Atheism, Reason, Happiness
Atheist Ireland is asking the political parties and candidates, who are contesting the General Election on 8th February, to answer these ten questions about secular policies. We will publish the responses to assist you in deciding who to vote for.
I became fascinated by Casimir Liszinski, the 17th-century Polish philosopher who was executed for atheism in 1689, after I attended several of the annual commemorations of his death in Warsaw. This is an overview of his life and death, and the Enlightenment era during which he lived.
We start the new decade with the good news that Ireland no longer has the medieval crime of blasphemy in our laws. Over the Christmas period, President Michael D Higgins signed the Blasphemy (Abolition of Offences and Related Matters) Bill 2019, and it has accordingly become law.
Atheist Ireland thanks the Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan, for bringing the Referendum Bill to remove the offence from the Constitution in 2018, and now this Bill to remove the offence from our statute books.
Veganism is a philosophical conviction protected by the European Convention on Human Rights, under Article 9 of the Convention, which protects freedom of thought, conscience and religion.
This was decided in 1993 by the European Commission of Human Rights, which used to be the first stage in taking a case to the European Court of Human Rights.
Continue reading “Veganism is protected by the European Convention on Human Rights”
The right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion, which is protected under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights, also protects atheists and nonreligious philosophical convictions such as secularism.
Continue reading “The European Convention on Human Rights protects nonreligious beliefs”
Happy 2020! I’ve gone with five foundational resolutions this New Year. They are: Love People. Love Animals. Improve Ideas. Do Good. Be Happy. I’ll add in the details as the year goes on.
My friend Sadia Hameed is a spokesperson for the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. She campaigns for women and girls who are victims of sexual assaults, forced marriages, domestic violence, so-called ‘honour’ attacks, genital mutilation, and persecution for blasphemy and apostasy.
It is important that Ireland completes the process of removing the crime of blasphemy from our laws as well as our constitution. The Bill designed to do this is currently at the Office of the Attorney General for formal drafting.
A report published today on the human rights of non-religious people warns the world is divided on blasphemy and apostasy laws, with many states still enforcing these laws, and several states actively tightening or introducing new ‘blasphemy’ legislation in the past few years.
Continue reading “Freedom of Thought Report 2019 highlights blasphemy laws”
The Government is using a procedure called a Money Message to block over 50 Bills that have been passed in the Dail by opposition parties, including Solidarity’s Bill to provide Objective Sex Education without interference by a school’s religious ethos.
Continue reading “Government blocking Objective Sex Education Bill”
Please support the making of Debutante, a short film about religious control and coming-of-age in a hostile environment. You can help to make it happen by contributing to the crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.
The Jehovah’s Witnesses religion controls its members by restricting their sexuality and shunning them if they don’t keep to the rules. Kamila Dydyna, a Polish filmmaker based in Dublin, is making a short film about the devastating effect this can have on its victims.
Continue reading “Support the making of Debutante, a short film”