Religion: noun, a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

Listen, atheism is a religion. It is the belief that the universe was 'caused' by a big bang (followed by primorial ooze and microbes and walking fish with lungs, etc) and it includes a moral code which can be summed up as "survival of the fittest". So Hitchens is really just claiming that his religion (atheism) is the right one and all of the others are wrong -- which is the same claim made by Islam, Judaism, Christianity, Hinduism, Mormonism, and all other religions. So as a Christian I would sure like to get up on a stage and tell everyone that my religion is true and all others are false, but that's not a stage that's offered to me, so why is this feller allowed to get up and expound the same about his religion? He will claim that Christian faith is forced on Americans (The Pledge of Allegiance, The Declaration of Independence, The Gideon Bibles in hotel rooms, Postings of the Ten Commandments, etc) but I would argue the opposite, Christianity is 'offered' to Americans, but Hitchens' religion (Atheism whose major tenet is evolution) is forced on Americans through school science classes. Atheism has a leg up on Christianity because they mask their beliefs as 'science' (evolution) and get it into every classroom in America five days a week, whereas Christianity gets sidelined to Sunday mornings.

No doubt it's easier for Hitchens to live his life believing that God does not exist and therefore there are no consequences for his actions. But like the bumper sticker says "If you live like there's no God, you'd better hope you're right!" =)

I'll just say I'd much rather be around stoned people than drunk people. In my 40+ years of life on this planet I have NEVER seen someone get stoned, and then want to beat people up. But I have seen guys have a few drinks and want to kick everyone's arse in the room. When you look at how much crime is alcohol related how can we continue to justify celebrations of drunkenness like Green Beer Day? They should have Green Pot Day. At least I wouldn't have to worry about being continually harassed on the streets by drunk guys which is what happens now.

Hmmm.....I have to agree that religion, especially the type of divisive anti-any-other-religion-but-Christianity that is going on in this country right now is not good.

Jefferson was smart. He also wrote: "History, I believe, furnishes no example of a priest-ridden people maintaining a free civil government. This marks the lowest grade of ignorance of which their civil as well as religious leaders will always avail themselves for their own purposes."

He knew that when a people starts listening to those who claim to be privy to what the invisible man in sky says, regardless of what their own sense tells them is right, we are on the road to a society based on fear of the "other".

I wish the quote stated "this is an open attack on people of faith who should pull their heads from their hindparts and realize there is no Santa Claus, no Easter Bunny and no invisible man in the sky controlling everything. Furthermore, these "believers" should lay down their ideas that the world's destiny is already written and start building a better world today...because that's the only way it's going to get done.

Where my son attends school they're in dorms throughout because there is no off campus housing. It seems quite natural to them. The biggest difference is that all the dorms are suites housing anywhere from 2 to 8 students. The rules are also that, if you have someone livnig in the suite who is 21 or older, he or she can have alcoholic beverages. If someone under age is caught drinking / drunk, they will be expelled. It's really rather simple.

Separation of church and state is NOT explicitly stated in the Constitution, contrary to the writer's assertion. "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof" refers to the practice of establishing a national religion (such as the Church of England), and assures religious freedom, but it does not have the same meaning as separation of church of state, something which comes from a single letter written by Thomas Jefferson in 1805. Ironically, the day after Jefferson wrote that letter he attended religious services being held in the US Capitol Building. I also enjoy the quote saying that the event isn't to attack religious people, yet every single quote from Hitchens either attacks religious leaders or calls religious people stupid. Ms. Newman either is lying, or has never bothered to listen to Hitchens speak before.

Brunner would NOT be the first woman nominated for a Senate seat. In 1998, Mary Boyle was nominated by the Democrats against Voinovich. Research can be very useful.

Mr Hoh's credentials are rather weak for him to be considered by anyone to be a valid and believable source on the political and military policy in Afghanistan. I retired from the Air Force after 21 years of service and spent nearly as much time in Somalia as Mr Hoh spent in Afghanistan, but I would not even think of foisting myself on the public, especially our universities, as a subject matter expert on the Air Force, let alone Somalia. There is no substance to his story. To call him a U.S. official is a stretch.

/fter all these years, I've finally re-found Gail! Her origin design clothing is still in my closet and still worn. How fortunate I am to have these pieces. Memories of Gail in SLC go way back; however, her creativity was always so evident. That she now has a world forum is thrilling. Keep it up, Gail. Carole von Schmidt

Dido.

I hate that all these people have so much money and still want more money n power by killing innocent people if they have to so that they can achive their ambitious and sick mind, they actually do have psychological problems and I think they have a very low background to join, because there's no explanation to become a criminal like that, they torture, hidejack, and kill and do the most horrendous things. I hope I never do this even if Im dying of humger, I hope to wait w faith and work my ass in whatever I can, even thogh I dissaprove it I dont judge many people that r forced by circunstances, but htose people need help, emotionally, espiritually, psychological and who knows what they have been thru in life? but if they had self respect and love I dont think they will do it, anyway even if they become wealthy they can't enjoy cuz they have to be hiding and have multiple names to b able to function and always w a crew of guards watching them, so I dont think it is worth it and I hope I will never change my mind.