Porn Study Lacks Control Group

In a recent study of the effects of pornography on men's views and attitudes towards women The University of Montreal ran into a snag. They could not find any men in their twenties who do not watch porn. None.

In order to make a study appear credible you need to have controls, and it's pretty tough to compare porn using men to porn free men if there are no porn free men in Montreal. Porn. (I have always wanted to use the word porn in a sentence three times in a row, how fun.)

Now, on to the subject in hand.

According to the telegraph.co.uk "Although hampered in its original aim, the study did examined the habits of those young men who used pornography – which would appear to be all of them."

The telegraph goes on to explain "Single men watched pornography for an average of 40 minutes, three times a week, while those in relationships watched it 1.7 times a week for around 20 minutes.

The study found that men watched pornography that matched their own image of sexuality, and quickly discarded material they found offensive or distasteful."

I think the most interesting part of this study was that it found that none of the men showed any pathological sexuality. These were normal young men.

The question I have is how do I get my porn use up to 40 minutes three times a week. I just can't compete with that.

Bill O'Reilly Blows It Again

Apparently I am jealous. Christians have such a great holiday and I don't. So any attempt for a Humanistic, Freethinking, Atheist group to advertise is seen as an act of "wrecking" the Christian holiday.

This is a truly Bizarre story. The Washington post newspaper is owned and controlled by the Moonies(The Unification Church). In this news story on CNN they interview and employee who claims that he has suffered religious discrimination because he was forced to attend a religious ceremony where the reverend Sun Myung Moon was in attendance.

Eugenie Scott is a brilliant scientist who explains how the religious right are currently working to stifle the teaching of science in the public classroom through the use of legislation.

BBC Climate Change - Heated Debate

Euthanasia Debate Begins in Earnest

Public consultations will soon begin in Quebec where the government and the opposition support the idea if legalized euthanasia.

CBC Reports "The Quebec government will hold roving public consultations on the question of euthanasia, Health Minister Yves Bolduc announced Thursday following a request from the opposition Parti Québécois.

The national assembly's standing committee on health and social services will first hear from experts on the issue and prepare a consultation document.

Bolduc acknowledged the issue of euthanasia is complex.

"There are many elements that we must reflect on, including the definition of terms, end-of-life care and, equally, how we accompany these people," Bolduc said. "We all have the same intention — that is to say, that people can die with dignity."

Calling for a provincewide consultation, PQ Leader Pauline Marois said it is time for a non-partisan debate on the issue."

It time for this debate to occur in Canada. This may be the beginning of progressive change where Canada finally allows people who are terminally ill to die with a sense of dignity. I say this even though I am sure that this debate will open a can of worms in the media and it will give the religious right the opportunity to bring forth their ideas about how human life should end. Certainly the debate has the potential to become quite ugly, let's hope it does not.

As a humanist i think it is necessary to change Canada's laws in such a way that allows those who are of sound mind and sure that they are going to die of a terminal illness to choose their own end. This is about giving me a right to make my own personal choice, it is not about taking that choice away from anyone else.

Racing Jesus IN a Speed Boat

Why Bother, Jesus will just get out and run!

Catholic Church Sex Abuse Documents Released

I have included snippet of the article below but want to make the point that what the church has been fighting in court was the release of articles that tell the whole story. They do want want all of the allegations brought forth by plaintiffs to be heard by the public. In my opinion thats news.


NBC News reports:

"The Diocese of Bridgeport has released more than 12,000 pages of documents, from 23 lawsuits, containing information about sexual abuse complaints against several Connecticut priests and how the church handled those complaints.

The records include testimony, depositions, affidavits and motions that had previously been under seal. They could shed light on how recently retired New York Cardinal Edward M. Egan handled the abuse allegations when he was Bridgeport bishop.

The almost 450 pages of depositions Egan gave, how that he did not investigate aggressively some claims of abuse, he reassigned priests who he knew had allegations made against them and he minimized allegations made against several priests, the Hartford Courant reports.

"Claims are one thing. One does not take every claim against a human being as a proved misdeed. I'm interested in proved misdeeds," Egan said, according to the Courant.

The legal fight started eight years ago and went all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court, almost. The high court refused to hear the diocese's appeal of a Connecticut Supreme Court decision ordering the release of the documents. The Connecticut court set the deadline for today to give the diocese time to review the documents and flag ones those it considers privileged.

Diocese officials played down the importance of the release.

Sarah Palin Book Signing

Ignorance abounds as the interviewer asks people at a Sarah Palin book signing why they support her. Not one of them can explain her policies

Switzerland: Extremism Feared Minarets Banned

Fear of extremism has led 59 percent of the Swiss population to vote to ban minarets on Mosques in their country. This presents an interesting ethical issue. A minaret (left) is an highly visible architectural detail on a mosque, usually in the form of a tower with a loudspeaker.

To me it's no different that the bright red cross burning on top of the hospital across the river from my home or the spire on any church. In Switzerland some have argued that the minaret is a political symbol, while others explain that virtually every mosque has one on it and that it's no more political than the spire on top of any church.

Personally, I think the issue can be characterized like this: getting rid of a minaret does not change what is or can be said by the imam preaching from the Koran. If the imam is an extremist he presents much more of a problem to society than any minaret could ever pose.

Another issue that has been raised is the appearance of neighborhoods where a minaret has been built. Do the Swiss want their cities to look "Islamic"? Apparently not. Does Canada?

Public Funding of 'Muslim Extremist Schools' in Britain

Personally, I disagree with the minister interviewed at the end of the video. I do not support public funding of faith based schooling. I think that is breeds separation from society and allows "old men" to dictate values to children that are based on superstition.

Catholic Church Fights In Vitro Fertilization

Catholic Church in India - Rife with Sex

It's scandalous! It's controversial! It's sexy! Catholics should not be doing it! Clergy sex! Priests on Nuns! Nuns on Priests! Nuns on Nuns!

It's true! A Catholic Nun in India has stepped out with a shocking story of sex and bullying within the ranks of the Catholic Church. According to the Telegraph, "The book by the former nun reveals how as a young novice she was propositioned in the confession box by a priest who cited biblical references to "divine kisses". Later she was cornered by a lesbian nun at a college where they were teaching. "She would come to my bed in the night and do lewd acts and I could not stop her," she claims.

When she was sent to Bangalore to stay with a priest known for his piety, he lectured her about the need for "physical love" and later assaulted her.

"Back in his room, he tried to fondle me and when I resisted, got up and asked angrily if I had seen a man. When I said no, he stripped himself, ejaculated and forced me to strip," she writes."

Sound like a good read?

A Muslim Woman Explains How She Is Treated

CBC News Minority Reporter Natasha Fatah explains how respect is lacking towards Muslim women, right here in the Americas. This article is definitely worth the read if you are interested at all in womens rights and Islam.

She makes the point that Muslim women are forced to conform to standards of conduct that no one else is expected to even when they are all together in a group, "He told me first in Spanish and then again in English for effect, "I shouldn't see your feet." I told him, if I cover my feet then I can't walk."

She also explained that being a Muslim she is treated much differently than the non muslim women she works or travels with "My colleague, whose blond hair was visible through her loose headscarf, was left alone. But when the officers found out that I was a Muslim they wanted my scarf so tightly wrapped around my head you'd think I was being prepared for mummification.

The same kind of thing happened earlier this year in India when I was shopping in a small store along with some non-Indian tourists."

Finally she attempts to understand what Men of Islam are thinking when she states, "Here's my guess at what some of these men are thinking: You're a Muslim woman. That means you have a direct line to God and to heaven, provided you behave properly.

Non-Muslims are bound for hell anyway and not really our problem, and unless they convert we won't bother with them. But since you're one of us, we better teach you how to behave and dress like a proper Muslim woman.

These men may think they are doing the right thing, but they are not helping."

Well said Natasha, thanks for being frank, and for stepping out to speak your mind.

Freedom From Religion Makes the News