This information comes from a report in the Irish Times on a survey carried out by the Irish School of Ecumenics. They surveyed 700 faith leaders and 900 lay people about a range of faith related topics. 12% of the lay people self identified as atheist or no religion and and they felt that when they are talking noone is listening. The report states that this 12% is disproportinate to their numbers in the general population and I find this comment very interesting. I think that the proportion of atheists in the population is larger and their survey is faulty in the way they selected their sample
Our survey was obviously limited to people who first of all heard about it (through the various channels we employed), and then were interested enough in the topic to visit our website and had the technical skills to complete it.
The poor design of the last census form practically guarantees that atheists and people of no religion will be underrepresented. That 12% come through in a survey like this must give us hope that we are making progress.
JERUSALEM – Dozens of rabbis and Kabbalah mystics armed with ceremonial trumpets have taken to the skies over Israel to battle the H1N1 flu virus. About 50 Jewish holy men chanted prayers and blew ritual rams’ horns known as shofars in an aircraft circling over the country in the hope of stopping the spread of the virus
A Turkish game show is challenging atheists to reassess their views and win “the biggest prize ever”.
Penitents Compete will bring together an Islamic imam, a Jewish rabbi, a Buddhist monk and a Greek Orthodox priest seeking to convert the atheists.
The prize for any converted contestants is an expenses-paid pilgrimage to a holy site of their chosen faith.
But the producers say the show will also help contestants “find serenity” and raise awareness of the faiths.
Each episode of Penitents Compete will pitch 10 atheists – carefully vetted by a team of theologians to ensure their non-belief – against the four faith leaders.
The imam, rabbi, monk and priest will then seek to persuade the atheists of the merits and truth of their faith.
Adverts for the show promise: “We give you the biggest prize ever; we represent the belief in God. Believe, repent, God will forgive you.”
Dogma Free America is an atheist podcast broadcast every week. Minister Dermot Ahern has been given the unique distinction of winning their Jackass of the Week award twice. The first week (Episode 86 at 41:11) for his proposal to introduce Blasphemy legislation and the second week (Episode 88 at 04:25) for his “bemused” reaction to criticism of those plans. Well done Dermot!
The Mid-west Humanists are co-sponsoring a public meeting with Atheist Ireland in an effort to stop the government from reviving a medieval crime and curtailing our freedom of expression. The Humanist Association of Ireland is currently running a campaign for Equality for the non-Religious. This is a wide-ranging campaign, covering the constitution, legislation and state practices. While blasphemy is only a small part of the campaign it is an excellent illustration of why we need a secular constitution and to face up to that need and not be looking for “an Irish solution to an Irish problem” which is what the government seems to be doing. Anyone who shares our aims should come along and have their say. Speakers will include Michael Nugent, Chair of Atheist Ireland. Local politicians will also be invited.
On the issue of the difference between Morals and Ethics, Louis also suggested this from asktheatheists.com via http://boards.ie (both recommended sources).
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Mid-west Humanists - An Irish Atheist Community 