Church claims blackcurrant juice cures cancer and HIV!

More evidence of the pernicious effects of religion Read more

Catholic midwives have abortion objection rejected

Another blow for the irrationality of religious faith. Read more

Catholic School Told It’s Admission Policy Unfair

A complaint about the admissions policy of a Catholic school in South Croydon has been partially upheld.

They key point of the complaint is that as an oversubscribed school it had a points system for admissions that put an emphasis on early baptism and activity within the church as oppososed to geographical location (i.e. how close they live) of potential applicants.

This ruling will have a knock on effect on the selection policies of other so-called “faith” schools.

Best bet get rid of the “faith” element of all state schools and let’s make all schools truly community schools serving the local populations.

Full story on the BBC Website

Faith Healers Claim to Cure Cancer

A group of faith healers who claim they have miracle cures for cancer and HIV have been condemned as “irresponsible, even criminal”

There is only one word for this as expressed by Prof Edzard Ernst – Criminal. Let’s hope these charlatans are appropriately prosecuted!

These people prey on people’s hopes, not give them hope. Yet another example of “where’s the harm?”

Johns v Derby City Council – EHRC admits balls-up

EHRC “entirely rejects any view that rights in relation to sexual orientation ‘take precedence’ over religious rights”. Read more

A conversation with a ‘moderate’ Muslim

Recently I had a very interesting conversation about religion with a Muslim woman, originally from Morocco. Read more

A miner miracle?

The recent scenes of the rescue of 33 Chilean miners after 69 days stuck 700m underground Read more

Vote Now for the New Humanist Bad Faith Awards 2009

Extract from the New Humanist Magazine

Who should win the 2009 Bad Faith Award?

The time has come. For months now, nominations have been pouring in for those most deserving of our prestigious Bad Faith Award, presented each year to the person deemed to have made the most outstanding contribution to the cause of un-reason.

Last year saw a runaway victory for erstwhile US vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin (oh those halcyon days, when she was a mere election and a heart attack away from the nuclear codes). Of course, Palin was always a front runner in that contest (Bad Faith, that is), but this year’s poll may well be more closely contested. Drawn from nominations we’ve received online, by email and by post, as well some of our own based on another year of tackling the forces of irrationalism in the pages of New Humanist, here’s the shortlist, in alphabetical order, of the 10 enemies of reason ready to battle it out for the ultimate prize:

Adnan Oktar, aka Harun Yahya

Anjem Choudary

Anthony Bush

The British Chiropractic Association

Cormac Murphy O’Connor

Dermot Aherne

Damian Thompson

Pope Benedict XVI

Terry Eagleton and Karen Armstrong

Tony Blair

So, there you have it – it’s a strong shortlist, and there’s sure to be some fierce competition between now and the New Year, when we will announce the person (or organization) who has been crowned 2009′s most scurrilous enemy of reason.

To vote and to read short summaries of thier nominations click here.

What Defines Your Religion?

The following is a story on the BBC’s News Magazine:

Is being a Jew a matter of bloodline or religious practice? The UK’s new Supreme Court is debating the subject this week, in a case that could have a wider impact on faith schools, says Tim Whewell.