Charles Darwin, whose book “On the Origin of Species” set forth the “biggest single idea in the history of thinking”, would be 201 years old tomorrow.

The concept of evolution through random mutation, genetic inheritance, and natural selection has been proven correct, through countless tests, observable data, and common sense. And yes, it is in direct opposition to what is taught in the bible.

This is why Creationists demonize Darwin as much as they can. Whether it’s lies about a deathbed rebuke, or claims he was an inspiration for Hitler, or anything else Creationists can throw at him, they cannot change the indisputable: Darwin proved the bible wrong.

And when I say “proved”, I mean it. Evolution is as much of a scientific fact as gravity. Although we may never know the exact order in which the evolution of life has occurred, we know for sure that it has, in fact, occurred.

And when Creationists stand up, throw lies and poke holes, and then try to counter this scientific fact with their invisible magic man in the sky (that defies all physics but that’s OK), I have to laugh. Out loud. Very loud.

Ha!

Charles Darwin
Creation Movie
On the Origin of Species (audio by Richard Dawkins)
Talkorigins (talking points on evolution)

People who have no religion know right from wrong just as well as regular worshippers, according to the study.

The team behind the research found that most religions were similar and had a moral code which helped to organize society.

But people who did not have a religious background still appeared to have intuitive judgments of right and wrong in common with believers, according to the findings, published in the journal Trends in Cognitive Sciences.
…
“For some, there is no morality without religion, while others see religion as merely one way of expressing one’s moral intuitions,” he said.

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“For some, there is no morality without religion” is an incorrect statement. There is, by proof of this study, morality without religion for everyone.

Religion does not lead to morality, it just takes the credit. If you have a moral theist, the religion will tell you “It’s a good thing he’s religious… that’s why he’s so moral”. The theist, trusting his religion, believes that he would be a bad person without religion, and that therefore those without religion are also bad. The religion gets thanked, while at the same time promotes interaction with unbelievers. It’s no-lose. It’s a lie (actually, it’s the promotion of bigotry), but it’s no-lose.

STUDENTS: Special Pricing Provided by the Secular Student Alliance

Thanks to the Secular Student Alliance and the Richard Dawkins Foundation for helping young people get to Newark!
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Convention Main Page
AMERICAN ATHEISTS will hold its 36th National Convention April 2-4, 2010 (pre-registration plus a special event starts on the evening of Thursday the 1st) in Elizabeth/Newark, NJ — right across the river from The Big Apple, New York! The theme–”BLASPHEMY?–On The Dangers of Privileging Religious Beliefs”–is one that most speakers will touch on in one way or another. As Atheists, we reject all or almost all theistic beliefs all the time, and we stand ready to debate religious vs. irreligious beliefs in any fair forum. But the greatest dangers of religion–to scientific progress, to rational thinking, to democratic governance, politics, and protections for free individuals, to human rights, to educational growth, to peace, and to ethical progress for humanity–come when religion is cloaked with special rights and special protections, when critiquing religious belief is called “blasphemy” or beliefs are held to be “sacred.” Any idea, religious or otherwise, that cannot withstand untrammeled scrutiny in the marketplace of ideas should be rejected without further ado.

We will gather at one of the premier meeting sites on the East Coast — the Newark Liberty Renaissance Hotel near Newark International Airport.
(http://www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ewrnr-renaissance-newark-airport-hotel/)
Fly in to Newark, grab your bags, and take the shuttle (available 24/7) to one of the most luxurious convention sites in the area — easily convenient to New York City!

* SPEAKERS: We’ll have a blockbuster line-up! Confirmed so far are:

DAN BARKER, co-president, Freedom From Religion Foundation
CECIL BOTHWELL, Atheist city councilman from Asheville, NC, investigative journalist, author of the Prince of War
ED BUCKNER, president of American Atheists
JOHN R. BUTLER, musician, special guest of the president
SEAN FAIRCLOTH, executive director, Secular Coalition for America
TOM FLYNN, editor of Free Inquiry and executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism
EDWIN F. KAGIN, National Legal Director of American Atheists, author poet, blasphemy king
WENDY KAMINER, author, lawyer and social critic, writes about law, liberty, feminism, religion, and popular culture.
PAUL KURTZ, philosopher, author, founder of the Council for Secular Humanism, Newark native
MARTIN LEWISON, professor of business, wit, former Wall Street executive
MASSIMO PIGLIUCCI, author, philosopher, advocate for science
DARREL RAY, author, psychologist, theorist on religion’s power to infect society
TERRY SANDERSON, president, National Secular Society (United Kingdom)
JEFF SHARLET, author of The Family, original investigator and exposer of the Christian Right’s ongoing attempt to run our government, operate a famous C Street apartment house, etc.
TODD STIEFEL, entrepreneur and freethought leader (member of American Atheists development committee)
EDDIE TABASH, attorney, debater, fierce Atheist advocate
ANDY THOMSON, M.D. psychiatrist; Trustee and CFO of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science (RDFRS); interests include evolutionary psychology, suicide terrorism, and the cognitive neuroscience of religious belief
PORTEOUS WOOD (KEITH), executive director, National Secular Society (United Kingdom)
INDRA ZUNO, linguist born and raised in Mexico. Actor in Mexican theater and TV; now Spanish Court Interpreter for the US District Court and for the Los Angeles Superior Court. Her talk will be offered in both Spanish and English; she will also translate simultaneously one other talk into Spanish.

Arguably, the most important day of the year is the Superbowl. I said arguably.

This is our annual thread to post whatever you want about the most important sporting event in the history of the Universe. Who does god want to win? Did the Tebow ad have any effect on you or your party? Cheers or jeers?

Here’s a news flash that apparently comes as a surprise to some people:

Even when Ouija boards come in hot pink, they are still make believe.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,584998,00.html?test=latestnews

Kathleen