Thog's Science Masterclass #9

[realthog]

I'm not sure if this quite qualifies as science, even though clearly the methodology of science has been put to use by numbskulls on behalf of numbskulls. Jonathan Stein has posted the ghastly details on his Mother Jones blog:

Mayor of SC Town "Just Curious" if Obama is the Antichrist

When PolitiFact did a fact-check of the "Is Obama the Antichrist?" question back in April, I thought it was a touch ridiculous. They got multiple professors of religious studies to chime in and did a serious examination of the text of Revelation. They found that not only is Obama not the Antichrist (stunning!), the chain email that suggests he is has no familiarity with the Bible and is a pretty pathetic piece of work, even for a smear email.

But that's not a surprise, right? This is an email claiming a prominent American politician is the Antichrist. Of course it's insane. No one needs a fact-check to prove that. Right?

Oops. The mayor of a South Carolina town apparently does. He forwarded the email after receiving it and when called on the fact that he was perpetuating a smear, he said, "I was just curious if there was any validity to it. I was trying to get documentation if there was any scripture to back it up."

I'm going to start sending out emails claiming that this man is a half-wit. I'm just curious if there is any validity to it.

Just to remind you: this is the 21st century we live in, not the 11th. And we in the US live in a technologically advanced, information- and education-oriented society, right? Yet even here on LJ I've come across people convinced Obama is either the Antichrist or the Antichrist's precursor.

Heigh-ho. These small-town mayors -- backbone of the nation, they are.

Later: Apparently the offensive e-mail claims Revelation says the Antichrist will be of Muslim ancestry. Spot the chronological error, folks!
 

Comments

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Oh, the humanity . . . *slaps own head again*

It gets scarier by the minute. I believe in separation of church and state . . . of mind.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Gosh, that was quick, J! You must have left your comment while I was still typing . . .

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Just call me Quick Draw. ;D

[plattcave.livejournal.com]

"Is there any Scripture to back it up?" --- Sigh...

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Yep. As whoever it was said, "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain."

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Great quote. Sounds like something Shakespeare would say.

[plattcave.livejournal.com]

Beautiful. Too true, therefore horrific, but beautiful all the same.

[louismaistros.livejournal.com]

I'm sitting here, racking my brains, trying to come up with a scarier sentence on earth than this:

I was trying to get documentation if there was any scripture to back it up.

I got nothin'.

"Scripture" and "documentation" should never be used in the same sentence, let alone equated to one another.

Even scarier, if Obama should lose, you can bet your bottom dollar it will be because of this kind of horseshit.

God bless America, land of raving crazies.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

This kind of asininity is really a product of self-indulgence, isn't it? I tend to think of it as a combination of ignorance and stupidity, but you have to make a conscious decision to refuse to listen to the real world: you have to think it's worth the effort to jealously guard your ignorance against the slings and arrows of reality, purely in order that you'll never have to do any difficult stuff like thinking.

By the way, a prezzie arrived from you in our PO Box today. Gawd knows when I'll have time to read it, but it's going right on top of my pile for when at last I'm allowed to read fiction again. Many thanks!

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Not just self-indulgence, but the kind of self-gratification that assumes that ignorance is indeed bliss. Consider, for example, the fact that Senator Obama was being condemned this weekend -- by the truly marvellous Sean Hannity -- for possessing 'book-knowledge' as if intellectual achievement were something deeply shameful.

[louismaistros.livejournal.com]

I think when people buy into this kind of nonsense it's because they are looking to rationalize some other kind of ignorance (such as racism). Which only makes it uglier, of course.

No worries about a review, it's meant as a gift primarily! Especially don't worry about a review if you don't like it ;-)

PS: Oh good

[realthog.livejournal.com]

I've just checked and reminded myself it's not published 'til Feb. With luck I'll be able to review it somewhere, even if only here, in time for publication.

[quilterbear.livejournal.com]

Lord, help us all.

And just think, Gov. Palin who might end up being a heartbeat away from the presidency, used to be the MAYOR of a small town. Lots of small town folks just luuuuvvvvv her to pieces.

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Great observation!

God save us from Sarah Palin. I usually try to stay away from discussing politics and religion, but sometimes you just gotta say something.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"God save us from Sarah Palin."

I'd vote for Tina Fey in an instant though . . .

[realthog.livejournal.com]

"Gov. Palin . . . used to be the MAYOR of a small town"

Hence my snide comment, K! Terrifying, innit?

[quilterbear.livejournal.com]

too quick for words, you are, thog!

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Especially the ones who knew that she would return a personal favour with one out of the public purse, it seems: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/09/28/palin-took-freebies-help_n_130020.html

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

Is Mayor Funderburk the AntiFact?

[realthog.livejournal.com]

Or the Great Bozo 666?

[sarcobatus.livejournal.com]

Um, my eyes aren't very good, and I just realized morons is spelled incorrectly in your icon.

Love it.

[realthog.livejournal.com]

LOL!

xx

[fledgist.livejournal.com]

The Irish always get insulted, it seems.

[quilterbear.livejournal.com]

That icon always cracks me up! It is just too rich!

[realthog.livejournal.com]

PZ Myers adds his own gloss to this story on his Pharyngula blog: http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2008/09/do_republicans_think_at_all.php