Welcome to issue #7.34 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at the decisions which some claim declared atheism a religion, but that isn't quite true - people are either lying or haven't read the decision. We also have the pope attacking liberal democracy and secularism (again), Wiccan parents finally allowed to discuss their religion with their son again, a 10 Commandments monument upheld, and more.

What is Nihilism? History and Profile of Nihilist Philosophy
The term nihilism comes from the Latin word 'nihil' which literally means 'nothing.' Many believe that it was originally coined by Russian novelist Ivan Turgenev in his novel Fathers and Sons (1862) , but it probably first appeared several decades earlier. Nevertheless, Turgenev's use of the word to describe the views he attributed to young intellectual critics of feudal society generally and the Tsarist regime in particular gave the word its widespread popularity.

Weekly Quote: Trench on Logic and Reason
"Grammar is the logic of speech, even as logic is the grammar of reason." Follow the link for analysis and discussion...

The 'Hitler Myth': Image and Reality in the Third Reich
Hitler enjoyed more personal popularity in Germany than perhaps any other world leader in history. Many scholars have sought to understand why he was so popular and thus why so many people in a modern, industrialized nation were willing to follow him into madness, barbarism, and self-destruction. Was there something special about Hitler that allowed him to control and manipulate the German people?

Atheism Declared a Religion?
No, just equal rights protected

Firing of Gay Teacher Upheld
Will anyone learn from it?

Pope Links Liberal Democracy with Fascism...
...Attacks Secularism

Children of Gay Couples Protected
Christians are furious

Ten Commandments Monument Upheld
Poorly reasoned decision

Wiccan Parents No Longer Gagged
Finally they can talk

Bush Backs Theocracy in Iraq
Very predictable

 

Forum Discussions:

1) Are Bush's Goals in Iraq Realistic?
"The Bush administration is significantly lowering expectations of what can be achieved in Iraq, recognizing that the United States will have to settle for far less progress than originally envisioned during the transition due to end in four months, according to U.S. officials in Washington and Baghdad. The United States no longer expects to see a model new democracy, a self-supporting oil industry or a society where the majority of people are free from serious security or economic challenges, U.S. officials say."

2) Memes, Memes, Memes
"I am interested in the subject of memes because, if there is some validity to it, memetics may help to explain why human behavior is so irrational. This would be true if the memes have a life of their own and replicate using humans as hosts. The fittest memes are the ones that proliferate most effectively, but not necessarily the ones that are most beneficial to the hosts. Since the most successful memes are often not the ones that make us rational beings our behavior can seem quite odd, and it often is very strange. ..."

3) Do/Should Animals Have Rights?
"I believe that animal should have rights and in most countries there are laws protecting such rights as it is only humane to protect other life-forms, though whether it is because they are thought to be lifeforms created by God and thus should be respected or for some more altruistic reasons, is debatable."