About
I’m Michael Nugent, a writer from Dublin, Ireland, and chair of the advocacy group Atheist Ireland.
I lived for twenty five wonderful years with my wife Anne Holliday, who died in April 2011. I loved her and I miss her, and I am happy and proud to have lived with her for so long. You can read my tribute to Anne here.
For inexplicable reasons, I have since childhood supported Bohemians and Leeds United football clubs.
This blog is mainly about two issues that I’m very passionate about: promoting atheism and secularism, because I believe that the idea of gods is bad for society; and understanding why and how people are happy, because happiness is the underlying reason that anybody wants anything.
Here’s a list of my main writing projects:
- In preparation: a book about atheism
- This website, from 2008 to today
- That’s Ireland and Bionic Bohs (two blogs), 2007-2008
- I, Keano, a comedy musical play with Arthur Mathews and Paul Woodfull, 2005-2008
- Absurdly Yours – The Michael Nugent Letters, 2004
- That’s Ireland – A Miscellany, with Damian Corless, 2003
- Ireland on the Internet – The Definitive Guide, 1995
- Dear Me – The Diary of John Mackay, 1994
- Dear John – The John Mackay Letters, with Sam Smyth, 1993
- Majority Ethos, prank newsletter with Arthur Mathews, 1991
- Occasional articles and cartoons for various publications
Here’s some video about my advocacy work and my writing:
You have rights, your beliefs do not
At OSCE human rights meeting in Warsaw, Poland, Oct 2012
Arrogant Atheists and Not Collecting Stamps
Opening the World Atheist Convention in Dublin, July 2011
I, Keano Interview
On TV3′s Ireland AM with Jamie Beamish, Jan 2007
If you need to use an image of me in any media, you can use either of these (click to enlarge):
Anyway, I hope you enjoy reading this website. Please let me know what you think.
{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
I don’t care what you say. There is a God. Your website has not proved otherwise. Just a bunch bleeding heart liberal spoiled, immoral Hollywood types praising their atheism is suppose to change my mind. I don’t think so.
James, I’d be tempted to label you stupid, but I’ll resist such temptation because there are stupid people out there would would be highly offended to find you lumped into the same category as them.
Michale’s excellent blog is not about “proving” there is no god, thats not his responsibility. It is you that is making the supernatural claim, so it is your responsibility to cite some evidence for this claim. But then I guess I’m not surprised to find you ducking that one since in all of human history there has not been one single jot of credible objective evidence … and yet you truly believe in the reality of your imaginary friend … why?
Seriously … give it some thought.
Anyone who has read the Gospels can discern that it epitomizes the bleeding heart. There are many Atheists and Humanists who speak publicly about the value of Christian ethics when it is distilled from superstition and hypocritical churches. Many people think that the gospels are too sympathetic such as Friedrich Nietzsche. The expression ‘Bleeding heart’ comes from icons of Jesus Nazarene in which his heart is bleeding. Please examine if you wish these ubiquitous icons of Jesus Nazarene titled The Sacred Heart of Jesus Christ which evidence the etymology of ‘bleeding heart’.
http://www.jesuspictures.co/sacred_heart_pictures.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bleeding_heart
Christians believe that they can do any harm that they wish, be forgiven and go to heaven where they enjoy everlasting joy when they die. That is being spoiled.
Some immoral Atheists, some immoral Christians, some immoral people in any ideology.
Hollywood has produced John Huston’s The Bible, Ben Hur, The Ten Commandments, The Robe, The Greatest Story Ever Told, The Passion of the Christ and many more religious films and can be expected to continue to do so for as long as there remains a profitable market for religious films.
Hey man, sorry to hear your lost and I hope she is not the reason for your dis-belief. I lost my mother at 15 and I still believe. I’ll be praying for you that you might find Jesus. Love you man take care
MOG
I am not here to eviscerate you for being an unbeliever. That is your choice. My choice, what I KNOW FOR SURE, is that my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ died a horrendous death so that we may be saved.
I am a big believer in evolution. I have a Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Anthropology and am currently at work on a Master’s Degree in Forensic Anthropology. I know the world is at least 4 billion years old. But I still believe God started the whole process.
As Christians, we are to act Christ-like, the way He would want us to. What an atheist said earlier, about us sinning all over the place and then expecting to be forgiven is not true for this believer. It is hard to be a good, moral person whether you are an unbeliever or a believer. Life isn’t easy. But I choose to live my life as my Lord would want me to.
You live your life as your morals direct you and I will do the same. The world would be a very boring place if we all shared the same beliefs. PEACE.
I also want to add that you seem like a wonderful human being and it is not for me to judge you nor anyone. And I do have friends who are atheists. It bothers me not.
I have my beliefs, what my heart, head and soul says. I am not going to let my religious beliefs prevent me from knowing potentially amazing people who may not share my views. You keep on doing what you believe is right for you and I will do the same.
My condolences for your wife. PEACE.
Thank you for that. No, Anne dying was not the reason for my disbelief. Neither of us believed in gods, either before or after she was diagnosed. I’m sorry to hear about the death of your mother when you were so young. I hope that you have gotten over it as best as you can.
Thanks, Olivia. If we try to minimize unnecessary suffering among sentient creatures, we’re probably doing as best as we can morally, regardless of our beliefs about the supernatural. Thanks for your condolences for Anne.
Thanks, Olivia. Why do you use the word ‘believe’ for your conclusion on evolution, where you are presumably basing it on evidence, and ‘know’ for your conclusion on Jesus as God, where you are presumably basing it on faith?
Evolution is certainly consistent with the idea that ‘a’ god started the whole process, but it is harder to reconcile with the idea of the Christian God or indeed Christianity generally. Without Adam and Eve you lose original sin, without original sin you lose the need for Christ to be crucified. And you also have to ask where, in the evolutionary process, did the first human soul evolve.
Thanks for all your good work in promoting tolerance and understanding.
Michael, I’ve went through that blog and I’m really glad I did. I’m really happy that people like you exist (numbers are growing) and face the problems, discuss them, pop them up above the level of ignorance, instead of avoiding them to discuss. I’m an atheist myself (from Poland, living in Ireland) and I’ve studied Multicultural Relations in Warsaw, mainly focusing on religions. I hadn’t finish the studies due to my families financial problems, but I’ve learnt a lot and opened my eyes to many problems that are inflicted by the religion, especially organized one. You have my full mental support on what you’re doing. I would like to see in the end of my days a world without prejudice, rasism, xeno- and homophoby, free of religious indoctrination (especially practised on little children, when they don’t understand, but take everything for granted).
PS. Please take my sincere condolences for your wife.
Totally agree with you. Atheism’s the way to go.
I happened upon you’re website from a recent Tweet and am so glad I did. I feel as though I’ve wandered into a candy store and its all mine for the taking. Unfortunately, it’s late here in the US. But I will return. Eager to explore and see what goodies I can find.
Hi Michael, I featured like your late wife Anne, and my condolences to you on her passing, on the ‘Right To Die’ documentary. There are some issues which I would like to discuss with you Michael. I wonder if you could ring me on 021 4554673.
My sincere condolences on the death of your wife.
Dear Michael, In the past 24 hours I have posted a couple of comments on your site. I know your intent was to have people contribute to the list of well known atheists, and my contribution would be to go online and search the many sites that post extensive lists of just such people. The previously mentioned comments were the very first I’ve made anywhere on any blogsite. Just to give you an idea of where I’m coming from, I was born and raised an atheist, and I’m comfortable in my own skin,knowing I have lead a decent and moral life. I’ve never had to have that struggle with any personal faith or religious upbringing. Nonetheless I have the the curiosity of wanting to know how the other 95% live and am fairly well grounded in religious history and dogma of most of the world’s major religions (not just Christianity,or even monotheism) and as you can imagine, I have questions. So I researched writings from like thinkers(the usual suspects-Dawkins and their likes) and now just feel I should add my little, barely literate, voice to those who feel the need to push back at religious imposition. Like Hitchens, I would like it if I could just have people leave me alone to practice those rights that have been hard won from religious shackles of history. Go ahead those of you from the other side, ask me why I don’t leave you alone as well! On another note after 30 years of marriage, I too recently lost my wife as she was killed as the result of a fall. I offer my sympathies to you as what I know is a terrible and inconsolable loss.
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