Yes, that is correct: fuck blogging. What a downright worthless postively messy business with few ups and continual downs. I am actually having some sort of annoying panic attack over how worthless blogging is. There were a few ups, but they’re far exceeded by the lack of self-worth that appears in place.

So a big fuck you to all of the popular bloggers out there (sans Bad Astro and PZ), and especially the ones who make money from it. Sorry, not a people person, and failure after failure has taken its toll. I’m almost to the “fuck you internet” point too.

That is all.

In the long time since ceasing to post here I’ve been extremely busy. I’ve been doing a lot of research on Jonathan Wells, Phillip E. Johnson, etc. etc. you know the kind, those IDeists bent on destroying actual science and substituting it with creationism.

I may or may not use the fairly in-depth information I have gathered on this blog, but I am in the active process of writing a book, so some of these things I’ve found will definitely appear.

But what we already knew, and what I’m finding more and more about these guys is… I can look at pictures of these big IDeists and I just think to myself in awe… what fucking assholes.

Yeah, that’s all. Hopefully I’ll have something to report on soon.

As of 5:16 PM EST I am now the proud owner of three atheistic masterpieces. This will be my first divergence into atheistic literature (actual, not internet based or whatever) and my first divergence into actual books in several years.

I quite expect to enjoy them. I think I’ll either read God Delusion first or End of Faith and put Hitchens book in the middle of them. I’m hopeful it will ignite a flame for reading books and I will start reading again. I used to a lot, but it sort of faded, so yeah.

But it goes without saying: nothing is sacred. These are not my “holy” books. They’re just books that support my position and therefore I wish to give them a spin. I may like them and I may not.

After much time of procrastinating, I bought three books today! With mom’s permission (dad doesn’t know – yet) I bought some books by my favorite authors of recent times:

• The God Delusion by Richard Dawkins
• God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything by Christopher Hitchens
• The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason by Sam Harris

All of them hardcover. Coolio.

…so are the risk factors for being gullible: they both run in the family.

It bears saying that my family possesses the risk of gullibility. To bring the point home right from the beginning, my aunt’s husband almost had my dad believing that the Earth was the center of the Universe. An AiG doctrine, without question…

The conversation with dad was something like this between us;

Me: …and you seriously believe this to be possible?

Dad: Sure.

Woah. I was going to make this a full-on conversation but I re-read both lines and decided you get the idea from just those two. Neat, huh? The conversation between me and the AiG-inspired maniac was more fruitful:

Him: I have full faith in this, because it confirmed by scripture.

Me: What about all of the scientific discoveries in the last two thousand years that support a moving Earth that rotates around a moving sun?

Him: Science isn’t perfect; these scientists see what they want to see.

Me: No, scientists see what is actually there with no pre-conceived bias against reality.

Him: Are you saying that AiG is biased against reality?

Me: Yes.

Him: Isn’t your faith in the word of scientists comparable to my faith in AiG?

Me: No, because it’s plain to see through observing the real world that it is constantly moving and that it is not the center of the universe, the solar system, or anything except the moon’s orbit around it.

At this point he continues on some anti-science tirade about how scientists think they know everything and it’s getting really old. How evidence is manipulated to support anti-god causes and whatever. When he crosses the line of stupidity so many times, I eventually step in with no regards to his opinion.

Him: No one considers the fact that these scientists interpret their evidence to what best fits their humanist agenda, and I think it’s a shame that no one will loo-

Me: To go into scientific fields to look for evidence for creation as opposed to looking at it from a naturalistic standpoint is to automatically assume it was created instead of suggestion that the universe itself is behind this stuff, which is the cause of science.

Him: Well, OK, but I think tha-

Me: No. The purpose of science is to explain how we’re here naturally and it has been ever since the scientific revolution, and your kind didn’t have a problem with it until it tackled the idea that life could have arisen by itself and that the universe could have came about by itself.

Him: You have to admit that these scientists go in with a pre-conceived bias…

Me: Yes, they’re biased to like reality better than the idea of fairy tales. Because they study reality.

Then, as if completely ignoring my point again he continues on his tirade. This time talking about how scientists are somehow not allowed to assume a creator did it because of a bias against the supernatural in spite of what I just said. Then he proposes a question:

Him: Can you at least admit that the AiG data may be correct?

Me: No.

Him: Why?

Me: Because you would have to take all of the evidence gathered since directly after the scientific revolution and use dark ages superstition to interpret it to support your cause. We’re talking about interpreting potentially every single bit of evidence in secular science for a religious agenda, as AiG does. So instead of having science constantly evolving, the gaps would be a place for god’s will instead of a place for study.

Him: That’s not true, AiG doesn’t assume that god was in the gaps.

Me: Look at their “study” of the human mind where they relate feelings of love that are known to come from the human brain as being from god instead of being from the brain itself. Look at intelligent design’s non-existent research. That’s the god of the gaps, buddy.

Him: I never thought of it like that.

Me: I know.

Somehow, after this he managed to shut up on the issue, whether thinking he won or realize he had been bested. I suspected he thought he won… but if he did it’s because he could talk louder than me since I’m somewhat of a gentle person and wouldn’t raise my voice every time he interrupted me or wouldn’t let me talk.

Last time I was at their house, my aunt went on a rant about the Illuminati, freemasons, and the new world order. I asked “how?” in relation to how she knows all of this and is allowed to live, but she disregarded that question, preferring just the how: the Bible says so. That’s right. She has no evidence to support this notion, but some ideals gained on no-doubt shaky theological grounds.

So when did this awe-inspiring moment in family history happen? One year ago on Saturday. The last family reunion.

I know I end up saying much on the subject regarding every supposed ex-atheist I can find, but it’s a subject that just keeps on giving. Just once I would like to find a now-Creationist and ex-atheist who actually understands evolution.

But it’s not this guy.

Since Darwin put forth his original theory, scientists have sought fossil evidence indicating past organic transitions. Nearly 150 years later, there has been no evidence of evolutionary transition found thus far in the fossil record. In Darwin’s own words, if his theory of “macro-evolution” were true, we would see a vast number of fossils at intermediate stages of biological development. In fact, based on standard mathematical models, we would see far more transitional forms in the fossil record than complete specimens. However, we see none — not one true transitional specimen has ever been found.

Either he’s intentionally ignorant or just lying.

Source.

Why can creationists not grasp the idea that transitional fossils are not creatures that are half crocodile and half duck but are around the mid-range in features of two types of species? My favorite example, Tiktaalik, is half-amphibian and half-fish. Or the other way around… Yeah, it’s the other way around.

The biggest reason why atheists don’t bother with so-called ex-atheists is that they lack understanding. I’ve not seen one ex-atheist who doesn’t do one of the following: deny evolution entirely or ignore the evidence.

There are thousands upon thousands of transitional fossils. That’s the one you can always count on them to miss.

He continues…

Even the popular press is catching on. This is from an article in Newsweek magazine:

The missing link between man and apes, whose absence has comforted religious fundamentalists since the days of Darwin, is merely the most glamorous of a whole hierarchy of phantom creatures … The more scientists have searched for the transitional forms that lie between species, the more they have been frustrated. ⁵

The reason they’re more and more frustrated is because with every new transition (“link”) you have two more spaces to fill. After filling those two spaces, you have four new ones. It continues on and on like this: there is no single “missing” form or fossil. Thanks for completely missing the point, though, dude.

Let me be clear: I am not a scientist. I turned eighteen years old almost a month ago. I am not anyone of supreme intelligence. I am a kid who has the internet and knows how to use it. If I can use the internet to find out information from credible sources, why can’t these people? Are they scared of something? Are they trying to hide something? Even so, if the evidence is presented, they ignore it. Why is this?

These questions never cease to amaze me. We have a new failure on our list, at least:

1. Kirk Cameron (Lying for Jesus: Kirk Cameron Edition)
2. Dr. Jason Lisle (Reading Answers in Genesis: Probably easier when high.)
3. Lee Strobel (Lee Strobel: Ex-Atheist or just ignorant?)
4. Ray Comfort (Banana: Proof of creationism., Ray Comfort has a blog, Ray Comfort: What the fuck, man?)
5. Rhonda Storms (Fuck Rhonda Storms)
6. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (DO SOMETHING IN LOUISIANA! QUICK!, Now the Candle Burns at both Ends)
7. Rush Limbaugh (Rush Limbaugh)
8. Bill Donohue (It Gets Me!, It Gets Me! (Part II))
9. Michael Edmondson (Beware the Believers, Beware the Believers: Expelled Viral Video)
10. Dr. Terry Mortenson (Evolution does not work that way!)
11. Randall Niles

I’ll would also send an email out to Mr. Niles informing him of his newfound position, but he’d probably just stick both fingers in his ears, close is eyes, and shout “la la la la la I CAN’T HEAR YOU la la la [...]” instead of paying attention.

I’ll consider this another case of Lying for Jesus in full effect.

On FSTDT, we have our own saying that we took from futurama. When a fundie explains evolution or the big bang wrong, as not a single one of them has gotten it right, we say that or a variation thereof. For instance: the big bang does not work that way!

Evolution explains something observed in nature: species are not fixed. Through different environments in nature, species adapt over time into completely new types of animal. Or just die out, but the ones we care about are the ones that adapted.

Anyway, evolution seems to be a pretty simple concept, yes? Well, groups like Answers in Gensis have been fighting it since like the 1980s and still don’t have a firm grasp on it.

To avoid quote mining, here is the whole quote:

God has made an almost incomprehensibly complex creation for scientists to study. Though lots of questions remain, two things are clear. One, true science powerfully confirms the literal truth of Genesis chapters 1–11. Two, evolutionary stories are fatally flawed in explaining the cosmos, the rock layers of the earth with their fossils, and the origin and diversity of living things. Of course, that is no big surprise, since the Bible is the inerrant propositional revelation of the Creator.

Evolution explains the variation of life on Earth. Not the cosmos. Not the rock layers. Not the origin of life.*

So, you know, I think we have yet another creationist failure for our list. Nah, I’m sure of it. Welcome Dr. Terry Mortenson from Answers in Stupidity!

1. Kirk Cameron (Lying for Jesus: Kirk Cameron Edition)
2. Dr. Jason Lisle (Reading Answers in Genesis: Probably easier when high.)
3. Lee Strobel (Lee Strobel: Ex-Atheist or just ignorant?)
4. Ray Comfort (Banana: Proof of creationism., Ray Comfort has a blog, Ray Comfort: What the fuck, man?)
5. Rhonda Storms (Fuck Rhonda Storms)
6. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (DO SOMETHING IN LOUISIANA! QUICK!, Now the Candle Burns at both Ends)
7. Rush Limbaugh (Rush Limbaugh)
8. Bill Donohue (It Gets Me!, It Gets Me! (Part II))
9. Michael Edmondson (Beware the Believers, Beware the Believers: Expelled Viral Video)
10. Dr. Terry Mortenson

*PZ Myers disagrees with this assertion; claiming that abiogenesis has a huge role in evolution. In all honesty, it does, but that isn’t the main tenant of evolution in respect tow hat these people claim.

I shall write peace upon your wings, and you shall fly around the world so that children will no longer have to die this way.

It’s been 63 years now since attacks on both Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and still the entire world mourns. The quote is attributed to twelve year old Sadako Sasaki, who died as a result of the attack on Hiroshima.

Let us remember all of those who lost their lives on that fateful day in 1945, as well as ensuing years, and use all of the power we have to be sure that nothing of the sort happens ever again.

A few days ago I linked to the video for Beware the Believers, thinking it could possibly be a viral video for Expelled. Our Newsflash of the day… it is. Michael Edmondson, owner of Float On Films, created Beware the Believers to promote expelled.

I created (and danced) the “Richard Dawkins: Beware The Believers” viral ad for “Expelled : No Intelligence Allowed” found here:

http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=eaGgpGLxLQw&fmt=18

The viral ad received 200, 000 views on the web during the three weeks prior to the (Expelled) release. I also have a visual effects credit for the film Expelled.

Since Beware the Believers contained an all-star atheist cast (Dawkins, Myers, Scott, Hitchens, Harris, Dennett) it was immediately popular among the atheist community. While a funny video that I quite enjoy (and will always enjoy, probably), it’s a resounding example of a creationist failure. You know the drill, don’t you?

1. Kirk Cameron (Lying for Jesus: Kirk Cameron Edition)
2. Dr. Jason Lisle (Reading Answers in Genesis: Probably easier when high.)
3. Lee Strobel (Lee Strobel: Ex-Atheist or just ignorant?)
4. Ray Comfort (Banana: Proof of creationism., Ray Comfort has a blog, Ray Comfort: What the fuck, man?)
5. Rhonda Storms (Fuck Rhonda Storms)
6. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (DO SOMETHING IN LOUISIANA! QUICK!, Now the Candle Burns at both Ends)
7. Rush Limbaugh (Rush Limbaugh)
8. Bill Donohue (It Gets Me!, It Gets Me! (Part II))
9. Michael Edmondson

Atheists, Skeptics, Freethinkers: 1 billion+

Expelled: No Intelligence At All: 0

Creationists often say that atheists, evolutionists, and et cetera lie because they have no moral foundation without a creator.

Then what do you call this?

I call it another example of lying for Jesus. Do you see what I’m talking about? If you want to know, there’s more after the jump.

This DVD is unique in that it doesn’t follow the usual format of Christian experts exposing the theory. Instead, it lets evolutionary believers put their own foot in their own mouth, simply by asking them probing questions.
Join Kirk and Ray as they take an orangutan to lunch, and call major airlines and ask if a “relative” can join them on a plane. The graphics on this DVD have been designed so that there is no indication that it is Christian or anti-evolution. The content is derived from episode 21 of the Way of the Master series.

The Bible speaks to no end about bearing false witness and lying. I think this is both. Furthermore, it’s odd to call it “The Science of Evolution” when it is more useless antecdotes than actual science. Do Ray and Kirk dare mention the legions of transitional fossils? Do they make mention of the field of genetics? Do they mention that the entire field of medicine relies upon evolutionary knowledge?

Of course not.

These people don’t want the voice of reason to be heard. They want to make it seem like species evolve by being born completely different from their parents. They want to laugh at science that has made them able to live longer. They want to laugh at you for being grateful of all science has done for us. Most of all, they want us to be under control by telling us that if we don’t give them money and absolute submission, we are going to burn.