I’m now a week into my Vegan New Year, and I’ve bought (or in some cases already had) the following books about the ethics and practicalities of veganism. Just as I think it is important to know religious arguments against my atheism, I’ve also bought some books outlining carnivore arguments against my veganism. I will gradually […]
‘Big Al’ O’Rourke has just sent me this photo of Victor Ryan, me and Al from our pirate radio days in the early 1980s. That’s me in the centre, when I was in my early twenties. Al’s picture looks like it was taken at Wicklow Regatta Radio, during which, as well as our radio duties, […]
PZ Myers has again shown his inability to behave ethically, and his willingness to trivialise rape by casually making serious unsubstantiated allegations, by upgrading his already serious allegation that I defend and provide a haven for rapists, to the even more serious allegation that I also support rapists. Coincidentally, PZ did this shortly before the Freethought Blogs […]
Here’s the Euthyphro dilemma as enacted on Twitter: Socrates: “Ought we to enquire into the truth of this, Euthyphro, or simply to accept the mere statement on our own authority and that of others? What do you say?” Euthyphro: “We should enquire; and I believe that the statement will stand the test of enquiry.” Socrates: […]
An anonymous Irish Government spokesperson recently said that it is highly unlikely that a blasphemy referendum will be held during the lifetime of this Government. This is despite the commitment given to the Dail in October that the Government has agreed to put this question to the people and that a referendum should be held […]
From tomorrow I will be transitioning from a vegetarian diet to a vegan diet, once I have finished the Quorn supply in my freezer, rather than waste it – surprisingly, most Quorn products include egg among their ingredients. I would be happy to hear any ethical or practical advice from people who have already made […]
We can hate harmful and unjust ideas and behaviours, without hating the people who believe those ideas or carry out those behaviours. That is an ethically nuanced position, and one that PZ Myers understands, because he sometimes articulates it himself. Indeed, it is the type of ethical nuance that you would expect from a previous Humanist of the […]
Merry Christmas Everybody – Slade The Office Christmas Special
Atheist Ireland today sent this submission to the Children’s Rights Alliance on the UN Convention on Rights of the Child. It is part of the process of briefing the UN before the UN questions Ireland about fulfilling its obligations under this Convention. Contents 1. Article 2 – Non Discrimination2. Proposed Admission to Schools Bill3. Article […]
I’m very pleased to see the formation of Atheist NI, an advocacy group that seeks to represent the views of atheists in Northern Ireland, and to work towards a rational, ethical and secular Northern Ireland, free from superstition and supernatural beliefs. Northern Ireland has had as strange a relationship with its atheists as has the […]