Latest Articles
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Taking another risk with DECULT
My fascination with isolated communities and their challenges and mysteries started when I lived in Tokelau for seven months, as the doctor’s wife on a staunchly Christian atoll in the South Pacific. After moving to Aotearoa and working as a freelance foreign correspondent for ten years, I met a woman called Angie. As a teenager, she had lived at Centrepoint Community near Auckland. The…
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Friend of Keats: Charles Armitage Brown, an Infidel in New Zealand
Family Background Charles Armitage Brown (1787-1842), playwright and essayist, was born on 14 April 1787 at Grey’s Walk, Lambeth, London. The family comprised seven children of which Charles was the second youngest. His father William Brown, was a Scottish stockbroker (died in 1816), who married Jane Armitage on 6 March 1777 at Lambeth. Little is known of Charles’ schooling. Working in Russia Details about…
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In Memoriam: Meg Wallace
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Meg Wallace, a distinguished author, tireless advocate for secularism, and former president of the Secular Association of NSW. Meg passed away peacefully, leaving behind a legacy of thought leadership and activism that profoundly impacted the humanist and secular communities in Australia and beyond. Meg was the author of the influential book “Freedom From…
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A Tribute to Meg Wallace
On August 4th, 2024 long standing NZARH member, Meg Wallace, sadly died from the effects of dementia. Meg was aged 79. Meg, along with her husband, Max Wallace, joined our association in 2003 and were active members of our association even though they had moved to Australia to live. Meg participated in NZARH work and events over all that time. She published many articles…
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Music Beyond Belief in Africa
Music beyond belief refers to irreligious music and songs, including humanist, atheist, and freethought songs. The pervasiveness of religion in Africa has made it difficult for many Africans to acknowledge, understand, or appreciate music and songs beyond the precinct of religion, faith, and belief in God. Gospel music and songs are among the most popular in Nigeria. Many artistes jostle to outgospel one another.…
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United Nations Human Rights Council Statement
In a joint statement made at the UN Human Rights Council, the Humanist Society of New Zealand, the New Zealand Association of Rationalists and Humanists, and Humanists International have commended progress on human rights issues in New Zealand, while warning against risks to advancements. The statement was delivered by Mark Honeychurch, Vice President of the Humanists Society of New Zealand, a member organisation of Humanists International.…
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Jim Ring, Nelson
I’ve been in contact with a lawyer on and off over the last couple of years regarding one of our old members – old both in terms of when they joined the society, and in terms of their age. Jim Ring was a frequent contributor to our Journal, the NZ Skeptic, writing both articles on a wide range of topics and many Letters to…
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When there was happiness in a hellhole and misery in Jerusalem
For 1300 years Christendom, the place where Christ ruled, was Europe. It was long held from the time of King James II and King Charles II that it was better for black slaves to be given work by Christians in the Americas than by godless princes in Africa. The Church of England’s huge financial assets came from Queen Anne’s Bounty, a fund established in…
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FOR ALL WE KNOW: The Reality of Suicide
This article deals very frankly with the subject of suicide. You may find it confronting. Please practise self care if you choose to read it. Help is available if you need. If you are struggling right now and not sure what to do, please contact Lifeline at their crisis line (0508 828 865) or helpline (0800 543 354), or text them on 4357. Statistics…
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A Peek Inside the Special Branch’s Declassified File on the Rationalists
Part One: “Rationalist diatribe, with an occasional flash of sound argument” Last year I visited Archives New Zealand in Wellington with Bronwyn Rideout, the current Chair of the NZ Skeptics. We were there because she had arranged for us to have access to a document that I’d heard about a while ago; a file that the Special Branch of the NZ Police, later the…
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End of Life Choices
The End of Life Choice Act 2019 came into force on 7 November 2021. It provides a legal framework for New Zealanders to access assisted death under specific circumstances. A government review of the legislation is now on the operating table and both supporters and critics of the Act are prepped to take a scalpel to the legislation. David Seymour, the Minister who led…
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Believing without evidence is always morally wrong
You have probably never heard of William Kingdon Clifford. He is not in the pantheon of great philosophers – perhaps because his life was cut short at the age of 33 – but I cannot think of anyone whose ideas are more relevant for our interconnected, AI-driven, digital age. This might seem strange given that we are talking about a Victorian Briton whose most…
