There are significant disagreements over the nature and process of scientific research which involve disputes between atheists and theists. There is a strong movement, for example, to undermine the methodological naturalism which constitutes a primary basis by which scientific investigation proceeds. Some Christians see this methodology as antithetical to their theistic beliefs and a barrier to the introduction of those beliefs into school science classes.

 

Read Article: Philosophy of Science: Scientific Investigation, Research, Methodology

A girl as young as eight shouldn't even be married, never mind trying to get a divorce — and from a man who is fifty years older! It's only because traditionalist Islam continues to sanction the barbaric practice of marrying off prepubescent girls is this even an issue and that's only because Muslims believe that their prophet, Muhammad, married a girl of about the same age.

This practice would probably be easier to stamp out if only it were permitted for Muslims to say "Not everything Muhammad did was right, and just because Muhammad did it doesn't mean we should today." That, however, is difficult in a religion that considers even visual depictions of Muhammad to be blasphemous, never mind criticism. It's good that most Muslims around the world reject marrying little girls, but it's only in spite of Islamic traditions. Read more...

Courts have firmly established that public schools cannot mandate or even recommend that students pray. In place of prayer, some try to have schools enforce a "moment of silence" at the beginning of the day. Is this just a way to get around official prayers and should it be banned? It certainly seems like a dishonest way of introducing prayer. Sometimes the language of the law explicitly mentions prayer as something for students to do during their quiet time. Sometimes prayer is referred to repeatedly in discussion among legislators while they are working on the law.

And, sometimes, it's simply the case that the biggest supporters of this law are also the ones who keep trying to push school prayer itself. How fair is this, though? The mere fact that a supporter of school prayer ends up supporting a moment of silence doesn't mean that the moment of silence is necessarily or automatically as wrong as school prayer. Still, it's hard to shake the impression that a moment of silence is only being supported because it's perceived and treated as a way around court rulings that strike down school prayer time. Why else are these same people pushing it so hard?

A common question which atheists hear a lot is 'why don't you believe in God?' Theists, religious or not, have trouble imagining why anyone would not believe in at least some sort of god, preferably their own. When a belief occupies such a central place in a person's life and even identity, this is understandable. The fact is, there are many reasons why atheists might not believe in any gods. Most atheists can cite multiple reasons and every atheist is different.

Note: This has been updated with links to longer explanations about each reason why atheists don't believe in gods.

 

Read Article: Why Not Believe? Reasons Why Atheists Don't Believe in Gods