1. Growing Up in the Universe: 2-Disc DVD Set

Comment #29165 by AntonyR on April 2, 2007 at 1:05 am

In the email from Richard Dawkins (if you are on the mailing list) there are 2 links related to dontaing a copy to a school or library or suggesting a school or library that should receive a copy. However, these links did not work.

It seems to me there is another opportunity to do another pledge to get these DVDs into as many libraries and schools as possible. Also, if we donate to a library maybe we should ask them to put an A4 poster on their notice board so that people know it is available to loan out.

Obviously if we buy these through Burning Shed, not only do we help children through the DVDs availability, but we also provide additional funds to the RFD.....cool or what!

So many questions...so little time....

Antony

2. Non-believers can be bigoted too

Comment #25615 by AntonyR on March 14, 2007 at 10:27 am

"Fundamentalism, whether Islamic, Christian or Hindu, has found a hold in recent years, not because people have suddenly decided to read scriptures more literally, but because the failure of secular political movements, the rise of identity politics and the collapse of traditional moral codes have all made radical faith-based identities seem attractive"

Where is the collapse of traditional moral codes? We live in a society in the 21st century that is more morally aware with Human Rights and Equality legislation than every before.

The "failure of secular movements" have occurred because of the dogma of religion wanting to hold it back or interferring to its own ends. If every Christian stopped contributing to the church tomorrow, the church would collapse with a lot of ex-clergy looking for alternative jobs.

Finally, on what basis is fundamentalism acceptable in light of society's failure as a whole to solve all its problems? Surely, religion should be the shining light showing us how our society should be. Instead, if all westerners were christian and all easterners were muslim, and there was not an atheist in site, we would destroy the planet overnight. It is only the influence of rational discourse, that recognises christianity and islam as tools to bring disparate people together for the purpose of the government control, that stops this happening already.

How easy it is to misquote for your own benefit and then claim to be righteous. It is a shame there is no hell, because it seems unfitting that some people will die and never have any conscienceness to recognise they have lived a lie all their life.

3. Why Children Love Their Security Blankets

Comment #24739 by AntonyR on March 8, 2007 at 9:28 am

This seems to have identified the sentimental value in children and their attitude towards their toys. I part exchanged my 10 year old car recently that I had had from new, and I expected it to be auctioned off by the garage. As I walked away from my car for the last time I felt sad to see it go and almost wished it well for the future.

I don't fully understand why I felt the need to wish it well, I know logically it is a hunk of metal and plastic. I guess that is why it is refered to as sentimental value.

4. British Book Awards shortlists 2007

Comment #24714 by AntonyR on March 8, 2007 at 7:01 am

I have voted too. Also, I have added this to http://atheistactioncentral.blogspot.com and emailed all the UK groups, BHA, HAI, NSS, etc and also put this on the Brights Forum.

5. Battle for Europe's secular values

Comment #22668 by AntonyR on February 20, 2007 at 12:45 pm

I have sent an email to my MEPs this afternoon and already had one response of support. I have recently created a new webpage that is focused solely on action and not discussion and via this page I have the link for those that want to send an email to their MEPs and MP and also a template email to send to save you having to write one from scratch:

http://www.atheistactioncentral.blogspot.com

It's located in the "Priority Actions" section below Ban Faith Schools.

6. Send The God Delusion to your MP

Comment #20415 by AntonyR on February 2, 2007 at 9:40 am

I appreciate that this is well in motion but I would strongly recommend sending Sam Harris's book "The End of Faith" instead of TGD for the following reasons:

1. Sam Harris does not have the stigma associated with him that RD does; RD is often seen as a "fundamentalist athiest" which will likely result in people disregarding the book without even reading a single page.

2. You can ask the recipient to just humour you by reading from page 11 to page 23 - the first 12 pages of the book. If they read this much and still believe in their religion, or that religion is not bad, then their minds will not be changed. The God Delusion does not have this same impact in the early pages. I have just re-read the start of both books and "The End of Faith" has a much more powerful set of arguments early on, and a better style, that is likely to keep the person reading longer.

If you have not read "The End of Faith" I would strongly recommend it and you will see what I mean. I bought it after reading TGD.