Posted on

What the Hell is Wrong With You Scientists??

Seriously, scientists, what is WRONG with you?? How could you not tell us about THIS??

What Prayer Does to Your Brain

This video reveals how prayer actually changes four distinct areas of the human brain: the frontal lobe, the anterior cingulate, the parietal lobe, and the limbic system.

It also details how a specific amount of prayer time per day can help prevent memory loss, mental decline, and even dementia or Alzheimer’s.

Plus, it covers 47 scientifically proven benefits of prayer, including pain relief, reduced risk of death from heart attack or stroke, lessened anxiety or depression, improved immune function, and more.

All this time, I LAUGHED at people who prayed. And now I find out there is SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, yes proven scientific evidence, that all those nice Christians are going to live longer, happier lives! While all us atheists will die cold and alone, with depleted anterior cingulates and seriously compromised limbic systems. And probably have Alzheimer’s too!

As you watch the video, bear in mind that it’s totally unbiased.

Posted on

Doctors Work Tirelessly, Then God Performs Breathtaking Miracle

“I tell everyone, if they want to call it a modern-day miracle, this is a miracle,” said Regan, 59, and a Catholic. “I have friends who are atheists who have called me and said, ‘I am going back to church.’ “

I know some part of this is the simple desire to express boundless gratitude that a loved one survived. And another part is the ridiculous “drama” writing on the part of the reporter.

But after a while, it just gets tedious. Like the 20th time you’ve seen an “evil twin” episode on a TV series. Or the 10th “hot young vampire” movie. Continue reading “Doctors Work Tirelessly, Then God Performs Breathtaking Miracle”

Posted on

Indian, Martyr, Healer, Saint

Reporter Alyssa Newcomb penned a deeply embarrassing bit of silliness at ABCNews.com yesterday.

First American Indian on Track Toward Sainthood

Jake Finkbonner was near death for months with a flesh eating bacteria, but made a miraculous recovery that the Vatican credited to The Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, marking the second miracle for the 17th century Mohawk-Algonquin woman and clearing the way for her to become the first American-Indian saint.

Pope Benedict XVI signed a decree Monday approving the miracle attribute to the intercession of the woman, and she could be canonized as soon as February. The Vatican said it believes that the prayers Finkbonner’s family directed to Tekakwitha were responsible for bringing the boy back from the brink of death. Continue reading “Indian, Martyr, Healer, Saint”

Posted on

ABC’s Freak of the Week

Read this whole post before you click on the link at the end. And then think twice about clicking on the link.

Seriously.

It’s disgusting, disturbing, and I’m including it only to make a point about something I think is even more disgusting and disturbing.

No, I don’t think this baby is a freak. I think he has a horrifying condition that would put a literal saint in a difficult ethical position, much less ordinary human parents. Continue reading “ABC’s Freak of the Week”

Posted on

So Long, You Magnificent Sonofabitch

Well, shit.

Woke up at 5 a.m. with a 50-mph wind roaring outside my window. Rolled over and picked up my phone to check the weather, and was immediately assaulted with Facebook posts praising Hitch.

Clicked over to a news page and saw it. Dead at 62. Damn.

Many times during my younger life, I asked the people around me “If there was a pill you could take that would make it possible for you to live forever, would you take it?”

And I’ve been amazed at the answers, which consisted of a large majority of negatives. Continue reading “So Long, You Magnificent Sonofabitch”

Posted on

Yeah? So What Else is New?

Religious Believers Don’t Trust Atheists, Says New Study

In other news, the sea is wet, dogs bark, and bears poop in the woods.

Love this bit:

While atheists may see their disbelief as a private matter on a metaphysical issue, believers may consider atheists’ absence of belief as a public threat …

This following part strikes me as probably a little bit bullshit. If the data is correct, I’ll bet they’re misinterpreting it.

Atheists also tend to trust religious people more than they trust other atheists.

“Those people who did not identify with a religion still tended to find believers to be more trustworthy,” said the third co-author, Azim Shariff of the University of Oregon.

That’s because people trust “those who fear supernatural punishment,” Shariff added …

Althought this part I can readily believe:

… and because atheists aren’t especially vocal, powerful or connected.

Posted on

Rick Perry Ad and the Atheist Answer

Rick Perry digs the hole deeper, putting himself even farther from the growing mainstream of American thought:

And the growing mainstream answers back:

—————————-

Aaaaand … then I discover I’m the THIRD FreeThought Blogger (or worse) to toss this little tidbit at you. Heh.

Posted on

Scientists in Church? Ack. Thptpth.

I confess I’m not completely on board with the “let the children decide for themselves what to believe” thing.

Yeah, I get it that you have to let kids develop the ability to evaluate the nature of the world on their own.

But on matters of fact? Things which are KNOWN, and which you sort of have to accept as part of the real world? Is that about “belief?” And, considering the broader package of stuff — Eternal Torment! The Evilness of Gays! Mistrust of Liberals! Altarboy Diddling! — that can come along with it, is it okay that actual scientists are willing to expose their kids to it?  Continue reading “Scientists in Church? Ack. Thptpth.”