Author Archives: Bradlaugh

Catholic Or Protestant?

Posted on September 8, 2010 by Bradlaugh

Well, I guess it had to happen. After fruit flies and flatworms, jellyfish and sea cucumbers, mice and sheep, genetic science has now advanced to the point where we can sequence the genome of an Irishman. Here, choosing a DNA … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, science | 5 Comments

Obama’s Religion

Posted on August 21, 2010 by Bradlaugh

I had a go at this topic in last week’s Radio Derb: . . . there’s been some shock and horror expressed at the finding by a Time magazine poll that 24 percent of Americans think the president is a … Continue reading →

Posted in politics | 7 Comments

G.O.D. Is Great

Posted on July 19, 2010 by Bradlaugh

I am reading Andy Ross’s new book with pleasure & instruction.  It’s better put together than Mindworlds & has less the feel of a core dump.  (That expression dates me as an old mainframe-head … but then, so’s Andy.)  The … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 12 Comments

I Can’t Help Thinking . . .

Posted on July 7, 2010 by Bradlaugh

Just catching up here… To the best of my knowledge — which isn’t saying much: I’m not well-read in philosophy — I am in a minority of one on the subject of free will. The discussion is always: do we … Continue reading →

Posted in philosophy | 19 Comments

The Joy Of Obnox

Posted on June 25, 2010 by Bradlaugh

Mr. Hume:  I’m pretty much with you on all that. Casting around for book ideas a while ago, I thought of writing a nihilist’s handbook, with a title something like You’re A Smart Ape, There Is No God, And Your … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | 10 Comments

Caring About Strangers

Posted on June 24, 2010 by Bradlaugh

Our affinities fade with distance.  Towards our immediate families, they are very strong; towards our extended families, less so; then outward ever more feebly to the broadest kinships (nation, race) and fictive kinships (religion, ideology, language, civilization).  The math must … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | 26 Comments

Re: Agora

Posted on June 4, 2010 by Bradlaugh

Then you could read about Hypatia on pages 44-45 of my history of algebra. You could also cast an eye on Charles William Mitchell’s melodramatic (and to my eye, sexually ambiguous) painting of the lady’s last moments, in the photo … Continue reading →

Posted in culture, Science & Faith | 6 Comments

Missing the Hymn

Posted on May 27, 2010 by Bradlaugh

An unbeliever can enjoy a good hymn as much as the next man, as many have testified.  (G.B. Shaw, D.H. Lawrence, Kingsley Amis, and E.O Wilson come to mind.  Not sure about Bert Russell; but the religious side of his … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | 9 Comments

Are There Enough Jews on the Supreme Court?

Posted on May 16, 2010 by Bradlaugh

There has been some muted comment about the religious composition of the U.S. Supreme Court after a Kagan approval: 6 Catholics, 3 Jews. Is this enough Jews, though?  Let’s crunch numbers. First permit me to switch from religion to self-identifying … Continue reading →

Posted in law, politics | 41 Comments

Missionary Nation

Posted on May 10, 2010 by Bradlaugh

I watched the 2007 movie Freedom Writers the other day. It put into my mind the thought that the U.S.A. is, among many other things, a missionary nation. If you don’t know the movie, here’s the synopsis from IMDb: Hilary … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | 11 Comments