Archive for UK

Monopoly on Marriage

Apr 03, 2012 Comments Off by

Sometimes people wonder why atheists, homosexual or not, take an interest in the equal marriage debate. The response is simple: the opposition to equal marriage frequently originates from religious beliefs. The argument which presently seems to dominate the debate is over who has the right to define marriage. This word ‘define’ is not one we [...]

Anglicanism, Articles, Campaigns and Activism, Catholicism, Christianity, Politics, Statements and Analysis, UK Read more

Science Is Not The New Religion

Dec 19, 2011 Comments Off by

There have been two significant potential discoveries in the world of physics in recent months. Firstly that neutrinos, a type of subatomic particle, seem to have been observed travelling faster than the speed of light, the universal speed limit. And secondly that the Higg’s Boson, another subatomic particle, which is responsible for the mass property [...]

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RIP Christopher Hitchens

Dec 16, 2011 Comments Off by

People are sometimes asked where they were when a tragic event happened or when they first heard of it. The answers are often pretty unimpressive (e.g. I learned of the 9/11 attacks when I met someone off a bus coming home from school). In my opinion, the best way to learn of them is in [...]

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Religion and morality, and why we need to seriously rethink it

Nov 06, 2011 Comments Off by

For centuries British monarchs have been required to be Church of England members and have been barred from marrying Catholics and, in particular, those married to Catholics have been barred from the throne. Needless to say, this was unethical. Recently a Commonwealth Summit in Perth led to the repeal of this rule, as well as [...]

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“Spiritual health” (whatever that is)

Nov 03, 2011 Comments Off

Archbishop Sentamu has suggested in the House of Lords the NHS cater to “spiritual health”. This concept does not originate with Sentamu, and has been brought up in American and British medical and military contexts frequently in recent years. While one would hope the NHS would limit its treatments and list of properties considered unhealthy [...]

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World Atheist Convention 2011

Jun 01, 2011 Comments Off

Over the coming weekend, Atheist Ireland will host the 17th World Atheist Convention in Dublin. The convention boasts some high profile speakers, including the world’s most prominent atheist Professor Richard Dawkins. They will be speaking on a range of topics including “Communicating Atheism”, “Religion: accommodate or confront?” and “Building Secular Coalitions”. Also on the agenda is [...]

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“Atheist Delusions” by David Bentley Hart wins the Michael Ramsey Prize

May 28, 2011 Comments Off

David Bentley Hart, author of the book Atheist Delusions received the Michael Ramsey prize for theological writing at the Telegraph Hay Festival on Friday. The Michael Ramsey prize was inaugurated in 2003 by the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams to encourage theological writing, with the winning author receiving £10,000. The book dismisses atheism as merely being fashionable. [...]

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World Still Fine!

May 25, 2011 Comments Off

Well it looks like there was no rapture, not that we’re really surprised. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-13468131

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