Muslim Family Sues Over Pledge of Allegiance
Wednesday June 30, 2004
One of the problems with the required recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance is that those who refrain, no matter what the reason, are treated like second-class citizens. Jehovah’s Witnesses ... Read More
Anti-Abortion Doctor Re-appointed to FDA Panel
Wednesday June 30, 2004
W. David Hager, a Kentucky obstetrician and evangelical Christian who has been an outspoken opponent of abortion, stem-cell research, and so many other modern advances in reproductive medicine will re ... Read More
Anti-Catholic Editorial in Jewish Weekly?
Wednesday June 30, 2004
There has been growing criticism of Catholic bishops and their efforts to influence American elections. Even more interesting, though, are the responses of conservative Catholics to these criticisms - they ... Read More
Pope Expresses “Sorrow” Over Sacking of Constantinople
Wednesday June 30, 2004
Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople, spiritual leader of around 300 million Orthodox Christians, recently visited the Vatican. Pope John Paul II expressed “sorrow” over the sacking of Constantinople in 1204. ... Read More
Beheadings in Saudi Arabia
Wednesday June 30, 2004
The beheading of Paul Johnson by terrorists in Saudi Arabia horrified people around the world. What many may not realize is that beheading is the standard form of capital punishment ... Read More
Sacramental Religions
Wednesday June 30, 2004
A sacramental religion is one which emphasizes or focuses upon the idea that the divine is thought to be present in some fashion in physical objects in the presence of ... Read More
Alan Keyes: American Republic is Ending
Wednesday June 30, 2004
I’ve written once or twice about Alan Keyes. A one-time Reagan administration official, Keyes has an extreme view regarding religion, politics, and the separation of church and state. He honestly ... Read More
Voting for Pro-Choice Politicians Not Sinful
Wednesday June 30, 2004
The debate over whether it is appropriate for Catholic bishops to threaten withholding communion from pro-choice politicians and maybe even those who vote for them has tended to ignore whether ... Read More
This Date in History: Debating Darwinism
Wednesday June 30, 2004
June 30, 1860: Thomas Henry Huxley and Bishop Samuel Wilberforce of the Church of England engaged in their famous debate on Darwin's theory of evolution.
Colorado Court Strikes Down Vouchers
Wednesday June 30, 2004
In Colorado, the state Supreme Court has ruled that a voucher program is unconstitutional because it deprives local school boards the necessary control over education. Colorado’s voucher program was the ... Read More
Judge Ordered to Restore God Reference
Wednesday June 30, 2004
A couple of days ago I wrote about James M. Honeycutt, a district court judge in North Carolina who has insisted on religion-neutral oaths in his court. A complaint was ... Read More
Confronting Irrationalism
Wednesday June 30, 2004
Book of the Day: Sleeping with Extra-Terrestrials: The Rise of Irrationalism and Perils of Piety, by Wendy Kaminer.
As many perhaps have already noticed by now, America has a buoyant love ... Read More
Kerry Might Review “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
Tuesday June 29, 2004
He hasn’t taken a public and definitive position on the issue, but John Kerry has suggested that if he is elected president he would reevaluate the government’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t ... Read More
EPA Lampoons Energy-Saving Cars
Tuesday June 29, 2004
A couple of years ago vice-president Dick Cheney claimed that conservation is a “personal virtue” and shouldn’t be a basis for a national energy policy. Now, the Environmental Protection Agency ... Read More
Pro-Life Democrats
Tuesday June 29, 2004
The debate over giving communion to pro-choice Democrats (there is no debate when it comes to pro-choice Republicans) has raised questions about whether the Democratic Party has room for pro-life ... Read More
Manure Spread on Gay-Pride Parade Route
Tuesday June 29, 2004
A gay pride parade in Conway, Arkansas was supposed to demonstrate that gays live in small towns, not just big cities, but they hit a snag when they found the ... Read More
Vote Ahead for Mt. Soledad Cross
Tuesday June 29, 2004
Not long ago I wrote that an agreement had been reached in the 15-year legal battle over the Mount Soledad in San Diego. The cross was supposed to be removed ... Read More
Salvation Religions
Tuesday June 29, 2004
Salvation religions are typically founded by a prophet or religious leader who creates a basic doctrine which explains to people how salvation might be achieved. The legitimacy and long-term authority ... Read More
Catholic Hierarchy Backs Gay Marriage Ban
Tuesday June 29, 2004
That Catholic leaders in America would oppose legalized gay marriage is no surprise, but it’s still important to note when official statements are released on this matter. Recently, the president ... Read More
End of the Intifada?
Tuesday June 29, 2004
The Palestinian Intifada has been a thorn in the side of the Middle East peace process for years, but there are signs that it might be ending. These years of ... Read More
This Date in History: Martin Luther
Tuesday June 29, 2004
June 29, 1529: Pope Clement VII and Emperor Charles V signed the Peace of Barcelona. Charles received concessions that helped him in his war against France, but in return promised ... Read More
Gay Marriage Would Undermine Church/State Separation?
Tuesday June 29, 2004
When church/state issues are raised in relation to gay marriage, it’s usually to argue that bans on gay marriage serve to enshrine particular religious conceptions of marriage and, therefore, the ... Read More
Nun Settles 50-year-old Abuse Allegations
Tuesday June 29, 2004
Most reports of Catholic religious figures abusing children involve priests, but sometimes they also involve nuns. Recently a woman abused by a non 50 years ago was awarded a large ... Read More
Revisiting Jim Bakker
Tuesday June 29, 2004
Book of the Day: Son of a Preacher Man: My Search for Grace in the Shadow of the Gospel of Prosperity, by Jay Bakker.
It seems likely that just about everyone ... Read More
Judge Removed God from Oaths, Complaint Filed
Monday June 28, 2004
A while ago I wrote about Judge James M. Honeycutt, a district court judge in North Carolina who has insisted on religion-neutral oaths to ensure that courts do not evince ... Read More
Government Lottery for Medicare Coverage
Monday June 28, 2004
It sounds like the plot from some awful, dystopian future: the government institutes a lottery for the distribution of government benefits among the poor; if you are one of the ... Read More
Savage: Lesbians Jealous They Don’t Get AIDS
Monday June 28, 2004
Radio host Michael Savage is well known for his hateful and bigoted comments about gays, among other groups, but recently he went even further than usual by saying that lesbians ... Read More
Politics of Hate
Monday June 28, 2004
One of the political issues getting attention recently is the comparison between “Clinton hating” and “Bush hating.” Conservatives who let loose with a lot of invective towards Clinton have in ... Read More
O’Reilly: Female Co-Host is Mere Eye-Candy
Monday June 28, 2004
Bill O'Reilly has a co-host named Lis Wiehl. She’s a law professor, author, and works as a legal analyst for FOX news. As far as O’Reilly is concerned, though, she’s ... Read More
Revealed Religions
Monday June 28, 2004
Also commonly described as Law-giving Religions, the Revealed Religions are those which find their symbolic center in some set of revelations handed down by a god or gods. These revelations ... Read More
Medical Crisis? No, Ethical Crisis
Monday June 28, 2004
The American Medical Association is selling the public and doctors on a phony crisis. According to the A.M.A, 20 state are in a “liability crisis” that is forcing physicians to ... Read More
Question of God
Monday June 28, 2004
Can something as serious as a debate over the existence of God and its consequences for humanity be turned into superficial pap? That may be the case with the new ... Read More
Church Endorses Bush, Gets USD $1 million “Faith-Based” Grant
Monday June 28, 2004
One of the criticisms of President Bush’s “ faith-based ” programs is the manner in which they threaten to politicize churches and religious organizations. Instead of focusing on religious worship ... Read More
This Date in History: Lemon Test
Monday June 28, 2004
June 28, 1971: Decided: Lemon v. Kurtzman The Supreme Court ruled unanimously that the direct government assistance to religious schools was unconstitutional.
Scientists Must Ask Permission to Consult with WHO
Monday June 28, 2004
There’s a new development in the continuing saga of the Bush administration’s efforts to politicize science and warp scientific research to make it compatible with their political agenda: American scientists ... Read More
Importance of Secularism
Monday June 28, 2004
Today secularism is one of the principle boogeymen of the Christian Right and conservative religious believers of various sorts. They complain that secularism is so thoroughly godless that it lacks ... Read More
Religion and Addiction
Monday June 28, 2004
Book of the Day: The Soul of Recovery: Uncovering the Spiritual Dimension in the Treatment of Addictions, by Christopher D. Ringwald.
There are millions of people across America who have been ... Read More
Nature Religions
Sunday June 27, 2004
Those systems known as nature religions are often considered among the most primitive of religious beliefs. "Primitive" here is not so much a reference to the complexity of the religious ... Read More
Republican Tactics on Judicial Nominations
Sunday June 27, 2004
For months conservative Republicans complained bitterly about Democratic Senators blocking President Bush’s judicial nominations. It didn’t matter that only a very few were blocked (far more of Clinton’s nominations were ... Read More
Brothel Workers in Iran
Sunday June 27, 2004
In 2003, Iranian delegates to the UN Commission on the Status of Women rejected a draft declaration calling on signatories to “condemn violence against women and refrain from invoking ... Read More
This Date in History: Attempted Assassination
Sunday June 27, 2004
June 27, 1993: In retaliation for an assassination attempt against former American president George Bush, the United States launches air strikes against known bases of the Iraq intelligence service.
Gay Marriage Could Save USD $1 Billion?
Sunday June 27, 2004
We hear a lot about the supposed dangers of gay marriage and how it will undermine society if is it legalized, but what about the possible advantages? A report from ... Read More
End Nears for Branch Davidians?
Sunday June 27, 2004
Most people in America are probably familiar with the Branch Davidians and their stand-off with police in Waco, Texas. After that incident, however, most people probably never gave a second ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Goodman on Quoting Scripture
Sunday June 27, 2004
When the Devil quotes Scriptures, it's not, really, to deceive, but simply that the masses are so ignorant of theology that somebody has to teach them the elementary texts before ... Read More
American Religious Right
Sunday June 27, 2004
Book of the Day: Southern Cross: The Beginnings of the Bible Belt, by Christine Leigh Heyrman.
What is the "Bible Belt" and how did it originate? Why is it that the ... Read More
James Madison's Memorial and Remonstrance
Saturday June 26, 2004
Presented here, along with some introductory background material, is Madison's Memorial and Remonstrance - his most decisive and important explanation of his feelings on religious freedom. His Remonstrance is particularly ... Read More
What is Evolution?
Saturday June 26, 2004
Critics of evolution are often very inaccurate (and, apparently, sometimes even dishonest) in how they frame the discussion about evolution and creationism. One of the favorite tactics seems to be ... Read More
Honor Killings in the News
Saturday June 26, 2004
The problem with so-called “honor killings,” where a man kills a female relative in order to restore “honor” to his family because she has transgressed in some fashion, is being ... Read More
This Date in History: Aum Shinrikyo
Saturday June 26, 2004
June 26, 2002: Tomomitsu Niimi, former "home affairs minister" for Aum Shinrikyo (Aum Supreme Truth) was sentenced to death by the Tokyo District Court. Niimi played a key role in ... Read More
The Pledge Isn’t Worth Fighting?
Saturday June 26, 2004
One common criticism of Michael Newdow’s quest to have the phrase “under God” stricken from the official version of the Pledge of Allegiance is that this wasn’t an issue worth ... Read More
Religion and the President
Saturday June 26, 2004
Although it is common wisdom that George W. Bush is a “religious” president and has the support of many “religious” Americans, the fact of the matter is he scares a ... Read More
Evolution vs. Creationism
Saturday June 26, 2004
Book of the Day: Evolution and Creation Species of Origins: America's Search for a Creation Story, by Karl W. Giberson and Donald A. Yerxa.
Why is there such rancorous conflict in ... Read More
Muslim Trucker Sues Over Alcohol Load
Friday June 25, 2004
In Tennessee a Muslim truck driver has been fired because he refused to haul a load of beer which, he said, would have been contrary to his religion. He’s filed ... Read More
Catholic University Rejects NAACP Student Group
Friday June 25, 2004
The Catholic University of America, located in Washington, D.C., has refused a student’s request to begin a campus chapter of the NAACP. This has led to charges of racism and ... Read More
Lowering Standards for Belief
Friday June 25, 2004
One of the basic features of Pascal’s Wager is that it asks one to accept a belief on much lower standards than is typically used for accepting other beliefs. Why? ... Read More
Ethics: Universalizable and Internalizable
Friday June 25, 2004
There is an ad hominem fallacy known as “tu quoque” which states that you cannot reject someone’s criticism of you simply because they are doing the same thing. Thus, you ... Read More
Israel and Kurdistan: What's the Connection?
Friday June 25, 2004
It seems as though Israel is losing confidence in America’s ability to establish a democratic and free state in Iraq. According to recent reports, Israel is cultivating a military relationship ... Read More
Christian Identity
Friday June 25, 2004
The Christian Identity movement is perhaps one of the most dangerous theological doctrines in America today. It is made all the more dangerous by the fact that so few people ... Read More
Court Ruling is Flawed
Friday June 25, 2004
More and more people are starting to realize that the means by which the Supreme Court avoided having to rule on the constitutionality of the phrase “under God” in the ... Read More
Is the Problem of God’s Existence Solvable?
Friday June 25, 2004
Some argue that there are problems which simply cannot be rationally solved and, therefore, they can’t properly be called philosophical problems (because philosophy aims at rational solutions to problems). Is ... Read More
This Date in History: Prayer in Public Schools
Friday June 25, 2004
June 25, 1962: Decided: Engel v. Vitale The Supreme Court ruled 7 to 1 that it is unconstitutional for a government agency like a school or government agents like public ... Read More
Protestant Clergy: Too Much Church/State Separation
Friday June 25, 2004
According to research done by LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention, more than three-fourths of all Protestant clergy in America think that the separation of church and state ... Read More
Palestinian Authority Defends Terrorists, Bombers
Friday June 25, 2004
The Palestinian Authority under Chairman Yasser Arafat wants to be seen as an equal partner in the peace process that could, eventually, end hostilities in the region. I doubt that ... Read More
Evolution and Creationism in America
Friday June 25, 2004
Book of the Day: Summer for the Gods: The Scopes Trial and America's Continuing Debate over Science and Religion, by Edward J. Larson.
The infamous "Scopes Monkey Trial" occupies a pivotal ... Read More
Pro-Life vs. Sexual & Reproductive Rights
Thursday June 24, 2004
Ever since George W. Bush took office he has been pushing a hard anti-abortion line in international affairs, pulling the United States out of cooperation with other nations or organizations ... Read More
From Saddam to Sodomy
Thursday June 24, 2004
Now that the physical liberation of Iraq from tyranny has been completed, next up should be the sexual liberation of Iraq. Apparently that is what our soldiers have been involved ... Read More
Phil Valentine Out to Lunch on Constitution
Thursday June 24, 2004
It seems inevitable that when someone writes about the recent Supreme Court decision on the Pledge of Allegiance in order to disagree with Michael Newdow they will engage in some ... Read More
L.A. Schools Bar Scientology Anti-Drug Program
Thursday June 24, 2004
A little while ago I wrote about the growing controversy surrounding the introduction of the Narconon anti-drug program to public schools because Narconon is based on Scientology and involves a ... Read More
Atheism: The Root of Our Problems
Thursday June 24, 2004
Prejudice against and misunderstanding of atheism can be found all around the world - it isn’t simply a feature of American’s Christian Right. Wherever you go, you can probably find ... Read More
What if your family tries to re-convert you?
Thursday June 24, 2004
Although this seems to happen more often with young people living at home than adults, atheists of all ages can still face religious families who want you to "return to ... Read More
Jehovah’s Witnesses Still Banned in Russia
Thursday June 24, 2004
Earlier I wrote about a Moscow court’s decision to ban the Jehovah’s Witnesses in that city. Now, an appeals court has upheld that ruling and the six-year battle over their ... Read More
FFRF Sues Over Faith-Based Funding
Thursday June 24, 2004
Dissent from and disagreement over President Bush’s various faith-based initiatives have existed for quite some time, but now the Freedom From Religion Foundation has launched a lawsuit challenging a particular ... Read More
This Date in History: Joseph Smith Arrested
Thursday June 24, 2004
June 24, 1844: Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were arrested by Illinois authorities. Smith had previously attempted to use the Nauvoo militia to suppress church dissidents and to protect ... Read More
Priests’ Abuse of Kids Goes Back for Centuries
Thursday June 24, 2004
Roman Catholic officials have generally treated priests’ sexual abuse of children as a relatively new phenomenon, at least in the sense of being a major problem. Some have argued that ... Read More
Evangelical Paper Makes Political Shift
Thursday June 24, 2004
Evangelical Christians in America tend to have a very conservative image. There is a strong perception that they are more concerned with things like homosexuality and abortion than social justice ... Read More
Must Church/State Separation Be Forced?
Thursday June 24, 2004
One of the interesting features of the recent debate over the status of the Pledge of Allegiance is how often people end up talking about “force.” It’s OK for force ... Read More
Mysterious Psychic Powers
Thursday June 24, 2004
Book of the Day: Psychology of the Psychic, by David Marks.
Does ESP exist? Are some people telepathic? Can your mind by read by someone else? Are there people, for example ... Read More
Relationships for Secularists
Wednesday June 23, 2004
Atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers are very much a minority in America; even worse, because of the distrust of nonbelievers, many are unwilling to publicly express what they really think. How, ... Read More
Does God Value Free Will?
Wednesday June 23, 2004
A common Christian argument in defense of the existence of evil in the world revolves around free will: God values our free will so much that even the existence of ... Read More
Looking at Faith-Based Marriage Counseling
Wednesday June 23, 2004
Among President Bush’s various faith-based ideas for social problems has been the promotion of religious counseling for those considering marriage. The point is supposed to be that pre-marriage counseling leads ... Read More
Growing Chabad Judaism
Wednesday June 23, 2004
Many Jews today are concerned about the rapid and widespread growth of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement. On the one hand, it’s growth has helped Jews around the world through education and ... Read More
Religion Belongs in Pledge?
Wednesday June 23, 2004
Religious and social conservatives are happy that the phrase “under God” will stay in the Pledge of Allegiance, at least for now. They are, however, having some trouble explaining how ... Read More
Religious vs. Secular Weddings: When Couples Disagree
Wednesday June 23, 2004
If two people have very different ideas about the way a wedding should be planned, there will likely be a lot of arguments. Usually these disagreements involve the number of ... Read More
Contraception Ruins Marriage
Wednesday June 23, 2004
I noted a few days ago that Rush Limbaugh is getting divorced. This is posing a bit of a problem for some social and religious conservatives because Rush is “one ... Read More
This Date in History: First Amendment & the States
Wednesday June 23, 2004
June 23, 1997: Governor Fob James of Alabama claimed in a Federal District Court that the religion clauses of the First Amendment do not apply to the states and, hence, ... Read More
Religion in American Politics
Wednesday June 23, 2004
What’s more annoying: the fact that Americans tend to distrust atheist and irreligious people or the fact that when this is noted and commented on, journalists and writers don’t seem ... Read More
Defending the Pledge - Like Any Religious Exercise
Wednesday June 23, 2004
They never seem to realize it, but some defenders of government-endorsed religious exercises sometimes uses arguments for their position that actually make the case for the other side. Why don’t ... Read More
Lessons of Censorship and History
Wednesday June 23, 2004
It is understandable that the government would want to withhold sensitive military information from the public during wartime. After all, what the public learns the enemy will also learn and ... Read More
Science vs. Religion
Wednesday June 23, 2004
Book of the Day: Time Traveling With Science and the Saints, by George A. Erickson.
Religion and science seem to be forever in conflict, but is such a perception really accurate? ... Read More
Bush Demands Biblical Marriages
Tuesday June 22, 2004
President Bush has come out strongly in favor of a Constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriages. Why? He seems to think that traditional marriage is threatened by the existence ... Read More
Bush, Abortion, and Dictatorships
Tuesday June 22, 2004
The Bush administration refuses to be associated with any international programs linked to abortion. The “Global Gag Rule,” for example, prohibits foreign NGOs that receive US funds from using even ... Read More
Remembering Mayberry
Tuesday June 22, 2004
Have you ever watched the "Andy Griffith Show"? I have, though not regularly. I’ve seen perhaps three or four episodes. It’s one of those old shows that expresses a lot ... Read More
New Age vs. Skepticism: Clash of Cultures
Tuesday June 22, 2004
One of the problems many skeptics seem to have is that those who are “true believers” have difficulty simply understanding what it means to be skeptical in the first place. ... Read More
Pledge vs. Custody Battles
Tuesday June 22, 2004
When I wrote about the recent Supreme Court decision that Michael Newdow had no standing to challenge his daughter’s recitation of “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance, I quoted ... Read More
Hiding your Atheism: What Do You Do?
Tuesday June 22, 2004
Some atheists are told by their families that they should hide their atheism from friends and neighbors. Although this is a situation which tends to occur more often with young ... Read More
Pakistan Fails to Rein In Schools
Tuesday June 22, 2004
As part of their role in the war on terrorism, Pakistan was supposed to crack down on the schools teaching extremists and violent forms of Islam. It was from these ... Read More
This Date in History: Joseph Smith Flees
Tuesday June 22, 2004
June 22, 1844: Joseph Smith, accused of instigating a riot when Mormons smashed the presses of a newspaper critical of his secret doctrines on polygamy, fled from arrest.
Is Secularism a Religion?
Tuesday June 22, 2004
One common tactic of Christian apologists (the poor ones, at any rate) is to counter atheists’ critiques of religion by arguing that atheism itself is a religion. Thus, atheism is ... Read More
Sneak & Peek: Is Your Home Safe?
Tuesday June 22, 2004
Remember Brandon Mayfield? He was the Oregon lawyer arrested on the charge that he was involved with the Madrid train bombings. He had to be let go because there was no ... Read More
Conservatives and Manuel Miranda
Tuesday June 22, 2004
Do you remember Manuel Miranda? He was the aide to Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist who illegally gathered Democratic Judiciary Committee documents from Senate computers. A federal criminal investigation is ... Read More
How We Treat Outsiders
Tuesday June 22, 2004
Book of the Day: Stigma: How We Treat Outsiders, by Gerhard Falk.
We are all familiar with the stigmatization of people in society. Wherever we look, there are those who are ... Read More
Priests Charged with Sex Abuse Hidden Abroad?
Monday June 21, 2004
The American Catholic Church has been struggling with the sexual abuse scandal for a couple of years now and even efforts at reform have been met with suspicion and doubt. ... Read More
Unsupported Premise in the Kalam Cosmological Argument
Monday June 21, 2004
Dr. William Lane Craig‘s “Kalam Cosmological Argument” is one of the more sophisticated and (in some circles) popular arguments for the existence of God. Unfortunately, like so many other theistic ... Read More
Bishops to Decide on Giving Communion
Monday June 21, 2004
There has been a lot of debate recently about whether bishops should give communion to Roman Catholic politicians who vote for laws the bishops oppose. American bishops met recently to ... Read More
Church May Fire Gay Wedded Couples
Monday June 21, 2004
Churches in Massachusetts have been placed in an interesting quandary: if they oppose homosexuality and gay marriage, what do they do if any gay employees decide to marry? Such a ... Read More
C-Word as a “Term of Endearment”
Monday June 21, 2004
People with close relationships often have little terms of endearment for one another. Married couples might call each other “sweetie,” for example, and good friends might have nicknames as well. ... Read More
Weddings for Atheists: Aren't Weddings just Religious Events?
Monday June 21, 2004
There is a common perception that marriage is a fundamentally religious institution - that it is based upon religious values and exists to serve religious ends. Thus, if a person ... Read More
UN Must Listen to Religious Leaders?
Monday June 21, 2004
Should religious leaders play a greater role in official international deliberations simply because they are religious leaders? That’s what the Archbishop of Canterbury thinks. According to Rowan Williams, religious leaders ... Read More
EU Constitution: Godless
Monday June 21, 2004
Members of the European Union have had a lot of difficulty hammering out a Constitution that every nation could accept. One of the sticking points has been a relatively minor ... Read More
This Date in History: Flag Burning & Free Speech
Monday June 21, 2004
June 21, 1989: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that flag-burning is a right protected by the First Amendment. President Bush asked for a constitutional amendment banning flag-burning, but the ... Read More
Catholics Urge Denial of Communion to Pro-Choice Politicians
Monday June 21, 2004
Conservative Catholics in America are making more noise about their desire to see pro-choice Catholics denied communion. They are, I suppose, getting tired of having to share mass with Catholics ... Read More
Religious Bigotry in Indiana
Monday June 21, 2004
It’s pretty easy to spot the religious bigots: they are the ones who consistently and reliably distort the truth in order to attack those who disagree with their authoritarian religious ... Read More
Religious Violence
Monday June 21, 2004
Book of the Day: Terror in the Mind of God: The Global Rise of Religious Violence, by Mark Juergensmeyer.
Religious terrorism is a dark spectre which has been haunting the world ... Read More
Atheism vs. Theism: Why do atheists debate theists?
Sunday June 20, 2004
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
John Ashcroft: Worst Attorney General Ever?
Sunday June 20, 2004
Attorney General has been under fierce criticism ever since he was first nominated. His extreme position on so many issues have always bothered a lot of people and it should ... Read More
Bill Kristol on Political Funerals
Sunday June 20, 2004
Remember Paul Wellstone? A lot of political conservatives complained because they felt that his funeral was used for partisan politics. Now that Ronald Reagan has died, it is interesting to ... Read More
This Date in History: Thomas Christians
Sunday June 20, 2004
June 20, 1599: At the Synod of Diamper, the so-called Thomas Christians were reunited with Rome. This native Indian Christian Church was discovered in 1498 by Portuguese explorers and they ... Read More
Medical Malpractice
Sunday June 20, 2004
Doctors would like us to believe that their high medical malpractice insurance rates are the result of outrageous awards from juries. That, however, is not a position that is supported ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Merton on Religion and Poverty
Sunday June 20, 2004
It is easy enough to tell the poor to accept their poverty as God's will when you yourself have warm clothes and plenty of food and medical care and a ... Read More
Abortion Violence
Sunday June 20, 2004
Book of the Day: Targets of Hatred: Anti-Abortion Terrorism, by Patricia Baird-Windle & Eleanor Bader.
There are any number of divisive issues which cause problems in American politics, but the worst ... Read More
Going to Church: What if you don't want to, but are forced?
Saturday June 19, 2004
Although this is a situation which affects young people living at home more than adults, atheists of all ages still have to contend with religious families who want you to ... Read More
Problems With Denominational Schools
Saturday June 19, 2004
Can religion and education mix? Just about everywhere you go in the world you can find schools that mix religious and secular education, but there are those who argue that ... Read More
“Saved” Movie Upsets Christian Teens
Saturday June 19, 2004
The recently released movie “Saved!” presents a critical and even satirical look at a high school for evangelical teens. Real evangelical teens are not very amused and are criticizing the ... Read More
This Date in History: Prayers in Public Schools
Saturday June 19, 2004
June 19, 2000: Decided: Santa Fe School District v. Doe The Supreme Court ruled that official, student-led prayers before a school football game violated the separation of church and state.
Pimping the Catholic Church
Saturday June 19, 2004
Quite a few conservative Catholics are practically salivating at the thought of Catholic bishops putting pro-choice Catholic politicians on the spot by requiring them to either stop voting pro-choice or ... Read More
Crusade Against Islam?
Saturday June 19, 2004
Many Muslims in the Middle East regard the American occupation of Iraq to be part of a long-standing Crusade of the West against Islam. Western politicians have been careful to ... Read More
Tony Blair Backing Creationist Schools?
Saturday June 19, 2004
In America creationist beliefs are relatively (and sadly) common, but in other western nations they are relatively rare. That explain why there is so much surprise and criticism over the ... Read More
Language, Culture, and Extinction
Saturday June 19, 2004
Recently Received: Spoken Here: Travels Among Threatened Languages, by Mark Abley.
Everyone knows about language - the ability to use language is, in fact, one of the defining characteristics of the ... Read More
Atheism vs. Theism: Who has the burden of proof?
Friday June 18, 2004
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. If someone doesn't ... Read More
American Hostage Killed
Friday June 18, 2004
In another blow against the credibility of Islam, Islamic militants in Saudi Arabia have executed American hostage Paul Johnson. In taking this action they are effectively sending a message to ... Read More
Christians Face Horrible Persecution
Friday June 18, 2004
Many Christians in America complain about the awful treatment they have to endure in the modern secular society. According to them, they simply don’t get any respect and are unable ... Read More
Can You Be Commanded to Worship?
Friday June 18, 2004
A great many Christians treat belief in their god to be virtuous while atheism is simply disregarded as vice. Such a position may not, however, be entirely consistent with certain ... Read More
This Date in History: Charles Darwin
Friday June 18, 2004
June 18, 1858: Charles Darwin received a monograph from Alfred Russel Wallace which essentially summarized Darwin's own theories on evolution, thus inspiring him to publish his work sooner than he ... Read More
Misplaced Faith at Catholic Schools
Friday June 18, 2004
There is a debate in Scotland over the status of non-Catholics in Catholic schools. Should only Catholics be able to hold teaching and administrative positions? Some think so and argue ... Read More
Mystical vs. Aesthetic Beliefs
Friday June 18, 2004
What are we to make of mystical experiences? For some, a mystical experience is an immediate and powerful reason to believe in things like gods and angels. Others, however, argue ... Read More
Violence in the Name of Islam
Friday June 18, 2004
There is a conflict among Muslims over the use of violence. Some, obviously, think that violent terrorism should be used to further their theocratic aims. Others deplore such violence and ... Read More
Theism vs. Atheism
Friday June 18, 2004
Recently Received: Atheism and Theism, by John Haldane, J. J. Haldane and J.J.C. Smart.
Most of the time, most people don’t give much thought to the debate between atheism and theism. ... Read More
Limbaugh on Divorce
Thursday June 17, 2004
As you may have heard, Rush Limbaugh is getting a divorce. This is interesting because Rush Limbaugh continually moralizes on the radio about the decline of American values - with ... Read More
Free Presbyterians To Save Catholic Priests
Thursday June 17, 2004
The pope may not be the Antichrist anymore, but that doesn’t mean that Catholics aren’t on the way to hell and don’t need to be saved from their own religious ... Read More
George Will Can’t Be Trusted
Thursday June 17, 2004
George Will is one of the most popular political commentators in America today. He doesn’t hide the fact that he favors conservative politicians and causes, but what you won’t hear ... Read More
Jon Bon Jovi Harassed for Supporting Kerry
Thursday June 17, 2004
Jon Bon Jovi’s career in music may not be what it once was, but it can still capture the spotlight when he really wants. Apparently he supports the campaign of ... Read More
Catholic Priest Tells All. And Then Some
Thursday June 17, 2004
We know for a fact that not all Catholic priests remain true to their vows of celibacy. Few priests have been willing to come clean about their behavior to the ... Read More
Going through a Phase: Are you not taken seriously?
Thursday June 17, 2004
Sometimes an atheist hears from family members that they are just "going through a phase." This sort of situation occurs more often with young atheists than with adults - perhaps ... Read More
Clarence Thomas: 18th Century Judge
Thursday June 17, 2004
In my coverage of the recent Supreme Court decision on the Pledge of Allegiance, I noted how Justice Clarence Thomas adopted the rather extreme view that the Establishment Clause only ... Read More
This Date in History: Jan Hus
Thursday June 17, 2004
June 17, 1415: Jan Hus was burned at the stake as a heretic.
Catholics Told to Reject Pro-Gay Candidates
Thursday June 17, 2004
In a new sign that certain Roman Catholics in America are trying to impose their religious doctrines on all of society, a Catholic group in Boston is instructing Catholics to ... Read More
Bush Administration: Unique Moral Failings?
Thursday June 17, 2004
A number of criticisms using superlative language have been leveled against the Bush administration, for example that they are the most corrupt administration in history. There may be some debate ... Read More
Religion and Truth
Thursday June 17, 2004
Recently Received: True Religion, by Graham Ward.
For many, secular trends and secular institutions have failed to fully displace religion or religious belief. Instead, a religious revival has occurred around ... Read More
News: Supreme Court Dismissed Pledge Case
Wednesday June 16, 2004
The United States Supreme Court has delivered a decision on Michael Newdow’s challenge to the phrase “under God” in the Pledge of Allegiance: they dismissed it on a technicality and ... Read More
Bush Snubs Gay Pride Month
Wednesday June 16, 2004
June is Gay Pride Month, but President Bush has refused to issue a proclamation recognizing it as such. Some groups are planning activities, but not agency officials are able to ... Read More
For-Profit Hospitals: Most Costs, More Deaths
Wednesday June 16, 2004
Some argue that privatization is a good principles because private companies are more efficient and ultimately better than government-run operations. That’s surely true of many industries, but it doesn’t appear ... Read More
U.S. Must Repent
Wednesday June 16, 2004
Many evangelical Christians are, quite simply, paranoid. They believe they can see the handywork of Satan everywhere they turn and they are convinced that the forces of evil are on ... Read More
Evolution as Religious Fundamentalism?
Wednesday June 16, 2004
A couple of common tactics of the Christian Right when attacking evolution are to portray it as a “religion” (thus teaching it violates the separation of church and state, something ... Read More
The Pope is Not the Anti-Christ!
Wednesday June 16, 2004
I know that it’s hard to believe, but a recent news item indicates that the pope may not, in fact, be the Antichrist after all! At least, that’s the word ... Read More
Doubts About Religion: Should you tell your family?
Wednesday June 16, 2004
Questioning a religion you have grown up with and to which your family continues to adhere can be a very difficult thing to face. Contemplating the possibility that you might ... Read More
Ron Reagan on Religion in Politics
Wednesday June 16, 2004
When his father was buried, Ron Reagan made some remarks about the relationship between religion and politics which many believe were thinly veiled criticisms of President Bush. Some also believe ... Read More
Moon Over Washington
Wednesday June 16, 2004
On March 23rd, a group of both Republican and Democratic Congressmen attended a coronation. Of Sun Myung Moon. As the Messiah. In the Dirksen Senate office building. Crazy? You bet ... Read More
This Date in History: Padre Pio
Wednesday June 16, 2004
June 16, 2002: Padre Pio was canonized by Pope John Paul II. A controversial figure in the Catholic Church, Pio was famous for the stigmata he had on his hands ... Read More
Moscow Trial for Blasphemy
Wednesday June 16, 2004
The director of Moscow’s Andrei Sakharov Museum (a human rights museum) has gone on trial because a recent display has outraged leaders of the Russian Orthodox Church. As a result, ... Read More
Vatican to Combat Alternative Religions
Wednesday June 16, 2004
Catholic leaders around the world are growing more and more concerned about the influence of (and competition from) New Age, alterative religious movements. As a result, many have met at ... Read More
Hillary Clinton: Most Godless Senator?
Wednesday June 16, 2004
All too often I see commentators on the right attempt to vilify and attack others by describing them as “godless,” as “atheists,” or otherwise insist that they aren’t “real” believers ... Read More
Faith of Atheism
Wednesday June 16, 2004
Recently Received: I Don't Have Enough Faith to Be an Atheist, by Norman L. Geisler and Frank Turek.
Christian apologists take atheism very seriously - more seriously than they do ... Read More
Threats Against Moore's "Fahrenheit 9-11"
Tuesday June 15, 2004
A lot of conservatives don’t like Michael Moore and they really don’t like the idea of his new movie, Fahrenheit 9-11, becoming popular. Some have even started a movement to ... Read More
Charley Reese: Atheists Are Untrustworthy, Immoral
Tuesday June 15, 2004
Atheists are probably the most distrusted group of people in America today - just about any other sort of person is more likely to get elected to public office than ... Read More
Mobs Attack Theater Over Lesbian Film
Tuesday June 15, 2004
Sometimes, in India, it really doesn’t pay to be different. That’s a message being sent by Hindu extremists as they force a delay in the screening of a film about ... Read More
Having it His Way
Tuesday June 15, 2004
Politics has been described as the art of compromise: in order to effectively run a government, it is necessary for people of different political positions to give in here and ... Read More
Texas Diversity Plan Under Attack
Tuesday June 15, 2004
In order to eliminate affirmative action, but still ensure that poor minorities get a shot at college, Texas adopted a creative plan: the top 10% of all high school graduates ... Read More
Religion's Place in the Public Square
Tuesday June 15, 2004
Quite often, debates about the appropriate relationship between religion and government involved the appropriate place of religion in the so-called "Public Square." This public square might be meant literally, as ... Read More
Economics of White Collar Crime... and Bagels
Tuesday June 15, 2004
Under what conditions are people honest? Paul F., a former economist who left his profession behind to become a bagel seller, has developed some interesting data on that question. He ... Read More
Team Bush On a Crusade?
Tuesday June 15, 2004
The Bush administration is trying to keep close ties to religious groups in the belief that they are the only means by which the election can be won. As a ... Read More
This Date in History: Witchcraft in Massachusetts
Tuesday June 15, 2004
June 15, 1649: Margaret Jones was tried and executed for witchcraft - the first time this happened in the colony of Massachusetts.
Will the Pentagon Begin Spying on Americans?
Tuesday June 15, 2004
Will the Pentagon begin spying on Americans? Military intelligence agencies have had little authority within American borders since the 1970s when Army agents were caught snooping on antiwar protesters. Today, ...