Starting today, blasphemy is a crime in Ireland. Which is really confusing. After all these scandals concerning the catholic church in Ireland, you’d think the Irish would want to cut themselves some slack. Anyway, Atheist Ireland has began a campaign to have the law repealed with publishing 25 blasphemous quotes by famous people. (You can also find them here.)
Here’s one I like, lucky number thirteen:
13. Bjork, 1995: “I do not believe in religion, but if I had to choose one it would be Buddhism. It seems more livable, closer to men… I’ve been reading about reincarnation, and the Buddhists say we come back as animals and they refer to them as lesser beings. Well, animals aren’t lesser beings, they’re just like us. So I say fuck the Buddhists.”
Good luck to Atheist Ireland. I hope they find a way to cast off this shame – and all the feebleminded politicians who are responsible. Surely, even the most devout should be firmly against this absurd and dangerous violation of their freedom of expression.
This is the first part of a long debate – go to youtube for the rest, I couldn’t be bothered.
Jay Richards is a bullshitter. It is clear that he willfully misinterprets and manipulates the relevant science and philosophy to fit his ill-conceived & misguided religious agenda.
I just can’t believe what these ID people get away with.
Geert Wilders is a religious, nationalist, right-wing nut not worth anyone’s attention, so I’m twice disgusted with the British Home Office’s decision to ban him from entering the country.
The day before yesterday, President Obama signed an executive order establishing the “President’s Advisory Council for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.” The executive order contains the following policy statement:
Faith-based and other neighborhood organizations are vital to our Nation’s ability to address the needs of low-income and other underserved persons and communities. The American people are key drivers of fundamental change in our country, and few institutions are closer to the people than our faith-based and other neighborhood organizations. It is critical that the Federal Government strengthen the ability of such organizations and other nonprofit providers in our neighborhoods to deliver services effectively in partnership with Federal, State, and local governments and with other private organizations, while preserving our fundamental constitutional commitments guaranteeing the equal protection of the laws and the free exercise of religion and forbidding the establishment of religion. The Federal Government can preserve these fundamental commitments while empowering faith-based and neighborhood organizations to deliver vital services in our communities, from providing mentors and tutors to school children to giving ex-offenders a second chance at work and a responsible life to ensuring that families are fed. The Federal Government must also ensure that any organization receiving taxpayers’ dollars must be held accountable for its performance. Through rigorous evaluation, and by offering technical assistance, the Federal Government must ensure that organizations receiving Federal funds achieve measurable results in furtherance of valid public purposes.”
(The blue highlight is mine.)
Is it possible to preserve the fundamental constitutional commitments guaranteeing the equal protection of the laws and the free exercise of religion and forbid the establishment of religion while giving money to faith-based organizations? I don’t think so.
A constitution has neither power nor meaning once its purpose is forgotten.
Twenty-five people with albinism have been murdered in Tanzania since March, a BBC investigation has found.
Yet more attrocities commited in the name of religion.
The latest victim was a seven-month-old baby. He was mutilated on the orders of a witchdoctor peddling the belief that potions made from an albino’s legs, hair, hands, and blood can make a person rich.
