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Comments by will young


51. Teacher Expelled Over Religion

Comment #161978 by will young on April 15, 2008 at 11:26 pm

On the movie Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed...

"If you take a look at the career trajectory of Ben Stein, all signs point to natural selection rather than intelligent design." - Film critic Richard Horgan, FilmStew.com

"The man made famous by Ferris Bueller, however, quickly wades into waters far too deep for him." - Film critic Jeffrey Kluger, Time Magazine

via RottenTomatoes.com and so far they're 3 for 3 thumbs down!

52. School bars same-sex partners at formals

Comment #161706 by will young on April 15, 2008 at 2:16 pm

It's ironic that the only kind of couples dancing the bible allows is with same-sex partners!

Opposite-sex dancing is considered too erotic and therefore sinful and condemned.

By the way, while we're on the subject, do you know why Baptists do not 'make love' standing up?
It's too much like dancing!

53. Teacher Expelled Over Religion

Comment #161661 by will young on April 15, 2008 at 1:33 pm

The (suspected) real reason she was forced to resign. It wasn't because of the eMail...

http://www.washingtonspectator.com/articles/20080101evolution.cfm

(starts five or so paragraphs into the article)

Comer has said that since her resignation, many teachers in rural Texas have told her that they are being forced to teach creationism.

Baja Oklahoma is getting more like my Tulsa, and that ain't a good thing.

54. Teacher Expelled Over Religion

Comment #161645 by will young on April 15, 2008 at 1:19 pm

This has already been discussed here...

http://richarddawkins.net/article,1941,Evolution-Debate-Led-to-Ouster-Official-Says,The-AP

Nice to see the person speak for herself though.

55. Teacher Expelled Over Religion

Comment #161637 by will young on April 15, 2008 at 1:15 pm

"We must stand up and keeps science out of our public science education."

Huh?
Somebody slap me upside the head or translate this for me because either I'm way too dense this afternoon or something is missing here.

56. The Art of Creating Controversy Where None Existed

Comment #160310 by will young on April 13, 2008 at 11:30 pm

#33

But I don't think we disagree at all.

Neither do I and perhaps my comment was too narrow for its own good. I thought I clarified by adding that it was how we used knowledge that mattered morally, but I guess not.

57. The Art of Creating Controversy Where None Existed

Comment #160071 by will young on April 13, 2008 at 3:35 pm

EvidenceOnly
The Thinking Points PDF link looks interesting. Thanks for it.

58. The Art of Creating Controversy Where None Existed

Comment #160051 by will young on April 13, 2008 at 3:13 pm

#24
The practice of science cannot be called amoral.

I never said the practice of science should be amoral, quite the contrary in fact.
The ethic of science is that the scientist must act in such a way that what is true may come to be known to be true.

Most certainly, but that still does not change the amoral nature of truth.

Read it again and refer to comment #7 if you still fail to grasp my point.

59. Scientists take drugs to boost brain power: study

Comment #159993 by will young on April 13, 2008 at 1:51 pm

babrock
i mst b gtng old bcs aftr i rd yr psts i dnt knw wht u sd ;p

p&l
w

60. The Art of Creating Controversy Where None Existed

Comment #159979 by will young on April 13, 2008 at 1:42 pm

Diacanu:

Beat ya to it.
:P

Doh! (I gotta learn how to type dammit)

61. The Art of Creating Controversy Where None Existed

Comment #159949 by will young on April 13, 2008 at 1:10 pm

#3
Is there ever a moral consideration that justifies halting scientific research?
The pursuit of truth is amoral. It is what we do with knowledge that needs moral consideration.

It could be argued that Napalm helped defeat fascism and shorten WWII.

#15
The problem seems to be overcoming the idea that if you open yourself to new ideas, then you will automatically end up trashing the whole thing.
I agree. When people believe their mythology to be true they ruin its beauty and whatever value it may contain is squandered.

62. 'Expelled' ripped off Harvard's 'Inner Life of the Cell' animation

Comment #159292 by will young on April 11, 2008 at 10:17 pm

#17 - yussel123
"Don't be a wise guy. I'm to old to go back to school for an education. What do I do now?"
I started college for the first time two years ago at 55 and it has been a wonderful experience. So much in fact that I will probably continue taking classes for the rest of my life.

Maybe an old brain doesn't learn as fast, but I have a 4.0 GPA and find studying a joy, something I never could have done 35 years ago. What we might loose in brain matter, we make up for ten fold in maturity and focus.

"I may not be as good as I once was, but I'm as good once as I ever was." And that goes for learning too!

w.h.y.

63. Scientists take drugs to boost brain power: study

Comment #159279 by will young on April 11, 2008 at 8:36 pm

BFD. Use does not by default equate to abuse for everyone.

64. Expelled producers accused of copyright infringement

Comment #158311 by will young on April 10, 2008 at 10:15 am

10. Comment #158006:
I wonder if The Killers music was allowed by the band?
A few weeks ago, when PZ's original article appeared, I eMailed the band's press agent at Universal Music and asked this very question. Never got a reply.

Since the lead singer is a devout Mormon they probably gave permission and are just refusing to admit it until the movie proved itself. If it flops silence is golden.

65. Christian Founders 3D Adventure Computer Game

Comment #152938 by will young on March 31, 2008 at 6:25 pm

"Windows 98 and later" The game play must be awesome!! And me a Mac user...DAMN.

66. I always aim to misbehave

Comment #151569 by will young on March 29, 2008 at 2:13 am

The real wild child.

67. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #150424 by will young on March 26, 2008 at 10:04 pm

Happy Birthday Clint...oops, I mean Richard !

68. They prayed to cast Satan from my body

Comment #145998 by will young on March 18, 2008 at 1:10 pm

Mercy Ministries is a 501(c)(3) public charity that began in the United States.

From their Web site It was during and after college that Nancy Alcorn, a native Tennessean, spent eight years working for the state of Tennessee at a correctional facility for juvenile delinquent girls and investigating child abuse cases. Working for the state on a daily basis gave her direct encounters with the secular programs that were not producing permanent results that exemplified changed lives... Through her experience, she began to realize that only Jesus could bring restoration into the lives of the girls who were desperately hurting and searching for something to fill the void they felt in their hearts...

In January 1983, determined to establish a program in which lives would truly be transformed, Nancy moved to Monroe, Louisiana to start Mercy Ministries of America. As she began to lay the groundwork for the establishment of the ministry, she knew that there were three principles to which she must always remain faithful: (1) do not take any state or federal funding that may limit the freedom to teach Christian principles, (2) accept girls free of charge, and (3) always give at least ten percent of all Mercy Ministries' donations to other organizations and ministries.


From the (U.S.) Web site it is obvious that the only "treatment" provided is 100% spiritual in nature; no doctors or medical professionals of any sort are mentioned. As long as there are people who, for whatever reason, seek out this sort of quackery, there will be nut-jobs and charlatans providing it. Religion has always preyed upon the poor and ignorant and until there are options made available it will remain so. The circumstances of these young women gave them little choice.

The name Mercy Ministries should have been a clue. I wouldn't have my car fixed at a place called Mercy Ministries, let alone seek medical help.

EDIT: I found one medical professional, a psychologist, listed as staff on the Australian Web site. In the FAQ it states that "Mercy Ministries is not a medical facility...". I'm not making excuses for these jackasses, just presenting the facts

69. Oklahoma: One Step from Doom

Comment #141108 by will young on March 10, 2008 at 3:31 am

Son of a whore! I'm Oklahoman.
Me too and as an Okie I intend to do whatever I can to prevent this bill from passing.

70. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #126121 by will young on February 12, 2008 at 1:24 pm

All great contributors to the advancement of humankind deserve public recognition so....
Happy Darwin Day y'all !.

71. Sentenced to death: Afghan who dared to read about women's rights

Comment #119397 by will young on January 31, 2008 at 2:56 pm

If they still insist on their medieval laws then we should withdraw and let them sink back to a medieval society. No imports, no exports, no travel in or out.
Hear! Hear! With no exceptions.

Violent retaliation would have to mean genocide and diplomacy with moderate believers is difficult; with fanatics impossible.

72. Darwin Day (Feb 12th) E-Cards

Comment #115628 by will young on January 24, 2008 at 12:30 pm

I've upped two, but they look more like flyers than e-cards. One is of the tree of life with one of the figures yelling, "Party at Charlies!!" in a talkbubble. The other is a slice of toasted bread…which might not work too well, which is all I can say about it.

If I wish to use an idea presented here, I'll pm the one responsible and I won't forget to give creds for the idea, that's the hardest part.

So many good ideas, so little time. Well at least I'll be ready NEXT year…

73. Darwin Day (Feb 12th) E-Cards

Comment #114800 by will young on January 22, 2008 at 9:33 pm

Sending cards to your representatives in government is a great idea Beth. You can be sure each of my bible-toting redneck congressional delegates are going to receive one!

And for those who think they have no artistic talent just think of "art" as visual Karaoke; simply toss back a few and go for it.

If you don't have the software look for a demo or shareware version of a simple drawing or image editor…raster would probably be easier than vector.

I haven't heard a bad idea yet I have to say.

74. Ask Mitt what he thinks

Comment #114344 by will young on January 22, 2008 at 2:55 am

Wonder if Cain rode any pre-columbian horses or did he just eat them all?

75. Darwin Day (Feb 12th) E-Cards

Comment #114337 by will young on January 22, 2008 at 2:07 am

I am willing to collaborate with anyone who has an idea, but lacks the software or artistic ability to actually produce the e-card.

76. We're All Going to Hell (Music Video)

Comment #113888 by will young on January 20, 2008 at 11:16 pm

I don't recognize the book…please clue me in.

Her name is Yellow Thunder Woman…uh huh, uh huh.

77. We're All Going to Hell (Music Video)

Comment #113885 by will young on January 20, 2008 at 11:02 pm

Great Scott! I'm nearly 57 years old and while I like all genres of music -- especially Jazz and R&B -- I dislike most songs…This isn't one of them. All the songs I have heard by The Bastard Fairies are well written and very provocative

The humor (yes that is RD & CH) and originality of this song are refreshingly precise…especially when compared to other current Pop songs. Unfortunately, on their blog, they go ballistic criticizing the idea of man's contribution to global climate change…all without presenting one shred of evidence, choosing instead to point the reader to Google to support their opinion. Very stupid.

78. George Scales, War Hero and Generous Friend of RDFRS

Comment #111580 by will young on January 15, 2008 at 4:04 am

Dear sir…

Get well real soon and thank you for all that you have done, both in keeping the world free from fascism and in supporting science and reason. You are truly an inspiration.

All the best to you sir
will young
Tulsa, Oklahoma

79. Hook, line and rapture

Comment #109147 by will young on January 8, 2008 at 12:40 pm

Heed not, he is following a false nonexistent god! The one true nonentity revealed its divine absence unto me in pure gibberish scrawled in a loose leaf tablet I found buried under some dirty laundry!

80. Another critic who hasn't read the book

Comment #109130 by will young on January 8, 2008 at 12:10 pm

I fail to grok a peace loving, liberal leaning, friendly misanthrope.

81. Can Atheists Be Parents?

Comment #107384 by will young on January 4, 2008 at 12:49 pm

My plumbing works so I would have to say yes.
**
Ed Gein, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffery Dahmer each fine examples of fanatical religious upbringing.

82. The OUT Campaign has its own Flea!

Comment #106453 by will young on January 3, 2008 at 1:34 am

The loopy font works well for the screwiness it represents.

83. The Evangelical Rebellion

Comment #103416 by will young on December 25, 2007 at 1:52 pm

21. Comment #103315 by FightingFalcon on December 25, 2007 at 4:34 am

They will always constitute a significant portion of our population but we've only seen a surge of them thanks to President Bush
Not so. The elections of both Reagan and Bush Sr can be directly attributed to the "moral majority" christian right voting block
Believe it or not my European friends, but Americans are tired of Christian evangelicals. We really are.
While this may be true in the part of the country you are from, it most certainly is not the case in the bible-belt. If anything, as the article points out, the evangelicals are even more determined than ever.

One must remember that evangelicals have extreme solidarity and are fanatically persistent, a combination few other groups, if any, can lay claim to. And they quite literally swung five of the last seven presidential elections.This is where I disagree with many fellow Atheists. We in America have a proud traditional of Individualism and a belief that the government is the cause of - and NOT the solution to - our problems.I am an American and disagree wholeheartedly. When it comes to civil rights, health and education, emergency response and taking care of the less fortunate the federal government has certainly been the solution. Ron Paul ignores the reality that the constitution was designed as a living document to be changed by amendment and laws by the will of the people. Otherwise we would still have slavery, child labor, seven day work weeks, and wives and children would be the sole property of the husband. I am confident that the majority of Americans would disagree with Ron Paul that the federal government had no constitutional right to prohibit states from allowing these human rights violations.

84. Chasers war on everything: Evangelicals

Comment #102501 by will young on December 23, 2007 at 3:24 am

And it's all TAX FREE!!

85. Creation college seeks state's OK to train teachers

Comment #99031 by will young on December 15, 2007 at 9:37 am

What Texas does will eventually crawl up my way to Oklahoma, not that the yahoos around here need any help being ignorant…they practically have a patent on it.

86. Atheists' sign sparks controversy

Comment #96311 by will young on December 10, 2007 at 10:39 am

There is a giant cross on I-35 in Edmond Oklahoma. It isn't 200', but it is tall enough and close enough to the interstate to be clearly visible for several miles.
===
Typical that the ones complaining that the 'Imagine No Religion' sign is a personal attack miss the point of religion being the attacker.

87. Is Infant Male Circumcision An Abuse Of The Rights Of The Child?

Comment #96094 by will young on December 10, 2007 at 1:40 am

22. Comment #96079 by kraut on December 10, 2007 at 12:06 am - excuse me - what does the clitoris have to do with an actually functioning part of a womans anatomy?
Part of my brain just dissolved!

88. The Pagan Christ

Comment #94940 by will young on December 7, 2007 at 3:06 am

Outside of biblical writing and a controversial reference made by the 1st century Jewish historian Josephus what other documents from the same time period mention Jesus of Nazareth? Without any the case for a historical Jesus is thin.

Whatever the case, Jesus, as described in the bible, most certainly did not exist. Beyond that it really doesn't matter much…it is mythology.

89. Highway to hysteria

Comment #94126 by will young on December 4, 2007 at 9:31 pm

The highway of holiness…certainly for drugs. I-35 is a main artery (!) for drug trafficking and has been for many years.

I live amongst these bug-wits and they are exactly as they appear in the video clip. It is difficult not to feel like a prisoner or undercover spy or even an insurgent with all their talk of being warriors in god's battle.

Things like the link in…

#36. Comment #94098 by Goldy on December 4, 2007 at 6:52 pm
help keep me sane!

90. Why debate dogma?

Comment #91978 by will young on November 29, 2007 at 4:27 pm

That made my day!

91. Romney's Mormonism is fair game

Comment #90210 by will young on November 23, 2007 at 2:28 pm

61. Comment #90117 by tybowen on November 23, 2007 at 4:18 am
I think it explains many of the holes in christianity very well (Where God came from, why are men here, why does god even care about men).
It only seems that way. In truth it actually makes an already absurd notion even worse. Try applying Occam as needed until the afflicted area clears up…it doesn't take much and, I promise, the problem will not come back.

92. Getting Overheated

Comment #89632 by will young on November 21, 2007 at 9:42 am

Steven Fry…
"I shan't give details about him, it wouldn't be fair, so let's call him Jim and leave his statehood, profession and other details unventilated."
Wonder if it was Jim Inhofe the Senator from Oklahoma who claims global warming is all a hoax?

93. Romney's Mormonism is fair game

Comment #89620 by will young on November 21, 2007 at 9:17 am

In addition to being racists, polytheists, and believing the Garden of Eden was in Missouri, Mormons are also firmly committed to the belief that they are building Zion in America for the christ to return to, and reign over the world from, as king.

Ultimately Mormons consider themselves governed only by the christ and by proxy, until he returns, the First Presidency and the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These leaders and living prophets are unquestionably believed to be divinely inspired to reveal the will of god and held to have the authority to carry out god's will over and above any and all temporal governments.

Polygamy was not stopped because it was against federal law, but because it was "revealed" to the church prophet at the time that it was no longer necessary. Dark skinned members were not given the Melchizedek Priesthood, which only males can currently hold, because of social pressure and falling membership, but because it was revealed by god that eligible dark-skinned members were no longer unworthy to hold the position.

Every time something contradicts a previously "revealed truth', either legally or because members start leaving or are harder to fool into joining, the prophet gets a revision of god's will that conveniently corrects the problem. If the church had more political power the opposite would happen.

Ask a Mormon about any of this and watch them squirm, unless, of course, they are good liars and then prepare for some hefty bullshit. Like their answer to livestock and forged steel in pre-columbian America, both of which the Book of Mormon claim.

Sorry, but never get me started on this subject…it hits way too close to home.

94. 'Expelled' Movie: The Extended Trailer

Comment #88372 by will young on November 16, 2007 at 9:10 am

51. Comment #88344 by Tanglewood on November 16, 2007 at 5:26 am
I just sent the following e-mail to the creators of 'Expelled'. Tell me what you think:
It was Senator Patrick Moynihan who said,"We are each entitled to our own opinion, but no one is entitled to his own facts.", perhaps Hitchens was quoting.

Please post any replies to your e-mail, if you get any.

95. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #88130 by will young on November 14, 2007 at 8:45 pm

Comment #88062
But aren't they ALL theories?

Creationism is mythology.

96. Pat Robertson Says Giuliani Presidency Appears in Book of Revelation

Comment #87085 by will young on November 11, 2007 at 6:44 am

Giuliani is the worst of a bad bunch…

He told his wife he was leaving her for another woman during a public press conference.

His appointments would be no better - and likely worse - than those of Bush (think Kerik).

He used the WTC attacks for personal gain earning up to $200, 000 per speaking engagement posing as a terrorism expert.

He agrees with suspending civil liberties and doesn't think water-boarding is torture.

He supports the occupation of Iraq and a military strike on Iran.

Patrick Dorismond.

Seems an endorsement by a lunatic is certainly appropriate.

97. Jesus Camp: A scary movie that should frighten us all

Comment #85691 by will young on November 6, 2007 at 9:22 pm

According to IMDB the movie Jesus Camp will be released in the UK on November 23, 2007. It was released in the US in September of 2006 and on DVD sometime last spring.

I rented the DVD and it took me five or six attempts before I could finish watching the whole movie because I would get so pissed off angry that I would have to stop until I calmed down. The filmmakers did an excellent job and were completely non-biased, allowing the facts to speak for themselves.
___________________________________________
Do you know why Baptists do not have sex while standing up?
Because it is too much like dancing.

98. What the New Atheists Don't See

Comment #85003 by will young on November 4, 2007 at 1:21 pm

keith

Intellectual types…Less intellectual types…lazy-minded
Uncomfortable terminology that over-generalizes.
"The long and short of all this is that Dalrymple feels that religion gives some people meaning to their lives and if you take this away they might well start to resemble the people he used to treat in prisons and hospitals."
Religion can indeed mask mental illness and allow it to manifest itself into other, equally malignant forms. That religion can substitute for treatment and at the same time benefit society without perpetuating the disease it is supposed to cure is incomprehensible. Billy Graham might have been a pervert without religion, but with religion he perverted many minds -- at the very least into being lazy.

I do not think a belief in the supernatural is stupid, I think it is irrational and dangerous. Do I want to see it eliminated? Of course, but I am not so naive as to believe it will happen suddenly, if it ever happens at all, and certainly not by legal mandate. Regardless the streets would not be filled with the criminally insane as a result, that is simply too farfetched and grants religion more validity than it has earned.

99. What the New Atheists Don't See

Comment #84793 by will young on November 3, 2007 at 4:17 pm

keith

Going by what you said about "petty, seemingly pointless lives" he would have no grasp on "the rest of humanity". From the article he sounded like a snooty elitist and your statement confirmed this for me.

Thinking religion offers a useful door to something larger and more meaningful in some people's lives is a sure way of keeping those people ignorant. From personal experience, from within my own family, that is not a good thing by any stretch of the imagination. Only someone without an understanding of this could believe otherwise.

100. What the New Atheists Don't See

Comment #84585 by will young on November 2, 2007 at 3:37 pm

keith says, "I think Dalrymple feels that although the intellectually inclined can have larger-than-self interests like reading the classics or developing an appreciation of art, for the rest of humanity religion offers a useful door onto something outside their own petty, seemingly pointless lives."

So he is functionally illiterate concerning what it is like to be part of the "rest of humanity"…now that does make sense.

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