
Secular Sunday #76 – Miracle of the Sun
It’s a little late and a little short but considering the weather we’ve had this weekend, it’s a miracle* I was able to come up with anything at all. Expect an improvement when the weather returns to normal.
– Derek Walsh, Editor
*Not actually a miracle
Profile: Ophelia Benson
Every week until the Empowering Women through Secularism conference, we’ll be profiling one of the speakers.
Ophelia Benson is an author, editor and blogger.
She has co-authored three books with Jeremy Stangroom, is a former associate editor of The Philosophers’ Magazine, and writes a column for Free Inquiry.
- Ophelia’s blog, “Butterflies & Wheels”
- Ophelia on Twitter
- Ophelia’s columns in Free Inquiry
- Does God Hate Women? – Ophelia at Eschaton 2012
- The Intersection of Non-theism and Feminism – Panel at CFI’s Women in Secularism 2012
News Digest
compiled by Barbara Monea
IRELAND
- Sex in Ireland: Fifty shades of hypocrisy
- Letter: School patronage and religion
- Are Ireland’s priests heading for extinction?
- ‘Ireland new mission frontier’ – African Jesuit
WORLD
- Explainer: What is going on in Turkey?
- Rape victim and ‘black virgin’ Kainat Soomro condemned to die in Pakistan over rape
- Catholic Church’s Top Exorcist Claims He Rid World of 160,000 Demons
- Kathleen Taylor, Neuroscientist, Says Religious Fundamentalism Could Be Treated As A Mental Illness
- Will Smith’s Scientology disaster
- Spanish Bishop: “Disabled children for impure parents”
- UK gay marriage bill over House of Lords hurdle
- Brazil drops ‘happy being a prostitute’ ad campaign
- Atheist Chaplains Would Call Fallen Soldiers ‘Worm Food,’ GOP Congressman Says
SCIENCE
- Science says atheists should come out of the closet for their own good
- Bill Nye: Creationism Is Not Appropriate For Children (video)
ANALYSIS
Calendar
- Thursday 13 June, Porterhouse, Sheares St., Cork (map)
“Think & Drink”. This month, Cork Humanists will be talking about sex. Facebook event page - Tuesday 18 June, 7:30 pm, Costigan’s, Washington St. West, Cork (map)
Cork Humanists’ Film Night. This month’s film is Persepolis, a 2007 animated film set against the background of the Iranian Revolution. More - Wednesday 19 June, 8:00 pm, Absolute Hotel, Sir Harry’s Mall, Limerick (map)
The Mid West Humanists are meeting. All are welcome. - Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 June, O’Callaghan Alexander Hotel, Dublin 2 (map)
“Empowering Women Through Secularism” An international two-day conference featuring some of the biggest names in atheism, skepticism, secularism and feminism. Buy tickets now
Blogism
David Quinn seems to have locked himself into a corner on the question of research on gay parents. It would be a big deal in the local sphere of Irish conversation on this question were he to do so, and he would subject himself to widespread focus. He insists that only a large-scale blind study would be good enough, despite a preponderance of research on this question leading in one direction – William Quill wonders whether David Quinn could change his mind on same-sex marriage
You might have noticed in recent years that our national broadcaster, RTÉ, very often invites a speaker for the self-styled Iona Institute on chat shows, whenever the topic is something that the Catholic church might have a view on. Frequently, a member of the Iona Institute is invited to comment on current topics, such as the recent RTÉ documentary on abuse in creches. Indeed, not too long ago, on a morning radio show, RTÉ had two members of the Iona Institute out of the four participants. – Bock the Robber explainsexactly what the Iona Institute is.