Christopher Hitchens To Debate Tony Blair On Faith

Author/Journalist and self styled anti-theist Christopher Hitchens is due to debate former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair on the subject of faith on Nov 26th in Toronto. The debate will center around the statement:

“Be it resolved, religion is a force of good for the world.”

The debate will be open to the public and be streamed online.

Tony Blair has been a controversial figure during his time in politics, with criticism mainly focused on his decision to move forward with the invasion of Iraq, a decision which Christopher Hitchens fully supports. However, since leaving number 10 downing street behind, Tony Blair has embarked on a new career, chairing and establishing The Tony Blair Faith Foundation. It is Tony Blair's conversion to Catholicism, and subsequent campaigning of Religious Ideology in many parts of the world which signal a conflict of interest between the two men.


Christopher Hitchens is a long and established critic of Faith/Religion, penning the best selling book "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything". The decision by Hitchens, often referred to as "Hitch" to debate the ideas outlined in his book publicly with prominent religious voices, has earned him great acclaim, and a reputation for his straight talking, no punches pulled style of rhetoric.


Christopher Hitchens has made headlines recently for other reasons, due to his diagnosis of esophageal cancer. The news came when he became ill during the promotion of his memoirs, Hitch-22. This has lead to questions regarding whether Christipher Hitchens may change his stance on God, in light of this recent news, and succumb to a "Deathbed Conversion".

Details of this debate can be found at www.munkdebates.com where it will be streamed live. What are your views on the careers of both these well established public speakers? What, if any impact did faith have in the decisions made by Tony Blair whilst in government? Do you think religious faith is a force for good in the world? Please use the comments section below to have your say.

Government Will Not Oppose Extremist Views In UK Classrooms

According to the National Secular Society, there will be no new legislation prohibiting the teaching of extremist religious views in the Government's new free schools and academies. This information came via Lord Hill of Oareford, Parliamentary under-Secretary of State for Schools in a letter to the National Secular Society.

The information came in response to a request from The NSS to outline what steps would be taken to prevent the teaching of extreme Religious "values" and ideologies in the new free schools model of education.

It appeared Lord Hill dodged answering the question with any sort of conviction or acknowledgement of the dangers of radical religious teaching to children, appealing to the religious masses with this response:

“On the issue of proselytising, which you also raise, we do not think it appropriate to legislate in this area. Parents will choose a school based on its ethos. That ethos may be Christian, Muslim or Jewish or it may have no faith ethos at all. Parents should be free to choose schools on the basis of their ethos. I would like to believe that parents consider these issues carefully and send their children to a school fully aware of its faith or other ethos.”

This is the typical response given my members of parliament when such questions are posed. The serious underlined issues are ignored, with attention switched to that of parental rights, and not those of the children.

President of The National Secular Society responded with:

“We are alarmed at the prospect of extremist religious groups taking control of these schools and using them to brainwash children. What is to stop a Muslim group taking over a school and turning it into a madrassa at public expense, if that is what it is claimed the parents want? What is to stop a Scientology front group taking over a school and then introducing its teachings with taxpayers’ money? The fact that some parents want to indoctrinate their children in a particular religion does not mean that they should be able to access public money to do so.”

Does the issue of parental rights to indoctrinate a child in a faith of their choosing outweigh the secularist view of what could be deemed child abuse?

An in depth look at the rise and impact of faith schools was outlined in the Richard Dawkins fronted documentary, Faith School Menace? Click here to watch online for free.

What are your views on faith schools? A parental right, or children's rights disregarded? What are the dangers of teaching outdated beliefs about the cosmos, life on earth and morality, whilst denying modern established and observed facts? Can a child really be of a religious persuasion, without indoctrination? It can be argued a child does not have the sufficient equipment necessary to make decisions about questions of this scale. Is forcing these views on an impressionable, mentally vulnerable generation a devious and unethical way of preserving bronze aged beliefs? Please use the comments section to have your say.

Vote To Ban Advertising For "Psychics" In Russia

On Tuesday, the Russian government approved a vote to ban so called Psychics and Faith-healers from advertising their extraordinary services, reported here. This vote was passed on the grounds that these practices cause "moral and physical harm to the people and economic harm to the country". This ban was also extended to the realm of Faith Healing. In Russia the amount of "Faith Healers" significantly out-numbers qualified medical doctor's. There is a staggering 800,000 faith healers willing to offer their services (including the curing of AIDS and Cancer), with only 620,000 medical doctors.

See Psychic - Skepdic
See Faith Healing - Skepdic

Russia has a long history of prevalent psychic talk shows and game shows, with some even running for government.
Great Britain is no stranger to the popularity of the celebrity Psychic. Notably, Derek Acorah of Most Haunted fame. Derek, a self proclaimed medium surveys a number of "haunted" locations, using his uncanny ability to become physically possessed by the the dis-embodied spirits of the dead individuals doing the haunting. This so-called ability to suspend the laws of nature and become possessed by a dead person has courted controversy. Derek once channeled the spirit of "Kreed Kafer", unaware the name fed to him at a so-called haunted location, was in fact an anagram of "Derek Faker". Unaware of this amusing, but sharp skeptical trap, Derek continued to present himself as possessed by this non (non) entity.
The issue of Psychics, Mediums and Faith Healers raise significant moral questions. Where do you fall on this argument? Please take time to vote on the right of this page, and use the comments to have your say. Do you believe in Psychics? Have you yourself had a positive psychic experience? What are the ethical implications of influencing people's decisions based on psychic reading? Is it morally acceptable to claim to be communicating with dead relatives? Join the discussion.

Obama Gives Support To Ground Zero Mosque Plans

Barack Obama has spoke out in favour of the plans to build a Mosque at Ground Zero, adding that any opposition to this construction would be "un-American". The proposed "Islamic Cultural Centre" and Mosque would be two blocks away from the Ground Zero site, which marks the area where the twin towers were brought down by Islamic Extremist on 11 september 2001, killing 2,995 people and the 19 hijackers responsible.

The president's opinion on this current political and cultural hot-potato came at a White House dinner to celebrate Ramadan, the Islamic tradition of fasting.

In his speech, President Obama said: "As a citizen, and as president, I believe that Muslims have the same right to practise their religion as everyone else in this country.

"That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community centre on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances.

"This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable."

Please see the below video for the speech

Do you agree with Barack Obama's view on this sensitive issue? Are Muslim's being lumped into the same category as dangerous and violent extremist? Please share your opinions in the comments below and cast your vote on the poll on the right of this page. Join the discussion.

Richard Dawkins In Burka Jibe

Professor Richard Dawkins appears to have caught the attention of the media this week with a comment made about the traditional Muslim garment. Dawkins was said to have referred to the item of religious clothing as "a full bin-liner thing" during an interview with the radio times. Richard Dawkins was primarily there to discuss his upcoming documentaries, In Faith Schools Menace? These comments have lead to criticism from notable Muslim groups, as reported by UK newspaper The Daily Mail (click to read full article)

A representative of the Muslim Association of Britain, Seyyed Ferjani has responded to the comments made by Richard Dawkins as "Islamaphobic". The issue of religious symbolism and dress, specifically the Burka have been somewhat of a focal point in recent years. The debate intensified and returned to the forefront of discussion last month when the French parliament moved to ban the Burka from public places. Is this a sign of secular progression, or an infringement of ones liberties? Is there a line drawn when it comes to criticism of Religion, which informs us we should respect other beliefs? Are genuine concerns about security and the oppression of women being swept under the carpet as Islamaphobia? Please use the comment section to air your views on the Burka and whether criticism of these practices comes at a cost or if you feel peoples religious beliefs are important and should be respected.

Ghost Debate

Whether it be films staring the late Patrick Swayze, or stories told between friends late at night, the concept of Ghost or Spirits are ingrained in our culture, and virtually every culture in the world. Is this a product of our "spirit" or "souls" living on, passing over to an after-life? Or simply too much read into things that go bump in the night? Is it a belief born out of self comfort, convincing ourselves there is life after death? Or is there real evidence to suggest the existence of Ghost? I want all your views on this, ghost stories, unexplained experiences (and your interpretation of them) and some razor sharp logic from the more sceptical among you. Please post your comments below and take time to participate in the poll to your right. I aint 'fraid of no ghost!

Uk Pope Visit Petition

As has been widely reported Pope Benedict XVI will be making a visit to the UK. God's biggest fan's impending arrival in the UK has caused many secular groups and non-Catholics call for his visit to be boycotted, or even refused. A petition setup by The National Secular Society already has 19,324 entries and counting. The main reasons for raising awareness on this visit, are outlined thus; "We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to ask the Catholic Church to pay for the proposed visit of the Pope to the UK and relieve the taxpayer of the estimated £20 million cost. We accept the right of the Pope to visit his followers in Britain, but public money would be better spent on hard-pressed schools, hospitals and social services which are facing cuts." Difficult to argue with such lucid rationalism. This is also foreshadowed by the Pope's comments on UK equality laws (specifically rights afforded to homosexuals). The Times Newspaper has an article on this, and how his pal and fellow God enthusiast The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Westminster has tried to defend the Pope's comments. Click here to sign the petition. Please use the comment section to voice your views.

Mrs Blair Plays The Holy Get Out Of Jail Free Card!

Early last week Cherie Blair, wife to former English Prime Minister Tony Blair (1997-2007)attracted the attention of The National Secular Society when she spared Shamso Miah (a young muslim) jail time because of his religious Faith. Miah 25, had paid a visit to his bank after leaving his local mosque when he was involved in a dispute over queuing, which lead to the eventual jaw breaking of a fellow bank customer. Mrs Blair was quoted as saying "I am going to suspend this sentence for the period of two years based on the fact you are a religious person and have not been in trouble before". This raises some poignant concerns within the UK justice system, if it can be assumed because you have a religious faith, you are entitled to a lesser sentence than say, an Atheist or non-church go-er. It also raises the question of whether this particular Mosque is providing Chuck Norris inspired martial arts techniques. BROKEN JAW! Joking aside, click the link for a full story from the Independent Newspaper. Please use the comment section to voice your views, and take part in the featured poll on this blog.

Homeopathy Sparks Mass Suicide!

As some of you may have heard, an international protest has been staged to prove once and for all the truth about homeopathy, that there really is "nothing in it". More than 300 activist hailing from the UK, Canada, Us and Australia will take part in what has been described as a mass homeopathic overdose. This was a feature in the weekly magazine, New Scientist. The reasoning behind this is to demonstrate Homeopathy is no more valid for medicinal purposes than a Placebo. Click on the link to New Scientist to read the full article, also check out this article in the Guardian by someone who plans to take part in the protest in the UK. Please use the comments section to discuss whether you feel Homeopathy is a valid alternative to tried and tested medicine, and the consequences of promoting it as such if it is nothing more than a Pseudo-science.

Coming Soon

This blog will shortly be launching. Media Bomb will be focusing on the news and various other types of Media in order to highlight the absurdities within global journalism, ignorance of truth, faith based irrational influence and general bullshit perpetuated by voices heard by millions. See you soon!

Ste