Atheist humour

This is funny. The British Humanist Association's advertising campaign Please Don't Label Me features a picture of two children. What they didn't realise was that the two children are from an evangelical family! Read more here and here

Richard Dawkins can't rule out the possibility that Santa Claus exists!

I cannot believe what I have just heard Richard Dawkins say.

He said on a video clip on the Guardian website that you "Can't say there is definitely no God - you can't say there is definitely no Father Christmas". Huh?

The video can be found clicking here . It's a 2 minute video. Go to about 1.11 and you'll pinch yourslef to make sure you're not dreaming.

Please tell me if I have misunderstood.

This is my 100th post. Thank you to Professor Dawkins for making it memorable!

Charter of Freedom

There's a fascinating article on the Ten Commandments in the latest online edition of Prospect Magazine . The author, David Bodanis, clearly takes a very sceptical view of the history surrounding the Old Testament narratives about Israel and the Exodus. Nor is he impressed with the way in which God is revealed in the Old Testament.

However, he argues forcefully that the Ten Commandments are more of a charter for freedom than an agenda of repression, and takes the well-known atheist, Christopher Hitchens, to task for dismissing the Ten Commandments as the rantings of a vain and vengeful God.

Below is a little taster for you:

"[The Ten Commandments] consistent message is not one of repression, but of freedom: freedom from fear of your possessions being taken; freedom from relentless work; freedom from chaos. Refugees today would seek little more. "

On the subject of the "Ten", if you have Sky or cable tv, you might want to watch J. John's "Just 10" series on UCB . You can find out more about J. John at Philo Trust .

An atheist advocates the faith

Matthew Parris had a fascinating piece in Saturday's Times (27th December) on why Africa needs God. Parris is a self professed atheist. In the article, however, he argues that the Christian faith is truly liberating and gives individuals the confidence to tackle life head on.

Lennox / Hitchens

The interest here is a little personal as well as professional. John Lennox grew up in my home town. His family are well known there.


The debate between John Lennox (Christian apologist) and Christopher Hitchens (well-known athiest) was held during the Edinburgh Festival in the Usher Hall. The motion was : "The New Europe Should Prefer The New Atheism"


The links below have extensive coverage of the encounter.


I think it is amazing that 1400 people in a supposedly post Christian society would turn out for such a debate. And that opinion should swing in Lennox's direction. Or perhaps I - we - should see it as evidence that God is still after people's hearts and minds, even in secular Europe.


http://thinkingmatters.org.nz/2008/08/should-europe-embrace-the-new-atheism-john-lennox-v-christopher-hitchens/


http://wetlenses.blogspot.com/2008/08/new-europe-new-atheism.html


http://theologica.blogspot.com/2008/08/hitchens-vs-lennox-and-winner-was.html