There's Probably No Dawkins. Now Stop Worrying and Enjoy Oct 25th

Posted on October 4, 2011 by David

Richard Dawkins has refused to debate William Lane Craig during the Reasonable Faith tour. Up until now I had been labouring under the assumption that Dawkins was simply too pusillanimous to debate Craig since he knew he would be in for a good thumping delivered with nothing but blind pitiless indifference.

But now there is a new theory that is about to be plastered over Oxford buses: since he won’t be at the debate, we won’t see or hear him, therefore there is no evidence for his existence – by his own measure, Dawkins is as real as the flying spaghetti monster. At one time he did exist, of course: he existed on Youtube. But outside video-sharing mythology, I am not so sure. He may be living proof – well, non-living proof – that cogito ergo sum really works: he refused to debate Craig, demonstrating that he doesn’t think. He realised his mistake too late and, before he could even mutter “oh Darwin” – poof! was gone.

From here:

A message with a familiar ring to it will be rolling out on the side of buses in Oxford from 10th of October. ‘There’s Probably No Dawkins. Now Stop Worrying and Enjoy Oct 25th at the Sheldonian Theatre’

The advertising campaign follows Richard Dawkins’ refusal to publicly debate the existence of God with philosopher William Lane Craig when he visits the UK in October. He has an open invitation to debate Craig at Oxford’s Sheldonian Theatre on 25th October.

The Oxford bus campaign echoes the 2009 London atheist bus advertisements: ‘There’s Probably No God. Now Stop Worrying And Enjoy Your Life.’

Diocese of New Westminster: St. Matthew’s Abbotsford does Facebook

Posted on October 4, 2011 by David

Here is an odd trend: when an Anglican Church of Canada diocese evicts an ANiC congregation from its building it starts a Facebook page. It happened at St. Alban’s, Ottawa and now at St. Matthew’s Abbotsford where we can learn what the new parish is all about:

Who out there thinks Abbotsford needs a congregation that pays more than lip service to the Great Tradition; interacts energetically with the best in biblical and theological scholarship; grounds its worship in the Eucharist; is open to learning from everyone, including other religious and secular philosophies; is inclusive of all (period); where gifts and talents aren’t used to serve a leader’s vision but radically shape the very nature of the community; fosters an aesthetic that makes room for beauty in music, poetry and the visual arts; teaches children not merely information but the rhythm’s of worship; and where the priest is someone who takes the time not only to help people in crisis or grief but who participates in a mutual “confession of life” through spiritual friendship?

If you like the sound of that or, you like it but notice missing pieces in the description, you may want to check out St. Matthew, Abbotsford, a place in formation; a place and a community where thoughtful, classic, Christian Spirituality is what we’re after though we’ve certainly not arrived at our destination! The congregation is in its beginning phase; if you or someone you know might be interested in helping shape this “path” please pass this note on.

As the new incumbent notes, the parish “is inclusive of all (period)”. I assume “(period)” is intended to signify that the inclusivity is so vast in its encompassing that a normal full stop insufficiently emphasises the impossibility of adding to what is already embraced by this “place in formation”.

It’s hard not to notice, though, that while Allen Doerksen is eager to learn from “other religious and secular philosophies” he isn’t so keen on mentioning – or even including – Jesus, his death on the cross, his resurrection or our need for his atoning sacrifice because of sin.

That must be the trend: throw out a believing parish, throw out Christianity along with it then, having no congregation, no financial support and no integrity, attempt to drum up business by starting a Facebook page that sputters about “thoughtful, classic, Christian Spirituality”.

Richard Dawkins: the Magic of Hypocrisy

Posted on October 3, 2011 by David

Richard Dawkins has refused to debate William Lane Craig; his excuses have included a classic piece of projection: “I have no intention of assisting Craig in his relentless drive for self-promotion.”

Someone kindly emailed me this poster which, if you click on it, will reveal a high resolution version suitable for printing and attaching to the side of a bus.

The Anglican Church of Canada is working to prevent suicide

Posted on October 3, 2011 by David

From here:

The Anglican Church of Canada is making progress toward overcoming a longstanding negative stereotype and becoming an effective partner in preventing suicide.

It’s about time the ACoC did something to reduce the existential angst afflicting the ranks of Canadian Anglicans.

Unfortunately, the article fails to mention exactly when the ACoC will be firing its bishops, closing its doors and turning the lights out.

The National Post buckles to homosexual political correctness

Posted on October 2, 2011 by David

From here:

Earlier this week the National Post ran an advertisement that has caused some controversy.

[……..]

In an open society, these positions are worthy of being part of a debate on this issue. They are also legitimate arguments to make in a paid advertisement in a media outlet.

Where the ad exceeded the bounds of civil discourse was in its tone and manipulative use of a picture of a young girl; in the suggestion that such teaching “corrupts” children, with everything that such a charge implies; and in its singling out of groups of people with whose sexuality the group disagrees.

The fact that we will not be publishing this ad again represents a recognition on our part that publishing it in the first place was a mistake. The National Post would like to apologize unreservedly to anyone who was offended by it. We will be taking steps to ensure that in future our procedures for vetting the content of advertising will be strictly adhered to.

The Post will also be donating the proceeds from the advertisement to an organization that promotes the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.

The advertisement is below. It is no more manipulative than any other advertisement – after all, the advertisements that pay the bills at the NP are all designed to manipulate opinion.

If the Post is so afraid of offending the wrong people (it doesn’t seem to care if anyone is offended by the ad’s cancellation) that it not only refuses to publish an advertisement questioning a contemporary sacred cow, but grovels at the feet of those it thinks it has offended by throwing cash at them, why bother to read it – why even call something so blinkered by fads a newspaper?

Ireland – West Coast

Posted on October 2, 2011 by David

Sligo watch house:

Glencar waterfall:

Dolphin in the sea at Moher cliffs:

Moher cliffs:

Sharon freezing on a boat – again:

Pulsating Ennis nightlife:

Outside Ennis Cathedral at night:

Across Ireland

Posted on September 30, 2011 by David

Ashford Castle. We liked it so much, we thought we might sell everything and rent a permanent suite here:

Cong Abbey:

The Doolough Valley:

Kilronan Castle, where we are staying tonight:

Dublin Day 2

Posted on September 28, 2011 by David

Dublin Castle:

This Georgian era statue of Lady Justice is unusual in that it is not blindfolded – signifying impartiality – but looks at Dublin Castle. This, in addition to the fact that justice favoured the elite, gave rise to the following:

Lady Justice, notice her station:
Face to the castle and arse to the nation.

Those who have followed the ANiC v.s. ACoC court litigation, will note that this sums up those proceedings, too.

At the Guinness brewery. This was just her first pint; things went rapidly downhill from there.

As the advertisement says, Guinness is Good for You: it must be, Arthur Guinness and his wife had 21 children. Of course, today she would have had two children and 19 abortions.

Molly Malone who, we were told, was celibate by day, but used to sell a bit by night:

A street artist:

St. Patrick’s Cathedral:

We had dinner in a restaurant that had once been a church. John Wesley preached his first Irish sermon there in 1747, Jonathan Swift used to attend it, Handel used the organ for practice and, as you can see from this plaque, the Rev. John Magill’s remains were deposited in the Vault Beneath. I doubt if even this Divine of Polite Learning and Sound Judgement foresaw that, within a few hundred years, aided and abetted by mainline denominations, Western Christianity would decline to the point that his church would become a restaurant and his final resting place in the vault – toilets.

I have little doubt that St. John’s Shaughnessy will, after the elapse of a decent interval, suffer a similar fate. Perhaps the new owners will offer Michael Ingham the position of head waiter.