1. My quest to get de-baptised

Comment #154034 by Davybuoy on April 2, 2008 at 12:27 pm

Here is an example of baptism having an effect;

My sister voluntarily was baptised as a Jehovah's Witness aged 17. When she married a non witness after some years of non practise herself, my Aunt and uncle who are elders in a congregation refused to attend. However when I married a catholic woman in a civil ceremony they did attend as I had not chosen to be baptised and they happily drank and danced the night away.

I have to admit I allowed my daughter to be baptised, but as I am going to influence her far more than a priest I considered it simply to be an excuse for a party. As most of my Irish in-laws do!

2. Expelled Overview

Comment #149616 by Davybuoy on March 26, 2008 at 2:17 am

As has been stated by several people in this thread, nobody's mind will be changed by this movie. Those who believe will have their views reinforced and those who don't might well choke on their popcorn from laughing so hard. Why not use the ridicule to fight these ideas the way the superman comics fought the clan.

If this movie plays here in Cork, Ireland I will picket it to highlight the hijacking of Intelligent Design by Creationists. They are suppressing the truth of Panspermia and that we are not alone in the universe, with their "God did it " rubbish. For which I might point out there is no evidence what so ever.

See you outside the reel picture house, blackpool. Bring your own tinfoil hat!

3. Mitt Romney's Faith In America address (as prepared for delivery)

Comment #94907 by Davybuoy on December 7, 2007 at 1:46 am

So Mitt,

"Each religion has its own unique doctrines and history. These are not bases for criticism but rather a test of our tolerance."

What about my faith in a naturalistic world, lets not argue over numbers but your speech ignored the large numbers of people/voters who do not believe in a god. Will you practice your belief that religion should not dictate to the state by preventing the reaching of religion in science classes and the passing of laws and the direction of policy informed solely by religious dogma. Will you appoint judges based solely on merit, rather than their religious views?

4. 'Growing Up in the Universe' now available free online

Comment #87975 by Davybuoy on November 13, 2007 at 11:44 pm

Thank Goodness! I can't wait for the weekend when I will watch these again this time with my daughter (of 7 months ;-) ). I will respond to this generous gift by making a donation to support the RDF.

5. When Congress Interferes With Science, Who You Gonna Call? (Hint: It's not Ghostbusters)

Comment #86287 by Davybuoy on November 8, 2007 at 11:50 pm

Is there a group performing a similar function to the Secular Coalition for America in the UK and Ireland?

(Apologies to the longer term members of this site who probably know already)

6. Mother dies after refusing blood

Comment #85456 by Davybuoy on November 6, 2007 at 12:42 am

[url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7078673.stm/]The right to die for Jehovah[/url]

Very interesting point of law here in Ireland mantioned at the end of this article

"the right of the newborn baby to have a family life overruled the mother's right to refuse treatment"

Ireland suffers from a lack of separation between church and state, most schools are faith schools and you will see iconic catholic pictures in all the hospitals. But the slavish submission to the European Union seems to have done some good as this can only be a result of the human rights act.

It would be interesting to see what would happen if this was tested against a mainstream religion, as opposed to a relatively small sect.

7. Mother dies after refusing blood

Comment #85211 by Davybuoy on November 5, 2007 at 9:46 am

As someone raised as a witness (against my will, when I had developed one) this is something I am familiar with. Parents have refused treatment for their children but the courts always override the refusal. I can't comment on the treatment of the children afterwards as it never happened in my congregation.