Ride 'um, Guvnah. Weehah!
So what happened to all the dinosaurs, daddy?
For even more Creationist fun, take the whole family to see Barefoot and Progressive.
"I want to be in Kentucky when the end of the world comes, because it's always 20 years behind." ~ Mark Twain.
??? I see nothing.
ReplyDeleteO ye of little faith.
ReplyDeleteThe above: HILARIOUS!
ReplyDeleteThe video: Amazing. You have a bit of poetry in your soul, IANVS. What a complete surprise.
Wrote a lot of lyrics & tunes back in our '60s rebel years. Sang & played even more.
ReplyDeleteWe've slowed down a bit. But that's another story.
You are surprising indeed. I never would have guessed.
ReplyDeleteGetting old sucks.
I've always been amazed by the "young universe" crowd's misunderstanding of the Bible. The creation story in Genesis is a stunningly accurate description of a step by step billions year long process.
ReplyDeleteInteresting interpretation, Paul - care to elaborate?
ReplyDeleteIt's all there - the Big Bang, the formation of stars and planets, the geological separation of land and sea on Earth, life starting in the sea and progressing onto land, life being formed from the slime of the earth, the primordial goo.
ReplyDeleteYoung or old, a creationist is still irrisio infidelium.
ReplyDelete"In fact, if someone believes the world is flat, they can still be a faithful Catholic. In the early days many Catholics believed the world was flat, and they still went to heaven. God is in search of a faithful heart, not a degree in science. Jesus said "become as children." (Mat 18:3) Most children don't know how old the earth is and don't care."
Catholic Position on Creationism and Evolution
Creationism, god-diddling, what's the difference?
ReplyDelete“The only real limitation is that we do not believe that the human soul came from an evolutionary process,” he added, “because evolutionary processes are material, they're bodily.”
“Even though human embodiment may have evolved over a varied period of time – and it could have evolved even from subordinate species – the human soul is a special creation of God - it transcends the material order.”
Evidence challenging Darwin 'could be valid'
Ah, so it's a Catholic thing? I am much more familiar with the Southern Baptist belief.
ReplyDeletePretty much the same in our book.
ReplyDeleteTheir book is better and trumps the law of the land.
The Holy Bible was written by men divinely inspired and is God's revelation of Himself to man. It is a perfect treasure of divine instruction. It has God for its author, salvation for its end, and truth, without any mixture of error, for its matter.
Their god - all 3 of them -- is bigger & better than yours.
There is one and only one living and true God. He is an intelligent, spiritual, and personal Being, the Creator, Redeemer, Preserver, and Ruler of the universe. God is infinite in holiness and all other perfections. God is all powerful and all knowing; and His perfect knowledge extends to all things, past, present, and future, including the future decisions of His free creatures.
Their god diddled with creation somewhere back in pre-history.
Man is the special creation of God, made in His own image. He created them male and female as the crowning work of His creation. The gift of gender is thus part of the goodness of God's creation. In the beginning man was innocent of sin and was endowed by his Creator with freedom of choice. By his free choice man sinned against God and brought sin into the human race. Through the temptation of Satan man transgressed the command of God, and fell from his original innocence whereby his posterity inherit a nature and an environment inclined toward sin. Therefore, as soon as they are capable of moral action, they become transgressors and are under condemnation.
YHWH, YHWH, YHWH...
Jesu, Jesu, Jesu...
Yada, yada, yada...
LOL. Awesome stuff! Pretty powerful imagery, if nothing else.
ReplyDeleteI always thought the SBC did not believe in evolution in any way, shape or form. I could be wrong about that, since I have extremely limited experience with them. However, I had no idea that Catholics could somehow incorporate evolution in to the mix. All I have to say to that is: WOW. Humans never fail to fascinate.
You know, I really tried to believe, I really did. But there are too many holes, too many birth defects, and too much evil for me to believe.
And too much inequity too.
ReplyDeleteWe've Catholics & Southern Baptists & others in the family. Most are honest, reasonable people despite their religious beliefs.
ReplyDeleteOur beef is with those who misuse the power & influence of religion & politics for self-aggrandizement to con & persuade believers & followers into actions against their own self-interest & well-being.
Try this on for size:
We are the universe made conscious of itself. We are stardust that self-assembled & eventually became aware of itself & its surroundings.
We are related to that cat purring in the window, to that sparrow singing for its mate, to that oak tree rustling in the wind.
We are part & parcel of nature, of everything we hear & see & touch, of all this.
Of course, words fail me. Awe-inspiring. Needless to say, I teared up. Our world is just beautiful.
ReplyDeleteReligion still sucks - at least for me. I can't get past the gristle. But I am happy for those that take comfort from it. Well, at least until I start thinking about all that gristle. But, it's not like I am ever going to change anyone's mind about it. It is what it is.
Have you ever changed anyone's mind about religion?
Changed another's mind about religion? Perhaps, but they'll never tell. Religion, like football & politics, becomes part of one's DNA. But these holy demons can be exorcised with sincere questioning, discomforting doubt, & serious soul searching.
ReplyDeleteDuring 18 credit hours of philosophy & 12 of theology, the Jesuits repeatedly hammered us to question everything. We did. Over the next couple of decades, we slowly awakened from the god spell.
While mindful of others' sincere beliefs, we do not hesitate to call out the bigots & brimstoners who try to shove their godly garbage & theocratic fundamentalism into our public schools & government halls. We'll thank them to save it for church & home. Amen.
re: we do not hesitate to call out the bigots & brimstoners
ReplyDeleteOnline only? Or in person? You and Tom get into it like little boys. Actually, I think it is damn funny but of course I have to give y'all a hard time about it. Would you talk to him like that in person too? I would pay good money to see all of y'all in one room together, I really would.
It would be post-apocalytic, that's for sure.
ReplyDeletebtw, we said bigot, you said Tom.
Oh! Oops. So I did. Hmmm... I had a really really really long response written and I deleted most of it. Too boring. I guess I deleted too much. And I should have segued more skillfully. It was certainly unintended.
ReplyDelete(Insert smooth segue of your choice) You are very funny. Post-apocalyptic indeed. Really? Would it end up as a shout fest? Or would everyone feel too awkward to even talk? I bet you wouldn't have a problem. And I bet you would be polite and smooth as silk... Not too sure about anyone else though...
Need some sackcloth & ashes?
ReplyDeleteHa! I had to google that. Funny.
ReplyDeleteAgain, you didn't answer my questions.
Melyik?
ReplyDeleteWould it end up as a shout fest? Or would everyone feel too awkward to even talk?
ReplyDeleteI see how it is - time enough to insult Eric, but no time to answer my questions.
ReplyDelete*sigh* Sometimes you go too far. I thought wisdom came with age?
Anybody's guess.
ReplyDeleteThat's it? You are no fun.
ReplyDeletere: "I thought wisdom came with age?"
ReplyDeleteUs too.
"With 60 staring me in the face, I have developed inflammation of the sentence structure and a definite hardening of the paragraphs." - James Thurber
Poor thing. Isn't there a medication for that?
ReplyDeleteHow to change someone's mind is the topic of much discussion on climate blogs. Scientists argue about how to frame the uncertainties of their craft. Some seek an answer.
ReplyDeletere: "Isn't there a medication for that?"
ReplyDeleteAsk IAMES,
or PAVLVS.
Paul, I think scientists can seek and seek, but won't ever find anything useful. On this topic people either have their minds made up, or they don't. You have to reach the people who don't have an opinion yet.
ReplyDeleteIANVS, I am afraid your references are too cryptic for me today. Been googling to no avail...
ReplyDeleteAs persuaders, both scientist and theist are burdened by uncertainty. The theist can make a leap of faith, an option unavailable to the scientist.
ReplyDeleteIAMES THVRBER
ReplyDeleteor PAVLVS KELLI
Early Latin
Paul,
ReplyDeleteScientific leaps of faith must pass the test, where religious leaps of faith merely pass the plate.
Paul, I am not sure I would classify scientists as persuaders. In my mind, they should not have to be. Persuasion is an attempt to convince another party to believe something they might not otherwise have believed. In my opinion, people should not have the luxury to decide whether or not to believe in facts.
ReplyDeleteSadly, some very vocal people do feel it is optional. And clearly scientists are doing a crappy job of communication. They just need to hire publicists.
IANVS, I hope that Latin primer wasn't for my benefit. I just needed a bit of a hint as to which James or Paul you were referring and in what context...
ReplyDeletere: ...merely pass the plate.
Isn't that the Truth.
'Twas James Thurber's inflammation & hardening, not ours.
ReplyDeleteWe're still pretty dang nibble at finding our second wind at high altitudes, metaphorically speaking of course.
Pretty dang nibble, eh? Must be a Cali thing. Maybe I'll find out when I make my annual pilgrimage to the Happiest Place on Earth next year.
ReplyDeleteSo, IANVS, are you trying to piss me off, or make me laugh? I can't tell.
ReplyDelete"No! No different, only different in your mind."
ReplyDeleteOMG. Your answer is so not helpful.
ReplyDeletere: "OMG."
ReplyDeleteIs blasphemy really necessary here?
How about just WTF?
or Allahu Akbar?
It's OMGosh. Not god. Or God. Or Allah, or Isten, or anything even remotely resembling a deity.
ReplyDeleteI try not to curse - it's not very ladylike. I am not always successful, particularly when driving in Houston traffic.
And why the HELL would I say Allahu Akbar?
ReplyDeleteWhy the HELL would you say OMG?
ReplyDeleteDriving in Houston traffic? That's why Darwin gave us the American Bird.
You just love pushing people's buttons, don't you?
ReplyDeleteBTW, you really are funny.
ReplyDeleteLike we said, it's in the genes.
ReplyDeletePushing buttons indeed. Clever! In fact, far too clever for us mere mortals. How boring it must be for you!
ReplyDeleteLove it! Very festive. The atheist Christmas blog post was waaaay too long though.
ReplyDeleteMaybe, he was an evangelical preacher in his waaaay former life.
ReplyDeleteLOL Now I have to recreate my post. *sigh* Well, you got the email, so I won't bother. Let me just reiterate one sentiment: "Moderation" SUCKS. I wanted to use some other choice words, but I guess I self-moderated. Ha.
ReplyDeletere: "It appears improper English grates on your nerves."
ReplyDeleteWe are cursed with the eye of an eagle & the ears of a beagle.
Nonetheless, we revel in language with all its stammers & stomps & gobbly goops.
Written language is merely a symbolic imitation of the sounds & syllables that foam & flash through our brain to rumble & tumble across our tongue. Who's to say what's proper? Merriam?
Feel free to spell it eni waaaay u chuze.
btw, you missed our mega-gaff today while pwning #5.
What was it?????
ReplyDeleteWe ain't telling.
ReplyDeleteNeither are the Ohioans & Wisconsinites.
Well, I have most of it, I think, at work. Maybe. Unless there is an automatic update and restart. Oh well. You snooze, you lose. And that's what I get for skimming too. I saw the hat comment and thought it was brilliant, but it disappeared. Ugh. Incredibly frustrating.
ReplyDeletere: "Moderation" SUCKS."
ReplyDeleteReally immersed in that transcendent morals scuffle, eh? We heard you salivating from waaay out here.
Big fan of Tennessee Williams?
Ah, no, not exactly.
ReplyDeleteYep. You got it.
ReplyDeleteDuring our earliest literary days, we were introduced to the Tennessee Williams formula:
ReplyDeleteGet your characters on stage & let 'em all decay.
Surely, a transcendent universal moral principle in these parts. TW was a southerner.
These parts? You must mean your parts. You are quite good at what you do. The rest of us are just pawns in your game. Doesn't mean it's not fun.
ReplyDeleteYou have to wonder how different TW's life would have been had he been born 50 years later. Somehow I don't think he could have produced such amazing work without his tragic life behind it all.
As a loather of moderation & voyeur of vocabulary, you might appreciate PZ's latest outburst:
ReplyDelete"Use of profanity well enriches one's vocabulary; the only exhibit of a paucity of verbal ability here is demonstrated by a certain slimy jackanapes who wants to impose arbitrary restrictions on language. Go read some fackin' Shakespeare or goddamned Twain, and as the Holy Bible in II Kings instructs, go "eat [your] own dung and drink [your] own piss.""
Maybe not.
Well that was just pure awesomeness! This is great:
ReplyDeleteWhen you examine the fucking content of a course rather than fussing like a scandalize virgin* over the vigor of the language, then maybe you can talk about an intellectual high ground. But deportment? What is this, grade school where the kiddies are supposed to get evaluated on their manners?
I am not a huge fan of PZ, only because his rants get tiresome, but this was great.
*LOL - most awesomest bit!
Loving the comments too. Very colorful. Even better with a margarita in hand.
ReplyDeletePZ has quite a following on both sides of the Atlantic.
ReplyDeleteMet him @ a conference near Newport Beach a summer or two back. He's a real pussycat.
Not to mention North of the Border, Down Under & Turkey -- you heard right.
ReplyDeleteYou don't have to defend PZ. I am sure he has a tremendous following for good reason. He doesn't need another fan, especially a lukewarm one. But please pass along the more interesting posts.
ReplyDeleteI remember that Mr. Deity video you posted - he seemed so soft-spoken. Completely unlike the mental picture I had of him.
Hmmm... Maybe the stuff I have read in the past wasn't especially representative of PZ's writing. I do particularly like this. Quite brilliant, actually.
ReplyDelete