151. Faith schools should not be tax-funded, and here's why

Comment #72027 by jimbob on September 20, 2007 at 7:08 am

Hey Jimbob,

I'm a Brit living herre in the states but haven't gone for citizenship yet. I am curious, do they still make you swear allegiance to the flag and one nation under god?

152. Faith schools should not be tax-funded, and here's why

Comment #71686 by jimbob on September 19, 2007 at 1:02 pm

He might be a 'Merkin referrin' t' the Irish?

Actually, I'm a "Merkin who used to be a Brit. You have to imagine the feeling of pleasure that ran through me at the naturalization ceremony when I swore to renounce all allegiance to "foreign princes and potentates!"

Sorry Charlie! ;-)

153. Faith schools should not be tax-funded, and here's why

Comment #71678 by jimbob on September 19, 2007 at 12:56 pm

I meant millions of you BRITS you doofus!

154. Catholic school board in Halton may ban HPV vaccination

Comment #71675 by jimbob on September 19, 2007 at 12:54 pm

While we're all on a C-bashing roll, here's a piece from the Catholic League web site:

September 7, 2007

Lying About the Scandal

The evidence is unmistakable: 81 percent of the victims of priestly sexual abuse were male, the majority of whom were postpubescent. Since 100 percent of the victimizers were male, we're talking about homosexuality, not pedophilia. Yet the cultural elite refuse to deal with reality, and have indeed waged an unprecedented cover-up.

Two items in today's New York Times are relevant. There is a review of a mime performance, "America LoveSexDeath," that makes mention of one of the acts, "The Priest and the Altar Boy." From another source, it is reported that this act "depicts a priest undressing a child clearly meant to be five or six and leaves little of the ensuing activity to the imagination." It is a sure bet that not a single artist in the nation would ever do a performance based on the typical case, namely one which depicted a gay priest hitting on a postpubsescent male.

The Times also has a news piece by Ian Fisher covering the pope's trip to Austria. He writes that among many Austrian Catholics, there is "lingering anger over pedophilia scandals." But the scandal has been a homosexual one all along, and anyone who reads the data knows this to be true.

Lying about the sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic Church is commonplace. And the central reason why the lying continues is because the elites do not want to bash gays (which is fine). They just want to bash priests.

So now you all know --- it's NOT pedophilia --- it's them elitist-supported gays!

"Alter boys" indeed! ;-)

155. Faith schools should not be tax-funded, and here's why

Comment #71665 by jimbob on September 19, 2007 at 12:35 pm

"Are we really happy to sit back and pay for this?"

Apparently so, or millions of you would be out in the streets protesting about it!

156. God Talk on 'The View'

Comment #71660 by jimbob on September 19, 2007 at 12:32 pm

While I can't help liking Whoopi, she came over here as more like the Whoopi in Whoopee Cushion --- and she was the smart one in the group!

157. Radical Christians in Iraq

Comment #71655 by jimbob on September 19, 2007 at 12:19 pm

What's this about "my god is real, and theirs is an idol?"

Isn't it the one and the same Yahweh (who, as RD observed, "has to be the meanest character in all fiction!").

Onward christian soldiers -- Holy Shit!

158. Catholic school board in Halton may ban HPV vaccination

Comment #71333 by jimbob on September 18, 2007 at 1:06 pm

Question for the Catholic Church: In 50 years time what will you be apologizing for with regard to this present decade?

159. Larry King Interviews Kathy Griffin

Comment #71330 by jimbob on September 18, 2007 at 1:03 pm

Part of me wants to laugh and go "Yay!" but part of me cringes too -- she'll undoubtedly be advanced as the stereotypical atheist -- and all of us will have to be on the defensive against the caricature.

160. Argentine Church Faces 'Dirty War' Past

Comment #71018 by jimbob on September 17, 2007 at 2:12 pm

Wonder how Donohue will spin this one as a nasty attack on catholics?

161. Interview with Christopher Hitchens

Comment #70901 by jimbob on September 17, 2007 at 7:51 am

Great choice of pictures! Is that nude guy giving god the finger the first documented antitheist?

Maybe Hitch in his younger days?

Just thought I'd change the tone of this discussion a bit!

;-)

162. Review of Darwin's Angel

Comment #70182 by jimbob on September 14, 2007 at 9:16 am

"the sheer inaccuracy of Hitchin's rant" tweaked another nerve in me too. It reminded me of Donohue's incessant charge that The Missionary Possition book has no reference citations (see also 08-24 entry at: http://www.catholicleague.org/chatterbox.php for more of the same.

In each case (especially when you go ahead-to-head with Donohue again Hitch!) the responding challenge should be "OK, just what is not accurate?"

The bee in my bonnet about "Oops, there goes #9 again" is largely because us (supposedly amoral) atheists keep missing easy opportunities to nail the lies of the religious zealots.

When Donohue invited Hitch to continue the debate outside, a comment about how easily religious folks resort to violence wouldn't have gone amiss either.

Not altogether direct comment of Stanford's piece -- but perhaps pertinent to the underlying issues?

163. Review of Darwin's Angel

Comment #70131 by jimbob on September 14, 2007 at 7:34 am

Oops, there goes #9 again!

164. Griffin's 'offensive' Emmy speech to be censored

Comment #69679 by jimbob on September 12, 2007 at 7:05 am

Like most others who have commented I chuckled at this report, and I shook my head at the hypocrisy of Donohue.

However, I would humbly suggest that we take a note from the cool dignity of Hitch when he debated Donohue, and not make comments that could be used by opponents as evidence that atheists are inflammatory rabble.

If we claim to prefer educated reason to zealous defense of ancient dogmas, then it behooves us to role model such behavior -- just like Hitch, RD, et al.

Having preached that sermon, I do have to admit that any reasonable human can be forgiven for snorting and guffawing at this story!

;-)

165. Young Muslims begin dangerous fight for the right to abandon faith

Comment #69451 by jimbob on September 11, 2007 at 9:36 am

Richard asked:

"I wonder whether we have a Dutch or Flemish volunteer out there who would like to have a look at these articles, with a view to possibly translating them for our website?"

How about asking Ayaan Hirsi Ali?

166. Young Muslims begin dangerous fight for the right to abandon faith

Comment #69441 by jimbob on September 11, 2007 at 9:03 am

Two comments:

1. Ayaan Hirshi Ali's book "Infidel" is a must read for anybody who wants to support this initiative -- and it should be required reading for all politicians and educators too!

2. When are the leaders in the UK going to get brains enough to officially separate church and state? Anybody in the UK who wants to help get that idea going might find it helpful to work with American's United for Separation of Church and State.

167. The smallest signs of retreat

Comment #68452 by jimbob on September 7, 2007 at 7:55 am

Set fire to a strawman -- oops, there goes #9 again!

168. Creationism raised as Ont. election issue

Comment #68291 by jimbob on September 6, 2007 at 4:09 pm

Thank you Jefferson and Madison for sparing us this nonsense!

169. Honest Mistakes or Willful Mendacity

Comment #68204 by jimbob on September 6, 2007 at 10:53 am

More on "Oops there goes #9 again!"

To reinforce the idea, here is a link to a likely rich source of material:

http://www.patrobertson.com/PressReleases/tenoffenses.asp

An example from that source: "The Ten Offenses: Reclaim the Blessings of the Ten Commandments, asserts that America was founded as a Christian nation and that recent efforts to deny or revise that fact are dangerous to our society."

170. Honest Mistakes or Willful Mendacity

Comment #68176 by jimbob on September 6, 2007 at 9:43 am

This gives me the opportunity to post what I wrote privately to RD a few days ago. What about the idea (below) Richard?

It has often amazed me that the more that religious folks thump their bibles claiming god as the source of morality, and the 10 commandments as holy law -- then the more likely they are to ignore #9 in the decalogue by deceiving, distorting, or just plain lying to support their dogma (In the US the religious right do this all the time to advance their political agendas).

Thus, my suggestion is to have a dedicated section on the website. Maybe call it the "Oops, there goes #9 again" section?

My feeling is that such a section would bring considerable attention to both the invalidity and hypocrisy of claiming religion as the basis for morality.

(Hey Hitch, if RD doesn't like the idea, then how about using it as the title of an article?)

171. Christopher Hitchens and Bill Donohue on Mother Teresa

Comment #66511 by jimbob on August 30, 2007 at 7:20 am

"Dogmatic atheist!?"

What a shame Hitch didn't give the windbag a quick one-two about the difference between blind faith and evidence-based reason.

IMO, it can't be belabored too much that atheism is NOT a religious belief, and ALL religions are dogmas.

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

Comment #65498 by jimbob on August 24, 2007 at 1:26 pm

"More than 40 other letters, many of which she had asked to be destroyed in her will, show her fighting off feelings of "darkness" and "torture"."

Hmm, I guess somebody didn't show much respect for her will!

As for any threats to sanctification, since when did the Vatican show any inclination to let facts alter myths?

173. The Flea Circus Invites a Newcomer!

Comment #60277 by jimbob on August 1, 2007 at 12:57 pm

An apt analogy since fleas have been vectors for some of the worst plagues in human history.

174. Unorthodox Atheist

Comment #54079 by jimbob on July 5, 2007 at 8:39 am

You might suggest to principal Martha Cobbler that since her school is "the number one HS in the Roanoke valley," she might want to familiarize everybody with the writings of Madison and Jefferson on church-state issues.

Maybe you could ask the school board to consider one of the texts on that topic for the school curriculum. If they deemed such a text "inappropriate" they'd really put the school on the map!

Good luck!

175. When is a bishop like a suicide bomber?

Comment #53797 by jimbob on July 3, 2007 at 8:03 am

If you think the bishop is nutty, then check out Pat Robertson's site (www.patrobertson.com) to put him in perspective.

As an example, here is the summary from Pat's 2007 prayer retreat:

"In conclusion: Ahead is a year in which we celebrate the 400th Anniversary of the founding of the United States of America. This year will begin with unimagined blessings yet will end, unless there is national repentance and prayer, with unspeakable acts of terror brought about by evil men. Then a great time of worldwide rejoicing in the Lord."

As George Carlin joked about the punitive, vindictive, pestilence-spreading big daddy in the sky "But he loves you!"

176. Floods are judgment on society, say bishops

Comment #53606 by jimbob on July 2, 2007 at 8:10 am

If Jefferson were still alive I'm sure he would be dismayed to see that "priestcraft" is still thriving!

177. Floods are judgment on society, say bishops

Comment #53605 by jimbob on July 2, 2007 at 8:10 am

If Jefferson were still alive I'm sure he would be dismayed to see that "priestcraft" is still thriving!

178. The Great God Debate

Comment #50145 by jimbob on June 15, 2007 at 8:56 am

What's up doc(trine)?

As usual, I liked CH's response to the Hitler, Stalin, Cuba, Pol Pot, et el., gambit. However, I still can't help thinking that a broader explanation that DOCTRINES (mostly religious in nature, but some others quasi-religious) poison everything, would make more sense?

I'm also anticipating an increasing (ad hominem) charge from the religious faithful that most atheists are marxist commies -- a charge that will certainly resonate with many US bible belters.

I wonder how many atheists DO believe in various faith-requiring doctrines -- not many I hope!

I'd love to hear CH comment on those points.

179. Tome truths

Comment #49344 by jimbob on June 11, 2007 at 2:59 pm

Well, I'd love to see those "cardboard figures... go soggy and collapse," but Hamas hasn't gotten the message apparently: http://www.cnn.com/2007/EDUCATION/06/11/palestinian.schools.ap/index.html

Don't hold your breath waiting for muslim clerics to stand up to complain about child abuse.

Groan!

180. Evolution: God as Genetic Engineer

Comment #49272 by jimbob on June 11, 2007 at 8:58 am

Jaytee wrote:

"There is nothing really surprising about Behe's denial of reality; his agenda is not scientific, but political. I suspect he feels he is justified in 'lying for the Lord'."

Have you ever noticed the more people want the 10 commandments everywhere, the more they are likely to disregard #9?!

On the topic, wait 'till you see the PBS special "The Wall of Separation!" It's (ahem) genesis is analogous to the creation (pun intended) of ID as science!

;-)

181. Dawkins' Christmas card list

Comment #45833 by jimbob on May 29, 2007 at 11:13 am

A bit of care?!! But then I guess those Marxists ARE nice folks (oops, forgot about those millions of dead people!).

Maybe you are right? We wouldn't want the religious folks to label us A folk as rabid left wingers, eh?

;-)

182. Dawkins' Christmas card list

Comment #45821 by jimbob on May 29, 2007 at 10:54 am

"He told a packed Hay Festival audience that although the threat from creationists and the religious right is well-documented, science is also under threat from the other end of the political spectrum: "I think we face an equal but much more sinister challenge from the left, in the shape of cultural relativism - the view that scientific truth is only one kind of truth and it is not to be especially privileged."

...and he's right, and perhaps RD (and all of us) should make more of this?

I'd argue that the common thread is belief in doctrines -- religion probably being the most pervasive, but others (cultural relativism, political doctrines, etc.) being causes of the same problems.

I'd even submit that a better than usual response to the "Stalin/Pol Pot/et al., were atheists!" comment would be "yes, but they were all doctrinists!" (and the penalties for heresy and apostacy were the same too).

In short, religions aren't the source of ALL evil, but broadening the concept to "doctrines" gets much nearer to covering most.

183. Supporters of abortion have no future in Church, Pope tells faithful

Comment #39594 by jimbob on May 11, 2007 at 8:34 am

OK, so canon law says automatic excommunication follows from being pro abortion. Five of the 9 US Supreme Court justices are catholic -- 4 devoutly so. When is a senator or congressperson going to ask why they don't either recuse themselves from abortion-related cases, OR make the type of statement that JFK made when running for president?

This would be an especially pertinent question given recent appointee's comments about "activist" judges using "foreign law as basis for US judicial decisions.

184. Richard Dawkins on BBC 2's Newsnight

Comment #296 by Jimbob on September 25, 2006 at 4:09 am

I personnally believe athiest to be a more accurate and honest declaration of my position. Agnostic is too inprecise and open to interpretation. I don't live my life agnostically in relation to whether a god exists, I live my life atheistically. I don't have a problem with people calling it a belief system. It is a belief system. Its a belief I've arrived at through rational thought.