1. Car dealership advert tells atheists to 'shut up'

Comment #185536 by mundusvultdecipi on May 28, 2008 at 3:20 am

There is a more sepcific reason for this i suspect - the American Famaly Association (AFA) has been running an anti-ford boycott for over 2 years related to Ford's use of advertising in gay periodicals. This was only recently called off please see: http://faq.afa.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=198&Itemid=35

I suspect this dealer is trying to get the god-fearing back in through the doors.

2. Mental Disorders In Parents Linked To Autism In Children, Study Shows

Comment #175709 by mundusvultdecipi on May 5, 2008 at 11:14 pm

I glanced at this headline and processed it incorrectly, I could have SWORN it read: "Mental disorders in parents linked to atheism, in children, study shows"

3. Dumb and Dumber: A discussion between Ben Stein and Glenn Beck

Comment #175472 by mundusvultdecipi on May 5, 2008 at 1:31 pm

Sorry to interrupt the thread but thought you all might be interested in having a look at Guardian Comment Is Free, Terry Sanderson of the National Secular Society has a piece on the Catholic Church seeking exemption from gay adoption regulations in the UK, it is called "A Better Blair Legacy" at:

http://commentisfree.guardian.co.uk/terry_sanderson/2008/05/a_better_blair_legacy.html

4. School bars same-sex partners at formals

Comment #161993 by mundusvultdecipi on April 16, 2008 at 1:37 am

It is a little strange - I seem to recall many prominent anglican and catholic clergy waxing lyrical, practically in burbles of rapture in fact, over the concept of freedom of conscience a short while back when it came to the issue of [the UK parliament vote on ] medical research.

A canny student would just point out that while they ARE in fact in broad agreement with the school's christian principles they disagree in this area and are delighted to enjoy the much-vaunted 'freedom of conscience' that christian clerics are forever banging on about.

OH, or it could be simply that churches hypocritically couldn't give a fiddle about freedom of conscience unless the dissenters involved happen to agree with their dogma. . .

5. The books that inspire me

Comment #158271 by mundusvultdecipi on April 10, 2008 at 9:18 am

Demon Haunted World: Science As A Candle In The Dark is a simply stunning work, imho it should be required reading for all first year undergraduates at university regardless of what course they are studying.

Also I found The Sceptical Feminist by Janet Radcliffe Richards very useful, it does not deal with religion but is a fantastic example of how rigorous, critical thinking can be usefully employed to shed light on divisive and thorny social issues.

6. Reviews of Expelled

Comment #157991 by mundusvultdecipi on April 10, 2008 at 12:02 am

I am constantly amazed that there is not more of a backlash whenever the holocaust is invoked in such a cavalier manner, is it just me or does anyone else find it incredibly offensive to play fast and loose with such an horrific historical event ? We saw it invoked again, recently, with that eccentric UK bishop who thought books critical of christianity were somehow akin to holocaust denial.

Anyway - at least ONE group appears impressed by the film:

http://www.cwfa.org/articles/14984/CFI/family/index.htm

7. Anti-evolution bill clears another hurdle

Comment #157852 by mundusvultdecipi on April 9, 2008 at 3:56 pm

Raiko -

The reason Germany sprang to my mind is that I recently came across an article on a US evangelical web site deploring a legal case taken in Germany to prosecute some family or other who were witholding their child(ren) from school so as not to have their religious beliefs diluted by nasty atheistic/secular influences. The tone of the article was very much along the lines of poor, persecuted, helpless christians being oppressed and so on and so forth. One of the reasons why homeschooling probably deserves more attention than it is currently receiving is it seems increasingly to be the mechanism of choice of a subset of the ultra-religious (particularly in America) to circumvent a mainstream education system of which they do not approve. On the contrary from what little I have read on this topic; in Europe it seems largely restricted to those families who feel there are exceptional educational or medical grounds to warrant opting out of the mainstream system.

8. Anti-evolution bill clears another hurdle

Comment #157338 by mundusvultdecipi on April 9, 2008 at 12:15 am

My understanding is that homeschooling is not permitted in Germany, for example, as the authorities have taken the position that traditional out-of-the-home education is not solely about academic instruction but is also necessary for the proper socialisation of children and to ensure they are exposed to a widely diverse range of other people and views.

Having said that I would be nervous about unqualified blanket restrictions of homeschooling - to take one example in my own country (Ireland) you occasionally hear of parents who have children with very specific needs (such as a medical condition or disability, or who are exceptionally gifted) who feel that a mainstream school environment is deficient in meeting their child's particular requirements and decide that homeschooling is more beneficial.

9. Expelled from Expelled: PZ story goes global

Comment #151023 by mundusvultdecipi on March 28, 2008 at 3:24 am

Diacanu - I cannot help thinking that perversely it would be of assistance to the saner parts of the global population if occasionally the nuttier fringe actually WON a few major victories. Let me expand;

IF, for example, the religious right in America finally overturn Roe vs. Wade or manage to supplant proper scientific educational standards or replace mainstream sex-ed tuition with abstinence-only drivel or pass ordinances making homosexuals second class citizens THEN we might actually see the vast majority or 'ordinary' people sit up and take notice and shout stop.

I get the impression that one of the things holding back the backlash is that people feel that these battles have already been won and that rational, secular norms are inviolable. Perhaps they need a real shock to make them wake up to the threats that civil society actually faces from aggressive religious groups.

Imagine, to take one example, what would happen to scientific research funding and investment and the massive job losses that would occur if mainstream science standards in US education were replaced by religious dogma, there would be SCREAMS of outrage and it would set back the loons for several decades.

Ironically, the loons getting their way might be the greatest gift rationalists, atheists, agnostics and supporters of civil liberties could ask for.

10. God's cure for gays lost in sin

Comment #146898 by mundusvultdecipi on March 19, 2008 at 2:28 pm

FAO: Rachel Holmes

Rachel - you might find the following material of assistance:

http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/frontpage/2006/0519/1146660078132.html

and

http://www.dcu.ie/news/dcutimes/summer_0507/p24.pdf

11. Atheists claim censorship by billboard company

Comment #146867 by mundusvultdecipi on March 19, 2008 at 1:52 pm

Whig - your assessment regarding Ireland is extremely accurate, further information on the relevant provisions can be found here (including education and advertising): http://www.equality.ie/index.asp?locID=77&docID=49

At the time the legislation was put in place it was regarded as quite bold and widely hailed as a model of best practice, the odd religious exemptions notwithstanding.

12. Atheists claim censorship by billboard company

Comment #146320 by mundusvultdecipi on March 19, 2008 at 12:09 am

PsyPro - the reason I qualified my statement with CAN, as against HAS is that the US, Canada and most EU countries (for example) operate, in this regard, under very different regulatory and constitutional frameworks.

Additionally even where there is a broad degree of concensus in principle on this matter there is a wide variety of opinion as to what categories of expression and/or of consumers should be covered. Personally, I myself broadly agree with the sentiments you have expressed, am not convinced by your last statement though, I seldom find that people are worse off as a result of having honestly and intelligently debated an issue thoroughly no matter how self-evident the conclusion may be to some individuals.

13. Atheists claim censorship by billboard company

Comment #146311 by mundusvultdecipi on March 18, 2008 at 11:26 pm

There are several subtle differences between the role of a publisher and a seller of billboard space however. Firstly, as regards taste and censorship a billboard is in a public place where it can easily be viewed by all, including children, as they go about their everyday lives unlike other media which have a watershed (tv), an age rating system (cinema) or a degree of voluntary access (just about everything else) as a result the regulatory framework in most jurisdictions differs for outdoor advertising displays.

As a result comparisons with book publishing are not necessarily helpful as it is usually recognised that taking money for advertising or display does not necessarily imply an endorsement of the message involved. A case CAN be made that those who provide a service open to all in the PUBLIC domain, (albeit for a fee) have to a limited extent diminished their ability to pick and choose. As a result many countries prohibit discrimination in provision of goods and services on the basis of certain criteria such as sexuality, religious belief, sex and so on and so forth.

14. Church is paying a high price for its celibacy rule

Comment #132983 by mundusvultdecipi on February 25, 2008 at 1:40 pm

Tyler Durden, Hungarianelephant - nice to see some non-believing Irish in here - Im a northsider now on the southside !

PS. Tyler, you forgot the follow-up joke to the bus stop gag:

Q: How can you tell if a northsider has reached orgasm ?

A: She drops her chips. . .

Off-topic AND classy, I know, but I couldnt resist it.

As regards Christian Brothers schools closing my recollection is that about a decade ago most of them left Ireland and returned to education in the developing world as they felt that educating the middle class of Ireland wasnt commensurate with their mission.

15. Pope abolishes limbo

Comment #34030 by mundusvultdecipi on April 23, 2007 at 4:46 am

What I find so particularly absurd is the fact that a whole category of 'objective' existence - limbo is completely turned around after discussion by a panel ? Either limbo bloody exists or it doesnt, instead it gets whisked in and out of existence according to some thelogical beauty contest ? Surely even many catholics must recognise that whole swathes of doctrine are essentially being made up as they go along. The religious equivalent of doodling plans on a beermat, perhaps ? Angels dancing on pins has nothing on it.

16. Here Comes the Fourth Musketeer.

Comment #33624 by mundusvultdecipi on April 20, 2007 at 6:34 pm

May I suggest we add Ludovic Kennedy to the musketeer list ? If I recall correctly he wrote a rather good book a few years back, in the late 90's I think, called 'All In The Mind: A Farewell To God'