News items from the past week include prevarication from the government on the nature of "humane" treatment of detainees, the truth behind Intelligent Design, the real reason so many Jews died during the Holocaust, questions about evangelicals' political future, and more.

What Does 'Humane' Mean?
According to Alberto Gonzales, the U.S. government has an obligation to treat all detainees "humanely." But what is "humane" treatment? Can it possibly include actions like waterboarding, forced nudity, threatening to kill family members, et.? Yes, as a matter of fact it does.

Antony Flew & Flawed Science
More people are noticing the very disappointing basis that Antony Flew is apparently using for his "conversion" to theism. Far from reasoned philosophical or scientific arguments, Flew is apparently relying upon shoddy scholarship and sloppy reasoning.

Parental Notification: What Really Happens
Many states have "parental notification" laws making it illegal for a minor to get an abortion without parental consent or a judicial waiver. Even many defenders of abortion rights tend to agree that such laws are reasonable, but people need to understand that they can be abused by conservative judges.

Will Evangelicals' Political Success Continue?
Maybe not...

Holocaust: Jews Died For Not Following Kabbalah?
Wacky group

Green Pagans & Faith-Based Funding
It could happen

Egyptians Sold Fake Cat Mummies
Ancient religious fraud

Iraq-Bound Soldiers Get Media Training
Why?

Creepy Opus Dei
What do they want?

Complete Idiot's Guide to Intelligent Design
Very informative...

 

Book Reviews:

1) Natural Atheism, by David Eller
Religion, particularly forms of religion that are fundamentalist or fervent in nature, have experienced explosive growth in recent decades. Many have found this to be strange, considering that great scientific, social, and political progress made made in secular circles. What could be going on? What are people looking for that they don't find in secularism?

2) Perfect Enemies: Religious Right & Gays
The debate over gay rights generally and gay marriage specifically is one of the most important cultural conflicts of our era - one that might potentially out-do abortion in its intensity and implications. Although it affects everyone, it involves two groups of highly committed and very angry activists for whom this issue seems to be the very essence of their existence.

3) Islam Under Siege: Living Dangerously in a Post-Honour World
Muslims are under pressure from two fronts: on the one hand are Islamic radicals who want to remake Islam in their own image; on the other are Western secularists who would like to see Islam remade in their own image. In the middle are the vast majority of Muslims, neither radical and violent nor secular and liberal. How should they deal with these demands being made on their religion?