The writer of such works as Watchmen, V for Vendetta and Violator Vs. Badrock, Alan Moore was among the speakers at last week's Nine Lessons and Carols for Godless People. Organized by the Rationalist Association and New Humanist, the annual event offers an alternative to the season's spiritual observances by celebrating science with entertaining lectures and presentations on subjects like quantum mechanics and other mysteries of the universe. Moore briefly summarized some of his remarks in a filmed backstage interview. Among his talking points: the heredity of our universe, our holographic nature, and the distinctions between science and religion.


As always, Moore's remarks are thoroughly fascinating, particularly those concerning the nature of imagination and its relationship to the physical world, and his history of science that I choose to accept at face value with no further investigation. While some viewers may disagree, I think Moore's points are only strengthened by the fact that he's wearing a t-shirt that says "Sperm" in the style of the Superman logo.

Some highlights from the interview:

"Universes can actually reproduce. Our universe is not a first-generation universe... it's inherited its parent universe's more manageable attributes."

But who does our universe have sex with?


"We may well be living in a computer simulation."

I became completely convinced of this after I saw an old Keanu Reeves movie, and it is on this premise that I base essentially all my actions.


"This is stuff that rationalists find credible. I would say in that light, my worship of a second century snake god seems entirely reasonable."

Indeed.


[Via Bleeding Cool]