Welcome to Heather’s Homilies
International Call to Repeal Blasphemy Laws
I wrote about the need to repeal New Zealand's blasphemy law back in January, ending my post with the words, "Not only should we repeal our blasphemy law, New Zealand should become part of a call of all free nations to see them repealed worldwide." I wasn't the only...
Beautiful New Zealand II
This is another gorgeous film from Martin Heck of Timestorm Films, released in April 2014 called Awakening New Zealand. I'll be showing more of his beautiful films in the weeks to come. For now, enjoy this one: http://youtu.be/6D-A6CL3Pv8 Locations are: Fjordland...
World Hijab Day: 1 February 2015
Since 2013, 1 February has been World Hijab Day. It was started by a New York woman, Nazma Khan. Khan moved to New York from Bangladesh with her parents at the age of eleven. She was the only child at her school wearing the hijab and was bullied. It seems from her...
Beautiful New Zealand I
The wonderful Amy Carparelli on Twitter (@AmyAmylou1993) often tweets interesting videos and articles about a science, nature, astronomy, and a few other things. Today I was thrilled to get this one in my notifications. It's by Martin Heck of TimeStorm Films and is...
New Zealand’s Blasphemy Law Must be Abolished
According to Wikipedia: Blasphemy is the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God, to religious or holy persons or things, or toward something considered sacred or inviolable. Blasphemy laws, therefore, are designed to protect religion...
Free Speech is not Hate Speech
When free speech is attacked, we all suffer. So often in the past, those who have been attacked for speaking out haven't attracted the support they should have either because of what they have to say, or who they are. We have allowed our opinion of the speech of those...
Derek Fox Blames the Victims – Fallout From the Charlie Hebdo Massacre
Well, we knew it would happen. In my last article on this I said: I hope this revolting act will help those who decry any criticism of Islam as Islamophobia recognize just what a problem it has the potential to be. Any belief system that includes an invocation to kill...
Je Suis Charlie Hebdo
Warning: If you find images of Muhammad, prophet of Islam, offensive, don't read this article. If you decide to read it anyway, don't blame me. By now you will have heard of the appalling event at the Paris offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo....
New Zealand Women: Jean Batten
This article is the first in an occasional series I will be writing on New Zealand women. Shortly, there will be a new page on my website, New Zealand Women, celebrating some of the amazing, or just well-known, women New Zealand has produced. I'm currently populating...
Atheists Doing Good: The Superhero Smiles Initiative
When it finally dawned on me I was an atheist, the only other atheists I knew were my GP and Pain Specialist. However, it was a political situation, specifically women’s issues, that finally inspired me to join Twitter. On joining though, I quickly found a wonderful...
World War One and the Churches of Europe
It’s 100 years since the start of the First World War. From New Zealand’s point of view, the Great War started at 2300 GMT on 4 August 2014 when Great Britain declared war on Germany. As part of the British Empire, that meant we were at war too. My grandfather...
Seven (More) Things Theists Get Wrong About Atheists
It was my birthday on 10 December. I love the fact that my birthday is also International Human Rights Day. In New Zealand, it’s also the anniversary of the day smoking was banned in indoor public spaces, which makes bars, restaurants and workplaces much nicer places...