News items from the past week include the misunderstanding of statistics and probabilities when assessing alleged miracles, questions about the nature of democracy, secularism in American government, genuine questions about the course of human evolution, and more.

Skepticism of the Holocaust, Skepticism of Evolution
Religious critics of evolutionary theory emphasize the idea that 'all sides' of a debate should be taught and that schools have an obligation to present the 'debates' about academic subjects. If we apply this to evolution, though, why not also the Holocaust? This is a valid question because at least one teacher has tried to do exactly that.

Terror in the Name of Law & Order
When people think of totalitarian regimes like Nazi Germany, they imagine societies where everyone lives in fear of the secret police and government action. The truth, however, is both more mundane and more disturbing: the Nazi state only acted against the undesirables in society, with most people openly supportive of the actions.

Book Reviews: Books the Conflict Between Israelis & Palestin
Few people are unaware of the violence which keeps occurring between Israelis and Palestinians. Why is this happening - what are the causes, and are there any solutions? Everything comes back to religion: the disagreement and violence between Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Understanding the role of religion in these disagreements is necessary to understanding the violence itself. Reviewed here are some books that may help.

Rights, Duties, Opportunities, and Resources
How are they all interrelated?

Probability and Miracles
What is Likely? What is Unlikely?

Religion is Not Necessary for Morality
Nice explanation why

Mysteries of Human Evolution
Real questions, not fake ones

Constitution Doesn't Require Secular Government
So says Newt Gingrich

Atheist Family Values
Of course they exist

What is a Democracy, Really?
Definitions are important

 

User Polls:

1) Should Torture-Doctors Lose Medical Licenses?
Medical personnel are often responsible for assisting directly in torture because of their specialized knowledge of human biology and even more often responsible for fixing victims up afterward for more sessions later. It seems likely, for example, that medical professionals were involved in Abu Ghraib. Should such people lose the right to ever work in medicine again?

2) Are Atheists Arrogant for Denying God?
One assumption many have about atheists is that atheists are arrogant. Why? Because they dare not to believe in any of the gods that others deem so important to their lives. Is it true that atheists are arrogant for not believing in any gods or are such theists arrogant for making assumptions about atheists?

3) What Should Happen to Pregnant Women Who Harm Their Fetus?
Not all pregnant women take the best possible care of themselves - or the fetus inside them. Some drink. Some do drugs. Some don't get the proper nutrition. All of this may be bad for them but it's even worse for their fetus - but should anything be done about them?