Rational Nation USA

"Your success and happiness lies in you. Resolve to keep happy, and your joy and you shall form an invincible host against difficulties." -- Helen Keller

The conflicts between religion and science have existed and been well studied for generations, yet many people deny they exist at all. As someone who studied religion in college, I’ve seen both sides of this. On one hand, it’s true that many people apply religion and science in different ways, meaning they don’t always conflict. But on another hand — a much bigger hand — it’s impossible to ignore the war that has been waged between science and religion throughout human history. Jerry Coyne , who literally wrote the book on this subject in Faith Versus Fact: Why Science and Religion Are Incompatible , has a piece up at the Conversation pointing out how science and religion actually “represent incompatible ways of viewing the world.” In contrast to the methods of science, religion adjudicates truth not empirically, but via dogma, scripture and authority — in other words, through faith, defined in Hebrews 11 as “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things

Many Biblical scholars have argued from time to time that December 25th was not the actual birth date of Christ. It was just adopted as a day to celebrate the birth of Christ as a Christian substitute to the Roman festival Saturnalia in the third century. Saturnalia was celebrated as the Feast of Sun and was actually considered the birth date of the Sun God of the Romans. Catholic priests held a special mass that day for Christ and thus, it came to be known as 'Christ-mass' or 'Christmas'. Along with the date, several other pagan traditions, rituals and customs followed the way to become associated with Christmas such as decorating fir trees and burning yule logs. According to these scholars, Christ was most probably born on September 11, 3 B.C., which was Wednesday, according to the Bible. Source: References: ENCYCLOPÆDIA BRITANNICA CLASSROAM Influence of Zoroastrianism on other religions Pagan Influence upon Roman Catholicism 10 Ways The Bible Was Influenced

Hat Tip: Infidel753

May 2019 bring an end to our national disgrace which begin with the 2016 election that brought us tRump.

The 550 People, Places and Things Donald Trump Has Insulted on Twitter: A Complete List It is highly unlikely the tRump supporters will even read, let alone believe, the truth embodied in the voluminous number of insulting and incorrect tweets their buffoon leader has tweeted out. Click on the hot link above to read the 550 .

America is changing, so, it I entirely appropriate that members of the House of Representative leadership change with it. With the top three democratic leadership positions being held by individuals 78-79 years of age the "deal" that would seat Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House would insure that all three relinquish there leadership positions in 2022. This is good for the party, and, it will be good for America. Perhaps BOTH parties should adopt a rule that anyone holding any one of the  top three leadership positions  are required to relinquish said position at the end of their congressional term in which they turn 80. There comes a time in business and government when NEW blood is essential. If America hopes to continue its forward progress new blood is a must . Maybe the presidency should have a maximum age when one can assume the office. When elected by the voters. 72 perhaps? WASHINGTON — Representative Nancy Pelosi is nearing a deal with dissident Democrat

Since the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump’s aides and advisers have tried to convince him of the importance of tackling the national debt . Sources close to the president say he has repeatedly shrugged it off, implying that he doesn’t have to worry about the money owed to America’s creditors—currently about $21 trillion—because he won’t be around to shoulder the blame when it becomes even more untenable. The friction came to a head in early 2017 when senior officials offered Trump charts and graphics laying out the numbers and showing a “hockey stick” spike in the national debt in the not-too-distant future. In response, Trump noted that the data suggested the debt would reach a critical mass only after his possible second term in office. “Yeah, but I won’t be here,” the president bluntly said, according to a source who was in the room when Trump made this comment during discussions on the debt. SOURCE It can't get much clearer than the above, tRump quite simpl

It is not often these days that I post commentary from a "conservative" weblog. Today is different. Having come across a post at Always On Watch I believe has merit because it offers up great food for thought I decided to reproduce it on the pages this weblog. My hope is it generates some conversation that is thoughtful as well as respectful. Destructive Destruction Silverfiddle Rant! Apologies to John Prine … Daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County, Where good jobs are boomin' and men get good pay. I'm sorry my son but you're too late in askin' Mr. Jeff Bezos' website done hauled them away. You can’t bring those Sears jobs Back Is retail dead, destined for the obituaries along with the whale blubber industry that was replaced by kerosene lamps, which were replaced by the lightbulb? What kind of new economy will give people meaningful work as technology ends up doing so much of what humans used to earn their l

The Eye of Sauron  , guiding the present day GOP and the conservative movement lead by Donald J. tRump and his minions. Willingly supported and assisted by FreeThinke , aka Franco Aragosta .

America was a better place because President George H.W. Bush dedicated his life to service to our country. The United States of America was a greater nation when he served as president than it is today. Current and future leadership of this nation would do well to emulate President Bush's example. Rest in Peace Mr. President. Though George H.W. Bush's presidency ended just a quarter-century ago, it seems like a different era altogether. He personified a time when Democrats and Republicans could work together and when international diplomacy was not scorned as a sign of weakness. Last year, a C-Span survey of historians ranked Bush — who died Friday at age 94 —    20th of 44 presidents considered . A survey of political scientists this year ranked him 17th . Though both polls put him atop the list of presidents turned out of office by the voters, they may be a bit low for a president who looks better and better each year. Bush was a thoroughly decent man, in stark

Found on a rightwing Nutter tRumpian weblog. The NRA was, many years ago, an organization that supported hunters, responsible firearm ownership, and training. Today it is a quasi criminal group. One that nuts like the blog proprietor who posted the following fully support. At the expense of American victims of gun crimes.

The nation in majority knows that tRump is a liar and a crook. Not since Richard Nixon, who BTW was only 1/2 the crook tRump is, has the nation seen or had to deal with the mendacity and crookedness of Donald J tRump. As the Mueller investigation closes in on the chef architect responsible for the Mueller investigation in the first place it is almost amusing to watch our fake president squirm. President Trump recently tweeted : “Did you ever see an investigation more in search of a crime?” It is usually a bad idea to raise a rhetorical question when the answer is both obvious and unfavorable. In the investigation by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, there are at least three offenses that could lead to indictment or impeachment. There is obstruction of justice — which Trump seems to attempt persistently, publicly and shamelessly. There is possible financial corruption concerning Russia on the part of Trump and the imperial family — about which the recent plea deal with Mich

Chief Justice Defends Judicial Independence After Trump Attacks ‘Obama Judge’ “We do not have Obama judges or Trump judges, Bush judges or Clinton judges. What we have is an extraordinary group of dedicated judges doing their level best to do equal right to those appearing before them.” Given tRump's recent classless and unfounded attack on a judge that tweaked his nose for him as well as his unbelievable stance on Saudi Arabia and its Crown Prince one has to wonder just what it will take for supporters to finally see through the jackas* they idolize. tRump is quite plainly a terrible human being and a horrible leader who is completely void of character, integrity, vision, understanding, empathy, compassion, and everything else that makes for a good person.

A federal judge ruled in favor of CNN on Friday, allowing the network’s star reporter Jim Acosta to temporarily regain access to his White House press credential. "I will grant the application for the temporary restraining order I order the government reinstate the pass," U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly ruled from Washington. SKIP The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. “I want to thank all of my colleagues in the press who supported us this week and I want to thank the judge for the decision he made today. Let’s go back to work,” Acosta said outside the U.S. District Court. tRump got thumped for now. Because freedom of the press is a bedrock value of our democratic republic we're sure tRump will lose entirely at the end of the day. As the would be tyrant should. SOURCE

"A nd then they remind me that there’s a lot of liberal folks in those other schools who maybe we don’t want to vote. Maybe we want to make it just a little more difficult. And I think that’s a great idea. " It’s unclear which “other schools” Hyde-Smith referred to in the video. There are several historically black colleges and universities in the state. Ayup, a republican from Mississippi in a moment of honesty. We all know what she was talking about. Your republican tribe exposed. Again. SOURCE

Retiring Republican Sen. Jeff Flake said Wednesday that he will not vote to confirm the Trump administration's judicial nominees on the Senate floor or advance them in the Senate Judiciary Committee if legislation to protect special counsel Robert Mueller does not receive a Senate floor vote. SKIP "We have been told that the bill that Sen. Coons and I will move to bring up shortly is not necessary, as there have been no indications that the independence of Mr. Mueller's investigation is in jeopardy. That may have been an arguable position before last week. But it is not arguable anymore." SKIP "The President now has this investigation in his sights, and we all know it," SKIP "The President has said that he's not going to move on the special counsel. But that's not enough. And perhaps that's what gives comfort to the majority leader. ... But it doesn't give comfort to me." SOURCE

"FOX News supports CNN in its legal effort to regain its White House reporter’s press credential. We intend to file an amicus brief with the U.S. District Court. Secret Service passes for working White House journalists should never be weaponized. While we don’t condone the growing antagonistic tone by both the President and the press at recent media avails, we do support a free press, access and open exchanges for the American  people." Twelve more news outlets including the AP, Bloomberg, First Look Media, Gannett, National Press Club, NBC News, New York Times, POLITICO, Press Freedom Defense Fund, EW Scripps, USA Today Network, Washington Post have announced their plans to follow FOX News lead and file amicus briefs in support of CNN. Given FOX News consistent support of tRump vitriol and policies their statement and action is, to say the least, quite surprising. SOUCE

Nixon-era White House counsel John Dean: Nixon was 'corrupt,' but Trump is 'evil' Truer words have never been spoken. Ex-White House counsel John Dean believes history will view former President Richard Nixon's protracted Watergate scandal as "a brief idyllic daydream" following President Trump's "evil" administration. "Trump’s is making the long nightmare of Nixon’s Watergate seem like a brief idyllic daydream," Dean tweeted late Saturday night. "History will treat Nixon’s moral failures as relatively less troubling than Trump’s sustained and growing decadence, deviousness and self-delusive behavior. Nixon=corrupt; Trump=evil."

The Capitol at sunset on Election Day 2018. Credit Credit Sarah Silbiger/The New York Times Now that the 2018 mid term election is over, with the House returning to a slim democratic majority and the Senate gaining two seats we can expect deadlock and gridlock for the next two years. Which is to say that much isn't going to get done in DC. Sometimes change just keeps things pretty much the same. That's how we see it anyway. Yeah, I know Mueller has more allies in positions of power in the House. That's all good and well. But given the two years of investigation and millions and millions of dollars spent we've got very little bang for our buck really. My thoughts are lots of little fish might fry but the Yuuuge Orange Tuna in the swamp swims away. Free and unscathed in the end. Lack of sufficient evidence to impeach and convict I suspect. Fact is tRump is really still sitting pretty politically. With the democrats in the House obstructing his every move, and you

This is what the good people pf Pittsburgh think of president tRump... A participant in the march in memory of the victims of the Pittsburgh shooting holds a sign that reads: 'President hate, leave our state' on October 30, 2018. \ CATHAL MCNAUGHTON/ REUTERS Israeli Ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer joined Trump, First Lady Melania Trump and top White House officials as they landed in Pittsburgh. While Dermer agreed to join the president, other big names in Washington turned down the honor – House Speaker Paul D. Ryan, House Majority and Minority Leaders Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority and Minority leaders Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer, all turned down invitations. A list of local officials, including Pittsburgh mayor, Bill Peduto, also declined their invitations to meet with the visiting president. The mayor had publicly advised the president to delay his visit so that the community’s attention could be focused on embracing t

Warren’s maneuver stands as a warning sign for other presidential contenders. Getting into the mud pit with Trump—who doesn’t care about political decorum, rules, sexism, racism, name-calling, facts, or reason—has revealed itself as a sucker’s game. Like a scientist trying to argue with a climate-change denier, you’ll just end up drowning in a tide of bad faith. Read article HERE