In my last post I looked at Erik Wielenberg’s response to the objection that, in the absence of God, people lack compelling reasons to comply with morality’s demands. A second objection Wielenberg briefly addresses is that without certain theological doctrines, one cannot provide a plausible basis for human rights and dignity. Wielenberg, here again, takes Craig […]
Entries Tagged as 'Rights and Freedoms'
Erik Wielenberg and the Autonomy Thesis: Part Three Standard Objections to the Autonomy Thesis, Human Rights and Dignity without God
March 25th, 2017 1 Comment
Tags: David Boonin · Erik Wielenberg · Infanticide · Loius Pojman · Nicholas Wolterstorff · Peter Singer · Rights · William Lane Craig
John Corvino on Liberals and Being Judgemental
October 25th, 2015 2 Comments
Recently I have been reading John Corvino’s book, “What’s wrong with Homosexuality?” Corvino describes himself as a religious sceptic and is one of the leading defenders of the moral permissibly of homosexual conduct, and also an articulate defender of what is commonly called “gay rights”. In terms of the conclusions we each have, Corvino and I are […]
Tags: Bad Reasoning · Homosexual Conduct · John Corvino · Judging
Nonsense on Stilts: Non-Discrimination Rights
March 29th, 2014 16 Comments
When the Human Rights Act was passed in 1993 I supported the writing of non-discrimination rights into law. At that time I, like many New Zealanders, believed that people had a right to not be discriminated against that the government should protect. Since then, reflecting on the issue has lead me to change my mind. […]
Tags: Discrimination · Rights and Freedoms
Religious Freedom and Non-Discrimination
March 10th, 2014 20 Comments
Currently I am working on a post on the issue of non-discrimination rights and the morality of discrimination. In the mean-time I thought I would highlight the thoughtful commentary from James-Michael Smith in this video.
Tags: Discrimination · Freedom of Religion · Homosexual Conduct · James-Michael Smith · Religion in Public Life
Watch Matt on the GCSB Bill on Shine TV
August 1st, 2013 2 Comments
On 30 July 2013 Matt was interviewed on Shine TV about the Government Communications Security Bureau and Related Legislation Amendment (“GCSB”) Bill. The discussion on the issues of civil liberties, spying in times of threats against citizens is very good. The video is here:
Tags: GCSB · MandM on Video · Rights and Freedoms · Shine TV
Yet Another Lawyer Agrees: Marriage Amendment Act Bill is an Affront to Freedom of Religion and Belief
March 13th, 2013 22 Comments
Barrister Ian Bassett has given another opinion describing the risks to freedom of religion and belief of Louisa Wall’s Marriage Amendment Act Bill if it is enacted in its presently proposed form, which would include this amendment: “Without limiting the generality of subsection (1), no celebrant who is a minister of religion recognised by a religious […]
Tags: Freedom of Religion · Gay Marriage · Grant Illingworth · Ian Bassett · Louisa Wall · Marriage Amendment Act Bill · Marriage Equality · Paul Rishworth · Rachael Wong · Same Sex Marriage
A common objection to belief in the God of the Bible is that a good, kind, and loving deity would never command the wholesale slaughter of nations. In the tradition of his popular Is God a Moral Monster?, Paul Copan teams up with Matthew Flannagan to tackle some of the most confusing and uncomfortable passages of Scripture. Together they help the Christian and nonbeliever alike understand the biblical, theological, philosophical, and ethical implications of Old Testament warfare passages.
AUSA, expelling pro life groups, and legal advice
October 5th, 2017 Comments Off on AUSA, expelling pro life groups, and legal advice
For those following the Auckland University Students Association (AUSA’s) recent decision to expel a pro-life group at Auckland University, it may interest you to know that the following press release was sent to me today: Media Release: ProLife Auckland Date: 5 October 2017 University Group Celebrates Victory Against Unjust Discrimination Auckland University Club ProLife Auckland celebrates […]
Tags: Abortion · AUSA · Rights and Freedoms