There is an interesting account out of Waco, Texas where Bill Nye “The Science Guy” was booed for saying that the Moon does not generate it own light — in contradiction to the Bible. This will likely end any dream of Nye to open a new Bill Nye “The Religion Guy” line of products. The speech reportedly occurred in 2006 but the controversy was rekindled after critics cried foul at the removal of the story from the local newspaper’s online archive.
Nye ran afoul of the faithful by remarking that it is not true that the moon generates its own light as opposed to reflecting light. This contradicted Genesis 1:16, which says quite clearly (if only Nye bothered to read it) that “God made two great lights — the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars.” Fortunately, there were educated people in the audience who proceeded to boo Nye and walk out. One woman with three children reportedly screamed “We believe in God!” while storming out.
Now what is particularly interesting is the Waco Tribune broke the story and ran an article with quotations from the audience. However, it has been removed from the online site, as noted at an atheist site. However, it has now been returned, here. Why would the newspaper remove a clearly important story with international interest? If the story was false, there should have been a retraction and an investigation. If it is simply embarrassing, the newspaper is engaging in self-censorship. Either way, the newspaper owes people and explanation.
In the meantime, Nye needs to answer for his rejection of biblical science. Recently, Texas legislators moved to help create a master’s in creationist science. Perhaps Nye should be required to get a real science degree in creationism as opposed to that ridiculous Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Cornell.
Next he is going question the fact that the sun revolves around the earth and find himself in a papal trial.
For the original article, click here
AY,
If they have a problem with Arabic numerals, then Roman numerals are too good for them.
I say let them use binary modulus 25.
I can smell the Wal-Mart’s burning to the ground from customer frustration now!
Buddha,
Shush yo mouth. You will awaken the might troll with nothing to say.
This is to the guy that posted about the Bible, in it the fun da mental ists. They don’t know nothing about the B-I-B-L-E or they would all claim to be Jewish and that would really screw up the system for everyone.
Really, no where in the book does Jesus ever say. “I Jesus Renounce Judaism and all it stands for.” and another secret I learned while trying to clear my head, in seminary, and you want to know where all the Politics started, only once in the BIBLE does it get close to Jesus saying he was g-d and that is in I believe Luke, I am in the Father and the Father is in me and therefor yada yada. Thats the only place.
But Please don’t tell them. They will tell the leader of PTL which stands for Pay The Leader. And they will come a trollin doing the master bidden.
One part of the Old Testament states that there shall be a city for people would commit Murder. Actually a couple of em. But I am too lazy to go to the exact cite. I admit it I AM LAZY at times. But some of these people are lazy all the time. You wonder how they figured out how to turn the puter on and work other inventions of marvel.
So there you have it the Bible as AY sees it today.
Can you say Amen. Opps another one of the foreign words we use that people don’t know about and do not tell then that most people are only introduced to two numbering systems Roman and that other one I am afraid if I say it, they will pray for my soul to decompose and not to be recomposed.
Former Dem,
Are you doin’ much preachin’ lately? If so, please answer the questions Bob, Esq. posted … (Jerry asking Laura).
You will need those answers if you plan to attend tea bag parties dude.
Former Dem,
Is your favorite James Brown tune, “Talking Loud and Saying Nothing”?
Yeah. I’m a thinkin’ . . .
Former Dem,
When were you last a Dem, 1980? You’re just another troll parroting your FOX-fed propaganda. Do you really think your pretext as a disenchanted Democrat is even a little plausible given the content of your drivel?
“My problem is with fundamentalism (religious or otherwise).
Amen Brother Gyges, that’s my problem too. However, what pisses me off no end and what I call blasphemy in any religious context is the idea of pre-ordination. It make God into a puppeteer, watching people as an amusement in a story that is not allowed to vary. firm believers in the book of Revelation typify this and don’t realize what a put down of God this is. This is why as you say the preachers are mostly con-men, though stage magicians would fit aptly, they need to send peoples attention elsewhere so as not to see the reality behind the trick. At least Thomas More, Beckett, Luther, et. al. had some intellectual chops. This modern day crew lacks the ability to at least superficially resolve the disconnects.
Why I don’t like or trust Barack Obama anymore:
Admiral Blair & Porter Goss admitting the CIA received high value, lifesaving information from terrorists, while President Obama is condemning the same interrogations as immoral and counterproductive purely for political gain.
President Obama is throwing and has thrown grand White House parties with Kobe beef, a hundred bucks a pound, while telling the nation to cut back in order to survive the greatest economic downturn supposedly since the Great Depression.
Bowing to the king of Saudi Arabia, listening patiently and respectfully while a two-bit dictator lectures Obama with false charges for 50 minutes about the criminal country he leads, and Obama doesn’t say one word to object, one word in disagreement, does not stand up for his country at one point during the Summit of the Americas.
Now we’ve got Fidel Castro setting Obama straight about how Cuba handles political prisoners and its economy. Fidel Castro, one of Obama’s idols, calling him superficial.
We had the nomination of tax cheats to his cabinet, including the man who oversees the IRS, five tax cheats in the Obama administration.
We have Obama’s joke of a press spokesman, who makes a complete idiot of himself on a daily basis.
He sends back a symbol of freedom, that bust of Sir Winston Churchill to Great Britain just after moving into the White House. He wants nothing to do with it. He did of his own volition. They said you can keep it. He said no, we don’t want it here. They said put it in a different room in the White House. We don’t want it here, and sent it back to the British embassy. It was given to us, President Bush, after 9/11, by the Brits. He insulted the prime minister of England, the queen of England, with embarrassing, thoughtless gifts.
We have the French president Sarkozy ridiculing Obama’s messianic complex, inviting him to walk on water at Normandy beach.
We have Iran taking a hostage, an American journalist, as Obama promises better relations.
We have North Korea humiliating Obama with their missile launch.
We have Obama putting the country in debt for generations to come while promising fiscal responsibility, offering up laughable budget cuts, banning lobbyists from his administration, while appointing them left and right.
Openly lying that Caterpillar would hire up with the passage of his stimulus bill, then watching while that company lays off thousands after the stimulus bill passes.
He pledges to close the prison at Guantanamo Bay but then he keeps it open with no plan for its future.
Proclaiming total transparency, while keeping secret who got the TARP funds, when, where, why.
He is incapable of communicating without a teleprompter.
He attacks a private citizen broadcaster from the White House as part of an orchestrated plan to distract the country from legislation and policies we don’t want, which thus touched off a political firestorm, all of this while claiming to be a unifier.
He makes a ham-handed attempt to nationalize the banks preventing financial institutions from paying back TARP money they don’t need or want.
General Motors is a debacle; it is an absolute debacle and mess, and soon Wall Street is going to be the same thing. He has made bad situations worse with car manufacturers, and the worst is yet to come.
He has sparked hundreds of protests involving hundreds of thousands of Americans at tea parties regarding irresponsible government spending while his Homeland Security chief labels peacefully demonstrating Americans and veterans as security risks.
Spending 800 billion dollars in stimulus. Money that even my grandchildren, if I have any, will not ever be able to pay back.
Spending 3.6 trillion in this budget and ensuring trillion dollar deficits each year for the next decade.
Buddha,
I’m so glad you liked the book. Stephenson doesn’t do short. you’re right Loeb was curiously underdeveloped for Stephenson, who takes pains to develop even minor characters. The man knows his code and explains it to old farts like me. Amy’s ancestor from 300 years in the past is the true hero of the Baroque Cycle, “Half-Cocked” Jack Shaftoe, who doesn’t show up until about page 340 in the first book Quicksilver. Jack is one of the greatest picaresque heroes I’ve ever enjoyed. Waterhouse’s ancestor Daniel is also a main character, he is a Natural Philosopher and a close friend of Isaac Newton’s. Root is also in the book, but not as anyone’s ancestor, a twist I’ll say no more about. Enjoy, when you get the time.
Bron,
It’s a mix of those things. No one reason is the only answer. With me, a large part of it was an attempt to prove myself intellectually. How much better for me, if not only do I KNOW the Revealed TRUTH, but understand it as well (believe me, the most obnoxious fundi is a smart fundi). I went to church with people who loved God for the same reason they loved their cousins: that’s how they were raised. I also knew a guy that just liked the hymns and the offertory (we had a fantastic piano player in the congregation).
Think of this though: You take a smart child, and surround him with friendly nice adults who week after week are telling him the same thing. Some of his teacher’s disagree, but by the time he gets old enough to take THOSE (science) classes, he’s been exposed to the same message for all of his formative years. Plus, his parents wouldn’t lie would they, or his pastor, or that guy that came in with the pictures of the eye and that smug analogy of putting watch parts in a bag and shaking it… You get the point.
Who could ever forget this little ditty?
——————————————
Dear Dr. Laura:
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God’s Law. I
have learned a great deal from your show and try to share that knowledge
with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual
lifestyle, for example, I simply remind them that Leviticus 18:22
clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate.
I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the other
specific laws and how to follow them.
1. When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a
pleasing odor for the Lord – Lev.1:9. The problem is my neighbors. They
claim the odor is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
2. I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
3. I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her
period of menstrual uncleanliness – Lev.15:19-24. The problem is, how
do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
4. Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can’t I own Canadians?
5. I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
6. A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination – Lev. 11:10, it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don’t agree. Can you settle this?
7. Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
8. Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev. 19:27. How should they die?
9. I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
10. My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? – Lev.24:10-16. Couldn’t we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help.
Thank you again for reminding us that God’s word is
eternal and unchanging.
Your devoted disciple and adoring fan.
Jerry
Thanks for the collective reply, I am not particulary religious and was really just curious because I know from past posts that you and Buddha were raised in shall we say, different circumstances and was wondering about the motivation behind fundamentalism.
I keep wanting to understand it as a special club, that feeds the ego. Most people seem to have a need to get a leg up on the next guy and so I attribute it to that. The hey look at me I am going to spend eternity with God. The I am special and better than you thinking.
But I like Buddha’s take on it to, an abdication of responsibility. If you screw the pooch (keeping with Buddha’s Pavlovian theme) you had help or you have a friend to make it better.
Doesn’t the bible also say that slavery is OK? It must be tought to take everything literally.
Bron,
I’ve got nothing against religion. It seems to be a natural consequence of having an animal that a)uses symbols b)seeks patterns and c)is social. I think the first two explain themselves, the third simply has to do with the hierarchic element that seems to be a common thread in all religions that I know of.
My problem is with fundamentalism (religious or otherwise). I think this is a very clear example of that. My response to Mike can basically be boiled down to “fundamentalists are made not born.” That’s an over simplification, I think it’s probably about 35/65 Nature/Nurture.
As for the rest, Buddha’s answer is as good as any I could give.
Texas republicans also thought up the “my lawyer said I could” defense to torture:
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/04/my-lawyer-said-i-could.html
Bron,
Is it not basic psychology than when one fears a responsibility (or anything), one may abdicate one’s decision making (or other elements of self-control) in order to avoid the possibly painful consequence of owning one’s actions? Is that not Pavlov in action? Such is the case of free will when viewed in light of the concept of God as Prime Mover. I put it to you that is the case with fundamentalist/creationists. The idea that they are to a large degree “on their own” is just too frightening to contemplate. Hence they become prey for the unscrupulous who would use them to Earthy and sometimes nefarious end.
Gyges:
“As someone who had a large chunk of his misspent youth learning about Biblical literacy and Creation science, the answer is simply Yes and No.”
what is wrong with believing a prime mover set it all into play and set up the systems, i.e. physics to keep it all working? Why do christians need to think that God is in control of every moment of every day? If god exists then he would be smart enough to take eternity off and relax in Tahiti with a good book and cold glass of iced tea by some lagoon.
OFF TOPIC: Cryptonomicon
Mike S.,
I’ve just finished the book during some unexpected free time at the airport. KCI is a wonderful place to read. Thanks again for the referral. I intend to read the Baroque Cycle as time permits.
First – Long. Not for the faint of heart, but worth the effort. My editor’s eye says it could have been about 100 pages shorter and had the same effect, but my writer’s eye says so what? It was entertaining ride from cover to cover. My only complaint was I felt Andrew Loeb to be a little underdeveloped for being so pivotal. It made him smell a bit of deus ex machina. Not fatally so, but the scent lingers.
Second – That’s the best explanation of Van Eck phreaking for the layman I’ve ever read. I’ve seen Van Eck in action in a lab and it’s quite a neat trick. Stephenson has quite a grip on the basics of computing as well as cryptography. I bet he’d be a real interesting conversation IRL.
Third – The discussion between Root and Waterhouse about the nature of Athena vs. Ares was pure brilliance. Worth reading the several hundred pages it took to get there.
Fourth – Amy Shaftoe is a woman after my own heart. ‘Nuff said.
Ignoti et quasi occulti, here’s to hoping the followers of Athena win!
http://www.homoveritas.net
I’m comfortable with this move. I hope that the gate is sufficiently maintained to keep W from getting out.
>Bush is in Crawford near Waco.
No longer. He abandoned that former pig farm as soon as it served no political purpose. Now he lives in a soon-to-be-gated (f not already gated) white Dallas suburb.