The Hobby Horses of Belief (and assorted hazards)

smacl · 17-03-2026 05:51PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124319385#Comment_124319385

There are those who would rather see us return to a superstitious, uneducated pre-Christian era of Druids and magic, rather than the science, logic and scholarship of Christianity, with its sophisticated and systematic philosophy and theology.

And there are those who would rather see us turn to an inclusive ethos embracing rational and objective critical thinking rather than a superstitious religion with its stagnant, often bigoted, misogynistic and homophobic philosophy and theology.

ohnonotgmail · 17-03-2026 06:07PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124319478#Comment_124319478

yeah somebody needs to remind her about Thomas Davis, Charles Stewart Parnell, Douglas Hyde, Roger Casement and many others.

Hotblack Desiato · 17-03-2026 10:48PM

Robert Emmet. Theobald Wolfe Tone. Isaac Butt…

donaghs · 25-03-2026 09:22AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/123475907#Comment_123475907

looks like clonskeagh mosque is back open now. No mention of entremism or where they stand on the Muslim brotherhood now.

https://www.rte.ie/news/2026/0122/1554589-clonskeagh-mosque-to-reopen-next-month/

Since the uae seem to fund it, and have fallen out with the Muslim brotherhood - that may have been part of the original dispute

Hotblack Desiato · 03-04-2026 11:59AM

Only heard about this now

https://archive.ph/GF0cb

Fionnán Sheahan: I was Catholic-shamed for going on TV with ashes on my forehead

I’m not a particularly religious person, but

Why do they always feel the need to say this? even the particularly religious ones

Didn't know though that you could skip the mass (and the priest) and just help yourself at a bowl by the door

Igotadose · 05-04-2026 09:07AM

Uhuh

ohnonotgmail · 05-04-2026 12:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124364657#Comment_124364657

Not correct. Mark and Luke were not disciples and were not at the last supper. Mark was a friend of peter and luke was a friend of Paul.

Hotblack Desiato · 10-04-2026 03:51PM

Hard to imagine how this happened

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg3kx8r139o

Hotblack Desiato · 01-05-2026 09:37PM

In a totally unsurprising statistic, Catholic marriages have more than halved in ten years.

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/social-affairs/2026/04/28/catholic-wedding-numbers-drop-by-more-than-half-in-10-years/

13,071 in 2014 to 6,425 in 2024, or approximately 60% down to approximately 30%.

There was a small increase in the number of Islamic wedding ceremonies, increasing from 42 in 2014 to 45 in 2024.

Three more - the takeover is clearly under way.

Now - why hasn't the proportion of RCC primary schools halved in ten years? It's not as if adults who made a free and often more logistically difficult choice to get married in a non-RCC ceremony are going to be at all likely to desire an RCC education for their kids.

Hotblack Desiato · 01-05-2026 09:40PM

Couldn't get a picture because I was driving, but I drove past (twice, as it happened, and very slowly because it's a narrow residential street) a parked car today with a swastika painted on it 😮

It's OK, it's OK, it was one of these

dots and all, and painted on the front of a Tesla where the "T" usually is…

Not the sort of swastika Musk is into.

Hotblack Desiato · 25-05-2026 11:08PM

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1d2xgvgy9yo

The BBC recently made a documentary about the mysterious death of a "prophet"'s wife eleven years ago. Eric Adusah (just one of the names he uses) organised events around the UK and Ireland:

(Incidentally the phone numbers are all UK numbers and can't be dialled as written from Ireland. Yeah, we are a different country, like.)

Needless to say he's now living in the US scot free, grifting away, and has never been questioned in relation to the ~~killing~~ mysterious death.

Hotblack Desiato · 25-05-2026 11:14PM

https://metro.co.uk/2026/05/21/christian-charity-says-its-a-problem-boys-dont-rape-girls-anymore-rape-boys-28437599/

A Christian charity in the UK has said it’s a ‘problem boys don’t rape girls anymore’ and claims instead that children are being ‘homosexualised’.
The Mountain of Fire and Miracles Daniel Centre Church in Slough, Berkshire, has linked homosexuality to paedophilia and bestiality in one of its sermons online.
It is registered as a charity with its purpose being ‘the advancement of religion’, meaning the taxpayer subsidises the group’s activity ‘for the public benefit’.

Given that the promotion of religion is regarded as a charitable goal in itself in the UK (and here), it seems you can say whatever you like and still claim to be a 'charity' as long as you can find some scriptual justification for it somewhere - and you will.

Hotblack Desiato · 01-06-2026 02:25AM

"Mass" isn't supposed to turn into "mass brawl".

https://www.echolive.ie/nationalnews/arid-41854701.html

Chaos descended at the annual Mass being held at SS Peter and Paul's Cemetery in Portlaoise on Sunday afternoon.
Local gardaí were assisted in large numbers by the public order unit after a violent mass brawl broke out.
The huge brawl resulted in multiple injuries of those present and two arrests were subsequently made by gardai. It is believed that the initial fight began between a small number of attendees but quickly escalated while the blessing of graves was taking place.
A number of weapons, including a large variety of knives, were brandished in the extensive brawl involving close to 50 people.

It is understood that a number of members of the Travelling Community were involved in the violent incident.

Pavee Point, the Travelling community representative body, were contacted for comment.

Good luck with that

The Hobby Horses of Belief (and assorted hazards)

Comments

Fionnán Sheahan: I was Catholic-shamed for going on TV with ashes on my forehead