Canard

While reading the judge's Memorandum Opinion in the Dover Intelligent Design School Board case, I learned some new words. Canard, which in English I'd seen and understood in context, but never looked up. In French, I knew it meant "duck" but didn't know what that had to do with falsehood. From Webster's:

Etymology: French, literally, duck; in sense 1, from Middle French vendre des canards à moitié to cheat, literally, to half-sell ducks

I found this really funny. Another word, arguendo, was brand new to me and so fancy, Webster's makes you pay for it in the unabridged version. I went to a law dictionary.

arguendo prep. Latin meaning "for the sake of argument"

I've had an enjoyable time thinking of sentences and situations in which I could use arguendo and innuendo together.

Judge Jones is a clear and thorough writer, and doesn't pull any punches. The opinion is lengthy but worthwhile read and minimizes law jargon. My favorite bit is the highlighting of the Platiniff's complete discrediting of Michael Behe's testimony.

Here's the canard quote in context from Judge Jones:

After this searching and careful review of ID as espoused by its proponents, as elaborated upon in submissions to the Court, and as scrutinized over a six week trial, we find that ID is not science and cannot be adjudged a valid, accepted scientific theory as it has failed to publish in peer-reviewed journals, engage in research and testing, and gain acceptance in the scientific community. ID, as noted, is grounded in theology, not science. Accepting for the sake of argument its proponents’, as well as Defendants’ argument that to introduce ID to students will encourage critical thinking, it still has utterly no place in a science curriculum. Moreover, ID’s backers have sought to avoid the scientific scrutiny which we have now determined that it cannot withstand by advocating that the controversy, but not ID itself, should be taught in science class. This tactic is at best disingenuous, and at worst a canard. The goal of the IDM is not to encourage critical thought, but to foment a revolution which would supplant evolutionary theory with ID.

Funny

In 2004 he [Phillip E. Johnson] was awarded the inaugural "Phillip E. Johnson Award for Liberty and Truth.

The Bible and Slavery

Here's a ridiculous comment on the Bible and slavery at Bible Questions Answered.

A few notes. The author of the answer writes:

The Bible does not specifically condemn the practice of slavery. It gives instructions on how slaves should be treated (Deuteronomy 15:12-15; Ephesians 6:9; Colossians 4:1), but does not outlaw the practice altogether.

Just to make sure we're all on the same page, let's put those bits up here.

Deuteronomy 15:12-15:

12 If a fellow Hebrew, a man or a woman, sells himself to you and serves you six years, in the seventh year you must let him go free. 13 And when you release him, do not send him away empty-handed. 14 Supply him liberally from your flock, your threshing floor and your winepress. Give to him as the LORD your God has blessed you. 15 Remember that you were slaves in Egypt and the LORD your God redeemed you. That is why I give you this command today.

I think we need a little more of Ephesians 6 than just 9. Note the bits not mentioned (5 - 8). Ephesians 6:5-9:

5Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men, 8because you know that the Lord will reward everyone for whatever good he does, whether he is slave or free.

9And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Colossians 4

Masters, provide your slaves with what is right and fair, because you know that you also have a Master in heaven.

And just so we don't leave anything out here's some more bits Leviticus 25:39 -46 :

'39 " 'If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. 40 He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. 41 Then he and his children are to be released, and he will go back to his own clan and to the property of his forefathers. 42 Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. 43 Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God. 44 Your male and female slaves are to come from the nations around you; from them you may buy slaves. 45 You may also buy some of the temporary residents living among you and members of their clans born in your country, and they will become your property. 46 You can will them to your children as inherited property and can make them slaves for life, but you must not rule over your fellow Israelites ruthlessly.

It seems to me that the Bible specifically gives rules about whom one is permitted to enslave, everyone but the Lord's chosen people. God only seems to disapprove of slavery when His people are enslaved -- not because slavery is wrong, but because they are His people, His slaves. Slavery IS racial in Biblical times, but the only protected race here is ultimately the chosen people.

From the directives above it is also clear that slavery was not as simple as a job or financial option. Educated slaves certainly didn't outnumber manual labor. Slaves must have been treated ruthlessly, else why would the Bible bother directing one about humane treatment of their slaves?

I'm not sure why a person reading the Bible, a person who enslaves themselves to this God would think that owning slaves is in any way wrong. The comment that the Bible is not intended to reform society and only intended as a map to personal salvation seems ridiculous.

The Power of the Holy Spirit

With this jpg you too can possess the power of the Holy Spirit. Just print it out and wrap it around a C battery. Man-made power can be instantly sanctified. Yowza.

"Now, wait," you say, "I don't need a Christian power, I need a different franchise." Okay, here are some other options:







I still need to make the FSM battery and the IPU battery.

T-shirt Religions

Here's the background for the comments in this post: Student Wins T-Shirt Verdict.

So first off, yes it's offensive and yes, he has a right to wear the t-shirt. And please do, it lets everyone understand where religion has led you and gives the rest of us a heads up to avoid you.

I thought it was interesting to note a specific section of the letter "from a former Muslim" at the end of their presentation:

Growing up in a fairly nominal Muslim home, I confused the fantasy that my familial forefathers and foremothers had woven about the religion of their birth with the reality of its true nature. Not their fault. It's the way with many Muslims, especially those whose ancestors were forced to convert to Islam via occupation and conquest (I.E.: India). How does one know anything about their religion when their "education" is limited to reading transliterations of Arabic (a language they know not) and reliance upon folklore and story telling passed down from generation to generation.

Replace these words:

• "Muslim" with "Christian"
  
• "Islam" with "Christianity"
• "Arabic" with "Greek/Hebrew"
  

Reread the paragraph and feel free to be boggled.

Anyhow, as fun as that was, the real fun comes from making our own free speech t-shirts. Here's some ideas off the top of my head, feel free to write your own.

• If Creationism is true, then God is actively trying to deceive you
• If You're Not a _(fill in your religious label here)__ Go to Hell
• I think you're okay, but my God says I must stone you now
• God makes exceptions for gay Executive Branch children
  
• Christians are Cannibals
• Hate the Sin, Stone the Sinner
  

Anyone know some nice atheist Columbus kids that need some new t-shirts to wear to school?

Hello hello...

This is my third personal blog. Blogging is kind of like getting a tattoo or potato chip; you can't stop with just one. My other two blogs really center around photographs. Macromath is primarily artsy-fartsy close-ups of insects, spiders, flowers, and odd-looking common day items. Wave, Tree and Bloom is a blog focusing on my three kids and more of an update site for friends and family. Both blogs have a fair amount of my general geekiness and I doubt this one will be any different in that respect.

This blog is more for my religious and political views, which have proved to be alienating for those who just want to see the kids or the bugs. So, I've pulled the divisive material into a separate venue where I can vent happily without distracting religious, arthropod fans from the beautiful spider pedipalps pictures. I guess it works both ways, a libertarian atheist arachnophobe can happily enjoy these posts without contracting the heebie-jeebies.

I can't say that I'm completely against upsetting others. It's a fine line. So, I'll just put the upsetting things in special places. If you show up read it and are upset, I suggest you just change the blog channel. Heck, change to one of my other blogs.