The Non-reasonable life: Religion and the Golden Compass


This, of course, is the latest offense to good church going people. A story of a rebellious girl, an oppressive hierarchy with a fixed belief system and some magic creatures. This, as usual, frightens the self-deluded sheep of the great Midwest:

http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=76341024365417045

or here: http://www.startribune.com/entertainment/books/12220461.html

The controversy speaks for itself. Religious believers, by default, are unreasonable and dogmatic. As Daniel Dennet recently stated, there doesn't seem to be a way of not offending believers if one does anything questioning a religious belief system. It does not have to be an "insult" (whatever that is) or a deliberate artistic aspersion such as "Piss Christ". Merely if one does not agree with the totality of a belief, in any way at all, it is treated as degrading. Perhaps something as light hearted as stating " there is no evidence for the creation of the world via two naked people in a garden with a talking snake" or " there is very little actual evidence for the existence of Yeshua of Galilee", will engender howls of protest from the likes of an evangelist. Criticizing the historical record of the papacy creates wails of "oppression, oppression" from Catholic believers. It is as true with this story. It is not explicit, it is not violent, it is not adult themed. It merely questions authority and dogmatism. This, ultimately, is what frightens believers. Belief, and autoority, without evidence, is mere dogmatism. It is a way of thinking which must be stamped from us in order to survive. Ignore the lunatics, and go see the movie.

A BBC Channel 4 Documentary about American Doomsdayers:

I am glad I am alive now,for I have no desire to compete with these. They are among my favorite creatures, an enormously toothed eating machine. No wonder prey animals react so strongly to any handling; A million years of these things roaming around would imprint all kinds of fear.

The Smilodon

This week, on Challenges in Evolution, the results of a debate between Willam Dembski and a Siberian Tiger

Broken Government..a video

Religious lunacy...I know, it is redundant, but in Khartoum, they are currently demanding the death of a school teacher whose students named a bear Muhammed. Perhaps it should have been name " surrounded by ignorant, murderous backward fanatics".

From the Guardian:http://www.guardian.co.uk/sudan/story/0,,2220180,00.html