Thog's Science Masterclass #9
Sep. 29th, 2008 02:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
realthogI'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!
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 06:47 pm (UTC)It gets scarier by the minute. I believe in separation of church and state . . . of mind.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 06:48 pm (UTC)Gosh, that was quick, J! You must have left your comment while I was still typing . . .
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 06:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 06:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:01 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:19 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:20 pm (UTC)Yep. As whoever it was said, "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain."
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:21 pm (UTC)I bin called that!
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:23 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:26 pm (UTC)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!
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:26 pm (UTC)God save us from Sarah Palin. I usually try to stay away from discussing politics and religion, but sometimes you just gotta say something.
PS: Oh good
Date: 2008-09-29 07:27 pm (UTC)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.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:29 pm (UTC)"Gov. Palin . . . used to be the MAYOR of a small town"
Hence my snide comment, K! Terrifying, innit?
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:29 pm (UTC)"God save us from Sarah Palin."
I'd vote for Tina Fey in an instant though . . .
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:31 pm (UTC)heh heh
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:32 pm (UTC)*sigh*
This endless smuttiness of mind . . .
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:33 pm (UTC)Schiller, in fact. I knew that, but it had slipped my mind so I had to go check. Must be age.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:34 pm (UTC)"Fey is so funny!"
That too.
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:34 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:38 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:40 pm (UTC)Or the Great Bozo 666?
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:41 pm (UTC)Talking of which, how're things going on the brainiac front?
no subject
Date: 2008-09-29 07:41 pm (UTC)