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 BensonOphelia 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.

 

News Digest

compiled by Barbara Monea

IRELAND

WORLD

SCIENCE

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.

Secular Sunday