News
MEPs Vote to Protect Religious Slaughter
European Ministers have made a mockery of new legislation aimed at ensuring animals do not suffer ‘any avoidable distress or pain’, by voting to require States to make exemptions for ‘cultural traditions and religious rites’. Read More »
Tony Blair’s latest “faith” initiative is likely to do more harm than good, says NSS
The National Secular Society has dismissed Tony Blair’s latest effort to “foster understandings between religions” in schools as a menace to the work of bringing people together. Read More »
Between a rock and a hard place
John Hein, Editor of ScotsGay, gives a personal account of a four hour session of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland last week at which the thorny issue of homosexuality nearly tore the Kirk apart. Read More »
Religion is searching for a new purpose
Churches are a bit adrift at the moment, desperately seeking a new purpose now that hardly anyone is buying in to their primary product, religion. Sometimes the results of this effort to realign themselves can seem rather desperate. Read More »
Murphy O’Connor will bring the House of Lords into disrepute, says NSS
If the retiring Cardinal of Westminster, Cormac Murphy O’Connor, is given a place in the House of Lords, it will make the most eloquent case yet for the abolition of the second chamber, said Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society. Read More »
Catholic charities still fighting to keep the right to discriminate against gays
The Charity Tribunal has asked for further evidence to help it decide whether the Charity Commission was wrong to prevent two Catholic charities from being allowed to discriminate against gay people when choosing prospective parents for adoption.
Evan Harris MP and Lord Avebury win the National Secular Society’s annual award for Secularist of the Year
The National Secular Society’s annual award for Secularist of the Year has been awarded jointly to Dr Evan Harris MP and Lord Avebury for their success in getting blasphemy laws abolished.
Islington Christian registrar decision overturned on appeal
Islington Council has won its appeal today against a ruling that it unlawfully discriminated against a Christian registrar who refused to perform same-sex civil partnerships.
Archbishop’s empty talk of disestablishment
Of course the Archbishop of Canterbury doesn’t want disestablishment –despite what you read in the papers.
Our great Darwin offer for members only – hurry if you want to participate
To mark next year’s Darwin anniversary we are offering NSS members (only) the chance to own a great drama on DVD about Darwin and how he formulated his world-changing theory.
Director General of the BBC explains his obsession with religion, and why he privileges it
The Director General of the BBC, Mark Thompson, has revealed in a speech to a Christian group that the BBC has increased the amount of religious programmes it broadcasts and is now broadcasting more religion than it has done for decades.
Eight Lessons and Carols for Godless People. Bloomsbury Theatre, London.
This show was mentioned last week, but has since sold out. The producers have added another performance on 18 December. More information.
Pat Condell video reinstated on YouTube
The latest video from comedian Pat Condell, Welcome to Saudi Britain, has been re-instated on the YouTube video sharing site following massive protests from defenders of free speech.
The NSS complained to the site last week when it became clear that Pat’s latest opus, on the injustices that sharia law brings to women, had been removed following complaints from Muslim activists. In response, other YouTube members started to post the video on their own account on YouTube and soon it was available on hundreds of different accounts on the site.
YouTube eventually relented and the video is now up again and receiving a massive response. If you haven’t seen it yet, catch it here.
Council uncovers Darwin display – and says it was never about creationism
Northampton City Council says that it has removed the paper strips that obscured part of an information board in a museum display about Charles Darwin.
Museum’s Darwin exhibition censored
The National Secular Society has written to the leader of Northampton Borough Council protesting at the censorship of an exhibition in a local museum which covers the work of Charles Darwin.
Museum’s Darwin exhibition censored
The National Secular Society has written to the leader of Northampton Borough Council protesting at the censorship of an exhibition in a local museum which covers the work of Charles Darwin.
Fifteen Year Old Boy is Scientologists' Latest Target
A fifteen year old boy carrying a placard describing Scientology as a “dangerous cult� (a phrase taken from a legal judgement about the organisation) has been issued with a summons at a demonstration organised by a group called “Anonymous�. Demonstrations were held outside Church of Scientology headquarters in London’s Queen Victoria Street and their recruitment centre on Tottenham Court Road on May 10.
From The Web
To remind you of the real horror of Vatican child abuse cover up, and the present Pope’s involvement in it, the Panorama programme on the subject is up on Youtube (several parts – search for the others).
The Independent Comedy Network has produced a cringe-inducing satire on the pancake-deep Christianity of America. Entitled Jesus People,
Episode 1
Episode 2
Episode 3
In the shop - The Atheist Debater's Handbook by BC Johnson
Does God exist? Is there Divine intervention in our daily lives? Mr. Johnson contends that theism has not proved its case.
Book review by Will Podmore
Collected Film Poetry, by Tony Harrison, paperback, 414 pages, ISBN 978-0-571-23409-7, Faber and Faber, 2007, £20.
Blasphemy horrors continue to proliferate
It is four weeks since Jagdeesh Kumar, a 22-year-old Hindu worker in a garment factory in Karachi, was beaten to death by a mob of his fellow workers for allegedly making blasphemous remarks about Mohammad. No-one has been charged.
Glasgow University appoints Humanist chaplain
Glasgow University has appointed its first Humanist “chaplain� (a chaplain is usually defined as a clergyman or priest). Mandy Evans Ewing will supplement a huge team of religious chaplains that are already operating in the university and will provide “support and guidance for students�.
Join the big pro-choice lobby next week
A big lobby and public meeting to defend abortion rights will be taking place on Wednesday 7th May at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster. Organised by Abortion Rights