There was a great story on NPR yesterday that captured my attention. Pew recently released their extensive 35,000 person survey that examines the role of faith in daily lives and in political affiliation.

Here is a video that talks about it in an overview.

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


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As part of a larger examination into young people and their split from one sect of the political world to the other, I’ve been doing a lot of research into the youth evangelical movement.

(Updated below) (Update II)

It never ceases to amaze me to what levels of utter irrationality the fundamentalists, neocons and other right-wing madhaters are willing to descend into.

(The following constitutes the last part of a short three-part series on evolution)

So far, I have endeavored to disassemble two of the favorite (non)arguments of fundamentalists and denialists against the reality of the process of evolution - namely, A) that humans have remained essentially unchanged since Creation; and B) that the science underlying evolution is wrong/invalid.

Mind you - notwithstanding that I so endeavored by using a tongue-in-cheek-with-a-wink approach, the facts provided in these two previous entries of mine remain soundly grounded in reality and scientific accuracy (taking into account that I have to vulgarize the science at the same time).

(The following entry constitutes the second part of a short three-part series on evolution. Part one can be read here)

Fundamentalists and other denialists of the process of evolution are fond of arguing that it is an invalid science, seeking to undermine it with either theological, ideological or philosophical (non)arguments (three examples among so many here, here and here), or outright non-science, pseudo-science and quackery - like intelligent design or creationism science.

One of the main (non)arguments of religious fundamentalists against the process of evolution is that God created man in His image and that, subsequently, humans have ever remained unchanged since the creation of Adam and Eve some 6000-10000 years ago.

A new museum in Kentucky aimed at refuting the process of evolution is now open. Exhibits show dinosaurs living side by side with humans.

Sayeth the museum's spokesman: "The mission is to tell people that the Bible's history is true, and if its history is true its message of the gospel is true. ... It's a book of history and you can trust its science." (Emphasis mine)

Nice. Very nice.

Jerry Falwell, self appointed mouthpiece of God. August 11, 1933 - May 15, 2007

Jerry Falwell has been taken from us. The death of a clergyman is especially sad, and the loss is more grievous when the departed man of God had been rewarded in this life with so much political and economic success. The spiritual and financial assets of Falwell’s extensive ministry/empire will no doubt be diminished, now that he has gone.

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane & My Left Wing


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Cross-posted at alien & sedition.

The American left has been subject to a good deal of unproductive speculation and fear-mongering when it comes to the question of evangelical Christians. We've been forced to listen to vacuous scoldings from the bobbleheaded purveyors of the conventional wisdom, who - evidence be damned - insist that Democrats must get right with something called "values voters" if they're ever to have chance at political success again. And from our own ranks we've been capitivated by waves of hysteria over the barbarians at the gates, as we fixate on the most titillatingly scary fundamentalists we can find.