701. Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

Comment #41150 by Logicel on May 15, 2007 at 2:51 pm

Scientology has a terrible track record of bigotry.

I'm sure the irony of his words was lost on the good reverend.

702. Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

Comment #41146 by Logicel on May 15, 2007 at 2:44 pm

Dower, I think RD mentioned in TGD that since religious folks do not rejoice at funerals for the dearly departed is proof that they REALLY do not believe in what they think they believe in.

I would add that it could also point to the fact that they are fearful, because after all, their God is one frightful character despite all their lame mumbling about how loving he is (as if they are trying to convince themselves that he REALLY does love them). They doubt that he has the best intentions for them, since he is so hard to understand and please--they can never be sure they have done the right thing. What a torturous way to live.

703. Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

Comment #41133 by Logicel on May 15, 2007 at 2:27 pm

Dower, you can flag those posts as offensive. We can assist in the monitoring of these threads by using the troll, spam, and offensive flags.

And to please Yorker, I suggest a fourth flag is added, no sense of humor.

704. Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

Comment #41131 by Logicel on May 15, 2007 at 2:25 pm

Any sex outside of the marriage bond between a man and a woman is violating God's law.

and

The First Amendment is not without limits.

705. Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

Comment #41129 by Logicel on May 15, 2007 at 2:22 pm

I think hell's a real place where real people spend a real eternity.

and

In other words, when the nation is on its knees, the only normal and natural and spiritual thing to do is what we ought to be doing all the time- calling upon God.

706. Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

Comment #41126 by Logicel on May 15, 2007 at 2:17 pm

I listen to feminists and all these radical gals - most of them are failures. They've blown it. Some of them have been married, but they married some Casper Milquetoast who asked permission to go to the bathroom. These women just need a man in the house. That's all they need. Most of the feminists need a man to tell them what time of day it is and to lead them home. And they blew it and they're mad at all men. Feminists hate men. They're sexist. They hate men - that's their problem.

and

The argument that making contraceptives available to young people would prevent teen pregnancies is ridiculous. That's like offering a cookbook as a cure to people who are trying to lose weight.

707. Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

Comment #41121 by Logicel on May 15, 2007 at 2:12 pm

Dower, not sure if you can separate Falwell's ideology from the man, but I will be a good atheist and play along:

Someone must not be afraid to say, 'moral perversion is wrong.' If we do not act now, homosexuals will 'own' America!...If you and I do not speak up now, this homosexual steamroller will literally crush all decent men, women, and children who get in its way...and our nation will pay a terrible price! - People for the American Way, "Hostile Climate," 1997, p.15.

and

[Vice President Gore] recently praised the lesbian actress who plays 'Ellen' on ABC Television...I believe he may even put children, young people, and adults in danger by his public endorsement of deviant homosexual behavior...Our elected leaders are attempting to glorify and legitimize perversion. People for the American Way, "Hostile Climate", 1998, p.9.

_______

It is impossible to measure the damage that this great man of faith did to people and America, and what his family/university will continue to do.

708. Television evangelist Falwell dies at 73

Comment #41105 by Logicel on May 15, 2007 at 1:51 pm

Dr. Falwell was a giant of faith and a visionary leader," Godwin said. He "has always been a man of great optimism and great faith."
________

Someday, such a commemoration riddled with the word, faith, will be considered insulting.

Browsing through the pathetic, hateful, and unreasoned opinions of this man of great faith as quoted in above comments, would make most people cringe if faith was connected to their names.

It is impossible for me not to say something nasty about this creep so here's hoping someone robs his grave and does a brain analysis on this visionary.

nrvous, in the comment window, click on Comment Posting Guidelines, and you will find out how to do blockquotes.

709. Why Christopher Hitchens is not Great

Comment #40802 by Logicel on May 15, 2007 at 2:52 am

The Christian emperor is getting consistently recognized as being NAKED. Now, of course, NAKEDNESS shows the innate sinful nature of humanity, so it must be covered up at all costs. How to accomplish a re-clothing of said NAKED emperor? Yeah, I know the trick: LYING!

The emperor will be grateful and not send you hell for another sin, LYING, because NAKEDNESS must be covered, and that is what is important.

So, dear author of this article, keep spinning your immoral wheels in the sand.

710. Why Christopher Hitchens is not Great

Comment #40799 by Logicel on May 15, 2007 at 2:42 am

The Smart Patrol, nice post.

pewkatchoo, Humans have evolved social abilities/skills to survive--or a better word is to flourish--within a particular group or society. The group's beliefs, attitudes, priorities are often internalized, allowing individuals to identify personally with the group. Even after the group is dissolved, a former member will still have vestiges of a personal identity derived from this no longer functioning group.

In the web discussion between Harris and Sullivan, this ability was well displayed by Sullivan, when despite all of Harris' excellent dismantling of the reasons why Sullivan's particular faith is unreasonable, Sullivan is able to conclude that the discussion only made his unreasonable faith stronger--or in my words--his personally identifying with a group, in Sullivan's case, Roman Catholics remains intact. Sullivan could be the last Roman Catholic alive, and this mentality could still remain intact.

We all know humanity is social, and the choice of what kind of social identity one creates/embraces as an individual is as varied as there are individuals, but yet, this embracing is strongly stamped with a group identity--religious stamping being particularly powerful, but so are national identities.

In the film, Cast Away, Hanks, amidst the howling winds--made more frightening and identity crushing because of the absence of background music--of the small island on which he is marooned, creates a friend, using a coconut on which he paints a crude face and puts some fake hair on its 'head'. In this way, Hanks is less alone, at least, in his head.

Existentialism, especially espoused by Beauvoir--Sartre is too dense for me--human reality is the balancing between the self and the other. And what astounding balancing acts can be produced!

711. Richard Dawkins' lecture at the State House Convention Center

Comment #40552 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 1:07 pm

Thor, sorry you were disappointed by the sound quality. I don't know why, but it is excellent on my end! Or maybe, I am witness to a miracle, and my hearing is now enhanced to a super being's level--it must be due to all that praying I do! (:-)))

712. The Greatest Act of Human Hubris

Comment #40543 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 12:53 pm

NMcC, Lazare's article is just the tired old chestnut that other religious apologists have written over the last six months. Others have criticized his article fairly adequately. Despite the use of historical facts, his conclusion was bilge. Please comment if you do find the article otherwise, at the other thread, of course!

713. The Greatest Act of Human Hubris

Comment #40526 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 12:09 pm

A decidedly nifty point, briancoughlanworldcitizen.

714. The Greatest Act of Human Hubris

Comment #40525 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 12:04 pm

NMcC, please note my use of the word, previous. I also identified the bilge one by its author, Lazare. I think this article, written by Diamos, is very informative and clever in delineating what hubris really is, which is religious faith regarding itself as unique and special, instead of the dismal hodgepodge it really is.

715. Pale Blue Dot

Comment #40515 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 11:40 am

6. Comment #40500 by jam007 on May 14, 2007 at 11:18 am
See also this version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47EBLD-ISyc


That vid is one of my faves, I play it at least weekly and I have subscribed to icecorescientist's channel. That guy is a talented musician who often adds original music to his vids.

716. The Greatest Act of Human Hubris

Comment #40501 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 11:20 am

But Daniel Lazare, the scribbler, oops, writer of the previous bilge, oops, article posted, insists that such inanity, oops, deep and profound meaning, is crucial for our flowering into contented and productive beings.

Nifty article.

717. Facing Off on Evolution

Comment #40488 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 10:47 am

firemancarl, of course, Je comprends bien. You are an atheist and demand proof. But I already sold the photos on Ebay. Sorry, maybe next time.

718. Facing Off on Evolution

Comment #40483 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 10:43 am

Anyway, as I have said in other threads regarding this debate, our side did OK. And if you have any constructive feedback, visit the RRS website and present it there.

719. Facing Off on Evolution

Comment #40481 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 10:38 am

Lagomort, nice, snarky comment.

720. Facing Off on Evolution

Comment #40478 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 10:36 am

firemancarl, I am sure you would also enjoy shopping at the huge Carrefour (either the biggest or the next biggest box store in the world). I remember the first time I went shopping here, about a decade ago, I heard squeals and thumping of soft objects landing on the floor behind me. Being a native New Yorker, I figured it was some kind of riot. But alas, it turned out to be a sexy, food fight between the male and female tenders of the fresh fish stall! Ice cubes sliding about the floor, limp shrimp being lobbed about, etc. Great fun.

721. Facing Off on Evolution

Comment #40459 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 10:09 am

Here in France, most women have a bit of cleavage when hosting shows and doing news. No big thing, though most of the breasts are bit on the subdued size. Men on the shows, even comment about how sexy that a bit of perspiration is beading up in the cleavage. Everybody stays cool and resumes the discussion as nothing happened.

As a woman, I always feel appreciated by the opposite sex without worrying about being degraded, hurt, or frightened. Whatever the French culture has, it should be patented and bottled, and perhaps the assuredly rampant sale of this much needed product could also raise France's flagging GDP.

722. Furor over author Ayaan Hirsi Ali's visit stirs debate on religious freedom

Comment #40454 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 9:59 am

This is a big challenge in 21st century America to make sure we can live with the deepest differences, and religious differences are the most difficult to navigate."
______

D'oh. Is it because members of the same religious sect can't even get along with each other within the same sect let alone with members of a different sect? Religion: community division served willingly on a superstitious platter of seemingly different goodies--in reality--just the same bunch of turds.

Now, the reality is that if you are unsatisfied and speak out against Judaism, there isn't much we can do about it in this country," Perman said. "Within the general Jewish community, there isn't much you can do except not give them a forum or ignore them."
_______

Sounds like Perman regrets the move from the medieval era to the present?

Although ElBayly believes a death sentence is warranted for Hirsi Ali, he stressed that America is not the jurisdiction where such a crime should be punished. Instead, Hirsi Ali should be judged in a Muslim country after being given a trial, he added.

______

So it is OK that it's conveniently post enlightenment where Elbayly is living, but it is just honky dory that it is still the middle ages in Muslim countries? Full-blown jerk. How Reza Aslan can drum up enthusiasm regarding that Islam is approaching the Christian equivalent of enlightenment is beyond me.

723. Jerry Falwell's God

Comment #40430 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 9:34 am

You cast me out of the town square
Hey, you are the town square!

Oh, Roy, my love for you is getting deeper!

This guy is a strumming encyclopedia of authentic American music styles--this time around it is a meaty chunk of R&B peppered with a bit of spirited gospel. In addition, his smile is pure music in itself

724. Dogma

Comment #40422 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 9:20 am

Do as I do, subscribe to Brian's youtube channel, and you get all his wonderful stuff sent directly to your youtube account.

725. Richard Dawkins' lecture at the State House Convention Center

Comment #40417 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 9:12 am

It's worth the time (1 1/2 hrs) to take to listen to this audio. Excellent audio quality/acoustics which made RDs voice sound a bit like the splendid one of Anthony Hopkins'. However, there seemed to a wobbly echo during the half and hour of questions and answers. Though most of the lecture was a refresher course (I'm not complaining), there was some new tidbits for me.

Best line, which was greeted with tremendous applause, was: "...raptured into heaven, leaving their clothes as empty as their lives."

RD also had a decent go at Haggard during the questions-and-answers period. RD discussed in length the anthropic principle and multiverses which I appreciated very much.

RD was simply superb during the questions-and-answers period, deftly fielding many questions from theists. I enjoyed particularly RD emphasizing that the selfish gene leads into the altruistic organism when questioned regarding the concern of turning of mankind into beasts without the taming influence of religion.

726. BBC man says 'I was wrong to lose it. But these scientologists are truly scary'

Comment #40359 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 7:14 am

Man, I understand. You did fine, the b'stards.

727. Row over Scientology video

Comment #40356 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 7:05 am

My two great hates: Pope and Scientology.

In investigating alternative religions for an University class project, around 30 years ago, I visited their branch in NYC. Sick, sick, sick people; they make fundamentalists seem tame. In stead of shouting, I would have spat at them.

Cruise is a loser as a human being, not to mention a humdrum actor. I dislike this cult particularly because of the disgustingly clever marketing of religion as 'science'. The b'stards.

728. God: The Failed Hypothesis and The Comprehensible Cosmos (book reviews)

Comment #40336 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 6:29 am

Nice to see a review of Stenger's books for a change.

729. Christians and atheists start a calmer dialogue

Comment #40332 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 6:22 am

Sounds like the religious are becoming even less choosy in order to slow down the continuing erosion of religious appeal. If this 'openess' on their part allows atheists to actually mingle with their flock, then it has to be a positive for atheism.

730. In God, Distrust

Comment #40317 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 5:49 am

Fantastic review, a complete pleasure to read.

731. True faith is greater than the ranters

Comment #40305 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 5:26 am

nice post, Magpie.

732. True faith is greater than the ranters

Comment #40302 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 5:20 am

True faith is greater than the ranters

The title stopped me in my reading tracks, and I won't waste my time even reading the first sentence. I doubt very much the author can ascertain clearly and identify what true faith is; true according to what interpretation of which of the many faith-based systems out there? Or maybe this guy has patented a true faith stamp, and we just need to look at the foreheads of folks stamped accordingly?

733. Let us pray for the soul of Richard Dawkins

Comment #40292 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 4:58 am

Another interesting aspect, is if the human adult in the situation is female who has brought to term a baby herself. In that case, the levels of a certain hormone would most likely encourage/compel the female human to save the baby. This is the hormone that makes postpartum women respond to another mother's squalling infant.

734. Let us pray for the soul of Richard Dawkins

Comment #40289 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 4:53 am

If I was in this hypothetical situation supposedly posed by RD, I would try my best to wound the elephant, to slow it down, so I could save the baby.

As for trying to save this last elephant as being nonsensical because it is the last elephant, you are not given the information if this last elephant is a female, and if there is frozen male elephant sperm safely squirreled someplace.

735. Let us pray for the soul of Richard Dawkins

Comment #40279 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 4:35 am

In this country, belief is a minority practice and believers a persecuted lot. The rabid attacks by Dawkins and his camp-followers spur even the most mild-mannered Christian, Muslim or Jew into a hard-line position.
_______

What a sloppy and unclear conflation between the reality of a minority of the British population practicing religion with implying--with the most slimy intellectual dishonesty--that this minority status is solely because the hidden majority are not allowed to practice their particular brand of religion.

So what is it, open and well thought-out criticism of religion deters or spurs the practice of religion? In the second sentence quoted above, she seems a bit muddled about to which situation she is referring. This author has already committed two strikes against logic, and therefore, I will not give her a third chance and did not finish reading the article.

However, this pathetic kind of article, no matter how inane it is, is positive as others have pointed out. These religious apologists are realizing they must try to combat this very effective criticism against non-evidential religious beliefs--in part, being virally transmitted via the Net--to the best of their abilities. Happily, the best of their abilities is falling miserably short, and they are--apparently obliviously--further contributing to the swell of opposition against belief without evidence.

EDIT: Please double post--I just did, remember only one comment per 30 minutes is allowed at the Guardian site.

736. French Muslim women opt for hymen surgical cons

Comment #40243 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 2:17 am

20. Comment #39791 by Big T on May 12, 2007 at 12:08 am
Comment #39769 by Veronique: So men are (with very few exceptions) not worth the effort, because we can't perform up to your standards. Thanks for the affirmation. You are so sweet.
_______

Would you rather have us lie, so you could never have the opportunity to learn how to please a woman sexually? Any man has the ability to please a woman sexually. But of course if her clitoris is lopped off, then it is a moot point for the most part.

EDIT: Also please note that both Veronique and I came of the sexual age during a time when though the quantity was available--because of the birth control pill--the quality was still dismal because of the ignorance that men had concerning female sexual pleasure. Such ignorance has largely been lessened in western civilization.

737. French Muslim women opt for hymen surgical cons

Comment #40242 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 1:56 am

Bonzai wrote, I think the adaptive origin of male jealousy is pure speculation.I don't know of any evidence which suggests that the cave man was jealous and possessive of "his" women. He was probably more likely to mate and took off rather than sticking around to form a stable relationship.
________

Unfortunately, I cannot remember the study in particular, but the conclusion was that the predominance of red in many tribal rituals was because red stood for menstrual blood. For women in the tribe to keep their men from wandering, the females would menstruate collectively--which has something to do with the uncanny ability of women menstruating when smelling the menstrual blood of another. After awhile, just the color red did the same thing. Perhaps, someone else knows of this study and can elaborate more on it. I suppose that collective menstruating kept the males from wandering because they were waiting when the women would be sexually available?

738. French Muslim women opt for hymen surgical cons

Comment #40241 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 1:41 am

Luthien wrote, I can see you have never had the misfortune to incurr the crude attentions of a large group of males, who's reaction to a young woman is to engage in verbal abuse that is both sexual and physically threatening. I would imagine that the vast majority of women would find "invisible" a happy state in these circumstances.

_______

Brilliant!

739. French Muslim women opt for hymen surgical cons

Comment #40240 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 1:37 am

32. Comment #39947 by Sri Syadasti on May 12, 2007 at 11:21 am
There is a very simple solution to the problem of parental certainty and inheritance: matrilinealism.

It's a shame that very few cultures have thought of it.
______

Very interesting also. Makes you wonder if there could be any other reasons why it is not followed?

When I get truly discouraged at male mistreatment of females, I get a chuckle from realizing that it was the dominate male culture which gave us the technology allowing the liberation of women.

740. French Muslim women opt for hymen surgical cons

Comment #40236 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 1:15 am

Luthien wrote: "The only men worth the effort are the rational men, who are truely capable of seeing women as their equal, and not somehow their "property" to be protected from other men."
_______

After awhile--once I had significant carnal knowledge with the opposite sex--I devised a rule of thumb that any man with whom I would consider having sex would have to prove to me that he sees me as a human who happens to be female, and that he regards himself as a human who happens to be male.

But, I must say, that since the pickings were pretty slim in my desired category, I often settled for men who regarded me as half-human, half-woman!

741. French Muslim women opt for hymen surgical cons

Comment #40234 by Logicel on May 14, 2007 at 1:01 am

Veronique wrote, Out of all the blokes I had anything to do with, I could count on the fingers of one hand the ones that were actually worth the effort.
_______

What an interesting angle! Being just a little younger than you, but also having had been extremely sexually experienced when younger, I agree. Most men could not hold a candle--or a penis--to the pleasures that I myself was able to give me via masturbation--out of dozens I would say about 4 were worth remembering. If a woman is not sexually experienced like we are, then they would have nothing to compare one sexual experience with another. Good job, V!!!

742. In Loving Memory of William Luke Ashton: July 10th 1989 - Dec 25th 2006

Comment #40223 by Logicel on May 13, 2007 at 11:06 pm

In addition, despite noting the almost laughable immorality of Christianity where most aggressions against others are forgiven if God is asked for it, and that a notion of a pleasing afterlife would make you want to die as fast as you can, us atheists recognize Christians as fully human.

Christians function within a human morality set into motion way before the advent of Christianity, ensuring their morality, empathy, and decency despite the nonsense of their silly religious superstitions.

743. In Loving Memory of William Luke Ashton: July 10th 1989 - Dec 25th 2006

Comment #40221 by Logicel on May 13, 2007 at 10:48 pm

sorryrichard, You make the mistake of equating the embracing of Darwinian evolution with the embracing of social Darwinianism of which is not held dear at this site. When someone like you say what they say, I only realize how little they do understand about evolution, in order to equate it with the way we--us carnal creatures--conduct our social living.

Your silly and unproven notion of a soul is not the only way to accept and nurture precious life. With atheists, it is because life is precious for itself and for the meaning of which we can bestow on our lives, and not for some non-evidential sky daddy.

This young man was an atheist as is his father, and you are implying that because of atheism, you are unable to understand why the father of this young man is sad at his death? And why other atheists would be also. Unbelievable. You apparently think only religious people can feel empathy, grief, and sorrow as if religious beliefs make you human. How sad, how grievously sad that you think that way.

744. Kirk Cameron Proves That God Exists

Comment #40088 by Logicel on May 13, 2007 at 4:16 am

IQHQ wrote, Forgive me, but that girl Kelly is an intellectual lightweight.
________

A woman, nearly thirty years old and a mother of three is a girl in your book?

BTW, I draw and paint fairly well, but no materpieces will ever be done by me, I guess that makes me a 'lightweight', and I should just stop messing around with a medium in which I could get better, but never really good enough, so why should I keep on trying? I'll stop right now.

I also am a chef. Though, I cook fairly well, I will never reach the heights of culinary creativity as some very famous cooks, therefore, I will retire my wire whisk and slotted spoons right now.

In addition, my two cats are lightweight, they just meow instead of roaring--I will tape their mouths shut so I will no longer be annoyed by their lightweight sounds.

745. Dawkins transcendent

Comment #40087 by Logicel on May 13, 2007 at 3:47 am

Numen can mean creative genius, so Ms Gledhill's description of the drawing done by the artist Paul Winner as numinous is capturing her opinion of the quality of his drawing.

746. Consciousness Comes from DNA

Comment #40071 by Logicel on May 13, 2007 at 1:51 am

William C. Lyon, nice post!

747. Unintelligent Design

Comment #40013 by Logicel on May 12, 2007 at 4:50 pm

nice post, Shuggy. I like your style.

748. Ted Haggard Is Completely Heterosexual

Comment #40010 by Logicel on May 12, 2007 at 4:42 pm

If I remember correctly, In Umberto Eco's The Name of the Rose, the main plot line was the keeping from public knowledge by a monk at all costs--including murder and arson--an ancient transcript which encouraged laughter and joking.

749. Hitchens and God: a book review

Comment #40009 by Logicel on May 12, 2007 at 4:33 pm

Good review. I appreciated the author emphasizing the importance of intellectual honesty, and I especially enjoyed the final paragraph.

750. Unintelligent Design

Comment #39989 by Logicel on May 12, 2007 at 2:22 pm

ranjani, thanks for the many links to articles which you have sent to this site.

Your point is well taken, however I avoid anything written by Atran even on the off chance it may contain some useful nuggets. He gets so much up my nose--I suppose in a similar manner in which Hitchens gets up other atheists' noses-- that I give the guy a wide berth.