1. 10 Lectures on Darwin's Legacy

Comment #313232 by Stafford Gordon on January 6, 2009 at 12:38 am

Wow!

2. Richard Dawkins interviews Nicholas Humphrey

Comment #312068 by Stafford Gordon on January 4, 2009 at 2:45 pm

Frabitsio Bernadeetti could simply be agreeing with himself?

3. Richard Dawkins interviews Nicholas Humphrey

Comment #312056 by Stafford Gordon on January 4, 2009 at 2:35 pm

I'd quite like to see an exchange between Professor Nicholas Humphrey and Professor Michael Baum.

4. Richard Dawkins interviews Nicholas Humphrey

Comment #312013 by Stafford Gordon on January 4, 2009 at 1:38 pm

I suffered a stiff shoulder. An Osteopath was recommended; after I was pulled, pummelled and stroked, he put my arm in a sling.

It got worse.

Then, I went to a physiotherapist. She said a sling is wrong; use the joint in positions where it's painless otherwise it will cease up; I recovered.

In my opinion, despite the "bed-side manner" the first person didn't know what they were doing.

5. Atheists have moral reflections too

Comment #311975 by Stafford Gordon on January 4, 2009 at 1:10 pm

Oh, what a relief it would be if I didn't have to turn the radio off when TFTD is announced; the one exception is when Rabbi Lional Blu is guest; I wouldn't miss him for the world!

6. Richard Dawkins interviews Nicholas Humphrey

Comment #311734 by Stafford Gordon on January 4, 2009 at 5:00 am

We all know about noddies now so it doesn't work any more; it's silly.

I like material with lumps in; like good food it's not too refined.

7. Richard Dawkins on The Big Questions - 28th Dec 2008

Comment #311730 by Stafford Gordon on January 4, 2009 at 4:51 am

Esther Rantzen's got the right idea; walk the walk or keep quiet.

8. Richard Dawkins on The Big Questions - 28th Dec 2008

Comment #311726 by Stafford Gordon on January 4, 2009 at 4:12 am

These kinds of programmes are one of the reasons I've stopped watching television; it's so frustrating listening to a debate you can't join.

However, there was a time when life was so precarious that youngsters had to undergo tests and tasks to prove their parenting capabilities, because failure as a parent would endanger the entire community.

Globally, population in itself is a massive problem which I think underlies many other difficulties facing us; Russell and others were warning of it in the twenties, thirties, forties and fifties.

Perhaps child battery is the manifestation of some kind of symptom relating to resourses and space. Does anyone have any thoughts on that?

9. 15 Evolutionary gems

Comment #311459 by Stafford Gordon on January 3, 2009 at 1:11 pm

Our twin daughters are hoping to read Biochemistry at Pembroke College and Trinity Colleges Cambridge.

I will indeed ask them to post this articele on the board; they have wonderful teachers at Chesham High School, Hertfordshire, England.

Thank you for this Josh.

10. Teen trained to be suicide bomber feels tricked

Comment #310923 by Stafford Gordon on January 2, 2009 at 11:59 am

Could it be that this child was victim to a meme?

11. Competition, Not Climate Change, Led To Neanderthal Extinction, Study Shows

Comment #310122 by Stafford Gordon on January 1, 2009 at 3:58 am

Thanks Bluebird; If he could come back, I wonder what the old man would make of The Sky in Motion.

12. Competition, Not Climate Change, Led To Neanderthal Extinction, Study Shows

Comment #310119 by Stafford Gordon on January 1, 2009 at 3:47 am

The Darwin Day website is fun!

13. The New Atheism, a definition and a quiz

Comment #308991 by Stafford Gordon on December 30, 2008 at 2:28 pm

I've just posted a comment about "New Atheist" on the wrong page; never mind!

14. The New Atheism, a definition and a quiz

Comment #308984 by Stafford Gordon on December 30, 2008 at 2:22 pm

Some more thoughts on the term "New Atheist".

Perhaps the patronizing element stems out of the tradition of talking down to congregations; sheep, swine etc.

Who knows, who cares; it's all so tiresome.

15. The New Atheism, a definition and a quiz

Comment #308948 by Stafford Gordon on December 30, 2008 at 1:41 pm

"New Atheist" is a patronising term; and meant to be.

It suggests that we have become members of a cult movement in much the way that teenagers might immaturely follow a group of some kind; in other words it's Atheists who need to grow up not believers.

A kind of inversion perhaps which could be a defence mechanism? It's a thought.

One thing's certain...I,for one,don't give a toss!

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

Comment #308542 by Stafford Gordon on December 30, 2008 at 3:31 am

I can't find "diagnlostic" in my OED; diagnostic surely.

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

Comment #308534 by Stafford Gordon on December 30, 2008 at 3:19 am

"a row over whether evolution is proof of atheism" What does that mean?

18. For scholars, a combustible question: Was Christ real?

Comment #308116 by Stafford Gordon on December 29, 2008 at 1:36 pm

I note that even before they've started they've lost their marbles.

19. Scientific illiteracy all the rage among the glitterati

Comment #307633 by Stafford Gordon on December 28, 2008 at 10:25 am

I shudder to think what might have transpired had a McCain Palin administration come about.

Sarah Palin's comment about research on/with Drosophilia was shameful; although I'm a Brit it put the wind up me.

20. My Christmas message? There's probably no God

Comment #307411 by Stafford Gordon on December 28, 2008 at 2:02 am

SPOT ON!

21. 2008: A good year for Neanderthals

Comment #306998 by Stafford Gordon on December 27, 2008 at 1:29 am

At least, as we are causing global warming we also have some control over it; not much, but they probably had no means of avoiding extinction, according to the evidence.

22. God: Philosophers Weigh In

Comment #306992 by Stafford Gordon on December 27, 2008 at 1:06 am

I got as far as him saying that the design argument is the main one from the empirical point of view, which is nonsense, as can be seen from visiting the Kenneth Miller Dover Trial Lecture site.

This article is more sophistry than philosophy.

23. Richard Dawkins interviews Prof. Michael Baum

Comment #305798 by Stafford Gordon on December 23, 2008 at 3:40 pm

Doctor Baum is a wonderful man; truly passionate about his vocation and honest to the core!

24. Archaeological Discovery: Earliest Evidence Of Our Cave-dwelling Human Ancestors

Comment #305040 by Stafford Gordon on December 22, 2008 at 2:54 pm

Science is truely "eating the lunch of religion." S Weinberg.

25. Obama cranks up the green revolution

Comment #304942 by Stafford Gordon on December 22, 2008 at 1:30 pm

What a foil mouthed ignoramus George Walker Bush has proved to be.

I'm a Brit', but I've read about Lincoln and consider him arguably the greatest President America has enjoyed; by the same token I consider Bush to be arguably the worst the USA has suffered.

It's been a very long and dismal eight years for the entire world; it's a pity our Prime Minister Blair lacked the historical perspective or gumption to stand up for our country.

26. Most 'do not believe in nativity'

Comment #304575 by Stafford Gordon on December 21, 2008 at 10:44 am

What does Simon Gathercole do for a living? Why, he's a scholar of religion!

So, he of all people must know that his god is better than anyone elses because all the others are myths.

Another pig just flew past my window.

27. Secularists' vital war on religion

Comment #304488 by Stafford Gordon on December 21, 2008 at 5:23 am

None of this should have to said nowadays, but since ot does still have to be, who better than Grayling to say it, and keep on doing so; thank you Professor.

28. Poll Finds No Boost in Church Attendance during Economic Crisis

Comment #304005 by Stafford Gordon on December 20, 2008 at 3:51 am

Could it be that the pendulum has stalled?

Oh, what was that? I just saw a pig fly past the window!

29. Giant Dinosaur Fossil Found in Sahara Desert

Comment #303252 by Stafford Gordon on December 18, 2008 at 1:12 pm

MUETZE: You are pulling our legs aren't you.

30. Evan Solomon Interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #303131 by Stafford Gordon on December 18, 2008 at 6:46 am

Dhamma; I tried but couldn't bear it.

31. Evan Solomon Interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #303079 by Stafford Gordon on December 18, 2008 at 3:55 am

Seven years after the second world war in 1952 Bertrand Russel wrote an essay entitled Religion and Morals in which he pointed out that the one thing that Communism, Fascism and religion have in common is dogma; ending the piece as follows "What we need is not dogma, but an attitude of scientific enquiry, combined with the belief that the torture of millions is not desirable, whether inflicted by Stalin or by a Deity imagined in the likeness in the likeness of the believer."

The essay is in the anthology "Why I'm Not a Christian".

32. Mekong a 'treasure trove' of 1,000 newly discovered species

Comment #302613 by Stafford Gordon on December 17, 2008 at 12:39 pm

This here Dragon Millipede; what's that metalic looking bit at the end of it?

I'm reminded of the Turkish Caddis Fly saga.

33. Darwin's Living Legacy--Evolutionary Theory 150 Years Later

Comment #302135 by Stafford Gordon on December 16, 2008 at 3:27 pm

Mushashi1615; I think it's understandable from the point of view our human condition; Darwin's wife Emma was a Unitarian Christian who couldn't bear the thought of not seeing or being with her daughter Annie again in the after life; one school of thought says that's partly why he took so long to publish The Origin;

But, of course, Darwin provided us with an escape route from that subjectivity, and indeed it is sad that many people are unable to avail themselves of it. Perhaps that's because of "Flukus Religiousus" implantation in their infant brains.

It's a thought.

34. Religion in [Australian] schools to go God-free

Comment #301322 by Stafford Gordon on December 14, 2008 at 1:30 pm

It's an encouraging development; I hope it catches on and contributes to combating the distortion of childrens' minds with religious mumbo jumbo; "hope springs eternal".

I've just noticed PROLIBERTAS'S 301306 post; yes, that's the most important thing; why don't scientists stop just talking to each other and patting each other on the back and come out to play with the rest of us who are trying to combat this nonsense of religion? Not a rhetorical question!

35. Orangutan's Spontaneous Whistling Opens New Chapter In Study Of Evolution Of Speech

Comment #301305 by Stafford Gordon on December 14, 2008 at 1:09 pm

It figures; a lot of whistlers show distinct primate tendencies.

36. Richard Dawkins interviews Father George Coyne

Comment #299626 by Stafford Gordon on December 10, 2008 at 4:55 am

Very nice man; and he takes the argument right to the edge, but, I expect Flukus Religiousus infected his brain at too early an age for him to ever rid himself of it completely.

I now fully realise how fortunate I was to have non religious parents.

37. Here Be Dragons - The Movie

Comment #298733 by Stafford Gordon on December 8, 2008 at 2:30 pm

Wonderful!

Plus, I now have a Christmas reading list for our science student twin daughters.

Thank you the Richard Dawkins website.

38. If you want to know why our public schools are screwed up, here's one reason

Comment #298518 by Stafford Gordon on December 8, 2008 at 2:35 am

I suggest people visit the website of the post Dover trial lecture by Kenneth Miller; during Q and As Doctor Miller's response to one audience member's query is quite disturbing.

39. Britain is 'unfriendly' for religious people

Comment #298151 by Stafford Gordon on December 7, 2008 at 1:31 am

Again we are being told that without religion we are immoral etc; I object!

What I think is happening is that people are no longer intimidated by religious leaders and accordingly no longer show automatic respect for people simply because they're "believers".

If you are used to total silence the slightest sound will seem loud to you. This happens when the deaf regain their hearing, leading to some of them choosing not to wear a hearing aid because they can't bear what those of us with hearing find normal.

From which it follows that now, even the most reasoned and courteious questioning of belief in the suprnatural will seem to believers "vocal and aggresive".

With respect, believers had best get used to it.

40. What's Old Is New: 12 Living Fossils

Comment #298016 by Stafford Gordon on December 6, 2008 at 1:12 pm

I find this somehow comforting; I can't explain why; perhaps it's because it doesn't worry me that I'm related to the sweet little thing.

41. The Axis of Evo

Comment #298002 by Stafford Gordon on December 6, 2008 at 12:54 pm

Roger,sadly they have nothing worthy of disagreeing about.

Further, it's immaterial whether it's six, ten or twenty thousand, it simply doesn't fit the frame; of course, I agree their all out to lunch; but is that really something that atheists should waste time arguing about with them?

42. The Axis of Evo

Comment #297966 by Stafford Gordon on December 6, 2008 at 9:58 am

You want to deny evolution? Simple! Declare the world to be ten thousand years old; job done.

In evolutionary terms nothing much happens in a ten thousand year period so you're safe in your tiny god-bound existence; happy daze.

43. Win Ben Stein's Mind

Comment #296744 by Stafford Gordon on December 4, 2008 at 2:50 am

Excellent indeed! But, and I hope I'm not being unfair or rude, it would appear that the unfortunate Mr Stein could possibly be psychotic, therefore no matter how reasoned any argument might be he, poor man, would not be able to comprehend it.

I'll probably be sued now; although from what I've been told there are almost any number of people who would be perfectly justified in sueing Mr Stein after what he said about them in his film.

44. Richard Dawkins and Aubrey Manning

Comment #296304 by Stafford Gordon on December 3, 2008 at 12:19 pm

This must be commissioned by the BBC for world wide distribution; now!

45. Why we believe in gods

Comment #294073 by Stafford Gordon on November 30, 2008 at 3:12 pm

Sarah Palin must be sent this video. She's a darling, who's brain has been "

46. 'Atheist bus' more like a bandwagon on highway to hell

Comment #294032 by Stafford Gordon on November 30, 2008 at 2:17 pm

Although atheist I don't consider myself omniscient; read Russell.

47. Terrorism That's Personal

Comment #294021 by Stafford Gordon on November 30, 2008 at 2:03 pm

There are no words; our daughters are studying for degrees in Bio Chemistry, and my heart bleeds for the females in these benighted areas of the world; benighted by nothing other than RELIGION!

48. Review of 'The Four Horsemen'

Comment #294006 by Stafford Gordon on November 30, 2008 at 1:41 pm

I don't get the gist of comments one to five; elaborate if you would or if you're able.

49. Children of God?

Comment #293925 by Stafford Gordon on November 30, 2008 at 11:05 am

Sussed it now!

50. Children of God?

Comment #293922 by Stafford Gordon on November 30, 2008 at 11:01 am

THIS IS A FAVOURITE ARTICLE OF MINE.