Religious People Are Nerds

University Rankings on Religiosity, Equality, and Political Leanings

The Princeton Review surveyed over 122,000 students for their yearly college rankings. The data is sliced and diced in many ways. Of particular interest to readers of this blog might be the 2011 rankings related to religion, politics, and equality.

There are some obvious trends. Also, BYU, Hillsdale, and Wheaton seem like major drags.

Some abbreviated overviews below...

Most Religious Students:
1. Brigham Young University, Provo UT
2. Hillsdale College, Hillsdale MI
3. Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula CA
4. Wheaton College, Wheaton IL
5. Grove City College, Grove City PA
6. University of Dallas, Irving TX
7. College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout MO
8. University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN
9. Calvin College, Grand Rapids MI
10. Baylor University, Waco TX

Least Religious Students:
1. Bennington College, Bennington VT
2. Reed College, Portland OR
3. Bard College, Annondale-on-Hudson NY
4. Vassar College, Poughkeepsie NY
5. Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville NY
6. Bard College at Simon's Rock, Great Barrington MA
7. Emerson College, Boston MA
8. Pomona College, Claremont CA
9. Grinnell College, Grinnell IA
10. Macalester College, St. Paul MN

Most LGBT-Friendly:
1. New York University, New York NY
2. Stanford University, Stanford CA
3. Emerson College, Boston MA
4. Wellesley College, Wellesley MA
5. Bennington College, Bennington VT
6. University of Wisconson-Madison, Madison, WI
7. Macalaster College, St. Paul MN
8. New College of Florida, Sarasota FL
9. Prescott College, Prescott AZ
10. Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville NY

Least LGBT-Friendly:
1. Wheaton College, Wheaton IL
2. Grove City College, Grove City PA
3. Brigham Young University, Provo UT
4. Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney VA
5. College of the Ozarks, Point Lookout MO
6. University of Notre Dame, Notre Dame IN
7. Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula CA
8. Boston College, Chestnut Hill MA
9. University of Dallas, Irving TX
10. Texas A&M University - College Station, College Station TX

Most Liberal Students:
1. Macalaster College, St. Paul MN
2. Warren Wilson College, Asheville NC
3. New College of Florida, Sarasota FL
4. Eugene Lang College, New York NY
5. Sarah Lawrence College, Bronxville NY
6. Hampshire College, Amherst MA
7. Bard College, Annondale-on-Hudson NY
8. University of Puget Sound, Tacoma WA
9. Pitzer College, Claremont CA
10. Prescott College, Prescott AZ

Most Conservative Students:
1. Hillsdale College, Hillsdale MI
2. Thomas Aquinas College, Santa Paula CA
3. Texas A&M University - College Station, College Station TX
4. Grove City College, Grove City PA
5. United States Air Force Academny, USAF Academy CO
6. University of Dallas, Irving TX
7. United States Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point NY
8. Hampden-Sydney College, Hampden-Sydney VA
9. Brigham Young University, Provo UT
10. Angelo State University, San Angelo TX

You can access the report here.

Ask Sam Harris A Bunch Of Stuff

Sam Harris, author of the New York Times bestsellers, The End of Faith, Letter to a Christian Nation, and The Moral Landscape, answers questions submitted by readers. This is his second entry in this series (the first can be found further below).

The full video is an hour long. Links to specific topics/questions are provided below:

1. Eternity and the meaning of life 0:42
2. Do we have free will?  4:43 
3. How can we convince religious people to abandon their beliefs? 14:52 
4. How can atheists live among the faithful? 19:09 
5. How should we talk to children about death? 21:52 
6. Does human life have intrinsic value? 26:01 
7. Why should we be confident in the authority of science? 30:36  
8. How can one criticize Islam after the terrorism in Norway? 35:43
9. Should atheists join with Christians against Islam? 41:50
10. What does it mean to speak about the human mind objectively? 45:17 
11. How can spiritual claims be scientifically justified? 50:14 
12. Why can’t religion remain a private matter? 54:52  
13. What do you like to speak about at public events? 58:09 

Sam's first entry in this series is below (without the handy chapter links, unfortunately).

2012 Candidates: Where They Stand On Marriage Equality

Marriage Equality USA has released a handy matrix detailing each candidate's stance on marriage equality and other related issues.

Most of us don't need much help knowing where the GOP candidates stand, unfortunately, but it is interesting to see where they split hairs.

It's also more than a bit disappointing to see that a Republican is more progressive on the issues than Obama. One would think it wouldn't require an openly gay politician like Fred Karger to find support across the board for equality.

(h/t Pam Spaulding)

Man Designs and Plays Largest Drum Set In the World, For God

Dr. Mark Temperato, or RevM, as he's called, has built the largest drum set in the world. It's massive. The set is comprised of over 500 pieces. It boasts over 90 drums and 90 cymbals and features the 'World’s Largest Symphonic Gong.'

Why? To "worship God and wage war against the enemy."

From the Breath of Worship site:

At times, during the course of a service, the Holy Spirit may instruct Mark to minister on the drums or symphonic gong. During these moments, people’s lives have been deeply touched and often experience a sudden manifestation of the presence of God. A prolific speaker, Mark’s high energy, down-to-earth teaching style utilizes both his speaking ability and custom digitized sound effects, thus using sound teaching to declare the Word of the Lord. A moment with God, it lingers for a lifetime.


Whether preaching from behind the pulpit or playing the drums, one of the most appreciated aspects of Pastor Mark’s ministry is the use of the prophetic gifts. God is using his fresh approach prophetically as a catalyst to WAKE UP America from the shadow of indifference that has swept across this nation.


The first time Mark played drums in a Church was in 1978.Since that time God has used his drumming, teachings with signs & wonders to touch the lives of hundreds of thousands of people all over the world. God uses Dr. Marks, high energy teaching style. And his unique abilities to declare the Word of God. At times the Holy Spirit may instruct him to minister on the drums or play the symphonic gong. During these moments, people often experience a sudden manifestation of the Glory of God. It is an experience people never forget and lives are deeply touched.


Mark plays for an audience of ONE – “The Creator of the Universe”! Everybody else gets the overflow and all the Glory goes to God!

You may notice that the immense drum set features only one bass drum. Says RevM, "I only use one bass drum on my main set because there is only “ONE GOD” and only One way to get to Heaven and that is through Jesus Christ." Makes perfect sense.


Visit the site for more, including an FAQ, and a breakdown of his gear.

NC Church Sign: 'God loves gays but hates a perverted life style. Turn or burn.'

Story Updated 8.15.11 (see bottom of page)

Seagate Community Chapel in Wilmington, NC is feeling the heat after news reports and photos of their sign circulated online.

The sign reads: "God loves gays but hates a perverted life style. Turn or burn."

The sign maker, Anna Benson, told local news channel WECT that she "loves the gays." She states that her signs are always straight from the Bible, and the pastor stands by any message she posts, as long as it's biblically accurate.

"We're going to teach the entire truth," said Heuring, "and I'll take the heat for it."

Feel free to contact the church and give them some heat:

Seagate Community Church
5823 Oleander Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403-4715
(910) 799-1035 ‎

Here's a map for those of you in the Wilmington area who might like to attend services this Sunday.




UPDATE: The anti-gay sign at Seagate Community Chapel was vandalized Sunday afternoon. According to WECT:

Witnesses tell police a tall man took a hammer to the sign before leaving in a silver Ford Taurus. The car is reported to have bumper damage and a missing hubcap from the front left tire.

This happened after police broke up a peaceful protest held outside the church.

Wilmington Pride protested the sign's message Sunday morning. The organization supports homosexuals in the community. A member of the group wrote that the church's message "supports hate of homosexuality".

Pictures of Presidents With Teleprompters

I just heard Jon Huntsman on CNN making some Obama/teleprompter comment. The whole teleprompter jab has been dumb from the beginning.

Every. President. Uses. Teleprompters.

Every. One.

And even those who aren't president, but make fun of the president who uses teleprompters, use teleprompters.

If I were a public speaker, I'd want a teleprompter. I bet you would too.

The next person who uses the teleprompter meme should be banned from using a teleprompter. Forever.