Childhood indoctrination / socialisation of pre-school toddlers creates up to two-thirds of British Christians says survey

A Church of England survey this week reveals the staggering extent of childhood indoctrination / socialisation* in Britain. The survey shows that nearly two-thirds of all British Christians become Christian when they were still toddlers at 0-4 years old. (1,2) Seventeen out of twenty Christians become Christian when children or teenagers, only one in twenty when adults.

* h/t Matt Sheard comment about socialisation 19/9/17.

Whilst half of Brits are Christian, four in ten don’t belong to any religious group. Almost six in ten of 19-24 year olds are non-religious.

A Gallop poll indicates that 13%, more than 1 in 8 of the UK adult population, are ‘convinced atheists‘ (4). Most noteworthy, a further 53%, more than 1 in 2 adults, are non-religious. Only 30%, less than 1 in 3 of the UK adult population, are religious (1,3).

(more…)

Street Epistemology: Challenging Religious Faith

What is Street Epistemology?

Epistemology is a branch of philosophy. It is concerned with the theory of knowledge (Wikipedia). The Street Epistemology (SE) method typically involves a 10-minute discussion. The discussion is between an SE practitioner (a Street Epistemologist) and someone who believes in God (or another supernatural belief). Initially, the religious person often gives several reasons for their belief in God. But the underlying reason usually comes down to ‘faith’. SE allows people to reflect on how they arrived at their deeply-held beliefs.

(more…)

21 Times Unconvinced About God

J. H. McKenna said:

“there are 21 reasons why many smart people find God unconvincing:

(more…)

Embrace the word ‘atheist’ even if you prefer a different label

Atheism UK organised for David Silverman @MrAtheistPants, President of American Atheists to talk to Atheism UK @ConwayHall on Monday 24th July 2017. Alex J. O'Connor @CosmicSkeptic came to this meeting and…

Taking A Step Beyond Atheism by Matthew Turner

David Silverman talk ‘Fighting the Lie of God’

What?

A talk organised by the Council of AtheismUK.

Dave Silverman is President of American Atheists and recipient of the 2017 Richard Dawkins Award. David will talk about his book ‘Fighting God: An Atheist Manifesto for a Religious World’ at Conway Hall, Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL on Monday 24th July 2017 at 7.30pm.

(more…)

Atheism UK to appear in Islamic documentary. What are the failures of organised religion?

Update 9th April 2017: The ‘on camera’ interview with Ahlulbayt TV lasted 90 minutes. I spoke about many of the points raised by the twenty supporters/members of Atheism UK who emailed me or left comments on this post. Thanks all, for your comments. If any ex-Muslims would like to give their views about the failures of organised religion, let me know and I’ll put you in contact with Ahlulbayt. The documentary will be aired on Sky 831 channel during Ramadan (27th May – 25th June 2017) – I’ll add the precise date when known.

**********

Atheism UK will be interviewed by the Islamic channel Ahlulbayt TV (Sky 831 channel) this Wednesday morning (22nd March 2017).

I’d be interested in any comments (today or tomorrow, 20-21st March) from Atheism UK members and supporters about “What are the failures of organised religion?”

(more…)

William Lane Craig’s First Reason for God – Refuted by Norman Bacrac

Norman Bacrac – Atheism UK Council Member

Norman Bacrac (1) has been a member of the Council of Atheism UK since 2011 and is a former editor of the Ethical Record (2).

This edited article, first published in the Ethical Record (3), refutes the first of William Lane Craig’s eight reasons for God. In further articles, published at Atheism UK during 2017, Bacrac will refute Craig’s seven other reasons for God.

Does God Exist?

In the Philosophy Now magazine, William Lane Craig (4) wrote in The God Issue, “Does God Exist?” (5). In this article, Craig argues there has been a “resurgence of interest in natural theology”.

(more…)

The Spell of Faith and Politics

The Magical Spell of Faith

God’s SatNav for Britain

By Willem Sander van Boxtel

The first time I set eyes upon the glorious House of Lords chamber, in the summer of 2013, I was an ignorant tourist in the UK. With blissful awe I gazed on the golden decorations, the wooden benches, the leather seats, the red armrests. The red armrests which only seemed to be added to one bench. But the question why did not race through my fifteen-year old mind. Only much, much later did I find out the Bishops were granted those seats. The Bishops? Yes, the Bishops.

(more…)