The Atheist Blogger

Whether you say “Merry Christmas”, “Happy Holidays”, or even “Happy Winter Solstice”, I wish you all the best for the day and the rest of the year. Whatever you plan to do today, whether habitually religious or full of militant secularism, I hope you have fun and get completely wasted (just don’t throw up your Xmas dinner!).

The only thing left to do, is wish you all a very Happy Jewish Zombie Birthday!

-Adrian Hayter

Kieran Bennett has posted a challenge to get an atheist message into his local newspaper as part of their “Christmas greeting” offer. It costs $1.10 for the message, and he has already tried this:

Christians, There probably is no god, so stop worrying and enjoy life – Kieran.

I’m sure I’ve got some Aussie readers (in fact I know I do), so Kieran is asking for your help. If you manage to get an atheist message into the newspaper, he’ll pay for it (although I suspect $1.10 isn’t much). This also brings to light what other people around the world can do. Perhaps there are other newspapers that do the same sort of thing. I’m sure my local newspaper will be doing something, and if they aren’t, perhaps I should write a letter to the editor that includes a special message for Christians. After all, this is the holiday they stole…why not send them a festive message?

Friendly Atheist has made me aware of a Christmas event for atheists in London. Comedian Robin Ince is hosting an evening show full of rational talks about science as well as the obvious comedy. The line-up is most impressive:

Rather than talking of Jesus’s birth, acclaimed science author Simon Singh will talk about the birth of the universe. Instead of talking about Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh, Bad Science Columnist Ben Goldacre will talk of alternative medicine and charlatans, while Josie Long will talk about the wonder of the stars.

So far the confirmed speakers are Stewart Lee, Phill Jupitus, Mark Thomas (who might be bringing along his grandfather’s travelling harmonium for a carol sing-a-long), Natalie Haynes, Chris Addison, Ben Goldacre, Christina Martin, Simon Singh, Josie Long, Jo Neary and Richard Dawkins.

…

The evening will also include projections of classic archive footage of Carl Sagan and Richard Feynman.

I’m certainly going to go to it, hopefully with my student group, and if any readers are in London or near London, I would love to meet up beforehand for a drink before the show. Best to plan things in advance obviously!

Of course hopefully people will be able to come from all over the country, since this is a first time event.