Someone left a Christian book on my windscreen today . . . .

[spongebrainmaternitypants]

. . and I'm really intrigued as to the thinking behind it.

I have a Darwin fish on the back of my car - looks like the Christian fish, except it has Darwin written inside it, and has feet. Obviously a statement of my disagreement with creationism vs evolution - although I would argue that you can believe in evolution but not be an atheist, but someone could tell me I'm wrong on that!

Anyway, I am an atheist and pretty convinced of my beliefs due to life experience that has shaped them - so what would be the thinking behind the book?

Did the person who put it there really think I would read it and be converted? I'm not esp upset by it, although I would never dream of leaving a copy of The God Delusion under every wiper of a car I saw with the fish on the back , so not sure why they felt the need to do it!

It was book called Exploding Atheist Myths - I have looked through it, and of course, as an atheist, refute what it says!

Just intrigued . . . .

Sam Harris is good.

I haven't read it, but how about this one?

BTW is anyone planning to watch Jon Ronson and the Alpha Course people on Sunday?

Oooh, yes, and recording it too. Should be interesting.

I must admit I started reading a Sam Harris book but didn't finish it - can't remember what it was even now!

Yes I've set it to record UQD. Am interested to see if any of the "non-believers" end up converting.

I have a funny feeling I wouldn't.

DW went on an Alpha course. I was asked but politely refused.

In the current edition of Humanitie, the newsletter of the Scottish Humanist Society, there's an article by a humanist who attended an Alpha course. Apparently they kind of expect you to believe by meeting three, which is why I'm interested in the programme.

Sorry, that's the Humanist Society of Scotland, HSS.

I'm fascinated by it and half-tempted to go on one. I'd be the "difficult" student. Do you have a link, Oldlady?

DW stuck the full course and maintained her precarious agnosticism. They do give you a lot of free food and drink, though, which induces a sense of well-being and a feeling that perhaps you owe them something in return. It's very clever. She was then invited along to a meal at the end, to which you bring a guest - she took me. I listened in interested silence for most of the evening. They then "challenge" you to come to church once.

The whole thing is one massive recruitment dive, basically. Works the same way as any cult.

drive sorry

The magazine isn't available online, UQD - I'm a member so receive it anyway. But it's here as a blog.

thanks!

British Humanist Association shop

You might find something interesting here.

Does any one know what time and what channel the Jon Ronson and the Alpha Course programme is on?

This Sunday (28th) at 7pm on Channel 4.

Interesting take on Alpha here

Spot-on about the social referencing and reciprocity, I think. Exactly the reason why Gumbel uses small groups. He is recruiting to a cult and knows it.

"Rolling with resistance" is an interesting one. I'll watch out for that on here now.

Deserves its own thread really.

So who watched the programme, then? I started to watch and record it, but there was a lightning strike nearby which caused a short powercut, and my BT Vision box took a few minutes to rest itself, so I missed a bit.

Think this was a message....?