Justin Watson opened Starter's Café in Cheviot about seven weeks ago. Read more

Richard Dawkins is an English evolutionary biologist best known for his strong stance against religion, which he wrote about in his bestselling 2006 book The God Delusion. Continue reading

Sara Passmore, President of the Humanist Society of New Zealand, said that "most people are happy living ethical and fulfilling lives without participating in a religion."

"Yet, we know that when it comes to the census, many people identify as religious because that is how they were raised."

Passmore said the Humanists wanted to connect to such people.

"As people in New Zealand are proud to identify as not religious, we can move faster towards a fully secular society where the rights and beliefs of everyone are respected, protected and celebrated."

In a recent column, Brian Rudman has described the census as a dreary, if worthy, exercise in civic duty.

"To me, it's been a lost opportunity to bring a bit of fun into this," he said.

"Only the Humanist Society, no doubt sniffing another victory against their Christian foes, got into the spirit of the occasion."

"I saw no signs of the Christians, or for that matter, the Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists or Sikhs minority religions which at the last census made up 6 percent of the population, answering the challenge."

In the 1996 Census, 25.5 percent ticked "no religion". Ten years later that had jumped to 34.7 percent.

In the 2013 Census, it was up to 41.5 percent.

A Royal Society of New Zealand analysis of the census results states that the full defection rate from the main Christian denominations is masked by the addition of immigrant Christians (e.g. Presbyterians and Methodists from Korea, and Catholics from the Philippines and the Pacific Islands).

"The mainstream Protestant churches have further declined (Anglicans, Presbyterians and Methodists); the only notable Christian growth is among some Pentecostal and independent evangelical churches, albeit from a low base."

Source

• humanist.nz
• nzherald.co.nz
• royalsociety.org.nz
• Image: humanist.nz

Björn Oback had the customary blue colander strapped to his head, and "Map of Treasures" in his hand at a citizenship ceremony held at Hamilton Gardens on Friday. Continue reading

"How many times have we heard — all of us, around the neighbourhood and elsewhere — 'to be a Catholic like that, it's better to be an atheist?'" he asked a morning Mass congregation.

Basing his homily on St Mark's Gospel, Francis quoted Jesus who gave a warning to anyone who 'causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin'.

"Cut off your hand, pluck (your eye) out, but do not scandalise the little ones" - they are the just ones who believe in God, Francis said.

"It is a scandal to say one thing and do another. That is a double life."

Rather than profess Catholicism, Francis said some of these people should also say "my life is not Christian, I don't pay my employees proper salaries, I exploit people, I do dirty business, I launder money, (I lead) a double life."

Since his election in 2013, Francis has often told Catholics, both priests and lay people, to practise what their religion preaches.

He has condemned sexual abuse of children by priests as being tantamount to a "Satanic Mass," has told Mafia Catholics to excommunicate themselves, and has told cardinals not to act as if they were "princes."

Shortly after his election, he also said Christians should see atheists as good people if they do good.

Source

• USA Today
• Newsweek
• Image: Huffington Post

He wrote, "Who needs employees if they stop work five times per day to talk to an imaginary being?"

Richards was accused of confusing the Sikh in the photo on the Z Energy Facebook page with a Muslim.

However, he said this was not the case. "I did not confuse Sikh and Muslim. My comment was on the original post, which was about diversity, not on the photo.

Richards said he made comments on all kinds of religion and that it was his right to do so through freedom of speech.

Richards teaches American history and religion at the University of Waikato. But he said his opinion is his own and do not represent those of the University.

On his own Facebook page he said, "In Saudi Arabia and other Islamic theocracies, Muslims would kill me for criticizing their stupid beliefs."

"In New Zealand, they go after my job. They will fail, and they need to learn respect for evidence, reason and freedom of speech."

Richards said he had deleted his Facebook comment himself, "because I do not want extremists coming after me".

That fear may be well founded. In 1998, the university hired a security guard to protect Richards while he was on campus after two death threats were made against him following a lecture he gave on the Mormon Church's history of violence and polygamy.

Source

• Stuff
• New Zealand Herald
• Image: NewstalkZB

Usually, he hears his own voice waxing philosophically about issues important to atheists and other "cultural outsiders."

But on that day, he heard something else: Elvis Presley crooning "Winter Wonderland."

There was also "Carol of the Bells."

And "Baby, It's Cold Outside." Continue reading

I've always felt just the tiniest bit uncomfortable when touring religious sites - churches, temples, synagogues and the like - knowing I'm not a believer.

It gives those visits an air of voyeurism, that I'm peering in at something I'll never be part of, and maybe it's not welcome.

For all atheistic travellers, that must be something of a problem.

But still, there's huge value in visiting these sites.

Have a look at the 10 sites that inspire unbelievers