Dear David, my goodness a lot must have happened in the last three or four years since we were members of your committee, Atheism has gone from old to new, funny we still feel the same, so are we old or new now? we are beginning to feel old but not due to atheism

It must be because we are the queen...

Thanks, Squeers… it is a much more interesting view of things being hoi oligoi.

For the life of me I can't lose the impression that in our role playing, New Atheism wants to be the Church of Rome – with Mr Nicholls taking the part of Cardinal de Vio (Gaetanus) to Pericles' Luther.

Of course, historically Luther suffered from constipation (I blame the Diet of Worms) but with this casting Gaetanus would have given him the…
solution to his problem.

Not sure about that, WmTrevor.

>>New Atheism wants to be the Church of Rome – with Mr Nicholls taking the part of Cardinal de Vio (Gaetanus)<<

Given the image of infallibility that he has taken upon himself, Mr Nicholls has more in common with the Pope at that time, Leo X.

Which would inevitably place my own role closer to that of Gaetanus...

"The theologian Tommaso Cardinal de Vio Gaetani Cajetan O.P. († 1534) declared: 'It is imperative to resist a pope who is openly destroying the Church.' (De Comparata Auctoritate Papae et Concilio). Such a pope must be resisted, his policies opposed and prevented and true Catholic Faith and practice maintained. Resistance must be established and advanced."

http://www.romancatholicism.org/duty-resist.htm

And don't forget, Leo X was a Medici, most famous for his predilection for granting indulgences.

Spooky, huh.

Forgive moi… selections are not closed and auditions are still open.

Even I didn't consider Mr Nicholls might regard his writings as the equivalent of Papal Bull.

My casting analogy for the New Atheism had Christopher Hitchens, Daniel Dennett and Sam Harris in walk-on roles as Popes Julius II, Clement VII and Adrian VI with a special appearance by Richard Dawkins as Leo X.

I even thought "Game of Drone's" would be a good working title for the miniseries – might even stretch to a four DVD set…

As a generalisation, it is so easy to touch a raw nerve with underachieving dysfunctional personalities and have it manifest defensively into a mob mentality. Some of you good people have no idea how wonderful you are for atheism and the AFA. Thanks. Even so, there is some very creepy behaviour going on here protected by pseudonyms. One thing I find quite amusing is the lack of embarrassment knowing with whom you are sharing the bed.

David