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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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You can't argue with logic like this

Category: Humor
Posted on: June 12, 2011 11:21 AM, by PZ Myers

But you can point and laugh at it.

Jump to end

Comments

Posted by: Lee Picton | June 12, 2011 11:28 AM

They don't even know their extinct gods. That's Thor. Hmmmm - Jesus is sure taking his time getting rid of the wicked.

Posted by: consciousness razor | June 12, 2011 11:38 AM

If humans are descended from ~~monkeys~~ wicked people, why are there still ~~monkeys~~ wicked people?

Posted by: https://me.yahoo.com/a/yCrLoPB4hpHmehDTACDOru3qNtzd.5If#35a75 | June 12, 2011 11:41 AM

But why is no one praying to Odin then?

Posted by: LarianLeQuella | June 12, 2011 11:43 AM

I still like the caption associated with this picture that says:

"Thor has a hammer. Jesus was nailed to a cross. Any questions?"

Posted by: Methodissed | June 12, 2011 11:44 AM

The new movie "Thor" is a fun depiction of Thor and his scary ice giants.

Posted by: Don Smith | June 12, 2011 11:46 AM

Thor delivers on his promise and they praise the other guy? Somethings wrong with that logic. :)

Posted by: Don Smith | June 12, 2011 11:48 AM

Now where did that apostrophe get off to...

Posted by: Glen Davidson | June 12, 2011 11:57 AM

Jesus procrastinates?

Anyhow, the trouble is that once you get rid of the ice giants, no one cares who dispatched them. I suppose that's why Jesus keeps wicked people around...

Sorta gives the lie to "Jesus cares" and such rot, though.

Glen Davidson

Posted by: KG | June 12, 2011 12:09 PM

But why is no one praying to Odin then? - yahoomess

Duh! No need: he's done his job and gone off to quaff mead in Asgard.

#10

Posted by: Michelle R | June 12, 2011 12:11 PM

@#3: Because Odin did his job. No need to bother him anymore. Geeze, he's got the right to retire.

#11

Posted by: Stardrake | June 12, 2011 12:13 PM

But why is no one praying to Odin then?

Don't know any Asatru, do you, yahoomess? Quite a number of 'em here in Minnesota.

And they are every bit as serious about their gods as Christians are about theirs. They're also equally wrong, but no less serious.

#12

Posted by: peter.waine | June 12, 2011 12:16 PM

Tay Thor/Odin. They/he did such a good job, it's almost as if they hadn't existed.

#13

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | June 12, 2011 12:18 PM

Tay Thor/Odin. They/he did such a good job, it's almost as if they hadn't existed.

stunning observation

#14

Posted by: mikka | June 12, 2011 12:23 PM

I think this caption was meant in favor of Odin.

#15

Posted by: Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and lies | June 12, 2011 12:25 PM

Lee:

They don't even know their extinct gods. That's Thor.

Seriously! That was my first reaction, too.

_{Odin's way cooler, anyhow.}

#16

Posted by: andrew h | June 12, 2011 12:34 PM

see guys, it's Thor in the picture, and the caption is what he's thinking - you'd expect Thor to be skeptical of Jesus, but not of Odin. i think the picture makes perfect, sterling, historical sense.

#17

Posted by: SvenSvin | June 12, 2011 12:41 PM

So Odin is the cause of global warming ?

#18

Posted by: Tualha | June 12, 2011 12:42 PM

How can they have heard of Odin, yet not know that he only has one eye?!

#19

Posted by: Zeno | June 12, 2011 12:48 PM

Thor is depicted because he's Odin's hit man.

#20

Posted by: Alan | June 12, 2011 12:57 PM

If god made humans from dirt, why is there still dirt?

#21

Posted by: Strategically Shaved Monkey | June 12, 2011 1:22 PM

Jc did have one superpower with which to battle odin ....he was the world's most elastic man.
He tied his ass to a post and walked to Jerusalem.
I have worse, but not much.

#22

Posted by: Menyambal: Making sambal (it isn't dragon magic). | June 12, 2011 1:23 PM

The poster's caption makes perfect sense. It's Thor, the god in the picture, telling you why he wields Mjölnir in the service of Odin.

I like the one about Jesus and nails better.

(My spellchecker doesn't know Mjölnir. Damned Christians.)

#23

Posted by: Shplane, some shit in french | June 12, 2011 1:40 PM

See, Norse mythology is exactly why I know that the whole "But Atheism is boring, you should habeeb the Jegus!" argument is completely and utter bullshit. If they were going for the most interesting option, they'd be drinking mead and trying to die an honorable death by combat so as to enter Valhalla.

#24

Posted by: MorsGotha | June 12, 2011 1:59 PM

I dont get it, surely the point is Odin/Thor came through with his/their promices and Jesus didn't.

Why point and laugh at that?

#25

Posted by: Shplane, some shit in french | June 12, 2011 2:03 PM

*complete and utter

I really wish ScienceBlogs had an edit button.

#26

Posted by: skmarshall | June 12, 2011 2:09 PM

MorsGotha
Exactly what I was thinking.

#27

Posted by: azinyk | June 12, 2011 2:12 PM

Where did Jesus promise the end of all wicked people?

#28

Posted by: Sentient Typewriter | June 12, 2011 2:22 PM

azinyk: Revelation.

#29

Posted by: Strategically Shaved Monkey | June 12, 2011 2:23 PM

Where did Jesus promise the end of all wicked people?

I'm no expert, but doesn't armageddon involve a smidgeon of wicked-people-ending-sort-of-thing.

#30

Posted by: Zeno | June 12, 2011 2:47 PM

Apologist mode: But Jesus just hasn't gotten around to it yet! Soon though! Real soon. For sure.

#31

Posted by: Nick | June 12, 2011 2:49 PM

Marvel's Nick Fury has a similar opinion.

#32

Posted by: Markita Lynda: Healthcare is a damn right | June 12, 2011 2:50 PM

Thor is Odin's enforcer.

#33

Posted by: Silič O'Nopolitanopoulos, Färschdbischuf Beesknees aus Ulm und Klein Elguth, Elector Pharynguline. | June 12, 2011 2:57 PM

How can they have heard of Odin, yet not know that he only has one eye?!

Well, Odin sacrificed his eye into Mimer's well at the root of Ygdrasil in return for wisdom. That may well have been after the slaying of the ice giants (I don't recall).

And Mjölner was a gift from Odin to Thor.

Dunno about the strange winged helmet, though. Looks more Lohengrinian than Norse.

#34

Posted by: Menyambal: Making sambal (it isn't dragon magic). | June 12, 2011 3:06 PM

Of course, the first promise God made was that Adam and Eve would, if they ate the apple, die the day they ate it. The serpent promised otherwise. Guess who was right and guess who the Christians still crawl to.

#35

Posted by: Holms | June 12, 2011 3:12 PM

@24, 26
No one is laughing at Odin / Thor he, so much as laughing at the point that Jesus has yet to deliver on any claim.

Also, The Norse mythology is waaaaay cooler than Christian mythology.

#36

Posted by: https://www.google.com/accounts/o8/id?id=AItOawmVT1LBhwmO9ej9LNg7a5e9d-AVJ8ezfmE | June 12, 2011 3:18 PM

Who nailed jesus to the cross, baby? The guy with the hammer, that's who.

#37

Posted by: TBP | June 12, 2011 4:03 PM

Gotta agree with those who think PZ missed the point of this one—I think it's a very pointed (and funny) anti-Christian dig.

Given how many emails, links, cartoons, articles and other assorted e-stuff he must get in a single day, I think we can forgive him for not catching on right away.

#38

Posted by: OJC | June 12, 2011 4:06 PM

Awesome. This one got a good laugh. Cheered me up quite a bit =D

#39

Posted by: Menyambal: Making sambal (it isn't dragon magic). | June 12, 2011 4:21 PM

I think PZ is fully appreciating that the thing seems silly at first, then comes across as just as serious as any other religious claim, which is ultimately silly.

He's laughing at the logic, not the Odinosity of the poster.

#40

Posted by: steverino63 | June 12, 2011 4:28 PM

Just breaking - Rick Perry, $90 religious hypocrite. That's how much he gave to his church in 2007: http://socraticgadfly.blogspot.com/2011/06/rickperry-90-religious-hypocrite.html

#41

Posted by: Therrin (Ben S) | June 12, 2011 4:39 PM

Hammer goes in, giants come out.

Never a miscommunication.

#42

Posted by: BO_Bill | June 12, 2011 5:22 PM

This illustration is wrong. The Book of Revelations, part 22, teaches us:

"He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.

And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.

I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last.

#43

Posted by: shonny | June 12, 2011 5:36 PM

At least the old Norse myths are a lot more fun than those feeble stories the semittic goatfuckers came up with!

#44

Posted by: Lord Setar | June 12, 2011 5:49 PM

BO_Bill #42: -yawn-. Can you cite something other than a psilocybin trip, please?

#45

Posted by: JonJ | June 12, 2011 5:53 PM

No ice giants? That's global warming, dude! Along with everything else, of course...

#46

Posted by: Patricia, OM | June 12, 2011 6:04 PM

So Bill, where did jezus stash all the dragons and unicorns?

#47

Posted by: BO_Bill | June 12, 2011 6:13 PM

Sure Lord Setar, thank you for asking. The danger of professed Atheism is that all men are inherently religious and in the absence of an established God, will create their own, usually in their own image, and with their own prejudices. This illustration, Black Liberation Theology, and the Progressive Movement are but three of countless examples.

Religion is a subset of Biology and our individual strains of Biology is the primary determinant of our religion.

Christianity, despite its feminine Nature, is a good religion as it does not deny man the use of Mathematics to measure, understand, enjoy, and use to our advantage, the Creation.

#48

Posted by: Law Mom | June 12, 2011 6:17 PM

Thor to Jesus: See you next Wednesday.

#49

Posted by: Phalacrocorax, not a particularly smart avian | June 12, 2011 6:17 PM

BO_Bill,

You are mistaken. As the Völuspá clearly states:

"Vildo at ec, Valföðr, vel fyrtelia forn spiöll fira, þau er fremst um man. Ec man iötna ár um borna, þá er forðom mic fœdda höfðo."

Therefore, the Frost Giants were out there before jesus.

#50

Posted by: Queequeg | June 12, 2011 6:28 PM

That's a really poor depiction of Thor and of Mjølnir. Mjølnir is supposed to be a short stubby hammer (this one's obviously been inspired by Marvel)and Thor did not have a winged helmet... ever. He's not Asterix - or Hermes (Marvel, again).

Type Thor and Peter Madsen into google images. Then you'll see what Thor's supposed to look like (and Loki and a couple of others).

/Nordic rant

#51

Posted by: ss123 | June 12, 2011 6:37 PM

Thor is cool. I'd worship that.

#52

Posted by: CJO | June 12, 2011 6:37 PM

Revelation has been widely misunderstood. It is not a product of hallucinations, but an example of a widespread genre of prophetic literature in antiquity, the astral prophesy. The dragons and unicorns to which Patricia refers are constellations and other celestial objects and occurences, as are nearly all of the symbolic and mythical figures in the book.

What is odd about it as an example of this ancient genre is that it was not obviously penned in the service of any particular political elite as such productions usually were. (Astral prophets, official astrologers basically, were in principle no different from any of the practitioners of other forms of divination on behalf of local political authorities. Their role was always to legitimize present social and political arrangements as in keeping with the cosmic affairs of the gods and their various celestial intermediaries.)

It could possibly have been written by a dispossesed "official prophet" of some regime or other. It seems to reflect the recent separation of a group of early Christians from an established diaspora Jewish political and/or religious authority, so you might call it a work of freelance prophesy on behalf of a marginalized community. All the weird imagery and cosmic phantasmagoria is deliberate; it is perplexing to the modern reader, no doubt, but that's an effect of how alien are the background assumptions about the role of cosmic phenomena in human affairs that made such coded language perfectly intelligible to educated elites in antiquity. There was a lot going on in the sky, and the perceived ability to make the significance of it all apparent to others via this kind of prophesy was highly valued.

*None of this is intended to off any support to whatever the hell it is that BO_Bill is on about, but merely to share some recent learning of mine.

#53

Posted by: R. Schauer | June 12, 2011 6:41 PM

The danger of professed Atheism is that all men are inherently religious and in the absence of an established God, will create their own, usually in their own image, and with their own prejudices.

-Mumbo Gumbo -Mumbo Gumbo...and we adore the lies we tell to young children and relish denying them accurate knowledge. We also wring our hands in glee as we baptise the little kiddies and pretend to enslave them to our imaginary god so we can enjoy bullying and threatening them and fleecing them forever and ever, amen. Fuck-off, BO you Flat Earth piece of excrement.

#54

Posted by: jcave137 | June 12, 2011 6:43 PM

Christianity, despite its feminine Nature, is a good religion

Wait...this looks really stupid. Do you mean to imply that "feminine" religions are inferior to non-feminine religions? Your use of the word "despite" seems to indicate thus.

If you do imply such, then please post all your comments in Comic Sans MS henceforth, as you defile the entire race of Times fonts with such stupidity.

#55

Posted by: Queequeg | June 12, 2011 6:45 PM

Also. Christianity is not feminime. It's hard for something so mysogynistic to be feminime.

#56

Posted by: Queequeg | June 12, 2011 6:47 PM

Sorry about defiling the comments with such poor spelling.

#57

Posted by: holyspiritdenier | June 12, 2011 6:47 PM

If Islam came from Judaism and Christianity, why do we still have Jews and Christians around?

#58

Posted by: Chaos Cryptic | June 12, 2011 6:53 PM

Wait...this looks really stupid. Do you mean to imply that "feminine" religions are inferior to non-feminine religions? Your use of the word "despite" seems to indicate thus.

Old news. BO_Bill is an openly misogynistic and racist troll. Don't bother engaging, just killfile on sight.

#59

Posted by: Menyambal: Making sambal (it isn't dragon magic). | June 12, 2011 6:56 PM

The danger of professed Atheism is that all men are inherently religious and in the absence of an established God, will create their own, usually in their own image, and with their own prejudices.

The danger of professed Christianity is that in the absence of an actual God, people will create their own, usually in their own image, and with their own prejudices, and believe that it is real and speaking to them and must be obeyed and must be forced on upon other people.

Atheists, at least, know they are the only ones present. Besides, folks are not naturally religious--that's a common Christian belief, and and as wrong as the rest of them.

#60

Posted by: Patricia, OM | June 12, 2011 6:59 PM

How in the hell did I read #53 as fuck you forever, and ever amen?

Sweet jebus, that's my brain on sober...

#61

Posted by: Patricia, OM | June 12, 2011 7:05 PM

Queequeg - It's not your spelling, you have a Chimp cootie.

#62

Posted by: Yubal | June 12, 2011 7:22 PM

The guy on the poster is not Odin, he's more likely Thor.

Odin has only one eye and no hammer.

#63

Posted by: Anri | June 12, 2011 8:13 PM

Sure Lord Setar, thank you for asking. The danger of professed Atheism is that all men are inherently religious and in the absence of an established God, will create their own, usually in their own image, and with their own prejudices. This illustration, Black Liberation Theology, and the Progressive Movement are but three of countless examples.
Religion is a subset of Biology and our individual strains of Biology is the primary determinant of our religion.

Christianity, despite its feminine Nature, is a good religion as it does not deny man the use of Mathematics to measure, understand, enjoy, and use to our advantage, the Creation.

To put it memetasticly:

NOT SURE IF TROLL
OR JUST STUPID

#64

Posted by: Rasmus | June 12, 2011 8:23 PM

Anri: I take it you haven't seen his blog.

#65

Posted by: Anri | June 12, 2011 8:38 PM

Anri: I take it you haven't seen his blog.

Yeah, I've avoided that particular pleasure and am only familiar with his writings here.

#66

Posted by: sumdum | June 12, 2011 8:45 PM

@ #51: Thor doesn't want your worship, he wants your sword!

#67

Posted by: Rasmus | June 12, 2011 10:07 PM

Ah. Well I think the answer to your question is "yes" and "yes" and possibly "ethanol".

#68

Posted by: larryclyons | June 12, 2011 10:54 PM

As others have said, its Thor.

Reminds me of an old joke. The morning after a particularly good party in Valhalla, Thor comes staggering out with a major hangover. Slumped down at one of the tables is a particularly fetching new Valkyrie. He goes up to her and "I'm Thor!"

The Valkyrie raises her head and opens a very bleary eye and responds, "Your thor! After latht night, I'm so thor I can hardly pith."

Thanks folks, I'll be here all week. Try the veal.

#69

Posted by: Cath the Canberra Cook | June 13, 2011 12:43 AM

I love how we're all correcting the image. Yep, it's Thor, not Odin. Once again atheists know their religions.

#70

Posted by: Koshka | June 13, 2011 4:50 AM

I think BO Bill has used a capital N in nature before. But now he has used a capital M in mathematics. WTF?

#71

Posted by: serendipitydawg | June 13, 2011 6:42 AM

I knew there had to be a reason why my brain hung onto a piece of doggerel for nearly 50 years:

The god of war rode forth one day

Upon a little filly.

"I'm Thor," he cried, the horse replied:

"You've forgotten your thaddle, thilly."

#72

Posted by: Birger Johansson | June 13, 2011 7:31 AM

CJO @ 52

Damn! Thats so insightful, it should have been 42!
(yes, very weak joke)
Anyway, I have copied your comment and intend to keep it handy for future meme wars in the service of Teh Gnu Atheists :-)

#73

Posted by: AlanMac | June 13, 2011 8:50 AM

Rather amusing to read all the Norse apologetics to explain the contradictions in the poster.

#74

Posted by: dnebdal | June 13, 2011 9:42 AM

@AlanMac:
The difference is that we don't believe a word of it - so it's more like how e.g. SciFi fans react to obvious mistakes in media references to their setting of choice. ;)

#75

Posted by: blf | June 13, 2011 9:48 AM

we don't believe a word of it

We don't? Are you saying Odin didn't defeat the ice giants, and Thor didn't nail that uppity wannabe carpenter to a tree? Heretic! Blasphemer!

#76

Posted by: greymav | June 13, 2011 10:37 AM

Odin's self-sacrifice was cooler than Jesus'. Jesus just got nailed; Odin was well hung.

#77

Posted by: staceys.grrl | June 13, 2011 11:06 AM

If God made women from a man, why are there still men?

#78

Posted by: Queequeg | June 13, 2011 1:33 PM

Patricia, OM: Yes, that's probably what it is. I like to take my lead from the Rev ;)

#79

Posted by: meaninglessnoise | June 13, 2011 3:16 PM

Clearly, not all gods are created equal...

#80

Posted by: Rev. BigDumbChimp | June 13, 2011 3:29 PM

chooties for the lot of you

#81

Posted by: truthspeaker | June 13, 2011 5:22 PM

CJO, I read a similar explanation of Revelation a long, long time ago in a book of New Testament criticism. I thought it was common knowledge, and I get a little disappointed whenever I see a fellow atheists describe Revelation as an incoherent mushroom trip. It's very coherent if you know what you're looking for - and it does not describe the events in "The Omen".

Also, 616 is code for Nero.

#82

Posted by: Ye Olde Blacksmith | June 13, 2011 11:44 PM

Yay, chimp cooties!

-------------------------------

I can't help but point out that the hammer, as depicted, is absurd. A stone head with a steel haft-brace? That's just silly.

/nitpicky blacksmith irrelavancy

#83

Posted by: John Morales | June 14, 2011 7:48 AM

Ye Olde Blacksmith:

I can't help but point out that the hammer, as depicted, is absurd. A stone head with a steel haft-brace? That's just silly.

Hey, here's a god that looks like a man past his prime, and you're concerned that a puissant smiting tool looks like a stone head with a steel haft-brace?

#84

Posted by: KG | June 14, 2011 8:04 AM

serendipitydawg@71,

I've heard a joke along the same lines, the punchline being:
"Tho am I, but I'm thatithfied!"