Richard Dawkins weighs in

He's warming to the Challenge:

I had not given the Blasphemy Challenge any thought until you called it to my attention. Now that you have done so, I do not seem to feel strongly one way or the other. As that admirable bumper sticker has it, Blasphemy is a Victimless Crime. So, am I going to send in my own film clip denying the Holy Ghost? No, that is not what Oxford professors do, they write books instead. Do I find it offensive that so many young people are sending in their film clips? No. I hadn’t listened to any of them before you raised the matter. I have now done so, and I must say I find them more charming than offensive. They mostly seem rather nice young people, and they are doing their bit, in their own lively and entertaining way, to raise consciousness and set an example to their peers. I am especially pleased to note how young they are, for organized atheists have, until recently, been noticeably and discouragingly grey-headed. I think we may be witnessing the beginnings of a shift in the tectonic plates of our Zeitgeist. I am delighted to see so many young Americans taking part, in a way that suits their age group better than mine or yours.

Creationist loon William Dembski responds to Dawkins with, essentially: Yeah, but you gotta admit that brutal Middle East autocracies are a lot less free than the U.S. or England, right?

Well, yes. What's the relevance of that fact exactly?

Fellow Creationism promoter DaveScot weighs in with tears:

I found the images of young people in “The Blasphemy Challenge” giving up their immortal souls on a dare disturbing enough to make me weep for them. I’m not rationally convinced we have immortal souls to give up but certainly the possibility exists. Imagine on judgement day that was you in the video and it was being replayed. There’s nothing to gain and everything to lose in this. Please join me in a simple prayer for the young victims of this stunt.

“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”

Hmm... DaveScot admits, "I’m not rationally convinced we have immortal souls to give up but certainly the possibility exists." Of course, since we're talking about mere possibilities, it's also true that maybe you are damned to Hell if you don't deny the Holy Spirit. That's equally possible. So why isn't DaveScot happy that these kids have (possibly) made themselves immune from the eternal fires?

Perhaps on Judgment Day DaveScot will find his blog entry being replayed and a vengeful God demanding why DaveScot didn't encourage people to deny His eternal enemy, that imposter, the Holy Spirit. Since we're in comic-book fantasy-land here, it's all equally possible.

Please join me in a simple prayer for DaveScot:

“Flying Spaghetti Monster, forgive DaveScot; for he knows not what he does. Please touch him with your noodly appendage and allow him to taste your holy sauce. Cradle him softly between your meatballs. Ramen.”