Grammar Failure (Church Sign)

I know many scientists - never have any of them turned into a troop of monkeys. Maybe I'm just looking at the wrong scientists.....

Via whyevolutionistrue: Grammar, Please!

Silencing Churches

Original article: Church has its hymns silenced by council ban

I'm not really sure this is a good thing. I do like some peace and quiet, and I don't like people singing religious songs in public (at least if the songs are meant to be promoting/supporting a religion - sometimes the songs are quite good when they're not used as a recruiting tool). I once had to sit on a bus with a load of school children singing religious songs. It was made (even) more annoying as I was trying to work!

On the other hand, if you buy a house next to a church......

More Atheist Busses?

The atheist bus phenomenon seems to be growing, with the Catalan Atheists setting up a campaign in Spain.

The (religious) authorities however seem to be putting pressure on the (civil) authorities to prevent the campaign from running. So much for freedom of speech.

Also the Catholic church is subsidised by the Spanish government, a linking or church and state that makes me feel a little queasy.

QuickLinks 7/11(2)

As I wrote on my personal blog I am currently going through a wealth of stuff I have mentally or physically tagged as 'blog about this'. Having had a day off today I have decided to clear the 'To Blog About' folder of ny browser's bookmarks, so here is your second dose today of QuickLinks!

• Barack Obama isn't the anti-christ!
• Here be dragons: I don't know if this is a parody or not. If not then this is some of the finest lunacy I have had the privilege to see!
• Common Sense Science that is all but accurate.
• The Oldest Christian Church - one for the archaeology fans!
• Beer brewed with 45 million year old yeast.
• "Massage" service hides under religion.
  
• Some quackery about humans and dinosaurs co-existing.
  

Louis Theroux: The Most Hated Family in America

Louis Theroux is an undoubtedly talented master of documentary making. Indeed I would have found it nearly impossible to make this film.

It follows the Phelps family and what is effectively their church, the Westboro Baptist Church. The family has gained notoriety for protests at the funerals of American servicemen, blaming their deaths on an increasingly homosexual or homosexual tolerating country.

Theroux managed to cut to the heart of the matter. The family and church is led by 'Gramps,' who has a lot of unresolved anger, and a rather novel interpretation of the bible. Those of his children who do not follow his beliefs are disowned. Theroux couldn't even get an answer out of him for the number of children he has had, or has.

The most shocking part, as for Jesus Camp, was the indoctrination of the children. Theroux questioned several of them at a protest while they were holding up banners. One was only four years old and had no concept of tyranny she was supposedly supporting. The fact that the family allow this, and allow children to protest even when they come under fire from missile attacks shows just how sick and twisted the leaders of this cult are.

BBC Website