Take heart, Mister Poots!

Those deriding you could do well to look at their own religious beliefs

Mister Poots, we don’t agree on much; you think the earth is 7000 years old or something like that, whereas I am not insane: you think dinosaurs appeared in silent movies, whereas I was allowed to read books. You are the kind of person I used to love dunking on while on Twitter, along with all my science-respecting chums, but do take heart in the fact that those currently making you the subject of derision are throwing rocks at you from a glass house.

A few examples.

Don’t be worried about Dara O’Briain, for example. He believes Eddie Izzard is the same sex as his mum.

Dara Ó Briain @daraobriain

If Edwin Poots becomes the DUP leader, it’ll bad news for that Goody Procter and her coven.

And pay no attention to Donald Clark of the Irish Times, who believes that Ellen Page magically turned into a real boy around the time she cut her breasts off.

🥃Donald Clarke📽 @DonaldClarke63

Here’s where we are with the DUP. a) Arlene Foster has essentially been booted for being too much of a provo and being a little too fond of the gays. b) The best option for replacement is probably the (a word I keep reading) “pragmatic” young Earth creationist Edwin Poots.

Or Doctor Alice Roberts, a ‘Professor of Public Engagement’ who believes human beings are not a dimorphic species and blocks anyone who disagrees.

Prof Alice Roberts💙 @theAliceRoberts

I can’t quite believe that such beliefs persist, in the 21st century... anti-scientific, homophobic, sexist - just appalling.

Matthew Thompson @mattuthompson

So Edwin Poots, darling of the traditionalists, is favourite to be the next DUP leader. For those who don’t know him, a short introduction to the man, in his own words (THREAD) On the age of the Earth: “My view on the earth is that it's a young earth. My view is 4000 BC.”

Jenni Milward here is concerned with the enviroment, as am I.

Jenni Milward BSc (Hons) AMRSB 💙🖖 @JRMilward

We literally don't have time for this. Climate change is real, the threat posed by it is existential to our survival on this planet, and we DON'T HAVE TIME for these scrotum-brained Creationists and deniers to be anywhere near environmental or social policy. #ClimateEmergency

Matthew Thompson @mattuthompson

So Edwin Poots, darling of the traditionalists, is favourite to be the next DUP leader. For those who don’t know him, a short introduction to the man, in his own words (THREAD) On the age of the Earth: “My view on the earth is that it's a young earth. My view is 4000 BC.”

But we can’t fight climate change with people who put their pronouns in their bio. These people believe in a sort of gendered ‘soul’ which can be born into the wrong body. Mister Poots, I don’t believe in a soul. Your one, or her one.

Here’s another example. Anyone with pronouns in their bio (guess what? Greg’s pronouns are ‘he/him’) should not be taken seriously. And if you want to get one over on these people in any TV interview, simply ask them to define the word ‘woman’. Believe me, it’ll make for car crash telly, and for once, the guy who thinks dinosaurs hung around with the Rat Pack won’t be one going to A&E.

Greg Murphy 🤓 @TheGregMurphy

Just a reminder, Edwin Poots - a creationist - doesn't believe in evolution. He also said if dinosaurs did exist they were all killed in Noah's flood.

Irish Examiner @irishexaminer

The move by Minister Edwin Poots, who is seen as more hardline than Mrs Foster, comes amid calls from some sections of unionism for the DUP to end participation in cross-border political structures while Brexit’s Irish Sea border remains in place https://t.co/0DzeSv0UBG

At least your version of a soul has some history behind it, some higher significance . The gendered soul merely tells you whether you should be wearing lipstick or not.

Take heart, Mister Poots. Your enemies used to have science on their side, but now you’re on a level playing field. Again, if they throw creationism at you, just sit back and ask them what a woman is. If past examples are anything to go by, they’ll still be answering by the time the dinosaurs come around again.