1. The Dawkins Confusion: Naturalism ad absurdum

Comment #23561 by thegashman on March 1, 2007 at 2:38 pm

all that effort, and as well as failing to unravel Dawkins' arguments, he's still unable to produce any evidence of a God...

2. A deadly certitude

Comment #18233 by thegashman on January 19, 2007 at 4:45 am

Great article. Maybe we could all help with Islam's rebuttal of science and make it absolute. I'm thinking along the lines of the film The Village (by M Night Shyamalan). We section off a large portion of the Middle East and isolate it from the technological present day, allowing them to get back to living how they want without pesky interference from things like TV, medicine and jumbo jets. Everyone goes home happy.

3. Grandparents linked with church-going

Comment #13067 by thegashman on December 15, 2006 at 8:55 am

Grandparents are evil.

4. Ministers to ban creationist teaching aids in science lessons

Comment #11815 by thegashman on December 7, 2006 at 1:05 pm

Wow that was fast work! I'm still waiting to hear back from my local MP about his views on Truth in Science, but as my local MP is Evan Harris I guess I've got my answer now :0)

5. When Atheists Have Their Say (5 Letters)

Comment #11667 by thegashman on December 6, 2006 at 12:38 pm

David Matthews? David Matthews? ummm [taps index finger against lips quizzically] Nope, can't say I know anyone of that name. Anyway, back to the debate...

6. The end of one law for all?

Comment #10761 by thegashman on November 29, 2006 at 5:30 am

This doesn't preclude any normal prosecution or trial procedures under normal UK law though. As the article states, in the case of assault the police won't do anything anyway if the victim doesn't want to press charges. If they feel happier going to a "faith" trial, so be it, our legal system is over-stretched as it is.

It seems to me that this type of trial would only happen with folk of the same religion and doesn't even then put them outside of UK law. I don't think we're looking at a Somalian murderer being let off scot free because of some bizarre Sharia trial bylaw.

If a Muslim car thief steals your car this won't exempt him from prosecution and punishment. From a secular viewpoint, surely as long this type of court doesn't impinge on State due process, where's the problem?

The "shame" aspect of the trial with family present is interesting though and something that I would welcome in UK courts. In another article, Aydarus mentions, and really singles out, the effectiveness that bringing shame on the family has as a crime deterrent and from that I would posit comes a moral standpoint that does not involve God. ie the offender is not going to "mend their ways" out of obedience to God or their religion, but because they will bring shame on their family.

Isn't that one of the "social pressure" atheist arguments on the trues origin or morality?

7. Revealed: rise of creationism in UK schools

Comment #10226 by thegashman on November 27, 2006 at 1:59 pm

Tsk tsk Timelord, for someone able to move through time and space you really do have too many questions that you should know the answers to already.

Or is it that when you open up dirty science books all you see is blank pages... :0)

Like Anon says, try reading The Blind Watchmaker for example (may be best to get it on audio book) and then come to us with a proper question.

8. Revealed: rise of creationism in UK schools

Comment #10220 by thegashman on November 27, 2006 at 1:43 pm

Cheers asdf.

Just sent a mail off to my local MP Dr Evan Harris.

9. To be Read at my Funeral

Comment #10208 by thegashman on November 27, 2006 at 1:14 pm

ps - obviously I'm not condoning some kind of zombie style resurrection to address your family and friends, but maybe tape a speech or write one for a partner or friend etc. I didn't want to get labelled as a witch doctor as well as an apathetic, nihilistic, etc etc

10. To be Read at my Funeral

Comment #10121 by thegashman on November 27, 2006 at 5:56 am

To those that don't care what is said at their funeral, I think you are wasting a rare opportunity.

The common criticism of atheists is that we are all nihilistic, apathetic and full of "don't care" selfishness. You should take the opportunity at your funeral to "preach" to your captive audience about your atheism and also how they should give up their own religious beliefs.

I recall being heavily preached to at a friends wedding by an extremely unpleasant and over-zealous vicar who quite plainly stated that he only saw young people at weddings, christenings and funerals these days and never at normal Sunday worship or other run-of-the-mill religious calendar events. Basically, we hey only appeared when we wanted something - that's kids for you!

He took the opportunity of the captive audience to rail against those that had spurned him and his cobwebbed religion and who only came to church to get what they wanted (wed, christened etc).

I'm going to preach to my captive audience at my funeral (a good mixture of mainly Christians with some agnostics and atheists) and tell them exactly what I'm expecting on the other side, nothing. I'm going to tell them my reasons, present strong arguments for my atheism and urge them to stop wasting their precious time worshipping a non-existent deity and his made up rules and regulations. Je ne regrette rien.

Unless they want to get shouted down by the rest of the congregation, they won't be able to argue back. And I'll give explicit instructions to eject anyone from the gathering if they are seen praying for me! :0)

11. Public school teacher tells class: 'You belong in hell'

Comment #8994 by thegashman on November 23, 2006 at 5:22 am

This is absolutely disgraceful! I can't make out a bloody thing!!

God must have his fingers in my ears - help!!!!!

12. New CFI Office in Washington D.C.

Comment #8993 by thegashman on November 23, 2006 at 5:16 am

I go from despair to optimism with just about every article I read. I can hardly take much more of this atheism vs theism tug-o-war!

To paraphrase another poster on this site, "Waah, make the nasty religious men go away".

13. Is Apple Computer Insulting Islam?

Comment #6659 by thegashman on November 15, 2006 at 9:19 am

Strange that Mecca bingo hasn't been targeted in that case. I mean, this is gambling for jeepers sake!

www.meccabingo.co.uk

14. Reading of The God Delusion in Philadelphia v2

Comment #6187 by thegashman on November 13, 2006 at 3:33 am

i agree tholin, i've been having swarms of "what if" conversations myself in my own head.

i'm not sure how far i can carry this parentchild analogy, but if you see the child as the human race being born and nurtured with religion's mothering love and fathers, chastising hands, have we (the human race) got to the stage in our life where we can let go of the apron strings and fend for ourselves with our own sense of morality and purpose? the parents helped form and mature us, but the time has come now to grow up. i wonder if i'm being too naive though to think, "we'll work it out. we must be a mature enough society to replace whatever religion provided without all the other baggage it brought".

who knows what would happen if we were suddenly able to turn off a switch somewhere that ended religion permanently? anarchy? nothing much different? more considered options and alternatives that were previously overshadowed by established religious practice?

looking forward to seeing the god Doctor (ha ha, interesting Freudian typo there - meant to say "good Doctor") in Oxford tomorrow night. and i'm still wondering what "non-dorky" thing to ask him if I get a chance to meet him :0)