Planet Atheism » Edward Baker

All those original Chrisitian beliefs….

Edward Baker — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Psychic Fail

Edward Baker — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 07:31:00 +0000

Religion is like a penis

Edward Baker — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 20:48:00 +0000

Fighting Religion In Public Schools :: Jessica Ahlquist

Edward Baker — Tue, 23 Aug 2011 09:41:00 +0000

Good, murderous, Christian parents

Edward Baker — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 07:36:00 +0000

Sam Harris & Richard Dawkins: Who Says Science has Nothing to Say About Morality?

Edward Baker — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 18:55:00 +0000

Sam Harris & Richard Dawkins: Who Says Science has Nothing to Say About Morality?

Edward Baker — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 18:55:00 +0000

Don’t pray for me

Edward Baker — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0000

After going off Condell a bit during the 'UKIP rants' here is talking about something I agree with again.

Don’t pray for me

Edward Baker — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 12:00:00 +0000

After going off Condell a bit during the 'UKIP rants' here is talking about something I agree with again.

That Mitchell and Webb Look Abraham and Isaac

Edward Baker — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 09:00:00 +0000

That Mitchell and Webb Look Abraham and Isaac

Edward Baker — Sun, 12 Jun 2011 09:00:00 +0000

Richard Dawkins & PZ Myers

Edward Baker — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 17:25:00 +0000

A few friends and I went to see a discussion between Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers hosted by the British Humanist Association. The event was marred slightly by some people protesting about things entirely irrelevant to the talk (see videos below).

A recording of the event is available here thanks to the Pod Delusion: PZ Myers and Richard Dawkins in Conversation.

Perhaps the most annoying thing however is the number of bad/banal questions. It would perhaps have been better to have people write questions down and then select from those ones which are interesting (and ideally related to the talk).

Richard Dawkins & PZ Myers

Edward Baker — Sat, 11 Jun 2011 17:25:00 +0000

A recording of the event is available here thanks to the Pod Delusion: PZ Myers and Richard Dawkins in Conversation.

We tried to rapture you…..

Edward Baker — Wed, 25 May 2011 06:57:00 +0000

We tried to rapture you…..

Edward Baker — Wed, 25 May 2011 06:57:00 +0000

On Dinosaurs and Lice

Edward Baker — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:25:00 +0000

An interesting article published in Biology Letters suggests that dinosaurs may have had lice. The article was covered by the ever-understated Daily Mail as: So that's why dinosaurs were bad-tempered... scientists reveal they were plagued by lice.

One of the comments made on this article:

"Dr Vincent Smith, from the Natural History Museum, London, said: 'Lice are like living fossils. The record of our past is written in these parasites." No. The record of our past is written in the bible. "Study of insect DNA shows that lice evolved more than 65million years ago." Study of the bible shows that lice were created perfect much less than 65 million years ago and then became imperfect. And this isn't guesswork; the day they and everything else became imperfect and started decaying was written by an eyewitness - the man from whom we are all descended - whom we know as Adam. The 65 million-years-ago history is false. It never happened. This scientist started with a pre-conceived world-view and interpreted his finding through this. But he has ignored the written account preserved in the bible and has subscribed to an imagined history. Adam has put his name at the end of the account in thre first book of the bible, and it's his 'written record.'"

Yet again it seems that the science is more interesting and fascinating the Bible. Oh, and it's a lot more likely to be right.

On Dinosaurs and Lice

Edward Baker — Wed, 06 Apr 2011 13:25:00 +0000

"Dr Vincent Smith, from the Natural History Museum, London, said: 'Lice are like living fossils. The record of our past is written in these parasites." No. The record of our past is written in the bible. "Study of insect DNA shows that lice evolved more than 65million years ago." Study of the bible shows that lice were created perfect much less than 65 million years ago and then became imperfect. And this isn't guesswork; the day they and everything else became imperfect and started decaying was written by an eyewitness - the man from whom we are all descended - whom we know as Adam. The 65 million-years-ago history is false. It never happened. This scientist started with a pre-conceived world-view and interpreted his finding through this. But he has ignored the written account preserved in the bible and has subscribed to an imagined history. Adam has put his name at the end of the account in thre first book of the bible, and it's his 'written record.'"

Yet again it seems that the science is more interesting and fascinating the Bible. Oh, and it's a lot more likely to be right.

A Quote

Edward Baker — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:22:00 +0000

The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.

Francis Bacon

A Quote

Edward Baker — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 07:22:00 +0000

The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.

Francis Bacon

Stephen Fry on the Bible

Edward Baker — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:24:00 +0000

"The Bible is crammed from end to end with stories of temptation, interdiction and chastisement. A forbidden fruit hangs from a tree on the very first page, and as we go through we are given more terrible lessons on how greed is punished and lust accursed until we reach the full, final and insane damnations and ecstasies of St John's Revelations, having passed through wilderness and desert trials, locusts, honey, manna, ravens, sores, boils, plagues, scourages, tribulations and sacrifices. Lead us not into temptation. Get thee behind me, Satan. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay."

From The Fry Chronicles

Stephen Fry on the Bible

Edward Baker — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 16:24:00 +0000

"The Bible is crammed from end to end with stories of temptation, interdiction and chastisement. A forbidden fruit hangs from a tree on the very first page, and as we go through we are given more terrible lessons on how greed is punished and lust accursed until we reach the full, final and insane damnations and ecstasies of St John's Revelations, having passed through wilderness and desert trials, locusts, honey, manna, ravens, sores, boils, plagues, scourages, tribulations and sacrifices. Lead us not into temptation. Get thee behind me, Satan. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, I will repay."

From The Fry Chronicles

West Wing Religion

Edward Baker — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:16:00 +0000

West Wing Religion

Edward Baker — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:16:00 +0000

Christine O’Donnell scares me

Edward Baker — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 18:10:00 +0000

She would be funny, if she wasn't potentially in a position of some power.

This clip features just enough to get her drift, and hopefully little enough to prevent outbreaks of anger amongst the sane.

Christine O’Donnell scares me

Edward Baker — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 18:10:00 +0000

She would be funny, if she wasn't potentially in a position of some power.

This clip features just enough to get her drift, and hopefully little enough to prevent outbreaks of anger amongst the sane.

Stick Evolution

Edward Baker — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 18:03:00 +0000

via The Dispersal of Darwin.

The below is an entry for the 2010 Stick Science Contest - which illustrates the point very clearly.

Stick Evolution

Edward Baker — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 18:03:00 +0000

via The Dispersal of Darwin.

The below is an entry for the 2010 Stick Science Contest - which illustrates the point very clearly.

Carl Sagan Day: November 6th

Edward Baker — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:41:00 +0000

Carl Sagan has done some great things for humanity. I have met many people who first became interested in astrophysics and astronomy thanks to his TV shows.

He suggested taking what is perhaps the most iconic photograph ever taken, Pale Blue Dot.

He was also an influential proponent of atheism (Carl Sagan quotes on religion).

In his honour there is a(nother) Carl Sagan Day on the 6th November - an idea I fully support.

Carl Sagan Day: November 6th

Edward Baker — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 15:41:00 +0000

Carl Sagan has done some great things for humanity. I have met many people who first became interested in astrophysics and astronomy thanks to his TV shows.

He suggested taking what is perhaps the most iconic photograph ever taken, Pale Blue Dot.

He was also an influential proponent of atheism (Carl Sagan quotes on religion).

In his honour there is a(nother) Carl Sagan Day on the 6th November - an idea I fully support.

"Evil" Atheist Doctors

Edward Baker — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:06:00 +0000

The Guardian today published an article titled 'Atheist doctors 'more likely to hasten death''. This is a bit of a shocking headline, as it implies that doctors without religious beliefs are actively harming their patients.

The article itself tells a different story "A patient who wanted their life prolonged at all costs in the event of a terminal illness, or did not want it prolonged, should make sure they had a doctor who was in sympathy with this." This is essentially common sense, it just so happens that atheist doctors seem more likely to put quality of life over sanctity of life (which if they were treating me, I'd be pretty happy about).

Perhaps the thing I find most worrying though is last paragraph: "The most religious doctors were significantly less likely than other doctors to have discussed options at the end of life with their patient." Not discussing these issues with a terminal patient is, in my view, a neglect of responsibility.

Given this, who would you want to treat you?

"Evil" Atheist Doctors

Edward Baker — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 14:06:00 +0000

Saudi Arabia and Qisas

Edward Baker — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0000

I imagine this press release from Amnesty International will shortly make the news. The Islamic idea of qisas (translates as 'retaliation') is quite literally eye-for-an-eye 'justice'.

I'm not one who's often heard praising the fairness of the UK or US legal systems, but at least we have moved on from this bronze age barbarism.

Saudi Arabia and Qisas

Edward Baker — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:00:00 +0000

I imagine this press release from Amnesty International will shortly make the news. The Islamic idea of qisas (translates as 'retaliation') is quite literally eye-for-an-eye 'justice'.

I'm not one who's often heard praising the fairness of the UK or US legal systems, but at least we have moved on from this bronze age barbarism.

Protest the Pope

Edward Baker — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:28:00 +0000

From the Protest the Pope website.

That the Pope, as a citizen of Europe and the leader of a religion with many adherents in the UK, is of course free to enter and tour our country.
However, as well as a religious leader, the Pope is a head of state and the state and organisation of which he is head has been responsible for:
1. opposing the distribution of condoms and so increasing large families in poor countries and the spread of AIDS
2. promoting segregated education
3. denying abortion to even the most vulnerable women
4. opposing equal rights for lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people
5. failing to address the many cases of abuse of children within its own organisation.
6. rehabilitating the holocaust denier bishop Richard Williamson and the appeaser of Hitler, the war-time Pope, Pius XII.
The state of which the Pope is the head has also resisted signing many major human rights treaties and has formed its own treaties (‘concordats’) with many states which negatively affect the human rights of citizens of those states.
As a head of state, the Pope is an unsuitable guest of the UK government and should not be accorded the honour and recognition of a state visit to our country.

Protest the Pope

Edward Baker — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 16:28:00 +0000

From the Protest the Pope website.

That the Pope, as a citizen of Europe and the leader of a religion with many adherents in the UK, is of course free to enter and tour our country.
However, as well as a religious leader, the Pope is a head of state and the state and organisation of which he is head has been responsible for:
1. opposing the distribution of condoms and so increasing large families in poor countries and the spread of AIDS
2. promoting segregated education
3. denying abortion to even the most vulnerable women
4. opposing equal rights for lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people
5. failing to address the many cases of abuse of children within its own organisation.
6. rehabilitating the holocaust denier bishop Richard Williamson and the appeaser of Hitler, the war-time Pope, Pius XII.
The state of which the Pope is the head has also resisted signing many major human rights treaties and has formed its own treaties (‘concordats’) with many states which negatively affect the human rights of citizens of those states.
As a head of state, the Pope is an unsuitable guest of the UK government and should not be accorded the honour and recognition of a state visit to our country.

The stupid, it hurts……

Edward Baker — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:26:00 +0000

The lack of understanding here is painful.

The stupid, it hurts……

Edward Baker — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 12:26:00 +0000

The lack of understanding here is painful.

Boobquake

Edward Baker — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0000

I haven't been writing much here for a while, mainly due to time constraints. I'll try and get back into the world of reason and scepticism a bit more whole-heartedly.

Something that has amused me in recent days is the Boobquake - a response by Blag Hag to the Iranian cleric who blamed women exposing flesh and acting promiscuously for earthquakes. The Boobquake was meant to happen yesterday, when lots of women, led by Blag Hag wore revealing clothing in an attempt to induce seismic activity.

Clearly, we all survived. Science 1 Ignorance 0.

Boobquake

Edward Baker — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 12:00:00 +0000

I haven't been writing much here for a while, mainly due to time constraints. I'll try and get back into the world of reason and scepticism a bit more whole-heartedly.

Clearly, we all survived. Science 1 Ignorance 0.

A Free Thinker is Satan’s Slave

Edward Baker — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:39:00 +0000

A Free Thinker is Satan’s Slave

Edward Baker — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 17:39:00 +0000

Correlation of religion and immorality

Edward Baker — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:55:00 +0000

Correlation of religion and immorality

Edward Baker — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:55:00 +0000

The Oregon Sasquatch

Edward Baker — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:59:00 +0000

...or something just a little more sceptically amusing....

The Oregon Sasquatch

Edward Baker — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:59:00 +0000

...or something just a little more sceptically amusing....

On the tattoo theme….

Edward Baker — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:24:00 +0000

..here's one featuring the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

On the tattoo theme….

Edward Baker — Wed, 17 Feb 2010 19:24:00 +0000

..here's one featuring the Flying Spaghetti Monster.

Zombie Jesus Tattoo

Edward Baker — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:30:00 +0000

Zombie Jesus Tattoo

Edward Baker — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:30:00 +0000

[300th Post] Make The Pope Pay

Edward Baker — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:43:00 +0000

Do you think having a visit from the Pope is worth spending £20 million of your money? No? Well head over to the National Secular Society who have a petition to make the pope pay.

I don't care if the church pays, the pope pays or some rich person pays. It just shouldn't be the taxpayers - many of whom aren't Catholics.

[300th Post] Make The Pope Pay

Edward Baker — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 14:43:00 +0000

Do you think having a visit from the Pope is worth spending £20 million of your money? No? Well head over to the National Secular Society who have a petition to make the pope pay.

I don't care if the church pays, the pope pays or some rich person pays. It just shouldn't be the taxpayers - many of whom aren't Catholics.

Your equality laws are unjust, pope tells UK before visit

Edward Baker — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:22:00 +0000

From Steve Bell at the Guardian: Your equality laws are unjust, pope tells UK before visit

Your equality laws are unjust, pope tells UK before visit

Edward Baker — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 08:22:00 +0000

From Steve Bell at the Guardian: Your equality laws are unjust, pope tells UK before visit

Naming every species

Edward Baker — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:14:00 +0000

Thanks to Ritchie Wilson for pointing me in the direction of this.

Naming every species

Edward Baker — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 11:14:00 +0000

Thanks to Ritchie Wilson for pointing me in the direction of this.

Intimidation in the blogosphere

Edward Baker — Tue, 26 Jan 2010 12:40:00 +0000

It seems that an Anglican priest has used the police to intimidate a blogger who dared mention the fact he was a Holcoaust denier. Obviously his views aren't those of the church (the blogger in question is also a Christian), but why does he have his position if eh is outspoken on these issues?

Helping Haiti

Edward Baker — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 11:24:00 +0000

What Haitians really need is help to recover from a devastating earthquake and the preceding lack of proper government and security. Among this help should be food, water, medical supplies and the expertise required for these to be used effectively.

What they do not need is solar powered talking bibles. Yes, some people will use their faith in Christianity to help them get through this tragedy, but the way to help is to provide items that are desperately needed and without which more people will die. Clogging up the limited transport routes into Haiti with nonsense such as this, at this time, is just plain wrong.

Homeopathy

Edward Baker — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:19:00 +0000

As much as I dislike homeopathy, I have managed to find a medical condition that it is guaranteed to cure.

I am also 100% certain that it works.

Homeopathic remedies can cure dehydration!

What got me thinking about homeopathy? The mass homeopathic overdose.

..and remember, if water has memory, there's a good chance you'll be (homeopathically) drinking my urine.

Compromise with the conspiracy theorists

Edward Baker — Thu, 21 Jan 2010 08:10:00 +0000

from xkcd: Semicontrolled Demolition

Rational Mantis

Edward Baker — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 11:45:00 +0000

Combining my love of insects with a passion for reason. Awesome.