We’re getting more secular, those that label themselves religious are a more disparate group than ever. Gone is the monopoly of Jesus and people around the country now subscribe to a whole heap of different religions. Let’s give them all national holidays. As far as I can tell, if we give two holidays each to Read more
Posts Tagged ‘Secularism’
NZ bucks religiosity trend
Tuesday, April 14th, 2015
New Zealand is one of only three countries in which religiosity is predicted to decline between now and 2050. The other two are France and the Netherlands. These are some of the predictions made by Washington-based think-tank, Pew Research Centre, in a recently published report. The report predicted that by 2050 In the Asia Pacific Read more
Cardinal blasts German church as useless against secularism
Friday, March 27th, 2015
A German cardinal has blasted his nation’s ecclesiastical apparatus as completely unfit to work against growing secularism. According to the Catholic News Agency, Cardinal Paul Josef Cordes wrote a letter to a German language newspaper objecting to statements by two prelates from his homeland. In February, German bishops’ conference president Cardinal Reinhard Marx said: “We Read more
Stupid blinkered secularism: French court bans nativity scene
Friday, December 12th, 2014
A nativity war has broken out in France after a court’s ban on a nativity scene in the La Roche-sur-Yon town hall. The French court’s ban is to preserve France’s secular traditions and has sparked a fierce backlash, reports The Guardian. “Why not ban Christmas and the public holidays that go with it?” screamed Le Parisien; its headline ran Read more
Girl Guiding removes God from pledge
Friday, October 17th, 2014God has been removed from the promise recited by all members of Girl Guiding New Zealand, after more than a century of being mentioned. The move, which took place in April this year, has raised barely a ripple of dissent. “A couple of people have said they liked the old one better, but there’s been Read more
New atheist church opens its doors in Christchurch
Friday, September 26th, 2014
The Sunday Assembly, commonly know as the atheist church, has arrived in Christchurch. Sunday Assembly Christchurch will formally launch on Sunday September 28th, 2014. Sunday Assembly is a church without god but it is not necessarily anti god. Sunday Assembly was founded in London in January 2013, and since then it has exploded across the world Read more
Mayor seeks backing for Easter trading changes
Tuesday, September 23rd, 2014Marlborough Mayor Alistair Sowman wrote to the three Kaikoura electorate candidates most likely to become MPs to ask for their backing for changes to Easter trading laws. Every two years, Blenheim hosts the Omaka Classic Fighters event at Easter and the trading law restrictions mean retailers, restaurants and cellar doors cannot make the most of Read more
Student surprised at lack of religion in NZ
Friday, September 5th, 2014Katherine Collier a student visitor from Loyola University New Orleans says she was struck by the lack of religion in every day life. “The biggest shock I encountered while studying abroad was the lack of religion in every day life.” “Although New Zealand natives, or ‘Kiwis’, do celebrate holidays like Christmas and Easter, emphasis is Read more
Former UK attorney-general says Christians forced to hide faith
Tuesday, August 26th, 2014
A former UK attorney-general has warned that an aggressive form of secularism is forcing British Christians to hide their beliefs. Dominic Grieve, an Anglican, told the Telegraph that this could see a nation that is “sanitised of faith”. Two years ago, the UK Government changed the law to ensure that local councils could not face Read more
Parliament’s prayer up for review
Friday, July 25th, 2014Parliament could get a new prayer after the election in September. A review of standing orders, the rules that MPs must adhere to, was published this week, putting the prayer back on the agenda. The review recommends MPs be asked their views on changing the prayer read by the Speaker at the opening of a Read more