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. On the surface the Forum seems to be moving in the right direction, but the interim report proposes […]
Debates about religion next week in Belfast and Maynooth
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. Monday’s topic is that […]
Myth of Jesus is no basis for building world view today about reality
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. Myth of Jesus is no basis for building world view today about nature of reality And here are links to the previous four articles in the series: […]
Is Scientology legitimate? Debate at TCD Philosophical Society
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, Irish anti-Scientology activist Matthew McKenna, and former Scientologist John Duignan. Members of the philosophical society, ladies […]
Irish Presidential candidates reply to questions on secular issues
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. Currently an atheist or agnostic cannot become President as there is a constitutional requirement for the President to swear a religious oath asking God to direct […]
Debates about religion this week in UCD and TCD
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. On Wednesday 26 October I will be in UCD, debating the motion ‘This House Believes That the World would be a Better Place Without Religion’. This debate […]
Faith ceases to be a virtue when it has little connection with facts
Here is a link to the fourth of my series of five articles for the Irish Times on atheism and its relationship to reality, morality, faith and Jesus. Faith ceases to be a virtue when it has little connection with facts of reality
Five questions on secular issues for the Irish Presidential candidates
Atheist Ireland has written to the seven Presidential candidates asking them five questions about secular issues that are relevant to the position of President. We will publish the results when we receive them. Mary Davis is the first candidate to respond. If you want to help us to establish the other six candidates’ positions on […]
Why atheism provides a better basis for examining reality and morality
Here are links to the second and third of my series of five articles for the Irish Times on atheism and its relationship to reality, morality, faith and Jesus. If there is a natural explanation then there is no reason to invent a god Atheists and religious alike seek to identify foundation of morality
Atheism, impersonal forces, love, goodness, Stalin and Pol Pot
I’ve written a series of five articles for the Irish Times about atheism and its relationship to reason, morality, faith and Jesus. You can read the first article here on the Irish Times website: We atheists will change our minds if evidence shows we are wrong A few people have taken issue with one sentence […]