Christians Threaten Movie Chain Over Same-Sex Marriage Ads
Monday February 28, 2005
Famous Players, Canada's largest movie chain, had been running a paid advertisement supporting the legalization of gay marriage. It had to be dropped, however, because of opposition from Christian groups ... Read More
Secularism in Europe
Monday February 28, 2005
Europe is far more secular than America. Not only are Europeans less likely to go to church or believe in God than Americans, they are far more likely to be ... Read More
Oregon: Museum May Show Goddess Statue After All
Monday February 28, 2005
A town in Oregon is in an uproar because the museum wants to exhibit a statue of the goddess Hebe. A similar statue used to stand in public but was ... Read More
This Date in History: Olmstead v. United States
Monday February 28, 2005
February 28, 1928: Argued: Olmstead v. United States The Supreme Court decided that wire tapping is legal, no matter what the reason or motivation, because it is not expressly prohibited ... Read More
Newsletter 02-28-05
Monday February 28, 2005
News items from the past week include problems with criminalizing anti-social behavior in Britain, whether the existence of atheists disproves atheism, a judge who thinks that Christians and Jews should ... Read More
Japan: Weakening Faith in Shinto
Monday February 28, 2005
Shinto is the dominant, native faith of Japan. Shinto is fundamental to the definition of Japan's history, culture, and national identity. Shinto is also falling by the wayside as something ... Read More
Religious Schools & Religious Pluralism
Monday February 28, 2005
Religious pluralism requires accepting the presence and status of religious doctrines that reject or oppose the status quo. What happens, though, when those doctrines are opposed to liberty and democracy ... Read More
Unintelligent Design
Sunday February 27, 2005
Religious believers like to claim that nature shows characteristics of having been "intelligently" designed and this then qualifies as evidence for the existence of a (divine) designer. What about all ... Read More
Creationism, Evolution, and Racism
Sunday February 27, 2005
A common claim heard from creationists is that evolution is an ideology that is at the heart of modern racism. The role of Christianity in racist beliefs, including slavery, is ... Read More
Accommodation & Released-Time Programs in Schools
Sunday February 27, 2005
The 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a New York released time program where students who wanted could leave school to attend religious instruction. Those who didn't were basically ... Read More
This Date in History: Karl Jaspers
Sunday February 27, 2005
February 26, 1969: Existentialist philosopher Karl Jaspers died in Basel, Switzerland.
Outlawing Nazi Symbols in Europe
Sunday February 27, 2005
Are Nazi symbols so odious and contemptible that they should be singled out for criminalization? That's already the case in Germany and some argue that all of Europe should do ... Read More
Image Gallery: Basilica of Constantine
Sunday February 27, 2005
The Basilica of Constantine was begun under the reign of emperor Maxentius in 307 and Constantine had it completed after his victory over Maxentius at the Battle of Milvian Bridge. ... Read More
Gay Marriage: Ideology of Evil
Saturday February 26, 2005
Did you realize that efforts to legalize gay marriage are part of a new "ideology of evil"? That's the judgment of Pope John Paul II in his most recent book. ... Read More
Women Should Not Play Sports
Saturday February 26, 2005
Women's sports has been growing steadily for the past couple of decades, in large part because of government mandates that women's sports be funded equally at all educational levels. Some ... Read More
Heckler's Veto Over Evolution
Saturday February 26, 2005
One of the religious purposes behind putting "disclaimer" stickers in biology text books is to assuage the hurt feelings of parents who don't believe evolution and don't like the fact ... Read More
Iran: Bush & Bin Laden are Crazy Fanatics
Saturday February 26, 2005
Many have made comparisons between George W. Bush and Osama bin Laden, arguing that both are consumed by manichean visions and promote religious violence. It's interesting, I think, that the ... Read More
This Date in History: Aum Shinrikyo
Saturday February 26, 2005
February 27, 2004: In Japan, Shoko Asahara was sentenced to death by hanging. Asahara was the leader of Aum Shinrikyo (Aum Supreme Truth), a Japanese cult that gassed the Tokyo ... Read More
Christian Turf War in Jerusalem
Saturday February 26, 2005
The Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem is one of the holiest sites in Christianity, built over what many believe to have been Christ's tomb. It is also one ... Read More
Image Gallery: Baptistery of Constantine in Rome
Saturday February 26, 2005
The Baptistery of Constantine is located adjacent to the Basilica of St. John Lateran. This church is second only in importance to St. Peter's in Rome. The pope is also ... Read More
Capitalism, Markets, and Tradition
Saturday February 26, 2005
More and more recently people have observed that the alliance between religious conservatives and business interests in the Republican Party involves an inherent tension: capitalism necessarily undermines the sorts of ... Read More
Nationalism & Education
Friday February 25, 2005
To what extent should public schools promote nationalism and nationalist values? That's something American schools have been struggling with, as demonstrated by the debates over the Pledge of Allegiance, but ... Read More
Ecourse: Agnosticism 101
Friday February 25, 2005
If there is anything as misunderstood and misrepresented as atheism, it must be agnosticism. There are many misconceptions about agnosticism, agnostics, and the reasons why anyone would adopt a position ... Read More
Newsletter 02-25-05
Friday February 25, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.08 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll have an extensive image gallery dealing with Constantine the Great: his life, the ... Read More
Abstinence-Only Education Coolness
Friday February 25, 2005
Can abstinence-only education be cool? Some would argue that it is. Both boys and girls can benefit from a healthier, more godly attitude towards sex - an attitude that teaches ... Read More
Goals of Abstinence-Only Education?
Friday February 25, 2005
What does the Christian Right really hope to achieve with abstinence-only education? If their goal is to reduce teen pregnancies, sexually-transmitted diseases, and sexual activity, then they will give up ... Read More
This Date in History: Queen Elizabeth I Excommunicated
Friday February 25, 2005
February 25, 1570: Pope Pius V excommunicated Queen Elizabeth I of England because of her severe persecution of Roman Catholics in England. This was the last time any pope made ... Read More
Neoconservatives & Intellectuals
Friday February 25, 2005
Traditionally, one of the roles of the "intellectual" in society has been to question, challenge, and dissent from common norms. The point has arguably been to shake people out of ... Read More
Image Gallery: Arch of Constantine
Friday February 25, 2005
The Arch of Constantine was dedicated in 315 by the senate and people of Rome along the triumphal route after Constantine's defeat of Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge in 312. ... Read More
Powerline: Benighted Morons?
Friday February 25, 2005
If you aren't familiar with the Powerline site, you aren't missing anything — and should probably count yourself fortunate. Time's award for "blog of the year" didn't have anything to ... Read More
Harry Potter and Popular Culture
Friday February 25, 2005
Recently Received: Harry Potter's World: Multidisciplinary Critical Perspectives (Pedagogy and Popular Culture), by Elizabeth E. Heilman. Publisher: Falmer Press.
Harry Potter has become wildly popular all over the world. That popularity ... Read More
Business Ethics & Corporate Responsibility
Thursday February 24, 2005
What sorts of ethical duties do corporations have? Some argue that any such duties are limited just to following the law and earning a profit for shareholders. Others argue, though, ... Read More
St. Louis Parish Under Interdict
Thursday February 24, 2005
In St. Louis, Archbishop Raymond Burke placed the board of the St. Stanislaus Kostka Catholic Church under the "canonical penalty of interdict." This means that they are no longer in ... Read More
Georgia: Faith-Based Amendment Fails
Thursday February 24, 2005
Gov. Sonny Perdue of Georgia wanted to amend the constitution so that the state could pay for students to attend private religious schools. Fortunately the measure was defeated in the ... Read More
This Date in History: Gay Marriage Ban
Thursday February 24, 2005
February 24, 2004: President George W. Bush announced that he supported a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage. He did not specifically endorse the wording proposed by Representative Marilyn Musgrave ... Read More
Christians Bully Cancer Charity Into Rejecting Donation
Thursday February 24, 2005
In Britain, Christians have bullied a cancer charity into turning down a £3,000 donation. Why? Because the donation would have been from a performance of "Jerry Springer - The Opera." ... Read More
ACLU, Abortion, and Evolution
Thursday February 24, 2005
It's interesting how often conservative critics link complaints about abortion and evolution. There is no inherent connection, but there seems to be in the critics' minds. This helps demonstrate, I ... Read More
Newsletter 02-23-05
Wednesday February 23, 2005
News items from the past week include Canadian Muslims who support the cause of gay marriage rights, American Christians sending funds to Canada to fight gay marriage rights, questions about ... Read More
Catholic Church Frowns on German Burial Trends
Wednesday February 23, 2005
Funerals are getting much too expensive in Germany; as a consequence, more and more Germans are opting out of formal funerals altogether. Instead, they are having themselves cremated so their ... Read More
South Dakota to Ban Abortion In Nearly All Cases
Wednesday February 23, 2005
The South Dakota House of Representatives has passed a law that would make abortion a felony in all cases except those to save the life of the mother. Not even ... Read More
This Date in History: Bible Reading in Schools
Wednesday February 23, 2005
February 23, 1963: Argued: Abington Township School District v. Schempp The Supreme Court ruled 8-1 against of allowing the reciting of the Bible verses and the Lord's Prayer.
A Religion or a Gang?
Wednesday February 23, 2005
What's the difference between a religion and a gang? That's a question that the state of Iowa is trying to deal with and they want the courts to give them ... Read More
Alabama: Sex Toy Ban Upheld
Wednesday February 23, 2005
The Supreme Court has refused to hear an appeal of an Alabama court decision upholding a ban on sex toys. Therefore, the ban will remain in place until the people ... Read More
Islam & Science
Tuesday February 22, 2005
It's obvious that Muslim nations are, for the most part, far behind the rest of the world when it comes to science and technology. What is the cause of this ... Read More
Journalism vs. Propaganda
Tuesday February 22, 2005
Is there a difference between journalism and propaganda? There should be and people involved in journalism are expected to understand this. Sadly, the Bush administration seems to have gone to ... Read More
This Date in History: Creches on Public Property
Tuesday February 22, 2005
February 22, 1989: Argued: County of Allegheny v. ACLU Greater Pittsburgh Chapter The Supreme Court ruled that while a creche display on public property was unconstitutional, a menorah display on ... Read More
North Carolina: 'In God We Trust' in Public Schools
Tuesday February 22, 2005
Activists in Gaston County, North Carolina, are trying to get signs with the phrase "In God We Trust" posted in all public school classrooms. Is there a secular purpose for ... Read More
AARP & Gay Marriage
Tuesday February 22, 2005
Did you know that the AARP is part of a conspiracy to legalize gay marriage while opposing American troops in Iraq? Sounds ridiculous, I know, but that's basically what is ... Read More
100% Of All Atheists Are Fools
Monday February 21, 2005
It's funny that so many evangelical Christians consider atheists to be "fools." Why funny? Because the accusation is so often made in the context of the most slack-jawed, puerile, and ... Read More
Texas: Sentenced to the Boy Scouts
Monday February 21, 2005
In Houston, a judge has been sentencing juvenile offenders to spend time in the Boy Scouts. The fact that the group discriminates against gays and atheists doesn't appear to matter ... Read More
Arkansas: State House Votes Against Church/State Separation
Monday February 21, 2005
Sometimes, when an especially egregious piece of legislation is passed, we might be able to say that the legislature has voted "against" liberty or the separation of church and state. ... Read More
The Passion, Recut
Monday February 21, 2005
It looks like Mel Gibson is trying to create a new version of his controversial film The Passion, one that is more "family friendly" so that kids can go see ... Read More
Canada: Hutterites Oppose Gay Marriage
Monday February 21, 2005
Canada's Hutterite community tends to keep to themselves. They don't involve themselves in political disputes an don't even normally vote. Right now, however, they are speaking out against the plans ... Read More
Government & Religion
Monday February 21, 2005
I find it strange that so many people have trouble understanding that atheism and secularism aren't religions. These aren't difficult concepts to figure out, but so many people continue making ... Read More
Government Censorship of the Word 'Gay'
Monday February 21, 2005
A federally funded conference on suicide prevention has been marked by controversy because of government efforts to remove the words "gay," "lesbian," "bisexual," and "transexual" from the program. People are ... Read More
Newsletter 02-21-05
Monday February 21, 2005
News items from the past week include a court ruling in Israel that Zionism is discriminatory, different views about whether America is Godly or Godless, whether Muslims students should be ... Read More
This Date in History: Jimmy Swaggart
Monday February 21, 2005
February 21, 1988: During a live TV broadcast, televangelist Jimmy Swaggart admitted that he had visited a prostitute and announced that he would leave his ministry for an unspecified length ... Read More
More 'God Squad' Bigotry Against Atheists
Monday February 21, 2005
I've written before about the anti-atheist bigotry of Rabbi Marc Gellman and Monsignor Thomas Hartman, the so-called "God Squad" whose column on religion appears all over the country. Sadly, that ... Read More
Criminalizing Anti-Social Behavior
Monday February 21, 2005
Should the state have the power to throw you in jail because you're obnoxious, annoying, or generally a community nuisance? That seems to be what is occurring in Britain: police ... Read More
Arkansas: Evolution Stickers Removed from Science Texts
Sunday February 20, 2005
A school district in Arkansas tried to place disclaimer stickers in their science texts, but quick action from the ACLU has put a halt to it. The situation could have ... Read More
Michigan: Governor Opposes Ten Commandments Display
Sunday February 20, 2005
Governor Jennifer Granholm originally expressed some support for putting a Ten Commandments display in the Capitol Rotunda, but not anymore. She has concluded that such a display would be unconstitutional ... Read More
Administration Hides Civil Rights Reports
Sunday February 20, 2005
The civil rights record of the Bush administration hasn't been very good. That may be why they have changed the rules on releasing reports about their record in order to ... Read More
Stealth Nominations to the Supreme Court
Sunday February 20, 2005
Approving judicial nominees, especially those to the Supreme Court, is a very political process. Some people seem to think that it shouldn't be and that the Senate should basically approve ... Read More
This Date in History: Zionist Terrorism
Sunday February 20, 2005
February 20, 1947: Irgun Zvai Leumi, one of the more aggressive and violent Zionist terrorist groups active in Palestine against British authority, cuts an oil pipeline in two places and ... Read More
Maya Keyes Kicked Out by Family
Sunday February 20, 2005
The fact that Maya Keyes, daughter of homophobic Republican Alan Keyes, was a lesbian has been known for quite a while. Now that Alan's hopeless election campaign is over, though, ... Read More
Coming Persecution of American Catholics?
Sunday February 20, 2005
Should Catholics in America expect to be persecuted? Archbishop Raymond Burke of St. Louis thinks so - at least if by "persecuted" one means "disagreed with strongly and publicly." You'd ... Read More
Marriage & Conservative Values
Saturday February 19, 2005
Conservatives today don’t like comparisons between their opposition to gay marriage and the way conservatives in the past opposed interracial marriage. It's true that the parallels aren't exact, but the ... Read More
Administration Instructs Scientists to Lie
Saturday February 19, 2005
Should the government alter scientific findings in order to make the reports support a political agenda? Science isn't completely amoral and value-free, but twisting it to promote specific political goals ... Read More
This Date in History: John Ashcroft
Saturday February 19, 2005
February 19, 2002: Speaking before the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Nashville, Tennessee, Attorney General John Ashcroft stated that "Civilized people - Muslims, Christians and Jews - all understand that ... Read More
Businesses Cutting Ties with Boy Scouts
Saturday February 19, 2005
Government agencies aren't the only ones separating themselves from the Boy Scouts. Many businesses are also cutting ties because they don't want to work with a group that discriminates against ... Read More
Seminary President Ousted for Marrying Gay Daughter
Saturday February 19, 2005
The president of the New Brunswick Theological Seminary has been removed from office and reprimanded because he officiated at the marriage of his daughter and her gay partner in Massachusetts. ... Read More
Newsletter 02-18-05
Friday February 18, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.07 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at the relationship between atheism and existentialism, recent archaeological discoveries ... Read More
Pennsylvania: Jail Contractor Pushing Religion
Friday February 18, 2005
The Firm Foundation is a private contractor providing jail services for the Bradford County Correctional Facility in Pennsylvania. They have also been accused of trying to force religion on inmates, ... Read More
Virginia: Establishment Clause Doesn't Apply to States
Friday February 18, 2005
The State of Virginia has written a brief to the Supreme Court on a case dealing with the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). According to Virginia, First ... Read More
Alabama Judge Explains: Jews and Christians Have Special Rights
Friday February 18, 2005
Remember the Alabama judge who had the Ten Commandments embroidered on his robe? As many surely expected, his viewpoints are rather extreme - even to the point of apparently thinking ... Read More
This Date in History: Emperor Frederick II in Jerusalem
Friday February 18, 2005
February 18, 1229: Emperor Frederick II of Hohenstaufen signs a treaty with Sultan Malik Al-Kamil of Egypt and thus acquires controls of Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Bethlehem from Muslim forces. ... Read More
Evolutionary Link Between Social Intelligence & Cognition?
Friday February 18, 2005
What can tamed foxes tell us about evolution, including human evolution? Perhaps a lot more than you would expect. Tests comparing tamed foxes who had no prior contact with humans ... Read More
Disproving Atheists
Friday February 18, 2005
Can you disprove atheism by claiming that the existence of atheists proves the existence of gods? This sounds like nonsense, I know, but at least one person is convinced that ... Read More
Complexities of Pope John Paul II
Friday February 18, 2005
Recently Received: The Pontiff in Winter: Triumph and Conflict in the Reign of John Paul II, by John Cornwell. Publisher: Doubleday.
John Paul II has served as pope for longer than ... Read More
Bush and 'Faith-Based' Capital
Thursday February 17, 2005
In order to "energize" his base and ensure both of his election victories, President Bush made a lot of promises to the Christian Right. Continually, though, he has failed to ... Read More
Christian Radio Station Cancels Muslims' Ad
Thursday February 17, 2005
A Christian radio station in Florida has cancelled an ad that a Muslim group wanted to run in order to publicize an inter-faith dialogue. Why? Apparently such inter-faith conversations and ... Read More
Christianity & Evolution
Thursday February 17, 2005
Christians disagree on the subjection of evolution. Some Christians vehemently oppose the science of evolutionary theory, regarding it as an attack on their religious beliefs. Others don't have a problem ... Read More
This Date in History: Billy Sunday
Thursday February 17, 2005
February 17, 1889: The famous American evangelist Billy Sunday held his first public crusade in Chicago. Over the course of his career as a popular religious speaker, at least 100 ... Read More
America: A Godless Nation?
Thursday February 17, 2005
Is America a godless or god-fearing nation? That depends upon your perspective. Many Christians consider America to be god-fearing, but people of other religions - Muslims in the Arab world, ... Read More
Chaplain Comments on Antony Flew
Thursday February 17, 2005
Evangelical Christians continue to talk about the apparent "conversion" of Antony Flew to theism. Whether that conversion will ultimately prove true remains to be seen, but the manner in which ... Read More
Harry Potter and Philosophy
Thursday February 17, 2005
Recently Received: Harry Potter and Philosophy, by David Baggett, Shawn Klein, and William Irwin. Publisher: Open Court.
What does Harry Potter have to do with philosophy? It's just a children's book ... Read More
Oregon: Rainbow Flag Attracts Christian Hate
Wednesday February 16, 2005
A family in Corvalis, Oregon, hung a rainbow-colored flag on their house to express their support for peace. It even had the Italian word "pace" (peace) on it. Local Christians ... Read More
Wake Up, Smell the Devil
Wednesday February 16, 2005
What happens when insulated, religious conservatives are confronted with religious pluralism and conflicting ideas? Many simply lash out and attack, unable to handle the existence of diversity and dissent.
Jim Grimm ... Read More
Newsletter 02-16-05
Wednesday February 16, 2005
News items from the past week include people who think they know how to debate atheism, the place of religion in public schools, anti-gay statements on Virginia license plates, and ... Read More
UK: Christians Outraged Over Pagan Ceremony
Wednesday February 16, 2005
A pagan ceremony was held at the North City Centre in Harpurhey, England, and this has outraged some Christians. They don't object to the fact that a religious ceremony was ... Read More
This Date in History: Giordano Bruno
Wednesday February 16, 2005
February 16, 1600: Giordano Bruno was executed for heresy by being burned at stake.
Virginia: Trashing Thomas Jefferson's Legacy
Wednesday February 16, 2005
Virginia is considering a bill that would amend that state's Constitution and alter language on religious freedom that dates back to Thomas Jefferson. They claim that they want to ensure ... Read More
North Carolina: Debate Over Legislative Chapel
Wednesday February 16, 2005
The Legislative Building in North Carolina has a "General Assembly Chapel" that includes a large number of Christian symbols. The dominance of Christianity here, alongside the absence of any other ... Read More
Sash Wearers Disqualified from Communion?
Tuesday February 15, 2005
The "Rainbow Sash" movement is a group of people who wear rainbow colored sashes to signal their disagreement with the Catholic Church's policies on gays and homosexuality. Sometimes they wear ... Read More
American Legion Stands Up Against Atheists, Gays
Tuesday February 15, 2005
The federal government is being prevented from sponsoring Boy Scout troops because the BSA discriminates against atheists and gays. The government isn't allowed to participate in such discrimination, but those ... Read More
Nonbelievers Organizing to Oppose GOP
Tuesday February 15, 2005
Although many atheists and skeptics are conservative Republicans, a far larger percentage has begun to organize against President Bush and the GOP. Regardless of their political leanings, they are worried ... Read More
This Date in History: Jeremy Bentham
Tuesday February 15, 2005
February 15, 1748: English philosopher Jeremy Bentham was born. Bentham was a social and political philosopher who proposed radical ideas about government, social organizations and human nature. He argued that ... Read More
Kentucky: School Dress Codes & Muslim Students
Tuesday February 15, 2005
More and more public schools are starting to institute strict dress codes. Should students be able to ignore the rules when they have religious garb they want to wear? Many ... Read More
Can Publicly-Funded Catholic Church Turn Away Non-Catholic Couples?
Tuesday February 15, 2005
In California, people want to use federal funds to restore historic Catholic missions. They claim that this is warranted because of the missions' historic importance, despite the fact that they ... Read More
Bush Wants to Increase Abstinence-Only Funding
Monday February 14, 2005
President Bush's recent budget proposal has been portrayed by Republicans as cutting away some of the fat from government expenditures. Bush promises to cut programs that are "ineffective" or "duplicative." ... Read More
South Carolina: Atheist's Invocation Denied
Monday February 14, 2005
In Anderson, South Carolina, an atheist wants to counter the common Christian invocations given at council meetings with his own secular humanist invocation. The Christian invocations are given by council ... Read More
Newsletter 02-14-05
Monday February 14, 2005
News items from the past week include allegations of anti-Catholicism at an Adventist hospital, American students who know little to nothing about civil liberties, the sad spectacle of Village Atheists, ... Read More
Virginia: Wiccan Takes Town to Court
Monday February 14, 2005
In Chesterfield County, Virginia, Cynthia Simpson has taken the government to court because she has been excluded from the list of clergy that gives the opening prayer at the Board ... Read More
This Date in History: The Satanic Verses
Monday February 14, 2005
February 14, 1989: Iran's Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini sentenced author Salman Rushdie to death for publishing The Satanic Verses, which many Muslims regarded as insulting to the Prophet Muhammed. Between $1 ... Read More
Valentines Day in Schools
Monday February 14, 2005
Do schools violate the separation of church and state when they celebrate Valentine's Day? Dimitri Vassilaros thinks so, but he doesn't appear to know much about Valentine's Day - or ... Read More
Church Meeting in School
Monday February 14, 2005
Can churches meet in public schools? That was debated in Peabody, Massachusetts, where a school tried to deny a local church the ability to use their facilities for meetings. The ... Read More
Vatican Revises Annulment Rules
Sunday February 13, 2005
On orders from Pope John Paul II, Vatican lawyers have revised canon law on the issue of annulments. The purpose is to tighten up standards on who can get an ... Read More
Illinois: Embryo Ruled a Person?
Sunday February 13, 2005
A couple is suing a fertility clinic that accidentally destroyed a healthy embryo of theirs. They are calling it "wrongful death" and because a judge has ruled that the suit ... Read More
This Date in History: American Temperance Society
Sunday February 13, 2005
February 13, 1826: The first The American Temperance Society was founded in Boston. It would later be renamed the American Temperance Union and would become a national cause. Within a ... Read More
Court Sued Over Ten Commandments Seal
Sunday February 13, 2005
A lawyer in California is suing the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals because its seal includes what seems to be a representation of the Ten Commandments. According to Ryan Donlon, ... Read More
Christian Right Sending Funds to Canada
Sunday February 13, 2005
The American Christian Right isn't just fighting gay marriage in the United States, they are also fighting it in Canada. Afraid that the more liberal Canadian parliament will actually legalize ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Thomas Henry Huxley on Agnosticism
Sunday February 13, 2005
In matters of the intellect follow your reason as far as it will take you, without regard to any other consideration... and do not pretend that conclusions are certain which ... Read More
Dissent and Free Speech in Democracies
Sunday February 13, 2005
Recently Received: Gag Rule: On the Suppression of Dissent and Stifling of Democracy, by Lewis H. Lapham and Lewis Lapham. Publisher: Penguin Books.
Dissent is arguably the lifeblood of democracy. If ... Read More
Bible-Belt Catholics
Saturday February 12, 2005
Roman Catholicism is experiencing a resurgence in the American South. There the numbers of Catholics is growing, but so is the number of ordained priests. At the same time, the ... Read More
Canada: Some Muslims Supporting Gay Marriage Rights
Saturday February 12, 2005
Religious groups, but especially Muslim groups, tend to oppose gay rights and gay marriage measures as contrary to their religious principles. In Canada, though, all religious groups are faced with ... Read More
This Date in History: Lateran Treaty
Saturday February 12, 2005
February 12, 1929: Pope Pius XI signed the Lateran Treaty with Mussolini. With this document, the Holy See recognized Italy as an independent state in exchange for the same recognition ... Read More
Ernst Mayr & Modern Biology
Saturday February 12, 2005
Ernst Mayr was one of the most important figures in biology during the 20th century and his loss will be felt all over the world. It would not be an ... Read More
Disraeli & Conservatism
Saturday February 12, 2005
There is a wide variety of ideas and attitudes that fall under the label "conservatism," despite the attempts by some in America to sharply limit it. This means that defining ... Read More
Social Security for Dummies
Saturday February 12, 2005
One of the biggest news items in America today is Social Security and the desire of President Bush to drastically change the program, privatizing it as much as possible. Supporters ... Read More
Harry Potter and Christianity
Saturday February 12, 2005
Recently Received: Looking for God in Harry Potter, by John Granger. Publisher: Tyndale House Publishers.
Fundamentalists and conservative evangelical Christians in America have become fierce opponents of the Harry Potter books. ... Read More
Hotel Cancels on Wiccan Celebration
Friday February 11, 2005
Wiccans of the Ozark Avalon Church of Nature-Wicca gathered in Colubmia, Missouri, to celebrate Imbolc, a holiday marking the transition from winter to spring - but they had to find ... Read More
Newsletter 02-11-05
Friday February 11, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.06 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at the history of the papacy, recent scandals in the ... Read More
Christian Radio Station Plays at School Event
Friday February 11, 2005
Should specifically religious entertainment be a part of official school events? That sounds like it would be difficult to defend, but it's just what happened at Aloma Elementary School in ... Read More
This Date in History: Tomas de Torquemada
Friday February 11, 2005
February 11, 1486: Tomas de Torquemada is given the position of Grand Inquisitor for the kingdoms of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Valencia, etc.
Utah: Polygamist Cop Challenges Bigamy Law
Friday February 11, 2005
A Utah man already convicted of polygamy is challenging the state's ban on plural marriages. According to Rodney Holm, the ban infringes on his religious rights. Holm is a member ... Read More
Zionism Discriminatory?
Friday February 11, 2005
In a very interesting move, Israel's attorney general has ruled that reserving land just for Jews is discriminatory and should not occur with state help. Acquiring and reserving land just ... Read More
FSU Chiropractic School Dead?
Friday February 11, 2005
Earlier I wrote about Florida State University's plans to open a school of chiropractic medicine. Many professors protested and threatened to resign if the plans went forward, a tactic that ... Read More
Catholicism and the Abuse of Power
Friday February 11, 2005
Recently Received: Vows of Silence: The Abuse of Power in the Papacy of John Paul II, by Jason Berry and Gerald Renner. Publisher: Free Press.
For many, the cover-ups of priests ... Read More
Catholics Seeking Better Evolution Education
Thursday February 10, 2005
Usually when we hear about "religion" and "evolution" in the same news story, it involves Christians complaining about the teaching of evolution in schools - but not all Christians object ... Read More
Faith-Based Programs: Secular Services or Proselytization?
Thursday February 10, 2005
When speaking to general audiences, Bush and his supporters claim that the faith-based programs are designed to ensure that qualified religious groups can deliver secular social services. When speaking to ... Read More
This Date in History: Abbasid Empire Falls
Thursday February 10, 2005
February 10, 1258: The Abbasid period ends with the destruction of Baghdad by the Mongols. The Mongols had tried and failed to take Baghdad in 1245. Now, after a series ... Read More
Virginia: Anti-Gay License Plates
Thursday February 10, 2005
In Virginia, the House of Delegates has passed a bill that would authorize anti-gay license plates that promote "traditional marriage." This measure is the brainchild of Scott Limgamfelter, a strong ... Read More
Funding the Culture Wars
Thursday February 10, 2005
The National Committee for Responsive Philanthropy issued a report that reveals some disturbing connections between conservative foundations and evangelical political movements. Strategic grants are being made by the foundations to ... Read More
Colorado: Catholic Leaders Blast Giving Info to Rape Victims
Thursday February 10, 2005
Most people usually agree that more information is a good thing, but not always. Catholic leaders in Colorado are objecting to a bill that would require all hospitals to provide ... Read More
Democracy and Politics
Thursday February 10, 2005
Recently Received: First Democracy: The Challenge Of An Ancient Idea, by Paul Woodruff. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
People tend to think highly of democracy, but that doesn't mean that they can ... Read More
Public Schools Ignoring Evolution
Wednesday February 9, 2005
Evolutionary theory is the only scientific theory that explains how life has developed on Earth, but too few school students are learning about it. Teachers are afraid of a public ... Read More
Islamists Win: Van Gogh's Film Cut
Wednesday February 9, 2005
Theo van Gogh was murdered because of his film Submission about violence towards women in Muslim culture and his comments about Muslims generally. Because of fears of further violence, the ... Read More
Newsletter 02-09-05
Wednesday February 9, 2005
News items from the past week include attempts by an evangelical to explain how to talk to atheists, problems for LeHay at his publisher, Novak arguing that it's wrong to ... Read More
This Date in History: Second Battle of Harenc
Wednesday February 9, 2005
February 09, 1098: Second Battle of Harenc: Ridwan of Aleppo, titular ruler of Antioch, raises an army to relieve the besieged city of Antioch. The Crusaders learn of his plans ... Read More
Churches Decry Commercial Censorship
Wednesday February 9, 2005
Rolling Stone magazine first rejected then accepted an ad for a new Bible translation. The Christian Right is incensed at this - their anger is understandable, but misplaced. It's part ... Read More
Ann Coulter & Vietnam
Wednesday February 9, 2005
Sometimes it seems as though one of the primary tactics of the Right is to rely on the ignorance of the masses - tell lies and falsehoods and assume that ... Read More
Arrogance of Atheism
Wednesday February 9, 2005
Are atheists arrogant for insisting that theists support their claims before accepting them as true? I've seen many attempts to argue that atheists are arrogant, but this is an unusual ... Read More
Lawsuit Filed to Halt Recall over Pledge of Allegiance
Tuesday February 8, 2005
In Estes Park, Colorado, Trustee David Habecker is under threat of recall. Why? Because he doesn't stand during the Pledge of Allegiance. That's his right, but some citizens don't like ... Read More
Atheists May Bid for Land to Prevent Monument
Tuesday February 8, 2005
Christians who want to ignore the separation of church and state sometimes try to save Ten Commandments monuments by selling the land under them to Christian organizations that promise to ... Read More
This Date in History: Battle of Al-Mansurah
Tuesday February 8, 2005
February 08, 1250: Battle of Al-Mansurah: Crusaders led by King Louis IX of France move from Damietta to Cairo along the Nile River until they meet Emir Fakr-ed-din at the ... Read More
U.S. Students Say Press Freedoms Go Too Far
Tuesday February 8, 2005
How secure is the freedom of the press in America? Probably not as secure as it should be - at least not if the attitudes of the next generation is ... Read More
Great Secular Assault on Children
Tuesday February 8, 2005
The Christian Right complains about how the capitalist system of mass-media companies have been assaulting children with their secular, pro-homosexual agenda. The truth, however, is that the media simply fails ... Read More
Religion in Public Schools
Tuesday February 8, 2005
Should public schools set up programs and let students leave school for time every week in order to receive religious instruction? Some people think so - apparently, it isn't good ... Read More
Ex-Priest Convicted of Child Rape
Tuesday February 8, 2005
Paul Shanley, already removed from the priesthood, has been convicted of child rape and could be sentenced to life in prison. Some will see this as a victory for the ... Read More
Southern Comfort of Politically Incorrect History
Monday February 7, 2005
A few days ago, I wrote about the popular The Politically Incorrect Guide to American History written by Thomas E. Woods and published by Regnery. It purports to present a ... Read More
Gay Marriage = Economic Disaster?
Monday February 7, 2005
A forum member writes about an argument she heard: If gays marry then the other "spouse" would get the SS benefits when one partner died and therefore that would be ... Read More
Canada: Catholic Church to Fight Gay Marriage
Monday February 7, 2005
The Canadian government is considering the legal recognition of gay marriages and the Catholic Church is gearing up for a major fight. They intend to do whatever they can in ... Read More
Newsletter 02-07-05
Monday February 7, 2005
News items from the past week include a scientist trying to describe evolution as a religion, the claim that liberals shouldn't have free speech, fundamentalist plans for women and women's ... Read More
This Date in History: Molesting Priests
Monday February 7, 2005
February 07, 2003: Pope John Paul II approved of revised rules for dealing with priests accused of molesting children, revealing that the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith would ... Read More
Texas: Futility of Abstinence-Only Education
Monday February 7, 2005
The Christian Right has become the driving force behind the use of abstinence-only sex education programs in America's public schools. They don't just want abstinence to be taught or stressed, ... Read More
Florida: Career Day, or Anti-Abortion Day?
Monday February 7, 2005
In Florida, a school's "career day" exhibition turned into an anti-abortion exhibition when the Pregnancy Center of Pinellas County booth presented models of fetuses at different stages of development and ... Read More
War on Christianity?
Monday February 7, 2005
If you are a conservative evangelical, you probably think that there is a "war" being waged on biblical Christianity in America. Christians aren't being rounded up and put in jail, ... Read More
Wedging Creationism into the Academy
Sunday February 6, 2005
Creationists are pursuing a detailed, organized program to get their religious beliefs into the academic world. Past versions of creationism didn't work, but they are hopeful that the newest - ... Read More
Forum: An A/A "Book Club"?
Sunday February 6, 2005
A forum member writes: Earlier this evening (not long after finishing Michael Shermer's latest book), I got to wondering whether anyone would be interested in having semi-regular, semi-organized book discussion ... Read More
Baptists Accidentally Buy Porn Film, Watch Whole Thing
Sunday February 6, 2005
A Baptist couple in Britain are furious that when they thought they purchased a 1950s romantic comedy on DVD, they actually purchased a raunchy sex film. They were so upset ... Read More
This Date in History: B. F. Skinner
Sunday February 6, 2005
February 06, 1951: B. F. Skinner self-published his book Science and Human Behavior.
Arizona: School Protects Blasphemous Art
Sunday February 6, 2005
Erika Vogt-Nilsen, a student at Mountain Pointe High School in Arizona, created a very controversial work of art depicting a crucified Jesus dancing on the ends of strings held by ... Read More
Adventist Anti-Catholicism
Sunday February 6, 2005
In Boulder, Colorado, a hospital and a mortuary are trying to hammer out an agreement that would allow for the respectful disposal of the remains from miscarriages and still births ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Sydney J. Harris on Agnosticism & Atheism
Sunday February 6, 2005
Agnosticism is a perfectly respectable and tenable philosophical position; it is not dogmatic and makes no pronouncements about the ultimate truths of the universe. It remains open to evidence and ... Read More
Christian Holy Wars
Sunday February 6, 2005
Recently Received: Fighting For Christendom: Holy War And The Crusades, by Christopher Tyerman. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
Everyone has heard of the Christian Crusades, but perhaps even more interesting is the ... Read More
'Debating' Atheists
Saturday February 5, 2005
Quite a few evangelicals think that they have what it takes to debate atheists, skeptics, and other nonbelievers. Is there a school out there for debating atheists? If there is, ... Read More
Objectivist Perspective on the Tsunami
Saturday February 5, 2005
Objectivists have a reputation for being cold, hard-hearted, and unsympathetic to others. That reputation is not always unearned or undeserved - after the tsunami that killed so many in Southeast ... Read More
This Date in History: Roger Williams
Saturday February 5, 2005
February 05, 1631: Roger Williams first arrived in North America. He would soon question the rigid religious policies in the Massachusetts colony, leading to his being banished to Rhode Island ... Read More
Last Jew in Afghanistan?
Saturday February 5, 2005
It seems that there is just one Jew left in Afghanistan - yes, just one. It's strange to think of a single Jew left in an entire nation, but it ... Read More
Utah: College Course on The DaVinci Code
Saturday February 5, 2005
The Utah Valley State College will be offering a course on The Da Vinci Code - or at least the various religious and historical themes raised in the novel.