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Comments by Mango


151. War in Heaven: Hitchens Meets D'Souza on Home Turf

Comment #81189 by Mango on October 24, 2007 at 11:24 am

The Observer article was a little biased against Hitch -- I thought he held his own quite well.

The problem with debating D'Dunce is that it's hard to make your own points because you must spend all your time correcting his mistakes and misunderstandings and logical fallacies, et cetera.

152. War in Heaven: Hitchens Meets D'Souza on Home Turf

Comment #81159 by Mango on October 24, 2007 at 9:52 am

Hitchens debated Olasky earlier this year, so why was he chosen as a moderator? Not a neutral party I must say.

153. War in Heaven: Hitchens Meets D'Souza on Home Turf

Comment #80996 by Mango on October 23, 2007 at 9:39 pm

And Mr. D'Souza got the last word, declaring that "the atheist is chafing under the laws of a world in which we are accountable. Atheism isn't an intellectual revolt, it's a moral one."


Atheists are expounding the intellect and morality, both of which theism denigrate.

154. Debate between Michael Shermer and Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #80689 by Mango on October 22, 2007 at 4:09 pm

Watching this debate paid off at the end when an audience member relentlessly bugged Shermer about how many times homosexuality was mentioned in the Bible, and after the moderator pacified this man Shermer still graciously let him ask a question and it was, "Did you know that the surest way to reduce your life expectancy is to be gay?" HAHAHAHA

155. Make Richard Dawkins a Knight

Comment #80317 by Mango on October 21, 2007 at 10:19 am

Salman Rushdie then Richard Dawkins? I'm not sure the government is prepared to handle another controversy like that so soon.

156. Atheistic Denomination Struggles To Fill Void Left by Founder's Death

Comment #79954 by Mango on October 19, 2007 at 8:26 am

If Humanist Jews have 10,000 aherents in the U.S., then that's more people than dues-paying members of American Atheists and about equal with the Freedom from Religion Foundation. So this movement might represent a larger proportion of Jews than wear the label, just as atheist groups have far fewer numbers than the country's total atheists.

I can imagine that not a small number of Jews identify with the ethnicity but not a belief in the supernatural.

157. If Muslim doctors are intolerant, let them go

Comment #77468 by Mango on October 9, 2007 at 11:37 am

Although political correctness served a certain purpose at a certain time, now is the time for rational heads to prevail in this matter of intolerance by theists.

158. The Price of Freedom

Comment #77177 by Mango on October 8, 2007 at 4:49 pm

Is no one expecting her employer, AEI, to foot the bill?

159. Interview with Richard Dawkins

Comment #76570 by Mango on October 6, 2007 at 10:04 am

Dawkins admits the "rise" of atheism is probably a reaction to the Bush administration, radical Islam, and so on. It's a shame that people aren't abandoning religion based upon reason or science because these people are not necessarily critical thinkers and might go on to embrace some other non-evidence based worldview.

160. Christianity's Image Problem

Comment #76274 by Mango on October 5, 2007 at 10:03 am

I'm little comforted to hear that Christianity is becoming less popular because of the Bush administration, fundamentalists, perceived hypocrisy, et cetera. I'd like to hear that people are abandoning religion because of logic and reason rather than as a knee-jerk reaction to perceived social ills.

161. Hirsi Ali Returns to the Netherlands after Losing Body Guards

Comment #75732 by Mango on October 3, 2007 at 2:04 pm

She was by far the most impressive speaker at AAI.


She just read, it seemed, directly from her book. Harris and Dennett had by far more interesting, intellectually stimulating presentations.

162. The Saudi connection that belittles Britain

Comment #73366 by Mango on September 24, 2007 at 10:01 pm

I'm always puzzled why the UK and America support a repressive monarchical country like Saudi Arabia. Puzzled, that is, until I remember the arms we sell to them and oil we buy from them.

163. Teacher: I was fired, said Bible isn't literal

Comment #73204 by Mango on September 24, 2007 at 12:42 pm

Why would he want to work back there? He should work elsewhere even if they offer to allow him to return.


As a way to signify to his community, and the country, that rationalists will not be driven away if they can help it. If I were he, I would certainly stay as an act of defiance against Creationists.

164. Teacher: I was fired, said Bible isn't literal

Comment #73196 by Mango on September 24, 2007 at 12:10 pm

This is scandalous that a teacher in higher education has to kowtow to Creationists. This college will hopefully be shamed into re-hiring him.

165. New Rules: A Religious Test

Comment #72683 by Mango on September 22, 2007 at 8:57 am

Maher's use of humor will reach many people who 1) aren't reading books 2) don't understand science 3) can have their ideas challenged by ridicule.

Harris, Hitchens, Dawkins, Dennett, and Maher all have different tones and approaches, which is great to reach the most people.

166. Why Christians should take Richard Dawkins seriously

Comment #72151 by Mango on September 20, 2007 at 12:40 pm

Skinner asserts, "– if, in other words, our understanding of God does approximate to a Dawkins version, then we are in danger of creating another golden calf."

But Dawkins is very general about his description of the God he writes about as "a supernatural agent who designed the universe and – at least in many versions of the hypothesis – maintains it and even intervenes in it with miracles....". And this is what most theists indeed believe. Straw man? Not at all. And Skinner does indeed have a golden calf.

167. Against the grain: There are questions that science cannot answer

Comment #72066 by Mango on September 20, 2007 at 8:57 am

When atheists debunk theist counter-arguments it's not as if we should expect the theists to then keep quiet until they have new thoughts. They won't have any and they'll continue to distort our views over and over again ad infinitum.

This is a struggle that must constantly be waged, on the Web, in print, on TV, in the courts, even though it is, to us, repetitive and mind-numbing.

Churchill's words, though way out of context, might instill some mental vigor: "We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and the oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender."

168. The Nonbelievers

Comment #71112 by Mango on September 17, 2007 at 8:49 pm

"Atheism is what I don't believe in; humanism is what I do believe in"


Atheism is not something that can be "believed in." We are all born atheists and most of us are soon thereafter inculcated with a religion. He profoundly frustrates me with such inane statements.

But my problem is not so much with Epstein as with the exigencies of his office, "humanist chaplain." It's an intellectually disturbing chimera.

169. A Response to Jonathan Haidt

Comment #69811 by Mango on September 12, 2007 at 10:48 pm

Anyone feeling nostalgic for the "wisdom" of the Aztecs?


Great how Sam Harris dissolves a banal platitude with real examples from history.

170. We need a more intelligent religion debate

Comment #68438 by Mango on September 7, 2007 at 7:26 am

If humanity moves away from religion, things will get better. It's a faith.


It will not necessarily get better, but the evidence from the most atheistic and theistic countries shows a clear societal improvement with increased atheism. I do not claim cause-and-effect, but it's an encouraging correlation.

The author asserts that concerts and yoga classes might also be "religious" experiences so we atheists have no idea what we're talking about when we address religion. I think we are quite explicit in our criticism of religion as a belief system predicated upon the supernatural.

So A.C. Grayling is brilliant, except when he touches upon religion? Like how a comedian is hilarious until he jokes about fat people, and you're 400 pounds and so quickly change the channel.

171. Like any half-decent atheist, I'm fond of a bit of religion

Comment #67810 by Mango on September 4, 2007 at 11:01 pm

Here's just one item that irked me:

Atheism, he [Dawkins] says, "nearly always indicates a healthy independence of mind, and indeed a healthy mind". I'm a bit worried about that "nearly always" – an uncharacteristically fuzzy phrase surely, from the master of certainty.


What Linklater doesn't understand is that Dawkins cannot claim certainty for this because to do so would be untenable, just as Dawkins says there is "almost certainly" no God. Methinks that the writer doesn't quite grasp how honest writers write.

172. In God we doubt

Comment #67394 by Mango on September 3, 2007 at 8:45 am

The author refers to "militant atheists" four times in this piece. This is a shabby rhetorical device to bias his readers against atheism because society is conditioned to be against anything militant.

173. Review of Darwin's Angel: An Angelic Response to the God Delusion

Comment #67160 by Mango on September 2, 2007 at 9:31 am

But "100% Femininzed" must be flattering, no?

174. Review of Darwin's Angel: An Angelic Response to the God Delusion

Comment #67157 by Mango on September 2, 2007 at 9:14 am

Northern Bright as a handle always seemed innocent enough, that is, until I received my weekly catalog of Dutch cannabis seeds:
http://www.buydutchseeds.com/product_info.php?ref=812&cPath=25&products_id=73

175. Review of Darwin's Angel: An Angelic Response to the God Delusion

Comment #67084 by Mango on September 1, 2007 at 7:14 pm

Comment 140 EE Guy - I like the avatar of Dr. Forrester -- I just watched some MST3K tonight in fact.

176. Orthodox Call on Sinners To Give Chickens a Fairer Shake

Comment #66742 by Mango on August 31, 2007 at 7:42 am

Vaal -- of course the word itself "scapegoat" we have thanks to Jews as well who used a goat to get rid of their sins.

177. A Daddy Longlegs Tells the Story of the Continents' Big Shifts

Comment #66214 by Mango on August 29, 2007 at 11:03 am

It amazes me that just a few years ago I had a geology professor who had serious doubts about continental drift. He was a conservative Christian and I think that's not a coincidence.

178. 'Jesus loves you' email

Comment #66168 by Mango on August 29, 2007 at 6:47 am

Much more amusing than I thought it would be. Must be the subtlety and accent.

I'll be at the convention. It will be my Woodstock.

179. Fallen Pastor Seeks Aid to Pursue Studies

Comment #66069 by Mango on August 28, 2007 at 8:33 am

At comment #49 - Haggard is not going into psychology but rather counseling.

180. Anger at Malaysia 'Jesus cartoon'

Comment #65863 by Mango on August 27, 2007 at 6:54 am

Malaysia's Muslim-led government closed two publications last year for carrying controversial cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

Now some members of Malaysia's minority religions say they want the same treatment over this latest incident.


They also want the same level of ignorance. Quite a race to the bottom.

181. Anger over 'blasphemous' balls

Comment #65862 by Mango on August 27, 2007 at 6:48 am

The phrase "lighten up" comes immediately to mind.

182. Hebrew Charter School Spurs Dispute in Florida

Comment #65860 by Mango on August 27, 2007 at 6:44 am

Obviously this is using tax dollars to fund a religious school. That the food is kosher should be a clear signal of its true nature.

183. Fallen Pastor Seeks Aid to Pursue Studies

Comment #65857 by Mango on August 27, 2007 at 6:38 am

I'm disheartened, but not surprised, that he's not entering a scientific field of study.

184. Shop targets U.S. hunters with camo Bibles

Comment #65620 by Mango on August 25, 2007 at 6:39 am

A few days ago at the Baton Rouge, Louisiana airport I saw a piece of camo luggage. I wondered how anything else could be more ridiculous in camo. I've found my answer.

185. Hitchens, Dawkins, Harris: The Unholy Trinity ... Thank God.

Comment #63509 by Mango on August 14, 2007 at 3:50 pm

It's good press for the Freedom From Religion Foundation to have a high-profile speaker like Hitch. Let's people know there's actually an organization they can become a member of that fights for their rights. Join it, if you haven't already.

186. Interview with Richard Dawkins about 'The Enemies of Reason'

Comment #63101 by Mango on August 13, 2007 at 5:39 am

This TV program I'm not familiar with (I'm American) but it seems like something people who believe in New Age quackery would watch. And perhaps this is what Dawkins intended -- to spread his message in the quarters where it is most needed.

187. Richard Dawkins, TV evangelist

Comment #62970 by Mango on August 12, 2007 at 4:44 pm

Regarding the different approaches that have been discussed above to communicate with New Agers and theists, Carl Sagan wrestled with the same issue over 10 years ago in "The Demon Haunted World."

He advised not being too heavy-handed:
p. 298 "In the way that skepticism is sometimes applied to issues of public concern, there *is* a tendency to belittle, to condescend, to ignore the fact that, deluded or not, supporters of superstition and pseudoscience are human beings with real feelings who, like the skeptics, are trying to figure out how the world works and what our role in it might be. Their motives are in many cases consonant with science. If their culture has not given them all the tools they need to pursue this great quest, let us temper our criticism with kindness. None of us comes fully equipped."

188. Richard Dawkins, TV evangelist

Comment #62827 by Mango on August 11, 2007 at 6:52 pm

The intensity with which new atheist identities are being forged through a hatred of imagined religious others is. . .


Religious others being God(s), presumably. But atheists don't hate what doesn't exist -- we atheists are merely championing the use of reason over superstition.

[We are] witnessing the birth pangs of a new, anti-religious cultural identity.


Dawkins is now tackling pseudoscience because his isn't an anti-religious identity, it's a pro-reason identity. He has no particular beef solely with religion and that's why he has this new TV program. Why does the author here start by writing about Dawkins' new pursuits and then call him so myopic?

189. Why Richard Dawkins is right on alternative medicine - but not when it comes to religion

Comment #62559 by Mango on August 10, 2007 at 5:52 am

but the modern Christian concept of Hell means little more than permanent separation from God


To quote a line from Monty Python's Life of Brian: "He's making it up as he goes along!"

The author doesn't see the connection between New Age pseudoscience and religion -- both are stridently believed in with no evidence.

190. Dissing Deism

Comment #62407 by Mango on August 9, 2007 at 4:19 pm

Glad to see the book is still being reviewed even though it was released last year. Good momentum.

191. Does the Bible have a place in public schools?

Comment #61754 by Mango on August 6, 2007 at 6:45 pm

This appears to be Evangelicals trying to get the Bible back into public schools. I agree with a previous poster -- this "Bible as literature" course needs to be taught in a university, not high schools. It's a good idea for advanced students, but it's bound to be end up badly for the separation of church and state.

192. The Gullible Age: Review of 'The Enemies of Reason'

Comment #61490 by Mango on August 5, 2007 at 11:02 am

So my personal campaign is against irrationality and sloppy thinking wherever they occur, not just in religion. (After all, a successful campagin against irrationality would encompass religion too, wouldn't it?)


Exactly. Since atheism isn't a worldview, we atheists merely stand against sloppy thinking wherever it crops up. Theists will see themselves being criticized by atheists right next to the New Age quacks. This also shows the public that atheists are not people who just hold some sort of grudge against religion.

193. The Gullible Age: Review of 'The Enemies of Reason'

Comment #61441 by Mango on August 5, 2007 at 7:09 am

Dawkins' new program on pseudoscience sounds exactly like what Carl Sagan did in his mid-90s book "The Demon Haunted World," which I highly recommend.

194. OUT Campaign Launched, 'Scarlet Letter' Shirts Now Available!

Comment #59383 by Mango on July 28, 2007 at 10:26 pm

I don't think anyone on the street is going to know what the shirt means since it's just a big letter A, but there's a small chance a well-informed atheist might recognize it and start to chat with me. So I don't see much value in it.

For the past few years I've been wearing a white shirt with Atheist in black letters. Simple, effective, and might help others come out of the closet.

195. God '08: Whose, and How Much, Will Voters Accept?

Comment #57960 by Mango on July 22, 2007 at 4:24 pm

When challenged about his beliefs, Mr. Romney has sought to emphasize points of commonality with Protestants and Catholics, often asserting that he considers Jesus Christ his lord and savior.


Jesus is a litmus test for the electorate. How wonderfully discerning the common people are.

196. Believing the Unbelievable: The Clash Between Faith and Reason in the Modern World

Comment #56168 by Mango on July 14, 2007 at 7:48 am

Harris can't be a doctoral student forever -- American universities generally only allow 8-10 years to complete it.

As others have said -- Harris must always assume (correctly, I think) that most people in that audience have not seen him before or read his books.

And I like hearing his points over again because I tend to remember them better.

197. Police plea on genital mutilation

Comment #55462 by Mango on July 11, 2007 at 7:23 am

"This is child abuse. It is not an attack on anyone's culture,


Obviously it's child abuse, but the authorities still find the need to avoid being labeled "racists" or "ethnocentric." (but ultimately it is an attack on a cultural/religious practice).

198. A force for good?

Comment #55164 by Mango on July 10, 2007 at 6:58 am

Faith isn't just good for some individuals. It is good for society.
Of course it is, look at how Islam has helped shape the Middle East into a socially progressive, technologically advanced, egalitarian region.

199. Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature

Comment #55141 by Mango on July 10, 2007 at 5:28 am

comment 66 Then shouldn't there be a lot blonde eskimo women?
Eskimos might develop blonde hair eventually, but I think modernity will now prevent it. They probably haven't yet because their ancestry (Mongloid) is different than those who did develop the blond trait (Caucasoids) as well as the fact that it's in no way pre-determined how genes will mutate in a popultion, as you seem to suggest.
Also, fair-hair is also common among scandinavian men as well, right?

Hair color is a complex system, multiple alleles and possibly more than one gene determine it. And it was probably a very gradual lightening of the hair color in the population that affected subsequent generations of both sexes (through the selective breeding of lighter-haired mothers) -- not a punctuated equilibria to platinum blondes.

200. Ten Politically Incorrect Truths About Human Nature

Comment #54939 by Mango on July 9, 2007 at 11:52 am

Comment 32 What am I to make of the fact that I specifically do not find this type of woman attractive?


And some men love other men and ignore women altogether. These aren't rules, just patterns that might have an explanation in our evolved psychologies.

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