Debate between Paul Willis from the show great science show Catalyst and Carl Wieland from Creation Ministries International. Looks like it should be a good one!
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Tabocution
It's time again to purge my tabs. This one's a mixed-bag, but there's so many videos that I'll put them all in a section of their own. It should take you more than a week to chomp through all that!
Articles
Jeff Coyne on science organisations and accommodationism- Metamagician
Why Evolution is True- Jeff Coyne
Tucked-in t-shirts are unbiblical- Cynical C blog
Conspiracy theories and muck tunnels
10 most fascinating natural phenomena
How to capture a giant squid- Advice for pharyngulites
Mel Gibson's family values
Atheists target UK schools
Sharia Law
PZ is pro-test
Sex, terrorism, cults astrology, scientology, pareidolia, and other nutbaggery
Perry Bible Fellowship almanac
Subscribe to James Randi's 'Randigram' newsletter!
Religion's parasitic morality
Morality originates in religion... NOT!
Muslims killing children
Jesus and Mo: Thor
Longer videos
Why We Believe in Gods
Dan Barker vs Dinesh D'Souza
Michael Shermer: Why Darwin Matters
Evolution of Gods
BBC: The Darwin debate
Freethought videos (beware, BS abounds!)
Penn and Teller explain the basis of deception
Crucifiction fail
Scientific Proof of the bible
Outnumbered: Karen's spiritual Journey
Former Christian Coalition director argues for torture
Saudi Cleric tells children why muslims should hate jews
Texas and evolution
The perfect gift
Ghost whisperer on CBS News
Lady spots Cheesus!
Randi Speaks: Charles Lynch
Timescape
Dr Phil and an atheist's wife
Christopher Hitchens vs Tom Hartman
Christopher Hitchens vs Paul Edwards
Has Christianity lost the culture wars?
Area 51 scientists explain the Roswell incident
Interesting videos
Isaac Asimov's three laws of robotics
Kevin Smith talks about his superman movie
1976 swine flu propoganda
Hummus: The rap
Turbotax: The rap
Siamese crocodiles
Your Momma! (is logging on)
Wacky tribal dance
Articles
Jeff Coyne on science organisations and accommodationism- Metamagician
Why Evolution is True- Jeff Coyne
Tucked-in t-shirts are unbiblical- Cynical C blog
Conspiracy theories and muck tunnels
10 most fascinating natural phenomena
How to capture a giant squid- Advice for pharyngulites
Mel Gibson's family values
Atheists target UK schools
Sharia Law
PZ is pro-test
Sex, terrorism, cults astrology, scientology, pareidolia, and other nutbaggery
Perry Bible Fellowship almanac
Subscribe to James Randi's 'Randigram' newsletter!
Religion's parasitic morality
Morality originates in religion... NOT!
Muslims killing children
Jesus and Mo: Thor
Longer videos
Why We Believe in Gods
Dan Barker vs Dinesh D'Souza
Michael Shermer: Why Darwin Matters
Evolution of Gods
BBC: The Darwin debate
Freethought videos (beware, BS abounds!)
Penn and Teller explain the basis of deception
Crucifiction fail
Scientific Proof of the bible
Outnumbered: Karen's spiritual Journey
Former Christian Coalition director argues for torture
Saudi Cleric tells children why muslims should hate jews
Texas and evolution
The perfect gift
Ghost whisperer on CBS News
Lady spots Cheesus!
Randi Speaks: Charles Lynch
Timescape
Dr Phil and an atheist's wife
Christopher Hitchens vs Tom Hartman
Christopher Hitchens vs Paul Edwards
Has Christianity lost the culture wars?
Area 51 scientists explain the Roswell incident
Interesting videos
Isaac Asimov's three laws of robotics
Kevin Smith talks about his superman movie
1976 swine flu propoganda
Hummus: The rap
Turbotax: The rap
Siamese crocodiles
Your Momma! (is logging on)
Wacky tribal dance
Popemobile Protester Charges Overturmed!
Just yesterday, Ian Bryce (Secular Party candidate, chief investigator of the Australian Skeptics, and general attendee of all the best Sydney freethinking groups) made a resounding victory for free speech in getting the charges against him and his popemobile overturned.
It's been a long and arduous legal battle since he was originally charged with having a 'distracting roof ornament' which consisted of a fake pope-mobile fixture that he had installed don the roof of his car, complete with a satellite connection to god!
The news of the win has already swept through all of the local freethinking channels and has also seen representation in the mainstream media.
Here we present to all the official press release, straight from Ian Bryce himself:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
IMAGES AVAILABLE
Video of WYD Popemobile (on roof racks) as charged – linked from www.worldTRUTHday.org
Photo vehicle as described by police –
- For medium quality go here
For rear view as described by Police, go to Popemobile Mark1 on sedan, last photo, download it.
- For high quality – on request. (Credit World Truth Day.)
Video of the Popemobile in the more recent Mardi Gras
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can read more about this epic win at:
ABC News
It's Alive!
Sydney Atheists
All Voices
Courier Mail
9 News
News.com.au
And here's some pics
And the obligatory funny pic
So a big congratulations to Ian ON THIS epic win!!!!!!!!!!
It's been a long and arduous legal battle since he was originally charged with having a 'distracting roof ornament' which consisted of a fake pope-mobile fixture that he had installed don the roof of his car, complete with a satellite connection to god!
The news of the win has already swept through all of the local freethinking channels and has also seen representation in the mainstream media.
Here we present to all the official press release, straight from Ian Bryce himself:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASE
Popemobile protester charges overturned
In a victory for free speech and the freedom to criticise religious crimes, the NSW Police were today forced to withdraw their charges against the builder of the fake Popemobile.
Mr Ian Bryce said the police campaign against him seemed to have more to do with suppressing criticism of religion than with road safety.
A team from the Secular Party of Australia, of which Mr Bryce is Vice President, built the Popemobile, then on top of a car, as protest against the visit of the real Pope for World Youth Day in July 2008. It drove around Sydney in one form or another for 7 days, to the acclamation of 90% of people who saw it. Only a few appeared offended.
Most police who saw it then gave a friendly wave, but one Highway Patrol man seemed determined to end the protest. After trying several offences he defected the vehicle, putting it off the road, and issued a fine for “having a roof ornament likely to distract motorists”. There being no such rule, it was suspected that religious motivation played a part.
Lawyers from the NSW Council for Civil Liberties attempted to get police to specify the charge. It was only on entry to court today [27 April 2009], after 9 months, that they provided their Statement, and changed the charge to Clause 21, which states that no vehicle shall “cause danger or unreasonable annoyance to any person”. The Statement also refers to the bumper sticker saying “Sponsor a Lion for World Youth Day – 300,000 Christians in one stadium”, and the sign saying “Eat my dust Chaser”.
The basis for the annoyance was stated - the signage on the vehicle, which included the revelation that the current Pope was for 25 years the Prefect (ie Head) of the former Office of the Inquisition (now called Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). He has said “The Inquisition represented progress…”. The Police statement also complains that the sign also showed a replica of a medieval torture instrument, ie a rack - similar to those used by the Church to encourage witnesses to assist them in their enquiries, during the Inquisition covering much of Europe, over many centuries.
The Police Statement argues that this was “annoying” to the thousands of pilgrims conducting a “Stations of the Cross march” to North Sydney Oval where Mr Bryce was apprehended. Mr Bryce was ready to argue that the Church causes greater “annoyance” to the millions of children in Africa who have inherited AIDS due to the Churches ban on condoms, and who are starving because of overpopulation due to the Pope’s opposition to family planning.
With this change from a safety issue to a free speech issue, a regrouping was called for. Fortunately it was the same NSW CCL who in July overturned the World Youth Day Regulation making it an offence to “annoy or inconvenience” a pilgrim. After lengthy discussions outside the courtroom, the Police Prosecutor decided to withdraw the charges.
The Popemobile has also appeared in the Mardi Gras Parade with the slogan “Equal Rights for All”. It then contained a live Pope , trying to contact his “invisible friend” with a gold telephone, and quoted Benedict “Homosexuality is as much a threat to humankind as climate change”.
My Bryce said that while he was disappointed the police were able to severely curtail the Protest Popemobile during WYD, in the end it was a significant victory for civil liberties and the right to criticise crimes veiled as religion.
Mr Ian Bryce said the police campaign against him seemed to have more to do with suppressing criticism of religion than with road safety.
A team from the Secular Party of Australia, of which Mr Bryce is Vice President, built the Popemobile, then on top of a car, as protest against the visit of the real Pope for World Youth Day in July 2008. It drove around Sydney in one form or another for 7 days, to the acclamation of 90% of people who saw it. Only a few appeared offended.
Most police who saw it then gave a friendly wave, but one Highway Patrol man seemed determined to end the protest. After trying several offences he defected the vehicle, putting it off the road, and issued a fine for “having a roof ornament likely to distract motorists”. There being no such rule, it was suspected that religious motivation played a part.
Lawyers from the NSW Council for Civil Liberties attempted to get police to specify the charge. It was only on entry to court today [27 April 2009], after 9 months, that they provided their Statement, and changed the charge to Clause 21, which states that no vehicle shall “cause danger or unreasonable annoyance to any person”. The Statement also refers to the bumper sticker saying “Sponsor a Lion for World Youth Day – 300,000 Christians in one stadium”, and the sign saying “Eat my dust Chaser”.
The basis for the annoyance was stated - the signage on the vehicle, which included the revelation that the current Pope was for 25 years the Prefect (ie Head) of the former Office of the Inquisition (now called Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith). He has said “The Inquisition represented progress…”. The Police statement also complains that the sign also showed a replica of a medieval torture instrument, ie a rack - similar to those used by the Church to encourage witnesses to assist them in their enquiries, during the Inquisition covering much of Europe, over many centuries.
The Police Statement argues that this was “annoying” to the thousands of pilgrims conducting a “Stations of the Cross march” to North Sydney Oval where Mr Bryce was apprehended. Mr Bryce was ready to argue that the Church causes greater “annoyance” to the millions of children in Africa who have inherited AIDS due to the Churches ban on condoms, and who are starving because of overpopulation due to the Pope’s opposition to family planning.
With this change from a safety issue to a free speech issue, a regrouping was called for. Fortunately it was the same NSW CCL who in July overturned the World Youth Day Regulation making it an offence to “annoy or inconvenience” a pilgrim. After lengthy discussions outside the courtroom, the Police Prosecutor decided to withdraw the charges.
The Popemobile has also appeared in the Mardi Gras Parade with the slogan “Equal Rights for All”. It then contained a live Pope , trying to contact his “invisible friend” with a gold telephone, and quoted Benedict “Homosexuality is as much a threat to humankind as climate change”.
My Bryce said that while he was disappointed the police were able to severely curtail the Protest Popemobile during WYD, in the end it was a significant victory for civil liberties and the right to criticise crimes veiled as religion.
IMAGES AVAILABLE
Video of WYD Popemobile (on roof racks) as charged – linked from www.worldTRUTHday.org
Photo vehicle as described by police –
- For medium quality go here
For rear view as described by Police, go to Popemobile Mark1 on sedan, last photo, download it.
- For high quality – on request. (Credit World Truth Day.)
Video of the Popemobile in the more recent Mardi Gras
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You can read more about this epic win at:
ABC News
It's Alive!
Sydney Atheists
All Voices
Courier Mail
9 News
News.com.au
And here's some pics
And the obligatory funny pic
So a big congratulations to Ian ON THIS epic win!!!!!!!!!!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
A child's perception of church
In this video, a child (toddler) delivers a sermon in raving gibberish. What is most concerning about this is that the child is simply mimicking the behaviour modeled to him by the regular preachers. In his mind, church is about going to a big pretty room and being yelled at by a wildly gesticulating man pacing around the stage.
It's scary to think that children are being exposed to this type of service (I recognise that not all religious services are like this), where they can't yet understand the message being delivered and are just exposed to the tone of the delivery.
Church should be a child-free environment. If a child wishes to start learning about their parent's faith at an age where they are able to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts involved, I don't so much mind. But to expose very young children to the frightening sermons of the more 'enthusiastic' rligious denominations is wrong and comarable to child abuse.
It's scary to think that children are being exposed to this type of service (I recognise that not all religious services are like this), where they can't yet understand the message being delivered and are just exposed to the tone of the delivery.
Church should be a child-free environment. If a child wishes to start learning about their parent's faith at an age where they are able to demonstrate an understanding of the concepts involved, I don't so much mind. But to expose very young children to the frightening sermons of the more 'enthusiastic' rligious denominations is wrong and comarable to child abuse.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Richard Dawkins at AAI conference 2009
Richard Dawkins at the Atheist Alliance International conference on Atlanta, Georgia.
The talk is divided into four sections: 1. The Tony Blair Faith Foundation / 2. Mining the Eddington Concession / 3. God as Science Ficton / 4. Q&A on dealing with Creationists
You can download the quicktime version (213 mb) here
Sunday, April 19, 2009
To defame religion is a human right
Peter Singer wrote recently about the UN human rights council's adoption of a resolution to condemn defamation of religion as a human rights violation. The tag line to the article is "We must defend the right to cause offence to believers, when this is not meant to stir up hatred".
This resolution seems to be a cowardly attempt to calm down religious fundamentalists who can't tolerate hearing opinions divergent to their own. It is a violation of free speech, a human right. The last thing that you would expect the UN human rights council to do is to breach human rights, but there you have it. Tisk, tisk, tisk.
Original article here
This resolution seems to be a cowardly attempt to calm down religious fundamentalists who can't tolerate hearing opinions divergent to their own. It is a violation of free speech, a human right. The last thing that you would expect the UN human rights council to do is to breach human rights, but there you have it. Tisk, tisk, tisk.
Original article here
Sydney Atheists' Blood Drive #3
Once again, the Sydney Atheists have been out showing how we can be 'Good Without God'. Our third blood drive was yesterday and was another successful charity event for us.
I was unable to make it because I've been a bit ill lately, but it looks like everyone had a good time doing good, without gods.
You can see the whole set here
Vampire by PQ
I was unable to make it because I've been a bit ill lately, but it looks like everyone had a good time doing good, without gods. You can see the whole set hereVampire by PQ
Religion laws don't have a prayer in a country with robust common sense
By Bob Carr
Sydney Morning Herald
Continue reading here
It is important to remember that freedom FROM religion is just as important as freedom OF religion, though it often gets ignored.
I like how the article ends:
too true...
Sydney Morning Herald
This week we have heard about an increasing international trend to prosecute religious issues in the courts.
In Britain cases are being brought under laws such as the Religious Hatred Act, which makes it a crime to "stir up" "religious hatred". British police have even warned that insulting Scientology would be treated as a crime.
Such legislation may soon be heading to a statute book near you.
The Australian Human Rights Commission is finalising a report almost certain to recommend legislation on religion - on freedom of religion or religious vilification - that would mean similar prosecutions being launched under national law.
Why do we need this? The last time Australians were asked whether they wanted freedom of religion embodied in the constitution was in 1988. Showing a robust common sense, they voted a resounding "no". It lost in every state and territory, with up to 74 per cent against.
Citizens knew in their bones that Australia was one of the freest countries in the world and that we wouldn't make ourselves freer by inventing new offences
Continue reading here
It is important to remember that freedom FROM religion is just as important as freedom OF religion, though it often gets ignored.
I like how the article ends:
I stick with Jefferson, who said, "it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." After all, "Truth is great and will prevail if left to itself"
too true...
The Origins of the Universe
Here's a playlist with some really smart people talking about some really cool stuff. Stephen Hawking and Carl Sagan discuss the origins of the universe.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Funny Caller on the Atheist Experience show
No books older than the bible
Don't call me a monkey
What's a search engine
Suicide as proof of god
I really don't think any commentary is needed, just watch and laugh!
For more Atheist Experience go to The AE YouTube page, website, blog, podcast
Also check out Atheism Magazine's AE page for highlights and live chat, the Atheist Community of Austin's website for all ACA news, productions and info and the Iron Chariots Wiki, where all your questions will be answered.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
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