As a child growing up in Ireland, being Catholic was as much a part of my identity as being Irish was. I didn’t give either a great deal of thought, nor felt the need to interrogate my Irishness or my Catholicism. I accepted it as the cultural landscape in which I lived; the road signs marked as Gaelige, the grottos dotted throughout the countryside — both were given equal importance. It’s funny how, even as someone who doesn’t identify as Catholic any more, the markers of a childhood steeped in religion still emerge occasionally. I’m drawn to the symbolism of crosses, bearing two such tattoos on my body. I find religious iconography pleasing, I’m comforted by the smell of incense, I’m instantly at peace when I wander into a cool, dark church. (I’m aware that is a privilege. There are many people for whom the same experiences would trigger feelings of deep distress, that their memories of churches are not, as mine are, tied to a feeling … [Read more...] about It’s funny how the markers of a childhood steeped in religion still emerge occasionally
Religion
The charitable status of religions is up for debate
BRITAIN’S CHARITY sector is flourishing. Nearly seven out of ten British adults say they have made a contribution to a good cause in the recent past. As of last September there were almost 170,000 charities registered with the Charity Commission in England and Wales, with a total annual income of £77bn ($102bn). (Scotland and Northern Ireland are regulated separately.) Yet amid all this success, and maybe because of it, arguments rage over what sort of organisation should count as a charity, and hence benefit from the tax breaks and public esteem that go with that status. For all their generosity, Britons are also quite sceptical of the voluntary sector and wary of attempts to exploit their good will. It did not help when Oxfam, a globally respected development agency, admitted in 2017 that it had laid off 22 of its staff because of sex-abuse allegations. Get our daily newsletter Upgrade your inbox and get our Daily Dispatch and Editor's Picks. One of the hardest … [Read more...] about The charitable status of religions is up for debate
‘I survived 7/7 extremists ‘from my religion’ and experienced far-right hate’
I woke up to the news that people had been killed in New Zealand in the middle of Friday Prayers. My initial reaction was, “What the hell has happened?” But after working in anti-extremism since I was a victim of the 7/7 bombings, was I shocked? No. It was a long time coming. It’s been bubbling, waiting to happen. Attacks have been increasing, whether it be on the street or on the bus, be it physical or verbal abuse. I’ve had fellow Muslim women telling me they are scared to leave their house, or to send their kids to school because they are getting bullied for being Muslim. Just two weeks ago we had a threat of arson on our women’s centre in Haringey, North London. We were told we were “desert donkeys”, and to “go back to the desert”. And since New Zealand, we’ve had messages from women saying they are scared to go to the mosque. My two daughters go to a weekend faith school, and I had to double check the security. We even … [Read more...] about ‘I survived 7/7 extremists ‘from my religion’ and experienced far-right hate’
Opinion: Fearing people because of their religion is easier than you think – but it lets the terrorists win
I had planned to write my column today about Comic Relief but, well, here we are: cast once again into a pit of disbelief in the wake of the horror in Christchurch, as the very darkest side of idiotic humanity has spilt fresh hell into the laps of unsuspecting people just going about their lives. Not only must we deal with our shock and and sorrow for people we did not know, just as we did after the Manchester bombing, but because this was an attack on Muslims, we also have to face down the staggering callousness of those who’ve plotted an implacable course to dehumanise that particular people. Shortly after the murders, the Australian senator Fraser Anning issued a statement which claimed: “The real cause of bloodshed on New Zealand streets today is the immigration programme which allowed Muslim fanatics to migrate to New Zealand in the first place.” We’ll tell you what’s true. You can form your own view. From 15p €0.18 $0.18 USD 0.27 … [Read more...] about Opinion: Fearing people because of their religion is easier than you think – but it lets the terrorists win
‘Making politics through religion is dangerous’: CHP head
YALOVA Main opposition Republican People’s Party (CHP) Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu called on Western countries on March 15 and warned against conducting politics over religion as seen in the recent mosque attack in New Zealand that killed at least 49 people. “Today [March 15] we have woken up with the saddening news from New Zealand which we condemn. Not only Muslims, but anyone with humanitarian feelings should condemn such an incident. We need to respect all faiths and identities of humanity. I am calling out to our Western friends as well. We have seen once again in New Zealand how dangerous it is to make politics through religion,” Kılıçdaroğlu said, in his speech at a meeting with representatives of NGOs, businessmen, trade chambers and village heads, in northwestern province of Yalova. “Humanity paid some burdensome costs because of politics over religion. There were Hundred Years’ War in which the Christian community … [Read more...] about ‘Making politics through religion is dangerous’: CHP head