Medicine to the Dead

Vernon vs. Warburton on agnosticism

2009-07-02T17:47:00.004+01:00

I converted this audio for Stephen Law

You can either play it here or download the MP3 here.

Faith vs. Reason

2009-03-28T17:55:00.000Z

(from pharyngula)

Mr Ratzinger on Condoms

2009-03-22T11:08:00.000Z

Just a bunch of the undead

2009-01-29T19:01:00.006Z

Tip o' the hat to Kevin E.

Safety first

2008-10-07T09:27:00.002+01:00

Jesus' historicity: an argument for being skeptical

2008-09-02T17:54:00.002+01:00

It's uncontroversial that an ordinary historical Muhammad existed, but Muhammad's existence has no bearing on the truth or falsity of Islam.

The example sounds even better if you substitute the name 'L. Ron. Hubbard' or 'David Icke'.

I wish the same could be said of a historical Jesus - it would make these sort of discussions so much easier.

Under God

2008-09-01T20:15:00.005+01:00

There's a famous quote from US Senator Marilyn Ferguson:

"If the King's English was good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me!"

Well, though not in the same league of ignorance, here's something from Sarah Palin, John McCain's running mate:

Q: Are you offended by the phrase "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance? Why or why not?

A: Not on your life. If it was good enough for the founding fathers, it's good enough for me and I’ll fight in defense of our Pledge of Allegiance.

(Just in case you don't know, the Pledge of Allegiance was introduced way after the death of the founding fathers and "under god" in the 1950's.)

Faking it

2008-08-28T10:37:00.000+01:00

When you see a screenshot from a webpage, it shouldn't surprise you that it's possible that it was modified with image editing software. Well, it just got a whole lot easier to do that with a new add-on for Firefox . Just click on a button and one can edit the text in-place. Get ready for a whole load of fakes.

Gay scientists isolate Christian gene

2008-03-25T16:57:00.000Z

A New Pope (Episode IV)

2008-03-03T09:13:00.002Z

(The Irish Catholic web site was hacked to show this on its front page for a while.)

Life deferred is Life lost

2008-02-20T18:42:00.001Z

From Thought For The World

"Whether it is denying oneself the joy of love and companionship because you believe some God frowns on sexuality, or blowing yourself up in a crowded marketplace because your faith promises a heavenly reward, the belief that this life - this only life - is not important, not precious, not all there is, is the greatest humanitarian tragedy imaginable."

Saving it.

2008-02-20T18:30:00.001Z

This reminds me of a quote from Marcus Brigstocke:

...and if you want to wear a ring to prove you're not having sex, you can get married like the rest of us.

Hungry?

2008-01-19T15:24:00.000Z

Nice illusion

2008-01-07T18:47:00.000Z

I got this from the cover of a book "Quirkology" (q.v.).

Is this woman happy or sad?

Turn the image the other way up (or your head!) then see.

Agnes's mountain

2008-01-01T11:28:00.000Z

A "try at home" experiment

2007-12-28T14:19:00.000Z

Merry Christmas

2007-12-24T09:27:00.000Z

God hates Christmas Trees

2007-12-23T18:29:00.000Z

Pale Blue Dot

2007-12-20T21:08:00.001Z

Thieves cut off man's 'holy leg'

2007-12-13T19:14:00.000Z

It's a cliché to ask "Why does god hate amputees?" (After all, IT cures cancer, etc.)

So let's see what happens now.

A great list of all the gods...

2007-11-21T16:26:00.000Z

...in which I don't believe.

The right to die for Jehovah

2007-11-05T17:00:00.000Z

When I first heard about this case, I guess I assumed that there was a universal right to refuse treatment. However, as I now read it, this only seems to apply there's a religious reason.

I have recently softened some of my attitudes towards religion. Why not be tolerant? Be a relativist. de gustibus non est disputandum.

But now I'm mad. Grrrr.

Bill Maher on fear

2007-10-28T20:13:00.000Z

I like Bill Maher's show. I get the audio as a podcast and OneGoodMove regularly posts some good bits. I would be tempted to repost lots of items but that would then fill 60% of this blog.

But this is a cracker.

Ad hominem? Me?

2007-10-28T19:50:00.000Z

I suspect it's human nature, but I still feel embarrassed when I find myself guilty of ad hominum prejudice. ("Hitler liked Wagner, so I can't like Wagner.")

I used to like Dilbert. Not a mega-fan but I would be pleased when the latest episode appeared in my in-box.

But since I've found out about some of the author's (Scott Adams) weird beliefs, I've found myself "subconsciously" skipping over Dilbert in my daily RSS feeds.

There's nothing I've ever seen in the cartoons that directly reflects his world view, but somehow my "inner trust-bond" is broken.

Holding out for a hero

2007-10-09T15:56:00.001+01:00

Let's hope Lex Luthor is defeated once and for all.

(P.S. Don't you think the Man of Steel is looking a bit paunchy? Maybe there's hope for me yet.)

On offering up prayers for the dead

2007-10-07T16:01:00.000+01:00

I come from a Catholic "heritage". When my wife died a few years ago, I received a couple of "Mass cards" from (well meaning) relatives. As far as I know, this means they slipped a priest a few quid and a Mass was said in her name. I was then sent pro-forma cards informing me of the ceremony. My instinct was to return these cards with a suitably polite FUCK OFF. But of course, I didn't.

I recently wondered how these people would react if, on the occasion of their own loss, I sent them a note with "I have sacrificed a goat in honour of your dearly departed", or "I have asked a voodoo doctor has cast a spell to commit the spirit of the dead...".

Total Eclipse of Saturn

2007-10-06T14:13:00.000+01:00

Amazing photograph of a recent total eclipse of the Sun as seen from the Cassini spacecraft in orbit around Saturn.

On the left hand side, just outside the "bright" rings and above centre is a small dot. Any guesses?

Yup, that's right, it's us folks. Planet #3. Earth.

Mandela's dead, says Bush

2007-09-21T17:53:00.000+01:00

Dub's Disconnect

Creating new life

2007-09-19T18:57:00.000+01:00

Totally amazing. Can anyone seriously doubt evolution?

Is the world flat?

2007-09-19T16:18:00.000+01:00

I hesitated posting this, because I haven't quite decided whether it's just
total daytime TV drivel, or maybe it's indicative of something far scarier.

Notwithstanding, 7 mins is a long time to put up with this shit so, in the first instance, just forward to 4:00mins in.

Later (5:30min):

Son: Mom, Is the world round or flat?
Mom: You know Baby, we gotta go to the library.

[There was a "YouTube" video here, but it's now gone. Just Google for "Sherri World Flat" or similar to find it]

Robotic Theology

2007-09-15T11:20:00.000+01:00

(This image is just the first part - click on it for the whole thing...)

Should Christians pray in public?

2007-09-12T10:39:00.000+01:00

Matthew 6:5-6

And when thou prayest, thou shalt not be as the hypocrites are: for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and in the corners of the streets, that they may be seen of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father in secret shall reward thee openly.

Jesus loves you

2007-08-29T07:57:00.000+01:00

A White Feather For The Cowardly British… �

2007-08-24T09:55:00.000+01:00

A hilarious blog-war on the "Baptists For Brownback" site.

It's mainly funny because so many people don't seem to realise that it's a parody. Some get it, though.

My favourite is the Brit Moderator: "oooooooooh I’m scared :). I have but one thing to say to this. Bollocks"

Going into a Church

2007-08-15T15:07:00.000+01:00

I have, like most of you (I assume) been invited to quite a few weddings over recent years. Probably quite a few of the ceremonies have been in churches, etc. I sometimes wonder whether attending such ceremonies is somehow a betrayal of my core beliefs. Maybe I should remain outside. Maybe I should go in but wear a red nose signifying my contempt for the process.

Of course, as you can guess, I succumb and remain suitably pious.

But I wonder. If were, say, to get married at a Satanist ceremony, how many of my guests would do to same?

[Probably "Satanist" is somewhat extreme, but the point is made, nonetheless.]

Know thy Bible

2007-08-15T13:58:00.000+01:00

Good fun. It's probably not worth too much time on the questions, just "Submit" for the answers.

I'm tempted to say this is a "cheap shot". But then again - naaaw.

Elvis is alive. I feel it.

2007-08-11T16:26:00.000+01:00

Please please please. Stop this nonsense. I beg you. She's either dead or not dead. Who knows?

And don't get me started on the Assumption of Mary.

END RANT. (Sorry, did I forget to tell you I'd started?)

Baptists For Brownback 2008

2007-08-11T14:11:00.000+01:00

This is just fantastic. But just like "The Sixth Sense", you need to discover it for yourself. Just don't take it at face value.

Alien fails crop-circle 101

2007-08-05T18:02:00.000+01:00

left or right?

2007-08-01T18:42:00.000+01:00

You too can be a god.