The Poetry of Reality (An Anthem for Science)

This is my very favorite of the Symphony of Science videos. I find the themes and music as uplifting as many believers find their spiritual hymns. There are several others you can check out at http://symphonyofscience.com/ if you like this one.

Palin Wants Bible as Basis for U.S. Law

Please, someone stop the madness that is this nitwit, Christian fundamentalist, posing as an educated and viable candidate for any leadership post outside of PTA President!!

An Atheist public policy group today sharply criticized remarks by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who appeared on the Bill O'Reilly Factor Thursday night and called for U.S. law to be based on the Judeo-Christian Bible.

Palin, who was the Republican candidate for Vice President in 2008, is reportedly considering a run for the White House in 2012 or beyond.

During her interview, Palin gushed: "I think we should keep this clean, keep it simple, go back to what our founders and our founding documents meant," adding, "They´re quite clear that we would create law based on the God of the Bible and the Ten Commandments."

Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists said that Palin's remarks displayed a breathtaking lack of knowledge about the evolution of law and American history. "If we didn't know better, we might conclude that Sarah Palin's 'education' was somehow carried out in Texas using textbooks that the Texas Board of Education is now trying to fabricate."

"Our Constitution and Bill of Rights are not based on the Bible; and the Founders, some of whom were religious, nevertheless advocated separation between government and religion. In fact, Thomas Jefferson wrote in an official letter as President of the need for a 'wall of separation' between church and state. Jefferson also wrote explicitly about the falsehood that our laws are based on the Ten Commandments."

Buckner noted that key documents like the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence do not refer to the Judeo-Christian Bible or to a particular religious view. As he said, "The Constitution, our basic charter, is historically noteworthy because, for the first time in human history a significant governing charter was issued that did not invoke any deities or supernatural authority at all. It is declared in the name of 'We the people,' not in the name of Jesus or Allah or Buddha. Ms. Palin, the United States has never been a theocracy--and now would be a terrible time to change that."

Dave Silverman, Vice President and Communications Director for American Atheists, said that Palin's poorly-informed comments were a signal that her future campaigns "may end up playing the 'religion card' in order to win votes."

"Palin and her allies on the religious right will continue to capitalize on wedge-issues like the role of religion in American society, even if means grievously distorting our nation's history," said Silverman.

Quote of the Day:

"In the formation of the American government...it will never be pretended that any persons employed in that service had interviews with the gods, or were in any degree under the influence of the heavens."

--John Adams

Dawkins Responds to Tired Argument Against Secular Morality

I'm including the following video from The Thinking Atheist also since it nicely piggybacks on Dawkins.



Quotes of the Day:

"If your Bible is an argument for the degradation of woman, and the abuse by whipping little children, I advise you to put it away and use your common sense instead."

--Lucy Colman

You Can't Trust Science

Just a very cool video from The Thinking Atheist comparing the accomplishments of science vs religion. This seems to be an appropriate follow-up to yesterday's Creationist propoganda video.



Quote of the Day:

"It often happens that scientists say, 'You know that's a really good argument; my position is mistaken,' and then they actually change their minds and you never hear that old view from them again....I cannot recall the last time something like that happened in politics or religion."

--Carl Sagan

Creationist Propoganda for Children Caught on Camera

This video shows just how far creationists will go to indoctrinate their children into a culture of ignorance and innoculate their children against the realities and promise of science.



My 9-year-old happened to be watching this with me and even he couldn't help offering condemnations of the ignorance of the adults and refutations to the poor kids demonstrating the effectiveness of their brainwashing session. In the end, he said he just felt sorry for them. I think I would too, except for the fact that these same children will one day vote.

Below, check out one company attempting to level the playing field a bit.



Quote of the Day:

"We are here because one odd group of fishes had a peculiar fin anatomy that could transform into legs for terrestrial creatures; because the earth never froze entirely during an ice age; because a small and tenuous species, arising in Africa a quarter of a million years ago, has managed, so far, to survive by hook and by crook. We may yearn for a higher answer--but none exists."

--Stephen Jay Gould

The Internet: Where Religions Come to Die

Here is an interesting video to which even Mr. Dawkins gives his personal seal of approval.

When Religious Sensitivity Trumps Freedom of Expression

After garnering a large number of hits on YouTube, this video was apparently removed due to 'inappropriate content.' I have chosen to post it here and allow you to decide for yourself. Click on the link below to view.

http://www.funnyordie.com/videos/ca861703b8/religion-from-danny?rel=player

Similarly, Comedy Central recently censored the latest episode of South Park, which depicted the prophet Mohammed in a bear suit, due to not-so-veiled threats to the lives of the cartoon's creators from a U.S. based radical Islamic group called Revolution Muslim. What is going on here? Jon Stewart and The Daily Show address the issue in a more sober than usual, yet typically irreverant fashion.

http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-april-22-2010/south-park-death-threats

Quotes of the Day:

"You know, that's why our enemy is so frightening--they have no humor. This is a group of people who wandered the desert for thousands and thousands of years and never ran into a knock-knock joke."

--Lewis Black


"There is no room for play in Islam....It is deadly serious about everything."

--Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini