For many religious believers, the absence of religious doctrines in the nation's laws are treated almost as a personal affront. They can't seem to understand how a community can get along without their religious beliefs or how a government can function without religious backing. One such person seems to be Jean Elshtain, ethics professor at the University of Chicago who believes that certain issues must be discussed in a religious context and, therefore, cannot be discussed in a secular context. Read more...

The oldest manuscripts of Mark end with verse 8 while the rest of the chapter contains language and symbolism which strongly suggest that they were taken from other, later sources. There appear to have been several efforts to end Mark differently because the verse 8 is not only abrupt, but ends the gospel on a note of fear and silence - hardly an appropriate message for the early Christian community.

Read Article: Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalena and the Two Disciples (Mark 16:9-13)

Albert Einstein is sometimes claimed by religious theists seeking the authority of a famous scientist for their theistic views, but Einstein denied the existence of the traditional concept of a personal god. Was Albert Einstein therefore an atheist? From some perspectives his position would be seen as atheism or no different from atheism. He admitted to being a freethinker, which in a German context is much the same as atheism, but it's not clear that Einstein disbelieved in any god concepts.

 

Read Article Einstein Quotes on Atheism & Freethought: Was Einstein an Atheist, Freethinker?

One of the key issues underlying many holiday legal battles is whether government can privilege Christianity, Christian beliefs, and Christian messages. Many Christians regard such privileges as a birthright, something due to them and necessary for reinforcing their superior position over all non-Christians. The law, however, is rarely on their side.

In Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, an atheist group request permission to put up a sign by the Memorial square fountain war memorial. The sign would have been in memory of atheist war veterans, so it would certainly be appropriate, but Christians objected because it would have been near a Christmas nativity scene. The city council was informed that the law required them to either accept signs and displays on a content neutral basis, or not accept any signs and display.

Most government bodies, when faced with this issue, end up accepting multiple displays and signs for the public square. The Chambersburg Borough Council, however, decided that it would be better to have nothing at all rather than allow any displays or signs be seen as equal to the nativity scene. Read more...