• Betty says: Has it occurred to anyone else that if Christianity be the Opium of the Masses, then Islam is surely their Meth.
• The Paradoxical Relationship of Religion and Science

  Overview The relationship between faith and science in the United States seems, at least on the surface, to be paradoxical. Surveys repeatedly show that most Americans respect science and the benefits it brings to society, such as new technologies and medical treatments. Nevertheless, strong religious convictions can affect some Americans' willingness to accept certain scientific theories and discoveries, such as evolution, and new, life-changing technologies, such as genetic engineering.

• ROBERT AND THE USE-MENTION DISTINCTION

  I enjoyed Daniel Dennett's discussion of the the use-mention error (UME). It reminded me of amsuing example I ran across some time ago. I was able to locate it again and wanted to share it with you.

• Pedantsareus writes: What do the following 4 countries have in common? China, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the USA You might say that they all, in various ways, have strictly enforced belief systems embedded in their political systems - Communism, Islam and Fundamental Christianity.

  Execution for man condemned by 'bible jury'

  Oliver, execution number 999,301 in the Texas department of criminal justice records, said he had prayed for the Collins family but that his execution would not bring closure. He told his parents he loved them.

• Yes, But. The Annotated Atlantic

The scoop for those of you who are still receiving links to that Atlantic article on vaccine from friends, relatives and other crackpots.

The Evolution of Confusion - Dan Dennett (tip to Patrick)

• The Weekly Ezine for Democrats

  A definite must read.



• Atheists Are Good Humans Too

  tip to Pedantsareus

Deep Thinkers

tip to Pedantsareus



• Skeptics Circle


• Celebrating Sarah


• God Damn Young People Want Everything Now, Now, Now


• What is Capitalism

Johann Sebastian Bach Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major. Lots o' energy, and you never quite know what you're gonna get at the end of the harpsichord cadenza in the middle, cause it's up to the person with the twinkle fingers.

Sergei Prokofiev Symphony No. 1 in D Major, "Classical". Short movements to take you from one thing to the next in the morning. During the more graceful 2nd movement, you can relax, sip, and read for a short spell.

Maurice Ravel La Valse. A bit of a jab at the Viennesse dance, but also way cool, and the scales will remind you to keep moving about your day.

• The Piano Stairway: Inspiring People to Change Their Behavior through FUN (tip to Joel)


• When Loud Wins: Will Your Tax Dollars Pay For Prayer?

  Today the LA Times described a bizarre and troublesome healthcare reform bill provision that would require Medicare to pay for Christian Science Prayer as a medical treatment:

  
  

  
  …a little-noticed provision in the healthcare overhaul bill would require insurers to consider covering Christian Science prayer treatments as medical expenses.

  The provision was inserted by Sen. Orrin G. Hatch (R-Utah) with the support of Democratic Sens. John F. Kerry and the late Edward M. Kennedy, both of Massachusetts, home to the headquarters of the Church of Christ, Scientist.

  
  The measure would put Christian Science prayer treatments — which substitute for or supplement medical treatments — on the same footing as clinical medicine. While not mentioning the church by name, it would prohibit discrimination against “religious and spiritual healthcare.”

• R. Crumb Illustrates the Bible (tip to Patrick)

  Underground comic legend R. Crumb has put the entire text of the best known book of the Bible into a graphic work. In The Book of Genesis Illustrated, he depicts it all, from the creation of the world to the death of Joseph.

  Crumb spoke with host Neal Conan about the challenges of adapting the 50 chapters of Genesis in panels and drawings. Crumb found his way into all of the sex and violence of the story, and The Book of Genesis Illustrated features a warning on the cover, recommending adult supervision for minors.



• Climate change belief given same legal status as religion

  An executive has won the right to sue his employer on the basis that he was unfairly dismissed for his green views after a judge ruled that environmentalism had the same weight in law as religious and philosophical beliefs.



• Movie Narrative Chart
  
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  tip to Patrick


• Clerk arrested after allegedly placing camera in bathroom of Calif. Christian bookstore

  tip to Brad



• Deep Rift in Chicago

  What the Fuck? Really, they call themselves humanists. They call themselves ethical. I would like to hear an explanation, I can't even imagine one, but I'd like to hear it. Surprise me Society of Chicago, demonstrate that you deserve your name.

  The Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago has done an incredibly stupid thing. They invited Sunsara Taylor to give a talk on "Morality Without God"…and then disinvited her. The reasons weren't clear, other than that some people in the society disliked her politics — she's a communist — and the group caved and cancelled her speaking engagement a short two weeks before it was to happen.

  Basically, the ethical society was unethical. You just don't do that. But then they made it worse.

tip to Joel

• Church and State (tip to Pedantsareus)


• Three of my favorite fictional characters (tip to Micahel).


• Teacher suspended over 'gay animal' article

A Southwestern High School English teacher has been suspended after reports he had students in his classes to read an article about homsexuality in the animal kingdom. . .

Delong is said to have allowed students to read the article “The Gay Animal Kingdom” from the June 7, 2006, edition of Seed magazine. Seed magazine is a science and culture publication.

The article by Jonah Lehrer talks about the research of Joan Roughgarden, a biology professor at Stanford University who said she has documented homosexual societies among the more than 450 animal species.



• Fellatio by Fruit Bats Prolongs Copulation Time

Perhaps if Mr. Delong (see previous link) gets his job back he can continue his students education by having them read this.

• How Creationist 'Origin' Distorts Darwin

In this post, Eugenie C. Scott, executive director of the National Center for Science Education, critiques creationist Ray Comfort's new, antievolution version of Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species. The NCSE is the leading group promoting and defending the teaching of evolution in public schools. This is part of a debate in which I've asked Comfort and Scott to give me their perspective.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

tip to Chris

tip to Josh

Fox News defends itself against an attack by the Obama administration by explaining that most of their shows aren't real news.

• Suspended: No Astrology Allowed (Expelled)
• The Weekly Democratic Ezine A weekly must read!
• Cheney told FBI he had no idea who leaked Plame ID
• The Funny Thing is ...
• The Fact of Evolution Dennett defends Dawkins (tip to Patrick)

Inaugural picks:

Henry Cowell The Banshee: Very cool use of the innards of the piano to invoke spookiness; it's not the piano as most of you are used to hearing. BrianD, your daughter might find this an intriguing departure from the classics.

Bela Bartok The Miraculous Mandarin: synopsis here If you check out the recording that includes Music for Strings, Percussion, and Celeste, you'll hear yet another ghost story type movement.

Hector Berlioz Symphonie fantastique: All recordings are worthwhile, but my personal opinion is that the Bernstein recording is not as satisfying. Berlioz composed this piece in part because of his ill-fated love of Harriet Smithson and inspiration from the Thomas DeQuincey story Confessions of an Opium Eater. Halloween just doesn't get much better than this! There's even a witch's sabbath and march to the gallows, complemented by the Dies Irae (Catholic liturgical chant for the dead). More information on the composition can be found in Norman Bailey's Hector Berlioz Website.

Enjoy!

mwahahahahahaha!