Timelines of Christian History
Sunday February 29, 2004
When was the Gospel of Matthew written? When were the Salem Witch Trials? When did Constantine convert to Christianity? comprehensive timelines of Christian history cover people, places and events from ... Read More
Libertarianism & Animal Rights
Sunday February 29, 2004
Does libertarianism have any room for any sort of animal rights - or just animal welfare? I don't mean the idea of giving all animals full rights, but just the ... Read More
Stealth Theonomy, 2004
Sunday February 29, 2004
Organizations and people with America's Christian Right often have ties with the Christian Reconstructionist movement - a movement designed to promote the idea of restructuring America into a repressive Christian ... Read More
This Date in History: Salem Witch Trials
Sunday February 29, 2004
February 29, 1692: The Salem Witch Trials began when Tituba, the female slave of the Reverend Samuel Parris, Sarah Goode, and Sarah Osborne were all arrested and accused of witchcraft.
Recreational Grieving
Sunday February 29, 2004
So many of our actions seem to exist not as expressions of what we really think or feel but, rather, as public performances - efforts to convince others that we ... Read More
Consumer Complaint Filed Against John Edwards
Sunday February 29, 2004
A skeptic in Australia has launched upon an interesting strategy for challenging the activities of John Edwards, so-called psychic who claims to speak to the dead: file a consumer complaint ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Marcus Aurelius on Opinions
Sunday February 29, 2004
I have often wondered how it is that every man loves himself more than all the rest of men, but yet sets less value on his own opinion of himself ... Read More
The Politics of the Paranormal
Sunday February 29, 2004
Recently Received: Possessions: The History and Uses of Haunting in the Hudson Valley, by Judith Richardson.
The Hudson River Valley is just full of ghosts, it seems - ghosts of spies, ... Read More
Strip-Club Owner Sues Mormon Church
Saturday February 28, 2004
Usually, church groups sue to get adult businesses like strip clubs tossed out or just to prevent them from opening. Now, however, a strip club owner is fighting back and ... Read More
Shoko Asahara Sentenced to Death
Saturday February 28, 2004
After an eight-year trial, Chizuo Matsumoto - better known as Shoko Asahara, leader of the Aum Shinrikyo group - has been sentenced to die by hanging. Asahara was found guilty ... Read More
Idaho Senate Kills Commandments Display
Saturday February 28, 2004
A measure before the Idaho Senate would have authorized a display of historical documents in the state Capitol, including the Ten Commandments, but Senate leadership killed it out of concern ... Read More
Montana Governor Defends Commandments Displays
Saturday February 28, 2004
In Montana, the people have elected a governor who apparently knows little or nothing about the law or the Constitution of the United States. Gov. Judy Martz has come out ... Read More
Crime, Christianity & Early America
Saturday February 28, 2004
As leaders and pundits of the religious right are fond of pointing out, there was a time in America's history when religion did play a greater role in the lives ... Read More
Ask Not For Whom the Prayer Team Prays - It's Not You
Saturday February 28, 2004
You may or may not have heard, but there is a Presidential Prayer Team you can join. Every week members receive an email explaining the difficulties that President George W. ... Read More
Should We Consider a Divorce?
Saturday February 28, 2004
A forum member writes: Has anyone thought of the ramifications of a Constitutional Amendment to ban gay marriage on our own marriages? My marriage to my wife will have been ... Read More
Disobedient Wives in Christianity and Islam
Saturday February 28, 2004
It's often interesting to read some of the criticisms leveled against Islam because, at times, those exact same criticisms could be made against Christianity as well. For some strange reason, ... Read More
This Date in History: Fourth Constantinople Council
Saturday February 28, 2004
February 28, 0870: The Fourth Constantinople Council closed. Under the direction of Pope Adrian II in the West and Emperor Basil I in the East, the council condemned iconoclasm and ... Read More
Using Philosophy to Analyze Political Smears
Saturday February 28, 2004
If there is any branch of philosophy that at least sounds like it would be boring and pointless, it would be the philosophy of language. Could anything be more mind-numbing ... Read More
God Only Talks to Conservatives
Saturday February 28, 2004
There are a number of conservatives who like at act as though they and God have a close personal relationship - they do, after all, seem to chat a great ... Read More
Humanism: Established State Religion? Part 4
Saturday February 28, 2004
In our public schools, the doctrines and beliefs of humanism are taught to the exclusion of any other belief. Now that we have established, both in the minds of humanists ... Read More
Latest Temptation of Christians: Ignoring Fears of Antisemitism
Friday February 27, 2004
Quite a few Christians are dismissive of the idea that Mel Gibson's film "The Passion" is antisemitic or might arouse antisemitic acts or feelings. They may be right - it's ... Read More
Britain: Most Secular, Most Atheist Nation?
Friday February 27, 2004
Although the Church of England is being torn asunder by conflict between conservative evangelicals and progressives, apparently the average Briton isn't much interested in religion in the first place. According ... Read More
More Biblical Movies from Mel?
Friday February 27, 2004
Apparently, Mel Gibson isn't quite done yet with using films to promote his religious and theological beliefs. It seems that he is actively considering any number of other biblical stories ... Read More
New Clear Channel Decency Standards
Friday February 27, 2004
The sight of Janet Jackson's mostly-exposed breast is having far-ranging repercussions for all sorts of media in the United States. Because the FCC has decided to crack down on violations ... Read More
Banning Bible Club Displays
Friday February 27, 2004
If school officials allow school clubs to create displays for the hallways, must they allow religious clubs to participate? One school in Portland Oregon thinks that perhaps they shouldn't, lest ... Read More
Christian History: A Few Questions
Friday February 27, 2004
So many cultural critics on the Right make loud calls for our society to return to God and Christianity in order for our society to climb out of a "moral ... Read More
Tarnished Knights
Friday February 27, 2004
Regular readers may remember my post about the "New Knighthood," a group which let an atheist post some critiques about their ideas on the separation of church and state and ... Read More
Where is Mary Cheney?
Friday February 27, 2004
In the debate over whether we should pass a constitutional amendment to prohibit gay marriages, one voice has been notably absent: Mary Cheney. The daughter of the vice-president is a ... Read More
This Date in History: Archbishop Rowan Williams
Friday February 27, 2004
February 27, 2003: Rowan Williams, the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, was officially enthroned as the new head of the Anglican church. Williams' well-known liberal attitudes on topics like homosexuality and ... Read More
Evangelical Battle Against Spiritualists
Friday February 27, 2004
You can read many critiques here of spiritualists and others who claim to have paranormal powers. Evangelical Christians also criticize such people - not because they think that the powers ... Read More
Humans: Hardwired for Empathy?
Friday February 27, 2004
Some theists wonder how morality could possibly exist or have developed without their god - but the human capacity for empathy is an obvious candidate for the origins of morality ... Read More
Humanism: Established State Religion? Part 3
Friday February 27, 2004
One single religion is preached in public schools, and no other religion may compete with it within those walls. I refer to the religion of humanism.
Sometimes, when religious fundamentalists like ... Read More
Lust: Sin or Fun?
Friday February 27, 2004
Recently Received: Lust, by Simon Blackburn.
Most of the "Seven Deadly Sins" don't seem quite so sinful anymore - you don't see a lot of exhortations to resist the temptation towards ... Read More
Locke v. Davey: Summary & Analysis
Thursday February 26, 2004
The question before the court was: can a state withhold a general government benefit, like a merit-based scholarship, from those who would use that benefit to further religious goals? Can ... Read More
Mormons Staying Away from Mel Gibson's "Passion"?
Thursday February 26, 2004
Evangelical Christians are expected to attend Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion" in large numbers. Members of other Christian denominations are also thought to be interested in going as well - ... Read More
Christian Left & Gay Marriage
Thursday February 26, 2004
Debates about gay marriage are commonly framed as being between "godly" Christians and "godless" liberals/secularists - but that just isn't accurate. There are many liberal Christians who support gay marriage ... Read More
What's the Audience for Mel Gibson's "Passion"?
Thursday February 26, 2004
Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion" is expected to bring in a lot of money - but from whom? Just who is expected to go to see this movie - and ... Read More
Wiccans Move After Harassment, Threats
Thursday February 26, 2004
Wiccans today enjoy greater freedom and tolerance than at perhaps any other time in American history; at the same time, though, it would be wrong to imagine that discrimination has ... Read More
Christian Relics
Thursday February 26, 2004
Holy relics are an under-reported aspect of Christian history. This is unfortunate because the story of relics represents, in microcosm, all the bickering, insane obsessions, superstitions, and generally embarrassing aspects ... Read More
Evangelicals Angry, May Stay Home Next Election
Thursday February 26, 2004
Conservative evangelical Christians played an important role in the election of President George W. Bush - they turned out for him in large numbers and they have been staunch supporters ... Read More
Islamic Democracy
Thursday February 26, 2004
Nadia: Bremer ... acknowledged that U.S. influence on an Iraqi constitution would fade substantially after the June 30 handover. U.S. observers have predicted liberal reforms enshrined in the transitional law ... Read More
Cambodian King Supports Gay Marriage
Thursday February 26, 2004
Images of gay couples marrying in San Francisco have been broadcast around the world - and they appear to be having some effect. Well, they had an effect on at ... Read More
This Date in History: Ordination of Women
Thursday February 26, 2004
February 26, 1987: After 10 years of debate and with the support of the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Robert Runcie, the Church of England's General Synod voted by a huge ... Read More
HMS Beagle: Found?
Thursday February 26, 2004
In 1870 the HMS Beagle, the ship which carried Charles Darwin around the world and helped propel him on his development of evolutionary theory, was sold for scrap and presumably ... Read More
Bob Barr: Atheists Trying to Infiltrate Boy Scouts
Thursday February 26, 2004
The Boy Scouts of America excludes both atheists and gays not only from leadership positions, but also from any sort of membership. This has been challenged in the courts and ... Read More
Humanism: Established State Religion? Part 2
Thursday February 26, 2004
Christianity is kept out of the schools due to a faulty understanding of the First Amendment's 'Establishment Clause." The separationists claim that any religion taught or tolerated within the school ... Read More
Radical Islam Spreads Among Palestinians
Wednesday February 25, 2004
The Palestinians have to endure a great deal of difficulty and even suffering at the hands of the Israelis. Naturally, they seek some means for release from all of this ... Read More
Can Ethics Be Taught?
Wednesday February 25, 2004
Is ethics an appropriate subject for classes? This isn't a question on whether ethics is something that can be taught about - that's done all the time. No, this is ... Read More
Iowa City Council Votes, Establishes Religion
Wednesday February 25, 2004
The town council in Sioux City, Iowa, has voted to reject a measure that would have prohibited discrimination based upon sexual orientation. At least one member, Mayor Dave Ferris, voted ... Read More
Cal Thomas on Atheists and Gibson
Wednesday February 25, 2004
In recent years, conservative columnist Cal Thomas has moderated his position - he no longer seems to think, for example, that it is a good idea for the Religious Right ... Read More
Is Psychoanalysis Dead?
Wednesday February 25, 2004
Freudian psychoanalysis has been around for more than a century - plenty of time for people to be able to critically examine its ideas, test its claims, and evaluate it ... Read More
Pelagian Heresy
Wednesday February 25, 2004
One of the central and fundamental disagreements between humanism and Christianity lies in the very nature of humanity itself. Are human beings inherently good or inherently evil? Indeed, this conflict ... Read More
More Errors in Gibson's Passion
Wednesday February 25, 2004
Mel Gibson just can't get a break - but he has brought his problems on himself. He and his supporters have tried to defend his film "The Passion" against critics ... Read More
Davey v. Locke: Decided!
Wednesday February 25, 2004
In what will come as a pleasant surprise to many, the Supreme Court has ruled 7-2 that states can refuse to grant general scholarships to students studying to become ministers ... Read More
Defense of Biblical Marriage
Wednesday February 25, 2004
People who oppose gay marriage and claim to be defending "traditional" marriage often leave unstated the premise that they are also defending marriage as defined by their religion - usually ... Read More
This Date in History: Excommunicating Queen Elizabeth I
Wednesday February 25, 2004
February 25, 1570: Pope Pius V excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I of England because of her severe persecution of Roman Catholics in England. This was the last time any pope made ... Read More
Gibson's "Passion" Disturbs Religious Leaders
Wednesday February 25, 2004
Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion" has been released to theaters and religious leaders who actually believe in ecumenicism are disturbed at what they have seen. There was hope that Gibson ... Read More
Bush: Marriage is a Sacred Institution
Wednesday February 25, 2004
After weeks of speculation about what he would do, President George W. Bush has finally stated his official support of a "Family Marriage Amendment" which would change the constitution to ... Read More
Humanism: Established State Religion? Part 1
Wednesday February 25, 2004
Godless political forces in the United States fight tirelessly to rid the public school system of anything that seems remotely Christian. Darwinian evolution is now taught to the exclusion of ... Read More
Zoroastrianism's Influence on Religion
Wednesday February 25, 2004
Recently Received: Strange Birds from Zoroaster's Nest: An Overview of Revealed Religions, by Laina Farhat-Holzman.
It is unlikely that religion will ever disappear from human culture and so it has a ... Read More
ACLU Suing Salvation Army Over Discrimination
Tuesday February 24, 2004
The Salvation Army receives millions of dollars in government aid to help them pursue their mission - but that mission isn't simply about feeding the hungry and clothing the homeless. ... Read More
Newdow Loses Prayer Challenge
Tuesday February 24, 2004
Although most widely known for his efforts to have the phrase "under God" struck from the Pledge of Allegiance, Michael Newdow has also had another legal case running: a challenge ... Read More
Did Jesus Have to Die?
Tuesday February 24, 2004
There is a common belief that Jesus was "ransomed" for our sins - thus, he had to die in order for our sins to be forgiven. This view has been ... Read More
Headscarves and Driver's Licenses
Tuesday February 24, 2004
There has been some debate in some states about the legitimacy of people wearing headgear of various sorts when being photographed for their driver's licenses. Some argue that it should ... Read More
More From Hutton Gibson
Tuesday February 24, 2004
A few days ago I reported on comments Hutton Gibson, father of Mel Gibson, made about Jews and the Holocaust. Well, it turns out that the quotes I had were ... Read More
Modern Search for Jesus
Tuesday February 24, 2004
Assuming that there existed a historical Jesus, or at least a figure upon whom the biblical stories are based, who was he and what was he like? Questions about a ... Read More
Mufti of Australia Calls for Jihad
Tuesday February 24, 2004
One of the problems facing the West is not simply the presence of Islamic extremists in the Middle East, but Islamic extremists at home. Throughout the West there are Muslim ... Read More
The Passion of the Christ
Tuesday February 24, 2004
A forum member asks: Does anyone actually want to see "The Passion of the Christ?" I'm kind of interested, myself. Is it only a movie for Christians or what? I ... Read More
Privatizing the Military
Tuesday February 24, 2004
Only a few libertarians advocate privatizing the combat duties currently performed by the military, but there are many advocates of privatizing other functions of the military - like the supplying ... Read More
This Date in History: Jerry Falwell
Tuesday February 24, 2004
February 24, 1988: The United States Supreme Court ruled 8-0 that Jerry Falwell could not collect damages for a parody that appeared in the magazine Hustler.
Evangelical vs. Progressive Christians
Tuesday February 24, 2004
American Christians are becoming increasingly divided - not along denominational lines but rather along lines of how to read and apply biblical principles. Denominational divisions are falling away, but the ... Read More
Spreading Myths About Atheism
Tuesday February 24, 2004
As I surf around the internet, few things that I come across are quite so annoying as articles which appear to go to great lengths in order to misrepresent atheism. ... Read More
"Strategies for Dialoguing with Atheists," Part 3
Tuesday February 24, 2004
Many atheists consider the problem of evil an airtight proof that God does not exist. They often say something like: "I know there is no God because if He existed, ... Read More
Islam Illegal in Australia?
Monday February 23, 2004
Should religions contrary to the religion of the majority be allowed to exist? Some don't think so - and that isn't simply an American phenomenon. In Australia, a group of ... Read More
Islam, Equality, and Ethnicity
Monday February 23, 2004
There is a common belief in claim that Islam requires absolute equality among believers. In Islam, everyone is the same regardless of ethnicity, age, etc. Of course, there is a ... Read More
Micheal Newdow's Dry Run: Successful
Monday February 23, 2004
Michael Newdow will be arguing his own case before the Supreme Court, trying to convince at least five of the justices that the phrase "under God" shouldn't have been added ... Read More
Accuracy in the Passion Just isn't Possible
Monday February 23, 2004
There has been a lot of commentary on the accuracy - or lack thereof - in Mel Gibson's move "The Passion." Critics complain that the film won't be an accurate ... Read More
Messiahs Before Jesus?
Monday February 23, 2004
Is there evidence that figures very similar to Jesus existed before his recorded life? Could it be that Jesus was simply one of many alleged messiahs who arrived to help ... Read More
Gods in Buddhism
Monday February 23, 2004
Some Buddhists believe in gods, some don't - but belief in gods is not at all required by Buddhism and, arguably, is actually recommended against. This makes Buddhism and atheistic ... Read More
Dull, Dull Atheism
Monday February 23, 2004
As I noted here not too long ago, Britain could begin teaching about atheism and atheistic philosophies in its school (in their religion classes). Some regard this a great step ... Read More
This Date in History: Johannes Gutenberg
Monday February 23, 2004
February 23, 1455: Johannes Gutenberg released the first book to be printed with movable type in the West: a Bible. This would make the creation of Bibles cheaper and, eventually, ... Read More
Buddhism, Cloning, and Stem Cell Research
Monday February 23, 2004
Debates over cloning and stem cell research are commonly framed as being between science and religion (meaning: Christianity). There are, however, other religious traditions which might have something to day ... Read More
The Passion of Mel
Monday February 23, 2004
The controversy over Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion" has caused people to take a much closer look at his character as a person. This is fair because Gibson is portraying ... Read More
"Strategies for Dialoguing with Atheists," Part 2
Monday February 23, 2004
(Some atheists categorically state that there is no God, and all atheists, by definition, believe it. And yet, this assertion is logically indefensible. A person would have to be omniscient ... Read More
Fundamentalism vs. Secular Society
Monday February 23, 2004
Recently Received: God's Law or Man's Law: The Fundamentalist Challenge to Secular Rule, by Laina Farhat-Holzman.
One of the principle challenges to civil, secular, democratic society can be found among fanatical ... Read More
Holy Foreskin!
Sunday February 22, 2004
Medieval Europe experienced a search for a very odd "Holy Grail" which resulted in not one, but up to a dozen different holy foreskins of Jesus, each competing to be ... Read More
Mel Gibson Closing Jewish Hearts to Jesus?
Sunday February 22, 2004
Apparently, even conservative and Orthodox Jews are becoming concerned over the sort of film Mel Gibson has made in his work "The Passion." Despite having very positive relations with conservative ... Read More
Presbyterian Peacemakers Promoting Antisemitism?
Sunday February 22, 2004
Sometimes a person's passion for a cause can lead them to completely ignore or even abandon values they once had - values that they may even claim to be pursuing ... Read More
This Date in History: Azusa Street Revival
Sunday February 22, 2004
February 22, 1906: Black evangelist William J. Seymour arrived in Los Angeles and began a series of revival meetings. This "Azusa Street Revival" which would later grow at the Apostolic ... Read More
Franklin Graham: Help Re-Elect George W. Bush
Sunday February 22, 2004
David Frum has claimed that God will vote for Bush to get him re-elected. Pat Robertson has said that God will intervene to ensure that Bush is re-elected. Frankly Graham ... Read More
Gay Marriages in Chicago?
Sunday February 22, 2004
Reports about gay marriages are all over the news - but San Francisco isn't the only city involved. Mayor Richard Daley, while he hasn't actually approved of the same measures ... Read More
Kansas Debates Sunday Liquor Sales
Sunday February 22, 2004
You can't buy liquor in Kansas on Sundays and some people want to keep it that way - unfortunately, they are having trouble explaining why. In all candor, their position ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Schopenhauer on Books and Learning
Sunday February 22, 2004
Buying books would be a good thing if one could also buy the time to read them in: but as a rule the purchase of books is mistaken for the ... Read More
Atheism Lessons in Britain Attacked
Saturday February 21, 2004
I noted here before that a think tank in Britain has recommended introducing atheism and atheistic philosophies into school classes on religion in order to better reflect the state of ... Read More
Americans Support Church/State Separation
Saturday February 21, 2004
Although it may come as something of a surprise to many readers of this site, it appears as though there is widespread support for the separation of church and state ... Read More
Creationism in Alabama
Saturday February 21, 2004
Efforts are underway to get creationism taught in Alabama's public schools. State Senator Wendell Mitchell has introduced a bill that would protect teachers who want to discuss creationism in science ... Read More
Mel Gibson's Father: Holocaust Exaggerated
Saturday February 21, 2004
Most people are probably aware by now that Mel Gibson's father, Hutton Gibson, is an Antisemite and a Holocaust Denier. But, just in case there were people who had questions ... Read More
Churches Oppose Abuse Reporting Law
Saturday February 21, 2004
Ohio is looking at passing a new law which would require members of the clergy to report child abuse. Leaders of many mainstream denominations (like Roman Catholics) support the measure, ... Read More
Interested in Contributing to this Site?
Saturday February 21, 2004
As the Guide to Agnosticism & Atheism I'm always interested in new perspectives, diverse voices, and expert advice for the site's readers. In order to consistently offer fresh and valuable ... Read More
Iraqi Teen on Becoming a Terrorist
Saturday February 21, 2004
One of the questions often asked in discussions about terrorism and terrorist groups is why anyone would join up for their causes. Why would anyone voluntarily become a terrorist? The ... Read More
Ex-Gay Ministries
Saturday February 21, 2004
A forum member asks: One of my friends (who is lesbian) said that she had seen an investigative report on TV sometime ago about the ex-gay ministries and that the ... Read More
British Muslims Targeting Jews
Saturday February 21, 2004
Anti-Semitism, which has been growing in Europe, has begun to make larger inroads in Britain as well - and Muslims seem to be playing a major role in both. Far-right ... Read More
This Date in History: Jimmy Swaggert
Saturday February 21, 2004
February 21, 1988: During a live TV broadcast, televangelist Jimmy Swaggert admitted that he had visited a prostitute and announced that he would leave his ministry for an unspecified length ... Read More
Conservative Support for Gay Marriage
Saturday February 21, 2004
The debate over gay marriage is commonly framed as one between liberals and conservatives. Liberals favor a more progressive position which would at least allow for civil unions and perhaps, ... Read More
Edward Said & Free Speech
Saturday February 21, 2004
There is no question about the fact that Israel has done and continues to do quite a few reprehensible things. Many critics of Israel, however, seem to have trouble acknowledging ... Read More
"Strategies for Dialoguing with Atheists," Part 1
Saturday February 21, 2004
No one is born an atheist. People choose to become atheists as much as they choose to become Christians. And no matter how strenuously some may try to deny it, ... Read More
Mormonism and Polygamy
Saturday February 21, 2004
Recently Received: The Mormon Question: Polygamy and Constitutional Conflict in Nineteenth Century America, by Sarah Barringer Gordon.
Although Mormons abandoned the practice of polygamy in 1890, it's legacy still lives with ... Read More
Courtney Love, Scientologist?
Friday February 20, 2004
Courtney Love has been having all sorts of problems recently with drug abuse, child custody, and court appearances. There are indications, however, that she has begun to rely on Scientology ... Read More
Complaining - That's Just What Jews Do
Friday February 20, 2004
Over the past months there have been a number of criticisms raised against Mel Gibson's film "The Passion" - but most of those complaints have come from Jews and Jewish ... Read More
Clergy Group May Exclude Non-Christians
Friday February 20, 2004
Across America you can find "clergy" groups which organize to do things in local communities like visits to the sick in hospitals, raise money for community projects, etc. Usually "clergy" ... Read More
Church, Cable State Oppose Visit of Separationist Pastor
Friday February 20, 2004
I've reported more than once on Rev. Charles "Bo" Turner, pastor of the Tallula Falls Baptist Church who successfully challenged a display of the Ten Commandments in Habersham County, Georgia. ... Read More
Jesus Nail Sale
Friday February 20, 2004
Mel Gibson's film "The Passion of the Christ" may be a religious film, but it's still a Hollywood production - and that means that mass merchandising is following along with ... Read More
Sikhism in India Today
Friday February 20, 2004
Library of Congress report on the state of Sikhism and Sikhs in contemporary India - including some history, relations with other religious groups, and internal debates. Read More...
Saudi Women in the Shadow of Men
Friday February 20, 2004
Life for women in Saudi Arabia is truly awful - the closest approximation might be life for blacks in South Africa under apartheid. Some are well-educated and have very good ... Read More
Deism vs. Atheism
Friday February 20, 2004
Sandia asks: Does anyone have much experience with Deism? Supposedly those that believe in that way think there is a sentient creator that is our there but no longer involved ... Read More
No Land for Non-Catholics
Friday February 20, 2004
The Roman Catholic Church is one of the biggest land-owners in the entire world. The organization possess more land and property than just about any other group in existence - ... Read More
This Date in History: Subsidizing Religious Education
Friday February 20, 2004
February 20, 2002: Argued: Zelman v. Simmons The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that a Cleveland, Ohio, program which spent large amounts of public money on subsidizing education at religious schools ... Read More
Government Funding for Scientology Mentoring
Friday February 20, 2004
Efforts to have the federal government fund religious groups is proceeding quite well. Now, even Scientology is being paid to "mentor" convicted criminals being released into various neighborhoods.
Rick Ross explains:
Scientology ... Read More
Constitution Restoration Act
Friday February 20, 2004
Alabama’s Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL), Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) and former Chief Justice Roy S. Moore have banded together to promote the "Constitution Restoration Act 2004," a measure designed ... Read More
Consequences of Atheism, Part 4
Friday February 20, 2004
It seems to me that in issues where we might disagree, from an atheistic point of view all we would have is two conflicting opinions, with no way to resolve ... Read More
Republican Removes Gay Rights Information
Thursday February 19, 2004
Republican politicians are not generally friendly towards gay rights - most people realize this and understand some of the reasons for this. It's disturbing, however, to find a Republican political ... Read More
Teens on the Run from Polygamists
Thursday February 19, 2004
A while ago I reported on two teenage girls on the run from polygamists, fearing that they would be forced to marry older men against their will. Arizona's Child ... Read More
What if International Development Worked?
Thursday February 19, 2004
Rich Western nations spend a lot of money of foreign aid for the purpose of "economic development" in poorer nations. The idea, presumably, is to help these countries develop economically ... Read More
Victim of "Satanic Repressed Memory" Wins Lawsuit
Thursday February 19, 2004
Accusations of vicious crimes are a serious matter - and even more serious when made on the basis of so-called "recovered" memories. It has been consistently shown that such memories ... Read More
Kansas Ten Commandments Monument Must Go
Thursday February 19, 2004
According to the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a Ten Commandments monument in a city park in Plattsmouth, Kansas, will have to be removed. A lower court had already ... Read More
What Are Some Debates in the Sikh Community?
Thursday February 19, 2004
Like any religion, Sikhism has both its conservative and progressive aspects. As a result, many of the religious conflicts which occur within the Sikh community are between those who are ... Read More
Girls Scouts Reject Moral Decency?
Thursday February 19, 2004
We often read about the bigotry of the Boy Scouts of America, refusing to admit gays or atheists as members or leaders because neither can be "morally straight" or proper ... Read More
Review of Mel Gibson's The Passion
Thursday February 19, 2004
Although it hasn't actually been released yet, quite a few people have managed to see Mel Gibson's movie "The Passion" - and if they have good things to say, they ... Read More
This Date in History: Are Atheists Civilized?
Thursday February 19, 2004
February 19, 2002: Speaking before the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Attorney General John Ashcroft stated that "Civilized people - Muslims, Christians and Jews - all understand that ... Read More
Kathy's Big Fat Lesbian Wedding
Thursday February 19, 2004
Kathy Belge, About.com's Guide to Lesbian Life, has gotten married! She and her partner of nearly 12 years made the trip to San Francisco and, like so many other ... Read More
Protestant Traditions
Thursday February 19, 2004
One of the principle issues which tends to divide Protestants from Catholics is that of tradition. The Roman Catholic Church obviously has a wealth of traditions which play as important ... Read More
Consequences of Atheism, Part 3
Thursday February 19, 2004
In response to the claim that Christianity has also been responsible for a great deal of violence, I would say that those who have killed in the name of Jesus ... Read More
Race and Segregation in America
Thursday February 19, 2004
Recently Received: Brown v. Board of Education: Caste, Culture, and the Constitution, by Robert J. Cottrol, Raymond Diamond, and Leland Ware.
It was just fifty years ago that racial segregation was ... Read More
12 Reasons Why Gays Shouldn't Marry
Wednesday February 18, 2004
A lot of arguments have been offered against gay marriage, but they really aren't very good. Many are simply nonsense while others mere apply to a religious context and aren't ... Read More
Baptist Committee Votes to Leave Alliance
Wednesday February 18, 2004
I mentioned before that the Southern Baptist Convention was thinking about withdrawing from the Baptist World Alliance, an international organization they originally helped form, because of the latter's increasingly liberal ... Read More
Mayor Gavin Newsom vs. Roy Moore
Wednesday February 18, 2004
Many are probably aware of San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom allowing gays to get marriage licenses in his city, despite the fact that California law forbids it. Conservative commentators have ... Read More
Utah Approves Sex Tax
Wednesday February 18, 2004
Politicians will tax anything, so the joke goes, even sex if they can figure a way how. Well, politicians in Utah have figured a way to tax sex - or ... Read More
Proselytizing Pilot Speaks
Wednesday February 18, 2004
Not long ago I wrote about the American Airlines pilot who announced shortly before his flight took off that non-Christians were "crazy" and suggested that Christian passenger start witnessing to ... Read More
What is the Sikh Khalsa?
Wednesday February 18, 2004
The Khalsa is an organization of especially devout Sikhs created by the Tenth Guru, Gobind Singh, as a means to help unite the Sikhs and encourage devotion to Sikh ideals. ... Read More
Persistent, Institutionalized Inequality
Wednesday February 18, 2004
I've commented before on the curious irony of conservatives complaining about their lack of representation in academia and the claim that it is due to a persistent, institutionalized bias in ... Read More
Federal Marriage Amendment & the Institution of Marriage
Wednesday February 18, 2004
Opponents of same-sex marriage are fighting desperately and they don't have much in the way of good arguments. Almost everything they can say that has any foundation is fundamentally religious ... Read More
This Date in History: John Langshaw Austin
Wednesday February 18, 2004
February 18, 1960: British philosopher John Langshaw Austin died in Oxford, England.
Judicial Activism vs. Judicial Interpretation
Wednesday February 18, 2004
A common complaint raised by conservatives when a court ruling goes against them is that the courts are engaged in "judicial activism" - making up new laws rather than simply ... Read More
Problems with Banning Headscarves in France
Wednesday February 18, 2004
The French National Assembly has voted overwhelmingly (494-36) in favor of banning "conspicuous religious symbols" in public schools. That's a pretty big margin and reflects a pretty strong consensus, although ... Read More
Consequences of Atheism, Part 2
Wednesday February 18, 2004
It is important to remember that when you embrace atheism and abandon the concept of a moral law, you have no right to criticize this sort of thing [the actions ... Read More
South African Party to Fight for God
Tuesday February 17, 2004
South Africa, like the United States, has it's Christian Nationalists who believe that their nation was founded on (if not by) God for divine purposes. Two political parties, the ... Read More
Ban on Wiccan Expo Lifted
Tuesday February 17, 2004
Briefly, the "Crafty Crafter's Expo" at the Fox Valley Park District's Prisco Community Center in Illinois was halted - because it was all about witches and witchcraft. At least, that's ... Read More
Bremer to Block Islamic Law in Iraq?
Tuesday February 17, 2004
As I have reported here more than once, there are signs that Iraq could move to an Islamic theocracy once the Americans relinquish control of the country - something that ... Read More
Saudi Prohibitions on Valentine's Day
Tuesday February 17, 2004
I reported before on the efforts of Hindu nationalists to suppress any celebrations of Valentine's Day in India - but in Saudi Arabia, such suppression is official government policy rather ... Read More
Catholic Sex Abuse Report
Tuesday February 17, 2004
Some start and disturbing numbers are apparently contained in a report on priests accused of sexually abusing children. Based upon a nationwide survey of church records, the reports states that ... Read More
What Are Sikh Sects?
Tuesday February 17, 2004
The Sikh religion is not an entirely monolithic faith - there are several sects which are not recognized by the majority of Sikhs as orthodox in their teachings and beliefs. ... Read More
Ten Commandments as a Wedge Issue
Tuesday February 17, 2004
Have you ever heard the phrase "the issue is not the issue"? This is supposed to communicate the idea that, whatever people are debating about at the moment isn't the ... Read More
Defend The Original, Secular Pledge of Allegiance
Tuesday February 17, 2004
Readers of this site have probably seen the various things I have written on the Pledge of Allegiance - and if you have, then you should be aware both of ... Read More
This Date in History: Billy Sunday & American Evangelism
Tuesday February 17, 2004
February 17, 1889: The famous American evangelist Billy Sunday held his first public crusade in Chicago. Over the course of his career as a popular religious speaker, at least 100 ... Read More
Bigot Defends Ten Commandments
Tuesday February 17, 2004
I reported not too long ago about how the mayor Winston-Salem removed a Ten Commandments display because he felt that such an endorsement of a religious text would be "divisive." ... Read More
Cafeteria Catholicism
Tuesday February 17, 2004
If you haven't heard the phrase "Cafeteria Catholicism," it is used to refer to those self-professed Catholics who "pick and choose" what aspects of Catholic teachings they will accept and ... Read More
Consequences of Atheism, Part 1
Tuesday February 17, 2004
I just thought I would point out some of the effect that atheism has had in terms of committing "any atrocity against humanity you like." ... I am not saying ... Read More
Discrimination in Faith-Based Groups
Monday February 16, 2004
One of the biggest concerns with President Bush's efforts to fund "faith-based" groups is the fact that they can already get funding - but they have to agree not to ... Read More
Atheists Don't Want God to Exist?
Monday February 16, 2004
It is a common myth that an atheist is someone who doesn't want God to exist and people will sometimes use any bit of data to reinforce that myth - ... Read More
Court to Hear Roe's Challenge to Roe v. Wade
Monday February 16, 2004
Norma McCorvey, the "Jane Roe" in the 1973 U.S. Supreme Court case that legalized abortion, has long since turned her back on supporting abortion rights and has launched a new ... Read More
Marriage as a Sacred Institution
Monday February 16, 2004
President Bush is just one of many who would try to prevent gays from marrying - and their reasons are based upon religious conviction. It is one thing for them ... Read More
Jesus as the Ultimate Victim
Monday February 16, 2004
In the discussions over Mel Gibson's film The Passion, a lot of attention is given to the issue of antisemitism - but more and more writers are also looking at ... Read More
Whare Are Sikh Scriptures?
Monday February 16, 2004
The most important collection of Sikh holy writings is known as the Adi Granth - there are, however, a couple of other important collections which are sometimes overlooked. Read More...
Bible Verses for Valentines in Public Schools
Monday February 16, 2004
In Shawnee Mission West High School, Kansas, 971 girls received roses that were accompanied by Bible verses as Valentine's Day gifts. Was this legal or did it violate the separation ... Read More
Atheism to be Taught in British Schools
Monday February 16, 2004
British schools currently teach about various religions, like Christianity and Islam, but new plans for the courses will make room for teaching about atheism, humanism, and other non-religious beliefs. This ... Read More
This Date in History: Religious Holiday Displays
Monday February 16, 2004
February 16, 1999: Decided: ACLU v. Schundler The Third Circuit Court ruled that a holiday display with a menorah, a creche, and a holiday tree was unconstitutional. However, the addition ... Read More
Army Intelligence Investigates Islam Conference
Monday February 16, 2004
If you ever thought about attending a conference or lecture on Islam, you had better make sure that all of your affairs and papers are in order - the government ... Read More
Hindu Nationalists Assault Lovers on Valentine's Day
Monday February 16, 2004
Valentine's Day may be over, but there are still stories to tell - including stories about Hindu nationalists in India who vehemently object to anyone in that country celebrating Valentine's ... Read More
Wiccan Creationism, Part 3
Monday February 16, 2004
Darwin admitted, "If it could be demonstrated that any complex organ existed, which could not possible have been formed by numerous, successive, slight modifications, my theory would absolutely break is ... Read More
Who Are Sikh Gurus?
Sunday February 15, 2004
In Hinduism a guru is a spiritual teach or guide. Sikhs have retained his basic meaning, but the title itself is very limited in application: there have only been ten ... Read More
GOP Wants to Mandate Ten Commandments Displays
Sunday February 15, 2004
Georgia's Republican lawmakers are making it a priority to display the Ten Commandments: their goal is to pass a law that requires all county court houses to display the Decalogue, ... Read More