Empowering Women Through Secularism Conference

Atheist Ireland in accociation with the Atheist Alliance Internation present the Empowering Women Through Secularism Conference. To be held at the O’Callahagn Alexander Hotel on 28th-30th June 2013.

The Atheist Alliance International will also be holding its AGM during the course of the conference and all members are welcome to attend.

Speakers include:

• Ivana Bacik, Irish Senator and member of Atheist Ireland
• Dan Barker, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
• Ophelia Benson, author and commentator, USA
• Ann Brusseel, Member of Flemish Parliament, Belgium
• Mairin de Burca, writer and secularist, Ireland
• Carlos Diaz, President Atheist Alliance International, Argentina
• Jane Donnelly, Education Policy Officer Atheist Ireland
• Annie Laurie Gaylor, Freedom From Religion Foundation, USA
• Anthea McTiernan, reproductive rights activist and journalist
• PZ Myers, science professor and blogger, USA
• Maryam Namazie, Council of Ex-Muslims in Britain, Iran
• Taslima Nasrin, novelist and activist, Bangladesh and India
• Michael Nugent, Chairperson Atheist Ireland
• Nina Sankari, Polish Rationalist Association
• Farhana Shakir, lawyer and legal consultant, Pakistan
• Kate Smurthwaite, comedian and activist, Britain
• Anne Marie Waters, One Law for All Campaign, Britain
• Rebecca Watson, Skepchick network, USA

For full details and booking information please go to the Conference Website.

 

Street action (literally)

Atheist friends in Belgium ‘reclaim’ the streets (one down, more to go) Read more

Lib Dems Warning to Government on Big Society Faith Groups

Grassroots LibDem activists warn government over the involvement of faith groups Read more

Atheists Have Better Sex Lives

I can’t believe that this has been published in the Daily Mail, however the long awaited report on Sex and Secularism by distinguished supporter of AtheismUK has now been published, with a lot of expected confirmations of what may of us in the atheist and secualrist community thought.

Please enjoy (and note the comment on the article, well it made me laugh)!

Criticism at Easter? What a Shocker!

The head of the catholic Church in Scotland, Cardinal Keith O’Brien, will use his Easter sermon to criticize “aggresive secularism” according to the BBC. Full story here.

Let’s examine:

Firstly, the Pope said a similar thing last year. OK so these complaints are showing that those of us who don’t believe and reject their barbaric and unsupported doctrines are actually having an effect. This citicism is an indication that they are starting to get desparate and they are being shown to have less and less relevance to people!

Secondly it doesn’t change the fact we are probably right!

Thirdly, I love it when he states that enemies of Christianity want to “take God from the public sphere”. Firstly we are enemies of irrationaliy and unreason of which Christianity is just one (very large) example, and how can you take something out of the public sphere when it doesn’t actually exist in reality in the first place?

Next he criticizes equality legislation claiming it is discriminating againt the religious. I have to keep saying this. Stopping you from practicising bigotry and discrimination is NOT itself discrimination. You have had the freedom to be bigots for too long and the world is beginning to wake up. To use an anolgy, if you hare beating someone you don’t like with a stick we will take the stick off you and you then cannot turn around and claim that the act of taking the stick off you is oppressing you!

Oh well, this is Easter, or the rising of the purpotedly magical zombie day! For those that partake enjoy the chocolate!

Darrel Ray’s Survey Needs YOUR Help!

Atheism and Sex: take part in the survey Read more