893 by pewkatchoo on July 9, 2007 at 8:50 am
tieInterceptor
its does not need an apostrophe, even when used as a possessive pronoun. Dem's da rules!

"IT'S" is *always* a contraction of "IT IS", and the apostrophe *is* required. Without the apostrophe, "ITS" is the possessive pronoun you speak of.
Reference: Strunk and White, The Elements of Style, page 1: "It's a wise dog that scratches its own fleas."


16. Comment #54902 by Henri Bergson on July 9, 2007 at 9:22 am

Let's be pedantic! The article correctly used the apostrophe but it incorrectly used the word 'blond'.

Sorry- I missed that one!
Steve
Was that a hijack? Sorry! ;-)

699. Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature

Comment #54869 by steveroot on July 9, 2007 at 7:37 am

Brief, though mild, pedantic diatribe:

2. Comment #54866 by tieInterceptor on July 9, 2007 at 7:19 am
...but it's ruthless truth at its peak.

Excellent use of the apostrophe!
Steve

700. Won't anyone stand up for God?

Comment #54575 by steveroot on July 7, 2007 at 9:52 pm

49. Comment #54571 by troyreynolds86 on July 7, 2007 at 9:21 pm
Just a few points on the bible that I would like to make. First, if a modern Christian is to look at the Old Testament as being myth (that it almost entirely is...

You might be interested in this book: "Adam to Ahab: Myth and History in the Bible". It was written by my father-in-law who became a biblical scholar in his late 60s. His interest is in the bible as an historical reference- apparently there are some things reported that there is corroborative evidence for; and plenty that there's NOT!
Steve

http://www.paragonhouse.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=387

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