News items from the past week include the status of pope as cult figure, the state of abortion in early America, Wal-Mart's refusal to stock emergency contraception, indications that Pope Benedict XVI opposes the Harry Potter books, a biography of Aristotle, and more.

Philosopher: Aristotle Biography & Profile
Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher whose work has been extremely important to the development of both western philosophy and western theology. It has traditionally been thought that Aristotle started out in agreement with Plato and gradually moved away from his ideas, but recent research suggests just the opposite.

Objective Truth: Is Something True Regardless?
The idea of truth as objective is simply that no matter what we believe to be the case, some things will always be true and other things will always be false. Our beliefs, whatever they are, have no bearing on the facts of the world around us. That which is true is always true - even if we stop believing it and even if we stop existing at all.

Critiquing Christianity
When criticizing Christianity, what is it that we criticize? Are we only attacking a 'false' form of Christianity, ignoring the 'True Christianity' which is immune to such comments? That is certainly what many Christian apologists believe, basing their arguments upon subtle but often question-begging assumptions about what qualifies as 'real' Christianity.

Pope Benedict Opposes Harry Potter Novels?
Sounds like it

The Pope as Celebrity and Cult Figure
Is it really appropriate?

Gay & Atheist in the Islamic World
Very, very difficult life

Abortion in Early America
More common than some think

Ten Commandments
Bigger 'Christian' Issue than War, Pover

Wal-Mart and Emergency Contraception
Denying women needed medication

Where Could Van Orden Lead?
Good question...

 

Book Reviews:

1) The Christian Right in American Politics
The Christian Right has evolved into a powerful force in American politics during the past thirty years, moving from a purely outsider movement to the ultimate insiders. How did they achieve their gains - and, in fact, what sort of real gains have they actually managed to reach?

2) Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East
In the West, it is known as the Six Day War. Among Arab Muslims, however, it is better known as "The Disaster" or "The Setback." Egypt, Jordan, and Syrian went to war with Israel - and lost massively. In the aftermath Israel captured large amounts of territory - land which the Torah recorded as having been granted to the Jews by God and conquered by military force, land now conquered once again by force. The events of these six days shaped the geographic, social, cultural, and political landscape of the entire Middle East down through today.

3) God's Defenders: What They Believe and Why They Are Wrong
Just about all of the central doctrines of the world's major religions are matters of truth or falsehood, not opinion. What this means is that these doctrines are either true or false - but proving them true or false is a tricky matter. While science has been able to demonstrate that most of these doctrines are exceedingly unlikely, it is the nature of science that basic religious beliefs won't be proven absolutely false. It is in this increasingly tiny space of possibility that faith makes a home, and where the defenders of theism operate.