News items from the past week include questions about whether gender really does come in just two types, a coffee shop that doesn't like atheists, how Catholic leaders supported and aided the Nazis in Germany, the deteriorating situation in Iraq, and more.

Popes of the 18th Century
Here is a list of all of the popes who reigned during the eighteenth 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.

Nietzsche and Nihilism
There is a common misconception that the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche was a nihilist. You can find this assertion in both popular and academic literature, yet as widespread as it it, it isn't really an accurate portrayal of his work. Nietzsche wrote a great deal about nihilism, it is true, but that was because he was concerned about the effects of nihilism on society and culture, not because he advocated nihilism.

Truth and Pragmatism
One common criterion of truth is simple, straightforward pragmatism: if a belief 'works,' then it must be true. If it doesn't work, then it must be false and should be discarded in favor of something else. This criterion has the distinct advantage of being readily testable - in fact, the principle that beliefs and ideas must be verified before being accepted resonates strongly in scientific circles.

Gender and Identity
Just Male and Female?

No More War on Terror?
New rhetoric, it seems

Coffee Shop Kicks Out Atheists
What will they do about it?

Speciation Mechanism Observed
What will creationists do?

The Catholic Church in Nazi Germany
A very disturbing relationship

Iraq, the New Afghanistan
A School for Jihad, Terrorism

Atheism in Singapore
One person's perspective

 

Book Reviews:

1) The First Crusade: A New History
For years, scholars and historians focused on material or economic factors behind the Crusades. People argued that the Crusades were caused by nobles seeking land, wealth, and conquest. Today this has shifted and historians are focusing more on ideological causes: the Crusades were launched because people sincerely believed in the cause. That sort of attitude is completely foreign to us today, but the arguments are sound.

2) Madness: A Brief History
Mental illness has a checkered past in the history of Western culture. Even today, some argue that there is no such 'illness' at all - it is instead simply a label we apply to those who for whatever reason don't fit in with the culture's prevailing notions about proper behavior. It is arguable that a better understanding of how we've treated madness will reveal much not only about medicine, but the broader culture as well.

3) Truth, Knowledge, Or Just Plain Bull: How To Tell The Difference
There are many different claims out there vying for our attention and acceptance. We encounter claims in politics, religion, and of course advertising. Some claims are true or at least reasonable, but many are wrong if not outright lies. How can we reliably separate the two? How can we learn to think clearly enough to differentiate between true and false ideas?