Silly me! Of course, believing that millions of currently existing species “microevolved” in a few thousand years from the few hundred or so that Noah was allegedly able to cram onto an ark makes infinitely more sense than believing that millions of species evolved over billions of years. Yeah. Right. ‘Cause math class didn’t go beyond what they could count on their own ten fingers for these folks.

Ron, I love how you draw out the funniest fundies!

Is it me or ar both sides demonstrating an exteme level of fundie-ness?

It’s just you. Fundie-ness is adhering blindly to the literal interpretation of scripture. Science does the opposite.

to so absolutely convinced of one’s position without any room for correction

Science is never absolutely convinced of its position. I hope you have room to accept this correction.

or even the willingness to think about what the other side may be offering

We’ve thought about it, saw that it had no evidence to back up its claims, saw that it contradicted known evidence, and rejected it.

Surely science requires an open-minded approach

Yes, and that is why blind adherence to fantasy despite all evidence to the contrary demonstrates that creationism and museums like this are completely non-scientific.

Meanwhile faith stands as a position of trust in what one has discovered

But the fundies do not trust, in fact they downright disbelieve, that which has already been discovered.

Are these two paths as divergent and polarised as this thread suggests or does intelligent discussion imply a certain amount of commonality?

There is no commonality. Creationists have completely and totally rejected all of reality.

I couldn’t help but check out the BVCSM website. First slogan:

“I spent more time in this museum than I did in the Smithsonian” – visitor from Montana

So he he jumped off the Alberta Prairie Steam Train with a severe case of nausea and asked if he could use the bathroom for a while.

rj

For people so frikking obsessed with the idea of consequences for actions, Christians really do seem to think they can say whatever the fuck they feel like saying and get away with it.

Lauren saw something here that gave her a momentary twinge of doubt. She lashed out and ran away to reassure herself; this is one of the hallmarks of addiction. Probably started praying, or went immediately to a Christian site to buttress the walls of her fortress of denial.

Never to return to this accursed site, no doubt. I’m betting that she truly feels like she won one for the Lord with her brief comment. Seriously, she’s so out of touch she most likely believes we’ll be persuaded by her scolding.

You’re correct about Christians’ aversion to self-examination and criticism of their precious faith. As I said in another comment, I believe this to be indicative of a profound insecurity about their beliefs, whether they realize it or not. Lashing out at something you not only don’t understand but assiduously try to avoid comprehending is a classic example.

At any rate, I’d love for her to know that the prayers she surely made on our collective behalf had absolutely no effect.

I wonder, Lauren, does it give you a small sense of smug satisfaction to literally tell someone with whom you disagree to go to Hell?

It most certainly does. It’s part of their obscene power fantasy, but most are unaware of it, and they’d certainly never admit it, in any case. If there is a group of people less prone to introspection than Christians, I have yet to come across it.

Lauren saw something here that gave her a momentary twinge of doubt. She lashed out and ran away to reassure herself; this is one of the hallmarks of addiction. Probably started praying, or went immediately to a Christian site to buttress the walls of her fortress of denial.

I wonder, Lauren, does it give you a small sense of smug satisfaction to literally tell someone with whom you disagree to go to Hell? I think it does. Come on. You can be honest with us. You love the idea of all of us dickhead atheists getting our just desserts when we die, don’t you?

Here’s something I hope you ponder, if you even read this: even if the celestial rules pertaining to life and death are as you describe them, why in the frak would I even want them to be true? Not only do I not believe in your tyrannical, jealous ogre of a deity, I am so fucking glad he doesn’t exist. Your idea of heaven, replete with the endless worship of a being so richly undeserving of it sounds a hell of a lot worse than death to me. Give me the same eternity of nothingness when I die that I experienced before I was even born. That didn’t seem to bother me in the slightest.