News items from the past week include questions about the "missing link" of evolution, some of the dramatic changes in marriage over the centuries, how religion can corrupt and become corrupted, how American evangelicals fail to live up to their own standards, and more.

Carnival of the Godless
This week the site hosts the 22nd Carnival of the Godless, where some of the more interesting writings from a godless perspective are listed, discussed, and promoted. We have a very interesting collection of posts here this week that deal with a wide variety of issues, so let's not delay any further!

Philosopher: Rene Descartes Biography & Profile
Rene Descartes was a French philosopher who is widely regarded as the 'founder' of the modern age of philosophy because he challenged and questioned all of the traditional systems of thinking, most of which were founded upon Aristotle's ideas. Rene Descartes' treated philosophy as an integral part of other fields like mathematics and science.

Nihilistic Existentialism
Although existentialism is not by necessity nihilistic, nihilism does share a close affinity with existentialism because it depicts human life as ultimately trivial and meaningless. Where it parts company with existentialism, however, is in the level of resulting despair and the conclusion that therefore perhaps the best course of action is suicide.

Evolution and the Missing Link
Why Is It Missing?

Fallen Evangelicals in America
They are hardly role models

The Changing Institution of Marriage
It's been changed an awful lot

Looting in New Orleans
Because Ten Commandments Not in Schools

Corruption of Religion, Corruption by Religion
People need to face reality

Why is Intelligent Design so Appealing?
There are some reasons

Imperialism of the Christian Right
Where are they going?

 

Book Reviews:

1) Alternatives to Hitler: German Resistance
Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, has stated in the past that resistance to the Nazis was "impossible" and that's why he cooperated with the Nazi authorities when he was young. Is that true, however? Was it really not possible for people to resist the Nazi regime and thereby either deny it the support it needed or even seek to replace it? The evidence suggests it was indeed possible.

2) Pope Benedict XVI: Theology of Joseph Ratzinger
Joseph Ratzinger may now be Pope Benedict XVI, but for over 40 years he has been a Catholic theologian. Ratzinger's writings have covered a tremendous amount of territory and his opinions have even seemed to change on a couple of points, but there are a number of common themes that run through all of Ratzinger's arguments.

3) Things Seen and Unseen: A Year Lived in Faith
Atheists tend to live removed from religious communities; because of this, we never get a chance to see some of the conflicts, controversies, and problems which arise within the life of a church. Occasionally, books and articles appear which give us an opportunity to do so, and Nora Gallagher's Things Seen and Unseen: A Year Lived in Faith might serve as one of them.