All entries by this author

Susan Jacoby on ‘Nasty v Nice’ Atheists *

Feb 4th, 2010 | Filed by

This dichotomy is wholly an invention of believers who think atheism is a religion in need of a schism. … Read the rest



P Charles Pitches a Fit at the Enlightenment *

Feb 4th, 2010 | Filed by

‘We cannot go on like this, just imagining that the principles of the Enlightenment still apply now.’ … Read the rest



Andrew Brown on Religious v Secular Jurisprudence *

Feb 4th, 2010 | Filed by

Or on his idea of it, anyway.… Read the rest



To the manner born

Feb 4th, 2010 11:32 am | By

Good old Charles, always stirring the pot, and doing it in such a grand aristocratic irresponsible way.

“I was accused once of being the enemy of the Enlightenment,” he told a conference at St James’s Palace. “I felt proud of that.”

Ah did you, you darling wee man. Well it’s easy for you, isn’t it, because if all the lights go out you can just get a lot of servants to hold the candles for you.

The Prince, who was talking at the annual conference of The Prince’s Foundation for the Built Environment , went on: “I thought, ‘Hang on a moment’. The Enlightenment started over 200 years ago.”

He’s been studying Madeleine Bunting!

It might be time

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Talk to Yggdrasil

Feb 3rd, 2010 12:36 pm | By

The Lancet has retracted Andrew Wakefield’s article that suggested that vaccines could cause autism. Therefore…

Jim Moody, a director of SafeMinds, a parents’ group that advances the notion the vaccines cause autism, said the retraction would strengthen Dr. Wakefield’s credibility with many parents.

I see. Years of investigation that turned up conflicts of interest and ‘the overwhelming body of research by the world’s leading scientists that concludes there is no link between M.M.R. vaccine and autism’ will strengthen Wakefield’s credibility with many parents. What kind of thing would weaken it then?

…an investigation by a British journalist found financial and scientific conflicts that Dr. Wakefield did not reveal in his paper. For instance, part of the costs of Dr. Wakefield’s

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Lisa Bauer’s ‘Subjection and Escape’ Parts 1-3 *

Feb 3rd, 2010 | Filed by

All in one place.… Read the rest



NY Times on Lancet Retraction *

Feb 3rd, 2010 | Filed by

Anti-vaccine guy said the retraction would strengthen Dr. Wakefield’s credibility with many parents.… Read the rest



Science-Based Medicine on Faith Healing *

Feb 3rd, 2010 | Filed by

Harriet Hall on the many problems with claims of ‘faith healing.’… Read the rest



General Medical Council to Andrew Wakefield *

Feb 3rd, 2010 | Filed by

‘The panel is satisfied that your conduct was irresponsible and dishonest.’ David Gorski reports.… Read the rest



Full Text of Lancet Retraction [pdf] *

Feb 3rd, 2010 | Filed by

‘Following the judgment of the UK General Medical Council’s Fitness to Practise Panel on Jan 28, 2010…’… Read the rest



The Lancet Retracts Wakefield’s Article *

Feb 3rd, 2010 | Filed by

It’s ok to be wrong in science, but error should not include scientific fraud or misrepresentation.… Read the rest



Remember Them!

Feb 3rd, 2010 | By Maryam Namazie

I want you to remember two names – Mohammad Reza Ali Zamani and Arash Rahmanipour.

They were two young men who were executed by the Islamic regime of Iran at dawn this past Thursday, January 28 for the ‘crime’ of ‘enmity against god’.

Yet another two beloved, murdered for protesting medievalism and theocracy…

And whilst this act of barbarity will leave many of us outraged and ‘speechless’(see writer Jim Herrick’s act of solidarity against the executions), we can only do them justice if we keep the pressure on.

The Islamic regime of Iran is on its last legs and will do anything it can to maintain power just a while longer. It is flexing its muscles to intimidate and … Read the rest



Wendy Kaminer on Science and Public Opinion *

Feb 2nd, 2010 | Filed by

People may express respect for science in general without being open to persuasion by scientific evidence.… Read the rest



BBC Slightly Less Excited About Pope’s Visit *

Feb 2nd, 2010 | Filed by

Peter Tatchell called Pope’s comments a coded attack on legal rights of women and gay people.… Read the rest



Harman Defends Equality Legislation *

Feb 2nd, 2010 | Filed by

Harman expects religious organisations to obey UK law like anyone else. … Read the rest



BBC Totally Excited About Pope’s Visit *

Feb 2nd, 2010 | Filed by

He’ll visit Birmingham! And Scotland! In ever such a pretty white dress.… Read the rest



Lisa Bauer on Escaping Islam *

Feb 2nd, 2010 | Filed by

‘Islam reinforced the weakest aspects of my personality. Indeed it sacralized them.’… Read the rest



A short way with dissenters

Feb 1st, 2010 4:15 pm | By

Hey, why not ask the pope to host Point of Inquiry? He’s a reasonable guy – rational, thoughtful, fair-minded, generous, liberal.

The Pope confirmed today that he will make an official state visit to Britain this September – and immediately launched an attack on the Government’s plans to introduce stronger equality legislation for gay men and women. In the first official announcement from the Vatican that the head of the Roman Catholic Church will tour Britain, Pope Benedict XVI called on his bishops to continue campaigning against the Equality Bill which he said threatened religious freedom.

That’s nice, isn’t it? A German fella who’s the boss of a large church based in Rome is telling British bishops to campaign against … Read the rest



Maybe Conan would like to do it?

Feb 1st, 2010 2:44 pm | By

This is not good news.

The Center for Inquiry has announced that there will be three new hosts for its popular podcast, Point of Inquiry. Joining the podcast are Chris Mooney, Karen Stollznow, and Robert Price…Mooney is expected to host about half of the approximately 50 new shows per year.

DJ Grothe, who was the host, left in December for a job as President of the James Randi Foundation. I was pleased at the time for DJ and for JREF, but worried for Point of Inquiry. DJ was a very good host.

Chris Mooney seems to me to be a very peculiar choice for that job. (He and Matthew Nisbet were both protégés of Paul Kurtz’s – … Read the rest



Aceh: WLUML Call for Repeal of Qanun Jinayah *

Feb 1st, 2010 | Filed by

Stoning to death would be codified and Islamic jurisdiction would be expanded into criminal law.… Read the rest