I'm Tony Whelan and I live in Australia's federal capital, Canberra.

I am an atheist and believe in living life to the full because there isn't going to be another one afterwards. Whilst I respect people's right to believe in an after-life, it's irrational and ridiculous to me and I assert my right to criticise all religion as an impediment to freedom and justice.

Some demand we show "respect" for their religion. I quote HL Mencken (1925): "even a superstitious man has certain inalienable rights.  He has a right to harbour and indulge his imbecilities as long as he pleases, provided only he does not try to inflict them upon other men by force.  He has a right to argue for them as eloquently as he can, in season and out of season ... But ... he has no right to be protected against the free criticism of those who do not hold them.  He has no right to demand that they be treated as sacred.  He has no right to preach them without challenge."