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Why Beliefs Matter

Atheists are frequently challenged to explain why they are so critical of religious and theistic beliefs. Why do we care what others believe? Why don't we just leave people alone to believe what they want?

Atheists vs. Religion

Agnosticism / Atheism Spotlight10

Austin's Atheism Blog

Why Should Theists Prove that God Exists? Why Do Atheists Ask for Proof of God?

Friday November 20, 2009
When atheists and theists debate the existence of gods, atheists generally ask for some sort of proof of the god or gods that the theist claims exist. Why do they do this? That is a difficult question to answer because while it is true that atheists often ask theists for proof that their god exists, sometimes they shouldn't. Asking for proof may end up confusing the important issues, causing distraction, and leading the conversation away from where it should be.

 

Read Article: Why Should Theists Prove that God Exists? Why Do Atheists Ask for Proof of God?

Christian Veterans Throw Temper-Tantrum as Lesson to Students

Friday November 20, 2009
The American Legion has a long, sordid history of reactionary and even authoritarian policies -- for example bigotry towards atheists coupled with promoting theocratic government. The latter came to the fore in Bloomington, Minnesota, when American Legion Post 550 insisted on inserting Christian prayers into a Veterans' Day flag raising ceremony.

When they were informed that religious rituals couldn't be made an official part of an official school function, they not only refused to do the ceremony completely but also decided to withdraw funds for college scholarships. So if they couldn't impose their religious beliefs on other people's children, they wanted to take their flag and their money and go home. What a great lesson to teach the students about morality, patriotism, and religion. Read more...

Pentecostal Superstition: Is Pentecostal Christianity Especially Superstitious?

Friday November 20, 2009

Superstition is "excessively credulous belief in and reverence for supernatural beings" and an "unjustified belief in supernatural causation." From the perspective of nonbelievers, all Christianity is "superstitious" because none of it is justified. If we take as a given some minimal level of belief in the supernatural, though, some forms of Christianity involve a much more than other forms and are thus arguably more superstitious. Pentecostal Christianity fits readily into this category.

Read Article: Pentecostal Superstition: Is Pentecostal Christianity Especially Superstitious?

Harry Potter: Christian Censorship of Harry Potter

Thursday November 19, 2009
The Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling are not only popular with children, they are popular with Christian censors as well. Harry Potter books have consistently been among the most challenged books in schools and libraries for the past several years, according to the American Library Association. Why do so many Christians object to Harry Potter? How have conservative Christians attempted to censor the Harry Potter books and prevent kids from reading them?

 

Read Article: Christian Censorship of Harry Potter: Schools, Libraries, and Free Speech

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