1. Beyond Belief: Darwinism and religion

Comment #313235 by AdrianB on January 6, 2009 at 12:40 am

Styrer - yes I agree, Usama did seem quite reasonable ... it was nice to hear a Muslim admit that his religion is still stuck in the middle ages. I would guess he gets quite a bit of stick from his peers for holding such views as those he admitted to in this conversation.

As for the rest, I just thought I was listening to a comedy program! Of course the Jew was desperate to remind everybody that they accepted Darwin from the start ... "our religion is better than your's nah nah na na nah" :)

2. Beyond Belief: Darwinism and religion

Comment #312799 by AdrianB on January 5, 2009 at 3:09 pm

:)

Can you imagine what it's like to be married to him?

"Alistair, would you like chips or mash with your steak?" .... 30 mins later "oh forget it!"

3. Beyond Belief: Darwinism and religion

Comment #312768 by AdrianB on January 5, 2009 at 2:36 pm

You can also listen to this via BBC iPlayer if you are in the UK.

4. Beyond Belief: Darwinism and religion

Comment #312736 by AdrianB on January 5, 2009 at 1:21 pm

Dhamma - I've got an mp3 copy if you want to PM your email.

Or better still, download the free "Real Alternative" for playing RealMedia files without the horrible RealPlayer.

http://www.codecguide.com/download_real.htm

5. Beyond Belief: Darwinism and religion

Comment #312721 by AdrianB on January 5, 2009 at 12:50 pm

Alistair McGrath must be up for some sort of comedy award or something?

6. Darwin shouldn't be hijacked by New Atheists - he is an ethical inspiration

Comment #308490 by AdrianB on December 30, 2008 at 2:36 am

I'm sure that 200 years after his birth, it would have been valid to write ...

"Jesus shouldn't be hijacked by New Christians - he is an ethical inspiration"

:)

7. Richard Dawkins: On The Big Questions this week

Comment #307619 by AdrianB on December 28, 2008 at 9:39 am

If you must, here's the link ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b00g8g8v/b00g884x/The_Big_Questions_28_12_2008/


.

8. Richard Dawkins: On The Big Questions this week

Comment #307512 by AdrianB on December 28, 2008 at 5:10 am

I watched the 1st 15 mins until I realised it would be more preferable to stab my eyeballs with a spike ... it seemed quite obvious that Steve Chalke had arrived in the studio with a group of "rent-a-clap" friends.



.

9. Secularists' vital war on religion

Comment #304524 by AdrianB on December 21, 2008 at 7:29 am

It's definitely pikelets in my opinion.

:)

10. Three Godless Christmas shows

Comment #303756 by AdrianB on December 19, 2008 at 9:49 am

Thanks for the link Mark. I enjoyed Richard Herring's story about lauging at himself on his DVD.

11. Warning: A Truckload of Stupid

Comment #301865 by AdrianB on December 16, 2008 at 1:12 am

At the end of the article it states that the author is:

Dhruv K. Singhal ’12, a Crimson editorial writer, lives in Straus Hall.

Is that the age of the author there? If it is then it explains the quality of the article.

12. Hunting new Earths and the edge of the universe

Comment #297813 by AdrianB on December 6, 2008 at 1:46 am

Given that the timeframe within which intelligent life has been on our planet is so incredibly narrow, I doubt that we will find other intelligence during our existence here.

What excites me, and is more possible is that we actually find primitive life much closer to home. Once we do that we can certainly conclude that intelligent life is there ... somewhere.

13. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #297067 by AdrianB on December 4, 2008 at 10:19 am

I don't know if anybody has posted this quite fantastic rant about Prop 8 by Keith Olbermann, but here it is anyway ...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=cVUecPhQPqY

Recommended.

14. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296975 by AdrianB on December 4, 2008 at 7:58 am

Don't forget Leviticus 15 Quetzalcoatl ... no sleeping on the 'wet patch'.

In fact we must clean the bedsheets immediately after having sex.

There's a whole chapter on that one that conveniently gets ignored.

There must be a list of things we must not do somewhere that we can compare to reality. I'll go look.

15. 'Prop 8 - The Musical'

Comment #296411 by AdrianB on December 3, 2008 at 2:07 pm

Great video.

I always keep the bible next to my bed and often dip into it. More often than not I find myself reading a bit of Leviticus for a laugh.

Last night I learnt how long women are 'unclean' after they have given birth, during which period men should refrain from sex. For some reason the 'unclean' period is twice as long if the women has given birth to a girl. Very strange.

I wonder how many of the believers that voted for Prop-8 take any notice of that particular rule, or are even aware of it?

And then there is the whole of Leviticus 15 which is concerned with semenal discharge and uncleanliness:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=leviticus 15;&version=50;

Compare this to the one line about homosexuality ... why don't we hear calls to ban sleeping on the wet patch?

:)

16. Richard Dawkins and Aubrey Manning

Comment #295878 by AdrianB on December 3, 2008 at 3:16 am

You're sentimental gcdavies!

17. Christopher Hitchens and Douglas Wilson Debate

Comment #295854 by AdrianB on December 3, 2008 at 2:44 am

These debates don’t throw up anything new. I am well used to hearing the nonsense from apologists like Wilson, which most of the time just doesn’t make any sense to me. But I have never really doubted the sincerity of their deluded beliefs.

I have been to a church service twice this year, and both times Richard Dawkins got a mention, and not in a nice way. I’m guessing that these attacks have been a common event in churches across the globe. These simplistic ad-hominen attacks are a way of protecting their flock from the temptation of examining the arguments against their faith. But at least, again I have never really doubted the sincerity of their deluded beliefs.

However, having read the comments of Dr Oliphant, and after picking my jaw off the table, I can see that it’s not a case of him ‘not getting it’ because I think he does, he is just defending his position irrespective of the reasons.

Is this not just the next level of brainwashing? Taking the enemy into their fold, and then evolving the latest layer of immunisation for the next generation of apologists. They’re not listening to Mr Hitchens, they’re just developing excuses.

Do any of these people ever stop and ask themselves what their end game is exactly?

:(

18. Richard Dawkins and Aubrey Manning

Comment #295848 by AdrianB on December 3, 2008 at 2:31 am

Apologies to Mr Dawkins since this thread is turning into the Aubrey Manning fan club.

Josh - when are we going to see AubreyManning.net established?

:)

19. Richard Dawkins and Aubrey Manning

Comment #295782 by AdrianB on December 3, 2008 at 12:23 am

I just want to add to the favourable comments about Aubrey Manning's 'Earth Story'.

It's not just one of my favourite documentaries, it is actually my favourite piece of television ... ever.

What we currently know about geology is explained with such enthusiasm, simplicity and beauty that I actually find it transcendent.

He also has a wonderful voice, which is a pleasure to hear on the Radio. You can listen to his series "Unearthing Mysteries" from a couple of years ago here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/science/unearthingmysteries.shtml

:)

20. Islamic radicals make mockery of hate laws

Comment #281940 by AdrianB on November 11, 2008 at 5:03 am

100. Comment #281896 by Steve Zara

I think a good approach is exposure combined with mockey. But NOT the "let's have at them!" rants of a Condell, with their homoepathic comedic content, but something more mainstream and effective. Someone like Mark Thomas could do the job.

Having a large laugh at Islamic terrorists

The satirist Chris Morris is planning, we learnt at the weekend, to make a new programme sending up Islamic terrorists in the manner of Dad's Army. "Terrorism isn't about religion," the proposal for the programme says. "It's about berks." Amen to that. It's about time it was said, and said loud and clear.

More .....

21. President Obama: Bad News For the New Atheists and Other Fundamentalists

Comment #279036 by AdrianB on November 5, 2008 at 1:43 pm

14. Comment #279003 by Elles on November 5, 2008 at 1:16 pm

Two things, first about the title.

Perhaps somebody someday somewhere will bother explaining to me what it takes to be a "Fundamentalist Atheist."

My understanding is that the closest thing that comes to being a shared "doctrine" for Atheists is that there is no God, but I know of no Atheists who say that there is definitely with 100% certainty no God (I assume they exist but the vast majority don't seem to have 100% certainty in not-God).

22. 'Probably' the best atheist bus campaign ever

Comment #271776 by AdrianB on October 26, 2008 at 2:58 pm

In fact, here's what the militant christian Paul Woolley has written on his website:

http://www.theosthinktank.co.uk/Theos_donates_to_atheist_bus_campaign.aspx?ArticleID=2601&PageID=14&RefPageID=5

Theos donates to atheist bus campaign

Theos has, today, donated £50 to the atheist bus campaign that the Guardian newspaper has been publicising throughout 2008.

Despite being launched nearly six months ago, the campaign to put a pro-atheism advert on London bendy busses has nearly folded on a number of occasions through lack of interest. It has only now been rescued by the millionaire Richard Dawkins who has offered to match donations up to a maximum of £5,500.

The campaign is clearly intended to be anti-religious, but its message ('There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life') will, claims Theos, encourage people to think, like the Alpha posters it seeks to attack.

Paul Woolley, Director of Theos, said:

"We've donated the money because we think the campaign is a brilliant way to get people thinking about God.

"The poster is very weak - where does 'probably' come from? Richard Dawkins doesn't 'probably' believe there is no God! - and telling people to 'Stop worrying' is hardly going to comfort for those who are concerned about losing jobs or homes in the recession, but the posters will still prompt people to think about life's big questions.

"Campaigns like this demonstrate how active atheists are often great adverts for Christianity."

23. 'Probably' the best atheist bus campaign ever

Comment #271764 by AdrianB on October 26, 2008 at 2:46 pm

There was an interesting discussion about this on this morning's BBC Radio 4 "Sunday" programme:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b00f2f60

It is the first item on the programme, and it includes an interview with Ariane Sherine.

Be warned however, after an interview with Theos spokesman Paul Woolley in which he tries to spin the campaign as positive for them (why ony £50 them?), Edward Stourton says " ... less surprisingly perhaps the campaign has the backing of the scientist and militant atheist Richard Dawkins ..."

For fucks sake, I hear this programme most Sunday mornings when my clock radio switches on, and if I was to count the number of times somebody or some deity got a mention in the last 18 months, Mr Dawkins would probably be 2nd in the list after God but just ahead of Jesus or Mohammed. Every time he's called "Militant Atheist Richard Dawkins" like that's his bloody name. Honestly, these theists are more obsessed by him that we are!

I'm now going to make a point to put the word "militant" before every theist's name.

24. 'Probably' the best atheist bus campaign ever

Comment #270274 by AdrianB on October 24, 2008 at 12:56 am

51. Comment #270259 by black_fire on October 23, 2008 at 11:15 pm

Someone's already mentioned this probably, but its one of my favourites - I saw it on an avatar on this forum:

"Love me....or burn!!!"
- Jesus

25. All aboard the atheist bus campaign

Comment #270018 by AdrianB on October 23, 2008 at 2:31 pm

I wonder how well the competition will do?

http://www.justgiving.com/alphaposters/

26. All aboard the atheist bus campaign

Comment #268666 by AdrianB on October 22, 2008 at 5:47 am

Now we can all discuss the merits of this campaign, and the wording of the slogan, but we will be missing the most important thing about this message ...

I have just been taking to my daughter at school. They have been talking about it, and guess what ... they all think it's cool.

:)

27. 'I have never been happier' says the man who won gold but lost God

Comment #268628 by AdrianB on October 22, 2008 at 4:02 am

I've posted this before, but my favourite piece of nonsense posted on a religious site was in response to this story:

http://www.aboutlife.com/gazdunn/jonathan_edwards_faith_certain_doubts

I just read this article about Jonathan Edwards loss of faith. It is really sad to see a man whose faith in God has collapsed along with his marriage.

One comment in the article was the most telling for me.

"I don't claim to fully understand what I am feeling other than to acknowledge that something I never doubted - God - I have huge doubts about now."

He states that he never doubted God and this to me appears to be the beginnings of the problem. Now I have been a Christian for about 2 years and ever since I first noticed God working in me and others I have had doubts about his existance. I have seen God do some amazing things in people and in myself yet occasionally I still have doubts. The bible is full of people who doubt God, Thomas, Abraham (God will give him a child), Moses (God will use him to lead his people out of Egypt) ect. Lots and lots of doubters.

Now, because I experience doubts often, they aren't as crippling. I read my bible, do some research, think over all of the things I think I have seen God do. I look at the world and see how God fits into what I see in my friends and family. I read books, watch films (nearly every book or film a story of good vs evil or redemption), listen to music, most of which if Christian are praising God, or if secular, searching for him. I see the mistakes people make in trying to fill their lifes with someone or something other than God. I see the beauty of creation and the joy it gives to everyone. I see the effect of art, a God given impulse, on people that don't know him and on myself.

It is not a matter of closing my mind to opposing (non-Christian) viewpoints. It may be scary to deal with them at first, but as you get deeper you realise their flaws and assumptions. To be more secure in your faith you need to have knowledge about other views. If you don't deal with them throughout your journey, one may come and cripple you later on. That is why alpha has been such a blessing to me as it has forced me (often uncomfortably) to deal with opposing viewpoint or evidence.

I suggest we pray for Jonathan Edwards that he will come back to God and that his blind-faith with return with opened eyes. We should never fear doubting because we can trust that God will show us the evidence. The very act of doubting and reaffirming our faith brings us closer to Him.

28. All aboard the atheist bus campaign

Comment #268222 by AdrianB on October 21, 2008 at 2:38 pm

I like the addition of the word probably, it makes the slogan seem more tongue in cheek and it reminds me of the Carlsberg ads ....

So this is probably the best campaign in the world.


:)

29. Respect for religion now makes censorship the norm

Comment #257470 by AdrianB on September 30, 2008 at 1:17 pm

It is vital, absolutely vital, that freedom defeats intimidation and violence. We seem to be at a tipping point and I fear for the future if we allow these bastards to seize control. Every time I hear a supposed neutral argue that we shouldn't offend, or if we do we deserve what we get, I sense the scales tipping ever further away from us.

There is a fishing lake close to me that has been targeted by animal rights thugs. They appeared on a number of occasions a few weeks ago in their balaclavas, brandishing weapons and making threats. Some of the people fishing, including women and children were pushed into the lake. Nobody was there fishing this weekend despite the nice weather. Why take the risk?

In Egypt 25 years ago women were free to wear whatever they liked, but as Islamic activists have sought to enforce their ideal of Sharia the veil has become commonplace. Many women complain in private about their loss of freedoms, but in public they will put on the veil. Why take the risk?

If publishers are forced to say, "why take the risk" with this book, then what next, The God Delusion and then maybe Harry Potter?

30. Cathedral seminar to equip clerics to deal with Dawkins

Comment #252953 by AdrianB on September 24, 2008 at 12:39 am

Comment #252765 by tahustvedt

I'm not surprised.

I know of a devout christian who goes to meetings in his church groups where they discuss how to best respond to "atheist claims" here in Norway.

31. Robert Winston criticises dangerous 'science delusion'

Comment #247455 by AdrianB on September 14, 2008 at 12:58 pm

Winston, who is a practising Jew, made the comments to journalists at the British Association Festival of Science in Liverpool. He has previously criticised Dawkins for his views on faith and has said that he is suffering from a "science delusion".

32. Genesis and the origin of the Origin of the species

Comment #239783 by AdrianB on August 30, 2008 at 10:35 am

It would seem that the number of comments to the article in The Times has been stuck at 4 all day. Strange, since I expected this to feature in their list of most commented, and I know my comment hasn't been published.

I can only guess that the newspaper is trying to protect the poor rabbit's feelings.

:)

33. Richard Dawkins on Talkback Radio

Comment #236884 by AdrianB on August 25, 2008 at 1:52 pm

Comment #236747 by Shane McKee

This was a good piece, and Will Crawley is one of BBC Radio Ulster's best interviewers. His "Will and Testament" blog is at http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni and frequently deals with the sort of homophobic creationist idiots who infest Northern Irish politics (including in the comments sections).

He also covers a lot of religious affairs, and indeed his latest "Sunday Sequence" show (look it up on BBC iplayer) had an interview with PZ Myers over the Crackergate affair.

I would encourage you all to join in the fun!

34. Pastor Michael Guglielmucci spun gospel of lies

Comment #235640 by AdrianB on August 23, 2008 at 10:24 am

Comment #235452 by rod-the-farmer

I agree this was an opportunity missed for the good pastor. He should have claimed he was cured, by

(1) visiting a special church or site owned by him or his church. Tickets can be purchased on-line at...family and bus tour rates available.

(2) eating or drinking certain material available ONLY at the place mentioned in (1) above. Single servings and case lots available. There is a weekly delivery service available (like bottled water) for a small fee. Also available are storage containers (like refrigerators) to keep the product fresh - for a small fee.

Sounds too much like bottled water ? Shhhh.

And how the money would keep rolling in......

35. Bill Maher on Religion

Comment #233532 by AdrianB on August 20, 2008 at 2:45 am

YouTube version here:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=-CWiASiqDdU

36. A cast-iron case for a secular society

Comment #223810 by AdrianB on August 3, 2008 at 12:53 pm

Comment #223758 by Barry Pearson

I've sent my usual "Religions are hobbies" comment.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2008/aug/03/race.equality?commentid=562950fa-6eb0-424a-b62a-1e7d8a52358b

My web page on the topic: "Religions are hobbies":
http://www.barrypearson.co.uk/articles/gods/hobby.htm

37. Charlie Brooker's screen burn

Comment #223776 by AdrianB on August 3, 2008 at 12:05 pm

Comment #223718 by J Mac

"The total amount of suffering in the natural world is beyond all decent contemplation. During the minute it takes me to say these words, thousands of animals are running for their lives, whimpering with fear, feeling teeth sink into their throats. Thousands are dying from starvation or disease or feeling a parasite rasping away from within. There is no central authority; no safety net. For most animals the reality of life is struggling, suffering and death."

But in NATURE this also means that in that same minute thousands of animals are chasing a great meal, sinking their teeth into a juicy dinner.

Religion seems to be the only force that kills and destroys for absolutely no reason.

Sure nature can be gruesome; But for every looser there is a winner. Nature seems to be a zero sum game. Religion tries to make it a negative sum game.

38. Breeding for God

Comment #222309 by AdrianB on July 31, 2008 at 5:57 am

Comment #222303 by Cartomancer

We all know that the vile patriarchal ethics of the abrahamic religions encourage breeding and population growth, but is it sensible to extend the label to ALL religions?

39. Breeding for God

Comment #222299 by AdrianB on July 31, 2008 at 5:28 am

Comment #222291 by Sally Luxmoore

There is one aspect of muslim reproduction that this article does not factor into its predictions and that is the habit of marrying cousins and the genetic problems that can and do result.
It could be that the more educated and rational muslims see the danger of that situation and will be more likely to 'marry out' to ensure the health of their children. This would then ensure better assimilation into wider society and perhaps reduce the dangers of fundamentalism.
Those that follow the strict rules of the fundamentalists will be the ones most likely to have offspring with problems.

40. Breeding for God

Comment #222206 by AdrianB on July 31, 2008 at 12:01 am

Comment #222202 by Nairb

Do they want us to believe that people who normally go topless give a f*** about what anyone else thinks about it.

I am trying to imagine the stressed out parisians finally getting to their holidays after driving 9 hours to the south, getting to the beach resort they reserved at extortionate prices, looking around, sees muslims (its stamped on their head)and stops what they were going to do because of risk of offence !

41. To beat extremism we must dissolve religious groups

Comment #222057 by AdrianB on July 30, 2008 at 1:57 pm

Having trawled back into the ancestry of a few people, myself included, I can guarantee with a high level of certainty that you will discover the same thing ...... poverty.

42. Breeding for God

Comment #222053 by AdrianB on July 30, 2008 at 1:49 pm

Comment #222041 by Nairb

What should we do about TFR Fertility rates in Europe
Encourage babies fast! Not because we are going to be overrun by Muslims in a few centuries.
Because we are not going to have a pension if we dont !
And thats a lot sooner !

43. To beat extremism we must dissolve religious groups

Comment #222039 by AdrianB on July 30, 2008 at 1:19 pm

Comment #221913 by al-rawandi

This noise about moderates is so much hot air about nothing. When you talk about a moderate Christian, you mean someone who accepts evolution and doesn't really care too much whether gays get married.

44. Breeding for God

Comment #221825 by AdrianB on July 30, 2008 at 7:19 am

Comment #221800 by Paine

Have you been to the US. Muslims are, by and large, very well integrated there. At least compared to other immigrant groups

Paine,

EXACTLY. Muslims in the US have integrated well. Their children play youth sports, they are involved in their communities. It is more of a model.

The reason? Capitalism. No welfare state. No free rides. No sense of entitlement. The Muslims that come to the US are here to become part of the economy... and they are successful and hard working. Not always, but mostly.

45. Breeding for God

Comment #221760 by AdrianB on July 30, 2008 at 4:45 am

Most of us here believe that religion is bullshit, so the evolution of religion is interesting. There is another article posted today that suggests religion may have evolved as it provided group separation that protected against disease.

http://richarddawkins.net/article,2916,Religions-thrived-to-protect-against-disease,Roger-Highfield-Telegraph

I have always favoured the idea that religion evolves mainly because of the viral instruction to breed.

Look into almost every religious cult and you will find instructions to breed, convert, and ignore reason, with penalties for leaving. If successful, numbers are guaranteed to increase no matter how barmy the core belief.

As an extreme example, I will list some of the dogma of the Exclusive Brethren cult that live near me:

1. No contact with non-brethren media or literature. No books, newspapers, tv, radio, or computers.
2. Do not eat with the infidel. (With mealtimes comes debate, dangerous if with the infidel.)
3. Men should be obeyed.
4. Women should stay at home, and have children.
5. Absolutely, no contact with anybody that leaves the faith.

I don't know what the average birth rate within the Exclusive Brethren is, but it has to be at least 7, probably more. The numbers of Exclusive Brethren that live near me have doubled in recent years. The rapid growth of the Mormon faith in a very short time period as mentioned in the article provides an example for every religion.

I've always respected a "Freakonomics" explanation of changing society. Studying changing demographics will usually provide a simpler, and more truthful explanation than the BS fed to us by politicians, religious leaders and social commentators in the media.

If crime really is rising, as the media will have us believe, it is because the criminal parents are breeding faster than the good parents, rather than the reasons given to us by right wing Christian commentators.

If Islam is gaining ground in Europe, it is because Muslims are breeding faster, rather than the inherent truth of Islam bullshit given by the Islam preachers.

From The Office Of National Statistics, Birth Statistics for 2005.

http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_population/FM1_34/FM1_no34_2005.pdf

Page 56
Table 9.5 Total fertility rates: country of birth of mother, 1991 and 2001

Total for United Kingdom 1.8 in 1991 and 1.6 in 2001
Pakistan 4.8 in 1991 and 4.7 in 2001

46. To beat extremism we must dissolve religious groups

Comment #221709 by AdrianB on July 30, 2008 at 2:57 am

Remember, they are not faith schools they are religious schools. I wonder if religious schools like the recently opened Madini High School in Leicester are going to increase or reduce extreme views?

http://www.secularism.org.uk/andhowdoes ... itthe.html

And How Does Madani High School Fit The Community Cohesion Agenda?

One of the Government's justifications for bringing private Islamic schools into the public sector is that they will then be forced to embrace the national curriculum. We are told that it will be easier to oversee them. Any of them that are promoting a top-heavy or fanatical religious agenda will be brought into line.

The NSS has predicted that as soon as these schools are brought into the state system, they will start to demand exemptions from the National Curriculum or even that the National Curriculum be re-written to take into account their cultural "needs" (click below for full details of what those "needs" might be). We are assured by the proponents of these schools that this will not happen.

http://www.mcb.org.uk/downloads/Schooli ... ancev2.pdf

But then, we are told all kinds of things by enthusiasts for religious schools. For instance, when the Madani Islamic High School in Leicester put itself forward to receive state funding, there were objections from the local population who thought it would endanger community relations. An adjudicator was brought in to rule on the objections and was reassured by the school's founders that they would take a ten per cent quota of non-Muslims in order to encourage "community cohesion". The adjudicator believed them, and said in his report, that approved the school: "One further tangible expression of the school's inclusiveness lies in its commitment to reserve 10 per cent of its places for non-Muslim pupils."

Well, the school is now open and the ten per cent promise has gone by the board. Madani's head teacher, Mohammed Mukadam (who also happens to be chairman of the Association of Muslim Schools), said this week that non-Muslim pupils will only be accepted once demand from Muslims has been "exhausted". But as there were 400 applications for the 120 places in year seven this September, all pupils will be Muslim.

The silver-tongued Mr Mukadam, you may remember, said on the Moral Maze programme last year that any non-Muslim girl that got a place at the school would be required to wear a veil. He now says that this is not the case. He will never have to prove that he means this, because no non-Muslim girls stand a chance of getting a place. And how many would be applying, anyway? And what about the Muslim girls at the school? They will be forced into hijabs and jilbabs whether they want them or not.

Mr Mukadam told the Leicester Mercury: "In principle, there's no problem. The Government allowed us to establish a school to provide for Muslim schoolchildren first and foremost."

Peter Flack, of the National Union of Teachers, which had resisted the establishment of the school, hit the nail on the head when he said: "We were told one thing, then they achieved their objective and it all changed."

Well, Mr Flack, we confidently predict that this is only the start.

47. Faith is not the answer

Comment #221702 by AdrianB on July 30, 2008 at 2:36 am

Comment #221454 by Goldy

Oddly, our religiously minded trolls are quiet today - despite the ammunition given to them. Can you two mention evolution or something in your courting? that generally brings them out of the undergrowth...

48. Faith is not the answer

Comment #221305 by AdrianB on July 29, 2008 at 1:45 pm

Speaking at the Lambeth conference, the chief rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, has said that almost all of the ills that plague modern society are caused by our lack of religion.

From the East London Observer, 19 September 1857:

... five prostitutes aged between 13 and 19 years old were charged with drunkenness and causing a disturbance in the public streets ...

From the East London Advertiser, 3 January 1863

... the fact now remains indisputable that we find now quite a glut of secret poisonings, now of burglaries, now of forgeries, now of incendiaries, and so forth. By this rule, garrotting is assuredly to be considered the type-offence of these days ...

49. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220943 by AdrianB on July 29, 2008 at 8:03 am

202. Comment #220923 by steveroot

Reminds me of college, where the dorm I lived in ("Dorm C") had a mythological practice involving crackers and sitting in a circle in a darkened room. We were known as the "CJs". :-)
Ste5e

50. Catholics To Pope: Lift Birth Control Ban

Comment #220834 by AdrianB on July 29, 2008 at 5:38 am

I do think a Freakonomics view of simple demographics is better at answering a number of questions. The spread of Islam is all about demographics, and not about the convincing arguments of the adherants as they might want to believe. Increasing crime levels in certain areas is all about demographics, and not about failing politics as the opposition want you to believe, or increasing secularisation as Christians want you to believe.

Giving women totally free control over their reproductive system is the first thing any civilised society should do. The nurturing instinct of most women tells them when it's a good/bad time to get pregnant.

I was listening to a Radio 4 programme about a species of whale that naturally aborts it's foetus when the environment is tough.

.