Monthly Archives: October 2011

He Took Offense

Posted on October 6, 2011 by vorjack

Natalie Angier has a science column up at the New York Times about a concept being called “pathological altruism.” She’s working from a new book about the topic, containing essays from people like neurologist Dr. Robert A. Burton: As the … Continue reading →

Posted in Articles | 8 Comments

Find me a liberal American President who’d do and say that. Slow train comin’?

Posted on October 5, 2011 by fatemeh | 31 Comments

Evangelical Geekery

Posted on October 5, 2011 by vorjack

I have gotten into arguments about the superiority of 1st edition D&D over all others. I have had discussions on the physics of the fireball spell. I’ve used the phrase high Gygaxian without a trace of irony. But at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Religion, Videos | 7 Comments

Turning Father Against Son

Posted on October 5, 2011 by vorjack

From a local ABC affiliate in Western Tennessee comes this story of a pastor attacking his own son: (The video can be a bit flaky. Try the original site if it doesn’t work for you.) A gay Gibson County couple … Continue reading →

Posted in Sexuality, Videos | 32 Comments

John Shore on the Future of American Christianty

Posted on October 4, 2011 by vorjack

James McGrath points people to a HuffPo editorial by John Shore in which he predicts the inevitable growth of Progressive Christianity in America. By “progressive Christianity,” Shore seems to mean socially rather than theologically; IOW American Christians will soften their … Continue reading →

Posted in Christianity, Questions | 15 Comments

Moral Progress Without Moral Direction?

Posted on October 3, 2011 by vorjack

Two stories that may or may not be related: Stephen Pinker suggests that violence and murder per-capita has been in decline through modern history: I really don’t know how if I’d accept a decline in the murder rate as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Morality | 34 Comments

Perry Poisons Everything

Posted on October 2, 2011 by vorjack

Upon visiting the Heritage USA gift shop, P.J. O’Rourke was introduced to the horror of Christian Rap. He quipped, “I was witnessing a miracle, I was sure, or auditing one anyway: Here was something that sounded worse than genuine rap.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Oh the Stupidity!, Politics, Videos | 14 Comments

8-bit Jesus

Posted on October 2, 2011 by vorjack

For once, the image of Jesus has appeared somewhere appropriate: on the outside of an original Nintendo Entertainment System. Via Kotaku: A Maryland woman said she was surprised to find what appears to be an image of Jesus Christ on … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor, Pictures | 18 Comments

My Rights and Yours

Posted on October 1, 2011 by vorjack

Since New York legalized same-sex marriages, there have been a few articles like this one from the New York Times: Rose Marie Belforti is a 57-year-old cheese maker, the elected town clerk in this sprawling Finger Lakes farming community and … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, Sexuality | 59 Comments