Sure, but these are all at least testable. It beats the usual god of the gaps.

You know, I actually have no problem with the Mayan apocalypse believers, and actually, it kind of is scientific. They've formed a specific hypothesis, testable hypothesis. They're wrong of course, but we'll all have a definitive answer in a few weeks.

Sorry, I'm going to geek out a bit:

I wouldn't expect the other one to survive the next episode. Michonne has plot armour.

*holds up flint and tinder*

Can anyone explain the Conservation of Black Dudes to me? Is there a whole field of blackodynamics no one told me about? Can you have two if they each have a white parent, or is blackness an integer?

Thanks Annalee. I don't really have a dog in this fight beyond wanting to claw my eyes out at the stories featured, because I don't really care for fanfic (not a judgement, it's just not my thing), but this sort of reasoned consideration is why io9 is a nice place.

I think when you're talking about planning for the future with reference to reproduction you're well into evolutionary psychology. Only humans can even conceive of planning into the future beyond perhaps a seasonal cycle (and maybe other sophonts). You have to have a psychology in order to do that, don't you?

That would more properly fit under the rubric of evolutionary psychology, and, well, I try not to say anything when I've nothing nice to say.

I'd argue the opposite. We're pretty good at short term thinking, and getting things done in our time.

It would shock me if there weren't.

I would suggest it will shorten it on this planet, but perhaps lengthen it universally.

I disagree, but besides that I think it's a dangerous argument.

I think it's really a yearning for terra nullius, which is firmly, almost centrally entrenched in Western culture. For almost a millennium, just bugging out into "unclaimed" land has been an option. Taking that away is bound to be expressed in odd ways.

I'd be squeeing all over the place too.

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.

And just because they're dead doesn't mean they stop appearing.

If that's not theism, then neither was Greek mythology.

Nope, see Raëlism. Never underestimate the ability to believe silly nonsense.

You might want to have a peak outside of the Judeo-Christian box, or even read the old testament. There are rather more imagined asshole gods than nice ones.