Jonathan Miller in 5 Minutes

Jonathan Miller does a 5 minute interview for the BBC and talks about his non-belief in higher beings. Belief in a thing called 'God' hasn't even crossed his mind, and why should it?

Quote of the Day

Man would indeeded be in a poor way if he had to be restrained by fear of punishment and hope of reward after death.

A. Einstein

Question Time

I was such a nurdy kid, I used to watch BBC's Question Time, quite regularly. Over the years, I began to get tired of the same old political dopplegangers showing up to answer questions in a way that a used car salesman will answer questions about about a used car he's trying to sell you. So I stopped watching.

But I had to tune in last Thursday as we were promised the spectacle of seeing the British National Party leader Nick Griffin MEP lynched by the blood-thirsty mob.

I was bullied at school. I was bullied by the kids who were bullied. I was truly bottom of alpha male natural selection process. I learned many things about humanity.

One of the things revealed to me was - how the fear of being outcast from the main group motivated people. I would be playing with someone who acted as if he was my friend. But as soon as a third party arrived, that 'friend' would turn on me in an instant - "Don't forget he's Stinker!"

He was desperate not to be seen showing any kind of kinship to the person 'everyone knew' was failing to live up to the values of the main group. This is how I discovered that all human groups act in a way not unlike the Nazis (Yes, I'm sorry folks - your lofty, democratic ideals are fucked).

And so it was on Thursday's Question Time as the tribal elders, backed by the baying crowd, queued up to play Slap The Village Idiot.

Nobody left that TV studio having exemplified the civilised nature of our breed. The elected alphas, whilst accusing Nick Griffin of being a Nazi were themsleves acting like them. It takes one to know one, I suppose.

The hysteria grew. David Dimbleby used his conductors baton to orchestrate the feeding. Everyone wanted a bite. And all the panel were given an equal measure of Griffin's flesh (about a lb each?).

Jack Straw claimed the nation would see the despised for what he really was and abandon him - "Remember he's Stinker!"

But no - the following day, the bigger group said to the self-righteous group, "He may be an idiot, but we agree with him". Welsh Secretary Peter Hain said he told us so - as far as he's concerned, democracy only works when the self-righteous elite are setting the agenda and those drinking from the well of populist bigotry should not be allowed a voice.

So much for ideal of common consesus. Hain and others like him are saying, "We believe you should all have your say in how your country is run! Unless you all want to be Nazis, in which case we're taking our ball away."

There was no reason displayed during Thursday's QT. Griffin's idea us pale skinned folk are the indigenous peoples of this island, under threat in the same way the Aborigines were under threat from European invaders (guns vs sticks) was equalled in absurdity by constant cries of "racist!"

It's great to see our suited leaders lose control.

Another thing I learned about bullies - the ridiculers always end up ridiculing themselves. I think it was Dimbleby himself who scoffed "I don't know whether you love Muslims or hate them!" as Question Time was rapidly reduced to the level of drunken, after-dinner banter conducted by a gang of smug broadsheet readers who know a lot less about their subject than they think they do.

That's why it was so much fun to watch. Because, beneath the dry crust of pontification and rhetoric runs the hot lava of prejudice, ignorance and bigotry. We're all at it.

Theist, Nihilist

I once had a discussion with a Christian where I was accused as an atheist of bringing misery to humanity with my bleak and soulless nihilism.

Nihilism is the idea that "life is without meaning, purpose, or intrinsic value".

I think it's worth repeating: religion is about as nihilistic as you can get.

"Surely not", nay say the believers, "God is not nihilistic, with all that love and warm shafts of light from heaven shit."

Well, let's just focus on the essential question: why are we here?

God is Great.

God creates Man.

God is still Great.

Therefore, in this theistic system, Man serves no purpose. Neither does Man's life have meaning or intrinsic value.

However, as an atheist, at least the door is still open to a meaning appearing at some point. At least I'm allowed to set the value for my life, and the lives of others - I can find my own meaning.

With religion, that door is closed. Your life is meaningless and the system doesn't allow for you to get creative about it, because they claim to have all the answers already.

With religion, your path is laid out and, I'm afraid, the Good Book makes it clear - it's absolutely pointless.

I Love the Smell Of Burning Jehova in the Morning

Some Jehovas came to my door today. hahahahah! Poor bastards....

(trying to pass me a leaflet) How do you cope with the troubles in the world?"

"I'm fine, thanks."

"What about your future?"

"It's fine."

"And the rest of the world?"

"There's always been trouble in the world. Its nothing new."

"That's right. That's why we need the Bible."

"The Bible's been around for 2000 years. In that time its done nothing to solve the problems of the world. Its not getting any better."

"That's right. But what about you? You need to chose God before the End of the World."

"What about the rest of the world? You just asked me about the rest of the world."

"You need God for salvation."

"But God has already chosen who is going to be saved. So it doesn't make any difference what I do."

"I see that you have spoken to other Jehovas before."

"Yes indeed, lady. I'm afraid I'm a total athiest."

"I can see that...." they're off back up the path before I can say "Armageddon"...

Give God a Bell

The Archbishop of Canterbury has been having a chat with the Old Man Upstairs about saving us from environmental catastrophe. It's "no go" aparently. He's just about sick and tired of saving us from our own fuck ups, having to take retribution on himself and everything.

Well, the fact is he knew all this as he was creating us and so we he created us with the intention of seeing us destroy everything he has created for us.

I like to think of the Earth as God's Robot Wars. He designed all these life-machines to kick the fuck out of each other. The best machine wins!

God: "Come on you bacteeeeeria! Bacteeeeria, bacteeeeria, bacteeeeria!"

You can imagine the angels doing a kind of cheerleader thing...

Priest Admits Religious Story "A Fable"

In today's amusing story from the world of the self-deluded, a Catholic priest has been announcing to children that Santa doesn't exist.

The priest said he had never intended to hurt anyone, but it was his duty to distinguish the reality of Jesus from the story of Father Christmas which was a fable just like Cinderella or Snow White.

Good luck with that.