A little short on time and inspiration again, today, but I have, thankfully, an interview that I really must share with you. An atheist and a novelist! How could I not?
All text © 2009 Gary William Murning
Humanism.
All posts tagged Humanism.
I’m a little pushed for time (and energy) today, so in lieu of my usual, rambling observations on anything and everything, I thought I’d just share this article on David Attenborough with you.
I was especially interested to read his views on the teaching of creationism and evolution in schools as if they were equivalent, alternative perspectives:
“It’s like saying that two and two equals four, but if you wish to believe it, it could also be five… Evolution is not a theory; it is a fact, every bit as much as the historical fact that William the Conqueror landed in 1066.”
It really is that simple.
© 2009 Gary William Murning except for quotation.
My, doesn’t time fly when you’re enjoying yourself? It only seems the briefest of moments since we were all preparing to ring in 2008 and, now, here we are again, on the brink of a fresh, brand spanking new year.
So, here’s wishing you a healthy, fulfilled and safe 2009 — with heaps of good fortune and freedom from superstition!
Normal Gary William Murning Online service will resume in a day or two. Be good or, if not, at least be careful. 
Oh, dear, it seems that dear old Pope Benedict XVI has gone and done it again — spouting his bigoted, antiquated malevolence, insisting that we need to be saved from a destructive blurring of gender.
Firstly, there are many reasons why it is out-of-date metaphysics to speak of human nature in binary terms. Gender — or sex, if, as I prefer, we’re talking in biological terms — is far more complex than that, and, secondly, to issue a statement which attempts to misrepresent it in this way, throwing in words such as “despising” willy-nilly, isn’t merely irresponsible and unacceptable, it’s evil.
I very much doubt it will be news to my regular readers, but this guy is once again at the top of my 2008 List of Vile Individuals. And as such, I think he deserves a record dedication…
… this one goes out to the ungrooviest dude to ever don a frock and jangle his jewellery, The Deluded of all Deludeds, Pope Benedict XVI. For you, Popey-babes, because I know it’s a personal favourite, I give you, all the way from Greenwich Village — that den of iniquity — The Village People with… wait for it… Macho Man.
All text, apart from quotes, © 2008 Gary William Murning
Many of you will already be familiar with Richard Dawkins’s series, Enemies of Reason. In this series, Dawkins examines the all-too-readily accepted charlatanism of psychics, astrology, homoeopathy and more.
During one section of Enemies of Reason concerning spiritual readings, Dawkins interviews the illusionist Derren Brown in order that he might be better prepared for the tricks (cold reading etc) that will inevitably be used during a visit he plans to make to a spiritualist church.
Below, you will find the complete, uncut interview (not shown in the original series.) The interview is taken from “The Enemies of Reason: The Uncut Interviews“.
All text © 2008 Gary William Murning
Okay, so it’s true. As bizarre as it might seem, and however much you might wish not to hear it, I, the above-mentioned Gary William Murning, writer, owner of this website, world-renowned grumpy old bastard, actually felt — very briefly — a little bit Christmassy earlier today. It was rather fleeting, and, you’re right, it may just have been the cheese I ate last night, but there it is. I looked at the token Christmas tree, thought how pretty the lights and baubles looked –
– and then slapped myself a few times, went along to YouTube (dashing all the way) and found the perfect antidote.
Dear Stephen Fry and the QI team. Facts many of us are possibly already more than familiar with, but presented so entertainingly!
Ah, yes, that magical season is almost upon us and as is my custom at this time of year, I’m already finding myself wallowing quite nicely and appreciably in the anti-Spirit of Christmas — grumbling away to myself about the excess and foolishness, and generally having a thoroughly enjoyable time being quite contrary.
Bearing this in mind I thought now might be a good time to issue fair warning. Over the next four weeks or so Gary William Murning Online is very likely to become a place at least in part dedicated to everything that is not Christmas. The festive season will be mentioned frequently, of course, but the attitude will strictly be one of irreverence and hopefully enjoyable complaint.
If Christmas is not for you — or even if you only pretend not to enjoy it — remember to keep calling back. There will be (if I can be arsed) suitably atheistic delights, anti-Christmas quotes, possibly the odd dig at the expense of the various (stolen!) Christmas traditions and maybe even some mulled wine (because, let’s face it, it isn’t all bad, right?)
In leaving, and so that I might suitably set the tone, I’d like to share with you a quote from that wit and all-round good egg Mr Stephen Fry:
“Christmas to a child is the first terrible proof that to travel hopefully is better than to arrive.”
Looking for a last-minute Christmas present? Try If I Never. Available in paperback and for Kindle. See below.
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Very occasionally, when I write about my atheistic/humanistic approach to life on this blog, I am asked why expressing my bordering-on-antitheistic position is so important to me. I mean, if I don’t believe, I don’t believe. What more really needs to be said on the subject? It’s not as if I’m being forced at gunpoint to attend church, now, is it?
And this is a valid point. Or it would be if we lived in a world where the actions and attitudes of others did not impact upon the world and people around them.
Frankly, I’ve never really hidden my atheism. I’ve never had to. But my decision to be more vocal about it, to encourage debate and to look at the issues that concern me as a human being was, it has to be said, partially prompted… substantially prompted by the overwhelming assault from Christianity I started to see online. On my MySpace page, for example, I’d selected “atheist” not as some kind of statement but merely in the same way that I had selected “male”. When I started receiving friend requests from Christians intent on showing me the error of my ways, however, I dashed along as quickly as was humanly possible to Richard Dawkins’s website and found one of those nice red “A”s to stick on my then blog over at MySpace.
There seemed a lack of balance in cyberspace. In a virtual sense, I felt as if I were at times living in the American Bible Belt.
And when I started to see similar religious attitudes creeping more forcefully into the UK, I didn’t believe that I had any choice other than to continue to openly and unapologetically express my views. The things I held dear were being gradually undermined.
And it would seem that they still are:
“Of the 248 science teachers who responded, 18% agreed that the two should have equal status.
18%. It quite possibly doesn’t sound a whole lot to many people — and I know that some of my readers would argue (wrongly) that the 18% are quite correct. But given the number of teachers in the UK, this is a significant body of people. A body of people that does not understand scientific principles, or is perhaps taking the politically correct stance — afraid for whatever reason to challenge religious belief in the science classroom. A body of people that, as Dr Rutherford says, should be removed from their posts unless they teach the syllabus as it’s meant to be taught.
The insidiousness of creationism, it would seem, continues to make its mark in British schools, presenting a distorted view of science and attributing an utterly ridiculous equality to mythological mumbo-jumbo.
If we are to protect and nurture scientific development in the UK — continue to build a future founded on fact, logic, science and rationalism so that we all might enjoy the benefits — it’s vital that such opinions be relegated to their deserved position.
Religious Studies lessons or, even better, History.
I had intended to write a longer post today on something suitably witty and profound — but I’m suffering the mother of all brain-fades and so I’m afraid you’re just going to have to make do with a chance to vote in the New Humanist Bad Faith Awards 2008.
As they say on their blog, this is your chance to help decide “which deluded fantasist will walk away with the prestigious 2008″ award and with nominees such as Sarah Palin (she just had to be, didn’t she?), Rowan Williams (not to be confused with Robin Williams; one’s funny, occasionally, the other just isn’t) and Stephen Green of Christian Voice (with a list of godly vileness as long as my arm… actually, I’ve just measured, and it’s longer than my arm — much longer), I think it’s fair to say that we are as ever spoilt for choice!
So run along when you have a chance and make your choice. This could well be the most important voting decision you ever have to make… oh, sorry, I slipped back into pre-US election vote-for-Obama mode for a minute, there!
When I think of buses, the first thing that springs to mind is not an opportunity to promote atheism. The way some of those sons of bitches drive, I’d actually expect quite the opposite! Haven’t you ever prayed on a bus? I know I have! (And before anyone sees this as an opportunity, I’m joking! I don’t pray — never have in any meaningful way — and, well, this gentleman is certainly not for turning, so save your breath )
However unlikely and bizarre the proposition might seem, however, if all goes according to plan there is a distinct possibility that from January of next year buses in the UK may be seen driving about with slogans such as “THERE’S PROBABLY NO GOD. Now Stop Worrying and Enjoy Your Life” emblazoned on the sides.
I must admit, however militant an atheist I can occasionally be, at first glance I had mixed feelings regarding this. And then I read this:
That swung it for me. It’s a clear and necessary reaction to the persistent encroachment of toxic myth on the lives of those of us who wish no part of it. As I’ve said many times before, I’m perfectly happy for other people to believe whatever they wish — once that belief encroaches upon what we know to be true or is used in an attempt to convert me, however, then a reaction is justified and morally correct.
For more on this and details of how to donate to the campaign, please visit here.
