Michael Nugent — Atheism, Reason, Skepticism, Happiness

Religion has poisoned politics in Ireland

December 6, 2011

This is my talk last night at the debate in Queens University Belfast, supporting the motion that Religion has Poisoned Politics on the Island of Ireland. It also includes some points that I made not in the speech but in the questions and answers.

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How and why I became an atheist

December 3, 2011

Back in the 1960s, when I was in primary school in Drumcondra in Dublin, we were given a project to do over the Easter holiday. We had to read the Gospels, and rewrite them in our own words. I spent ages doing this, rewriting the stories and drawing pictures to accompany them.

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Setting Prometheus Free: a lecture by AC Grayling

December 2, 2011

Atheist Ireland is hosting a series of occasional lectures by prominent atheists. Here is a video of the first one, with Professor AC Grayling, speaking last month in Dublin.

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Government forum must vindicate right to secular education

December 1, 2011

Atheist Ireland has responded today to the interim report of the Forum on Patronage and Pluralism in primary education. The Forum is to send its final report to the Minister for Education by the end of December.

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Debates about religion next week in Belfast and Maynooth

December 1, 2011

I’ll be taking part in two debates next week, in Belfast on Monday 5th December, and in Maynooth on Tuesday 6th December. And one of my opponents in the Belfast debate is Rev Chris Hudson, with whom I worked together on many peace campaigns during the euphemistically-called “troubles” in Northern Ireland.

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Myth of Jesus is no basis for building world view today about reality

November 1, 2011

Here is a link to the last of my series of five articles for the Irish Times on atheism and its relationship to reality, morality, faith and Jesus.

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Is Scientology legitimate? Debate at TCD Philosophical Society

October 29, 2011

This is my contribution to a debate on Thursday at the TCD Philosophical Society on the motion that Scientology is as legitimate as any other religion. Other speakers included Mike Rinder, former chief spokesperson of the Church of Scientology,

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Irish Presidential candidates reply to questions on secular issues

October 26, 2011

Four of the seven Irish Presidential candidates have committed to recognising equally the rights of atheist and agnostic citizens if elected President, in replies to questions from Atheist Ireland.

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Debates about religion this week in UCD and TCD

October 25, 2011

I’ll be taking part in two debates about religion this week, in University College Dublin on Wednesday 26th October and in Trinity College Dublin on Thursday 27th October.

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