Archives for Religion

The Vatican and the ethics of advertising... (August 25, 2007) I've discovered that in one territory at least I'm in perfect tune with The Vatican, or at least with the Pontifical Council for Social Communications. I confess, this was entirely unexpected. From their perspective perhaps it would reassure them that...

The Evil Tree of Evolution... (September 7, 2006) Added 10.30pm: It has been pointed out to me that in fact the image below is a spoof and that I am really quite quite stupid! I will be leaving the evidence for my crapulence below in perpetuity as a...

On maps of religious adherents in America... (April 18, 2006) I was talking to Kerry Bailey the other day and - on the pretty feeble pretext that "you like maps, right" - he directed me to a fascinating post about Religion in America in which county-by-county maps of the US...

On Ben Goldacre's "Bad Science"... (September 12, 2005) While I'm talking about the Guardian (reports from friends within the printing presses are that it's looks beautiful), i thought I should probably mention an article that I read on Thursday last week which I thought was one of the...

Science (and evolution) is not a matter of faith... (September 1, 2005) You know what the real problem is with Intelligent Design? You know why it seems impossible to make it clear to people why it is such total bunk? It's because the battle was conceded years ago in a parallel argument....

On the existence of God... (August 3, 2003) I'm an atheist. I have been for nearly twenty years, and before that I wasn't really anything - I didn't really have a position on God vs. No God. I suppose I just hadn't thought about it properly. I can't...

On America, Science and Fundamentalist Christianity... (April 10, 2003) Probably the one thing I understand least about America is its relationship with religion. American is a country that (i) is particularly known for not being hide-bound by convention in science or business and (ii) often demonstrates an astonishing (and...

God as plot device... (February 18, 2002) One of the more interesting quizzes I've taken recently examines the logical consistency of one's beliefs about god. I'm a staunch atheist, and have been for over fifteen years now. My ideas consolidated around the time I was Christened in...

Is Mark going to hell? (December 24, 2001) I'm worried about Mark: "One more thing I'd like to record is that today my father implied he thinks i'm going to hell. He explained to me his concern, that he'd like me to be with him when we both...

Is Christianity vanquished in the UK? (September 6, 2001) I haven't believed in god for over fifteen years now. I was thirteen when my little brother was born. My mother had come into the TV room and sat me down on the tan sofa and asked me how I'd...