Ken Perrott • Feb 16, 2017 •
Mental illness is far more widespread than we often wish to admit. In fact, it is probably worth considering it a normal part of life – like the occasional cold or other ailments we all get. But occasionally mental illness can be more debilitating – even embarrassing. Does any family not have a member who sometimes embarrasses them by behaving inappropriately? … Read More
Ken Perrott • Nov 22, 2016 •
Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki’s statement blaming the Kaikoura earthquake on “gays, sinners, and murderers” highlights the stupidity of our charity laws which define the advancement of religion a charitable activity and give tax exempt status to religions purely because they advance religion. Public revulsion at Tamaki’s statement resulted in an on-line petition calling for the removal of Tamaki’s tax exempt status. Currently, that … Read More
Brendan Moyle • Apr 06, 2016 •
The NZ Herald reported on the Egypt’s plan to send Imam’s to fight radicalization in NZ. I will offer no opinion on this issue, given I have no knowledge of the extent of Islamic radicalisation in NZ. Nonetheless, one claim did catch my attention: Muslims, now about 1 per cent of the population, are New Zealand’s fastest-growing religious group. Read More
Peter Griffin • Jan 20, 2016 •
This is the first of a series of posts looking at Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam, which I visited on a Bangkok to Ho Chi Minh City cycle trip in September 2015. “Sabai, sabai,” said my Thai cycling guide on more occasions than I could count, as he accompanied me and a dozen other bikers on our way through Thailand, Cambodia … Read More
Ken Perrott • Dec 10, 2015 •
A new report from The Commission on Religion and Belief in British Public Life recommends changes which challenge the current traditional role and power of religion in the UK. Among its recommendations are: National and civic events should reflect the pluralist character of modern society and “national forums such as the House of Lords, [should] include a wider range … Read More
Ken Perrott • Aug 30, 2015 •
Looks like Australians have won another small victory in the way that their religiosity is officially assessed. In particular how census forms pose the religion question on census forms is posed. I discussed the problems in my article Non religious in Australia and New Zealand. The Australian census form buried the “no religion” option – and may, therefore, … Read More
Ken Perrott • Jul 13, 2015 •
Looks like we might be making a bit of progress in attempts to establish a genuine secular education system in New Zealand. There are reports that “secular education advocates have had a win in their fight against the Bible in … Continue reading → … Read More
Ken Perrott • Jun 11, 2015 •
Ken Perrott • Feb 05, 2015 •
Social health policies inevitably raise the issue of the individual’s freedom of choice. While debates around these policies often concentrate on questions of fact, scientific consensus and reliability of evidence, these tend to be surrogates for the underlying values issues. To … Continue reading → … Read More
Ken Perrott • Feb 03, 2015 •
Stephen Fry on God | The Meaning Of Life | RTÉ One – YouTube. Stephen Fry has a great skill of getting right to the core of an issue. Here he answers the question of what he, as an atheist, would say if he ended up at the gates of heaven. Read More