Archive for April, 2009
A Matter of Perspective
Posted by Rational Dreamer in creationism on April 24th, 2009
Don’t you just love creationists and their fancy toys? As a matter of fact, this “Creation Minute” isn’t that bad as far as presentations go. It is remarkably accurate (for a creationist production) until you get to the very end when Eric Hovind (yes, the son of that jailbird Kent Hovind) quotes from the Bible about the Earth being “God’s footstool”.
Maybe it’s just me, but likening the Earth to the place where God rests his sweaty feet after a long, hard day of smiting isn’t exactly the best way to convey a sense of awe and wonder about the majesty of our home planet.
Orson Scott Card Joins the National Organization for Marriage
Posted by Rational Dreamer in politics on April 22nd, 2009
Well that’s the final nail in the coffin. I remember discovering Card’s famous first novel, Ender’s Game, and being completely taken with it. On the strength of that and his other early efforts, I read all five books of his Homecoming Saga, the first few books of The Tales of Alvin Maker, and the sequels to Ender’s Game. I knew nothing of his religious or politics views, and since they didn’t seem to be influencing the quality or tone of his writing, I had no interest in finding out what they were.
But, as seems to happen with all too many authors, when they get a wee bit famous, they start injecting all kinds of personal views and prejudices into their stories. I guess they feel that they have earned that right, and I suspect that editors tend to have less control over the content and tenor of their prized authors’ later novels.
Creationists Sue the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Posted by Rational Dreamer in politics, religion on April 22nd, 2009
Last year, the Institute for Creation Research (ICR) applied to have its “Master of Science” program officially recognized in Texas but was rejected by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) which oversees all applications, who found that whatever it is the ICR Graduate School is teaching, it ain’t science.
Now they’re back, in full whine mode, and with a law suit claiming that their academic freedom and their constitutional right to free speech have been violated. Not surprisingly their press release is laughable, and full of lies and distortions.
Read the rest of this entry »
Kepler Scooped! (sort of…)
Posted by Rational Dreamer in science on April 21st, 2009
Just a couple of days ago I posted on this blog saying that the Kepler space telescope may already have the first Earth-like planet to be discovered—one capable of supporting life—in its sights. Well, now a team of European astronomers has made me look at little foolish by announcing that they have confirmation of the very first Earth-like planet to be located within a star’s habitable zone, before Kepler’s mission is even fully underway.
The team announced the discovery of a new exoplanet (a planet outside our own solar system), Gliese 581e, which is the lightest exoplanet ever discovered at less than twice the mass of Earth, but it takes just 3.15 days to orbit its star, and even though the star (Gliese 581) is a relatively cool red dwarf star, it is way too close and hot to have a chance of supporting life.
The Problem With Salvation #2:
The Deal Of A Lifetime?
Posted by Rational Dreamer in religion on April 21st, 2009
One day, you find yourself walking past a large curtain draped along the side of the street—a curtain like those they use in game shows to hide the grand prize from the audience and contestants. Suddenly, a salesman jumps out from behind the curtain to inform you that he is about to make you an offer that you cannot possibly refuse. He tells you that for a mere $100,000, he will sell you the brand new, top-of-the-range Mercedes-Benz luxury sports car (worth a cool half-million dollars) parked on the other side of the curtain. Your interest is piqued and you tell him to go ahead and show you the car, but the salesman says no, he can’t do that, and that you will just have to take his word for it that the offer is genuine.
Naturally you are very suspicious, believing that the salesman may be trying to scam you. When he notices your skepticism, the salesman pulls out a thick brochure and hands it to you, saying that it contains the answers to any questions you might have, and that it will explain how he is able to offer you such a fantastic deal. You take the brochure, expecting to see glossy photographs of the car and a fancy sales pitch, but all you find are pages and pages of dense technical information about the car and even more pages of barely decipherable legalese describing the terms of the deal. Undeterred, you decide it’s worth investigating further since it does sound like a great deal, so you take a deep breath and turn to page one of the brochure.
First Light!
Posted by Rational Dreamer in astronomy, science on April 20th, 2009
This is a very cool image. In fact, it’s hard to describe in mere words how cool this picture really is. What you’re looking at is the first image beamed down from the Kepler space telescope, launched into orbit around the Sun (trailing Earth’s orbit) just over a month ago. You can just imagine standing on the bridge of some futuristic spaceship and looking out onto such a scene as this. But the really cool thing about this image is that in all probability, the first ever Earth-like planet we discover outside our own Solar System is somewhere within this picture.
The Problem With Salvation #1:
Introduction
Posted by Rational Dreamer in religion on April 19th, 2009
Of all the religious concepts I wrestled with while I was still a Christian, it was the doctrine of salvation that proved to be the decisive factor in my transformation from a believer into an atheist. No matter how much I tried, I could not find a way to rebut the logical inconsistencies that kept popping up all over the place when I thought long and hard about the issue.
I was born and grew up in Britain, where my family were heavily involved with the Methodist Church—a very liberal denomination by American standards—and I continued to attended church services, if somewhat sporadically, after I left home and well on into my twenties. Although I have always had moments of doubt about Christianity, I didn’t seriously consider the possibility that it may only be the elaborate invention of the human mind until I was in my early thirties, soon after I had arrived in the States. (The two events are not entirely coincidental.)
Having made several trips to the U.S. before moving here, I was already aware that the Christian community is divided into two camps when it comes to the doctrine of salvation—one that believes you must ask for and receive personal salvation before you can enter the Kingdom of Heaven, and one that believes personal salvation is not essential and that you can get into Heaven as long as you a lead a reasonably decent and honest life, even if you are not a Christian.
A Question of Truthiness
Posted by Rational Dreamer in random thoughts on April 17th, 2009
While we’re on the subject of Stephen Colbert (well, not really)…
Would you rather someone told you the “truth” or told you the “Truth”?
And what’s the difference anyway? Sticking a capital letter on the beginning of the word doesn’t make the truth being referred to any more true. In fact, I usually find that the opposite is true–or should that be True? I get so confused…
The Bias of Reality
Posted by Rational Dreamer in politics on April 17th, 2009
“Reality has a well known liberal bias.”
So sayeth the sharp-witted political wit, Comedy Central’s Stephen Colbert.
It is probably the most famous quotation to come out of his brilliant show, The Colbert Report, and it has the merit not only of being funny, but of having a large ring of truth about (or should I say “truthiness”?) too, at least it does in America.
Welcome
Posted by Rational Dreamer in announcements on April 15th, 2009
Welcome to Rational Dreaming, my personal blog, and a place where I can express my thoughts on religion and reality. I’m still in the process of setting things up, so there will likely be a few changes here and there, but feel free to look around and have your say, if you feel like it.
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