Standard Dictionaries on Atheism
Monday January 31, 2005
How have standard dictionaries defined atheism, theism, agnosticism, and other related terms? If you listen to many Christians, you'll think that they define atheism as something like "denial of the ... Read More
Florida: 'In God We Trust' in Public Libraries
Monday January 31, 2005
In Pasco County, Florida, Republicans are pushing to have banners saying "In God We Trust" put up in public libraries. I don't think that they imagine that this isn't an ... Read More
Self-Checkout at Grocery Stores
Monday January 31, 2005
A forum member asks: Have you ever used a self-checkout in a store? What's your experience?
There are a lot of different opinions about this. Some people like the convenience, but ... Read More
Newsletter 01-31-05
Monday January 31, 2005
News items from the past week include prevarication from the government on the nature of "humane" treatment of detainees, the truth behind Intelligent Design, the real reason so many Jews ... Read More
California: Cities Continue Illegal Prayers
Monday January 31, 2005
City councils in California aren't supposed to open meetings with sectarian prayers, but many continue to do so despite court rulings. Apparently they don't much care about the law of ... Read More
This Date in History: The Catholic League
Monday January 31, 2005
January 31, 1596: The Catholic League was disbanded, leading to the end of the French Wars of Religion between Roman Catholics and Huguenots.
Novak: Inauguration Protests Are Not 'Free Speech'
Monday January 31, 2005
Robert Novak is a journalist and, therefore, believes in the value of free speech - right? Well, maybe not quite. Novak has an "interesting" view of what constitutes free speech ... Read More
Conservatism, Atheism, and Gay Marriage
Monday January 31, 2005
Can conservatives be atheists? Can conservatives support gay marriage? There is some debate among conservatives on these issues and not always a lot of consensus.
John Pike writes:
The AnalPhilosopher posts today ... Read More
Ohio: Ashland University Backs Off Religious Discrimination
Monday January 31, 2005
Last year I wrote about Ashland University in Ohio and their decision to start hiring only Jews and Christians for their faculty. Well, they reconsidered this and changed their mind. ... Read More
Are atheists more rational than theists?
Sunday January 30, 2005
Fundamentally, atheism itself isn't anything more than not believing in any gods - and that means that being an atheist doesn't automatically make a person rational, smart, clever, or anything ... Read More
Muslim Woman's Children Believe Muslims Go to Hell
Sunday January 30, 2005
In 1985, Rehab Amer was charged (and acquitted) with killing her 2-year-old son. Her other three children were taken away and given up for adoption, despite the fact that the ... Read More
Travesty in Dover
Sunday January 30, 2005
Discussion of "Intelligent" Design in schools in Dover, Pennsylvania has gone forward despite objections from civil libertarians and scientists, but that "discussion" isn't all that it's cracked up to be. ... Read More
This Date in History: Counter-Reformation
Sunday January 30, 2005
January 30, 1592: Clement VIII elected pope. The last pope of the Counter-Reformation, Clement recognized Henry IV as king of France, helping secure the peace of the French Wars of ... Read More
How To Avoid God?
Sunday January 30, 2005
How can one ensure that they become and remain an atheist? Most atheists would probably answer something along the lines of a continuing study of philosophy, logic, and religion. So ... Read More
How to Talk to An Atheist?
Sunday January 30, 2005
Do Christians know how to talk to atheists? That isn't very likely. The biggest problem is probably that Christians, but especially conservative evangelical Christians, have no idea what atheism is ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Baruch Spinoza on Miracles
Sunday January 30, 2005
"Those who wish to seek out the cause of miracles, and to understand the things of nature as philosophers, and not to stare at them in astonishment like fools, are ... Read More
Holy Lands
Sunday January 30, 2005
Recently Received: Historical Atlas of the Holy Lands, by Karen Farrington. Publisher: Checkmark Books.
The "Holy Lands" consist of critical geographic locations for the history of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Located ... Read More
Atheism & Natheism
Saturday January 29, 2005
There's a new word being tossed around: nathiesm. It was invented by atheists who are uncomfortable with the more common definition of "atheism" as the absence of belief in gods. ... Read More
Why are you an atheist?
Saturday January 29, 2005
What caused me to reject not only religion, but also belief in the existence of any gods? Am I angry with God? Am I angry with Christians? Not every atheist ... Read More
LaHay's Tribulation
Saturday January 29, 2005
Tim LaHaye is not a happy camper. Despite having made millions and millions of dollars from his Left Behind book series, he's very upset that his publisher Tyndale House is ... Read More
The Importance of Reproductive Rights
Saturday January 29, 2005
Does the right to have an abortion really matter much? Some might not think so, imagining that now that it exists it's safe or, even worse, that it's ultimately irrelevant ... Read More
This Date in History: Axis of Evil
Saturday January 29, 2005
January 29, 2002: During his State of the Union speech, President George Bush lists Iraq, Iran, North Korea and Syria as part of an "axis of evil." According to Bush, ... Read More
Canada Rejects Vatican Call to Halt Gay Marriages
Saturday January 29, 2005
The Vatican has called upon the Canadian government to pull back from legalizing same-sex marriages, but Canada is refusing to heed the advice. Catholic officials want the government to invoke ... Read More
Sikh Clergy Clamping Down on Gay Marriages
Saturday January 29, 2005
The spread of same-sex marriage in the West is having an impact on Sikh religious leaders in India: a directive has been issued forbidding Sikhs from participating in or entering ... Read More
Author of Evolution Text is a Practicing Catholic
Saturday January 29, 2005
I've written numerous times about the lawsuit in Cobb County, Georgia, over anti-evolution disclaimer stickers that were put in biology texts. A court ruled against the stickers, but the creationists ... Read More
Rationalism and the Press
Saturday January 29, 2005
Recently Received: The Gathering of Infidels: A Hundred Years of the Rationalist Press Association, by Bill Cooke. Publisher: Prometheus Books.
Atheism, freethought, skepticism, and rationalism are all important parts of Western ... Read More
Zeus Saves!
Friday January 28, 2005
Christianity supplanted Greek paganism, but what if the Greek gods were real the whole time and Christianity a false religion? I'm sure that not many Christians would want to entertain ... Read More
Natural Property Rights vs. Capitalism
Friday January 28, 2005
Most people will assume that the philosophy of "natural property rights" are fundamental to any capitalist system - but what if that isn't true? Perhaps "natural property rights" actually contradict ... Read More
Porn Shop Turned to Christian Bookstore - For Sale
Friday January 28, 2005
In 2002 Mike Braithwaite had a religious conversion. Until that point he had owned a store selling sexual material and objects; afterwards, he converted the store to a Christian bookstore. ... Read More
No Free Speech for Liberals?
Friday January 28, 2005
Is it true that liberals shouldn't have the same free speech rights as conservatives? Is it true that "free speech" only exists for Christians to express their beliefs and proclaim ... Read More
Alberto Gonzales on Faith-Based Discrimination
Friday January 28, 2005
Criticisms of Alberto Gonzales tend to focus on the way he helped craft the framework for America's abuse and torture of detainees around the world. That's obviously very important, be ... Read More
Specialized References on Atheism
Friday January 28, 2005
Specialized reference works have also provided definitions of atheism, theism, agnosticism and other related terms. Included here are entries from sociology dictionaries, encyclopedias of religion, and more. Read Article...
Newsletter 01-28-05
Friday January 28, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.04 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at what it means to create "art" and how our ... Read More
Watch Out! Lesbians in Vermont!
Friday January 28, 2005
PBS has pulled an episode of a popular children's show about America that, when visiting Vermont, visits the homes of two lesbian couples who have entered into domestic partnerships. In ... Read More
This Date in History: Evolution in Tennessee
Friday January 28, 2005
January 28, 1925: Tennessee's lower house passed 71-5 the Butler Act, a law which would prohibit the teaching of evolution in public schools. This law would later be challenged in ... Read More
Insurers Sue Church for Abuse Data
Friday January 28, 2005
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Los Angeles is being sued by three insurance companies who want internal information on priests accused of sexually abusing children. Apparently they believe that there ... Read More
Discrimination Against Gays in Illinois
Friday January 28, 2005
Has the Illinois governor signed a law that will force churches to hire homosexuals? I you read (and actually believe) what is written by religious conservatives with blogs, you'll certainly ... Read More
Ancient Origin for Shroud of Turin?
Friday January 28, 2005
There are new claims that the Shourd of Turin is really an ancient artifact rather than a medieval forgery. The latest comes from The American Shroud of Turin Association for ... Read More
Sin of Anger
Friday January 28, 2005
Recently Received: Anger: The Seven Deadly Sins, by Robert A. F. Thurman. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
Everyone gets angry from time to time — arguments, heated words, and evil thoughts that ... Read More
Islam's Claim on Spain
Thursday January 27, 2005
For hundreds of years Muslims dominated portions of the Iberian peninsula and the influence of Muslim culture can still be found wherever you look. Muslims continue to live in Spain ... Read More
Politically Incorrect or Historically Wrong?
Thursday January 27, 2005
There is a new book out, The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History (published by Regnery), that has become very popular among conservatives. Unfortunately, that popularity may end up leading ... Read More
Help! Help! We're Being Oppressed!
Thursday January 27, 2005
Conservatives control the executive and legislative branches of the national government. Conservatives may not control, but they are a powerful force in, the judicial branch of government. Conservatives are common ... Read More
1978: George W. Bush on Social Security
Thursday January 27, 2005
Apparently, George W. Bush has been pushing the idea of a Social Security "crisis" for quite some time. Unfortunately for him, his words have been preserved - he predicted that ... Read More
Do people choose to be atheists?
Thursday January 27, 2005
Many theists argue that people "choose" to be atheists and, hence, will be held accountable for such a (sinful) choice. But is atheism chosen? Are any beliefs chosen at all? ... Read More
Missing Link Found?
Thursday January 27, 2005
Fossilized remains of one of humanity's earliest ancestors have been identified in Africa. The Ardipithecus ramidus lived around 4.5 million years ago and could tell us something about some of ... Read More
Church and Mortuary Schemed to Take Fetal Tissue for Burial
Thursday January 27, 2005
Crist Mortuary in Boulder, Colorado, has been taking the ashes from cremated fetuses and giving them to a local Catholic Church. On the 32nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the ... Read More
This Date in History: Indulgences
Thursday January 27, 2005
January 27, 1343: Pope Clement VI's bull Unigenitus ("Unbegotten") declared that the accumulated merit of the Catholic Church, won by Christ and the Saints, could be drawn upon by the ... Read More
Wiccans and Muslims in the Military
Thursday January 27, 2005
Wiccans are becoming more established and "normal" in the military. At one time their presence was opposed by the Christian Right and some actually tried to organize a boycott over ... Read More
Complete Idiot's Guide to Intelligent Design
Thursday January 27, 2005
Ever wonder what "Intelligent" Design really teaches and is really about? You probably aren't alone - ID supporters engage in a fair amount of double-talk because they promote its religious ... Read More
Newsletter 01-26-05
Thursday January 27, 2005
News items from the past week include an open letter from a reader to Christianity Today about an article on how secularism is "really" a religion, the nature of Islamic ... Read More
Amish Culture
Thursday January 27, 2005
Recently Received: Crossing Over: One Woman's Escape from Amish Life, by Ruth Irene Garrett, Rick Farrant. Publisher: Harper San Francisco.
If there is one religious group in America that most people ... Read More
O'Reilly: ACLU Is The Taliban
Wednesday January 26, 2005
Bill O'Reilly hosts one of the most popular programs on Fox "News," but why is that? As far as I can tell, he doesn't disseminate any actual information; instead, he ... Read More
Creepy Opus Dei
Wednesday January 26, 2005
Highly secretive and very conservative, Opus Dei is one of the most influential organizations within the Catholic Church today. The full extent of its influence is probably unknown to all ... Read More
FCC Rejects Indecency Complaints
Wednesday January 26, 2005
The Parents Television Council flooded the FCC with complaints about various shows, including the movie "Saving Private Ryan," for indecent words and acts. In all, the FCC rejected complaints of ... Read More
Why do people become atheists?
Wednesday January 26, 2005
Why do people become atheists? That isn't an easy question to answer because there are perhaps as many roads to atheism as there are atheists - every atheist is different ... Read More
Alabama: Boy Scouts Padding Numbers?
Wednesday January 26, 2005
The Boy Scouts, an organization that won't admit gays and atheists because they can't be moral enough, is being investigated by the FBI for having padded the numbers of members. ... Read More
Christian Right to Bush: We Bought You, Now Deliver
Wednesday January 26, 2005
It seems that some members on the Christian Right are starting to figure out that they are being used. It's dawning on them that the traditional corporate, conservative forces of ... Read More
This Date in History: The Council of Trent
Wednesday January 26, 2005
January 26, 1564: The Council of Trent issued its conclusions in the Tridentinum, establishing a distinction between Roman Catholicism and Protestantism.
Virginia: Should Students Sit During Pledge?
Wednesday January 26, 2005
In Vriginia, students can sit while others stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance. One lawmaker wants to change that, though, and require students have parental permission before they are ... Read More
Abstinence-Only Education, or Anti-Sex?
Wednesday January 26, 2005
Sometimes the abstinence-only movements seems more interested in condemning sex generally than trying to prevent teenage pregnancies. This is not surprising because much of the support it has appears to ... Read More
Egyptians Sold Fake Cat Mummies
Tuesday January 25, 2005
Most people know that the ancient Egyptians created mummies and held cats in high esteem - even worshipping them, in some cases. Some people know that the Egyptians went so ... Read More
Supreme Court Lets Stand Decision on 'Choose Life' Plates
Tuesday January 25, 2005
The 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that South Carolina's "Choose Life" license plates were unconstitutional because they endorsed one side of the abortion debate and didn't provide a ... Read More
Killing Civilized Christianity
Tuesday January 25, 2005
Has Christianity become too "civilized"? Pastor Erwin McManus thinks so, arguing that Christianity should challenge people and make them think differently rather than make them feel secure and comfortable in ... Read More
Is atheism morally & intellectually significant?
Tuesday January 25, 2005
The mere fact that a person doesn't happen to believe in any gods isn't very meaningful. Thus, if atheism is going to have intellectual or moral significance, it must be ... Read More
Church-Going Americans Less Tolerant
Tuesday January 25, 2005
Christians in America, especially conservative evangelical Christians, like to pretend that their religion is the foundation of true morality. But since when has that ever been true in practice? A ... Read More
Antony Flew & Flawed Science
Tuesday January 25, 2005
More people are noticing the very disappointing basis that Antony Flew is apparently using for his "conversion" to theism. Far from reasoned philosophical or scientific arguments, Flew is apparently relying ... Read More
This Date in History: The Oxford Movement
Tuesday January 25, 2005
January 25, 1841: The Oxford Movement in England reached its highest point when John Henry Newman's Tract No. 90 is published. The resulting controversy brought the series of tracts (begun ... Read More
Dover Creationists: Liars for Jesus?
Tuesday January 25, 2005
It is difficult, and arguably impossible, to defend "Intelligent" Design honestly. It falls so far short of science is and so obviously pursued for religious reasons that anyone trying to ... Read More
Spongebob Squarepants
Tuesday January 25, 2005
In case you hadn't heard, demagogues of the Christian Right have been beating the war drums against Spongebob Squarepants. It appears that this cartoon character has appeared in a music ... Read More
Newsletter 01-24-05
Monday January 24, 2005
News items from the past week include a special whipping rod for disobedient children being raised in biblical households, evidence that Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell are frauds, an increasingly ... Read More
Belief vs. Disbelief
Monday January 24, 2005
People's misunderstanding about the nature of atheism can sometimes be traced to a misunderstanding about the nature of disbelief. Is disbelief in an idea the same as believing that the ... Read More
Rolling Stone Rejects Bible Ad
Monday January 24, 2005
Rolling Stone magazine at first accepted and then rejected an ad from Zondervan touting their new, "hip" Bible translation. Zondervan was evidently relying upon the exposure they would get with ... Read More
Maine: Bishop Could Oppose Gay-Rights Bill
Monday January 24, 2005
In 2000, members of the Catholic Diocese of Portland helped local civil rights activists craft a referendum that would outlaw discrimination against gays in employment and housing. That referendum and ... Read More
This Date in History: William Murray
Monday January 24, 2005
January 24, 1980: On this night, William Murray (son of American atheist Madalyn Murray O'Hair) had a dream which he interpreted as a religious vision from God, leading to his ... Read More
Parental Notification: What Really Happens
Monday January 24, 2005
Many states have "parental notification" laws making it illegal for a minor to get an abortion without parental consent or a judicial waiver. Even many defenders of abortion rights tend ... Read More
Wisconsin: Government Can't Fund Religious Proselytization
Monday January 24, 2005
For the first time, the government has been forced to stop funding a faith-based program because of the pervasive nature of religious activity and proselytization being done with public money. ... Read More
Atheism vs. Agnosticism: What's the Difference?
Sunday January 23, 2005
Many people who adopt the label of agnostic reject the label of atheist - there is a common perception that agnosticism is a more "reasonable" position while atheism is more ... Read More
Chiropractic School Draws Protests
Sunday January 23, 2005
Florida State University plans on opening a school of chiropractic medicine, but many professors on campus are hoping to stop it before it happens and are threatening to resign if ... Read More
American Evangelicals and Militarism
Sunday January 23, 2005
Conservative evangelicals in America are big supporters of the war in Iraq. They are also big supporters of the use of the American military to push democracy elsewhere. Conservative evangelicals ... Read More
This Date in History: Robert Nozick
Sunday January 23, 2005
January 23, 2002: American philosopher Robert Nozick dies.
Natural Selection in Humans?
Sunday January 23, 2005
Are humans still evolving? Scientists have long assumed so, but there hasn't been any evidence of natural selection operating on human beings - until now. Researchers have discovered a specific ... Read More
Green Pagans & Faith-Based Funding
Sunday January 23, 2005
Conservative proponents of faith-based funding typically assume that recipients will be Christians or, possibly, Jewish. They don't seem to think much about what would happen if other religious groups start ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Bacon on Chance and Superstition
Sunday January 23, 2005
The general root of superstition is that men observe when things hit, and not when they miss, and commit to memory the one, and pass over the other.
- Francis Bacon, ... Read More
Bible's Influence on History
Sunday January 23, 2005
Recently Received: The Bible in History: How the Texts Have Shaped the Times, by David W. Kling, David William Kling. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
Whatever the truth of Christian theology may ... Read More
Strong Atheism vs. Weak Atheism
Saturday January 22, 2005
Atheism is commonly divided into two types: strong atheism and weak atheism. Although only two categories, this distinction manages to reflect the broad diversity which exists among atheists when it ... Read More
Supremacist Court of Alabama?
Saturday January 22, 2005
I really don't understand Alabama. First they elect Roy Moore Chief Justice of the Supreme Court and he has to be removed for ethics violations. Now they have elected Tom ... Read More
Religious Aid Workers Exploiting Victims
Saturday January 22, 2005
Some religious aid workers who are supposed to be helping the victims of the tsunami in Southeast Asia are taking advantage of the opportunity to proselytize, conditioning aid on religion. ... Read More
This Date in History: Roe v. Wade
Saturday January 22, 2005
January 22, 1973: Decided: Roe v. Wade This landmark decision established that women have a basic right to have an abortion Through various cases, the Supreme Court developed the idea ... Read More
Army Chaplain Ashamed of Conscientious Objector
Saturday January 22, 2005
Sgt. Kevin Benderman wants to be declared a conscientious objector, despite already having served 10 years in the Army. The sights of the war in Iraq have made him realize ... Read More
Sikh Playwright Speaks Out, Will Fight On
Saturday January 22, 2005
Gurpreet Kaur Bhatti, author of the play that was closed when Sikhs rioted and the government refused to step in to protect free speech, is speaking out. She continues to ... Read More
Holocaust: Jews Died For Not Following Kabbalah?
Saturday January 22, 2005
Did six million Jews die in the Holocaust in Europe because they failed to follow the principles and teachings of the Kabbalah? That's apparently what at least some leaders of ... Read More
Holy Grail, Religion, and Mythology
Saturday January 22, 2005
Recently Received: The Holy Grail: Imagination and Belief, by Richard Barber. Publisher: Harvard University Press.
The Holy Grail is one of the most famous religious artifacts in world history — or ... Read More
Newsletter 01-21-05
Friday January 21, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.03 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at whether people actually follow the Ten Commandments that they ... Read More
Defining Atheism: Why is there disagreement?
Friday January 21, 2005
There are many rancorous debates over the definition of atheism, with quite a few theists insisting that atheism should be defined in a very narrow sense: the denial of the ... Read More
Ohio: Gay Marriage Amendment vs. Domestic Violence
Friday January 21, 2005
Voters in Ohio approved a constitutional amendment against gay marriage that denies unmarried couples anything that gives them "marriage-like status." This is having unintended consequences for unmarried couples involved in ... Read More
Public Schools Need More Religion
Friday January 21, 2005
Do public schools need more religion? Some say that they do - but of course, there is no such thing as just general "religion." To put more religion in public ... Read More
This Date in History: Third Crusade
Friday January 21, 2005
January 21, 1189: Troops for the third crusade, called in response to the victories of Muslims under the command of Saladin, began to gather under King Philip II Augustus of ... Read More
Muslim Unfairly Fired for Trip to Mecca
Friday January 21, 2005
Mohammed Sajwal Khan was a bus cleaner in Britain who wanted to take 25 days off in order to make a trip to Mecca. He requested his holiday entitlement and ... Read More
Christian Fascism & Anti-Fascism
Friday January 21, 2005
Fascist movements differ from country to country, basing their mass appeal upon a nation's deepest and most popular traditions in order to gain power. If any sort of fascism is ... Read More
Will Evangelicals' Political Success Continue?
Friday January 21, 2005
Evangelical Christians have been enjoying a great deal of political success in recent years, but political fortunes can change relatively quickly. Conservative evangelicals have invested themselves so heavily in the ... Read More
Classical Music and Culture
Friday January 21, 2005
Recently Received: Who Needs Classical Music? Cultural Choice and Musical Value, by Julian Johnson. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
Classical music is "better" than popular music, right? That's what members of the ... Read More
What is Atheism?
Thursday January 20, 2005
Theism, broadly defined, is simply the belief in the existence of at least one god. Contrasted with this is atheism: broadly defined, it is the absence of belief in the ... Read More
Showdown Over Science
Thursday January 20, 2005
There's a cultural battle in America over the nature of science. So-called "elitists" want science to be determined by facts, reason, and careful study. They dare to impose those standards ... Read More
'Separation' a Lie?
Thursday January 20, 2005
People opposed to the separation of church and state, like those who are opposed to evolution, can be counted upon to distort and misuse history in egregious ways. False quotes ... Read More
This Date in History: Richard Lionheart
Thursday January 20, 2005
January 20, 1192: After deciding that a siege of Jerusalem during the winter weather would be unwise, Richard I Lionheart's Crusading forces move into the ruined city of Ascalon, demolished ... Read More
Is Bigotry Against Atheists OK?
Thursday January 20, 2005
In many quarters of society, bigotry and discrimination against atheists is considered acceptable. People who wouldn't dream of treating Jews or blacks worse than white Christians will think nothing of ... Read More
Falwell on Homosexuals and Minorities
Thursday January 20, 2005
Jerry Falwell isn't the most compassionate or tolerant religious leader, that is true, but it is amazing just how awful some of his beliefs are. When asked about his intolerance ... Read More
Self-Government: For Christians Only?
Thursday January 20, 2005
We are all aware of bigots on the Christian Right who think that Christians deserve special privileges and extra powers in society. It's unusual, however, to find one so bigoted ... Read More
Democracy and the Constitution
Thursday January 20, 2005
Recently Received: How Democratic is the American Constitution?, by Robert Dahl. Publisher: Yale University Press.
Most people probably assume that the American Constitution is a fundamentally democratic document. After all, America ... Read More
Early Freethinkers on Atheism
Wednesday January 19, 2005
Atheists and freethinkers have defined atheism relatively consistently over the past couple of centuries. Although a few have focused solely on the sense of "strong" atheism, many more have differentiated ... Read More
Blognsnark: Do You Want Tolerance, Or Something More?
Wednesday January 19, 2005
It's not uncommon for religious believers to complain that skeptics, atheists, and nonbelievers are "intolerant" of religion. The question is, are these believers really seeking greater "tolerance," or something more ... Read More
Newsletter 01-19-05
Wednesday January 19, 2005
News items from the past week include how America has been torturing people, whether atheists really are free to express themselves everywhere, questions about how the American Constitution should be ... Read More
More "intelligent" Intelligent Design Needed
Wednesday January 19, 2005
So-called "Intelligent" Design is criticized by scientists for not being genuine science, but sometimes it is also criticized by believers for not being true to religious faith. How can this ... Read More
This Date in History: Muhammad
Wednesday January 19, 2005
January 19, 0570: According to tradition, Muhammad was born on this date.
Class Conflict in the GOP?
Wednesday January 19, 2005
Democrats are sometimes accused of promoting class conflicts, but there seems to be a bit of class conflict going on within the Republican Party: Sam's Club Republicans vs. Country Club ... Read More
Doctor Drops Patient For Not Backing Malpractice Cause
Wednesday January 19, 2005
It's become more common for doctors to have petitions and other political information available in their waiting rooms. But what about a doctor who insists on talking politics with patients? ... Read More
Don't Spare 'The Rod'
Wednesday January 19, 2005
Is your child misbehaving? Are you having trouble coming up with the proper means of discipline? If you spare the rod, you'll spoil the child - and there exists the ... Read More
Sex and Hypocrisy in America
Tuesday January 18, 2005
There is a great deal of hypocrisy in America and Hollywood over pornography. Pornographic films alone make more money than all of the rest of mainstream Hollywood. Note: that's just ... Read More
When Medicine and Religion Collide
Tuesday January 18, 2005
What should doctors do when a patient's religious beliefs conflict with medical advice and practice? At the very least, recovery will become more difficult and the doctor's job harder. A ... Read More
Evolution Chronology
Tuesday January 18, 2005
Interested in a timeline of events surrounding evolutionary theory - not biological evolution itself, but the debate around and development of evolutionary theory itself. Events listed in this timeline include ... Read More
Cobb County Will Appeal Evolution Sticker Ruling
Tuesday January 18, 2005
As I noted a few days ago, a federal judge has declared the Georgia "disclaimer stickers" about evolution to be unconstitutional. I've seen complaints about this from religious conservatives, but ... Read More
Bush Doesn't Think Atheists Can Be President
Tuesday January 18, 2005
We should all know by now that it's unlikely that an atheist will ever be elected president in America - bigotry and discrimination are far too widespread and are unlikely ... Read More
This Date in History: Council of Trent
Tuesday January 18, 2005
January 18, 1562: After a ten-year suspension, the Council of Trent reconvened in order to deal with the Reformation and renewal of the Roman Catholic Church.
Bush's Disconnect From Reality
Tuesday January 18, 2005
Apparently, Secretary of State Colin Powell was asked by President Bush for his assessment of situation in Iraq and Powell told him: "We're losing." Bush asked him to leave. Now ... Read More
Texas Seminaries Seeking Greater Freedom
Tuesday January 18, 2005
In Texas, seminaries are ultimately controlled by the state government. They can't award degrees unless the state approves of their curriculum, professors, and even governing board. A case before the ... Read More
That Other Church: Secularism As Religion?
Tuesday January 18, 2005
I've written a number of times about secularism, especially when people misunderstand the concept. There are a number of writers on the internet who don't seem to understand the concept, ... Read More
Evolution and Origin of Life
Monday January 17, 2005
As if evolution and evolutionary theory were not already confusing enough, many creationists complicate matters even further by promulgating the mistaken idea that evolution is the same as abiogenesis. One ... Read More
Islamic Timebomb in Turkey?
Monday January 17, 2005
Turkey may have a problem: they have allowed at least 1,000 people to fight in Chechnya, a situation that can radicalize Islamic beliefs and train people in combat, terrorism, and ... Read More
Newsletter 01-17-05
Monday January 17, 2005
News items from the past week include allegations that the Vatican separated Jewish children from their parents after World War II, comments from Bork on the state of American culture, ... Read More
This Date in History: Jimmy Swaggart
Monday January 17, 2005
January 17, 1990: Decided: Jimmy Swaggart Ministries v. Board of Equalization of California Should religious organizations be totally exempt from taxation because the collection of such taxes violates both the ... Read More
Are Falwell and Robertson Really Frauds?
Monday January 17, 2005
Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson say a lot of ridiculous things. Unfortunately, there are many people in America who believe them completely. There are also others who may not believe ... Read More
Church & State in Zimbabwe
Monday January 17, 2005
In Zimbabwe, a parish priest has been suspended by the Bishop of Harare, Nolbert Kunonga. What was his crime? He dared to allow an opponent of President Robert Mugabe attend ... Read More
Religious Right & Civil Liberties
Monday January 17, 2005
The Christian Right talks often about religious liberty - for Christians - but not very much about civil liberties in general. Why the silence? Why no effort to promote religious ... Read More
Newsletter 1-14-05
Sunday January 16, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.02 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at the common definition of "religion" as an "ultimate concern." ... Read More
Is Evolution Scientific?
Sunday January 16, 2005
This question isn't as simple as it sounds, but the short answer is yes, evolution is science. Evolution meets the criteria generally accepted by scientists as defining science, and the ... Read More
Religious Talk in Politics
Sunday January 16, 2005
It has been argued that the Religious Right has effectively taken over the use of religious language and themes in political discourse; because that is the sort of thing that ... Read More
Georgia: Protection Order Granted in Ten Commandments Case
Sunday January 16, 2005
The lawsuit filed against a Ten Commandments display in Barrow County, Georgia, will continue to proceed anonymously. A judge has ruled in favor of an ACLU motion to keep the ... Read More
Supreme Court Won't Hear Gay Adoption Case
Sunday January 16, 2005
In Florida, it is illegal for gay couples to adopt children. The law was challenged at the Supreme Court, but the case won't be heard and the law stands. The ... Read More
This Date in History: Catholics and Politics
Sunday January 16, 2005
January 16, 2003: The Congregation of the Doctrine of the Faith, with the approval of Pope John Paul II, published a 19-page document entitled "Doctrinal Note on Some Questions Regarding ... Read More
Washington: Arson Damages Abortion Clinic
Sunday January 16, 2005
In Olympia, Washington, an abortion clinic was severely damaged in a fire that investigators say was deliberately set. The close proximity of the anniversary of Roe v. Wade probably isn't ... Read More
Texas: Houston Bible Display Removed
Sunday January 16, 2005
A Bible display at the Harris County Civil Courts Building in Houston had been allowed to remain while it was being challenged, but no more. The 5th Circuit Court of ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Friedrich Nietzsche on Justice & Equality
Sunday January 16, 2005
Origin of justice. -- Justice (fairness) originates among those who are approximately equally powerful, as Thucydides (in the terrible conversation between the Athenian and Melian ambassadors) comprehended correctly: where there ... Read More
Religious Schooling
Sunday January 16, 2005
Recently Received: Religious Schools v. Children's Rights, by James G. Dwyer. Publisher: Cornell University Press.
Religious schools are very popular in America. Devout parents see them as an effective means for ... Read More
What are Microevolution and Macroevolution?
Saturday January 15, 2005
There is one particular aspect of evolution that needs to be given specific attention: the somewhat artificial distinction between what is called "microevolution" and "macroevolution", two terms often used by ... Read More
Update on Antony Flew, God, and Sloppy Scholarship
Saturday January 15, 2005
Many continue to write about Antony Flew's apparent conversion from atheism to some form of theism. This is an interesting phenomenon, considering just how little information exists and, hence, how ... Read More
Robert Novak on Journalism & Ethics
Saturday January 15, 2005
When Robert Novak revealed in a column the name of an undercover CIA agent because her husband dared to criticize the White House, he may have participated in a federal ... Read More
This Date in History: Roy Moore
Saturday January 15, 2005
January 15, 2001: Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore was sworn into office, pledging that "God's law will be publicly acknowledged in our court."
Georgia: Advocating Theocracy
Saturday January 15, 2005
Not every conservative Christian would favor a theocracy, but far too many of them do. These people don't usually use the word "theocracy," but that's the best label for a ... Read More
Reactions to Newdow's New Pledge Lawsuit
Saturday January 15, 2005
Quite a few religious conservatives have, naturally enough, reacted negatively to the announcement that Michael Newdow would be leading a new lawsuit against the constitutionality of the addition of the ... Read More
Shame and the Law
Saturday January 15, 2005
Recently Received: Hiding from Humanity: Disgust, Shame, and the Law, by Martha C. Nussbaum. Publisher: Princeton University Press.
Both shame and disgust have long played important roles in society — religion, ... Read More
Is Evolution a Fact or a Theory?
Friday January 14, 2005
There is some confusion about evolution as a fact and evolution as a theory. Often you can find critics claiming that evolution is "just a theory" rather than a fact, ... Read More
Has the Right Hijacked Christianity?
Friday January 14, 2005
A common argument from religious liberals is that conservative evangelicals have "hijacked" Christianity and are using it for nefarious purposes. This is an inappropriate argument because it assumes that there ... Read More
Fox News? No Such Thing
Friday January 14, 2005
Many conservatives appreciate the political slant they find on Fox News, but it can be argued that Fox doesn't really provide news at all. Rather than investigative journalism and reporters, ... Read More
This Date in History: Evolution Disclaimer
Friday January 14, 2005
January 14, 2002: A proposed bill in the Washington State Legislature would have required all state-purchased textbooks contain the disclaimer: "A message from the Washington State Legislature: This textbook discusses ... Read More
White House Paid Pundit to Promote Program
Friday January 14, 2005
If you are a conservative commentator, the Bush administration might have money for you. If you are willing to use your public position to promote some of Bush's policies, you ... Read More
Religion & AIDS in Africa
Friday January 14, 2005
Although many religious believers see one of the purposes of religion as comforting the sick and afflicted, when it comes to AIDS religion isn't accomplishing that goal. Christianity in particular ... Read More
Competition, Capitalism, and Ethics
Friday January 14, 2005
Recently Received: What Price the Moral High Ground? Ethical Dilemmas in Competitive Environments, by Robert H. Frank. Publisher: Princeton University Press.
Few Americans haven't heard of the various corporate scandals in ... Read More
Decision in Cobb, County: Disclaimer Stickers Must Go
Thursday January 13, 2005
As is appropriate, U.S. District Judge Clarence Cooper ruled that the evolution disclaimers being used in Cobb County, Georgia, are an unconstitutional endorsement of religion and must be removed. Religious ... Read More
Reggie White, Minister of Intolerance
Thursday January 13, 2005
I've received complaints about my 1998 article on Reggie White. At the time I was critical of the way he used his religion to bash gays, church/state separation, and more. ... Read More
What is Evolution?
Thursday January 13, 2005
Evolution can be a confusing term because it is used in more than one way. Many people in the general population have developed an incorrect understanding of evolution for a ... Read More
Virginia: Proposal to Require Women Report All Miscarriages
Thursday January 13, 2005
In what many will perceive as a sign of the growing lunacy of the Christian Right, Delegate John Cosgrove has introduced a bill in Virginia that would require all women ... Read More
This Date in History: Cathars
Thursday January 13, 2005
January 13, 1208: Pierre de Castelnau, a papal legate in southern France who had been making some progress in converting Cathar heretics (also known as Albigensians) to orthodox Catholicism, is ... Read More
Penn Faculty Responds to Dover School Board
Thursday January 13, 2005
I've written multiple times about the Pennsylvania school district trying to teach about "Intelligent" Design. Science and philosophy professors at the University of Pennsylvania, my alma mater, have written an ... Read More
PBS Won't Air Evangelicals' Attack on Evolution
Thursday January 13, 2005
The PBS television station in Albuquerque, New Mexico, had scheduled a documentary on evolution - until they discovered that the "documentary" was created by evangelical Christians to attack evolution while ... Read More
Slavery in the South
Thursday January 13, 2005
Recently Received: The Counterrevolution of Slavery: Politics and Ideology in Antebellum South Carolina, by Manisha Sinha. Publisher: University of North Carolina Press.
There are many who argue that the secession of ... Read More
Theologians on Atheism
Wednesday January 12, 2005
Although misunderstandings about the definition of atheism have tended to come from theists, it is a fact that many theists have recognized that atheism has a broader sense than simply ... Read More
Atheists & Intelligent Design, Redux
Wednesday January 12, 2005
A little while ago I wrote about Dean Esmay, an atheist who has been trying to argue that it's legitimate for "Intelligent" Design to be taught in science classes and ... Read More
Covenant Marriage
Wednesday January 12, 2005
A lot of religious conservatives are pushing for governments to acknowledge the existence of "covenant" marriages. The idea is to create an official marriage contract that is harder to get ... Read More
Newsletter 01-12-05
Wednesday January 12, 2005
News items from the past week include a conservative Christian who defend evolution against creationism, the possibility of being able to buy a preferred sentence in Missouri (even for murder), ... Read More
This Date in History: Antonin Scalia
Wednesday January 12, 2005
January 12, 2003: Speaking before a small crowd in Fredericksburg, Virginia, at a "Religious Freedom Day" event sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Knights Templar, two Roman Catholic ... Read More