Here, http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a3_223.html, Cecil quips that there is “one known occurance” of human parthenogenesis.
I feel like I’ve seen similar such quips and references in the past, though. Like this one, it seems to me, they have had a sort of “he’s joking, but maybe he’s half-serious?” character.
I can’t think of any specific examples though.
Can anyone else?
-FrL-
I don’t understand the question. Are you trying to determine if Cecil is Christian? I assume you’re not asking who the “one example” is supposed to be.
I always thought Cecil was Catholic, or at least raised Catholic, but I can’t find anything to prove that. He has said he attended parochial school, but that doesn’t really prove anything.
I’m asking whether anyone can recall examples in which Cecil makes a reference to religious belief, which could be taken as being at least an ambiguous endorsement of the religion thereinto referred.
I am pointing to the “aphids” article as containing one example of the kind of thing I am looking for.
Does that help explain the question to you?
-FrL-
I’ve been reading Cecil’s books and columns for a long time. My guess is that he’s Catholic. I don’t have airtight proof of this, but he’s mentioned a Catholic upbringing and education and has never written anything indicating apostasy. He writes sympathetically about Christianity and Catholicism. Again, it’s not a case I’d want to present in court, but I’d wager a very small sum that he is still a practicing Catholic, at least a “C&E” Catholic.
Everyone always refers to the Christmas and Easter Catholics, but in my experience, there are even more yet A&P Catholics: Ash and Palm. Folks go to church when they get something.
And don’t forget the BWFs – Baptisms, Weddings and Funerals
In any case, my impression is Cecil was at the least raised in a Catholic or perhaps some other traditional-big-mainstream-Christianity environment and that he feels no discomfort in acknowledging a pervasive “culturally Christian” frame of reference.
Perhaps you’re thinking of this one:
…and one more:
Very true. The other day when they seem to turn up in droves is All Souls’ Day.
We’ve secretly replaced Cecil’s usual religious/theistic/moral views and ideals with a militant form of Scientology and crushed glass.
Let’s see what happens …
Cece is lapsed Catholic. Lapsed Chicago Irish Catholic, than which there is no Catholic more lapsed.
And here’s a cite for his Catholic schooling. I haven’t found one yet for Catholic upbringing, though, and while the students of Catholic schools do tend to be Catholic, not all are.
So what’s Ed Zotti’s religion? 
That’s what we’re talking about.
I don’t quite understand how one gets from the fact that Cecil knows about Christianity, and the role it plays in people’s lives (so he doesn’t outright deride the faith - I don’t think he has derided other faiths, either) to the assumption that therefore, Cecil is Christian. Dito for going to Christian school.
And why is it important, anyway? Isn’t religion a private matter of one’s opwn belief? Cecil obviously has humanist ethics, and of course is intelligent and can think. Whether he’s an atheist or sacrifices goat to Satan in private, is his own business.
As long as he continues to write snarky, witty, informative columns, he can be a Muslim or fire-eater, I don’t care.
I can’t help thinking that it must feel rather odd to see a bunch of stranger on the internet discuss which religion you practice.
Or, as the newspaper folks say, Hatched, Matched, and Dispatched. That’s the three times everyone can expect to be in the paper.
Well, it’s the price (or downside?) to being famous: strangers/ fans/ groupies are interested in your personal life… :dubious:
Aw, shit! If he pays half as much attention to HIS message board as he should he knows everybody in this thread as much as they wish to be known.
Hey Boss! Luv ya!