I feel like ASS. I want to go home, but will have to settle for leaving at 2:30 and then working from home.

I'm very concerned about Prof. Prothero's (author of the LA Times article that Teppy linked) solution -- to allow Bible classes in public schools. A number of religions have been very influential in shaping the world as it is today, and I don't see how teaching only Christianity (even if it's possible to give an academic focus without proselytizing, which I'll give Prof. Prothero the benefit of the doubt on) creates any benefit.

A comparative religions class would make a lot more sense.

I can recite neither the Bill of Rights nor the Ten Commandments. But I know what the Bill of Rights is, and I can tell you more or less what's in there. I know what the language of it sounds like, so I can tell you "thou shalt not" is something that doesn't happen in the Bill of Rights, and "a well-regulated militia" is something that doesn't happen in the Ten Commandments (no matter what translation you use!).

Then again, I know there are people on this planet who think the Bible was originally written in King James's English, as if Jesus had been wearing a ruff collar and hose.

Breaking my no board at work rule to make sure we all see this: [link]

I'm fuzzy on some of the commandments. Don't kill, adultery bad, don't steal, don't covet, don't bear false witness, honor your mom and dad. Those are pretty easy to remember.

Then there's, um. No God before me. No swears. No graven images? Uh. Something about the Sabbath?

(The Right To Bear Arms is a commandment, right?)

This is my boomstick!

I just don't get people who lack intellectual curiosity. How can you not want to know things about things?!

I used to work 3rd shift with a fundie preacher who supposedly attended seminary. He would try to proselytize to me and I'd try to engage him in honest theological debates. He always fell back with the excuse, "Well, you're obviously more educated than I am so I can't really answer that."

After that, I just started baiting him on purpose. It drove me crazy that he seemed to not care to pursue religious intellectual matters when he was in charge of a congregation's religious education.

(The Right To Bear Arms is a commandment, right?)

No, no -- the Right To Arm Bears is a commandment.

"I, the LORD your God, do love the ursine creatures above all others. Therefore, thou shalt provide all manner of artillery to every type of bear, except the Koalas, for lo, they are not actually bears. They are marsupials, you dumbasses, and I, the LORD your God, proclaim that thou shalt NOT provide marsupials with artillery, for lo, they are shifty and prone to switching loyalties without notice. In retrospect, I shouldn't have created them.

"Go now, and do as I have commanded."

I, the LORD your God, do love the ursine creatures above all others.

Nobody tell Stephen Colbert!

I STILL remember that the bear arms amendment is the second because of the device we used to remember it in high school (not teacher approved). There was this guy, Phil, who always wore muscle shirts (although he got in trouble). He did not have the right to Bare Arms, but he did have 2 arms!

I can recite neither the Bill of Rights nor the Ten Commandments. But I know what the Bill of Rights is, and I can tell you more or less what's in there. I know what the language of it sounds like, so I can tell you "thou shalt not" is something that doesn't happen in the Bill of Rights, and "a well-regulated militia" is something that doesn't happen in the Ten Commandments (no matter what translation you use!).

That's exactly my point. If someone asked me where does "the lord helps those who help themselves" comes from, I may not know the answer, but I know it's NOT a Commandment, due to the whole "Thou Shalt Not" business.