Alabama: Banning Gay Books, Plays
Saturday April 30, 2005
In Alabama, Republican lawmaker Gerald Allen says that homosexuality is so awful that the state should refuse even indirect funding for any book or play that depicts homosexuality in a ... Read More
What is a Woman?
Saturday April 30, 2005
Much of the social agenda of the Christian Right turns on particular ideas about what men & women are and what sorts of social roles they are expected to have. ... Read More
Virginia: Court Sides with Gay Adoptive Parents
Saturday April 30, 2005
Virginia will issue new birth certificates to parents who adopt a child, but the government tried to avoid doing this when it came to gay couples adopting children. The Virginia ... Read More
Power, Democracy, and Politics in South Africa
Saturday April 30, 2005
Many people have criticized America's Republican Party for abuses of power and a refusal to work sincerely with Democrats. Curiously, something similar has been occurring in South Africa where the ... Read More
Paying Protection to the Christian Fedayeen
Saturday April 30, 2005
Have you noticed how the media, even the so-called "liberal media," has been giving more fawning attention to the Christian Right lately? There's a reason: the government has been threatening ... Read More
This Date in History: Under God
Saturday April 30, 2005
April 30, 2003: The Bush administration appealed to the Supreme Court to preserve the phrase "under God" in the The Pledge of Allegiance recited by school children. Solicitor General Theodore ... Read More
Heritage Foundation Sells Out to anti-Semites
Saturday April 30, 2005
The Heritage Foundation is one of the most prominent and influential Christian Right organizations in America. It has also apparently sold out to the anti-Semitic regime of Malaysia. They used ... Read More
Kerry Blasts GOP 'Holier Than Thou' Attitude
Saturday April 30, 2005
John Kerry recently attacked Republican efforts to portray themselves as the only political party that represents the interests of religious people. Why would the GOP try to identify itself as ... Read More
Christian Right's Kulturkampf: Where It's Going
Friday April 29, 2005
First they came for the gays, but I wasn't gay and so did nothing. Then they came for the people in a persistent vegetative state, but I wasn't in a ... Read More
Idaho: Unconstitutional Favoritism
Friday April 29, 2005
The Idaho Atheists reserved use of the Statehouse steps on May 5. The government decided to kick them out, though, because that's the National Day of Prayer and on that ... Read More
Ban on Blasphemous Stamps
Friday April 29, 2005
Remember the deal where you could upload your own images and have stamps made of them? The idea was that people would use pictures of family, but some started using ... Read More
Why Does the Christian Right Complain about the Judiciary?
Friday April 29, 2005
It seems strange to some that the Christian Right would make such a big deal about the judiciary. The current court system is more in line with them than every ... Read More
Thank God for Violence Against Atheists
Friday April 29, 2005
It's not often that Christians openly praise violence against atheists, but sometimes a few of them show their true colors. A story has been going around the internet recently describing ... Read More
Newsletter 04-29-05
Friday April 29, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.17 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at Texas spending money to make a church in El ... Read More
American Legion Defends 'Moral Values' of Bigotry, Prejudice
Friday April 29, 2005
Keeping with recent tradition, the American Legion continues to defend not only the bigotry of the Boy Scouts of America, but also the ability of the government to support that ... Read More
This Date in History: French Freethought
Friday April 29, 2005
April 29, 1814: In an Apostolic Letter, Pope Pius VIII complained about the French constitution, saying that "it not only permits freedom of conscience and of cult, but promises support ... Read More
Christian Right's War on Judges
Friday April 29, 2005
The Christian Right has been steadily stepping up its rhetoric against judges — not just "liberal" judges, but also conservative judges who don't rule the "right" way. The Christian Right ... Read More
Onward, Christian Druggists: Nature of Conscientious Objection
Friday April 29, 2005
The Christian Right has insisted on using the concept of "conscientious objector" to describe pharmacists who refuse dispense legal prescriptions on moral grounds. I'm not sure, however, if they really ... Read More
Alaska: Christian College Sued Over Funding
Thursday April 28, 2005
Earlier this year I wrote about how the Alaska Christian College was receiving more than USD $1 million despite the small size and religious orientation of the place. Now they ... Read More
Wisconsin: Living Wills a Mortal Sin?
Thursday April 28, 2005
Robert Morlino, Bishop of the Diocese of Madison, Wisconsin, has told Catholics under his leadership that living wills are a mortal sin if they include provisions that call for withholding ... Read More
Virginia: ACLU Petitions Court on Behalf of Witch
Thursday April 28, 2005
As was expected, the ACLU is appealing the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals' ruling that it's "not advancing any one faith" when the government insists on prayers made to a ... Read More
Scientific Integrity vs. Religious Faith
Thursday April 28, 2005
The Templeton Prize is given each year to a scientist who has been active in trying to merge science and religion. The Templeton Foundation exists to try to convince people ... Read More
Defense of Filibusters in the Senate
Thursday April 28, 2005
"The Senate is not a majoritarian institution, like the House of Representatives is. It is a deliberative body, and it's got a number of checks and balances built into our ... Read More
Coercing Faith in Class
Thursday April 28, 2005
References to religion and religious history are allowed in public schools, but the promotion of religion and religious proselytizing are not allowed. The Christian Right acts like bans on the ... Read More
Saudi Judge Encourages Jihad in Iraq
Thursday April 28, 2005
Sheik Saleh Al Luhaidan is chief justice on the Supreme Judicial Council of Saudi Arabia. People listen to what he says, and what he's been saying is that people should ... Read More
More Public School Proselytizing
Thursday April 28, 2005
I earlier commented on problems involved with public school libraries having proselytizing books. Eric Muller, involved in the case, has since posted more information that makes it look much more ... Read More
Christians Attack Christian Judges
Thursday April 28, 2005
Christian extremists who have been attacking America's judges attempt to portray the judiciary as atheistic, but the truth is that the people they are attacking are mostly Christian. In America, ... Read More
This Date in History: Saddam Hussein
Thursday April 28, 2005
April 28, 1937: Saddam Hussein, former dictator of Iraq, was born.
Iowa: Church Split Over Transgender Couple
Thursday April 28, 2005
In Charles City, Iowa, a couple married for 40 years has been asked to leave. The reason? Renee Usher used to be Michael Ussher before having a sex change 10 ... Read More
Secularism as a Sin
Thursday April 28, 2005
Conservative Catholics are among the most vociferous opponents of modern secularism. This has always been the case and Catholic traditionalists have attacked the secular state for as long as it ... Read More
Confusing Christianity with the Christian Right
Wednesday April 27, 2005
One of the tactics used by the Christian Right to defend their extremist position is to accuse critics of not simply attacking them, but also of attacking Christianity, God, Jesus, ... Read More
Life in Our Anti-Christian America
Wednesday April 27, 2005
There is a document called "Life in Our Anti-Christian America" that is a parody of how America has become anti-Christian. It lists all of the awful things that have happened ... Read More
Religion vs. Drug Laws
Wednesday April 27, 2005
The Christian Right likes to portray itself as persecuted in America, but the Bush administration is trying to get the Supreme Court to rule against a minority religion's use of ... Read More
Bush Policies Aid Islamic Extremism?
Wednesday April 27, 2005
President George W. Bush has invested a considerable amount of America's resources and reputation on combatting Islamic extremism, but to what degree have his policies had the opposite effect? It ... Read More
Texas: Government Pays to Refurbish Church
Wednesday April 27, 2005
In El Paso, the government is paying for a large refurbishing project on a 113-year-old Catholic church. Nothing structural is being done - the USD $75,000 is being paid to ... Read More
Intellectual Honesty on the Filibuster Question
Wednesday April 27, 2005
One interesting facet of the Republican efforts to eliminate filibusters against judicial nominees is just how narrow their goal is. They aren't looking to end the filibuster against legislation or ... Read More
This Date in History: Inquisition
Wednesday April 27, 2005
April 27, 1260: Pope Alexander IV authorizes inquisitors to absolve one another of irregularities in the pursuit of their duties. Pope Urban IV would renew this on in 1262 and ... Read More
Newsletter 04-27-05
Wednesday April 27, 2005
News items from the past week include a rude question - but a valid question, given his legal philosophy, whether the Catholic church has a future, whether atheism is incompatible ... Read More
Texas: Homophobic Parents Support Firing of Lesbian Coach
Wednesday April 27, 2005
In Bloomberg, Texas, a female coach at the school was fired. The school board says that it really wasn't because she was a lesbian, but that rings hollow in light ... Read More
New York: Council to Keep Boy Scout Troop
Wednesday April 27, 2005
The Village of Castleton in New York charters a Boy Scout troop and has been told that this opens them to a lawsuit because they shouldn't be sponsoring a group ... Read More
Justice Janice Rogers Brown on 'Atheistic Humanism'
Wednesday April 27, 2005
Janice Rogers Brown is a justice on the California Supreme Court and one of the 10 candidates to the federal judiciary which the Democrats have filibustered because of her extremism. ... Read More
Religious Messianism in Marx
Tuesday April 26, 2005
Many Christians today absolutely hate Karl Marx and his ideas — there are few, if any, historical figures who have become the objects of so much vitriol. Marx's connections to ... Read More
How to Rig a Drug Trial
Tuesday April 26, 2005
More and more, it's becoming evident that drug trials conducted by drug companies tend to return favorable results for the drugs being tested... more favorable than similar trials done by ... Read More
Blogsnark: Secularism vs. Atheism
Tuesday April 26, 2005
More and more I've been seeing the Christian Right falsely equate secularism with atheism. It's only to be expected that few atheists won't also be secularists, but there is no ... Read More
Philosopher: Biographies of Famous Philosophers
Tuesday April 26, 2005
The history of philosophy is very much the history of individual philosophers: their ideas, their arguments, and the conversations they have had across time and cultures. A solid understanding of ... Read More
Religious Freedom in Canada
Tuesday April 26, 2005
The legalization of same-sex marriage means that gay couples will have to be treated the same as straight couples. People who provide wedding services (florists, caterers, halls) won't be able ... Read More
Christian Dominionism in Mississippi
Tuesday April 26, 2005
Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi has signed into law a measure that authorizes state officials to post the Ten Commandments, excerpts from Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, and the phrase ... Read More
This Date in History: Ludwig Wittgenstein
Tuesday April 26, 2005
April 26, 1889: German philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein was born in Vienna, Austria.
Iraq: Islamic Militias Patrolling Basra
Tuesday April 26, 2005
Islamic extremism is increasing in Iraq. The most prominent example of this may be in Basra. The city used to have casinos and bars; today militants have shut all that ... Read More
Unactivist Judges Strike Back
Tuesday April 26, 2005
The Christian Right today complains loudly and often about "activist" judges, a label which has become obvious as nothing more than an epithet aimed at any judge who doesn't rule ... Read More
Cultural Irrelevance of Fundamentalism & Dispensationalism
Monday April 25, 2005
Religious fundamentalists express a great deal of outrage over the fact that the rest of American society doesn't follow them and their religious doctrines. They wield a tremendous amount of ... Read More
Whither Secularism?
Monday April 25, 2005
More and more, it seems as though secularism in America is being hollowed out, becoming little more than a shell that people pay lip service to (at most) but no ... Read More
U.S. Founded on Christianity?
Monday April 25, 2005
Many Christians believe that their religion was the basis for the founding of America and, therefore, that American government should promote their religion. Even if the premise were correct it ... Read More
Vatican Condemns Gay Marriage in Spain
Monday April 25, 2005
A recent bill would allow gays in Spain to marry and adopt children - in fact, Spain could become the first European country to do this. The Vatican is not ... Read More
Religious Faith & Judicial Nominations
Monday April 25, 2005
Republicans have accused Democrats of blocking certain judicial nominations because the judges are "people of faith" and the Democrats are religious bigots. There is no merit to this accusation, though, ... Read More
This Date in History: Liberalized Abortion Laws
Monday April 25, 2005
April 25, 1967: Governor John A. Love of Colorado signed the first liberalized abortion law (based upon a model created by the American Law Institute) in the United States, allowing ... Read More
Will the Media Lie About Frist?
Monday April 25, 2005
The term "nuclear option," used to describe the elimination of the Senate filibuster when it comes to judicial nominations, was coined by Republicans. It must not be polling very well ... Read More
Newsletter 04-25-05
Monday April 25, 2005
News items from the past week include the nature of the Christian Right's assault on evolution, conservatives trying to promote intolerance of gays, Christian intolerance of atheists, and more.
7th Commandment: ... Read More
Philosopher: Aristotle Biography & Profile
Monday April 25, 2005
Aristotle was an ancient Greek philosopher whose work has been extremely important to the development of both western philosophy and western theology. It has traditionally been thought that Aristotle started ... Read More
Blogsnark: Imposing Atheism?
Monday April 25, 2005
Many Christians believe that when the government fails to endorse or promote their religion, then the government is therefore promoting atheism. That's about as logical as saying that a failure ... Read More
Harmony, Democracy, and the Bush Administration
Sunday April 24, 2005
A common complaint made about the Bush administration is that it often acts ways designed to exclude from the political process anyone who doesn't toe the line and agree with ... Read More
Dobson's Jihad Against the Judiciary
Sunday April 24, 2005
Why is the Christian Right fighting so hard against the ability of Senators to filibuster judicial nominees? Republicans have used the filibuster in this way more than once and the ... Read More
Assault on Judicial Independence, Then & Now
Sunday April 24, 2005
Efforts to eliminate judicial independence have a long and sordid history. It's unfortunate that so few people are familiar with that history, but perhaps a few choice quotes will help ... Read More
Colorado: Counselor Changes Pledge of Allegiance Words
Sunday April 24, 2005
There is a big flap in Wheat Ridge, Colorado, because a counselor leading the Pledge of Allegiance over the intercom replaced "one nation under God" with "one nation under your ... Read More
Michigan: Teachers Sue to Teach Creationism
Sunday April 24, 2005
Gull Lake Community Schools in Michigan is refusing to allow two middle school science teachers to include "Intelligent" Design in biology lessons. The Thomas More Law Center says that it ... Read More
Christians Under Attack... By Christians
Sunday April 24, 2005
In the "Justice Sunday" program, a major theme that the Christian Right emphasizes is that Christians are under being attacked in America. They are correct - but what they aren't ... Read More
Straight Sex Good, Gay Sex Bad?
Sunday April 24, 2005
Pope John Paul II wrote quite a few things about sex and sexuality. What's interesting about people's reactions to these writings is that they tended to ignore his pronouncements regarding ... Read More
Same-Sex Marriage, Full Faith & Credit
Sunday April 24, 2005
One of the concerns of religious conservatives is that the legalization of gay marriage in one state will mean that other states will be forced to recognize the validity of ... Read More
This Date in History: Scopes Monkey Trial
Sunday April 24, 2005
April 24, 1925: John Scopes is believed to have taught his high school biology class about evolution from their text book "A Civil Biology," thus violating the Butler Act and ... Read More
Kansas Attorney General Phill Kline
Sunday April 24, 2005
In Kansas, Attorney General Phill Kline is pushing a radical religious agenda against gays, against abortion, and against secularism. He literally preaches from pulpits to promote his religious agenda and ... Read More
Morality Without Religion
Sunday April 24, 2005
Many theists argue that without belief in their god, it isn't possible for someone to be moral. Why is the simple experience of being human and living with other human ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Jonathan Z. Smith on the Definition of Religion
Sunday April 24, 2005
...while there is a staggering amount of data, phenomena, of human experiences and expressions that might be characterized in one culture or another, by one criterion or another, as religion ... Read More
Bias and Bigotry at Air Force Academy
Saturday April 23, 2005
I've written before about the extensive religious bias and discrimination that has been occurring at the Air Force Academy. Things haven't changed much, but more people have been taking notice.
The ... Read More
Protest Signs for the Religious Right
Saturday April 23, 2005
Religious conservatives may control or at least influence most of the levers of power in society, but they still find plenty of things to protest because society refuses to conform ... Read More
Church Leaders Criticize Frist's Religious Politics
Saturday April 23, 2005
The increasingly blatant efforts of Republicans to politicize religion and use religion for their political agenda is beginning to annoy religious leaders - at least, religious leaders who aren't part ... Read More
Philosopher: Socrates Biography & Profile
Saturday April 23, 2005
Socrates was an ancient Greek philosopher who became very influential in the development of Greek philosophy and, thus, Western philosophy in general. The most extensive knowledge we have of him ... Read More
No Separation of God & State
Saturday April 23, 2005
Christian and Muslim extremists share a lot in common. Their religious systems may be quite different, but they share a desire to ensure that their religion dominates society. They have ... Read More
Sick and Tired of Secularism
Saturday April 23, 2005
The Christian Right in America has been attacking secularism for some time now because a secular state stands in their way of imposing their religion on everyone. Similar attacks are ... Read More
This Date in History: Sexual Abuse Crisis
Saturday April 23, 2005
April 23, 2002: Over the course of 48 hours, the American cardinals met with Pope John Paul II and other Vatican officials to discuss the scandal of priests who had ... Read More
Being an Atheist
Saturday April 23, 2005
One experience that many atheists have is the bewilderment of theists over how a person can be moral and good without believing in a god. Their attitude seems to be ... Read More
Economics of Human Evolution
Saturday April 23, 2005
Neanderthals were the dominant hominid species for 200,000 years; 10,000 years after homo sapiens arrived, Neanderthals disappeared. Why? Many different explanations have been offered but the newest may have a ... Read More
Fundamentalism Betrays the Bible?
Friday April 22, 2005
Fundamentalists proclaim themselves to be the True Defenders of True Christianity. They are adamant that they and only they have a correct understanding of what Christianity is. Some argue, though, ... Read More
Philosopher: Rene Descartes Biography & Profile
Friday April 22, 2005
Rene Descartes was a French philosopher who is widely regarded as the 'founder' of the modern age of philosophy because he challenged and questioned all of the traditional systems of ... Read More
Theocons Against Living Wills
Friday April 22, 2005
Theocratic conservatives are continuing to push their idea of a state that makes medical and ethical decisions for citizens on the basis of some people's theological dogmas, even if those ... Read More
Newsletter 04-22-04
Friday April 22, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.16 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at the life of the newly elected pope, the agenda ... Read More
Atheist's Wager
Friday April 22, 2005
Many Christians attempt to persuade atheists to change by using Pascal's Wager (though many don't use that label and seem unaware of its origin). They argue that it's "safer" to ... Read More
This Date in History: "In God We Trust"
Friday April 22, 2005
April 22, 1864: The motto "In God We Trust" first appeared on U.S. coins - specifically, the a bronze two-cent piece issued during the American Civil War.
Microsoft Caves to Christian Right, Abandons Gays
Friday April 22, 2005
Apparently out of fear of a boycott from the Christian Right, Microsoft has withdrawn its support from a bill in Washington state that would extend protections against discrimination in banking, ... Read More
Reconsidering Islam in the Netherlands
Friday April 22, 2005
The Netherlands welcomed Muslim immigrants with open arms (generally). Those immigrants have become part of one of the most liberal, tolerant societies of Europe. Unfortunately, many have repaid that very ... Read More
Should Government Agencies Honor the Pope?
Thursday April 21, 2005
Many government agencies in America marked the death of Pope John Paul II by flying their flags at half-staff. A few didn't and this has attracted harsh criticism - none ... Read More
Ecourse: Humanism 101
Thursday April 21, 2005
In this century, humanism has come to refer to a philosophy that rejects traditional religious dogmas and usually theism itself. Although it is possible to be both a theist and ... Read More
Judaism Leads to Hostility towards Christianity? Criminality?
Thursday April 21, 2005
Christianity has a very poor record when it comes to treating Jews with respect. Things have improved in America in the past few decades, but every so often someone says ... Read More
Humanistic Buddhism Growing in Brazil
Thursday April 21, 2005
Brazil is the world's most populous Catholic nation. Brazil has one of the fastest growing Pentecostal populations in the world. So, what's going on that Buddhism is growing in Brazil ... Read More
This Date in History: Maryland Toleration Act
Thursday April 21, 2005
April 21, 1649: The Maryland Assembly passed the Toleration Act, providing protection to Roman Catholics against Protestant harassment and discrimination, a problem which had been on the increase due to ... Read More
Yale Ends Church Affiliation
Thursday April 21, 2005
Yale University was founded in 1701 by Congregational ministers. The association was transferred to the United Church of Christ in 1961. Today the Yale chapel serves the local community almost ... Read More
Rational Choice & Consumer Decisions
Thursday April 21, 2005
There is a common assumption that people act, or at least tend to act, in a rational manner to most efficiently and fully realize their desires. This assumption plays an ... Read More
Main Stream Media's Old Auntie
Wednesday April 20, 2005
Many bloggers today criticize the "Mainstream Media" for being slow, for not doing enough work, and for generally failing their duty to the public. Well, there's one newspaper that should ... Read More
Britain: Muslims Protest Voting
Wednesday April 20, 2005
People may remember that some extremist clerics in Iraq condemned democracy as "godless" because it creates a government controlled by the will of the people rather than one controlled by ... Read More
Britain: Secular Schools Cause Problems
Wednesday April 20, 2005
British conservatives are hoping to expand the number of religious schools and part of their strategy appears to involve blasting secular schools as a source of social problems. Evidently, it's ... Read More
Alan Dershowitz on Torture in Israel
Wednesday April 20, 2005
Known for his support for the creation of "torture warrants" that would allow the state to torture suspects to get information, Alan Dershowitz recently claimed that the Public Committee Against ... Read More
Naturalism and Value
Wednesday April 20, 2005
Is it possible to have values within a wholly naturalistic system? Many religious theists argue that it's not - this is a common criticism they make of atheism. They say ... Read More
Does God Necessarily Exist?
Wednesday April 20, 2005
One popular argument for the existence of God says that God necessarily exists - it's simply not possible for God not to exist. Therefore, God exists. Sound convincing? No, it ... Read More
This Date in History: Protestants
Wednesday April 20, 2005
April 20, 1529: At the Second Diet of Speyer, the term "Protestant" was first used to describe to participants of the Reformation. The word was taken from the "Protestatio," a ... Read More
Holy Lands Curing People of their Religion
Wednesday April 20, 2005
Some who visit the Holy Land succumb to the Jerusalem Syndrome, an obsession with religion that causes them to believe they are religious figures themselves. Some who already live there, ... Read More
Newsletter 04-20-05
Wednesday April 20, 2005
News items from the past week include an analysis of the nature of religious authority, a Christian's ideas about how wives should be disciplined, criticisms of conservative defenses of marriage, ... Read More
Dominionists Seeking to Reclaim America
Wednesday April 20, 2005
Too few people in America are familiar with Christian Dominionism. The Dominionists believe that America should exist not for all citizens and not to promote values like liberty and justice. ... Read More
Ten Commandments Not Basis for American Law
Tuesday April 19, 2005
There are many Christians who try to argue that American law is based upon the Ten Commandments; therefore, posting the Ten Commandments in public buildings like courts is not only ... Read More
Atheism in Former Communist Countries
Tuesday April 19, 2005
There are many atheists in former communist countries, but some Christians seem to think that their atheism is irrelevant because it was once fostered by communist governments. Is this a ... Read More
Prayers for Austin Cline
Tuesday April 19, 2005
The last time I had a group of people praying for it, it was at Princeton University because I was starting a campus group for atheists and freethinkers. Now I ... Read More
Religious Objections to HPV vaccine
Tuesday April 19, 2005
What would happen if scientists could develop vaccines against sexually transmitted diseases which cause health problems or even death? One would think that anything which improves and saves lives would ... Read More
Conservatives Push Anti-Gay 'Day of Truth'
Tuesday April 19, 2005
The "Day of Silence" is a successful nationwide effort to educate people about the anti-gay bias that homosexuals have to endure every day of their lives. Religious conservatives are bothered ... Read More
Blogsnark: Rationalism, Atheism, and Rights
Tuesday April 19, 2005
A common criticism of atheism is that it fails to produce a basis for things like rights or morality. Consequently, being an atheist entails that a person has no justification ... Read More
No Atheists in Humvees?
Tuesday April 19, 2005
The old canard "there are no atheists on foxholes" is sincerely believed by many and may be getting an update: there are no atheists in Humvees. It's supposed to reflect ... Read More
This Date in History: Branch Davidians
Tuesday April 19, 2005
April 19, 1993: A new ATF assault on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, lead to a fire which killed 72-86 people, including Davidian leader David Koresh.
Religious Fascism at Yankee Stadium
Tuesday April 19, 2005
Tolerance of compulsory participation in religious ceremonies, particularly those which merge religion with patriotism, seems to be growing. At least that's the impression I get from the recent news that ... Read More
Argentina: Row Over Church & State
Tuesday April 19, 2005
A serious conflict has developed in Argentina between religious and political leaders. Army bishop Antonio Baseotto has been stripped of his military salary and barred from entering military installations; the ... Read More
Delaware: Christians Threaten Jews Over School Prayers
Monday April 18, 2005
In Delaware, Jews who have challenged the promotion of Christianity in school have received threats. The local Christian dominionists seem unaccustomed to being questioned and may be hoping that they ... Read More
Blogsnark: Why is the U.S. a Christian Nation?
Monday April 18, 2005
Many religious conservatives argue that America is a Christian Nation - but upon what do they base this claim? The only sensible argument would have to be that the nature ... Read More
Terri Schiavo Case: Conservatives vs. Liberals; Life vs. Law
Monday April 18, 2005
What does the Terri Schiavo case have to do with the election of George W. Bush? When Bush was originally elected, conservatives argued that not every vote in Florida should ... Read More
Blogsnark: Atheist [sic] Are Fools
Monday April 18, 2005
There are a lot of Christians out there who like to cite Psalms 14:1, which states: The fool says in his heart, "God does not exist." This allows them to ... Read More
Abortion Liberalization in Iran
Monday April 18, 2005
The Iranian parliament has approved a new law that would permit abortions during the first four months if the fetus shows signs of mental or physical handicaps. This law still ... Read More
This Date in History: St. Peter's Basilica
Monday April 18, 2005
April 18, 1606: Pope Julius II laid the foundation stone of the second building of St. Peter's Basilica. It was completed 20 years later by Pope Urban VIII and today ... Read More
Hollywood Jews are Ruining the Nation?
Monday April 18, 2005
We can read regular complaints from the Christian Right about "cultural elites," but how many of those complaints are actually directed at Jews? We don't usually hear such complaints about ... Read More
Newsletter 04-18-05
Monday April 18, 2005
News items from the past week include a school board that wants literal, biblical creationism in schools, scientists who refuse to dignify creationist hearings with their presence, how Christians can ... Read More
Ayaan Hirsi Ali and Dutch Politics
Monday April 18, 2005
Dutch politician Ayaan Hirsi Ali has become famous for her opposition to Islamic extremism and her blunt criticisms of how Islam - even "moderate" Islam - traditionally treats women. This ... Read More
Which Pope is Which? Discrepancies in Papal Numbering
Monday April 18, 2005
People might assume that the numbering and listing of popes would be simple and obvious, but that isn’t always the case. There have been several names used multiple times over ... Read More
Pakistan: Extremists Attack Female Runners
Sunday April 17, 2005
Muslim extremists have struck again in Pakistan, this time attacking female runners who wanted to run a marathon with men. The women were dressed in heavy, concealing clothing rather than ... Read More
Catholicism vs. Islam
Sunday April 17, 2005
The Vatican has been having discussions with Muslim leaders for about 20 years now, but the talks have gotten nowhere and now Vatican leaders are reconsidering their relationship with Islam. ... Read More
Gaza: Virtue & Vice Commandos Murder Woman
Sunday April 17, 2005
Terrorist organization Hamas has a new "vice and virtue" commando going around and imposing their ideas of morality on people. It's already gotten one woman killed because she was out ... Read More
Canada: Teen Can't Refuse Blood Transfusion
Sunday April 17, 2005
A 14-year-old Jehovah's Witness in Canada is trying to keep doctors from giving her blood transfusions during her cancer treatment. She lost her latest court fight but she isn't giving ... Read More
Asking Scalia Indecent Questions
Sunday April 17, 2005
After a speech at NYU, a law student asked Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia whether he ever sodomizes his wife. That was a very rude question - but also relevant. ... Read More
Sacred Sites: Profiles of Temples, Churches, Mosques, and Sacred Sites
Sunday April 17, 2005
The world is filled with sacred sites - holy places that people believe or once believed to have religious significance to them and their culture. These sacred sites are varied ... Read More
Assault on Evolution is Assault on Truth
Sunday April 17, 2005
The Christian Right and their Republican allies have been waging a series of organized attacks on evolution in America. They do this because they believe that science contradicts their religious ... Read More
Blogsnark: Opening a Dialog Through Falsehoods
Sunday April 17, 2005
Beware of Greeks bearing gifts... and of Christians trying to "open dialogue" with atheists. Few of them even know what atheism is, but that doesn't stop them from making all ... Read More
This Date in History: Martin Luther Excommunicated
Sunday April 17, 2005
April 17, 1521: Martin Luther was excommunicated from the Roman Catholic Church.
Catholic Pedophilia Crisis: Plot to Weaken Pope John Paul II
Sunday April 17, 2005
One might be forgiven for imagining that the sexual abuse crisis in America (and elsewhere) has been caused either by the priests who abuse children or the clerical culture that ... Read More
The Future of the Catholic Church
Sunday April 17, 2005
There are places in the world where the Catholic church is the only institution with real power and ability to get things done. It's the only institution that can make ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Thomas Paine on Theology & Christianity
Sunday April 17, 2005
The study of theology, as it stands in the Christian churches, is the study of nothing; it is founded on nothing; it rests on no principles; it proceeds by no ... Read More
Saudi Arabia: Clerics Reject Secular Courts
Saturday April 16, 2005
Law in Saudi Arabia is religious law - there are no secular courts where a person can receive justice outside Islamic doctrine. People there don't believe that there is such ... Read More
Speaking Ill of a Dead Pope
Saturday April 16, 2005
Was Pope John Paul II a good person? That's what many think and people have been effusive in their praise for him; dissenting voices on the pope's policies are relatively ... Read More
Louisiana: Anti-Abortion Plates Coming
Saturday April 16, 2005
A federal appeals court has rejected a challenge to Louisiana's law creating anti-abortion license plates. The court didn't address any of the constitutional questions, though. It merely decided that the ... Read More
Ohio: God's License Plates
Saturday April 16, 2005
Soon the state of Ohio may start promoting theism because the state Senate has approved (unanimously) a measure to create special "One Nation Under God" specialty plates. The House still ... Read More
Psychological Analysis of Conservatism
Saturday April 16, 2005
The Bush administration has a history of suppressing research that reaches conclusions inconsistent with the GOP's political agenda or religious ideology. A recent example of this is particularly ironic: psychologists ... Read More
Discussion: Legally Starved to Death
Saturday April 16, 2005
Infidel wrote: It is very sad that we deal with our pets in a more humane manner than we deal with other humans. To starve someone to death instead of ... Read More
Blogsnark: Atheism is Not Possible
Saturday April 16, 2005
A common criticism of atheism is that it isn't "possible" to be an atheist. Instead of actually addressing arguments and criticisms offered by atheists about theism and religion, some prefer ... Read More
This Date in History: Excommunication in Louisiana
Saturday April 16, 2005
April 16, 1962: In Louisiana, Catholic archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel excommunicated three segregationists for refusing to integrate church schools.
Conceptualizing the Culture of Life
Saturday April 16, 2005
The "culture of life" ideology being promoted by the Christian Right is a cleverly packaged set of ideas which they hope to sell to the American public. This involves defining ... Read More
Questioning the Christian Right
Saturday April 16, 2005
Atheists and secularists have long regarded the Christian Right with a great deal of suspicion. We've read their writings and recognized that the America they want is not one compatible ... Read More
Sacred Sites: Oracle, Sacred Spring, and History of Delphi, Greece
Saturday April 16, 2005
Delphi is one of the most well-known spots in ancient Greece, made famous by the Delphic Oracle which was believed to have the power to tell the future. It was ... Read More
Blogsnark: Religious Freedom a Gift of the Majority? (updated)
Friday April 15, 2005
Do Americans' religious liberties come from and depend upon the good will of the majority of Christians? Some Christians certainly think so. There is an implicit message behind such a ... Read More
Morality, Religion, and the Courts
Friday April 15, 2005
We hear a lot of complaints from religious conservatives when courts don't rule the way they like. They argue that the courts are being "activists" and "making law," regardless of ... Read More
Ending the Filibuster: Democracy vs. Majority Rule
Friday April 15, 2005
Some people in America are confused between democracy and majority rule - they think the two are the same, but they aren't. Those seeking to end the ability of the ... Read More
Newsletter 04-15-05
Friday April 15, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.15 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at the Sistine Chapel, where the College of Cardinals meet ... Read More
Conscience Without Consequence
Friday April 15, 2005
Politicians want to protect the conscience of doctors who don't want to follow end-of-life directives or don't want to use treatments derived from stem-cell research. They also want to protect ... Read More
This Date in History: Excommunication in Nebraska
Friday April 15, 2005
April 15, 1996: Bishop Fabian W. Bruskewitz of Lincoln, Nebraska, excommunicated all Catholics in his diocese who continued to belong to organizations which he deemed "perilous to the Catholic faith" ... Read More
Theists Having it Both Ways
Friday April 15, 2005
Many religious conservatives act as though atheism and humanism are necessarily religions, something that I've commented on more than once here. This isn't always the case, though - this argument ... Read More
Religion vs. Liberty in Afghanistan
Friday April 15, 2005
America is supposed to have "liberated" Afghanistan from the Taliban, but too few realize just how much in touch the Taliban could be with people. Taliban leaders may have taken ... Read More
Court Permits Religious Bigotry in Board Prayers
Friday April 15, 2005
I've written several times about Cynthia Simpson, the Wiccan priestess in Chesterfield County, Virginia, who was denied the opportunity to say an invocation prayer at Board of Supervisors meetings. Why? ... Read More
Sacred Sites: Temple, Religion, and History of Cape Sounion, Greece
Friday April 15, 2005
Located on the southeastern tip of Attica, Sounion juts out in a manner that would have assured Athenian sailors a grand view of the Temple of Poseidon as the last ... Read More
Genocide or Miracle?
Thursday April 14, 2005
There are many horrible, awful events described in the Old Testament. Because they are part of "sacred history," though, religious believers tend not to regard those events are being really ... Read More
Evangelicals & Pope John Paul II
Thursday April 14, 2005
Traditionally, evangelical Christians are suspicious of Catholicism at best - and often quite hostile. Recently, though, that suspicion has softened and evangelicals have welcomed Catholic support for their position on ... Read More
Papal Contradictions: John Paul II's Flaws
Thursday April 14, 2005
Many people around the world have praised Pope John Paul II as a great man; he was, however, a man of many contradictions. For every good thing he said or ... Read More
The Religious Mind
Thursday April 14, 2005
One of the interesting ways in which religious people interpret events around them is how anything that happens is taken as evidence of the truth of what they already believe. ... Read More
Judicial Inquisition: Trying to End Secular Laws
Thursday April 14, 2005
The Christian Right is making a major push against an independent judiciary in America. They object to how judges refuse to rule contrary to the Constitution and in favor of ... Read More
This Date in History: Karl Jaspers
Thursday April 14, 2005
April 14, 1945: Philosopher Karl Jaspers was supposed to be arrested by the Gestapo, but the American army entered Heidelberg on March 30 and the plans were never carried out.
Official Police Bibles in Michigan?
Thursday April 14, 2005
Should a police force have their own "official" Bible, with the police seal and everything? That's what some in Michigan thought and so they had a special Bible printed, but ... Read More
Indiana: School Board Wants More Creationism
Thursday April 14, 2005
I really have to wonder about the background and quality of people who get elected to school boards in America. There are surely many fine individuals who serve, but sometimes ... Read More
Financial Issues for Next Pope
Wednesday April 13, 2005
One of the biggest issues facing the next pope won't be Islam or worldwide poverty, it will be the financial crunch hitting the Catholic church. Depending upon what happens, it ... Read More
Proselytizing Books in a School Library
Wednesday April 13, 2005
Should public school libraries have books that tell stories of proselytization? Should public school libraries have books that tell stories which place one religion explicitly above another? One parent found ... Read More
Oregon: Insults at Prayer Breakfast
Wednesday April 13, 2005
Many places around America hold annual "prayer breakfasts" designed to bring politicians and other community leaders together to publicly affirm their religious beliefs and congratulate each other for how religious ... Read More
John Paul II: Early Candidate for Sainthood?
Wednesday April 13, 2005
A great many Catholics would like to see John Paul II made a saint; not a few Catholic leaders agree. Thus, there is a movement at work that hopes to ... Read More
Armageddon Pornography
Wednesday April 13, 2005
Today NBC is launching a mini-series about the End of Days - Armageddon, the Antichrist, and the events supposedly told in the biblical book of Revelation. Is this just the ... Read More
Ecourse: Papacy 101
Wednesday April 13, 2005
Who or what is the pope? The title pope stems from the Greek word papas, which simply means 'father.' Early in Christian history it was used as a formal title ... Read More
Blogsnark: Myth of a Secular State
Wednesday April 13, 2005
Should the American government be secular? Most would say so - after all, if it's not secular it must be religious and that's only possible by picking one religion to ... Read More
Evangelical Christians Beating Gays in the Name of God
Wednesday April 13, 2005
In 2004 three men in Seattle vicious beat Micah Painter, a gay man. Why? Because their evangelical Christian background taught them that gays are evil and must be fought - ... Read More
This Date in History: Masada
Wednesday April 13, 2005
April 13, 73: According to Jewish historian Josephus, 967 Jewish zealots committed mass suicide at the fortress of Masada the night before the Roman Tenth Legion broke through the walls. ... Read More
Newsletter 04-13-05
Wednesday April 13, 2005
News items from the past week include posting religious documents in Mississippi, a letter from a reader about the importance of access to birth control pills, an article about whether ... Read More
Brazil: Abstinence Doesn't Stop AIDS
Wednesday April 13, 2005
The Bush administration, backed by America's Christian Right, is promoting abstinence as the means to combat AIDS in the world. Does it work? The Christian Right doesn't care. Abstinence is ... Read More
Place Your Bets on the Next Pope
Wednesday April 13, 2005
You can bet on just about anything going on in the world, and that includes who will become the next pope. Several thousand have already placed bets with Irish bookmakers. ... Read More
Ancient Porn Found in Germany
Tuesday April 12, 2005
Humans probably started creating representations of sex, sexuality, and sex acts as soon as they were capable of creating visual representation of people. Recently, though, images were found in Germany ... Read More
Blogsnark: Ridiculous Atheist?
Tuesday April 12, 2005
There are a lot of theists out there who get upset when atheists try to stand up for their rights. It's tough to maintain a dominant position in society when ... Read More
Sacred Sites: History, Art, and Architecture of the Sistine Chapel
Tuesday April 12, 2005
The Sistine Chapel, with the famous frescos painted by Michelangelo, has important functions in the Vatican. When a pope dies, his body is placed at the altar beneath the fresco ... Read More
Florida: Scientology in Public Schools
Tuesday April 12, 2005
Scientologists are fiercely opposed to psychiatry and the idea that mental illnesses have physical, biological causes. This is due to their religious doctrines and, now, it seems that they are ... Read More
Ecourse: Theology & God 101
Tuesday April 12, 2005
Theology describes the study, writing, research, or speaking on the nature of gods, especially in relation to human experience. Typically the concept includes the premise that such study is done ... Read More
Canada: Religious Defenders of Same-Sex Marriage
Tuesday April 12, 2005
It serves the political interests of the Christian Right to portray the debate over gay marriage as occurring between god-fearing Christians and godless secularists. The truth, however, is that there ... Read More
Blasphemy on Ebay?
Tuesday April 12, 2005
Should Ebay exclude auctions for items that are "blasphemous" or "sacrilegious" according to religious believers? That's what some are calling for in the wake of an auction for a Eucharist ... Read More
This Date in History: Constantinople
Tuesday April 12, 2005
April 12, 1204: The armies of the Fourth Crusade capture Constantinople again and establish the Latin Empire of Byzantium, but not before they sack the city and rape its inhabitants ... Read More
Balanced Treatment... of the Holocaust?
Tuesday April 12, 2005
Creationists demand "balanced treatment" for their religious beliefs during science lessons about evolution. Media companies insist on "balanced treatment" for every political opinion that comes along. It was only a ... Read More
Image Gallery: The Garden of Gethsemane
Tuesday April 12, 2005
One of the most famous places mentioned in the gospels may be the Garden of Gethsemane - according to Mark and Matthew, this was the place where Jesus prayed alone ... Read More
Eulogizing a Dictator
Tuesday April 12, 2005
All over the news people have been praising Pope John Paul II as a man of peace and vision, but one thing never entirely mentioned is the fact that he ... Read More
Using Religion to Control Others
Monday April 11, 2005
It has been argued that one of the reasons for the existence of religion is that it's an effective means for society's powerful to control everyone else. Whether that's a ... Read More
Fisking the 'Purpose Driven Life'
Monday April 11, 2005
Rick Warren's bestseller The Purpose Driven Life has been attracting a lot of attention recently, but just what is in the book? Does Warren offer sound advice or nonsense?
The Charlotte ... Read More
Saudis Torture, Flog Gays
Monday April 11, 2005
Homosexuality is banned in Islam and, therefore, in Muslim nations. Gays are treated very harshly by civil authorities in Muslim nations. Recently, a group of men found acting like "women" ... Read More
Scientists Boycotting Kansas Creationist Hearings
Monday April 11, 2005
The Kansas Board of Education will be holding hearings on evolution and teaching "Intelligent" Design in science classes. Scientists, though, aren't planning on showing up because they won't dignify the ... Read More
This Date in History: Fourth Crusade
Monday April 11, 2005
April 11, 1204: After months of not being paid and infuriated at the execution of their ally, Alexius III, soldiers of the Fourth Crusade once again attack Constantinople. Pope Innocent ... Read More
Newsletter 04-11-05
Monday April 11, 2005
News items from the past week include a politician claiming that atheists don't understand atheism (he seems to have taken down his blog - I wonder why?), a reader from ... Read More
Does Choosing a Pope Matter?
Monday April 11, 2005
Some non-Catholics may wonder why they should care about who gets chosen as the next pope. After all, the pope doesn't affect their lives - right?
Restiffbard writes:
My own interest in ... Read More
History of the Papacy: Chronological List of Catholic Popes by Century
Monday April 11, 2005
This list of popes is arranged in chronological order and divided by century. It starts with Peter, believed by Catholics to be the first pope, and ends with John Paul ... Read More
Lego Churches & Atheism
Monday April 11, 2005
Atheists commonly don't have much time for traditional religion, but what about the art and architecture that is created in the context of religion? Sometimes atheist can dismiss that as ... Read More
Newsletter 04-08-05
Sunday April 10, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.14 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at the nature of the gospels as part of a ... Read More
Papacy: Early Church Administration & Papal Elections
Sunday April 10, 2005
Many people think that the current structure and administration of the Catholic Church is very much like it has always been, but that's not the case. Early on, there isn't ... Read More
Blogsnark: Is Atheism Automatically Justified?
Sunday April 10, 2005
Most people understand that the absence of belief in the truth of a claim is the position we all start out with regarding every claim. Most people also understand that ... Read More
Eliminating Autonomy
Sunday April 10, 2005
Scattered in the fallout of the Terri Schiavo case are a growing number of very radioactive statements by conservatives arguing that when people make decisions about medical care or end-of-life ... Read More
This Date in History: Communists & Congress
Sunday April 10, 2005
April 10, 1950: By refusing to review the contempt of Congress convictions of two film writers, the Supreme Court upholds the right of congressional committees to compel witnesses to reveal ... Read More
Homophobia & Scientology
Sunday April 10, 2005
Scientology has been resisting claims that it is anti-gay and, moreover, that some Scientologists like Tom Cruise and John Travolta have used Scientology to "cure" themselves of gay urges. L. ... Read More
Blogsnark: Atheism & Secularism Are Substitutes for Religion?
Sunday April 10, 2005
One of the strangest confusions I see regarding atheism is people thinking that atheism is somehow an "equivalent" religion. If a person leaves religion and becomes an atheist, then somehow ... Read More
College of Cardinals: Electors of the Pope, Pinces of the Church
Sunday April 10, 2005
The group the elects a new pope is the College of Cardinals. Originally the Bishop of Rome was elected like all bishops: through votes cast by local priests and citizens. ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Cyril Connolly on Faith & Sin
Sunday April 10, 2005
Those of us who were brought up as Christians and who have lost our faith have retained the Christian sense of sin without the saving belief in redemption. This poisons ... Read More
Virus of Religious Moderation
Saturday April 9, 2005
Many believe that the best antidote to religious extremism is religious moderation. Many believe that religious extremists can be held back by greater action by religious moderates. While it is ... Read More
This Date in History: Catholicism & Abortion
Saturday April 9, 2005
April 09, 1992: In the newspaper Catholic New York, Cardinal John O'Connor wrote that: "[I]f the Church's authority is rejected on such a crucial question as human life [in the ... Read More
Sanctity of Marriage, Indeed
Saturday April 9, 2005
During the heated debates over what should happen to Terri Schiavo, it was remarkable to see all of those who typically revere the "sanctity" of the institution of marriage step ... Read More
Blogsnark: Religion Makes Sense?
Saturday April 9, 2005
Naturally, religious believers say that it makes sense to be religious. When they try to say how and why, though, they don't always come up very sensible explanations. Sometimes, the ... Read More
Blogsnark: Atheism and Evolution as Faiths
Friday April 8, 2005
There's a common assumption among many Christians that seems to categorize just about everything as a "faith." What drives people to classify things like atheism and evolution in the same ... Read More
Blogsnark: How to Discipline Your Wife
Friday April 8, 2005
If Christianity teaches that women are to be subordinate to men, then how should men take care of ensuring that women are properly "trained" to accept male leadership? Fortunately for ... Read More
This Date in History: Holy Lance
Friday April 8, 2005
April 08, 1099: Long criticized by doubters that he had truly found the Holy Lance, Peter Bartholomew agrees to the suggestion of priest Arnul Malecorne that he undergo a trial ... Read More
Re-Forging a Moral Order
Friday April 8, 2005
Extremists from the Christian Right have made a lot of progress in getting their ideas into the mainstream culture - ideas which, just a couple of decades ago, would have ... Read More
Image Gallery: Hagia Sophia
Friday April 8, 2005
Hagia Sophia ('Divine Wisdom,' Latin: Sancta Sophia, Turkish: Ayasofya) was Constantinople's cathedral and the site of a church originally built by Constantus, son of emperor Constantine the Great. The current ... Read More
Presuppositionalism vs. Causality
Friday April 8, 2005
A common criticism of evolution is that it operates by "chance." Only the existence of God allows for an orderly universe that can be studied and understood. This criticism, though, ... Read More
Greetings from the Czech Republic
Thursday April 7, 2005
I've written a couple of times about atheism and religion in the Czech Republic. Recently, someone from the Czech Republic wrote to me about his impressions of atheism and religion ... Read More
Teach the Controversy... or Create it?
Thursday April 7, 2005
A common refrain from "Intelligent" Design supporters is that public school science classes should teach about the controversy over evolution and critics' arguments against evolution. There is no "debate" over ... Read More
Blogsnark: Argument Against Atheist Activists?
Thursday April 7, 2005
Sometimes theists wonder why atheists are "activists" of any sort, whether in terms of promoting atheism or with political issues like church/state separation. There is the impression, it seems, that ... Read More
This Date in History: Francis Xavier
Thursday April 7, 2005
April 07, 1506: Saint Francis Xavier, one of the first members of the Jesuits, was born.
Birth Control 'Controversy'
Thursday April 7, 2005
I've written many times about the growing debates over pharmacists who refuse to fill prescriptions for birth control pills. What's often missing in these debates is how important these pills ... Read More
History of the Papacy: Popes of the 14th Century
Thursday April 7, 2005
Here is a list of all of the popes who reigned during the fourteenth century. The first number is which pope they were. This is followed by their chosen name, ... Read More
New Mexico: Public Pays for Half Day Off to Honor Pope
Thursday April 7, 2005
Governor Bill Richardson of New Mexico is giving all state workers a half day off, with pay, in remembrance of Pope John Paul II. He wouldn't have done this with ... Read More
Colorado: Governor Vetoes Information for Rape Victims
Wednesday April 6, 2005
Governor Bill Owens of Colorado vetoed a bill that would have required all hospitals to give information to rape victims about all their medical options - including emergency contraception. Catholic ... Read More
Parents Allowed to Burn School Books
Wednesday April 6, 2005
The superintendent of Norwood High School in Colorado allowed parents to take an acclaimed book and burn all copies. He could have returned them or donated the books to some ... Read More
Roger Ebert on Faith-Based Intolerance
Wednesday April 6, 2005
You don't normally find movie critics commenting on subjects like evolution, but the recent news about how IMAX theaters refused to show movies referencing evolution in order to avoid offending ... Read More
Pharmacies Skirt Laws to Increase Profits
Wednesday April 6, 2005
There are pharmacies out there that buy raw ingredients in bulk and manufacture their own drugs rather than buy the final product from pharmaceutical companies. The drugs created in this ... Read More
This Date in History: Madalyn Murray O'Hair
Wednesday April 6, 2005
April 06, 1962: The Maryland Court of Appeals ruled 4-3 against Madalyn Murray (later O'Hair) in her case to force the end of required Bible readings and recitations of the ... Read More
Newsletter 04-06-05
Wednesday April 6, 2005
News items from the past week include an explanation of the development of humanism during the Renaissance, an new email course about theology, the military dumping plans for a special ... Read More
Science Splits Pennsylvania Town
Wednesday April 6, 2005
Debates over evolution continue to cause problems in Dover, Pennsylvania, where high school biology teachers are expected to teach doubts about evolutionary theory. Local Christians are complaining about the influence ... Read More
History of the Papacy: Popes of the 13th Century
Wednesday April 6, 2005
Here is a list of all of the popes who reigned during the thirteenth century. The first number is which pope they were. This is followed by their chosen name, ... Read More
Arkansas School Continues with Evolution Disclaimer Stickers
Wednesday April 6, 2005
Despite an ACLU letter and unfavorable court decisions elsewhere in the nation, the Beebe School district in Arkansas will keep disclaimer stickers about evolution in science texts. Why not have ... Read More
Angry Keyboards
Tuesday April 5, 2005
There are a lot of people upset with America's current international policies, especially the wars pursued in Afghanistan and Iraq. We have not, however, seen the same massive protests that ... Read More
Why Religion and Politics Don't Mix
Tuesday April 5, 2005
Religious conservatives like to argue that we shouldn't be worried about mixing religion and politics (which, of course, always really means their religion and politics being mixed). The problem is, ... Read More
Revealing the Secrets of an Ancient Bible
Tuesday April 5, 2005
The Codex Sinaiticus is the world's oldest Bible. It's been around for over 1,600 years and it's pages are scattered in museums around the world. It contains the earliest record ... Read More
This Date in History: Bonhoeffer
Tuesday April 5, 2005
April 05, 1943: Protestant theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer is arrested in Berlin because of his involvement in a plot to assassinate Hitler.
Evolution Debate Is About Ideology
Tuesday April 5, 2005
If the debate over evolutionary theory were about science, then it would play out in scientific journals, scientific conferences, and the other arenas where nature of science is discussed. The ... Read More
History of the Papacy: Popes of the 11th Century
Tuesday April 5, 2005
Here is a list of all of the popes who reigned during the eleventh century. The first number is which pope they were. This is followed by their chosen name, ... Read More
Attacking Academia
Tuesday April 5, 2005
The Right's attacks on academia are, of course, producing responses from academics. Right-wing pundits don't see a problem with drawing colleges into their sphere of influence, but the damage that ... Read More
Israeli Supreme Court Recognizes Non-Orthodox Conversions
Monday April 4, 2005
Traditionally, only conversions to Judaism performed by Orthodox Rabbis have been recognized as legally valid in Israel; hence, only orthodox converts to Judaism become citizens. A recent decision by the ... Read More
Illinois: Pharmacies Ordered to Fill Birth Control Prescriptions
Monday April 4, 2005
The ability of Illinois pharmacists to ignore their professional obligations has been narrowed. Last week Governor Blagojevich issued an emergency rule requiring all pharmacies to fill prescriptions for contraceptives or ... Read More
Uganda: Muslims Demonstrate in Defense of Polygamy
Monday April 4, 2005
Polygamy is legal in Islam, but it's not common in Muslim nations. Most Muslim populations are monogamous and the general trend in Islam seems to be toward monogamy. Uganda may ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re
Monday April 4, 2005
Giovanni Battista Re has staunchly defended tradition, but he has also been something of a moderate - for example, expressing support for greater decentralization and giving more power to local ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger
Monday April 4, 2005
Joseph Ratzinger is wildly popular among conservatives, but just as unpopular among liberals. The election of Cardinal Ratzinger would represent a strong vote in favor of conservatism, traditionalism, and a ... Read More
Zealotry and its Victims
Monday April 4, 2005
The religious extremism that was on display in Florida during the Terri Schiavo media circus was astounding. Most Americans never agreed with keeping Terri on a feeding tube for as ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Jose Da Cruz Policarpo
Monday April 4, 2005
Jose Da Cruz Policarpo is not well known because he has spent most of his life working in Portugal. He is, however, evidently popular among the cardinals and this means ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Francis Arinze
Monday April 4, 2005
If Francis Arinze is elected pope, he would not be the first African pope, but he would be the first African pope in more than 1,500 years. The prospect of ... Read More
Teacher Preaches, Parents Sue
Monday April 4, 2005
In North Carolina, a teacher at a public schools abused her position to preach Christianity to students. Parents complained and she promised to stop - but she ended up doing ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Dario Castrillon Hoyos
Monday April 4, 2005
Dario Castrillon Hoyos, like so much of the clergy in Latin America, has focused a great deal on defending the poor despite his opposition to liberation theology. If the cardinals ... Read More
This Date in History: Constantinople
Monday April 4, 2005
April 04, 1453: Seige of Constantinople begins. By this time the authority of the Byzantine Empire had shrunk to little more than the city of Constantinople itself. Sultan Mehmed II ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Godfried Danneels
Monday April 4, 2005
Because of Godfried Danneels’ progressive views, voting for him to become pope would mean voting for major changes in the Catholic church. Danneels supports changes in many different church positions. ... Read More
Newsletter 04-04-05
Monday April 4, 2005
News items from the past week include an analysis of the 4th commandment, Christian Right arguments for an end to living wills, the connections between religious terrorists and common thugs, ... Read More
Court Rules for School vs. Christian Group
Monday April 4, 2005
A federal appeals court has ruled in favor of a Maryland public school that refused to send home fliers in kids' bags advertising meetings of the Child Evangelism Fellowship. Should ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Claudio Hummes
Monday April 4, 2005
Claudio Hummes could be perceived as a good balance between progressive and conservative trends. He started out liberal, became more conservative, yet continues to defend certain progressive positions. He’s conservative ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Lubomyr Husar
Monday April 4, 2005
Lubomy Husar is theologically moderate. He defends conservative tradition when it comes to matters of doctrine, but coming from an Eastern tradition gives him a perspective interpreted by many as ... Read More
History of the Papacy: Popes of the 10th Century
Monday April 4, 2005
Here is a list of all of the popes who reigned during the tenth century. The first number is which pope they were. This is followed by their chosen name, ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Walter Kasper
Monday April 4, 2005
Because of his moderate theological views, Walter Kasper has been popular with liberal and progressive Catholics. Because of his support for decentralization in the Vatican hierarchy, he has also gained ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Nicolas De Jesus Lopez Rodriguez
Monday April 4, 2005
Nicolas De Jesus Lopez Rodriguez would likely receive support from various factions of conservative cardinals who are looking for a candidate who will defend traditional theology and orthodox doctrines. Rodriguez ... Read More
Public Financing of Catholic Schools?
Monday April 4, 2005
It's getting more expensive to run Catholic schools. The nuns who used to work for nothing are getting too old to do everything and now the schools have to pay ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio
Monday April 4, 2005
Probably the strongest factor working against Bergoglio is the fact that he is a Jesuit. He would be the first Jesuit pope if elected, but there continues to be strong ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Ivan Dias
Monday April 4, 2005
Ivan Dias is theologically conservative, something which stands in contrast to some of the more unusual views common among India’s Catholics. Because there is such a mix of religions in ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga
Sunday April 3, 2005
Oscar Andres Rodrigquez Maradiaga is relatively young and, therefore, not in the forefront of Latin American cardinals who could be elected pope. Of course, being young didn’t stop John Paul ... Read More
Republican Fascism, Assault on End-of-Life Decisions
Sunday April 3, 2005
As they say, bad cases make for bad law and the Terri Schiavo issue represented a monumentally bad case. It has inspired America's Christian Right to reach even higher and ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Christoph Schoenborn
Sunday April 3, 2005
Christoph Schoenborn may be too young to be elected pope. It is true that John Paul II was elected at a young age, but it’s unlikely that the cardinals would ... Read More
Pennsylvania: Creationism Bill Moving
Sunday April 3, 2005
Lawmakers in Pennsylvania are seriously consider a bill that would permit public schools to add "Intelligent" Design creationism to science classes. Christian Right representatives think that this will placate ignorant ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Angelo Sodano
Sunday April 3, 2005
Angelo Sodano has been criticized for the influence he exercised over John Paul II. A number of cardinals named by the pope in 2001 were, for example, from Sodano’s own ... Read More
Pennsylvania: Objections Raised to Gay History Marker
Sunday April 3, 2005
A marker has been erected at Philadelphia's Independence Hall to commemorate the nation's first gay and lesbian civil rights demonstration which occurred on July 4, 1965. Given how far gay ... Read More
Mississippi: Commandments, Sermon to be Posted
Sunday April 3, 2005
Both the House and the Senate in Mississippi have passed a bill that would require all public buildings in the state to post the Ten Commandments, "In God We Trust," ... Read More
Candidate for Pope: Cardinal Dionigi Tettamanzi
Sunday April 3, 2005
Dionigi Tettamanzi is probably the leading Italian candidate for pope. The Italian contingent of cardinals is fairly well disciplined and likely want to return the papacy to an Italian, so ... Read More
Bibles in School
Sunday April 3, 2005
Is having Bibles in public schools really so bad? It can be, depending upon the motives of those involved and what else they might want. If public schools add religious ... Read More
Pope John Paul II Biography
Sunday April 3, 2005
John Paul II was the second pope to ever choose two names, following his predecessor. The reason for doing this was to both honor John Paul I and to indicate ... Read More
History of the Papacy: Popes of the 9th Century
Sunday April 3, 2005
Here is a list of all of the popes who reigned during the ninth century. The first number is which pope they were. This is followed by their chosen name, ... Read More
Electing the Next Pope: Index of Resources on Papal Elections
Sunday April 3, 2005
Every human is mortal, and that includes popes. Some live and reign for extraordinarily long times while others only serve for a few days, but in the end all die ... Read More
Evolution: There is No Debate. Get Over It
Sunday April 3, 2005
There has been a lot of public debate about evolution in recent years, but that public debate has masked one important fact: there is no scientific debate about the status ... Read More
Blogsnark: Atheism Is A Belief System?
Sunday April 3, 2005
Atheism is not a belief system; if atheism were a belief system, it would consist of an integrated system of doctrines, beliefs, and ideas that would used to provide guidance ... Read More
This Date in History: Anabaptists
Sunday April 3, 2005
April 03, 1528: German reformer Adolf Clarenbach was arrested in Cologne, Germany, for teaching Protestant (possibly Anabaptist or Waldensian) ideas. Clarenbach was burned at the stake the next year, becoming ... Read More
Christians Question Freedom for Minority Faiths
Sunday April 3, 2005
The Supreme Court is hearing challenges to the constitutionality of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA). Some on the Christian Right seem to welcome the challenges because ... Read More
Plan B for Pharmacists
Sunday April 3, 2005
There is a growing movement in America to allow pharmacists to ignore their professional obligation to fill the prescriptions written by doctors. They aren't seeking the power to refuse dangerous ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Jeanette B. Welch on God & the Constitution
Sunday April 3, 2005
The word God does not appear in the Constitution. It grants neither the president nor the Congress any religious powers. ...The framers of the Constitution had learned the importance of ... Read More
Papal Election: Election Day
Saturday April 2, 2005
The formal naming of a new pope, just like the election process itself, is heavily defined by long-standing traditions. A person doesn't simply get a phone call or short applause; ... Read More
Papal Election: Who Can Be Elected Pope?
Saturday April 2, 2005
Technically, any Catholic male who has reached the age of reason, is not a heretic, is not in schism, and is not "notorious"? for simony can be elected pope - ... Read More
Papal Election: Who Will Be the Next Pope?
Saturday April 2, 2005
It seems unlikely that the elector cardinals will choose as pope someone who will continue with the exact same polices as John Paul II. Although he has been widely praised ... Read More
Papal Election: Continuity vs. Discontinuity?
Saturday April 2, 2005
One question which faces every conclave and which plays an important role in every election is: do the cardinals want another pope in the same mold as the previous and ... Read More
Papal Election: Method of Voting for a Pope
Saturday April 2, 2005
Naturally, there is a real desire not only to prevent cheating and tampering, but also to prevent people from knowing who has voted for whom. Election can occur via acclamation ... Read More
Papal Election: Who Votes for the Pope?
Saturday April 2, 2005
In the earliest years, the Bishop of Rome was elected by the parish priests of the city of Rome, but he also had to be accepted by the people generally ... Read More
Florida: Sheriff Considering Faith-Based Jail
Saturday April 2, 2005
In Sarasota County, Florida, Sheriff Bill Balkwill wants to turn a nearly empty jail annex into a "faith-based facility" that will promote religion. Will it promote religion generally? That's not ... Read More
Papal Election: The Conclave and Voting
Saturday April 2, 2005
Voting for a new pope occurs in what is known as a "conclave,"? which literally means "with a key." The term stems from the fact that the voting cardinals have ... Read More
The GOP Needs Religious Extremists
Saturday April 2, 2005
The Terri Schiavo case has revealed some of the deep divisions within America's conservative movement and the Republican Party. Some observers, including some conservatives, have speculated that these divisions might ... Read More
Papal Election: What Happens to the Old Pope?
Saturday April 2, 2005
Well, first the old pope must be declared dead. In a ceremony performed by the pope's Camerlengo (chamberlain), the pope's name is called three times and at each calling his ... Read More
Ethics & Criminal Justice: Innocence, Guilt, and Money
Saturday April 2, 2005
The OJ Simpson trial provided interesting lessons regarding guilt, innocence and criminal procedure, but the most interesting lesson was that none of the real lessons were ever learned or broadly ... Read More
Reification, Abortion, and Personhood
Saturday April 2, 2005
Humans are adept at creating abstract concepts that help categorize a wide array of concrete objects. Unfortunately, it's also common for the process to work in reverse: treating an abstract ... Read More
Workplace Religion Freedom Act: Anti-Gay?
Saturday April 2, 2005
Both Democrats and Republicans are supporting an amendment to the 1964 Civil Rights Act that would force employers to do more to accommodate religious employees. Sounds like a good ... Read More
This Date in History: Turks Arrive at Constantinople
Saturday April 2, 2005
April 02, 1453: Ottoman sultan Mehmed II arrives at Constantinople. Mahomet will be successful in his siege of the city largely because of the acquisition of over sixty artillery pieces, ... Read More
What's Wrong with Non-Religious Teens?
Saturday April 2, 2005
A recent survey suggests, according to some, that religious teens do better on almost every measure of mental, social, and psychological health. If you believe the survey's authors, you'd conclude ... Read More
History of the Papacy: Popes of the 8th Century
Saturday April 2, 2005
Here is a list of all of the popes who reigned during the eighth century. The first number is which pope they were. This is followed by their chosen name, ... Read More
Blogsnark: Atheists Get It Wrong?
Saturday April 2, 2005
One of the most consistent and disturbing features of theists' commentaries about atheism is the almost total lack of knowledge that the writers have on the subject. They know so ... Read More
Mississippi: Sheriff Promotes Christianity At Easter
Friday April 1, 2005
Sheriff Mike Byrd in Jackson County, Mississippi, has for the past five years erected three crosses on the courthouse lawn every Easter. Byrd is acting in his official capacity as ... Read More
Democracy & Extremism
Friday April 1, 2005
Democracy and extremism don't mix - extremism tends to undermine democratic institutions, but those institutions have trouble containing extremists in advance. People in the Terri Schiavo case already need bodyguards ... Read More
Newsletter 04-01-05
Friday April 1, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.13 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at the connections between atheism and nihilism, the infamous Da ... Read More
Blogsnark: Evolution in Ireland
Friday April 1, 2005
Many think of opposition to evolution as being an American phenomenon. While it is true that this anti-science attitude is most prevalent in the United States, there are people in ... Read More
Should Churches Endorse Political Candidates?
Friday April 1, 2005
For a long time, North Carolina Representative Walter Jones has been the primary force behind efforts to change the law to allow churches to become involved with partisan politics. Now ... Read More
This Date in History: Eleanor of Aquitaine
Friday April 1, 2005
April 01, 1204: Eleanor of Aquitaine (also: Eleanor of Guyenne, Eleonore d'Aquitaine, Alienor d'Aquitaine), Queen of France and later Queen of England, dies in a convent at the age ... Read More
Blogsnark: Centennial Christians: Learning About Religion Is, Like, Dumb
Friday April 1, 2005
Isn't it just awful that Christians in public schools are forced to learn about other religions? Well, some Christians certainly think so and in response a couple created COPS: Christians ... Read More
History of the Papacy: Popes of the 1st Century
Friday April 1, 2005
Here is a list of all of the popes who reigned during the first century. The first number is which pope they were. This is followed by their chosen name, ... Read More
Fox News Blocker Leads to Death Threats
Friday April 1, 2005
Sam Kimery invented a tiny device that, when attached to the back of your TV, blocks FOX News broadcasts. He doesn't use it, but he thinks it is an effective ... Read More