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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
…and this is a pharyngula stage embryo.
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« A gift from Oregon | Main | Dr Chilingar, AKA Dr Chill »
Category: Religion
Posted on: July 25, 2008 1:14 AM, by PZ Myers
How sad. I no longer have the lead headline at Spirit Daily: I've been bumped by WORRIES ON POTTER BEAR OUT IN AN EXPLOSION OF TEEN WITCHCRAFT. How fickle these Catholics are, and how easily they are frightened by imaginary concerns.
(By the way, Spirit Daily is one of the best places to go if you want to see spiritual wackaloonery — they glean the web for the craziest stuff.)
Comments
Those poor scaredy-catlicks!
When I read that link, I first had a mental image of a bear at a pottery wheel. Ew, clay under those long claws? (Yes, it's time for my nap. Why do you ask?)
Posted by: 99&44/100%Puerile | July 25, 2008 1:22 AM
Wow, that site is like a horseshit catalogue.
Posted by: The Adamant Atheist | July 25, 2008 1:22 AM
My first time to be first!
Posted by: erik542 | July 25, 2008 1:22 AM
Wow, that was really terrible. Getting bumped off by something so meek must be insulting.
Posted by: Kel | July 25, 2008 1:22 AM
Sigh.. I remember once a local preacher in PA had people burning Harry Potter books outside Borders. Hey, maybe I should start carrying a wand to scare away Christian wack-jobs... Magic or not, at least it'll keep the Jehovah's witnesses off my lawn.
Posted by: Stefan | July 25, 2008 1:24 AM
hmm... your one smart one there PZ. PZ= Phull of Zhit
Crazy Catholics? Maybe.. I think one day when your soul is seperating from your body and you see all the filthy things you have said.. you will come to realize that the host that you so eagerly thrust the rusty nail threw will be there smiling back at you as you take your one way trip to hell. Now, I am not condeming you and I hope to God that you do not go there, but I think you are preparing such a trip yourself, bye your pride and self love. Your a sad little angry man, who has been drenched in self pity and victimhood for so many years, not even your little pitiful acolytes can dig you out of the hole that you have dug for yourself.
Yes, PZ.. You need more than any help I or the world can offer you. You need an exorcism.
Vade Retro Satana, Ipse Venena Bibas!
>
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 1:26 AM
In all fairness, the witchcraft article does have a catchy title: Heresy in the Hood II: Witchcraft among Children and Teens in America
I imagine only Bill Donohue is the only person capable of staying angry about the cracker deal for more than a few hours, anyway.
Posted by: pcarini | July 25, 2008 1:27 AM
Saint Michael,
There's no such thing as God, just like there's no such thing as the Tooth Fairy.
How sad it is that you base your life on the contents of an ancient myth.
Begone troll.
Posted by: The Adamant Atheist | July 25, 2008 1:27 AM
PZ, you shouldn't goad me to read such concentrated stupidity. I still need a working brain for my career in science.
Posted by: gdlchmst | July 25, 2008 1:28 AM
To: The Adamant Atheist
You too will be singing a whole new tune right before you die, in fact I can guarantee you that before you die you will think of God, you will call his name, and you will wish secretly that you had been a believer. In your fear, as your lungs rasp for that last dying breath and you look out into an unfocused world.. You will call out G-O-D.
So do whatever you want. Put your dunce hat back on and dance your little jig here in front of your audience.. The Storm is coming for ya.
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 1:31 AM
Saint Michael the Archangel (really, with that grammar and spelling?) @ #6:
PZ: Maybe some of you ilk could perform one for you at the next Pharyngufest? Granted, it wouldn't be the official Roman Catholic version, but it would involve beer and be a lot more fun... just a thought.
Posted by: pcarini | July 25, 2008 1:34 AM
How do you know the Muslims aren't right? Or the Hindus?
You have no evidence for your claims, just outlandish assertions.
Posted by: The Adamant Atheist | July 25, 2008 1:36 AM
To pcarin:
I think you will be pleasently surprised.. the backlash of this hasn't even started and it will go on for years, most likely until the day that PZ finally kicks the bucket and stops wasting good clean air on his pompous and pride filled theories.
Yes. The party is just getting started. I think most ppl will not rest until PZ gets fired and loses all academic qualifications that he has left.. it really doesn't matter, as of right now he is just a washed up, boring, and diseased professor that wouldn't know the true meaning of evolution if it smacked him in the face.
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 1:37 AM
I really couldn't read much more than the opening paragraphs....
Are they scared of the competition, or that the brainwashing of their youth was being undone.
The link between Harry Potter (The literary and Film phenomenia) and Wicca (The religion) is tenuous at best.
They're terrified of (and will turn on) anything that threatens the control they wish to exercise over their, (and anyone elses) children.
Posted by: alloy | July 25, 2008 1:38 AM
To #11:
Yes I saw the typos it's late here and I am tired. Really I don't give a jack since I am posting on a POS blog like this. Seriously does it really matter? =D NOPE.
Your all unintelligible beings and most likely evolved from a rock.. so the point is moot.
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 1:41 AM
Dear Saint Michael the Archangel,
1) Learn to spell.
2) Take a grammar class.
3) I.E. Learn proper comma, hyphen and pronoun usage.
It is painful to read your comments, not because of how hateful they are but because you write like a child.
Posted by: Stefan | July 25, 2008 1:41 AM
@ #13:
You asshats are tireless, I'll give you that.
(also, #11 should say "Maybe some of your ilk")
Posted by: pcarini | July 25, 2008 1:41 AM
To Stefan:
Seriously? Your actually trying to insult me on my grammer? LOL! You are truly a waste of time, go crawl back into that little hole from whence you came.
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 1:43 AM
Saint Michael the Archangel @ 15
me @ #13
Oops :)
St. Michael .. etc. etc.:
Nope it doesn't matter, if you're cool with looking like a semi-literate moron.
Posted by: pcarini | July 25, 2008 1:45 AM
What a ridiculously shrill article. Essentially, she's afraid her made-up religion is being threatened by someone else's made-up religion.
Posted by: Chayanov | July 25, 2008 1:46 AM
Saint Michael,
:sigh: Since I've come to this site, I've been desperate to have a legitimate argument with people of faith. I doubt I'll get one from you, an obvious troll and a bad one at that, but I'll try anyway.
Why do you think your ideas are correct? What makes you think Christianity is any truer than any of the countless other mythical traditions that have emerged over the years?
Posted by: The Adamant Atheist | July 25, 2008 1:47 AM
St Michael, can you offer any proof of God? The bible cannot prove God as it assumes he exists (in the beggining). Surely you have some reason for believing that isn't based on the bible or personal feeling?
Posted by: Brian English | July 25, 2008 1:49 AM
Saint Michael the Archangel,
Your poor grammar is the sign of a weak and uneducated mind, but I guess you're too tired (poor bigoted baby) to understand that.
Posted by: woodstein312 | July 25, 2008 1:50 AM
Arrr, you too will be sin'in' a whole new tune right before you die, in fact I can guarantee you that before you die you will think o' God, you will call his name, and you will wish secretly that you had been a belie'er. In your fear, as your lungs rasp for that last dyin' breath and you look out int' an unfocused world.. You will call out G-o-d.
So do whate'er you want. Put your dunce hat back on and dance your little jig har in front o' your audience.. The Storm is comin' for ya. Aye, me parrot concurs.
Posted by: Satan Micheal the Arcangle | July 25, 2008 1:50 AM
Don't worry St. Michael, if PZ dies without begging Crackers the Deity for forgiveness, you Christians can always make up a story about his deathbed conversion. It certainly won't be the first time you've done that.
Posted by: Gary F | July 25, 2008 1:51 AM
@St Michael -
You really are an insufferable bore, did you know that? Nobody here is afraid of your dreary, predictable, my-skydaddy's-gonna-belt-you-up threats. Nobody. You're repetitious and dull. Please go mutter your malevolence to some invisible friends on streetcorners, will ya?
Posted by: 99&44/100%Puerile | July 25, 2008 1:51 AM
in fact I can guarantee you that before you die you will think o' God, you will call his name, and you will wish secretly that you had been a belie'er.
How can you guarantee this? You can't even show that god exists.
Posted by: Brian English | July 25, 2008 1:52 AM
Adamant Atheist:
Tell ya what, if you really want to have an intelligible discussion on this, I am open to it. Please visit: http://www.new.facebook.com/board.php?uid=5584629838 and start up a discussion post. I will reply to you and we'll go from there. Honestly, I don't think that your interested in anything that I truly believe in, or you wouldn't be on this sadistically wackjob of a blog.
Ciao,
St. Michael
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 1:53 AM
@Brian English #22
You are asking for too much. The great St. Michael cannot even be bothered with the correct use of the english language.
Posted by: gdlchmst | July 25, 2008 1:54 AM
#28--
You're right, I'm actually not terribly interested in what you believe in, nor do I expect you to care much for what I believe in. The issue is, what does the evidence show? I'm interested in a truly dispassionate examination of what is real in the universe. Personal beliefs are of little importance. Sorry.
Posted by: The Adamant Atheist | July 25, 2008 1:57 AM
That english you trying to speak?
Posted by: gdlchmst | July 25, 2008 1:59 AM
Aw, damn! Did I get here too late for an apparition of the divine archangel Michael? Rats! I was going to teach him the difference between possessive "your" and contractive "you're" (because it totally screws up your credibility as an ethereal superbeing if you can't handle basic English).
Posted by: Zeno | July 25, 2008 2:00 AM
Adamant:
Exactly, come into the site and we'll take it from there. I do not have the time or the patience to post via an unreliable message board such as this.
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 2:00 AM
Posted by: Saint Michael the Antichrist | July 25, 2008 1:53 AM
Really, why do you have so much trouble with your (belonging to you) and you're (the contraction of "you are")?? You've messed it up twice that I noticed, and I wasn't even really looking.
But let's not let that matter. You really are a hate filled individual, aren't you? Telling us all that we are going to go to hell, a completely unsubstantiated viewpoint, unless you (a) can prove God / hell actually exists, and (b) know what decision God will choose to make.
Seriously, are you telling me that you, a Christian, knows the mind of God? Especially when the bible says that the mind of God is ineffable?
Perhaps you'd like to think your (notice the spelling) viewpoint through more fully before you post again. And perhaps some anger management classes might help (might help a few of the atheists here too, though).
Posted by: Louis Irving | July 25, 2008 2:02 AM
#33--
I don't share your assessment of this blog. If you wish to have an exchange, we do it here.
At any rate, I'm off for the night. Someone else please take up the skeptical torch.
Posted by: The Adamant Atheist | July 25, 2008 2:04 AM
TO Louis Irving:
You obviously didn't read my post. I did not condemn anyone to hell. First learn how to read and then you can correct others on their gramatical mistakes.
Nor did I judge anyone, in fact I said "I hope you do not go to hell" and that is true, I wouldn't wish that on PZ or anyone else, I know what kind of place that is, I have had my own experiences.
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 2:04 AM
Well, after reading that article, I expect there will be an uptick in child abuse incidents among the families of those who read that tripe.
Posted by: Capital Dan | July 25, 2008 2:06 AM
Back to the article, the author blames Scooby Doo, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Pokemon (wtf?) with leading the children to witchcraft. Seriously, does the author have any idea how absurd it would be to get one's beliefs from a children's story or a television show? I guess that's likely how she came across her beliefs, so she may have a point there.
Posted by: pcarini | July 25, 2008 2:07 AM
To The Adamant Atheist:
Ya that is b/c you have a whole legion of followers here to back you up, insult, and heckle anyone that actually poses a threat to you. That is fine, if you are not willing to meet at a nuetral place where each of us could have some room to move, then any discussion we could have had, is now over.
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 2:07 AM
The lack of knowledge here burns. First of all what are fairy tales? King Arthur? Alice in Wonderland? The Victorians loved all things magical and mystical and there was a huge resurgence in interest for those things at the turn of the 20th century. So no this is not the first time.
Humans enjoy fantasy stories, we like hearing/reading of fantastic things that couldn't exist but kind of hope they did. I guess some people who can't separate fantasy from reality when it come to religion also can't understand how to do so with fiction? However most people regardless of if they are religious or not seem to be able to grasp the concept that fiction isn't real.
Posted by: Noadi | July 25, 2008 2:08 AM
Who is like unto God @13,
he is just a ... diseased professor
Some free legal advice for you, popelicker. Before you write this sort of thing publicly in future, you might wish to bone up on what is deemed per se defamatory. Unlikely as it might seem, you might have assets one day, and if you go on doing this sort of thing you'll risk losing them.
Now get back in your mother's basement, kneel before one of her idols and pray for us to burn in hell like a good little papist.
Posted by: Mrs Tilton | July 25, 2008 2:08 AM
gdlchmst @ #29:
Don't be too hard on him. Being an archangel, he's probably translating from Aramaic or Enochian or some shit.
Posted by: pcarini | July 25, 2008 2:12 AM
Hunestly, ah dun't theenk thet yuore interested in unytheeng thet ah trooly beleeefe-a in, ore yuoo vuooldn't be-a oon thees sedeesticelly veckjub ooff a blug, acco'din' t' th' code o' th' heells! Bawk Bawk Bawk! Fry mah hide!
Posted by: Satan Micheal the Arcangle | July 25, 2008 2:14 AM
To Mrs Tilton:
HAHAHAHAHA!!!! Are you kidding me?
//Before you write this sort of thing publicly in future, you might wish to bone up on what is deemed per se defamatory.//
Oh I believe and fully support all of what I said. I will not rest until he is fired. I will not rest until he has lost everything that he holds dear, if that is his wicked heart actually knows and understands love. I will not rest until this piece of filth suffers for every insult, every action, and every thing that he did to insult Christ, his church, and all of the Christians in the world.
No I will not rest.. and neither will the other 1.1 billion Catholics when they learn what this little worm has done.
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 2:14 AM
Must be rough being Catholic. They seem to see enemies everywhere, and constantly either chase or run from shadows.
Posted by: Ghost of Minnesota | July 25, 2008 2:15 AM
LOL, I do check in to see what they are promoting there on a regular basis. Not that they in any way define what is hugely topical from an RC standpoint, but to see what they are trying to drive. They are sort of the "Drudge Report" of Catholicism and the site even borrows Drudge's format and web skin which is to say the intentionally copy his layout. And they do tend to go for the craziest stuff,
That you got "bumped" over witchcraft concerns is dishonest. The deal about kids enamored by pop culture fiction embracing Wicca is sort of old news, I've read about the same from prominent Wiccans (and why this should be embraced and fostered) in books published near a decade ago.
The PZ Myers side show is off to the right and in the same spot it has held. You weren't bumped by magic (or magik for those who prefer), This carnival sideshow is off to the right in the same place as where it began and where it will ultimately fall from as all sensationalism does. You were never their headline.
Sorry Dude. You have this weird ego thing going on. But why post that you have been bumped from the headlines from a site where you have recently been a sidebar and never more than that? Spirit Daily is definitely gauged toward the right wing of Catholicism with a traditional leaning (i.e. folk still grappling with Vatican II although it does not speak to their readership in whole).
You may achieve headline status there and that may or may not work out well for you. That is to be seen. I love fun and I love anticipation and your carnival offers it all. Heralding that sites that never headlined you no longer headline you is .... well..... odd.
Maybe somebody told you that you were the lead there but no more. You weren't. or maybe you misunderstood what they said. How would I know. Your mistake or theirs, either way. But you're posting about being bounced from the top of what you never were, poking at them in the process. You're off to the right where you have been at least as long as this recent sideshow allowed. This is getting to the point that you are drawing attention to your losing top billing on sites that you never had in the first place and you would not have wanted anyway. Somewhere in that chaim you ran away with yourself. Send a note when you get back.
Posted by: Pat | July 25, 2008 2:16 AM
When I was growing up in the 1980s, I had many friends whose parents forbid them from playing Dungeons & Dragons and any computer role-playing games of a similar nature. Their parents said it was the equivalent of witchcraft and devil worship. There was also a Dungeons & Dragons cartoon on TV in 1983 that some self-righteous do-gooders tried to get pulled off the air.
Posted by: Alan Chapman | July 25, 2008 2:16 AM
I can't believe people still use the word "heresy." The only time I've ever heard it used is in fantasy/sci-fi.
Posted by: Che | July 25, 2008 2:16 AM
Yessooh eh ser th' typus it's lete-a hyer un' eh's tured, cooss it ell t' terneshun. Reelly eh duesn't geefe-a a jeck oon eccuoont oo' eh's pusteen' oon a POS blug leeke-a thees. Um gesh dee bork, bork! Sereeuoosly dues it poo'ffool metter? =D NOPE. Yer ell uneentellygible-a beeen's un' must leekely ifulfed foom a ruck. Shet meh muoot!. su th' pueent is muut. Um de hur de hur de hur.
Posted by: Satan Micheal the Arcangle | July 25, 2008 2:17 AM
Wow...Catholics are insane, they obsess over little things, and now we have a troll here? I am ashamed I was once one of you people.
Posted by: Chris | July 25, 2008 2:18 AM
I like how dated the references are -- it might as well have mentioned I Dream of Genie, Francis the Talking Mule, and My Mother the Car. What next, that demon music, jazz?
Posted by: Tulse | July 25, 2008 2:18 AM
And did you know Buffy, Charmed and Sabrina the Teenage Witch are part of a recent flurry of television shows depicting witchcraft.
Recent?!
Posted by: hanna jörgel | July 25, 2008 2:19 AM
Oh yeh, it's a religion of love and forgiveness alright. Do Christians get a different dictionary than the rest of us? They really don't seem to understand either term.
Posted by: Venger | July 25, 2008 2:21 AM
Haha, Tulse (#51) that's spot on! The eternal problem with any sort of "this is what the kids are into" article is that it's bound to be several years behind the curve. The article even mentions some horridly stupid witchcraft-themed movie that I say when I was a teen.
Posted by: pcarini | July 25, 2008 2:21 AM
It still beats trying to get children to learn about religion from their science teacher.
Posted by: Chayanov | July 25, 2008 2:23 AM
I, Jesus, tell you to back off, because I'm not insulted.
How many more people have to die and/or have their lives ruined because hate-filled fanatics like you think you know how I feel?
Posted by: Jesus, called Christ | July 25, 2008 2:24 AM
At least they've finally made it to the 20th century. Most of the time their arguments are 19th century or earlier.
Posted by: Chayanov | July 25, 2008 2:25 AM
To Venger:
Oh ya.. ya'll got the right book.. lets see here pg 666 reads "If you really want to piss off Catholics, take their most holy blody and blood of Christ in the holy Eucharist and stab it with a rusty nail, then post it on the internet".
Then on to pg. 666
A. When you have acquired the right response from the Catholics, turn their righteous anger back on them and tell them their book is supposed to teach love and not hate or anger.
----------------
Your a real bright one, aren't ya?
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 2:26 AM
Gotta love this headline:
"Prayer defeats Ohio abortion center"
Posted by: Neural T | July 25, 2008 2:26 AM
What I can never fathom is how these people always draw distinctions between things like Harry Potter and the Lord of the Rings. While HP stuff is CORRUPTING EVIL, LotR is a great story about good vs. evil that every good Christian should read.
Similar with the Chronicles of Narnia. What the heck is the difference???
Posted by: dkw | July 25, 2008 2:27 AM
... mostly as an excuse to ditch school. But every "in-depth" report I've seen about The Drug Culture or The Gang Culture among the kids is exactly the same; staggeringly stupid, alarmist bullshit. With all of these horrible dangers it's amazing that most kids manage to grow up - into normal adults, even.
Posted by: pcarini | July 25, 2008 2:27 AM
Venger,
The problem is that they don't have any dictionaries, or textbooks, or any books, except for that paperweight they call the bible.
Posted by: gdlchmst | July 25, 2008 2:29 AM
St. Michael wrote:
My response:
And how do you plan to exact this suffering, may I ask?
St. Michael also wrote:
My response:
Do tell.
Posted by: castletonsnob | July 25, 2008 2:30 AM
Or maybe you do, in which case, hats off to you.
But if you don't, well... Trust me. Everyone else here does.
Posted by: Ghost of Minnesota | July 25, 2008 2:30 AM
I don't know how people can remain Catholics. This whole cracker thing is the most experience I've had with them and I'm already completely bored with them. We got a couple of interesting people who came here who actually wanted to debate and were open to it, but then we got a lot more gibbering idiots. I don't know about anyone else, but I think from now on, I'm just going to completely ignore the more blatant or abrasive Catholic trolls. If they were really interested in the truth or in context, they would do research and look at all sides of the issue with an open mind.
But a lot of the idiots we have coming here are not willing to do that. They want to get all righteously indignant without really thinking things through because it's easier. So why should I waste time on them?
I'm sure a lot of you are way more patient than me and if you think it'll help, keep dealing with the dipshits, but I just don't have the energy anymore. We can't keep spoonfeeding them the facts every single time. They've got to learn to think for themselves.
Posted by: OctoberMermaid | July 25, 2008 2:31 AM
So you do indeed assert that the bible is supposed to teach hate and anger, and not love?
Excellent. I quite agree.
Posted by: Satan | July 25, 2008 2:35 AM
To castlesnob,
//And how do you plan to exact this suffering, may I ask? //
I will pray for him. Prayer will be the key to his locked heart. Prayer will liberate him from the chains that are binding him. Prayer will also help settle the score that he owes Christians and if he repents of his evil deeds publicly, I will rescind my call for his firing, but if he doesn't (which is likely), I will still pray for him and pray for his conversion. But it is evident that in today's world, our universities do not need crack pots like this loon teaching our students. If he cannot behave like an academic doctor, professor, and adult, then he should not be allowed to teach.
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 2:36 AM
Hmm, praying for PZ? So in other words, you're not going to do jack shit except for talking to yourself. Yeah, that'll work.
Posted by: Richard Wolford | July 25, 2008 2:40 AM
To Richard Wolford:
Besides experiencing hell first hand, I have also seen and experienced the power of prayer directly. So go ahead and laugh, but I know it is real and I know that it does work.
Posted by: Saint Michael the Archangel | July 25, 2008 2:41 AM
Sure you have, in your own little mind. Prayer does not work, at all, and there is no hell. Sorry, none at all. Move along.
Posted by: Richard Wolford | July 25, 2008 2:43 AM
Religion is interesting. Religious people are not. I teach a World Religions class, and I have a lot more fun when the students are more interested in exploring the topics than in confirming their beliefs.
Posted by: Chayanov | July 25, 2008 2:43 AM
Emo moment...
Posted by: gdlchmst | July 25, 2008 2:44 AM
Posted by: Kel | July 25, 2008 2:44 AM
# 36; St Michael the Blasphemist said
"You obviously didn't read my post. I did not condemn anyone to hell."
You also said, at post #6.
"the rusty nail threw will be there smiling back at you as you take your one way trip to hell. Now, I am not condeming you and I hope to God that you do not go there, but I think you are preparing such a trip yourself, bye your pride and self love."
You specifically said in your post, number 6, that PZ was going to hell. You specifically stated that you KNOW he will be going to hell. You then contradict yourself by saying that you are not condemning (note the spelling) him, when, in fact, you just did. You judged him, and let's remember what ol' Jebus had to say about that. You ready to cast that stone, sonny-jim?
Posted by: Louis Irving | July 25, 2008 2:45 AM
#67
Oh no! Not that! Really?
Run, PZ! He's gonna pray!
Posted by: 99&44/100%Puerile | July 25, 2008 2:45 AM
I'm having a very difficult time following you, St. Michael.
I asked how you would make PZ suffer, and you say you will pray for him. How does this work, exactly?
You also mention you will pray for his conversion. To what do you hope he will convert?
Can you offer any objective evidence that prayer is effective?
Posted by: castletonsnob | July 25, 2008 2:45 AM
Hanna,
The article about witchcraft is from 2002, so 'recent' may be one of the only statements in there that is not insane.
Posted by: PopeStig | July 25, 2008 2:46 AM
I think I've experienced hell first-hand also... at least reading your posts makes me think of something Sartre had to say on the matter. Anyway, you just keep on praying - it's a great way to avoid actually doing something to solve your problems.
Posted by: pcarini | July 25, 2008 2:46 AM
Prayer is the best thing they can do. It doesn't accomplish anything except taking up their time.
Posted by: Chayanov | July 25, 2008 2:46 AM
In other words, you will do something which even according to your own theology will have no effect whatsoever.
Look, why don't you just give up and go to bed? In the morning, put this whole silly business behind you.
Posted by: Owlmirror | July 25, 2008 2:47 AM
Too many sharks, not enough chum ...
Posted by: pcarini | July 25, 2008 2:50 AM
"Yet Potter fans will never hear about God's real, omnipotent power by reading the Christ-less Rowling books or seeing the Potter movies. One of the biggest and most artificial aspects of these stories is this pretense. In this sense, they truly are fantasies."
What are the odds? A religious believer has difficulty telling the difference between a fictional and non-fictional book?
Posted by: Jivlain | July 25, 2008 2:51 AM
Being seriously concerned about your children reading spells out of a book from barnes and noble really helps put crazy into perspective. The whole god thing seems almost believable in comparison.
I do get a hoot from all the kind christian people who couldn't be more delighted than when talking about the possibility of someone suffering greatly in every way they can imagine. Keep the S&M consensual kids.
Posted by: Soybomb | July 25, 2008 2:51 AM
Actually, you did not.
Posted by: God | July 25, 2008 2:51 AM
That site is frightening. Kind of like the whackaloons who have descended on PZ's blog.
The Catholics I have known were not so crazy. Then again they were the kind of Catholics who called themselves a Catholic out of tradition and never went to Mass. I had no idea the more devout followers of the cult were so batshit crazy.
Scary.
Posted by: Rayven Alandria | July 25, 2008 2:52 AM
I read most of that heresy in the hood article and it blew my mind into a thousand tiny pieces! I had no idea about this epidemic! The sad part is that if there really are yound people who believe in "witchcraft" then they are just as deluded as the ignorant fundies who clearly don't suffer any muthafucking witches to live! Fo shizzle
Posted by: ShowtimeSho'Nuff' | July 25, 2008 2:58 AM
Please, let's all just ignore this silly angel pretender, okay? He's clearly mentally disturbed.
"Humans enjoy fantasy stories, we like hearing/reading of fantastic things that couldn't exist but kind of hope they did."
And for some of the kids doubtlessly being discussed in this article, fantasy lit is a welcome respite from the suffocating world of monotheistic religion.
Posted by: Rey Fox | July 25, 2008 3:08 AM
I'm going to bed now, St. Michael. I look forward to reading your response in the morning...er, later this morning, if I can find it buried in what is usually an avalanche of comments.
Posted by: castletonsnob | July 25, 2008 3:18 AM
The Big Bang theory that the universe originated in an extremely dense and hot space and expanded was developed by a Belgian priest. It's interesting to note that those people, the first scientists, were all monks, they were all clerics!
People today aren't even aware of this fact!
Here are some examples of scientists who were Catholic clergy:
1. Mendel, a monk, first established the laws of heredity, which gave the final blow to the theory of natural selection.
2. Copernicus, a priest, expounded the Copernican system.
3. Steensen, a Bishop, was the father of geology.
4. Regiomontanus, a Bishop and Papal astronomer; was the father of modern astronomy.
5. Theodoric, a Bishop, discovered anesthesia in the 13th century.
6. Kircher, a priest, made the first definite statement of the germ theory of disease.
7. Cassiodorus, a priest, invented the watch.
8. Picard, a priest, was the first to measure accurately a degree of the meridian.
The conflict between evolutionary science and creationism in the United States comes from the Protestant tradition, not the Catholic one.
American Catholicism is in a Protestant culture. We borrow a lot of our attitudes, along with a lot of our hymns, and not always the best of either.
Unfortunate, but true.
List of Catholic Scientists
Algue, a priest, invented the barocyclonometer, to detect approach of cyclones.
Ampere was founder of the science of electrodynamics, and investigator of the laws of electro-magnetism.
Becquerel, Antoine Cesar, was the founder of electro-chemistry.
Becquerel, Antoine Henri, was the discoverer of radio-activity.
Binet, mathematician and astronomer, set forth the principle, "Binet's Theorem."
Braille invented the Braille system for the blind.
Buffon wrote the first work on natural history.
Carrell, Nobel prize winner in medicine and physiology, is renowned for his work in surgical technique.
Caesalpinus, a Papal physician, was the first to construct a system of botany.
Cassiodorus, a priest, invented the watch.
Columbo discovered the pulmonary circulation of the blood.
Copernicus, a priest, expounded the Copernican system.
Coulomb established the fundamental laws of static electricity.
De Chauliac, a Papal physician, was the father of modern surgery and hospitals.
De Vico, a priest, discovered six comets. Descartes founded analytical geometry.
Dumas invented a method of ascertaining vapor densities.
Endlicher, botanist and historian, established a new system of classifying plants.
Eustachius, for whom the Eustachian tube was named, was one of the founders of modern anatomy.
Fabricius discovered the valvular system of the veins.
Fallopius, for whom the Fallopian tube was named, was an eminent physiologist.
Fizeau was the first to determine experimentally the velocity of light.
Foucault invented the first practical electric arc lamp; he refuted the corpuscular theory of light; he invented the gyroscope.
Fraunhofer was initiator of spectrum analysis; he established laws of diffraction.
Fresnel contributed more to the science of optics than any other man.
Galilei, a great astronomer, is the father of experimental science.
Galvani, one of the pioneers of electricity, was also an anatomist and physiologist.
Gioja, father of scientific navigation, invented the mariner's compass.
Gramme invented the Gramme dynamo.
Guttenberg invented printing.
Herzog discovered a cure for infantile paralysis.
Holland invented the first practical sub marine.
Kircher, a priest, made the first definite statement of the germ theory of disease.
Laennec invented the stethoscope.
Lancist, a Papal physician, was the father of clinical medicine.
Latreille was pioneer in entomology.
Lavoisier is called Father of Modern Chemistry.
Leverrier discovered the planet Neptune.
Lully is said to have been the first to employ chemical symbols.
Malpighi, a Papal physician, was a botanist, and the father of comparative physiology.
Marconi's place in radio is unsurpassed. Mariotte discovered Mariotte's law of gases.
Mendel, a monk, first established the laws of heredity, which gave the final blow to the theory of natural selection.
Morgagni, founder of modern pathology; made important studies in aneurisms.
Muller was the greatest biologist of the 19th century, founder of modern physiology.
Pashcal demonstrated practically that a column of air has weight.
Pasteur, called the "Father of Bacteriology," and inventor of bio-therapeutics, was the leading scientist of the 19th century.
Picard, a priest, was the first to measure accurately a degree of the meridian.
Regiomontanus, a Bishop and Papal astronomer; was the father of modern astronomy.
Scheiner, a priest, invented the pantograph, and made a telescope that permitted the first systematic investigation of sun spots.
Secchi invented the meteorograph. Steensen, a Bishop, was the father of geology.
Theodoric, a Bishop, discovered anesthesia in the 13th century.
Torricelli invented the barometer.
Vesalius was the founder of modern anatomical science.
Volta invented the first; complete galvanic battery; the "volt" is named after him.
Other scientists: Agricola, Albertus Magnus, Bacon, Bartholomeus, Bayma, Beccaria, Behalm, Bernard, Biondo, Biot, Bolzano,