851. 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

852. 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

853. 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

854. 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

855. 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

856. 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

857. 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

858. 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!

859. 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

860. 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

861. 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

862. 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

863. 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

864. 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

865. 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! ;-)

866. 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

867. 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

868. Creationism Song

Comment #54574 by steveroot on July 7, 2007 at 9:40 pm

15. Comment #17636 by StephenH on January 15, 2007 at 8:34 am
The song: Jesus Loves Me
Children are often encouraged to learn and recite it

The full song lyrics go as follows:

Stephen, there's another verse I learned in high school many years ago:

"Jesus loves me, this I know
for the bible tells me so;
even though he was a Jew,
I like him and so do you."

The money being placed in the offering box reminded me of another thing. I was in a church choir for 5 years. We used to secretly mock the Doxology:

"Praise God from whom all blessings flow;
praise Him, He's where our money goes..."

Steve

869. Won't anyone stand up for God?

Comment #54517 by steveroot on July 7, 2007 at 3:34 pm

26. Comment #54502 by _J_ on July 7, 2007 at 2:00 pm

(Note the correct use of capitals)


...but non-standard use of 'e'. Is 'Potatoe' the spelling of True Believers? ;)

Why... that would mean... Dan Quayle is the Messiah!

LOL!
Steve

870. Sadly, an Honest Creationist

Comment #54303 by steveroot on July 6, 2007 at 10:13 am

I'm guessing he used that edition of the bible that's printed on only one side of each page. ;-)
Steve

871. Science of the Soul? 'I Think, Therefore I Am' Is Losing Force

Comment #52702 by steveroot on June 27, 2007 at 8:18 pm

15. Comment #52671 by Ben Kington on June 27, 2007 at 5:20 pm
...So, whatever else I am (I can't speak for the rest of you Matrix-generated hallucinations,) I am a thinking thing.

"No, you're not- you're magnetic ink."
:-)
Steve

872. Opus comic

Comment #50572 by steveroot on June 18, 2007 at 8:06 pm

Oh, come on- we can all use a little comic relief!
Steve

873. U.S. circumcision rate drops

Comment #50566 by steveroot on June 18, 2007 at 7:35 pm

From: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/statements/2007/s04/en/index.html
Who writes this stuff?

"These findings are a very important contribution to HIV prevention science. Male circumcision has major potential for the prevention of HIV infection", said Kevin De Cock, Director of the WHO HIV/AIDS Department.

Steve

874. Vatican cardinal calls on Catholics to stop funding Amnesty

Comment #50007 by steveroot on June 14, 2007 at 2:09 pm

It's a ball of cells, not a "baby" or "child". We're not talking about "partial birth" abortions here, I assume. Rnewson has it exactly right.
Steve

875. House Votes to Expand Stem Cell Research

Comment #48556 by steveroot on June 8, 2007 at 11:19 am

Or indeed admire the Kylie calendar with a jumbo box of kleenex handy.

Now that we can clone mammals, surely every cell is a potential human

"Answers in Parthenogenesis"? ;-)
Steve

876. What I Think About Evolution

Comment #47242 by steveroot on June 3, 2007 at 5:04 pm

140. Comment #47234 by Patrick McArdle on June 3, 2007 at 4:38 pm

Well done, Patrick!
Steve

877. Man to die over insult

Comment #47233 by steveroot on June 3, 2007 at 4:36 pm

Bremas, that is truly scary. My wife is a kindergarten teacher, and I couldn't get her to watch it!

BTW, you should probably forward that to Josh so it can be properly posted: design@richarddawkins.net

Logicel, thanks for that. Hopefully some sanity will eventually prevail. That society is *FUBAR*.
Steve

878. Man to die over insult

Comment #47189 by steveroot on June 3, 2007 at 11:53 am

I am extremely heartened by the response to the posted article. People here have done a lot of 'legwork" finding the places to send protest messages. Thanks for those.

Looking at the original article quoted in a subsequent post, my eyes were drawn to the date this all happened: September, 2005! A chilling thought is "what if this man has been executed already- it's been a year and 9 months?"
If he hasn't been executed, he's been held in prison all that time. And this raises another question: Why have we not heard of this "offense" before now? Someone in the news media dropped the ball, I would say.
Steve

879. TB and the Question of Evolution

Comment #46821 by steveroot on June 1, 2007 at 8:15 pm

Of course bacteria, parasites, viruses and such do not think. But they are useful in considering evolution because their generation time is so short... and, unlike embryos, no one cares if you mistreat 'em a bit!
Steve

880. What I Think About Evolution

Comment #46606 by steveroot on May 31, 2007 at 7:31 pm

"I firmly believe that each human person, regardless of circumstance, was willed into being and made for a purpose."

Yes, that's what those aborted fetuses are for! Why, then, do people oppose abortion??

"Aspects of these theories that undermine this truth, however, should be firmly rejected as an atheistic theology posing as science."

Correct me if I'm wrong (and, as an atheist, I'm frequently wrong), but isn't "atheistic theology" an oxymoron?
Steve

881. What I Think About Evolution

Comment #46602 by steveroot on May 31, 2007 at 7:17 pm

30. Comment #46545 by scottishgeologist on May 31, 2007 at 3:37 pm

And as for that foot washing stuff, hey now we're talking. That hot little redhead....

Actually, this fetishistic practice deserves an entire thread, or maybe even forum to itself. Charismatic evangie types are really into it. Here is a particularly grim pic of it:

http://www.new-wine-scotland.org/IMG_1923.JPG

"Wendy gets her feet washed" is the caption.

I take it Wendy is not the object of your "redhead" fantasy ("delusion"?) ;-)

Praise the lord and pass the Epsom Salts!
Steve

882. Another Christian Science Fair embarrasses itself

Comment #45416 by steveroot on May 27, 2007 at 4:36 pm

Tread carefully, epeeist; you're up against *creation scientists*! And their stuff is *peer reviewed*. Whoa.

This new cosmology is proposed as a creationist alternative to 'big
bang' theory. It passed peer review, by qualified reviewers, for the 1994
Pittsburgh International Conference on Creationism.2

It is a given that the article you provided the link to (on the Hubble constant) would not be understood by 97% of the general population, let alone anyone who falls for "creation science". On this basis, the creationist will reject it, but will offer some BS excuse to attempt to give the appearance of "intellectual disagreement". As a former physical science person (Bachelor's in chemistry over 30 years ago), I can no longer read those articles and understand them (I mean, *really* understand them), but I believe that there are extremely well-educated individuals who can. That is MY "faith", if you will; I point out to our mutual friend that this is not faith in a supernatural being. Next to the scriptures, the articles you cite must seem to have a supernatural origin: "Dang, I cain't understand THAT!"
Steve

883. Aiming for knockout blow in god wars

Comment #45263 by steveroot on May 27, 2007 at 2:59 am

5. Comment #45214 by mmurray on May 26, 2007 at 11:11 pm


It disturbs me that she kept referring to exchanges between herself and Professor Dawkins in military terms. It's not a battle or a war, it is an argument. The difference is that in an argument the loser still goes home with all their limbs.

"This isn't 'argument'; this is 'ABUSE'"
-M/ Python

Steve ;-)

884. Another Christian Science Fair embarrasses itself

Comment #45196 by steveroot on May 26, 2007 at 8:00 pm

55. Comment #45161 by Nikki on May 26, 2007 at 4:29 pm
Hehehehehe.....
Even the Objective Ministries Science Fair entries top that one.

http://objectiveministries.org/creation/sciencefair.html

I liked the little game at the bottom: "Convert the Beatnik Atheist"!
Steve

885. The Blairs' Witch Project

Comment #45146 by steveroot on May 26, 2007 at 2:43 pm

3. Comment #44651 by Philip1978 on May 25, 2007 at 6:27 am
...
Speaking of strange, I have been walking around with a Tazmanian Devil towel around my shoulders to participate in Towel Day in memory of Douglas Adams.

Philip, you hoopy frood! Where did you hear about "Towel Day"? I wish I'd known. Personally, though, I *always* know where mine is! ;-)
Steve

886. Dental healer finds share of faithful believers

Comment #44219 by steveroot on May 23, 2007 at 6:18 pm

Apparently, this man's pen-flashlight that he uses when peering into people's mouths has a feeble, yellowish glow, which causes the fillings to appear gold when they reflect the light. Many people who have been healed incidentally report that their fillings reverted to their ordinary silver colour when they got home.

He also used to say that the fillings put in by God were cross-shaped, which he interpreted as being God's own "seal of approval". Randi dryly noted that most fillings are made that way, as it gives strength to the structure.

I must admit that the brightness of the light had not occurred to me, but that is a perfectly plausible explanation for the color. The guy was too cheap to buy new batteries, bringing new meaning to the term, "dim bulb"!

The "cross-shaped" fillings are, in fact, based on the general anatomical features of most molars, as indicated by Skeptyk above (35/44210). This is especially true of lower *second* molars. Of course, we know that prior to the time of Jesus, human lower molars had pentagram-shaped grooves in their biting surfaces, so *OF COURSE* they are cross-shaped in the C.E.. ;-)

At the dental school where I teach there is talk of being able to grow new teeth in "test tubes"- doing god's work!
Steve

887. Shark virgin birth mystery is solved

Comment #44124 by steveroot on May 23, 2007 at 10:56 am

5. Comment #43915 by posiedon on May 23, 2007 at 3:59 am
avatarFancy having to go through the pain and trauma of childbirth, without enjoying the sex first!!

I thought women were not supposed to enjoy sex. Isn't that why they do the "snip-snip" on muslim women? Christian women who know their place do not enjoy sex either (insert biblical reference here); but it's the only way they can get to heaven.
Steve ;-)

888. Dental healer finds share of faithful believers

Comment #44120 by steveroot on May 23, 2007 at 10:46 am

Um, why did god have to wait? Was he busy or not feeling well? Or why not stop it from happening to begin with? If there was a provable god, there still would be no rational explanation for why an all powerful god would wait till the next day!

It turns out that god is something of a procrastinator: "never do today what you can put off 'til tomorrow"!
Steve

889. Dental healer finds share of faithful believers

Comment #44090 by steveroot on May 23, 2007 at 9:55 am

13. Comment #43998 by eoinc on May 23, 2007 at 6:40 am
"Why is the DA not doing her job and arresting this loon for practicing medicine without a license?"

Because, technically, he isn't practising medicine.

The correct terminology would be "practising DENTISTRY without a license". It's not clear to me that what he's doing is actually *practising* dentistry since the "hands-on" component traditionally associated with dental treatment is missing. Jones's form of "hands-on" is something else.

Sadly, what he IS doing is deluding folks with real dental needs into thinking that their problems are solved. Sometimes these problems will be present in a sub-clinical form and them recur with a ("the Lord's") vengance. The "healed" cracked tooth, for example, probably stopped being a problem because the pulp tissue inside the tooth went from being inflamed (usually quite sensitive to cold) to being necrotic ("dead"; non-sensitive to cold). However, these teeth usually become infected, and potentially serious consequences can occur. The fellow who described his face "go numb" might have something much more seriously wrong with him- like a brain tumor (or maybe he was just drunk!). Unrealistic and foolish conclusions all around; for example:

"It's two years since we've known him; we've never gone to the dentist since," said Sarasota resident Mary Raber, who believes that Jones' prayers have transformed five of her filings to gold or silver. "The Bible says, 'If you believe, you will receive.' "

"Gold *or* silver", eh? Well, "amalgam", which is what fillings are often made of, is 50% silver and 50% mercury- and "silver" in appearance, so god didn't have to work too hard on that one! Sometimes amalgam fillings can assume a "gold-ish" cast but usually when they aren't brushed properly. And Ms. Raber hasn't seen a dentist in 2 years. I see "plates" in HER future!

Of course, everyone knows that the toothbrush was invented in West Virginia, don't they?
If it had been invented anywhere else, it would have been called a "teethbrush"! ;-)

(Apologies to those multi-dentate residents of West Virginia!)
Steve

BTW, I am a dentist and a licensed specialist in endodontics, so I know something whereof I speak.

890. Scientists Draw Link Between Morality And Brain's Wiring

Comment #43510 by steveroot on May 21, 2007 at 9:30 pm

19. Comment #43350 by pewkatchoo on May 21, 2007 at 6:46 am
Mind_Rebel, you don't half talk some nonsense. Please learn proper English spelling and grammar too! Inate, indoctrination, religious, their.

Let he who is without spelling error cast the first criticism!

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/innate
Steve

891. Would the World Be Safer Without Religion?

Comment #43507 by steveroot on May 21, 2007 at 9:06 pm

47. Comment #43476 by perkyjay on May 21, 2007 at 3:34 pm
#43263 - Derwent: Thanks for being a nitpicker about the English language. Winston Churchill is reputed to have said that "a preposition is a word that one should never end a sentence with".

At least the author got the "whom". Many's the native English speaker whom doesn't know that word or how to use it! ;-)
Steve

892. Antarctic 'treasure trove' found

Comment #42183 by steveroot on May 17, 2007 at 8:45 pm

17. Comment #42179 by ? on May 17, 2007 at 8:13 pm
Does this stuff remind anyone else of H. P. Lovecraft (classic American horror, sci-fi, fantasy writer)? Weird discoveries in Antarctica, strange life forms where no one expected them, carnivorous sponges .........

Cthulhu in 2008!
Why vote for a lesser evil?

The "mountains of madness" referred, as it turns out, not to a mountain range, but to the sheer quantity of looniness about!
Steve

893. Pedal power takes Islamic shape in Iran

Comment #42070 by steveroot on May 17, 2007 at 2:57 pm

10. Comment #42067 by the great teapot on May 17, 2007 at 2:52 pm
That's right mock.
But if you owned one of those woman how would you like other men looking at them.

SMPL!*
Steve

*S__t My Pants Laughing

894. Pedal power takes Islamic shape in Iran

Comment #42063 by steveroot on May 17, 2007 at 2:48 pm

Seeing those two women on that bicycle...uncovered...ooooh...
< /uncontrollable lust >
Steve
Well, there IS such a thing as a full fairing!

895. Global Warming (includes commentary about creationism)

Comment #42007 by steveroot on May 17, 2007 at 12:42 pm

66. Comment #42002 by USA_Limey on May 17, 2007 at 12:34 pm
Comment #41998 by steveroot wrote:

"What is wrong with reducing energy consumption for its own sake?"

Reduced energy consumption = reduced economic activity = reduced wealth = screw you third world.

Sorry- I forgot about "trickle-down" economics. ;-)
Steve

896. Global Warming (includes commentary about creationism)

Comment #41998 by steveroot on May 17, 2007 at 12:28 pm

What is wrong with reducing energy consumption for its own sake? Whether or not you subscribe to AGW, this would help be less of a burden on the environment, preserving non-renewable and increasingly scarce resources for future generations ("Future generations? What have they ever done for US?"). I have children and would like to leave them a better world regardless of the average temperature.
Steve

897. Antarctic 'treasure trove' found

Comment #41983 by steveroot on May 17, 2007 at 12:03 pm

The thing that amazes me is that Noah was able to get pairs of those 700+ species onto his ark in time for the flood. Which part of the ark do you suppose contained the aquarium?

And:

It is designed to fill the "knowledge vacuum" that surrounds the fauna that inhabit the deeper parts of the Southern Ocean.

Is that a kind of "gap"?

Steve

898. World's most prominent atheist takes on the Biblical God (and other topics)

Comment #39507 by steveroot on May 11, 2007 at 2:50 am

79. Comment #39495 by Rick777 on May 11, 2007 at 12:23 am
Thou thalt not bare false witness!

Watch what you *bare* here, my friend! ;-)
Steve

899. World's most prominent atheist takes on the Biblical God (and other topics)

Comment #39430 by steveroot on May 10, 2007 at 3:32 pm

"Were you there...?"
If anyone wants to really test their atheism, just fast forward to 20:00 and watch until 24:14. Rexella singing in the Holy Land! She reveals what "makes her tremble"!! And it's not just the blood of Jesus. But be warned: these are powerful verses. Jack Van Impe is utterly reduced to tears by this song. A very moving experience, able to be resisted only by those who are destined to get a third-degree suntan over their entire bodies.
Steve

900. Welsh Hindus fight to save Shambo the sacred bull

Comment #39263 by steveroot on May 10, 2007 at 8:30 am

"We could no more allow the slaughter of Shambo than we could the killing of a human being. Ultimately, we will be willing to defend his life with our own."

The monkeys are willing to stand up for another animal. Nice.
Steve