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

Comment #112820 by idmaer on January 18, 2008 at 6:23 am

All the very best, George, from Down Under! I started life in the East of England, seen reedbeds cut for thatch in Kent and Norfolk, have relatives who ran a profitable farm in the East Riding, a father who nearly lost his life in WW2, and an 80-something mother-in-law with a brand-new pacemaker - so I feel I almost know you! Many thanks for your wonderful life's work and your support for RDFRS, and get well soon!

"Idmaer"
Canberra, Australia

2. The greatest debate

Comment #80844 by idmaer on October 23, 2007 at 7:25 am

Re comments by hotshoe and others about our Australian press, I agree with quill that the article has a pro-religion flavour, and in this it pretty much reflects the newspaper itself, which I sometimes dub The Catholic Australian because of the type of thinking evident in its editorialising and choice of contributors and, more sinisterly, in the choice of stories it gives space to. Steve Wrathall would likely approve of its enthusiasm for printing anything said by a climate change sceptic anywhere in the world. When The God Delusion appeared, it cleverly commissioned a double review to give the appearance of balance, and gave the reviews the prominence warranted by the TGD phenomenon, but contrived to find an atheist who largely rejected Dawkins' message and made sure to say some nice things about religious folk.

On the plus side, it is a national newspaper - really our only one - and it does deal with real issues and have a broad international coverage, and for these reasons I keep reading it, though not usually with any great anticipation.

3. Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams criticizes popular atheist writers

Comment #78657 by idmaer on October 14, 2007 at 6:15 am

Teratornis/78585: However, while I still don't advise holding your breath, I think there is much value in the long run from having Prof. Dawkins and the other "new atheists" exposing the disconnect between the beliefs of the rank and file vs. the professionals they pay to represent them.

I think the dear archbish is doing us a favour here, because anyone becoming receptive to the RD (et. al.) message at least stands a chance of recognising that his (Williams') argument is a bit short on substance. Of course there will be some who will be reassured by his "expertise" and "authority" and, relieved, retreat back into their mental cage, but anyone who has actually started to think ("doubt" in religionist parlance) may well perceive that our learned prelate's "misunderstood" perspective on whatever it is he insists on believing in amounts to little more than fog.

In my view it is the first stage, of starting to think, that most needs encouragement, and for this the continuing publicity that RD generates - often with the help of his detractors - is enormously valuable. Just knowing that a significant sector of society is non-religious, and regards "faith" not as admirable but with contempt, will be enough to get a few honest minds working.

As for the "disconnect", yes these "sophisticated" religious "thinkers" should be pressed to make clear to the "punters in the pew" exactly what they do - and more tellingly don't - believe in. But for many "believers" the disconnect may not be so great - they probably already recognise that an overwatching and intervening type of God is pretty implausible but cling to the notion that "there must be Something" and that they are somehow improved by giving It recognition. These folk may even be relieved to learn that it's too difficult for them to really understand, because that allows them to continue to "believe"! And others, alas, will become attracted to the simplicities and certainties of fundamentalism.

4. Patience, fairness and the human condition

Comment #78656 by idmaer on October 14, 2007 at 6:13 am

shaunfletcher/78783: Im sure there is a body of other scenarios exploring this from different angles prior to coming to such bold conclusions, but the article doesnt make it seem so.

It sounds to me rather that this is a "new line of investigation", and that the scientists are simply drawing a conclusion from the results of their (pioneering) study. This is normal scientific practice. But both these investigators and others will likely attempt repeat and follow-up experiments, and it will really only be then, when the results are shown to be reproducible and consistent with other experimental approaches (and maybe also with a theory), that the finding comes to be regarded as "established". An interesting result like this warrants attempts at "exploring this from different angles" and will likely spur further work, but we will probably have to wait a year or two before we see the results.

The article, of course, is written by a journalist and appears in a non-scientific publication, so should be interpreted with scepticism and caution!

5. Patience, fairness and the human condition

Comment #78633 by idmaer on October 14, 2007 at 1:22 am

I have been surprised at how very young children have a sense of fairness. What parent hasn't heard the lament "It's not fair!"? Fairness seems such an abstract concept, I found it hard to understand how such young minds could grasp it - let alone how it could be innate (i.e. coded genetically). But if it can be reduced to 10 raisins in 2 pots, well maybe... Come to think of it, kids' arguments are often about how sweets etc. are shared - especially between sibs. Just like nestling birds!