Science more dangerous than pedophiles, implies Pope

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080128.wpopescience0128/BNStory/Science/home?sid13

Pope warns of 'seductive' science
Reuters

January 28, 2008 at 12:34 PM EST

VATICAN CITY — Pope Benedict warned Monday of the "seductive" powers of science that overpower man's spirituality, reviving the science-versus-religion debate which recently forced him to cancel a speech after student protests.

"In an age when scientific developments attract and seduce with the possibilities they offer, it's more important than ever to educate our contemporaries' consciences so that science does not become the criterion for goodness," he told scientists.

Scientific investigation should be accompanied by "research into anthropology, philosophy and theology" to give insight into "man's own mystery, because no science can say who man is, where he comes from or where he is going", the Pope said.

"Man is not the fruit of chance or a bundle of convergences, determinisms or physical and chemical reactions," he told a meeting of academics of different disciplines sponsored by the Paris Academy of Sciences and Pontifical Academy of Sciences.

The Pope reiterated a plea, made in many speeches since his election in 2005, for mankind to be "respected as the centre of creation" and not relegated by more short-term interests.

The conservative German-born Pope's public stand on issues such as abortion and embryonic stem-cell research has led critics to accuse him of holding antiquated views on science.

Students and teachers at Rome's La Sapienza university – which was founded by a pope more than 700 years ago – cited such views when they protested so loudly during a papal speech scheduled for Jan. 17 that it had to be cancelled.

In particular, they criticized his views on science, saying a speech he gave in 1990 showed he would have favoured the church's 17th-century heresy trial against Galileo.

The Vatican said the protesters misunderstood that speech, made about 17 years ago when he was Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger.

Godless Music Reviews

This summer on the doubtcast we're going to spend some time talking about godless music but in order to do it right, we need your help.

If there is a song you like that deals with themes of atheism, humanistic ethics, naturalistic philosophy and all those sorts of things here's what you need to do:

1. Send us the info on the song (title, artist) along with a review of 15 words or less about why you like the song.

OR

2. If you're one of those tech savvy folks out there, you can record yourself reviewing the song and email us the sound file at doubtcast@gmail.com Keep it brief because we'd like to include as many different suggestions as possible.

OR

3. Send us your song suggestion and a phone number where we can reach you and we'll call you and talk with you on the air about your song suggestions. (NOTE: We'll set up a time to call, we won't just call you out of the blue. Also, we won't give out your phone number to anyone for any purpose. Your digits are safe with us).

We need your help on this, ladies and gentlemen, so please, start sending in your reviews ASAP.

In Reason,

~Fletch

Cecil B. DeMille's "The Godless Girl"

Gotta love that old tyme propaganda, don't you?

Share your Gospel of Doubt

Doubters,

Over the past couple of years we Doubtcasters have shared our stories about those events, people, arguments and ideas that helped bring us out of the fog of irrational religious belief into the light of reason.

And now: It's your turn.

We're starting a new segment called "The Gospel of Doubt" and we need your help.

We're looking for your stories and your reasons for joining the ranks of the godless. When did you lose your faith? Why did you lose your faith? Did you ever have faith? What are the arguments you ran into that started you down your path to disbelief? What books did you read, what friends did you make, or what events did you go through that helped you embrace the natural over the supernatural?

If you'd like to share with us your "Gospel of Doubt," send us an essay of 200 words or less that addresses some of the issues above to doubtcast@gmail.com.

Many of you are probably familiar with NPR's "This I Believe" series (or if not, check it out here http://thisibelieve.org/) -- that's kind of the idea of what we're looking for . . . only it's more of a "This I Don't Believe."

If you can record it yourself and send us an MP3, that's fantastic (please do include the text of the essay so we can put it up on our website in non-audio format), if not, please include your phone number and we'll record it right over the phone because we want your voices to be heard. If, for whatever reason, you can't or don't want to have your literal voice heard, but do want to share your story, let us know and we'll work something out.

This is your chance to make an important contribution to the show and share your story with all of our listeners. So start sending in those entries to "The Gospel of Doubt."

Thank you, as always, for supporting the show and we're eagerly looking forward to hearing your stories.

Jesus vs. the Poopie

I know it's early, but I still have no qualms referring to this as the story of the century. The text is provided below, but do yourselves a favor and watch the video-- mere text can't do it justice.

http://www.wzzm13.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=86444&GID=quUABRwKFiMFpx5+VMt5h5e8lLCcqd3lS+1q9w04Mc0%3D

Holding Jesus Hostage
Nick Monacelli

Oakfield Township: Some Oakfield Township residents have taken what's not theirs to prove a point.
An anonymous residents on Lindy Lane claim Jean Mansel isn't picking up after her dogs, so to entice her to do so, they took something close to her heart.Those residents say their Mansel's wiener dogs leave their leavings in their yard.
So, they stole her 80 pound statue of Jesus.
Mansel says she cherishes her cement Jesus statue; it was an heirloom from her late uncle."There was footprints behind it, and footprints in front of it," she says, pointing out where the statue used to be.
It was Thursday morning when Jean walked outside to find Jesus gone."My husband got a phone call and a real graspy voice over the phone said 'check your mailbox'."
In the mailbox was a ransom note."The note basically said they were holding Jesus for ransom."
The note reads: “We are holding Jesus ransom until you clean up the poopie from your wieners and trust us we see you take your wieners for long walks w/out picking up their poopie in our yards. This has upset us dearly so please clean up all the weiner poopie, if you want to see Jesus unharmed. Sincerely, Lindy Lane Residents.”
"It has to be a young person because they put these lines around Jesus, no adult is going to waste their time doing that," says Mansel. "And referring to weiner poopie…my gosh."Jean has four wiener dogs and admits there was a complaint last year about their leavings. But she says she's cleaned up every pile since."I take my dogs for walks, I carry a plastic bag with me and pick up anything that they do."
Now, Jean just wants her statue back, and says she won't press charges if Jesus isn't harmed."I thought something like that would be safe in your yard, it wasn't, it wasn't."
So what do you think? Was stealing the Jesus statue an appropriate response to alleged dog leavings?Talk back to us by clicking on the “Talkback” button above.
And if you or someone you know is the one behind the ransom note we want to hear from you.
Please e-mail us at: news@wzzm13.com.

Mayor/pastor/predator gets busted

Mayor/pastor accused of seeking sex with girl
Missouri official allegedly thought he was chatting with 13-year-old

Read more here:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22655404/

In case you hadn't heard: Our country is f*cked!

That is, if Huckabee, Romney or, Hell, any of the Republican nominees has their way.

Scientist say that the US is 'doomed' if we elect another creationist.

http://www.physorg.com/news118756781.html

Scientists to Make Cows Fart like Kangaroos to Cool the Planet

Okay, this doesn't really have much relevance, but it does show how awesome science is. And it involves farting so I figured at least Luke and Jeremy would be amused by it.

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/01/03/scientists-to-make-cows-fart-like-kangaroos/

Scientists to Make Cows Fart Like Kangaroos to Cool the Planet

by Jorge

We’re guessing that headline caught your attention! Cow farts are a source of greenhouse gases, while kangaroo farts are methane free thanks to a particular bacteria in their stomachs. Now, in a bizarre twist of science-reality, scientists from Australia are trying to neutralize cow-produced methane by transferring that kangaroo bacteria to cattle and sheep’s guts. According to the government of Queensland, almost 14% of all greenhouse gas emissions from Australia come from cow farts, so this seemingly silly idea could actually make a big difference.

However, while few things warm our hearts more than kangaroos (except perhaps for a koala), and while we applaud the scientists attempts at reducing a source of greenhouse gases, it still feels a bit too mad scientist to us. No word on whether or not they will get cows to jump as well. We’ll let you know how they progress

And you thought you had a hard job

http://www.malfunctionjunction.net/comics/05062006.gif