1. Friend or Foe? Crows Never Forget a Face, It Seems

Comment #240385 by Haymoon on August 31, 2008 at 12:26 pm

Well, stone the crows !


Hurrah ! I'm first at last LOL

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

Comment #239674 by Haymoon on August 30, 2008 at 7:12 am

This is mostly poetic language and metaphor; nice to meditate on but damn all to do with reality. After seeing a recent TV programme about the Heaven's Gate cult and the seemingly nice "sane" people (apart from the leaders!) involved with it, it strikes me that a good proportion of humanity is beyond rational reach.

3. The moment of truth

Comment #223164 by Haymoon on August 1, 2008 at 4:06 pm

Hitchens was right:

Religion poisons everything

4. Richard Dawkins slaps creationists into the primordial soup

Comment #213837 by Haymoon on July 19, 2008 at 2:55 am

I'm really surprised to hear Richard Dawkins using the term "trailer trash". I've always thought it to be a crass transatlantic phrase which connotes a certain class snobbery, something I never would have thought Richard to be guilty of.

5. The BBC announces a major season marking the life and work of Charles Darwin

Comment #207323 by Haymoon on July 9, 2008 at 2:01 pm

May I ask again about the BBC Mini series
"The Voyage of Charles Darwin" made in 1978 ?

This was an excellent docu drama centered around the Voyage of the Beagle. Some info on it here
http://www.aboutdarwin.com/literature/Video.html

Anyone out there who might make it available to this web site - or would there be a copyright issue in doing this ?

Could BBC be persuaded to re screen it as part of their "Darwin Tribute"

Anyone got a contact emil address where one could send such a request ?

6. The Boundaries of Belief

Comment #205089 by Haymoon on July 6, 2008 at 2:25 pm

The mind boggles !

7. How Darwin won the evolution race

Comment #198144 by Haymoon on June 23, 2008 at 9:23 am

Some twenty years ago BBC TV made an excellent program about Darwin and his theory. I think it was called "Voyage of the Beagle". It would be nice to see it again and surely this anniversary provides the perfect excuse and opportunity.

Well BBC, how about it ?

EDIT: Just found it on a torrent "The Voyage of Charles Darwin" - made in 1978

8. It Doesn't Take an Einstein

Comment #196195 by Haymoon on June 19, 2008 at 12:52 pm

Being Irish I think I understand TeraBrat's pride in being Jewish - both our peoples have had a disproportionate influence on world affairs.

As for the Jewish people being "protected from the worst cancers by a lack of power" is it not said that "God" made the Irish fond of drink in case they took over the world!!

9. Scientists confirm that parts of earliest genetic material may have come from the stars

Comment #192858 by Haymoon on June 14, 2008 at 4:48 am

So, we've come from heaven (sky) after all ;)

10. Regime change in heaven

Comment #191193 by Haymoon on June 10, 2008 at 11:03 am

Yesterday, on knees in prayer
I spoke to god, who wasn't there
He wasn't there again today
I wish that god would go away

11. Darwin still causing waves after 150 years

Comment #189028 by Haymoon on June 5, 2008 at 8:29 am

Some years ago BBC TV did a very good series on Darwin. I think it was called "Voyage of the Beagle" but I'm unsure of that.

It would be good to see it again

12. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #150858 by Haymoon on March 27, 2008 at 1:28 pm

So Richard D. is sixty seven.
Having come to two conclusions
That there is neither hell nor heaven.
This chap has no delusions!

Happy Birthday

13. Three Little Pigs 'too offensive'

Comment #115088 by Haymoon on January 23, 2008 at 2:24 pm

I guess someone called Ken Ham must have a problem then ?

14. Top 10 Reasons to Believe Logic Over Religion

Comment #114558 by Haymoon on January 22, 2008 at 12:04 pm

Maybe I'm being a bit of a stuff shirt but this article is not worthy of richarddawkins.net. It is not really that funny either.

15. Borders Tags Atheist Book with 'O Come All Ye Faithless' Cards

Comment #100705 by Haymoon on December 19, 2007 at 6:51 am

The Rev. Jonathan Edwards, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain. said the idea was "crass."

16. Former Evangelical Minister Has a New Message: Jesus Hearts Darwin

Comment #94935 by Haymoon on December 7, 2007 at 2:53 am

Religion (specifically Christianity) has adapted itself down through the centuries - usually after a prolonged period - to the prevailing Zietgiest. The Copernican universe, evolution have all been accepted.
Apropos Benedict's latest encyclical; if you remove the "God" content, there is not much to disagree with. Excessive materialism/consumerism is anti human.

I forsee - far in the future - a Godless Christianity more akin to today's secular humanism

17. Rock of Ages, Ages of Rock

Comment #90765 by Haymoon on November 26, 2007 at 9:52 am

Science education in the US is sure in bad shape

18. Georgia gets rain, but it may not help

Comment #88482 by Haymoon on November 17, 2007 at 2:14 am

When the gods wish to punish us, they answer our prayers - Oscar Wilde

19. Why Science Will Triumph Only When Theory Becomes Law

Comment #88167 by Haymoon on November 15, 2007 at 2:54 am

In science the words hypothesis, theory and law have very specific meanings

see http://wilstar.com/theories.htm

Creationism/ID is a dogma or doctrine. Lets call it for what it is.

20. Downward, Christian soldier

Comment #80777 by Haymoon on October 23, 2007 at 2:47 am

From the original Telegraph article

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/10/18/ndannatt118.xml

He has been described by those close to him as "frighteningly intelligent".

21. The New Atheism: An Interview with Mitchell Cohen

Comment #77891 by Haymoon on October 11, 2007 at 3:11 am

A wonderfully balanced exposition of views and one that will bear reading again.

22. The Problem with Atheism

Comment #75613 by Haymoon on October 3, 2007 at 6:20 am

The first part of Sam's discourse reminds me of a story told about Clement Attlee. Attlee was Prime Minister of the UK after WW2 - self described as a modest man, to which Churchill retorted "and he has much to be modest about" - and was also - to put it at its most neutral - an unbeliever. Attlee was being questioned about his "beliefs" and when asked was he an agnostic, replied "I don't know",

After which peroration I would like to praise Sam's article for his clarity - at least in the first part - and his tolerance in the second.

23. Against the grain: There are questions that science cannot answer

Comment #73738 by Haymoon on September 26, 2007 at 3:33 am

Posters may be interested in the following link

http://www.mala.bc.ca/www/ipp/pdf/Forrest_Paper.pdf

24. Why Christians should take Richard Dawkins seriously

Comment #72411 by Haymoon on September 21, 2007 at 2:34 am

Skinner seems to be saying:

Man is not made in God's image. God is an image made by man.

QED

25. Pentagon Sued Over Mandatory Christianity

Comment #71956 by Haymoon on September 20, 2007 at 2:09 am

because of his atheist beliefs

26. The Nonbelievers

Comment #71194 by Haymoon on September 18, 2007 at 2:42 am

I don't think this is a good idea but I suppose it is inevitable. Epstein speaks of "communal humanism" and I think that's the key to understanding how something like this has arisen. Humans seem to crave to get together with like minded humans. Maybe it is a sign of a childish humanity which we will grow out of but I am fearful that such a tendency is open to exploitation by the greedy. Epstein may be well intentioned but he is opening the door to more ruthless predators.

27. Do you have to read up on leprechology before disbelieving in them?

Comment #70841 by Haymoon on September 17, 2007 at 4:05 am

I think it was a young girl from the US Deep South who once said

"Faith Is Believing What You Know Ain't So"

28. Childhood Origins of Adult Resistance to Science

Comment #70119 by Haymoon on September 14, 2007 at 6:15 am

My apologies to Russell Blackford. I have now informed myself better about you. If I was better read I would not have had to ask the question in my previous post. I apologise for my ignorance.

29. Childhood Origins of Adult Resistance to Science

Comment #70080 by Haymoon on September 14, 2007 at 2:44 am

Excellent piece of writing by Russell Blackford on the difference between religious thinking and scientific thinking. Do you have a blog Russell ?

30. Honest Mistakes or Willful Mendacity

Comment #68206 by Haymoon on September 6, 2007 at 10:56 am

One should not be surprised at "misinterpretation" by the religious. After all, isn't this what they do with their own "scripture" all the time, interpreting it in all sorts of different ways to suit current circumstances. For example when one takes from a passage the plain obvious meaning (which may be ludicrous) they say "Oh, no, no. It doesn't mean that at all. Here is the correct interpretation......". And that is probably a different interpretation that their co-religionists gave say 100 years ago. They even have a technical name for it: exegesis.
They have vivid and fertile imaginations. After all, they ARE deluded.

31. The God Delusion One-Year Countdown

Comment #67837 by Haymoon on September 5, 2007 at 1:34 am

A fatuity of fundamentalists

32. A Defense of Atheism

Comment #63987 by Haymoon on August 17, 2007 at 6:51 am

USA_Limey

Just click on [Comment Posting Guidelines] over the comment box and you'll find out.

Just discovered it myself after I posted !

The obvious is often difficult to see

33. A Defense of Atheism

Comment #63981 by Haymoon on August 17, 2007 at 6:32 am

One quite extensive and erudite discussion comes from evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins, who is an Englishman and a facile writer about science.

34. Scarlet Letter Campaign Update: A Victory

Comment #62372 by Haymoon on August 9, 2007 at 12:32 pm

Those who take this seriously are in need of a wake up call. I really expect more from a bunch of rationalists. I mean, can Mrs. T.D. Gaines Crockett be a real person ? See here

http://www.blogger.com/profile/00309618238408990487

35. Let's Hope It's A Lasting Vogue

Comment #15543 by Haymoon on January 1, 2007 at 7:25 am

More power to your elbow, Richard.

Good luck for 2007 and beyond

36. The problem with secularism

Comment #14556 by Haymoon on December 23, 2006 at 7:32 am

To "understand" this post it may be useful to first read the following


http://www.fudco.com/chip/deconstr.html

37. The Only One in Step

Comment #14474 by Haymoon on December 22, 2006 at 3:17 pm

Apropos Dawkin's opening remarks

There used to be a saying in my youth (60 odd years ago)

"There all out of step except my Johnny"

38. Richard Dawkins on The Late Late Show with Pat Kenny

Comment #12179 by Haymoon on December 11, 2006 at 4:54 am

Comment #12139 by marklennox on December 10, 2006 at 6:16 pm

Firstly as an Irish person I apologise for the poor showing in that 'debate'. However, Pat Kenny, and obvisouly his audience, are far from intellectual giants. Pat is known as 'the plank' in Ireland for good reason.

What are you apologising for? That audience was just a cross section of Irish Society and so what if they could not match the intellect of Dawkins. I feel sure there were some in the audience who could but preferred to stay silent. The Late Late Show is a peculiar animal in that just about any topic could be expected to feature and while a discussion with Dawkins may tickle the interest of Irish atheists, one cannot expect it to be a forum where "The God Delusion" could get an in depth treatment.
I must stand up for Pat Kenny. His TV persona may appear wooden but he is one of the more intelligent of Irish TV presenters. As for "planks", well, now Casey ........

39. Book a Day

Comment #11748 by Haymoon on December 7, 2006 at 3:58 am

Screed: a rather curious derogatory word to use in an otherwise favourable review

http://www.answers.com/main/ntquery?s=screed&gwp=16

40. My God Problem

Comment #7079 by Haymoon on November 17, 2006 at 4:11 am

Good for you Natalie!

And some call Dawkins disdainful and poisonous http://richarddawkins.net/article,310,n,n ......

I prefer trenchant myself.

41. Tired of all the religious garbage? It's time to become an Enlightenist

Comment #3845 by Haymoon on November 1, 2006 at 4:07 am

Nebularry wrote

>>But why can't we just be "free-thinkers"<<

How about going the whole hog and call ourselves "thinkers". The "other side" don't seem to do much of it - thinking, I mean.

42. Battle of the New Atheism

Comment #2766 by Haymoon on October 23, 2006 at 10:14 am

Nice article about the "atheistic trinity" - Dawkins, Harris and Dennett - but a bit overlong.

Norman Doering wrote

"Maybe we should call ourselves "militant agnostics" : I don't know - but you sure can't know either."

- reminded me of the story when Clement Atlee was once asked whether or not he was an agnostic. He replied "I don't know"

43. Alan Colmes Interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #2266 by Haymoon on October 20, 2006 at 8:36 am

I presume this interview is part of Dawkins' publicity tour for his new book - The God Delusion.

Given the violent nature of some sections of US society - I'm thinking here of the "God Hates You" placard carrying type - Dawkins is placing himself in real danger of an assassin's bullet if he continues to speak in public forums along the lines evident in the interview.

I just hope he's taking precautions