The pledge. It’s back. A little more on what Sean mentioned earlier: Judge Backs Case Seeking End of School Pledge.

A federal judge in California declared today, in a ruling that virtually guarantees another long and emotional battle in the courts, that the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional. Judge Lawrence S. Karlton of the United States District Court for Northern California ruled in Sacramento that he was bound by a 2002 ruling of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, covering nine Western states, that the pledge’s reference to God violated the constitutional separation of church and state…. Judge Karlton’s ruling reinstates, albeit in a different way, a lawsuit filed by Dr. Michael A. Newdow, a physician and lawyer who describes himself as an atheist… The judge said he would grant an order restraining the local school districts from having the pledge recited…

Get ready for another wild ride. As the article indicates, the theocrats are already screaming.

GifS friend Nick over at Back to the Woom has a nice post on North Carolina’s requiring him to swear to God in order to legally practice law in the state; check out his post “…so help me God“. After noting three separate instances of swearing to God in the oath, he notes that…

As an atheist, I cannot take an oath that refers to (much less one that is partially directed at) a supernatural entity seriously: To me, this is like putting a picture of Mickey Mouse or a smiley face on the oath form.

Or worse; at least those would be decorative.

Of course, this probably shouldn’t surprise us. After all, North Carolina’s state constitution says that “The following persons shall be disqualified for office: First, any person who shall deny the being of Almighty God.” (See the earlier post, “Fortunately, we’re smart enough to not want to be the Governor of North Carolina“.)

Check it out.

Uh-oh. Time for Congress to rush out on the Capitol steps and chant together again.

Can the Flying Spaghetti Monster please smite these mofos soon?

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Really weird when you see something like this hit the media: In the beginning there was the Flying Spaghetti Monster

In an open letter to the Kansas Board of Education in July, Mr Henderson wrote: “I think we can all agree that it is important for students to hear multiple viewpoints so they can choose for themselves the theory that makes the most sense to them. I am concerned, however, that students will only hear one theory of Intelligent Design.

“I and many others around the world are of the strong belief that the universe was created by a Flying Spaghetti Monster.”

He ends his letter with the telling comment: “I think we can all look forward to the time when these three theories are given equal time in our science classrooms across the country, and eventually the world; One third time for Intelligent Design, one third time for Flying Spaghetti Monsterism, and one third time for logical conjecture based on overwhelming observable evidence.”

Bioethics Council Head to Step Down

Leon R. Kass, the University of Chicago medical ethicist who four years ago today was named by President Bush to head the newly created President’s Council on Bioethics, will step down as chairman Oct. 1, the White House announced late Wednesday.

And let’s all be reminded of the genius that Kass was in explaining why cloning might be repugnant to some people:

Revulsion is not an argument; and some of yesterday’s repugnances are today calmly accepted — though, one must add, not always for the better. In crucial cases, however, repugnance is the emotional expression of deep wisdom, beyond reason’s power fully to articulate it.

Not really a shock, then, why Dubya liked him.

Just came across the Summa reference and thought it was a good reminder:

I answer that, With regard to heretics two points must be observed: one, on their own side; the other, on the side of the Church. On their own side there is the sin, whereby they deserve not only to be separated from the Church by excommunication, but also to be severed from the world by death. For it is a much graver matter to corrupt the faith which quickens the soul, than to forge money, which supports temporal life. Wherefore if forgers of money and other evil-doers are forthwith condemned to death by the secular authority, much more reason is there for heretics, as soon as they are convicted of heresy, to be not only excommunicated but even put to death.

More bullshit from the religious psychos: Katrina – The Fist of God?

“America is now experiencing the consequences (curses) of Middle East policies, which have been opposed to God’s Word and to the preservation of His covenant land.” [...] As this “storm of a lifetime” wreaks its rage on the southern United States today, non-believers may be tempted to shake their fists at God. Others will cry out for mercy. Will God hear them? [...] Many in America couldn’t have cared less about Jews being forced out of their homes and losing everything they have built. Here in Israel, many Jews will be feeling for the Americans who are now facing similar tragedies, tragedies brought about by the forces of heaven rather than through the political power of men. [...] Can’t you see the link, America? Won’t you see the link?

So, come on, people, it’s about time we all saw the fucking link already…