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August 2009 Blog Posts (253)

(un)Intelligent Design: Recurrent laryngeal nerve

I’m writing this post in the hope of informing fellow non-theists about my favorite anatomical proof of evolution emphasizing a vestigial organ. No, it’s not your appendix.

The recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) was first discovered in Rome during the second century AD by the legendary physician Galen, who demonstrated its function using a live pig. Though the RLN is nothing new to science, it is an excellent example of evolution’s imperfect designs and one that, I think, most people… Continue

Added by OutlawGirl on August 31, 2009 at 11:00pm — 1 Comment

Crushing Irreducible complexity

This is a post in progress. I am trying to come up with a (somewhat) basic argument that shows the pointlessness of the irreducible complexity argument. Please leave comments, questions, and ideas for improvement.

Let us suppose a biological system. Gene A performs action X. Gene A evolves to function as a tetramer.

In the format:

Gene group -> action

AAAA -> X

Now, suppose gene A duplicates in the genome (see the case of the Hox cluster). Gene A… Continue

Added by John Secular Smith on August 31, 2009 at 8:44pm — No Comments

Informal survey re:Code of Conduct.

Some of you will be aware there was an incident in chat recently regarding a 'theist'. The individual involved was claiming not to be a theist by virtue of following no religious dogma. They thought there may be some 'god type thing', but were exploring the idea. Before there was a chance for any further dialogue, the chat erupted and the individual in question left and was promptly reported. I suspect that that person has been banned, but I have no real idea.

This got me thinking… Continue

Added by Anne Halligan on August 31, 2009 at 8:05pm — 18 Comments

no title

Losing a family member is never easy. Though during this time I try to ignore my first reaction when people say they will pray for me. I know they mean well, and that is what matters. And if what my grandfather wanted was a Catholic mass, then that is what we will do. Our last wishes do deserve to be respected, within reason of course.

I try not to think about him being gone too much, but it's hard. It is a part of life, but not one I enjoy.

Added by deepthought42 on August 31, 2009 at 7:35pm — 4 Comments

Last 24 hours -- Let's bring it home!

Foundation Beyond Belief is a new 501c3 charitable and educational foundation created (1) to focus, encourage and demonstrate humanistic generosity, and (2) to support a nationwide education and support program for nontheistic parents.

We're now in the home stretch of our founding fund drive -- just 24 hours to go, and 24 percent of our goal remains before the drive ends on Sept 1. If we can just push through the last bit here, we will have the funds needed to see us through… Continue

Added by Dale McGowan on August 31, 2009 at 6:57pm — No Comments

Denver school to include irreligion in its 'Assets' after settling lawsuit with FFRF

The national Freedom From Religion Foundation has settled a federal lawsuit against the Cherry Creek School District in Denver, Colo., over a policy that urged children to spend an hour a week at a religious institution. The District and the Foundation agreed upon wording to include encouragement to children to spend an hour a week in various civic or educational pursuits, including not only religious but irreligious.…

Continue

Added by Trina Hoaks on August 31, 2009 at 3:54pm — No Comments

Faith

Today, we're going to talk about faith.

You can't say I don't tackle the Big Important Topics here. In this one post, I'm going to cover the entire foundation of almost every religion in the history of ever, the pillar on which all theology is founded, and the subject over which perhaps more hours of scholarly work and profound philosophising has taken place over the centuries than any other. The one elusive, ethereal concept whose significance has plagued the most enlightened and… Continue

Added by Cubik's Rube on August 31, 2009 at 1:47pm — No Comments

Addendum - How as an atheist I cope with tragedy.

Previous Post:

Raquel Plascencia Fonseca: January 7th, 1946 - June 30th, 2009

My mom finally got to rest last Wensday, June 30. She had a respiratory arrest around 7:00PM after being in a coma for nearly 3 months.

In my previous post I talked about my experience during her convalescence. We are all sad about her passing on. I am sad, I miss her a lot, but I am… Continue

Added by G.P.Plascencia on August 31, 2009 at 12:30pm — 4 Comments

gayasians

so what do we call a gay asian atheist?

Added by Bob Lowe on August 31, 2009 at 10:15am — 3 Comments

More Woo from the New Age crazies

How to you Pendulums for Dowsing and Divination!

New Age "psychics" are incredible inventive when it comes to finding ways to do supernatural stuff with everyday crap. One of these is pendulum dowsing: a technique done with a paper clip and string that can tell the future!

The article gives clear directions:

1) Make a pendulum out of something… Continue

Added by John Secular Smith on August 31, 2009 at 9:00am — 1 Comment

So glad I am currently forced to use Linux

First what makes me glad to be using Linux is that the distro I use, Ubuntu, has a multiple desktop environment feature which means I can move an open program window to a different desktop that is not visible without switching to that desktop. The reason this makes me glad is that I am not ready to tell my family that I am an atheist. This feature just helped me hide my atheism from my sister for the last hour.

The story, I was responding to a comment on a discussion I posted and my… Continue

Added by David Lee Halle II on August 31, 2009 at 12:44am — 3 Comments

Interesting work on the origin of homosexuality within an individual.

I received this video via a psychology newsletter. It shows some interesting research into the origins of homosexuality within an individual using twin studies. It poses some interesting science. What do you think of it?

Video 1 Video 2

Added by Anne Halligan on August 30, 2009 at 1:00pm — 5 Comments

Atheists victorious - Judge orders 'Almighty God' in Kentucky unconstitutional

When American Atheists (AA) realized that the Kentucky office of Homeland Security had '"God" in its law, it sprang to action. Along with 10 other plaintiffs, AA filed suit to get the reference to God removed from the law.

According to AA, the "2006 law... blatantly mixes church and state, in defiance of the US Constitution." The law they speak of requires that the executive director of Kentucky's Homeland Security shall "[p]ublicize the findings of the General Assembly stressing the… Continue

Added by Trina Hoaks on August 30, 2009 at 11:54am — 1 Comment

Touched by an Atheist

Continue

Added by Left of Larry on August 29, 2009 at 7:33pm — 2 Comments

Lake Local School District in Ohio Makes Belief in God a Goal

There are few things that can get under my skin like the education system in America. We do not do enough to teach our kids about the real wonders in the world through logical inspection and we fail miserably to teach them to respect or understand history. Schools that respect the secular requirements of our government fail to impart the importance of these subjects. What education are we denying children when they are educated by a school district that makes “belief in god” a goal in their… Continue

Added by LaRae Meadows on August 29, 2009 at 4:30pm — 2 Comments

A Question for Believers that you might find useful in discussions.

The following was published on Gather.com after the posting of still another xtian rant. Feel free to use it whenever it might apply.

A Question for Believers

August 29, 2009 04:29 PM EDT

I posed this question in several different forms on the thread of a post that declared those of us who could or would not accept the "fact" of god's existence were just being obstinate, obdurate, obtuse or, in her words "intentionally ignorant". The gist of her… Continue

Added by Ruth Dickson on August 29, 2009 at 4:17pm — 3 Comments

God Hates Faith

The title of my first book is :

“God Hates Faith: The Absurdity of Faith-Based Morality“

Description:

Faith has motivated individuals to perform some, if not all, of the most horrendous acts in human history. Recently, there have been a lot of books that have argued that belief in a God is a destructive thing. This book sees things differently. This book assumes that it is, in fact, the concept of faith that is destructive and not a belief in God. The book… Continue

Added by Aidan Maslow on August 29, 2009 at 10:36am — No Comments

How I help...

Our view, non-theism, is growing in popularity

For me, I help people become enlightened by talking with them. It's pretty much common knowledge that I am an Atheist, but when i talk to those on the fence about the issue, I like to pretend that I too am a bit on the fence. It lets my friend or family member know that I don't have all the answers and that they should definitely do their own research...but, from this starting point I begin a conversation...not a debate. People see… Continue

Added by Diana Graves on August 29, 2009 at 5:06am — No Comments