Comments by dlitt

Comment #104889 by dlitt on December 29, 2007 at 10:31 pm

Comment #104863 by CruciFiction on December 29, 2007 at 7:26 pm
The quality and openness of such discussions on British television when compared to the touchy-feely fantasy crap that permeates American television for our dumbed-down masses is absolutely astounding. Perhaps we'd be better off today if we had lost the Revolutionary war.

You'd be better off today if the Republicans had lost the election eight years ago.

152. Richard Dawkins on 'Have Your Say'

Comment #104886 by dlitt on December 29, 2007 at 10:27 pm

Father Morris' loud and boisterous diatribe would sit well with American evangelicals. No wonder he's a Vatican spokesman.

153. Archbishop of Canterbury Praises Richard Dawkins

Comment #104880 by dlitt on December 29, 2007 at 9:42 pm

Comment #104398 by annabanana on December 28, 2007 at 12:33 pm
Diacanu, you make me laugh. And I think you use the f-word more than I do, which is a feat. I do try to restrict my language here, though. I seem to have a hard enough time getting people to take me seriously as it is, minus the swearing...

annabanana - I hope you don't mind this off-topic interjection. You might be interested in a podcast from "Science on Guardian Unlimited" discussing Stephen Pinker's new book "The Stuff of Thought." Adding the URL below to iTunes and downloading the November 4th episode, may give you a new appreciation for the occasional use of 'bad' words. Jump sixteen minutes ahead if you want to get straight to the bad language discussion. It's these small elucidations that help inspire change to our moral zeitgeist.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/podcast/0,,329442289,00.xml

154. What We Believe: Atheism

Comment #104672 by dlitt on December 29, 2007 at 5:26 am

Imagine you're in a life raft with a half dozen others. It's become clear there will be no rescue. Everyone will die within a few days from thirst, hunger, and exposure. After the initial shock and denial, what's the natural reaction? I believe for most, it would be sadness and compassion.

I'd see a raftload of food packages. ;-)

155. Do stop behaving as if you are God, Professor Dawkins

Comment #104133 by dlitt on December 28, 2007 at 12:56 am

Alister McGrath is professor of theology at Oxford University.

That must be like having a degree in "Hamburgerology," from McDonald's.

I hope he's included Spaghettimonsterism, in his theological studies.

156. 'Atheistic fundamentalism' fears

Comment #104130 by dlitt on December 28, 2007 at 12:48 am

He said it advocated that religion in general and Christianity in particular have no substance, and that some view the faith as "superstitious nonsense".

Isn't it?

157. New journal to target education in evolution

Comment #104124 by dlitt on December 28, 2007 at 12:20 am

I give up on Quantum Theory, though. :-)

158. New journal to target education in evolution

Comment #104123 by dlitt on December 28, 2007 at 12:15 am

Certainly having an indepth understanding of evolution is rewarding, as I have said - but there is a level of knowledge that will provide the sudden insight of understanding. It didn't require a whole lot of details in my case. I do know more of the details now than when I had my 'enlightenment.'

159. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104110 by dlitt on December 27, 2007 at 11:31 pm

There should also be a cap on their size, just like the cap imposed on Micorsoft a few years back.

160. New journal to target education in evolution

Comment #104109 by dlitt on December 27, 2007 at 11:25 pm

There was a eureka moment for me when I understood the remarkable simplicity of the process of evolution by natural selection...

Although I have always believed evolution to be correct, it was Richard Dawkins', "The Blind Watchmaker," that cinched it for me.

Thank you.

161. New journal to target education in evolution

Comment #104106 by dlitt on December 27, 2007 at 10:47 pm

36. Comment #103984 by annabanana on December 27, 2007 at 12:45 pm

..., I don't suggest getting some sort of watered-down, simplified version of evolution as that's why people are confused in the first place. My zoology professor taught evolution the entire semester, and I still don't feel like I know everything.

There was a eureka moment for me when I understood the remarkable simplicity of the process of evolution by natural selection and how, over a vast timeframe, such complexity and diversity must evolve. The details, although personally rewarding, are not necessary for comprehension.

162. 'Gospel of wealth' facing scrutiny

Comment #104102 by dlitt on December 27, 2007 at 10:15 pm

Empathy for the vulnerable. Anger for the greedy. I can't laugh.

163. Wisdom From The Founding Rationalists

Comment #104098 by dlitt on December 27, 2007 at 10:02 pm

Comment #104044 by 82abhilash on December 27, 2007 at 5:12 pm

... ,yet it is the freest country in the world today. [U.S]

That's not a boast I would make. There are lots of things you can't do, that you can do in other countries - i.e.; assisted suicide, gay marriage, and smoking a fatty - to name a few off the top of my head. Also, your employer has the right to invade your privacy by testing your urine. You would be a lot freer were you a more secular society.

164. Jesus ad angers church groups

Comment #103756 by dlitt on December 26, 2007 at 5:36 pm

"The gifts that the wise men were giving were appropriate for a king, so the notion that Jesus would reject them is absurd," Dr Davies said.

What an idiot!

What is a baby going to do with gold, frankincense, and Mirh? It is perfectly reasonable to reject those gifts - they make very boring toys.

165. New journal to target education in evolution

Comment #103750 by dlitt on December 26, 2007 at 5:17 pm

I'm tired of hearing the "evolved from apes" argument against evolutionary theory as if they can't understand a parallel separate path of evolution from a common ancestor. To suggest that mosquitos, monkeys, and humans are equally 'evolved,' confuses and annoys them. I hope this material helps educate our youth to a better understanding of their natural history so they are less likely to become dumb adults.

166. Happy Newton Day!

Comment #103295 by dlitt on December 25, 2007 at 2:16 am

204. Comment #102363 by smithyboy on December 22, 2007 at 1:21 pm

[edit] You think the miracle of Fatima is real. But you seem to accept the sun can't really have 'spun and then dived toward the earth'. So what you believe in is a god who is prepared to hoax or mislead or delude (dare I say it) 70,000 plus people to get what he wants. [edit]

Benny Hinn claimed that 1000 people saw a man turned into a snake in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario. His credulous flock will believe and propagate that claim.

167. CBC News: Sunday - Richard Dawkins

Comment #103290 by dlitt on December 25, 2007 at 1:40 am

Comment #100532 by gkkalai on December 18, 2007 at 8:20 pm

I would have to criticize dawkins here.
He told humans evolved from apes.

Dawkins agreed that we are 'evolved apes,' not evolved from apes. Although that is a correct statement it can still be misconstrued due to its lack of clarity.

168. Priest who committed suicide for rebirth cremated

Comment #103285 by dlitt on December 25, 2007 at 12:42 am

Comment #103147 by BigJohn on December 24, 2007 at 11:13 am

Well, he won't do that again...

I wonder how many, if any, will lose their faith over this stunt?

Probably a few in the beginning.

Just wait a few years - then someone will testify to witnessing his resurrection and a new religion is born.

169. 2007, a bad year for God squadders

Comment #101645 by dlitt on December 20, 2007 at 4:35 pm

...so unbelievable, it compels us to believe.

That credulous twit has just defined 'cognitive dissonance'.

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

Comment #96064 by dlitt on December 9, 2007 at 11:07 pm

I pitty the skinless wanker. Historically, we told boys of all the evil that would befall them if they masturbated. Then we'd lop off their skin to make it more difficult.

Few adult men choose the operation. Far fewer than have it chosen for them as infants.

Kirsten Patrick, I assume is female, and should have no say in the matter of male mutilation. If she prefers a skinless willy she should buy one at a sex shop.

171. Islam's Silent Moderates

Comment #95694 by dlitt on December 9, 2007 at 1:32 am

In Canada, the CBC has a sit-com called "Little Mosque on the Prairie," where we can watch moderate Muslims weekly. I'm sure my tax dollars contribute to its production as to 'Multiculturalism Canada' who likely endorsed the program. No doubt written to placate the naive Canadian.

172. What's the evolutionary advantage of offering your place to an old woman on a bus?

Comment #90293 by dlitt on November 24, 2007 at 4:12 am

Collateral altruism.

We are not so analytical as to base all our good deeds on what's best for our species propagation.

173. Malaysia firm's 'Muslim car' plan

Comment #87699 by dlitt on November 12, 2007 at 10:28 pm

"Their" women will need to be able to drive it from the back seat.

174. Georgia plans service to pray for rain

Comment #86662 by dlitt on November 9, 2007 at 10:29 pm

When it rains - and it will eventually - he'll have his tesimonial of God's power. What a putz!

175. Stretching the Search for Signs of Life

Comment #79013 by dlitt on October 15, 2007 at 10:03 pm

I can hear the beep of an alien Sputnik.

176. CBC Atheism and Humanism Documentary

Comment #77272 by dlitt on October 8, 2007 at 11:45 pm

15. Comment #77261 by jagmarz on October 8, 2007 at 10:27 pm

Most of these kids aren't old enough to make Rational decisions. At their age kids should be curious, not certain! So all their testimonials are just Jesus Camp all over again from the other side.

Sad evidence of Atheist dogma, exactly what we should be avoiding.

How naive. I'm sure they were not hollered at and brought to tears by threats of eternal dictatorial sky-worship. They are given the seeds of reason and allowed to decide for themselves without pressure from their instructors and peers. "Dogma" - nonsense! It is a terrific camp - I just wish it was in the West, too.

177. CBC Atheism and Humanism Documentary

Comment #77270 by dlitt on October 8, 2007 at 11:29 pm

Comment #77098 by Bonzai on October 8, 2007 at 12:56 pm

"U.S. envy" is a very strange and unique Canadian disorder...

I've lived here in Canada for 48 of my 50 years. I've never heard of such a thing. Not in Western Canada - must be an Eastern disorder.

178. AAI Convention webcam

Comment #74454 by dlitt on September 29, 2007 at 12:07 am

I should have added "...Whistler - where the residents are Australian." :-)

179. AAI Convention webcam

Comment #74453 by dlitt on September 29, 2007 at 12:02 am

My avatar is my face morphed onto Hagrid. The mustache is mine, though.

Good to see you're still here, Veronique.

British Columbia is probably more atheistic than the rest of Canada. I live close to Whistler - where money is God. Evangelism is on the rise in my area. It is only in the last couple of years that I became a vocal antitheist. Most of my life I thought science would slowly whittle-away the supernatural and I could remain a passive observer. What a bizarre and unexpected phenomenon is this ascending religiosity.

180. There Go The Dinosaurs

Comment #74448 by dlitt on September 28, 2007 at 11:29 pm

Damned dinosaurs must have jumped the queue ahead of the unicorns.

181. Scientists Feel Miscast in Film on Life's Origin

Comment #74445 by dlitt on September 28, 2007 at 11:14 pm

Mr. Ruloff, a Canadian who lives in British Columbia,...

Bummer! He's in my yard.

182. AAI Convention webcam

Comment #74444 by dlitt on September 28, 2007 at 11:01 pm

I'm glad I jumped to the end of these posts.

This is a slow, generational shift, it won't happen overnight.

I've recently attended a church group over a period of eight evenings to argue the existence of God. The only members of the group that I'm having an effect on are the attendees that are under 25. The rest are completely stuck in their dogma. I'm 50 now, and will concentrate my efforts on the younger generation, as the older 'Dogmanites' will eventually croak anyway.

183. Why Christians should take Richard Dawkins seriously

Comment #74443 by dlitt on September 28, 2007 at 10:34 pm

I don't recall any Nobel laureates in Physics that believe in the existence of God, either.

184. Why Christians should take Richard Dawkins seriously

Comment #74442 by dlitt on September 28, 2007 at 10:26 pm

The leprechaun analogy works for me. I've just read "The Gospel of the Flying Spaghetti Monster" and unless I'm tickled by his noodley appendages, I'm still an unbeliever. The Bible is just another nonsense book - just older.

185. AAI Convention webcam

Comment #74436 by dlitt on September 28, 2007 at 9:24 pm

99. Comment #74428 by Mitchell Gilks

"Looks like Yorker is the biggest atheist here"

I likely have the honour of being the 'biggest' atheist here - unless you can beat 330 lbs. :-)

186. Censoring Sir David

Comment #69800 by dlitt on September 12, 2007 at 8:39 pm

Q. What do you call 300 Dutch biologists?

A. Emmigrants.

187. RELIGULOUS: A Conversation with Bill Maher and Larry Charles

Comment #69797 by dlitt on September 12, 2007 at 8:31 pm

Offensive? To who? The credulous? So What?
'Offensive' is Gibson's Smashin' of the Christ.

188. Interview with Francis Collins

Comment #69175 by dlitt on September 9, 2007 at 9:41 pm

As Prof. Michael Shermer said in his book, 'Why do People Believe Weird Things,' "...Smart people believe weird things because they are better at rationalising beliefs they arived at for non-smart reasons."

189. Interview with Francis Collins

Comment #69171 by dlitt on September 9, 2007 at 9:32 pm

It doesn't always matter how well educated and/or intelligent one is. Some just don't want to accept their own mortality. Francis Collins is better at making sense out of nonsense than most of us.

190. The Atheist

Comment #68051 by dlitt on September 5, 2007 at 9:05 pm

Come back soon... I enjoy reading your intellectual contribution to this site, Veronique.

191. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #67155 by dlitt on September 2, 2007 at 9:02 am

Of all that I have read, and all the science and technology podcasts I have listened to over that last couple of years, there are very few people that stand out as being a great asset to our species. Kylie Sturgess stands out, in my mind, as one terrific teacher. I've always been fond of good teachers. Neil DeGrasse Tyson, once said in a podcast, that it is a shame so few teachers, in the course of our education, stand amongst those we remember for their ability to guide our futures.

192. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #67113 by dlitt on September 2, 2007 at 2:14 am

Your most welcome, Veronique...

Good night from British Columbia

193. The God of the Bible is No Delusion!

Comment #67112 by dlitt on September 2, 2007 at 2:02 am

It seems to be a reasonable assumption that the universe would be different with a god. We'd have talking snakes, virgin births, miracles, smitings of infidels, pillars of salt where humans once stood, long haired strong-men, smoldering goats, and all kinds of other magical shit all around us.

194. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #67108 by dlitt on September 2, 2007 at 1:37 am

Veronique,

Here is her link at Australian Skeptics:

http://www.skeptics.com.au/prizes/2006ctprizeb.htm

195. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #67106 by dlitt on September 2, 2007 at 1:22 am

Comment #66688 by Veronique on August 31, 2007 at 1:09 am

You are absolutely right. This is why I want to host a critical thinking forum for the high schoolers in my district. Critical thinking is not a subject (let alone a core subject) in our school curricula anywhere in Australia. I think it is imperative to introduce an off site forum where kids can earn educational credits that are attached to the official curriculum credits earned within their particular school's educational agenda.

I am not sure how to approach this within a curriculum-based agenda. If anyone has any ideas, I would welcome them. I understand that the ruling parties do not want a smart electorate, but I think this subversive activity is essential for our kids and for our future.

Veronique,
I listened to the December 6, 2006, Science Show on ABC Radio National where they addressed a Critical Thinking Award given to a teacher named Kylie Sturgess for teaching critical thinking at Methodist Ladies College in Perth. The award came from The Australian Skeptics.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/scienceshow/stories/2006/1801778.htm

She may be helpful to your quest.

196. The Sacrifice of Reason

Comment #67104 by dlitt on September 2, 2007 at 12:39 am

Comment #66569 by walk on August 30, 2007 at 1:12 pm

One aspect of the great work these men are doing that seems overlooked, is the real world danger of openly criticizing Islamic extremists. I think the guys deserve great respect for their bravery.

Criticism of Islam or Islamic extremism isn't quite as suicidal as criticism of their prophet. I do agree with you, though.

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

Comment #65643 by dlitt on August 25, 2007 at 9:38 am

How about the Bible for the E-savy. It would start something like this... "In d bgin n, G cre8ed d Hev n & d Erth,,,"

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

Comment #65641 by dlitt on August 25, 2007 at 9:23 am

Maybe a target on the cover would be more effective.

199. Scientists should unite against threat from religion

Comment #65586 by dlitt on August 25, 2007 at 1:58 am

Maybe the staff at Nature are hoping for a hand-out from the Discovery Institute.

200. CNN Request for 'I-Reports' on religion

Comment #65580 by dlitt on August 25, 2007 at 1:00 am

I sent them this rant:

My rational mind concluded, at the age of eleven, that God and the tooth fairy were equally probable and hence forth refused to continue wasting my valuable Sunday mornings worshiping nonsense. Religious belief is the scurge of humanity and the sooner we educate ourselves to properly use critical thinking skills, the sooner we can jettison antiquated Bronze Age rubbish and get on with our lives and work toward a dogma free world. If it weren't for the heretics of the Dark Ages, we wouldn't have the comfortable lives we have today. America is under threat of loosing it's position as a world leader in technology and medicine because of the dumbing-down influence of the religious right on political decisions. We need to envision our future in terms of thousands of years instead of until the fabled Rapture.

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