I don't get the Ariel with tattoos thing (Ariel without tats, with or without glasses on the other hand…), but I'm definitely with you on Lisa Loeb circa '94. I was obsessed with that 'Stay' video because of her. I had similar feelings for Sara Bereilles, another 'unconventionally' attractive singer-songwriter, more…

Morgan Fairchild was the film-within-the-film 'Dottie' in Burton's Pee-Wee's Big Adventure, so perhaps that's where the confusion comes from. Plus, Heather Thomas and Fairchild have the same big blonde hair and delicate 'aristocratic' noses, and were sex symbols around the same time.

I'm pretty shallow when it comes to my celebrity crushes (in everyday life I tend to be more attracted to the 'weird, alternative girl' - see above discussion), so yeah, I'm definitely with you on Heather Thomas.

You know that scene in A Beautiful Mind, where John Nash explains Game Theory by depicting what happens when every guy goes after the blonde and ignores the 'plainer' brunettes surrounding her, well the problem is every guy must have seen that movie because it seems like they're now all going after the same 'weird,…

Perhaps not, but I do think the notion of an omnipotent God does give a lot of comfort to people, although it's true that among those people will be those, like myself, who believe morality is primarily about helping the less fortunate and displaying tolerance and acceptance for everyone irrespective of race, gender,…

I don't believe in an eternal Hell and I know many Christians (and just to be clear, I am not one) who feel the same way, for exactly the same reasons as you. The concept of an 'eternal Hell' isn't a fundamental part of their belief. But assuming it's all a load of bollocks anyway, what does it matter? If it…

I'm speaking from personal experience, but I always try to do good deeds and treat others as I'd like them to treat me. Most of the time people are pleasant back but occasionally I do a good deed and I get nothing but contempt, attitude and, at best, apathy in return. This is not a case of me wanting to be…

It's not about ignoring the things that make us unhappy but focusing on the positive aspects of Christianity, Islam, Judaism and secularism, that most right-minded individuals can agree upon. And surely building bonds between various faiths, and indeed those of us with none, in an era in which certain politicians are…

If you live a tolerant, loving, peaceful life what does it matter whether there is an 'eternal Hell' or not (not that I personally believe in such a concept)? And since there is only one Jesus, and He allegedly died for our sins and hasn't existed in mortal form for over two thousand years, what does it matter today…

Or maybe it's by ignoring the negative contradictory parts and focusing instead on the many parts that are compatible with a modern progressive view of the world. Call me 'simplistic' or 'naïve' but I'm not really sure what is achieved by any alternative approach other than a bit of point-scoring and creating greater…

I am not a Christian myself and I don't pretend to be an expert on religious scripture, but like you, the message I got from those quotes was that poor people tend to be more generous than the rich, a fact that is testified by many recent surveys. In fact, the most generous/charitable people, according to such data,…

As with theists, the best atheists are, IMHO, the ones that leave room for a little doubt.

Why do you hate Christians so much? What value do you gain from that, especially when some of those Christians find that it's from their faith that they find reserves of tolerance, kindness and compassion. Maybe you're personal experience of Christianity has been negative but please stop damning all Christians.

I'm not sure what you're trying to prove or achieve other than your cynicism but it's hardly constructive for those of us who seek to apply the positive aspects of the New Testament.

Same here. I like to think of myself as a 'rationalist' so on balance I'm a "nope", but I'm also an idealist desperately trying to make sense of the universe and so a small part of me hopes I'm wrong.

I couldn't agree more (except to say I am more of a wishy-washy agnostic than an outright atheist). But like you state, regardless of one's position on religion or on the existence of Jesus, surely there can be no real argument against Jesus' teachings, particularly when taken within the context of the era they were…

Perhaps, but this is still a very clumsy and, if you're right, needlessly offensive title, especially in today's cultural climate.

I entirely agree. Sexuality is an identity, religion is mostly a choice even if many of us were raised with a particular faith.

There are two separate and valid points. The first, that you make, is that a great piece of art, including a song, can in theory be about any subject, and the subject of a piece of art doesn't equate to an automatic endorsement of it.

I wouldn't even mind 'despite featuring Jesus' because there is an understandable weariness where religious-themed songs are concerned, but the phrase 'despite being pro-Jesus' implies that there is something fundamentally wrong with Jesus' teachings. I'd argue that apart from the whole Son of God stuff, Jesus'…