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A NEW NEWSPAPER for the Irish humanist community has been launched with its backers saying their aim is to reach a wider audience.
The Humanist Times will be published every two months by the Humanist Association of Ireland with its editor Arthur Deeny saying that they want to “get it into Easons”.
Speaking after the launch of the magazine, Deeny says the extra push to publicise their philosophy is about encouraging people to “come out” as atheist, agnostic or non-religious.
“The aim of the Humanist Association is to provide that sense of community for non-believers,” he says.
For all the young parents with unbaptised children, for all the young teachers in primary school who teach religion for half-an-hour every day even though they might have a different faith or no faith. And also for those people who might be reluctant to say they’re an atheist or a non-believer.
The Humanist Times will be sent to all members of the HAI but Deeny says its focus will be more mainstream and that it will be seeking to sell ads in the next issue.
He explains that humanists have been involved in campaigning on many issues and that these will be covered in the magazine’s content.
He points to issues such as the right to officiate at marriages and adds that members will be marching in the 24 September March for Choice.
In general, humanists follow a rational belief system that accepts only things which are proven as established fact.
Despite this, Deeny says a false impression has been created that humanist are inherently anti-religion, meaning that people are reluctant to identify that way.
“We are not banging on about religion as a bad thing,” he says, adding that religions can promote a positive sense of community.
“People who go to church on Sunday live longer and have a better life outcome. Now it’s not because there’s a big beardy man in the sky, it’s because churches deliver a sense of community and they look after one another,” he says, outlining that the magazine is partly about helping create that sense of community for humanists.
Part of the problem though, he says, is that people need to know that they are supported within that community.
“We’re in the same position as people in the gay community 20 years ago where we need to encourage people to come out and support them when they do. So we’re building a network.”
The Humanist Times has no digital presence as yet but Deeny said that is something that will be looked at in the future.
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It is really bad when a writer doesn’t know the difference between, and correct use of, ‘there’, ‘their’ and ‘they’re’.
Catholic education eh?
@Dan Keane: My money is on it not lasting two thousand years.
Is it mandatory to be an idiot if you are a religious person?
So we blame God for bunking off school or not paying attention in class ,start it early it’s never my fault always someone else.Well I had a Catholic education,got my electrical engineering degree became a CEO within large multinational corporation and ran my own businesses thanks to an education that emphasized ,hard work,respect for others and being responsible for my actions.Thank God for it,as far the the Humanist go I respect their right to have their own beliefs the fact they differ from mine is not my right to criticise .
@Rand Al Thor: religion and absolutist dogma often run together.
And how will either of you collect on that bet?
@Rand Al Thor: Well I had an education in a school run by the religious, but that was not what gave me the education – it was the lay teachers teaching me the subjects, as they do in all schools, and my own hard work! I loved science and was taught by a science teacher – nothing to do with religion.
“We’re in the same position as people in the gay community 20 years ago where we need to encourage people to come out and support them when they do.”
A bit OTT. The majority of people in Ireland care little whether you believe in God or not.
Atheists can’t be president, a judge or a member of the council of state without taking a religious oath asking for almighty gawd to direct & sustainable them…so even more discrimination against Atheists than any other group in Ireland.
@Al Ca: The majority of people may not care but we still have laws and parts of our constitution derived from religion e.g.Blasphemy, abortion, a women’s place is in the home, etc.
Isnt Michael D an atheist?
To accept the oath you either have to lie or be an idiot…take yer pick.
S&3ts gotta get done
You never heard of someone making an oath on the constitution?
@Al Ca: You be surprised Al?
Nope I’m an atheist and disagree with this rubbish. The main reason I’m an atheist is to avoid being part of a cult not create a new one like many atheists seem to have done.
It pisses me off that my children’s education time is wasted on religion. Half a year dedicated to communions & confirmations is nigh on ridiculous. The amount of obese non -sporty kids are at epidemic proportions .Sport and science would be a better alternative for children’s time.
@Alex Jones: The main and only reason you’re an atheist is because you do not believe that a God exists. Nothing else.
Fair point Jason Byrne and also Alex for recognising that some Atheists are acting in a cult like way.
@Anto Curran: That’s Harris and Hitchens fanatics for you.
Harsh assessment Alex. Hardly a cult. Despite not being religious, people still like to discuss/philosophise/ share questions on who they are, why they are here and what is our relationship with the universe? They are questions people of religions and no religions ask. Aside from that, people like to share their experiences with like minded people (religious, philosophy, sport, drama etc) and be part of a community. That is a good thing. A cult to me, would suggest something sinister, which humanism is most certainly not.
I’m an atheist and I’ll stop banging on about it when I stop being discriminated against.
As you say it’s ‘your children’s religion time’ – not yours.
Don’t live your life through your child.
@Tom Burke: Agreed, we should not live our lives through out children. That is why we should not use them as fodder deliberately to inculcate our own beliefs in them when they are young and susceptible – while keeping them from equal knowledge of other beliefs. It seems morally indefensible.
Everybody is entitled to their own personal beliefs. There is a lot of belittling on all sides of the argument to each other which is not productive at all. Tarring every religious follower with the same brush as the worst followers of that religion us also unfair. Calling Catholicism a cult us deeply disrespectful and unnecessary, and so is telling an atheist they’ll never know the love they’ll supposedly get from a faith. It’s the same as calling all Muslims terrorists as it’s a sweeping generalisation. I personally think a religion class that teaches kids about all religions and what they believe will only lead to a more understanding society.
@Anto Curran: beliefs are merely that, beliefs. Beliefs are not fact, opinion or truth. They are neither valid nor invalid.
It is only when the believers assume superiority, infallibility, zealotryandcseek to impose their beliefs on others. An example of this is the religiously inspired 8th Amendment or a declared belief is set as a qualification to be a teacher, judge or President.
@Anto Curran: Society will never be right until it learns that what they believe could be wrong, it is when people think that they are right in their beliefs that they try to convince others by telling them that they are wrong. No one listens to that as that causes conflict?
People need to think and to question themselves first as everything they know is got from others, most of what a person believes is from others as can be their emotions as well?
Beliefs can be invalid though. To pretend otherwise is nonsense. If I believe the sun revolves around the earth I’d be wrong and my belief would be invalid.
@Awkward Seal: that’s not a belief because it is capable of verification or denial by empirical means.
Validity refers to logic, not fact, opinion or belief.
I am a practicing Atheist
@Paul Lane: Amen!
Atheists have nothing to die for. They have everything to live for.
There’s no atheists in fox holes.
How do you know Joey?
There are no priests in foxholes anyway Joey.
Maybe not fox ones anyway
Anyway.
I’m a believer but I have no problem with atheism or anyone choosing to follow that path in life.
Each to their own, that’s my motto.
Actually I have a lot of sympathy for atheists.
Must be tough having to go through life without ever experiencing True Love.
“True Love” what does that even mean? and judging by your comments on other articles you very clearly have a problem with atheists.
@fiachra29:
Only the fundamentalist ones who have a problem with religion.
The Dawkinites.
@Joey_Westland: “There’s no atheists in fox holes.” That’s an often used quote that’s difficult to disprove. However a few years ago I happened to have a serious heart attack, my daughter, a clinician, was one of those who treated me. After the arrests and dramatics, which I was unconscious for, came the form filling, a young girl asked me some questions and when it came to the religion bit I answered honestly. I am, and have been for some time, an atheist.
So you see Joey in life threatening situations people will tend to answer honestly, I presume if they’re Christian or Muslim etc. they’ll say so, but so will us atheists.
@Rusty Balls:
Fair comment.
Delighted to see you back hale and hearty.
Joey, that no atheists in foxholes cliché can be disproved with a little research actually, and what do you mean by true love? Is the love I have for my children not true love? How dare you say that.
@Jimmyjoe Wallace:
That Divine Love, that Cosmic Consciousness, that Oneness.
Sadly atheists will never experience that connection.
@Joey_Westland: the excuse to impose your views on others.
Joey, religious people don’t have it either, the universe doesn’t care about you. If the cosmic divine love encompasses childhood cancer, war, and abuse then what kind of love is that? The great thing about humanists and atheists is they understand how precious life is and to such a greater degree than religious people ever will who believe this world is transient.
Joey you call that true love, I that fantasy. And how can you call a god who causes children to die under horrific circumstances a God of pure Love? Like your statement on atheists in foxholes, it doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.
There are plenty of priests in kids holes, though.
Joey Mark Daily Pat Tilman both atheists both killed in Iraq. Joey listen and learn instead of thinking you have the answers. Atheists are in every aspect of life & unlike any other groups we are growing because of education not ignorance.
What about don’t-give-a-toss-ists. Can’t be totally proven either way, only disproofs are offered. So don’t even think about it till you do find out, or never find out. If it’s never then there’s nothing to stress about, if it’s true then deal with it then. Life here is too short to be concerned about other possibilities.
“There’s no atheists in foxholes” there is literally a group of atheist soldiers called Atheists in foxholes!
I personally disagree with you on that. I am an atheist and never cease in my amazement of life, the Universe and, well, everything. I get a far greater feeling of belonging to a whole thinking about how the very stuff that is me, was forged in the heart of a star, than about a man made and male controlled organisation that is a mish-mash collection from other man made and male dominated organisations, most of which have ceased to be.
Religion permeates every aspect of Irish public life and governance.
So sad really. What a terrible infliction on society.
Thankfully in most developed countries atheism is increasing. No doubt in the next two thousand years the big three religions will dwindle just as the thousands of other imaginary beliefs have.
God is Santa for adults.
@Philip Cooper: I am waiting on the Blue Star myself…
When western leaders SJW’s and feminists attack the Christian religion but defend Islam as the religion of peace. You know there is something seriously wrong.
As long as the dark Catholic days of the past are gone I will accept that the church brings comfort and has a special place in Ireland for some.
You lost me at SJW.
@Alex Jones: Nobody minds in the slightest that the church brings comfort to some; what we object to is that nearly 100% of our state schools engage in active, inescapable indoctrination of all children, across the entire ‘integrated’ curriculum, into one narrow religious belief only. And that our state hospitals are often controlled ‘ethos’-wise by religious orders, in ways that affect the service they offer to all citizens. There are other examples, but I think these two are bad enough by themselves.
“We’re in the same position as people in the gay community 20 years ago where we need to encourage people to come out and support them when they do.”
‘DECRIMINALIZE ATHEISM NOW’
Hahahahahahaha!
What an absolute MORON of the highest order.
The only thing this proves is that being atheist is no guarantee of being intelligent.
Man, I’m gonna have some fun when this publication comes out………of the atheist closet.
@Joey_Westland: you speak the language of the true zealot, triumphant, superior and intolerant. You defend the 8th Amendment.
@Micheal OLainn:
Jesus, you’re obsessed with the 8th.
Get a life.
You used the Lords name in vain, isn’t that forbidden? Either way your haste to ridicule Atheists while openly supporting the idea that a zombie Jew wants the world to hate abortion shows a clear bias.
@Jason Culligan:
My position on the right to life is a humanitarian one.
@Joey_Westland: 1 Timothy 6:5 says Christians should not get involved in discussions of important matters. So delete your account, Joey. And your other 7 accounts too.
@Brian Finucane:
Please.
Try and keep your inner fascist under control.
Thank you.
@Joey_Westland: the humanitarian outlook is to protect and promote the interests of the woman who is pregnant.
The dogmatic, anti-humanitarian and absolutist outlook is to seek to deprive the pregnant woman of the freedom of choice to make the decision which is in her best interest.
The origin of the 8th Amendment is the religious dogma of the Roman Catholic Church.
@Joey_Westland: Sorry I annoyed you with my facts.
@Brian Finucane:
Subjective opinion is not fact.
***FACTBOMB***
@Joey_Westland: I just quoted the bible to you – even gave you the exact verse. That’s not subjective. Your bible tells you to move along.
@Brian Finucane:
Sorry Brian.
Far too entertaining.
@Joey_Westland: so much religion but so little wisdom. Religion appears to act against enlightenment.
@Micheal OLainn:
Obviously you’ve never read the Dhammapada, you know….the book of sayings by the Enlightened One.
@Jason Culligan: I think using the Lords name in vain means preaching your views using the Lords name not using the name to curse?
Religion is a man made cultural expression.
@Micheal OLainn: So is all culture?
But it is a bad thing…
@Get Lost Eircodes: Only if you do it wrong ;)
The doctrinaire and dogmatic absolutistism likely appeals to those who have a propensity to that outlook but it also be the case that religion encourages such ansolutism and dogmatism.
@Micheal OLainn: Indeed, many of us have no need for dogma of any kind. The worst bit though is having to have that dogma imposed on you as a condition of accessing public services. That must end.
There are multiple examples of Atheists changing and following Christ.
All you have to do is open the bible at Matthew and start reading, if you truly are an Atheist then it wont affect you?
There are no examples of followers of Christ becoming Atheists.
I’m an example of one…
@eastsmer #IRExit: Religion and the Bible are taught wrong as the Septuagint and Tanakh can show as can Chuck Missler…
Me too.
Eastmer I watched a TV show recently about men who left the priesthood of your cult, a couple of them had become atheists
@eastsmer #IRExit: “There are no examples of followers of Christ becoming Atheists.”
I know Christians are gullible but didn’t think THAT gullible.
@eastsmer #IRExit: There are many examples, since in an international poll nearly 50% of Irish people say they have no religious beliefs, and that was not the case 30 years ago! I was brought up a Catholic and used to follow the religion until I got into my early teens. So I am another example. Most people follow a religion because their parents told them it was the one true way (hence the historical preponderance of Hindus in India and Catholics in Ireland!) but many do turn away from those beliefs.
what’s that smell?
Next week, ancient Alien nutcases make their argument ;)
I am a humanist but also a environmentalist. I use technology for reading these days not magazines.
FSM brothers, the religion for atheists.
not sure about the gay comparison, no humanist (atheists) safety is under threat (in Ireland) as was and probably is the still the case with LGTB people
@steve white: there is discrimination against non-Catholics (teachers, families and learners) in Ireland in our education system. The UN has consistently asked Ireland to change this.
@steve white: we have a sectarian education and health care system that makes second class citizens of all non Catholics but we can all get married so there’s that.
have your say