Virginia: Policy on Gideons, Bibles to be Reviewed
Wednesday November 30, 2005
There was a time when it was common for the Gideons to enter public schools during school hours and distribute Bibles to students. This favoritism towards Christianity was blatantly unconstitutional ... Read More
Book Reviews: Books on Free Speech, Censorship, Freedom of Expression
Wednesday November 30, 2005
Is freedom of speech an absolute right or are there legitimate reasons for restricting it? What role does the media play in promoting free speech and in informing the public? ... Read More
Georgia: Bible Tax Exemption Challenged
Wednesday November 30, 2005
Should Bibles benefit from a special tax exemption that is unavailable for any other book, including other religious scriptures? That's the case in Georgia and the ACLU is making a ... Read More
Discussion: What Accounts for Astrology?
Wednesday November 30, 2005
Prismatic writes: Astrology has been so thoroughly discredited that by now you would expect that belief in it would be confined to a small group, but a poll taken earlier ... Read More
Shedding America's Pretend Christianity
Wednesday November 30, 2005
The Christian Right makes a big deal about religion in America, arguing that America is a Christian Nation where Christianity and Christians should be privileged above others. There are many ... Read More
This Date in History: Weems v. United States
Wednesday November 30, 2005
November 30, 1909: Argued: Weems v. United States In a case from the Philippines, the Supreme Court would find that the definition of "cruel and unusual punishment" is not limited ... Read More
Passive vs. Aggressive Atheism: Which Path is Best? (Book Notes: The Gathering of Infidels)
Wednesday November 30, 2005
Different atheists have different attitudes towards their atheism and the theism of others. One difference which has persisted for a long time is whether to attack theistic religion aggressively or ... Read More
Guide to Alternative Healthcare
Wednesday November 30, 2005
Book of the Day: "Alternative" Healthcare: A Comprehensive Guide, by Jack Raso.
Alternative medical treatments take a number of different forms, but a great many of them share in common a ... Read More
Hollywood, the Military, and Censorship
Wednesday November 30, 2005
Book of the Day: Operation Hollywood: How the Pentagon Shapes and Censors the Movies, by David L. Robb.
Have you ever watched a movie where the military played some role, even ... Read More
Scientology Compound Marks Return Point After Intergalactic Travel
Tuesday November 29, 2005
Just when you thought that the Church of Scientology couldn't do anything stranger, they have to go and prove everyone wrong. In New Mexico is a Scientology base where L. ... Read More
History of the Crusades: Timeline of the First Crusade, 1095 - 1100
Tuesday November 29, 2005
Launched by Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont in 1095, the First Crusade was the most successful. Urban gave a dramatic speech urging Christians to swarm towards Jerusalem ... Read More
Arkansas: Dispute over Graduation's Altar Call
Tuesday November 29, 2005
The proper role, if any, of religion in public school graduations has been a source of debate and lawsuits for many years now. At this point, it's relatively settled that ... Read More
Discussion: Your Thoughts on the Bible
Tuesday November 29, 2005
Gypsy writes: As a non-Christian, I of course don't live by the bible. I've read some of it, but for the most part, it sits collecting dust under all my ... Read More
Blogsnark: Theists Can Be Scary People
Tuesday November 29, 2005
Religious theists often claim that without their religion and their theism, there is no reason to be good and not kill others. They seem to think that this is a ... Read More
This Date in History: C. S. Lewis
Tuesday November 29, 2005
November 29, 1898: C. S. Lewis, noted author and Christian apologist, was born.
Places in the Bible: Profile of Qumran, Origin of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Tuesday November 29, 2005
Khirbet Qumran is thought to have been an Essene colony. Archaeological excavations have found evidence of human habitation going back to at least the 2nd and possibly even the 9th ... Read More
Daily Poll: Do Corporations Have Ethical Responsibilities?
Tuesday November 29, 2005
It is said sometimes that the primary or even the only responsibility that a corporation has is to make a profit for owners and/or investors. It is an error to ... Read More
Christianity & Violence: Justifying Killing in the Name of Religion (Book Notes: The Crusades)
Tuesday November 29, 2005
Most Christian scripture speaks of peace and love rather than of war. Little that is attributed to Jesus really advocates violence; most advocates peace, love, and service to others. How, ... Read More
Galileo vs. the Inquisition
Tuesday November 29, 2005
Book of the Day: Galileo in Rome: The Rise and Fall of a Troublesome Genius, by William R. Shea and Mariano Artigas.
Galileo's conflict with the Roman Catholic Church is well ... Read More
Fear: The History of a Political Idea
Tuesday November 29, 2005
Book of the Day: Fear: The History of a Political Idea, by Corey Robin. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
Fear is an ubiquitous part of the human condition. It is a basic, ... Read More
Thanksgiving and Massachusetts Blue Laws
Monday November 28, 2005
I hope you enjoyed your Thanksgiving; a number of state officials in Massachusetts must have been bored because instead of spending time with family, they chose to go after stores ... Read More
Christian Conspiracy Theories and the War on Christmas
Monday November 28, 2005
Many people feel that the defense being mounted by religious conservatives on behalf of Christmas is a new development. I certainly did, but it turns out that fears that there ... Read More
Book Reviews: Books on Evolution & Evolutionary Theory, Creationism, Intelligent Design
Monday November 28, 2005
The debate over evolution and creationism can be very divisive in the United States. Which is the best explanation of the current diversity of life on Earth? Should both be ... Read More
Discussion: What do you say?
Monday November 28, 2005
A forum visitor asks: If you don't believe in God, then who do you thank when something good happens... Do you say, "I got a raise!!! Thank the good Master ... Read More
Buddhism and Atheism
Monday November 28, 2005
Lots of people in the West misunderstand Buddhism, especially it's general lack of any divine figures. They don't realize that, for many, Buddhism is essentially an atheistic religion. People in ... Read More
This Date in History: Religious Marches in Iran
Monday November 28, 2005
November 28, 1978: In an attempt to forestall a religious revolution, the Iranian government banned religious marches.
Defending Freedom of Religion? Defending Deceit...
Monday November 28, 2005
It's always interesting to read the screeds of those who claim to be defending freedom of religion when real freedom - especially freedom for adherents of other religions - seems ... Read More
Evangelical America
Monday November 28, 2005
Book of the Day: Rapture Culture: Left Behind in Evangelical America, by Amy Johnson Frykholm. Publisher: Oxford University Press
Conservative evangelical Christians are an important part of American culture, yet they ... Read More
Corporations Afraid to Support Evolution & Darwin
Sunday November 27, 2005
The American Museum of Natural History in New York is running an exhibition about the life and work of Charles Darwin. Unlike other exhibitions, though, none of the corporations they ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Jesus Heals the Demon-Possessed of Gadarenes (Mark 5:1-9)
Sunday November 27, 2005
When we last left Jesus, he displayed his power and authority over nature by calming a storm that came over the Sea of Galilee. He has also, in numerous instances, ... Read More
Dover: Intelligent Design Opponents Labeled Atheists
Sunday November 27, 2005
One of the interesting things to come out of the Dover trial over teaching Intelligent Design was the naked religious hostility displayed by those supporting Intelligent Design. Over and over, ... Read More
Has Feminism Gone Too Far?
Sunday November 27, 2005
There has been greater attention paid in recent weeks to the historical legacy of feminism and the idea that, at least in some ways, feminism has harmed women. How? I'm ... Read More
This Date in History: Reliquaries Returned to the Eastern Orthodox Church
Sunday November 27, 2005
November 27, 2004: Pope John Paul II gives Eastern Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew I reliquaries which were stolen from Constantinople during the Crusades. These reliquaries contain the bones of 4th-century Patriarchs ... Read More
Robert A. Baker, Hypnosis, and Paranormal Phenomena
Sunday November 27, 2005
Most people probably haven't heard of Robert A. Baker, which is unfortunate. Baker had been one of the world's preeminent skeptical investigators of ghosts, alien abductions, apparitions, and other paranormal ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should Doctors Be Punished For Helping Torture?
Sunday November 27, 2005
Medical personnel are often responsible for assisting directly in torture because of their specialized knowledge of human biology and even more often responsible for fixing victims up afterward for more ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Epictetus on Being a Better Person
Sunday November 27, 2005
First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do.
- Epictetus, Concerning such as read and dispute ostentatiously. Chap. xxiii.
Read a discussion of this ... Read More
Rationalist Press Association
Sunday November 27, 2005
Book of the Day: The Gathering of Infidels: A Hundred Years of the Rationalist Press Association, by Bill Cooke. Publisher: Prometheus Books
Freethought has a long and complicated history in Britain, ... Read More
History of Madness
Sunday November 27, 2005
Book of the Day: Madness: A Brief History, by Roy Porter
Mental illness has a checkered past in the history of Western culture. Even today, some argue that there is no ... Read More
Survey: Americans Believe that Religion is Under Attack
Saturday November 26, 2005
Years of misinformation and misleading rhetoric from the Christian Right appears to be paying off. Significant majorities of people surveyed believe that religion is being attacked in America, that it ... Read More
Book Reviews: Books on Atheism, Religion, Philosophy, Politics, More
Saturday November 26, 2005
Hundreds of books on a wide variety of subjects are reviewed on this site, including books on: atheism, agnosticism, humanism, religion, Christianity, Islam, philosophy, politics, science, the separation of church ... Read More
Government Funding of Proselytizing in Wake of Hurricanes?
Saturday November 26, 2005
FEMA has indicated that the government will reimburse various religious organizations for their expenses in helping deal with the hurricanes that hit America's Gulf Coast region. It's true that many ... Read More
Discussion: Atheist Friendly Countries
Saturday November 26, 2005
A forum member writes: People always say, "If you don't like America, then leave!" While I get that it's a ridiculous statement, maybe someday I will. So I was wondering, ... Read More
Integration vs. Separatism: Muslims in Europe
Saturday November 26, 2005
To what degree should Muslims in Europe be expected to integrate into European cultures and to what degree should they maintain separate ethnic, religious, and social identities? Neither option can ... Read More
This Date in History: Bigfoot
Saturday November 26, 2005
November 26, 2002: Ray L. Wallace, inventor of the Bigfoot myth, died at the age of 84. The revelation from his family that he created the legend of Bigfoot has ... Read More
Pharmacists' Oath and Contraception
Saturday November 26, 2005
Pharmacists are supposed to be medical professionals and, as such, they are supposed to take an oath before they can begin practicing. In all of the news stories about pharmacists ... Read More
God & Causation: Temporal Requirements for Causes to Exist (Book Notes: Arguing for Atheism)
Saturday November 26, 2005
It is common to argue that because everything we experience appears to have a cause for its existence, then the totality of everything (the universe) must also have a cause ... Read More
Origins of Religious Violence
Saturday November 26, 2005
Book of the Day: Fighting Words: The Origins of Religious Violence, by Hector Avalos. Publisher: Prometheus Books
Most religions depict themselves as forces for peace and harmony; in reality, most religions ... Read More
History of the First Crusade
Saturday November 26, 2005
Book of the Day: The First Crusade: A New History, by Thomas Asbridge.
For years, scholars and historians focused on material or economic factors behind the Crusades. People argued that the ... Read More
Virginia Church Declines Further Marriages
Friday November 25, 2005
Under the direction of Pastor David Ensign, the Clarendon Presbyterian Church in Arlington, Virginia, will stop performing marriages. Ensign will even renounce his state-conferred authority to marry couples, all as ... Read More
History of the Crusades: Timeline Before the Crusades, 350 - 1095
Friday November 25, 2005
The armies of the First Crusade left in 1096 and captured Jerusalem in 1099. From these conquered lands Crusaders carved out small kingdoms for themselves which endured for some time, ... Read More
No Islamic Law in Ontario, Canada
Friday November 25, 2005
Some activists were seeking the ability to use Islamic law in Ontario, Canada, when it came to issues like family disputes. This has been rejected, however, in favor of a ... Read More
Discussion: Religion Classes In Schools
Friday November 25, 2005
A forum member writes: I think I have decided that high schools should adopt a "World Religions" class as required for all students, just as history is required. However, no ... Read More
Divine Intervention
Friday November 25, 2005
A common belief in most theistic religions is that a god intervenes in the affairs of humans: helping some people, hurting others, and generally changing the course of events so ... Read More
This Date in History: Catholic Bishops and Birth Control
Friday November 25, 2005
November 25, 1959: Roman Catholic bishops in America issued a statement condemning the American government's promotion of programs that educated people about artificial birth control, both within the United States ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should Prisoners Receive Organ Transplants?
Friday November 25, 2005
As the prison population in America grows in numbers and increases in age, questions and debates about the allocation of medical resources to prisoners will grow in urgency. One issue ... Read More
Interpreting the Bible: Cultural, Social Contexts of the Authors (Book Notes: How to Read the Bible)
Friday November 25, 2005
The recognition of the interpreter's situation as a factor in appropriating text is nothing new. Christians of all stripes have long recognized it. That is why the few churches today ... Read More
One Planet, One People
Friday November 25, 2005
Book of the Day: One Planet, One People: Beyond 'Us vs. Them', by Carl Coon
Human beings have evolved not only biologically, but also culturally. Perhaps one of the most important ... Read More
Supreme Court of the United States
Friday November 25, 2005
Book of the Day: The Oxford Companion to the Supreme Court of the United States, edited by Kermit L. Hall, James W. Ely, Joel B. Grossman. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
The ... Read More
Salvation Army Sued by Gay Jewish Social Worker
Thursday November 24, 2005
In New York, a judge has ruled that a lawsuit filed by a gay Jewish worker can proceed against the Salvation Army. The Salvation Army claimed that they didn't do ... Read More
Tennessee Town Considers Closing Park on Sundays
Thursday November 24, 2005
Sunday is the traditional sabbath for most Christians and some (though a minority) continue to refuse to do anything recreational or professional on Sundays. Should the government support this position ... Read More
Book Reviews: Books on Ancient Religions, Religious Beliefs, History
Thursday November 24, 2005
The religions we see today didn't pop out of nowhere - they evolved gradually from more ancient faiths which have largely, it not entirely, died away. What are some of ... Read More
Foxman, ADL Urge Stronger Stand Against Christian Right
Thursday November 24, 2005
The Christian Right's agenda is often framed in general terms as beneficial to 'religion' without specifying Christianity. This is disingenuous because the ultimate beneficiary is supposed to be conservative Christianity ... Read More
Discussion: Greek Gods
Thursday November 24, 2005
A forum member asks: Back when people believed in the greek gods, did they believe in the same way people today believe in god? When skeptics would question the existence ... Read More
Chickens, Eggs, and the Meaning of Life
Thursday November 24, 2005
It's common for religious theists to wonder how atheists can have any meaning or purpose in their lives without belief in some sort of god. Atheists, in turn, fail to ... Read More
This Date in History: Crusaders Capture Zara
Thursday November 24, 2005
November 24, 1202: After just five days of fighting, Crusaders capture the Hungarian port of Zara, a Christian city on the coast of Dalmatia. The Venetians had once controlled Zara ... Read More
Abortion and Disability
Thursday November 24, 2005
Many opponents of legalized abortion are willing to allow exceptions in cases of rape and incest - an incoherent position given the fact that their opposition to abortion is based ... Read More
Daily Poll: Are Terrorists Just Psychopaths?
Thursday November 24, 2005
Why are some people willing to become suicide bombers? Well, we might as well ask why there are some soldiers willing to go on suicide missions. Why are some people ... Read More
Credibility of Atheism: Threat to Religious Belief (Book Notes: Why Atheism?)
Thursday November 24, 2005
To say that atheism is credible is to suggest that the atheist may be right; to say that the atheist may be right is to suggest that the Christian may ... Read More
Spiritual Clarity
Thursday November 24, 2005
Book of the Day: Spiritual Clarity, by Jackie Wellman. Publisher: PublishAmerica
The popularity of religion is undeniable, but why does religion have such a hold on people, and is its appeal ... Read More
Spiritual Vision of Pope Benedict XVI
Thursday November 24, 2005
Book of the Day: Let God's Light Shine Forth: The Spiritual Vision of Pope Benedict XVI, edited by Robert Moynihan. Publisher: Doubleday.
Most of the world knows Pope Benedict XVI ... Read More
Friend or Foe-Foe-Foe: Christian Right Launching Christmas Offensive
Wednesday November 23, 2005
The Christian Right has opened a new front in their defense against the imaginary attacks on Christmas: a 'Friend or Foe' campaign in which they will intimidate or threaten to ... Read More
Bush Administration Sides with Vatican Over Abuse Case
Wednesday November 23, 2005
A lawsuit filed in Texas alleges that Pope Benedict XVI, while he was still Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, participated in protecting Juan Carlos Patino-Arango, a seminarian at St. Francis de Sales ... Read More
Christian History: Timeline of Modern & Reformation, 1500 - 1600
Wednesday November 23, 2005
When was Martin Luther born? When did the Swiss Reformation begin? When was the Jesuit Order founded? When were the Wars of Religion fought in France? When was the first ... Read More
Bill O'Reilly: Religious Equality is Crazy
Wednesday November 23, 2005
Always good for a quote expressing something completely absurd, Bill O'Reilly of Fox News recent declared that it's crazy and nuts for public schools to treat all religions equally when ... Read More
Newsletter 11-23-05
Wednesday November 23, 2005
News items from the past week include the contributions a philosophical perspective can have in skeptical investigations of the paranormal, Bush's illogical comments about the war on terrorism, interesting Christian ... Read More
Media Shouldn't Report on Porn Industry?
Wednesday November 23, 2005
The Los Angeles Times has decided to cover the adult entertainment industry. It's legal and it's based in or around Los Angeles, so reporting news about the industry only makes ... Read More
This Date in History: Cardinals Voting for Pope
Wednesday November 23, 2005
November 23, 1970: Pope Paul VI prohibited cardinals over the age of 80 from voting for a new pope.
Luke Warm, Liberal Christians: What Do They Believe? (Book Notes: Losing Faith in Faith)
Wednesday November 23, 2005
Atheists will tend to view liberal, progressive Christians in a more sympathetic light than fundamentalists. After all, they support civil rights for gays, church/state separation, etc. The fact that they ... Read More
New Religious Movements
Wednesday November 23, 2005
Book of the Day: New Religious Movements: A Documentary Reader, edited by Dereck Daschke, W. Michael Ashcraft. Publisher: New York University Press.
Commonly referred to as cults, new religious movements have ... Read More
Critical Perspectives on Harry Potter
Wednesday November 23, 2005
Book of the Day: Harry Potter's World: Multidisciplinary Critical Perspectives, edited by Elizabeth E. Heilman. Publisher: Falmer Press.
First as books, but now as movies, video games, and a multitude ... Read More
Youth Pastors Create War Game, Set in Iraq
Tuesday November 22, 2005
In a shining example of Christian love, Christian youth pastors Rick and Michele Medina of Klamath Falls, Oregon, have created a board game in which kids can recreate the invasion ... Read More
Juries Can't Use Bibles in Death Penalty Deliberations
Tuesday November 22, 2005
Earlier in 2005, a Colorado juror cited a passage from Leviticus when the jury was deliberating whether to sentence a man to death. They chose death and the decision was ... Read More
Book Reviews: Books on Christmas, Christmas Holidays, Christmas History, and Christmas Controversies
Tuesday November 22, 2005
Most people in America have had some connection with Christmas celebrations; indeed, most have probably been celebrating Christmas in one way or another all their lives. That does not mean, ... Read More
U.S. House of Representatives Encourages Judicial Activism
Tuesday November 22, 2005
The 9th Circuit Court has ruled that parents don't have a fundamental right to prevent a school from asking their children questions about sex. Conservative Christians, usually outraged whenever the ... Read More
Re-Reading the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Tuesday November 22, 2005
C.S. Lewis' book The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe has been enjoyed by millions of children all around the world, but how many people go back and re-read the ... Read More
This Date in History: C. S. Lewis
Tuesday November 22, 2005
November 22, 1963: C. S. Lewis, noted author and Christian apologist, died.
Authentic vs. Inauthentic Religion: Mormonism in America
Tuesday November 22, 2005
Many early critics of Mormonism denied that it was even a valid religion in the first place. Insisting that Joseph Smith was simply a fraud, they viewed the entire Mormon ... Read More
Women to Blame for Being Raped?
Tuesday November 22, 2005
There's an old myth that women who report being raped were actually 'asking for it' in some manner. Unfortunately, this myth isn't so old: a recent survey finds that a ... Read More
People in the Bible: Profile of the Pharisees
Tuesday November 22, 2005
The Pharisees were an important, powerful, and popular group of religious leaders among the Jews of Palestine. Their name might come from the Hebrew for 'separate ones' or perhaps 'interpreters.' ... Read More
Freethinkers and American Secularism
Tuesday November 22, 2005
Book of the Day: Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism, by Susan Jacoby.
Secularism and freethought have played important roles in the development of American society, culture, and politics, yet ... Read More
Understanding the Crusades
Tuesday November 22, 2005
Book of the Day: The Crusades: A History; Second Edition, by Jonathan Riley-Smith. Publisher: Yale University Press.
The Crusades helped define the Middle Ages: its politics, its external relations, and its ... Read More
Protesters Picket Newdow's Home
Monday November 21, 2005
In a demonstration of Christian love, charity, and compassion, Christians demonstrated in front of Michael Newdow's home on Sunday. The reason: they object to how he's trying to get the ... Read More
Saving Lives vs. Preventing Drug Abuse
Monday November 21, 2005
Which matters more, saving people's lives or making sure that they don't violate the moral code of some religious believers? Some on America's Christian Right appear to prefer the latter. ... Read More
The Crusades: Economic & Ideological Outcome of the Crusades
Monday November 21, 2005
Of great importance was the increased demand for trade goods - Europeans developed a tremendous appetite for cloth, spices, jewels, and more from the Muslims as well as lands even ... Read More
Changes at the Atheist Law Center
Monday November 21, 2005
The Atheist Law Center has done a lot to raise the profile of atheists and their concerns in Alabama, but all that has recently been overshadowed by Larry Darby's antics ... Read More
Discussion: Motives of Atheists
Monday November 21, 2005
EBagley asks: I am questioning the motives of the Atheists. I know what the motives of most Theists are. The answer is Money, Power, Control, Dominance, etc. The religious leaders ... Read More
Newsletter 11-21-05
Monday November 21, 2005
News items from the past week include criticism of constitutional originalism, atheist defenses of Intelligent Design, questions about the use of force to spread democracy, claims that non-Christians perhaps shouldn't ... Read More
Religion, Values, and Pandering to Bigotry
Monday November 21, 2005
One hears that the Democratic Party needs to talk about religion more so that religious voters will feel more comfortable voting Democratic. Democrats have been too closely associated with secularism ... Read More
This Date in History: Second Vatican Council
Monday November 21, 2005
November 21, 1964: The third session of the Second Vatican Council closed. One result of this session, announced by Pope Paul VI, was that the Virgin Mary would assume a ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should America Outsource Torture?
Monday November 21, 2005
The 9/11 Commission called on the U.S. to 'offer an example of moral leadership in the world, committed to treat people humanely, abide by the rule of law, and be ... Read More
Politics of World Religions
Monday November 21, 2005
Book of the Day: God's Rule: The Politics of World Religions, edited by Jacob Neusner.
Many people may feel that religion and politics do not or should not mix, but the ... Read More
Struggle for the Soul of Islam
Monday November 21, 2005
Book of the Day: In the Shadow of the Prophet: The Struggle for the Soul of Islam, by Milton Viorst. Publisher: Westview Press.
For many people in the West, Islam appears ... Read More
Christmas Wars: Wal-Mart Caves in to Catholic League
Sunday November 20, 2005
Someone complained to Wal-Mart about practices like the use of Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. The emailed response described how many Christmas traditions originated with various ancient pagan cultures ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Jesus Calms the Storm (Mark 4:35-40)
Sunday November 20, 2005
During the trip across the Sea of Galilee, a large storm comes up - so large that the boat threatens to sink after so much water has entered it. How ... Read More
Baptist Bigots Force Student Group to Disband
Sunday November 20, 2005
A group created to discuss sexuality and theology at Mercer University in Georgia has been forced to disband. Mercer is a Baptist university and the group was not officially sponsored ... Read More
Discussion: Religious Christmas Presents
Sunday November 20, 2005
Doug asks: How should I react if someone gives me a religious christmas present? I not expecting one, but I want to be prepared if it happens. Most of my ... Read More
When Evangelists Divide Christians
Sunday November 20, 2005
Christian evangelists speaking on college campuses are a frequent sight. Their ostensible goal is to reach out to non-Christian students, but how well are they doing? In some cases, at ... Read More
This Date in History: Grand Mosque in Mecca Invaded
Sunday November 20, 2005
November 20, 1979: The Grand Mosque in Mecca was invaded by a group of extremist Ikhwan. Led by Juhaiman Ibn Mohammed Utaibi, a former Saudi National Guardsman, the group was ... Read More
Daily Poll: What Should Be Done About Homophobic Reggae?
Sunday November 20, 2005
Gays in Jamaica have to fear for their lives if their sexual orientation becomes known. Many popular reggae artists in Jamaica have violently homophobic lyrics, something that helps make them ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Schopenhauer on Nationalism and Pride
Sunday November 20, 2005
Every miserable fool who has nothing at all of which he can be proud, adopts as a last resource pride in the nation to which he belongs; he is ready ... Read More
Dworkin and His Critics
Sunday November 20, 2005
Book of the Day: Dworkin and His Critics: With Replies by Dworkin, edited by Justine Burley.
Ronald Dworkin is one of the most important figures in the 20th century for moral, ... Read More
Despots, Democrats, and the New Politics of Islam
Sunday November 20, 2005
Book of the Day: Legacy of the Prophet: Despots, Democrats, and the New Politics of Islam, by Anthony Shadid. Publisher: Perseus Press.
Islamism is most commonly associated in Westerners' minds with ... Read More
Religious Freedom as a License to Proselytize
Saturday November 19, 2005
Congress is working on a law which is supposed to help protect religious liberty in the workplace, but as currently written it would seem to allow people to use religion ... Read More
Christian History: Timeline of Medieval Christianity, 1100 - 1200
Saturday November 19, 2005
When did the Knights Hospitaller received formal papal recognition? When did Pope Alexander III canonize Thomas Becket? When were Christian Crusaders defeated by Saladin at the Battle of Hattin? When ... Read More
Target Stores Pick and Choose Which Religious Beliefs Deserve Respect
Saturday November 19, 2005
As you may know, Target has decided to allow its pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for emergency contraception. They claim that the law requires this sort of accommodation, but ... Read More
Only Christians Do Good?
Saturday November 19, 2005
It's common for Christians to assume that their religion and their theism provide the only motivations for doing good in the world. Many atheists are asked why they don't rape ... Read More
This Date in History: Walz v. Tax Commission of the City of NY
Saturday November 19, 2005
November 19, 1969: Argued: Walz v. Tax Commission of the City of NY With the majority opinion written by Chief Justice Burger, the Supreme Court would uphold the tax exemption ... Read More
Pat Robertson's Insane Statements
Saturday November 19, 2005
Given how many books he has written and how much time he spends in front of the camera on the 700 Club, it's no wonder that people have found all ... Read More
The Renaissance and the Pagan Gods
Saturday November 19, 2005
Book of the Day: The Mirror of the Gods: How Renaissance Artists Rediscovered the Pagan Gods, by Malcolm Bull. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
As most people probably know, the 'Renaissance' was ... Read More
World Hunger and World Religion
Saturday November 19, 2005
Book of the Day: Ending Hunger Now: A Challenge To Persons Of Faith, by George S. McGovern, Bob Dole, Donald E. Messer. Publisher: Augsburg Fortress.
Hunger is a serious problem in ... Read More
Samuel Alito and the Right to Abortion
Friday November 18, 2005
Does Samuel Alito accept the existence of a right to an abortion or not? Evidence from 1985 job application suggests that he doesn't, but his defenders insist that this was ... Read More
Book Reviews: Books on American Religion, Religious History, Religious Beliefs
Friday November 18, 2005
Religion plays an important role in American society, just as it does in most societies. Religion in America is not, however, quite like religion in other countries. It has it's ... Read More
Atheists from Foxholes March
Friday November 18, 2005
There are no atheists in foxholes? Actually, there are quite a few atheists in foxholes and there always have been. A few gathered together and marched in Washington, D.C., on ... Read More
France: Minorities, Integration, and Rebellion
Friday November 18, 2005
One of the biggest international news stories right now are the riots in France. Because the rioters are Muslim youths, commentators have been quick to jump on religion as an ... Read More
This Date in History: St. Peter's Basilica
Friday November 18, 2005
November 18, 1626: St. Peter's Basilica was consecrated by Pope Urban VIII. At 619 feet long, St. Peter's is still the largest church in Christendom.
Daily Poll: Was Saddam Hussein Involved in 9/11?
Friday November 18, 2005
Was Saddam Hussein involved in the 9/11 terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington D.C.? Despite the absence of any evidence that he was, quite a few people believe ... Read More
Genetics and Destinies
Friday November 18, 2005
Book of the Day: Genetic Destinies, by Peter Little. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
As human scientific knowledge and technological ability progress, the prospects for human control over our genetic code increases. ... Read More
Eastern Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto
Friday November 18, 2005
Book of the Day: Eastern Religions: Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, Shinto, edited by Michael D. Coogan. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
Eastern religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Shinto) encompass a significant ... Read More
Santorum Flip-Flops on Intelligent Design
Thursday November 17, 2005
Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum has previously supported the teaching of Intelligent Design in public schools. He even tried to add an amendment to the No Child Left Behind law that ... Read More
School Web Filter Censors Minority Religions
Thursday November 17, 2005
Computers in schools usually have filters to keep students from viewing web sites with inappropriate material. This is understandable because parents and teachers don't want students viewing things like pornography ... Read More
The Crusades: View of the Crusades from Today
Thursday November 17, 2005
The meaning of the Crusades for politics and society today cannot be understood simply by looking at the violence, the persecutions, or the economic changes they wrought. However important those ... Read More
Air Force Cadets Being Trained to Proselytize
Thursday November 17, 2005
As if the Air Force Academy didn't have enough trouble, a husband-and-wife team has been assigned by a missionary group to work full time to train students how to proselytize ... Read More
You'll Always Have the Poor With You - So Party On!
Thursday November 17, 2005
It would appear that one of the fundamental and important tenets of Christianity is to help the poor. Jesus is reported to have stressed this numerous times, even to the ... Read More
This Date in History: Clement of Alexandria
Thursday November 17, 2005
November 17, 3 BCE: According to Christian theologian Clement of Alexandria, Jesus Christ was born on this date.
Daily Poll: Is a Draft Coming?
Thursday November 17, 2005
There has been discussion of a possible draft in America we continue along the same course that we has been. Conservatives have reacted with outrage over the suggestion, but what ... Read More
The Adversary: A True Story of Monstrous Deception
Thursday November 17, 2005
Book of the Day: The Adversary: A True Story of Monstrous Deception, by Emmanuel Carrere, Linda Coverdale (translator). Publisher: Picador.
What role do embarrassment and shame play in human morality? Probably ... Read More
Nazi Conceptions of Christianity
Thursday November 17, 2005
Book of the Day: The Holy Reich: Nazi Conceptions of Christianity, 1919-1945, by Richard Steigman-Gall. Publisher: Cambridge University Press.
A popular belief is that Nazism was the polar opposite of Christianity: ... Read More
Pat Robertson Warns Dover: Rejecting ID Means Rejecting God
Wednesday November 16, 2005
In recent elections, voters in Dover, Pennsylvania, turned away all of the school board members who had supported the introduction of creationism into public school science classes. Every single one ... Read More
Conservatives Mobilizing Against Atheists
Wednesday November 16, 2005
Michael Newdow, who is still working on a legal challenge to the phrase 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance, is now also working on a legal challenge to the ... Read More
Senate Approves Meaningless Prayer Amendment
Wednesday November 16, 2005
An amendment to a huge defense spending bill would authorize activity at the Air Force Academy which newly revised religion guidelines already permit. So why was the amendment passed? So ... Read More
Book Reviews: Books on Women, Religion, Feminism, and Gender Discrimination
Wednesday November 16, 2005
It's frequently the case that religions treat women as inferior to men - women have been denied leadership roles, they are told to be submissive, and religious doctrines are used ... Read More
Atheism, Intelligent Design, and Ignorance
Wednesday November 16, 2005
The teaching of any form of creationism, including Intelligent Design, is typically endorsed by religious conservatives and fundamentalists. Critics commonly assume that the reason for this is their desire to ... Read More
Discussion: Reversing the Wrongs of Genocide
Wednesday November 16, 2005
A forum member writes: I believe that the mainstream population has an obligation to reverse the past wrongs done to the indigenous people and tribes allover the world whether it ... Read More
Atheists Among Us
Wednesday November 16, 2005
There are atheists, agnostics, skeptics, humanists, freethinkers, and non-believers of all sorts throughout society. Many believers act as though atheists were some strange species with little relation to humanity when ... Read More
Newsletter 11-16-05
Wednesday November 16, 2005
News items from the past week include the status of Muslims in Europe, the rediscovery of Jewish heritage among Hispanics in America and Mexico, the relationship between Islam and government, ... Read More
This Date in History: Jesuit Priests in El Salvador
Wednesday November 16, 2005
November 16, 1989: Six Jesuit priests, along with their cook and her daughter, were murdered in El Salvador. Arturo Rivera y Damas, Archbishop of San Salvador, suggested that the perpetrators ... Read More
Fundamentalism and Religious Extremism
Wednesday November 16, 2005
Book of the Day: The Fundamentals of Extremism, edited by Kimberly Blaker. Publisher: New Boston Books.
The Christian Right has become a powerful influence on American politics, even though their influence ... Read More
Democracy and the American Constitution
Wednesday November 16, 2005
Book of the Day: How Democratic Is the American Constitution?, by Robert A. Dahl. Publisher: Yale University Press.
Americans are proud of their democracy and the Constitution - so much so, ... Read More
Voters Reject Cross on City Logo
Tuesday November 15, 2005
In Redlands, California, voters decided 60-40 not to restore a cross to the city logo. The ACLU had threatened to sue before the city council removed the logo and a ... Read More
North Carolina: In God We Trust Can Stay
Tuesday November 15, 2005
The Davidson County government building in Lexington, North Carolina, has an inscription reading 'In God We Trust' which was challenged in the courts. Lower courts upheld the constitutionality of the ... Read More
Christian History: Timeline of Medieval Christianity, 800 - 1100
Tuesday November 15, 2005
When was Charlemagne crowned emperor by Pope Leo III? When was the investiture conflict? When did Crusaders capture and plunder Jerusalem? When was it decreed that popes could only be ... Read More
Was Pope John Paul II Jewish?
Tuesday November 15, 2005
Pope John Paul II did more than any other pope to reach out to Jews and try to reach some sort of reconciliation between Catholicism and Judaism. Could part of ... Read More
Discussion: Computer Viruses & Ethical Responsibility
Tuesday November 15, 2005
RPlourde writes: I have no difficulties in assigning ethical responsibility to the person who is computer-savy... But what about the "computer-ignorant," the person who knows how to get email and ... Read More
Is Atheism Useless?
Tuesday November 15, 2005
Some people believe that there is no point to atheism - that the atheistic position is useless and without value. They never quite seem to be able to explain, though, ... Read More
This Date in History: Emile Durkheim
Tuesday November 15, 2005
November 15, 1917: French sociologist Emile Durkheim died in Paris, France.
People in the Bible: Virgin Mary, Mother of Jesus
Tuesday November 15, 2005
The synoptic gospels (but not John) identify Mary as the mother of Jesus. Mark describes Jesus as the 'son of Mary.' In Jewish tradition, a man is always identified as ... Read More
Daily Poll: Is Your Doorknob Private?
Tuesday November 15, 2005
Police can rub an object with a special cloth, test the cloth, and determine if the object has been in contact with things like illegal drugs. Police want the authority ... Read More
Southern Baptists, Abstinence, and Math
Monday November 14, 2005
Religious conservatives are claiming a victory in their war on teen pregnancy. According to some, abstinence education has helped reduce teen pregnancies. At the same time, births to unwed mothers ... Read More
Religion and Sex News: Stories About Religion and Sexuality
Monday November 14, 2005
Religion and sex don’t always have a very good relationship. It’s not uncommon for people to try to censor sexual expression or sexual material because of religious taboos against them. ... Read More
Financial Trouble at Focus on the Family?
Monday November 14, 2005
I've written before about the financial troubles over at the Christian Coalition, but could a similar future be in store for Focus on the Family? Focus is currently the dominant ... Read More
Discussion: Environment and Faith
Monday November 14, 2005
A forum member writes: It seems to me that environmentalism has developed a kind of faith of its own... This idea of environmental obligation is, I believe, a powerful one. ... Read More
Is Modern Culture Atheistic?
Monday November 14, 2005
For a lot of Christians, 'atheist' is a label designed to denigrate, not describe. People who don't adhere faithfully to religious doctrines are 'practical atheists.' The broader culture is 'atheistic' ... Read More
This Date in History: Friedrich Hegel
Monday November 14, 2005
November 14, 1831: German philosopher Friedrich Hegel died in Berlin during a cholera epidemic.
Daily Poll: Should Animals Be Cloned for Human Medicines?
Monday November 14, 2005
As genetic engineering advances, scientists hope to alter animals that create medicines for use in humans. Ultimately this could mean the faster and cheaper production of better medicines. Is that ... Read More
Faith in Difficult Times
Monday November 14, 2005
Book of the Day: To Begin Again: The Journey Toward Comfort, Strength & Faith in Difficult Times,
Tragedy and death are things which enter everyone’s life at one point or ... Read More
Disgust, Shame, and the Law
Monday November 14, 2005
Book of the Day: Hiding from Humanity: Disgust, Shame, and the Law, by Martha C. Nussbaum. Publisher: Princeton University Press.
Sometimes overtly and sometimes covertly, many contemporary legal and social debates ... Read More
Conservatives for Judicial Activism
Sunday November 13, 2005
A common refrain heard from conservatives of all stripes, but especially religious conservatives, is that the American judiciary needs to be fundamentally changed. They argue that there is too much ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Jesus' Parables: Candles and Seeds (Mark 4:21-34)
Sunday November 13, 2005
Having explained the parable of the sower of seeds to his apostles, Jesus launches into several more parables. The timeline of events here is confusing because we were just reading ... Read More
McMartin Preschool: Lies and the Satanic Panic
Sunday November 13, 2005
The case of the McMartin preschool ritual abuse accusations stands as one of the most infamous cases of how so-called recovered memories and satanic abuse allegations can destroy lives for ... Read More
Discussion: What if Christians Take Control of US?
Sunday November 13, 2005
A forum member writes: Let us assume Christians get their wish and take control of all policy in the US, what then? Have they ever really thought about the reality ... Read More
Mistake to Let Non-Christians Participate in Politics?
Sunday November 13, 2005
Quite a few conservative Christians in America dislike the fact that the power, status, and privileges of Christianity are not what they once were. They believe that, as Christians, they ... Read More
This Date in History: Chief Justice Roy Moore
Sunday November 13, 2005
November 13, 2003: An Alabama state ethics board unanimously ruled that when Chief Justice Roy Moore defied a federal judge's order to move a stone Ten Commandments monument from the ... Read More
Weekly Quote: C.S. Lewis on Faith and Religion
Sunday November 13, 2005
We have to be continually reminded of what we believe. Neither this belief nor any other will automatically remain alive in the mind. It must be fed. And as a ... Read More
Is There a Right to Have Children?
Sunday November 13, 2005
Book of the Day: Making Babies: Is There a Right to Have Children? by Mary Warnock.
Reproduction is fundamental to any species - without offspring, a species will die off. It’s ... Read More
Betrayal: German Churches and the Holocaust
Sunday November 13, 2005
Book of the Day: Betrayal: German Churches and the Holocaust, edited by Robert P. Ericksen, Susannah Heschel. Publisher: Augsburg Fortress.
The Nazis would not have been able to achieve what they ... Read More
Ethics of Christian Debate
Saturday November 12, 2005
It's common for Christian groups at universities around America to host debates on the existence of gods, the truth of Christianity, evolution, etc. What is the purpose of these debates, ... Read More
Book Reviews: Books on Sociology, Psychology, and the Social Sciences
Saturday November 12, 2005
Both psychology and sociology influence politics, law, and many more facets of modern life. Despite this, most people don't entirely understand what sorts of findings modern psychological and sociological research ... Read More
Is the ACLU an Anti-Christian Organization?
Saturday November 12, 2005
It is becoming common for religious conservatives to attack the ACLU as an anti-Christian organization. Because the ACLU fights government endorsement or promotion of Christian beliefs, this supposedly makes the ... Read More
Discussion: Which Bible Translation is Best?
Saturday November 12, 2005
There are a lot of different Bibles out there that you can buy - some are most scholarly, others are designed to be easier to read. But which should a ... Read More
Falwell Critic Gets to Keep Domain Name
Saturday November 12, 2005
Christopher Lamparello, a critic of Jerry Falwell, maintains a web site under the domain name www.fallwell.com, a slight misspelling of Falwell's name. Jerry Falwell argued that he should get the ... Read More
This Date in History: Epperson v. Arkansas
Saturday November 12, 2005
November 12, 1968: Decided: Epperson v. Arkansas An Arkansas teacher challenged the constitutionality of a statute prohibiting the teaching of evolution in all schools, included universities. In Arkansas, no teacher ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should Churches Get Special Privileges?
Saturday November 12, 2005
Non-profit organizations in Massachusetts have to release their financial records to the public. Churches are exempt from this provision and attempts to force them to toe the line with everyone ... Read More
Caring About Gay Marriage
Saturday November 12, 2005
Book of the Day: Why You Should Give A Damn About Gay Marriage, by Davina Kotulski
There are over 1,100 federal rights that accompany civil marriage. There are an average 300 ... Read More
Minds, Brains, and Philosophy
Saturday November 12, 2005
Recently Received: The Philosophy of Mind: A Short Introduction, by Edward Feser. Publisher: Oneworld Publications.
Everything that we are and that we do involves, in some fashion, the functioning of our ... Read More
Alito: Government Should Support Religion More
Friday November 11, 2005
Samuel Alito's perspective on the separation of church and state seems to fall squarely in the camp of religious conservatives: if the government doesn't do enough to actively support religion, ... Read More
Christian History: Timeline of Medieval Christianity, 450 - 800
Friday November 11, 2005
When did the Western Roman Empire fall to barbarian armies, leaving the church as the primary authority in the West? When was the monastery on Monte Cassino established? When was ... Read More
Atheists Speaking Out, Organizing
Friday November 11, 2005
In America, atheists have always been a relatively small and ignored minority. This may be changing, though: concerned with what they view as the increasingly theocratic direction of American politics, ... Read More
Pastor Supported Faith-Based Plans, Investigated for Outrageous Salary
Friday November 11, 2005
Bishop Eddie Long, pastor of the New Birth Missionary Church in Lithonia, Georgia, has been an ardent supporter of President Bush's Faith-Based Funding initiatives. He also appears to have been ... Read More
This Date in History: Fourth Lateran Council
Friday November 11, 2005
November 11, 1215: The Fourth Lateran Council opened in Rome. Organized by Pope Innocent III in Rome in order to discuss and define central dogmas of Christianity, it is one ... Read More
Debating Darwin and Evolution
Friday November 11, 2005
Book of the Day: The Evolutionists: The Struggle for Darwin's Soul,
Within a decade after Charles Darwin published his first book on evolution, most British biologists accepted evolution as true. ... Read More
Understanding Evolution
Friday November 11, 2005
Recently Received: Evolution: A Beginner's Guide, by Burt Guttman. Publisher: Oneworld Publications.
Ideas about evolution can be traced back to ancient Greece, but modern evolutionary theory as it is understood today ... Read More
Christmas Wars: When Christians Attack
Thursday November 10, 2005
Some Christians get upset when people say Happy Holidays as a general greeting instead of Merry Christmas. The latter assumes that whomever one is talking to celebrates Christmas rather than ... Read More
Jews, Judaism, and Antisemitism: News and Recent Posts
Thursday November 10, 2005
Judaism is one of the oldest world religions and continues to have an important influence on world events, despite its relatively small size. Wondering about what has been going on ... Read More
Sham of Constitutional Originalism
Thursday November 10, 2005
Many conservatives promote a judicial philosophy called "originalism," according to which the Constitution must be interpreted according to how its words and ideas were "originally" understood. Some think that this ... Read More
Discussion: Messianic Prophecies
Thursday November 10, 2005
A forum member writes: Back when I was a fundie, one of my first doubts about my faith came from the issue of Messianic prophecies. Supposedly, the OT is filled ... Read More
No Unionization for Catholic School Teachers
Thursday November 10, 2005
In Michigan, a state appeals court has rejected efforts by Catholic school faculty to join the state's teachers' union. Teachers at Brother Rice High School in Detroit hoped to achieve ... Read More
This Date in History: Voltaire
Thursday November 10, 2005
November 10, 1770: Voltaire is believed to have stated on this date: 'If God did not exist, it would be necessary to invent him.'
Religious Faith and Doubt in World War I
Thursday November 10, 2005
Recently Received: The Cross and the Trenches: Religious Faith and Doubt among British and American Great War Soldiers, by Richard Schweitzer. Publisher: Praeger Publishers.
Some Christians believe that “there are no ... Read More
War on Christmas Heating Up
Wednesday November 9, 2005
I believe that 2004 was the first holiday season when conservatives seriously pushed the idea of Christmas Wars: conflicts between attitudes of inclusiveness and attitudes of Christian privilege, superiority, and ... Read More
The Crusades: Causes of the Crusades
Wednesday November 9, 2005
Why were the Crusades launched? There is a wide variety of opinion on this matter. Some argue that they were a necessary response by Christendom to the oppression of pilgrims ... Read More
Force Them to Say 'Under God'
Wednesday November 9, 2005
Many religious conservatives criticize supporters of strict church/state separation by arguing that no one is forcing people to say 'under God' in the Pledge of Allegiance or to recite official ... Read More
Discussion: Who/What Do You 'Thank'?
Wednesday November 9, 2005
A forum member writes: I realize that yrs. of conditioning have resulted in my saying "Thank God ", or "God help us", etc. I get very frustrated when this happens ... Read More
Florida: No Veils on Drivers' Licenses
Wednesday November 9, 2005
A state appeals court in Florida has rejected the request of a Muslim woman to be permitted to have her driver's license picture taken while she wears a veil. She ... Read More
This Date in History: St. John Lateran in Rome
Wednesday November 9, 2005
November 09, 0324: Pope Sylvester officially dedicates the church of St. John Lateran in Rome, built on land donated by emperor Constantine after he defeats his rival, Maxentius, at the ... Read More
Human Sexuality
Wednesday November 9, 2005
Book of the Day: With Pleasure: Thoughts on the Nature of Human Sexuality, by Paul R. Abramson, Steven D. Pinkerton. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
Sex is fun. Sex is pleasurable. This ... Read More
Hitler’s Prisons: Legal Terror in Nazi Germany
Wednesday November 9, 2005
Book of the Day: Hitler’s Prisons: Legal Terror in Nazi Germany, by Nikolaus Wachsmann. Publisher: Yale University Press.
When most people think of imprisonment in the Nazi Germany, they probably imagine ... Read More
Kansas Favors Fables Over Science
Tuesday November 8, 2005
As many expected, the Kansas Board of Eduction has chosen to downplay science in public schools because some Christians think that science is a threat to their religious ideology. Perhaps ... Read More
Jay Sekulow: America's Christian Right Lawyer
Tuesday November 8, 2005
The most important legal figure in the Christian Right is probably Jay Sekulow, chief counsel fro the American Center for Law and Justice (a group created by Pat Robertson). A ... Read More
Book Reviews: Books from Oneworld Publications
Tuesday November 8, 2005
An independent publisher based in Oxford, England, Oneworld Publications specializes in books on topics like comparative religions, mysticism, philosophy, psychology and more. I've found a lot of very good books ... Read More
Hispanics Embracing Hidden Jewish Ancestry
Tuesday November 8, 2005
During the Spanish Inquisition, many Jews and Muslims pretended to convert to Catholicism in order to avoid torture and death. Such conversions were not total and families retained their religious ... Read More
Discussion: U.S. Health Care System
Tuesday November 8, 2005
A forum member writes: I believe in free markets. I think the problems blamed on free markets can be more easily blamed on other causes. Which brings me to the ... Read More
No Intelligent Design in Utah
Tuesday November 8, 2005
The State Board of Eduction in Utah has unanimously voted to reject an effort to have schools teach Intelligent Design. Originally designated "Divine Design" by its primary supporter, Chris Buttars, ... Read More
This Date in History: John Duns Scotus
Tuesday November 8, 2005
November 08, 1308: John Duns Scotus, Franciscan theologian and philosopher, died in Cologne, Germany.
The Importance of James Dobson for the Christian Right
Tuesday November 8, 2005
First there was Jerry Falwell. Then there was Pat Robertson. Each were important, influential leaders of America's Christian Right who are today mere shadows of their former selves. The current ... Read More
Sacred Sites: City of Jerusalem in Palestine - History, Geography, Religion
Tuesday November 8, 2005
Jerusalem is a key religious city for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. The earliest habitation that has been identified is a walled settlement on the eastern hill that had a populace ... Read More
Election of Pope Benedict XVI
Tuesday November 8, 2005
Book of the Day: The Rise of Benedict XVI: The Inside Story of How the Pope Was Elected, by John L. Allen Jr. Publisher: Doubleday.
People around the world were stunned ... Read More
Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights, and Good for America
Tuesday November 8, 2005
Book of the Day: Gay Marriage: Why It Is Good for Gays, Good for Straights, and Good for America, by Jonathan Rauch. Publisher: Times Books.
The debate over gay marriage hasn't ... Read More
Ancient Church Discovered at Megiddo
Monday November 7, 2005
At Megiddo, Israel, prisoners working to expand a prison came across ancient mosaics that may have been part of the earliest church ever discovered. Some think that the church dates ... Read More
Scouts Ask Bush to Step Down from BSA
Monday November 7, 2005
Most people may not realize that the President of the United States is the Honorary President of the Boy Scouts of America. This gives the BSA an official endorsement from ... Read More
Christian History: Timeline of Early Christianity, 6 BCE - 500 CE
Monday November 7, 2005
When do Christians believe that Paul was beheaded? When might St. Thomas have visited India? When did Origen and Jerome write their versions of the Bible? When did Constantine issue ... Read More
Catholic Chaplain Sentenced for Sodomizing Troops
Monday November 7, 2005
In Germany, a Catholic Army chaplain was sentenced to 5 years prison after he pled guilty to forcibly sodomizing enlisted men. For some reason, this surprises people. It's certainly a ... Read More
Discussion: Is Math Involved with Everything?
Monday November 7, 2005
A forum member writes: As a retired mathematics professor, I'm anxious to spread the point that mathematics is involved in a lot more than people realize, but I'm reluctant to ... Read More
Gay Families Offend the Intolerant
Monday November 7, 2005
The numbers of gay couples, including those with children, increases every year. The numbers of married gay couples also increase, though at a much smaller rate given how limited the ... Read More
This Date in History: Billy Graham
Monday November 7, 2005
November 07, 1918: Billy Graham was born.
Newsletter 11-07-05
Monday November 7, 2005
News items from the past week include attacks on secularism as a form of practical atheism, a Catholic school that keeps trying to seize local property for its football field, ... Read More
Daily Poll: Is There a New Anti-Gay McCarthyism in America?
Monday November 7, 2005
Some feel that George W. Bush's reelection has started to have one cultural effect: people are running scared from anything that is supportive of homosexuality and gay Americans. There is ... Read More
God’s Defenders
Monday November 7, 2005
Book of the Day: God's Defenders: What They Believe and Why They Are Wrong, by S. T. Joshi.
Just about all of the central doctrines of the world's major religions are ... Read More
Crossing Over: One Woman's Escape from Amish Life
Monday November 7, 2005
Book of the Day: Crossing Over: One Woman's Escape from Amish Life, by Ruth Irene Garrett, Rick Farrant. Publisher: HarperSanFrancisco.
Just about everyone in America is familiar with the Amish. Their ... Read More
Pittsburgh: Jesus Ordered to Stay Clear of Churches
Sunday November 6, 2005
The Pittsburgh City Council has updated its panhandling laws to prohibit poor and homeless people from begging for money or other assistance near the entrances of "places of worship." I'm ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Jesus Explains the Parable of the Seeds (Mark 4:13-20)
Sunday November 6, 2005
Finally, Jesus explains to his inner circle of twelve apostles what the parable of the seeds means. This 'true' meaning is supposed to remain hidden from everyone else, but the ... Read More
Discussion: God and Death
Sunday November 6, 2005
A forum member writes: I wonder if Sylvia Browne will ever take up Randi's challenge? You know, Sylvia Browne is pretty good at what she does. ... I remember listening ... Read More
Intelligent Design Explained
Sunday November 6, 2005
There is a reason why Intelligent Design supporters make their arguments in public debates, press releases, court cases, and similar venues instead of peer reviewed scientific journals: their project isn't ... Read More
This Date in History: Intelligent Design Theory
Sunday November 6, 2005
November 06, 2002: The Board of Directors of the American Association for the Advancement of Science issued a resolution (passed the previous month) stating that Intelligent Design Theory had no ... Read More
Religious Right: News and Commentary
Sunday November 6, 2005
The Religious Right, also known as the Christian Right because of how it is dominated by Christian groups, has become a major force in American politics. The Religious Right seeks ... Read More
Weekly Quote: Lincoln on God & Politics
Sunday November 6, 2005
Men are not flattered by being shown that there has been a difference of purpose between the Almighty and them.
Read a discussion of this quote: Lincoln on God & Politics
Daily Poll: Have American Soldiers Committed War Crimes?
Sunday November 6, 2005
One thing that the torture and abuse of prisoners at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq should have taught everyone is that American soldiers are not above inhumane and brutal actions. ... Read More
The Making of the Modern Middle East
Sunday November 6, 2005
Book of the Day: Six Days of War: June 1967 and the Making of the Modern Middle East, by Michael B. Oren.
In the West, it is known as the Six ... Read More
Earliest Days Of The Church
Sunday November 6, 2005
Recently Received: The Acts Of The Apostles: What Really Happened In The Earliest Days Of The Church, by Gerd Ludemann. Publisher: Prometheus Books.
The Acts of the Apostles is a pivotal ... Read More
Texas: Church Houses Polling Station, Regulates Political Activity
Saturday November 5, 2005
Texas is about to vote on whether to ban gay marriage in the state constitution. Like other states, Texas allows churches to house polling stations - but at least one ... Read More
The Crusades: Violence in the Crusades
Saturday November 5, 2005
The Crusades were an incredibly violent undertaking, even by medieval standards. The Crusades have often been remembered in a romantic fashion, but perhaps nothing has deserved it less. Hardly a ... Read More
Abortion and Mental Health
Saturday November 5, 2005
A common claim from anti-choice activists is that abortion has a negative impact on women's mental health. It is surely true that some women regret abortions so much that they ... Read More
Discussion: Funniest TV Preachers
Saturday November 5, 2005
A forum member writes: I was trying to decide who is funnier Rev. Ike or Dr. Gene Scott. Both ask for money. Rev. Ike promises the least likely things. Sent ... Read More
Muslims in Europe: An Indigestible Minority?
Saturday November 5, 2005
There's a lot of prejudice towards and concern about the Muslim minority in Europe. National laws are all over the place and people don't even know quite how many Muslims ... Read More
This Date in History: Episcopal Church
Saturday November 5, 2005
November 05, 2004: The Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, approves an amendment to its Constitution which will allow it to differ from the national church when the diocese believes it ... Read More
Christian Right in American Politics
Saturday November 5, 2005
Book of the Day: The Christian Right in American Politics: Marching to the Millennium, edited by John Green, Mark Rozell, and William Clyde Wilcox.
The Christian Right has evolved into a ... Read More
Da Vinci Fraud
Saturday November 5, 2005
Recently Received: The Da Vinci Fraud: Why the Truth Is Stranger Than Fiction, by Robert M. Price. Publisher: Prometheus Books.
Dan Brown's fictional novel The Da Vinci Code has captured the ... Read More
Britain May Ban Forced Marriages
Friday November 4, 2005
Forced marriages, sometimes while the women are still actually children, are common in some regions of southern Asia. Because of the number of immigrants from this region, forced marriages have ... Read More
Critics of Morning-After Pill Helping Promote Its Use?
Friday November 4, 2005
A few days ago, I wrote that critics' attacks on morning-after pills may be increasing awareness of their availability. Turns out I may have been right: annual prescriptions for at ... Read More
Religion, Violence, and Discrimination: News, Events, Information
Friday November 4, 2005
Religious believers tend to see their faith as a source of peace and good, but very often religion is also a source of hatred, division, bigotry, and violence. There are ... Read More
Police Told to Be More Tolerant of Spousal Abuse Among Muslims
Friday November 4, 2005
Some police in Australia have been told that they should treat domestic violence among Muslims differently than among other people. The reason is 'respect' for Islamic cultural traditions - here, ... Read More
Newsletter 11-04-05
Friday November 4, 2005
Welcome to issue #7.44 of Free Thought Now!, the Agnosticism / Atheism site newsletter. This week we'll take a look at getting Christian events held in public schools, attempts to ... Read More
Gay Marriage in Texas: Anti-Gay Bigotry and Religious Conservatism
Friday November 4, 2005
Texans are expected to pass an amendment to their state constitution banning gay marriage. This won't be hard to achieve because turnout should be low and in such situations, it's ... Read More
This Date in History: Yitzhak Rabin
Friday November 4, 2005
November 04, 1995: Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin was assassinated at a peace rally by an Israeli extremist.
Should the Government Pay to Repair and Maintain Churches?
Friday November 4, 2005
In California there are a large number of Catholic churches which some in the government would like to have repaired and maintained by the state. Why? Because the churches are ... Read More
Politics, Human Rights, and Christian Ethics
Friday November 4, 2005
Book of the Day: The Global Face of Public Faith: Politics, Human Rights, and Christian Ethics, by David Hollenbach, S.J.
What role should religion play, if any, in either domestic American ... Read More
American Iconoclast
Friday November 4, 2005
Recently Received: Mencken: The American Iconoclast, by Marion Elizabeth Rodgers. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
H.L. Mencken was, for a time, the most famous journalist in America. His wit and wisdom were ... Read More
College Football Coaches Pushing Prayer, Religion
Thursday November 3, 2005
In some places, football is a type of religion; in many places, religion and football are combined into a single activity. All over the nation, football coaches combine religion and ... Read More
The Crusades: Crusades Image Gallery
Thursday November 3, 2005
Several hundred photos, illustrations, drawings, woodcuts, and maps are arranged and categorized by topic: battles, people, cities, knights, and more. There are extensive sections on Jerusalem, Constantinople, Richard the Lionheart, ... Read More
Christians Opposing Repeal of Gay Civil Rights Protections
Thursday November 3, 2005
Opposition to basic equality and civil rights protections for gays usually comes from the Christian Right, but Christians can be found on the other side of the issue as well. ... Read More
Secularism and Practical Atheism
Thursday November 3, 2005
America is an increasingly secular nation, which means that religion and religious organizations have less power and influence than they once did. This bothers religious conservatives, which is understandable, but ... Read More
Carnival of Feminism
Thursday November 3, 2005
The second Carnival of Feminism is now available on the Australian blog Personal Political. It covers body politics, sexual politics, brain politics, motherhood, and more. It's definitely worth checking out...
This Date in History: Torture and Confessions
Thursday November 3, 2005
November 03, 1265: Clement IV confirms the policy of using torture to elicit confessions, first authorized by Pope Innocent IV in his Bull Ad exstirpanda and earlier confirmed by Pope ... Read More
Daily Poll: Does it Matter if Prisoners are Regularly Raped?
Thursday November 3, 2005
The prison industry itself estimates that there are probably 12,000 rapes of prisoners per year. This number is higher than the number of reported rapes in Los Angeles, Chicago, and ... Read More
Origins of the Final Solution
Thursday November 3, 2005
Recently Received: The Origins of the Final Solution: The Evolution of Nazi Jewish Policy, September 1939-March 1942, by Christopher R. Browning & Jurgen Matthaus. Publisher: University of Nebraska Press.
Hitler’s Final ... Read More
France Debates Funding Mosques, Problems in Muslim Ghettos
Wednesday November 2, 2005
The Muslim minority in France continues to have problems. Extremism appears to be on the rise and violence is becoming more common. The French government is struggling to find some ... Read More
Methodist Court Defrocks Lesbian Minister
Wednesday November 2, 2005
Irene "Beth" Stroud was a lesbian minister for the United Methodist Church who was defrocked in December, 2004, when a church court ruled that she had violated a rule against ... Read More
Church of Scientology: News, Information, Events
Wednesday November 2, 2005
The Church of Scientology is an American religious group founded by L. Ron Hubbard. For a long time it wasn't treated as a genuine religion and even today many people ... Read More
Conflict in Intelligent Design Movement
Wednesday November 2, 2005
Intelligent Design is not a completely unified movement. All seem to agree that the purpose of ID is to undermine naturalistic science and, ultimately, the secular society itself - the ... Read More
Discussion: Christian Bashing
Wednesday November 2, 2005
A forum member writes: I have lectured on this subject, taking the position that Christians deserve bashing, need bashing, and that bashing is good for them. If there is interest, ... Read More
Political Value of the Papacy
Wednesday November 2, 2005
Many people wonder about the value of the papacy today. After all, the pope is the last real example of the absolute monarch of the European Middle Ages. Some countries ... Read More
This Date in History: Theo van Gogh
Wednesday November 2, 2005
November 02, 2004: Theo van Gogh, a controversial Dutch filmmaker who had engaged in strident criticism of Islam in his native Netherlands, is stabbed and then shot to death by ... Read More
Newsletter 11-02-05
Wednesday November 2, 2005
News items from the past week include how fear is used by political leaders, how Christianity has changed in America, how evangelization depends upon the objectification of those being evangelized, ... Read More
Pope Benedict XVI Biography
Wednesday November 2, 2005
Book of the Day: Pope Benedict XVI: A Biography of Joseph Ratzinger, by John L. Allen Jr. Publisher: Continuum.
As Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, he was an exceptionally divisive and controversial figure ... Read More
Who Needs Classical Music? Cultural Choice and Musical Value
Wednesday November 2, 2005
Book of the Day: Who Needs Classical Music? Cultural Choice and Musical Value, by Julian Johnson. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
Everyone is at least vaguely familiar with classical music, but far ... Read More
Christian Right Seeking Ban on Halloween
Tuesday November 1, 2005
As part of their battles against all things secular and all things pagan, Christian Right activists have been working to eliminate Halloween celebrations in public schools. They don't like the ... Read More
Employment Rights for Clergy in Great Britain?
Tuesday November 1, 2005
The House of Lords will decide whether Helen Percy should be permitted to file a claim for sex discrimination against her former employer: the Church of Scotland. Various tribunals and ... Read More
Abortion in Latin America
Tuesday November 1, 2005
Most Latin American nations are bastions of conservative Catholicism, so it's not surprising that abortion is generally illegal - but that may be starting to change. Activism on behalf of ... Read More
Supreme Court Decision: Griswold v. Connecticut (1965)
Tuesday November 1, 2005
Should people be allowed access to drugs or devices designed to stop contraception, and thus be able to engage in sex without having to worry as much about pregnancy? There ... Read More
Secularism in Australia
Tuesday November 1, 2005
Many people around the world focus on the efforts of George W. Bush to increase the power of religious groups in society by undermining the separation of church and state. ... Read More
School Tricked Into Hosting Christian Event for Students?
Tuesday November 1, 2005
Newark High in New Jersey hosted a presentation from two Philadelphia Eagles football players, Tra Thomas and Thomas Tapeh. The principal says he thought it was supposed to simply promote ... Read More
This Date in History: Marcel Lefebvre
Tuesday November 1, 2005
November 01, 1970: Marcel Lefebvre founds the Society of St. Pius X. Lefebvre would break with Rome following the Second Vatican Council and, over the years, consecrated hundreds of priests ... Read More
Constitutional Protections for Gay Marriage?
Tuesday November 1, 2005
Book of the Day: Same-Sex Marriage and the Constitution, by Evan Gerstmann. Publisher: Cambridge University Press.
The debate over gay marriage is one of the most significant and important social issues ... Read More
Guantanamo: The War on Human Rights
Tuesday November 1, 2005
Book of the Day: Guantanamo: The War on Human Rights, by David Rose. Publisher: New Press.
The detention camp at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, has become a symbol for America’s war on ... Read More