Diary
Gay Humanists support Alan Turing campaign
Wednesday, Aug 19, 2009The gay Humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust (PTT) has warmly welcomed the decision of Richard Dawkins to back the campaign to win an official apology for Alan Turing, the code-breaking genius and father of the modern computer who committed suicide in 1954 after being prosecuted for being homosexual. More than 2,500 people have now added their name to the on-line petition calling for the Government to recognise the “consequences of prejudice” that ended the life of the scientist aged just 41.Less agreeable?
Sunday, Aug 16, 2009Via the NSS, ‘A new survey by the Center for Inquiry entitled “Profiles of the Godless” (pdf), examines both the preferred labels that non-believers attach to themselves and the personality types that tend to be connected with those labels.’ It notes that ‘non-religious people tend to be highly educated, unmarried males who are intellectually adventurous but personally “less agreeable”.’ Surely not!Hubble deep field
Sunday, Aug 16, 2009If you missed Tom Boles’ talk about the Hubble space telescope and what it’s revealed about the universe at our July meeting, this might give you an idea of what you missed.Mad missionaries & toxic gifts
Wednesday, Aug 12, 2009This was first posted in November 2007, but has been updated several times. I don’t know how many American missionaries there are, or where they all are, but there are a lot of them. I’ve previously posted a story about the Joshua Project: Our Mission … to highlight the people groups of the world that have the least Christian presence in their midst and to encourage pioneer church-planting among every ethnic people group.Toys for injured Afghani kids
Tuesday, Aug 11, 2009Via a Facebook friend, a message from a doctor serving in Afghanistan: A request for support from a doctor serving in Kandahar Hospital, Afghanistan, who tells of some of the awful injuries suffered by many children as a result of the fighting. He has asked if people could parcel together a few toys, colouring books, toy cars, soft toys (but not dogs), and post to him: 5766271 Captain A J Stubbs, UK-JF Med Gp, Op Herrick 10b, BFPO772.Everythings our fault, and other stuff from the web
Tuesday, Aug 4, 2009I try to resist watching The Big Questions on BBC TV (Sunday mornings), as it only makes me cross. They never give anyone time to develop an argument and it often ends up as a shouting match. Last Sunday (you have until the weekend to watch on i-player), the last question was “Is atheism an intolerant belief?”, so you knew it was going to be silly. Belief? Atheism is a lack of belief.Fundamentalist exams on a par with A- levels
Monday, Aug 3, 2009A creationist exam syllabus for evangelical Christians that orginated in Texas in the 1970s has been ruled equivalent to international A levels by a UK government agency, despite teaching that the Loch Ness monster disproves evolution and racial segregation is beneficial. The Times Edicational Supplement reports that – Hundreds of teenagers at around 50 private Christian schools in Britain study for the certificates, as well as several home-educated students.A Humanist on the 4th plinth
Monday, Aug 3, 2009At 4pm on Sunday 2nd August, BHA member and “Happy Humanist” Andrew West, aka Krypto, used his hour on the 4th plinth in Trafalger Square to teach a group of atheists, and anyone else who wanted to join in, how to dance Michael Jackson’s Thriller dance routine. You can watch his dance lesson here. Our member Simon Bishop was there to take photos.New RE guidance whats wrong with it
Friday, Jul 24, 2009I’ve responded belatedly to the new guidance on RE, as follows: Rt Hon Ed Balls MP Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families Department for Children, Schools and Families Sanctuary Buildings Great Smith Street London SW1P 3BT Dear Mr Balls, I am writing to express my disappointment at the new draft guidance produced for RE in England, particularly its failure to make it clear that the subject should be the study of both religious and non-religious beliefs and to recognise and recommend the eligibility of Humanists for full membership of SACREs and ASCs.Should Thought for the Day be scrapped?
Tuesday, Jul 21, 2009While the BHA gets excited at the prospect of the BBC including Humanist thoughts in Radio 4 Today’s god-bothering slot, I’m not keen on the idea. Yes, I know I did T4TDs on local radio for years (necessitating early risings that totally messed up my metabolic clock – I don’t do mornings), but I’ve gone off them since then. How many people take them seriously? I get the impression that most people use them as an opportunity to go to the loo or put the kettle on, without missing anything worth listening to.