Schoolboy Made to “Eat His Sins!”
An evangelical church running a session in a state funded (although admittedly CofE) school, made children write an apology for their “sins” on a piece of paper and then swallow it.
This is unacceptable and the response from the church was a textbook non-apology!
Confirmed: All Non-Africans Part Neanderthal
It has been confirmed from a build up of evidence that a section of the human X chromosome derives from interbreeding with Neanderthals.
Atheism UK On The Secular World Podcast
Atheism UK’s international liaison officer Richard Honess’ review Read more
Pastafarianism
Pastafarian gesture makes a point:
What is another good use for a pasta strainer ? As a religious headgear of course! So says an Austrian atheist who insists on wearing it for a driving licience photo.
When you’re a member of the Church of the Flyng Spaghetti Monster where the only dogma allowed is the rejection of all dogma, this light-hearted gesture makes a subtle point about religious headgear and religious practices in general.
Interestingly, he was required to undergo a mental fitness check – a procedure which I believe should also apply to other religions. But, I expect in doing so, mental institutions may be filled with nutcases.
Why do People Leave Religion?
This is a question that has fascinated me simply because it is one that I cannot answer. I have never been religious so I have never technically left it. Now logic, reason and rationality prevent me from taking it up, but why do people leave?
What initially triggers the doubt? What pushes people “over the edge” to completely leave?
Is it becoming acquainted with logic and reason, is it learning the counter arguments or is it as a result of emotional reactions to e.g. religious hypocracy or abuse? I have heard good arguments for many reasons, and I’m not sure if anyone has done any formal research on this issue (if anyone knows of any research please post a link).
Let’s Pull The Plug
A new report by the Church of England states that it is in danger of being “wiped out” and that the Church is currently “on life support”. This is good news and I have to ask, is there anything we can do to help pull the plug?
However a few comments on some items in the report:
The Church needs to recruit more believers: it seems (and this is admittedly anecdotal) the best way to recruit is indocrination at an early age as relatively few adults convert. We must keep vigilant about this and continue our campaigns on RE and faith schools.
“This decline in membership, and the accompanying rise in average age, means that fewer people are becoming disciples of Jesus Christ, and that the Church is able to have less impact and influence in the public realm, both nationally and in the transformation of local communities”
Maybe this is because people are waking up and realising it’s fiction!
“…do we dare to believe a different future, that God might want his Church to grow, in holiness and in numbers?”
..or maybe you should realise that your imaginary friend in the sky doesn’t exist, get on with your lives, and build communities based on rationality!
The General Synod will also hear a call for an emergency debate on homosexuality. Church officials will be accused of “woeful” failure to protect the institution of marriage from erosion by the rise of civil partnerships and Coalition plans to allow same-sex couples to register their partnerships in religious settings.
..in other words the CofE has not been effective at being homphobic bigots. Although bearing in mind wider society is much more accepting of homosexuality and gay marriage, if they want to improve numbers why don’t they drop the bigotry and accept homosexualty and gay marriage fully?
Baptists Preach Hate at Gay Pride Parade
Let’s be clear. These passages in the Bible are quite clear. The book does, explicitly, condemn homosexuality (at least male homosexuality). Let me repeat, these passages are explicit, they cannot be “liberally interpreted.” Some of the biblical passages might have been quoted out of context, but others weren’t!
As the Bible is a massive work of fiction and the god descibed within its horrific pages does not exist, we can call these bigots out for what they are – homophobic bigots.
Newsletter : July 2011 : Issue 14
July 1, 2011 by Mark Embleton
Filed under Newsletter
