101. Gay hate church to picket VT gun rampage funerals

Comment #33946 by ghostbuster on April 22, 2007 at 6:52 pm

MorituriMax: you sound just like the Mao you hate. He said one finds democracy only looking down the barrel of a gun. Funny when you look into the abyss, the abyss looks back. And, my friend, American business actually supported enemy troops during WW2 and from then on. Russian troops fought bravely and died in the millions; without THEM we may not be speaking right now. And who is the evil empire by the way? But isn't it funny how we constantly shake hands with the devil--or are we the devil--and isn't it funny that for hundreds of years we keeping fighting those who have weapons with weapons and still we see no real results? And why can't I own dynamite? And isn't it funny how many really good people keep getting shot--like Martin Luther King for example but you never see Pat Robertson types hit? And what about the guns that killed people who were trying to get better wages through unions. We didn't get safe work places, decent wages, benefits etc. by shooting back. An eye for an eye only makes more blind people; a gun for a gun only makes more dead people. And it never solves anything in the long run. Give all the tribes in Africa a gun and all they do is kill each other--hence why selling guns is good business over there. America knows this. Eorope knows this. Trade is brisk.
But we have John Wayne swaggering around wearing his guns like a set of steel balls--which is exactly what they are. Is that what it feels like to have guns restricted--a form of castration? And what about the dead women out there, protected by their abusive husbands from another 50 years of life? Or are some of us under the great conspiracy theory that the government will get us--just as bad as religious delusions.

102. Gay hate church to picket VT gun rampage funerals

Comment #33938 by ghostbuster on April 22, 2007 at 6:26 pm

Bremas: maybe you oughta lay off the John Wayne movies. Or do you not like your particular dogma challenged?

103. Gay hate church to picket VT gun rampage funerals

Comment #33872 by ghostbuster on April 22, 2007 at 11:04 am

MorituriMax:
Read Rogue State if you think American is only about saving the world. American didn't win WW11--Russia did. Let us not forget that America has been a terrorist state for a very long time, a terrorist state bent on economic rape of third world nations. It is a warrior nation, war being the operative word. The U.S. did not need to drop those nuclear bombs since Japan had agreed to surrender under all conditions months before--the bombs were dropped for other reasons. Now there's a President that speaks of all the innocent dead at Virginia Tech while making sure he adds more innocent dead in his despicable war. Somehow, the West thinks Her dead are more imprtant than anyone else's. This warrior nation, like all warrior nations has violence at its core. Solve all your problems at the end of a gun barrel. Well, guess what? Who needs guns anymore? Certain easily obtainable chemicals and biological agents will do the trick now. Big Brother is already here. What Big Brother couldn't do at the end of a gun barrel, he is doing through corporations through poorly funded or lack of social programs and fake terror--that is--subjugation of the citizenry. What happened at Virginia Tech is symptomatic of a failed society, a society that has been brainwashed into thinking God, King and Country, right or wrong, takes precedence over the social, mental and physical health of its people. People will go to war in the name of both religious and political dogma, and they will fight to the death for it. VT's shooter will be picked apart for months to come but few will question the social reasons behind his creation. Just another mental aberration that has become far too common in America? Or a result of some social abherration instead?

104. Gay hate church to picket VT gun rampage funerals

Comment #33870 by ghostbuster on April 22, 2007 at 10:42 am

In Canada we do have hate laws and we haven't turned communist or nazi. While such hateful behavior covers this group with its own offal, I cannot help feel badly for the families who have lost their loved-ones and I cannot justify its use in any way even if it may deflate the cause of fundamentalist religions. There is freedom for and freedom from, and the grieving should have freedom from this hate crime.

105. NEXT MONDAY: Bill O'Reilly interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #33868 by ghostbuster on April 22, 2007 at 10:31 am

O'Reilly puts his foot into his mouth so many times, with his distortions, inaccuracies and plain lies, that I do not care of he had a hundred PhDs behind his name, he is still an idiot. Because the media has a favorable attitude towards religion, Richard Dawkins will come out of this poorly, not only to O'Reilly's big mouth but because of FOX News who will cut off anything that looks like a good retort. I have seen it in political debates enough times. And worse, O'Reilly will make sure he looks like the "winner"--for most of the population that watches, this will be true as well.
Perhaps this is the only American television forum Mr. Dawkins can get, but I would much prefer a program that has reasonable debate by reasonable men and women. It is all right if somebody at home insults the T.V., I'd just as soon not watch another Jerry Springer show myself.
Would Mr. Dawkins et al consider contacting CBC in Canada? Canadians are pretty receptive to this sort of information.

106. Medicine without Evolution Make Sense?

Comment #33866 by ghostbuster on April 22, 2007 at 10:06 am

I used to think that genetic science would clean up all the stupid creationist theories; however, to quote Susan Blackmore:
People's desire to believe in the paranormal is stronger than all the evidence that it does not exist."
All you have to do is check out Chamber's comments to know this is true. Chamber uses an argumentative style not unlike that used by Jehovah Witnesses so that any relevant points are reduced to defining a word, or an illogical, circular argument, or going off topic. It is actually more educational to study the method used by Chamber than the content of his comments. You will also find this style within White Supremecy groups, conspiracy nuts, New Age philosophies etc.--so forget the contents, look at the style.

107. Pope says science too narrow to explain creation

Comment #33863 by ghostbuster on April 22, 2007 at 9:47 am

Chamber needs his medicine adjusted. Until then, it is useless to argue with someone in a delusional state.

108. NEXT MONDAY: Bill O'Reilly interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #33782 by ghostbuster on April 21, 2007 at 6:33 pm

Why argue with one of America's biggest idiots?

109. Street Evangelist Saves 300 Souls From Enjoying Park

Comment #33781 by ghostbuster on April 21, 2007 at 6:25 pm

Or God forbid, an atheist.

110. Street Evangelist Saves 300 Souls From Enjoying Park

Comment #33780 by ghostbuster on April 21, 2007 at 6:24 pm

If you can't be an obnoxious drunk in a park one shouldn't be allowed to be an obnoxious nut-case either. A homeless person would be escorted off the park bench for loitering or being visually offensive; this guy if infringing on other people's rights IN A PUBLIC PLACE. It would be interesting to see what would happen if a Satanist or Communist started popping off his/her mouth.

111. Pope says science too narrow to explain creation

Comment #33106 by ghostbuster on April 19, 2007 at 7:55 am

Religous thinking like Chambers is really almost akin if not exactly like mental illness. Would we condemn someone who is psychoyic and full of delusions. I think now. I have had my rounds with Chambers and after reading many of his/her entries I cannot but come to the conclusion that this person has mental problems. Just let it be.

112. Medicine without Evolution Make Sense?

Comment #33104 by ghostbuster on April 19, 2007 at 7:45 am

Logicel:
I said good food. I also mentioned glycemic index food. Look it up. I agree that most people have no idea about nutrition, but isn't this just part of the problem that is being discussed on this site---that people are profoundly ignorant of science among other things? Such ignorance makes people vulnerable to exploitation by gurus of all sorts, the pseudo-science liars. If one eats french fries and hamburgers on a steady basis, no amount of vitamins will do any good. It's like smoking and taking up jogging.

113. Medicine without Evolution Make Sense?

Comment #32850 by ghostbuster on April 18, 2007 at 1:18 pm

MarkSmith: Vitamin supplements really are not needed except in a few cases--(ie) Vitamin D in northern climates. Most of what one needs is in food. If you follow the glycemic index foods, do some moderate activity like walking for 30 minutes a day, insulin levels are regulated and you don't become a diabetic. Taking supplements just buys into the healthfood crackpot industry and you will be making them as rich as your doctor. additionally, some of the herbal rememdies are manufactured by big pharma as well, only now they do not have to follow any regulations about content and/or saftey and/or effectiveness. Just eat good food and wash it whether it's organic or not.
There is not one vitamin or supplement that will prevent a heart attack that you cannot get in food, but people, including doctors, get scared and hopefully most of the time the stuff doesn't hurt anything but the pocketbook.
Lions, worms, primates don't take vitamins--they eat.

114. Medicine without Evolution Make Sense?

Comment #32792 by ghostbuster on April 18, 2007 at 9:00 am

Of course knowing evolution is important to medicine. Diseases evolve after all and knowing the hows and whys is critically important to genetic-based treatments.
Otherwise, why don't these people stand before God in the field, church or whatever, and get their cures there? Lack of faith in God's powers perhaps? Or in God Himself?

115. Sam's Flea!

Comment #32789 by ghostbuster on April 18, 2007 at 8:57 am

If anyone really wants to irritate themselves with this kind of crap go to NewsWithViews.com. It will give you an idea of the same kind of thoughts as this article gives; it also will give you yet another example of what the world would look like if Christians had it their way---not that Christians can actually get along with one another without blasphemying other sects right, left and centre. The war between those who believe and those who don't would look like child's play compared to believers fighting each other over what their ghost "really" said. In fact, history is replete with examples.

116. Atheism isn't the final word

Comment #32782 by ghostbuster on April 18, 2007 at 8:50 am

Thanks Luthien. My sentiments exactly.
Jesus said that those who do not accept my reign should be brought before me and slain.
How much KGBish do you need to be?

117. Then Call it God

Comment #32778 by ghostbuster on April 18, 2007 at 8:43 am

My head hurts just reading this.
Feeling, seeing,thinking and then understanding?
Hitler had a feeling that he hated Jews, then he saw them as looters of Germany and then he started thinking they needed to be eliminated and according to his understanding, a world without people who degraded the Aryan race was a world restored.
Feelings are decpetive, seeing is what you want to see, thinking can be based on wrong premises and understanding is what you can make it based on all the wrong presumptions. That's why faith isn't enough. It is why we need evidence that something is either true, might be true or isn't true. Otherwise, anyone can justify their feelings, good or bad, by anything they want. It is well-known that people who are prejudice only "see" the "bad" behavior to justify their prejudices while never seeing the same in their own race or the best in the others.
Your premise starts off in complete error.

118. Doctors Opposing Circumcision: An Appeal for Misha

Comment #32515 by ghostbuster on April 17, 2007 at 8:41 am

Yes, and the probablility of adultery is reduced when you cut and sew up a woman's genitals. The probablility of dying from a drunk driver is reduced if you shoot him/her on the first offence.The probability of getting heart disease from obesity could be reduced if we made getting obese a criminal offense. There are some things we should do to reduce probabilities and there are things we should not do. Instead of genital mutilation we should be doing other things for Africa, for example, things the Catholic Church refuses to endorse. Poverty that could be eradicated if we didn't funnel billions into stupid wars. Education. Healthcare. Cheaper drugs.
Agricultural aid. Fair distribution of incomes from resources the West busily steals.
My answer is as AdrianB---NO.

119. Medical 'Miracles' Not Supported by Evidence

Comment #32511 by ghostbuster on April 17, 2007 at 8:25 am

Again, and for the last time, Hitler had a circle of faith around God. So does the Catholic Church. And yes, there are good people who are religious, perhaps not because of it but in spite of it. And yes, there are bad atheists, not because of it but in spite of it. Not many atheists go around killing people in the name of atheism.
Jesus also said in the Bible, that those who do not accept His reign should be brought before Him and slain. KGB? Nazi Death Squad? Biblical errancy is factual. Biblical holocausts are everywhere in the Bible. The last thing on this planet we need is a book espousing the killing of others under the auspices of some ghost. Yes, there is "love" in the Bible; in fact, one can find passages to support just about every viewpoint which then, of course, makes the writings virtually useless and of "no sense", therefore nonsense. There are no unicorns or flame throwing dragons--can't substitute dinosaurs either. Bats are not birds. On and on we could go.
Actually, computers are the result of the evolution of intelligence. One of many, including nuclear weapons now in the hands of minds that still think in 4th Century terms. Minds that are destroying people and the planet hoping for the return of this mythical creature called Jesus. That is insanity.
With faith there is not right or wrong. Again, kit is always "my" faith that is right and "your" faith that is wrong. Satanists truly believe they are right and who is to judge--you? Islamic terrorists truly believe they are right---who is to judge otherwise and by what measure since by the terrorist's measure they are right and by yours they are wrong. Faith has no evidence based properties to make plausible debate possible. Even if there were, I think of Susan Blackmore's quote: "People's desire to believe the paranormal is stronger than all the evidence that it does not exist". Chamber, you are a perfect example of that quote.
But I allow that the freedom to express one's views remains the best possible means to defeat dogma of any sort.
And evolution is not restaurant garbage; it is a very hard-won, exsquisite buffet that you are unfortunately never to taste.
The cardboard cut-outs of characters in the Bible with its simplistic, child-like explanations would never do for an enquirying mind. I have read the scriptures, front to back and also the varying interpretations; I invite you to do the same with evolutionary science--try Carl Sagan, as he writes beautifully.

120. New Primate Species Found In 42 Million-year-old Texas Fossils

Comment #32267 by ghostbuster on April 16, 2007 at 2:42 pm

And killing the innocent daughters of Iraq lacks conscience never mind class. And most of the news items on Mr. Big's kids tells me I'm not the only one that lacks class.

121. Medical 'Miracles' Not Supported by Evidence

Comment #32230 by ghostbuster on April 16, 2007 at 8:41 am

Instead they should be praying "Thank you God for your cancer that I may be more humble in your presence, that I may be grateful for the gifts that bring me enlightenment, peace, and closness to Your power"---that's the type of prayer that would make more sense--not Thank God I was cured.

122. Medical 'Miracles' Not Supported by Evidence

Comment #32227 by ghostbuster on April 16, 2007 at 8:38 am

No one wants to attribute the creation of cancer to God do they? And why, as Christians, are these people who "thank God" for not dying so damned afraid of dying?

123. Medical 'Miracles' Not Supported by Evidence

Comment #32225 by ghostbuster on April 16, 2007 at 8:35 am

Chamber--if under the dictionary the term "miracle" means "surprising" or "remarkable" experience then I will grant that there are such miracles in nature, many with a rational explanation, many with yet unknown rational explanations, none with supernatural explanations because "supernatural", the other definition of miracle, has no evidence for its existence. Unless and until one can prove that supernatural events exist, it cannot and should not be used as an explanation. Faith means nothing. One can have faith in the ridiculous or the dangerous, or both. One can say Hitler had faith that destroying Jews and non-Aryan races would restore the true God-born race to its rightful place; one could say that Islamic faith is restored by the destruction of infidels, that the earth then would have its true religion (as all of the Abrahamic religions believe). Faith is nothing but one's desires be fulfilled, most times nastily so. When King Leopold and the Catholic Church ravaged the Congolese people, the faithful Catholics spoke of the murder of children as not to be despised for the people were to have faith that their souls were now within the arms of Jesus. Faith stinks.
However, I must say that there are many who sit in mental institutions who have "heard" or "seen" God with such utter faith as to be consumed by it. Others have faith that they are made of glass and therfore are not to be touched. Some, not in institutions, have abiding faith in Satan.
With faith, there can be no right or wrong because how can you measure faith if it is unmeasurable, if it is relative. By deeds? I have history to see how faith's deeds have been monstrous. Chamber's faith is seen only through his/her eyes, as is all who use faith to see the world. Always, their brand of faith is the correct one--how else could it be.
To accept the world only through faith brings one around to those who are insane. Much of what Chamber says is a word salad and as I have said in other comments, once the mind virus enters up pop the same merry-go-rounds of nonsense--exactly like the infected computer.

124. New Primate Species Found In 42 Million-year-old Texas Fossils

Comment #32217 by ghostbuster on April 16, 2007 at 8:09 am

Nancy2001---pleeeease don't insult those cute little critters! They don't look at all like Bush's daughters.

125. Medical 'Miracles' Not Supported by Evidence

Comment #32040 by ghostbuster on April 15, 2007 at 10:22 am

No Chamber, miracles are seen by those who have limited conception, knowledge,or perception of science. Any magician can perform a "miracle" and anything can be perceived as a miracle when there is a lack of explanation--then along comes the witchdoctor or some other perceptively gifted crook to tell you exactly, for a price, what the explanation is. If it were any different we would,'t have millions of people giving up their thought processes to listen to gibberish from Popes prophets, priests , pastors, gurus, and an assortment of other magic men/women.
I am afraid Chamber's mind has already descended through his/her eyes and fell right onto the floor.

126. As Religious Strife Grows, Europe's Atheists Seize Pulpit

Comment #31878 by ghostbuster on April 14, 2007 at 8:30 pm

Since the government is suppose to represent the people, seems to me the smaller the government, the smaller the voice of the people. There are just certain things that cannot be, nor ever should be, run by free market. Healthcare is one of them.
If one cannot define capitalism, one should not be overly critical of Chomsky. He can define it better than George W. Bush can run it.
There are unregulated free markets and there are regulated free markets. The former is what is killing Third World nations now, especially Africa. And for crying out loud, let's take the profit out of war. See how many corporations rush in where angels fear to tread then.

127. Medical 'Miracles' Not Supported by Evidence

Comment #31875 by ghostbuster on April 14, 2007 at 8:06 pm

Just a correction re: Gary Gluck--actually it's Gary Glum. Apologies to any Glucks out there.
Some have said that giving alternative medicine a license will mean they must then "prove" their theories. Sort of like Church's having to prove theirs, I suppose. What it also means is that it opens the doors for every crackpot medicine man going and since there are virtually no "rules" for alternative health, people are going to be hurt. Witchdoctors, Shamans, even in the Canadian health code there's a part that says "respecting traditional medicines" meaning of course, one can't put the practice of smearing chicken blood on cancer under criticism since it might offend someone's cultural beliefs. This brings us to cultural relativism, of course.
Bremas--your family isn't screwed up. Perfectly normal.

128. Medical 'Miracles' Not Supported by Evidence

Comment #31831 by ghostbuster on April 14, 2007 at 1:50 pm

My sad entry into alternative medicine is my friend of over 40 years who had breast cancer and refused conventional treatments in favor of essiac tea and tumeric. Essiac tea has now been shown to increase breast cancer cells in vitro. While tumeric has shown some anti-cancer activity it is not achievable through diet and has only has shown some effect in rats. Now my friend has read a variety of crappola from Barefoots to Dreamhealers spouting this stuff. Now imagine going to your oncologist who is at the top of his field, ten years of medical school, another 20 years of looking at every concievable breast cancer cell, published numerous research articles not to mention volunteer work with those who cannot afford treatments, and in comes this nice little Jehovah Witness, Gary Gluck's cancer cure book under her arm, saying "I've done my research"! This is the problem with "research"; many people read pseudo-science and call it research. They don't know the difference between a cancer cell and a jail cell, but they read these books and think they know, often more than their doctor. Now my friend is Jehonah Witness which means her baloney detector is not only damaged but entirely absent, so one could expect this although even in the J.W. literature, alternative medicine is viewed suspiciously (since, of course, the J.W.'s have had some experience in looney-bin medical devices and don't want that tag again). Her oncologist respected her decision (although he only respected her right to make a decision) and knew better than to try to knock some sense into her. However, one does not have to be a fundy to get hooked on alternative medicine, organics, supplements and/or conspiracy threories. This is the reason critical thinking skills should be taught in schools from day one. It is the only innoculant to this stuff.
One year has passed and my friend is cancer free.
My biggest fear now is she will be spreading the Gary Gluck gospel of essiac tea and tumeric etc. and someone will die because of it. And to boot, when I went to a health store I got into a battle with a saleswoman who advocated my friend not take conventional treatments because of course, THEY sell essiac tea. I complained to the health directorate of Canada--no response--no surprise when you find out the 11 out of the 12 on the board are connected to the alternative health industry. Now we have colleges here offering courses/licensing in ancient chinese medicine--they have been given credibility!
What the Bleep Do We Know is symptomatic of a society that is anti-scientific, anti-intellectual. Totalitarian societies usually are, and they usually have religion behind them.

129. Einstein & Faith

Comment #31541 by ghostbuster on April 13, 2007 at 7:50 am

I think Einstein would have loved Robert Sawyer's "Calculating God". He also had some very interesting conversations with Rabindranath Tagore, a very worthy opponent.

130. The Great British Literary Census

Comment #31538 by ghostbuster on April 13, 2007 at 7:38 am

I think this is the same as the Great British Literature Jehovah Witness Censor List.

131. T. rex tissue shows they are related to chickens

Comment #31536 by ghostbuster on April 13, 2007 at 7:33 am

I think the world would have been better off with T-Rex and her clan. Maybe we'd be the ones finger lickin' good.

132. Pope says science too narrow to explain creation

Comment #31388 by ghostbuster on April 12, 2007 at 9:03 am

The Pope says alot of stupid things and alot of stupid people believe what he says. No surprise there. Look at how he has been instrumental in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Africans--where's his friggin' miracle making abilities there? Powerful religion is powerfully ignorant and powerfully dangerous. History proves this over and over, in fact, the present proves it over and over but unfortunately the average Joe won't clue in.
I am reminded of the sponges evolving ever greater offense and defense mechanisms while fighting over a rock in the ocean. We just added religion to the mix and made the rock "sacred".

133. We'd be better off without Religion

Comment #31185 by ghostbuster on April 11, 2007 at 9:28 am

Were right back to the computer analogy again; no matter how you fuss about, the same old crap gets reiterated--no matter how much rational, logical, evidenced-based arguments you use, a virus-infected mind goes into a temporary freeze, shuts down then re-starts in exactly the same place. Hence, why the minds of children should not be infected in the first place. However, one of the best ways to un-plug the religious propaganda is in the study of comparative religions. Even a child's mind can grasp that all can't be true and none can be proven, so all are as equally mythical as the other. The majority of religious people adopt the religion of their family and/or culture; they have no idea about "the others" and they also have to idea about the origins of their religion, how truly one story can be found in other traditions, founded often in ignorance/fear of natural events interpreted by precursor cultures--events that have very scientific, practical explanations. Wouldn't it be rather curious to find an adult who thinks thunder is really angels bowling? And yet we have them believing even more ludicrous stuff. It is why it is essential to remain a secular culture so truth can put leaks in the dogma dam, especially in the minds of the young.

134. Birds Do It. Bees Do It. People Seek the Keys to It.

Comment #30967 by ghostbuster on April 10, 2007 at 1:18 pm

Seems to me I rmember a study where a certain percentage of offspring were not fathered by the husband--a trait also seen in the animal kingdom. Controlling one's genes is as good for the goose as it is for the gander and concealing ovulation means that NO male, husband or otherwise, knows when women are ready to mate, and therefore, who the father of the offspring really is. This could further lead to the idea of repressing women's sexually---voila!--few cultures have escaped that trait and also provides two things; one, a stable relationship to raise offspring; two, variation of genes. Rape could also be explained as a guy unlikely to ever get a chance to mate and pass on his genes--loser's last chance. And we all know what rape means when the conquering army comes through.
We may have evolved beyond the worm, but the worm still lurks within us.

135. Hey Mom, I'm an Atheist

Comment #30962 by ghostbuster on April 10, 2007 at 1:04 pm

Kinda reminds me of the Soprano's episode where Tony and Carmilla are upset about Tony Jr.'s denial of God's existence. Yeah...a killer and his wife who benefits from his actions are upset about atheism in their son; this is the typical value system of America. Better to be a good practising Christian Mafia member than an atheist.

136. The Coulter Hoax: How Ann Coulter Exposed the Intelligent Design Movement

Comment #30773 by ghostbuster on April 9, 2007 at 6:29 pm

Ann Coulter is nothing more than Jerry Springer in heels. They both sell garbage for big bucks and I wouldn't credit her for anything, including her book.

137. Praying for the Apocalypse

Comment #30708 by ghostbuster on April 9, 2007 at 12:43 pm

Dominionism already has a grip on the White House. Read "The Family" in Harper's magazine. Canada has its own fundy at the helm, a Bush clone, ready and able to make the North American Union a reality and of course, everything that can go wrong will. We are in for some interesting times.

138. Militant atheists: too clever for their own good

Comment #30666 by ghostbuster on April 9, 2007 at 9:22 am

Atheism asks only for skepticism, critical thinking and rational thought on everything. Even scientific theories. Knowing something isn't about hearing voices in your head--psychotics do that very well but it does not mean those voices are real. Testing what is true, possibley true and what is untrue requires certain skills. Critical thinking can be had by everyone--if they are taught how. And they are not. Applying rigorous tests, using the scientific method, learning philosophies, debating etc. are not "ideologies". Religion and political ideologies require that we listen and then obey.
The more cultish religions and political stances become, the more insistent they become in NOT BEING QUESTIONED. And the more hierarchal they become--that is, the less democratic they are.
The author of this article feels threatened that his "truth" will become a lie under scrutiny and therefore, attacks those who are scrutinizing as being or wanting to be an intellectual elite. Under Stalin and Hitler, they were one of the first to go along with the feeble-minded and diabled.
"Every man is my superior in that I may learn from him"--and yes, everyone has something valuable to offer humanity--not just intellect. Religion has not, if ever, cornered the market on love, justice, equality. It did, at one time, hold the keys to intellectualism especially during the Dark Ages (and in fact Islam saved much in the way of the Greek Enlightenment--those intellectuals the Catholic (universal) religious hierarchy destroyed along with, rumour has it, the great scienfic libraries of Alexandria)
I am not afraid if a scietific truth comes along that disproves present-day physics or astronomy, or even proves God's existence. Truth is truth. But for some odd reason, religious folks seem stuck in wanting to believe one and only one thing, happening in only one way. And to kill to keep it.

139. Even non-believers must recognise the moral necessity of Christianity

Comment #30661 by ghostbuster on April 9, 2007 at 8:54 am

If a majority of people believed death was truly the end, would we have them sign up so quickly for wars, have themselves killed because somebody else said so? Or would the majority be more inclined to be skeptical of what was going on politically, and/or would our values be such as to truly make war the horror it really is and therefore rare? Imparting critical thinking skills to the public is dangerous to any hierarchy whether it is politically motivated or religiously motivated (or most times both). Stalin did not commit his atrocities because of atheism, but because of his political ideologies and the personal psychologies of the man. The madness of crowds are easily manipulated by ideologies from whatever source; critical thinking skills tend to counter it. When the majority of Americans believe in creationism, UFOs, conspiracy theories, ghosts etc. something is wrong with the baloney detectors of the masses, and one can just about pass off any ridiculous thing, including alternative medicine for example. North Korea is NOT an atheist state. Check it out. The purchased press can put out as much propaganda as they want without very much criticism, they can identify "where there be dragons" and who those dragons are--add irrational beliefs (God, King and Country) to the mix, and people practically trample each other to take up arms.
Now what if they actually took a critical look at God, King and Country--the greatest slogan the elite ever came up with--and found out that war was a racket,God was a fabrication, Kings were crooks, and country really had no borders except those imposed by crooks. Usually through some war.
Usually after some handshaking.
And who fights all the wars? Not the handshakers is it. The little guys.
And it is the little guys who constantly buy into the myths, the little guy who dies believing in heaven or virgins or whatever awaits him/her at the end or dying bravely for Country.(Let us not forget the corporate win-falls given to Stalin--ie--more handshaking and the promises business had with Hitler)
When all is said and done, we have authors like this one saying the same stupid stuff. We abhor Nazism, but how much of the population abhors Catholicism? Guess who helped high ranking Nazis criminals out of Germany? Guess who employed them once settled? This is documented history we never see on TV. Gee, I wonder why.
Atheism asks, I think, for nothing more than skepticism and critical thinking. That is far removed from being considered an ideology.

140. Answers To the Atheists

Comment #30653 by ghostbuster on April 9, 2007 at 7:57 am

elvenearth--got to jesusneverexisted.com for all your answers. Also, "The Greatest Story Ever Sold".

141. Answers To the Atheists

Comment #30511 by ghostbuster on April 8, 2007 at 9:22 am

fonex_86--how old are you? This makes a difference as to what your options are.

142. Prophets of the new atheism

Comment #30508 by ghostbuster on April 8, 2007 at 9:17 am

I had an uncle that once said "Wouldn't it be nice to be so stupid as to believe the simple-mindedness of the bible--just one big mother-goose story, not having to question anything and just relying on Big Daddy--good or bad--life would be simple not to have to ask difficult questions".
Reading this article pretty much confirms what he said. The same crap gets flung out no matter how hard you try to present the evidence.
So, sorry to say, I always believed that if you gave people a rational argument for something, they would consider it when making decisions--WRONG. People work on emotions, at least most of them do, and it's why the world is going to hell in a handbag. Obviously, you can't fight emotions and arguing religion seems to be circular--like a computer virus--you just can't get anywhere 'cause the same stupid stuff keeps popping up.

143. Answers To the Atheists

Comment #30506 by ghostbuster on April 8, 2007 at 8:58 am

Galacian is right. The Christians always want to point out how other Christians in history have been standing on high moral ground; let me make this clear; moral Christians were moral not because of their religion but IN SPITE of it. During the Dark Ages it would have been difficult to be a great atheist artist, scientist, writer, cabinet-maker etc. so you were a Christian because you had no other choice. There is not causal reltionship here. Additionally, there is a great deal of a causal relationship between evils done and one's religious approval/motivation for it. If by secular evil you mean the former Russia and/or China, may I suggest that that was/is also another form of poltical dogma not necessarily associated with the idea of non-belief in a god and his/her/its/they're "holy" scriptures. Add to this that political dogma can at least be identified ,challenged and removed in a rather short period of time makes it preferable from that standpoint than religion which has proven to be extremely difficult to get rid of--from the rational arguments, evidence-based science, to even moral arguments about errant sacred writings.
That humans are capable of evil is nothing to argue about---why, is another question. Check out jesusneverexisted.com for a good example of what evil is when religiously motivated. We can shoot/hang/put on trial the likes of Hitler, Stalin, Mao, but how do you extricate ghosts from the minds of men who seek to do evil in the name of those ghosts?

144. U.N. Draft Cites Humans in Recent Climate Shifts

Comment #30028 by ghostbuster on April 6, 2007 at 9:04 am

It's all about keeping your baloney detector clean; no matter where the baloney is coming from, one has to be able to detect it. Global Warming is appropriate on this site. Polite people were never to discuss politics or religion--too bad, they are the two dogmas that have f****d up the world.

145. Creationism debate continues to evolve

Comment #29605 by ghostbuster on April 3, 2007 at 2:46 pm

If religous people insist on invading secular science classes with relgious views then I see no reason why secular science cannot invade religious institutions and give their scientific views on religious topics.

146. The Most Hated Family in America

Comment #29604 by ghostbuster on April 3, 2007 at 2:42 pm

Being in America, they had better be careful of drive-by shooters. Some people actually care about what they say.

147. Time in the Animal Mind

Comment #29523 by ghostbuster on April 3, 2007 at 8:52 am

Anyone who is interested should look up portia labiata--think I want one for a pet.

148. Religion useless to Dawkins

Comment #29522 by ghostbuster on April 3, 2007 at 8:49 am

People always mistake telling the truth with being sarcastic; perhaps it is the only way of not having to look at the truth. Women who told the truth about patriarchy, were man-haters--didn't have to think beyond that.
This article wasn't informative period. She's a fence-sitter.

149. Aids Victims Risk Lives

Comment #29520 by ghostbuster on April 3, 2007 at 8:38 am

Actually, we have pretty much the same scenerio here---it's called alternative medicine. Just look at the billions spent on magical formulas that due to recent legislation has made alternative medicine "untouchable", that is, they need not "prove" their stuff works or is even safe or is even in the bottle. Much as we like to point fingers at the third world's attachment to the magic of the catholic church, we suffer the same thing here. Just type in AIDS and alternative medicine and you'll come up with a zillion formulas guaranteed to cure it. I have a friend who opted out of conventional breast cancer treatments for essiac tea and tumeric, plus some prayers. Have we really moved anywhere away from the witch doctors, or have we just substituted pseudo-science for religion when it comes to healthcare?

150. Planting the Mammalian Supertree

Comment #29255 by ghostbuster on April 2, 2007 at 8:55 am

I have always believed that biology follows laws in much the same way as chemistry and physics (and of course they are all related so why not)so it comes as no real surprise about ebb and flow of diversities; in fact, mammalian evolution may have just been one of those laws that eventually showed up during planetary changes, changes that all planets everywhere undergo. Perhaps not in exact synchronization as earth, but earth-like planets undergoing similar changes. One doesn't need any hand coming from anywhere to explain "life" explosions--it is just a fact. We have only earth at the moment as an example, but rather than view earth as "special" why not view it as "ordinary". Bacteria are bacteria everywhere; evolution proceeds as evolution does--there are no mammals with 8 legs or 8 eyes. Intelligence is no more special an evolutionary adaptation than an eye or an ear--it just is. So what if mammalian life exploded 15 million years after the dinos. Precursors were always there. What would be truly amazing is something entirely new showing up 15 million years after the lizards---little green men with big black almond eyes for instance---then maybe I'd get a feeling about the big hand out of the sky scenerio.