DON’T you just hate it when a perfectly good plan goes tits up?
Last Friday, a great opportunity to expose the utter absurdity of creationist thinking presented itself in Hove, East Sussex. A group of atheists, myself included, learned that the “God what did it expert” “Dr” John Blanchard, was to deliver a lecture at Montpelier Place Baptist Church, and that there would be an opportunity for the audience to question his views.
'Dr' John Blamchard
One of our crew, a genuine doctor – Robert Stovold, B.Sc., M.Res., PhD – prepared a series of questions to put to creationist Blanchard, who received his “doctorate” from the “Pacific International University”, which lacks a campus, and which, rather more importantly, lacks any accreditation by the US Office of Education.
One of the questions was:
You claim that we have a moral dimension and a sense of ethical responsibility. Yet according to the Statement of Faith on your website, ‘man is by nature totally depraved’. Which is right?
On arriving at the church, we were dismayed to learn that only written questions would be taken at the end of Blanchard’s lecture – which effectively meant that there would be no opportunity to engage in an enjoyable cut-and-thrust debate from the floor.
So we had to sit through almost an hour of excruciating, arse-numbing twaddle, knowing that, at the end, there would be virtually no chance to challenge him on any of the points that he made. And believe me, there was a lot to challenge.
There was the added irritation of hearing Blanchard’s ad hominem attack on Charles Darwin at the start of his talk:
Studying medicine made Darwin queasy. He got poor marks in classics. He was a hypochondriac, a recluse, ‘strangely’ he didn’t use the word ‘evolution’ in his book, he rushed into print with a book title that wasn’t snappy, and he had ‘awful misgivings’ about his theory.
What in the name of sweet reason has this anything to do with Darwin’s work? If Michelangelo, for example, was given to juggling garlic bulbs while languishing in a tub of cold linguini when he wasn’t painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel, would this somehow make him less of an artistic genius?
Professor Richard Dawkins was relegated to the status of a “graffiti artist” for his role in the Atheist Bus Campaign, and the ignoramuses working at an evolution exhibition in South Africa were warmly commended for having confided to Blanchard that they didn’t believe a word of the theory, and gratefully accepted the gift of his book Evolution: Fact or Fiction?
Blanchard admits he is no scientist – but give the man his due. As a smooth-tongued snake-oil salesman he is good – very good indeed. And one of our number, Peter Brietbart. told him as much in the tea break, adding:
But I hope this audience doesn’t fall for any of your slick propaganda.
Blanchard was furious, but he had nothing to fear on that score. He was speaking mainly to an audience of brain-dead believers, and they hung raptly onto his every word. He had them by the ears, if not their nuts, and he knew it.
They particularly approved of his playing the victim card. Creationists, he said, were facing in increasingly hostile media in the UK. He had “incontrovertible evidence” that, whenever creationists or “Intelligent Design” gurus were interviewed by the media, the plug was pulled on them just as they were about to crush their evolutionist opponents.
With the 200th anniversary of Darwin’s birth about to be celebrated, Christians, for many months to come, could expect to be buried under an avalanche of evolutionary propaganda … blah, blah … But Christians should be grateful that they are not as persecuted here as they are in “atheist countries”.
Atheist countries? What atheist countries? He moved swiftly on, failing, of course, to mention that where Christian persecution is most rampant is in Muslim countries.
But my hackles really rose when Blanchard asserted that belief in evolution was a religion, because it lacked scientific evidence, thus requiring its adherents to follow Darwin’s theory by dint of faith. Any fool knows that evolution is science. The study of evolution relies on evidence and inference from the natural world. Thus it is not a religion. Never has been, never will be.
My eyes are now glazing over. I am thinking nicotine and large infusions of scotch. But I am jerked alert by Blanchard’s introduction in his talk of the late Jeffrey Dahmer, notorious US serial killer, cannibal – and noted evolutionist.
Say what?
Evolutionists, says Blanchard, believe we came “out of the slime”. Dahmer claimed, in justification of his crimes, that he believed he ”came out of the slime”. This, by extension, makes Dahmer “an evolutionist”. Blanchard disingenuously rushes on to say that he’s not inferring that all who believe in evolution are serial killers or potential serial killers but …
He then swings into full fundie mode, and launches into a lengthy “repent or face judgement” sermon. At this point our small delegation, exasperated beyond the point of endurance, gets up and walks out in disgust.
While we weren’t able to put any of the questions prepared by Dr Stovold to Blanchard, his specially-prepared booklet has been posted on the internet, and is a valuable resource for anyone planning on tackling Blanchard or any other of his ilk in the future.
This is Blanchard’s speaking schedule.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:44 am
I notice that you provide a a link to Bob Stovold’s booklet but why didn’t you do a link for John Blanchard’s booklet? That way people could have read both and come to an honest decision.
February 2nd, 2009 at 9:50 am
The reason’s simple, Bob. Blanchard’s silly little book sells for around £14.00. He’s out to make money, so he does not make it available for free. You can buy it on Amazon.
February 2nd, 2009 at 10:05 am
Barry: look at the front page of today’s Daily Mail about a Christian nurse. The headline goes “Persecuted for praying”.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:02 am
Bob, if you consider the Daily Mail a credible news source, no wonder you’re a fucktard.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:09 am
Bob, here’s a link to the brochure.
http://www.cvbbs.com/downloads/0852345305.pdf
Try and do some research for yourself.
Take a fragment of something Blanchard quotes, type it into Google with the phrase “quote mining” and see what comes up.
Just imagine of the first Christians were as inaccurare as Blanchard! I particularly like his claim that Richard Dawkins’ anti-god views represent a “hidden agenda”! “THE GOD DELUSION”!
The clue is in the title of Dawkins’ book, which was published the year before the latest impression of Blanchard’s. But Creationists never let little things like facts get in the way.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:10 am
Oops! “of” should have read “if”, and “inaccurare” should have read “inaccurate”! But at least I correct my errors…
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:13 am
Sadly it appears that these fools don’t know it’s science. Oh, certainly, they’ve been told so often enough, but if it’s not contained in their little book of bullshit then they deny it.
Why, by the same token, they don’t deny electronics, germs, gravity and all of the other “unseen” sciences is anyone’s guess.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:17 am
It’s notable that creationists are always whingeing about ‘debate’, but always try to rig any discussion their way. They constantly act in bad faith. Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett etc will take questions from real, live members of the public without any written warnings. Funny how the god squad can never seem to cut it in this regard.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:20 am
If the Bible is not true and evolution is true, then why don’t you simply declare that and let people make up their minds? Why are you getting so angry? Why are you so full of hate and venom? You need Jesus in your life to give you the peace of mind and heart that you lack.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:29 am
Just “declaring” isn’t good enough.
Evidence is needed.
Evidence is something that science provides.
Your bible doesn’t provide anything even closely resembling evidence.
Do short sentences help, Bob?
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:29 am
Bob, perhaps we are angry at being called heartless, and on hearing your patronising nonsense about needing Jesus in our lives? As a matter of fact, part of me is motivated out of empathy for Christians. I hate to see the wool being pulled over people’s eyes – even in the case of sheep.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:40 am
Nullifidian: The evidence backs up the Bible – read the “answers in Genesis” web site.
February 2nd, 2009 at 11:49 am
Yes, Bob. And we know how open-minded the folks at “Answers In Genesis” are, don’t we? This from their Statement of Faith:
http://www.answersingenesis.org/about/faith
Section 3.6 “By definition, no apparent, perceived, or claimed evidence in any field, including history and chronology, can be valid if it contradicts the Scriptural record. Of primary importance is the fact that evidence is always subject to interpretation by fallible people who do not possess all information.”
Of course, Creationists couldn’t be fallible in their assertion that the Bible is accurate, now could they?
Take the plank out of your own eye, Bob.
February 2nd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
Calm down, Mr Stovold, you need Jesus in your life!
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:08 pm
Bob, why do you make patronising, unsubstantiated emotional allegations instead of engaging with the intellectual issues that I raise? “You need Jesus” isn’t an argument, just as “Darwin was a hypochondriac” isn’t an argument.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:22 pm
I will say this to bob the idiot , I need jesus in my life as much as I need another blister on my foot. Creationism is not science, the bible is nothing more than a book of mythology written by half literate men some 4000 or so years ago, most of which was taken from previous beliefs that well predated the writing of the bible.
February 2nd, 2009 at 1:25 pm
There is no depth to which the religious will not sink; they deliberately stifle live debate by insisting upon written questions so that they can only answer the sycophants. No surprise for an organisation that lies, uses subterfuge, blackmail, bullying, bombs etc to try and get their way.
February 2nd, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Calm down, Bob, you need to kick this god-delusion out of your head!
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Angela K: You accuse Christians of “lies, subterfuge, blackmail, bullying, bombs etc.” Please produce evidence to prove we have done all these things – particularly the “bombs” allegation. True Christians do not use violence to spread the Gospel; in fact, it is because we are peaceable that we are often ridiculed – Jerry Springer et al wouldn’t dare ridicule Islam because they know there could well be violent consequences.
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:21 pm
Bob is a wind-up merchant and you lot keep feeding him. It’s most likely, he’s a thirteen year-old with a sore wrist.
Remember the old adage: Never argue with an idiot, the audience may not be able to tell the difference.
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:33 pm
A couple of points. First, with reference to the “persecuted” nurse, her behaviour is highly unprofessional especially as studies have shown that if people know that they are being prayed for, prayers actually make them worse. Second, Christians have been persecuted a thousand times more by other Christians than by Romans, members of other religions and communists put together.
Bob, you really need to brush up on your history before you make such crass statements, the Churches no longer have the power to use violence in support of their cause but when they did have the power the used the most extreme violence, in spades. Presumably “et al” doesn’t include the Freethinker as it quite evidently ridicules Islam without mercy on a regular basis.
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Bob. christians have bombed abortion clinics in the USA, do a search and you’ll find examples. Bullying, lies etc – just look at the antics of Stephen Green and his chums, bishops, the pope…….. Of course your religion is peaceful, just like islam – keep on kidding yourself.
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Stoneyground: evidence suggests that many illnesses can be improved by a positive mental attitude and general feeling of peace of mind and heart. Many who consent to being prayed for experience such peace which can then have a positive effect on their health.
Church history does show that supposed Christians were involved in persecuting others but they were not true Christians as true Christians do not use violence to promote the cause of the Christian Gospel.
You are right to point out that the Freethinker often ridicules Islam and I applaud your courage and committment to free expression.
Angela K: People who bomb abortion (murder) clinics are not true Christians as Jesus said that His followers are known by their fruits. Please give one example of an evangelical Christian who has carried out an act of violence in order to further the spread of the Gospel.
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:21 pm
http://www.commonplacebook.com.....terro.shtm
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,268735,00.html
http://www.wusa9.com/news/news.....ryid=50013
The above are just the first three from a Google search.
There is no difference between a ‘true’ christian or any other, you all share a common delusion and the same ignorance and bigotry.
February 2nd, 2009 at 7:32 pm
Bob, if you define a Christian as someone who doesn’t blow people up, then by definition no Christians blow people up. But that’s a circular argument.
For practical purposes, a Christian might be… ooh, let’s see –
1. Someone who founds something called a “Christian Coalition” (the clue is in the word “Christian”, Bob…)
2. Someone who influences a lot of people who regard themselves as Christians.
Someone like Pat Robertson, who fits both criteria, and suggested bombing the US State Department?
http://edition.cnn.com/2003/US.....index.html
Don’t tell me – Pat’s not really a Christian – he’s actually a closet Islamic extremist?
February 2nd, 2009 at 8:07 pm
bob – You lying, hateful, bigoted, homophobe, (what on earth gives you the impression you are a good human) a quarter of all fertilized female eggs don’t embed properly in the womb lining – so don’t survive.
Therefore your “god” aborts/murders more zygotes thru his nonsensical “plan” than any human – billions every year.
If you are not a WUM then you are the most emotionally and intellectually stunted clown I’ve ever encountered – now fuck off and get a life – you are the worst kind of scum. If you can’t see that – then how deluded are you – deluded enough to believe you’d go to heaven, when in fact you are a trluy horrible, hateful person?
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Shargraves: Bit OTT there, old chap.
February 3rd, 2009 at 3:45 pm
Sorry about that newspaniard!
I was a bit tense yesterday. Got wound up from reading all the anti-intellectual lies in the nutter’s pamphlet & as we have a baby on the way very soon at chez shargraves, their disgusting lies about abortion particularly wind me up of late!
Besides – Bob already admitted he rejoices when he gets abused…
I’ll not take the bait next time. (He says!)
February 3rd, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Shargraves. Wow! Congratulations on the forthcoming new arrival. If it’s a boy you can call him Remigius.
Let us know when it pops out and we will all drink a toast to wet the baby’s head.
February 4th, 2009 at 9:42 am
If the new baby arrives safe don’t forget to thank the Lord for His gift of life.
March 8th, 2009 at 4:45 pm
I think the reason people like Bob come out with their assertions is that they have been infected by (St) Paul’s admonishments in Corinthians, to despise the wisdom (of the Greeks), and similar phrases like “God will destroy the wisdom of the wise” (I quote from memory). It beats me why people have to take orders from this fellow instead of thinking for themselves; perhaps they think he is a god as well as JC, and we all owe him slavish obedience?
May 19th, 2009 at 6:38 pm
Mr Barry Duke,
Never have I read more tosh in my life.
You got your religious views, you got your religious persecutions, you've got your religious band of merry men, you even made a number of laws about it.
Why did you pick the shirt you wore today? Probably because you like green. Why do you like green? – cos the "doctor" told you toooooo??
Why did you give the doctor reign over you? Do his thoughts and findings characterise who you are and what you believe … or have you ever stepped out of your office, of your computer, and looked and explored nature yourself? Go and look brother, before you become to blind to the light that surrounds you.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, AND THE DARKNESS HAS NOT OVERCOME IT.
I don't like religion either pal; mainly because religious clowns like yourself write stuff like this.
Not because of who you are, but because of who you became.
The "free"thinkers, I don't suppose most of you have ever had a free thought.
May you find peace, and purpose ….
May 19th, 2009 at 7:06 pm
Are you on DRUGS?!
May 19th, 2009 at 11:09 pm
No Sir,
I am just astounded how an intellectual can chase ONE faith down with so much passion, vigour, disdain, justice and not know truly why he is doing it.
You don't understand the difference between religion and faith. Religion is works, faith is something completely and entirely different.
Your works are to put your form of justice on something that clearly you don't understand – or haven't studied correctly. I am more than happy to go through it with you. Maybe have a discussion with both "books" on the table – I understand the need to ask questions, to be decisive, to understand – I can even understand why your probably angry – you have to have all of those to be as focused editorialy as you are.
The real test of reflection and discussion shouldn't be on what a man says about a book, but rather what the book is saying about men. Then maybe, you'll see a clearer distinction in works and faith, religion and trust …. after all where would atheism be with people who believed?
May 20th, 2009 at 11:40 am
Of course I know the difference between religion and faith. Religion is organised, collective insanity, while faith is nothing more than wishful thinking. As to the rest of your comments, they confused and incomprehensible and merit no response. Eg \\"The real test of reflection and discussion shouldn\\'t be on what a man says about a book, but rather what the book is saying about men\\".
What in the name of sweet sanity is that supposed to mean?
August 7th, 2009 at 12:30 pm
I'd back Bob all the way. Good man.
The term 'Christian" is too loosely banded. A real Christian is someone who belives that Jesus Christ is the son of God, who came to the earth he created and led a pure and sinless life in order to die for our sinful lives and rose again to Heaven in victory at achieving this. A true Christian lives a life of repentance and sorrow at his own failings and with gratitude to our Lord for shown such immeasurable love, mercy and grace to us all. Whether you don't believe it is your perogative, we are all made with free will.
I am no 13 year old, I'm 26 and have made my mind up following open and honest review and study.
Thanks. You can berate me, humiliate me, mock me,laugh at me but it is a lost cause as I know where I stand and thank God for his mercy in opening my eyes..
Love Craig
August 24th, 2009 at 3:21 am
No Craig, only Christians have "free will" you heretic. See you in the lake of fire!
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:07 pm
i agree with craig and bob, every1 that isnt a christian im not against
October 3rd, 2009 at 6:09 pm
i agree with bob and craig
November 20th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
Old article, but I’d love to share my quick thought wherever.
Simply being, that I only wish for an afterlife, one that has parts which mean none of these religions are right, so that when I die I can find all the previously-religious people and mock them as what they blindly believed is in knocked down.
I was reading some book on Douglas Adams, and I seem to remember him saying something alone the lines of
Man finds himself in a world, he has the ability to eat, mate and survive mostly as he would like. Man reasons that he has had similar abilities all his life, unaware of evolution, he doesn’t assume that it is he who is suited to the environment around him, but that the environment was made to suit him. Later in society, reasoning that someone must be there to have made this Earth for man.
I probably said that in a way that didn’t give full appreciation to Adams’ words, but eh, look it up if it’s that much bother to you.
People believe in God for many reasons, plenty of which can be explained scientifically.
1) We have what I explained previously, Man reasoning that he is suited to the environment, quite logically, wouldn’t be what he first assumes.
2) Praying causes healing. There is evidence to suggest (what I personally call ‘psycho-biology’) that believing that you will get better will indeed help the body heal.
I remember reading one certain case (Though I couldn’t tell you its reliability) where a man believed he was cursed to die by a witch doctor the next day. They believed that he died of.. well.. believing he was going to die, the next day.
3) Personal desire for a purpose in life. Heaven is a nice goal that can give people peace of mind and a feeling of achievement as they near their death.
4) Justification for acts. In olden times, God could be, and I believe has been, used to control people in masses. Everyone believed him, people in power promoted him for greater armies, religion was a powerful weapon.
I might elaborate more, but, I for some reason decided to write this late at night, and I must retire to bed.
Silly religious people.
January 26th, 2010 at 11:07 pm
Romans 14:11-12(King James Version)
11. For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
12. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
June 1st, 2010 at 12:37 am
I am considering attending one of johns talks in the next week, since he only answers questions on paper (no doubt to facilitate selection of the easy to answer ones) can anyone – who’s been to one of his talks – come up with some questions they’d like him to answer?
June 21st, 2010 at 12:19 pm
Having read just some of the above I am as always left with disgust at the utter arrogance and ignorance of evoutionists, it seems that is all that they have in defence of an untenable position. As for evolution itself I find it at its very best utter drivel even if I didn’t beleve in creation the imbesilic arguments for evolution would convince me to be a creationist.
Jim Appleby
August 11th, 2010 at 11:11 am
Hi everyone,
I am a Christian. That is, I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. I believe God has revealed Himself to us in His creation and in His Word and lastly in His Son, Jesus Christ, the Word incarnate. I don’t believe these blindly. I have good reasons to believe these. I just wanted to note that we are all betting our lives on our convictions, right? We are what we believe and what we believe will eventually determine our eternal destination. We better be sure about our beliefs. Dr. Stovold, what if there is a God?
Revelation 22:11-13 says:
“Rev 22:11 The one acting unjustly, let him still act unjustly; and the filthy, let him still be filthy; and the righteous, let him still do righteousness; and the holy, let him still be holy.
Rev 22:12 And, behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each as his work is.
Rev 22:13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the Ending, the First and the Last.” LITV
August 11th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
“Hi everyone,
I am a Christian. That is, I believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God.”
Landfleur, why not just hold up a banner saying “Hi everyone, I believe in sky fairies, and I am batshit crazy?”
August 16th, 2010 at 10:54 am
Apart from a dodgy certificate from an unaccredited “university”, John Blanchard’s principal “qualification” is 13 years working for the Guernsey Civil Service, which – over here on the mainland – is probably equivalent to having been a Clerk to a Parish Council.
He has managed to milk a lot of clinically insane individuals of £14 each for a 40-page leaflet.
He is not the first – and will not be the last – to see that the road to fortune is lined with the stupidity of religious “believers”.
Blanchard will never take the kind of risks that a real Doctor – Karen Woo – took as a decent humanist. Unlike him, she paid the ultimate price for trying to help her fellow and sororal human beings.
She makes Blanchard truly appear to be what he is – a grubby little exploiter of other human beings who are incapable of making rational choices or decisions in their lives.
It is no wonder that all decent people resile in disgust from the likes of Blanchard and his ilk.