1. Comment #72112 by maton100 on September 20, 2007 at 11:19 am

Helping to "build up that wall" on a Federal level. Yippee!

Other Comments by maton100

2. Comment #72114 by Bookman on September 20, 2007 at 11:26 am

I hope you have a Canadian chapter some day!

Other Comments by Bookman

3. Comment #72130 by kelphis on September 20, 2007 at 12:03 pm

So the RDFRS came into existence on the day claimed by pot-heads as a national holiday(4/20) and hitlers birthday? Thats just great.

Other Comments by kelphis

4. Comment #72139 by bewlay_brother on September 20, 2007 at 12:24 pm

So the RDFRS came into existence on the day claimed by pot-heads as a national holiday(4/20) and hitlers birthday? Thats just great.

Mm, yes...but google the date...its also the birthdate(disputed) of prophet mohamed, and several other religious and non religiously significant events.

Whats in a date?

Other Comments by bewlay_brother

5. Comment #72168 by Socrates on September 20, 2007 at 1:24 pm

I would also like to see an RDF branch in Canada. It is sorely needed since our government publicly funds Catholic schools -- my local Catholic high school had a "pro-life" march last year! In Ontario, we also have faith schools that teach creationism. Right now there is a political debate about whether we should fund non-Catholic schools outside the public school system.

Also, I'm sad to report, virtually no one in my school understands evolution and a few science-sheltered kids believe the story of Genesis -- and think melting ice caps are not a problem because God said he wouldn't send another flood!

Other Comments by Socrates

6. Comment #72243 by perkyjay on September 20, 2007 at 3:05 pm

I too would like the RDFRS make an application to the CCRA - the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency -for charitable status. I think it's important to let you all know that Socrates is only talking about Ontario. Here in British Columbia there is no government financing for faith-based schools and, apart from a few pockets of Bible-Beltism, the province has a healthy population of skeptics and 'devout' atheists like me.

Other Comments by perkyjay

7. Comment #72285 by Beave on September 20, 2007 at 4:31 pm

Yes please, a Canadian RDF would be greatly appreciated I'm sure. The fact that a mainstream politician in my province (Ontario) is running his education platform on the basis of publicly funding ALL faith-schools should be evidence that even the Great White North is fighting a battle against irrationality.

Other Comments by Beave

8. Comment #72304 by foxfire on September 20, 2007 at 5:39 pm

Aw RATS! March. Oh well, guess I'll just have to do it again (where is that darn donate button;-)

Other Comments by foxfire

9. Comment #72306 by Damien White on September 20, 2007 at 5:40 pm

The Professor Dawkins Foundation,
will now be exempt from taxation,
yet continue to tax,
those whose thinking is lax,
re their theological preoccupation.

Other Comments by Damien White

10. Comment #72378 by Richard Dawkins on September 20, 2007 at 10:26 pm

9. Comment #72304 by foxfire on September 20, 2007 at 5:39 pm
Aw RATS! March. Oh well, guess I'll just have to do it again (where is that darn donate button;-)

I don't understand this Comment. The starting date is April 2006 not April 2007. Surely nobody gave before April 2006? Or have I misunderstood something about the way US taxes work?

Richard

Other Comments by Richard Dawkins

11. Comment #72529 by thelivingbrian on September 21, 2007 at 1:07 pm

I'm glad you've lengthened the acronym from RDF to RDFRS. This will help people to understand that the purpose of the organization is for the promotion of reason and science and not the promotion of it's founder.
That and rdf.org is a church site (kinda ironic).

'course, now you need a new logo.

Other Comments by thelivingbrian

12. Comment #72538 by frankie1958 on September 21, 2007 at 1:39 pm

As a Canadian living in Britain, I would love to see RDFRS in Canada. Good to see that common sense prevails in British Columbia re: faith based school funding.(Goes to show that all that pot-smoking and shroom picking in the 70's didnt do too much damage) Would like to see more proactive lobbying against religious schools in the rest of Canada.

Keep God out of the class room.

Other Comments by frankie1958

13. Comment #72559 by foxfire on September 21, 2007 at 4:27 pm

I don't understand this Comment. The starting date is April 2006 not April 2007. Surely nobody gave before April 2006? Or have I misunderstood something about the way US taxes work?

Richard

Sorry Professor, that was my misinterpretation (I was thinking April 2007 not 2006). I should have known better because the RDF Foundation site stated that RDF was seeking tax exempt status when I joined early in 2007.

I keep wanting to believe it is still 2006, perhaps being reluctant to join the "over 55" category. The good news is: not just "YeeHaw"....double "YeeHaw" and I do thank you for pointing out 2006 is the correct year for tax exemption purposes!

Other Comments by foxfire

14. Comment #72704 by perkyjay on September 22, 2007 at 11:23 am

Frankie 1958: There is still a thriving "agricultural" industry in British Colmubia. BC Gold is the current name of the crop and it is replacing timber, the stands of which are being decimated by the Mountain Pine Beetle, as the province's principal export, and Nakusp, where I live,is one of the main centres for wild mushrooms, both psychedelic and regular .

Other Comments by perkyjay

15. Comment #72997 by b0ltzm0n on September 23, 2007 at 6:01 pm

Sweet! Just donated some dough! I still have a long way to go to make up for all the money I've tithed to the church! =)

Other Comments by b0ltzm0n

16. Comment #73559 by Amanda S. on September 25, 2007 at 9:31 am

Why wouldn't an atheist site argue that the churches and those with religious affiliation should not be tax exempt instead of obtaining such exemptions themselves? Are we arguing that religion is not necessary, or trying to create an alternative? I guess I am confused. Please assist.

Other Comments by Amanda S.

17. Comment #74899 by frankie1958 on October 1, 2007 at 4:07 am

Amanda S. Charities enjoy tax exemption whether they are religious or not. Amnesty International is also a charity and isnt affiliated with a religion. As RDF is a non-profit organisation (i'm guessing) they qualify for the tax exemption. If I am wrong on this point, can we hear from Josh Timonen whether this is true or not.

Other Comments by frankie1958

18. Comment #74901 by Russell Blackford on October 1, 2007 at 4:19 am

Hopefully, there will be some action down the track not only in Canada (as Bookman says above) but also Australia.

Other Comments by Russell Blackford

19. Comment #74990 by Linda_K on October 1, 2007 at 9:50 am

This news just made my day! I can get off the internet and back to "work". And by "work", I mean reading 'The Blind Watchmaker'(retail can be so slow) and explaining to my co-worker that not all RD books are 'The God Delusion' in a different form.

Other Comments by Linda_K

20. Comment #77780 by tmg on October 10, 2007 at 1:47 pm

Today's the day of the Ontario election and referendum on electoral reform. The Green party is the only political party with the courage to challenge the right of Catholic schools to public funds. I've been given the impression that BC and other provinces actually fund ALL faith-based schools. The trend seems to be shifting towards this mania for "respect" at any cost.
And, yes, Canada needs a foundation for reason and science. Just because we measure temperature in Celsius and distances in kilometres doesn't mean we don't have a large number of scientifically illiterate citizens.

Other Comments by tmg