Religion on The Truth Imperative

The ACLU defends YOUR rights too

Mon, 14 May 2007 12:48:00 -0700

This is also one that puzzles me. I think it is primarily that some people dislike some of the causes that the ACLU has taken up (e.g. against ridiculous religious wackos trying to instill their brand of religion or morality as the law of the land) and so they discard the whole organization out of pocket. But their slogan, “Freedom can’t defend itself” speaks to exactly what they are here for: to defend The Bill of Rights. You know, the Bill of Rights is what gives the religious people their freedom to practice religion. Too bad they don’t see that the ACLU is also fighting for their rights too.

The Pagan Origins of Easter

Sat, 07 Apr 2007 17:36:00 -0700

The next time some religious person tries to say that there is some secular conspiracy around religious holidays and that the common secular symbols, such as the Easter bunny, Santa Claus, etc. are taking away from the significance of their holiday, remind them that their religion is primarily responsible. Easter is a perfect example. Most of the supposed “secular” symbols were actually Pagan symbols that were co-opted by early christians in an attempt to make their religion more palatable to the Pagans and make it easier to convert them.

Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 11:00:00 -0800

This is so rich. A group is trying an argument from absurdity tactic to show how ridiculous the claim that Washington State’s Andersen v. King County decision is that declared a “legitimate state interest” for the state to restrict same-sex couples from legal marriage.

Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance

If passed by Washington voters, the Defense of Marriage Initiative would:

* add the phrase, “who are capable of having children with one another” to the legal definition of marriage; * require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled; * require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as “unrecognized;” * establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and * make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits.

Richard Dawkins Mania In Silicon Valley

Fri, 24 Nov 2006 10:48:00 -0800

I was bummed that he didn’t come to Seattle on his tour, but I’ll enjoy listening to the mp3 of his appearance in Silicon Valley.

Who Has Time For This?: Silicon Valley Loves Richard Dawkins

The Official God FAQ

Wed, 22 Nov 2006 14:43:00 -0800

07:00

There is only one question and the answer is not 42.

The Official God FAQ

Global Warming Report Pay Now Or Pay Lots More Later

Mon, 30 Oct 2006 11:33:00 -0800

Financial and ecological consequences by delaying the inevitable though.

Think Progress » GLOBAL WARMING REPORT: Right-Wing Fiction vs. Economic Reality

Upcoming debate on The Problem of Evil

Sat, 23 Sep 2006 09:53:00 -0700

Debunking Christianity: My Debate With David Wood on the Problem of Evil

October 7th but in Virginia. Transcript and video will be available afterward. I’ll be watching it…

Quot God Doesn'T Do Well In The Free Market Quot-

Mon, 18 Sep 2006 11:20:00 -0700

The struggle to find the downside ended in failure at Pandagon

There are laws that prevent some businesses from being open on Sundays??? I thought it was “christian” pandering by businesses. It is really annoying that so many businesses are closed Sundays and if the government is the reason why, then that is appalling.

I like the quote about “God doesn’t do well in the free market.”

Yet another way evangelical schools are destroying America

Thu, 20 Jul 2006 10:41:00 -0700

" href=“https://tbogg.blogspot.com/2006/07/2-2-jesus-rode-dinosaur-new-from-apple.html">2 + 2 = Jesus rode a dinosaur

This made me wonder if the bible mentions anything about dinosaurs. If it doesn’t, does that mean they never existed (for those inclined to believe that everything about the world can be derived from the bible)?

God Is Angry But Not At Pat Robertson

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 07:40:00 -0700

The Seattle Times: Nation & World: God is warning of big storms, Robertson says

This must be true because Robertson obviously is Higher-powered (as reported by my colleauge Pete):

I don’t know about you, but I almost missed this. Pat Robertson’s amazing age-defying protein shakes have helped him to leg press 2,000 pounds! https://www.cbn.com/communitypublic/shake.asp

If that doesn’t sound impressive to you, note that it tops the all-time Florida State University leg press record by 665 lbs, set by a guy whose eye capillaries burst during the effort. https://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/9454343

Getting God Out Of Government

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 07:26:00 -0700

Several articles on the topic of the government pushing religion.

Drum-beating about the 9th circuit decision about “Under God” in the pledge:

AMERICAN ATHEISTS LEGAL UPDATE

Public prayer fanatics borrow page from enemy’s script

The Bush administration has been dealt a setback in its campaign to allow prayer in our public schools. The full 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has voted 15-9 to back the 2-1 vote by its earlier panel finding the Pledge of Allegiance unconstitutional because of the words ‘‘under God.’’

Mccain Sells Out To The Religious Right

Sat, 08 Jul 2006 15:20:00 -0700

Daily Kos: McCain Embraces Falwell In All His Wingnut Glory

I thought that McCain was one of the good guys but when he can’t even be true to his own assertion that Falwell is one of the “agents of intolerance”, what kind of integrity does he really have? Disappointing. I’m glad that John Stewart pushed him about this on The Daily Show. The “real” news media certainly did not point this out.

New Study Shows American Dislike Of Atheists

Tue, 04 Jul 2006 05:17:00 -0700

The Carpetbagger Report: Blog Archive: The last taboo

I do not equate “not professing a particular affirmative belief” with “professing a non-affirmative belief” in god nor do I care enough to claim myself an “atheist” but I don’t think that the religious segment of this country makes any distinction between the various kinds of non-theists so it does not matter. They don’t care what you believe unless it isn’t what they believe. [I consider myself part of the general “non-theist” category and most aligned with Humanism]

Incompetent Design Theory

Sun, 25 Jun 2006 14:54:00 -0700

Daily Kos: “Incompetent Design” theory

Take that and this Creationists and foes of science:

Evolution of ‘irreducible complexity’ explained

Religion Meet Science Prayer Doesn'T Work

Mon, 03 Apr 2006 14:45:00 -0700

Boing Boing: Prayer won’t heal ya

A new scientific study shows that prayer didn’t seem to help patients who underwent bypass surgery. In fact, some of the people who were prayed for did worse. The results of the study of more than 1,800 patients were published in the American Heart Journal.

So all the sports teams should think twice about relying on prayer to get to the championship. And think twice about god miraculously saving you. Evidence that things may just “happen” without divine intervention.

Jerry Falwell Issues Correction Jews Are All Going To Hell

Sun, 19 Mar 2006 12:35:00 -0800

-hell

Jerry Falwell issues correction, Jews ARE all going to hell

It must be nice to be in a religion where you can be a callous, holier-than-thou prick and still get into heaven. It also must be nice that all you have to do to get into heaven and avoid eternal damnation is to believe in some shit. The world is such an amazing place where you have free will, but if you process information about that world incorrectly and decide to not believe in Jesus as your saviour, you can suffer for all eternity. Nice. And they get out of having to be Jesus-like in this life in order to get into heaven. Do-gooders need not apply to heaven! Sounds more like the lazy, judgemental person’s religion.

theist v. atheist on studying religion

Sat, 11 Mar 2006 08:47:00 -0800

Web exclusive: ‘How should we study religion?’ by Daniel Dennett | Prospect Magazine March 2006 issue 120

Daniel Dennett was just in Seattle, but I missed him. But my colleague saw him and filled me in. His fundamental point is that we need to remove the stigma attached to scientifically studying religion, which I agree with. He also has a different take on the role and origin of religion as a “natural phenomena” rather than what I have typically seen as more of a “tribal tendency” theory in terms of evolutionary advantage of religion. An interesting claim that is often made by religious people is that without religion, there an be no morality. So, Dan suggests that we should empirically study questions like these–put them to the test. I hardly believe that in the overall scheme of life that religion generally makes people more “moral” than nontheists. There are a lot of atrocities done in the name of religion that will deduct from that tally.

Calling Bs On The Quot War On Christmas Quot-

Sun, 04 Dec 2005 14:55:00 -0800

Salon.com News | How the secular humanist grinch didn’t steal Christmas

A great article in Salon with actual _facts_ instead of anecdotes. Remember kids, anecdotes is not the plural form of the word data.

one can in fact offer Christmas greetings without legal counsel. Christmas trees are permitted in public schools. (They’re considered secular symbols.) Nativity scenes are allowed on public property, although if the government erects one, it has to be part of a larger display that also includes other, secular signs of the holiday season, or displays referring to other religions. (The operative Supreme Court precedent is 1984’s Lynch v. Donnelly, where the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that a city-sponsored Christmas display including a cr�che, reindeer, a Christmas tree, candy-striped poles and a banner that read “Seasons Greetings” was permissible. “The display is sponsored by the city to celebrate the Holiday and to depict the origins of that Holiday,” the majority wrote. “These are legitimate secular purposes.”) Students are allowed to distribute religious holiday cards and literature in school. If the administration tries to stop them, the ACLU will step in to defend the students’ free-speech rights, as they did in 2003 when teenagers in Massachusetts were suspended for passing out candy canes with Christian messages.

Cardinal Rebuffs Quot Intelligent Design Quot-

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:10:00 -0800

Evolution in the bible, says Vatican - The Other Side - Breaking News 24/7 - NEWS.com.au

The vatican taking a modern position? Wow. This doesn’t make up for their handling of the sex abuse scandals but it’s a positive sign.

THE Vatican has issued a stout defence of Charles Darwin, voicing strong criticism of Christian fundamentalists who reject his theory of evolution and interpret the biblical account of creation literally. Cardinal Paul Poupard, head of the Pontifical Council for Culture, said the Genesis description of how God created the universe and Darwin’s theory of evolution were “perfectly compatible” if the Bible were read correctly.

Penn Jillette Quot There Is No God Quot-

Wed, 30 Nov 2005 14:06:00 -0800

NPR : There Is No God

Just in time for the holidays, a piece on what people believe that is not necessarily in the mainstream. A good reminder that not everyone believes the same as you do, especially among the “christian” religions.

Penn Jillette wrote an excellent piece for NPR’s “This I Believe” series on why he is “beyond Atheism”. Many religious people don’t understand or simply don’t believe that you can have morals without god but I think that Penn has a very simple model that explains how there are even possible advantages to the atheist moral world view:

More 'Christians' Persecuting Others Who Are Supposedly Persecuting Christians

Fri, 11 Nov 2005 02:01:00 -0800

Pandagon: ‘Tis the season to ‘persecute’ Christians

A couple more years of this hysteria and the use of “Merry Christmas” as shorthand for, “I hate you and everything you stand for because you didn’t pass my Christian sniff test, hellbound motherfucker,”

Now that sounds consistent with the loving Christian attitude fostered by Pat Robertson.

CNN.com - Robertson warns Pennsylvania�voters of God’s wrath - Nov 10, 2005

O'Reilly Unpacks Dead Horse From His Holiday Nick Nacks Begins 2005 Flogging

Fri, 11 Nov 2005 01:08:00 -0800

O’Reilly opens new front in “war” on Christmas … [Media Matters]

O’Reilly is ridiculous and a hypocrite. He is trying to create a controversy where one does not exist and then beat that dead horse senseless. And his issue? “Season’s Greetings” and “Happy Holidays” used by businesses around this time of year “absolutely does [offend Christians]. And I know that for a fact.”

Here’s how he is a hypocrite (one of many ways). It’s okay for him to be offended when the Christian aspect is _not_ specifically mentioned, but non-Christians do not get this same right. But this is okay because O’Reilly says, “I don’t believe most people who aren’t Christian are offended by the words “Merry Christmas.” Nevermind this is a baseless position to take. And the possibility that non-Christians could be just as incensed as he is is not only discounted, but he resorts to ad-hominim attacks against those non-Christians, “I think those people are nuts. I think you’re crazy if you’re offended by the words “Merry Christmas.”

Quot Religious Right Quot Confirms They Are Hypocrites

Wed, 09 Nov 2005 14:58:00 -0800

AMERICAblog: Religious right bigots upset that a US Senator called them on their religious bigotry

Yet another reason to love Vermont Senator Pat Leahy.

Proof Against Intelligent Design The Kansas School Board

Tue, 08 Nov 2005 23:06:00 -0800

In a 6-4 vote, the Kansas school board voted in favor of teaching Intelligent Design in Schools.

Two words: F*cking idiots.

There is some good news in the realm of the New New Creationism though:

Intelligent Design Candidates Voted Out in Penn. Hooray! To show how huge htis was, 8 out of the 9 members who voted in favor of ID as an “alternative” to evolution were up for election; all 8 were voted out.

Federal Judge Rules Pledge Unconstitutional

Sun, 30 Oct 2005 13:12:00 -0800

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4847626&ft=1&f=1001

U.S. District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled that the pledge’s reference to one nation “under God” violates school children’s right to be “free from a coercive requirement to affirm God.”

Just take the freaking words “under God” out of the pledge that weren’t there to begin with and the problem goes away!

Another Reason To Cancel Your Time Magazine Subscription

Sun, 30 Oct 2005 08:51:00 -0800

First Ann Coulter on the cover of Time, now a so-called-news story on religion vs. science (which is a false dichotomy IMHO)

“Welcome to Jesusland” Part Deux…

The United States of Almighty-God

Ugh.

Another State To Avoid Kansas

Sun, 30 Oct 2005 08:50:00 -0800

Close to adopting “intelligent design” in Kansas. They’re joining Pennsylvania. FYI, there was an update on NPR from Oct 21 about the Pennsylvania case. It may be good that this is not a jury trial. The defense is now bringing on their witnesses about the merits of the “theory” of intelligent design. At least the science teachers at the schools in question had refused to read the ridiculous statement about intelligent design being another “theory” that is out there.

The New New Creationism: Intelligent Design

Tue, 11 Oct 2005 16:34:00 -0700

Several notes on this Intelligent Design crap driving us toward another Scopes trial.

Evolution Lawsuit Opens in Pennsylvania

US President Jimmy Carter, and an evangelical Christian:

“As a Christian, a trained engineer and scientist, and a professor at Emory University, I am embarrassed by Superintendent Kathy Cox’s [Georgia Public Schools] attempt to censor and distort the education of Georgia’s students. The existing and long-standing use of the word ’evolution’ in our state’s textbooks has not adversely affected Georgians’ belief in the omnipotence of God as creator of the universe.”

A Message From The Church Of The Flying Spaghetti Monster

Mon, 29 Aug 2005 11:41:00 -0700

OPEN LETTER TO KANSAS SCHOOL BOARD

My new greeting will have to be: “May you be forever touched by His Noodly Appendage”

Since a judge in washington today just ruled that it is okay to post the 10 commandments on government property in some cases without posing a “threat to the religious freedoms of the citizens”, this would be a great time to get some of the Flying Spaghetti Monster commandments on public land. Fair is fair, right?

Geocentrist Challenge

Fri, 19 Aug 2005 14:58:00 -0700

Catholic Apologetics International is challenging people to provide proof that the earth revolves around the sun.

CAI will write a check for $1,000 to the first person who can prove that the earth revolves around the sun. (If you lose, then we ask that you make a donation to the apostolate of CAI). Obviously, we at CAI don’t think anyone CAN prove it, and thus we can offer such a generous reward. In fact, we may up the ante in the near future.

Rick Santorum Blame The Victims Of Clergy Sex Abuse

Tue, 19 Jul 2005 10:58:00 -0700

SANTORUM ALSO BLAMES THE VICTIMS OF CLERGY SEXUAL ABUSE - Santorum Exposed: The Blog

This is an utterly disgusting rationalization.

UN inspector "god told him" where the weapons in iraq were

Tue, 12 Jul 2005 10:45:00 -0700

Eschaton:
Sybil the Soothsayer

Good Grief.

So, where’s your God now? Perhaps where the WMDs are?

I wonder if he still believes that his God is omniscient?

The Rise of the American Taliban

Mon, 04 Jul 2005 17:03:00 -0700

Daily Kos: State of the Nation

I was just talking last week about the rise of the American Taliban and how hypocritical some brands of “christian” are about who gets to have freedom of religion in this country. This article is very apropos.

Funny how the wingers try to claim American liberals are in league with crazy fundamentalist Muslims.

Reality is, we hate everything Islamic fundamentalism stands for. On the other hand, the Dobson’s of the Republican Party – you know, the people running the show – have far more in common with the enemy than they’d ever like to admit.

The curious Will of God

Tue, 03 May 2005 11:56:00 -0700

Pat Robertson’s contradictory theology: God won … [Media Matters for America]

So, God doesn’t control the natural world around us–that just works on its own volition, according to Pat Robertson. But, “in terms of human affairs, I do think he answers prayer”. Specifically, Pat was saying that those evangelicals who are praying for bigoted, religious zealots to be placed in the supreme court could have their prayers answered and a Godly intervention, but in cases, such as the Tsunami, where God could have protected tens of thousands of human lives, God won’t get involved. Apparently human life is not a “human affair”?

Bizarro World Nyc Talking Fish Speaks In Tongues

Tue, 18 Mar 2003 14:01:00 -0800

Um. Yeah.

Contra Costa Times | 03/15/2003 | Skeptics can carp, but a New York fish is the talk of the town