Televangelists Thriving Again
Wednesday December 31, 2003
During the 1980s televangelists were a common feature on America's televisions. Eventually a couple of prominent figures, like Jimmy Swaggert and Jim Bakker self-destructed and for the most part they ... Read More
Pick Your Favorite Jesus
Wednesday December 31, 2003
[T]he Christian debate about Jesus has special importance for all of us here in the United States, even if we are not Christian. The Christians have tremendous influence in our ... Read More
Another View of Consequentialist Ethics
Wednesday December 31, 2003
Consequentialist ethics teach that we can determine the morality of an action by its consequences. If the consequences are good, then the action is good. If the consequence are the ... Read More
Ultra-traditionalist Catholics Receiving Scrutiny
Wednesday December 31, 2003
The Second Vatican Council brought about many significant changes in the way the Roman Catholic Church operated. Not enough changes for some, but far too many for others. There are ... Read More
This Date in History: Miguel de Unamuno
Wednesday December 31, 2003
December 31, 1936: Philosopher Miguel de Unamuno died.
Religious Advocacy in Public Schools
Wednesday December 31, 2003
Just how far can religious advocacy and proselytization by students can be permitted in public schools. On the one hand, students certainly have freedom of speech and freedom of religion ... Read More
Top Ten News Stories of 2003
Wednesday December 31, 2003
Selected here are ten of the biggest stories from the year 2003. The reasoning behind some choices will be obvious, but not in other cases. In general, I chose not ... Read More
Top Books Reviewed in 2003
Wednesday December 31, 2003
Take a look at ten of the best books reviewed during the year 2003. It was difficult to pick just ten, there were so many good books from the past ... Read More
Religious and Political Freedom
Wednesday December 31, 2003
Recently Received: Eternal Hostility: The Struggle Between Theocracy and Democracy, by Frederick Clarkson.
Christianity in America is not always as benign and peaceful as some would like. There are those who ... Read More
Fallacies: Correlation vs. Causation
Tuesday December 30, 2003
Determining the nature of causation is very difficult. Sometimes a cause and effect are closely related - spatially, temporally or both - but sometimes they are not. However, humans seem ... Read More
Turkish Sympathy for Islamic Extremists Grows
Tuesday December 30, 2003
Although there is a long history of Arab dislike for the West, one exception to that has been non-Arab Turkey - a Muslim nation with a strong Western orientation. That, ... Read More
Orthodox & Catholic Christians Squabble Over Converts
Tuesday December 30, 2003
Long divided over doctrinal matters. the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox churches continue to fight with one another when it comes to converting one another's adherents. The Vatican in particular ... Read More
This Date in History: Foursquare Gospel
Tuesday December 30, 2003
December 30, 1927: Originally founded by evangelist Aimee Semple McPherson in 1923, the International Church of the Foursquare Gospel was officially incorporated in Los Angeles, California.
Homophobic Church Criticized
Tuesday December 30, 2003
Christian churches have often been very unwelcoming for gays and lesbians, something that many church leaders would like to change. One of them is the Right Rev Professor Iain Torrance, ... Read More
Women More Religious than Men
Tuesday December 30, 2003
It shouldn't come as much of a surprise, but a recent Gallup poll indicates that women are more religious than men. Not only that, but they are more active in ... Read More
American Religion of Secularism and Atheism
Tuesday December 30, 2003
In order to justify having the government promote their religion (typically Christianity), some people are reduced to arguing that atheism and secularism are religions which the government is already promoting. ... Read More
AFA Marriage Poll: Not What They Expected
Monday December 29, 2003
For a while now, the American Family Association has been running a poll on their website about gay marriage. They are asking people whether they oppose the legalization of gay ... Read More
Religious Tests for Public Office
Monday December 29, 2003
One of the facts which can be used to demonstrate that America is not a "Christian Nation" in the sense that so many evangelicals use the term is that the ... Read More
Proud John Bircher
Monday December 29, 2003
What is "cheap and groundless," about exposing the criminal conspiracy of the pro-communist tactics of atheists, the American Civil Liberties Union, terrorists and other ant-American zealots? These outfits have been ... Read More
Government Has First Amendment Rights?
Monday December 29, 2003
It's simultaneously sad and amusing to observe people making legal arguments about the Constitution when it is clear that they don't really have any idea what they are talking about. ... Read More
Paganism, Witchcraft, Atheism: Testing Christianity
Monday December 29, 2003
Times seem to be tough for Christians in Australia. Some are acting as though they are becoming an embattled minority, although in truth the real issue is the fact that ... Read More
Unskilled and Unaware
Monday December 29, 2003
Sometimes, when a person is seriously unskilled in a task, that lack of skill not only prevents them from doing the task well, but also prevents them from realizing that ... Read More
Howard Dean to Promote Religion
Monday December 29, 2003
The focus on Howard Dean's religious beliefs continues - and he seems to be responding to the pressure. He is a Congregationalist who rarely attends church while his wife and ... Read More
This Date in History: Murder & Religion
Monday December 29, 2003
December 29, 1170: Archbishop Thomas Becket was murdered in the Canterbury Cathedral by four knights who believed that they were executing the wishes of King Henry II.
Town Drops Religious Seal
Monday December 29, 2003
Criticized last year by Irv Sutley, a local atheist and activist, Rohnert Park in California will be dropping a religious town seal in favor of something that is not only ... Read More
When Ann Coulter Attacks
Monday December 29, 2003
Anyone who has read her work will know that Ann "We should invade their countries, kill their leaders, and convert them to Christianity" Coulter's columns are typically a tissue of ... Read More
Facts About Evolution
Monday December 29, 2003
People's ignorance about evolution can be quite astounding - but even more disturbing than this is the apparent desire of the most ignorant to spread misinformation and render everyone else ... Read More
Creation, Evolution, and Religion
Monday December 29, 2003
Recently Received: Perspectives on Evolving Creation, edited by Keith B. Miller.
The debate about evolution is commonly framed as one between secular scientists and Christians - but that isn't entirely accurate. ... Read More
Christian Nationalism & President George W. Bush
Sunday December 28, 2003
As discussed more than once on this site, there is a movement in America that might be called "Christian Nationalism" (other labels include Christianism or Nationalist Christianism). According to Christian ... Read More
Missionaries Rushing to Iraq
Sunday December 28, 2003
Evangelical Christians want desperately to convert Muslims to Christianity. They feel that they have a golden opportunity in Afghanistan and Iraq because of the relative power of Western military forces ... Read More
Joe Lieberman Still Flunks on Separation
Sunday December 28, 2003
Senator and presidential candidate Joseph Lieberman may be liberal and he may be a stronger defender of the separation of church and state than Republican counterparts, but he still doesn't ... Read More
Growing Support for Gays in Military
Sunday December 28, 2003
When Bill Clinton first tried to eliminate the ban on gays in the military, he didn't meet with much success. His compromise, "don't ask, don't tell," has been a failure ... Read More
Court Restricts Anti-Abortion Activist
Sunday December 28, 2003
A consistent adherence to the basic tenets of the American anti-abortion movement seems to require that a person adopt an extremist position. If abortion is murder, and millions of innocent ... Read More
Online Dictionaries on Atheism
Sunday December 28, 2003
When debating atheism online, one of the most common resources used will probably be various online dictionaries. These are references which everyone has equal access to, unlike printed dictionaries which ... Read More
Anglican Church Closed Over Same-Sex Fight
Sunday December 28, 2003
The conflict in the Anglican Communion over gay clergy and gay couples seems to be getting worse: the Holy Cross Church in Abbotsford, British Columbia is being closed because the ... Read More
Libya's Recent Moves
Sunday December 28, 2003
As most readers are probably aware already, Libya has announced that it has in the past sought to develop Weapons of Mass Destruction - chemical and biological weapons, specifically. More ... Read More
This Date in History: Evolution
Sunday December 28, 2003
December 28, 1829: Jean-Baptiste Lamarck died. Lamark advocated a theory of evolution which included the idea that traits could be acquired and then passed along to offspring.
Racists Making Inroads in Middle America?
Sunday December 28, 2003
Most Americans probably like to think of their nation as being relatively tolerant, but that isn't always the case. Unbeknownst to many, there still exist a strong racist movement in ... Read More
Non-Christian Fired: Mere Presence Would Ruin Holidays
Sunday December 28, 2003
If you are a non-Christian working in an office of mostly Christians, you had better keep your eyes open and your nose clean. If you aren't carefully, you might just ... Read More
Religious Control of Marriage
Sunday December 28, 2003
There's a lot of disagreement over whether gays and lesbians should have the opportunity to enter into "civil unions," something close to marriage, but not so close as to make ... Read More
Philosophic Origins of Agnosticism
Saturday December 27, 2003
Although Thomas Henry Huxley coined the term agnosticism, it did not spring fully-formed from his mind. On the contrary, Huxley was relying upon a long philosophic tradition of religious and ... Read More
Atheists: Allies of the Islamofascists?
Saturday December 27, 2003
Apparently, atheist activists are working closely with Islamofascists in order to undermine this Christian Nation! Yes, it's true! I read it on a religious blog, so it must be true! ... Read More
Is Howard Dean Too Secular?
Saturday December 27, 2003
Doug writes: Recent discussion has focused on Howard Dean's "real" problem: he's not religious enough. Have we reached the point where the only way to be elected to the Oval ... Read More
Skepticism and Faith: The Nigerian Email Scam
Saturday December 27, 2003
Atheists sometimes wonder how people can have faith in religious doctrines that are wildly implausible or faith in paranormal claims which are manifestly nonsense. The human capacity for faith is ... Read More
This Date in History: American Temperance
Saturday December 27, 2003
December 27, 1899: Carry Nation, a leader of the American Christian temperance movement, raided and wrecked her first saloon in Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
IN-Accuracy in Media
Saturday December 27, 2003
The group Accuracy In Media claims that it is a "non-profit, grassroots citizens watchdog of the news media that critiques botched and bungled news stories and sets the record straight ... Read More
Church to Harass Strip Club Patrons
Saturday December 27, 2003
Unable to get laws passed that officially ban businesses they don't like, some church groups change tactics: they harass the customers in the hopes of running the places out of ... Read More
Ten Commandments Foiled by Size Rule
Saturday December 27, 2003
There is a certain segment of conservative, evangelical Christians who seem convinced that the normal rules of society simply do not or should not apply to them. Because most people ... Read More
Christianity and Fascism in Nazi Germany
Saturday December 27, 2003
Recently Received: The Holy Reich: Nazi Conceptions of Christianity, 1919-1945, by Richard Steigmann-Gall.
Was the Nazi government of Germany anti-Christian or pro-Christian? This is a debate which has taken up considerable ... Read More
Agnosticism & Robert Green Ingersoll
Friday December 26, 2003
Robert Green Ingersoll was a famous and influential proponent of secularism and religious skepticism during the mid- to late 19th century in America. He was a strong advocate both of ... Read More
Islam and Organ Donation
Friday December 26, 2003
Organ transplants and organ donations don't happen very often in Muslim countries - evidently, because Islamic scholars and religious leaders don't entirely approve of the process. They act as though ... Read More
The Last Samurai, or the Last Mujahideen?
Friday December 26, 2003
You may or may not have seen Tom Cruise's recent film The Last Samurai - but if you do ever see it, you might want to consider just what sort ... Read More
This Date in History: Cloning Raelians
Friday December 26, 2003
December 26, 2002: According to Brigitte Boisselier, a chemist and CEO of Clonaid, on this day the first cloned human being was born. Clonaid is a company created by the ... Read More
Mythical Separation of Church and State
Friday December 26, 2003
Opposition to the separation of church and state is very consistently promoted on the basis of distortions, deception, and even outright lies. I don't know why this is so, but ... Read More
Anglican Communion's Evangelical Dilemma
Friday December 26, 2003
The leadership of the Anglican Communion have a serious problem. On the one hand, the evangelicals want to significantly alter the liberal direction that the church has been moving in ... Read More
Faith-Based Parks
Friday December 26, 2003
The Bush administration's effort to cater to fundamentalists and conservative evangelicals continues apace. As reported here a few month ago, plaques of Bible verses were returned to prominent positions around ... Read More
Agnosticism & Thomas Henry Huxley
Thursday December 25, 2003
The term "agnosticism" itself was coined by Professor T.H. Huxley at a meeting of the Metaphysical Society in 1876. For Huxley, agnosticism was a position which rejected the knowledge claims ... Read More
First Deer Cloned
Thursday December 25, 2003
Scientists at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Texas A&M University have announced that they successfully cloned a white-tailed deer - the first time that this species has ever been ... Read More
Christianity in Theory and Practice
Thursday December 25, 2003
When Saddam Hussein was captured and pictures of his medical examination were shown to the world, there were strong objections made by Cardinal Renato Martino, head of the Vatican's Justice ... Read More
This Date in History: Crime of Celebrating Christmas
Thursday December 25, 2003
December 25, 1651: The Massachusetts General Court instituted a fine for "observing any such day as Christmas."
Atheists Object to School Discrimination
Thursday December 25, 2003
One of the most frequent targets for religious exemptions from otherwise general laws and rules involves headgear. There are a number of situations where hats of various sorts may be ... Read More
No Holiday For You!
Thursday December 25, 2003
If you ever wonder whether a politician really cares about serving everyone in a community rather than just those who are part of some "in" group, ask whether they care ... Read More
Are Faith-Based Initiatives Unnecessary?
Thursday December 25, 2003
An import goal for President George W. Bush seems to be getting more government money into the hands of religious organizations so that they cana administer public social services. Unfortunately, ... Read More
Paradoxical Thinking
Thursday December 25, 2003
Recently Received: A Brief History of the Paradox: Philosophy and the Labyrinths of the Mind, by Roy Sorensen.
Riddles, paradoxes, and conundrums have been staples of human thought for millennia - ... Read More
Mandatory Religion Classes in Spain
Wednesday December 24, 2003
Until recently, students in Spain's public schools had the option of taking a course on Roman Catholicism. They didn't have to attend the classes and if they did, their grades ... Read More
"Free Speech" Zones
Wednesday December 24, 2003
If you think that you have the right to "free speech" in America, think again. You don't - at least, not when the president is around. Apparently he doesn't ... Read More
This Date in History: Society of Jesus
Wednesday December 24, 2003
December 24, 1491: Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, was born.
Cardinal Calls for Third Vatican Council
Wednesday December 24, 2003
Cardinal Stephen Fumio Hamao of Japan, an important Vatican official who heads the Vatican office for migrants, has called for a Third Vatican Council to deal with the question of ... Read More
Videotapes Prove Abuse of 9/11 Detainees
Wednesday December 24, 2003
Many of those who were "detained" in the wake of the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, claimed that they were physically and verbally abused by prison guards. The government ... Read More
Vatican Criticizes Italy's In-Vitro Fertilization Law
Wednesday December 24, 2003
Bishop Elio Sgreccia, vice president of the Pontifical Academy for Life, has stated that legislation recently approved by the Italian Senate to allow in vitro fertilization has not "licit" according ... Read More
Demeaning Religion
Tuesday December 23, 2003
One of the common arguments raised by those who object to the limitations placed upon how the government accommodates religious beliefs is that such limitations are an expression of hostility. ... Read More
Mormons Still Baptizing Dead Jews
Tuesday December 23, 2003
Mormons don't just baptize new converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they also baptize dead people - by thousands and the tens of thousands. According to ... Read More
Should Saddam Hussein Get the Death Penalty?
Tuesday December 23, 2003
Paddle writes: My own opinion is that, no, he shouldn't. He should be incarcerated for the rest of his miserable existence in suitably humiliating circumstances, to serve as a warning ... Read More
Rush Limbaugh's Right to Privacy
Tuesday December 23, 2003
Does Rush Limbaugh, or anyone else, have a constitutional right to privacy? Limbaugh argued exactly when he tried to have his medical records sealed so that prosecutors in Florida couldn't ... Read More
Atheists Misunderstanding Church/State Separation
Tuesday December 23, 2003
Using already established principles of our government, recognizing something as a religion inherently violates the right to free speech. Which means the right to free speech is already being trampled ... Read More
This Date in History: French Wars of Religion
Tuesday December 23, 2003
December 23, 1620: French Huguenots declared war on King Louis XIII.
Evils of a Secular Christmas
Tuesday December 23, 2003
American Christians aren't the only ones who are upset over the growing secular domination of the Christmas holiday season. Some Australian Christians are complaining as well, arguing that secular, consumer ... Read More
Message to Lefties: Go to Hell
Tuesday December 23, 2003
You lefties are passing laws promoting farming of embryos for body parts, ... "civil unions," anti-gun ownership, and most importantly, you are taking Jesus out of schools, off the TV, ... Read More
Cloning: Embryo Grown Without Sperm
Tuesday December 23, 2003
Cloning is regarded as one of the ways in which we might be able to create human stem cells, but so many people have a negative reaction to the very ... Read More
Secret Psychic Powers
Tuesday December 23, 2003
Recently Received: Secrets of the Psychics: Investigating Paranormal Claims, by Massimo Polidoro.
People who claim to have psychic powers or to have experienced paranormal events get a lot of attention. But ... Read More
Naked Public Square?
Monday December 22, 2003
One common complaint raised about the way strict separationists read the First Amendment is that it leaves the public square "naked," by which it is meant that the public square ... Read More
Jacko X: Michael Jackson & the Nation of Islam
Monday December 22, 2003
Michael Jackson has a reputation for very bizarre actions that have occurred throughout his career. The strangest yet, it seems, may be a sudden conversion to the Nation of Islam ... Read More
The Genius of George W. Bush?
Monday December 22, 2003
Reshuffle writes: Once again, the genius of the Bush administration comes to fruition. Only the goofballs and the ideologies will pretend otherwise. Saddam Hussein, the Mideast's most brutal tyrant who ... Read More
Anti-Christmas Bias
Monday December 22, 2003
One of the great achievements of Europe's Christian culture was the transformation of various pagan winter festivals into a celebration of the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ. In a ... Read More
This Date in History: Antipope
Monday December 22, 2003
December 22, 1419: Antipope John XXIII died.
United Way vs. Boy Scouts
Monday December 22, 2003
Several United Way chapters around the United States have stopped giving funds to the Boy Scouts of America because of the Scouts' discrimination against gays and atheists. This annoys a ... Read More
Blameworthy Atheists
Monday December 22, 2003
Most atheists realize that there are, as a generalization, two types of atheists: "weak" atheists who simply disbelieve in gods and "strong" atheist who deny the actual or even possible ... Read More
Growing Human Organs on the Farm
Monday December 22, 2003
One of the ideal goals of human cloning research would be the ability to grow human organs at will - not just any organs, but your own organs - livers, ... Read More
"Strong" Support for Gay Marriage Ban?
Sunday December 21, 2003
According to the headline for a New York Times/CBS News, there is "strong" support for amending the United States Constitution to ban gay marriage. But what do they mean by ... Read More
Second Law of Thermodynamics: Untrue?
Sunday December 21, 2003
The Second Law of Thermodynamics, which stipulates that any closed system increases in entropy (disorder) over time, is one of the foundations of modern physics. It may also be untrue ... Read More
Slamming Atheists for the Holidays
Sunday December 21, 2003
If Christmas is a time for the faithful, The Sunday Age asked various religious leaders what atheists miss out on.
That's the premise behind an article in Australia's The Age. They ... Read More
"Focus on the Family" - Too Political?
Sunday December 21, 2003
Created by Dr. James Dobson to talk about "family" matters, the radio program "Focus on the Family" has always had a significant political aspect as well - indeed, sometimes it ... Read More
Don't Know Much About Christmas
Sunday December 21, 2003
In a sign of just how far the secularization and commercialization of Christmas can go towards displacing religious meanings, nearly a third of people in Holland evidently do not know ... Read More
Schools and Religious Holidays
Sunday December 21, 2003
Traditionally, public schools in America have been very explicit in their celebration of the holiday season - for students, it was a Christmas holiday season, a Christmas break, and celebratory ... Read More
A Place for Creationism?
Sunday December 21, 2003
There are those who insist that creationism be taught in public schools - either alongside evolution under some program of "equal time" or in place of evolution. Scientifically, though, creationism ... Read More
Taking Christianity out of Christmas
Sunday December 21, 2003
A number of Christians have been arguing for years that Christmas is becoming less and less Christian. Many festivals don't mention Christmas at all. Companies have "holiday" sales rather than ... Read More
This Date in History: Catholicism & Female Ordination
Sunday December 21, 2003
December 21, 2002: In a decree approved of by Pope John Paul II, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (better known by its original name the "Inquisition") excommunicated ... Read More
End Defensive Atheism
Sunday December 21, 2003
Atheists tend to be defensive when it comes to their interactions with theists and religion. Atheists don't usually speak up a great deal and they commonly act only as a ... Read More
In Defense of Lust
Sunday December 21, 2003
Lust has traditionally been treated very negatively in Western culture - but should it be? Granted, lust can get out of control... but do we criticize hunger and thirst simply ... Read More
Japanese Cloning, with Regulation
Sunday December 21, 2003
Human cloning was banned in Japan in 2001, but some are arguing that with the proper controls, it might be fair to loosen the legal restrictions somewhat. According to a ... Read More
Atheist Challenges Scouts' Access to Schools
Saturday December 20, 2003
The Boy Scouts of America are a bigoted organization, discriminating against gays and atheists because their alleged inferiority when it comes to matters of citizenship, morality, and ability to be ... Read More
Kentucky Must Remove Ten Commandments
Saturday December 20, 2003
Efforts to try and find a way to construct displays of the Ten Commandments continue around the nation. Although these efforts are always designed to promote theism, Christianity, and the ... Read More
Christian Leaders Support Anti-Pagan Bigotry
Saturday December 20, 2003
I reported here earlier about how "faith czar" Jim Towey, the man in charge of Bush's "faith-based" efforts to funnel government money to religious groups, expressed personal bigotry and prejudice ... Read More
South Carolina Fights for Sectarian Prayers
Saturday December 20, 2003
School boards and town councils all over South Carolina regularly invoke the name of Jesus in prayers before beginning their meetings, an action which explicitly favors Christianity over other religions, ... Read More
God Supports Governor of Connecticut
Saturday December 20, 2003
Perhaps God has a soft spot for Republicans, but in addition to supporting the re-election of President George W. Bush in 2004, God is also throwing his support behind Connecticut ... Read More
Nativity Displays, Creches and More
Saturday December 20, 2003
Surely the most obvious and divisive of the holiday questions is that of religious displays in public. These generate the most discussion, the most debate, and of course the most ... Read More
Atheists vs. Theists
Saturday December 20, 2003
The atheists definition of rationality is very narrow, while the theists understanding of rationality is more broad. Consequently, what may be considered adequate grounds for belief by a theist, will ... Read More
Biblical Manhood, Biblical Womanhood
Saturday December 20, 2003
One of the most significant changes in Western society over the century or two has been the shifting roles of men and women. Today, many more women are doing tasks ... Read More
This Date in History: Discrimination & Tax Exemptions
Saturday December 20, 2003
December 20, 1971: Affirmed: Coit v. Green Black families who had children attending public schools in Mississippi filed suit to have the IRS revoke the tax exempt status of private ... Read More
God Considers Smiting Bible Pirates
Saturday December 20, 2003
Everywhere you turn you can find people using the Bible - but if God is the author of the Bible, shouldn't God be getting royalties or something? Aren't the people ... Read More
Woman Charged for Selling Sex Toys
Saturday December 20, 2003
Just as people held "Tupperware Parties" in the past to make extra money by selling products from Tupperware, people today can do the same by selling sex toys. Many find ... Read More
Post Office Caters to Killers (Muslims)
Saturday December 20, 2003
Bigotry and prejudice against Muslims in the United States can be pretty strong - stronger than a lot of people may realize. There are those out there who honestly think ... Read More
What if you are wrong and God exists?
Friday December 19, 2003
Aren't you afraid of hell? Don't you worry about what might happen to you when you die? In fact, no, I'm not really afraid of that - and the idea ... Read More
Tolkien and Atheists
Friday December 19, 2003
I write much about atheists and their atheism on this blog site; partly because I cannot fathom what it must be like to live without any sense of transcendent purpose ... Read More
Acadiana has lengthy past with ACLU
Friday December 19, 2003
Readers may remember the story reported here and many other places about the boy in Louisiana who was suspended from school because he explained to a friend what it meant ... Read More
This Date in History: Hans Kung
Friday December 19, 2003
December 19, 1979: The Vatican's Congregation for the Faith rescinded the authority of University of Tübingen theologian Hans Küng, preventing him from teaching theology at any Catholic institution. This action ... Read More
Universal Salvation: Challenging Christians
Friday December 19, 2003
Traditional Christian doctrine has it that only Christians go to heaven because only Christians believe the "right" thing. Of course, to accept that you already have to believe Christian doctrine ... Read More
Anyone But An Atheist...
Friday December 19, 2003
Most people have probably heard of the Masons, a fraternal organization that has lodges all around the world. What most people aren't aware of, however, is the fact that while ... Read More
Scientology Clinic Under Fire
Friday December 19, 2003
I've written here before about the New York City firefighters who worked in the ruins of the World Trade Center seeking relief and emotional counseling in a medical clinic that's ... Read More
Why should I consider atheism?
Thursday December 18, 2003
Is there any reason to think that atheism is better for me than theism? Is there any reason to think that my theism should be abandoned? When faced with the ... Read More
A Very Merry Scientology Christmas, Redux
Thursday December 18, 2003
As reported here earlier, Alex Timbers has created an "Off Off Broadway" show entitled "A Very Merry Unauthorized Children's Scientology Pageant." It's about the life of L. Ron Hubbard, founder ... Read More
Raelians Cleared of Religious Discrimination
Thursday December 18, 2003
Members of the Raelian religion in Switzerland passed around leaflets claiming that children attending instruction at Roman Catholic institutions were more likely to become victims of sexual abuse than the ... Read More
This Date in History: Romanticism
Thursday December 18, 2003
December 18, 1803: German philosopher Johann Gottfried von Herder died in Weimar, Germany. Herder was an important influence on the German literary movement known as Sturm und Drang and on ... Read More
Microsoft Removes Swastikas from Software
Thursday December 18, 2003
The swastika was an important symbol of Nazi Germany, so it's only natural the Jews today would be sensitive to its presence and use. At the same time, the swastika ... Read More
"Lord of the Rings" Stirs Religious Arguments
Thursday December 18, 2003
J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings trilogy of books was a devout Catholic. But does that mean that his books are "Catholic" works, expressing ... Read More
Howard Dean: Godless?
Thursday December 18, 2003
Atheists in America will surely be curious about some of the religious positions of the various presidential candidates. We already know where the current president, George W. Bush stands: Jesus ... Read More
CSICOP: Fascist Cult?
Wednesday December 17, 2003
Skeptics beware! Although you may not know it, there is every chance that by joining organizations dedicated to the promotion of skepticism and critical thinking, you may actually be furthering ... Read More
Ten Commandments: Requirement for Kansas Judges?
Wednesday December 17, 2003
Legally, religious tests for public office are not allowed - but in Kansas, a state that has tried more than once to introduce the religious doctrine of creationism into public ... Read More
Religious Camp Brochures
Wednesday December 17, 2003
To what extent should a public school help community groups advance their religious agenda? This is a difficult question because, in principle, schools are expected to treat all community groups ... Read More
Legalized Cloning in New Jersey?
Wednesday December 17, 2003
A recent bill in New Jersey would permit a procedure known as "somatic cell nuclear transfer," generally regarded as a type of cloning, for the purpose of medical research. Many ... Read More
Confronting Students with the Gospel
Wednesday December 17, 2003
A few days ago I reported about a school counselor giving religious advice to a student who asked questions about homosexuality and religion. Of course the counselor was suspended so ... Read More
Atheism vs. Theism: Advantages?
Wednesday December 17, 2003
Are there any advantages to being an atheist over being a theist? Does it even matter if any advantages exist - isn't the most important thing whether belief in the ... Read More
Atheism is a Choice?
Wednesday December 17, 2003
Atheism is a choice not to believe in a higher power, thereby not having to look into a mirror/soul and answer for your sins, i.e. lying, cheating, deceiving, etc. Atheism ... Read More
Woman Sues "Jews for Jesus" for Fraud
Wednesday December 17, 2003
An evangelical Christian group that pretends to be Jewish in order to attract Jewish converts (because converting Jews to Christianity is a part of evangelical Christians' beliefs about what God ... Read More
Jacques Chirac Asks for Ban on Headscarves
Wednesday December 17, 2003
In a move that was widely expected, French President Jacques Chirac asked parliament to pass a law that would ban large, obvious religious insignia in public schools - this would ... Read More
This Date in History: Sunday Closing Laws
Wednesday December 17, 2003
December 17, 1962: Decided: Arlan's Department Store v. Kentucky The Supreme Court dismissed the case as not having any serious questions for them. Kentucky's mandatory Sunday closing laws had been ... Read More
Jews Trying to Censor Christmas?
Wednesday December 17, 2003
The Alliance Defense Fund, an legal group founded by, among others, Focus on the Family, has accused the Anti-Defamation League of trying to "censor" Christmas because of their efforts to ... Read More
Wife Murdered for Defying Sikh Taboos
Wednesday December 17, 2003
Dilbag Singh Nahar of Vancouver, British Columbia, was convicted second-degree murder for stabbing his wife to death in 2001, but he is hoping that an appeals court will reduce that ... Read More
Santa Jesus Angers Some
Wednesday December 17, 2003
Sometimes Christians see the secularization of Christmas as going too far - understandable, when apparently secular symbols of Christmas are mixed with traditional religious symbols. That seems to be what's ... Read More
Teacher Erred in Barring Bible
Tuesday December 16, 2003
Although most misunderstandings of the separation of church and state seem to lead to government officials promoting religion, sometimes they also lead to government officials suppressing religion. That's what happened ... Read More
God Has No Place in Secular Government
Tuesday December 16, 2003
Very often when people complain about secular government, they argue that the absence of their god and the absence of an endorsement of their religion is the same as an ... Read More
School Counselor Discusses Biblical Perspective on Gays
Tuesday December 16, 2003
One of the most basic consequences of the separation of church and state in the context of public schools is that school officials may not endorse or promote any religion ... Read More
Creationist Museum Nears Completion
Tuesday December 16, 2003
Located near Petersburg, Kentucky, the Answers in Genesis museum is proceeding ahead very quickly and organizers hope that they may be able to open exhibits as soon as late next ... Read More
God to Vote for George W. Bush
Tuesday December 16, 2003
Well, we've heard about how God talks to George W. Bush, giving him instructions on how to conduct foreign policy (specifically: which countries to invade). Evidently, Bush must be doing ... Read More
Atheism vs. Theism: Who has the burden of proof?
Tuesday December 16, 2003
The concept of a "burden of proof" is important in debates - whoever has a burden of proof is obligated to "prove" their claims in some fashion. Sometimes atheists and ... Read More
Who Killed the Most Israelis?
Tuesday December 16, 2003
When universities elect a student government, the election race usually involves debates about issues that, well, involve students: fees, food, libraries, etc. At Bir Zeit University in the West Bank, ... Read More
Gay Refugees in Australia
Tuesday December 16, 2003
Lomandra writes: In a world first, the highest appellate court in Australia, the High Court, has reinforced sexual orientation as grounds for refugee status. The lower courts had ruled that ... Read More
Hair Coloring for Bald People
Tuesday December 16, 2003
What defines an atheist as an atheist is his thoughts about God, not his absence of thoughts on the subject. Cline ultimately concedes this point, noting that atheism “represents the ... Read More
George W. Bush: Religious Language, Religious Heresy
Tuesday December 16, 2003
President Bush has positioned himself unambiguously as an evangelical Christian who promotes evangelical Christian values - he has done this as a political candidate and he does this in the ... Read More
This Date in History: Pope John XII
Tuesday December 16, 2003
December 16, 955: Pope John XII, just 18 years old, was elected pope on the orders of Duke Alberic II of Spoleto, ruler Rome and his father. John's reign lasted ... Read More
Church Mortgaged to Pay Victims
Tuesday December 16, 2003
The Boston Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic Church owes a lot of money to the victims of priests in the region who sexually abused children - and they promised to ... Read More
More Courteous Religious Police?
Tuesday December 16, 2003
Perhaps concerned that their public image isn't what it could be, the Saudi Arabian government is looking to improve the manners of those tasked with enforcing religious laws: the Committee ... Read More
Lack of God = Lack of Goodness
Tuesday December 16, 2003
Quite a few people think that God is required for people to be good - not just on the personal level, but also on the national level. This explains why ... Read More
More Hostility Towards Christianity
Monday December 15, 2003
A few days ago I wrote about the claim that equal rights for atheists is the same as hostility towards Christians. Although the context at the time was something written ... Read More
Missing Day
Monday December 15, 2003
Some people are very gullible - that's unfortunate, but it's also a part of human nature so it isn't the sort of thing one should necessarily be too hard on. ... Read More
Christmas vs. Holiday
Monday December 15, 2003
Quite a few companies have stopped referring to the holiday season at the end of the year as "Christmas" and are, instead, simply using the general term of "holiday." This ... Read More
Evangelical Colleges Growing in Popularity
Monday December 15, 2003
In the field of higher education, there is one development which may surprise a lot of people: enrollment at evangelical colleges, which is to say schools that are attached to ... Read More
George Soros' Atheism Fuels Conservative Rage
Monday December 15, 2003
A billionaire philanthropist who has donated large amounts of money to various international causes, George Soros has pledged US $15.5 million for the defeat of George W. Bush in the ... Read More
Atheism vs. Theism: Why do atheists debate theists?
Monday December 15, 2003
There is a common perception that there must be "something more" to atheism than simply disbelief in gods because of the fact that atheists are so often engaged in debates ... Read More
Taiwan VP: AIDS is Punishment for Gays
Monday December 15, 2003
There was a time when prominent Americans would claim that AIDs was sent by God as punishment for the immoral lifestyle led by gays - but that is largely past. ... Read More
Dead Pool for 2004
Monday December 15, 2003
A forum member writes: The "game" is to guess which celebrity will die in 2004. You get extra points for the younger nominees. You don't get any points for trying ... Read More
Dead Man Eating
Monday December 15, 2003
Have you ever wondered about the sorts of things condemned prisoners eat for their last mean? If so, you aren't the only one - quite a lot of people are ... Read More
This Date in History: Council of Basel
Monday December 15, 2003
December 15, 1433: Pope Eugene IV gave into the pressure from secular and religious authorities, withdrawing his bull dismissing the Council of Basel.
The Knights Who Say: Run Away!
Monday December 15, 2003
It's a sad but common experience: religious fundamentalists make claims, those claims are challenged - and good arguments are offered for the opposite being the case - and then the ... Read More
Scientology Appeals Against Spaink & XS4ALL
Monday December 15, 2003
The Church of Scientology sued Karin Spaink and her internet service provider, XS4ALL, because Spaink posted documents from Scientology about their doctrines on her website. You see, they don't want ... Read More
Hetero Holdouts: Boycotting Marriage
Monday December 15, 2003
Gays are not permitted to marry in the United States because those in power insist on limiting marriage to just couples of the opposite sex. Many heterosexual couples object to ... Read More
Football Prayers Banned at Christian School
Sunday December 14, 2003
At football games in public schools, the public address system cannot be used to deliver prayers or other religious messages - if that happens, it gives the impression that the ... Read More
Idaho Legislator Fights for God's Law
Sunday December 14, 2003
Among those who think that America would be better off if it were transformed into some sort of theocratic state where certain religions and religious beliefs are given endorsement and ... Read More
Chesterfield Appeals Fairness, Defends Religious Bigotry
Sunday December 14, 2003
Officials in Chesterfield County, Virginia, created a list of officially approved religions which may issue prayers at meetings - but that list excluded Wiccans. Cynthia Simpson, a Wiccan, sued to ... Read More
Christian Students Lose Yearbook Fight
Sunday December 14, 2003
As was reported here earlier, a group of students in California ended up being excluded from their class photo because they refused to remove t shirts which, when placed together, ... Read More
God Smites Churchgoers?
Sunday December 14, 2003
In popular imagination, there is the image of God smiting people with bolts of lightning in order to express his wrath over their actions. So what are we to make ... Read More
Are there any famous atheists?
Sunday December 14, 2003
Some people might tend to think that atheists are such a minority that they have never heard of any famous atheists who have contributed to society. As a matter of ... Read More
Establishing The Religion Of Atheism, Part 4
Sunday December 14, 2003
When the State mandates that the Theory of Evolution be taught as fact, that is establishing the religion of Atheism, because the Theory of Evolution asserts that all life forms ... Read More
Corrupted Culture
Sunday December 14, 2003
Douglas Schmidt of Oregon died on November 19, 2003. He was just 37 years old and he died after being taken off a ventilator that had kept him alive for ... Read More
This Date in History: Islam
Sunday December 14, 2003
December 14, 644: Uthman ibn Affan was appointed the third caliph of Islam.
Who is America's Sovereign?
Sunday December 14, 2003
The overarching question we face today is: "Who is America's Sovereign?" and "What is His law?". ... The Holy Bible makes clear that Jesus Christ is our Sovereign. He is ... Read More
Ramadan TV Special as Anti-Semitic Slur
Sunday December 14, 2003
During October-November 2003, a 29-part Syrian-produced A Ramadan special named 'Al-Shatat' (Diaspora) aired in Syrian over 29 days during October and November. It claimed to depict the history of the ... Read More
Saddam Hussein Captured!
Sunday December 14, 2003
After months of effort, searching, and hunting, U.S. forces finally located Saddam Hussein: hiding in a mud hole near a rural farmhouse near his home city of Tikrit. He is ... Read More
Magic Rainbows
Sunday December 14, 2003
Brent Rasmussen had an experience which isn't as unusual as it should be. Raz was explaining to his daughter how rainbows are formed - not through magic, of course, but ... Read More
Are atheists all freethinkers?
Saturday December 13, 2003
For freethinkers and those who associate themselves with freethought, claims are judged based on how closely they are found to correlate with reality. That does not, however, necessarily mean that ... Read More
Interfaith Ethics
Saturday December 13, 2003
Relations between Muslims and evangelical Christians is pretty poor - and much of the responsibility lies with the Christians who quite often attack Islam as an evil, violent religion. Hoping ... Read More
Baptist College Cancels Vote on Gay Policy
Saturday December 13, 2003
I've reported here before on William Jewell College of Missouri - first when they decided to refuse to allow the Missouri Baptist Convention dictate academic polices and then later when ... Read More
This Date in History: Raelians
Saturday December 13, 2003
December 13, 1973: According to Claude Vorilhon, 4-foot-tall, dark-haired, olive-skinned extraterrestrials calling themselves the Elohim appeared to him at a volcano in France and informed him they had created human ... Read More
Who Will Be Eaten First?
Saturday December 13, 2003
You may be familiar with the Jack Chick tracts that tell a little story in which one person explains to another that they need to accept Jesus Christ in order ... Read More
Implanting False Memories
Saturday December 13, 2003
It is a fact and it is undeniable: "memories" can be implanted. People who have implanted memories are just as convinced about their truth as they are about "real" memories ... Read More
Establishing The Religion Of Atheism, Part 3
Saturday December 13, 2003
If Atheism is a religion, then it must be subject to the same legal restrictions imposed by governments on all other religions. In particular, in the United States, the teaching ... Read More
Incivility and Eliminationism: Kick it up a Notch!
Friday December 12, 2003
Thanks to Dave Neiwert, I've been made increasingly aware of the eliminationist rhetoric stemming from many on the far-right, both in terms of religion and politics. Insofar as is possible ... Read More
Turn in Family and Friends... to the GOP
Friday December 12, 2003
Are you prepared to inform on your family and friends - will you do as asked and send in their names along with their positions on a number of controversial ... Read More
Religious Diversity or Religious Indoctrination?
Friday December 12, 2003
A program for students in some Michigan schools has those students visiting local religious institutions to learn more about different religious beliefs. The program is completely voluntary and doesn't use ... Read More
This Date in History: Sabbath Laws
Friday December 12, 2003
December 12, 1712: The colony of South Carolina passed a "Sunday Law" which required everyone to attend church each Sunday and to refrain from both skilled labor and traveling by ... Read More
We Are Not a Nation Under God
Friday December 12, 2003
People who defend various violations of the separation of church and state - like for example government displays of the Ten Commandments or the inclusion of "under God" in the ... Read More
Is the Roman Catholic Church Adrift?
Friday December 12, 2003
As most people are probably aware, Pope John Paul II is currently quite ill - so ill, in fact, that he is no longer able to take quite as active ... Read More
So-Called "Family" Group defends Bigotry
Friday December 12, 2003
Bigotry, prejudice, and discrimination are good family values, right? The American family is defended by separating citizens to the good "us" and the immoral "them," correct? This must be the ... Read More
Christian Flyers Pulled from School
Thursday December 11, 2003
Schools have to be careful about appearing to endorse any particular religions or endorsing religion generally. Sometimes, that can create hard feelings because schools have to take a stricter line ... Read More
Church Investigated for Abuse, Sues in Response
Thursday December 11, 2003
The Word of Faith Fellowship, a church in Rutherford, North Carolina, appears to engage in a number of very questionable, and possibly abusive, practices when it comes to children. The ... Read More
Christians Happier at Christmas?
Thursday December 11, 2003
Are committed, devout Christians happier at Christmas time than others? Psychologist Stephen Joseph of Britain's University of Warwick thinks so - he has released details of a study which, he ... Read More
School Sued Over Creche
Thursday December 11, 2003
The power and authority of the government cannot be used to promote any particular religion. This is a pretty simple principle, but evidently it's not simple enough because there are ... Read More
Our Secular Nation
Thursday December 11, 2003
A principle goal of the Religious Right today is to undermine, and eventually end, the secular foundations of the American government. They want a Christian, religious government rather than a ... Read More
Outlawing Christmas
Thursday December 11, 2003
The ACLU, atheists and others are intent on kicking God out of all public life. ... What is the intent of these God haters? ... This socialist dogma has been ... Read More
This Date in History: Psychoanalysis
Thursday December 11, 2003
December 11, 1880: Josef Breuer initiated treatment of 21-year-old "Anna O." Breuer's treatment of Anna was an early use of the psychoanalytic method, later refined and elaborated by Breuer's partner, ... Read More
Skeptic Challenges John Edward
Thursday December 11, 2003
John Edward claims to be able to communicate with the dead - and he is so good at the technique known as "Cold Reading" that he has managed to convince ... Read More
Problems with the "Biblical Worldview"
Thursday December 11, 2003
As was reported here earlier, a recent Barna survey found that few Americans had what Barna considered a "Biblical Worldview." A basic assumption underlying the purposes of the survey seemed ... Read More
Establishing The Religion Of Atheism, Part 2
Thursday December 11, 2003
Some Atheists, for their own political reasons, assert that Atheism is not a religion but instead is the total absence of religion. This allows them to spread their Atheistic beliefs ... Read More
Phelp's Anti-Gay Monument Rejected
Wednesday December 10, 2003
The Julia Davis Park in Boise, Idaho, is the site of a prominent Ten Commandments monument, but Pastor Fred Phelps and his Westboro Baptist Church would like to see a ... Read More
International Year of Atheism
Wednesday December 10, 2003
Next year, 2004, is supposed to be named the International Year of Atheism. One might think this would make atheists happy, but don't jump to conclusions. The reason why many ... Read More
Outrageous! Austrians SHOP on a Holiday!
Wednesday December 10, 2003
Will the horrors never cease? December 8 was a public holiday in Austria - a publicly recognized religious holiday, to be specific. For some reason, though, Austrians had the unmitigated ... Read More
Will Sharon Uproot Jewish Settlements?
Wednesday December 10, 2003
One of the major sticking points in the quest for peace in the Middle East is the creation and maintenance of numerous Jewish settlements located in Palestinian territory. Some were ... Read More
Scientology Exhibit Returned
Wednesday December 10, 2003
As was reported here earlier, the government of the city of Chicago removed a display in the Thompson Center (a state office building) about the history of psychiatry because the ... Read More
Unhappy Atheists Attack Christmas
Wednesday December 10, 2003
Are atheists all grinches? Do they think of nothing else during the holiday season but about ways to spoil other people's fun and celebrations? That's what some think - if ... Read More
Carl Jung: the Madame Blavatsky of Psychotherapy
Wednesday December 10, 2003
Carl Jung is a very well-known figure in the fields of psychology and religion - but should he be as well-known as he is? Should he perhaps be even better ... Read More
More on the Fascist Front
Wednesday December 10, 2003
Readers might have seen my critique of Adam Yoshida's arguments that the American government adopt fascist policies towards "dissenters" and that the American people adopt a more violent, fascist attitude ... Read More
This Date in History: Protestant Reformation
Wednesday December 10, 2003
December 10, 1520: Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon burned books which supported the authority of the pope along with a recent papal bull threatening excommunication for Luther. Luther was actually ... Read More
Blue Laws Failing
Wednesday December 10, 2003
Created to ensure that people stayed true to orthodox Christianity, blue laws were once a serious feature in American jurisprudence. The many possible punishments were quite nasty; today, however, you ... Read More
Abuse of Skepticism
Wednesday December 10, 2003
Is it possible to be too skeptical? A person might not immediately think so, but in fact it is possible to be skeptical beyond all reason - to, in effect, ... Read More
Equal Rights for Atheists = Hostility Towards Christianity
Wednesday December 10, 2003
We hear a lot of ridiculous claims about so-called "hostility" towards Christianity when the government is expected to adhere to the separation of church and state. Not letting the government ... Read More
Establishing The Religion Of Atheism, Part 1
Wednesday December 10, 2003
A person's religion is the sum total of his beliefs about God and the supernatural. Christianity, Judaism, and Islam are the three largest "monotheistic" religions, with belief one God, Creator ... Read More
Christianity as Mythology
Tuesday December 9, 2003
You said that Christianity was a myth. Let's see some proof. And don't say "prove it isn't." That's how you atheists try to avoid answering questions.
This was written Adam Deadmond ... Read More
Nobel Laureate to Create Fund for Atheism
Tuesday December 9, 2003
Vitaly Ginzburg, a Russian scientist, will receive the Nobel Prize for Physics "for pioneering contributions to the theory of superconductors and superfluids." He says that he plans on using the ... Read More
Preaching Politics
Tuesday December 9, 2003
Many people attempt to mix religion and politics by telling people that certain political candidates and certain political parties are more "godly" than others - and, hence, are more deserving ... Read More
NRA-TV: Evading Campaign Finance Laws
Tuesday December 9, 2003
Recent campaign finance laws prohibit any interest groups financed with corporate or union money from having television or radio ads during the month before a primary and during the two ... Read More
France Split Over Headscarves
Tuesday December 9, 2003
The debate over whether to allow headscarves in public institutions is getting more difficult in France. A commission of inquiry, set up by President Jacques Chirac in the summer is ... Read More
Medical Students Want Anti-Evolution Lectures
Tuesday December 9, 2003
Evolution is the central organizing principle of biology - nothing in the biological sciences really makes sense outside of the context of biological evolution. Medicine is a part of the ... Read More
Michael Jackson & Child Molestation
Tuesday December 9, 2003
Mayfly writes: I do not believe a word of the accusation. Greedy parents have been setting up their kids to make money since children were deliberately deformed by having their ... Read More
Liberty University Law School
Tuesday December 9, 2003
Televangelist Jerry Falwell's Liberty University is known as a popular destination of fundamentalists and evangelicals who don't want to be exposed the sins of secular universities. They, in turn, are ... Read More
This Date in History: Religious Freedom
Tuesday December 9, 2003
December 9, 1981: Argued: Larson v. Valente The Supreme Court would rule that a Minnesota law imposing greater burdens on minority, non-traditional religious groups was unconstitutional because was not closely ... Read More
Priest Distributes Porn Movies
Tuesday December 9, 2003
In what must be one of the biggest gaffes of the year, a priest in the German town of Lampoldshausen accidently distributed to about 300 people not the "Christmas message" ... Read More
Church Ignores Dying Man
Tuesday December 9, 2003
If anything was supposed to be a basic principle of Christian charity, one would assume that it should be "feeding the poor." At least, one might assume that - but ... Read More
Christian Hatred of Gays Challenged
Tuesday December 9, 2003
Conservative Evangelicals are often perceived as hating gays, a charge they reject but one which is very difficult to deny considering how they behave and the things they say. Some ... Read More
Dad Sues to Teach About Polygamy
Monday December 8, 2003
Stanley M. Shepp split from his wife, Tracey L. Roberts, because of Shepp's views on polygamy. He was even excommunicated from the Mormon church because of it. They have joint ... Read More
Gay-Diversity Program Violated Christian's Rights
Monday December 8, 2003
A federal judge has ruled that when a public school organized a "diversity" program addressing homosexuality, it was obligated to let a student speak out against homosexuality. Evidently, whenever a ... Read More
Saudi Embassies to Close Religion Sections
Monday December 8, 2003
Embassies for the nation of Saudi Arabia have, as part of their political mission, a "religious section" designed to further religious interests - specifically, the interests of Wahhabi Islam. For ... Read More
Imam Bashing Gays in Australia
Monday December 8, 2003
Many religious people disagree very strongly with homosexuality, criticizing and attacking a great deal. But just how far can criticism go before it becomes so inappropriate that the government needs ... Read More
The Ignorance of George W. Bush
Monday December 8, 2003
President George W. Bush has been accused of maintaining and unacceptable, inexcusable, and willful ignorance about events in the world - relying upon getting all of his information from close ... Read More
More Eliminationism
Monday December 8, 2003
Eliminationism, often playing a key role in fascist ideology, is the attitude that those who disagree with you on some fundamental issue are not simply wrong-headed but, rather, an enemy ... Read More
Gays Banned from Brazilian Town
Monday December 8, 2003
Homosexuals exist everywhere - every town, city, and region. This bothers some people who would prefer it if there were fewer days around - or at least prefer it that ... Read More
Reclaiming America for God
Monday December 8, 2003
There are people out there who talk about making Christianity more relevant in modern politics and society, but in reality their agenda goes much farther. What they aim for is ... Read More
This Date in History: Catholicism and Religious Freedom
Monday December 8, 2003
December 8, 1864: In his encyclical Quanta Cura, Pope Pius IX complained about the spread of ideas like freedom of press, religion, and conscience, saying that "By holding these false ... Read More
Union of Conservative Christians and Muslims?
Monday December 8, 2003
Because conservative Christians and Muslims hold very similar views when it comes to matters like public and sexual morality, one might imagine that it would be natural for them to ... Read More
Crop Circle Hoax was a Hoax
Monday December 8, 2003
In June some very large crop circles appeared in California and a group of teens admitted to having created the hoax. Now, after months of study, Psi Applications has concluded ... Read More
Former Scientologists Speak Out
Monday December 8, 2003
Celebrities like Tom Cruise may speak out in favor of Scientology and even convert others, but there seem to be plenty of former Scientologists who are willing to speak out ... Read More
Faith Based Prisons for Florida
Sunday December 7, 2003
One of the things most actively pursued by many in the Religious Right is the prison ministry: trying to convert prisoners to evangelical Christianity on the one hand and trying ... Read More
Zoning Board Requires Oath to God
Sunday December 7, 2003
Yes another local community now thinks that it can condition basic civil rights and participation in civil government upon a person's adherence to someone else's religious beliefs. A Zoning Board ... Read More
Flag Burner Arrested, Sentenced
Sunday December 7, 2003
Sometimes, we read stories about local prosecutors who act as though they simply don't know the law - or, if they do know the law, they don't really care about ... Read More
Muslim Team Names Spark Protest
Sunday December 7, 2003
When kids form sports teams, there are all sorts of names available to them - means which might mean something to them personally or which might serve to help motivate ... Read More
Christian University Sued for Gay Discrimination
Sunday December 7, 2003
To what extent can a religious university discriminate against people because they do not live up to certain religious standards and expectations? It is certainly true that a church can't ... Read More
Atheism and the Separation of Church and State, Part 4
Sunday December 7, 2003
With great self-restraint on the part of our people, the God who blesses America is seldom referred to as Savior, Redeemer, or Holy Trinity, in the traditional Christian symbols, but ... Read More
Will Corporations Own Our Identities?
Sunday December 7, 2003
It is a fact, currently permitted for me to tell you, that no one can place a copyright on facts. That's why things like cooking recipes cannot be copyrighted - ... Read More
This Date in History: Martin Luther & Bigamy
Sunday December 7, 2003
December 7, 1539: Concluding that bigamy was better than divorce, Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon gave Philip of Hesse permission to marry a second wife.
Protocols of the Elders of Zion: Jewish Holy Book?
Sunday December 7, 2003
Using international financial aid, the Egyptian government has renovated the library at Alexandria and opened within it a manuscript museum to house old, original documents. But why have they decided ... Read More
Catholics Called On To Challenge Church's AIDs Claims
Sunday December 7, 2003
The Vatican has recently decreed that condoms do nothing valuable to stop the spread of AIDs - as if a statement by a religious organization could substitute for scientific evidence. ... Read More
Is Having Children a Choice?
Sunday December 7, 2003
When you have children, you have to make sacrifices in order to properly raise them - that is pretty obvious. But what about people without children - should they have ... Read More
Atheism and the Separation of Church and State, Part 3
Saturday December 6, 2003
One must feel sorry for atheists. They seem so lonely. Alone not only under the vast stars of a summer's night, in all this immense cosmos. And passing through it ... Read More
Bush's War on Sex
Saturday December 6, 2003
Why is the Bush administration waging a "war" on sex and sexuality? Talk of a "war" is rather extreme, but it seems to be accurate considering just how much money ... Read More
This Date in History: Religious Violence in India
Saturday December 6, 2003
December 6, 1992: A mob of Hindus demolished the 16th century Babri mosque in Ayodhya, sparking unprecedented Hindu-Muslim riots across India.
Soldiers Verbally Assault Pacifist Priest
Saturday December 6, 2003
There are quite a few pacifists in the United States, and most of them tend to be pacifists for religious reasons. Does the United States government and the military respect ... Read More
Scientology & The Unification Church
Saturday December 6, 2003
Both Scientology and Reverend Sun Myung Moon's Unification Church tend to be viewed with a great deal of suspicion by outsiders - indeed, it is not unusual for them to ... Read More
Costs of Busing to Religious Schools
Saturday December 6, 2003
Some argue that it is "discrimination" to provide bussing for public school students to attend public schools but not for private school students to attend religious schools. But just how ... Read More
New Weeping Statue in Italy
Friday December 5, 2003
Catholic pilgrims have found yet another "miraculous" sculpture to vist - located in a town which can conveniently serve all of their needs when it comes to dining, hotels, and ... Read More
Archbishop Calls Turks "Barbarians"
Friday December 5, 2003
Religious bigotry rears its ugly head once again in Europe as Archbishop Christodoulos, a ultra-conservative religious leader in the Greek Orthodox Church, declared that Turkey should never be allowed to ... Read More
Asian Anglicans Break with Episcopal Church
Friday December 5, 2003
The cracks in the facade of the Anglican Communion continue to widen and spread, this time with the Anglican Primate of South East Asia condemning the elevation of an openly ... Read More
Colorado Voucher Program Halted
Friday December 5, 2003
In another legal setback to school voucher advocates, Denver District Judge Joseph Meyer has ruled that Colorado's fledging voucher program is unconstitutional because it usurps the authority of local school ... Read More
Boy Scouts' Fliers in Public Schools Challenged
Friday December 5, 2003
The Boy Scouts of America promote bigotry by discriminating against atheists and gays. This is their legal right - private groups can be bigoted against anyone they want and promote ... Read More
Atheism and the Separation of Church and State, Part 2
Friday December 5, 2003
In America ... most of our atheists are actually thinly disguised Christians, or sometimes thinly disguised Jews, who want to retain the humanism taught by the Creator, without believing in ... Read More
Catholic Church May Punish Politicians
Friday December 5, 2003
Catholic leaders continue to work to find ways to force Catholic politicians to obey the Vatican first and voters second. Current suggestions include, for example, preventing Catholic politicians from speaking ... Read More
This Date in History: Clergy in Elected Office
Friday December 5, 2003
December 5, 1977: Argued: McDaniel v. Paty The Supreme Court would decide that Tennessee's statute forbidding clergy from holding public office improperly forced citizens to choose between exercising two of ... Read More
Editorial on Gay Marriage Amendment
Friday December 5, 2003
Should state constitutions be amended to ban gay marriage? Many conservative evangelicals want that to happen, but it would be an unfortunate move. After all, aren't constitutions designed to limit ... Read More
Zurich Says No To more Religions
Friday December 5, 2003
As I reported here a few days ago, the Swiss canton of Zurich was considering giving the same official recognition to non-Christian religions like Islam that it gives to Christianity. ... Read More
Rapture Letters
Friday December 5, 2003
If you are taken up in the Rapture to enjoy heaven while everyone else suffers down hear on Earth, it's possible that you will leave some unsaved loved ones behind. ... Read More
Santa Claus Proselytized to School Children
Thursday December 4, 2003
Conservative evangelicals are so determined to use the public schools to spread their religion that some are willing to come up with all manner of subterfuge in pursuit of that ... Read More
Teaching About Non-Christian Civilizations Banned
Thursday December 4, 2003
Should public school teachers be limited to teaching about "Christian Civilizations" and forced to ignore everything else that has happened in history? According to Gary Cole, a teacher at Skyway ... Read More
Being Good Without God
Thursday December 4, 2003
Can we be good without God? That's a serious question discussed by theologians, philosophers, and even regular people. It is not the most serious question we have to answer - ... Read More
Scientology Exhibit Removed from State Building
Thursday December 4, 2003
When the government of the city of Chicago agreed to let the Citizens Commission on Human Rights put up a display in the Thompson Center (a state office building) about ... Read More
Few Americans Have a Biblical Worldview?
Thursday December 4, 2003
In America, the Bible isn't quite as popular of a social, political, and moral guidebook as many fundamentalists and evangelicals would wish. According to a recent survey done by Barna, ... Read More
Atheism and the Separation of Church and State, Part 1
Thursday December 4, 2003
Atheism is a long-term project. It is not completed when one ceases believing in God. It is necessary to carry it through until one empties from the world all the ... Read More
Catholic Institutions Seek Contraception Exemption
Thursday December 4, 2003
Should Catholic employers be exempt from laws that require all other employers to provide coverage for women's contraceptive pills? Well, Catholic employers certainly seem to think so - but they ... Read More
This Date in History: Terrorism in Saudi Arabia
Thursday December 4, 2003
December 4, 1979: Under the command of French forces, Saudi security units were finally able to retake the Grand Mosque in Mecca from extremist Ikhwan who had captured it the ... Read More
Gay Marriage No Threat to Religion
Thursday December 4, 2003
We keep hearing about how legalizing same-sex marriage would help lead to the downfall of Western civilization because it would undermine, if not completely destroy, the institution of marriage. The ... Read More
Italian Court Reverses on Crucifix Decision
Thursday December 4, 2003
Italian court which ruled that a crucifix in a public school classroom must come down has reversed itself. The decision provoked outrage across the nation, and even condemnation from Pope ... Read More
Terrorists Caught with WMDs - in America
Thursday December 4, 2003
In the desperate hunt for Weapons of Mass Destruction that might be used by terrorists to kill hundreds or thousands of Americans, success has finally been achieved! But not in ... Read More
Ramadan Assignment Sparks Outrage
Thursday December 4, 2003
Sometimes efforts to teach about other religions and other cultures can result in conflicts - both personal and legal. This is the case in Los Angeles where a teacher offered ... Read More
Posting the Ten Commandments: Atheists "Carry No Weight"
Wednesday December 3, 2003
Theocrats in Georgia are still at it, denigrating people who don't accept their religious beliefs because... well, simply because they don't chare those religious beliefs. That's quite enough for such ... Read More
Priest to Challenge Late Abortions
Wednesday December 3, 2003
Except in cases where severe disability is a risk, abortions in Britain are not legal after 24 weeks. Sometimes, however, abortions seem to be done anyway - and that upsets ... Read More
Divorce & Homosexuality: Double Standard?
Wednesday December 3, 2003
Those who attack the possibility of gay marriage claim that they are trying to defend the institution of marriage - but if that were really true, why aren't they spending ... Read More
Catholic Teacher Fired for Abortion-Rights Stance
Wednesday December 3, 2003
Should teachers at Catholic schools be vetted to ensure that all of their religious, social, and political views are "orthodox"? Should they be checked to ensure that they don't disagree ... Read More
Police Station's Ten Commandments Monument Challenged
Wednesday December 3, 2003
Should a police station, created to serve an entire community, have displays which are designed to promote the religious beliefs of only some members of that community? Such an idea ... Read More
Christianity: Sex Obsessed?
Wednesday December 3, 2003
It seems that just about every news story regarding Christianity these days deals with sex: sexual abuse of children, homosexuality, sex outside of marriage, condoms, and so forth. But why? ... Read More
Keep Sunday Special?
Wednesday December 3, 2003
There was a time when the Christian Sabbath of Sunday was enforced by the government: stores couldn't be open, commerce of all sorts was forbidden, and people were even required ... Read More
This Date in History: Sigmund Freud
Wednesday December 3, 2003
December 3, 1895: Sigmund Freud's youngest daughter, Anna Freud, was born.
Catholic Church Pulls Out From Critical Newspaper
Wednesday December 3, 2003
The Erie Times-News has regularly featured columns from local Catholic priests on religious matters - but not anymore, it seems. Why? It appears that the diocese won't permit the priests ... Read More
Want Jesus With Your Burger?
Wednesday December 3, 2003
When you run into a fast-food restaurant (or any restaurant, for that matter), would you like the owners to evangelize to you and promote their religion to all their customers? ... Read More
Justices Consider Theology Subsidies
Wednesday December 3, 2003
Yesterday the United States Supreme Court heard arguments in the case of Locke v. Davey. Joshua Davey is challenging the decision of the state of Washington to deny him scholarship ... Read More
African Churches Reject Condom Use
Wednesday December 3, 2003
Condoms are a proven means for both birth control and for limiting the spread of sexually transmitted diseases. They aren't perfect and their success declines when people don't use them ... Read More
Southern Baptist Schisms
Tuesday December 2, 2003
When we hear about schismatic movements in Christian churches in the United States, usually the involve more evangelical factions trying to break away from liberal denominations - for example, evangelical ... Read More
Police Assignments vs. Religious Beliefs
Tuesday December 2, 2003
Can police officers refuse certain assignments because of their religious beliefs? Can police officers pick and choose which parts of the larger community they will serve based upon religion? That's ... Read More
Religion vs. Science: Burying the Evidence
Tuesday December 2, 2003
The study of human remains from the past and from around the world can provide a wealth of information about how people have lived and how they have evolved. Unfortunately, ... Read More
Saudi Interrogators Using Religion - With Success
Tuesday December 2, 2003
The interrogation of prisoners in the Middle East, especially those accused of terrorism, is usually very harsh and even violent. Recently, however, Saudi officials have taken a new tactic: using ... Read More
Priest Bans Pagan Santa from Church
Tuesday December 2, 2003
He may be a popular Christmas icon for many, children and adult alike, but Santa Claus has lost so much in the way of Christian meaning that he just isn't ... Read More
Boy Suspended for Describing Gay Family
Tuesday December 2, 2003
Some anti-gay activists would claim that homosexual activists have taken over our public schools and clamp down on any attempts to criticize homosexuality - but is that true? No. In ... Read More
Racism vs. Homophobia
Tuesday December 2, 2003
Very often people will draw comparisons between the American experience of racism and the anti-gay bigotry which seems to be at the center of things like opposition to same-sex marriage. ... Read More
Gary Bauer Supports Church/State Separation?
Tuesday December 2, 2003
Has Gary Bauer, former presidential candidate and president of American Values, finally seen the light? Has he converted from an advocate from a theocratically-oriented nation to a secular state with ... Read More
This Date in History: Religion in Public Schools
Tuesday December 2, 2003
December 2, 1993: Decided: Clever v. Cherry Hill Township How far can a public school go when including religious symbols in school functions? According to a New Jersey District Court, ... Read More
Ten Commandments Supporters Rally
Tuesday December 2, 2003
Those who believe that different levels of government in America should endorse Christianity and Christian beliefs continue in their crusade to get the laws changed to suit their religious agenda. ... Read More
Religion and Obesity
Tuesday December 2, 2003
If gluttony is a deadly sin, why are higher rates of obesity associated with greater religious dedication? If America is a Christian Nation, why is America the fattest nation in ... Read More
State Financing of Clergy?
Tuesday December 2, 2003
The Supreme Court will be considering whether it is legal for states to provide scholarships for secular education, but not for people to get the education necessary to become priests, ... Read More
Wedge Strategy Analyzed
Tuesday December 2, 2003
There are a number of people who wish to use the debate over evolution and "Intelligent Design" as a "wedge" in American politics and culture. They hope that victory in ... Read More
Randall Terry Resurfaces
Monday December 1, 2003
One of America's favorite Christian theocrats and hate-mongers, Randall Terry, is trying to work his way back into the public eye. Once a common presence in many news reports because ... Read More
Education About the Religious Right
Monday December 1, 2003
One of the problems with the Religious Right is actually a problem with others: too many people simply don't understand the nature of the threat which the Religious Right poses ... Read More
This Date in History: Crusades
Monday December 1, 2003
December 1, 1145: In a bull sent to French King, Louis VII, Pope Eugene III proclaimed the Second Crusade.
Quotas for Conservatives?
Monday December 1, 2003
A number of conservatives have expressed concern over the relative lack of conservative professors in some sectors of academia. More than one person has found such concern ironic since these ... Read More
Piety's Ruse: Masking Homophobia With Religion
Monday December 1, 2003
Many of those who argue against gay marriage do so by pretending to be acting in "defense" of traditional marriage and Christian values. By positioning themselves in this way, they ... Read More
European Antisemitism
Monday December 1, 2003
It is argued that antisemitism is on the rise in Europe, but such claims are made difficult by the fact that much of what we see is really opposition to ... Read More
Thomas Jefferson & American Politics
Monday December 1, 2003
Recently Received: Thomas Jefferson, by R.B. Bernstein
Thomas Jefferson was one of the most important figures in the founding of the United States of America, so it's no surprise that there ... Read More