Pentagon: U.S. Alienating World's Muslims
Tuesday November 30, 2004
Even the Pentagon is coming to the realization that American military action abroad is further inflaming anti-American passion among Muslims and alienating them from any American goals. It's not enough ... Read More
Iran: Suicide Volunteers Being Recruited
Tuesday November 30, 2004
The government of Iran denies being involved with suicide terrorism, but they certainly aren't doing anything to discourage or stop it. An allegedly "private" organization is registering Iranians for suicide ... Read More
Fed Assault on Oregon's Suicide Law Continues
Tuesday November 30, 2004
Republican politicians who are big supporters of states' rights on other issues continue to fight the principle when it comes to Oregon's suicide laws. Attorney General John Ashcroft has asked ... Read More
Tort Reform, Caps on Damages Won't Lower Physician Premiums
Tuesday November 30, 2004
It is claimed by those fighting for caps on medical malpractice awards that excessive awards are the reason for high insurance premiums the doctors pay - and doctors say that ... Read More
Odeon of Herodes Atticus in Athens, Greece
Tuesday November 30, 2004
Located on the western end of the southern slope of the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, is the Odeon of Herodes Atticus. An odeon (or odeum) is any type of small ... Read More
Georgia: Principal Apologizes for School Prayer Poem
Tuesday November 30, 2004
Many school principals, especially in the South it seems, appear to be almost completely ignorant of their duties, responsibilities, and authority when it comes to constitutional issues. They assume authority ... Read More
Virginia: Religion Class Dropped Over Witchcraft Fears
Tuesday November 30, 2004
In principle, it sounds like a good idea to have classes about religion in high schools. Students would benefit from learning more about various religions around the world. In reality, ... Read More
This Date in History: Torture
Tuesday November 30, 2004
November 30, 1259: Pope Alexander IV confirms the policy of using torture to elicit confessions, first authorized by Pope Innocent IV in his Bull Ad exstirpanda. In Ad exstirpanda Innocent ... Read More
U.S. Government Denies Validity of Transsexual Marriages?
Tuesday November 30, 2004
I've written before that the "definition" of marriage as being only between "one man and one woman" poses serious problems for those whose sex is not easily categorized and for ... Read More
Supreme Court Lets Gay Marriage Stand
Tuesday November 30, 2004
The Supreme Court has declined to even review a challenge made by conservatives to a Massachusetts high court ruling that allows for gay marriages. Religious conservatives wanted to be "protected" ... Read More
Have Conservatives Hijacked Christianity?
Tuesday November 30, 2004
Many liberal and moderate Christians are concerned over the way conservative evangelicals and fundamentalists have appropriated religious language, making it appear as though 'real' Christians must support particular political programs, ... Read More
Extensive Christian Bias At Air Force Academy
Tuesday November 30, 2004
I've already written about the religious harassment at the Air Force Academy and the Team Jesus banner that had to be taken down, but it seems as though the problems ... Read More
Altruism, Morality, and Evolution
Tuesday November 30, 2004
Recently Received: Kindness in a Cruel World, by Nigel Barber. Publisher: Prometheus Books.
Morality, ethics, and fair play are foundational element in human social relationships. Without some ability to trust and ... Read More
Jesus, Serial Killer
Monday November 29, 2004
We hear a lot about how Christianity is a "religion of peace" and how Christians, especially conservative evangelicals, really desire only peace and love in the world. Why, then, is ... Read More
Florida: Humanist Charter School to Open
Monday November 29, 2004
Quite a few of the "charter schools" one hears about tend to be religious in nature, but recently a humanist charter school was approved by the Hillsborough County School District ... Read More
Imam Wishes Death for Critic of Islam
Monday November 29, 2004
Dutch parliamentarian Geert Wilders has been an outspoken critic of Islamic extremism and has promised government investigations into the problems that extremism has been causing in his country. For his ... Read More
Swiss Approve Stem-Cell Research
Monday November 29, 2004
Swiss citizens have overwhelmingly approved a law permitting stem-cell research to proceed in their nation. Opponents of stem-cell research tried to have Switzerland's science-friendly law overturned, but they failed in ... Read More
Stem Cells Help Woman Walk Again
Monday November 29, 2004
Opponents of stem-cell research tend to argue that the claims made on behalf of the research are overblown and unrealistic. People support stem-cell research on the idea that the possible ... Read More
Temple of Nike Apteros in Athens, Greece
Monday November 29, 2004
When visiting the Acropolis one of the first things people encounter is the Temple of Nike, also known as the Temple of Nike Apteros or Athena Nike. This relatively small ... Read More
Arizona: Lawsuit Filed Over Faith-Based Mentoring
Monday November 29, 2004
Should the federal government pay for a child-care program where mentors "share the good news of who Jesus is and how he can provide a future of hope for anyone"? ... Read More
Congress Approves Anti-Abortion Measure
Monday November 29, 2004
Republican efforts to end abortion have already begun. Inserted in a recent spending bill was the non-spending provision that would invalidate state laws requiring hospitals to provide abortion services.
The Guardian ... Read More
This Date in History: C.S. Lewis
Monday November 29, 2004
November 29, 1898: C. S. Lewis, noted author and Christian apologist, was born.
Minnesota: Anti-Gay Exorcism Damages Cathedral
Monday November 29, 2004
Conflict between anti-gay Catholics and those Catholics who support gay rights has come to a head in the St. Paul Cathedral in Minnesota. After a brief confrontation, it appears that ... Read More
Michigan: Sexist Imam Speaks to Students
Monday November 29, 2004
Islamic traditions do not conceive of women generally having the same rights and privileges in society as do men. This attitude was put on display at Western Michigan University recently ... Read More
Is Atheism Logical?
Monday November 29, 2004
Quite a few believers think it important to prove that atheism is illogical. I'm not sure why this is so - after all, if they were consistent in their beliefs ... Read More
Truth & Knowledge, Skepticism & Critical Thinking
Monday November 29, 2004
Recently Received: Truth, Knowledge, or Just Plain Bull: How To Tell the Difference, by Bernard M. Patten. Publisher: Prometheus Books.
Every day we are bombarded with a multitude of claims related ... Read More
Athens Olympics - Panathenaic Stadium
Sunday November 28, 2004
Around 140 CE the Panathenaic Stadium was restored by Herodes Atticus, giving its current horseshoe shape. It was 204.07m long, 33.35m wide, and had a seating capacity of around 50,000 ... Read More
Faith & Democracy
Sunday November 28, 2004
In America here can be a great deal of conflict between secularism and religion — specifically, religious fundamentalism. To what extent are the absolute and uncompromising positions of traditional faith ... Read More
Problems in Liberal Theology
Sunday November 28, 2004
One of the interesting conundrums facing liberal Christian theology is that so little of it seems to really be "Christian." More and more of the historical, orthodox doctrines are abandoned ... Read More
This Date in History: Revolution in Iran
Sunday November 28, 2004
November 28, 1978: In an attempt to forestall a religious revolution, the Iranian government banned religious marches.
Secular Schools Indoctrinate Christian Kids?
Sunday November 28, 2004
Members of the Christian Right don't like secular public schools because... well, because they are secular and serve the public rather than religious and serve the interests of conservative evangelicals. ... Read More
NOW: National Organization of Witches?
Sunday November 28, 2004
The Christian Right is, in some ways, a product of the battle against modern feminism. The organizational structure for it was originally created by those who successfully mounted the opposition ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Diderot on Revelation and Truth
Sunday November 28, 2004
Only a very bad theologian would confuse the certainty that follows revelation with the truths that are revealed. They are entirely different things.
- Denis Diderot, Apology for the Abbé de ... Read More
Erechtheion (Erechtheum) in Athens, Greece
Saturday November 27, 2004
Aside from the Parthenon, perhaps the best known site on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, is the Erechtheion (Erechtheum), an Ionic temple made famous for its use of female figures ... Read More
Vermont: Gay Parents Have Same Rights as Straight Parents
Saturday November 27, 2004
Do gay couples who have children have the same rights as a married couple with children? They do if they have entered into a civil union in Vermont. At least, ... Read More
Disclaimer Stickers for Science Texts
Saturday November 27, 2004
The Georgia lawsuit over placing disclaimer stickers in science texts that discuss evolution continues to get attention. Finally, though, someone is putting it all into the perspective it really deserves.
Colin ... Read More
This Date in History: Pope Urban II Preaches the First Crusade
Saturday November 27, 2004
November 27, 1095: Pope Urban II calls for a Crusade (in Arabic: al-Hurub al-Salibiyya, "Wars of the Cross") in a famous speech at the Council of Clermont. Although his actual ... Read More
Atheist Supports Ratzinger's Crusade Against Secularism
Saturday November 27, 2004
Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican's "Iron Cardinal" in charge of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (formally known as the Inquisition), has launched a campaign against secularism in Europe. ... Read More
Creationists Stumbling Backwards
Saturday November 27, 2004
The creationists who decided to inject "Intelligent" Design into the Dover area schools' science curriculum have begun to step back a bit from their lunacy. They aren't quite ready to ... Read More
Onward Christian Lawyers
Saturday November 27, 2004
Jerry Falwell's Liberty School of Law has finally opened and only time will tell whether the "lawyers" it produces will know enough about law to qualify as decent members of ... Read More
Theater of Dionysus in Athens, Greece
Friday November 26, 2004
One of the most interesting but also easily missed archaeological sites in Athens, Greece, is the Theater of Dionysus. Located on the southeastern slope below the Acropolis, it is also ... Read More
Atheism: Doctrine of Depravity?
Friday November 26, 2004
People's anger at and dislike of atheism can be quite extreme at times. Instead of calmly assessing whether atheists have anything to offer and whether atheism might be a valid ... Read More
Unholy Rebellion of the Childless
Friday November 26, 2004
There are growing numbers of couples in America who are voluntarily childless. They could have children, presumably, but choose not to — whether because of financial reasons, lifestyle desires, or ... Read More
This Date in History: Reagan and Iraq
Friday November 26, 2004
November 26, 1983: President Ronald Reagan signed a secret order instructing the government to do "whatever was necessary and legal" to ensure that Iraq was not defeated in its war ... Read More
The Specialness of Judeo-Christian Principles
Friday November 26, 2004
Quite often when people try to argue against the separation of church and state or in favor of imposing Christian ideas via the power of the government, they invoke "Judeo-Christian ... Read More
Stem Cell Research: Weighing Benefits and Dangers
Friday November 26, 2004
The debate over stem cell research typically revolves around the question about whether the benefits outweigh the risks and ethical problems. Stem cells hold a lot of promise to cure ... Read More
20,000 Muslims Demonstrate Against Terror
Friday November 26, 2004
Some have complained that there is insufficient action on the part of Muslims to combat and oppose terrorism. It is argued that platitudes about Islam being a "religion of peace" ... Read More
Evolution vs. Fundamentalism
Thursday November 25, 2004
In the American conflict between science and religion, the most severe debates seem to revolve around the status (and teaching) of evolution. Many religious believers regard evolution as a serious ... Read More
Acropolis of Athens, Greece
Thursday November 25, 2004
The word acropolis simply refers to the upper part of a town (Greek: acros = top, polis = city). The term can be used to refer to the high point ... Read More
Anti-Gay Bias in Topeka, Kansas
Thursday November 25, 2004
Topeka, Kansas, is most famous for the infamous "God Hates Fags" ministry of the Westboro Baptist Church. It doesn't sound like it can be a very tolerant place, but the ... Read More
Scalia Rejects Government Neutrality Towards Religion
Thursday November 25, 2004
When U.S. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia appeared at an interfaith conference in New York, he made his views on religion and state abundantly clear: the American government should not ... Read More
This Date in History: Ramleh
Thursday November 25, 2004
November 25, 1177: Battle of Ramleh (Montgisard): Although a force of 500 led by King Baldwin IV attempts to stop Saladin at Ascalon, the same site where an Egyptian relief ... Read More
Red State Values & Smut
Thursday November 25, 2004
A great deal has been made of religious "values voters" who are more concerned about public morality and religious values than they are about their own economic circumstances. The problem ... Read More
Declaration of Independence Banned?
Thursday November 25, 2004
A frequent rhetorical trick of the Christian Right is to complain that if God is removed from public schools, then the Declaration of Independence will be next. Well, some are ... Read More
Church Air Poses Health Risks
Thursday November 25, 2004
If you were wondering about some of the disadvantages to being religious and attending church, researchers have come upon a new one: breathing church air is bad for your lungs. ... Read More
Agora in Athens, Greece
Wednesday November 24, 2004
The Greek word agora is a general term for an open-air marketplace in any city, often used similarly to that of a forum in Roman cities, and was always considered ... Read More
Complaints Continue About Target & the Salvation Army
Wednesday November 24, 2004
I've written before about complaints that Target will be treating the Salvation Army just like any other charity. The fact that other charities have been banned from solicitation doesn't matter. ... Read More
The Tempting of Conservative Judges
Wednesday November 24, 2004
The standard narrative used by conservative judges is that they see their job as "interpreting" the Constitution in light of the text and original understanding; liberal judges, by contrast, are ... Read More
This Date in History: Battle of Zara
Wednesday November 24, 2004
November 24, 1202: After just five days of fighting, Crusaders capture the Hungarian port of Zara, a Christian city on the coast of Dalmatia. The Venetians had once controlled Zara ... Read More
Elkhart, Indiana: Governed By God?
Wednesday November 24, 2004
I've written before about Elkhart, Indiana, a town that had a Ten Commandments monument ordered removed. Turns out that this town is a veritable hotbed of theocratic attitudes, at least ... Read More
Senate Republicans To Punish GOP Moderates
Wednesday November 24, 2004
There has been some concern that Congressional Republicans would continue to refuse to work with Democrats during Bush's second presidential term. It appears, though, that they may not even be ... Read More
Soledad Cross Named Veterans Memorial
Wednesday November 24, 2004
A few days ago I wrote that the saga of the Mt. Soledad Cross might finally be over - but I spoke far too soon, it seems. Reps. Duncan Hunter, ... Read More
Temple of Hephaistos (Hephaestus) in Athens, Greece
Tuesday November 23, 2004
The Temple of Hephaistos (Hephaestus) is a Doric peripteral temple that has 6 columns along the front and 13 along the side. In the history books it is usually referred ... Read More
Priest Informs Kids that Santa Doesn't Exist
Tuesday November 23, 2004
During a Wednesday morning Mass in Santa Fe Springs, California, Rev. Ruben Rocha informed a group of children that Santa Claus didn't really exist. Parents, of course, are outraged that ... Read More
Barely Half of Americans Accept Evolution
Tuesday November 23, 2004
Evolutionary theory is the organizing principle for all modern biology - denial of it is like denying relativity in modern physics. The fact of evolution - the fact that allele ... Read More
This Date in History: Seville Captured
Tuesday November 23, 2004
November 23, 1248: Ferdinand III of Castile captures Seville, Spain. Muslim control of Spain is reduced to the Kingdom of Granada which would survive for over two more centuries.
Iran: Boy Lashed for Breaking Ramadan Fast, Dies
Tuesday November 23, 2004
Ramadan is an especially holy time for Muslims - the entire month is taken up by fasting and various festive events. Breaking one's fast during Ramadan days is treated very ... Read More
Team Jesus Banner Removed At Air Force Academy
Tuesday November 23, 2004
A couple of days ago I wrote about the apparent problem of religious discrimination and bigotry at the Air Force Academy. As part of the effort to clean the place ... Read More
Should the Salvation Army Get Special Privileges?
Tuesday November 23, 2004
Salvation Army bell ringers are a common feature at American stores during the holidays, but not at Target. They decided to enforce their 'no solicitation' policy fairly and consistently rather ... Read More
South Dakota: Politician Under Fire for Not Saying Pledge
Tuesday November 23, 2004
A city council member in Rapid City, South Dakota, is being attacked because he refuses to stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. According to Tom Murphy, the flag as ... Read More
Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion
Monday November 22, 2004
The Temple of Poseidon on Cape Sounion is one of the most spectacular ancient Greek temples around. Built in 444 BCE, it replaced an earlier, unfinished temple that had been ... Read More
Materialism, Personality, and Souls
Monday November 22, 2004
Do souls exist? Many people think so despite the lack of any real evidence pointing to them — "real evidence" meaning here testable, replicable, predictable data just like we have ... Read More
This Date in History: Pope Honorius III
Monday November 22, 2004
November 22, 1220: Pope Honorius III crowned Holy Roman Emperor Frederick in the expectation that Frederick would support the Church and participate in the Fifth Crusade.
No Such Thing as Atheism?
Monday November 22, 2004
Some opponents of atheism have difficulty dealing with atheists' critiques of religion and theism. So, instead of actually addressing those critiques, they choose to simply deny that atheism exists in ... Read More
Why Does Marriage Exist?
Monday November 22, 2004
In debates over gay marriage, most attention is paid to "gay" and too little to "marriage." Granted, opponents of gay marriage are loud and vociferous in their insistence that they ... Read More
Paestum, Italy
Sunday November 21, 2004
Paestum, Italy is part of an ancient Greek colony 90km south of Naples and is also known as Poseidonia. There are a number of archaeological sites here, but the most ... Read More
French Cardinal: Islam Must Adapt to Secularism
Sunday November 21, 2004
One of the conflict points between Islam and the West is the fact that government in the West tends to be largely secular while Islam doesn't entirely acknowledge the appropriateness ... Read More
This Date in History: Second Vatican Council
Sunday November 21, 2004
November 21, 1964: The third session of the Second Vatican Council closed. One result of this session, announced by Pope Paul VI, was that the Virgin Mary would assume a ... Read More
Church, State, and Tax Exemptions
Sunday November 21, 2004
Churches aren't allowed to participate in partisan political campaigns if they are a tax-exempt charity. The same is true for all tax-exempt charities. Some religious people don't like this, apparently ... Read More
Atheism a Falsehood?
Sunday November 21, 2004
One of the tactics being used to combat Islamic extremism is not to tone dowe religion, but to increase it. Apparently the problem with the radicals and extremists isn't that ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Cooley on Theology and God
Sunday November 21, 2004
A theology whose god is a metaphor is wasting its time.
- Mason Cooley, City Aphorism
One of the most significant developments in Christian theology during the modern era may be the ... Read More
Image Gallery of Athens, Greece
Saturday November 20, 2004
The capital of modern Greece, Athens (Greek: Athína, named after the city's patron goddess Athena) is one of the most famous Greek cities - and it has long played a ... Read More
Ontario: Muslims Object Being Exposed to Humanity of Gays
Saturday November 20, 2004
Canada is a nation that has decided to promote tolerance and diversity far more than most. This is causing conflicts with some conservative citizens. Recently Muslim parents objected to the ... Read More
ACLU In League With Satan, Must Be Destroyed
Saturday November 20, 2004
Shock and outrage have been growing since the Defense Department decided that it could no more endorse an organization that discriminates against atheists than it could discriminate against atheists itself. ... Read More
This Date in History: Grand Mosque in Mecca
Saturday November 20, 2004
November 20, 1979: The Grand Mosque in Mecca was invaded by a group of extremist Ikhwan. Led by Juhaiman Ibn Mohammed Utaibi, a former Saudi National Guardsman, the group was ... Read More
Abstinence: Cool in God's Eyes?
Saturday November 20, 2004
The state government in Louisiana agreed not to use federal funds in order to promote religion while encouraging sexual abstinence. Unfortunately, it looks like they are violating that agreement. I ... Read More
Congress Passes Bill To Repair Catholic Missions
Saturday November 20, 2004
Despite the fact that many are active churches and not simply museums, Congress has voted to spend taxpayer funds on restoring historic Catholic missions in California. This was expected for ... Read More
Moderate Bishop Elected
Saturday November 20, 2004
There is a lot of pressure on American Catholic bishops to adopt more conservative policies, but they don't appear to be willing to always succumb to that pressure. Just recently ... Read More
Ancient Corinth, Greece
Friday November 19, 2004
Corinth is the heart of one of the earliest city-states in ancient Greece. The city of Corinth is located on a strategically important spot, dominating the narrow strip of land ... Read More
Pharisees Gathering Stones
Friday November 19, 2004
One of the interesting features of the current efforts by the Christian Right to attack gay marriage is that their rhetoric about saving families doesn't match their actions. Why not, ... Read More
Study: Teens Fine With Gay Parents
Friday November 19, 2004
One of the complaints offered by many opponents of gay marriage is that gay couples wouldn't make good parents and gay parenthood should be discouraged rather than facilitated. Unfortunately for ... Read More
This Date in History: Billy Sunday
Friday November 19, 2004
November 19, 1862: The famous American evangelist Billy Sunday was born. Sunday was a famous preacher who traveled the country for revivalist sermons. Characteristic of his method was to greatly ... Read More
The 'Gay Thing'
Friday November 19, 2004
A lot of people are bothered by homosexuality. Reasons for this vary (at least, self-reported reasons do), but despite this variety there is a common thread of "because I don't ... Read More
Abortion and Cancer
Friday November 19, 2004
For a while now anti-abortion activists have relied upon dubious links between abortion and breast cancer to try to dissuade women from aborting. They've even had some success in getting ... Read More
GOP Pushing Out Moderates
Friday November 19, 2004
One of the concerns that many had before the election was that a win for Bush would be perceived as validating the views of Republicans who are on the extremes ... Read More
Epidauros, Greece
Thursday November 18, 2004
Epidauros (Epidaurus, Epidavros) is most famous today for its open-air theater. The largest surviving theater in Greece today, it was designed by Polykleitos, built around 330 BCE, and can still ... Read More
House GOP: Power over Principle
Thursday November 18, 2004
It may be that no abuse of power is too outrageous for the current GOP leadership. Back in 1993, Republicans enacted a rule that prohibited any member indicted by a ... Read More
Religious Discrimination at Air Force Academy?
Thursday November 18, 2004
Already trying to deal with accusations of sexual discrimination and harassment, the Air Force is now trying to deal with accusations of religious discrimination and harassment - at their own ... Read More
This Date in History: St. Peter's Basilica
Thursday November 18, 2004
November 18, 1626: St. Peter's Basilica was consecrated by Pope Urban VIII. At 619 feet long, St. Peter's is still the largest church in Christendom.
Anti-Gay Ballot Measures Coming
Thursday November 18, 2004
After the stunning success of all eleven state anti-gay ballot measures in the 2004 elections, anti-gay activists are gearing up for more measure that they hope will further restrict gays' ... Read More
Department of Defense Ends Boy Scouts Sponsorships
Thursday November 18, 2004
Because the Boy Scouts were successful in defending their right to discriminate against gays and atheists, others have been successful in getting government organizations to cut their ties to the ... Read More
Iowa: Pastor Harasses Elderly Kerry Voters
Thursday November 18, 2004
Not only has the 2004 presidential election divided the nation, it's also apparently dividing churches. A pastor in Iowa has been accused of harassing two elderly women from his congregation ... Read More
Poseidon (Roman: Neptune), God of the Seas
Wednesday November 17, 2004
Poseidon, known to the Romans as Neptune, was the god of seas, water, earthquakes, and horses. He joined with his brothers Zeus and Hades to overthrow the rule of their ... Read More
Talent, Work, and Taxation
Wednesday November 17, 2004
Sometimes people argue that it is unfair for a person to pay more in taxes compared to others than they receive in government services. One response to this is to ... Read More
Glad I'm An Atheist
Wednesday November 17, 2004
Can a person be glad that they are an atheist? I'm not sure that it makes a great deal of sense because I'm certainly not glad that I disbelieve in ... Read More
This Date in History: Eisenstadt v. Baird
Wednesday November 17, 2004
November 17, 1971: Argued: Eisenstadt v. Baird The right of people to have and know about contraceptives was expanded to unmarried couples because, according to the Court, the right of ... Read More
Changing Definition of Atheism?
Wednesday November 17, 2004
Evangelical Christians like to insist on a very narrow definition of atheism as "denying the existence of God." The broader, more accurate definition places them on the defensive, forcing them ... Read More
War of Reviews: Intelligent Design vs. Honesty
Wednesday November 17, 2004
Intelligent [sic] Design "theorists" are better known for their bumptious arguments in religious journals than for serious science. Sadly, such disdain for the enforced honesty of the scientific process seems ... Read More
Freedom, State Power, and Private Power
Wednesday November 17, 2004
A common belief today is that one of the basic sources of conflict in any society is that between free individuals and repressive states. So long as state power is ... Read More
Judicial Activism and Abortion
Tuesday November 16, 2004
Religious conservatives like to complain about "judicial activism," claiming that judges should "interpret" the law rather than "make" it. Experience teaches, however, that what religious conservatives really mean by "judicial ... Read More
Hera, Queen of the Gods
Tuesday November 16, 2004
Both sister and wife of Zeus, Hera is queen of the gods. The Greeks revered her as protector of marriage, especially married women. This may be because she had such ... Read More
Atheists Worried About Second Bush Term
Tuesday November 16, 2004
Although there are plenty of conservative atheists, there are probably even more atheists (some conservative) who are not the least bit happy with the reelection of George W. Bush. The ... Read More
Discussion: The Corporation (Documentary)
Tuesday November 16, 2004
A forum member writes: The film runs the gamut, from environmental destruction to methods of manipulating children via advertising to discussion of the significance of the WTO riots in Seattle ... Read More
Oregon: Unity Requires Conformity
Tuesday November 16, 2004
After the 2004 presidential election various people have been discussing ways in which many of the deep divisions in the country might be healed and some measure of unity achieved. ... Read More
This Date in History: British Mandate
Tuesday November 16, 2004
November 16, 1947: British military forces begin their scheduled withdrawal from Palestine.
Bush to Purge CIA of Disloyal Elements
Tuesday November 16, 2004
George W. Bush blamed people in the intelligence community for failures to properly understand what was going on in Iraq, rather than take responsibility for his own involvement. Some in ... Read More
Ethics and Materialism: Compatible?
Tuesday November 16, 2004
A little while ago I responded to someone who claimed that it wasn't possible for an atheist to live a consistent atheistic worldview. Their reason was... well, there really wasn't ... Read More
Daily Poll: Will Republicans Work With Democrats?
Tuesday November 16, 2004
After the 2004 elections, Republicans even more firmly control both the Presidency and Congress. During the previous 4 years Republicans rarely engaged in bipartisanship, preferring instead to run roughshod over ... Read More
Florida Voucher Law: Three Strikes
Tuesday November 16, 2004
As many expected, a district court in Florida has ruled against that state's school voucher scheme. It is, in fact, the third court to do so - how many more ... Read More
Hephaistos (Hephaestus), Craftsman of the Gods
Monday November 15, 2004
The son of Hera and Zeus or perhaps just Hera - the stories conflict on this point - Hephaistos (Hephaestus) was ugly and lame, thus leading to his exclusion from ... Read More
Scientists Promoting Atheism?
Monday November 15, 2004
It's not uncommon for Christians to imagine that science and scientists promote atheism. The reason for this seems to be the fact that science doesn't incorporate their god or promote ... Read More
Six Reasons to Believe in God
Monday November 15, 2004
There are a lot of works of Christian apologetics available - some of it decent, some of it awful. Unfortunately, a significant amount of apologetics falls firmly in the "awful" ... Read More
This Date in History: Registering Communists
Monday November 15, 2004
November 15, 1965: The Supreme Court ruled that people have the right to refuse to register with the government as members of the Communist Party.
Little Green Footballs or Little German Fascists?
Monday November 15, 2004
One of the most popular conservative web sites is Little Green Footballs. Unfortunately, it seems to be especially popular for those who want to kill Arabs. As a matter of ... Read More
Jerry Falwell Misleads Audience... Again
Monday November 15, 2004
What is it with Jerry Falwell and his own history? Time and time again he is challenged about embarrassing things in his past record and instead of either standing by ... Read More
Churches as Terrorist Targets?
Monday November 15, 2004
Could large, conservative churches be targeted for terrorist attacks? I'm not aware of any evidence that such attacks are planned, but there are good reasons to think that they could ... Read More
Hades (Haides, Roman: Pluto), God of the Underworld
Sunday November 14, 2004
Hades (Haides, Roman: Pluto) was the Greek god of the underworld whose name literally means "unseen" (although the corresponding Latin term means "wealth," a reference to the fact that he ... Read More
Focus on Which Families?
Sunday November 14, 2004
The so-called "values" voters who make up the conservative evangelical base of the Republican Party spend a lot of time worrying about other people's sexual morality and other people's families. ... Read More
Red State Confusion of Moral Values
Sunday November 14, 2004
There has been a lot of talk about "values" voters and their influence in the 2004 presidential election. Truth be told, they aren't as much of an influence as many ... Read More
This Date in History: Sir Charles Lyell
Sunday November 14, 2004
November 14, 1797: Geologist Sir Charles Lyell was born. Charles Lyell was a British geologist who is responsible for a couple of important developments in the field of geology. ... Read More
Answering Atheism?
Sunday November 14, 2004
Not long ago I wrote about one of the many examples of someone I think is mistaken about the relationship between atheism and religion. She's clarified her position and I ... Read More
Heretical Atheists?
Sunday November 14, 2004
Those who misunderstand atheism sometimes seem to do so not simply out of ignorance, but out of a genuine desire that atheists conform to some preconceived notion as to what ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Heschel on Theology & Philosophy
Sunday November 14, 2004
Theology starts with dogmas, philosophy begins with problems. Philosophy sees the problem first, theology has the answer in advance. We must not, however, disregard another important difference. Not only are ... Read More
Hermes (Roman: Mercury), Messenger of the Gods
Saturday November 13, 2004
Hermes (Roman: Mercury) is best known as the messenger god who carried messages or who did errands for the other gods, but the ancient Greeks also regarded him as the ... Read More
Misunderstanding Religion, Atheism
Saturday November 13, 2004
One of the reasons why I have such extensive resources on the definition of atheism and the definition of religion is that, wherever I go, I find such extensive misunderstanding ... Read More
Mt. Rushmore Test?
Saturday November 13, 2004
The Argument from Design is one of the most popular arguments used by theists to make a case for their theism. Unfortunately, it's also an especially weak argument when framed ... Read More
This Date in History: Augustine
Saturday November 13, 2004
November 13, 0354: Aurelius Augustinus (Augustine of Hippo) was born in Tagaste, Numidia (now Algeria). Augustine of Hippo was one of the key church fathers who lead in the development ... Read More
Two Nations Under God
Saturday November 13, 2004
Conservative evangelicals in America see themselves as the only true representatives of God and America as God's chosen vehicle for bringing Christianity and civilization to the world. As a consequence, ... Read More
Consistent Atheistic Worldview? Part 2
Saturday November 13, 2004
In an earlier piece, I pointed out someone claiming that a completely consistent atheistic worldview wouldn't be livable. I explained that this isn't true and noted just how normal it ... Read More
Being a Woman in Afghanistan
Saturday November 13, 2004
The Taliban has been defeated - well, not entirely, but they don't have as much power anymore - yet conditions for women in Afghanistan haven't improved as much as they ... Read More
Understanding Conservative Christianity in America
Saturday November 13, 2004
Are conservative evangelical Christians just ignorant hicks who don't know what is best for them? That's what some liberals seem to think, based upon their reactions to the outcome of ... Read More
Ohio: New Ashland U. Faculty Must Be Christians, Jews
Friday November 12, 2004
Ashland University in Ohio was founded by the Brethren Church in 1878 and has always had references to religion in their constitution, but now they are getting more serious. From ... Read More
Pennsylvania: School Mandates Teaching 'Intelligent' Design
Friday November 12, 2004
The Dover Area School District in Pennsylvania will earn a slot in history alongside such illustrious places like Kansas, where science and modernity are eschewed in favor of religiously-motivated ignorance ... Read More
South Africa: Elderly Women Butchered for Witchcraft
Friday November 12, 2004
In the rural community of Centane, four elderly women have been vicious butchered by people wielding homemade swords. Why? They were believed to be witches.
Dispatch reports:
The investigating officer, Inspector Sandla ... Read More
Free Speech Fundamentalism?
Friday November 12, 2004
There has been a lot of media attention of murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh. Most have been sensible enough to be horrified, but not everyone. Believe it or ... Read More
Hestia (Roman: Vesta), Goddess of the Home
Friday November 12, 2004
The sister of Zeus, Hestia (Roman: Vesta) was one of the three Olympian goddesses who had dedicated herself to virginity (the other two were Artemis and Athena). Hestia had dominion ... Read More
Science, Atheism, Religion
Friday November 12, 2004
The Georgia lawsuit over disclaimer stickers in science texts continues to confuse people. All around the internet you can find writers who don't understand that evolution is science, creationism is ... Read More
Texas: Schools Settles Lawsuit Over Harassment of Pagan Student
Friday November 12, 2004
A pagan student who attended a Texas school has received a large settlement because she was harassed her for not being Christian like everyone else. Why was such a case ... Read More
This Date in History: Elizabeth Cady Stanton
Friday November 12, 2004
November 12, 1815: Elizabeth Cady Stanton was born. Elizabeth Cady Stanton is best known to the American public for her role in the fight for women's suffrage and less ... Read More
Preparing for a Post-Roe America
Friday November 12, 2004
The future of legal abortions in America is very much in doubt. There is every reason to believe that, during his second term, George W. Bush will appoint enough justices ... Read More
Jesus Speaks Through Republicans
Friday November 12, 2004
According to many conservative evangelicals, the reelection of George W. Bush was the will of God. By causing Bush to remain in office, God has "blessed" America rather than "curse" ... Read More
Irish Ruling on Gay Marriage
Friday November 12, 2004
Gay marriages are legal in some parts of Canada, but not legal anywhere in Ireland. The recent marriage in British Columbia of two women, both Irish, may change things in ... Read More
Connecticut: Religious School Subsidies Questioned
Thursday November 11, 2004
For the last 30 years, the town of Berlin, Connecticut, has been subsidizing a local Catholic school - most recently to the tune of $50,000. Now they are being told ... Read More
Las Vegas: ACLU Defends Street Preachers
Thursday November 11, 2004
Religious conservatives commonly - and incorrectly - accuse the ACLU of being anti-Christian and of helping any religious group except Christians. In yet another example of just how ignorant and ... Read More
California Missions' Dark History
Thursday November 11, 2004
The Spanish missions in California are an important part of the state's history - important enough that many want the government to pay for restoring the missions, even if they ... Read More
UN Criticizes Poland's Abortion Laws
Thursday November 11, 2004
Poland's anti-abortion laws are so strict that many are forced to seek illegal and unsafe procedures. Poland currently have a leftist government that would like to revise the laws, but ... Read More
Spokane Diocese Filing for Bankruptcy
Thursday November 11, 2004
Sexual abuse lawsuits are claiming yet another Catholic diocese in America, this time the Spokane, Washington, diocese. According to Bishop William Skylstad, they will file for bankruptcy by the end ... Read More
Satanic Christians of America
Thursday November 11, 2004
One of the interesting things about the overwhelming support American evangelicals have shown for the Iraq War is the fact that evangelicals elsewhere have been just as overwhelming in their ... Read More
Nike, Goddess of Victory
Thursday November 11, 2004
Nike was the personification of victory for the ancient Greeks. Her image appears regularly wherever there is a desire to express or glorify a victory over enemies (as in the ... Read More
Seventh Day Adventists Affirm Literal Six-Day Creation
Thursday November 11, 2004
Apparently determined to hold the line against encroaching secularism and science, the Seventh-day Adventist Church has reaffirmed their teaching that there was "a literal, recent, six-day creation." It's not clear ... Read More
Discussion: Christmas Songs in Schools
Thursday November 11, 2004
Keith writes: Apparently there is an ACLU-backed lawsuit about religious Christmas Carols being sung in public schools. This is bothering me. I don't like gag rules and I see no ... Read More
Navy Chaplain Smears Atheists
Thursday November 11, 2004
The claim that there are no atheists in foxholes is common - so common, in fact, that even high-ranking officials feel no compunction at repeating the imprecation that people can't ... Read More
This Date in History: The Fourth Lateran Council
Thursday November 11, 2004
November 11, 1215: The Fourth Lateran Council opened in Rome. Organized by Pope Innocent III in Rome in order to discuss and define central dogmas of Christianity, it is one ... Read More
Shame On Target?
Thursday November 11, 2004
I've written before about the decision of Target to start enforcing their "no solicitation" policy fairly and consistently, even though that means not having Salvation Army bell ringers outside their ... Read More
Yasser Arafat - Short Biography
Thursday November 11, 2004
Yasser Arafat is best known as the leader of teh PLO, but the Palestinian Liberation Organization was not founded by him. Instead, it was originally created by various Arab states ... Read More
Past News Stories Dealing with Yasser Arafat
Thursday November 11, 2004
As chairman of the PLO and president of the Palestinian Authority, Yasser Arafat has been an important and influential figure in the Middle East - for good or for ill, ... Read More
Pastors Pressure Representatives to Pass Unconstitutional Laws
Thursday November 11, 2004
Churches aren't allowed to endorse particular political candidates, but they can do things that make it difficult for a candidate to get elected. As a consequence, politicians can come under ... Read More
Falwell: Blow Them Away In The Name of the Lord
Thursday November 11, 2004
Jerry Falwell is one of those preachers who seems to promote a more "muscular" or "masculine" vision of Christianity - one that is less concerned with the meek of the ... Read More
Jesus and American Culture
Thursday November 11, 2004
Recently Received: American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon, by Stephen Prothero. Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Jesus Christ is of course the central figure in Christianity, ... Read More
Ancient Greek Temples and Sacred Sites
Wednesday November 10, 2004
Ancient Greek mythology is characterized by an interesting array of gods and goddesses; ancient Greek religion - the worship of those gods and goddesses - is characterized by their large ...