In France, an elderly man is fighting to make a formal break with the Catholic Church. He’s taken the church to court over its refusal to let him nullify his baptism, in a case that could have far-reaching effects. Seventy-one-year-old Rene LeBouvier (…) says his mother once hoped he’d become a priest. But his views began [...]
Read more...FAS – for a secular society – since 1908
News:
Off The Record: A Quest For De-Baptism In France
January 30th, 2012Alain de Botton reveals plans for ‘temple to atheism’ in heart of London
January 28th, 2012
Guardian
Plans to build a £1m “temple for atheists” among the international banks and medieval church spires of the City of London have sparked a clash between two of Britain’s most prominent non-believers.
The philosopher and writer Alain de Botton is proposing to build a 46-metre (151ft) tower to celebrate a “new atheism” as an antidote to what he describes as Professor Richard Dawkins’s “aggressive” and “destructive” approach to non-belief.
Rather than attack religion, De Botton said he wants to borrow the idea of awe-inspiring buildings that give people a better sense of perspective on life.
Religion required—controversial new course in Zurich schools
January 16th, 2012Starting this year, pupils in the canton of Zurich have a new lesson to go to. It’s called Religion and Culture—and it means religious education is now compulsory in schools. WRS’s Jo Fahy reports: http://worldradio.ch/wrs/news/switzerland/controversy-in-zurich-over-new-religion-course-in-.shtml
Read more...EU: secularism under attack from president of the European parliament
January 14th, 2012The President of the European Parliament, Jerzy Buzek, has launched a vicious attack on secularism during a European prayer breakfast. Mr Buzek, the former Prime Minister of Poland, and a Protestant, said that Christianity is one of the greatest strengths Europe has, and if it is lost, “we will be condemned to the erosion of [...]
Read more...Malta – Curia refuses to delete details of ex-Catholics
January 9th, 2012The Curia has refused a request to delete details of 23 people from its baptisimal and other records, NION – Not In Our Name, the organisation founded to help baptized ex-Catholics dissociate themselves from the Church – said. NION, which made its request to the Curia after these individuals legally empowered it to undertake this [...]
Read more...ECHR: Freedom of belief includes freedom not to reveal belief
December 31st, 2011Panayote Dimitras (founder of the Humanist Union of Greece) and some of his colleagues in the Greek Helsinki Monitor (affiliated to the International Helsinki Federation) have won a case (against Greece at the European Court of Human Rights. In their work under the Helsinki process, they frequently have to make depositions or give evidence in court. [...]
Read more...Happy Holidays!
December 20th, 2011
Stop public funding of churches
December 19th, 2011Press release by UAAR (Italian Union of Atheists, Agnostics and Rationalists) “With 6 billion Euro per year, Italy could accomplish miracles.” This is the slogan on the maxi-posters of the new campaign by UAAR that earlier today were posted around Genova, and that tomorrow will cover the streets of Venice, too. After the notoriety gained [...]
Read more...Christopher Hitchens (1949-2011)
December 16th, 2011
Dalai Lama calls for secular ethics
December 10th, 2011In his book “Beyond religion“ the Dalai Lama defines himself as a monk who has travelled extensively, meeting many important and even more ordinary people from all paths of life. He reminds the reader of the tremendous progress in medical science and welfare around the world, and he particularly stresses the importance of the universal declaration [...]
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