Wow. I’m in the New York Times
You’re probably thinking that it has got to be a total rush to have the weekend edition of the New York Times include a story about you. You’re right. It is. Sort of. When we read articles in newspapers and magazines, it’s easy to forget that there is an entire backstory the journalist couldn’t fit […]
We have a plus sign!
Who isn’t frustrated with Gutenberg, the new Wordpress writing system? Me. I’m totally over it.
Looking for a church like West Hill?
Let’s build a list for people looking for a church like West Hill. In the aftermath of my interview with Wendy Mesley, I wanted to make sure that anyone who checked out my page looking for a congregation in their area might learn about some places they may feel welcome. This post is to make sure […]
Confronting the Unbelievers
The United Church Observer, a magazine that explores issues relevant to The United Church of Canada (UCC) and its members from an arm’s length position, has drop-kicked the conversation on whether clergy who no longer believe have a place in the UCC’s pulpits. Confronting the Unbelievers was published in its May issue.* It is a conversation that […]
Shucking God: Interview with a Non-Believer
Almost two months ago, Presbyterian minister, John Shuck, posted a guest blog on Hemant Mehta’s Friendly Atheist Patheos Blog. It was titled, I’m a Presbyterian Minister Who Doesn’t Believe in God. I was delighted. It is always a celebration when someone comes and stands in the field with you. And it’s humbling to have that someone […]
abomination
Who really uses that word anymore? Really? Andy Oudman of Talk 1290 in London, Ontario, that’s who. A listener had alerted me to Oudman’s remarks about the United Church yesterday and said that the radio host planned to return to the topic today. So when he began to talk about the inappropriateness of my leading […]
on being an atheist minister
Had an opportunity to share some ideas with AM640’s Jeff McCarthur this afternoon. Here is the clip. Enjoy!
the atheist minister – a faithstreet feature
Thank you, Becky Garrison, FaithStreet journalist, for the wonderful feature article, The Atheist Minister, she wrote. Here are her opening words: “Gretta Vosper describes herself as both a minister and an atheist. That may sound like an oxymoron to some, but her work and witness offer a model that speaks to those who no longer believe […]
prostitution – yes? no?
The Culture Clash this week brought Charles and I together on a topic that is likely as divisive today as it has been for a thousands of years. Oh, except whenever religion used it as part of their ritual – prostitution. Charles’ position is a widely lauded one: prostitution is exclusively about forcing unwilling women […]
on birth certificates and birth control – the culture clash
So, I am called a bully by Charles McVety for suggesting Rob Ford, as mayor of the city hosting World Pride, should attend the festivities but Charles believes he is within the bounds of human sanity for demanding that it is appropriate to deny a woman access to birth control and then force her to […]
the grammys and all that
Faith Goldy and I seared the line between us on today’s Culture Clash as we looked at the weddings performed by Queen Latifa at the Grammy’s earlier this week. Tell me, do you think Satan was conjured by Katy Perry’s antics? Or do you think Satan is a figment of an overly dramatic imagination? Or […]
favourite letter to the editor of the observer
It’s been two months since the articles of the “Beyond Belief” piece in The Observer were published so it was with some trepidation I opened my newly arrived copy to see what the response had been. Eight years ago, when the first article “Out of the Box” was published, letters flooded the editor’s office and […]
mandela and the obama/castro handshake
It was a feisty morning again on the John Oakley show with Charles McVety and I sparring over the legacy of Nelson Mandela just as his memorial service was coming to an end in South Africa. And, as you have no doubt heard, there was that handshake. Barack Obama and Raul Castro actually connected, flesh […]
culture war – what’s normal in the sexuality of children?
This morning, November 19th, 2013, we addressed the Parents’ Guide, Children’s Sexual Behaviours published by the Prince Edward Island Government. Charles McVety, my sparring partner on the Culture War segment of the John Oakley Show, was furious that the pamphlet identified some behaviours as normal arguing that allowing them would lead to sexualization of children […]
the culture war with john oakley
The date: November 12, 2013. The issues were legion: * Because women can opt out of accidental pregnancy through abortion, should men be able to opt out, too, by not paying support? * Would you leave your kids at a daycare run by a man? * The HPV vaccine is now being made available in […]