THE controversial trial of secular ethics classes in Austalia has “decimated” Protestant scripture classes in the ten NSW schools where it has been introduced as an alternative for non-religious children, with the religious classes losing about 47 per cent of enrolled students. The figure, according to this report, was calculated by the Sydney Anglican diocese, [...]
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CHRISTIAN fundies Down Under have found something new to whinge about: secular ethics classes in selected Australian schools which they claim will sabotage conventional religious brainwashing sessions. In the vanguard of opposition to the ethics class pilot scheme is retired brigadier Jim Wallace, a 24-carat nutjob who heads the Australian Christian Lobby. He recently shrilled: [...]
THE Pope’s letter of apology to Irish Catholics over clerical abuse of children in that country has now been presented. But according to Irish writer and film maker, Mary Raftery, the people of Ireland really couldn’t give a toss now about what Ratzinger has to say. Speaking yesterday on Radio 4’s Women’s Hour, she said: [...]
IT’S always good to learn of efforts to promote atheism on the internet, so we were naturally delighted by the news that a new blog, which aims to give a voice to young freethinkers, went “live” this week. Young Freethought is the brainchild of student Michael Campbell, Chief Editor, who says it was created: To [...]
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THE Vatican yesterday denounced a ruling by the European court of human rights that said the display of crucifixes in Italian public schools violates religious and education freedoms. In a decision that could force a review of the use of religious symbols in government-run schools across Europe, the court ordered Italy to pay compensation of [...]
Continue reading about Crucifixes ‘could be disturbing’ to atheist school pupils, says Euro Court
THE Church of Scientology has refused to provide records demanded by an Australian coroner investigating the death of a soldier who committed suicide two days after finishing one of the church’s intensive courses. According to this report, the American headquarters of the church instructed its Australian branch to send the soldier’s “audit file” to the [...]
Continue reading about Australian soldier’s suicide: What is the Church of Scientiology hiding?
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
