1. Yoko Ono, Filmmakers Caught in 'Expelled' Flap

Comment #162737 by 7Fred7 on April 17, 2008 at 11:33 am

Comment #162569 by Vaal on April 17, 2008 at 4:42 am

Ah man. That has made my morning. Can these guys get any more incompetent?

Probably. It's what we Londoners used to call a complete sod up. Hilarious ain't it.

2. Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss

Comment #162265 by 7Fred7 on April 16, 2008 at 1:18 pm

Comment #161853 by DasSquid on April 15, 2008 at 7:39 pm

Is it just me, or did ASMarques post make absolutely no fucking sense at all?

No, it's not just you.

3. Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss

Comment #161729 by 7Fred7 on April 15, 2008 at 2:36 pm

Comment #161521 by ZekeCDN on April 15, 2008 at 11:16 am

I can't recall whether Krauss was on Richard's informal short list of Americans who would make interesting candidates for his Oxford Chair

He was, and he would get my vote.

4. Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss

Comment #161698 by 7Fred7 on April 15, 2008 at 2:11 pm

Comment #161225 by Artful_Dodger on April 15, 2008 at 3:45 am

That is why the agenda to KILL religous faith as a "scientific" project does not make sense, because it is science's role to explore the cosmos, not speculate as to the identity or non identity of its hpothetical originator. That is why Dawkins' stated agenda is unscientific

You do add spice to the debate, but you continue in refusing to acknowledge what is in fact as clear as day:

Theistic establishments and their members have a view of the world that is unscientific, and which they attempt to impose upon all people and all aspects of society. In the attempt, they necessarily confront science with anti-science. Richard Dawkins is one of a great many whose vigorous responses are entirely in the interests of science, and are firmly grounded in scientific rationality.

But this you already know.

5. German Church admits aiding Nazis

Comment #158749 by 7Fred7 on April 11, 2008 at 2:15 am

Comment #158603 by Teratornis on April 10, 2008 at 8:08 pm

Not that I condone what they did, but I doubt many of the Catholics alive at the time who were old enough to be in positions of much authority - that is, the actual culprits - are still alive today

You've missed my point, Teratornis. Sorry to be so ambiguous.

I don't suggest reparations, or a witch hunt, or any such vengeance. On the contrary, I'm saying that we should make some attempt to put ourselves in the position of people living in those times. We, from our safe distance of 60 odd years, can analyse those events from the birdseye perspective, albeit that detail is obscured. We also have time and freedom to moralise and philosophise. Those people were short of such luxuries. We weren't there and, of course, can barely imagine the effect of the circumstances upon the actions of people who were. As far as that goes, I would have agree with you that "get over it" is applicable - people should get over the idea of using the conditions of Nazi Germany as a means of sniping at religion. There are more than enough legitimate ways to go about that.

6. German Church admits aiding Nazis

Comment #158429 by 7Fred7 on April 10, 2008 at 1:50 pm

Comment #158020 by Valiant on April 10, 2008 at 1:48 am

It's 60 years ago, get over it

No, Valiant, the teenagers' currently popular glib dismissive "get over it" should not be employed here. It's imperative to remember what happened 60 years ago, and to try to understand why things happened the way they did and why people did as they did - specifically, in this case, why certain Roman Catholics did as they did.

7. German Church admits aiding Nazis

Comment #157972 by 7Fred7 on April 9, 2008 at 11:13 pm

This Nazi business is too horrifically serious to be glib about. In the face of such appalling atrocities, there's a great deal that's forgivable. In asking why members of the Catholic church did as they did, one might also ask why so many 'good' German citizens didn't make a stand, or why those about to be exterminated didn't rebel. Some things can be hard to grasp unless you've been right there in the thick of it. In reflecting upon such gross horrors people should attempt to stand united, and suspend the relatively petty arguments about religion or lack of it.

8. Dawkins warns of human extinction

Comment #155816 by 7Fred7 on April 6, 2008 at 1:22 am

From a post way back above: "If he [God] does not [exist], not all that much is lost by believing in Him"

- One of the perennial 'theist' statements with a hypocritical flavour to match a purposeful ignorance of fact and aversion to truth. What, one may wonder, can be done to alleviate such a dangerous condition?

9. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #150033 by 7Fred7 on March 26, 2008 at 12:08 pm

Prankster: "Sorry 7Fred7 but the fact they prayed for the child to live while actually watching the poor kid waste and die says neglect to me, faith or lack of it notwithstanding.

- No apology necessary, Prankster. I share your feelings. Yet the indications are that they were convinced that they were taking the right action, and that their child would recover. In that case, it could not be wilful neglect.

Prankster: "Saying religion is the guilty party is wrong. I feel the parents are still to blame and to that end should be charged."

- We will have to disagree. The criminal act in this issue is the teaching of the religious beliefs by which they have clearly been deluded, and which is directly responsible for this tragedy.

10. Police: Girl Dies After Parents Pray for Healing Instead of Seeking Medical Help

Comment #149898 by 7Fred7 on March 26, 2008 at 10:22 am

I don't see that the poor parents can be guilty of murder in any degree. They evidently wanted their child to live. These people are suffering from religious faith, and religion is the guilty party.

11. Ayaan Hirsi Ali to get EU protection

Comment #143456 by 7Fred7 on March 14, 2008 at 6:02 am

Let's hope this is implemented without a political hiccup; if so, then good for her. It's also very good for the EU - a statement of solid commitment by all the nations of the EU on human rights, and women's rights in particular, effectively highlighting the appalling lack of humanity within Islamic communities. Whatever the cost, it's cheap at the price.

12. Bishop accuses gays of 'conspiracy' against the Catholic Church

Comment #143434 by 7Fred7 on March 14, 2008 at 5:39 am

Why does it always appear that the higher up in the Catholic hierarchy, the more aggression, rage, hate and stupidity they display. Could it be something in the water?

13. Charles Simonyi Professorship in the Public Understanding of Science

Comment #125629 by 7Fred7 on February 11, 2008 at 6:08 pm

I'm adding my post to the 165 above, to support and reiterate all the praise that has been justly heaped upon (Prof) Richard for his work in expanding the public understanding of science. The first time I witnessed his extraordinary capacity for this role was in the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures (1995, I believe). What I saw then and have seen since has been the epitome of charm, cool reason and eloquence - a far cry from the way he is characterised by some of the many defeated opponents in his wake.

Thanks to Richard, and thanks to Charles Simonyi.

My choice of successor: Lawrence M. Krauss - who certainly comes across very well on podcasts.

http://www.phys.cwru.edu/~krauss/

Please read this if you will:

http://edge.org/3rd_culture/krauss06/krauss06.1_index.html

14. Dusty Clues: Study suggests no dearth of Earths

Comment #122407 by 7Fred7 on February 5, 2008 at 8:36 am

Excellent line of research, and we may look forward to much more like it.

15. Loneliness Breeds Belief in Supernatural

Comment #116285 by 7Fred7 on January 26, 2008 at 6:52 am

For several reasons, the experience of loneliness must surely be in the interests of the 'selfish gene'. Perhaps the gene should be grateful to religions for the gathering of flocks. However, one could regard religions as an unfortunate by-product of the human craving for the positive aspects of social participation.

The word 'flock', incidentally, is derived from the Latin grex, from which 'gregarious' is derived.

16. Loneliness Breeds Belief in Supernatural

Comment #116255 by 7Fred7 on January 26, 2008 at 3:49 am

So, the picture is:

A religion is a club. If you want to get into the club, it's probably because you're lonely, in which case the entry conditions in are likely to be quite acceptable - welcome, in fact. Once in the club, fear of loneliness will prevent you from criticising it, and cause you to reject criticism from anyone else.

Sounds about right.

17. George Scales, War Hero and Generous Friend of RDFRS

Comment #111848 by 7Fred7 on January 15, 2008 at 9:31 pm

When I read about people like you, my chest swells and I feel like getting out there and flying the flag. You put the GREAT in Britain. Thank you, George, for the past and present, and very best wishes for the future.

18. Beyond Belief 07: Enlightenment 2.0

Comment #93698 by 7Fred7 on December 4, 2007 at 12:02 am

Excellent. I'm eagerly awaiting downloadables!

"...we need to have some strategic humility about the hobby horses we are inclined to ride"
- Roger Bingham.

And many of us need to write that a few hundred times before breakfast.

19. Banishing the Green-Eyed Monster

Comment #92857 by 7Fred7 on December 1, 2007 at 3:38 pm

Dr. Dawkins, if I may be so bold, I think there's a great deal of sense in what you say. Still, we are required to live in society as it is and, to keep the wheels turning smoothly, pay some heed the norms of our culture, of which we are all products with duly conditioned emotional responses. Social evolution is occurring, morality changing. Many already appear to see these issues as you do. I think, and hope, that you - and Robert A. Heinlein in the above mentioned 'Stranger in a Strange Land' - are opening a window on the future.

20. Daniel Dennett Debates Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #92839 by 7Fred7 on December 1, 2007 at 2:49 pm

Daniel Dennett is a wonderful debater. I admire him enormously. Unfortunately, the eloquent exposition of verifiable facts, masterful application of reason and logic, and a cool, controlled presentation does not guarantee that an argument will be 'won' unless the audience happens to be psychologically and intellectually amenable to it all - in which case one tends to be preaching to the converted (ouch!). It seems that the majority of people are rather less amenable. They seem to be more susceptible to the sort of emotionally charged claptrap delivered by many a dictator and religious zealot. Be that as it may, we can, perhaps, hope that in the more educated regions of the world, the message of the atheists/agnostics will be well received...even if rather unnecessary.

21. GOD VS. SCIENCE: A Debate Between Natalie Angier and David Sloan Wilson

Comment #92584 by 7Fred7 on November 30, 2007 at 8:01 pm

steve99: "I think we are increasingly living in a world where factual correctness is important"

I would say that's the crux of the whole debate - whatever the ideology/religion/ism or absence thereof.

Trading off factual correctness in favour of religious faith and delusion, increasingly backed up by ruthlessness and bloodlust, is a threat to life and limb for each of us. It is a threat to science and civilisation. Ultimately - given current technology - it may be a threat to the existence of our species.

I see no "silliness", as DSW puts it, in "banging away at religious beliefs". One is reminded daily that it is far, far more serious than that.