1. The Problem with Atheism

Comment #75910 by Brian on October 4, 2007 at 4:08 am

I prefer the term "realist" myself, as religion deals with the imaginary.

2. Griffin's 'offensive' Emmy speech to be censored

Comment #69634 by Brian on September 12, 2007 at 1:54 am

"Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights"

Oh no! My oxymoronometer just went off the scale!

3. God Hates the World

Comment #51895 by Brian on June 25, 2007 at 1:48 pm

Speaking as a parent, that's one of the saddest thing's I've seen. That poor girl...

4. What We Need More Of Is Science

Comment #25798 by Brian on March 15, 2007 at 7:31 am

That's a pretty good MC Hawking track, but my favourite is still "Quake Master"

5. Violent video games leave teenagers emotionally aroused

Comment #10789 by Brian on November 29, 2006 at 8:16 am

Hmmm. Interesting, but raises more questions than answers for me.

What would be more interesting would be a comparison with other media / activities too.

Would judo or boxing have the same effect? How about violent films, music or reading material?

Does the patricipent need to be actively involved or is a passive experience enough to induce the same effects?

How about longer term effects of other types of (violent) games on cognitive ability with regard to the ability to integrate in teams and evolve tactics & strategies?

6. Atheists Agonistes

Comment #10383 by Brian on November 28, 2006 at 1:52 am

Question for David

You spend your life being subservient to an illusion with the expectation that you get to endure your subservience for eternity when you depart this life. That's something to aspire to? (please - no sermon)

How good it is to be an atheist.

7. Let us test Darwin, teacher says

Comment #10381 by Brian on November 28, 2006 at 1:47 am

"We might has well have said Einstein shouldn't have said what he did because it criticised Newton."

How the evangalising reveal their lack of scientific knowledge.

You can derive Newton's equations from special relativity. Einstein supports Newton!

This chump calls himself a teacher?

8. Let us test Darwin, teacher says

Comment #10375 by Brian on November 28, 2006 at 1:21 am

You don't have to mention ID in order to elaborate on the the 'workings' of science. It has yet to reach the level of credibility and doesn't warrant the publicity.

9. Dawkins's version of the deity does not exist

Comment #7912 by Brian on November 19, 2006 at 9:51 pm

No - I'm Brian...he's not Brian - I'm Brian...

10. My God Problem

Comment #7667 by Brian on November 19, 2006 at 2:22 am

It's not a book but would be the thinnest of all if it were: The God FAQ

http://www.400monkeys.com/God/

11. Reading of The God Delusion in Lynchburg, VA

Comment #7490 by Brian on November 18, 2006 at 4:08 pm

Check out Lewis Black's recent HBO special. He calls creationists "stone-cold fu*% nuts" and said they watch the Flintstones like it's a documentary. He even speaks of our "president" saying the jury is still out on evolution. Brilliant stuff!

12. Reading of The God Delusion in Lynchburg, VA

Comment #6036 by Brian on November 12, 2006 at 9:49 am

I find it ironic that a so-called 'university' calling itself 'Liberty' produces drones that fail to see the low esteem they are held in!

13. The Dawkins Delusion (Different Article, Same Stupid Title)

Comment #5462 by Brian on November 9, 2006 at 3:09 pm

It's probably true that removal of one divisive sociological construct woud be replaced by another - that's human nature. Hopefully, though, it would be one borne of reason rather than mythology. Religious constructs are perpetually divisive because they lack reason or commonality. Take religion out of the equation and anything is possible. At the end of the day we are all humans - isn't that the start of commonality and progress towards rational behaviour that is inclusive not divisive?

14. Why there is no God

Comment #5184 by Brian on November 7, 2006 at 9:59 pm

Asana "The Answer is always existing before the question"

Quantum Physics 101. The act of observation/measurement changes that being observed/measured.

ie the "answer" and "question" are so intertwined that it is meaningless to speak of such things in a cosmological sense.

15. Dawkins v God - stop the fight

Comment #4018 by Brian on November 2, 2006 at 4:18 am

"giving warning of the political influence of American evangelicalism, and, at the fringes, an American Taleban intent on the repression of women and the suppression of liberty. But this is tosh."

I don't suppose he's familiar with the Bush's relelation that god "told" him to invade Iraq then?

16. Lawrence, Kansas : Speech

Comment #3124 by Brian on October 25, 2006 at 7:36 pm

Can someone please post this in something *other* than RealPlayer format?

17. God's Gift to Kansas

Comment #2669 by Brian on October 22, 2006 at 2:23 pm

You may not get to the bottom of it, but you may find solutions to problem you did not know existed.

Science is a valuable tool of understanding that lets us influence both our environment and ourselves through the use of technology, not many mere hobbies have that kind of clout.

18. Atheists' delusions about God

Comment #2594 by Brian on October 22, 2006 at 2:20 am

What Giles dosen't realise is that "I don't know" is one of the most exiting things that can be said by/to a scientist.

"I don't know" isn't an end, it's a beginning.

He should read the book.

19. Bad Religion

Comment #2133 by Brian on October 19, 2006 at 5:04 am

The trust argument for the existence of altruism in a socially complex species is explored in detail in Matt Ridley's book "The Origins of Virtue", which I'd recommend to anyone wanting to follow up this point.

20. Stephen Colbert Interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #2032 by Brian on October 18, 2006 at 9:31 am

From a loyal reader of Dawkins and a faithful viewer of The Colbert Report, I thought it was a great interview. As people have already mentioned, it's difficult to have a reasonable discussion on American shows without reverting to the two second soundbite culture; apparently we just don't have the attention span for a 15 minute conversation, commerical free.

I truly wish I could have been a fly on the wall if Richard and Stephen (the man, not the character) went out for a drink after the show and continued where they left off the show. At any rate, it's always refreshing to see and hear a voice like Dawkin's, especially in the Gawd-soaked United States.

Keep up the great work, Richard!

21. Ryan Tubridy interviews Richard Dawkins

Comment #1156 by Brian on October 10, 2006 at 7:57 am

Well, we *know* where most matter comes from, everything apart from hydrogen, helium (and lithium?) is formed by nuclear fusion in stars. The lighter elements were formed in the big bang itself.

22. Surviving 'Jesus Camp'

Comment #610 by Brian on October 4, 2006 at 2:33 pm

Sarah,

As with most ancient things like this, it depends on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Testament#Date_of_composition who you ask.

Compilation, (canonization), is not the time when it was written down, but simply put together and given the "official" church stamp of approval.

I think you are right to question how the Bible was canonized, and why. Everyone, and especially Christians, should be skeptical of things like this.

However, I think the game of telephone metaphor is misleading, because after some point we DO have surviving texts, which we can go and compare with our modern texts for accuracy. It works only to the point that we do not have surviving originals, so we can't know how close they are to our earliest surviving text.

Basically all of this can be garnered from wikipedia if someone wants to spend a few minutes reading.