29 posts tagged “atheism”

Good plan.  Go with something that the left criticized with GW in the hopes of winning over more of the right.  Kind of sounds like a true politician, doesn't it?

Taking a page from President Bush, Democrat Barack Obama said Tuesday he wants to expand White House efforts to steer social service dollars to religious groups, risking protests in his own party with his latest aggressive reach for voters who usually vote Republican.

Gag me with a spoon.  I always thought Bush pushing the faith-based program thing was wrong.  Now Obama wants to "expand" them.

Funny how atheists can find their vote for Obama because of his speeches that speak of reaching out to non-believers.  Yet from my perspective, he isn't changing any policies from his predecessor.  He isn't talking about separating church and state by "expanding" these programs.  He is talking about using taxpayer money to fund these programs. 

Also, all I think about when I read this news piece are all of the liberals who were writing that Obama is a different kind of politician pushing his hope line.  This just continues to confirm that he is just a politician like all of them -- looking for votes and walking the line.  There is nothing new here.

Balloon.  Pop.

The sad thing is that this (also see this) comes from the same people that don't believe in anthropogenic contributions to planetary warming (even in the face of the evidence).

See... no matter what, whether it is evidence of bacterial evolution or human contribution to our climate, there are those who will not accept it, will not agree with it, and just throw up the kitchen sink to some how try and defend a belief system that doesn't jive with the facts.  And it is more than just "natural skepticism" -- it is just out right, shake your head denial.

On a side note, as a microbiologist, I can always spot the non-biologist who tries to write about microbiology.  In this case, they were seeking to inquire with Lenske about "E. Coli."  Umm...  they're called species.  Where E. coli or Escherichia coli is a species designation whereby the second term is always lowercase and the binominal term is italicized.

To me "E. Coli" is a loud, blinking neon sign that (note sarcasm) extrudes, "I know what I am talking about and I am smarter than you."

Quick...  Get the ketchup...

Proof that people see what they want to see.

Out of an infinite population of french fries, there lies a sample set of spuds that are welded together in the form of a cross and that is the proof that there is a god.

My conclusion:  There is no hope for Homo sapiens.

Changes in the eye over populations and time... 

These soldiers are (hopefully) fighting in the name of everything that makes this country great...  including the right to believe whatever or in nothing if you wish.

Here is a guy taking it to the establishment.

It eventually came out in Iraq in 2007, when he was in a firefight. Hall was a gunner on a Humvee, which took several bullets in its protective shield. Afterward, his commander asked whether he believed in God, Hall said.

"I said, 'No, but I believe in Plexiglas,"' Hall said. "I've never believed I was going to a happy place. You get one life. When I die, I'm worm food."

The issue came to a head when, according to Hall, a superior officer, Maj. Freddy J. Welborn, threatened to bring charges against him for trying to hold a meeting of atheists in Iraq. Welborn has denied Hall's allegations.

It is a shame there is this religious undertone in the military.  I understand tradition.  I understand the religious motives of people about to go into battle because of the unforeseen outcome.  But this country is founded on the premise of "freedom of religion" when it comes to our government.  And if some military personnel consider it their duty to berate other members of our military because of their atheist beliefs, this will come to a head in the court system.

My guess is that this will go all the way to the Supreme Court and hopefully the outcome will be a positive one for those who wish to fight for this country and not be criticized for their right not to believe in a god.

The more I see Ben Stein in these interviews, the more I understand the term: talking points.

Looks like one of the interviews in the movie Expelled was made with a person who has made anti-semitic comments in the past.  But don't worry -- you should just look past that in the argument they are making against Darwinism.

Creationists know the bible.  They read it, they can recite passages on the spot, and they look to the world to reinforce what is said in this book.  Kind of like people looking at events in the world trying to prove that Nostradamus was a soothsayer.

Here is a creationist discovering (via journal article) a symbiont relationship between a bioluminescent bacterium (Vibrio fishera) and a certain species of squid.  And it somehow reinforces a.) god and b.) intelligent design.

...not only is biophotonic design evidence for a clearly seen creation (Romans 1:20), but the Hawaiian bobtail squid in particular provides the creation scientist with a possible original benign function for disease-causing bacteria. Truly, God's creation declares--and reflects--His glory (Psalm 19:1).

PZ Myers has a classic response about this post.  Here is an excerpt:

Bacteria secrete all kinds of interesting stuff; in this case, Vibrio is pumping out a peptidoglycan, a pretty common class of molecules with diverse functions. It is not a sign of intent that similar molecules can regulate cell growth or cause symptoms of disease; rather, it tells us something about the flexibility of proteins and the variety of effects they can have in different contexts. The lesson of Darwin is that unguided natural processes have the ability to generate complex functionality, so it takes more than just showing complexity and function to demonstrate purpose. Creationists don't understand that at all, so they keep whining "it's complex!" as if they have brought up an irrefutable argument for design, when they've done no such thing.

Zing!

So let's look at Romans 1:20...

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

But you know what -- I always hate looking at something out of context, so let's also add Romans 1:18 and 19...

The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities–his eternal power and divine nature–have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse.

Oh, okay...  I see it.  From these passages, I do see evidence for a "clearly seen creation" umm, like, totally reinforced by "biophotonic design."  Holy squid feces!  It was there right in front of me the entire time...  (Squid eye roll)

Let us recap...

Two organisms working together for their greater good.  Check.  One is bioluminescent.  Check.  Very vague bible references.  Check.  And check.  A seemingly complex biological system that infers that all bacteria possessed a "benign function" probably around the time when all dinosaurs were herbiovores.  Check.  So carry the two.  Don't forget to cross out the units...

Wow!  There it is... proof that God exists and designed the whole thing to boot!  And let us not forget that the bible totally spelled it out for us.  (Because if it didn't, the house of cards that creationists build would fall like a half eaten apple)

Bible lesson of the day:  The next time you eat calamari (or any other seafood for that matter)... a.) hope that it is properly cooked because Vibrio *can* be deadly (toxins are something else Vibrio is known to produce) and b.) know that the wrath of God will strike you down for your wickedness, you silly evolutionist...

Couldn't stop laughing...