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Turkish Court Rules In Favor Of Secularism, Modernity And Feminism
2008-06-10 13:56:00 Turkey’s Constitutional Court overturned one of the ruling AK party’s central “reforms” – an amendment to the Turkish constitution that reintroduced Islamic headscarves in public universities, undermining decades of secularism in this Muslim country that wants to join the European Union. The opposition CHP party sued to block the amendment, and the court sided with ...
IS IT SECULARISM???
2008-06-06 10:54:00 The Turkish court has suspended govt?s decision to allow scarf in universities and educational institutes. Court took a stance that it is against secularism. read more
By: BuzzVines
Re-assessing Turkey's faith and secularism battle
2008-04-22 03:00:00 The real struggle in Turkey is not between the religious and the non-religious, but between those who value pluralism and those who want the victory of their ideology. read more
By: Ekklesia
Gravity: A theory in crisis. Enter Intelligent Falling.
2008-04-15 16:21:00 Evangelical scientists refute gravity with new “Intelligent Falling” Theory. Request for equal time in schools has been made.
Illinois Democrat and State Representative: Atheism is extremely dangerous,
2008-04-11 00:17:00 Illinois Democrat and State Representative Monique Davis recently aggressively maligned atheist activist Rob Sherman and all atheists with the following statement during a hearing over a $1 million state grant to preserve a historic Baptist church: “I don’t know what you have against God, but some of us don’t have much against him. We look forward ...
American tax dollars are funding an Islamic school
2008-04-10 23:36:00 The following has been cut and pasted from the Friendly Atheist: Charter schools, like public schools, receive government money and must therefore stay out of the religion debate. That is to say there should be no proselytizing in the classroom one way or the other. The schools must remain secular. Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy (TIZA) is a ...
Secularism, Absolutism and the Far Right
2008-04-06 11:58:00 Terry Sanderson’s latest missive on the National Secular Society’s web site states that “‘Aggressive secularists’ must start to live up to their name”. It’s a brief piece but it makes a useful jumping-off point to discuss the current stance of self-styled “rationalist” groups.
By: Big Ideas
Letter to a Christian friend, number two.
2008-03-24 08:09:00 Thank you for your splendid invitation to have another debate!Now, for those readers who may wish to join in?and I encourage them?let me point out three things.The first is that we both enjoy vigorous discussions on matters of importance, and have since a young age. For you, I note that it grows from an intellectually demanding girlhood cultivated in the company of exceptional young women and the smart, articulate adults who surrounded you. For me, I grew to love intellectual debates because, in my family, we weren?t allowed to have emotional ones.The second fact is that you are a believer. I am not. Your faith runs deep, with many levels of nuance and colour. With my limited gifts, I cannot hope to capture them here. Forgive me if I do not do them justice.The third thing is that we disagree, and disagree with the greatest love and respect for each other.Calling bullshit on me.You?re quite right to chide me over that previous post.It?s true, of course, that people don?t abandon reli...
Nik Aziz on NEP & the destruction of UMNO and Malay secularism
2008-03-21 14:00:00 Hmm? Interesting!YAB Tuan Guru Dato' Nik Abdul Aziz Nik Mat believes that we can still salvage the New Economic Policy that has been misused and abused by the elite and filthy rich Malays (sounds like UMNO? Bwah! Ha! Ha!).Perhaps so, my dear Tuan Guru. Efforts to salvage NEP must be done and initiated by those trusted by the common people. Personally, I believe that only PAS should be given the initiative and responsibility of tweaking NEP to make it work for everybody.As for your prediction of the destruction of UMNO and Malay secularism; InsyAllah? Islam will be victorious in the end and Justice will prevail for everybody regardless of religion, race and color.Hudhaifah bin Al-Yaman, may Allah be pleased with him, reported:People used to ask the Messenger of Allah (may peace be upon him) about the good deeds, but I used to ask him about the bad deeds fearing lest they overtake me. I said: Messenger of Allah, we were in the midst of ignorance and evil, and then Allah brought us th...
Pseudo-Secularism
2008-03-13 14:29:00 If you had a chance to read through my earlier posts, you would've come across the word pseudo-secularism in so many places... It's time to explain what I exactly meant by that phrase..."Secularism is generally the assertion that certain practices or institutions should exist separately from religion or religious belief" -- Courtesy Wikipedia. As we all know India declares itself to be a secular country and often Indian National Congress and other parties boast of their secularist stand while accusing Bharathiya Janatha Party (BJP) for being anti-secular. Logically combining the above statements, the Indian National Congress says that it is totally independent of any religion or religious bias. Let's take a look at some facts...The Haj Committee Act, 1959 says that Haj pilgrims chosen by the designated committee would be given subsidy for their religious pilgrimage. Ironically, no muslim country offers subsidies to this pilgrimage. At the same time, there is a 10 Rs registration ...
?Jodhaa-Akbar?: Breathtaking tale of love, war, secularism
2008-02-16 08:57:00 Film: “Jodhaa-Akbar”; Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Aishwarya Rai, Sonu Sood, Ila Arun, Niketan Dheer; Director: Ashutosh Gowariker; Rating: *** 1/2
By: Latest News
Over 130,000 Muslims have demanded that Wikipedia take down depictions of M
2008-02-12 06:14:00 In yet another attempt to make non-Muslims follow the rules of Islam, thousands of self-righteous Islamists have signed a petition pressuring Wikipedia to remove depictions of Muhammed. I would post those pictures here but I don’t want to risk getting sent to the hospital. Are you proud of yourselves, now? A message to Islamists: If you ...
If they?re so concerned about modesty, why do these Muslims think they?re s
2008-02-12 05:28:00 The UK-based Telegraph reports: Muslim medical students* are refusing to obey hygiene rules brought in to stop the spread of deadly superbugs, because they say it is against their religion. Women training in several hospitals in England have raised objections to removing their arm coverings in theatre and to rolling up their sleeves when washing their hands, ...
The Laurier Freethought Alliance incident has now garnered national media a
2008-02-08 08:13:00 Last Friday’s miscommunication-based denial of the LFA application for club status at Wilfrid Laurier University continues to receive more and more attention. Attention was first generated by a firestorm of activity by a number of bloggers. Next, the story was picked up by the WLU online student paper, CordWeekly, and a prominentWaterloo, Ontario newspaper, The ...
Laurier Freethought Alliance to receive full Campus Clubs recognition by we
2008-02-07 06:42:00 After a firestorm of freethought blogging, a barrage of angry emails, a stirred up Wilfrid Laurier University Student Union (WLUSU)executive board anduniversity administration, and the clarification ofsome miscommunications between the Laurier Freethought Alliance (LFA) and the WLUSU, the WLUSU has agreed to grant the LFA campus club status pending the addition of statements to the ...
Florida legislators pushing for evolution to be taught as ?just a theory?
2008-02-07 02:36:00 Remember what I said about having to be a right-wing Christian nutter in order to be a publicschool administrator or council member in Florida? Well apparently it also applies to legislators in the state. Marc Caputo of the Miami Herald writes: Top state legislators say they’re ready to join the fight over putting the word ”evolution” in ...
Richard Dawkins at TED 2002: Laying the ground work for the atheist/rationa
2008-02-04 05:49:00 A reader, Stuart, recommended that I post the video of Richard Dawkins at TED 2002. While many readers will have already seen this footage, it is highly recommended for those that have not (particularly for those not particularly up-to-date on the issues behind the push for secularism and reason in all corners of human contemplation). ...
The 'communal' scrap-dealer
2008-02-01 00:18:00 A junk-dealer comes at your door and when you ask the price at which he will buy the old newpapers, he says "Don't worry, I will give the right money, I am not like Muslims, who are cheats". Now, if you are a Muslim, will you be angry, hurt or get into a serious introspective mode about yourself, your community and the society?Let me explain the situation. It didn't happen to me. We are the single Muslim family in the entire locality. I was away. My wife was selling the papers and a neighbourhood lady (not Muslim) who was passing by, asked my wife 'yeh log taulne mein be-imaani karte hain' (Take care these people don't weigh properly).It was in this context that Mr Kabaadi said that 'ham nahin karte, yeh sab Musalman karte hain' and a bit more. My wife was too shocked and couldn't control her anger. She said that she was also a Muslim and questioned him, how he could be so judgemental about the entire community. The guy appeared embarrassed but still went on to say...'maiN ...
Faking faith to get one?s kids into UK state-funded religious schools
2008-01-24 20:07:00 It has been pointed out frequently by prominent atheists such as Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris that there are notably more nonreligious people than statistics indicate. For a variety of reasons (e.g., fear of negative social consequences), it seems that some atheists and agnostics are claiming to be of faith. In the UK, a new ...
Huckabee wants to change the Constitution to fit the Bible
2008-01-16 01:34:00 “I have opponents in this race who do not want to change the Constitution. But I believe that it would be a lot easier to change the Constitution than it would be to change the word of the living god. And that’s what what we need to do—to amend the Constitution so it’s in God’s ...
House Resolution 888: A push toward American Christian Theocracy?
2008-01-05 21:41:00 It is being argued on Daily Kos that Christian Conservatives are engaging in a deceitful effort of historical revisionism to give America a big nudge toward becoming an officially Christian nation. It is argued on Daily Kos that this effort is an attempt to exploit the fear of Democrat politicians to appear anti-Christian in order ...
Next on FOX: When faith attacks
2008-01-05 01:39:00 Shawn F. Peters writes A hemophilic boy in Pennsylvania bleeds to death over a period of two days from a small cut on his foot. An Indiana girl dies after a malignant tumor sprouts from her skull and grows so enormous that it?s nearly the size of her head. A boy in Massachusetts succumbs to a ...
Group of Maine Christians Upset Over Civil Union in New Hamshire
2008-01-04 01:07:00 First of all, congratulations to all the same-sex newly weds in New Hamshire. And kudos to New Hamshire for its enactment of homosexual civil unions law. As is to be expected, there are some angry Christians conservatives…
Response to U of T Varsity Student Paper Article on Evolution and Intellige
2008-01-03 22:12:00 In late November the University of Toronto’s Varsity student newspaper ran this article in which it attempts to compare evolution, intelligent design, and creationism—yes, that’s correct, they distinguished between ID and creationism. My response, submitted as an Op-Ed, is presented here.
In a change of heart, Malaysian government has granted a Christian paper th
2008-01-03 08:14:00 Recently the Malaysian government had threatened to refuse to give a Christian newspaper, The Weekly Herald, a publishing permit if it continued to refer to their Christian God as “Allah”, a long-time practice of Malaysian Christians, according to the editor of the paper. This ruling inspired immediate condemnation from civil rights and Christian groups in ...
Funny happening at Pharyngula
2008-01-03 07:21:00 I just experienced outrage followed by a good chuckle, and then a bit of lingering though greatly dissipated outrage. More of a mild discontent and sense of disappointment. Yeah, that sounds about right.
Tearing of Bible pages and demeaning of Christianity nets student a one-wee
2008-01-03 05:09:00 A few days ago I posted a story on a high school student in Janesville, Wisconsin, whogave a fiercely anti-Christian class presentation. The presentation began with insults to the religion and its believers and culminated in the ripping of pages out of the Bible. For his actions, this student has received a one-week academic suspension ...
Pope condemns Spain for its affirmation of gay rights. The horror?
2008-01-02 17:00:00 Nick Langewis writes, Madrid’s Plaza de Colon and surrounding areas were host to people from throughout the country to hear speakers, including Pope Benedict XVI, condemn the Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, for its 2005 affirmation of marriage rights for same-sex couples and easing of the divorce process. Event organizer and Catholic ...
Huckabee on Homosexuality: I feel it is an aberrant, unnatural and sinful l
2008-01-02 16:37:00 In a recent appearance on Meet the Press, Mike Huckabee was called on his earlier writing that homosexuality, in his opinion, is “an aberrant, unnatural and sinful lifestyle”. His response to this was nothing short of artful, but nevertheless leaves intact his faith-based argument for the inherent moral inferiority of homosexuality. Here is how he ...
How the Founding Fathers Would View the Republican Attacks on Secularism
2007-12-31 19:18:00 The previous post looks at how Mike Huckabee would use the powers of government to impose his religious views. I’ve also noted multiple time the contradiction between Ron Paul’s claims to be a strict defender of the Constitution while he denies the importance of separation of church and state. Mitt Romney has also demonstrated a ...
By: Liberal Values
Review of Dr. Nader Hashemi?s Talk on Secularism and Islam at CFI Toronto
2007-12-28 02:13:00 Zak at Canadian Iconoclast offers his review of Hashemi’s December 23 Center For Inquiry, Toronto talk entitled Reflections on Religion and Politics in the Islamic World: Why Muslim Skepticism of Secularism is Warranted. Zak’s review of Hashemi’s talk is largely very positive. The main points of the talk, as described by Zak, were the following: ...
FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTER 2, AMERICAN CREATIONISTS 0. WOOOOOOO!!!
2007-12-28 00:08:00 First off, I know that I’m supposed to be responding to the comments of cmadland and jross before I write more posts, but I couldn’t help myself with this one! Remember in 2005 when advocates for the Flying Spaghetti Monster played a major role in having Intelligent Design Creationism removed from Kansas public school science classes, ...
A clear case of differential negative treatment to Atheists on CityOnline
2007-12-27 03:51:00 Let me begin by saying that I am not some hyper-sensitive cry-wolf kind of person. But a clear case of differential negative treatment was enacted on CityOnline’s Christmas Eve discussion/debate on whether or not people should be saying “Merry Christmas” or “Happy Holidays”. In the panel were Mark Robinson of the Humanist Association of Canada, and ...
Taslima Nasrim and Indian Secularism
2007-12-22 01:24:00 If there was any doubt that the Indian "civil liberty" movement was captive of Marxist, anti-Hindu nexus it can be finally laid to rest Taslima Nasrin, the Bangladeshi author comitted a mortal sin of narrating some of her childhood experiences which may be perceived as antiMoslem by some radical Islamists. The Marxists and now Congress, subserient to Moslem votebank are tryig to hound Taslima out of India. So far, its all predictable. But what about PUCL? The guardian of Civil Liberty in India? What about Asia Watch? What about various other progressive groups? Here is a minority woman, hounded by fundamentalists - shouldn't the guardians of civil liberty fight for her rights?
By: Indian Politics
Taslima Nasrim and Indian Secularism
2007-12-22 01:24:00 If there was any doubt that the Indian "civil liberty" movement was captive of Marxist, anti-Hindu nexus it can be finally laid to rest Taslima Nasrin, the Bangladeshi author comitted a mortal sin of narrating some of her childhood experiences which may be perceived as antiMoslem by some radical Islamists. The Marxists and now Congress, subserient to Moslem votebank are tryig to hound Taslima out of India. So far, its all predictable. But what about PUCL? The guardian of Civil Liberty in India? What about Asia Watch? What about various other progressive groups? Here is a minority woman, hounded by fundamentalists - shouldn't the guardians of civil liberty fight for her rights?
By: Indian Politics
The Future of Secularism
2007-12-21 18:33:00 Secular government has long been praised as the most effective form of peaceful democracy. However, as political parties with religious affiliations have come into power in democratic elections across the globe, the hegemony of the secular democracy has been called into question. Many question whether democracy without secularism is a viable option. Others, such as scholar-provocateur Camille Paglia, argue that ideological secularism has outlived its usefulness, creating a homogeneous ideological climate. In a world characterized by multiculturalism and religious conflict, can secularism survive?
Religion and secularism network
2007-11-06 01:38:00 The research network on secularism and religion based at the University of Cambridge and supported by Ekklesia, among others, now has its own web presence. read more
By: Ekklesia
Financial Theocracy
2007-10-09 14:43:00 "Christian Folk! Will you let the Spartacists (Communists) destroy your church? Give your answer on election day! The Bavarian People's Party" (1919) The BVP is a precursor to the modern Christian Democrats. Hat tip to Religionskritik.When applying for my resident's permit (catchily called a Niederlssungserlaubnis), my friends coached me on the form."When they ask your religion, make sure you answer none," said Zero, our office fixer. "That way, you don't pay the Kirchsteuer.""Kirchsteuer? You mean there's a church tax?" I was shocked to learn that when you're baptised, your church sends a record to the government. They out you as a believer, and when you earn your first buck, the government extracts the church's tithe.They also track who takes the sacraments. The church reports brides, grooms, commmunicants and the recently deceased to the taxman, to make sure no-one basks in god's grace without coughing up.Many pious skinflints declare themselves atheists to dodge the colle...
Turkish General Vows To Protect Secularism
2007-10-03 20:38:00 Turkish Cheif of Staff General Yasar Buyukant told members of the War Academies Command that the armed forces are guardians of secularism in Turkey and will defend it against any attempt to make changes leading to Islamization of the nation. Prime Minister Erdogan assured the military his government is committed to those principles. “The ...
Pope Benedict : On Shaky Moral Ground When Attacking Secularism
2007-09-24 17:44:00 The Pope recently used the occasion of the installation of the new Irish ambassador at the ‘Holy See’ to hold forth about the dangers of his arch-enemy, secularism.During the speech the Pope said "for over 1,600 years, Christianity has shaped the cultural, moral and spiritual identity of the Irish people." He regretted the encroachment of secularism on Irish society, describing it as one of the undesirable consequences of the new prosperity.I beg to differ. Ireland’s new prosperity has helped to bring about much needed social and political change. Women are no longer as afraid to challenge the Church on everything from abortion to contraception. The LGBT community has also become more assertive and much less hesitant to stand up for its interests. The abuse associated with certain Roman Catholic run institutions in Ireland has been uncovered (at least a percentage of it), with the claims of some victims being vindicated in court. It was civil society that achieved these moral...
By: Aidan Maconachy
Religion, Secularism & Politics in the 21st Century
2007-08-27 15:02:00 Center for Inquiry hosts conference in NovemberRenowned speakers, scholars, and media personalities will meet to discuss the future of reason and secularism in an America and a world increasingly divided by religion. Join Christopher Hitchens, Alan Dershowitz, Peter Singer, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Wendy Kaminer, Ann Druyan, an unannounced Very Special Guest, and many others for this historic event.Themes will include: * The Age of American Unreason * The Next Islamic Enlightenment * Science and the Public * Student Freethinkers Speak Out * Secularism through History: from Spinoza to JFKWith the Atheist Alliance International Convention in late September, looks like there will be plenty of time to get in some good heathen networking before Christmas.Learn more and register at the Center for Inquiry website.
Book Review: Secularism Confronts Islam by Olivier Roy
2007-08-16 09:26:00 This week’s Economist has a review of Secularism Confronts Islam by Olivier Roy. Dr. Roy has a masters in Persian language and culture and a PhD in political science. His other works are: Globalized Islam: The search for a new ummah, Today’s Turkey: A European State? and The Illusions of September 11. His book L’Echec ...
Dr. Zakir ?Socrates? Naik on creation
2007-08-08 21:48:00 Dr. Zakir “Socrates” Naik explains how the world was created, thereby irrefutably demolishing the silly Atheist/Scientific theory of evolution. He also improves the Big Bang Theory by redefining it! link to video in case you can’t view it.
Muslims need to go beyond secularism
2007-07-31 06:52:00 Ali Eteraz writes a terrific post, detailing how Muslims need to go beyond mere notions of secularism and establishing the “higher” philosophies of equality and freedom, while accepting pluralism for its merits. And this isn’t just about “Islamic equality”, he argue that Muslims need to and indeed can push for a system where everyone is ...
My experience with Islam - Part 2: Disagreeing with Theology
2007-06-08 03:38:00 This article is a continuation from part 1. As I stated before, post-9/11 was a time for deep introspection of my beliefs for me. As I started exploring different sects within Islam a feeling of frustration developed within me, mainly because no sect was able to give me what I was looking for: a religious acceptance ...
Secularism and Islam : The Thoughts of Soheib Bencheikh
2007-05-28 09:31:00 The increasing influence of fundamentalism in the world's major religions seems almost a sign of the times.Islam with its doctrinaire Wahhabist schools and Christianity with its evangelical revivalism aren't the only faiths in which large numbers of believers are falling back on narrow ideological thinking and faith based literalism. It is happening also in Hinduism with the increasing influence of Shaivite and Vaishnava fundamentalism. It can even be found in branches of Buddhism, such as the Japanese Nichiren sect. The Tibetan New Kadampa Tradition, also arguably exhibits the control and identity compulsions associated with fundamentalism.Fundamentalism is separatist and oppositional in nature. Despite high soundings words about love for God and one's neighbor ... claims to be a religion of peace etc ... the identity of fundamentalism derives from polarized thinking of the "them and us" variety. It is stubborn and unyielding in its convictions, fixated on the literal interpr...
By: Aidan Maconachy
Muslim moderates, Muslim secularism
2007-05-24 23:15:00 via neoneocon.com : Here?s a must-read (and it?s relatively short, too) by Robert Spencer on the topic of Muslim secularism. We often speak of the need for moderate Muslims. And it?s undoubtedly true that some Muslims are indeed moderate. But as Spencer points out, that is no guarantee against a repressive Muslim theocracy such as that in Iran which, once imposed (even if this is initially done democratically), is very difficult to reverse. Ataturk of Turkey was aware of the dilemma back in the 1920?s and 1930?s, when he instituted a number of exceedingly important reforms there that made it far less likely that the country would ever come under the sway of a repressive Muslim theocracy. And, although there is currently a threat of theocrats taking over in Turkey, so far Ataturk?s institutional reforms have held the line against it. This was done, as Spencer points out, not by making Turkey a ?moderate Muslim? country, but by adopting a nearly Western-style separation of church ...
By: Munaeem's Blog
Penn and Teller: Bullshit! - Creationism
2007-05-21 17:52:00 Like the description says: “Penn and Teller expose the bullshit that is creationism.” I recommend that you click the video and watch it full screen. It’s about 26 minutes or so. It applies very VERY well to Muslims who make the EXACT same crap argument. If there’s any video that targets Christianity but applies to ...
Manoj Bajpai Secularism zindabad
2007-05-19 20:52:00 Apna Bhiku Bhai is grinning from ear to ear. Manoj Bajpai, who was last seen in 1971, is now relaxing after some pretty hard work. "I'm busy doing up my new place in Lokhandwala," the actor informs us proudly. "A friend of mine, Shrestha who is an architect is doing up the place. Neha too is busy with that. We blessed the house by calling a padri (priest) from the church, somebody came from the gurudwara and read the Guru Granth, and ten orphans came and read the Quran, and we had a Hindu pooja too. It was quite tedious but it was worth the effort. And I only invited the workers who worked at my place." Must say, Manoj seems to be an image of secularism!
Turkish Secularism and the Current Political Stalemate
2007-05-15 21:58:00 Sayyed Wild Abah comments that Turkish society has already achieved a true balance between the secular identity of the state and the state's civilization status after the failure of oppressive westernization policies that aimed to strip the country of its religious and cultural roots. He argues :"In the past few years, there had been a state of reconsideration of systems and legislations of religious institutions and the teaching of Islamic curricula so as to implement it in a flexible manner in accordance with the choices of civil society. In addition, the Turkish political elite has become aware of the need to diversify its strategic options through opening up to the Islamic system, after it became clear that the project of Turkey's accession to the European Union is obstructed by real obstacles that makes it unattainable in the near future. The new generation of Turkish Islamists is not an extension of its predecessor. Rather, it had adopted an actual separation from the disco...
By: Munaeem's Blog
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