1. Bettany and Connelly to Star in Creation

Comment #243380 by aoratos philos on September 5, 2008 at 2:38 pm

Art Vandelay: Yes I thought Bettany's role in master and commander was very close to aspects of Darwins voyage on the Beagle too.
For those who don't know; He played Dr. Stephen Maturin, an enthusiastic naturalist and collector who was Aubrey's gentleman companion.
Maturin even convinced Aubrey to let him spend time on the Galapagos whilst the HMS Surprise navigated round the islands.
During one of the scenes Maturin even speculated about how species came to be, and commented on the diversity and similarities of his specimens.

I expect "Creation" or "Origin" will dramatise Darwins personal life. I do hope the makers explain the science behind the family problems Darwin encountered.

2. Antony Flew reviews the Index of The God Delusion

Comment #215262 by aoratos philos on July 21, 2008 at 2:48 pm

I would ask Anthony a few simple questions about TGD and take it from there.

I'm glad it wasn't just me that struggled to find where Anthony laid out his reasons for Deism. Something about science moving on? - all a bit vague really. Trust a † for thinking an argument from authority would be convincing!

3. 'In Our Time': Trofim Lysenko

Comment #189867 by aoratos philos on June 7, 2008 at 11:53 am

Or pop Radio 4 RSS link into your podacast manager.
"In our Time" usually wakes me up on my way to work!

http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/podcasts/radio4/iot/rss.xml

It's overwritten each week so get it while you can!

4. Is religion a threat to rationality and science?

Comment #172267 by aoratos philos on April 29, 2008 at 12:14 pm

I'm not trawling through 7 pages to see if someone has already posted this, so my apologies if some has.

Apparently there was a technical hitch with Lord Winstons microphone, but Dan's was recorded fine, so they have included Dan opening statements in the Guardians weekly science podcast.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/audio/2008/apr/28/science.weekly.podcast

5. Discussion between Richard Dawkins and Paula Kirby

Comment #157396 by aoratos philos on April 9, 2008 at 3:34 am

loved it.. One of the best RD interviews I've seen in recent times. It was great that Richard had a chance to give a more in-depth explanation of his position.
I hate the sound-bite journalism that blights the public understanding of science. I hope this left people wanting more, for all the right reasons. I suspect that the sound-bite culture we are use to leaves people confused and unconvinced on the whole?

6. Happy Birthday, Richard Dawkins!

Comment #150212 by aoratos philos on March 26, 2008 at 3:13 pm

'arpy burfday Dr D.

(note to self: must stop Anglicizing my writing as well as my speech!)

May you be around to fight the fundies for years to come. :D

7. Cutting Edge: Baby Bible Bashers

Comment #129637 by aoratos philos on February 19, 2008 at 11:55 am

I think many of these parents don't actually know what's good and bad - right or wrong. But they do know that whatever it is that they think is good and bad should be taught to their kids.

What I'm saying is that parents in general know that they should pass on good information to their kids, but as an epistemic point they don't actually know what the content of that is!

8. Feb 12th: Happy Darwin Day!

Comment #125789 by aoratos philos on February 12, 2008 at 4:08 am

Aye, happy Darwin day to one and all!

In honour, I'm going to celebrate by taking the missus out to dinner tonight, then perhaps afterwards a spot of genetic recombination. (Shhh.. don't tell my genes we use contraception) !

9. Christopher Hitchens Debates Timothy Jackson

Comment #122517 by aoratos philos on February 5, 2008 at 11:30 am

alternate source http://forum.wgbh.org/wgbh/forum.php?lecture_id=3582

10. Shermer's 'Mind of the Market' Reviewed in L.A. Times

Comment #116675 by aoratos philos on January 27, 2008 at 3:47 am

To believe that there is a "Free market" requires one hell of a lot of faith, and I've never been impressed with the arguments of libertarianism -- at all

11. Huckabee: Guns, God and rock'n'roll

Comment #107198 by aoratos philos on January 4, 2008 at 9:05 am

My Favourite Chuck Norris joke:

"There is no theory of evolution, just a list of animals that Chuck Norris allows to live".

On the US elections; I see the state in a similar way to religion. Religion has sort to control the state because of it's power over people, it's something they have in common and are in competition over.

I'm reminded of Hitch's statement about humans being one half a chromosome away from chimpanzees, and boy does it show; when I see the glazed eyes of Statist supporters on the campaign trail.
They live in hope/faith for a new saviour, regardless of the repetition of history and the failure of democratic governments to provide what they say they will provide.

Personally I wish they wouldn't make any promises. In fact I wish they weren't in a position to preside over us in the first place.

I suggest if you want any kind of freedom and lasting change you refuse to take part in the process called democracy, or as I call it 'social warfare'.

my 2 cents....

12. Ayaan Hirsi Ali versus Timothy Garton Ash

Comment #98463 by aoratos philos on December 13, 2007 at 4:37 pm

If the video is jumpy using quicktime, (as it's a .mov) play it in media player classic, it's smooth.

13. Daniel Dennett Debates Dinesh D'Souza

Comment #92731 by aoratos philos on December 1, 2007 at 10:53 am

Thx for putting this up, I'll watch over dinner. (Net is way better than TV) :D

14. 'Expelled' Movie: The Extended Trailer

Comment #88212 by aoratos philos on November 15, 2007 at 11:05 am

jakelovatto is correct, you have to wait for the second win media file to play to watch the full clip.
The only clip of RD is where he says "as a scientist , i'm pretty hostile to rival scientific theories" or words to that effect.

I don;t know if this is what RD is referring to as being misedited? take a look.

15. 'Growing Up in the Universe' now available free online

Comment #87945 by aoratos philos on November 13, 2007 at 7:10 pm

Awesome.. I still have the TV VHS tapes from when it originally aired back in the early 90's. :D

In fact, it was the main thing that turned me onto science and biology in particular.

thank you RDF, perhaps we should get it distributed around UK schools and watch the "truth in science" lot blow a gasket? ;)

16. That's not MY God or Religion you're criticising

Comment #81440 by aoratos philos on October 24, 2007 at 6:09 pm

"If you could show me your god then perhaps we could both avoid the confusion over it's identity?"

(I prefer the direct approach. :) Plus I haven't got the patience for those non-specific, esoteric, obscure descriptions of god)

17. Debate between Christopher Hitchens and Alister McGrath

Comment #79245 by aoratos philos on October 16, 2007 at 2:53 pm

McGrath annoys me big time..

His maddening turns of phrase like; "I would want to say" or "I would want to suggest" etc.

He doesn't seem to be able to represent his own position without sowing in a get out clause of non-specificity, or dubious ownership of his own position by way of language.
Not only is the content of his position woolly and esoteric, but one can't be sure if it's even his position at all?!

If I may apply Dan Dennett's categorisation;

McGrath thinks he's a "Super", but his language and ideas give him away as a "Murky".

18. Dan Dennett award and speech at AAI 07

Comment #79003 by aoratos philos on October 15, 2007 at 7:08 pm

Thx for all these wonderful speeches and lectures.

I love Dan's not-so-heavy practical approach, it's a great compliment to the styles of the other members of the musketeers. (is this collective phrase still in use here ? lol )

In the interest of science, and in light of Dan's description of the some of the underlying reasons for belief (in belief), I for one am going to adopt a different tact to see if I can coax a different response from the religious.

19. We Few, We Happy Few, We Band of Brothers

Comment #76146 by aoratos philos on October 4, 2007 at 9:57 pm

Thankyou, interesting and well delivered lecture.

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

Comment #72368 by aoratos philos on September 20, 2007 at 9:19 pm

Yes it seems that some theists are buckling under the weight of the controversy that they are contributing to, nay, creating themselves.

Speaking of Thatcher, I think Mary Midgley may have built so many strawmen with that article, she may be under investigation from the monopolies commission ;)

21. Youtube hater, I respect your right to free speech.

Comment #70652 by aoratos philos on September 16, 2007 at 1:18 pm

How can "The blasphemy challenge" be irrational?

It's only irrational if you are an atheist but then contend that there is a god to blaspheme.

Atheists who took the blasphemy challenge contend that there is no god, (or doubt it's existence). They are making a statement from the worldview of a Christian, to show them that their presupposition that god exists is the source of their problem.
It's a strategy, a tactic, it's not a statement of gods existence and their rejection of that fact!

You all know this but still hold that blasphemy challenge atheists are irrational?

Dear ohh Dear...

22. Open letter to YouTube video

Comment #70413 by aoratos philos on September 15, 2007 at 11:42 am

Northern Bright: CSEM (Christian Science Evangelism Ministries) have filed copyright infringement notices to youtube claiming that users are reproducing their work without their prior copyright authorisation.
In reality the youtube videos that CSEM have identified are either original material, produced by the youtube account holders in question, or use excerpts of CSEM material for parody, or for critical scrutiny.
The latter is covered by US law, which although ambiguous, has precedent within US courts under the "fair use" policy.

CSEM released their material into the public domain by waving copyright, as stated in their videos and, up until recently, on their website.

Since the youtube atheist backlash started, CSEM have attempted to retrospectively add a copyright notice to their website to try and force their position. This retrospective copyright notice is off course unenforceable at best and may possibly be unlawful, given that it is a false claim of ownership. It's not possible to copyright material once it exists in the public domain.

Additionally it is youtube policy to automatically take down a video once a claim of ownership has been made. CSEM are abusing the system and peoples rights to use non-copyrighted material. They are attempting to silence any criticisms of creationism and their cristian worldview.

Hope that helps..

Ohh and speaking as someone knocking on 40 who remembers the early days of Rap as a form of social commentary, I welcome talented artists like Greydon square, on the music scene!

23. Interview with Richard Dawkins about 'The Enemies of Reason'

Comment #63064 by aoratos philos on August 13, 2007 at 3:41 am

na Judy is always nervous on TV, even after all the years she has been broadcasting. Richard was bearable this time, he's often patronising to his guests.
Which is why I've dubbed them "Jitter and Rudy" :)

24. Richard Dawkins on Hardtalk

Comment #61519 by aoratos philos on August 5, 2007 at 1:40 pm

Check Klarkster account on Youtube for decent quality cap of this show.

25. Interview with Richard Dawkins on 'The Selfish Gene'

Comment #60636 by aoratos philos on August 2, 2007 at 2:46 pm

Josh keep an eye on your mailbox. Email from me in the next 30 mins. I'm just running off an mp3 conversion of the .ram file posted.

26. Come Out!

Comment #59477 by aoratos philos on July 29, 2007 at 7:45 am

PZ and the rest of the supporters; don't be too hard on the skeptics, after all they are just voicing concerns. I'm sure all of us understand that we aren't under orders of some holy edict to conform and wear. It's just a bit of healthy skepticism to stimulate the question of tactics.

For what it's worth I won't be purchasing a T-shirt.
Atheism is a religious label, as Jonathan Miller put it,Atheism is more of an accusation
I don't care for such labels. After consideration I simply reject the claims of theism. That makes me an atheist by the standards of the religious world-view, so whatever...

Having said that, religion is historically a political issue. I can understand those who choose to wear their "non-belief" on their sleeves as it were.
I share the concern that many theists will see this as a uniform, a way to identify and train their theological guns on the "enemy" so to speak.
I absolutely understand those people who recognise the potential for philosophical sectarianism.

27. OUT Campaign Launched, 'Scarlet Letter' Shirts Now Available!

Comment #59227 by aoratos philos on July 28, 2007 at 12:19 pm

Aye very Smart

28. Bill Moyers interviews E.O. Wilson

Comment #54983 by aoratos philos on July 9, 2007 at 3:01 pm

Johnny O: I watched that documentary too.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=zafcXI55QAo

An interesting watch, link above.

29. Richard Dawkins talks about Darwin and his visit to the Galapagos

Comment #52957 by aoratos philos on June 28, 2007 at 5:50 pm

Many thanks Richard and Josh for these great videos.

Looks like you all had a good time :D

30. Republican candidates range from ignorant to dishonest, part 2

Comment #49321 by aoratos philos on June 11, 2007 at 1:33 pm

What a bunch of disingenuous, power hungry, untrustworthy, immoral Statist assholes.

Jon Stewart is spot on as ever.

31. Christopher Hitchens at Politics and Prose

Comment #45864 by aoratos philos on May 29, 2007 at 12:26 pm

For those that haven't noticed this video is downloadable as an .mp4 and audio only as .mp3 from the Fora TV video pop up window http://fora.tv/fora/showthread.php?t=1055

It's buffering like crazy for me, hence the download suggestion :D

32. Face-Off: Can You Prove God Exists?

Comment #40489 by aoratos philos on May 14, 2007 at 10:48 am

I was privileged to watch the full debate as caught on camcorder by one of the RRS folks.

Just to say that the clips ABC aired on their website were very pro Ray and Kirk. The whole debate shows that Ray and Kirk's defence was lacking, (an understatement).
Cameron and Comfort suggested the debate and asserted that they can prove God's existence SCIENTIFICALLY without reference to the bible or faith.

A clip of the RRS version can be found here, it's not the full version but you get the idea.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D-rKiGJrcNw

Please take into account that the RRS folks are not Scientists or well educated Middle class journalists. But at least they are prepared to put themselves in the firing line in defence of secular values, where many other people are content as armchair polemicists.

33. Sam Harris in conversation with Oliver McTernan

Comment #38826 by aoratos philos on May 9, 2007 at 9:07 am

RE: Comment #38724 by stevieb

I've sent Josh an mp3 conversion of the Hitch - Sharpton debate and I'm currently working on converting both parts of this discussion.

My host is currently down, so Josh can't grab the files for hosting here. Check back later and maybe Josh will have the mp3's from me by then, when my host is back up.

34. A Brief History of Disbelief

Comment #35673 by aoratos philos on April 28, 2007 at 7:46 am

I'm glad that you folks in the USA will get to see this series. I remember sending the producer an email of thanks after this show originally aired on BBC4 a few years back.
It's not too high brow but at the same time doesn't treat the viewer like an idiot.

As mentioned above; The "Atheism Tapes" (The extended interviews from the series), is also worth watching.

35. Ayaan Hirsi Ali Feature

Comment #24354 by aoratos philos on March 6, 2007 at 6:11 am

The problem with the left with regards the criticism of Islam is that they tend to side with anyone who opposes what they see as capitalist imperialism.

This one sided dogmatic concentration on left wing economic values comes at the expense of reasonable criticism of a culture and a religion.

It's both fair and reasonable to say that both the invasion of Iraq and the religious and cultural treatment of women within Islam are both wrong.

Ayaan Hirsi Ali is a brave, intelligent and wonderful women regardless of her political affiliations.

36. Presentation on Atheism

Comment #22710 by aoratos philos on February 21, 2007 at 4:08 am

Good Job HBA. :D

37. Panel discussion on atheism where no atheists are included

Comment #21233 by aoratos philos on February 8, 2007 at 6:39 am

I'm interested so see what format Richards appearance on CNN will take. If the segment only contains Richards point of view then stand by for a slew of Christian responses, crying foul of under representation!

ohh the irony !

38. Blashpemy Challenge Interview

Comment #20051 by aoratos philos on January 31, 2007 at 7:10 am

To those who somehow feel this is counter-productive: There are atheists around dinner tables discussing religion, there are atheists right now in foxholes telling people that there ARE atheists in foxholes, there are brilliant minds writing books on atheism and religion, there are atheists making documentaries polemicizing religion, and there's a bunch of folks in a basement in Philly talking to Christians and young folk, making short videos and helping other closet atheists to speak out about social coercion and indoctrination.

When Dr Dawkins was asked if he would take the Blasphemy challenge, he said that it's not the sort of things an Oxford professor does, instead he writes books. Some commentators have also criticised Dr Dawkins for his demeanour, he replies that's his way of doing things.

Look there's more than one way to help relieve the world of dangerous ideas, so just let the folks who ARE making an effort to get on with it in their own way!

If you want to reduce "Religion" to an intellectual discussion only, which all said and done is what all of the above do at some stage during discourse, is to completely miss the point.
Religion has an impact on society, on people's lives, people breathe life into ideas without people ideas are nothing.

39. Blasphemy Challenge on FOX

Comment #19710 by aoratos philos on January 29, 2007 at 11:24 am

Robert O'Brien wrote: I would subject Price to the smackdown of his life. Unlike the rubes he courts with his erroneous arguments.

40. Blasphemy Challenge on FOX

Comment #19702 by aoratos philos on January 29, 2007 at 10:56 am

Robert O'Brien wrote: My good hayseed, if one checks out the facts he quickly learns that Flemming's "documentary" is an empty lunch pail.

I think it best if you stick to playing the banjo and courting your cousin, friend Atheist Okie, cuz' you appear to be out of your league here.

41. Blasphemy Challenge on FOX

Comment #19637 by aoratos philos on January 29, 2007 at 3:48 am

Faux News is seen by millions, this is great exposure for the Blasphemy Challenge and Atheism as a whole.
Kaisch is just plain laughable as a journalist, however he does say he "wishes people would go look at it" referring to the Blasphemy Challenge website, so it can't be all bad !

42. Randi and 800 Other Amazing Skeptics

Comment #19161 by aoratos philos on January 25, 2007 at 10:01 am

I heard James Randi on a radio show just before TAM5 say that was going to talk to the South Park guys about their handling of RD on those couple of episodes. He didn't think it was fair, and to be honest I thought it was both unfair and intellectually lazy too, the latter I take most objection to.

But hey that's free speech for ya!

43. Discussion of The God Delusion

Comment #17946 by aoratos philos on January 17, 2007 at 4:42 pm

Absolute inane drivel.

44. Conservative Atheists

Comment #17486 by aoratos philos on January 14, 2007 at 3:45 am

Heather makes some good points.

Unfortunately for many serious conservative thinkers they have had their party hijacked by the god squad crazy mob in the last 20 years or so.

I guess that's the price they pay for selling their "souls" to the religious wing of society to secure the many election victories they have enjoyed in recent years.

45. Pat Robertson: God told me of 'mass killing' in 2007

Comment #16057 by aoratos philos on January 4, 2007 at 10:14 am

I predict that no later than the end of 2007 Pat Robertson will make another stupid prediction!

Now, does that make me some kind of prophet?

Now if Pat predicted something much less likely and it came true, I'd be the first to take him seriously!

46. Executing Saddam Hussein was an Act of Vandalism

Comment #15813 by aoratos philos on January 3, 2007 at 6:54 am

I don't know how much data the psychological study of Saddam would have yielded, and of course we will never know.
In terms of trends that you speak of, education, family, genes all that stuff, I would suspect that the study of others in society that display the same kinds of authoritarianism and disregard for the welfare of others, would prove just as useful.
In any case, studies of this type would involve many many people before one could start to get a picture of the issues involved.

I don't think that this serves as grounds for keeping Saddam alive. What does serve mankind and the particular situation in Iraq, would be to keep him alive as a reminder that 2 wrongs do not make a right, and as civilised people, (supposedly), we would have sent a message to the terrorists that there is a more moral and better way to treat those who have caused gross offence to civilisation.
Personally I do not agree with the state having this kind of power over an individual, no matter what their crime. in fact I'd go further and say that I don't agree with the concept of that state at all for this and many other reasons.

47. 10 myths - and 10 truths - about atheism

Comment #14716 by aoratos philos on December 24, 2006 at 5:17 pm

Yes well put Sam, I particularly like the way he articulated this bit, and the part leading up to it:

>>"There is, in fact, not a Christian on this Earth who can be certain that Jesus even wore a beard, much less that he was born of a virgin or rose from the dead. These are just not the sort of claims that spiritual experience can authenticate."<<

..now if all children were taught the value of appreciating epistemology, this bad reasoning, this causal misappropriation would be less likely to happen.. surely ?

48. Richard Dawkins on the Mike Dickin Show

Comment #13561 by aoratos philos on December 18, 2006 at 11:33 am

I have to agree with Comment #13556 by Richard Dawkins.

This website is turning into one of the best repositories of atheistic media on the web.
I'm always on the look out for articles and podcasts that discuss reason/faith issues and this site is often the first to publish and republish them.

Big thx to Josh for all his work, and all of you who alert and supply RDF with these wonderful resources.

49. Richard Dawkins on the Mike Dickin Show

Comment #13555 by aoratos philos on December 18, 2006 at 10:50 am

A big LOL.. that's pretty much it accept to say that; self delusion, the ability to strawman other peoples positions to death, the inability to be internally consistent with ones own position and wilful ignorance are all alive and well in the minds of many British people.
I never thought the voice of reason would come from a Talk-Sport presenter!

50. Vicars in a Twist

Comment #12574 by aoratos philos on December 12, 2006 at 3:43 pm

http://www.viz.co.uk/

Viz magazine is a funny, irreverent, daft and often surreal "comic" that has been running for many years. I use to buy it back in my teens and early 20's. I use to love the strips; Roger Mellie the man on the Telle and Buster Gonad and his unfeasibly large testicles.. well you get the idea :)

I guess the closest match to this, if you don't know Viz, would be "MAD" magazine.

I guess the irony is that people are finding it hard to tell the difference between parody and reality such is the weirdness and predictability of theist mindset.