COVID-19 has jumped species at least twice: first to humans from bats, now from humans to big cats, ...

Allamanda comments on Apr 7, 2020:

it's worth bearing in mind that both cases are artificial in a sense - eating of wild animals such as bats is uncommon, and declining; and a zoo tiger is unnaturally exposed to many humans.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 7, 2020:

Agreed ... extremely uncommon. But that these instances of species jumping is unusual serves to bolster my point that this disease appears to be dangerously adaptive.

Bible stories may not be factual - but they are nonetheless true

SarahSiddons comments on Apr 7, 2020:

There is a lot of beautiful prose in scripture I quote the Bible and the Book Of Mormon all the time because of the language used We Can all get along. But you have to want to. 🧘🏻‍♀️❤️💛💚ONE LOVE💚💛❤️🧘🏻‍♀️

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 7, 2020:

@Triphid The Mormons wanted statehood, but the price for Utah's acceptance was a 'new revelation' that polygamy was passé.

COVID-19 has jumped species at least twice: first to humans from bats, now from humans to big cats, ...

Matias comments on Apr 7, 2020:

Viruses jump between species all the time - but in most cases they cause no problems, no diseases. Therefore it is possible that Sars-CoV-2 (= the virus) jumps from from humans to cats, but only humans suffer from Covid-19 (the name of the disease) whereas cats do not feel anything

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 7, 2020:

Cats may not feel anything, but the tiger appeared to have symptoms, according to the report. "Nadia, a 4-year-old Malayan tiger who had a dry cough and a slight loss of appetite, tested positive for the virus that has caused a human pandemic, the Bronx Zoo reported on Sunday."

COVID-19 has jumped species at least twice: first to humans from bats, now from humans to big cats, ...

pgrobinson comments on Apr 7, 2020:

we don't know that it came from bats or even from a 'wet' meat market

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 7, 2020:

There are several leading possibilities, as I read, including bats to pangolins to humans, so you are quite correct that we don't know which animal it came from, but there seems to be little debate that the virus originated in another species.

What is the craziest church experience that you've been in?

JeffMesser comments on Apr 6, 2020:

As a southern Baptist growing up in Odessa Tx in the 70's Sundays were torturous. My mom would wake ME up and demand I get dressed to ride the "Joy Bus" (her and the old man never went) and I'd listen to 4 hours of fire and brimstone 1x a week. I was a juvenile delinquent in trouble with the ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 7, 2020:

@JeffMesser Just an opinion, to be sure ... not a statement of fact.

What is the craziest church experience that you've been in?

JeffMesser comments on Apr 6, 2020:

As a southern Baptist growing up in Odessa Tx in the 70's Sundays were torturous. My mom would wake ME up and demand I get dressed to ride the "Joy Bus" (her and the old man never went) and I'd listen to 4 hours of fire and brimstone 1x a week. I was a juvenile delinquent in trouble with the ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 7, 2020:

Fear and dread are two of the tools used to great effect by religion, and as my avatar asserted, "Any system of religion that has anything in it that shocks the mind of a child, cannot be true." Thomas Paine

Since dating is no longer really possible in the traditional sense because of all the isolation ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 20, 2020:

I sometimes wonder if our being forced to stay at home with nowhere to go, no sports to watch, and not a whole lot left to do will lead to a spike in the number of babies born about nine months from now. I mean, who wants to go out and buy condoms during an epidemic, right? Maybe we're living in a ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 7, 2020:

@joeandbarb The pandemic would have occurred, with or without greed and lust. It was born in the natural world and spread by human contact--nature finds a way. Whether or not we want to call human behavior during great blackout of 1965 or the 2020 pandemic a 'social experiment,' it provides social scientists with an opportunity, just the same.

April 6, 2020: Vaccination Ruminations.

AmyTheBruce comments on Apr 7, 2020:

I'm sorry, but I fail to see how an insular group with a history of non-vaccination could possibly have an advantage, even in the event of societal collapse. Even supposing that they do evolve natural immunity to what they are exposed to, that falls apart the minute an outsider enters. In the ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 7, 2020:

Indeed! Just look at the Native American tribal population, and how they have fared against epidemics of all kinds, ever since first contact with Europeans. They may have a rough time of it with COVID-19. https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2020/04/04/native-american-coronavirus/

So far the focus has been on the lungs, but COVID-19 appears to attack heart muscle tissue as well.

AmyTheBruce comments on Apr 7, 2020:

Even if the virus didn't attack the heart muscle directly, wouldn't heart trouble still be a problem? I mean, the heart - like any muscle - relies on oxygenated blood!

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 7, 2020:

Yes, but in some cases the lungs aren't in distress--that's the point of the article. One could be asymptomatic and still die of heart failure from a COVID-19 infection, and unless they were tested, post mortem, none would be the wiser.

So far the focus has been on the lungs, but COVID-19 appears to attack heart muscle tissue as well.

SpikeTalon comments on Apr 6, 2020:

That confirmed a suspicion I had from the start of the pandemic, and quite concerning that is.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 6, 2020:

A Jedhi you are.

We shouldn’t hate Christ as a person in spite of what his philosophy has done to humanity over the...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 3, 2020:

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the character known as Jesus (as depicted in the writings later cobbled together to form the canonical New Testament) was an historical person, there is plenty to dislike, beginning with the supremely egotistical statement. “Do not think that I have come...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 3, 2020:

@BirdMan1 It's not hate, but immense dislike that I have for the character, as portrayed in the New Testament. I regard this biblical figure, upon which a greater number of human beings than any other have their basis in religious belief, as a loathsome, egotistical, self-righteous prick.

We shouldn’t hate Christ as a person in spite of what his philosophy has done to humanity over the...

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 3, 2020:

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the character known as Jesus (as depicted in the writings later cobbled together to form the canonical New Testament) was an historical person, there is plenty to dislike, beginning with the supremely egotistical statement. “Do not think that I have come...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 3, 2020:

@Gwendolyn2018 I'm game. Let's do a Thomas Jefferson, and start by redacting all references to miracles, beginning with Jesus' conception. Then let's cut out all the mean stuff like the book of Revelation and references to damnation and hell, and just hold on to the nice stuff like love and peace. Then let's compare versions. Might be interesting, but either one is little more than a Reader's Digest version of a Greek novella.

Timeline: How Donald Trump responded to the coronavirus pandemic The timeline says it ...

RobertMartin comments on Apr 2, 2020:

I say China has known about the coronavirus since late October/early November but did nothing to contain the virus. I have a feeling that they knew what effects the virus would have globally. This is in effect a biological attack on the world.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 3, 2020:

You give them way too much credit. They just aren't that good.

Religious gatherings: Here's a look at what states exempt them from stay at home orders - CNN

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 2, 2020:

The bully pulpit is now the church pulpit--a very powerful lobby. Too many statehouses are now controlled by the Republican party, which has been taken over by the Christian right, just as Barry Goldwater, that Arizona Republican senator of a different era, feared back in the 60's: “Mark my word,...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 2, 2020:

@AnneWimsey In 2013 Bobby Jindal said the Republican Party needed to 'stop being the stupid party.' After Trump was elected, he did a 180 ... the stupider, the better!

A "How did we get here question".

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 1, 2020:

Senicide has been with us for thousands of years and, sadly, is still practiced in some cultures. It is often framed in terms of resources. Granny becomes a burden, so she's carried up the mountain or put on a floating chunk of ice and left to die. As payouts in wrongful death cases show, our lives ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 2, 2020:

@Moravian Well, they could import labor, but they are unlikely to ever do this since Japan is 98% ethnically pure, and they wish to keep it that way.

A "How did we get here question".

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 1, 2020:

Senicide has been with us for thousands of years and, sadly, is still practiced in some cultures. It is often framed in terms of resources. Granny becomes a burden, so she's carried up the mountain or put on a floating chunk of ice and left to die. As payouts in wrongful death cases show, our lives ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 2, 2020:

@Moravian Indeed! Modern Japan is the opposite of the mythical practice of ubasute atrributed to ancient Japan. Today they are working to develop robots to interact with their aging seniors, who are too many in number for the current generation of young people to care for.

A "How did we get here question".

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 1, 2020:

Senicide has been with us for thousands of years and, sadly, is still practiced in some cultures. It is often framed in terms of resources. Granny becomes a burden, so she's carried up the mountain or put on a floating chunk of ice and left to die. As payouts in wrongful death cases show, our lives ...

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 2, 2020:

@FrayedBear Adolf? 3rd Reich? So why does it always have to come down to the favorite topic of internet trolls and shills worldwide--Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany? So now that you appear to be following me, please do yourself a favor and actually read what I write. You might find it "inteesting" that I don't advocate "exteemination" of anyone. By the way, what happened to your spell checker?

A "How did we get here question".

FrayedBear comments on Apr 1, 2020:

Sounds like you need to belong to "Out Of The Illusion Group" and read some articles like "The Senate Has Passed the Largest Corporate Bailout in US History [truthout."

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 2, 2020:

@FrayedBear Clearly. I'm just pleased to see you come up with new material! ;-)

A "How did we get here question".

FrayedBear comments on Apr 1, 2020:

Sounds like you need to belong to "Out Of The Illusion Group" and read some articles like "The Senate Has Passed the Largest Corporate Bailout in US History [truthout."

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 2, 2020:

@FrayedBear Oh good, just boring. Didn't want to engage a bot.

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

pgrobinson comments on Apr 1, 2020:

Just because a story is mythological does not connote that it is therefor not true. so it may be both true and also mythological i could show you this but you may not be actually interested

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 2, 2020:

True? As in, correct, actual and verifiable? If something is true, it is factual. A 'true myth' is an oxymoron, like 'original copy' or 'definite uncertainty.'

Abraham Maslow, an American psychologist, was born on this day in 1908.

WilliamFleming comments on Apr 1, 2020:

I’ve wondered where our need for adventure fits in.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 2, 2020:

Ideally, your adventures present opportunities for self-actualization.

A "How did we get here question".

FrayedBear comments on Apr 1, 2020:

Sounds like you need to belong to "Out Of The Illusion Group" and read some articles like "The Senate Has Passed the Largest Corporate Bailout in US History [truthout."

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 1, 2020:

Are you a bot, or just plain boring?

E.

p-nullifidian comments on Apr 1, 2020:

What some fail to grasp is that we are in a war here--one in which selfish behavior risks getting people killed.

p-nullifidian replies on Apr 1, 2020:

@PondartIncbendog Some of us may be, more than necessary to be sure. Basic game theory playing itself out in real time.

Ok we've already got the pestilence, and now the midwest is expecting some very severe weather.

motrubl4u comments on Mar 28, 2020:

Bah. I live in the midwest this is absolutely nothing. Completely normal shit this time of year.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 29, 2020:

@TheoryNumber3 Think about it. The Cable News Network and 24 hour news cycle of what was then called, "Headline News" has only been around for 40 years. We feel like there are more calamities because of the global reach of communication, media reporting and especially, the intense videos that feed into the content of news. But there have always been bad things that happened elsewhere that we didn't know about. What we once called tidal waves have been a regular occurrence in regions distant from the US, particularly Japan, so much so that now the entire world calls them tsunamis. Are devastating tornadoes more common, or is the United States more populated, and the ability to show the devastation more advanced? Forest fires are a significant issue, and appear to be increasing due to a combination of climate change and forest management. But when one looks at the tree rings of a redwood here in California, one can see evidence of long droughts and massive forest fires, even in a redwood forest, multiple times over the 2,000 years of its existence. Things may seem worse everywhere because of what we see on the boob tube, but to quote Gershwin, "It ain't necessarily so."

Maybe it is just me. But since the quarentin I have clearer skys to watch the universe

starwatcher-al comments on Mar 28, 2020:

Here in north central Az. i noticed that the skies this week have been bluer than usual. hold your hand up and block the sun. There is very little haze around the Sun. 20,000,000 Californians not driving is the answer I think.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 29, 2020:

I think you may be on to something, an observation made of Wuhan and a topic which has been discussed here and there, between all the pandemic news. Here in the Bay Area, traffic is a fraction of what it was before the order to shelter in place, and the air quality has been pristine. Likewise in SoCal, I would imagine. But privately owned vehicular traffic is not the full story. Fewer trucks, busses, trains, planes, boats and factories belching out exhaust tends to add up pretty quickly. I would imagine there are many climate scientists gathering the data from what has been an unplanned experiment.

Pastor defies coronavirus order, draws over 1K people to services

LenHazell53 comments on Mar 26, 2020:

There have been psychiatrist who have claimed religion is a mental illness, I think there is no longer any doubt.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 27, 2020:

@LenHazell53 An excellent point! Cults that survive their founders become sects, and eventually religions ... the more massive a delusion, the more it is normalized. Personally, I loathe all of them.

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

Seminarian comments on Mar 23, 2020:

If you consider that Eden was a myth that was meant to describe a pre-material existence you can easily interpret the bible in a way that is consistent with evolution. When you move on to the next story Adam and Eve are given cloaks of skin. Notice however, that no time frame is given for the ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 27, 2020:

@Seminarian Ah, Bishop Spong, the heretic! Were I to have heard of him earlier, perhaps his '12 Points of Reform' would have acted as a cold splash of water on my face, instead of being 'too little, too late.' Imagine the doctrinaire believer being confronted with Spong's first point of reform: "Theism, as a way of defining God, is dead. So most theological God-talk is today meaningless. A new way to speak of God must be found." I have seen no convincing evidence that demonstrates we are "spiritual beings temporarily inhabiting physical bodies."

If any of our agnostic friends happens to be experiencing a crisis, let me know.

genessa comments on Mar 26, 2020:

i am terrified. my guy has alzheimer's. he cannot be trusted to bring food deliveries in without using a disinfectant wipe, keeping track of what he touches, wiping everything down (i will wipe each item down) and not touching his clothes or his face, and then wash his hands. i feel as if he is ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 27, 2020:

My wife and I (okay, mostly my wife), operate an assisted living facility--a small one, 13 beds--so I understand and empathize. Wish there were something we could do, if only to give you some rest. But alas, we're separated by too many miles. Feel free to direct message, if you'd like. Take care.

this...........

K9Kohle789 comments on Mar 22, 2020:

Here's some food for thought. Maybe not everyone comes from the same place after all. Quite an interesting read. "The Mystery of Rh-Negative Blood—Genetic Origin Unknown It is not generally known from where the negative RH factor derived, although tantalizing evidence exists that it arises from...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

@K9Kohle789 Which seems weirder, admitting that there remain gaps in our scientific understanding of our origins, or promoting fringe theories of alien genetic experiments and paranormal nonsense like psychics and people who stop watches and electronics?

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

Seminarian comments on Mar 23, 2020:

If you consider that Eden was a myth that was meant to describe a pre-material existence you can easily interpret the bible in a way that is consistent with evolution. When you move on to the next story Adam and Eve are given cloaks of skin. Notice however, that no time frame is given for the ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

@Seminarian "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." Romans 5:19 (NIV) The core theology of Paul which I found revolting is the notion (in opposition to Ezekiel 18:20) that the guilt of one may be passed on to his heirs and that this supposed guilt could, by some magical means, transferred to one individual, who then must die. Three immoral outrages of Christianity that I can never abide involve inherited guilt, its transfer to a sacrificial lamb, and that it required the debauching of a teenage virgin to produce a halfbreed god-man to be the sacrifice!

Pastor defies coronavirus order, draws over 1K people to services

LenHazell53 comments on Mar 26, 2020:

There have been psychiatrist who have claimed religion is a mental illness, I think there is no longer any doubt.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

Yup, when a person makes irrational claims about invisible powers and knowledge of a wondrous future that awaits beyond this life, that person is a delusional raving lunatic. When a whole group of people behave this way, it's just religion.

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

Seminarian comments on Mar 23, 2020:

If you consider that Eden was a myth that was meant to describe a pre-material existence you can easily interpret the bible in a way that is consistent with evolution. When you move on to the next story Adam and Eve are given cloaks of skin. Notice however, that no time frame is given for the ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

@Seminarian Romans is considered a Pauline epistle and is where much, if not most, of Paul's core theology is argued.

I have seen the ultimate now. They are putting Bible verses on surgical masks. Are you kidding me?

BirdMan1 comments on Mar 26, 2020:

Didn't help this fool! https://www.rawstory.com/2020/03/christian-pastor-who-thought-covid-19-is-just-mass-hysteria-is-among-the-first-in-virginia-to-die-from-virus/?utm_source==email=4117

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

As Dan Barker says, nothing fails like prayer!

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

Seminarian comments on Mar 23, 2020:

If you consider that Eden was a myth that was meant to describe a pre-material existence you can easily interpret the bible in a way that is consistent with evolution. When you move on to the next story Adam and Eve are given cloaks of skin. Notice however, that no time frame is given for the ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

"I didn't come up with any of these ideas, its just good, old fashioned, fairly standard mysticism." Sure is, but when 'fairly standard mysticism' is merged into doctrine, as was done by Paul, this kluge becomes a dangerous set of ideas, in practice.

Does God Have A Grudge Against Online Streaming?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

I can envision a future where religions utilize VR to create an immersive saccharide substitute for in-person participation. Streaming sermons in a virtual church with streamlined donation prompts could replace mass meetings. And a VR version of the Hajj is just around the corner, endorsed by a ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

@Davesnothere Probably not, which is a good thing. Let's hope that the continued growth of "nones" (those who express no religious identity or belief) seen in northern Europe, Canada and the US, spreads to all countries.

this...........

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 23, 2020:

Brilliant! Just for a moment, I wish for a fantasy in which all racist bigots required a blood transfusion, and their donors just happened to be from a 'race' they despise. We must overcome this tendency to "otherize." On our Pale Blue Dot, with so many problems that can only be solved collectively,...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

@Triphid I fully understand, hence the choice of the term "fantasy."

Modern Neoliberal Capitalism.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 26, 2020:

When you use the term, "Modern Neoliberal Capitalism," what precisely is your definition of this economic philosophy?

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

@ToolGuy Interesting video. Thanks. My conspiracy-theory alarm bells went off a few times, which they do when I see people blogging that the Twin Towers were blown up by the government. Still, one cannot deny the negative effects of concentrated wealth and power, whether or not it is all part of some grand scheme.

"Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for the coronavirus, report says"...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 23, 2020:

Those with resources have privilege. Disparities will continue until our health care system, indeed our entire political system, is reformed. How is it that US Senators and NBA athletes may be tested while so many wait? Under our current system, the fox guards the hen house. Our elected ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

@Flowerwall "Does the US need a similar provision?" Perhaps we do. Our process of impeachment or invoking the 25th Amendment (which has never been tried) would seem to be the only paths. A national referendum would likely require a new Amendment to the Constitution. Barring that, the November election is what are left with, at this point.

this...........

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 23, 2020:

Brilliant! Just for a moment, I wish for a fantasy in which all racist bigots required a blood transfusion, and their donors just happened to be from a 'race' they despise. We must overcome this tendency to "otherize." On our Pale Blue Dot, with so many problems that can only be solved collectively,...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

@Triphid I understand how blood banks work, as I've been a volunteer. My fantasy that the bigoted recipient would be made aware of the donor's racial profile comes after their life has been saved. A fantasy, nothing more. Peace.

Does the term "agnostic atheist" imply that those who self identify as such should accept that it is...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 24, 2020:

I identify, first and foremost, as a nullifidian--a person who has no faith or religious belief. Faith is an unreliable reasoning process which acts as a virus. To quote Peter Boghossian, 'faith is pretending to know things you do not know.' All should be inoculated against the virus of faith. As ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 26, 2020:

@MarkWD While some of us may be more talented (subjectively), we are all creative persons. What do you mean by "gifts of the intuitive mind?" And when you say that you "know where your bread gets buttered," are you saying that it is not on "tasks best left to the rational mind?" In other words, is your bread buttered (i.e., salary paid) by irrationality?

Does the term "agnostic atheist" imply that those who self identify as such should accept that it is...

girlwithsmiles comments on Mar 23, 2020:

I don’t actually care what anyone else believes, unless it hurts someone else without their consent. Agnostic to me is the ability to not care about things that don’t matter to me, and prioritise the things that do: there’s a great freedom in that. Sometimes others’ beliefs interest me, ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 24, 2020:

Beliefs have consequences. Incorrect, inaccurate and ignorant beliefs by the public are, in a democracy, harmful. Further, these beliefs may be transmitted to unwilling offspring. A laissez-faire attitude regarding belief seems, on the face of it, to be all friendly and chill, but it ignores the harm to society of the acceptance of bad ideas.

Do you think the Corono-virus will hurt or help religion?

Millzy comments on Mar 18, 2020:

They'll take credit for the cure. It's inevitable, but people should have discussions and evaluate their faith when their religious grandmother dies after praying daily to not get this disease.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 23, 2020:

@AkEyHeAdAkE I believe you meant, To God BE the glory?

"Disgraced Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for the coronavirus, report says"...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 23, 2020:

Those with resources have privilege. Disparities will continue until our health care system, indeed our entire political system, is reformed. How is it that US Senators and NBA athletes may be tested while so many wait? Under our current system, the fox guards the hen house. Our elected ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 23, 2020:

@Flowerwall "T word?"

Justice Department reportedly asks Congress for indefinite detention powers to fight Covid-19.

prometheus comments on Mar 23, 2020:

They've never met a crisis they couldn't use to pass legislation that could be repurposed to opress We The People. Civil War, WWII, 9/11 to name but a few.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 23, 2020:

In this particular case, regrettably, we may have no choice. Biology is in advance of any political persuasion, and those who thumb their noses at the shelter in place directives only serve to spread the virus. A lockdown can work if there are no 'outliers' or 'spreaders' of the virus who refuse to adhere. The spreaders may be young, and never feel an ill effect, yet the people who they come in contact with, particuarly those above the age of 60, may become victims of their self-centered behavior.

I took this picture handheld- wish I'd had time to change my camera settings but that would've meant...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 22, 2020:

I tried taking photos, but quickly turned to a high-powered pair of binos. I too saw Mercury, and was amazed to see a prominence of reddish orange at the base of the corona, which extended many more degrees than I had anticipated. Looking at the shadow of the moon was like peering into a black hole....

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 23, 2020:

@HumanistJohn Thank you for asking. Yes, I am well aware, and am planning! I'm looking at Vermont and northern Maine as a likely destination--4 minutes of totality! For the 2017 eclipse, I avoided the mass of humanity in eastern Oregon, largely comprised of folks heading directly north from California, and instead chose to head east to Winnemucca, Nevada, and north on Hwy 95 toward eastern Idaho. Settled in for the event in Lime, Oregon--nothing there, really. Was surprised to see how many of us had chosen the same location, but avoided the traffic jams.

this...........

K9Kohle789 comments on Mar 22, 2020:

Here's some food for thought. Maybe not everyone comes from the same place after all. Quite an interesting read. "The Mystery of Rh-Negative Blood—Genetic Origin Unknown It is not generally known from where the negative RH factor derived, although tantalizing evidence exists that it arises from...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 23, 2020:

Wait, the Millennium Report? Seriously? The very name of this group should give any rational skeptic pause. Can you provide a peer-reviewed scientifc publication on this topic?

this...........

SCal comments on Mar 22, 2020:

Not sure how many times I have tried to explain this to people here and elsewhere. It always seems to end with people arguing that race is "obvious", to them. The well known fact that we share almost all of our dna with even fruit flies and cockroaches does not seem to persuade most peoples biases, ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 23, 2020:

@Redneckliberal Nor can you squeeze blood from it! My avatar's observation on reasoning with the unreasonable was: “To argue with a man who has renounced the use and authority of reason, and whose philosophy consists in holding humanity in contempt, is like administering medicine to the dead, or endeavoring to convert an atheist by scripture.” Thomas Paine

this...........

EllenDale comments on Mar 22, 2020:

If I believed in heaven/hell, my father is looking up, cursing, because his ancestors are Black! LMMFAO

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 23, 2020:

We are all, so it appears, Africans. Skin pigmentation changes over time, but our roots are the same.

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

piphirho comments on Mar 22, 2020:

There is a belief system in which the soul does evolve in a sense. The mechanism is reincarnation. The "soul" is immortal and experiences multiple lifetimes as a learning experience to evolve toward perfection. It does not have a name as far as I know and is not an organized religion. It is more of ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 23, 2020:

@WilliamFleming Maintaining an open mind is an essential attribute of skepticism. Without the ability to question, examine and re-examine, science is little more than a religion. It has been more than a decade since Dr. Stevenson's passing, but his hypothesies should easily be repeated by other scientists who might discover a previously unknown phenomenon. What new data and information has been collected in this area in the past 13 years? My mind remains open, but I seek further evidence and, most importantly, confirmation using the scientific method.

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

Jon_Frum comments on Mar 22, 2020:

Evolutionary theory destroys the Torah (the Old Testament) starting with Genesis. Let’s not forget the torture porn like Job. This also included includes all the additional BS books, for example the New Testament, Koran, Book of Mormon. There are a few (very few) pieces of beauty and ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 22, 2020:

Agreed! I'll keep Song of Solomon and maybe a few poetic lines from Ecclesiastes and Proverbs, but the rest is of no value. If there were any justice in Job, it would have been to expose and strip all power from the two guys who made the bet. But instead of a proper ending to the story--like what happened to the Duke brothers in Trading Places--the Devil and God get away with it, and Job gets a replacement family and is praised for being subjected to unheard of heartache without losing faith. What a crock of shit!

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

ToolGuy comments on Mar 22, 2020:

Widen your view by taking off the blinkers. By that I mean look at human psychology — specifically social psychology, sociology, and history as well as evolutionary theory. Humans evolved as social animals who organized into groups that were held together by rules or laws and that took advantage ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 22, 2020:

Thank you for your well-considered response. I'm quite capable of pulling back and looking at the big picture, but for this particular post, I selected two specific cases of traditional Christian belief that are not well-reconciled when accepting evolution as fact. Many of my friends who remain in the faith while affirming Darwin's big idea are what one may call cafeteria Christians, picking and choosing which aspects of Christianity are literal and which are allegory.

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

AmyTheBruce comments on Mar 22, 2020:

I was raised in a sect of Christianity that believes neither in evolution nor in eternal souls. If I have understood such Christians correctly, though, Adam was the first "actual" human - the one who was finally human enough to be accountable for sin. Presumably, he was also the first to possess...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 22, 2020:

I too was raised in such a faith, one which does not teach evolution and engages in a relentless prooftexting exercise. It is for the evolution-accepting cafeteria Christians, who pick and choose what in their faith and its scriptures may be taken literally vs. what is allegory, that my remarks are addressed.

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

Mofo1953 comments on Mar 22, 2020:

Mental masturbation aside, evolution doesn't "work against" anything. The basic theory of evolution is surprisingly simple. It has three essential parts: It is possible for the DNA of an organism to occasionally change, or mutate. A mutation changes the DNA of an organism in a way that affects ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 22, 2020:

@Mofo1953 Consider yourself fortunate!

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

Joanne comments on Mar 22, 2020:

This is why so many Christians deny evolution at all costs. And, I would think that those who do accept evolution don't take the bible literally. As far as the soul, perhaps they think it was always there; but, there was no accountability until humans reached the point in their evolution when ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 22, 2020:

Determining 'right from wrong' is another can of worms. To most theists, our morality comes via divine command--we just couldn't figure it out for ourselves. Evolutionary biologists and anthropologists know better. Morality is founded upon two main pricinple behaviors: reciprocity and empathy, and rudimentary examples of which may be seen in other animals, including other primates.

Prehistoric girl had parents belonging to different human species | New Scientist

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

Now I admit, biology was never my strong suit, but I thought that in the rare instance when two different species successfully breed, a sterile hybrid is produced?

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 22, 2020:

@snytiger6 Thank you (and @glennlab and @Spudgun) for the biology primer, much appreciated.

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

Mofo1953 comments on Mar 22, 2020:

Mental masturbation aside, evolution doesn't "work against" anything. The basic theory of evolution is surprisingly simple. It has three essential parts: It is possible for the DNA of an organism to occasionally change, or mutate. A mutation changes the DNA of an organism in a way that affects ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 22, 2020:

I understand how evolution works, which I accept as fact. The reason I chose to use the term 'works against' is because evolutionary theory was the new idea which jarred the minds of most sincere Christians of the 19th century. And since Darwin, evidence solidifying his theory has come from emerging fields of paleontology, embryology, genetics and plate tectonics, to name but a few. My remarks are not directed at the died-in-the-wool evolution denier, rather toward the cafeteria Christian who picks and chooses what elements of his/her faith are treated as allegory or personification.

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

Novelty comments on Mar 22, 2020:

Christianity is whatever the group professing it says it is. You have a failed monetary system if your currency comes in 33,000 denominations just like religion. 💋

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 22, 2020:

Are you one who was brought up to believe Christian theology?

Prehistoric girl had parents belonging to different human species | New Scientist

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

Now I admit, biology was never my strong suit, but I thought that in the rare instance when two different species successfully breed, a sterile hybrid is produced?

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 22, 2020:

@Spudgun What examples can you offer of successful crossbreeds that can perhpaps form a new species of their own?

To those who have a Christian background: How are New Testament theology and evolution compatible?

anglophone comments on Mar 22, 2020:

The Christians of which you speak do not confront that question. They choose instead to engage in compartmentalised thinking: they refuse to consider the two concepts in juxtaposition.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 22, 2020:

You may be correct, and I respect your opinion, but I have a number of family members and loved ones who remain where I was, about 10 years ago. Perhaps I am engaging in a fool's errand, but I'd like to think that there are concepts and ideas worth discussing that will create the 'wake up call' I got. That, to be fair, is my motivation for this post.

Prehistoric girl had parents belonging to different human species | New Scientist

Word comments on Mar 21, 2020:

This is not anything new it has been documented for 1000's of years. Genesis 6. And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 21, 2020:

@Fit-50something The entire bible belongs in the fiction section of any bookstore or library.

Prehistoric girl had parents belonging to different human species | New Scientist

Word comments on Mar 21, 2020:

This is not anything new it has been documented for 1000's of years. Genesis 6. And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them, That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 21, 2020:

@Mofo1953 And it came to pass, during the Age of Legends, men would wax eloquent and create tall tales filled with great mysteries, wonders and imagination, which would, many centuries later, be rightly categorized as bullshit.

I know it's 4 years away.

Charlene comments on Mar 21, 2020:

And through Vermont!

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 21, 2020:

@HumanistJohn That's twice the time I experienced in western Idaho for the 2017 eclipse! I love Vermont, so maybe I'll go there to see it. Once you've experienced totality, you are forever changed.

Life in the Bible belt is always curious. And yes this was a serious post on FB

Varn comments on Mar 20, 2020:

“*Turn their life over to Jesus*” ..more like ‘turning the other cheek over to JC’ So their ad campaigns are in full swing ~

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 21, 2020:

Jesus loves your asshole too.

Using Apple CarPlay impairs driver reaction more than alcohol, study shows [appleinsider.com]

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

Distracted driving is distracted driving. We don't need to create a new bogeyman to identify what has been a problem from the very beginning of the automobile. Drivers who turn their head to converse with their passengers, who fiddle with the temperature settings, can't seem to find the radio ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 21, 2020:

@FearlessFly That may be. The complexity of systems can exacerbate and overload a driver's ability to remain focused. I will never forget BMW's iDrive in the early 2000's. My point was that whether one is inebriated or distracted, the end result is the same, and unless we're going to insist on a 'distraction standard' I don't see a solution here, other than just criticism of the comparative deficiencies of an Apple product.

Anyone else find pantheism (sexed up atheism) interesting?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

Pantheism, a belief that god, whatever it / she / he represents, permeates everything, is not scientifically demonstrable, nor is it 'sexed up atheism.' One may as well refer to it as 'the Force.' And what is the 'essence' or 'particle' that we can observe and measure in everything that is god? If ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 21, 2020:

@Storm1752 What exactly is "it?"

Anyone else find pantheism (sexed up atheism) interesting?

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 21, 2020:

Pantheism, a belief that god, whatever it / she / he represents, permeates everything, is not scientifically demonstrable, nor is it 'sexed up atheism.' One may as well refer to it as 'the Force.' And what is the 'essence' or 'particle' that we can observe and measure in everything that is god? If ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 21, 2020:

@starwatcher-al We sure are the 'great classifiers' aren't we? Definitions, taxonomies, keys, encyclopedias, etc. But isn't that at the heart of the scientific method? If we can't define something, how can we observe and measure it? And if we can't observe and measure it, how do we know that it exists?

Religious friends and Coronavirus.

PhoebeCat comments on Mar 20, 2020:

The God-stupid people are, shockingly enough, still sounding like morons.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 20, 2020:

Shocking indeed!

I have a theory about karma.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 20, 2020:

Waiting for karma to address injustices always seemed to me to be too much like waiting for the day of judgment. Meanwhile the path is strewn with victims. Whether it be a family, a team or a nation, it only takes one bad actor to do permanent harm. And this isn't just about being nice, either. ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 20, 2020:

@Cyklone Thank you for making this thought-provoking post.

I have a theory about karma.

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 20, 2020:

Waiting for karma to address injustices always seemed to me to be too much like waiting for the day of judgment. Meanwhile the path is strewn with victims. Whether it be a family, a team or a nation, it only takes one bad actor to do permanent harm. And this isn't just about being nice, either. ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 20, 2020:

@Cyklone I agree, sort of. However, I don't see the law as a justice dispenser, rather as a means to address an injustice, a sublte distinction, I realize. True and perfect justice would require going back in time to prevent whatever injustice has occurred, but of course there's nothing that can be done to reverse an injustice. The issue of reparations aside, the Emancipation Proclamation wasn't sufficient to address the injustice of slavery, it took the 13th Amendment. This was not justice, but a law designed to end what had become a very long period of injustice. In our democracy we, the people, are the law. The prosecutor literally represents 'the people' in a criminal court. Instant karma is for YouTube videos, but if an injustice is to be addressed, it should be done swiftly, not to serve as a deterrent (this is a myth), nor for the sake of those injured (sometimes viewed as vengeance), nor as punishment (a moral statement about a particular act), but to protect additional victims and, perhaps most importantly, to demonstrate publicly to all that we as a society have, through the legal process, done our best to engineer karma. Of course this may all be undone by a governor or president who chooses to pardon the convicted criminal.

I have a theory about karma.

powder comments on Mar 20, 2020:

Like autism, there will be an arsehole spectrum. Where do you (and me) and your mates fall? And is it treatable?

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 20, 2020:

@powder You guys just want to be the butt of the joke!

I’m looking for an Agnostic.

David1955 comments on Mar 20, 2020:

You're looking for a Trump voter that employs the reasoning part of their brain. Those still supporting Trump are now cultists -- excluding rich religious types, who know he's a creep and liar but see him imposing their autocratic religious right wing agenda and continue to support him. The Trump ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 20, 2020:

@EllenDale Unfortunately, they've all drunk the Kool-Aid.

athiest anarchist volunataryist

SpikeTalon comments on Mar 19, 2020:

How about Libertarian? Not that I have anything against voluntaryism or anarchism.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 20, 2020:

My avatar may be described as an early Libertarian: "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil; in its worst state, an intolerable one." But I don't necessarily agree. A live-and-let-live, 'hands off my freedoms' attitude sounds great, until you have to deal with a collective problem. For example, I once had a Libertarian neighbor who insisted on burning his fireplace during 'spare the air' alerts (no burning) declared by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. He insisted that no governmental body was going to tell him what he could or couldn't do on his property. When I asked him what would happen to all the people with asthma or other respiratory problems if everyone did as he was doing, he just shrugged and said, 'not by problem, bro.' In a time of pandemics and climate change, a strong Libertarian orientation can produce a total non-team player with a 'live-and-let-die' attitude.

New Zealand passes law decriminalising abortion - BBC News

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 19, 2020:

Wait, the progressive, forward thinking nation of New Zealand only now in the year 2020 had their Row v. Wade moment?

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 20, 2020:

@SeaGreenEyez Theocracy? Christian Sahria? Now that is truly is a scary thought! I'd be interested in the constitutional argument that would allow for such a trampling on the First Amedment and subsequent judicial rulings. My greatest concern about stacking the courts with litmus tested judges in a post Kelo v. City of New London and Citizens United v. FEC reality is that wealth and power will be further concentrated, and that the powerless will be further screwed.

I just watched a video of televangelist Kenneth Copeland defending his lavish lifestyle, and why he ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 20, 2020:

America was established to be a free and open market for both the commerce of goods and of ideas, so long as they aren't deemed 'subversive' of course! In such a market, robber barons, moguls and magnates of the business world stand next to the grand hucksters, fraudsters and con men of the cloth. ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 20, 2020:

@jdubose Culture? The melting pot that is America has many. In my opinion, these swindlers and their schlemiels occupy a particularly dangerous subculture in America, one in which credulity is a virtue and intelligence is scorned; people who value superstition over science; a sector of the population who actually appear to enjoy dining on the crap they're fed by their bamboozlers. Unfortunately for the rest of us, these people breed and they vote. And thanks to them, we have a kakistocracy!

New Zealand passes law decriminalising abortion - BBC News

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 19, 2020:

Wait, the progressive, forward thinking nation of New Zealand only now in the year 2020 had their Row v. Wade moment?

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 20, 2020:

@SeaGreenEyez Thank you for spelling it out so clearly. I am deeply troubled by the direction we're heading in this country. I have never accepted that men--usually older white men--should have the authority to determine what women do with their bodies.

Many people are pushing fake virus cures and are being called out for it.

Mofo1953 comments on Mar 19, 2020:

If you're stupid enough to believe in this crap you deserve to be scammed!

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 19, 2020:

@Mofo1953 I think we can agree that this case proves the point--strong laws need to be enforced to protect consumers from scammers. Unsubstantiated health claims for a given product are illegal and the reason behind the Cease and Desist order. The same fate of the infamous fraudster Kevin Trudeau awaits Jim Bakker, if he persists. Of course, Bakker's already done time, so he knows the drill.

New Zealand passes law decriminalising abortion - BBC News

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 19, 2020:

Wait, the progressive, forward thinking nation of New Zealand only now in the year 2020 had their Row v. Wade moment?

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 19, 2020:

@SeaGreenEyez How so? Until this law was passed abortion was a crime in New Zealand, just as it was in many US states prior to Roe v. Wade, 47 years ago.

Do you think the Corono-virus will hurt or help religion?

Imatheistically comments on Mar 17, 2020:

Hurt. People are gona wake the fuck up, and realize this planet is out to get us! Not a "deity"!

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 19, 2020:

Not just this planet, but the entire universe is out to get us. An asteroid we failed to detect could wipe us out in a heartbeat. We now know that objects large enough to destroy life on this planet pass through our solar system. An unknown comet generated by a random collision in the Kuiper Belt or Oort Cloud may have our number. Bottom line, as one of my favorite thinkers observed: "Nature, so far as we can discern, without passion and without intention, forms, transforms, and retransforms forever. She neither weeps nor rejoices. She produces man without purpose, and obliterates him without regret. She knows no distinction between the beneficial and the hurtful. Poison and nutrition, pain and joy, life and death, smiles and tears are alike to her. She is neither merciful nor cruel. She cannot be flattered by worship nor melted by tears. She does not know even the attitude of prayer. She appreciates no difference between poison in the fangs of snakes and mercy in the hearts of men." Robert Green Ingersoll, 'The Gods,' 1872

Many people are pushing fake virus cures and are being called out for it.

Mofo1953 comments on Mar 19, 2020:

If you're stupid enough to believe in this crap you deserve to be scammed!

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 19, 2020:

I once thought as you do, that if you're stupid enough to be scammed, you deserve it. Caveat emptor, right? But then my wife became a caregiver for the elderly, and came home with the most horrendous stories of folks being defrauded. In addition, I have a few relatives who are on the autism spectrum; they're higher functioning, but are extremely susceptible to schemes and scams. Bottom line, I've come to the conclusion that we need stronger consumer protection in this country, with severe penalties, including jail time, for snake oil salesmen who make unsupported claims about their placebos.

My favorite hiking photo from 2019. Golden Week.

chiara23k comments on Mar 19, 2020:

Why are the trees yellow? Very nice. Thanks for sharing

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 19, 2020:

Hawaii is beautiful, I love all the islands dearly, but being in the tropics, you won't see the fall colors that @LiterateHiker has photographed. And whether it be the Cascades, the Rockies or Appalachia, autumn leaves are spectacular. I hope you can see them someday.

Religious friends and Coronavirus.

Omnedon comments on Mar 18, 2020:

I know that at least some believers take the stance that they should pray, but that they should also take practical measures. "God helps those who help themselves" kind of thing. But I don't doubt that some believe that prayer alone is enough, which is absurd.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 19, 2020:

"God helps those who help themselves" is an interesting meme. Nobody really knows its origin ... perhaps the ancient Greeks? It certainly isn't Biblical, and even though many Christians may use it, the phrase flies in the face of repeated scriptural calls to rely not on ourselves, but only upon Christ. When you think about, the phrase is rather chauvinistic, as it completely disregards the helpless. In any case, assistance from on high is always in short supply.

Scientists have proved one of Charles Darwin's theories of evolution – survival of the fittest –...

FearlessFly comments on Mar 18, 2020:

Science can DISprove things, but (apart from math), science doesn't prove anything. There is always doubt/error-bars/probabilities.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 18, 2020:

To be fair, @Charliesey didn't make the claim, the article does: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200317215626.htm

Any chance someone will post all of the Trump and Fox news quotes calling the virus a hoax and a ...

CarolinaGirl60 comments on Mar 18, 2020:

I’m so tired of rolling my eyes, that I’m sure I have some sort of Eyeroll disorder. Same with fluent cursing at Trump, his followers, apologists, and the conspiracy theorists. 🙄🙄😡🤬🤬 Stupid motherfuckers.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 18, 2020:

I can't facepalm any more either ... too many bruises!

And prophecy. This was made in 2015, just how correct is it possible to be. [youtube.com]

ToolGuy comments on Mar 18, 2020:

But when the market rules, it cannot be done. He is advocating government intervention which people here like @St-Sinner would deny because it is “socialism.” Markets — especially the stock market — cannot protect people. That — protecting people — is the role of government.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 18, 2020:

@ToolGuy Good video, and I agree we're headed for a serious recession, one that might have been prevented had we invested in the things Bill Gates described in 2015. This is a long-term view, as there will be another pandemic, it's just a matter of time. I also agree that climate change must be on the front burner, pun intended!

And prophecy. This was made in 2015, just how correct is it possible to be. [youtube.com]

St-Sinner comments on Mar 18, 2020:

Awesome. He just has an outstanding brain.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 18, 2020:

The man has certainly gone back to school on world health, and puts his money where his mouth is through the BMGF. And unlike some business leaders, he actually listens to experts.

And prophecy. This was made in 2015, just how correct is it possible to be. [youtube.com]

ToolGuy comments on Mar 18, 2020:

But when the market rules, it cannot be done. He is advocating government intervention which people here like @St-Sinner would deny because it is “socialism.” Markets — especially the stock market — cannot protect people. That — protecting people — is the role of government.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 18, 2020:

@ToolGuy I disagree. As Gates observed, it would require support from the military, and could easily be accomplished under the rubric of a joint interagency task force. While in uniform, I supported such entities, and witnessed firsthand how the men and women from many organizations, both civilian and military, collaborated. If 'neoliberal' Europe can establish a mobile medical task force under NATO, we certainly can do likewise, even better.

And prophecy. This was made in 2015, just how correct is it possible to be. [youtube.com]

ToolGuy comments on Mar 18, 2020:

But when the market rules, it cannot be done. He is advocating government intervention which people here like @St-Sinner would deny because it is “socialism.” Markets — especially the stock market — cannot protect people. That — protecting people — is the role of government.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 18, 2020:

There are many things a capitalist government can invest in that serve the common good, defense and infrastructure, to name two. Funding a relatively modest team of specialists to conduct research, readiness drills and prepare disaster plans would be within the purview of any advanced capitalist society, and as Gates noted, would save far more treasure than the pandemic costs, not to mention lives. Instead, our government chose to go in the opposite direction. https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/nsc-pandemic-office-trump-closed/2020/03/13/a70de09c-6491-11ea-acca-80c22bbee96f_story.html

Has anyone else noticed that religion is portrayed as truth and real history on most TV ...

DavidDuhon comments on Mar 18, 2020:

Part of why when people refer to something as a matter of faith, I substitute the more accurate term, religious superstition.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 18, 2020:

@DavidDuhon While there may have been a troublemaker who stirred things up a bit in Palestine during the reign of Tiberius, decades before the first Jewish-Roman war, we have no evidence that he was the person later (much later) described in religious literature. The mythology of the New Testament begins with an immaculate conception and virgin birth, continues with miracles, including a resurrection and ascension, and ends with a bizarre and twisted apocolypse.

Has anyone else noticed that religion is portrayed as truth and real history on most TV ...

Surfpirate comments on Mar 18, 2020:

The victors write the history books and the Xstian West has had a lot of victories over the last few centuries, naturally they paint themselves as saviors and liberators.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 18, 2020:

Except for the time they got their asses kicked by Saladin!

Has anyone else noticed that religion is portrayed as truth and real history on most TV ...

DavidDuhon comments on Mar 18, 2020:

Part of why when people refer to something as a matter of faith, I substitute the more accurate term, religious superstition.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 18, 2020:

@DavidDuhon Even the New Testament is mythology, or at best, historical fiction.

Language is interesting.

Novelty comments on Mar 17, 2020:

Like: Lets eat grandpa. or Lets eat, grandpa. See commas save lives. 🥀

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 18, 2020:

Commas are indeed lifesavers. I found this book to be highly entertaining. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eats,_Shoots_

Steven Novella on being anti-intellectual during a pandemic. [theness.com]

ToolGuy comments on Mar 17, 2020:

Is this for @St-Sinner because he won’t read it. Lol To be fair he won’t read the articles about being anti-intellectual either. https://theness.com/neurologicablog/index.php/in-defense-of-elitism/

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 18, 2020:

Good article on anti-elitism. While athletes offer a good example of rewarding the elite, another might be musicians, particularly members of a symphony orchestra, who, in some organizations, audition behind a screen for the conductor and concertmaster. Players are asked to remove their shoes so that there would be no clue as to the gender of the musician walking across the stage. Whoever has the better audition, wins a seat. When we attend a concert by an elite orchestra like the New York Philharmonic, for instance, we are, as a rule, listening to some of the best players on the planet.

I figured it out.

SeaGreenEyez comments on Mar 17, 2020:

Hahaha! These are the people that believe in immaculate conception, water turning into wine, 600 year old men that are alive, a 3-day-dead-man returning to life rather than decomposing, and all sorts of other fantastical shit they've managed to "logic" away in hopes they'll be good enough to ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 17, 2020:

@Novelty If you think about it, the Holy Spirit debauched a teenager. In the story, was Mary really able to say "no?" Perhaps the Immaculate Conception was nothing more than a case of divine rape? Oh for a time machine and a rape kit, and we would find that it was just Joseph going all Harvey Weinstein on his fiancee.

& not in the blood of Christ!

of-the-mountain comments on Mar 17, 2020:

And wipe with TP???

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 17, 2020:

@anglophone Forgot the easiest and most obvious one, you silly person: toothpaste!

Our headlines read: "People in LA lining up for guns as virus cases increase in California.

bobwjr comments on Mar 16, 2020:

Just idiots

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 17, 2020:

Just idiots can sometimes elect their own, unfortunately.

YouTube has many atheists that produce content.

Fit50something comments on Mar 16, 2020:

A tip of the hat to Ricky Gervais. He's not a YouTuber per se, and I actually think that he can be a major jackass. But, he does have a lot of videos on YouTube, and on the subject of Atheism, he can be extremely eloquent.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 16, 2020:

His bit on Noah and the flood is priceless!

First climate change was turned into partisan issue, and now we have Covid 19 / Coronavirus?

SpikeTalon comments on Mar 16, 2020:

I can't help but wonder just how accurate those polls truly are? If they happen to be so, concerning it is then.

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 16, 2020:

The doubt in you, I sense. Polls may be done poorly, however this poll was conducted by both NBC News and the Wall Street Journal--not always known for being in lockstep. The margin of error was +/- 4.9-5.5%, wider than some, but narrow enough when dealing with these pretty straightforward questions, and the broad disparity between the two party affiliates. Honestly, that there is even any difference at all is problematic, as an epidemic doesn't take politics into account. Here's a good article on polls by one of the premier polling organizations. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2018/05/14/can-we-still-trust-polls/

Someone recently argued that greater educational attainment in first nations is the driver behind a ...

Nunya comments on Mar 15, 2020:

FIRST WORLD NATIONS - AS OPPOSED TO THIRD WORLD NATIONS - THIS IS NOT A REFERENCE TO INDIGENOUS CULTURES! OMG TYPO! With that said, the influence of the social group on any of its members regardless of location or ethnicity, is what shapes our personalities. (The public educational system, the ...

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 16, 2020:

The public educational system is hardly a system, as public (taxpayer funded) schools vary widely, from one state to another, and within each state, one school district to another, and even schools within a district. For example, a small, rural public school is likely very different from an urban school. With varying curricula, values, cultures and ethnicities represented in the public schools across the US, it is difficult to envision a core set of doctrines upon which American children would be indoctrinated, nationwide, other than pluralism itself. Many religions in the US, even those who have their own educational systems, are grateful for the lack of religious instruction in the public schools, as it necessarily begs the question, 'which one?'

Someone recently argued that greater educational attainment in first nations is the driver behind a ...

p-nullifidian comments on Mar 5, 2020:

By your reference to Native Americans as First Nations, may I assume you're Canadian? If so, what religious belief(s) do Canada's public schools tend to squelch?

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 16, 2020:

@Nunya Thanks for clarifying. Now that I understand your point, please disregard mine.

I am atheist

JeffMesser comments on Mar 15, 2020:

so if you use the existence of god (or lack thereof) as your group identifier then you're pretty much just another religion. congratulations!

p-nullifidian replies on Mar 16, 2020:

I am a nullifidian (a person who has no faith or religion) who also happens to lack any knowledge or belief in a god or gods.