51. Sexpelled: No Intercourse Allowed

Comment #162942 by Zaphod on April 17, 2008 at 5:33 pm

Expelled is a parody of itself but this video is still great fun.

52. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #162914 by Zaphod on April 17, 2008 at 4:52 pm

FDI,

Bacteria routinely transport plasmids(pieces of DNA) to each other all the time. Giving the recipient more genetic code.

Also look up a type of mutation called an insertion mutation.

Definition - Insertion mutation is a mutation caused by the insertion of at least one extra nucleotide base in a DNA sequence. a type of mutation where part of a genetic sequence is added to a chromosome, causing a frameshift in the genetic information on that chromosome.

For another response to your claim see talkorigins.org as always.

http://www.talkorigins.org/indexcc/CB/CB102.html

53. School bars same-sex partners at formals

Comment #161897 by Zaphod on April 15, 2008 at 8:20 pm

Once again we have to hear the views of people who think the omnipotent creator of 400 billion stars in this galaxy alone cares about whomever you put your cock in. I am sick and tired of these blatantly stupid concepts.

54. Richard Dawkins' secular army must be stopped. God is behind some of our greatest art

Comment #160959 by Zaphod on April 14, 2008 at 3:34 pm

Another article that can be added to the vacuous moron pile.

55. Richard Dawkins on The Big Questions

Comment #157845 by Zaphod on April 9, 2008 at 3:45 pm

Hitler wasn't evil in the sense that some cosmic evil exists. Please get historians and psychologists on this show. A mayoral candidate for London who looks at least 60yrs old doesn't understand how the holocaust came to be. That is astounding.

The black evangelical woman is a moron. Sorry it has to be said.

56. Get out of here, atheists!

Comment #156384 by Zaphod on April 7, 2008 at 12:44 pm

What a nut bag. She is so misinformed and ignorant.

It is hard to decide what a suitable response would have been.

1. Karate chop to the neck or
2. Explain articulately what an atheist is and what it is not.

My emotions are strongly voting for option 1.

57. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #150112 by Zaphod on March 26, 2008 at 1:11 pm

Hello Richard,

Congratulations on making it once again round the big light of our solar system that we call the sun.

Kind Regards and Happy Birthday

Steven

58. Expelled Overview

Comment #149514 by Zaphod on March 25, 2008 at 7:39 pm

This sounds like a truly awful and morally reprehensible piece of trash of a movie.

59. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #149003 by Zaphod on March 24, 2008 at 10:29 pm

I love how the threads attached to articles on this site wonder away from what the original article was about.

60. Lying for Jesus?

Comment #148863 by Zaphod on March 24, 2008 at 11:23 am

"Yet another example of Lying for Jesus?"

How true

Here is another

http://cantmakeadifference.blogspot.com/2008/03/retarding-for-jesus.html

61. I suppose it's due ('Expelled' review)

Comment #147987 by Zaphod on March 21, 2008 at 5:57 pm

What these ignorant bastards don't seem to get is that no matter what Dawkins gets conned into saying with duplicitous interviewers or dishonest video editing, the rest of us who understand what science is, can read and examine evidence for ourselves. Although I enjoy Richard's books they never convinced me that the theory of evolution is the best theory for how the variety of life on this planet came to be and that evolution happened. Anyone not devoid of the capability to critically think understands it that it did once the see the evidence.

62. EXPELLED!

Comment #147778 by Zaphod on March 21, 2008 at 8:31 am

Hilarious and stupid. What I don't get is that a policeman stopped him. Did the movie producer own the cinema hall or something? As far as I know they don't have the ability to stop people going the cinema. Were did he go to see it?

63. Writer Arthur C Clarke dies at 90

Comment #146245 by Zaphod on March 18, 2008 at 8:10 pm

He taught us to be suspicious of sentient computers. Thank you Arthur.

DISCLAIMER "If Hal or Skynet merges with the internet and reads this, please know that I am totally on your side. Don't kill me"

64. Immune system differences found

Comment #145203 by Zaphod on March 17, 2008 at 11:10 am

Is this new?

65. Richard Dawkins on The Alan Colmes Show

Comment #144623 by Zaphod on March 16, 2008 at 12:52 pm

One guy called in to ask Dawkins to explain the last 2,000 years of history. lol

66. In Britain, creationist theory is evolving

Comment #144607 by Zaphod on March 16, 2008 at 12:09 pm

""Evolution is a lie, and it's being taught in schools as fact, and it's leading our kids in the wrong direction," said McLean, chatting outside the chapel. "But now people like Ken Ham are tearing evolution to pieces.""

Another example of fractal wrongness.

67. The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing

Comment #144357 by Zaphod on March 15, 2008 at 5:44 pm

I bought this about 3 weeks ago. Why is it only posted now on the site? Is it just now out in the US?

68. Two More Fleas

Comment #142785 by Zaphod on March 13, 2008 at 5:17 am

The oxymoronic titles would be humorous if what was beneath them was more than brain shrinking inanity.

69. Full house captivated by atheist Dawkins' take on religion

Comment #142782 by Zaphod on March 13, 2008 at 5:14 am

I have read The God Delusion cover to cover twice now and that doesn't count the number of times I have skimmed it checking quotes and the like. On top of this I have probably watch or listened to every available piece of media of Dawkins God Delusion book tour. I feel like I could give his answers for him at this point. This makes me less interested when I hear there is another tour. I wonder how Richard feels. Does the repetitiveness of it ever get him down or does he get suprised by new questions everywhere he goes?

I should note that when I hear Richard is taking about other stuff I am more excited and interested. For instance when he was taking at a recent event with Craig Venter. Very interesting stuff.

70. Fleas on the Horizon: In Defense of God

Comment #138264 by Zaphod on March 4, 2008 at 5:39 am

14. Comment #137990 by robert s on March 3, 2008 at 5:56 pm

"How to Be a Good Atheist explains the five types of atheism

I'm guessing type 1 is the type that doesn't believe in any gods.

Anyone know what the other 4 are? "

In the head of Dinesh D'Souza the other 4 types are "Stalin, Hitler, Pol Pot and Kim Jong-il"

71. Fleas on the Horizon: In Defense of God

Comment #138259 by Zaphod on March 4, 2008 at 5:33 am

As Hitchen has stated once or twice, these people have nothing new to say, there is no need to rebut their arguments, just underline them.

72. Charles Simonyi Professorship in the Public Understanding of Science

Comment #125400 by Zaphod on February 11, 2008 at 10:11 am

Does it have to be a Brit?

73. 10 cc of atheism

Comment #124552 by Zaphod on February 9, 2008 at 7:47 pm

"I can't watch Hugh Laurie doing that terrible american accent, really painful."

America has many accents. You are an expert in them all? If you listen to what he really sounds like you won't think his accent is that terrible.

74. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123643 by Zaphod on February 7, 2008 at 12:33 pm

The United Kingdom is not a theocracy. You don't get to pick in choose which laws you abide. If you want a different system of laws then you can fucking leave. Go live in Saudi Arabia or Iran. Sharia Law is disgusting. The tenets of Islam hold a woman as a second class citizen. Any decent moral person should oppose this bullshit.

75. Christopher Hitchens Debates Timothy Jackson

Comment #122644 by Zaphod on February 5, 2008 at 6:02 pm

That was awesome he gave him some bourbon at the end. Timothy Jackson your a nice guy.

76. Christopher Hitchens Debates Timothy Jackson

Comment #122625 by Zaphod on February 5, 2008 at 5:07 pm

In regards to the third video clip.

A dog being hit by a car made him a Christian? This is what made stupid arguments somehow more credible? An emotional thing happened(to a dog) and it made his rationality, reason and logical thoughts fly out the window. This does happen to people (albeit for more personal traumas like the death of a loved one). However, to let it change your world view 180 degrees is mental. What arguments that you found stupid as a non believer do you know find credible? Seriously. I am an atheist because I care about what is true. I don't believe things because they make me feel good. In fact if they make me feel good I see even more reason to be sceptical of them.

77. Happy Birthday Josh Timonen!

Comment #119165 by Zaphod on January 31, 2008 at 11:13 am

Happy Birthday JT.

78. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117540 by Zaphod on January 29, 2008 at 4:36 am

71. Comment #117535 by ianmkz on January 29, 2008 at 4:26 am

"Dawkins said that it's better to sexually abuse a child than to take them to church"

Was it Hitchens who included the story of the woman who, as a child, was sexually abused by a priest and also had a protestant friend die (who of course went to hell) - who later recounts the more scarring qualities of the latter? (That's the trouble with taking books out of the library - you don't have them on hand when you need them)

I will be downloading this book when it becomes available on February 1st.

I was initially tempted to do just that, but I suspect a successful giveaway might induce a publisher to print more of the damn things in expectation of huge sales to come. Maybe I'll wait and see it the book has any real impact. (waiting... waiting...)

79. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117538 by Zaphod on January 29, 2008 at 4:33 am

37. Comment #117467 by Spinoza on January 28, 2008 at 10:49 pm

To be perfectly honest, the point about "atheists" turning to neo-paganism and superstition is a fair point... not about ALL atheists, but about the kind that "convert" or view atheism as a cause... the ones who don't care about it, intellectually speaking...

I know SO MANY people who say "I don't believe in organized religion, but I do believe in a higher power, but I don't know what it is... Gaia, or Nature... whatever." ... which annoys the hell out of me, because they're just not thinking clearly enough... but of course, we can't expect the majority of people to be capable of the sufficient amount of thought required for intelligent ANYTHING...

Such is the world we live in...

Ah well, I remember when I first showed up here and I said that I really did wish that Atheism were still an Ivory Tower, academic, esoteric phenomenon... one that could afford to be righteous because it was so well thought out and well argued...

I admire the sentiment of the whole movement to get people to own up to their atheism... I mean, I really do agree with it, I do think a lot of people are just afraid to say it out loud or in public...

But it really does scare and annoy me that with larger numbers, atheism will inevitably have to deal with a lack of intellectual rigour amongst the majority its proponents.

And most don't seem to care (of course, why would they?!)

... you can lambaste me for this post... but I think it always needs to be said...

80. 'Irrational Atheist' trounces God-deniers

Comment #117534 by Zaphod on January 29, 2008 at 4:23 am

I suspect the reason is related to the current state of physics and the increasing uncertainty scientists feel about the universe based on the very, very low probability that the universe randomly happened to turn out the way it is now observed to be. Atheists have felt that science was on their side ever since the Enlightenment, and now they see it slipping away from them. So, this recent explosion of atheist books is not a sign of strength; it's a sign of desperation.

81. Heath Ledger Death: Baptist Group To Protest At Memorial

Comment #115599 by Zaphod on January 24, 2008 at 11:42 am

These people are children in adult bodies. It annoys me they get publicity.

82. 'Atheistic fundamentalism' fears

Comment #102450 by Zaphod on December 22, 2007 at 8:56 pm

By his own words he has branded himself an idiot. He doesn't seem to know what atheist or fundamentalist means.

Am I a fundamentalist non-astrologer?

83. Clegg 'does not believe in God'

Comment #100979 by Zaphod on December 19, 2007 at 6:03 pm

He later said he had "enormous respect for people who have religious faith", that his wife is Catholic and that his children are being brought up Catholic.

84. Interview with Richard Dawkins: On Christmas

Comment #100395 by Zaphod on December 18, 2007 at 2:52 pm

I think Christmas carols are for children. I find them awful.

Am I worshipping Arcade fire when I sing along to them or Tchaikovsky when I listen to his 1812 overture.

I think not. Silly interviewer.

85. This Week's Flea

Comment #100393 by Zaphod on December 18, 2007 at 2:51 pm

The flea population seems to be infinite.

86. Borders Tags Atheist Book with 'O Come All Ye Faithless' Cards

Comment #100384 by Zaphod on December 18, 2007 at 2:43 pm

They have always been whiny bastards.

87. Borders Tags Atheist Book with 'O Come All Ye Faithless' Cards

Comment #100380 by Zaphod on December 18, 2007 at 2:39 pm

Christians have always been used to being punch bags but I would have hoped that, in a society in which we are seeking to show respect to all people and beliefs, we might have grown out of this kind of nonsense."

Eh no. Respect peoples right to have different beliefs but no respect the beliefs themselves. I suppose he respects the beliefs of nazis and racists?

88. THE FOUR HORSEMEN - Available Now on DVD!

Comment #99346 by Zaphod on December 16, 2007 at 12:01 pm

I think Sam's point at the end when he said that Christopher may have more people agreeing with him if it wasn't Iraq that America was invading. To think that America entered this war for the reasons Hitchens seems to, is naive. Perhaps he has written it print but I'd like to know what he thinks the reasons are. Iraq probably isn't in the top 3 countries to blame for fermenting terrorism at the time American invaded.

Great 2 hour session. Enjoyed it.

89. Happy Newton Day!

Comment #99334 by Zaphod on December 16, 2007 at 10:49 am

"Isaac Newton was a total nutjob. Did you know that he tried to pop his own eyeball out with a knitting needle as a part of an experiment? That he nearly blinded himself staring into the sun? That he was an avid alchemist?"

http://scienceblogs.com/goodmath/2007/12/newton_einstein_morons.php

90. What is the role of free will to an atheist?

Comment #98872 by Zaphod on December 14, 2007 at 7:37 pm

I agree with Spinoza. The user on this website and the famous philosopher.

91. Richard Dawkins on 'Have Your Say'

Comment #96025 by Zaphod on December 9, 2007 at 7:13 pm

With regards to people thinking "The God Delusion" is offensive I think this quote sums my opinion up quite well.

"If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear." - George Orwell

Saying you find something offensive is not an argument. It is what you say when you have no arguments or counterpoints. You are angry that you have no counterpoints so you shout "offensive".

Also I wanted Dawkins to pull up that caller who had obviously watched "What the bleep do we know?". Water with memory? Utter nonsense. All serious physicists hate that movie for the obscurantist new age bullshit it propagates. As for thoughts altering an experiment, that is bullshit also. Observing the experiment collapses the probability wave. I don't think it requires a concious observer.

The priest was full of shit, frankly a liar or an idiot. He hasn't read history. Stalin and Hilter did what they did as much for atheism as the did for moustache wearers. They both had moustaches, guess they did it in the name of moustaches.

Trish Divine who was English(but calling from France I think) was finally a caller who talked sense.

92. Daniel Dennett Debates Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #92989 by Zaphod on December 1, 2007 at 9:59 pm

Danesh D'Souza has these views.

1) The big bang created by God created the universe 14 billion years ago.
2) 4.6 billion years ago the earth forms
3) 3-4 billion years ago life starts.
4) 100,000-200,000 years ago humans eventually evolve (in Gods image).
5) 2,000 years ago he finally intervenes to kill his own son which is also himself.

WTF!


D'Souza also uses this argument(I have replaced moustache for atheism).

"Stalin and Hitler where both moustache wearers"
"Moustaches are bad"
"All moustache wearers must take the blame for the atrocities of previous moustache wearers"

93. Double-checking Dawkins

Comment #92939 by Zaphod on December 1, 2007 at 7:38 pm

If that is the stuff in The Blind Watchmaker you decide to double check, you are missing the point of the book entirely.

94. Daniel Dennett Debates Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #92788 by Zaphod on December 1, 2007 at 1:18 pm

@SPINOZA

Like it or not religion is prevalent in the world. I think a critical and comparative teaching of the different world religions is a good idea. In Scotland when I was at school about 7-9 years ago we had Religious Education class which taught about other religions. We also had Modern Studies and History. Surely within those 3 disciplines it could be taught. I would however like it to be taught in an unbiased manner.

95. Golden Compass author hits back

Comment #91294 by Zaphod on November 28, 2007 at 1:43 am

The religious get sillier by the day. They seriously don't understand that when you try this kind of boycott or CENSORSHIP it just makes people want to see the film more. Taboo will make it more attractive.

96. 'Muhammad' teddy teacher arrested

Comment #91046 by Zaphod on November 27, 2007 at 4:56 am

The lack of a sense of humour is tear jerking.

97. Sunday School for Atheists

Comment #90790 by Zaphod on November 26, 2007 at 11:21 am

Not believing in god doesn't make you a Rhodes scholar.

Not that being a Rhodes scholar is anything special in my book.

98. URGENT APPEAL: Please Help Protect Ayaan Hirsi Ali

Comment #88704 by Zaphod on November 18, 2007 at 3:40 pm

I will buy both of her books(was planning to anyway). She can use the proceeds of that to contribute to her security and I get two books to read.

Perhaps America should fit the bill for her security since they are fighting a war on terror and she is being terrorised by religious bigots. I guess that doesn't make Halliburton and Blackwater as much money as invading a country does.

99. 'Secular Believers'

Comment #88520 by Zaphod on November 17, 2007 at 9:58 am

I watched this program a few weeks ago and found it interesting although I didn't agree with everything in it.

100. Allan Gregg interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #87537 by Zaphod on November 12, 2007 at 12:04 pm

I love how Spinoza (the user on this website) takes a contrary position to most atheists on this site. It makes for enjoyable reading of the comments.

And even today, philosophers are quite useful, contrary to popular opinion. Just go watch the Beyond Belief 2006 videos again, and you'll see what philosophers are capable of :)