RIP – Theo van Gogh

Today is the 5th anniversary of the death of Theo van Gogh. He was a Dutch film director who worked with Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the film Submission.
The short film investigates violence against women in some Muslim societies. The script was written by Ayaan Hirsi Ali who was involved in social work amongst abused Muslim [...]

Defending science and reason

Book Review: The New Atheism: Taking a Stand for Science and Reason by Victor Stenger

Price: US$12.92
Paperback: 282 pages
Publisher: Prometheus Books (September 22, 2009)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1591027519
ISBN-13: 978-1591027515

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This book is timely. The “New [...]

Another chance to ignore our true religious diversity

I have written about New Zealand’s National Statement on Religious Diversity before. In fact, the problem of the discussion and formulation of this document was one of my initial incentives to start this blog (see Religious diversity includes “non-believers”).
This statement was prepared under the sponsorship of the NZ Human Rights Commission. The working group was [...]

Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the Viability of Hope

Ayaan Hirsi Ali is one  of my heroes. (Or should that be heroines? I don’t know what the terminology is these days). I recommend everyone to read her book Infidel. And certainly watch any videos where she is lecturing or being interviewed.
I watched Ayaan Hirsi Ali on the Viability of  Hope recently. It’s excellent. She [...]

My reading

These are books I am currently reading, have purchased for future reading or have read since September 2008. I listed my reading since retirement and prior to September 2008 in Reading in retirement.
Dan Agin: Junk Science: An Overdue Indictment of Government, Industry, and Faith Groups That Twist Science for Their Own Gain
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: The [...]

Reading in retirement

Scientific research is a very creative and personally satisfying process. However, researchers often find that the inevitable specialisation and concentration on limited aspects of reality can lead to a lack of understanding and appreciation of discoveries in other fields.
Since retirement I’ve appreciated the opportunity to read more widely. I find myself returning to subjects I [...]

Interfaith dialogue and human rights

Well, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia got his – a Global Interfaith Dailogue. It helped that he financed the meeting. The meeting was held last week in Madrid, Spain.  After all such a dialogue would have been impossible in Saudi Arabia – which does make me wonder: If Abdullah is so interested in dialogue and [...]

Freedom of expression and human rights

One of the most important human rights is the freedom of expression. Not just because this is vital to human creativity. But because it is the only way we have of protecting our other rights – by identifying and exposing violations of human rights.
It is no accident that freedom of expression is one of the [...]

Ayaan Hirsi Ali to get EU protection

It looks like Ayaan Hirsi Ali will get national police protection anywhere in the European Union (see Writer to get EU protection). According to this Guardian report “Franco Frattini, the European commissioner for justice and home affairs, told the Guardian that Hirsi Ali and any other persons facing threats to their lives because of [...]

Secular Islam

I think its important for the non-religious to challenge many religious beliefs, particularly where these influence human rights. But it is equally important, if not more important, for these debates to take place within religions. It’s important for liberal Christians to challenge the inhumane and unscientific beliefs of fundamental Christians for example. Similarly [...]