Sean the Blogonaut

Dodging Elephants

Blogonaut — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 02:01:30 +0000

It has been awhile since I have posted here – finding it hard to actually give a damn about some of the so called movements I have been a part of.

But here’s a series of posts by Barb Drescher that mirror some of my thoughts:

Take Back Skepticism, Part I: The Elephant in the Room

August 6, 2011, at 11:30 pm

I was planning a short rant about some ironically irrational arguments made by self-described rationalists at the World Atheist Convention in Dublin a couple of months ago. However, events of the past two weeks have left me frustrated, angry, and a little bit sick. Since they are all connected, I have decided to discuss them together in one long post, broken into three parts for easier reading.

Read more

Jewish Community leader tells of Sexual Abuse

Blogonaut — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 09:14:47 +0000

Once again showing the sexual abuse is not confined to any particular culture/religion, that as a society we must demand that institutions religious or secular must submit to the rule of law.

Jewish Community leader tells of Sexual Abuse

Education Department & Religious Ed provider colluding to stifle dissent?

Blogonaut — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 01:09:34 +0000

It certainly looks like something untoward is going on. A department that wants to shut down community discussion on the provision of SRI and a corporate Evangelical ministry that seems to hold clout beyond the narrow Christian worldview it holds.

Evangelical Ministry attempts to gag critic

Blogonaut — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 00:52:53 +0000

Educator and writer Mike Stuchbery, one of the many and varied voices against evangelical involvement in Religious Instruction in Victorian State Schools was threatened by ACCESS Ministries lawyers for commenting on documents that ACCESS produces for dissemination in State schools. Mike and others are of the opinion that the documents were inappropriate.

See his post here.

The pdf document is now gone as per the first part of the request.

But it seems par for the course for this rather powerful group who have managed to become one, if not the major providers of religious education in Victoria(discounting Private Religious schools).

I am inclined to side with the lawyers on the reproduction of the resource in its entirety. It’s in my lay opinion infringing on copyright.

The request to, paraphrasing here, to “seek permission of the copyright holder to comment on parts of it”, however, (ie fair use) is a crock. And it seems part of a heavy handed attempt by ACCESS ministries to squash any debate or criticism of their practises.

It appears they are quite used to flying under the radar and riding on the coat-tails of the “meek and mild” concept of Christianity that many of us may have experienced in our youth( I was raised catholic and my religious instruction was mild compared to ACCESS ministries material).

Now it seems that Lawyers acting for ACCESS also filed a DMCA notice against WordPress to lock Mike out of his regular blog, not waiting to see if he complied with their request.(Update: Wordpress confirmed that a claim had been filed and now that Mike has informed them that he has removed the infringing document he’s been allowed back in).

Dirty pool folks, dirty pool.

Some may claim that this is merely ACCESS protecting their copyright. What it demonstrates though is that ACCESS is not shy in being prepared to throw their corporate clout about when they feel threatened.

In the mean time Mike, keep your eye’s peeled for this guy

Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures

The Demons made him do it?

Blogonaut — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 06:55:15 +0000

Some days the news is so downright depressing:

Suffocated, raped and set alight: church leader blames ‘sexual demons’

Adrian Lowe

June 20, 2011 – 2:20PM

A Melbourne church youth leader claimed his rape of an unconscious 14-year-old girl, who he later tried to kill, was prompted by his “sexual demons”.

The Supreme Court was today told that Michael Tuano Hermogenes, 25, suffocated the girl at her home in Caroline Springs in May last year with her stockings after plying her with alcohol.

Read more

Nah buddy you are just an evil shit and you got caught.

Article Link – Their Feet Don’t Touch The Ground by Bruce Everett

Blogonaut — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 07:12:28 +0000

A short link to my compadre Bruce Everett who has written an in-depth criticism of the John Jay College report, The Causes and Context of Sexual Abuse of Minors by Catholic Priests in the United States, 1950-2010 and the ABC Religion portals comments on said report.

Their Feet Don’t Touch The Ground

Extreme Christianity being pushed in state schools

Blogonaut — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 06:02:13 +0000

The issue of Special Religious Education/Instruction/Indoctrination almost inspires me to come back to full-time blogging about secular issues. Pay a visit to Mike Stuchbery’s post on the insidious and contemptuous actions of one Tim Clemens in

‘CHRIST REQUIRES REPENTANCE & FAITH, NOT EDUCATED KIDS.’

If you are a parent (even one who is religious) you should be aware of what certain groups are perpetrating in the name of Christian Instruction. If you are a teacher, and particularly in NSW you should perhaps being making complaints to the union.

Participation of parents and community but only…

Blogonaut — Sun, 19 Jun 2011 05:24:39 +0000

when it suits the religious agenda.

Here’s a link to a skirmish between a Melbourne school council and the Education department over the provision of Religious education in a State (Secular?) school.

School claims bullying over religious education

You may have noticed an absence

Blogonaut — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 06:48:01 +0000

of my presence that is. Let’s say I am on sabbatical. Taking a break from blogging about religion, crazy superstitious beliefs, homeopaths and dodgy chiropractors. I may or may not start blogging here again. I just don’t have the compulsion at present and it’s something that a good month or so hasn’t fixed.

I am blogging about books over here at Adventures of a Bookonaut.

Life getting in the way of Blogging

10:23 Campaign Melbourne

Blogonaut — Wed, 09 Feb 2011 09:24:38 +0000

Bravo to Victorian Skeptics and The Young Australian Skeptics.