United Kingdom: University admissions tutors might be interested in a survey conducted by More4 News, which found that at least 40 British schools are teaching ancient mythology instead of science. The programme also noted that not all of the schools concerned were in the private sector. Andrew Copson, the British Humanist Association's Director of Education and Public Affairs commented:
It is appalling that there are thousands of children in Britain who are being taught that evolution is a myth and creationism a fact. It is even worse that almost 1,000 of those children attend schools funded by taxpayers, which teach creationism despite national guidance that it has no place in the science classroom. We are glad that the government is currently producing new guidance on how to deal with creationism in schools but it is crucial that school inspectors are also trained to check faith schools rigorously for the teaching of creationism or intelligent design.
Humanists “appalled” that creationism taught in 40 UK schools —British Humanist Association press release, 2nd July 2008.
United Kingdom: The Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement has published a 10 page document criticizing the government's decision to appoint homophobic Christian activist Joel Edwards as an Equality Commissioner. Edwards has campaigned against equalities legistlation in the past, and the LGCM report uses his own words to demonstrate why Joel Edwards should not have been appointed to the Equality Commission and should resign
. The report summarises the case against Edwards on page 1:
- Joel Edwards aggressively lobbies against law reforms introducing gay equality
- Joel Edwards promotes groups seeking to
curegay people- Joel Edward’s organisation seeks exemptions from the very laws Equality Commissioners are charged with upholding
They note that the organisation he leads, the Evangelical Alliance, explicitly opposes any kind of fair treatment for lesbians and gay men.
a homosexual lifestyle is a choice and is not to be classified in terms akin to race or gender. [p.3]
Of course, Edwards regards such criticism as religious discrimination and whines I therefore find it a shame that the LGCM considers my belief system less equal than others and a barrier to my serving the British public
. Of course, as a religious lifestyle is a choice
, surely it's not deserving of any kind of protection anyway, at least not according to Edwards' reasoning.
Joel Edwards and The Evangelical Alliance: Opponents of human rights for lesbian and gay people [Word document]—Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement, 21st January 2008; Gay Christian group criticises new equality commissioner—The Guardian, 21st January 2008.
The shadowy Exclusive Brethren religious sect has been guaranteed another $10 million in taxpayer funding for its school campuses, despite being branded an "extremist cult" which "breaks up families" by Prime Minister Kevin Rudd before the election.EXCLUSIVE: Labor backflip on Brethren—LiveNews, 14th January 2008.
A man who believed he had supernatural sexual powers killed his partner's best friend after encouraging her to sleep with him to exorcise her demons.Killer said sex would 'exorcise demons'—Sydney Morning Herald, 14th January 2008 (via Red Wolf).
A Church-in-Wales vicar has been questioned by Dyfed-Powys Police for offences relating to indecent images of children.Vicar arrest over indecent images—BBC News, 14th January 2008.
A few headlines for you:
A Texas man who told emergency services he killed his girlfriend and cooked parts of her body later described his actions as being compelled by God, police said.Alleged cannibal killer claims he was compelled by God—The Guardian, 8th January 2008.
A man who believed he bore the "mark of the beast" used a circular saw to cut off one hand, then he cooked it in the microwave and called 911, authorities said. Man Cuts Off, Microwaves His Own Hand—Breitbart, 9th January 2008.
England: A debate will take place in the House of Commons today on Christianophobia
. The word has been coined by Conservative MP Mark Pritchard, who seems to believe that his imaginary friend is essential to British life.
Mark Pritchard saidChristianophobiaof thepolitically correct brigadealso ran the risk of Christianity being hijacked by extremist parties.
The Tory MP said he did not want to criticise people of other faiths, but wanted torecognise and protect the Christian tradition of this nation.
He intends to do this by shoving Christianity down the throats of people of other faiths, and the majority who have none. He's particularly upset that few schools bother with the explicitly religious Nativity play any more, and tend to go for something that reflects the secular nature of most festive traditions. He also boasts about the Christian tradition going back to the first century and its contribution to arts, culture and science
.
I wasn't aware of Christianity in the British Isles until the 4th century, but since it arrived, we've had the Dark Ages, the little incident at Clifford's Tower in York, the execution of people for imaginary crimes, the execution of people for holding different beliefs about the worship of the same imaginary friend, the Gunpowder Plot, the censorship of literature, the imprisonment of those who do not have imaginary friends, more literary censorship, The Troubles, attempts to teach religion in the place of science, and, of course, more censorship (failed), this time of drama.
With a record like that, is it surprising that people might be a little phobic about Christians? And that's without mentioning the compulsory Christian religious education and worship in schools, and the privileged position of the Church of England.
England: A court has ruled that Jerry Springer: the Opera is not blasphemous, a move that has hopefully cost Stephen "Dogshit" Green a small fortune.
Springer opera court fight fails—BBC News, 5th December 2007.
South Africa: It seems that, up till now, evolution has not been taught in South Africa's schools. But it is to be included in the national school curriculum from next year, leading to allegations that it is teaching Satanism!
Godly Governance Network provincial secretary Sipho Mengezeleli said the introduction of evolution was a revolution against God and Christianity.
Mengezeleli, who has started canvassing other religious organisations in an effort to mount a united front against the department, said:This course is aimed at eroding God from people's mind. It's satanic by its very nature because it's against creation and against God.
And it's not just insecure Christians getting into the act. Some Hindus's beliefs are so shallow and fragile that they cannot tolerate their children even knowing of the existence of other viewpoints:
Hindu Society chairperson Gino Vassan said the concept of evolution goes directly against Hinduism and should not even be an option.We don't believe in evolution --we believe in reincarnation,said Vassan.We would not want something that goes against our belief to be taught to our children.
Fury rumbles over 'satanic' school course—Daily Dispatch, 31st October 2007.
Australia: The Australian Prime Minister, John Howard, has once again been asked to explain the cosy relations he and his minions have with religious extremists.
This time it's the foaming loon Danny Nalliah, the head of Melbourne-based Catch the Fire Ministries, who was charged in a test case of Victoria's religious vilification laws for comments he made about Muslims in 2002. It seems Nalliah fronted up to the far right-wing League of Rights, despite being warned that they were anti-Jewish
.
Pastor Nalliah has been given top-level access in recent months to the Howard Government, which he has endorsed enthusiastically.Continue reading "Tony Abbott and the Not So Terribly Good Week"
The revelation of his speech in 2005 has prompted Labor to call on the Government to cease contact with Pastor Nalliah.
The case ran for five years, during which Mr Costello supported the pastor. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal initially found he had vilified Islam, but the verdict was quashed on appeal. It was eventually resolved at mediation.
United Kingdom: A committee considering scientific evidence and making recommendations for change based on scientific evidence has issued its report. Religious groups, who had tried to nobble the enquiry, will not be pleased with the results. No change in the upper limit is suggested, and liberalisation in other areas is proposed. What's more, the committee said that superstitious doctors who object to the procedure should alert their patients well in advance. Ben Goldacre has the press release, which quotes committee member Dr Evan Harris, a Liberal Democrat MP, extensively:
This thorough report - after a rigorous enquiry into a set of very narrow scientific issues - sets out clear conclusions on what the scientific evidence can tell us about abortion law reform.
The medical evidence is stark about how the threshold of viability has not reduced below 24 weeks, and that is why our conclusions are so firm...
The Committee had no alternative - given the medical and scientific facts - but to argue for the end of the 40 year requirement for two doctors signatures, the old-fashioned ban on nurses performing abortions, and the unnecessary restriction of choice for women about where they have early medical abortion.
I am pleased the Committee argues for the GMC to make clear that doctors who conscientiously object must alert their patients in advance and ensure another doctor takes the consultation if abortion is a possibility.
Dr. Harris also left us a tempting tidbit:
The so calledminority reportis a amusing mish-mash of paranoid conspiracy theories, pseudo-scientific clap-trap and anti-abortion zealotry. The few recognisably scientific arguments it makes are completely dealt with in the Committee's report and rebutted by the totality of the scientific literature.
I think we can all guess which report the Prattle would like to see.
Sense prevails—Bad Science, 31st October 2007. See also SCIENTIFIC DEVELOPMENTS RELATING TO THE ABORTION ACT 1967, an account of the committee's remit on the UK Parliamentary website.
United Kingdom: A inquiry reviewing abortion law has warned scientists presenting evidence that they must disclose links to faith groups after it was found that religious organisations were trying to influence the result surreptitiously.
At least eight submissions of written evidence have come from medical professionals who have not disclosed their membership of Christian groups opposed to abortion on faith grounds. Six of the doctors are members or activists with the Christian Medical Fellowship, an organisation that has given its own evidence to the inquiry.
Suspicion that contributors had not been transparent about their affiliations has led the clerk of the committee to take the unusual step of writing to all those who gave evidence asking them to disclose their links to any relevant organisations...
Some on the committee are worried that unless witnesses are transparent about their affiliation to anti-abortion groups the inquiry will not be able to properly assess their evidence.
Evan Harris MP, the Liberal Democrats' science spokesperson, said:This inquiry is specifically about the scientific evidence not moral or religious arguments and our witnesses need to be evidence-led not ideologically or theologically driven. The CMF risk undermining the inquiry by getting people called as expert scientific witnesses when they are not.
Two witnesses who will give evidence today, Chris Richards, a paediatrician and honorary clinical lecturer at Newcastle University, and John Wyatt, a neonatal paediatrician at University College London, are members of CMF, but did not disclose that on their original submission.
Abortion inquiry asks scientists to disclose links to faith groups—The Guardian, 15th October 2007.
United Kingdom: The British government has issued the promised guidelines for teaching creationism in school, and they make it perfectly clear that the only place it has is in the science curriculum is to explain why it's not science.
After explaining the place of science and religious education in the British national curriculum, the guidance document unequivocally states:Creationism and intelligent design are sometimes claimed to be scientific theories. This is not the case as they have no underpinning scientific principles, or explanations, and are not accepted by the science community as a whole. Creationism and intelligent design therefore do not form part of the science National Curriculum programmes of study.
Apparently with Truth in Science's materials in mind, it recommends,Any resource should be checked carefully before it is used in the classroom. If resources which mention creationism or intelligent design are used, it must be made clear that neither constitutes a scientific theory.
The guidance document explains that although it is inappropriate to teach creationism, it is not necessarily inappropriate to teach about creationism as an ideological movement and philosophy.
It says:Any questions about creationism and intelligent design which arise in science lessons, for example as a result of media coverage, could provide the opportunity to explain or explore why they are not considered to be scientific theories and, in the right context, why evolution is considered to be a scientific theory. ... Science teachers can respond positively and educationally to questions and comments about creationism or intelligent design by questioning, using prompts such as 'What makes a theory scientific?', and by promoting knowledge and understanding of the scientific consensus around the theories of evolution and the Big Bang.
The guidance suggests that the proper place for religious ideas about the origins of life is in the Religious Education curriculum, but some Christians disagree—they think it's a load of bollocks in theological terms too:
[Simon Barrow, co-director of the UK Christian think-tank Ekklesia] commented:Creationism and Intelligent Design are not legitimate scientific theories. They are constructs based on discredited ideas about biblical texts, a misunderstanding of the idea of creation (which is an understanding of the world process as gift, not a theory of origins in competition with evolution) and a god-of-the-gaps approach rejected by serious theologians....
Pupils seeking to acquire an understanding of religious and other life stances need to understand how and why fundamentalist world views emerge, said Barrow.But they also need to know why they are rejected by mainstream theologians and scientists. Likewise, as the government rightly says, creationism and ID have no place in school science classrooms.
Government issues guidelines to teachers on creationism and ID—Ekklesia, 26th September 2007; Creationism teaching guidance—Teachernet.
England: The Church of England is upset because a video game features one of their buildings. In Resistance: Fall of Man, a shoot-out takes place inside Manchester Cathedral, a rather nondescript, mostly 19th century church, with Victorian Gothic Revival elements and a couple of 15th century bits, but otherwise nothing special.
The Church is threatening legal action, though they do not indicate on what basis, if the game is not removed from the shops.
Church attacks Sony over video game—The Guardian, 9th June 2007.
England: The normally moderate Church of England has appointed a complete lunatic as their new head of education. Rev. Jan Ainsworth has said that the myth of Creation should be taught in science classes in Church of England schools (which are state funded), rather than in religion. To her credit, she does suggest that it be part of the history of science.
Her bosses have already started to distance themselves from her statements.
Intelligent design has place in science lessons, says CofE—The Guardian, 1st June 2007.
Australia: Danny Nalliah is the nasty little man behind Catch the Fire Ministries, a cult with a history of attacking the opposition. They've managed to wangle free PR out of politicians once again.
Prime Minister John Howard and Labor leader Kevin Rudd have sent goodwill messages to an event organised by a controversial Christian group accused of vilifying Muslims.
Howard is dumb enough to forget the outcry his last encounter with Nalliah caused, but I would have expected Rudd to have more sense. You think they'd both know by now that shit sticks.
PM, Rudd lend support to controversial Christian group—ABC News Online, 21st May 2007.
Vatican City: A religious leader in an undemocratic city state has declared that the EU is headed for oblivion, because it doesn't give lip service to his imaginary friend.
Angry that aBerlin Declarationunveiled yesterday listing the EU's achievements and challenges on its 50th birthday contained no reference to the continent's Christian roots, Pope Benedict said that Europe couldnot be built by ignoring its people's identities.
So no doubt he'll be setting an example to us all by respecting the identities of LGBT Europeans, and those who chose an alternative imaginary friend, or none at all?
No, thought not, but for a change, he's decided to blame women for Europe's woes, not pooves:
In his remarks to bishops gathered for ceremonies in Rome to mark the signing of the treaty that founded the EU in 1957, the Pope declared that the reluctance of women in Europe to have babies and Europe's failure to regenerate itself was putting the continent on the path to oblivion.From a demographic standpoint ... Europe seems set on a path that could lead it to take leave of history,he warned. Europe waslosing faith in its own future.
Strangely, it's the countries that most respect him—Poland, Italy and Spain—that currently have their lowest birthrates in history.
As the EU turns 50, Pope says it's on path to oblivion—The Guardian, 26th March 2007.
Germany: A judge has been replaced after she used the Qur'an to deny an abused woman a quickie divorce.
The judge, Christa Datz-Winter, said the German woman of Moroccan descent would not be granted a divorce because she and her husband came from aMoroccan cultural environment in which it is not uncommon for a man to exert a right of corporal punishment over his wife,according to a statement she wrote that was issued by a Frankfurt court.That's what the claimant had to reckon with when she married the defendant.
The 26-year-old mother of two had been repeatedly beaten and threatened with death by her husband.
When the woman protested against the judge's decision, Ms Datz-Winter invoked the Qur'an to support her argument. In the court she read from verse 34 of Sura four of the Qur'an, An-Nisa (Women), in which men are told to hit their wives as a final stage in dealing with disobedience. The verse reads:... as to those on whose part you fear desertion, admonish them and leave them alone in the sleeping places and beat them.
The woman's lawyer, Barbara Becker-Rojczyk, protested, saying:When Christians are arguing for a divorce they don't use the Bible.
The decision outraged womens organisations, but also Germany's Central Council of Muslims which quickly issued a statement pointing out Violence and abuse of people are of course naturally reasons to warrant a divorce in Islam as well.
German judge invokes Qur'an to deny abused wife a divorce—The Guardian, 23rd March 2007.
England: A Brighton teaching assistant has told an Employment Tribunal that she was sacked because of her neopagan religious beliefs. Sommer De La Rosa, a Wiccan, claims her employers feared she would brainwash
schoolchildren, that other teachers shunned her because of her religion and told her not to wear a pentagram necklace.
Her former employers disagree and say she was sacked because of poor attendance record and inappropriate disclosures
to schoolchildren.
Employee claims she was unfairly dismissed for being a witch—Workplace Law, 22nd March 2007.
United States: A teacher has been fired after just eight days in the job for pushing creationist nonsense instead of teaching.
During his eight days as a part-time high school biology teacher, Kris Helphinstine included Biblical references in material he provided to students and gave a PowerPoint presentation that made links between evolution, Nazi Germany and Planned Parenthood.
In his defence, Helphinestine claimed that he only wanted to get the students thinking critically about biased information. The school board did not believe him, and he doesn't seem to have made it clear to his students that that was his intention.
Parent John Rahm told the newspaper that he became concerned when his freshman daughter said she was confused by the supplemental material provided by Helphinstine.
He took passages that had all kinds of Biblical references,Rahm said.It prevented her from learning what she needed to learn.
Ore. Teacher Fired Over Bible References—The Guardian, 20th March 2007.
United Kingdom: Britain's first Muslim peer has come out against wearing the veil. Lord Ahmed of Rotherham said that they were a mark of separation and defiance against mainstream British culture
, and that he felt the way they are used today is contrary to the original intention.
Lord Ahmed, who became the first Muslim peer in 1988, told the Yorkshire Post:The veil is now a mark of separation, segregation and defiance against mainstream British culture.
“But there's nothing in the Koran to say that the wearing of a niqab is desirable, let alone compulsory. It's purely cultural. It's an identity thing which has been misinterpreted.
“They were supposed to be worn so that women wouldn't be harassed.
Some of us would suggest that in these circumstances, it's the men who are at fault and should be kept indoors to stop them causing trouble, but this is a digression.
But my argument is that women, and communities as a whole, are now being harassed because they are wearing them.
He said that the veil was aphysical barrier to integration.
He pointed out that Westerners in Muslim countries were expected to dress according to local norms, and felt British Muslims ought to return the courtesy:
The peer said that Muslims in Britain had to become more sensitive to their surroundings, in the same way as westerners walking around Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, would have to wear a head covering and long clothing before they could expect to engage with local people.
He said that he did not want to see a ban on veils, but added:Muslims need to have a debate among ourselves about whether we need them.
Veil should not be worn, says Muslim peer—The Guardian, 20th February 2007.
United States: No, not Gillian McKeith again. This time it's the Washington Defense of Marriage Initiative, which proposes some innovative legislation, insisting that marriage really is for the sake of the children, and for no other purpose.
If passed by Washington voters, the Defense of Marriage Initiative would:
- add the phrase,
who are capable of having children with one anotherto the legal definition of marriage;- require that couples married in Washington file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage automatically annulled;
- require that couples married out of state file proof of procreation within three years of the date of marriage or have their marriage classed as
unrecognized;- establish a process for filing proof of procreation; and
- make it a criminal act for people in an unrecognized marriage to receive marriage benefits.
So which bunch of fundies is behind this initiative? The answer is that it isn't—it's the work of some Americans with a sense of irony.
The Washington Defense of Marriage Alliance seeks to defend equal marriage in this state by challenging the Washington Supreme Court's ruling on Andersen v. King County. This decision, given in July 2006, declared that alegitimate state interestallows the Legislature to limit marriage to those couples able to have and raise children together. Because of thislegitimate state interest,it is permissible to bar same-sex couples from legal marriage.
The way we are challenging Andersen is unusual: using the initiative, we are working to put the Court's ruling into law. We will do this through three initiatives. The first would make procreation a requirement for legal marriage. The second would prohibit divorce or legal separation when there are children. The third would make the act of having a child together the legal equivalent of a marriage ceremony.
Absurd? Very. But there is a rational basis for this absurdity. By floating the initiatives, we hope to prompt discussion about the many misguided assumptions which make up the Andersen ruling. By getting the initiatives passed, we hope the Supreme Court will strike them down as unconstit[u]ional and thus weaken Andersen itself. And at the very least, it should be good fun to see the social conservatives who have long screamed that marriage exists for the sole purpose of procreation be forced to choke on their own rhetoric.
The chief executive of Allies for Marriage and Children, a fundie organisation which supports special rights for heterosexuals, spectacularly failed to get the joke. (Thanks Supergee).
A handful of stories from the last few days which I was too lazy to write about at the time:
There are lots of grand statements about research, with nice superscript numbers relating to references in the back. But when you chase to the back of the book to see what these academic documents are, they include such august periodicals as Delicious, Creative Living, Healthy Eating, and my favourite: Spiritual Nutrition and the Rainbow Diet.I found You are What you Eat frustrating and full of errors—it cited the safe drinking levels which were revised upwards in the early 1990s, for example. There are some good recipes in there, but often they are made needlessly complicated, and use exotic ingredients which would put it out of the price range of mere mortals.
Some of it is plainly absurd. As we get older, she explains,the levels of RNA/DNA decrease.Okay.If you do not have enough RNA/DNA,she goes on, youmay ultimately age prematurely. Stress can deplete your DNA, but algae will increase it. And that's not all.Chlorophyll within the algae is a powerful oxygen generator for human beings.Back to GCSE Biology: it'll only make oxygen if there's light inside me, Gillian ...
liberal leftputs the rights of religious organisations over that of the individuals they oppress:
In the past century, material betterment and the steady diminuation of discrimination advanced progressive goals. Much of the left have [grr...—F.] yet to come to terms with this achievement. At the extreme, some who were once on the left have adopted the language and outlook of the right. They argue for what by any objective standards are reactionary positions. These include promotion of religious obscurantism in place of secularism; segregation of the sexes at public events; abridgement of free speech in deference to the sensibilities of those who claim themselves victims of Islamophobia; and, most pernicious, the resurrection in political debate of some highly traditional motifs of anti-semitic conspiracy theory.If you can get yourself to the library, it's on page 31.
United Kindgom: The Prime Minister has said that churches who want and exception from anti-discrimination laws for faith-based adoption agencies has said they will not get it. Instead, they'll get a 21 month transition period, in which they won't have to consider same-sex couples, but will be obliged to refer them to other, less superstitious, agencies. After that, they will be bound by the law like everyone else. He also reminded us of whose money it is the churches want to use for discriminatory purposes (emphasis mine):
There is no place in our society for discrimination. That's why I support the right of gay couples to apply to adopt like any other couple.
And that way there can be no exemptions for faith-based adoption agencies offering public funded services from regulations that prevent discrimination.
This is likely to be subject to a free vote in parliament, so it's still worth signing the Prattle's petition!
No exemption from gay rights law—BBC News, 29th January 2007.
United Kingdom: A correspondent writes to the Prattle:
I think you missed the best part of the story. As per the BBC: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6293115.stm... the little bully-mob of Archbishops claims that:
rights of conscience cannot be made subject to legislation, however well-meaning
In other words, they are claiming that if they want to do something (or perhaps that their Invisible Friend wants them to do something) then the government should not be allowed to tell them otherwise.
Anything.
They are, in fact, demanding the right to be above the law in all cases, should they choose to exercise that right.
Hmm.
Hmm indeed. Our attention is also drawn to a petition on the government website, supporting the law. The end date has been extended, so we are asked to ignore the 17th January bit.
But here at Prattle Towers (Northern Hemisphere) we have our own modest proposal, and have our very own petition: We the undersigned petition the Prime Minister to allow religious organisations to discriminate against lesbians and gay men, on condition that they accept discrimination against themselves.
You know it makes sense!
Another interesting petition request the extension of the law to cover trans-people: to prohibit discrimination in the provision of goods, services and facilities, includng health care,on the grounds of transsexual or transgender status
United Kingdom: It came as no surprise that, while the Prattle was down, a number of interesting news stories would come to light, and that others would run and run. In particular, some religious organisations continue to be upset that same-sex couples have the right to be considered as adoptive parents, and will soon have to receive equal treatment in the provision of goods and services.
One church, in particular, is desperate for the right to be bigoted, even though their own members, and people perceived to be descended from members of that church, have been, and still are, on the receiving end of discrimination. Needless to say, the church which pretends to be so concerned about children is the same one that has a long-standing problem with pædophile clergy, and a history of covering up the child abuse committed by their priests (Prattles passim, ad nauseam).
So, what honourable tactics are being used by the men of God?
Continue reading "WWJD?: Lies and Blackmail!"United Kingdom: Jesus had quite a lot to say about the way his followers should deal with the people around them. Matthew 5:43-47, for example, is the bit where Jesus insists that you should love your enemies, and do good things for people, even if they hate you. Then there's Luke 10: 29-37, otherwise known as the parable of the Good Samaritan. And what does the Bible record of Jesus' words on homosexuality?
Which is why Christian organisations are at the forefront of protests against new anti-discrimination legislation in England and Wales, which insists that sexuality not be an issue when it comes to the provision of goods and services. And to prove their point, the alleged Christians have chosen to further ignore the words of their deity when he emphasised the importance of the Ten Commandments in Matthew 19:18, Mark 10:19 and Luke 18:20. Three out of the four gospels say that Jesus had a downer on telling porkies, so guess what the fundies have chosen to do? Let Polly Toynbee explain:
They claim the law willforce all schools to actively promote homosexual civil partnerships to children (from primary-school age) to the same degree that they teach the importance of marriage. No it won't: the curriculum does notactively promotehomosexuality, nor even make sex education compulsory. They claim the law willforce a printing shop run by a Christian to print fliers promoting gay sex. No it won't, unless the same printers promote heterosexual porn too. Or how about this one?Force a family-run B&B to let out a double room to a transsexual couple, even if the family think it in the best interests of their children to refuse to allow such a situation in their home.Oh no it won't: it doesn't even cover transsexuals - and what a daft scenario anyway. The National Secular Society has complained to the Advertising Standards Authority. But on and on go the prurient situations the religious homophobes dream up.
It's not just barking mad fundies who want the right to ignore Jesus. The more mainstream churches have got in on the act and demonstrated the degree to which they are devoid of compassion and driven by hatred:
Lord Ferrers in the last debate said hospitals should be allowed to discriminate if they had a Christian ethos. Does that mean they do now? Are they turning away gay Aids patients? He said a pro-life Catholic hospital should be allowed to turn away a lesbian for fertility treatment. (Though any non-Catholic turning to Catholics for fertility treatment needs their head examined.) The Catholic adoption society said it will shut up shop if it has to allow gay couples to apply. Churches say they will never let out a hall to a gay organisation. Christians running soup kitchens say they want to refuse gays shelter and soup. (Soup!) The Catholic Archbishop of Liverpool threatens to withdraw all cooperation over schools and charity programmes if the law goes through. The Bishop of Rochester says it will damage church work in inner cities. (Only if his church shuts down services.) The C of E pretends that the law would force it to bless civil unions (it won't).
Still, if this means that priests have access to fewer vulnerable children, this can only be a good thing.
As Toynbee notes, many of the services provided by churches are funded by the taxpayer (and recent legislation means they can get access to more of our money). Yet they want the right to use government money to discriminate and promote hatred.
Homophobia, not injustice, is what really fires the faiths—The Guardian, 9th January 2007.
England and Wales: At first the headline Creationism gains foothold in schools
might seem a little disturbing, and "Truth" in Science seem strangely happy about what is proposed. They clearly are not able to read English, for the government is, indeed, examining how intelligent design can be discussed in schools, but only as part of the Religious Education syllabus.
The response from the Church of England is most interesting:
Opponents in the Church of England dismiss it as fantasy. Colin Slee, the Dean of Southwark, said:Everything needs to be explored, so that children can ask sensible questions. Though I see no huge difficulty with exploring intelligent design or creationism or flat Earth, they happen to be misguided, foolish and flying in the face of all evidence. I see no problem with Darwinian theory and Christian faith going hand in hand.
Canon Jeremy Davies, Precentor of Salisbury cathedral, said:I don't see why religious education should be a dumping ground for fantasies.
Because, my dear Canon, it fits in perfectly with all the other fantasies that fill the RE curriculum. Now, if someone could just teach the Times subs the difference between theories, hypotheses and religious fantasy...
Creationism gains foothold in schools—The Times, 31st December 2006 (thanks to Pastor Best OPI).
United Kingdom: Religion is a force for harm, not good, and non-believers make up the majority of the population according to a poll published in today's Guardian.
The poll also reveals that non-believers outnumber believers in Britain by almost two to one. It paints a picture of a sceptical nation with massive doubts about the effect religion has on society: 82% of those questioned say they see religion as a cause of division and tension between people. Only 16% disagree. The findings are at odds with attempts by some religious leaders to define the country as one made up of many faith communities.
Most people have no personal faith, the poll shows, with only 33% of those questioned describing themselves asa religious person. A clear majority, 63%, say that they are not religious - including more than half of those who describe themselves as Christian.
The response from the Church of England has been to stick its fingers in its ears and cry Nyaah! Nyaah! Can't hear you!
.
But a spokesman for the Church of England denied yesterday that mainstream religion was the source of tension. He also insisted that theimpression of secularism in this country is overrated.
He went on to claim that 1 million people (1.6% of the population) attend CofE services each week. As Charles Stross points out, this is far fewer than watch SF and fantasy on TV:
Yeah, right. You speak for an organization that has an audience draw 40% that of a Terry Pratchett mini-series on Sky TV. Doctor Who has a 4:1 lead over the C of E in regular audience terms. Maybe we should give Russell T. Davis four seats in the House of Lords?
Religion does more harm than good - poll—The Guardian, 23rd December 2006.
United States: Some schools have a system whereby non-profit organisations may give flyers to schoolchildren. A recent court ruling affirmed that, to avoid church and state issues, the system had to be made available to all non-profits, or none at all. The case was brought by an organisation run by preacher Jerry Falwell.
The dispute started last summer when Gabriel and Joshua Rakoski, twins who attend Hollymead Elementary School, sought permission to distribute fliers about their church's Vacation Bible School to their peers viabackpack mail.Many public schools use special folders placed in student backpacks to distribute notices about schools events and sometimes extra-curricular activities to parents.
School officials originally denied the request from the twins' father, Ray Rakoski, citing a school policy barringdistribution of literature that is for partisan, sectarian, religious or political purposes.
A Charlottesville weekly newspaper, The Hook, reports that Rakoskisicced the Liberty Counsel on the county,and the policy was soon revised to allow religious groups to use the backpack mail system. Liberty Counsel is a Religious Right legal group founded by Mathew Staver and now affiliated with Falwell.
So, when a Unitarian Universalist congregation used the system to advertise an event about the pagan origins of Christmas, followed by a Yule celebration, who got all upset about it? Yep, Christians.
Suddenly not everyone was pleased by the open forum. Jeff Riddle, pastor of Jefferson Park Baptist Church in Charlottesville, wrote on his personal blog,If the school allows the Baptist or Methodist church to send home a note to its students about Vacation Bible School, it also has to allow the Unitarian Church to send home a note about its 'Pagan ritual to celebrate Yule'....This kind of note adds weight to the argument that it is high time for Christians to leave public schools for reasonable alternatives (homeschooling and private Christian schools).
Another conservative Christian blogger in the county complained about finding the flier in her child's folder. Apparently unaware of Falwell's role in bringing it about, the blogger who goes by the name Cathy, noted disclaimer language at the bottom of the flier noting that the event is not connected to the school and wrote,They [the school officials] aren't endorsing or sponsoring this? Then it shouldn't have been included in the Friday folders. The Friday folders have never been used for any thing other than school work and school board and/or County sanctioned/sponsored programs.
And the stushie soon came to the notice of the fundies at World Net Daily:
Amazing — government schools ban orthodox Christianity, but allow an openly pagan organization to proselytize six-year-olds!one observer who asked for anonymity told WND...
The banner also displays three symbols: a cross, a Star of David and a pentagram — a star enclosed in a circle — often associated with paganism, witches groups such as Wicca, and even Satanism.
At least the World Nut Daily can tell the difference between a pentacle and a pentagram, unlike most Neopagans these days.
Andrew Ian Dodge also pointed me towards a forum discussion of the issue, where one or two people were a little upset about it.
I'm shocked that people think this would hold up. What about local control? Aren't local standards used to define what is obscene?
I thank God for Christian schools!
Obviously, the obscenity in question must be the gruesome method of execution depicted on the flyer.
Falwell’s Flub: Jerry-Rigged Policy Opens Door For Pagan Proselytizing In Virginia Public School—The Wall of Separation, 5th December 2006;Pagan Christmas ritual pressed on young kids—World Net Daily, 8th December 2006.
