1. We Urgently Need Your Help Now!!

Comment #196034 by Mr Blue Sky on June 19, 2008 at 8:29 am

Had to send a short msg: Dear Governor Jindal: Since SB 733, has recently been passed by both houses of the legislature you will become a laughing stock to the educated of the developed world if your veto is witheld. Please apply some of the critical thinking that you have said is required by your students and set a good example.

2. Faith in Britain today

Comment #177010 by Mr Blue Sky on May 8, 2008 at 1:07 pm

Why post this drivel from this lunatic?

3. The challenge of finding peace in Lourdes

Comment #124657 by Mr Blue Sky on February 10, 2008 at 1:24 am

Lourdes hypochondriac conventions and meetings of some severely sick people are aided and abetted by the church where they would be banned if it were a newly suggested activity of the 21st century, on the grounds of cynical exploitation of the feeble and feeble minded. But the Vatican has never let truth get in the way of great dogma and outpourings of emotion from its sheep. You might hope that European law would at some stage outlaw this kind of public cringing and deceit. I live in hope...

4. Sharia law in UK is 'unavoidable'

Comment #123982 by Mr Blue Sky on February 8, 2008 at 4:33 am

David Blunkett MP ex Home Office Minister had some wise words today for once in a sound bite on BBC radio news when he talked about not going back into histoiry and for once sounded really sensible and forceful. The problem is that it is already happening on an informal basis. We have only ourselves to blame as we roll over to more demands from certain minorities. But ask yourself "What is true British culture and how are we able to defend it? The PC brigade would have have us give in rather than fight for what we believe e.g flying the England flag etc

5. The New Atheist Movement

Comment #123980 by Mr Blue Sky on February 8, 2008 at 4:27 am

It is sad really that our friend in the video is so brainwashed that he thinks nothing could shake his faith. I like how he is insulted by us not reading any Christian books before expressing views on the woes of the god squad. But really we should not react - just pat him on the head and say "now run along and come back when you grow up" or words to that effect.

6. Help Build The Reason Project Archive!

Comment #123978 by Mr Blue Sky on February 8, 2008 at 4:20 am

I like RD and his site but I think that a name like Reason Project is less personal and may have some viewers that might avoid RD. If it is truly an archive it would be a valuable site/tool. This site is excellent but proliferation of sensible reason based ideas and science is what we are about and so long as there are lots of links back here too what is there to lose? We all have the right (at present) to form our own sites and I suspect only the best will survive and we do not believe in censorship or denying competition do we?

7. God the psycho

Comment #121143 by Mr Blue Sky on February 3, 2008 at 2:13 am

Keep it up Pat, you may be being squeezed out elsewhere like MySpace etc but I suspect you will always be welcomed here. So eloquent too. You represent so many of us. Thanks from a displaced Yorkshireman in Bedfordshire

8. U.S.: 'Demonic' militants sent women to bomb markets in Iraq

Comment #120751 by Mr Blue Sky on February 2, 2008 at 12:38 pm

I hope this report has been properly checked out for it's accuracy. It appears to be a new low in terms of fighting the local people. Will it help demonize the perpettrators? Do we know who is claiming responsibility for these attrocious acts? If it were found to be fabricated this would be a very dirty trick indeed and one that I am sure none of us could ever condone and especially if it were part of a misguided propaganda campaign by some element of the new regime. The solution is not really able to be stated as it is considered too extreme. At least we know some of the root causes of the problems out there and they are being exported daily.

9. Happy Birthday Josh Timonen!

Comment #119151 by Mr Blue Sky on January 31, 2008 at 10:58 am

Wishing you Many Happy Returns for your birthday, and thankyou for helping to change my life for the better...

Regards Damian

10. Vatican slams California firm's cloning experiments

Comment #114362 by Mr Blue Sky on January 22, 2008 at 4:31 am

You would have thought that with a good spin cardinal in place that they would have claimed it as a miracle breakthrough made someone a saint and started talking about virgin births and stuff. Perhaps they will soon as there are not enough science gaps left to sustain their outdated views. They damaged me for a while and would now given the chance but thanks to sites like this we get good info as it happens. Brilliant!

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

Comment #111890 by Mr Blue Sky on January 16, 2008 at 1:00 am

It's true then, you can't keep a good man down. You look to have quite a "thatch" yourself too! Good to hear about you. Even our greatest ships have all had to spend some time in dry dock! Cheers and long may you do things your way!

Damian

12. The New Encyclopedia of Unbelief

Comment #109992 by Mr Blue Sky on January 10, 2008 at 8:55 am

Price now from £67.38 in new and used section but will attract postage costs

13. Beyond the Believers

Comment #17909 by Mr Blue Sky on January 17, 2007 at 12:58 pm

Re 1 every addict needs their fix
Re 2 doctrinal statements can not be beside the point these are the pushers
Re 3 religion is contrary to science hence there is conflict
Re 4 religion will disappear over time as we evolve since the truth will out

I live in hope!...

14. Atheists challenge the religious right

Comment #16117 by Mr Blue Sky on January 4, 2007 at 4:40 pm

SCA sounds like a good start, not too hopeful for the result of the poll re the highest ranked non-believer in govt.

I look forward to resuming my place on the forum when the admin is sorted out.

15. Fallen Angels Assault: Heaven at Christmas

Comment #14592 by Mr Blue Sky on December 23, 2006 at 3:14 pm

What is Wonder Land? I am glad I live in UK. Apathy is common here and I do not believe we get the same free ride that gun toting US citizens may experience.

16. Religion does more harm than good - poll

Comment #14590 by Mr Blue Sky on December 23, 2006 at 3:10 pm

When I was a student I was advised not to extrapolate from a small database! It would be good if it were found to be a realistic situation. I enjoy statistical arguments but I also see that I am surrounded by some very active religious type here in middle England!

17. What I found out about God

Comment #14585 by Mr Blue Sky on December 23, 2006 at 2:49 pm

Whoever thought his radio interviews could be referred to as acclaimed?? Lot of nonsense and name dropping etc. Is Rumsfeld a great thinker? Best bit was his reference to "the whole wretched business". A lot of words to say so little!

18. An imaginary deity is denounced and debunked

Comment #14582 by Mr Blue Sky on December 23, 2006 at 2:41 pm

Good review, what an unexpected present, I like the way he shows up the hypocrisy of the US political system of modern times.

19. It is possible to respect the believers but not the belief

Comment #14398 by Mr Blue Sky on December 22, 2006 at 9:18 am

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we all got along? It would be but we don't and cannot given what some of us/them believe. Surely with hindsight we will all argue "what was the evidence?" Well! let's not wait for hindsight in years to come let us examine the evidence now and continue to say "Bring me some for I do not believe". Let us clear the fog!! literally and metaphorically...

20. The problem with secularism

Comment #14344 by Mr Blue Sky on December 22, 2006 at 5:49 am

I really must respond! BOLLOCKS intellectual bollocks but still bollocks. i am off to track them down and maybe respond elsewhere...

21. Beneath The Surface

Comment #14227 by Mr Blue Sky on December 21, 2006 at 2:38 pm

What a great programme. I think this one should be kept as a sticky on RD's own forum. If only there were more opportunities to get this length and style of interview into the various media.

22. Richard Dawkins on The Sunday Edition

Comment #13582 by Mr Blue Sky on December 18, 2006 at 3:03 pm

To coin a phrase or 2 "Oh dear! how sad, never mind." and "Any publicity is good publicity."

It all helps in the way of building the RDF brand.

RD is a pro and his new 2 part programme is eagerly awaited. This was a distraction but not totally without value.

23. Response to Richard Dawkins' Criticisms in The God Delusion

Comment #13242 by Mr Blue Sky on December 16, 2006 at 10:44 am

RD summed this up many times along the lines of "Theology is a non-subject". How sad that Swinburne is part of the Oxford University structure. Perhaps he is tolerated to show us how importznt it is to be rational and to study evidence and facts. Surely these people will end up defeating themselves eventually with their own circuitous arguments as soon as they are the only ones left clinging to the fairy tales!

24. Grandparents linked with church-going

Comment #13105 by Mr Blue Sky on December 15, 2006 at 12:46 pm

I would be interested to see how this data changes over time. Perhaps as we rebel against our parents we see grandaparents as wiser and are thus prone to accept some of their thinking? I will be a Grandparent in a matter of months - thank goodness I have seen sense and can influence my grand daughter in a more positive way than I was.

25. Simon Mayo interviews Keith Ward about his book 'Is Religion Dangerous?'

Comment #12852 by Mr Blue Sky on December 14, 2006 at 4:28 am

Thanks Josh, got it now. Keith Ward is obviously "committed" and perhaps needs to be! Why would he state that RD needs to read a book on theology? He says he has read a book on biology - Wow! LOL. He even admitted he could not understand why religion was being relegated to the margins. He is a C of E minister and cannot separate himself from his beliefs and thus is not really worth debating. He does not appear to understand us. The interviewer, Simon talks about who is going to heaven and may even be exhibiting Christian credentials? Not very impressive. In summary - "lets avoid reality and controversy in this little radio piece that is intended to help me sell my book!" His saving grace is perhaps that he is not a creationist/ID type.

26. Simon Mayo interviews Keith Ward about his book 'Is Religion Dangerous?'

Comment #12841 by Mr Blue Sky on December 14, 2006 at 2:13 am

This link and time 1hr:47 is a talk about obesity!!!

Am I missing something? - I cannot find the interview about religion.

27. Science Weekly for December 11: Creationism special

Comment #12832 by Mr Blue Sky on December 14, 2006 at 1:33 am

It is interesting to know that the bacterial flagellum evolved independantly more than once. Perhaps Prof Wolpert and Dr Conway-Morris could be given more exposure on our forums. Overall, interesting and informative (for me at least).

28. The A to Z Guide to Political Interference in Science (US)

Comment #12819 by Mr Blue Sky on December 14, 2006 at 12:54 am

What a brilliant idea to arrange this database in this way. Its content is very worrying of course and highlights in many cases what might once have been considered un-American activities of the "American Taliban". Could we do one here in UK or do we believe that our Government is not guilty? I am not a scientist but can see that at least there is some hope if clear information is presented to the wider world in easy to understand formats.

29. Gershom Gorenberg on Christian Zionism

Comment #12683 by Mr Blue Sky on December 13, 2006 at 8:36 am

What is it about voters in the USA that they cannot see that this sort of worldview is damaging and is so obviously incompatible with seeing the world in its unmistakable beauty. There are creationist and ID motivated Brits and Jehova's Witnesses but the bible is no way a recipe for any chosen few in our eyes. How can Jews and Xians and even JWs believe that each of them has the one true way. Rapture and so on is so primitive a view I think it shows that we must become more vocal and active in protecting impressionable young minds from this kind of horror story type fairy tale. In UK the word christian is generally known to be kind and comapassionate how can these people be christian in this sense? I do not think I need to add this to my reading list. Complete and utter drivel...?

30. Let us test Darwin, teacher says

Comment #10284 by Mr Blue Sky on November 27, 2006 at 5:04 pm

This story is reported elsewhere and relates to the CD pack recently sent to UK secondary schools. Dr Mackintosh was ably rebutted by Prof Wolpert on BBC Newsnight presented by Jeremy Paxman tonight but these people will not see sense and will continue peddling their wares. Perhaps at some stage advertising standards will be seen to be breached in that it does not meet the legal, decent, honest and truthful standards, is not scientific and is definitely misrepresented and is intentionally misleading material.

31. I'm an atheist, BUT . . .

Comment #8093 by Mr Blue Sky on November 20, 2006 at 11:52 am

Thankyou for accepting me into the Choir without the need for audition, I know some of the words and the tunes and hope we can all sing loudly, proudly and in tune until the choir is heard throughout the world and is sought after for public engagements to entertaqin the masses!

32. The terrorist virus is no lightweight matter. We must contain its spread

Comment #5863 by Mr Blue Sky on November 11, 2006 at 12:44 pm

Heather wrote "I opt to manage without treatment for phobias. Perhaps one day I'll be brave enough to have it!" Please tell me what is brave about dealing with a phobia? You know it is irrational and may be deep seated but you must also know that you can be treated with a high expectancy of complete cure - but perhaps your phobia gives some warped sense of being? Stand up you have lots of support for whatever it is - do not limit your experience of this truly magnificent world.

33. The terrorist virus is no lightweight matter. We must contain its spread

Comment #5783 by Mr Blue Sky on November 11, 2006 at 3:47 am

Until governments stop throwing their weight about and invading places on the basis of lies and deception there will be no means of innoculating young people against such destructive memes as the various strains of Jihadism. He uses a lot of text to say very little.

34. Review of The God Delusion

Comment #4726 by Mr Blue Sky on November 5, 2006 at 3:43 pm

Not a bad review but I think Jon has not experienced the damage done to us ex catholics it takes a long time to deprogram. It is time to go on the offensive and challenge the status quo

35. Atheist firebrand

Comment #4448 by Mr Blue Sky on November 3, 2006 at 11:43 pm

Hal, Is your life built around love or sin? The concept of sin and punishment seems to be the major theme in Christianity. Is your brand of religion the one true religion? How is it that every religion seems to portray that it is the one true way to salvation. WHy do you need salvation etc? How do you think assumption, transubstantiation, virgin births etc come about? Surely these are ancient myths from a non scientific age? COuld religion be a control mechanism? How do you know you met Jesus?


Come on friend it is 2006, look around, study and read some of the evidence based text.

36. The Blind Watchmaker : Video!

Comment #3294 by Mr Blue Sky on October 27, 2006 at 7:40 am

It would be great to get a copy of the "methinks it is like weasel" program to run on my PC to show my kids - any chance?

37. ACTION ITEM: Charities Bill (UK)

Comment #3097 by Mr Blue Sky on October 25, 2006 at 1:53 pm

We lost the amendment by 59 votes to 444 but at least religions no longer get automatic charitable status. Other beliefs i.e. rationalists that are "analagous to religions" can still get it as did the humanist association on the basis that; as Cabinet Office Minister Ed Milliband said that such organisations are accepted in law to bring about "the moral, mental and spiritual improvement of humankind".

In 3 years time the Charity Commission will produce a report outlining what all charities (190,000 in UK) will need to show as a direct public benefit and other wise may lose their charitable status. There will be a tribunal to reduce legal costs too.

38. ACTION ITEM: Charities Bill (UK)

Comment #2919 by Mr Blue Sky on October 24, 2006 at 3:45 pm

Thanks, we need to do more of this. It will be interesting to see if the debate is shown on TV live.

39. Review of The God Delusion

Comment #2856 by Mr Blue Sky on October 24, 2006 at 4:55 am

Damian, Religion and science cannot work together because of all of the explanations aired in Richard's many books. I too was caled Damian and brought up as aRoman Catholic They nearly even got me into seminary. I have searched for a long time to only confirm that the true WMD are the religious weapons of mass deception/delusion. read on it really helps. Be open minded and perhaps a litle brave and take a few risks with reasoning things out for yourself using the references in the book to guide you.