God is a Person: Personal Relationships with God
Saturday July 31, 2004
For many people in Western religious traditions, the idea that God is a "person" is a necessary and fundamental part of their beliefs. Indeed, the very idea that God might ... Read More
Fading Pop Bands Finding New Life in Churches
Saturday July 31, 2004
Fame can be a fleeting experience, especially in America's modern pop culture. The popularity of bands can come and go very quickly, but many work hard to hold on to ... Read More
Discussion: What Will You Do if Bush Wins?
Saturday July 31, 2004
Ed writes: It depends on how he wins. His poll numbers in each of the 50 states are lower than what he 'won' with 4 years ago. If he takes ... Read More
Conservatives vs. Religious Right
Saturday July 31, 2004
In America the "Religious Right" or "Christian Right" is aligned with the more general conservative political movement. As a consequence, people tend to refer to them as "conservatives" - but ... Read More
This Date in History: Catholicism & Gay Marriage
Saturday July 31, 2004
July 31, 2003: Pope John Paul II calls upon Catholic politicians around the world to do all they can to oppose laws that would recognize same-sex unions as valid marriages ... Read More
Ban Godless Marriages
Saturday July 31, 2004
Opponents of gay marriage are largely motivated by their firm belief that such unions are displeasing to God and that only divinely-approved marriages should be permitted. How long will it ... Read More
Malaysia: Non-Muslims Charged for Blasphemy in Islamic Court
Saturday July 31, 2004
Should non-Muslims have to answer religious charges in a Muslim court? Malaysia's Federal Court says so, at least if the alleged offense was committed at a time when those involved ... Read More
Religious Group Protests Godless WWII Memorial
Saturday July 31, 2004
Washington's recent World War II memorial has been controversial for a number of reasons and for a number of aspects of its design. A new controversy has erupted, though, over ... Read More
Muslims in America: Mission Field or Mine Field?
Friday July 30, 2004
For evangelical Christians, a primary duty is to "evangelize" - spread the news of their religious faith in order to convert as many people as possible. This includes Muslims, of ... Read More
Afghanistan: Rebuilding the Bamiyan Buddhas
Friday July 30, 2004
They were built more than 1,700 years ago and destroyed in just a few days by religious fanatics: the Bamiyan Buddhas were once considered wonders of the ancient world but ... Read More
Religion Among Unitarian-Universalists
Friday July 30, 2004
The Unitarian Universalist Church is experiencing something of a division over what direction it should take in the future. Over time it has become much more humanistic and much less ... Read More
Church of Bush
Friday July 30, 2004
A number of conservatives treat George W. Bush with what appears to be almost religious reverence - no matter how often his actions conflict with his words, they insist on ... Read More
God & Gender: Is God Really Male?
Friday July 30, 2004
In many religions throughout history, gods have been portrayed variously as male and female, often embodying important masculine and feminine attributes. The tradition of philosophical theism, however, has had some ... Read More
Blackwashing: What Black Conservative Movement?
Friday July 30, 2004
There are a growing number of black conservative organizations getting attention in the news and in politics - but just how representative are they of blacks in America? That might ... Read More
Florida: Bigots Walk Out on Atheist Invocation
Friday July 30, 2004
In Tampa, Florida, an atheist was allowed to deliver an invocation before the meeting started - but three members (half the council) was so incensed that an atheist could be ... Read More
This Date in History: "In God We Trust"
Friday July 30, 2004
July 30, 1956: The phrase "In God We Trust" was adopted as the U.S. national motto.
Stem-Cell Research: Democratic Wedge Issue?
Friday July 30, 2004
The Republican Party has a number of "wedge issues" - a wedge issue is something that splits the opposition party. They use the wedges of abortion, homosexuality, and prayer to ... Read More
Was the Civil War About Slavery?
Friday July 30, 2004
There is a common myth that circulates in some places that the American Civil War wasn't really about slavery - instead, it was about Northern aggression, taxes, tariffs, that sort ... Read More
Monotheism vs. Polytheism
Friday July 30, 2004
Recently Received: God Against Gods: The History of the War Between Monotheism and Polytheism, by Jonathan Kirsch.
Today, the dominant religions in the world are monotheistic: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. At ... Read More
Thailand: “No Women Allowed” in Buddhist Temples
Thursday July 29, 2004
Should women be allowed into Buddhist temples or even ordained? They aren't (normally) in Thailand, but there are efforts to change things and the "old guard" of Buddhist monks aren't ... Read More
Sundays Changing in America
Thursday July 29, 2004
There was a time in America when Sunday was unique among the days of the week: just about everything was closed, people attended church services, and the rest of life ... Read More
Conflict Within the NRA
Thursday July 29, 2004
The Republican Party typically support gun-ownership rights and the National Rifle Association typically supports the GOP. Now, however, there is some real conflict within the ranks because NRA members don't ... Read More
Married Gay Man Having Passport Trouble
Thursday July 29, 2004
A legal gay marriage in Massachusetts is not, so far, enough to allow one of the men involved to get a new passport. According to the passport center, a marriage ... Read More
Bill Bennett Boondoggle?
Thursday July 29, 2004
Should federal funds designed to enhance "school choice" be directed to home schooling promotion? That's what's happening in Arkansas and through the efforts of Bill Bennett.
Americans United explains:
Newspaper staffers David ... Read More
God is Creator & Sustainer of Existence
Thursday July 29, 2004
A very common attribute of gods in religious traditions around the world is that of creation - our universe, our world, and indeed our very selves often owe their existence ... Read More
Conservative Islamism Growing in Middle East
Thursday July 29, 2004
As Islamism and Islamic extremism grow in the Middle East, they threaten to pose a greater threat to security and peace around the world. Even worse, they pose a very ... Read More
What Does God Sound Like?
Thursday July 29, 2004
A common criticism of the Christian Right is the arrogance they display when claiming to speak to God, to hear from God, and/or to know exactly what God's will is. ... Read More
This Date in History: Pope Urban II
Thursday July 29, 2004
July 29, 1099: Pope Urban II died. Urban followed the lead set by his predecessor, Gregory VII, by working to enhance the power of the papacy against the power of ... Read More
France: First Gay Wedding Annulled
Thursday July 29, 2004
Frances first gay wedding was conducted by a local mayor, but now the marriage has been officially annulled and the mayor has been suspended. The national government is not at ... Read More
Millions Would Declare Christianity America's Official Faith
Thursday July 29, 2004
Most Americans favor religious pluralism, but it's disturbing just how many would support making Christianity the one official religion of the United States. It's more than you might think and ... Read More
Daily Poll: Who Will Win the 2004 Presidential Election?
Thursday July 29, 2004
A significant percentage of people who vote in an election vote for someone who doesn't win. Thus, regardless of how you vote in the 2004 presidential election, the person you ... Read More
Godless Disney World?
Thursday July 29, 2004
Members of the Christian Right have frequently criticized the Disney corporation for failing to adhere to a conservative evangelical set of moral standards. Now they may have a new point ... Read More
Goddess Worship and Religion
Thursday July 29, 2004
Book of the Day: Restoring the Goddess: Equal Rites for Modern Women, by Barbara G. Walker.
Is traditional religion inherently patriarchal and hence damaging to women? Is it possible to reconstruct ... Read More
Rediscovering the Etruscans
Wednesday July 28, 2004
Everyone has heard of the Roman Empire, but how many have heard of the Etruscans? Far fewer - and it's no surprise, considering how little we have left from their ... Read More
Whither American Conservatism?
Wednesday July 28, 2004
Consistent with past Republican candidates, George W. Bush is attacking his opponent John Kerry by pasting him with the "liberal" label every chance he gets. Kerry, however, has portrayed himself ... Read More
Andrew Sullivan Endorses Kerry
Wednesday July 28, 2004
Andrew Sullivan is a popular and influential conservative writer. He's also gay, which is a curious fact because it's long been obvious that the Republican Party has no place for ... Read More
Church Erects Ten Commandments Display
Wednesday July 28, 2004
When the government is prevented from promoting a particular religion, some churches take the amazing and unprecedented step of doing the promotion themselves. Imagine that: a church that spends its ... Read More
Against the Christian, Fundamentalist Theocrats
Wednesday July 28, 2004
The Christian Right worries a lot of people in America, religious and non-religious. They are perceived as representing a very real threat to liberties and pluralism because of their almost ... Read More
Prophetic Religions
Wednesday July 28, 2004
A Prophetic Religion is strongly associated with Revealed Religion and there are times when the two terms may be used interchangeably, but the aren't exactly the same. In a prophetic ... Read More
Spinning Obama’s Speech
Wednesday July 28, 2004
A lot of people have been talking about how great Barack Obama's speech at the Democratic National Convention was and how he is a "rising star" in the Democratic Party. ... Read More
Right-Wing Attacks on the Kerrys
Wednesday July 28, 2004
Self-righteous conservatives have been up in arms about Teresa Heinz Kerry's "shove it" statement to a reporter from Pittsburgh's notorious Tribune-Review. I say "self-righteous" because they were eager to excuse ... Read More
Is a Fetus a Citizen?
Wednesday July 28, 2004
A Mexican woman deported by the U.S. government and who is 8-months pregnant is hoping that the courts will order her return. She argues that her fetus was viable at ... Read More
This Date in History: Karl Popper
Wednesday July 28, 2004
July 28, 1902: Philosopher and scientist Karl Popper was born in Vienna, Austria.
What Does CAIR Want in America?
Wednesday July 28, 2004
The Council on American-Islamic Relations, or CAIR, is one of the most vocal and visible Muslim organizations in America. Most of the time they are seen as defending the civil ... Read More
Operation Rescue's Tax-Exempt Status Challenged
Wednesday July 28, 2004
Operation Rescue has long played a dominant role in debates about abortion in America. They are a tax-exempt non-profit organization, but Catholics for a Free Choice is challenging this. They ... Read More
Scientology's Town
Wednesday July 28, 2004
As you may or may not know, Scientology's current headquarters are located in Clearwater, Florida. In fact, they own so much land in Clearwater that some are getting the feeling ... Read More
What is Religion?
Wednesday July 28, 2004
Book of the Day: Religion for Dummies, by Marc A. Gellman & Tom Hartman.
Religions give people reasons for why they exist, but different religions give different reasons. Religions help people ... Read More
Turkey Getting Tough on “Honor”
Tuesday July 27, 2004
As more light is shined on the practice, more governments are beginning to crack down on the old and barbaric practice of "honor" killings. Whereas before men who murdered female ... Read More
George W. Bush: The Undemocratic President
Tuesday July 27, 2004
There have been a lot of criticisms of President Bush and the manner in which both he and the Republican Party have governed America for the past four years. Some ... Read More
The Sad Fate of Political Protest in America
Tuesday July 27, 2004
One would think that if any form of speech should be given deference, it would be political protest. Although the First Amendment doesn't single out any type of speech for ... Read More
Beating the Moderate Democratic Donkey
Tuesday July 27, 2004
One of the common themes we are hearing this year - and that we hear with every Democratic Convention - is that Democrats are too liberal, constantly needing to position ... Read More
Here Comes the Gay Marriage Industry
Tuesday July 27, 2004
The lines over gay marriage have been drawn and the positions are pretty firm. Perhaps more interesting than that, though, is the possibility that this is a situation that will ... Read More
South Carolina: Sectarian Council Prayers Struck Down
Tuesday July 27, 2004
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that the Great Falls, South Carolina, city council can't begin meetings with sectarian prayers that invoke Jesus Christ's name. This may ... Read More
Mystical Religions
Tuesday July 27, 2004
A Mystical Religion is one in which mystical experiences play the most important role in terms of understanding nature, learning about the divine, and becoming a religiously devout person. At ... Read More
GOP Anti-Gay Leader Outed
Tuesday July 27, 2004
Jay Timmons is the executive director of the National Republican Senatorial Committee and has been heavily involved in fighting for a constitutional amendment that would ban gay marriage. He is ... Read More
Discussion: New Baby Dilemma
Tuesday July 27, 2004
Ranger wrote: My husband and I are adopting a baby girl from Guatemala. We are not religious at all. Here is the dilemma: some friends and family members are very concerned about ... Read More
Florida: Court Rejects Transsexual's Marriage
Tuesday July 27, 2004
If someone has a sex change operation, whom should they be allowed to marry? If a man has the operation to become a woman, would it be a "marriage between ... Read More
This Date in History: Indulgences
Tuesday July 27, 2004
July 27, 1516: Martin Luther preached his first sermon against the practice of selling Indulgences.
Fox “News”
Tuesday July 27, 2004
Everyone knows that despite regular claims to the contrary, there is nothing whatsoever “fair and balanced” about Fox “News,” right? Probably - but it’s nice to have direct confirmation of ... Read More
Bush’s Electoral Strategy
Tuesday July 27, 2004
In most presidential elections, candidates take the support of their "base" for granted and fight it out to get the votes of centrist, independent, and undecided voters. Thus, when campaigning ... Read More
Religious Freedoms and America
Tuesday July 27, 2004
Book of the Day: Religious Liberty in America: Political Safeguards, by Louis Fisher.
Religious liberty is very important in the American political system and even to the American conception of itself ... Read More
Jamestown Excavation Uncovers Wine Bottles
Monday July 26, 2004
An excavation at Jamestown has come across a wine cellar with 11 unbroken bottles of wine that could date back to the 1680s. Unfortunately, all the bottles were empty - ... Read More
Church of England Might Restructure
Monday July 26, 2004
Both insiders and outsiders of the Church of England are concerned that it is becoming "top heavy" - too many bishops at the top, too few people in the pews. ... Read More
Palestinians Making Millions on Israeli Security Barrier
Monday July 26, 2004
Palestinian leaders have complained loudly about the Israeli security barrier and the International Court of Justice has ruled against it. Many Palestinians, however, have made millions of dollars by supplying ... Read More
Criteria for Muslim Prison Chaplains Being Tightened
Monday July 26, 2004
Corrections officials in the United States are concerned about the growth of Islam in America's prisons - and how they might be able to control it. Without proper "guidance" from ... Read More
Papers Pulling Controversial Doonesbury
Monday July 26, 2004
A "Sunday-comics consortium" that provides the Sunday comics section to 38 papers is dropping Garry Trudeau's "Doonesbury" after a poll that reveled 21 of the papers didn't like it. No ... Read More
Controversy Over Women Praying at College Mosque
Monday July 26, 2004
In Kerala, India, female students are given the same rights in a student mosque as the male students - that, however, has upset many male Muslims who want the women ... Read More
Tribal Religions
Monday July 26, 2004
A Tribal Religion may be best understood in terms of what it is not: it is not one which claims to have a religious message for all of humanity, it ... Read More
Spain: Government Might Finance Mosques
Monday July 26, 2004
Under a 1979 agreement with the Vatican, Spain's government provides funds for Roman Catholic churches, a benefit now being considered for all religious groups. In particular, they are looking to ... Read More
South Dakota: Bishop Gets PP Link Off State Web Site
Monday July 26, 2004
Governor Mike Rounds of South Dakota has removed from the state's library web site to Planned Parenthood - after complaints from Robert Carlson, bishop of the Sioux Falls Catholic Diocese. ... Read More
This Date in History: Gamal Abdal Nasser
Monday July 26, 2004
July 26, 1956: Gamal Abdal Nasser of Egypt forcibly nationalized the Suez Canal, leading to a violent response from France, Israel, and Great Britain. Nasser's actions were most immediately motivated ... Read More
Bush Looking for Catholic Parish Directories
Monday July 26, 2004
Not content with getting Protestant church directories, the Bush reelection campaign is now trying to get their hands on Catholic parish directories as well. This seems to be sparking similar ... Read More
Minnesota: Judge Openly Advocates Theocracy
Monday July 26, 2004
Tim Tingelstad is a candidate for the Minnesota Supreme Court. He is running on a platform that is against abortion, quotes the Bible, and argues that public schools would improve ... Read More
Daily Poll: How Will You Vote in the 2004 Presidential Election?
Monday July 26, 2004
Many have claimed that the 2004 presidential election is the most important in recent memory - it will decide the course of the war in Iraq, the course of the ... Read More
Fukuyama & Bush
Monday July 26, 2004
Francis Fukuyama is a well-known academic, especially in political science circles because he is considered one of the "founding fathers" of the neo-conservative movement that has come to dominate the ... Read More
Abortion in America
Monday July 26, 2004
Book of the Day: Roe v. Wade: The Abortion Rights Controversy in American History, by N. E. H Hull and Peter Charles Hoffer.
Why has the Roe v. Wade decision become ... Read More
Dar al-Harb vs. Dar al-Islam
Sunday July 25, 2004
To put it most simply, dar al-harb (territory of war or chaos) is the name for the regions where Islam does not dominate, where divine will is not observed, and ... Read More
Class Warfare as a Republican Tactic
Sunday July 25, 2004
One of the most common tactics used by Republican politicians and candidates is to accuse Democrats of relying on "class warfare." Whenever Democrats raise the issue of the inequity of ... Read More
Saving Christmas Through Religious Bigotry
Sunday July 25, 2004
Quite a few conservative Christians are upset over the way that Christmas has become less and less a Christian holiday. Today, it is far more a general cultural holiday that ... Read More
This Date in History: Constantine
Sunday July 25, 2004
July 25, 0326: In a public mark of his acceptance of Christianity as the official state religion, Constantine refused to carry out the traditional pagan sacrifices.
Defending Marriage - ALL Marriages
Sunday July 25, 2004
Opponents of gay marriage say that such marriages must be banned in order to "save" marriage - both generally as an institution and specifically in individual cases. But what would ... Read More
Values in the Economy
Sunday July 25, 2004
In America, there are many who act as though discussion about economic systems should be value free - just as there is no point in injecting values into discussions about ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Lewis on Arguments and Christianity
Sunday July 25, 2004
We have to be continually reminded of what we believe. Neither this belief nor any other will automatically remain alive in the mind. It must be fed. And as a ... Read More
Religion and God: What Connection?
Sunday July 25, 2004
Book of the Day: Religion Without God, by Ray Billington.
Among both believers and nonbelievers, there are people who tend to assume that there must exist some essential tension between religion ... Read More
Roman Catholicism & Gay Marriage
Saturday July 24, 2004
The Roman Catholic Church has emerged as a world leader in the opposition to legalizing gay marriage. An organization with global reach, contacts, and influence, the Vatican has made it ... Read More
Marriage Amendment Failure: Deliberate?
Saturday July 24, 2004
Far-right Republicans failed to get the anti-gay marriage amendment passed in the Senate, but is it possible that this failure was deliberate? Yes - there are god reasons to think ... Read More
This Date in History: Free Speech
Saturday July 24, 2004
July 24, 2000: Decided: Free Speech Coalition v. Reno The Ninth Circuit Court found that the Child Pornography Prevention Act (CPPA) violated the First Amendment, particularly with regards to the ... Read More
Complimentary and Alternative Medicine
Saturday July 24, 2004
Book of the Day: The Role of Complementary and Alternative Medicine: Accommodating Pluralism, edited by Daniel Callahan.
On the one hand, Complimentary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) has become increasingly popular over ... Read More
10 Reasons to Fire Bush
Friday July 23, 2004
The Republican Party is made up of many different conservatives: social conservatives, economic conservatives, religious conservatives, and conservative libertarians. They often disagree on many different things, but they get enough ... Read More
India: Hindu-Muslim Hate Crime to be Retried
Friday July 23, 2004
In 2002, a Hindu mob attacked a bakery Gujarat and killed 14, including two Muslims who were burnt alive in ovens. A 2003 trial resulted in the acquittal of all ... Read More
O'Reilly: Scolds Guest for Out Gays, Labels Judge a "Lesbian"
Friday July 23, 2004
For Fox News Channel's Bill O'Reilly, the operative principle seems to be "do as I say, not as I do." Usually that principle is shortened to just "hypocrisy." O'Reilly had ... Read More
Florida: GOP Involved in Shady Voter Registrations
Friday July 23, 2004
Federal election officials are investigating the Florida GOP for a very unethical practice: trying to register new citizens to vote by using forms where all of the political choices are ... Read More
Denver Archbishop: Pro-Choice People Not "real" Catholics
Friday July 23, 2004
Who is a "real" Catholic? Conservative Catholics in America are pushing hard to make sure that the definition is restricted to those who loyally follow a strict pro-life political agenda, ... Read More
Omnipotence vs. Evil
Friday July 23, 2004
Is the existence of evil compatible with the existence of an omnipotent god with the ability to desire to eliminate evil? That seems unlikely and many atheological arguments have been ... Read More
Future of Same-Sex Marriage
Friday July 23, 2004
How will the debate over gay marriage proceed in the future? The most likely course of action, over the long term, is that gay marriages will be legalized and receive ... Read More
Spain: Bishops Fighting Gay Marriage
Friday July 23, 2004
Spain's socialist government still has plans to legalize gay marriage some time next year, but Catholic bishops are gearing up for a fight to block any such move. They insist ... Read More
This Date in History: Rindfleish Persecutions
Friday July 23, 2004
July 23, 1298: The Jewish community of Wurzburg, Germany was destroyed in what came to be known as the Rindfleish Persecutions.
Canada: Illegitimate Religions Getting Uppity
Friday July 23, 2004
One of the difficulties inherent in a very religiously diverse society is that the many smaller religions will demand the same rights as the larger, more established religions. This means ... Read More
New York: Mall Security Called on Praying Muslims
Friday July 23, 2004
People in America seem to be growing more and more suspicious of Muslims - a situation not helped by the fact that most Americans don't seem to know anything about ... Read More
Why Postponing Elections is a Bad Idea
Friday July 23, 2004
There has been some discussion about setting up the conditions for postponing federal elections in the event of a large terrorist attack. At first glance this seems like it might ... Read More
Liberalism and the Bible
Friday July 23, 2004
Book of the Day: Understanding the Bible: An Introduction for Skeptics, Seekers, and Religious Liberals, by John A. Buehrens.
Christian fundamentalists can always find some portion of the Bible to support ... Read More
Recovering Hijacked Religions
Thursday July 22, 2004
Conservative and fundamentalist religious groups have been among the most prominent religious voices in the world recently. They are not, however, voices that speak for everyone and those who find ... Read More
“Wisdom” of Dr. Laura
Thursday July 22, 2004
Dr. Laura Schlessinger, famous for berating people who call her advice show and for insisting that irreligious nontheists have something wrong with them, has decided to go visiting - to ... Read More
Against Religion in Government
Thursday July 22, 2004
There are many who think that "religion" has a lot to offer government and can help improve the way government works. That is why, apparently, voters prefer politicians who speak ... Read More
Arkansas: Pastor's Sermon Challenged as "Too Political"
Thursday July 22, 2004
A complaint has been filed with the IRS against Ronnie Floyd, pastor of the First Baptist Church of Springdale, because a recent sermon allegedly crossed the line separating church and ... Read More
Resentment Against Competence
Thursday July 22, 2004
It's rather common in America for people to be prejudiced in favor of the "common man" and against "experts" who claim to know better. When it comes to democratic decisions, ... Read More
India: Men Held over "Caste Gang-Rape"
Thursday July 22, 2004
Although caste-based discrimination is illegal in India, the government hasn't accomplished much in terms of improving relations between the castes. People of higher castes still think of themselves as superior ... Read More
Virtue vs. Perfection
Thursday July 22, 2004
The God traditionally believed in under philosophical theism must be all-virtuous, but certain virtues (like courage) can only be developed in the context of flawed, fallible creatures. Ergo, a perfect ... Read More
Canada: First Same-Sex Divorce Occurring
Thursday July 22, 2004
Just as gay marriage is becoming a reality, gay divorce must also become a reality. No one expects gay marriages to last any longer (on average) than marriages for straight ... Read More
Michigan: Voters OK Amplified Muslim Prayers
Thursday July 22, 2004
I wrote a number of times about the saga of Hamtramck, Michigan: the council wanted to consider allowing mosques to begin broadcasting calls to prayer in Arabic and lots of ... Read More
This Date in History: Middle East Terrorism
Thursday July 22, 2004
July 22, 1946: Jewish extremists blew up a wing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, killing 90 people.
Illinois: Atheist Challenges Pledge of Allegiance
Thursday July 22, 2004
Michael Newdow's legal saga against the Pledge of Allegiance ended without success, but it is only a matter of time before a new case is launched. The best candidate right ... Read More
Conservatives Speak Out on Linda Ronstadt
Thursday July 22, 2004
I wrote yesterday about Linda Ronstadt being escorted out of the Aladdin casino in Las Vegas, without even being allowed to get her things from her room, because she dedicated ... Read More
Daily Poll: Did George Bush Steal the 2000 Election?
Thursday July 22, 2004
Many Americans believe that George W. Bush lost the 2000 presidential election - he received fewer popular votes and the counting of votes in Florida was illegally halted. They say ... Read More
Why Did McCain Sell Out?
Thursday July 22, 2004
Today you can easily find John McCain out working on behalf of the George W. Bush reelection campaign. What few remember, however, are the dirty tricks Bush used to beat ... Read More
The Virtue of Reverence
Thursday July 22, 2004
Book of the Day: Reverence: Renewing a Forgotten Virtue, by Paul Woodruff.
Do you revere anything? That may sound like an odd question in the context of a modern society where ... Read More
American Pope?
Wednesday July 21, 2004
There are quite a few people who are convinced that the American government should be in the business of promoting religion and encouraging religious beliefs. Sometimes a thin veneer of ... Read More
GOP’s Christian Nation
Wednesday July 21, 2004
Many readers may be aware of the platform of the Texas GOP - a platform that is about as extreme as can be. Granted, it's only a state party but ... Read More
Germany: Possible Ban on Religious Symbols in Government
Wednesday July 21, 2004
Concerned with the possibility that government employees might be identified with one religion or another, Berlin's city government is considering a law that would prohibit civil servants from wearing religious ... Read More
Iran: Academic Sentenced to 5 Years Jail
Wednesday July 21, 2004
Iranian academic Hashem Aghajari, charged with blasphemy for calling on Muslims not to blindly follow clerical leaders like "monkeys," has been sentenced to five years in prison. This is actually ... Read More
Republican Definitions of “Real Religion”
Wednesday July 21, 2004
One of the more interesting issues this election year involves "religion" - specifically, the manner in which Republicans and Republican apologists are working hard to convince people that Democrats aren't ... Read More
Chronology of Medieval Christianity
Wednesday July 21, 2004
When did Origen and Jerome write their versions of the Bible? When did Constantine issue the Edict of Milan? When did St. Augustine die? The timelines of medieval Christianity have ... Read More
Linda Ronstadt Censured for Anti-Bush Remarks
Wednesday July 21, 2004
More and more we find that when someone is critical of President Bush, they become the targets of a nasty backlash designed to help silence anyone else uppity enough to ... Read More
Atheists On Trial for Attacking Mosque?
Wednesday July 21, 2004
It seems as though members of a Nigerian "atheist cult" are on trial for attacking a mosque and seriously injuring several Muslims who had been worshipping there. Atheist cults in ... Read More
This Date in History: Scopes Monkey Trial
Wednesday July 21, 2004
July 21, 1925: The infamous "Monkey Trial" ended and John Scopes was found guilty of teaching Darwinism.
U.S. Protestant Majority Eroding, Nonreligious Increasing
Wednesday July 21, 2004
Protestant Christianity has long been a dominant force in American politics, culture, and society. Protestants continue to make up a majority of Americans, but it's a majority that has been ... Read More
Fox's 'Fair and Balanced' Slogan Challenged
Wednesday July 21, 2004
Fox News is well-known for the slogan that they are "fair and balanced," a statement greeted with much derision by critics. Some, though, are going a bit further and are ... Read More
Africans Will Leave Anglican Communion?
Wednesday July 21, 2004
In the debate over whether gays should serve as clergy in the Anglican Communion, African church leaders have been among the most outspoken against gays and gay rights. There has ... Read More
The Hadith & Islam
Wednesday July 21, 2004
Book of the Day: Understanding the Hadith: The Sacred Traditions of Islam, by Ram Swarup.
People's interest in learning more about Islam has grown in recent years. The question is, do ... Read More
Republicans on Church/State Separation
Tuesday July 20, 2004
Conservative Republicans don't think very highly of the separation of church and state - indeed, they often insist that it doesn't exist and is merely a liberal plot to undermine ... Read More
GOP Bothered by Ron Reagan’s Speech
Tuesday July 20, 2004
The Republican Party naturally wants to position itself as the inheritor of Ronald Reagan's legacy, so of course it bothers many that the only truly tangible sign of that legacy ... Read More
Christians Can’t Be Democrats
Tuesday July 20, 2004
There is an attitude among conservative Christians that it simply isn't possible for a person to really be a Christian yet still hold liberal enough views on political and social ... Read More
Bible Should Be Imposed on Americans
Tuesday July 20, 2004
Political questions are often also moral questions and when thinking about moral questions Christian naturally look to the Bible for inspiration and/or guidance. This isn't a problem - the problem ... Read More
How I Got Religion, And Then Lost It
Tuesday July 20, 2004
What's it like to become part of a fundamentalist religion and then leave it again? Many atheists have had such experiences. The story of Doug, an atheist who experienced quite ... Read More
Bush Doesn’t Believe that Islam is a Religion of Peace?
Tuesday July 20, 2004
Throughout the war on terrorism, President Bush has taken great pains to try and reassure Muslims that American intentions in the Middle East do not include a war on Islam. ... Read More
Discussion: Hillary Clinton & The Democratic Convention
Tuesday July 20, 2004
A forum member writes: If Sen. Clinton (D-NY) was to be given a speaking role at the convention, it'd be all the papers could talk about. "She's setting up for ... Read More
Frist Reverses, Supports "Civil Unions"
Tuesday July 20, 2004
In a surprise move, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has voiced his support for "civil unions" for gay couples. This was unexpected because Frist has been such a strong supporter ... Read More
This Date in History: Iran-Iraq War
Tuesday July 20, 2004
July 20, 1988: Iranian leader Ayatollah Khomeini agreed to a ceasefire with Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. After eight years of war, the two sides entered negotiations to end a conflict ... Read More
Obscenity Charges Over Sex Toys Dropped
Tuesday July 20, 2004
Last year Joanne Webb was arrested for selling sexual toys to two undercover officers. Yes, rural Johnson County in Texas has nothing better to police than sex toys. Perhaps the ... Read More
Arab Militants Raping Girls in Sudan
Tuesday July 20, 2004
Rape is all too often used as a weapon of war because it destabilizes social groups and demoralizes the people being attacked. In Sudan, Amnesty International reports that the Arab ... Read More
Lesbian Couple to Challenge Federal DOMA
Tuesday July 20, 2004
It was expected for a while and now it's happening: a gay couple married in Massachusetts but living elsewhere are going to file a lawsuit (in Florida) challenging the constitutionality ... Read More
Trying to End Honor Killings
Tuesday July 20, 2004
Already a serious problem in southern Asia, so-called honor killings are growing in seriousness in the West as well. Britain in particular has a large population of immigrants from India ... Read More
Atheism & Morality
Tuesday July 20, 2004
Book of the Day: Atheism, Morality, and Meaning, by Michael Martin.
Morality has played an important role in both religion and theism throughout human history. So deeply intertwined have the two ... Read More
This Novel's a Bomb
Monday July 19, 2004
Charles C. Green is a writer - or at least he'd like to be, in the sense of making writing his profession. Everyone's a critic, it seems, and that includes ... Read More
Canada Nixes Bibles for New Citizens
Monday July 19, 2004
For the past 50 years, the Canadian Bible Society has handed out copies of the New Testament to new Canadians at citizenship ceremonies - but the government has ordered that ... Read More
School Choice, School Fraud
Monday July 19, 2004
Proponents of "school choice" and voucher schemes commonly emphasize the ability of private organizations to be more efficient and thus do a better job at delivering a product than the ... Read More
Battle For Kennewick Man Over?
Monday July 19, 2004
A collection of 380 bones and bone fragments discovered on July 31, 1996, in Kennewick, Washington has been focus of an intense legal battle for nearly a decade. Scientists want ... Read More
Should Atheists Vote for the Republican Party?
Monday July 19, 2004
Should atheists vote for Republican candidates? There's nothing inherently incompatible with being an atheist who is Republican or who votes Republican, so this question may seem rather strange. However, I ... Read More
Christian Terrorist Let Off Lightly
Monday July 19, 2004
Stephen John Jordi has been sentenced to five years in federal prison for plotting to fire bomb abortion clinics, churches he disagree with and gay bars. The government recommended more ... Read More
Bush: God Speaks Through Me
Monday July 19, 2004
I've written before about how George W. Bush believes that God gives him instructions about whom the American military should be told to attack and that he is doing God's ... Read More
This Date in History: Jewish Bias?
Monday July 19, 2004
July 19, 2002: In his regular column for the National Catholic Reporter, John L. Allen, Jr. quotes unidentified Vatican officials who suggest that Jewish bias against the Roman Catholic Church ... Read More
Mormons Officially Endorse Gay Marriage Ban
Monday July 19, 2004
Although there was never any doubt about where they stood, the Mormon Church has made official their opposition to gay marriage and support for a constitutional ban on it. A ... Read More
Maryland Lawsuit Over Gay Marriage
Monday July 19, 2004
The ACLU has launched lawsuits in Maryland to force the state to recognize same-sex marriages on the same basis that heterosexual marriages are recognized. The hope is that courts will ... Read More
French Parliament Bans Human Cloning
Monday July 19, 2004
With a new law France joins a number of other nations that have tried to ban human cloning as a "crime against the human species," though research on human embryos ... Read More
Unchurched Americans and Religion
Monday July 19, 2004
Book of the Day: Spiritual but not Religious: Understanding Unchurched America, by Robert C. Fuller.
A figure commonly cited in atheist circles is that around ten percent of the population in ... Read More
Atheists Endorse Kerry/Edwards
Sunday July 18, 2004
The Godless Americans Political Action Committee has endorsed John Kerry for president - not a surprise, since it's long been obvious that President Bush doesn't have much respect for religious ... Read More
T-Shirt Charges Dismissed, Police Unapologetic
Sunday July 18, 2004
Remember the story from a few days ago when the couple were arrested at a Bush speaking event because they wore anti-Bush t-shirts? Well, the charges have been dismissed - ... Read More
Students to get Religious Exemptions to Education
Sunday July 18, 2004
Should you be able to simply ignore some portion of your education and continue as if nothing happened if you have religious objections to it? Well, you can at the ... Read More
More on the Maryland Christian Bigot
Sunday July 18, 2004
A couple of days ago I wrote about the bigoted Maryland politician who made personal attacks against an elderly woman who simply thought it would be better of there weren't ... Read More
Logic, Skepticism, and Critical Thinking 101
Sunday July 18, 2004
Welcome to Introduction to Logic, Skepticism, and Critical Thinking 101. This course is ongoing, and no matter when you sign up, you'll start with lesson one and move on to ... Read More
Free Speech Battle over Anti-Bush Sign
Sunday July 18, 2004
A few days ago I wrote about a couple arrested for wearing anti-Bush T-shirts at Bush event. In a related story, a man's anti-Bush sign was destroyed - but not ... Read More
Discussion: Athiests [sic] for Bush
Sunday July 18, 2004
David writes: It might seem odd for an athiest [sic] to promote Bush for President 2004, but that's only if you take a superficial, stereotypical view of politics and religion. ... Read More
Judicial Tyranny, Judicial Activism
Sunday July 18, 2004
A common target of conservatives in America is "judicial activism" - at least, it's a target when courts strike down laws that conservatives favor. Is there any validity to the ... Read More
This Date in History: Papal Infallibility
Sunday July 18, 2004
July 18, 1870: By a vote of 533 to 2, the doctrine of papal infallibility was defined as dogma by the Roman Catholic Church.
Dissenting Catholic Politicians & Catholic Universities
Sunday July 18, 2004
One of the issues facing pro-choice Catholic politicians (the Democrats, at any rate) is whether their stance on abortion will mean that they will no longer be permitted to speak ... Read More
Christian Teens: There’s Hope Yet
Sunday July 18, 2004
Evangelical Christianity is something of a growth industry among teenagers, a fact that has led to some concern that the next generation would be even stronger supporters of the Christian ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Kleiman on Being Right
Sunday July 18, 2004
There is no more destructive force in human affairs -- not greed, not hatred -- than the desire to have been right. Non-attachment to possessions is trivial when compared with ... Read More
The Use of Torture in Law and Religion
Sunday July 18, 2004
Book of the Day: Tortured Subjects: Pain, Truth, and the Body in Early Modern France, by Lisa Silverman.
People may understand that torture was once used as a normal part of ... Read More
Secrecy and Honesty for Democratic Governments at War
Saturday July 17, 2004
Is Iraq George W. Bush's Vietnam? Senator Edward Kennedy says so - and conservatives have decried the comparison, saying that Kennedy doesn't want America to win in Iraq. Is that ... Read More
Prince Charles Rebuked over Alternative Medicine Claims
Saturday July 17, 2004
Prince Charles, heir to the English throne, has long been a big supporter of alternative medicines and other non-scientific medical treatments. Now, however, a leading breast cancer surgeon is taking ... Read More
Fascism, New York City Style
Saturday July 17, 2004
The Republican party is holding its convention in New York City this year. As expected, there are plenty of people who want to hold protests in order to send a ... Read More
This Date in History: Coup in Iraq
Saturday July 17, 2004
July 17, 1968: Baathists once again a coup against the Iraqi government was launched, this time ousting Abd-al-Rahman Muhamad Arif. General Ahmad Hasan al-Bakr became president and Saddam Hussein was ... Read More