Friday, November 03, 2006

The Fundy Post is risen from the grave

Gentle reader,

You might occasionally have thought to yourself "whatever happened to the Fundy Post, the award-winning satirical review of the strange world of the Religious Right?" On the other hand, you may not have given the matter any thought. On the third hand, you might never have heard of the Fundy Post; in which case, the next paragraph is especially for you.

The Fundy Post was an email and web newsletter which I wrote as Spokesman for the NZ Association of Rationalists and Humanists. It was published between April 2004 and February of this year at the rather leisurely rate of twenty issues during that period. My aim in writing it was to expose the activities of various ghastlies who mixed their religion with their politics to produce an unpleasant mixture known as the Religious Right.

The newsletter was sent to members of the NZARH and to various media folk, who gave it some attention. Russell Brown contributed lots of new readers each time he linked to an edition. The good people at Scoop published every edition on their pages, the gay people at GayNZ gave me an award, while the stylish people at Metro deemed the Fundy Post to be Hot.

The Fundy Post had a serious purpose but it was also intended to be entertaining. My strategy for dealing with the various moralisers and bigots who were my targets was to (a) point and (b) laugh. At the same time, I did some real work, investigating the knavish plots of the enemies of secular society. I had some success, particularly with the Maxim Institute. I also gave the NZARH the best publicity it has ever enjoyed.

However, my employers at the NZARH were not very grateful. Rather than give me a Christmas bonus, they tried their best to give me the sack. Their best was not very good but eventually I left with a settlement. I may write about these events at some other time.

Since my departure in June, the NZARH has not been very active in the public sphere. In fact, to use a technical term, it has done bugger all. Meanwhile the moralisers are out and about, doing their fiendish work. So, what to do? What I shall do is get back to the business of ridicule. The one trait that all religious bigots, of whatever faith, have in common is pomposity; there is easy prey to be found out there.

As a special bonus for readers, the new Fundy Post will not be confined solely to religious targets; I shall also take cheap shots at anything else which deserves a poke in the eye.

16 comments:

Anonymous said...

Welcome back Paul.

You have been sadly missed. You have whole year to catch up on now - should give you plenty of scope.

Exclusive Brethren, ACT, Business Roundtable, Mrs Forman, Don Brash, National Party, Maxim Institute, Investigate Magazine ..

And tomorrow a gay deacon will be inducted in Dunedin. There is a vicar in Christchurch named Falloon who believes Anglicans will split over this mythological point of disagreement. I imagine 5 per cent or so will join him in a movement just like NZ Wesleyan Fellowship.

God is watching you .. but from a distance!

Paul said...

Why, thank you, whoever you are. How did you find me? I haven't launched yet.

Idiot/Savant said...

Sitemeter sees all, Sitemeter knows all?

BTW, please drop me an email sometime. I have a serious project you might be interested in.

Anonymous said...

Alleluia! He has returned!

This is great news, Paul. I look forward to more of your elegant writing and biting wit, and hopefully exposures of the unholy alliance between the secular and religious far right.

Swimming said...

Yes Paul, god is watchibng you, as always

hehehehe

Paul said...

Dave, thanks for the note. That Guy Fawkes thing will haunt me.

Little Red Riding Hood said...

Aloha :)

Paul said...

Kia Ora, Pam. I have just commented on yours: ooh, synchronicity.

Anonymous said...

Hello, stranger. Hey, didya know Bruce Logan is also back-
See http://www.familyfirst.org.nz
for details.

NB: He conducted a workshop on "Principles of Marriage and the Family" at their little shindig. Yours truly reviewed it on Gaynz.Com... and he's written four Otago Daily Times articles since Logangate...

Craig Y.

Anonymous said...

...which are also stored on the Bruce Logan entry on Wikipedia, courtesy of its author, namely moi.

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Logan

Craig Y.

Anonymous said...

Oh, and the SPCS is apparently in trouble...

http://societies.govt.nz/scanned-images/24/BC10052491924.pdf

Craig Y.

For elucidation, see also...
http://www.gaynz.com/news/default.asp?foobar=1864&dismode=article&artid=1864

or...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Society_for_Promotion_of_Community_Standards

Anonymous said...

Ahhhhh ACT? Rodney hide is a Liberal who doesn't belive in God.He likes aspects of Christian thought and morals....which were about long before Christianity pinched them I must add....but not all of them so so what?

Anonymous said...

In answer to earlier question "how did I find you" ...

Being a devout fan of yours:
I have Google Alerts set up to detect such expressions as "Maxim Institute", "Christian Heritage", "Exclusive Brethren", etc. This is what turned up on 2 November:

Google Blogs Alert for: "Maxim Institute"

Labour's Fatally Flawed Philosophy
By Trevor Loudon
The Maxim Institute's Real Issues quotes from and comments on, Michael Cullen's speech at the Labour Party's recent annual conference. After outlining his priorities for the remainder of the term, Dr Michael Cullen proceeded to share ...
New Zeal - http://newzeal.blogspot.com
The Fundy Post is risen from the grave
By Paul
I had some success, particularly with the Maxim Institute. I also gave the NZARH the best publicity it has ever enjoyed. However, my employers at the NZARH were not very grateful. Rather than give me a Christmas bonus, they tried their ...
The Fundy Post - http://fundypost.blogspot.com

So as you can see ..

God is watching you .. From a distance. But so is Google.

PAUL.. YOU SHOULD SET UP GOOGLE ALERTS TOO!

Little Red Riding Hood said...

Ooh anonymous fans :)

You know what, no right turn has linked you, and he actually refuses to link me :( I don't think he appreciates my light humour.

Paul said...

Craig: nice to hear from you. We must catch up: send me an email: fundypost at Gmail

Anon: I used to have Google Alerts back in the day. I shall get some more. Thanks for the advice.

Pam: I will put in a good word for you.

Anonymous said...

Fantastic that you are back online. Chalk up another subscriber.