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Monthly Archives: December 2007

Jam, yes, “Jerusalem”, yes – prayers, no

And what a feat in modern time here upon England’s mountains green! Well, in Leicestershire and Rutland, to be exact. For that is where a brave soul from the Women’s Institute has dared to declare that prayers shouldn’t be said at WI carol concerts.
Carols are OK, she says, because it’s one thing joining in with [...]

Boo Who! The tears of a clown

Ladeeeees and gentlemen! The Freethinker once again brings you, at enoooormous expense, a traditional entertainment in which girls dress as boys, an evil villain gets his comeuppance, the hero marries the heroine (and occasionally another hero these days) and everybody lives happily ever after.
Yes, it’s  pantomime season again. This Christmas time, sit back and enjoy the show you’ve all [...]

Not a monster, but an old softy

Britain’s Mr Secularism says he often finds his perceived enemies to be “personable, charming and friendly”.
Terry Sanderson (pictured), president of the National Secular Society, makes his comments in what he calls his “Mid-Winter Message”.
“Since I became president of the National Secular Society,” he writes, “I have been aware that some religious people, who only know [...]

Hair-trigger Christians in ‘I’m offended’ overdrive

OH, dear, they’re off again! Catholics and Anglicans in Australia are in a snit over a very funny nativity TV commercial created for electronic goods retailers Betta Electrical which depicts the baby Jesus tossing crap gifts back at the three wise men.
The words “Give a Better Gift” then flashes across the screen.
Christian leaders immediately branded [...]

You can’t hate us but we want to hate you

A cross-party group of MPs want ensure that homophobic Christians can continue to express their views on gay people.
They’ve tabled an amendment to that effect, effectively seeking to amend the government’s proposal to make a criminal offence of incitement to hatred on the grounds of sexual orientation. Among them, as we might expect, are a [...]

Never on a Saturday

Every so often someone complains s/he can’t follow a particular superstition because of the demands of work. British Airways seems to have copped for it twice recently.
There was the case of Nadia Eweida, and her wish to wear a cross or crucifix (read about that here). BA backed down.
Now a Jewish man is claiming – [...]

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