Enemies of reason

"I want to believe" Mulder had that on a poster of a 'UFO' if I remember correctly - and that's the whole thing right there isn't it? If you really want there to be aliens/deities/zombies then that'll be the first place you go to...

Derren Brown will be familiar to most Britons - he performs illusions, acts of mentalism and so forth, rather brilliantly too. One of Brown's most admirable characteristics is his insistence that its all a trick, the result of various techniques expertly applied. Here he's in conversation with Richard Dawkins about how so-called psychics work...



Oh by the way, it's clip 1 of 6.

Stop worrying

I rarely venture into The Smoke (London) these days, but I gather from those who do that there is a growing trend for adverts on public transport for evangelical religious groups, and not just the sort suggesting that you may want to pop in for tea and cakes - more the sort that suggest you're a filthy sinner who is destined for eternal pain and torment.

In a charming reaction The Atheist Bus Campaign launches today, Tuesday October 21 2008.

With your support, we hope to raise £5,500 to run 30 buses across the capital for four weeks with the slogan: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."




Professor Richard Dawkins, bestselling author of The God Delusion, is officially supporting the Atheist Bus Campaign, and has generously agreed to match all donations up to a maximum of £5,500, giving us a total of £11,000 if we reach the full amount - enough for a much bigger campaign. The British Humanist Association have kindly agreed to administer all donations.

Richard Dawkins Reads His Hate Mail

You Don't Know Dick

Sweet Justice

PZ Myers recently wrote a hilarious post about his experience getting booted from a screening of Ben Stein's creationist propaganda film "Expelled."

The kicker? While Myers was asked to leave, his guests were allowed to view the movie. Among his guests: Richard Dawkins.

All I have to say about that is this.

What is your dangerous idea?

Every year Edge poses a question meant to stimulate rational thinkers in the empirical world. In 2006 Steven Pinker suggested "What is your dangerous idea?", not dangerous because it's an ultimate weapon or a diabolical theory, dangerous because it may be true - or it might cause you to ask a difficult question.

Charles Seife suggested that nothing can be more dangerous than nothing, Susan Blackmore asked if everything might in fact be pointless. Habitual controversy magnet Richard Dawkins on the subject of eugenics asks "what is the moral difference between breeding for musical ability and forcing a child to take music lessons"

I'm beguiled by dangerous ideas, I love to watch a stand-up comedian who is pushing the boundary of what the audience regards as acceptable. It's delicious when they tell a joke that excedes the boundary but is so funny that everybody laughs before they've had a chance to filter it as 'unacceptable content' it's a very piquant laugh that leaves the audience complicit in the 'crime'.

What's your dangerous idea? Or would you like to guess which one of the following I may believe today...

• A vote is not a right, it should be earned
  
  
• Some countries would benefit from benevolent colonialism
  
  
• Fans of celebrity/talent shows should be sterilised
  
  
• The smarter you are, the less happy you'll be

More Dawkins

Dawkins responding to the clip of Ted Haggard cautioning him to avoid arrogance..."There actually is something that's worth being withering about"