HASSERS - Humanist Atheist Scientific Secularist Ethical Rationalist Sceptics

The rise of Miliband brings at last the prospect of an atheist prime minister

2008-08-21T05:11:00.002+01:00

In this climate of quarrels between religionists and secularists, there are very many reasons to hope for a non-believer at No 10 All comments (40)

Evolutionary Tree of Life

2008-08-20T07:11:00.001+01:00

In 1866 (just seven years after publication by Charles Darwins' "The Origin of the Species" in 1859) Haeckel's published his 'Tree of Life' showing the relationship between Plantae, Protista and Animalae. In 1977 Carl Woese found that organisms can be subdivided into three domains (Archaea, eukaryote, bacteria) not two (eukaryote and prokaryote) domains. The Universal Tree of Life is understood

Critical thinking

2008-08-19T06:00:00.003+01:00

Mark Edon's rules to stop you being fooled in life: Falsifiability or Contingency, Logic, Comprehensiveness, Honesty, Replicability, Sufficiency.More...Librarything books by psiloiordinary.

The Discovery Institute vs Darwins Theory of Evolution by Natural Selection

2008-08-19T05:13:00.005+01:00

The Discovery Institute has a blog Intelligent Design The Future with contributors Michael Behe, William Dembski et al. Is ID Creationism? William Dembski Answers Top Three Objections to ID - listen (16 minutes). WD talks about an unlikely event coupled with a pattern can be evidence of ID; design that is not perfect; blood clotting cascade is designed; ID is not repackaged Creationism.

Debating Creationists

2008-08-19T02:49:00.008+01:00

Over fifty comments on whether or not to debate Creationists on a radio programme at UK Brights. Oeditor (Brian) refers to TalkOrigins - Index to Creationist Claims. If one debated a creationist these are the arguments and counter arguments. TalkOrigins (huge) archive was last updated in 2006. TalkOrigins (bottom of page) recommends The Panda's Thumb which is a blog ('defenders of the integrity

Freedom of speech by Edward Baker

2008-08-17T10:25:00.001+01:00

source: Edward Baker - In Defense of Reason blog - who said:- Freedom of speech is an important concept. It means that I am free to write pretty much what I want to on here. But it also means that people can write and speak about ideas that I personally find abhorrent. These two views then enable us, and others to discuss what we have said. This is the principal of debate. If you live in the

National Centre for Science Education - Defending the Teaching of Evolution in USA Public Schools

2008-08-17T08:45:00.006+01:00

Edward Baker at Defence of Reason says:- The American National Centre for Science Education (Eugenie Scott main spokesperson) seems to be a lot better funded than our own British Centre for Science Education, although the situation is a lot worse the other side of the Atlantic. They have produced these videos, shown on www.expelledexposed.com, which are worth watching for people who aren't

Evolution and Darwin

2008-08-17T08:09:00.003+01:00

'The Chairman' on the CRABS Curry Ride 2008 asked me 'had anything been done about Evolution after Darwin'. I mentioned Mendel and structure of DNA (forgetting DNA database). I'm reading The Origin of Species (HASSERS Amazon bookstore) and I'm frankly overwelmed with the huge number of observations backing up his ideas that Darwin includes in his book published in 1859. Edward Baker at defence

Reason is just another faith by Mary Midgley in New Scientist

2008-08-16T16:56:00.000+01:00

crabsallover says 'Mary Midgley (Wikipedia) thinks 'Reason' is ambiguous. Science subverts religious views. Science alone ('scientism') is not sufficient - different problems need different ways of thinking.'7: Reason is just another faith Unconditional reliance on a single authority is never

BOOK CLUB at Stephen Laws' blog

2008-08-16T16:15:00.001+01:00

BOOK CLUB Stephen Law says: I am thinking of starting a blog book club. We pick a book. Each week we do a chapter. I write up a little piece on the chapter and all can then contribute... You get two weeks' notice to acquire the book. Does this appeal to anyone? A God and Religion theme, and maybe broaden out later to philosophy generally. Fairly accessible books. Currently I am thinking

For every Humanist in UK there are 100 Humanists in Norway!

2008-08-16T12:26:00.009+01:00

source: IHEU Aug 08 newsletter, pg 25 Proportionally Norway Humanist Association has 100 times more members than BHA & NHS in the UK*! The distinctive Strategy of Norwegion Humanist Association (NHA) is that:by a 1981 law NHA gain same financial support from Government as religious groups members get a reduced or free price for non-religious ceremonies (presumably people join NHA to get a

August 2008 International Humanist News published

2008-08-16T11:22:00.011+01:00

The August 2008 issue of International Humanist News now published. On the cover the amazing image (annotations: crabsallover) of Saturn (with The Earth a billion miles away - full story pg 5) as explained by Caroline Porco (biography). This edition includes features on the death of Universal Human Rights; Religion in the Media; June 2008 World Congress; Humanism in Europe. click image above

Climate myths special

2008-08-16T09:49:00.001+01:00

Today New Scientist publishes a special looking at the most common climate change myths and misconceptions. I'll explain why in due course. But first, let's start at the beginning. The idea that some gases in the atmosphere trap heat was first proposed in 1824 by Joseph Fourier. In 1859, experiments by John Tyndall identified the most important heat-trapping gases as water vapour and carbon

Republicanism, a Natural Extension to Humanism?

2008-08-13T22:58:00.000+01:00

Republicanism, a Natural Extension to Humanism? Is Republicanism a Natural extension to Humanism? Does Britain need a monarchy? Should the United Kingdom, be the United Republic? Surely, if we find the concept of divine authority ridiculous; then surely heredity authority must be just as fallacious? And though it might not be our highest priority, when we consider the great and lumbering halk

Defend the Individual and So the West

2008-08-13T06:17:00.004+01:00

by Ayaan Hirsi Ali Thanks to ItAintNecessarilySo for the link. http://www.aei.org/publications/filter.all,pubID.28415/pub_detail.asp Defend the Individual and So the West By Ayaan Hirsi Ali ARTICLES Sydney Morning Herald Publication Date: August 4, 2008 Thinkers of the Enlightenment, a set of new intellectual attitudes that remade Western culture in the 17th and 18th

Creationism Debunked by Potholer54debunks

2008-08-13T05:36:00.002+01:00

One Atheist's Creed

2008-08-13T05:32:00.000+01:00

atheism is second-largest belief system in Canada

2008-08-12T02:32:00.003+01:00

source: via vjack on BeTwittered on igoogle August 07, 2008 Stuart Laidlaw, Mercury news services, TORONTO Long before he became Canada's top atheist, Christopher diCarlo was an altar

The HMS Beagle Project

2008-08-12T00:52:00.001+01:00

by The HMS Beagle Project Thanks to Jeremy Swanson for the link. http://www.thebeagleproject.com/ In 2009, the bicentenary of Charles Darwin's birth we will build a sailing replica of HMS Beagle. An icon of scientific progress, she will circumnavigate the globe in Darwin's wake, crewed by aspiring scientists and researchers. They will carry out original research both at sea

Nigerian advises against 86 wives

2008-08-12T00:40:00.004+01:00

source: New Humanist. While an ordinary man with 10 wives “would collapse and die”, Mohammed Bello Abubakar, an 84-year-old from Nigeria, now has 86 wives and has so far survived thanks to his power “given by Allah”. Due to this, he advises other men, that is, those out of direct communication with God, against having 86 wives and an estimated 170 children. Mohammed Abubakar has wives a

The Genius of Darwin by Richard Dawkins, Channel 4

2008-08-12T00:20:00.006+01:00

2nd Episode - broadcast on 11th August, 8pm GMT - Youtube version coming soon. The Robin McKie (The Observer), piece refers to episode 1 (4th August broadcast). source: www.thebeagleproject The genius of Charles Darwin part 2 In the second programme Prof. Dawkins explains that Darwin's Theory of Evolution presented a disturbing truth: that humans are animals – the fifth ape. This forces us

The Flat Earth Society

2008-08-11T04:52:00.002+01:00

Read the Mission Statement, why a flat earth etc.

Saudi pets banned to stop men on the pull

2008-08-11T04:40:00.001+01:00

As part of Saudi Arabia's never-ending mission to clamp down on immoral behaviour, religious police in the capital Riyadh have banned the sale of cats and dogs, and prohibited men from walking dogs in public. While taking your pet for a stroll may not seem like the most immoral of acts, the Saudi Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice are acting on the basis of a

Conservative Humanist Association

2008-08-11T04:30:00.004+01:00

Conservative Humanist Association are affiliated to the British Humanist Association and the Conservative Party. Vikkist4r said (in comments): Our website: http://www.conservativehumanists.org.uk/ Facebook Group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=15956064609 YouTube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/ConservativeHumanist MySpace page: http://www.myspace.com/conservativehumanist

Reason destroys itself by Roger Penrose in New Scientist

2008-08-11T02:04:00.002+01:00

Reason destroys itself 23 July 2008 From New Scientist Print Edition. Subscribe and get 4 free issues. Mathematician Roger Penrose6: Reason destroys itself