A Case Against Faith

Take some time out at work today, or for some of you, time between soap-operas, and read this article about the damage caused by religion.

A couple of teaser quotes for those who aren't motivated enough by my recommendation:

• It is, of course, taboo to criticize a person's religious beliefs. The problem, however, is that much of what people believe in the name of religion is intrinsically divisive, unreasonable and incompatible with genuine morality.
  
• The truth is that President Bush's unjustified religious beliefs about the human soul are, at this very moment, prolonging the scarcely endurable misery of tens of millions of human beings.
  
• (and my favorite)We are living in a world in which millions of Christians hope to soon be raptured into the stratosphere by Jesus so that they can safely enjoy a sacred genocide that will inaugurate the end of human history.
  

Definitely worth a read.

In non-religious news, the new Borat movie is enjoying both critical acclaim and box office success. And although I haven't seen it, so my opinion could change after I actually watch it, I just can't figure out why this joke is so funny. It's the same joke from Candid Camera, and Punk'd, and Ali G, ad nauseum...the let's-pretend-we're-something-we're-not-to-make-some-knucklehead-look-foolish joke. Borat heads South, to our beloved red-state Bible belt, to expose the racism, sexism, religious intolerance, and general stupidity of rodeo attendees and gun-store owners. Maybe I'm in the minority of people who aren't actually shocked by these 'revelations', but I have a hard time imagining an original and witty treatment of this tired material that would keep me entertained for (a refreshingly short) 84-minute running time. There are certain to be some memorable quotes (Borat: What is best gun for killing Jews? Gun store owner: [without missing a beat] That would be a 9mm or .45), but I'm more likely to be embarrassed for humanity in general, and sickened that these slack-jaws can legally vote and carry weapons. And I don't need to pay $8 to feel that way.

And finally, a great Simpsons moment from last night's Halloween episode:

Kang, speaking to Kodos, with a landscape of destruction behind him: "It's been three years since our invasion, and the humans still resent our occupation. You told me that we'd be welcomed as liberators!"