[Superman]

I think some of you misunderstand my observation. But first....

I thought I did post on the new paleontology thing. At any rate, it is not my position to deny either creationism or evolution. No doubt, natural selection is a mechanism in nature, but "creationism" may be going too far to the degree that it asserts that humans are simply advanced apes. A closer look at the fossil record makes you wonder "what happened," in addition to the inference that we evolved from apes. In other words, "evolution" is not deductive. It is inductive. It infers something, but those who get inference confused with conclusive evidence are making their own leap of faith. And as I say, a close inspection of the fossil record leaves the true scientist scratching his (or her) head wondering "what else happened here?" Those of you who delete this step are not being as rational or logical as you think you are. Plenty of archeologists, paleontologists and anthropologist are christians, and many of them do not deny the biblical account of creation.

Creationism can co-exist with evolution. Except in the minds of the people I described above.

I think the Fish N Chips thing is very funny and I appreciate the advertisement. Folks should relax. get a sense of humor. But it seems to me that a sense of humor is not what folks are displaing with Darwin Fish. They are being either argumentative, or they are attempting to show off their towering intellect. Unless I am missing something. Or perhaps evolution is their religion. Why would someone who does not believe in God or religion, try to "convert" someone who does? Atheism is the absense of religion, it seems to me. It is the substitution of intellectual (and false, in my view) pride in place of religion.

Did I strike a nerve?

Oh, and I'd heartily agree that Christians generally do a piss poor job of communicating Jesus' teachings by their example. Very poor indeed.

Don, I hope you don't change your avatar.

George Bush and the rest of you who believe we should not help people using tax money are, in my humble view, pretend Christians. I'm sure you think you talk a good game, but I'm utterly confident that, if JC were with us today, he'd regard you as modern "Pharises." My view on this are outlined in the thread called "Conservative Christians?"

There is no Christian element in the Iraq decision. Bush is either lying, or having auditory hallucinations. God does not condone that violence any more than our earlier crusades.

If you guys want to understand the distinction between the things of man and the things of God, your best resource is Jesus' life. The thoughtful reader could never conclude that Jesus believed military tactics to be appropriate. His only violent actions were directed toward profiteering in the temple courtyard. And that should also make a republican pause.

No, I don't think I'm intolerant toward folks with Darwin Fish. I think the Darwin Fish folks here may have been a little stung by my observation, but I'm just noticing the two potential motives behind the decision to advertize one's denial of the potential that God's hand may be at work in the Universe. That's a very stupid position to take, for several reasons. Respectfully.