To be quite fair, the execution of his sentence was considered vital to save society and prevent a contagion that could rot out the very pillars of society bringing it all to crashing ruin.
Of course, back then as it is today, the word "society" means the power and privilege of the ruling classes.
It's stories like this that really make me wish there WAS an afterlife, where Thomas Aikenhead could look down on those who remember and appreciate him and feel appeased for having lost his life so young.
PS. I will now be including this story on my history tours of Edinburgh which I run, at the moment each weekend but by July it'll be daily and I'll make sure Aitkinhead's name is remembered.
One flaw in your statements. When you mention the old Tolbooth you show a picture of the canongate tolbooth which was a separate building in a separate town. Until the late 19th century the canongate was not part of Edinburgh but a separate town outside the Flodden Wall.
The tolbooth you refer to is only recorded in hand drawn pictures but is even then more forboding. If you mean the canongate tolbooth then you should really refer to it as such.
Thanks you for posting this video. As a father and a rationalist it made me feel very sad and very mad. I shall mark it on my calender and raise my glass to Thomas Aikenhead.
When a religous people dies for his or her beliefs they are martys, when an Atheistic/freethinking person dies for his or her beliefs they are heroes.
Communism, nationalism, the french revolution and others had martyrs but for non-religious causes. While usually associated with religion, it is not a term that means solely FOR religious reasons. People have martyred individuals that fought against oppression or suppression by various groups (religious and non-religious) for centuries. If you have an objection to the term use here, replace it with HERO and go from there.
What a strange interpretation of atheism. The prefix "a" means "not." Theism means "belief in the existence of a god or gods," so a-theism is NOT a belief. Definition of religion: the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith -- hence, by definition, atheism is NOT a religion. If you chose any of the more liberal definitions of religion, you still can't fit atheism into the box of religion. For atheists, there is no box!
I did, I thought it was very well done - and added to my favourites.
A tribute to a true hero of rational thinking and a typical demonstration of what happens when religeon has too much (i.e. any) control of politics. Something that truely terrifies me about the US government.
If you read the bible, it recommends depressed people drink beer - Proverbs 31:6-7
Not very good advice considering alcohol abuse leads to more depression.
Oh! And by the way, atheism isn't a religion. Saying atheism is a religion is like saying not believing in the Father Christmas is a religion, not believing in planet x is a religion, not believing in Poppa Smurf is a religion - not very practical having all those religions, is it!
Well that's Protestantism for you-a heresy based on Henry's burning crotch is bound to be excessive.
Here's some more facts for your kids, Abjon... Being a Catholic priest was a capital offence in England as well. Priests caught giving mass or english Catholics sheltering them were routinely executed, their rotting bodies displayed on pikes in public for months on end. This was especially prevalent during the reign of Elizabeth I.
Good points. The extensive burning alive of Protestants by Mary Tudor and the hanging/quartering of Catholics by her sister Elizabeth and three Stuart monarchs says very little for the humane instincts of the religion of any of them or their subjects.
We had a very good discussion about intolerance on the day in question.
BTW the kids are really young men and women in their 20s, 30s and sometimes even 40s. I teach basic high school skills to adults who failed to complete school the first time around.
They were quite fascinated, tenneral, with the story of Aikenhead and even a bit angry at executing someone for what amounts to a thought crime.
I'll raise a cup of green tea with ginseng (supposed to be good for fifty-somethings) to young Mr. Aikenhead. "The New Encyclopedia of Unbelief" says @ page 147 that he was the last person executed for blasphemy in Britain, though he had recanted his denial of the Trinity and thus was nolonger "unrepentant" as required by law. Hypocrisy squared!
I remember reading about Thomas Aikenhead. This was an excellent video bringing to light his unfortunate circumstances. It would be hard to imagine all of the brilliant minds lost in such an incredibly long period of ignorance and brutality on behalf of the church, where it was a crime to think!
I will drink to Thomas on Jan. 08, and I will buy a round for the house to join me.
Thank you very much for sharing this sad tale tenneral. I have been a long time (reasonably well) informed infidel, but I had never learned of Thomas Aikenhead. You have provided me with a new research subject. For that I am in your debt.
May i suggest; St Aikenhead's day, i'm afraid there are many more examples like this, so we shouldn't worry about loosing the christian 'holy'days. there are a lot more christian 'notsoHolydays'.
Thanks for sending this link Dan, as always you lead us to quality vids.
To be quite fair, the execution of his sentence was considered vital to save society and prevent a contagion that could rot out the very pillars of society bringing it all to crashing ruin.
Of course, back then as it is today, the word "society" means the power and privilege of the ruling classes.
fluffymcdeath 1 year ago
It's stories like this that really make me wish there WAS an afterlife, where Thomas Aikenhead could look down on those who remember and appreciate him and feel appeased for having lost his life so young.
AislinCade 2 years ago
would you allow me to mirror this on my channel ?
AtheistAtLARGE 2 years ago
Certainly - I'd be honoured!
tenneral 2 years ago
great video, telling the truth of christianity and the horrors within the doctrine and the demands of its dogma
AtheistAtLARGE 2 years ago
PS. I will now be including this story on my history tours of Edinburgh which I run, at the moment each weekend but by July it'll be daily and I'll make sure Aitkinhead's name is remembered.
edinburghskeptics 3 years ago 2
One flaw in your statements. When you mention the old Tolbooth you show a picture of the canongate tolbooth which was a separate building in a separate town. Until the late 19th century the canongate was not part of Edinburgh but a separate town outside the Flodden Wall.
The tolbooth you refer to is only recorded in hand drawn pictures but is even then more forboding. If you mean the canongate tolbooth then you should really refer to it as such.
Otherwise great vid!
edinburghskeptics 3 years ago
I stand corrected: thanks for the information.
tenneral 3 years ago
Thanks you for posting this video. As a father and a rationalist it made me feel very sad and very mad. I shall mark it on my calender and raise my glass to Thomas Aikenhead.
DrawingYou 3 years ago
tenneral, I really enjoyed your video - thx. Great voice-over too! Very professional sounding - hope you do more!
Godlesscod 3 years ago
When a religous people dies for his or her beliefs they are martys, when an Atheistic/freethinking person dies for his or her beliefs they are heroes.
LordMalice6d9 3 years ago
This comment has received too many negative votes show
more proof that atheism is a religion, for only religions can have martyrs.
madmaxsdp 4 years ago
Communism, nationalism, the french revolution and others had martyrs but for non-religious causes. While usually associated with religion, it is not a term that means solely FOR religious reasons. People have martyred individuals that fought against oppression or suppression by various groups (religious and non-religious) for centuries. If you have an objection to the term use here, replace it with HERO and go from there.
AzmodanKijur 4 years ago 6
re: Madmax's "atheism is a religion..."
What a strange interpretation of atheism. The prefix "a" means "not." Theism means "belief in the existence of a god or gods," so a-theism is NOT a belief. Definition of religion: the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith -- hence, by definition, atheism is NOT a religion. If you chose any of the more liberal definitions of religion, you still can't fit atheism into the box of religion. For atheists, there is no box!
ihearu2 3 years ago
great vid... please whete did you get it from?
Brainwavez 4 years ago
Made by me - my boring voice-over and a bunch of Edinburgh pictures. Glad you liked it.
tenneral 4 years ago
I did, I thought it was very well done - and added to my favourites.
A tribute to a true hero of rational thinking and a typical demonstration of what happens when religeon has too much (i.e. any) control of politics. Something that truely terrifies me about the US government.
Brainwavez 4 years ago 5
Thanks for sharing it. Unfortunatly no whisky for me today, but i will raise a glass of beer.
To the memory of Thomas Aikenhead!
b00g13 4 years ago
drinking beer is wrong, whether you are an atheist or a theist.
madmaxsdp 4 years ago
If you read the bible, it recommends depressed people drink beer - Proverbs 31:6-7
Not very good advice considering alcohol abuse leads to more depression.
Oh! And by the way, atheism isn't a religion. Saying atheism is a religion is like saying not believing in the Father Christmas is a religion, not believing in planet x is a religion, not believing in Poppa Smurf is a religion - not very practical having all those religions, is it!
Godlesscod 3 years ago
How sad. I didn't know this story but now I feel I have lost a brother. Thanks for the vid.
newalbion 4 years ago
I teach history at a local college. I think I will try to find a way to sneak this into my lessons tomorrow. Good job!!!
abjon 4 years ago
Well that's Protestantism for you-a heresy based on Henry's burning crotch is bound to be excessive.
Here's some more facts for your kids, Abjon... Being a Catholic priest was a capital offence in England as well. Priests caught giving mass or english Catholics sheltering them were routinely executed, their rotting bodies displayed on pikes in public for months on end. This was especially prevalent during the reign of Elizabeth I.
jolenecassa 4 years ago
Good points. The extensive burning alive of Protestants by Mary Tudor and the hanging/quartering of Catholics by her sister Elizabeth and three Stuart monarchs says very little for the humane instincts of the religion of any of them or their subjects.
tenneral 4 years ago
Hi jolnedassa,
We had a very good discussion about intolerance on the day in question.
BTW the kids are really young men and women in their 20s, 30s and sometimes even 40s. I teach basic high school skills to adults who failed to complete school the first time around.
They were quite fascinated, tenneral, with the story of Aikenhead and even a bit angry at executing someone for what amounts to a thought crime.
abjon 4 years ago
I shall indeed have a wee dram in commemoration.
ltzippy2 4 years ago
I'll raise a cup of green tea with ginseng (supposed to be good for fifty-somethings) to young Mr. Aikenhead. "The New Encyclopedia of Unbelief" says @ page 147 that he was the last person executed for blasphemy in Britain, though he had recanted his denial of the Trinity and thus was nolonger "unrepentant" as required by law. Hypocrisy squared!
juliuschas 4 years ago
Ain't that the truth!
tenneral 4 years ago
I hope I remember. I may not have a drink however.
cjunk351 4 years ago
Fair enough. The drink isn't compulsory, but the memory of young Thomas is highly recommended.
tenneral 4 years ago
Thanks for sharing this info!
atheismislogic65 4 years ago
I raise my glass to those who came before and suffered at the hands of madmen.
Thank you for this video ;)
BambieCBarebottom 4 years ago
I told my friends here in Sacramento
KasparHauser4 4 years ago
Good stuff. Cheers!
xJediHowieX 4 years ago
I remember reading about Thomas Aikenhead. This was an excellent video bringing to light his unfortunate circumstances. It would be hard to imagine all of the brilliant minds lost in such an incredibly long period of ignorance and brutality on behalf of the church, where it was a crime to think!
Rhonda9 4 years ago 7
The *enormous power*
was AND is
a malignancy amongst the masses.
PositiveLogic 4 years ago
How true, especially when wielded - as it is today - by crazed fanatics in certain far off lands. You know what I mean!
tenneral 4 years ago
I will drink to Thomas on Jan. 08, and I will buy a round for the house to join me.
Thank you very much for sharing this sad tale tenneral. I have been a long time (reasonably well) informed infidel, but I had never learned of Thomas Aikenhead. You have provided me with a new research subject. For that I am in your debt.
Thank you again.
dfarmer1584 4 years ago 3
Thanks Tenneral for this history lesson.
May i suggest; St Aikenhead's day, i'm afraid there are many more examples like this, so we shouldn't worry about loosing the christian 'holy'days. there are a lot more christian 'notsoHolydays'.
Thanks for sending this link Dan, as always you lead us to quality vids.
mindwis3 4 years ago 2
Thank you very much for this video
ContraWagner 4 years ago
Excellent choice of topic. The story of injustice to many is not as "personal" as the story of one.
Danmill23 4 years ago
excellent vid!!!!!!!
joebot1 4 years ago
I generally don't need much of an incentive to share a toast, but this sounds fair enough.
Don't think I know of any scotch distillery as old as his days. I wonder which scotch whiskey Mr Aikenhead would approve? Any suggestions?
Kaszely 4 years ago
Great vid.
To Aikenhead...glug glug.
GOAQ 4 years ago 2
Cheers!
tenneral 4 years ago
Just shows how stupid, dangerous and insane religion is... Nice to bring this to the public. -out
baronblod2003 4 years ago