Comments by steveroot

Comment #66654 by steveroot on August 30, 2007 at 8:35 pm

55. Comment #66651 by BAEOZ on August 30, 2007 at 8:26 pm
Me too! I'll probably get corrected but....

The Spanish one means faith doesn't make sense as well as it's literal meaning.

Very nice! The only correction is that "it's" does not require the apostrophe:
"It's a wise dog that scratches its own fleas"- Strunk and White, "The Elements of Style", page 1.
Steve

802. The importance of doubt

Comment #66652 by steveroot on August 30, 2007 at 8:28 pm

54. Comment #66649 by Dr Benway on August 30, 2007 at 8:16 pm
I like "no sesos no pesos." Not Latin, but still a romance language.

A mi me gusta mucho los sesos. Spanish is a bit more useful than Latin these days. Why? Because I seso. >_>
Hasta Manzana!
Esteban

803. Christopher Hitchens and Bill Donohue on Mother Teresa

Comment #66650 by steveroot on August 30, 2007 at 8:20 pm

68. Comment #66642 by kkant on August 30, 2007 at 7:28 pm
LMAO. :D Now I can't get that picture out of my head.

"Fudd. Elmer Fudd. Shaken, not stirred."

The good doctor takes a first for saying the most with the fewest words.
Steve

804. The importance of doubt

Comment #66648 by steveroot on August 30, 2007 at 8:11 pm

39. Comment #66552 by Corylus on August 30, 2007 at 11:50 am

fides_et_ratio is Latin for "I know Latin."

...Little snippets from my Latin for all Occasions book - who said it wouldn't come in handy.

I think it really means, "I know latin dances" ;-)

How about: "Illegitimati non carborundum", which is Latin for "don't let the bastards wear you down".
Steve

805. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #66647 by steveroot on August 30, 2007 at 7:56 pm

Did we go over the following?
"not rowing with both oars in the water"
"not running on all 8 (6, 4, whatever) cylinders"
"not the brightest bulb on the tree" (sorry, christian reference)
Steve (a few roots short of a molar);-)

806. Mother Teresa's '40-year faith crisis'

Comment #66613 by steveroot on August 30, 2007 at 3:38 pm

89. Comment #66580 by Dr Benway on August 30, 2007 at 1:50 pm
Global cooling due to particulate matter in the atmosphere reflecting sunlight away from the earth, and global warming due to greenhouse gasses trapping heat, both occur. The relative importance of warming has become more pronounced the past two decades.

Global cooling, also called "global dimming" may have de-emphasized the processes producing global warming, thereby accelerating climate change. See:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_dimming
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/sun/
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=39520879762623193

Steve

807. The importance of doubt

Comment #66423 by steveroot on August 30, 2007 at 1:21 am

Here's a link to another piece by a theologian, Andrew Greeley:
http://www.suntimes.com/news/greeley/532056,CST-EDT-GREEL29.article
(Just in case Josh didn't get the link I sent him. I think there is divine interference here! ;-) )
Steve

808. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #66421 by steveroot on August 30, 2007 at 1:12 am

Valadon's citation above (#29) for some inexplicable (to me, which doesn't mean it isn't true) reason made me recall the line from The Hitchhiker's Guide:

This time it was right, it would work, and no one would have to get nailed to anything."

Ah, Douglas...

Veronique, you are truly the peacemaker. Bless you!
Steve

809. Anger at Malaysia 'Jesus cartoon'

Comment #66013 by steveroot on August 27, 2007 at 8:23 pm

I downloaded the image of the Danish cartoons and separated them into their 12 bits. If I could figure out how to post them... or anyone who wants them email me at sweeks1@mac.com
They may need "tweaking" for use as avatars.
Steve

810. Fallen Pastor Seeks Aid to Pursue Studies

Comment #66012 by steveroot on August 27, 2007 at 8:18 pm

Russell has spawned a monster!
Steve

811. Fallen Pastor Seeks Aid to Pursue Studies

Comment #66010 by steveroot on August 27, 2007 at 7:46 pm

27. Comment #66008 by Yorker on August 27, 2007 at 7:38 pm

Thank you, Yorker. I shall join you in exile, should it come to such a pass. I have an entire BOOK of limericks, some of which are unprintable yet they *are* printed! "The Good Book", one might say.

Here's another religious one:

A lovely young nun from Siberia
was blessed with a virgin interior
'til a lusty old monk
climbed into her bunk,
and now she's the Mother Superior!

Steve

812. Fallen Pastor Seeks Aid to Pursue Studies

Comment #65999 by steveroot on August 27, 2007 at 6:38 pm

Russell's excellent limerick reminded me of one I heard years ago. It's somewhat coarse, but topical.

The jolly old Bishop of Birmingham
buggered three maids while confirming 'em;
as they knelt seeking god,
he excited his rod
and pumped his Episcopal sperm in 'em.

Sorry to offend; though I've seen worse on this site!
Steve

813. Anger at Malaysia 'Jesus cartoon'

Comment #65962 by steveroot on August 27, 2007 at 3:25 pm

16. Comment #65957 by Yorker on August 27, 2007 at 3:15 pm
14. Comment #65949 by USA_Limey

...now I'll have to make one and perhaps start a little web business making them!

How 'bout one of the Big M playing Pocket Pool?

Hope everyone has seen this tasteful site:
http://www.zipperfish.com/free/yaafm12.php
Steve

814. Anger over 'blasphemous' balls

Comment #65934 by steveroot on August 27, 2007 at 12:38 pm

Well, as a resident west of "the pond", I assumed these footballs were... well, FOOTBALLS. At least give the U. S. credit for not passing out what *we* call "footballs"... or "PIGSKINS"!

The mullahs are pissed because their god is too... imaginary... to protect himself from insults, and they use this as a pretext for their ridiculous behavior.
Steve

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

Comment #65933 by steveroot on August 27, 2007 at 12:26 pm

102. Comment #65421 by MonkeyMonkMan on August 24, 2007 at 6:07 am

by the way, since i am new to this, can someone tell me how to respond to a specific writer?

If you mean what I am doing here responding to your earlier post, it is easy. Just copy the post, or (preferably) edited portions of it and paste it into your post. If you want the fancy borders, see the posting guidelines for information about "blockquote".
Look forward to hearing more from you.
Steve

816. Fallen Pastor Seeks Aid to Pursue Studies

Comment #65877 by steveroot on August 27, 2007 at 8:18 am

2. Comment #65872 by monoape on August 27, 2007 at 7:51 am
Anyone have Ted's email address? ;)

No, but when you find it, I'm sure he'll accept PayPal! ;-)
Steve

817. Anger at Malaysia 'Jesus cartoon'

Comment #65874 by steveroot on August 27, 2007 at 8:13 am

Poor babies. Mommy will kiss the boo-boo and make it all better. What a load of whiners.
I agree with Sol (#65873): let god take care of himself if he's so all-powerful.
Steve

818. 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

819. 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

820. 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

821. 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

822. 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

823. 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

824. 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

825. Diamonds unlock secrets of early Earth

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

Praise the Cosmic Jeweler!
Steve

826. 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

827. 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

828. 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*)

829. 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

830. 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

831. 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

832. 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

833. 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

834. 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

835. 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

836. 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/

837. 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

838. 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

839. 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

840. 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

841. 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.

842. 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

843. 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

844. 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

845. 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

846. 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

847. 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

848. 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

849. 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

850. 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