…and this is a 
All right, I've got a Horde: a vicious mob of savages slavering over the prospect of conquest and booty. I've got to start using you more. Here are some people who have been asking for it:
Fly, my pretties, fly! Invade their blogs and leave comments and jack up their traffic and…and…stuff. That will teach them! Yarrrr!
I have another army arising, too. Remember, the SSA and I are going to the Creation "Museum" on 7 August. It's going to be huge: last I heard, we've got 70 people signed up to descend on the place. I hope we have enough horses and lances to go around.
It's got me thinking, though. With that many people, we want to stand out a little bit, and be able to recognize each other, so I have a request: all you godless heathens at the "museum" should wear an armband. Any color will do, and in fact a diversity of colors would be best to represent the diversity of our views, anyway — just tie a handkerchief or something around one arm when you go. Let everyone know what side you are on and what you represent: maybe a few of the other attendees will ask you who all those people with the armbands are, and you can politely explain to them what's going on, and encourage them to ask us questions.
You should also tell them that all the people with armbands are laughing at them.
Comments
Posted by: Max Fagin | July 17, 2009 6:35 PM
Armbands? Really? Creationists already have enough stupid reasons to link evolutionists to nazism, can we please not give them another excuse?
Posted by: Heywood | July 17, 2009 6:36 PM
Uh, I think "No Jesus, no peas" is satire. Others could be, too.
Posted by: Paul | July 17, 2009 6:42 PM
Heywood,
It's a joke. If you follow the Mooneybaum affair, they were basically implying that the worst thing you could do to a blogger is send traffic their way (shock! horror!). So some regulars came around here and linked their blogs asking for some horror.
Why Evolution is True should have been a dead giveaway :-)
Posted by: robotaholic
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July 17, 2009 6:43 PM
I love the Why Evolution is True site, this one person named Articulette tirelessly posts- and he/she is badass
Posted by: TheOutsider | July 17, 2009 6:44 PM
OT: On two machines and three browsers, I'm unable to view the Random Quote in the sidebar (one of my favorite features of your blog, actually). Anybody else? Apologies if this has already been brought up in another thread.
Posted by: Glen Davidson | July 17, 2009 6:44 PM
I thought the blood dripping from our mouths was signal enough to each other. And if that's missing occasionally, the profanity and hate-speech should do it.
Why do we bother being evil if our evil isn't visible to others?
Glen D
http://tinyurl.com/mxaa3p
Posted by: Siamang | July 17, 2009 6:45 PM
This'll show them. Folks have been tiptoing around PZ Myers for TOO LONG. TOO LONG, I SAY!
Posted by: OurDeadSelves | July 17, 2009 6:46 PM
Awe man, I wish I could go on this excursion, too. But nooooooo, I have this stupid thing called work, where you know, I'm expected to show up occasionally.
Posted by: PZ Myers
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July 17, 2009 6:46 PM
Yes, really. Easy, simple, cheap, and if some moron thinks someone with a plaid hanky on his arm is praising Adolf Hitler, they're brainless enough that anything else we do will be interpreted likewise anyway.
Posted by: Feynmaniac | July 17, 2009 6:48 PM
The physicist-killing Cuttlefish?
Posted by: Joel Klinepeter | July 17, 2009 6:49 PM
I'm looking forward to it, a couple of us from Fort Wayne IN's freethought group will be coming for the day. Myself and one other are staying for the conference too as we're starting an Atheist and Agnostic group at IPFW this fall.
I like the armband idea, I'm already shopping around for a poignant atheistic T-shirt to wear... Maybe the one of jesus riding a T-Rex, although some there might think that was a historical photo...
Posted by: Paul | July 17, 2009 6:50 PM
I think Kung Fu headbands would be just as cheap, and probably be noticed more!
Posted by: Noadi | July 17, 2009 6:56 PM
Damn! If I was capable of winning Randi's million I could have predicted this and posted my blog link, or better yet my shop link with all it's cephalopod goodness.
Oh hell, I will anyway. http://noadi.etsy.com Please invade me.
Posted by: Hideki | July 17, 2009 7:07 PM
I'd be more worried people think the armbands are gang symbols, don't some of them use things like that?
I wouldn't really know, I'm in northern England but still...
What's wrong with the scarlet A pins -.o
Posted by: Cath the Canberra Cook | July 17, 2009 7:08 PM
I think you'll find it's a hoard.
:)
Posted by: rufustfirefly | July 17, 2009 7:09 PM
"Don't Waste Your Cancer". Fuck me.
Posted by: Souljacker | July 17, 2009 7:18 PM
If you want to stand out at the Creation museum there's just one thing you have to do.
Dress with a little style.
You don't have to go there looking like the artist formerly known as Prince or anything. If you're male just don't wear your hair a too neatly combed side parting and don't tuck in your shirt in a manner that screams, 'I employ as much independent thought and personal reflection in my style of dress as I do in every other aspect of my life'.
If you're female make sure you weigh under 350 pounds and don't wear tight sweat pants in a way that screams, 'I've got nothing else going for me so I'd better put all my unwanted eggs in this life after death basket'.
I keed, I keed.
Posted by: Patricia, OM
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July 17, 2009 7:26 PM
WTF?
I showed up at Coynes place with my brass bosoms and pitch fork, and no one seems to know anything about eating babies or an orgy.
Thats a waste of slavering. :( You may want to keep your ignorant sluts to yourself PZ, we do have some standards ya know.
Posted by: Sili
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July 17, 2009 7:27 PM
Oooooooh - do check out Noadi @13 - Purdy wannabe bacon. Ham must drool at the sight.
Remember to draw an X on you arm under the bandana - that way you can easily root out any imposters should the need arise.
Squiddyho!
Posted by: kamaka | July 17, 2009 7:33 PM
This is the good shit! Dammit, I want to go.
What's wrong with the scarlet A pins
Not everyone has one or wants to go to the trouble.
Dress with a little style.
This is a good idea.
If you're female make sure you weigh under 350 pounds and don't wear tight sweat pants in a way that screams, 'I've got nothing else going for me so I'd better put all my unwanted eggs in this life after death basket'.
You need a little work on your "humor".
I think Kung Fu headbands would be just as cheap, and probably be noticed more!
I'd bet you one christer and raise you a bishop that one of the attendees thought of this before you did.
I think pig noses are in order!!
Posted by: Patricia, OM
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July 17, 2009 7:42 PM
Oh right Kamaka, you just had to bring up pig noses. Now we'll be up all night listening to that Chimp knuckle pattering around the kitchen making smoked pig nose and grits.
Posted by: Boosterz | July 17, 2009 7:43 PM
We get booty?!? Why was I not informed?!?
Posted by: kamaka | July 17, 2009 7:45 PM
Patricia,
Yah, instead of tracts, hand out bacon and other pork products??
Posted by: Jerry Coyne | July 17, 2009 7:47 PM
Call 'em off PLEASE! Can't take the traffic. Will give you a Leica to withdraw the horde.
thxbai
Posted by: kamaka | July 17, 2009 7:52 PM
Call 'em off PLEASE! Can't take the traffic. Will give you a Leica to withdraw the horde.
This is blood in the water.
Posted by: defiantskeptic
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July 17, 2009 7:57 PM
Creationists seem to already think any organized group that disagrees with them is basically the Hitler Youth 2.0, so it really doesn't matter what you wear. They'll figure out ways to quote-mine and misrepresent everything you do and say.
Posted by: Sili
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July 17, 2009 8:10 PM
Pignoses?!!
To visit the home of Ken "The Piglet Fucker" Ham?!!
ARE. YOU. FUCKING. MAD?!
Posted by: kamaka | July 17, 2009 8:17 PM
I hadn't considered the risks....
Posted by: Copache | July 17, 2009 8:27 PM
Is it a bad idea to wear skater clothes?
For instance, was planning on wearing this. Another view.
I was also considering wearing my black and white fedora to complete the not-classy-skater look...
Opinions welcome!
Posted by: Patricia, OM
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July 17, 2009 8:29 PM
What! No guts no glory! er...snouts that is.
http://www.alibaba.com/products-free/105986397/pig_nose_pig_ear
Don your pig nose, let loose PG Wodehouse's best swine battle cry, "PIG HOOEY!" and trample Ham. No one is suggesting you have to BBQ him later.
Posted by: J-Ball | July 17, 2009 8:29 PM
"Let everyone know what side you are on and what you represent: maybe a few of the other attendees will ask you who all those people with the armbands are, and you can politely explain to them what's going on, and encourage them to ask us questions."
A good approach to life anytime and anywhere. Straightforward, open, and honest. If people are offended, fuck 'em. At least they know where you stand.
Posted by: Copache | July 17, 2009 8:31 PM
Looks like my URLs didn't pass?
http://c3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/62/l_abf86fad7cff4918a1e44efc2d3d329a.jpg
http://c4.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images02/101/l_d0877d6b13d0473c994147040a446083.jpg
Posted by: JackC
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July 17, 2009 8:40 PM
I SO wish I could make it on the 7th - that is exactly one day too early for me. Sigh. And I am so fond of the Cree Nation.
... what? It isn't the Cree Nation Museum you are going to visit en masse?
Oh .. well then...
JC
Posted by: foxfire | July 17, 2009 8:53 PM
PZ, may good fun for all be had at the Creation "Museum" and there will be You Tube video?
There must be You Tube video - delivered on your new ipod perhaps?
Posted by: Lynna | July 17, 2009 9:00 PM
Too late baby. Been there, enjoyed the visit. The faithful being funny in the whack-on-em-the-head-make-em-laugh style was great. Good following posts as well.
Posted by: DLC | July 17, 2009 9:01 PM
Hey, if we're a Horde, can I bring my Undead Mage ?
only 34th level, but fire and arcane spec....
Posted by: Bruce | July 17, 2009 9:13 PM
If anyone wants to give Jerry Coyne a rest, I've let a liberal theist post to my blog for the first time*. He's on about how to talk to arrogant New Atheists at the moment, if you want to go and give him a blog-hazing. :P
* No not really. It's satire. I've already had a few people suffering from The Onion effect.
Posted by: Pierce R. Butler | July 17, 2009 9:19 PM
From a Horde to a vicious mob to army in 76 words: clearly the minions approach verticality on the chart of exponential growth.
Mooney and Kirshenbaum tried to give warning to the world, but their alarm was sounded just a little too late for preventive surgical strikes to save civilization.
And to think that as recently as Monday, the now-dreaded ilk were merely a jumping legion...
Posted by: PZ Myers
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July 17, 2009 9:25 PM
This is a level 80 raid. You've got to have at least iLevel 200 gear, too.
Posted by: windy | July 17, 2009 9:27 PM
I showed up at Coynes place with my brass bosoms and pitch fork
Getting ready for Lebowski Fest next week?
Posted by: DLC | July 17, 2009 9:29 PM
PZ Myers :
Oh... well, my Tauren druid's got some Naxx gear. but how do you feel about Boomkin druids ?
Posted by: David Capito | July 17, 2009 9:32 PM
Darn... nobody from Central Wisconsin to take me to the creation museum...
I wonder how many Christians will register as an atheist to get a discount.
Posted by: recovering catholic | July 17, 2009 9:35 PM
Phil Ferguson of the SSA says there are over 100 people who have paid for their tickets already. I'm going, but I confess I'm a little afraid. I'm envisioning some xian wacko with a machine gun lurking...
And do you really think they'll let us in???
Posted by: Lynna | July 17, 2009 9:37 PM
To siphon more traffic off Jerry Coyne (since he begged for mercy), see
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dyPiIcLK90&feature=channel
And do rate the video, because "Your ratings makes vote-bots sad in their pants."
Posted by: PZ Myers
|
July 17, 2009 9:37 PM
Since I'm bringing my warlock, I love the boomkin raid buff!
Posted by: King of Ferrets | July 17, 2009 9:43 PM
Hey, PZ, u r t3h suxx0rz!
(Why no, no I am not stealing from the guy who posted something similar earlier (that's Bruce, btw). This is because A) I came up with it before reading his comment and B) I'm far more shameless. I didn't steal it, I improved it.)
Wait, PZ plays WoW now?
Posted by: Pocket Nerd | July 17, 2009 9:46 PM
FOR THE HORDE!
Posted by: DLC | July 17, 2009 9:51 PM
Cool. some people hate druids. I like them, myself.
I'll be the one with the feathers sticking out of odd places.
Posted by: Ragutis | July 17, 2009 10:00 PM
Armbands? I would've recommended one of these instead. Ridicule is such a fun weapon to wield.
Posted by: Puck | July 17, 2009 10:05 PM
May I suggest y'all don't put your arm bands on until *after* they let you in?
*wishes she could go, too*
Posted by: Primewonk | July 17, 2009 10:21 PM
Ragutis @ 49 -
Instead of just t-shirts, why not have everyone stop by this site first http://www.flintstonecostumes.com/adult-flintstone-costumes.html
All the guys could go as Fred and Barney, and all the women could go as Betty. (Never did like Wilma - she needed to loosen the bone)
Posted by: Mixter | July 17, 2009 10:27 PM
Bringing extra bandanas should others need armbands!
Mixter
Posted by: Lynna | July 17, 2009 10:28 PM
@43: I wouldn't worry about machine guns, the smiles are more deadly.
Posted by: Eric Biesel | July 17, 2009 10:36 PM
I would love to go with you guys; where should we meet up?
Posted by: Jambe | July 17, 2009 10:55 PM
PZ Myers plays WoW? Or just makes fun of it? I haven't read Pharyngula long enough (or trudged deeply-enough into the comments threads) to notice...
Curious. Hate the game, personally, but I am a gamer myself.
Posted by: donna | July 17, 2009 10:58 PM
Have fun riding the dinosaurs!
Posted by: DLC | July 17, 2009 11:04 PM
Puck @50:May I suggest y'all don't put your arm bands on until *after* they let you in?
*wishes she could go, too*
Worried they might be Expelled ?
I wish I could go also, but it's 2200-odd miles away.
King of Ferrets @46
Nah. us Non-Believers never do anything fun.
We're all a bunch of cold emotionless drones
who exist solely to squint through microscopes.
:-)
Posted by: paulfcd | July 17, 2009 11:19 PM
Fly my pretties.
yep, that's the way it works here.
Posted by: Christie | July 17, 2009 11:30 PM
For all of you with too much free time, you can hit up http://www.myuncommonsense.com if you get bored at those other links... some fun things to comment on there. I particularly like the "why science proves god" one.
Posted by: James Sweet | July 17, 2009 11:31 PM
Oh noes! I've been Pharyngulated!
heh, got this e-mail from a friend of mine a couple of hours ago:
Wow, now PZ commands as much power as National Public Radio! Rawk!
Posted by: Jennifurret | July 18, 2009 12:07 AM
Errr, I think I'm going to pass on the armband. One I don't have a bandana, and two I don't want people to think I'm in a gang. I'll be wearing an atheism/science shirt though, so I should be pretty easy to pick out.
Posted by: Jennifer B. Phillips (aka Danio) | July 18, 2009 12:16 AM
@DLC:
*unfurls geek flag and waves it around*
Hey now, squinting through microscopes can be really fun if you're looking at the right stuff!
Posted by: Tiger | July 18, 2009 12:37 AM
Ok, I need some advice.
I really, really want to attend the Creationist museum trip. I'm leaving for college a few days after, and it's not too far out of the way if we go by car, so it'd be easy to work it into the trip.
The trouble is, I'd be with my mother, who a. doesn't know I'm an atheist b. probably wouldn't like to come along.
I could probably convince her to go sightseeing in Columbus for a few hours, but the first part is trickier. How do I go about explaining my urge to visit this place with a bunch of other atheists for the purpose of laughs?
Posted by: Copache | July 18, 2009 1:47 AM
I may be old fashion but...
"I'm going to this Museum based around the Bible and the group I'm going with is a bunch of atheists – like me – who want to get a hearty laugh and ridicule the place."
That should work for you.
Posted by: Krystalline Apostate | July 18, 2009 1:50 AM
How about headbands w/a bright red 'A' on the forehead? Will security try to wrestle everyone to the ground, or perform a cavity search?
Posted by: Ragutis | July 18, 2009 2:44 AM
Since when does one have to be atheist to laugh at creationists? If you aren't ready to come out, don't.
Posted by: ChrisZ | July 18, 2009 3:06 AM
Thought it would only be polite to come over here and thank you for linking to my blog so, thank you PZ! My previous daily high had been 22 unique views, so you have completely messed up the scaling on my graph. I hope you're happy!
Posted by: JThompson | July 18, 2009 3:24 AM
A Pharyngula guild would be kinda awesome.
Even if it did suck for raiding. Everyone would fight because no one wanted to be a priest or paladin.
Posted by: Happy Tentacles
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July 18, 2009 3:31 AM
It's such fun being part of an angry Ninja horde!
Posted by: King of Ferrets | July 18, 2009 3:45 AM
@ JThompson
I wouldn't have any problems with being either, personally. I have a level 78 pally, actually.
Posted by: Pascalle | July 18, 2009 4:17 AM
Oh wow. (pun intended).
This is a pleasant surprise. I had never envisioned PZ as a wow player. Also good to know he choose the right side too (horde).
My tauren druid pigeon (boomkin) approves!
(so does my undead warlock)
Posted by: Pascalle | July 18, 2009 4:41 AM
Oh gosh.. look who escaped from the dungeon.
Please PZ, can you stomp him back in?
On another note.. if they terminated the entire atheist movement, how come i'm still here?
Posted by: SEF | July 18, 2009 4:47 AM
It's iron chariots you need in order to be god-proof. ;-)
Besides which, horses would be trumped by the local animatronic dinosaurs. Also, if you're determined to go down the lance route, make them thermal lances. Flaming swords are not just for angels defending gardens.
Posted by: King of Ferrets | July 18, 2009 4:50 AM
I second sticking the idiot back in the dungeon. And up the "if the atheist movement is gone why am I still here" to "if the atheist movement is gone, why is this entire blog still here, along with its readers?"
Posted by: Rorschach | July 18, 2009 5:12 AM
Do NOT engage the insane spammer,please.
Posted by: King of Ferrets | July 18, 2009 5:17 AM
Man, you're no fun.
Posted by: King of Ferrets | July 18, 2009 5:19 AM
Hey, you engaged him on another thread! Hypocrite.
Posted by: marc buhler | July 18, 2009 5:57 AM
I can't claim to have played WoW but a couple of years ago my kids were playing RuneScape and got me started. Parents make better skillers, you know - my lowest stat is ~69 now, and I am lvl 99 mining, also lvl 95 mage and farm. And I have kazillions of gold coins worth of stuff.
If it means anything, the Chapel in my player-house reflects the Guthix religion in RS. (God of balance...)
We may be coming up from Australia later in the year, but will be missing the "tour" by a few weeks. You lot *must* you-tube it.
Posted by: Zarquon | July 18, 2009 6:21 AM
Druids? Druids are nothing but torc, torc, torc.1
Joke (c) Terry Pratchett, Kt
Posted by: Cosmic Teapot | July 18, 2009 6:44 AM
Posted by: Cath the Canberra Cook
I think you'll find it isn't ;)
Posted by: Alan Kellogg | July 18, 2009 7:17 AM
While PZ and krew are off bearding the twerp in his lair, the rest of you can go visit Mythusmage Opines. A place where yours truly reveals that he is secretly as strange as you've long suspected him to be. A man who believes in God, bigfoot, and Sarah Palin. Also see the incredible, mal-organized blog roll filled with sites I haven't visited in ages.
Read rants, raves, and thinking so disorganized you wonder how a six year old developed such a sophisticated vocabulary. Well, for a six year old that is.
Use up my bandwidth and leave comments of amusement and dismay, while PZ's Cephalopod Ninjas harass the staff at the Creationist Museum without your vital presence.
This message brought to you by the letter Q and the number 37, both of which are vastly underused and greatly unappreciated.
Posted by: DoxieVee
|
July 18, 2009 7:19 AM
Gosh, it's such a shame about the gigantic body of water lying between here and Petersburg. Otherwise I could tag along, what with all my Nazi memorabilia and photographs of dead babies in concentration camp uniforms.
Posted by: DLC | July 18, 2009 8:09 AM
Posted by: Jennifer B. Phillips (aka Danio) @62:
I know.. but don't tell Them . . . they might get the idea to try it, and then ... next thing you know they're reading biology or chemistry and they might just find out how cool the sciences are! After that, who knows what could happen.
Posted by: Sven DIMilo | July 18, 2009 10:07 AM
Blog-whores, blog-whores
Roly-poly blog-whores
Blog-whores, blog-whores
Roll yer eyes ow!
I'm pushing 50, and to this day I can while away a whole afternoon with a scope and a jar of pondwater.
Posted by: BK | July 18, 2009 11:42 AM
I was thinking that some fundies would declare it as the mark of satan or something like that.Has anyone noticed that there does seem to be as much public upset about satanists these days and more upset about atheists? Granted, satanists believe in god too, they're just batting for the other side.
Posted by: Fred | July 18, 2009 11:53 AM
Y'all could show up wearing eye patches. 'Course it could be a little embarrasing if Dale Chihuly happens to drop by that day.
Posted by: Jennifer B. Phillips (aka Danio) | July 18, 2009 12:15 PM
DLC@83:
Is this that reverse psychology thing I've heard so much about?
Sven@84:
Exactly--thrashy little zebrafish embryos are good for hours of entertainment as well, and always a big hit in my outreach activities...which, of course I *never* engage in as an elitist scientist sealed off in my ivory tower. Good luck catching me hosting hundreds of school age kids for tours and demos of the zebrafish research facility--ha! Never gonna happen, my friend. Those kids are idiots--and I want 'em to stay that way.
Posted by: Lynna | July 18, 2009 1:05 PM
James @60: Nice blog. Enjoyed it. I tried to post a comment there and something seems to have gone wrong with my Typepad identity. I'll have to figure that out. In the meantime, here's the comment I tried to post:
I always thought the verse you quoted from Moroni came off as a threat, and a thinly veiled one at that.
I'm still suffering post traumatic stress from having read the damned book. Bleh, it's like a really bad movie with gratuitous violence that's not even artfully presented. Then it makes a token show of redeeming itself with a few platitudes.
I'm most haunted however by the style breaks. J.S. goes from King James Bible to his own blather, then suddenly realizes he's broken the style commandments. He throws in "and it came to pass" and by the time I finished the book I was ready to pass out from boredom, but paradoxically so irritated I thought I might go out and strangle small creatures just to relieve the tension. I don't think this reaction qualifies as the "burning in the bosom."
Posted by: Markopolous | July 18, 2009 1:32 PM
The SSA, the sacrifice and serve it angle; I'm the next strangle.
Posted by: Jared | July 18, 2009 3:27 PM
AHHH!!! I've been wounded, I've been mauled, I've been blinded...oh, there is no one near me is there? Right, so the rate of Pharyngulization for my site is currently around 200 hits per hour with 400 hits per hour for the first 3 hours, decreasing to a present ~120 hits per hour over a 20 hour period. I will be making a graph.
Posted by: Pareidolius | July 18, 2009 3:37 PM
Well, I'm completely spent from Hoarding around this morning. It's exhausting being a minion, you really ought to warn people about that. But to honor this kerfuffle, two of my recently hatched comet fish have now been officially named Kershooney and Governor Moonbaum. Perfect monikers since they've sadly inherited none of the brilliant coloration of their parents, and appear to be on the not-too-bright-side, even for fish.
Posted by: Sarah P | July 18, 2009 8:06 PM
Been drinking too much. Read the first, and have been singing
No Jesus no peas
to the tune of No Woman No Cry
For longer than I will admit...
Posted by: Terry | July 18, 2009 8:42 PM
Don't be surprised if the "Creation Museum," doesn't close, or have a suspicious water main break, or electrical outage, and PZ and gang aren't allowed in.
Posted by: 'Tis Himself
|
July 18, 2009 8:58 PM
Terry, I have no doubt that PZ and minions will be welcomed cordially and given a tour by Ham or his minions. I wouldn't be surprised if the tour was recorded and suitable quotes mined for propaganda purposes.
Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | July 18, 2009 9:25 PM
No, Ham is already planning how to twist the whole thing and spin it for his own benefit.
'Tis is right, expect plenty of quote mining and things taken out of context.
Oh, and lying.
Posted by: Andrew | July 18, 2009 11:41 PM
What's the approximate time for meeting up at the "museum?" Their website says they are open from 10:00 am to 9:00 pm on Fridays. I'm going to be making a bit of a drive, and want to make sure
Posted by: James Sweet | July 19, 2009 12:25 AM
Argh, when I was first reading your comment, I saw "J.S." and I thought you were referring to me. hahaha... seriously though, I noticed that even in the verse I quoted in my blog, Joe switches between "you" and "ye" with reckless abandon.
The really terrifying thing is that when I was younger and still thoroughly brainwashed, I read this thing cover to cover and didn't notice the obvious inanity. I mean, seriously folks, for those who haven't read it, this is like the Bible... It's like if you took all the primitive sectarian tribalism and ethical ignorance of the Bible, and then filtered it through the mind of an illiterate 19th century redneck from upstate New York. I can't believe I ever took it seriously.
I actually remember what my favorite BoM verse was as a kid... 1 Nephi 3:7. Hmmm, I'll probably blog about it some time.... I think I liked it mostly because it was a) one of the first significant verses you come to, and b) the weird multiple conjugation of the verb "to command" appealed to my budding geek sensibilities.
Posted by: Jared | July 19, 2009 2:49 AM
Nothing like Lying for Jesus to teach the word of the one true God, because, after all, God lied to us about:
bats (according to Him, they are birds)
talking snakes (what? they can't?)
a flat Earth
He causes earthquakes (not plate tectonics)
It is a marvelous work and wonder to destroy wisdom/knowledge
Wait, it doesn't stop in the Old Testament!
"raising the dead"--why wasn't that trick passed down?
The Demon Theory of Disease
all animals are tame
the mustard seed is the smallest seed
I could go on, but I'll stop here. Deceit is a time honored tradition among many Christian leaders, it is the height of holiness as one cannot be like God without lying.
Posted by: Meta | July 19, 2009 8:38 AM
Andrew@96: We're planning to arrive there around 10 AM, when it opens.
Posted by: Alan Kellogg | July 19, 2009 1:46 PM
Jared, #98
When chiding someone or something for getting something wrong, it's a good idea to avoid errors yourself. The New Testament says nothing about all animals being tame, but that some day the lion shall lie down with the lamb. That is, one day peace shall reign and Man shall fight no more.
Accuracy and attention to details is the one advantage science has over religion, and is the secret to our domination over the forces of ignorance. That and these neat, nifty cloaks we get to wear.
Posted by: Lynna | July 19, 2009 5:49 PM
James Sweet @97: Ah, I'm sorry for giving you a shock by referring to Joseph Smith as J.S. Whoo-boy, certainly didn't notice that you could have taken the comment, at first, to refer to James Sweet. :-)
This speaks to the power of brainwashing techniques employed by the LDS Church. They ought to get a prize or something. The Book of Mormon is worse than the bible (no Ecclesiastes, no Song of Solomon) -- so how can one take a book that is even further off-base than the bible and make it the paramount authority? Still amazes me that the LDS Church continues to pull this particular wool over so many eyes.
Posted by: Ajones | July 20, 2009 2:45 PM
The arm bands seem like a pretty bad idea.
Posted by: Jeffery2010 | July 20, 2009 5:27 PM
How about instead of saying we are laughing at them, we say people with the armbands can answer questions about Evolution? You know, something useful and nice, instead of being jerks.