The Religious Landscape Study by the Pew Research Center a year ago showed the US growing less religious. Republicans consistently do well among voters with strong religious beliefs, and Democrats score better with younger people who self-identify as atheists or agnostics, as well as those who say their religion is ‘nothing in particular’. More than a third …
Continue reading ‘The trend is in favour of less religion, not more’ »
“Our dream dashes itself against the great mystery like a wasp against a window pane. Less merciful than man, God never opens the window”. Jules Renard, Journal 1906
Not all the activities of religion are harmful, e.g raising money for charity, Sunday schools and teaching children consideration and love. If the Sermon on the Mount were the sum of Christianity no one could argue. It is fear of death, indeed, everything to do with fear and support of the establishment, that is dangerous. …
“That fear first created the gods is perhaps as true as anything so brief could be on so great a subject”. Santayana, The Life of Reason, 1905-06
These are the words of Rabbi Alissa Wise of Jewish Voice for Peace (lightly edited): Anti-Semitism is real – that’s not up for debate. Wherever anti-Semitism exists, we need to stamp it out. But criticizing Israel isn’t anti-Semitic. Nor is speaking out against the occupation of Palestine. Unfortunately, the State Department doesn’t see it that …
An article in the Daily Telegraph in Britain, written by Sean Thomas, listed some of the reports that link religious belief with health: in 2006, researchers at the University of Texas (it would be, wouldn’t it?) found that the more often people went to church, the longer they tended to live; a Duke University study …
Continue reading ‘Are Christians more healthy than non- religious people?’ »
A blogger has been publicly flogged for encouraging free speech in Saudi Arabia. Raif Badawi, 30, who set up the Free Saudi Liberals website, was arrested in 2012, and charged with offences including insulting Islam. On his conviction last May, Badawi was fined 1m riyals (£175,000, $280,000) and sentenced to ten years in jail and …
Continue reading ‘Is the writing on the wall for the Saudis?’ »
There seems to be an idea gaining ground that racism and xenophobia have become a German nationwide problem, and that endless mistakes have been made by politicians dealing with social policy towards asylum seekers. This is nonsense. The problem isn’t Germany’s social policy, it’s right-wing extremists, who can’t be reasoned with because they’re not rational. …
The following is the suggested notice to be posted at the entrances of businesses owned by by fundamentalist American Christians, such as wedding cake makers, who like to choose their customers – and their bible texts: “Dear Valued Patrons. Owing to my sincerely held religious beliefs, we will no longer be doing business with the …
Continue reading ‘Fundamentalism (apologies for length, but this is fun)’ »
On Tuesday, the Supreme Court heard arguments on same-sex marriage, which is now legal in about three dozen states. But it’s also legal in most states to discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in the areas of employment, housing and public accommodation. So, an LGBT person can get legally married in most states, …
Morality is a pragmatic code of human conduct, devised from human experience, that allows us all to get on together with as little strife as possible. There are no rules except those agreed to from time to time for our safety and happiness. Do unto others as you would they would do unto you may …
Continue reading ‘Religions are not the exclusive arbiters of morality’ »
To The Daily Telegraph Max Jalil draws a parallel between the cartoons in Jyllands-Posten and those depicting Jews in 1930s Germany. The former ridicule beliefs, the latter demonise people. David Culm (Letters, 10 January) states that we “should observe sensitivity and respect for other cultures’ beliefs”. This is wrong. We should show respect for other …
Creflo Dollar, suitably named, is a so-called prosperity preacher. His “church” is called World Changers Church International and is in Atlanta. Prosperity churches promise wealth and health to those who tithe 10% of their income to the “church”. Creflo Dollar has been seeking “200,000 people committed to sow $300 or more (to) help achieve our …
A series of leaked letters, written by some of the 376 young French jihadis fighting in Syria to their parents back in France, has been published by Le Figaro. Most express deep disillusion with the experience of fighting for Isis and other Islamist militant groups, and many beg their parents for advice on how to …
Thousands of Christians have resigned en masse from the Lutheran Church in Finland – the country’s national church – in response to its archbishop welcoming “with my whole heart” a parliamentary vote to allow same-sex marriage. Finland is set to become the final Nordic country (and the 12th in Europe) to enshrine marriage rights for …
