Posted on August 24, 2009 by Michael
To be sure, the doctrine of a personal God interfering with natural events could never be refuted, in the real sense, by science, for this doctrine can always take refuge in those domains in which scientific knowledge has not yet been able to set foot.
But I am persuaded that such behavior on the part of the representatives of religion would not only be unworthy but also fatal. For a doctrine which is able to maintain itself not in clear light but only in the dark, will of necessity lose its effect on mankind, with incalculable harm to human progress.
~Einstein
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Posted on August 20, 2009 by Michael
Ask someone what their political orientation is, or if they’re typically liberal or conservative, and it won’t be uncommon to get a response to the effect of “None. I don’t fit these labels so easily.” These people are usually wrong.
It’s just a simple fact that most people fall into general categories. Telling me you’re a conservative doesn’t tell me all your views, but it gives me a general idea. And chances are great that any given person will find themselves agreeing primarily with one political party or one ideology. It’s obnoxious to deny this.
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Posted on August 14, 2009 by Michael
Whatever the motive, the consequence is that if a reputable scholar breathes so much as a hint of criticism of some detail of current Darwinian theory, the fact is eagerly seized on and blown up out of all proportion. So strong is this eagerness, it is as though there were a powerful amplifier, with a finely tuned microphone selectively listening out for anything that sounds the tiniest bit like opposition tp Darwinism. This is most unfortunate, for serious argument and criticism is a vitally important part of any science, and it would be tragic if scholars felt the need to muzzle themselves because of the microphones. Needless to say the amplifier, though powerful, is not hi-fi: there is plenty of distortion! A scientist who cautiously whispers some slight misgiving about a current nuance of Darwinism is liable to hear his distorted and barely recognizable words booming and echoing through the eagerly waiting loudspeakers.
~Richard Dawkins
This really captures a fundamental aspect of the dishonesty present in so many creationists (especially the public ones).
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Posted on August 11, 2009 by Michael
The American creationist movement has entirely bypassed the scientific forum and has concentrated instead on political lobbying and on taking its case to a fair-minded electorate… The reason for this strategy is overwhelmingly apparent: no scientific case can be made for the theories they advance.
~Ken Miller
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Posted on August 7, 2009 by Michael
I’m sure I’ve had this thought elsewhere on For the Sake of Science, but it deserves repeating.
I love when the religious call evolution or atheism or whathaveyou “religion”. They’re trying to expunge any merit from the expressed belief(s) by associating it with the emptiness of what they hold dear. Sure, they’re horribly wrong and have no clue how to define “religion”. But if they want to debase my beliefs by inherently debasing the very idea of religion, then I’m going to have a hard time objecting.
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Posted on August 1, 2009 by Michael
“If this being is omnipotent, then every occurrence, including every human action, every human thought, and every human feeling and aspiration is also His work; how is it possible to think of holding men responsible for their deeds and thoughts before such an almighty Being? In giving out punishment and rewards He would to a certain extent be passing judgment on Himself. How can this be combined with the goodness and righteousness ascribed to Him?”
~Albert Einstein
And there’s one critical difference in the morality of believers and the morality of non-believers. Believers defer responsibility, at least to some abstract degree, elsewhere. That is not possible in an atheistic system of belief. Responsibility must always fall on the shoulders of man.
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Posted on July 30, 2009 by Michael
The religious are convinced that it is a mistake for atheists and scientists to mock their beliefs. It is not. The religious simply have no perspective. They hold bad ideas. Many of their ideas are as silly as unicorns, Santa, and celestial teapots. Feel free to believe those things – just don’t ask me to respect you for it.
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Posted on July 22, 2009 by Michael
PZ Myers is the everyday voice of the atheist community. Richard Dawkins is the overarching tone-setter.
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Posted on July 19, 2009 by Michael
Maybe the worst thing about creationism isn’t that it’s absurdly ugly but simply that it is false.
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For the Sake of Science 