Stephen Law

I am recording some TV stuff for the Closer to Truth programme tomorrow, on consciousness, God and other stuff. Should be fun. I like Robert Kuhn and his show... After that I am away in Switzerland hopefully climbing the Finsteraarhorn with some friends. Though this makes it look more exposed than I expected...

about my upcoming debate with William Lane Craig. Letts is apparently referring to my post-before-last (Aug 14th). Go here . After much sucking of thumbs, atheists have come up with someone to debate against a visiting American evangelist. Secularists are heading for the hills rather than square up to fizzy theologian William Lane Craig at Westminster Central Hall in October. Polly Toynbee had her doubts, so to speak. AC Grayling collected three points for a refusal. Richard Dawkins did a Gaddafi and went into hiding. Craig clearly puts the fear of God into them. Finally, a University of London philosopher, Stephen Law, has said he will speak up for the non-believers. He is now trying to 'dress the house', as we say in the theatre, and has placed a message on his website imploring followers to attend the debate to give him support. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2030575/Ledbury-Herefordshire-Shall-compare-thee-unlovely-Tesco.html#ixzz...

Is anyone attending the craig debate in a position to make an audio recording of the entire exchange (from audience)?

I am debating "does god exist" on 17th October 2011 at Westminster Hall. Tickets are £12.50 and available at http://www.premier.org.uk/craig Please publicize as much as you can. It would be good to get both sides well represented in the audience.

This is of interest...and relevance re. the supposed "harmlessness" of homeopathy. Fron Zeno's blog. It’s bad enough when homeopaths take good money from people, claiming they can cure their colds or clear up their eczema with sugar pills. It’s another thing entirely to claim to prevent or treat serious diseases with identical sugar pills. But this is precisely what the BBC’s Newsnight programme discovered homeopaths were doing. Broadcast in January, Pallab Ghosh exposed the disgraceful behaviour of a north London homeopath and a homeopathic ‘pharmacy’ selling sugar pills as a malaria preventative. Continues...

I'll say one more thing about the whole Martin Cohen review thing and then shut up about it, as I realize I'm getting obsessive. In the comments under his THES review, Cohen yesterday explained his case for saying, in his review: "Do you believe in God? Or even wonder if there might be a purpose to the universe?...Then you believe in bullshit. That is the uncompromising message of Stephen Law's new book." I denied that I ever said this. In fact I don't even believe it. To support his case that I am, nevertheless, committed to it, Cohen now comments: [EXTRACT FROM COHEN BEGINS] 1. God Do you believe in God or think that the universe might have a purpose? = Bullshit A section on p49 entitled 'Scientific refutation of God claims?' starts:'Let's now turn to the claim the God exists'. To do this, Law quotes and discusses at length the book 'the God Delusion' by Dawkins. He explicitly supports Dawkin's view saying, for example, on p52...

CFI UK and SPES present CONSPIRACY THEORY DAY Sunday 25th September 2011 9/11, alien visitation, Jewish cabals and global warming - why are people drawn to conspiracy theories, and what holds them captive? What are the warning signs of a dodgy conspiracy theory? What conspiracy theories are actually credible, and why? Spend an entertaining and informative day with some if the world's leading experts. PROGRAMME 10.30 Registration 10.45-11.55 Chris French and Robert Brotherton “Conspiracy Minded: The Psychology of Belief in Conspiracy Theories” 12.00- 1.10 Karen Douglas "A Social Psychological Perspective On Conspiracy Theories" 2.00-3.10 David Aaronovitch "Do Conspiracy Theories Have Common Characteristics Over Time And Space?" 3.10-4.10 Jamie Bartlett and Carl Miller “Truth And The Net” 4.10 End EVENT DETAILS Venue: Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, Holborn, London WC1R 4RL. Cost £10. £8 BHA, etc. £5 students. Booking in advance available at the BHA website (tick...