Speaking of cartoons

They were bound to find common ground sooner or later. In Russia, Christian and Muslim groups have joined together to condemn the cartoon channel "2x2", and demand that it be shut down. "2x2" runs "South Park" and other fare that the groups say is anti-religious:

"For a second time in two weeks, religious groups have called for the closure of Russia's cartoon channel 2X2.

Christian and Muslim groups are demanding that 2X2 be shut down because it airs cartoons, such as South Park, which they deem to be anti-religious, violent as well as promoting homosexuality."

Yeah? As a side issue, I see this expression "promote homosexuality" a lot on the lifesites and socon blogs of the world, and it's always eluded me what that means. As a (former) advertising person, I know what a "promotion" is: high-intensity, high-frequency, heavyweight media exposure of a product. Granted, I don't watch a lot of TV, but I'm not completely cut off from the media and I have yet to see this big promotional campaign for homosexuality. Maybe it only runs at a certain time of day? If someone can enlighten me, please do.

Godless Canadians not so godless?

Canada is generally thought of as a pretty secular country, and yes, thank dog, our Governing Motor is on a completely different part of the national vehicle than our Toolbag of Worship. On opposite sides the garage, really. Christian fundies have long bemoaned our godless heatheness (heatheninity?)... but wait. What's this?

"Canadians may not be as religious as Americans, but a new poll suggests they are not prepared to rule out God's essential role in creation.

The Canadian Press-Decima Research survey suggests that 60 per cent of Canadians believe God had either a direct or indirect role in creating mankind, shattering the myth that Canadians had long ago put their faith strictly behind the scientific explanation for creation.

The poll suggests Canadians divide in essentially three groups on the issue of creation: 34 per cent of those polled said humans developed over millions of years under a process guided by God; 26 per cent said God created humans alone within the last 10,000 years or so; and 29 per cent said they believe evolution occurred with no help from God.

“These results reflect an essential Canadian tendency,” said pollster Bruce Anderson. “We are pretty secular, but pretty hesitant to embrace atheism.”"

How special! According to this poll, 60% of Canadians believe in either Creationism or Intelligent Design... 60%?? That's a Majority! Here comes the SoCon Revolution, marching as to war, armed with bibles and bloody coat-hangers, going on before.

Or not. I'm guessing that the way the questions were framed had a lot to do with the result. Example: Up until a few years ago, I was an agnostic. If I was asked, I'd say I was 99% sure there was no god, but in deference to the people who do believe, I'd add "but anything's possible". If I were asked whether I believed "humans developed over millions of years under a process guided by god" my answer would be similar -- millions of years? Yes. Guided by god? Hahaha, not fucking likely. But anything's possible. In a multiple choice question, I would have chosen the "maybe" or "possibly" answer, which would put me squarely in the "intelligent design" group, even though I was (and am) most vehemently not. See how this works? It's one of the reasons polls should never be taken as "gospel" (pun intended), although media outlets do it time and again, quite irresponsibly if you ask me. Seen in context with the poll's questions and answers, the results might tell us something completely different. In short, I'm not too concerned that christian government.ca might get its wish for bible-beating theocratic rule in Canada any time soon.

Odd. I can't find this poll on the Decima website, so I shot them an email to ask why. Maybe they're embarassed?

A Brief History of Disbelief

Ooooh, some godless goodness is coming to our TV screens very soon. PBS will supposedly air a program called "A Brief History of Disbelief" on Friday May 4, on the Bill Moyers program. I say "supposedly" because it seems to be buried -- the PBS schedule doesn't say anything about it, possibly because the religious wingnuts would try to prevent it from airing. PZ Myers at Pharyngula has seen it and describes it like this:

"It's less an advocacy of atheism than a kind of post-atheism, a historical and philosophical review of this strange, dying idea of "religion" that reveals the progressive growth of atheistic thought. It's wonderfully dismissive. The real question isn't how people can disbelieve, but how faith can survive and still linger on."

PZ liked it, that's enough for me. He has the details here. SSSHHHH!