Vol. 1 No. 13 - October 30, 2006

The New Scientist magazine recently posed the question “Imagine Earth without people” (issue 2573, 12 October 2006, 36-41): “Humans are undoubtedly the most dominant species the Earth has ever known. In just a few thousand years we have swallowed up more than a third of the planet's land for our cities, farmland and pastures. By some estimates, we now commandeer 40 per cent of all its productivity. And we're leaving quite a mess behind: ploughed-up prairies, razed forests, drained aquifers, nuclear waste, chemical pollution, invasive species, mass extinctions and now the looming spectre of climate change. If they could, the other species we share Earth with would surely vote us off the planet.”

What place for Homo sapiens sapiens on this accommodating little blue-green planet, third from the sun?

Are we special? The crown of the creative endeavours of some “god”? And are we to live forever? Given that we have the self-styled notion of “too wonderful to perish”?

In this issue the notion of “eternal life” is discussed. And I include an essay by Bertrand Russell, indicating the probable status of humans in the universe.

And, I venture with my own, modern version – an attempted pastiche – of Russell’s original.

Contents

Publisher’s Note

Editor’s Note

Eternal life

The theologian's nightmare, by Bertrand Russell

The theologian's nightmare, by Nathan Bond

Bigotry in the name of God and religion

Clash of cricket and religion: Pakistan's faith sparks unholy row

Apocalypse soon

Muslim leader blames women for sex attacks

Click here to order a free copy of
Tart Remarks, Vol. 1 No. 13 – October 30, 2006