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.