This week we shine the spotlight on Prince Charles, Cherie Blair and Fred Flintstone (the only one who doesn’t believe in fiction). As an encore I’ll throw in the Westborough Baptist Church and a few other bits and pieces to get you going.
We Might Err, But Science is Self-Correcting
It was pleasing this week to stumble across an article in the Times, which not only made the defence of science its sole purpose, but repeatedly and explicitly made connections between the scientific method and the notion of scepticism. Challenging the media phrase ‘climate sceptics’ and addressing the rocky relationship between science and politics, John Krebs makes a first class defence of the principles we hold dear.
Prince Charles Declares War on… The Enlightenment
But one man remains unconvinced. In a recent article in the Times, the Prince of Woo was reported to have remarked, “I was accused once of being the enemy of the Enlightenment. I felt proud of that.” He went on to hypothesise that “The Enlightenment started over 200 years ago. It might be time to think again.” Presumably Charlie would see our return to the dark ages, during which time the medicines he champions may have seemed semi-plausible.
[Via DC’s Improbable Science]
Herbal Spot Treatment Gave Woman Cancer
Here’s an example of what can go wrong (as if you needed one) when you adopt the thinking of some uneducated charlatan who spent his days knee deep in excrement. A woman suffered a heart attack, kidney failure and has been diagnosed with cancer, after following a lengthy course of herbal spot treatment medicine, a court heard this week. The pills were found to contain the banned substance aristolochic acid.
In 2011, new EU laws will require that only regulated drugs be administered. Under current UK law herbal and other alternative medicines do not fall into this category. The UK government is to decide later this year whether or not this will remain the case.
[Via Derren Brown Blog]
How To Respond To The Westborough Baptist Church
I suspect that most of you are familiar with the Phelps family, aka the most hated family in America. They’re the ones who picket soldiers’ funerals with signs expressing what seems suspiciously to be their only concern, and that is “God Hates Fags”. Come out already Gramps, we won’t make fun. Anyway, if you’re wondering what you can do to combat these hatemongers then look no further. The protesters have cracked it. Problem over.
If you haven’t seen it already, I highly recommend Louis Theroux’s documentary in which he spends three weeks living with the Phelps family. In fact, I highly recommend all of his documentaries.
[Via Friendly Atheist]
Church of England Concerned by ‘Religious TV Cuts’
The synod this week expressed disappointment at the lack of religious programs available on all UK television networks. Perhaps more disappointing is that Channel 4 felt the need to defend itself by claiming that religious programs were “at the heart of its schedule”. Fortunately this is clearly not the case.
Jurassic Park Meets the Flintstones
According to Discover Magazine the prospect of being able to clone Neanderthals is not too far from us. Aside from the ethical dilemma attached, which is addressed in detail in their own article on the subject, this might open doors to help us to answer some fascinating and important questions, not least of which I imagine is ‘did you guys really mix cement in pelicans’ beaks?’
[Via Discover Blogs]
When Atheism Goes Mainstream
I remember the first time I watched the video titled ‘The Four Horsemen‘, in which Dawkins, Hitchens, Harris and Dennett discuss Atheism, and most interestingly their visions for the future and practical ways of getting there, at length. It was the first time that I realised that I agreed with some of them (Dawkins and Harris, since you ask) much more than others (Hitchens. I have never really explored Dennett’s work). To me, Hitchens’ most striking remark was that he would not like to see a world without religion, essentially because that would leave him with no one to argue with.
Well it appears that Hitchens is not alone in this respect. In an article titled ‘When Atheism Goes Mainstream’, Hemant Mehta takes a similar stance, but adds to this several other things he’ll miss if and when Atheism becomes the norm. I’m very confused by all this. It reminds me of a hardcore Nirvana fan who one day decides that he only likes the ‘old stuff’, because Nevermind is too mainstream. For the most part, when a band or anything else becomes ‘mainstream’, it is because it’s gained recognition because it was good, and atheism certainly is that.
Disclaimer: Friendly Atheist is an excellent blog, and in all fairness to him Hemant’s article is not about how he hopes that atheism never prevails.
[Via Friendly Atheist]
A Religious, but not Righteous Judge: Cherie Blair
Sorry, that last one turned into a bit of a rant. I’ll keep this one short and sweet.
Judge Cherie Blair gave an “expressly lenient” sentence to a man found guilty of assault, because he was religious. She made no attempt to disguise the fact. It’s a clear cut case. Read the story for yourself. You be the judge.
Christ, I’m not really going to end on that am I?
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