"Religious assholes who think everybody who doesn't think exactly like them are somehow a notch below them on the evolutionary ladder."

Now, that's not fair, William, you know they can't believe someone is less evolved than them if they don't believe in evolution.

(The issue of being less "spiritual" and therefore less moral or less "human" might work, as that involves spiritual justification and the aristocratic principle rather than the more materialist evolutionary theory. )

I am telling you if that man will be as good a President as he smelled, we are in for a wonderful 4 years. I wish I knew what he was wearing.

++++++++++++++++++++

As good a method as any for picking a president...

Differences between Obama and McCain on the economy

This one paragraph pretty much summed up the entire article.

Economists say there are things to like in both programs. They generally favor reductions in top rates as a way to spur new investment and job creation, so on that point McCain's program gets good marks. However, there are worries that the higher deficits that are expected because of the tax cuts could drive up interest rates, raising the cost of money for businesses and result in less investment, not more.

Damned if they do and damned if they don't. 

William McCormick wrote: Religious assholes who think everybody who doesn't think exactly like them are somehow a notch below them on the evolutionary ladder.

So how does this differ from non-religious types who think everybody who doesn't think exactly like them are somehow a notch below them on the evolutionary ladder?

Is proud know be on the same planet as William McCormick. 

Michael Retour wrote: I remember some born-again type telling my wife she was going to hell because she smoked cigarettes.

Watching someone go through late-stage emphysema is hell, so I guess because my mom was a smoker I've been through hell.

Here's a helpful hint, though:  Whenever you hear someone refer to themselves as "born again," you need to realize that you're encountering someone who has found the truth. 

Repeat after me:  "Trust those who seek the truth, doubt those who find it."

Rinse.  Repeat.

;-)

John, if I may answer your question directed at William - in that hypothetical - no difference.  But in terms of the discussion we're having, that hypothetical person doesn't exist. 

So how does this differ from non-religious types who think everybody who doesn't think exactly like them are somehow a notch below them on the evolutionary ladder?

There are no non-religious types running for national office - they're all Christians. 

If you mean people on this board - sure, sure, we've all seen the religious threads.  But on this thread, I think most have been careful to make the distinction between having feelings of mistrust about certain forms of Christianity, as opposed to the whole belief system.

Look - I'm not a Christian - I have no beliefs.  But I certainly enjoy a lot of what is attributed to "Jesus Christ" - it's good philosophy and a decent way to get through life - and if someone lives by those standards, power to them.   It's when his words and philosophies start to get twisted and misused that my spidey-sense starts shrieking.