Tasmanian bus advertisement 2010
Sign at the 2010 Global Atheist Convention
Big screen at the 2010 Global Atheist Convention
Audience at the 2010 Global Atheist Convention
Taslima Nasrin presenting at the 2010 Global Atheist Convention
2010 Global Atheist Convention after party
2011 Census Campaign advertisement
Melbourne bus advertisement 2012
AFA President David Nicholls opening the 2012 Global Atheist Convention
Audience at the 2012 Global Atheist Convention
Ayaan Hirsi Ali presenting at the 2012 Global Atheist Convention
Jason Ball addressing the 2012 Global Atheist Convention
Sam Harris presenting at the 2012 Global Atheist Convention
The 'Four Horsemen' panel at the 2012 Global Atheist Convention
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14Religious Freedom Review Panel Submission
Religious Freedom Review, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet Parliament House, Canberra.
Submission: Copies to all members of the Review Panel and PMC Secretariat:
To whom it may concern,
The Australian Law Reform Commission interim report 127 has previously made the finding that there is no restriction on religious freedom, defining it as:
“Freedom of religion is infringed when a law prevents individuals from practising their religion or requires them to engage in conduct which is prohibited by their religion. Alternatively, the freedom will also be infringed when a law mandates a particular religious practice.” (4.38, p.104).
It is therefore of concern to us that there appears to be an effort by legislation to grant special exemptions to religious groups from laws that apply to all other members of the community.
Therefore, the Atheist Foundation of Australia argues that such calls should be rejected, and existing exemptions be removed, particularly if they contravene United Nations Human Rights.
A review of the ALRC report makes it clear that there is no sound argument to increase the level of protections offered to religions in Australia, and in fact good grounds for removing some existing exemptions from anti discrimination laws.
Calls for religious believers to be allowed to express their religious beliefs by refusing to supply goods and services to certain members of the public should be rejected out of hand and revealed in their true light as discriminatory behavior. For example, a focus of these calls recently has been on bakers of cakes for same-sex weddings. There is no credible basis to support a claim that discrimination against same-sex marriage should be allowed, and no logical difference between this and allowing a religious baker to refuse to serve a Muslim, a Jewish person or a dark skinned woman, an adulterer or a disobedient child – all of whom fit into categories of persons excoriated in the bible or by religious tradition.
Aunt Jodie’s Guide to Evolution, a book for children aged 7-11, launches on Pozible in January 2019.
"As a nerdy parent who loves reading to my daughter, I was frustrated that I couldn’t find interesting children’s fiction with a strong STEM message to help her learn about the world. I know there are lots of other parents out there who really want to instill a love of science in their children, but don’t know how to do it. So I wrote us a book"
- Aunt Jodie's Guide to Evolution.
Written by Dr Jordan Bell, illustrated by Gabriel Cunnett and reviewed by paleontologist Professor John Long, Aunt Jodie’s Guide promises to be a compelling story of adventure and discovery, that is engaging and interesting to kids and parents alike.
Add your email to the list to hear more about Aunt Jodie’s Guide to Evolution, and get an invitation to the launch party in Adelaide in January.
2 weeks ago ·
Sydney Catholic leader warns against secularism and threats to religious freedoms
theguardian.com
Archbishop Anthony Fisher uses Christmas message to chastise government for going ‘backwards’ in preventing ‘discrimination against people of faith’2 weeks ago ·
That time when the Pope talks about 'Predator Priests'.
Pope urges predator priests to turn themselves in and face justice for sexual abuse
abc.net.au
Pope Francis uses his annual Christmas address to make one of his strongest comments ever on the sexual abuse crisis sweeping the Roman Catholic Church, vowing the Church would never again cover up sexual abuse.3 weeks ago ·
A Priest Condemned Suicide At The Funeral Of A Teenager Who Killed Himself
buzzfeednews.com
"Father, please stop," the father of the deceased teen told the priest.3 weeks ago ·
Religious freedom review has opened Pandora's Box
smh.com.au
Freedom of religion is the least important and most concocted freedom in the human rights handbook.3 weeks ago ·
Plans for religious protections complicated by one thing
brisbanetimes.com.au
People often equate the issue of religious discrimination with religious freedom. Only the two aren’t quite the same.4 weeks ago ·
The Government has finally released the report into religious freedom. While our volunteer committee are busy digesting the details of the report and the Government and Opposition's responses to it the President of the Atheist Foundation of Australia has the following to say:
"I find it discouraging and disheartening that from just a few weeks ago to today we have gone from bi-partisan support for ending discrimination against LGBTIQ students in schools to having a year long review by the Australian Law Review Commission. The protection of children has been put in the "too hard basket" by this current government.
"What they have put it in their "easy win" column is a specific religious freedom bill to protect religious peoples' sensibilities from the scary people who live differently, disagree with or just plain find them funny. No where in Australia are people with religious convictions being actively discriminated against because of their religious beliefs. This bill will be just like religion itself; no rational reason for its existence."
Scott Sharrad - President of the Atheist Foundation of Australia
Coalition to unveil new laws to guard religious freedom but stalls on LGBT students
theguardian.com
Government to accept recommendations in Ruddock review with law that will be similar to those prohibiting racial and sexual discrimination4 weeks ago ·
Former archbishop Philip Wilson's conviction for concealing child sexual abuse quashed
abc.net.au
A judge orders the former Adelaide archbishop be released from home detention after quashing his conviction for concealing child sexual abuse.1 month ago ·
Christians who won't take no for an answer — touched by God or 'white saviour complex'?
abc.net.au
John Allen Chau was on the ultimate Christian mission.1 month ago ·
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