News items from the past week include the revelation that some Christians continue to support slavery in particular circumstances, attacks on a school program for using Carl Sagan's famous book, what appears to be a novel explanation for why no "true" atheists exist, and more.

Popes of the 13th Century
Here is a list of all of the popes who reigned during the thirteenth century. The first number is which pope they were. This is followed by their chosen name, the starting and ending dates of their reigns, and finally the number of years they were pope. Follow the links to read short biographies of each pope and learn about what they did, what they believed, and what impact they had on the course of the Roman Catholic Church.

Spiritualism as a Religious Response to Science, Naturalism
Parapsychology and the interest in spiritualism and various alleged psychic powers did not develop out of thin air. They are all, at least in large part, the product of religious hopes and aspirations - but more specifically, religious hopes and aspirations which have become disconnected from the anchors of traditional religious dogma and church structures.

Book Reviews: Books on Religious Violence, War, Terrorism
Religious leaders normally argue that religion is a force for good and love in the world. Yet, at the same time, we see religion regularly used for war, mass murder, terrorism, and even genocide. Almost everywhere that we find violent conflict, religion is used as a justification. How can religion be claimed as a basis for peace while so many use it as a basis for terrorism? Reviewed here are books dealing with religion's role in violence, intolerance, discrimination, and terrorism.

Christianity, Christian Reconstructionism, Slavery
Some Christians support slavery?

Minnesota School Program is Anti-American, Anti-Christian
Bizarre complaints

Christianity as Intellectual Kudzu
I just like that title...

Neoconservatism & Christianity in America
Are they compatible?

Conservatives, American Courts, and Foreign Laws
A helpful analysis

Blogsnark: No True Atheists Exist?
Finally, a novel argument?

God, Morality, & Principled Choices
Critique of Divine Command Theory

 

User Polls:

1) As An Atheist, Which Label Do You Use?
There are a lot of different labels that atheists use - atheist, nontheist, freethinker, skeptic, bright, etc. Many use more than one label but most tend to use a single label most of the time. Each label communicates something slightly different about the person using it. Which do you prefer?

2) Should Research into Human Cloning be Banned?
Many people would like to see human cloning be researched because even if no human cloning every occurs, the research might provide a lot of information that would help medical science. Others, though, think that is a path we shouldn't go down at all no matter what the reason. How do you feel?

3) Is Bush Too Beholden to the Christian Right?
President George W. Bush campaigned on a platform designed to appeal to the Christian Right and conservative evangelicals. Many of his policies are also designed to appeal to them. Is he too beholden to them or has he managed to act independently of their desires?