Having read the comments so far here and on other websites, and the opinions shared privately by others, I want to suggest a five-item agenda as the basis for a structured dialogue to move beyond the rifts in the atheist and skeptic communities. Please read this proposal in a charitable frame of mind. It is […]
Our compassion has to start with the victims of sex crimes
Some of the reaction to the Steubenville Ohio rape case has highlighted the plight of the perpetrators – two teenage high school football players who penetrated a drunk teenage girl with their fingers and circulated photographs of the crime online – while downplaying or ignoring the plight of the victim of the crime. Initial television […]
Remembering my late wife Anne Holliday for Chris Johnson’s book A Better Life
I did an interview and photoshoot today with Chris Johnson for his upcoming book A Better Life. Chris has posted this clip on YouTube of me talking about my late wife Anne Holliday, who I loved and who I miss every day. Chris is a New York-based photographer, and he has been traveling through the […]
On the primacy of reasonable dialogue in the atheist and skeptic communities
Thank you to everyone who has, either publicly or privately, welcomed the dialogue taking place here and elsewhere on how to move beyond the rifts in the atheist and skeptic communities. Dialogue is an important part of improving any situation where people disagree, particularly when dealing with groups composed of individuals with different motivations, and […]
Does society need religious faith? My debate with John Waters at NUI Galway
Opening speeches from my debate with Irish Times journalist John Waters last Wedensday in NUI Galway on the topic: Does society need religious faith?
Eight choices we can make to help move beyond the rifts in the atheist and skeptic communities
I decided a week ago to take time out from the recent discussions about the rifts in the atheist and skeptic communities, in order to get some perspective on what I had learned from the discussions up to then. I would also like to thank the people who have contacted me privately to make helpful […]
In support of the International Day to Defend Apostates and Blasphemers
In support of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain’s International Day to Defend Apostates and Blasphemers, I am republishing my contribution to the OSCE human rights meeting in Warsaw Poland in October 2012 on protecting the human rights of atheists and ending blasphemy laws internationally. The relevant section, which starts at 0:43, reads: Our second […]
My debate on Shari’a with Mufassil Islam at Trinity College Dublin
Extracts from my lunchtime debate last Thursday with Mufassil Islam, PhD Law Candidate, organised by Trinity College Dublin Theological Society.
I will be debating End of Life Care on Tuesday in RCSI, and Faith on Wednesday in NUI Galway
Tuesday 12 March, Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin End of Life Care, Culture and Religion Evening debate, starting 7 pm Albert Lecture Theatre, RCSI Dublin Organized by RCSI Debating Society Prof. David Smith, lecturer in Ethics in RCSI Michael Nugent, Chairperson Atheist Ireland Plus a speaker from a Muslim perspective Wednesday 13 March, NUI Galway […]
Why atheist and skeptic groups should be inclusive, caring and supportive, and 25 next steps to help this to happen
I’ve published some reflections on the recent dialogue here. I am now too close to the dialogue to be able to objectively evaluate it, so I am going to republish here a post that I wrote seven months ago, in July 2012, titled ‘Why atheist and skeptic groups should be inclusive, caring and supportive.’ This […]