News items from the past week include how creationists are trying to redefine science since they can't fit the current definition, a paraplegic in Brazil who was denied a church wedding because of his impotence, a woman in South Carolina who spent months in jail for inducing an abortion in herself - and she faces more if convicted at trial, and research on how the brain processes empathy.

What Do People Believe About the Ten Commandments?
Many people today believe that the Ten Commandments are in and of themselves a proper moral code, but this position is very dubious. Although it does contain some basic moral prescriptions that one can find in other religions, it doesn't even begin to address some of the most important moral problems that face people today. In addition, the Ten Commandments can and have been read as supporting positions people regard as immoral, like the ownership of slaves and the second-class status of women.

Pragmatic Theory of Truth - What is Truth?
The Pragmatic Theory of Truth is, predictably enough, a product of Pragmatism, an American philosophy developed during the early and mid twentieth century. Pragmatists identified the nature of truth with the principle of action. Put simply, truth does not exist in some abstract realm of thought independent of social relationship or actions; instead, truth is a function of an active process of engagement with the world and verification.

Themes in Existentialism: Existence Precedes Essence
Originated by Jean-Paul Sartre, the phrase 'existence precedes essence' has come to be a classic, even defining, formulation of the heart of existentialist philosophy. It's an idea which turns traditional metaphysics on its head because throughout Western philosophy, it was always assumed that the essence or nature of a thing is more fundamental and eternal than its mere existence. Thus, if you want to understand a thing, what you must do is learn more about its essence.

Freedom to Agree
Bill Maher accused of treason

Creationists Trying to Redefine Science
What else can they do?

Atheists Protesting Anti-Atheist UK Program
Will they succeed?

Paraplegic Denied Wedding Due to Impotence
Sad story from Brazil

Iran: Losing Faith in the Ayatollahs
Well, it's about time

Biological Basis of Empathy
Fascinating research on mirror neurons

Criminalizing Abortion in South Carolina
She'll escape the death penalty, but...

 

Book Reviews:

1) Fire and Roses: Burning of the Charlestown Convent
The United States of America likes to pride itself on its religious tolerance; although that is often true, such assumptions should not be made in a context of historical ignorance. It has been a long road to get to where we are, and a long road lies ahead of us yet. Nancy Schultz brings to life one particularly violent and hateful stop along our historical path: the attack on and burning of a convent of Ursuline nuns in Charlestown, Massachusetts.

2) The Transformation of American Religion
Religion in America has been changing over the past few decades - and the change is one which reflects similar changes in previous centuries. Earlier changes were called "Great Awakenings" - mass movements of people reaching radical new understandings of their religion, their spirituality, and the place religion had in their lives. According to Amanda Porterfield, that is what is happening again.

3) Free for All: Defending Liberty in America Today
It is often argued that the terrorist attacks on America on September 11, 2001, forever changed American society. However, a stronger argument can be made for the idea that the response of the American government to those attacks has made even greater changes - by systematically undermining American civil liberties. Which is worse, the disease or the so-called cure