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First off, let me thank you for actually reading the paper - most Xtians I know damn such work without reading it. Gregory Paul in his article sometimes mentions people I could hardly consider scholars I don't see how that affects the statistical correlations. These would still exist if he cited Donald Duck in the text. Page 408's table looks ok, except on foreign born. It should not have negative numbers, but positive ones. I guess...

Jenth101 wrote: Other than escaping excruciating constant pain, I have never understood suicide. For all too many, it's largely the same mental state as the child that runs away from home. It's a different form of the same mechanism, a desire to change life by punishing others. Both the suicide and the child say 'they'll be sorry they treated me bad' or 'they'll miss me when i'm gone.' They're...

"Her blessings are indistinguishable from having the good fortune to be born in one of the prosperous areas of the world, working hard and now regularly getting laid. " Not a bad deal if you can get it.

One Brow wrote: We're atheists, so naturally we love Christmas. Of course. One of the great things about being an atheist is that you can celebrate Christmas without all the religious bullshit. We've got a tree up with presents under it. Santa Claus came to our house regularly until our daughter figured it out* last year, and we didn't have to feel like Santa was somehow usurping Christ as the King of the Holiday. And we...

Gregory Paul in his article sometimes mentions people I could hardly consider scholars or reliable as Republican demagogoes in The United States Dinesh de Souza, O'Reilly, and Ann Coulter. Page 408's table looks ok, except on foreign born. It should not have negative numbers, but positive ones. Every nation in the industrialized World (Europe,Canada, United States,Autralia, Japan,...) actually attracts more foreiners, since they...

I used to have a cat that wanted to die. It would attack you in the middle of the night and tears stuff up around the house on a daily basis, practically begging me to choke the life out of it. Even my hippie vegan roommate said I should put it down, but I ended up giving it to some crackhead. Man I hated that cat.

jeff wrote: i wonder if anyone can give me info on blessing - how does it work, who can do it, what does it do, that sort of thing It's one of those words the superstitious use that have as much meaning as soul. It is imaginary. I've heard of people, homes, animals and money being blessed. Apparently some people think they can influence their god to bestow good luck and dish out the goodies to specific people and things. However, in...

Jenth101 wrote: However, in Genesis 25-27, the sad story of Esau, it is indistinguishable from an inheritance. And can be obtained through collusion with your racist mother. I always interreted the birthright in that story to be teh same as inheritance. The blessing is more of a limited magical talisman.

I think this is like watching a train wreck in reverse. It seems that a perfectly kind and loving person was convinced somewhere along the line , that his life would work better or be better or be more fulfilling with a belief in a god. Then we find this man who initially would never think of slaughtering children, indiginous people , women , men , animals , etc., or excusing foolishness such as demons,Satan, talking snakes and donkeys,and...