At the Wall Street Journal I wrote a comment about the lunatics of the Islamic State, and why religions are bullshit.

Year 2001 to 2015. For 14 years America has been fighting in religious wars. Our progress so far, in wars 10 years longer than it took us to defeat 2 powerful countries in World War Two, is somewhere between zero and less than zero.

Thousands of American soldiers dead, thousands more permanently injured, and many of these brave people have committed suicide. For what? For accomplishing nothing.

Let's send some more troops in there for a few more years, or perhaps forever. It's not us who have to get killed because religious nuts can't be civilized.

In a world without religion the World Trade Towers would be still standing, and thousands of Americans would still be alive with all their limbs.

Religion is the idea that a magical being hides in another galaxy where it magically creates stuff. This childish superstitious nonsense has been good for nothing but stupidity, brainwashing, violence, and slowing down human progress.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/it-requires-commitments-1433803941#lf_comment=322953627

UPDATE: THE WALL STREET JOURNAL DELETED THIS COMMENT. WHAT A BUNCH OF FUCKING COWARDLY ASSHOLES.

CHARLES SCHWAB Trade Stocks Order Verification

Trade Stocks Order Verification

Schwab.com Accounts Trade Stocks & ETFs Trade Stocks Order Entry Trade Stocks Order Verification About Extended Hours Trading Extended Hours Trading Trade Multiple Stocks Order Entry Trade Multiple Stocks Order Verification Affirmative Determination Pattern Day Trading Trade and Settlement Violations Options Mutual Funds Bonds CDs IPOs Watchlist Order Status Research Guidance Service

Order Verification (Step 2 of 3): Reviewing Your Order  Use the Order Verification page to review your order information and verify that everything is correct before submitting your order. On this page you will find: Actions Do Not Place Order Click the Do Not Place Order button to not submit your order. A message will be displayed confirming that your order has not been placed. Change Order  Click the Change Order button to return to the stock trading Order Entry page with your current order information displayed. You then have an opportunity to change your information. When you click "Review Order," the Order Verification page will be presented again. Place Order Click the Place Order button to submit your order. The Order Acknowledgment screen will then be displayed, confirming that Schwab has received your order. After your order is executed you will receive your trade confirmation via mail or email. Order Message Terms Buying Power Buying Power is the maximum dollar value of marginable securities that you can buy in your margin lending account without depositing additional equity. Buying power is calculated at the close of business each day and may fluctuate throughout the day. (Note: If you choose to use buying power such that you are borrowing on margin, subsequent declines in margin equity could also require the immediate deposit of additional funds or securities to meet margin requirements.) How to check your buying power: To check online, refer to the “Margin Details” module on the right side of Trade pages, and select the “Marginable Securities” option in the drop-menu. If you have a margin account, the buying power is displayed on this screen. If you are unsure that you have enough buying power to cover a trade, please call Schwab before trading to verify your exact buying power. Calculation tip: Buying power is the lesser of either Cash Available divided by the maintenance requirement, or SMA times two. Cash Account  This type of brokerage account requires that you pay for trades in full by the settlement date. Some customers have both cash and margin accounts. For comparison see Margin Account. Note: By law, Individual Retirement Accounts and Custodial Accounts for minors must be cash accounts.  Cash Available Cash Available is the dollar amount available in your account to buy non-marginable securities without depositing additional equity. It includes the dollar amount of cash in your account plus the loan value of your marginable securities. Cash available is also the maximum amount you can withdraw in the form of a check without depositing additional funds. (Note: Subsequent declines in margin equity could require the deposit of additional funds or securities to meet margin requirements). Calculation tip: Cash available is the lesser of SMA or excess equity* balances greater than house maintenance requirement, or excess equity greater than the $5,000 minimum. *Reg T Excess Equity calculation:  Equity - [(market value x initial requirement percent + (market value short x initial requirement percent) + (option requirement)] if applicable. Cash Up Front A requirement for funds on deposit or on receipt in a Schwab office at the time you enter your order. Cash-up-front is required to trade certain types of securities** and is also required for all orders placed in accounts that have a cash-up-front restriction imposed on them. Cash-up-front may consist of: Credit balance  Cash available  Money market fund balances  Funds from a previous security sale, when the security is in good delivery and the previous sale settles on or before the settlement date of the new order.  ** For penny stocks and options, cash-up-front funds must be cleared before placing a trade. Cost Basis Method* Cost basis method will display on the Order Verification screen for all Sell and Buy to Cover orders. This includes an alternate method chosen for an order, or the cost basis method on file (account default) if you did not make a change. Click on the "Change" link if you want to change the method for this order. If you choose an alternate method, it will be used for this order only. You will also have the option to change the cost basis method for this order in Order Status (up to midnight ET on settlement date). To change the account default, go to the Cost Basis Method tab located under the Service tab, then Account Settings tab. Changes to the account default are effective the following day. *It is your responsibility to choose the cost basis method appropriate to your tax situation. Failure to select the proper cost basis method may cause you to pay more tax than necessary. Schwab does not provide tax advice and encourages you to consult with your tax professional. View Cost Basis Reporting for additional information on cost basis method choices and how Schwab reports adjusted cost basis information to the IRS. Extended Hour Session  Schwab's Extended Hours Trading offering has two components: A Pre-Market session that operates from 8:00 a.m. ET to 9:25 a.m. ET, and an After Hours session that operates from 4:15 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. ET. These sessions are completely independent from the standard market session. Orders for the Pre-Market session may be entered beginning at 8:05 p.m. ET (previous trading day), but will not be eligible for execution until the session officially opens at 8:00 a.m. ET. Orders for the After Hours trading session can be entered beginning at 4:05 p.m. ET, but will not be eligible for execution until the session officially opens at 4:15 p.m. ET. Other brokers or financial service providers may offer trading services outside of standard market hours that differ significantly from Schwab's Extended Hours trading sessions.  Fed Call  A Fed Call occurs when establishing a margin position. Also known as Regulation T or Reg T Call. Investors must deposit 50 percent of the cost of the trade per current Federal Reserve requirements. Schwab reserves the right to impose higher or Special Maintenance requirements. Freeriding  This trading violation is the result of buying a security in your cash account and then selling the same security without making separate payment on the full purchase price by settlement date. This situation is called freeriding because basically it is unauthorized borrowing to pay for a trade. Example:  Your cash account has a total balance of $3,000 in cash. You purchase ABC stock for $3,100, leaving your account with a $100 debit that needs to be covered by settlement date. You then sell ABC for $3,300 before the purchase settles, making a $200 profit from the sale. Although your account balance would now be $3,200—you would still need to bring in $100 in cash or securities, because you need to pay the full purchase price ($3,100) with your own funds. You cannot use the proceeds of the sale to help pay for the purchase without creating a freeriding trade violation—even if you place the buy and sell trade orders on the same day. To avoid creating a freeriding situation, you must settle your buy order independently of selling the same security. After the first occurrence of freeriding, your account is subject to a 90-day settled cash-up-front restriction.  Good Till Crossing (GTX)  The term "Good Till Crossing" refers to the matching of buy and sell orders at the exchange's closing price. During this session, the NYSE and ASE try to match qualifying Good Till Canceled orders entered during the regular market sessions with market orders entered specifically for the crossing session. The Crossing session takes place between 4:15 - 5:00 p.m. ET. Matched orders are executed at 5:00 p.m. ET. Halted Securities Occasionally, trading on a given security may be suspended due to a variety of conditions including news and corporate actions. If the security you are attempting to trade has been halted, you can place an order but it will not be executed until the trading halt is lifted. If you have an open order for a security that subsequently is halted, your order will be eligible for execution after the halt has been lifted. Please be aware that when the security resumes trading it may be at a price significantly above or below the trade price before the halt. Liquidation  When you buy a security that creates a cash debit or Reg T Call, and during the following trading day or later you sell another security to cover the cash debit or Fed Call—it results in a trade violation called a Liquidation. If an option or mutual fund is sold the day after a stock is purchased, the proceeds cannot be used to cover an amount due without generating a liquidation violation, even if the proceeds settle on or before the purchase settlement date. The one exception to this rule allows you to sell a Schwab Value Advantage Money Fund anytime before settlement. To avoid a Liquidation (trade violation) in a margin account you must satisfy any potential Fed Call by: Selling sufficient securities within the same trading day.  Deposit sufficient funds into your account at your local Schwab branch office.  Deposit fully paid-for marginable securities of sufficient value.  Note: Because Maintenance Calls are different from Fed calls, any sale of securities to cover a maintenance call is not considered a trading violation. If you make four (4) Liquidation trade violations in any 12-month period, your account will be subject to a permanent cash-up-front restriction. Maintenance Call  A Maintenance Call is a “call" for additional funds or acceptable collateral to be immediately deposited into your margin account. This type of margin call is generated when the equity in a margin account does not meet Schwab's established minimum requirement. This can be caused by fluctuations in market prices or your additional use of margin. For comparison, see Reg T which applies to initial margin requirements rather than on-going maintenance requirements. To meet a margin call, Schwab may initiate the sale of any securities in your account, without contacting you. Schwab will attempt to involve you in the case of margin deficiency; however, market conditions may require the firm to quickly sell any of your securities without your consent. Because the securities are collateral for the margin loan, Schwab has the right to decide which security to sell in order to protect its interests. Even if Schwab has contacted you and provided a specific date by which you can meet a margin call, the firm can still take necessary steps to protect its financial interests, including immediately selling the securities without prior notice to you. At Schwab, a margin account generally receives a maintenance call when equity falls below the "house" requirements which, at this time, are generally set at 30 percent1 or $5,000. Schwab may increase its "house" maintenance margin requirements at any time and is not required to provide you with advance written notice. Changes in Schwab's policy regarding "house" maintenance margin requirements often take effect immediately and may result in the issuance of a maintenance margin call. Your failure to satisfy the call may cause Schwab to liquidate or sell securities in your account. To meet a maintenance call you may: Deposit a check at a Schwab branch for the amount of the call  Wire Funds in the amount of the call  Transfer cash/securities from other Schwab accounts2 Deposit marginable stock2 Send a check via overnight mail for the amount of the call  Liquidate securities2 1. Higher maintenance requirements (also called Special Maintenance) can apply to specific securities or to concentrated positions. When you place a trade order you will be advised of special maintenance requirements on the order verification screen. 2. Since the value of the securities that you are required to deposit or liquidate varies based on security price and marginability, please contact Schwab before selecting this choice to meet your call.  $3.00 Minimum Price for Securities to be Marginable  Schwab also requires that margined stocks be priced at $3.00 or higher. That means that at any point that a security is priced at less than $3.00, the maintenance requirement becomes 100 percent (i.e. stock is no longer marginable).  Margin Account  This type of brokerage account allows you to borrow funds, using your own marginable securities as collateral. For comparison see Cash Account. Margin lending accounts are governed by Regulation T, The National Association of Securities Dealers (NASD), by the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and by individual brokerage house rules. Margin trading increases your buying power, allowing you to purchase a greater amount of securities with your investing dollar. Therefore, your exposure to market volatility increases - a declining market could result in even greater losses. A decline in the value of your securities that you purchase on margin may require you to provide additional funds to Schwab in order to avoid the forced sale of those securities or other securities in your account.  Margin Call  This generic term refers to both maintenance calls and "Regulation T" calls (also called Reg T or Fed Calls). There are two possible reasons a customer may receive a margin call. Either the equity in the account does not meet Schwab's established minimum equity requirement (maintenance call) or additional securities have been purchased or sold short without enough initial margin buying power in the account. An investor who receives a margin call is required to deposit additional funds or securities in their margin account immediately. Schwab will attempt to involve you in the case of margin deficiency; however, market conditions may require the firm to quickly sell any of your securities without your consent. Because the securities are collateral for the margin loan, Schwab has the right to decide which security to sell in order to protect its interests. Even if Schwab has contacted you and provided a specific date by which you can meet a margin call, the firm can still take necessary steps to protect its financial interests, including immediately selling the securities without prior notice to you. Odd Lot An Odd Lot is a securities trade made for less than the "normal trading" lot of 100 shares. In stock trading, any purchase or sale of less than 100 shares is generally considered an odd lot. See Round Lot.  Regulation T Call A Regulation T Call, also called a Fed Call, is the amount an investor must deposit if buying on margin or selling short, as required by the Federal Reserve Board's Regulation T. Current Federal Reserve requirements are 50 percent of the cost of the trade. Schwab reserves the right to impose higher or Special Maintenance requirements. Round Lot A Round Lot is the basic unit of trading for a particular security. For stocks, the generally accepted unit of trading is 100 shares. See Odd Lot. Settlement Date Settlement Date is the business day on which payment for a trade is due. Stock trades settle in three (3) business days after the trade date (T+3). For example, if a stock trade is executed on a Monday, the trade will settle three days later on Thursday (barring any holidays determined by the NASD or NYSE).  Special Maintenance Schwab may impose higher maintenance requirements on certain securities due to their volatility. To find out what the margin maintenance requirement is for any stock, enter a stock symbol on the Quotes and Research page and click on the "Margin Requirement" link within the Stock Summary.  Special Memorandum Account (SMA) This is a special account authorized by the Federal Reserve Board to preserve buying power in your margin account. It reflects any excess equity you have above the required amount (50 percent for marginable securities). The figure is part of the calculation to figure your Margin Buying Power. Unlike a credit balance or market value, SMA is a bookkeeping entry that reflects a history of the excess equity§ above the required minimum for Regulation T, plus all of the charges and releases from the past activity in the account. Once the SMA has been credited with any excess equity, it remains available until used for a purchase or a cash withdrawal. The SMA is retained even if the market value of securities held on margin subsequently declines, which could result in an SMA figure greater than your margin Cash Available (inflated SMA). A Fed call is generated when a trade occurs in an account that does not have sufficient SMA to satisfy the initial requirement of the Federal Government. How to check your SMA:To check online, refer to the “Margin Details” module on the right side of Trade pages, and select the “Additional Details” option in the drop-menu. An account gains SMA by: Depositing funds (releases 100 percent of the deposit toward the SMA balance)   Depositing marginable securities greater than $5 per share (releases 50% of the closing market value toward the SMA balance)   Selling securities held on margin (releases 50 percent of the sale proceeds toward the SMA balance)   Market appreciation.  §Excess equity is calculated at the close of business each day to find any market appreciation to which you are entitled. This calculation is derived by taking 50% of your closing total market value on margin (margin market value long plus any short market values), and dividing the figure by 50 percent Reg T requirements to determine the required equity for Reg T purposes. This required equity figure is then compared with your account equity at the close of business to determine any Reg T excess. A comparison is then made between this new SMA excess figure and your previous SMA balance held, if any. If the new SMA excess is greater that your previous closing SMA total, then the new SMA becomes your new SMA balance. Otherwise, you retain the previous day's SMA balance.  Estimated Exchange Fee This is a fee Schwab charges to offset fees imposed on it by national securities and self-regulatory organizations or by U.S. option exchanges. It is a transaction cost imposed by exchanges for the selling of exchange-listed equities and options. The fee is collected from all brokerage firms and returned to the U.S. Treasury to pay for the costs involved in the SEC's regulation process. U.S. option exchanges charge Schwab and other broker-dealers a per-contract fee for purchases and sales of exchange listed options. The fee paid by Schwab is divided among the exchanges and is imposed regardless of the exchange on which the transaction takes place. Schwab offsets this fee by charging you an Exchange Process Fee for covered transactions.  ADR pass-through fees  Banks that custody ADRs (ADR agents) are allowed to charge custody fees. ADR agents can collect these fees from the dividends your ADR pays (if any) or by charging Schwab for the fees you owe. Fees we pay on your behalf will be deducted from your account. Fees normally average from one to three cents per share. The specific amount and timing of fees for your ADR are detailed in the ADR prospectus. Read additional details about ADR fees including how they are collected and how to get a copy of an ADR prospectus. Frequently Asked Questions 1. Is there any way to cancel my stock trade once I click "Place Order" on the Order Verification page?  It is possible that your order was not yet executed. To check, click on "Order Status" under Trade in the top menu to determine the status of your order. If it has not yet been executed, you can immediately attempt to change or cancel your order before it is executed.  2. How do I cover my trade? If your purchase exceeds the funds available in your account, in most cases, you can cover your trade by making a deposit of funds or marginable securities on or before trade settlement. If you choose to cover the amount due by selling a security, the sale must occur on or before the purchase date to avoid a liquidation violation. The one exception to this rule allows you to sell a Schwab Value Advantage Money Fund any time before the purchase settlement. Note: For most equity transactions, the settlement period is three business days from the day your order executes. 3. What is a liquidation violation?  This trade violation is the result of buying a security which creates a Cash Account debit or Margin Account Fed Call, and then covering the amount due by selling another security the following trade date or later. If an option or mutual fund is sold the day after a stock is purchased, the proceeds cannot be used to cover an amount due without generating a liquidation violation, even if the proceeds settle on or before the purchase settlement date. The one exception to this rule allows you to sell a Schwab Value Advantage Money Fund anytime before settlement. A permanent, cash-up-front restriction will be placed on the account after four liquidation violations within a rolling twelve-month period. To avoid a liquidation violation, see How do I cover my trade?  4. What is a freeride violation?  A freeride violation is the result of buying a security in a Cash Account and then selling the same security without making separate payment on the full purchase price by settlement date. To avoid a freeride violation, you must settle your buy order independently of selling the same security. After one freeride, a 90 day settled cash up front restriction is placed on the account.   5. When is settlement for stock trades?  For nearly all stock trades, the Settlement Date is three business days after the order is executed. Settlement date indicates the day executed orders must be settled by a purchaser paying for securities with cash or on margin, or by a seller delivering the securities and receiving the proceeds of the sale.  6. What is a Hard to Borrow Security for Short Sales? Many securities can be sold short via Schwab.com, however, shorting some hard-to-borrow securities requires special handling. Lenders of hard-to-borrow securities charge a fee in the form of interest expense. If you wish to short hard-to-borrow securities and are willing to pay a fee (interest expense) to cover the cost of borrowing those shares, contact our Securities Lending team at 800-355-2448 to determine the fee amount. Fees are based upon supply and demand of the security in the Securities Lending market. 7. When can my cost basis method be changed1? The default cost basis method can be changed at any time via the Cost Basis Method tab and the new default will be applied for all future trades. Cost basis methods for a specific order can be changed up to midnight ET on settlement date. To change the method after the order has been placed (but not settled), go to the order on Order Status and click on View/edit. 8. Can I change the cost basis method if part of my order has filled1? Yes, you can change the cost basis method on a partial fill if the fill has not settled. Any updates will change the method instructions for both the unfilled and filled portions of the order. 9. Will Schwab supply Cost Basis for my IRA1? We will provide cost basis to our clients for all accounts. However, Schwab is only responsible for reporting cost basis to the IRS for taxable accounts. IRAs are not taxable accounts. Even after age 65, clients can draw on their IRA but their cost basis will not be reported by Schwab to the IRS. 10. How will Schwab calculate gains and losses1? Schwab calculates gains and losses by subtracting adjusted cost basis (original purchase price plus commissions, fees and other adjustments) from net proceeds from the sale (after selling costs such as commissions). 11. What if I don't specify a cost basis method1? Your cost basis method will be the default FIFO (First In First Out) for equity sales, and Average Cost for mutual funds. If you are enrolled in cost basis reporting using a preferred method, that method will be retained. You will continue to report your cost basis for your tax filing. 12. What is the order of sales for the Tax Lot Optimizer™ method1?  Short-term Losses: Lots reflecting short-term losses are sold first, from greatest short-term loss to least short-term loss. Long-term Losses: Lots reflecting long-term losses are sold first, from greatest long-term loss to least long-term loss. Short-term, no gains nor losses: Short-term lots that reflect no gain nor loss. Long-term, no gains nor losses: Long-term lots that reflect no gain nor loss. Long-term Gains: Lots reflecting long-term gains from least long-term gain to greatest long-term gain. Short-term Gains: Lots reflecting short-terms gains from least short-term gain to greatest short-term gain. 1. It is your responsibility to choose the cost basis method appropriate to your tax situation. Failure to select the proper cost basis method may cause you to pay more tax than necessary. Schwab does not provide tax advice and encourages you to consult with your tax professional. View Cost Basis Reporting for additional information on cost basis method choices and how Schwab reports adjusted cost basis information to the IRS. (1010-6331)

Why is Islam called the religion of peace even though countless thousands of Muslim are terrorists?

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20150608111624AACUsMx

Why do Muslims think everyone should respect their disgusting violent religion?

My question at Yahoo was for Muslim scum. They got the question deleted. Muslims need to be exterminated.

Another question I asked Christian scum: Why do religious people think everyone should respect their religion?

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-33039815

Saudi Arabia's Supreme Court has upheld the sentence of 1,000 lashes and 10 years of imprisonment on blogger Raif Badawi, despite a foreign outcry.

Speaking from Canada, his wife Ensaf Haidar told the BBC she feared his punishment would start again on Friday. 

Badawi was arrested in 2012 for "insulting Islam through electronic channels".

Saudi authorities sent his case for review amidst global protests, after the first round of lashes in January. 

For four years Badawi ran the Liberal Saudi Network, which encouraged online debate on religious and political issues. 

Ms Haidar said she had held high hopes that her husband was about to be released, but he remained less optimistic. 

When they last spoke three days ago he told her not to expect him home in the near future.

She called on the countries and rights groups that had campaigned for her husband's release to mobilise once more.

Protests were held following Badawi's first flogging by the kingdom

Badawi received his first 50 lashes in January, but subsequent floggings have been postponed. 

A shaky video taken on a mobile phone showed Badawi being lashed by a member of the security forces.

The footage prompted international protests which were repeated every Friday, the scheduled day for the beatings.

In March, the kingdom expressed "surprise and dismay" at international criticism over the punishment.

At the time, the foreign ministry issued a statement saying it rejected interference in its internal affairs.

It is not clear why Badawi has not yet endured a second round though a medical report found he was not fit for the punishment.

Saudi Arabia enforces a strict version of Islamic law and does not tolerate political dissent. It has some of the highest social media usage rates in the region, and has cracked down on domestic online criticism.

Could religions survive without brainwashing children?

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20150607150025AA4hmoX

This one hour HBO documentary had an excellent history of Darwin's life, and way too much Christian stupidity.

HBO - Questioning Darwin

Another interesting one hour video: Cosmos - Carl Sagan - A Personal Voyage - Episode 3

This has an excellent explanation for why evolution deniers have to deny evolution no matter what.

Why are some Hell-bent on Intelligent Design?

This has an excellent explanation for why evolution deniers have to deny evolution no matter what.

Here is the whole thing, some of which I disagree with because he looks for excuses to call the god fairy "real".

Why are some Hell-bent on Intelligent Design?

Yesterday, I attended, and gave testimony at the Texas State Board of Education meeting.  The issue in front of them was whether to accept textbooks provided by the textbook publishers as they have presented them, or whether they should require that they alter them according to comments made by reviewers.

Of course, this being Texas, many of the reviewers’ comments were aimed at areas where they were simply not subject area experts, and proposed to “teach the controversy.”

You know.  The old “evolution vs. intelligent design” junk.

The problem is, within any scientific body of merit, evolution is not under controversy.  Certainly the methods by which evolution manifests can be; but to say that evolution isn’t real is to be blind to the mountains of evidence that support the theory; while “intelligent design,” or “creationism” isn’t supported by any scientific evidence at all.

Maybe there’s a philosophical argument that God works though evolution; but I am not prepared to say definitively what, if anything, God decided to do with His infinite free time.  I suspect He watches a lot of Reality TV – minus the TV.

There were amazing speakers there, from microbiologists to accomplished lawyers – I felt intellectually outmatched and the sophistication of the arguments (at least the ones on the side of science) made my little prepared testimony seem weak in comparison.

But I left the meeting feeling that nothing was accomplished.  I don’t believe anyone exited that room with an opinion that was different than the one they came in with.

Let’s be frank for a second: Faith is a powerful motivator.  It is very hard to convince someone that they’re wrong on the facts when they believe it is a moral duty to insist their side is right.

Because to a believer, faith is a virtue.  Indeed, the highest virtue.  And evolution may not challenge God’s throne, but it challenges a highly held belief that God created man as the apex of life on Earth.  To suggest that man holds no special place amongst the beasts – that our rationality was not the spark of divine creation but the machinations of blind terrestrial navigation belies the idea that God places us first among all his creations.

And it humbles us. It humbles us because there is no guarantee that mankind will or can remain the apex of God’s creation, and that should we falter and face ecological or nuclear Armageddon, He may save our souls, but not our species.

Some people, quite frankly, can’t handle that.

The argument has been made that evolution is in contrast to faith.  This is not true.  But what is true is that evolution tests faith.  The fact of evolution is incontrovertible and supported by mounds of empirical evidence.  Faith, on the other hand, is fragile.  It is supported only by the strength of human will.

And this is where it gets tricky. Because to many believers, faith, not works, is the only guarantee that one can pass God’s litmus test and gain access to His divine kingdom.  To lose one’s faith is to literally damn oneself.  So tests to that faith must be avoided at all costs.  Better to be a philosophical coward than a theological failure.
I have always known that no sane, benevolent God would create a cosmos where faith was an absolute requirement for salvation, yet also create a universe for his creations where that faith was constantly challenged. Such a god would be cruel; and by no means worthy of the title of God.I do not hold to that.

Instead, consider the possibility God wants us to grow.  He wants to push us towards greater understanding.  And the only way we’re going to learn is if He lets us figure it out for ourselves.

There may be blind turns, dead ends, and mistakes.  There may be long strides forward, followed by heartbreaking setbacks.  But such a God would want us to ask Him questions.  And the way to do that is to seek the answers to those questions in His creation.  Every time we turn away from the question, every time we remain purposefully blind to the contradiction, every time we patch holes in our ignorance with “God did it,” without following up with the question “How did God do it?” is a far more disappointing result to Him than blindly holding faith.

We learn through our successes, and we learn through failure.  And no God worth the name would punish a man or woman who tried to hold faith and failed.

I seem to have digressed  – back to the point at hand.  From a practical matter, I think the SBOE meeting was a bit of a waste – I doubt that anyone was swayed by the arguments – that those members who knew of the importance of science in science instruction were emboldened knowing that the majority of people out there who cared about the issue supported them; but that the members who did not felt pride in taking on such a large opposition.  That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t have gone en mass, and shouldn’t have spoken, but that is politics; individuals rationally act in collectively irrational ways.

The only thing that I could try to do to change the status quo there was to try to convince those members whose faith was strong that there was an argument based in faith that they had not considered.  And so I delivered this testimony.

"el combate, esa es la magia del ajedrez"

Google translate: "combat, that's the magic of chess"

http://en.lichess.org/@/jorgeleon/me

Rick Perry, Governer Preacher Man of Texas, wants to President Preacher Man of the United States.

Christian extremists should vote for Preacher Man Perry because he has been doing everything he can to dumb down science education in Texas. Evolution makes Mr. Perry cry.
Perry said. "In Texas, we teach both creationism and evolution in our public schools — because I figure you're smart enough to figure out which one is right."

Mr. Perry admits Texas schools teach religious fantasies in science classrooms and he's all for it. And this is why he should win the idiot vote.

The above comment got censored by the Wall Street Journal. I tried again:

My previous comment got censored. One more try because this is important.

Perry said. "In Texas, we teach both creationism and evolution in our public schools — because I figure you're smart enough to figure out which one is right."

Mr. Perry admits Texas schools teach religious fantasies in science classrooms and he's all for it. I suggest an advanced developed country like America doesn't need a president who wants to dumb down science education.

http://www.wsj.com/articles/rick-perrys-lodestar-state-1433460116