Earlier, I mentioned this Templeton Foundation ad that showed some people claiming the universe has a purpose, and others validating the silly question by saying maybe it has a purpose. I noted at the time that no one seemed very interested in saying what that particular purpose might be, or more importantly, how they knew what it was, but now someone has provided the answer.

Tristero has used the power of mathematics to find the answer to life, the universe, and everything, all in one simple, easy-to-remember formula that also proves the Christians are right about everything. It’s a little scary, actually — I may have to go in hiding to escape the plague of boils or locusts or frogs or whatever it is that Jehovah will be sending down on me soon.

It would be a terrible slander of decent Neandertals…but otherwise, we probably wouldn’t notice much difference.

…I would use a machine gun rather than a pistol.

But of course! When a group of people express a similar behavior pattern, such as defending racist conclusions or making ev-psych style explanations, there can only be one possible explanation: there must be a genetic basis for the behavior. I can’t imagine any other reason.

This is a little creepy. The Sexy Secularist can do a pitch perfect imitation of Alister McGrath on any subject, whether it’s ordering from a menu or engaging in phone sex. This has got to make him a hit at parties.

I think I really, really like this webcomic, Russell’s Teapot.

(Thanks, Jeff)

Everyone reads Genesis, the racy bits in the Song of Solomon, the various Jesus tales in the Gospels, and when you’re really stoned, Revelation. But what about those more obscure chapters, where some old time prophet with a funny polysyllabic name raves against extinct city-states and tribes who haven’t followed his preferred bizarre ritual?

Don’t waste your time slogging through archaic language to read them in the Bible. Let Jay Pinkerton do your summarizing and interpreting for you.

There is some crazy stuff in those books, I tell you.

This is mere satire, but it would be much more interesting if Ben Stein were to challenge Newton, rather than Darwin. It would be just as absurd, but I think physicists need more abuse than just a few flaky zero-point energy guys and the New Agers using the word “quantum” in every sentence.

And hey, where are all the chemistry abusers? Won’t someone criticize Boyle and Lavoisier?