Dumb.

The AP strung a story concerning the $4 million investment into an Oxford study, well not even a study, more like a waste of time and money-- no I mean a 3 year research project, seeking an answer to the age old question, "Why does mankind believe in God?"

"The grant to the Ian Ramsey Center for Science and Religion will bring anthropologists, theologians, philosophers and other academics together for three years to study whether belief in a divine being is a basic part of mankind's makeup."

Manikind's makeup... so there must be scientists right? No, no... wait, no scientists. Don't get me wrong I don't completely trust science either, I recognize it as historically a political tool, I'm just as postmodern as the next guy, and I most definitely value anthropology and philosophy over science... but not all disciplines can create experts on innate human impulse.

This is a spectacular way for the rich and educational elites to evaluate the function of their system on the poor or unaware (the religious) by wasting money and brain power.

What could possibly be solved or thought up with this Four Mil? Obviously religion serves a purpose in psychologically supporting people as they trudge through life (because life sucks), but to waste millions hoping to find some greater purpose to a belief in god is like laying a length of rope, untethered, across quick sand and telling one to walk across it (aka worthless).

"One implication that comes from this is that religion is the default position, and atheism is perhaps more in need of explanation," says the center Director.

Fuck off. religon is not a default position. ask an unconditioned 3 year old how he/she feels about "God" and he or she will answer "who?" That quote is simply absurd. ridiculous.
"Now I'm angry."-- crocodile smash game from Chuck E Cheese, which accurately reflects my emotion when talking about religion.

God damn capitalists waste money.