Should the NHS fund homeopathy? Tr3Vel0cita 2015-02-01 | BBC One 01 February 2015Nicky Campbell presents the moral, ethical and religious discussion series comes live from Hutchesons' Grammar School, Glasgow. With Dr Evan Harris, Ian M Scott from Glasgow Skeptics, Alexander M Gillies, Linda Woodhead, Dorothy Grace Elder and Dr Russell Malcolm.
Does evidence undermine religion? Tr3Vel0cita 2015-01-18 | Nicky Campbell presides over a special debate asking just one big question - does evidence undermine religion? Taking part in the debate are: evolutionary biologist Adam Rutherford, Biblical scholar professor Francesca Stavrakapolou, Rabbi Miriam Berger from the Finchley Reform Synagogue, author Robert Feather, Hamza Tzortzis from iERA, Visnu Murti Das from the Hare Krishna Temple, philosopher Dr Arif Ahmed, Lola Tinubu from London Black Atheists, professor Joan Taylor from King's College, philosopher Dr Peter Cave and Dr Radisa Antic from the Seventh Day Adventist Research Centre. Recorded at The Harris Academy Peckham, London.
Should humanists have equal rights to religions? Tr3Vel0cita 2015-01-11 | BBC One 11 January 2015The moral, ethical and religious discussion series presented by Nicky Campbell returns for an eighth series, with this first edition coming live from London.Among those taking part in the debates are: Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, chaplain to the speaker of the House of Commons; Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain from Maidenhead Synagogue; Julian Huppert MP; Raza Nadim from MPAC UK; Dan Hodges, Daily Telegraph columnist; Douglas Murray from The Spectator; Pavan Dhaliwal from the British Humanist Association; the feminist writer Kate Smurthwaite; Richard Garside, director, Centre for Crime & Justice Studies; Roz Hardie, CEO of Object; and Taiwo Ade, founder of Discuss Jesus.
Does freedom of speech give the right to offend? Tr3Vel0cita 2015-01-11 | BBC One 11 January 2015The moral, ethical and religious discussion series presented by Nicky Campbell returns for an eighth series, with this first edition coming live from London.Among those taking part in the debates are: Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin, chaplain to the speaker of the House of Commons; Rabbi Dr Jonathan Romain from Maidenhead Synagogue; Julian Huppert MP; Raza Nadim from MPAC UK; Dan Hodges, Daily Telegraph columnist; Douglas Murray from The Spectator; Pavan Dhaliwal from the British Humanist Association; the feminist writer Kate Smurthwaite; Richard Garside, director, Centre for Crime & Justice Studies; Roz Hardie, CEO of Object; and Taiwo Ade, founder of Discuss Jesus.
Fake bomb detector fraudsters sentenced Tr3Vel0cita 2014-10-03 | BBC One 03 October 2014Fake bomb detector husband jailed for three yearshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29477894A man who claimed plastic devices he made in his garden shed could detect bombs and find missing Madeleine McCann has been jailed.Samuel Tree, 68, was sentenced to three and a half years while his wife Joan, 62, received 300 hours community work.Their plastic Alpha 6 cost just a few pounds but sold for thousands.The couple are the last of a group of fraudsters - who marketed their devices to governments and conflict zones around the world - to be jailed.The Trees were found guilty at the Old Bailey in August of making an article for use in a fraud between January 2007 and July 2012.Sentencing them at London's Kingston Crown Court on Friday, judge Richard Marks QC described the scam as "a bizarre and fantastic proposition as to be almost akin to something out of Alice in Wonderland".Police said they were driven by "personal greed" and were part of a criminal network worth £80m.The Trees, of Dunstable, Bedfordshire, sold their worthless devices to an agent for £2,000 each, who then pitched them to other countries' authorities.Their trial heard the devices were nothing more than plastic boxes with a free-rotating metal antenna.Police were first alerted to the scam by a BBC Newsnight investigation into the production and sale of the Alpha 6.'Golf ball detector'Samuel Tree claimed the detectors could track down missing people if a photograph of them was placed inside - a technique he said he had used to search for Madeleine, who went missing as a toddler in 2007, and two other children.The judge said his wife played a "much lesser role" in the operation, while the court heard she "would not have been involved" but for her husband.lineFrom their suburban home, "Treetops", Samuel and Joan Tree were involved in an extraordinary international scam that reached several continents and, according to the police, put lives in danger.The couple appeared relieved at the leniency of their sentences, with Mrs Tree seen mouthing "thank you" to the judge.They embraced and broke down in tears following the hearing, which marks the end of a series of trials of several British fraudsters who made and marketed bogus detectors to trouble spots around the world.The profits were huge. The police say they will now attempt to recover their ill-gotten gains.linePolice believe the scam began in 1999 and made the couple around £2m.The investigation found the Egyptian government had ordered one million of the gadgets, while the Thai authorities are believed to have paid £25,000 for a single handle.Officers said one Alpha 6, assembled out of plastic imported from China, was bought for £500,000.The bogus contraptions were based on a novelty "golf ball detector" called the Gopher which sold for around $20 (£12) in the US.The couple's jailing brings to an end a series of trials following a four-year police investigation into what officers described as a "criminal network that turned over more than £80m".Businessmen James McCormick and Gary Bolton were jailed last year for versions of the scam, which saw the devices used at check points in Iraq.Bolton claimed his GT200 device could detect anything from cash and land mines to ivory and tobacco.He worked closely with the Trees after meeting them at an arms fair, police said.The fraudsters and their devicesThe ADE-651 (supposedly shorthand for Advanced Detection Equipment) was sold to Iraq, Niger and other Middle Eastern countries by Somerset-based businessman, James McCormick, who is now serving 10 years in jail. The Iraqis spent £53m ($85m) on the devices at around £5,000 ($8,034) a time. Some sold for as much as £25,000 ($40,178).The GT200 "remote substance detector", sold by Gary Bolton mainly in Mexico, Thailand, the Middle East and Africa. The device retailed at £5,000 ($8,034) but the highest price it achieved was £500,000 ($803,000). Bolton was sentenced to seven years.The Alpha 6 manufactured by Samuel and Joan Tree and sold to Egypt, Thailand and Mexico, usually at £2,000 ($3,213) per device. The highest sale price was £15,500 ($24,906) Tree was given three and a half years behind bars while his wife was ordered to do 300 hours unpaid community work.Det Con Joanne Law, from City of London Police, said the couple were "driven by personal greed"."It's been a long and complicated enquiry and we've worked with law enforcement officers all over the world to make sure we disrupt this type of crime," she told BBC News.The story of the fake bomb detectorshttp://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29459896Fake bomb detectors 'destroyed lives'http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22204076UK government promoted useless 'bomb detectors' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/newsnight/9377875.stm
Is it more rational to believe in God? (4/4) Tr3Vel0cita 2014-05-05 | BBC One 04 May 2014Nicky Campbell presents a pre-recorded special from Manor Church of England School in York, asking just one Big Question - is it more rational to believe in God?Guests include the philosopher, Julian Baggini, Oxford professor of science and religion, Alister McGrath, Dr Lois Lee, founder of the Non-religion & Secularity Research Network, Dr Vince Vitali from the Oxford Centre for Apologetics, Dr Fern Elsdon-Baker, Centre for Social Relations, Coventry University, Muslim apologetic, Adam Deen, author and broadcaster, Margaret Coles, former clergyman now atheist, Ollie Killingback, Satish Sharma of the National Council of Hindu Temples and former Mormon and Muslim turned atheist, Clare Solomon.
Is it more rational to believe in God? (3/4) Tr3Vel0cita 2014-05-05 | BBC One 04 May 2014Nicky Campbell presents a pre-recorded special from Manor Church of England School in York, asking just one Big Question - is it more rational to believe in God?Guests include the philosopher, Julian Baggini, Oxford professor of science and religion, Alister McGrath, Dr Lois Lee, founder of the Non-religion & Secularity Research Network, Dr Vince Vitali from the Oxford Centre for Apologetics, Dr Fern Elsdon-Baker, Centre for Social Relations, Coventry University, Muslim apologetic, Adam Deen, author and broadcaster, Margaret Coles, former clergyman now atheist, Ollie Killingback, Satish Sharma of the National Council of Hindu Temples and former Mormon and Muslim turned atheist, Clare Solomon.
Is it more rational to believe in God? (2/4) Tr3Vel0cita 2014-05-05 | BBC One 04 May 2014Nicky Campbell presents a pre-recorded special from Manor Church of England School in York, asking just one Big Question - is it more rational to believe in God?Guests include the philosopher, Julian Baggini, Oxford professor of science and religion, Alister McGrath, Dr Lois Lee, founder of the Non-religion & Secularity Research Network, Dr Vince Vitali from the Oxford Centre for Apologetics, Dr Fern Elsdon-Baker, Centre for Social Relations, Coventry University, Muslim apologetic, Adam Deen, author and broadcaster, Margaret Coles, former clergyman now atheist, Ollie Killingback, Satish Sharma of the National Council of Hindu Temples and former Mormon and Muslim turned atheist, Clare Solomon.
Is it more rational to believe in God? (1/4) Tr3Vel0cita 2014-05-05 | BBC One 04 May 2014Nicky Campbell presents a pre-recorded special from Manor Church of England School in York, asking just one Big Question - is it more rational to believe in God?Guests include the philosopher, Julian Baggini, Oxford professor of science and religion, Alister McGrath, Dr Lois Lee, founder of the Non-religion & Secularity Research Network, Dr Vince Vitali from the Oxford Centre for Apologetics, Dr Fern Elsdon-Baker, Centre for Social Relations, Coventry University, Muslim apologetic, Adam Deen, author and broadcaster, Margaret Coles, former clergyman now atheist, Ollie Killingback, Satish Sharma of the National Council of Hindu Temples and former Mormon and Muslim turned atheist, Clare Solomon.
Are religions unfair to women? Tr3Vel0cita 2013-05-05 | BBC One 05 May 2013This is a special edition from King Edward VI Handsworth School in Birmingham and Nicky Campbell asks just one Big Question: Are religions unfair to women?
Should Britain become a secular state? Tr3Vel0cita 2013-03-24 | BBC One 24 March 2013Nicky Campbell presents a pre-recorded edition of the programme from Manor CoE School in York asking just one question - should Britain become a secular state? Among those taking part are philosopher AC Grayling, former Bishop of Rochester Rt Rev Dr Michael Nazir-Ali, Prof the Baroness Afshar from York University, Symon Hill from Ekkelsia, Rabbi Jonathan Romain from Maidenhead Synagogue, Naomi Philips from Labour Humanists, writer and academic Myriam Francois Cerrah, Gita Sahgal from Centre for Secular Space, Pastor Mark Mullins from Strangers' Rest Mission and Dr Audra Mitchell from York University.
Religious TV show risking lives Tr3Vel0cita 2013-02-21 | BBC London News - 21 February 2013http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21505191TV shows made in London that encourage viewers to believe they are cured of life-threatening illnesses by prayer have been condemned by charities.Charities criticised an episode of the Miracle Hour show, on Faith World TV, during which a diabetic caller was told he was "set free" from the disease."It is particularly dangerous and puts his life at risk," said African Health Policy Network head Francis Kaikumba.UKWET, which produces the show, said it was "reviewing" its "new programmes".The organisation, whose full name is the UK World Evangelical Trust, said: "We are now reviewing our new programmes to make sure our standards meet good practice."Miracle Hour is filmed at Faith World TV's studio in south London. It is hosted by Bishop Simon Iheanacho, who is chairman of Minority Ethnic Christian Affairs (Meca), which supports black and minority ethnic Christians and is part of ecumenical body Churches Together in England.In an episode broadcast on 4 January, on channel 591 on the Sky platform, a diabetic caller named Bode, from Leyton in east London, telephoned the programme.'Set free'Bishop Simon told him to lay his hand on his leg and said: "I cause diabetes to die in your body."I lose you and declare you set free from the power of diabetes."Thank you heavenly father for this miracle right now over your life in Jesus's name."Bode was then asked to repeat the words "it is well with me".Mr Kaikumba said: "The clip is worrying. Bishop Simon claims to have removed the illness from the caller, insinuating he has been cured.""The pastor should have recommended the caller sought medical help."On an episode broadcast on 11 January, viewer Judith, from Ireland, called the show and was told by Bishop Simon to anoint her head with oil.Bishop Simon told her to repeat: "Wherever this oil will touch, miracle science and wonders will be established."She then told Bishop Simon her children had "snakes moving about in their own bodies".Bishop Simon said: "You have to anoint each one of them. Whatever you declare out of your mouth, God will do it."'Cursed the cancer'Debbie Ariyo, head of Africans Unite Against Child Abuse (Afruca), said the broadcast "flags up a child safeguarding issue"."Someone is telling the woman she has the power to heal children she believes are possessed."Later in the episode, Christy from London called the show to say her sister-in-law had breast cancer.Bishop Simon prayed for her and said: "We remove out of your body that root of cancer."He later said: "We cursed the cancer. It's dead," and later still: "Tell them not to worry about anything."Ms Ariyo said the broadcast "gives someone who has potential cancer false hope"."That's absolutely shocking, dangerous and misleading for the patient," she added.After the BBC put the charities' criticisms to UKWET last week, Bishop Simon read a statement at the start of the Miracle Hour programme broadcast on 15 February."If God heals you, please make sure you go to your doctor to certify that you have been healed or have been made whole and let your doctor give you a clearance on this very matter," he said."Also, when it comes to your children, if your children are sick and we pray for them, that does not remove you from going to your doctor."Our prayer is to offer a prayer of faith but the medical people satisfy that people are truly healed."'Shocking examples'Mr Kaikumba said: "There needs to be a far reaching investigation into this pastor and TV channel."We intend to write a letter to Ofcom raising our concerns."UKWET manager the Reverend Chris Mmeregini told the BBC the Miracle Hour programme is "designed to bring encouragement to believers in Jesus Christ through the preaching and teaching of the word of God and to offer prayer of faith to help those in need"."The issues you have raised in our Hour of Miracles programme on 4 January and 11 January do not represent the content or intent of the programme as you have implied," he added.Mr Kaikumba said he has watched "similar channels" to Faith World TV and "been appalled by some of the things I've seen faith leaders do"."I've seen shocking examples of faith leaders advising people that they have been healed or cured as a mechanism for people to attend services and purchase items," he added.He called for "better scrutiny from Ofcom"."There needs to be a government commission and inquiry," he said.'Strict rules'A spokesman for Sky, the platform on which Miracle Hour is broadcast, said: "Any broadcaster with an appropriate Ofcom licence is free to seek distribution over the satellite platform."
Is faith compatible with reason? Tr3Vel0cita 2013-02-10 | BBC One 10 February 2013Amongst those taking part are Will Storr, author of Heretic, Adventures with the Enemies of Science; Robert Griffiths, author of Slaying the Dragon; Christina Biggs from Christians in Science; the past-life regression therapist Andrea Foulkes; Journalist Oliver Thring; Julia Manning MP.
Is it time for all religions to accept evolution? Tr3Vel0cita 2013-01-13 | BBC One - 13 January 2013Nicky Campbell presides over a special debate recorded at the Harris Academy in Peckham, asking just one Big Question: Is it time for all religions to accept evolution as fact?Amongst those taking part are: Matt Ridley, author of Genome; the geneticist, Professor Steve Jones; Rev Greg Haslam, senior pastor at Westminster Chapel; Dr Steve Lloyd from Biblical Creation Ministries; Inayat Bunglawala, chair of Muslims4UK; Rev Dr Malcolm Brown, director of mission and public affairs of the Church of England; Dr Robert J Asher, a paleontoloist from Cambridge University; the sociologist Professor Linda Woodhead from Lancaster University; Imam Abdullah Hasan from Neeli Mosque and Islamic Centre; Professor Steve Fuller, sociologist, Warwick University; Mohamed Ali Harrath, founder of The Islam Channel; Pastor Marjorie Esomowie, Triumphant Church International; and Adam Deen, executive director of the Deen Institute.
Godless: Spreading The Word (part 2 of 2) Tr3Vel0cita 2013-01-02 | InformationGodless takes a compelling look at a growing subculture with no faith or belief in a god and finds many surprising ways in which non-believers are emulating the structures and practices of organized religion: holding services, teaching non-supernatural interpretations of religious texts, proselytizing and even risking their lives for the freedom to express non-belief.Congregating or spreading the word for a god makes some sense, but why be so active a non-believer, spreading the word of nothing? This two-part documentary explores the many motivations of the godless and asks: IS ATHEISM THE NEXT GREAT RELIGION?Part 1: The CongregationsOur look at the subculture of the godless starts in a group therapy session for people recovering from religion where attendees range from those traumatized by their religious upbringing to others who discovered they could no longer believe in a supernatural god. From there, its off to synagogue and church, an openly atheistic church whose congregations don't pray to god. Indeed they don't recognize God, certainly not God as an almighty, supernatural creator of the universe or anything that actually lives. But these congregations do hold services and Sunday schools and even summer camps. What doctrines are they following? Are any relying on big-name new atheists like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett as doctrine? And are these faithless indoctrinating their children into Atheism? Find Out.Part 2: Spreading the WordIn the second part of Godless, we look at the increasing efforts of "new atheists" and other secularists and non-believers to "proselytize". Featuring more from the new atheists known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett) plus grass roots campaigns including everything from comedy acts and de-baptisms to more serious bus campaigns, we ask: are atheists spreading the word or just preaching to the converted? We also hear from atheists who have faced discrimination and even death threats as a consequence of their non-belief, begging the question why do all this for non-belief? Atheists are described as the least trusted group in the US less so than Muslims, despite all their bad press. Is this inevitable or avoidable when you are putting people's faith on public trial? Viewers will decide that for themselves.
Godless: The Congregations (part 1 of 2) Tr3Vel0cita 2013-01-02 | InformationGodless takes a compelling look at a growing subculture with no faith or belief in a god and finds many surprising ways in which non-believers are emulating the structures and practices of organized religion: holding services, teaching non-supernatural interpretations of religious texts, proselytizing and even risking their lives for the freedom to express non-belief.Congregating or spreading the word for a god makes some sense, but why be so active a non-believer, spreading the word of nothing? This two-part documentary explores the many motivations of the godless and asks: IS ATHEISM THE NEXT GREAT RELIGION?Part 1: The CongregationsOur look at the subculture of the godless starts in a group therapy session for people recovering from religion where attendees range from those traumatized by their religious upbringing to others who discovered they could no longer believe in a supernatural god. From there, its off to synagogue and church, an openly atheistic church whose congregations don't pray to god. Indeed they don't recognize God, certainly not God as an almighty, supernatural creator of the universe or anything that actually lives. But these congregations do hold services and Sunday schools and even summer camps. What doctrines are they following? Are any relying on big-name new atheists like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett as doctrine? And are these faithless indoctrinating their children into Atheism? Find Out.Part 2: Spreading the WordIn the second part of Godless, we look at the increasing efforts of "new atheists" and other secularists and non-believers to "proselytize". Featuring more from the new atheists known as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens and Daniel Dennett) plus grass roots campaigns including everything from comedy acts and de-baptisms to more serious bus campaigns, we ask: are atheists spreading the word or just preaching to the converted? We also hear from atheists who have faced discrimination and even death threats as a consequence of their non-belief, begging the question why do all this for non-belief? Atheists are described as the least trusted group in the US less so than Muslims, despite all their bad press. Is this inevitable or avoidable when you are putting people's faith on public trial? Viewers will decide that for themselves.
Possession, Jinn and Britains Backstreet Exorcists: BBC Newsnight Tr3Vel0cita 2012-11-20 | BBC Two 19 November 2012http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-20357997UK health and social workers and those in the criminal justice system are increasingly having to understand belief in spiritual possession among ethnic minorities, with new research highlighting a particular issue with some sections of the British Asian community blaming mental health problems on the supernatural.The exorcist Abou Mohammed sits cross-legged on the floor of a back-room in his home in Ilford, East London. He is surrounded by copies of the Koran, containers of olive oil and a spray-bottle of water which he uses on the Jinn, the supernatural spirits, that he says possess many of his clients.Mr Mohammed, who goes by the title of Raqi, has a waiting list several months long and charges £60 for a one-hour session.One of his clients is Mudasar Khan, 41, who says he has been possessed by a Jinn for years. He describes it as something that surrounds his body, buzzing, making him unwell and even stopping him sleeping.Mr Khan has been on anti-depressants in the past and suffered panic attacks, but he says the Jinn prevented medication from working and that it is only coming to Abou Mohammed that has provided some relief."I had to go to the doctors and the hospitals too, to prove it to my family, because if I didn't do that side of it as well they'd think it was in my head," he says.For five years Mr Khan has been treated by Mr Mohammed, who he says summons up the Jinn inside of him and speaks to it directly, easing its effect.'Power to cure'Mr Mohammed knows what he does is controversial - while we are filming his work he also films us, concerned that we will distort what he does - and he says that there are many charlatans in his field.The exorcist believes some illnesses are unnecessarily dealt with by doctors when they are actually spiritual problems. He even says some people have operations they do not need because the Jinn has tricked doctors."I cure them by this book [the Koran]. You have to have a faith in it and it will work. So yes, anxiety, depression, heart problems, many, believe me, many problems get cured by this healing."Despite this, Mr Mohammed admits he does have some clients come to him who are seriously ill and need medical attention, particularly those who are mentally unwell.When 20-year-old Nadeem (whose name we have changed) became ill he and his family thought he had a spiritual problem, that he was also possessed by a Jinn:"I was at home and I was with my family and their faces looked different to me, my senses changed as well," he recalls. "I tried to lie down to sleep, but too many things were going through my mind and I felt my head is getting narrowed getting tight. My thinking is big; I'm thinking a lot of things."He says that in the night he went down stairs and told his father how he was feeling:"My parents got worried, they said don't worry we'll call a certain guy and he'll sort it out... so they called a person who's got the power to control these things and take them out." 'Writhing on the floor'Nadeem's parents took him to an exorcist for treatment:"I was physically fidgeting and flinching all over the place. I was on the floor in my house and I was screaming and the Jinn was trying to come out of my mouth," he says.Nadeem says he felt better for his treatment, but that he did not recover and was eventually taken to hospital. He is now diagnosed with schizophrenia and takes daily medication.Cases like Nadeem's, in which his illness was instantly attributed to possession, are not entirely uncommon and are a cause for concern among mental health professionals.Professor Swaran Singh, head of the Mental Health and Wellbeing division at Warwick Medical School, has just completed a five year study, funded by the Department of Health, into why patients from ethnic minority backgrounds were often reaching mental health services in a more severely ill state than the rest of the population."We found that in the very early stages when people have depression or anxiety, they seek help through their GP because it looks like a psychological problem. When they become seriously unwell, like when they develop delusions or start hearing voices, then the groups diverge."The Asian groups, particularly the British Pakistanis, then attribute their problem to a religious cause, for instance, possession by a Jinn. So they seek help through the Imams, through the mosque," he says.Among British Asians the belief in evil spirits is not uncommon. It can be concepts like black magic or the evil eye, it can also be that the body can be possessed causing physical harm.British Muslims in particular are brought up learning of the existence of Jinn in the Koran, though what the Jinn actually are is not universally agreed upon.
Conspiracy Road Trip: UFOs Tr3Vel0cita 2012-10-16 | BBC Three 15 October 2012Are we alone in the universe or have we been visited by aliens? If the answer to the last question is yes, have the world's governments been covering up this incredible 'truth'?Comedian Andrew Maxwell is a logical guy and he is going to tackle these big questions on an American road trip from Los Angeles to Area 51. He is taking five UFO believers who claim to have witnessed spacecraft from other galaxies, been attacked by UFOs, had close encounters with ETs and believe an alien attack is imminent for a close encounter of the rational kind. Andrew takes them to meet experts, eyewitnesses and journalists to see if he can dispel the myths around UFO sightings.Includes contributions by Seth Shostak of The SETI Institute, PZ Myers and Michael Shermer of Skeptic Magazine.
Conspiracy Road Trip: Creationism Tr3Vel0cita 2012-10-09 | BBC Three 08 October 2012Comedian Andrew Maxwell takes five British creationists to the west coast of America to try to convince them that evolution rather than creationism explains how we all got here. Stuck on a bus across 2,000 miles of dustbowl roads with these passionate believers, Maxwell tackles some firmly held beliefs - could the Earth be only 6,000 years old, and did humans and T-Rex really live side by side? It's a bumpy ride as he's confronted with some lively debates along the way, but by the end could he possibly win over any of these believers with what he regards as hard scientific fact?
Rosh Hashanah: Science vs Religion Tr3Vel0cita 2012-09-14 | BBC1 12 September 2012Religion and science are frequently set up as polar opposites; incompatible ways of thinking. The Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks begs to differ. For him, science and religion can, and should, work together. To mark Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, he puts his position to the test. He meets three non-believing scientists, each at the top of their field: neurologist Baroness Susan Greenfield, theoretical physicist Professor Jim Al-Khalili, and the person best known for leading the scientific attack on religion, Professor Richard Dawkins. Will the Chief Rabbi succeed in convincing the militant defender of atheism that science and religion need not be at war?
Should Creationists be allowed to run schools? Tr3Vel0cita 2012-07-24 | BBC1 22 July 201233 new 'faith' schools approved to open from 2013http://www.humanism.org.uk/news/view/1077Free School due to open in September 2012 'teaches creation as a scientific theory'http://www.humanism.org.uk/news/view/1079A Free School due to open in September 2012 intends to 'teach creation as a scientific theory', the British Humanist Association (BHA) can reveal. Grindon Hall Christian School in Sunderland, currently a private all-through school but approved last October by the Department for Education to open as a Free School from this September, has a 'Creation Policy' (mirror) on its website in which they 'affirm that to believe in God's creation of the world is an entirely respectable position scientifically and rationally.'The BHA have also revealed that two groups approved to open schools from 2013 intend to teach creationism in RE.Grindon Hall's Creation Policy starts off by explaining that:We will affirm the fact that "God created the world and everything in it". We will affirm that he did so "ex nihilo" -- out of nothing.We believe that God, as sovereign Lord of the universe, is capable of creating the world in a few 24-hour days, or over a period of millions of years. It goes on to state that the school does 'not share the rigid creationist's insistence on a literalistic interpretation of the first chapters of Genesis' and that 'We are therefore very happy to believe that God could have created the world in six days. But we do not feel that it is helpful to affirm it as an unarguable fact.'However, it is clear that the school genuinely believes that there is genuine scientific controversy around whether or not God created the Universe and the world. The policy then explains:we vigorously challenge the unscientific certainty often claimed by scientists surrounding the so-called "Big Bang" and origins generally.We believe that no scientific theory provides -- or ever will provide -- a satisfactory explanation of origins, i.e. why the world appeared, and how nothing became something in the first place.We will teach evolution as an established scientific principle, as far as it goes. We will teach creation as a scientific theory and we will always affirm very clearly our position as Christians, i.e. that Christians believe that God's creation of the world is not just a theory but a fact with eternal consequences for our planet and for every person who has ever lived on it.We will affirm that to believe in God's creation of the world is an entirely respectable position scientifically and rationally.BHA Chief Executive Andrew Copson commented, 'Grindon Hall Christian School is a classic example of the so-called "teach the controversy" approach, often used by American creationist groups to get creationism taught in schools. Creationists do not argue that evolution should not be taught; they simply argue that there is genuine scientific debate over the origins of the Universe and the Earth, and that therefore creationism should be taught alongside evolution.'The issue with the "teach the controversy" approach is that there is no scientific controversy over evolution and creationism: the scientific consensus is overwhelmingly in favour of evolution.'Michael Gove said that he was "crystal clear that teaching creationism is at odds with scientific fact". So it is startling to see two Free Schools that intend to teach creationism in RE and one that intends to teach creationism as a valid scientific theory. Either the scrutiny to which bids are being subjected is inadequate, or the government's policy statements are untrue.'
Is Religion Being Marginalised in the UK? - BBC Question Time Tr3Vel0cita 2012-03-08 | 16 February 2012 BBC1
