Project Reason is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation devoted to spreading scientific knowledge and secular values in society. The foundation draws on the talents of prominent and creative thinkers in a wide range of disciplines to encourage critical thinking and erode the influence of dogmatism, superstition, and bigotry in our world.
This sort of stuff makes me speechless and despairing. This so called pastor is a lunatic. And yet this shit appeals to a large section of Americans. I dunno what will become of America unless it can excise this cancer from itself. America needs to get the smarts. Religion never used to infect America like this. Renewed emphasis on science and education will help elevate America to her former position as leader of the free world. If America sinks into this sort of delusional thinking the whole world is going to be the worse for it.
Die fröhliche Wissenschaft (Rob) - 10 June 2012 04:27 AM
Religion never used to infect America like this.
Yeah, it did. We used to hang witches, remember. It’s always been there, just that for awhile it was more mainstream and less volatile. Now, we are totally polarized politically, so extreme religion pops up at the edges. It’s a nasty environment. But I agree, an emphasis on science would be beneficial.
Die fröhliche Wissenschaft (Rob) - 10 June 2012 04:27 AM
Religion never used to infect America like this.
Yeah, it did. We used to hang witches, remember. It’s always been there, just that for awhile it was more mainstream and less volatile. Now, we are totally polarized politically, so extreme religion pops up at the edges. It’s a nasty environment. But I agree, an emphasis on science would be beneficial.
We used to hang Blacks, remember?
I sure as hell can’t distinguish which is driving which, the shit is popping out all over the place. If it’s always been there, it’s a marriage of unholy ideals sanctified at the altar of church and state.
ROB: Religion never used to infect America like this.
BRUCE: Yeah, it did. We used to hang witches, remember. It’s always been there, just that for awhile it was more mainstream and less volatile.
Yeah, I know, Bruce, but it seems to me that there was a time in the 50s and 60s where science was riding high and religion was not such a contoversial issue in America - people were more fascinated by the moon landings and science ion general and they were more optimistic about the future. Then somewhere along the way religious fundamentalism got hooked up with the neo-cons and everything started to unravel. Or does it just seem that way to me as an outsider?
DENNIS: He’s just another self-promoting nut-case who’d be selling snake oil if not for religion.
I agree. He had his moment of glory when he threatened to burn the Quran and he misses being a celebrity. I like the guy. He’s done more to discredit the Evangelicals than all the atheists combined. Very few people would not consider his antics loathsome. At least that’s what I assume….
DENNIS: He’s just another self-promoting nut-case who’d be selling snake oil if not for religion.
I agree. He had his moment of glory when he threatened to burn the Quran and he misses being a celebrity. I like the guy. He’s done more to discredit the Evangelicals than all the atheists combined. Very few people would not consider his antics loathsome. At least that’s what I assume….
I hope this to be true, surely he is an embarrassment, even to some of those he claims to represent.
DENNIS: He’s just another self-promoting nut-case who’d be selling snake oil if not for religion.
I agree. He had his moment of glory when he threatened to burn the Quran and he misses being a celebrity. I like the guy. He’s done more to discredit the Evangelicals than all the atheists combined. Very few people would not consider his antics loathsome. At least that’s what I assume….
I hope this to be true, surely he is an embarrassment, even to some of those he claims to represent.
Yeah, I think Sara and Dennis are right about that. On the one hand this guy and people like Fred Phelps appeal to far too many people, but on the other their behavior is loathed and intensely disapproved by the vast majority. By and large they’re considered pariahs ... which is why the US media loves to give them center stage whenever they act out (which has a lot to do with why we’re such a polarized society right now).
Sigh. While this is as stupid and pointless as the Koran burning crap, nobody will riot, and no innocent victims will be killed over this incredible offensive display. That’s a difference the muslim community should sit up and notice.
Die fröhliche Wissenschaft (Rob) - 10 June 2012 04:27 AM
This sort of stuff makes me speechless and despairing. This so called pastor is a lunatic. And yet this shit appeals to a large section of Americans. I dunno what will become of America unless it can excise this cancer from itself. America needs to get the smarts. Religion never used to infect America like this. Renewed emphasis on science and education will help elevate America to her former position as leader of the free world. If America sinks into this sort of delusional thinking the whole world is going to be the worse for it.
Conservative Americans finds the OP to be distasteful and completely wrong. What leaves me speechless is that same thing happens on the other side, “to much larger degree”, yet, left finds it to be normal.
George Bush burns in effigy in Washington DC. To the delights and laughter from the crowd.
Nothing new to see there ... we all know he sees precisely whatever the hell he wants to see and has little if any interest in what’s real and true.
No need to make a futile attempt at engaging or correcting him, or to give him further attention (this comment is bad enough, but unfortunately, given the fact the above comment normally guarantees a great deal of attention, it seems warranted).
Die fröhliche Wissenschaft (Rob) - 10 June 2012 04:27 AM
This sort of stuff makes me speechless and despairing. This so called pastor is a lunatic. And yet this shit appeals to a large section of Americans. I dunno what will become of America unless it can excise this cancer from itself. America needs to get the smarts. Religion never used to infect America like this. Renewed emphasis on science and education will help elevate America to her former position as leader of the free world. If America sinks into this sort of delusional thinking the whole world is going to be the worse for it.
Conservative Americans finds the OP to be distasteful and completely wrong. What leaves me speechless is that same thing happens on the other side, “to much larger degree”, yet, left finds it to be normal.
George Bush burns in effigy in Washington DC. To the delights and laughter from the crowd.
This is reason 42125678 for why I have no respect for the left.
Ha, ha, ha. I looked at your links. One is a youtube of some completely anonymous idiots burning something totally unrecognizable in the street at night with no observers and apparently zero news coverage. The only way you could possibly conclude this was a George Bush effigy is by listening to what the idiots filming the events stated. How many youtube videos did you have to scour to find this flacid counterpoint? The other appears to be a vacant wikipedia reference to a book with no details whatsoever. These absolutely are the equivalent of Pastor Jerry dumbass’ highly public, racially-charged outrage. Nice work bozo. Don’t fall off your high horse onto a pile of George Bush effigies in your effort to overreach.
Pastor Terry does not represent “conservatives” in the sense of most people who consider themselves that; any more than someone seriously proposing to hang or prosecute Bush represents most liberals. Terry, McVeigh, and those like them are acting on the basis of their own agendas, and could care less if they reflect more commonly held political positions. Their agenda is dominated by their own seeking for personal publicity and “glory,” to see themselves as heroes or martyrs, with the cause being just window dressing. Terry did not care that burning Korans might result in people dying, only that it brought him, an otherwise pathetic man, fame and glory. He was in part bought off from the Koran burning threat by expensive gifts, a car as I remember, and promise of air time with some personage. Threatened with personal harm, and in the immediate sense of looking down a gun barrel, not newspaper editorials, his “faith” would suddenly become moot. I’m not as sure that McVeigh would’ve done the same, he marched to his own execution quite willing. But Terry is a rural small town religious leader for a flock of, why, a few score of people for whom HS was a challenge and bigotry a way of life. What he wants and seeks is fame and attention otherwise denied him.
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