Atheism and religion in the news XVII

Zombie's picture

Hello all, a few people have im'd me about the various places I get this stuff from and why I read such a variety. There is a one main reason for this. I don't trust the news, maybe a bit odd for someone who reads so much, but the more you read the more you realize how little can be trusted. I have heard that 70% of news in America is actually written by PR firms and this makes perfect sense to me. Since the news is a business, if you can get someone else to do your work for you in a competitive industry, you will quickly be out of business if you don't.

 

Many people have bought into the idea that media companies are staffed full of intrepid reporters who go out and find things to inform the public about. This is also utter bullshit since the majority of stories you read in a newspaper either come from the aforementioned PR firms or simply bought from the associated press service.

 

With all this in mind, I try to figure out what the stories bias is while reading, it's always there in some form or the other.

 

 

Anyway, on to the news.

 

 

 

Britain has just legalized polygamy.

For guess who?

 

Quote:
Husbands with multiple wives have been given the go-ahead to claim extra welfare benefits following a year-long Government review, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal. Even though bigamy is a crime in Britain, the decision by ministers means that polygamous marriages can now be recognized formally by the state, so long as the weddings took place in countries where the arrangement is legal. The outcome will chiefly benefit Muslim men with more than one wife, as is permitted under Islamic law. Ministers estimate that up to a thousand polygamous partnerships exist in Britain, although they admit there is no exact record.

 

Link

 

Huge Secular Protest in Turkey.

The Turkish parliament has been debating on whether or not to lift the ban on headscraves.

 

Quote:
Defenders of the country's strict separation of church and state, including the army and senior judges, see the headscarf as a symbol of defiance against Turkey's secular system.

 

Link

 

 

 

Atheist Cartoons.

 

A couple of great ones can be found below.

 

Here

 

And

 

Here

 

How large of a role does religion play in how people vote?

 

A christian explains how his faith guides his vote.

 

Quote:
But with some things, his faith may influence how he will vote.

"As a person of faith, I have issues about a lot of things, including the economy, defense, health care, things like that," he said. "I have a difficult time placing a religious frame of mind around these issues."

 

Link

 

 

Atheist/christian debate.

 

Anyone on the local area might want to attend.

 

Quote:
The public is invited to a Christian/Atheist Dialogue Feb. 9 in Grand Prairie, featuring Baptist pastor Derward Richardson and Terry McDonald, chairman of Metroplex Atheists.

 

Link

 

 

List of religious traditions and christian denominations.

 

Not really news, some interesting info imho.

 

Link

 

And

 

Link

 

American presidential candidates and science.

 

Enough about their faith, where do they stand on science.

 

Quote:
Science and technology (S&T) play increasingly important roles in our society and for those who govern. From energy policy to the environment, from health care to economic competitiveness, and from science education to immigration, S&T research and its products are critical to many issues on the agendas of Congress and the Executive Branch. Yet, very little of the campaign coverage and candidates' discussion focuses on S&T issues.

 

Link

 

 

Atheist group on campus denied.

 

From the friendly atheist,

 

Quote:
Anatoly is vice-president of a campus atheist group that meets at Wilfrid Laurier University, a public school in Ontario, Canada. The goal of the "Laurier Freethought Alliance" (LFA) is: "to promote science, freedom of inquiry, skepticism, and a good life without the need for superstition or religious belief."

 

Link

 

Religion in the European Union.

 

Not as secular as one might think.

 

Quote:
A couple of weeks ago, I attended - as a Council member of the NSS - the European People's Party (Christian Democrats) and European Democrats' (EPP-ED) hearing on "Cultural Diversity, Religions and Dialogue" at the European Parliament. The meeting was organized with the intention of exploring the role of dialogue and religion within the EU and to formulate potential policies accordingly. I was invited on the premise that it would be good to have a secularist voice present. I was not prepared however for being the only secularist voice present.

 

Link

 

 

Christopher Hitchens at Nantucket.

Hitchens talks about his book on a morning talk show.

 

Link

 

 

Morte alla tyrannus et dei