Tag Archive | "rationalists"

Is The Virgin Mary Shedding Tears? Rationalists Investigate An Alleged Miracle in Kerala, India

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Is The Virgin Mary Shedding Tears? Rationalists Investigate An Alleged Miracle in Kerala, India


Note: This article is an update on this story reported earlier. The author is the president of the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations.

Disclaimer: This report is about an allegedly paranormal phenomenon reported in media. The report is the result of the visit of a team of rationalists to the place where the alleged ‘miracle’ has been taking place. It is part of an attempt to investigate happenings, under the section 51 AH of the constitution of India which outlines the duties of a citizen. It is not an attempt to hurt anyone’s religious sentiments or cause any friction between any groups belonging to the same or different religions. The team consisted of officebearers of FIRA and KYS.

After the statues of Mary shedding tears and blood it is the turn of flex prints now! In the St.Mary’s Jacobite Chapel, Kattachira flex prints of Mary img_0214with Infant Jesus have started discharging an oily liquid with an aromatic smell. On the 6th March some of us had the opportunity to visit the place, after our request was acceded to by Mathew Theodosios Metropolitan of the Kollam Diocese, under which the chapel is located. It may be recalled that this so-called miracle had hit the headlines in a section of the media in Kerala around October, 2009.

On reaching the place, we were taken to meet with the cor episcopal Abraham Mannikarottu and his group of priests and devotees, where there were heated debates about the Kerala Yuktivadi Sangham’s campaign, matters of faith and various such issues. Finally at around 12.30 we were taken around the place by the cor episcopal and his group. What happened is as follows in the form of a statement issued to him. Our opinions are expressed separately. Read the full story

Posted in Debunked, Featured Posts, Narendra NayakComments (9)

Freethought News: Weeping Mary (Mathavu) to be Investigated by Rationalists (Video)

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Freethought News: Weeping Mary (Mathavu) to be Investigated by Rationalists (Video)


Virgin Mary’s Tears to be Tested for Authenticity

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Rationalists from the Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations, headed by president professor Narendra Nayak, will be testing the veracity of the claims made by locals and priests alike that the image of the Catholic religious figure is shedding tears. The Bishop has invited the Rationalists to make sure that this phenomenon being hailed by locals as a miracle is not a scam. This event will take place on the 6th of March, 2010 at Alleppey in Kerala.
After this event, the rationalists are holding a press conference in which the flex print of Premanand is going to shed tears, because he is very sad that cheap narendra-nayak-3x3stupid tricks are being passed off as miracles.

It is not shedding tears now, but will do so on the 6th

Also please note that there will be a rationalist training program by Dr. Nayak on the 7th, at Alleppey.

The contact person for details on all three events (miracle investigation, press conference and training program) is Anil Kumar of the Kerala Yuktivadi Sangam. Phone no:+919846126080.

Update: The follow-up after the conclusion of the official investigation has been posted here.

Posted in Debunked, General News, Secular EventsComments (3)

Annual Conference: The Science & Rationalists Association Of India- Celebrating 25 Years On March 6-7, 2010

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Annual Conference: The Science & Rationalists Association Of India- Celebrating 25 Years On March 6-7, 2010


Dates: 6-7 March, 2010

Location: Mulali Juba Kendra Hall near Moulali crossing close to Sealdah station, Kolkata.

The Science & Rationalists Association of India ( Bharatiya Bigyan O Yuktibadi Samity) has completed 25 fruitful years. There will be a  celebration of the silver jubilee on 6-7 March 2010. The annual conference will also be held during the two days with delegates attending seminar, workshop and interactive session during the day. The program on the evening of March 7, 2010 will be open to all. For more details about our activities you may visit our website, www.srai.org.

The program on the 7th will start from 5 pm with songs and discussion by the veteran Bengali folk song maestro Sri Swapan Basu, followed by our anti-superstition demonstrative show “Aloukik noy, Loukik”.

You are invited to attend the function and make it a grand success!science-and-rationalists-association-of-india

Prabir Ghosh
[G.S. Juktibadi Samiti]

Sumitra Padmanabhan
[President, Juktibadi Samiti]

Posted in General News, Prabir Ghosh, Secular Events, Sumitra PadmanavanComments (0)

The Gita Becomes The Battlefield For The Great Sectarian War

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The Gita Becomes The Battlefield For The Great Sectarian War


In the previous article we studied how Upanishadists elevated Guru Krishna to the position of Lord of beings in order to protect their revolution and to reform corrupt Brahmins and Kshatriyas. In this article we will study the last stage of the Upanishadic revolution and how, shortly thereafter, the Gita became the battlefield on which Brahmins on one side and the Upanishadists and Bhagavathas on the other fought a great Sectarian War for the Soul of Sanatana Dharma (11:18). The story of that sectarian war, hidden in plain sight from the public thus far, is revealed in this article for the very first time in the history of the Bhagavad Gita. But first, let us briefly review the final stage of the Upanishadic revolution. Read the full story

Posted in God Watch, K.P.S. KamathComments (0)

Update In The Case Of The 7-Year Old Sambhavi Declared The Reincarnation Of A Buddhist Goddess

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Update In The Case Of The 7-Year Old Sambhavi Declared The Reincarnation Of A Buddhist Goddess


(Note: This article is an update on this story that we reported on a few days ago. Briefly, A 7-year old girl from the South Indian state of Andhra Pradesh is being hailed by Buddhist leaders as the next reincarnation of a Buddhist Goddess. Rationalist groups led by a group of dedicated activists including Babu Gogineni, International Director of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, have been protesting this abuse of the rights of children in the name of religion.)

A number of us approached the State Human Rights Commission and the Judge ordered for an inquiry into the antecedents of those behind the child and the parentage of the child. Meanwhile, the Commission ordered that police be posted to accompany the so-called caretakers. The case is at a crucial stage now.

The following are the entire contents of the petition presented to the State Human Rights Commission. Read the full story

Posted in Babu Gogineni, General News, God WatchComments (1)

Swine Flu Campaign by the Indian Rationalist Organizations

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Swine Flu Campaign by the Indian Rationalist Organizations


A pandemic is something to be welcomed in our country, for those with vested interests. Perpetrators of all kinds of superstitions have a field day. Added to that hoarders of things starting from masks (most of them totally useless) to manufacturers of drugs and medicines (effective or not) are out to make profits. In India where bearded saffron wearing gurus are considered to be very epitomes of wisdom- worldly as well as otherwise pronounce cures and preventives for diseases whose names also cannot be pronounced by them. Added to this a government whose spokespersons do not have the spine to commit themselves on claims of such including the proponents of so called alternative systems of medicine add to the confusion. Read the full story

Posted in General News, Narendra Nayak, Pseudoscience, Secular EventsComments (1)

One Million Rupees Election Results Prediction Challenge to Astrologers

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One Million Rupees Election Results Prediction Challenge to Astrologers


Federation of Indian Rationalist Associations

101, Noel Park, Microwave station road


Mangalore -575 006

Mangalore,

3rd May, 2009

Read the full story

Posted in Featured Posts, General News, Narendra Nayak, Paranormal, Pseudoscience, Secular EventsComments (22)

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  • Guest_3120 : I meant, "the onus of proof".
  • Guest_3120 : Deepak, please do a google search for "Russell's Teapot". The onus of belief is always on the believer.
  • deepak : please answer this simple question.How can you prove God does not exist
  • deepak : just like if someone only keeps looking at crows and tells that there are no swans existing on this earth, his whole observation is completely wrong. there is no basis for it.
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