Religion seen an 'oddity' by ministers, Archbishop says
Government schemes de-normalised religion, Dr Williams said
The Archbishop of Canterbury has accused the government of treating religious faith as an "eccentricity" practised by "oddities".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8409310.stm
Sunday 13 December 2009
Sunday 6 December 2009
Tuesday 1 December 2009
Top 100 Global Thinkers
What makes a global thinker? Read through some of Foreign Policy's Top 100, paying particular attention to the placing of 17 and 18, then perhaps comment on what you think would make a top global thinker.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/11/30/the_fp_top_100_global_thinkers?page=0,17
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2009/11/30/the_fp_top_100_global_thinkers?page=0,17
Wednesday 25 November 2009
Tuesday 17 November 2009
Ricky Gervais - An alternative to evolution
Apologies for the occassional bad language! Ricky Gervais suggests an alternative to the scientific evolution in this clip from his Animals show.
D Z Philips on God and Evil
Article by John Hick where he answers some of Phillips criticisms regarding God and Evil.
http://www.johnhick.org.uk/article18.html
http://www.johnhick.org.uk/article18.html
Sunday 15 November 2009
Monday 9 November 2009
Fact, Opinion and Climate Change
Are fact and opinion distinct? Andrew Brown's blog for the Guardian questions whether we can have individual morality in the face of environmental concerns. He states "It is not enough for us to do the right thing - others must as well." The discussion raises two important questions for me.
Firstly, how do we know what is the right thing? We can listen to advice from experts and scientists but still have very different approaches to how environmental concerns should be tackled. I remember clearly an argument with my brother in law about this issue. He felt strongly that the only way to slow the environmental damage we are doing to the globe would be a complete ban on private car use. I argued this was unrealistic and that people should each make their own small steps to add up to a bigger change. We both had our opinion; there is probably merit in both approaches but if Andrew Brown is right only a clear and universalised policy will work. Well reasoned opinions would not help if this policy could not be agreed.
My second question is how do you get others to accept your view as right? It must be presented as an undisputable fact - a skill politicians often choose to employ. But where then is the place for the free-will and rational thinking that many people consider make us human? If we all accept the views of a select minority as fact then we are in danger of becoming dehumanised.
So what is the solution? Are free thinking individuals immoral because they do not accept universal action imposed by authorities or should we feel compelled to act as one humanity by allowing governments and scientists to dictate our opinions based on scientific fact?
To read Andrew Brown's article in full go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2009/nov/06/religion-atheism
Firstly, how do we know what is the right thing? We can listen to advice from experts and scientists but still have very different approaches to how environmental concerns should be tackled. I remember clearly an argument with my brother in law about this issue. He felt strongly that the only way to slow the environmental damage we are doing to the globe would be a complete ban on private car use. I argued this was unrealistic and that people should each make their own small steps to add up to a bigger change. We both had our opinion; there is probably merit in both approaches but if Andrew Brown is right only a clear and universalised policy will work. Well reasoned opinions would not help if this policy could not be agreed.
My second question is how do you get others to accept your view as right? It must be presented as an undisputable fact - a skill politicians often choose to employ. But where then is the place for the free-will and rational thinking that many people consider make us human? If we all accept the views of a select minority as fact then we are in danger of becoming dehumanised.
So what is the solution? Are free thinking individuals immoral because they do not accept universal action imposed by authorities or should we feel compelled to act as one humanity by allowing governments and scientists to dictate our opinions based on scientific fact?
To read Andrew Brown's article in full go to http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2009/nov/06/religion-atheism
Friday 6 November 2009
Thursday 5 November 2009
Evolution is a blind watchmaker
My last post from the philosophy discussion group. Compulsory watching for all AS students! Please post comments when you have watched the video or join the discusion on Haig's philosophy discussion group.
Why God needs a chance
Paul Ewart asks in his article for the Guardian on 3rd November whether the randomness of nature rules out God's existence. Einstein said "Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous" and perhaps evolution is part of God's plan. Read the article in full at http://http//www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/nov/03/god-chance-philosophy-atheism
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