Katherine 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
Posts Tagged ‘Secularism’
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
NZ has it much worse than the Ireland
Friday, May 2nd, 2014Irishman David Quinn says the Irish have become intolerant about public manifestations of religion. But, he says, “We really shouldn’t complain too loudly. In New Zealand they have it much worse, if that’s the word.” “I was in New Zealand on Good Friday three years ago visiting a family member, and on Good Friday no Read more
Census: Ashburton embraces God; Lyttelton doesn’t
Tuesday, April 29th, 2014Ashburton is the most Christian place in Canterbury, while Lyttelton is one of the least religious, according to new census data. Growing Filipino and Pacific Island communities have swelled congregations in the Mid-Canterbury town, which has the biggest proportion of Christian people in the district. About 71 per cent of the 1500 people that live Read more
With This Bacon I Thee Wed
Tuesday, February 25th, 2014A secular couple were married on February 8, 2014 in a l ceremony attended by family and friends at their home. The ceremony, officiated by Prophet John Whiteside of the United Church of Bacon, is the first wedding performed by our clergy and is legally recognised by Clark County, Nevada. Continue reading.
Religious instruction in schools in spotlight again
Tuesday, February 4th, 2014
Christian education in state schools is in the spotlight again after to parents laid a complaint with the Human Rights Commission about bible lessons at St Heliers primary school in Auckland New Zealand. A third parent is considering laying a complaint as well. The Education Act allows a school to close for up to 60 Read more
Census – Archbishop Dew says religion still plays an important part
Friday, December 13th, 2013
New Zealand Catholic Bishops welcomed the Census 2013 figures on religious affiliation published today and noted that the majority of New Zealanders identify with a diverse range of religions, although the number that don’t have a religious affiliation is increasing. “The number of Catholics is fairly similar to the number published in 2006, with about Read more
Are we now so godless that Christmas is irrelevant?
Friday, December 13th, 2013Christianity has shed hundreds of thousand of devotees in the past seven years, while the number of non-religious has risen strongly. Victoria University professor Paul Morris, who specialises in religious studies, said the country was in “new territory”, with Christianity losing its central position in society. “For the first time since 1901, Christians are not Read more
Lecture will show that the legacy of religion belongs to everybody
Tuesday, November 5th, 2013An unusual religious background has left a Victoria University of Wellington Professor of English with a taste for secular writing containing religious ideas. In his upcoming inaugural professorial lecture, titled ‘When You’re Dead You Go on Television: Sex, Death and Household Objects in Some New Zealand Poetry’, Williams says his lecture will show that the Read more