So science is just like religion!

Uh oh. Don't tell Ben Stein about this; this cartoon may end up as an extra on the 'Expelled' DVD.

Thing of beauty.

I suppose they couldn't have done a cartoon with science being "...rammed down their throats!" (or somesuch)

-DU-

Wish I had time to read this.....things are pretty hectic with my war on xmas plans.

Oh, for crying out loud.

Why is it that conservatives, fundies, and ID'ers have absolutely no sense of humor? I would have more respect for them if they did. Every attempt at humor by these people is...well, NOT. HUMOR.

This is way too subtle for the fundies. I'll lay odds that one of them will read it literally and feature it on their website as an anti-atheist rant.

Rjaye-- the comic is in fact very clever, and very much in defense of atheism. All of the events it re-contextualizes are well known and broadly accepted as either inspired or condoned by the religion of the time.

The comic is effectively using irony/sarcasm to hilight the stupidity of the pope's statements.

Praise Dawkins! (PBUH)

Rjaye, click on the cartoon to view the whole thing. I suspect you're only going by the single panel visible in PZ's post, which by itself can be a bit misleading.

Rack of Lamb

This comic looks like it's in support of atheism to me, because it's showing the absurdity of atheists committing all these atrocities. You all are taking it way too literally.

(I'll also be curious to see how many creationists overlook the sarcasm and accuse me of wanting to torture them on the rack...)

You don't? They will be disappointed then. Getting tortured and killed for their faith is the wettest of dreams for those people kooky enough to think that. Oh well, the UD crowd et al will just have to find someone else to martyr them.

CLICK THE PIC!

The entire comic is BRILLIANT. it illustrates (see what I did there?) exactly why atheism is not deadly, and how foolish unsupported belief in angry gawds KILLS PEOPLE DEAD.

Amazing comic.

Zounds! I wanna spread rational inquiry by the sword!! Where do I get one of those Darwin fishie helmets?

No doubt about it. Ratzo is a shameless, manipulative asshole.

Pope Benedict XVI has authorised special indulgences to mark the 150th anniversary of the Virgin Mary's reputed appearance at Lourdes.

Catholics visiting the site within a year of 8 December will be able to receive an indulgence, which the Church teaches can reduce time in purgatory.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7131088.stm

And, sad to say, the sheeple will obey the guy with the waving arm in the pointy hat. Because they are sheeple. Very sad.

Oh, for crying out loud.

Why is it that conservatives, fundies, and ID'ers have absolutely no sense of humor? I would have more respect for them if they did. Every attempt at humor by these people is...well, NOT. HUMOR.

Posted by: Rjaye | December 12, 2007 7:01 PM

Yes, Virginia, there are stupid atheists.

You all are taking it way too literally.

It's not that they are taking it too literally, it's that they are too stupid and ignorant to understand that, in the terms of the inquisition, dying quickly is desirable, they are too stupid and lazy to click the link, they are too stupid to notice that this is filed under "humor", not "humorless fundies", they are too stupid to make any sort of sense at all of this post ...

Technically, that's a Mill Wheel. See Gregry Abbott's book, "Execution" page 209.

Oops, I meant to write "Geoffrey Abbott", my apologies.

Yes, but PZ, in your heart of hears, you really do wan to torture them on the rack...

Can't. Stop. Laughing.

Pope Benedict XVI has launched a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom, warning them that any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not on dubious ideology. [source]

Aww, cute. It thinks it's people.

Be it resolved, that I:

(1) recognize the Christian faith as one of the dumbest, most asinine religions of the world;

(2) express continued support for Christian bashing and mockery in the United States and worldwide;

(3) express deepest disgust for the gross gullibility of American Christians and Christians throughout the world.

I feel better now.

Zounds! I wanna spread rational inquiry by the sword!! Where do I get one of those Darwin fishie helmets?

Me too! Although I'd use more modern weapons than swords like uh... the Chainsaw of Natural Selection (+2 damage, +5 against creationists).

;D

Can't we all just read some Nietzsche and cuddle?

Well, now I think we have at least one new good idea, who is going to buy Richard Dawkins the rack?

Hey, that looks like the knight in "The Meaning of Life" that gets all his arms ang legs cut off but insists its just a flesh wound. Very cool helmet.

Truth machine, you should really drink less coffee. So Rjaye misinterpreted....it happens. Not something to lose your shit over.

Pope Benedict XVI has launched a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom, warning them that any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not on dubious ideology.

Most.ridiculous.hypocrisy.ever.

Pope Benedict XVI has launched a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom, warning them that any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not on dubious ideology.

Please, please tell me that Daily Mail is a British version of The Onion.

Unless it's a very, very elaborate hoax, I don't think it is.

Well, I'd have to say this comic is a great example of Poe's Law in action:
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=Poe%27s+Law

"Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of Fundamentalism that SOMEONE won't mistake for the real thing."

Truth machine, you should really drink less coffee.

I happen not to drink coffee, asshole.

So Rjaye misinterpreted....it happens. Not something to lose your shit over.

I didn't lose anything, moron.

"Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor, it is impossible to create a parody of Fundamentalism that SOMEONE won't mistake for the real thing."

It's not a parody of fundamentalism. Poe's point is that fundamentalism is so ridiculous that that no exaggeration of it would be any more ridiculous -- but that's not what this is, and Poe's Law doesn't apply here.

Me too! Although I'd use more modern weapons than swords like uh... the Chainsaw of Natural Selection.

Science teh rocks!

Hey, that looks like the knight in "The Meaning of Life" that gets all his arms ang legs cut off but insists its just a flesh wound. Very cool helmet.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail, actually. :)

Pope Benedict XVI has launched a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom, warning them that any solutions to global warming must be based on firm evidence and not on dubious ideology.

No, it's not a joke and it's not really hypocrisy.
It's jealousy!
All these people getting a "new religion"; and it's not his one!

It's not a parody of fundamentalism. Poe's point is that fundamentalism is so ridiculous that that no exaggeration of it would be any more ridiculous -- but that's not what this is, and Poe's Law doesn't apply here.

I seem to remember some of the others above mistaking this comic for a fundamentalist one. So I rather think it applies. After all, placing all of the world's ills upon atheists is a rather common fundamentalist tactic.

Steve @ #35

Oops, that's what I meant. My bad. While I was typing it I was actually thinking of the "Grim Reaper" scene at the dinner party ( one of my favourites ever) and I got mixed up.

I seem to remember some of the others above mistaking this comic for a fundamentalist one. So I rather think it applies.

Apparently you're incapable of reading or thinking. That some people foolishly mistook it for fundamentalism doesn't make it a parody of fundamentalism. Once again: Poe's point is that fundamentalism is so ridiculous that that no exaggeration of it would be any more ridiculous -- but this isn't an illustration of that point.

P.S.

Mr. Dick says "I'd have to say this comic is a great example of Poe's Law in action", but then quotes Poe's Law: ""Without a winking smiley or other blatant display of humor ...". Considering that it's a cartoon, Mr. Dick should, at this point, be smacking his forehead and saying "damn, I'm such an idiot".

Before taking Simon Caldwell's reporting in the Daily Mail too seriously, take a look at Deltoid's report concerning his blatant distortions of what Benedict XVI actually said. It's hardly "a surprise attack on climate change prophets of doom," although that's what Caldwell called it.

[Link]

Actually the 'spread rational inquiry by the sword' is largely historically correct. The vikings, of rape and pillage fame, set up representative parliments where ever they went. Ref the world's first recorded representative parliament in the Isle of Man.

I'd add many other examples, including Iraq and Afghanistan in recent times.

Heh. Now there's a priceless mental image. Hordes of fierce unwashed Vikings landing at some distant shore, bringing with them ballot boxes, literacy and "Democracy for Dummies".

(That was not intended as an insult to the people of the Isle of Man.)

Yes, Virginia, there are stupid atheists.

True (those atheists who profess to be Jews come to mind), but c'mon, it was a simple misunderstanding on Rjaye's part.

Moving back to topic...I absolutely agree with the cartoon. In fact I cannot understand why any theist could argue that atheism has caused more damage without completely ignoring history---unless they have proof that the Crusaders, Inquisitioners, jihadists, etc. weren't REAL theists.

BTW, does anyone know exactly how the Pope spends the majority of his time? I mean, how does he make a living and support himself? He's got to have some sort of income.

Phil_B,

Actually the 'spread rational inquiry by the sword' is largely historically correct. ...

I'd add many other examples, including Iraq and Afghanistan in recent times.

Sure, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have spread rational inquiry. Just like the crusades.

Brandon @ # 46, I don't know about the Pope's income, but he has expenses:

The Pope woke up early one morning with a huge erection. Thinking that it wasn't very Catholic, he tried to get rid of it. Unfortunately, walking around the room, thinking about the Bible and even getting some fresh air on the balcony all failed to soften him up. With only one option left, he sat down on the balcony and did what needed to be done.

Later, he was walking around Rome when a man with a camera approached him. "Hello, Mr Pope," the man said. "Six o'clock this morning, on the balcony, I think you know what I'm talking about."

"I'm sorry, I don't know what you mean," the Pope replied.

"Oh, I think you do," the man retorted, "and 50 thousand will buy you the camera."

Worried and confused, the Pope paid up and took the camera.

Back in the Vatican, one of the Pope's aides asked about the camera. "A chap in town sold it to me for 50 thousand," the Pope explained.

"50 thousand?!" exclaimed the aide. "Wow, he must have seen you coming."

I would pay good money to see 80 odd year old Ratzi surprising anyone: did he leap out from under a table as the AGU fall conference shouting, 'No von expects zer Axis inquisition! Ach! Mein back is not all it vos!'

don't feed the troll machine.

Wish I had time to read this.....things are pretty hectic with my war on xmas plans.

BTW, does anyone know exactly how the Pope spends the majority of his time? I mean, how does he make a living and support himself? He's got to have some sort of income.

He's a Hand Waver for the Vatican. His job is to wave. And smile, occasionally. Smile. Wave. Smile. Wave. Wave. Wave. Smile. All day long.

They've tried him with the pronouncement reading but it's not working out so well.

Everything he says sounds utterly ridiculous.

BTW, does anyone know exactly how the Pope spends the majority of his time? I mean, how does he make a living and support himself? He's got to have some sort of income.

He runs a protection racket.

He scares people.

They give him money.

re #53

That explains why Vatican City is in Italy, then.

"I'll also be curious to see how many creationists overlook the sarcasm and accuse me of wanting to torture them on the rack..."

That depends on you. You seem to have a prolific talent for generating as many straw men as the situation requires.

Yes, Virginia, there are stupid atheists.

True (those atheists who profess to be Jews come to mind), but c'mon, it was a simple misunderstanding on Rjaye's part.

Brandon, you're aware the being culturally and ethnically Jewish is separate from being religiously Jewish, right? Because most of the Jewish people I know are also atheists.

I also don't get why TM's losing it over Rjaye's simple, and understandable misinterpretation. That one frame, out of context from the rest of the comic, could easily be mistaken for a Chick Tract with better artwork.

Moving back to topic...I absolutely agree with the cartoon. In fact I cannot understand why any theist could argue that atheism has caused more damage without completely ignoring history---unless they have proof that the Crusaders, Inquisitioners, jihadists, etc. weren't REAL theists.

Then I invite you to read this comment by K. Herfurth (especially the fourth reply) over on Amazon (in a review of McGrath's Twilight of Atheism).

Not only does he state that "All completely secular polictical ideas have been devastating to humankind", but goes on to excuse the Crusades and the Inquisition as being misrepresented as overly religious, when they were really just mostly political (ignoring the inextricable mix of politics and religion, of course).

Then he throws in some great stuff about ontology and gay marriage, Hitler's atheism, and the Catholic Church's totally logical stance on condoms in Africa. Feel free to chime in and bash him. I haven't gotten around to writing a response, yet.

#50: I'm still laughing.

'Science is a religion' is the last ditch stand of every desperate believer who pathetically throws in a total fallicious argument.