Is there anybody out there?

Catherine Deveny, who says that atheism is 'like a frog in a sock', is part of a campaign being brought to the people of Australia.

Apparently nearly one fifth of people surveyed there said they considered themselves to having no religion.

Meanwhile in Holland, a Dutch cleric who wrote the book, 'Believing in a god who does not exist', has been allowed to keep his job within the church.

There's tolerance for you.

Turin, however, still insists that pesky old shroud once contained the body of Christ, even though it's been carbon dated between 1260 and 1390.

Tricky that, but trivial details for hardline 'believers'.

I've just come back from watching the film 'Clash of the Titans'. Those Greeks believed in all kinds of crazy shit, but it made for good entertainment.

Plus ca change...

Fighting back against the deluded

Two things which happened this past week.

The first, innocuous enough, took place in a local coffee shop.

An old acquaintance I hadn't seen in years, appeared to be bamboozled when I told him I was an atheist.

The second occurred this afternoon. I thought this was a relic from last century but people really do still shove religious 'tracts' in your face, as if they are handing out money.

On both occasions, I pointed to the red and black enamel star pinned to my coat.

The former asked

'What is that. What is it with the secrets?'

The latter grunted

'What does that mean?'

Quid pro quo Clarice, quid pro quo...

He don't Carey

Another great reason to celebrate atheism and the absence of lunatic sectarianism is highlighted today as good old George Carey, former pointy hat wearer of the C of E has come out of the bigot closet and nailed his colours to the B.N.P. manifesto.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8442662.stm

Of course he says he doesn't want to appear a fascist, but he knows how to whip up a crowd alright, saying the issue of immigration 'angered many people and could lead to violence'.

How placatory of him.

He also reveals his sectarian nature, claiming he favoured 'a Christian bias'.

Sorry to burst your bubble George, but the last time I looked, pretty much nobody went to church any more, never mind believed in imaginary friends...