Nobody’s There…

.  Crackergate is over and dusted. I did my bit by writing to the Dean of The University of Minnesota in support of PX Myers and followed the story avidly. I have to admit to a bit of queasiness simply because it had a faint scent of unpleasantness about it. Not that it was in the same league of a Nazi leaving a pig’s head on the steps of a Synagogue or a Klan member burning a cross - but there was a gentle perfume on the wind that reminded me of them. In the UK many blogs characterized the situation as “The Affair Of The Magic Biscuit” - a rather more literary reflection! So… …There I am seated on the loo with a copy of “Everything You Know About God Is Wrong” and I happen upon the essay by John G. Bourke entitled “Holy Shit - Excrement and Religion” and discover that there is, in the annals of the catholic church, an old argument going on. What happens to the host AFTER you eat it? Stercanorarians thought that “the host was liable to digestion and all its consequences, like other food.” I presume this heresy was defeated but I am not sure what the current belief of Catholics is. I’d like to ask readers for enlightenment. * Googlewhacks are usually 2 word combinations. This word actually appears in the 1841 edition of the Encyclopedia Britannica and, together with the word biscuit, was a Googlewhack. Now this post is up it no longer is!

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• http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/07/the_great_desecration.php

I’ve always thought that the loudest Christians are usually nattering on about things for their own financial benifit rather than concern with spiritual matters. “Make a Mint Ministries.” Now we have proof of one… or at least one that it bases its website on a financial frame.  Janet Folger of Faith2action on WorldNewsNet blogs on and on about her willingness to go to prison for her beliefs. The article is written with that desperateness for a jolt of righteousness, so much so that it twists an interpretation from the law like a hobo squeezing Sterno through a sock for a quick cheap drink.   Are you ready? Here we go!

The Ku Klux Klan can march. The Nazis can hand out brochures. Skinheads can do whatever it is that Skinheads do. But in the state of Colorado, the only group who is NOT allowed to be heard is … the Christians. They’re the ones who disagree with same-sex marriage, cohabitation, and believe the biblical view that homosexuality is a sin. But if they voice that objection from now on, it had better be inside the four walls of a church. If not, they’ll be staring at the four walls of a prison cell … for up to a year.

… quite incorrect!   Then I notice that instead of offering connections to other blog entries that may be of interest the postcript is :-

“Special offer? Point proven?   

I’ve run businesses and been a consultant to them for many years. Successful enterprises rely on well educated staff. It doesn’t matter if an individual has a degree in science or arts, if they’ve applied themselves and can think they’re going to be an asset.

As soon as you prevent students from being able to distinguish between faith and science, between thinking and hoping, you supply the workplaces of America with substantially below par workers.

The undermining of science caused by the fundamentalist IDers does just this. Soon Louisiana will be sending out of it’s colleges young people who I can’t employ for anything other than manual labour or low skill jobs - such as filing.

I hope that science teachers will use the Louisiana Science Education Act to introduce their students to Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris. Teaching the real controversy - that between science and religion - is a useful way to get students to think about thinking, to develop a critical approach to materials.

In every conversation I’ve had with people who have supported Intelligent design every one of them has ended up admitting that it’s not science and come away from the conversation converted.

I often use the phrase “hoist with their own petard” meaning that the weapon an individual uses ends up damaging them. I think that, if they’re supported, science teachers all over America can use this bill and others that are similar, to introduce a strong defense of science, to turn the sloppily drafted bills against their creators and end up with a better educated population.

For a fuller report of the situation I can recommend New Scientists coverage.

Elizaphanian’s blog has prompted me to respond to the Atheist meme. I didn’t get tagged (boo hoo) and I’m doing it off my own initiative.

Q1. How would you define “atheism”?

Living without reference to a god or to supernatural ideas.

Q2. Was your upbringing religious? If so, what tradition?

Catholic and, during my teens, Baptist.

Q3. How would you describe “Intelligent Design”, using only one word?

Confused!

Q4. What scientific endeavor really excites you?

The Large Hadron Collider. Messing about with the fundamentals has always fascinated me. It’s going to be like taking a watch apart using a sledge hammer. Sparks will fly!

Q5. If you could change one thing about the “atheist community”, what would it be and why?

Get them to contribute to awareness campaigns such as the “Imagine No Religion” billboard

Q6. If your child came up to you and said “I’m joining the clergy”, what would be your first response?

That’s nice dear.

Q7. What’s your favorite theistic argument, and how do you usually refute it?

The cosmological or  first cause argument. And my question is the usual “And what caused God?”

Q8. What’s your most “controversial” (as far as general attitudes amongst other atheists goes) viewpoint?

That you can only be truly moral if you are atheist. Morality is of a low order if it depends on the reward and punishment basis at the foundations of most religions.

Q9. Of the “Four Horsemen” (Dawkins, Dennett, Hitchens and Harris) who is your favourite, and why?

I like the anger of Dawkins. Most people think of anger as a negative emotion. I disagree. Anger gets things done. It rescues the abused, homeless, hungry. Frees the imprisoned and  enslaved. Cold anger changes the world.

Q10. If you could convince just one theistic person to abandon their beliefs, who would it be?

Barak Obama. He’d loose the election but it would be a magnificent fight!