Ray Darcy, atheist

fisgon

Richard Dawkins was just on the Ray Darcy show on Today FM. A good interview, sympathetic, Dawkins came over as reasonable and generally articulate. The comments after were also surprisingly positive towards Dawkins, very few "you will burn in hell" responses. He talked a lot about indoctrination explaining why Ireland was still a predominantly religious country.

Darcy is an interesting case. As an ex-children's TV presenter and now as a presenter of a fairly fluffy, unserious daily radio show you wouldn't expect him to be a force for rationalism and unbelief, but he actually is. I don't listen very often anymore, but I have heard him go on a lot about the harm that the Church has done, the hypocricy inherent in practicing Catholics in this country, the injustice of the school system. It's one more supporter for a secular society from a surprising source.

MagicMarker

He can also fly...

kippy

fisgon wrote: »

Richard Dawkins was just on the Ray Darcy show on Today FM. A good interview, sympathetic, Dawkins came over as reasonable and generally articulate. The comments after were also surprisingly positive towards Dawkins, very few "you will burn in hell" responses. He talked a lot about indoctrination explaining why Ireland was still a predominantly religious country.

Darcy is an interesting case. As an ex-children's TV presenter and now as a presenter of a fairly fluffy, unserious daily radio show you wouldn't expect him to be a force for rationalism and unbelief, but he actually is. I don't listen very often anymore, but I have heard him go on a lot about the harm that the Church has done, the hypocricy inherent in practicing Catholics in this country, the injustice of the school system. It's one more supporter for a secular society from a surprising source.

You are surprised Ray Darcy is an Athiest?

They guy really annoys me, for a number of reasons so I don't really care what he doesn't believe in.
I would hardly call him a force for anything tbh.

Dave!

Is he actually an atheist? I know he has been critical of the Church alright.

BTW, 10 XP for anyone who finds me a direct link where I can hear this interview! In work at the mo so can't dig myself!

frozenfrozen

Dave! wrote: »

Is he actually an atheist? I know he has been critical of the Church alright.

BTW, 10 XP for anyone who finds me a direct link where I can hear this interview! In work at the mo so can't dig myself!

I don't think the show is over yet so they don't have the podcast up. But http://media.todayfm.com/listenbacks/popup is where it will be

The Mad Hatter

Dave! wrote: »

Is he actually an atheist? I know he has been critical of the Church alright.

BTW, 10 XP for anyone who finds me a direct link where I can hear this interview! In work at the mo so can't dig myself!

He's said that he is. I don't have the source to hand, but I remember it irking me during that mini-furore when he said that the RCC had "f**cked up this country," one or two papers said "D'arcy, who claims to be an atheist."

It annoyed me because a paper would never write "Byrne, who claims to be a Catholic," if it were reporting on something like that - it'd just say "Byrne, a Catholic..."

fitz0

It's not up yet, but it should be by the end of the day.

http://media.todayfm.com/listenbacks/popup

Dades

Given he's a presenter of *popular radio* he may only claim to be agnostic. Much less dirty than atheist.

Though recently (remember the "church really fcuked up this country" furore?) he seems to be nailing his colours to the mast.

bull_ring

fisgon wrote: »

Richard Dawkins was just on the Ray Darcy show on Today FM. A good interview, sympathetic, Dawkins came over as reasonable and generally articulate. The comments after were also surprisingly positive towards Dawkins, very few "you will burn in hell" responses. He talked a lot about indoctrination explaining why Ireland was still a predominantly religious country.

Darcy is an interesting case. As an ex-children's TV presenter and now as a presenter of a fairly fluffy, unserious daily radio show you wouldn't expect him to be a force for rationalism and unbelief, but he actually is. I don't listen very often anymore, but I have heard him go on a lot about the harm that the Church has done, the hypocricy inherent in practicing Catholics in this country, the injustice of the school system. It's one more supporter for a secular society from a surprising source.

im athiest but cant stand ray darcy

Sarky

I really miss the days when he presented the Den and someone would throw Ted at him from off screen, resulting in a violent wrestling match.

MagicMarker

What about that show where he gave away a moped at the end?

fisgon

Sarky wrote: »

I really miss the days when he presented the Den and someone would throw Ted at him from off screen, resulting in a violent wrestling match.

Keep it down Ted!

fisgon

kippy wrote: »

You are surprised Ray Darcy is an Athiest?

They guy really annoys me, for a number of reasons so I don't really care what he doesn't believe in.
I would hardly call him a force for anything tbh.

What people think of him is irrelevant. He has a large platform on a national radio station, and so has some control over the agenda, over what is talked about on the national airwaves. This is itself is significant. Amid all the dross and quizes and fluff on the show he does address some important themes, and this is worth something at least.

He had Dawkins on this morning, ffs, and gave him a good ten or fifteen minutes to lay out his views. Many people who would never have heard of RD otherwise would have found themselves discovering that he actually makes a lot of sense.

MisterEpicurus

fitz0 wrote: »

It's not up yet, but it should be by the end of the day.

http://media.todayfm.com/listenbacks/popup

It's up now, on Part 2 starting at 36.45

bull_ring

fisgon wrote: »

What people think of him is irrelevant. He has a large platform on a national radio station, and so has some control over the agenda, over what is talked about on the national airwaves. This is itself is significant. Amid all the dross and quizes and fluff on the show he does address some important themes, and this is worth something at least.

He had Dawkins on this morning, ffs, and gave him a good ten or fifteen minutes to lay out his views. Many people who would never have heard of RD otherwise would have found themselves discovering that he actually makes a lot of sense.

got a link ?

MisterEpicurus

bull_ring wrote: »

got a link ?

http://media.todayfm.com/listenbacks/popup

Part 2; 36.50mins

Tim Robbins

I thought people were talking about Gordan D'Arcy there for a sec...

LeinsterDub

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I thought people were talking about Gordan D'Arcy there for a sec...

Surely he has great faith in BOD

fisgon

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I thought people were talking about Gordan D'Arcy there for a sec...

Can´t speak for Gordon D'arcy, but I know there are a number of fairly heavy duty Christian believers on the Ulster rugby team, including some South Africans. All that devotion didn't help them very much in the European Cup final, apparently.
Anyway,..that's beside the point.

dcd9

Ray D'arcy is a self-proclaimed atheist, not an agnostic or some such, but I do not believe that atheism is a prerequisite for criticism of the church. He is refusing to apologise for comments made about that church, and at any opportunity, continues to criticise injustices perpetrated, condoned and perpetuated by that establishment. I listen to the show regularly, and I look forward to hearing his interview with Richard Dawkins, who can often (regrettably) come across as dogmatic and humourless. I hope the interview will improve that perception.

fitz0

fisgon wrote: »

Can´t speak for Gordon D'arcy, but I know there are a number of fairly heavy duty Christian believers on the Ulster rugby team, including some South Africans. All that devotion didn't help them very much in the European Cup final, apparently.
Anyway,..that's beside the point.

God, clearly, is not an Ulster fan.

Opticom

Would this be the same Ray D'arcy that promised to leave Ireland if Enda Kenny was elected as Taoiseach ?

MagicMarker

Opticom wrote: »

Would this the same Ray D'arcy that promised to leave Ireland if Enda Kenny was elected as Taoiseach ?

Who cares?

El Tarangu

MagicMarker wrote: »

What about that show where he gave away a moped at the end?

'2 Phat', if I recall correctly.

Tim Robbins

fisgon wrote: »

Can´t speak for Gordon D'arcy, but I know there are a number of fairly heavy duty Christian believers on the Ulster rugby team, including some South Africans. All that devotion didn't help them very much in the European Cup final, apparently.
Anyway,..that's beside the point.

That's right and it is worth a separate thread. A few bible thumpers on the Ulster team. It was touched on in the Rugby forum but wasn't the place for it went south fairly quickly.

Eric Miller has become a Bible thumping Christian as well, apparently in 2005.

I blame the proliferation of concussion in Rugby.

Dades

What has keeping your word got to do with a statement of your belief (or lack of)?

At any rate I'd be confident that statement was made in same vein as "I'll eat my hat". Not that it matters to this thread.

Ghost Buster

Opticom wrote: »

Anyone who expects presenters to tell the truth and keep their word.

Saying 'I'll leave the country if such and such a person yadda yadda yadda' is akin to me telling one of my kids 'I'll kill you if you keep making that noise".
Should i keep my word?;)

MagicMarker

Opticom wrote: »

Anyone who expects presenters to tell the truth and keep their word.

Have you raised this with your local td?

joseph brand

I think it's very brave of Ray to admit to being an Atheist, in this 'catholic' country. He risks losing listeners in the form of church-goers and any other easily-offended catholics.

Have any other celebs in the media 'come out' yet?

iguana

joseph brand wrote: »

Have any other celebs in the media 'come out' yet?

Mick Lally was 'out' to the point where he criticised religion as being codology.

MagicMarker

I assume Ming Flanagan is an atheist?

jank

Is this the same Ray Darcy that said he would leave Ireland if Enda Kenny became Taoiseach? Wonder whats taking him so long....:pac:

Beruthiel

MagicMarker wrote: »

I assume Ming Flanagan is an atheist?

Agnostic.

TD, Luke ‘Ming’ Flanagan, drew on the similarities and differences between himself and his relative, Fr. Michael O’Flanagan. He described it as an example of “history coming back to sting itself in the posterior”. He remarked that Fr. O’Flanagan was noted for reciting the prayer that marked the opening of the first Dáil in 1919 while he himself as an agnostic was the first Cathaoirleach of Roscommon County Council to refuse to say it.

From the Roscommon People.

Dades

jank wrote: »

Is this the same Ray Darcy that said he would leave Ireland if Enda Kenny became Taoiseach? Wonder whats taking him so long....:pac:

Why are you repeating Opticom's earlier comment?

rccaulfield

Fair play Ray!!!

Sarky

Good times, good times...

Turtwig

Sarky wrote: »

Good times, good times...

That's not Ted though so it just ain't the same. It's just ain't the same without Ted.:(

lookitsme

I'm sure a high percentage of Irish people are catholic not for religious reasons but because its tradition. Baby gets born, gets christened for a day out and possibly to please childs grandparents, later gets into the local school based on religion then gets communion and confirmation possibly for money and a day out or just to fit in. So are people catholic for being catholic sake or do they live their lives as according to the catholic guide lines/ rules. but i suppose this could be a whole different thread

eyescreamcone

Tim Robbins wrote: »

I thought people were talking about Gordan D'Arcy there for a sec...

Who's he?

Galvasean

lookitsme wrote: »

I'm sure a high percentage of Irish people are catholic not for religious reasons but because its tradition. Baby gets born, gets christened for a day out and possibly to please childs grandparents, later gets into the local school based on religion then gets communion and confirmation possibly for money and a day out or just to fit in. So are people catholic for being catholic sake or do they live their lives as according to the catholic guide lines/ rules. but i suppose this could be a whole different thread

It is indeed. In fact, we've had threads in the past about such.

As for Darcy, I've always liked him (albeit a lot of it is due to childhood nostalgia). He has a good sense of humor and a level head when on TV/radio - very affable. Also, I do admire the way he didn't bother (to say 'refused to' would imply that he was in the wrong) apologising to the Catholic hardliners who claimed offense on his comments re: the Catholic church, but did apologise for using the F word as children may have been listening.

Galwayguy35

joseph brand wrote: »

I think it's very brave of Ray to admit to being an Atheist, in this 'catholic' country. He risks losing listeners in the form of church-goers and any other easily-offended catholics.

Have any other celebs in the media 'come out' yet?

Has he many "listeners" to start with?
I've never heard his show as I do be at work like most people.

The Mad Hatter

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Has he many "listeners" to start with?
I've never heard his show as I do be at work like most people.

He has the highest listenership in his time slot, according to Wikipedia.

A lot of people would have the radio on at work.

Tomk1

I don't listen to his show anymore, it was like one long advert split with adverts, maybe a few songs an hour. I can respect him for being straight out honest about his personal position with religion, which more people should be rather than being a closet atheist = agnostic or part time vatican-catholic.
But the show must go on & without a fundamentalist-like agenda, fine if it comes up but most atheists/religious just wanna get on with life & hear some light harted bantor.

As said I haven't heard his show in over 5 years, n' that's not about to change, my weekly guilty plessure is; I really enjoy tuning into the Marian Finucane show.

On Mick Lally well worth hearing this interview
'Miriam Meets...... actors Mick Lally and Mary McEvoy, 7 March, 2010'
www.rte.ie/radio1/miriammeets/070310.html

I was really annoyed that I never got to meet him.

Galvasean

Galwayguy35 wrote: »

Has he many "listeners" to start with?

I read that he recently overtook Tubridy in terms of listenership. If I recall correctly their shows are on at the same time.

Opticom

Galvasean wrote: »

I read that he recently overtook Tubridy in terms of listenership.

I think most people have at this stage

Galwayguy35

Galvasean wrote: »

I read that he recently overtook Tubridy in terms of listenership. If I recall correctly their shows are on at the same time.

Ok. I didn't know that. Probably the last time I heard Darcy was when he was on The Den :pac:

safarigirl

One day my husband heard Ray Darcy talking on the radio about people not wanting to Christen their children into the Catholic Church but having to do something because of family inlaws ect.... so he was talking of a naming ceremony in the Unitarian church. Its like a welcome to the world celebration without making the child any religion. So when we were in the situation thats what we did. The family thought it was a beautiful ceremony, . most importantly we now have got out of bringing up our child RC or any christian religion, she will never do communion and we never have to take her to church.
If it wasnt for Ray we would have either given in and Christened our child RC or would have fallen out with family for not ding it. so thank you Ray Darcy!!!!

Undergod

I don't get why everyone loves hating on Ray d'Arcy. I like him.

mikhail

Undergod wrote: »

I don't get why everyone loves hating on Ray d'Arcy. I like him.

I, too, am confused by this. He's always seemed pretty harmless to me.

Darsad

I listen to him the odd time and im amazed how big his show is given his constant moaning and negativity ! Can only imagine what he would think and say about Denis Obrien if he were not his pay master !

Sarky

As if moaning and negativity aren't like crack to the average Irish person.