Dale the Street Preacher is doing the Lord’s work. We can acknowledge this, even if we don’t share his idea of whom the lord is, or accept his view about what’s going to happen when we die. In addition to standing on a soapbox containing an electronic amplifier and preaching
Continue readingTag: Freedom of Religion
centre of the universe: Bikini, Burkini – Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off
– initially entered as a series of ranty comments on an effbook post – I don’t care WHAT your religion is, or isn’t – no government has the right to tell anybody how to dress. So the government of France doesn’t have any more right to tell people what they
Continue readingsomecanuckchick dot com: These are the types of NDP candidates Thomas Mulcair stands behind…
These are the types of NDP candidates Thomas Mulcair stands behind… Intolerance Rosemont—La Petite-Patrie Alexandre Boulerice says the NDP is against the niqab! [VIDEO, en français!] Mégantic—L’Érable Jean-François Delisle says the NDP should reopen Constitution to deal with the niqab. FYI Jean-François Delisle has backed off his initial statement that
Continue readingAlberta Politics: Why stop with just one religion? Shouldn’t Ottawa certify clerics for all religions, plus martial arts instructors?
PHOTOS: The Senate of Canada, also known as “the Red Chamber,” possibly for its adoption of tactics for dealing with religion reminiscent of two large communist countries. Actual Canadian Senators may not appear exactly as illustrated. Below: Andrew P.W. Bennett, Canada’s first “Ambassador for Religious Freedom” and a cantor at
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: That’s A Turnabout
When I first started writing this blog, Michael Coren was a regular target for my ire, especially when he would go off spouting right wing talking points about gay marriage. Quite frankly, I saw little difference between his columns published in …
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: That’s A Turnabout
When I first started writing this blog, Michael Coren was a regular target for my ire, especially when he would go off spouting right wing talking points about gay marriage. Quite frankly, I saw little difference between his columns published in the Sun newspapers and the tirades of his then
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: That’s A Turnabout
When I first started writing this blog, Michael Coren was a regular target for my ire, especially when he would go off spouting right wing talking points about gay marriage. Quite frankly, I saw little difference between his columns published in the Sun newspapers and the tirades of his then
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Prentice’s Bill 10: A Legislative Trojan Horse
There is little doubt that the Prentice government is getting its ass handed to it on the editorial pages of newspapers across Canada with respect to its hastily written Bill 10 counter response to Liberal MLA Laurie Blakeman’s Bill 202. After looking at Bill 10 for a little while, I
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Confusing Freedom With Imposition
Canada’s “Association For Reformed Political Action” came to my attention this past week. Just from the name, you can tell that this is one of the groups that is seeking to turn Canada into a theocracy much like the far right is currently doing in the United States. I decided
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Dear SCotUS: You Blew It
When you ruled that Hobby Lobby could implement its ownership’s personal religious beliefs as policy imposed upon the company’s employees, you really opened up the door to a world of abuse. Hobby Lobby is a privately held corporation. As are the majority of companies in both Canada and the United States.
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Sincerity Is Hard In Politics
Apparently, PC Leadership Candidate Ric McIver hasn’t learned that lesson. After getting caught in a firestorm over ribbon cutting the “March For Jesus” event the same weekend that others were at the Edmonton Mayor’s Pride Brunch, he issues the following rather flaccid retraction: He says he blames himself for not
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Wingnut Education In Alberta
I have a problem with these “Lifestyle Covenants” that Christian Schools seem to be in love with. It is not that these schools are publicly funded, although I do consider it a gross abuse of public resources for them to be used in this manner which so clearly flies in
Continue readingReligious persecution on the rise
The Pew Research Center recently published a study of religious persecution over the period 2007-12 and the results aren’t pretty. Of 198 countries and territories included in the study, 29 per cent had high or very high government restrictions on religion and 33 per cent had high or very high
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Creating Hierarchies of Rights
Recently, we have had a series of stories where there have been arguments put forth that there should be “exemptions” in non-discrimination laws for religious beliefs. Yesterday’s column by Licia Corbella in the Calgary Herald positively oozed with a smug sense of religious entitlement, and attempted to hold atheists responsible
Continue readingThe Cracked Crystal Ball II: Reasons For A Boycott Of The Sochi Games
In light of John Baird’s recent comments regarding Russia’s recently-passed anti-gay laws which basically outlaw any “gay propaganda” (such as two people of the same sex holding hands), I’d like to spend a bit of time talking about why a boycott of the Sochi games, along with generally isolating Russia
Continue readingProgressive Proselytizing: Thank you Westboro Baptist Chuch
Westboro Baptish Church – made infamous for picketing military funeral in a protest against homosexual tolerance in America – has reached, unbelievably, a new low. They are now threatening to picket the funerals of victims of the Boston bombings, again for some incoherent homophobic reason. As disgusting as this all
Continue readingThe Disaffected Lib: Harper’s Religious Freedom Boondoggle
It’s probably no surprise that Sideshow Steve Harper, immersed in the magical thinking of fundamentalist evangelism, would say “screw austerity, let’s create an Office of Religious Freedom. Now, find me an Ambassador.“ In the Toronto Star, Natalie Brender has an interesting look into what Steve has in ever curious mind.
Continue readingDeSmogBlog: Wisconsin v. Yoder Redux? MN Amish Citizens Revolt Against Frac Sand Mining
shutterstock_83010019.jpg "History," the old adage goes, "repeats itself." And this is precisely the reason why we learn it. read more
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