Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury Tor: History, Religion, Background
Sunday April 30, 2006
Some believe that Glastonbury Abbey is the site of the oldest above-ground Christian church in the world, dating back as far as 63 or even 37 CE. The first recorded ... Read More
Richard John Neuhaus: Freedom is Submission
Sunday April 30, 2006
What is human freedom? Many may be forgiven for imagining that freedom involves being able to act and think as they wish, but some disagree. Some seem to believe that ... Read More
Discussion: Ending Prejudices
Sunday April 30, 2006
A forum member writes: I think that the only real way to end prejudices and racism is not by embracing differences, but by ignoring differences. It may seem strange, but ... Read More
This Date in History: Newdow vs. United States
Sunday April 30, 2006
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
Embattled Secularism
Sunday April 30, 2006
People who favor America being more a secular society do so because of the great damage that religious passions can cause. Religious believers tend to regard religion as an (almost) ... Read More
Mailbag: You Don't Know Love
Sunday April 30, 2006
From: "Jenny"
Subject: Are You a Robot?
The only reason there is Christmas is becauwe of Christ. Us giving gifts to others represents the wisemen giving their gifts to Christ. ... If ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Reactions to Jesus' Transfiguration (Mark 9:9-13)
Sunday April 30, 2006
As Jesus returns from the mountaintop with the three apostles, the connection between Jews and Elijah is made more explicit. It is interesting that this is the relationship focused upon ... Read More
Daily Poll: Is It Appropriate for Atheist Groups to give a Platform for Holocaust Deniers?
Sunday April 30, 2006
Larry Darby, former president of Alabama's Atheist Law Center, attracted a lot of negative attention for inviting David Irving, a notorious Holocaust Denier, anti-Semite, and apologist for fascism, speak at ... Read More
Nationalism, Tribalism, One World Government (Book Notes: One Planet, One People)
Sunday April 30, 2006
One thing that doesn't get debated very often is whether it would be good to create a single world government. A few people support it, but much more often we ... Read More
Christianity and Scriptures
Sunday April 30, 2006
Book of the Day: Lost Christianities: The Battle for Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew, by Bart D. Ehrman. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
The diversity of Christian beliefs today is ... Read More
Knights Templar: Who Were the Knights Templar? Did Templars Hide the Holy Grail?
Saturday April 29, 2006
Founded in 1118 by Hugh de Payens in order to help protect pilgrims to the Holy Land and they were originally housed close to the site where Solomon’s Temple once ... Read More
Discussion: Confucianism & Sexism
Saturday April 29, 2006
A forum member writes: I consider myself confucian, but have trouble reconciling some of the sexism apparent in confucian texts. I know many have written it off as being an ... Read More
Bush's Religious Imperialism
Saturday April 29, 2006
Religion can be a dangerous tool in the wrong hands because it so easily sanctions horrible violence and bigotry. This can be particularly true when religion is drawn into the ... Read More
This Date in History: Pope Pius VIII on Freedom of Conscience
Saturday April 29, 2006
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
Is Atheism a Civil Rights Issue?
Saturday April 29, 2006
Atheists need a public awareness campaign, not a liberation movement. Women, people of color, and GLBTs have consistently faced discrimination that substantially diminishes their basic life prospects-access to housing, health ... Read More
Evolution Basics: Evolution Defined
Saturday April 29, 2006
Evolution can be a confusing term because it is used in more than one way. Many people in the general population have developed an incorrect understanding of evolution for a ... Read More
Daily Poll: Will Liberal Catholics In America Reform Their Church Just Fade Away?
Saturday April 29, 2006
Probably the largest and most influential group of liberal Catholic believers is the Voice of the Faithful. They seek to reform church policies when it comes to organization and control. ... Read More
Forgiveness & Sin in Christianity (Book Notes: Crossing Over)
Saturday April 29, 2006
Two of the central features of Christianity are that all humans sin and that Christianity provides the means by which you can be forgiven for your sins. Some denominations of ... Read More
Expelled Mormon Scholar Unhireable
Friday April 28, 2006
D. Michael Quinn is one of the world's foremost authorities on Mormon beliefs and history. Today, there is a resurgence of interested in Mormonism, with faculty positions opening up in ... Read More
Baptistery of Constantine: Image Gallery with Photos, Drawings, Illustrations
Friday April 28, 2006
The Baptistery of Constantine is located adjacent to the Basilica of St. John Lateran. This church is second only in importance to St. Peter's in Rome. The pope is also ... Read More
Angry Rabbi Tries to Understand Angry Atheists
Friday April 28, 2006
Are all atheists angry? That's a common prejudice among theists - usually trotted out after the theist does something really obnoxious. Apparently, atheists are supposed to sit there and let ... Read More
Discussion: Resurrected Messiah Myths
Friday April 28, 2006
A forum member writes: How did a religion that claims a ressurected messiah establish itself in a monotheistic Israel and then spread through the Roman empire before Constantine without some ... Read More
Profile of Ibn Warraq
Friday April 28, 2006
There is a great deal of interest among Americans to learn more about Islam, but most of the perspectives offered are either apologetic in nature or intensely critical from a ... Read More
This Date in History: Saddam Hussein
Friday April 28, 2006
April 28, 1937: Saddam Hussein, former dictator of Iraq, was born.
Suicide & Prohibition
Friday April 28, 2006
Suicide generally has a bad reputation in Western culture. For a long time, it has been regarded as something that no sane or moral person would do - thus, it ... Read More
Mailbag: Cowardly Site
Friday April 28, 2006
From: "Jack"
Subject: Judaism
I'm very glad, Mr. Kline, that you were to cowardly to put anything negative about the jewish religion on your blasted website; you cocky son of a ****. ... Read More
Church/State Fundamentals: Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972)
Friday April 28, 2006
Should all children be required to attend public schools, even if the parents have religious objections to what is being taught or schooling in general beyond a certain point? Amish ... Read More
Daily Poll: Are Christian Right Leaders Anti-American For Saying That God Wants To Punish America?
Friday April 28, 2006
Some conservatives, especially religious conservatives, complain that liberals are anti-American. Often they claim that liberals like or want to see Americans lose when it comes to things like the war ... Read More
Self-Organization, Complexity, and the Origin of Life (Book Notes: Evolving Creation)
Friday April 28, 2006
One of the most common arguments used by creationists against evolution is that it is "impossible" for complexity or novelty to come about without the direction of some outside intelligence ... Read More
Liberals, Terror, Violence
Friday April 28, 2006
Book of the Day: Terror and Liberalism, by Paul Berman. Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company.
Defenses of the war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq has typically come from ... Read More
Kaaba in Mecca, Saudi Arabia: What is the Kaaba? Why is the Kaaba Important?
Thursday April 27, 2006
The Kaaba (Ka'aba, Ka'bah, 'Cube,' House of God) is a shrine located in a square adjacent to the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Islam's holiest city. The Kaaba itself is Islam's ... Read More
Anti-Pornography Group Opposing Da Vinci Code
Thursday April 27, 2006
It's been noted in the past that efforts to ban pornography will never stop at just 'porn,' at least in the sense that the concept is generally defined. Efforts to ... Read More
Discussion: Is Hell Just Temporary?
Thursday April 27, 2006
A forum member writes: I was debating with a Christian recently about the existence of his God and brought up the Problem of Hell. His response, which quite surprised me, ... Read More
Myth vs. Religion
Thursday April 27, 2006
Christian fundamentalists, like fundamentalists of all religions, are continually in search of hard, empirical evidence that might prove the literal truth of ancient religious stories. For them, their religious beliefs ... Read More
This Date in History: Madalyn Murray
Thursday April 27, 2006
April 27, 1961: Judge J. Gilbert Pendergast dismissed a lawsuit brought by Madalyn Murray (later O'Hair) to force the end of required Bible readings and recitations of the Lord's Prayer ... Read More
Natural Explanations for Out of Body Experiences
Thursday April 27, 2006
People who believe in the existence of paranormal phenomena will often cite odd events and insist that the absence of any "natural" explanations justifies paranormal beliefs. The truth, however, is ... Read More
Mailbag: Love and Attention
Thursday April 27, 2006
From: "Jason"
Subject: Logic
dear atheist guy, funny thing about atheism, you must believe you have something to atheiate. huh.... interesting.
Atheist guy? I wonder when I became "atheist guy." Austin Cline, Atheist ... Read More
Does God Exist? Who Made God: An Atheological Argument from Design
Thursday April 27, 2006
Who Made God? According to some, nothing so complex as the universe could exist without having been designed by a creator. But where does that leave the traditional concept of ... Read More
Daily Poll: Have You Ever Had Trouble Dating Because Of Your Atheism?
Thursday April 27, 2006
Religion is so important to many people's lives that they can't imagine not sharing it with others, thus preventing them from dating people outside their religion - or with no ... Read More
Democracy, Institutions, & Good People (Book Notes: M.N. Roy: Radical Humanist)
Thursday April 27, 2006
Democratic institutions which govern society are, obviously, made up of people. They are also made up of rules and procedures. What this means is that such institutions have the capability ... Read More
33rd Skeptics' Circle
Thursday April 27, 2006
Bora Zivkovic is hosting the 33rd Skeptics' Circle at Science and Politics:
Complaints like "hurts my brain" and "blows my mind" as a result of exposure to incredible stories have recently ... Read More
Sexual Liberty & Same-Sex Marriage
Thursday April 27, 2006
Book of the Day: Case For Same Sex Marriage: From Sexual Liberty to Civilized Commitment, by William N. Eskridge. Publisher: Free Press.
What exactly is marriage - is it an institution ... Read More
Victory Arch of Constantine in Rome: Image Gallery with Photos, Drawings, Illustrations
Wednesday April 26, 2006
The Arch of Constantine was dedicated in 315 by the senate and people of Rome along the triumphal route after Constantine's defeat of Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge in 312. ... Read More
Bush Administration Policy: Gays Must Be Celibate
Wednesday April 26, 2006
That the Bush administration is pushing abstinence-only education is not news. The fact that abstinence-only programs don't work and that their popularity is due entirely to Christian Right ideology is ... Read More
Discussion: Evolution, Science, and Religion
Wednesday April 26, 2006
A forum member writes: Call me old fashioned but when exactly did evolution put itself in the camp of science, when all it is, is a religion? The problem with ... Read More
Price of Religious Zealotry
Wednesday April 26, 2006
When religious extremism increases, pushing aside the values of tolerance, compromise, and love, the negative effects are experienced not only by those targeted by the extremists but also the extremists' ... Read More
This Date in History: Charles Darwin
Wednesday April 26, 2006
April 26, 1882: Charles Darwin was buried in Westminster Abbey.
Misunderstandings About Evolution
Wednesday April 26, 2006
There are a lot of misunderstandings out there about evolution. Some of this is due to the fact that people tend not to know a great deal about science. Some ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should Public Schools Use Abstinence-Only Sex Education Programs?
Wednesday April 26, 2006
The Bush administration wants abstinence-only sex education so badly that they have tied federal funding to the existence of such programs in public schools. They don't care if the programs ... Read More
Reality & History, Fact vs. Fiction (Book Notes: Truth and Fiction in the Da Vinci Code)
Wednesday April 26, 2006
Truth matters - or at least one would think so, but so many people believe so many things that are untrue, this may be a difficult proposition to defend sometimes. ... Read More
Reason & Rationality
Wednesday April 26, 2006
Book of the Day: Walking the Tightrope of Reason: The Precarious Life of a Rational Animal, by Robert Fogelin. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
One of the things which sets humanity apart ... Read More
What is the Priory of Sion? What's the Connection to the Holy Grail?
Tuesday April 25, 2006
Also known as the Prieure de Sion or the Priory of Zion, the Priory of Sion is commonly used in works of fiction as a powerful, secretive organization that has ... Read More
Richard Garnett: Churches Should Endorse Politicians
Tuesday April 25, 2006
The question of church involvement in political campaigns resurfaces on a regular basis. Right now, churches are bound by the same rules as all other non-profits: they can't use their ... Read More
Discussion: Prove the Existence of God
Tuesday April 25, 2006
William writes: This is so simple. It's been right under our noses all the time: a test for the existence of God: Talk to God and tell him that if ... Read More
Israel's Religious Settlers
Tuesday April 25, 2006
Much, if not all, of the violence between Palestinians and Israelis can be attributed to disputes over land - both sides want control of the same land, often for religious ... Read More
This Date in History: Augsburg Confession
Tuesday April 25, 2006
April 25, 1530: The Augsburg Confession was read publicly at the Diet of Worms. Written mainly by Philip Melanchthon, it was the first official explanation of the Lutheran faith.
Mismeasure of Man: Rorschach Inkblot Tests
Tuesday April 25, 2006
The Rorschach Inkblot Test has been used by psychologists for more than half a century. Some regard it as one of their most important diagnostic tools; the truth is that ... Read More
Mailbag: Nonsense of Evolution
Tuesday April 25, 2006
From: "Tim"
Subject: Questions
First of all, I assume that you believe in evolution, considering that a lot of documents on your page deal with the topic of how stupid theists are.
Talk ... Read More
Why Study Religion? Studying Religion, Philosophy, and Theology
Tuesday April 25, 2006
Every decent college and university has a department dealing with the study of religion: religious history, religious beliefs, comparative religion, and perhaps even some theology thrown in. The study of ... Read More
Daily Poll: Is It Appropriate For City Councils To Begin Meetings With Prayers?
Tuesday April 25, 2006
We regularly read about city councils and other small government entities like school boards insisting that they should begin their meetings with official, organized prayers - often sectarian prayers to ... Read More
Looking for the Divine in Human Beings (Book Notes: Hinduism)
Tuesday April 25, 2006
Many Christians try to "sell" Christianity on the idea that it is focused upon an instance where God and humanity became one. This is supposed to special and unusual among ... Read More
Race & Religion in America
Tuesday April 25, 2006
Book of the Day: Divided by Faith: Evangelical Religion and the Problem of Race in America, by Michael O. Emerson, Christian Smith. Publisher: Oxford University Press.
Both religion and race have ... Read More
Melinda Barton & Religious Bigotry: Most Atheists are Whackjobs? (updated)
Monday April 24, 2006
Melinda Barton describes herself as a "biracial Jewish lesbian from the South's working class," but she doesn't seem to think that atheists should be given the same political considerations as ... Read More
Holy Grail: Images of the Holy Grail in Christian Mythology, Literature
Monday April 24, 2006
The primary role of the Holy Grail in Christian mythology is the cup used by Jesus to inaugurate the communion celebration during the Last Supper. Other stories say that the ... Read More
Are Fathers in Charge of Daughters' Sexual Purity?
Monday April 24, 2006
Religious conservatives are making a strong push to place fathers in charge of their daughters' sexuality and 'sexual purity.' It used to be the case, obviously, that men basically owned ... Read More
Discussion: Is Morality Truly Relative
Monday April 24, 2006
A forum member writes: I am interested in discussing as well whether atheists view the Law as being derived from moral principles. And if so how then can they justify ... Read More
Human Laws = Tyranny
Monday April 24, 2006
Rev. Mark H. Creech doesn't think very much of the American Republic. Like many evangelical Christians, he argues that America should be conceived of as a theocracy, ruled by divine ... Read More
This Date in History: Cardinal Francis Arinze on Abortion
Monday April 24, 2006
April 24, 2004: According to Cardinal Francis Arinze, a top Vatican official from Nigeria often cited as a possible successor to Pope John Paul II, Roman Catholic politicians who support ... Read More
Ann Druyan on Changing Attitudes Towards Science in America
Monday April 24, 2006
[W]e seem to be engaged in a great turning away from reality. The engine of science continues to churn out discoveries at an astonishing rate, and yet our culture seems ... Read More
Mailbag: Atheists are Fools
Monday April 24, 2006
From: "Mason"
Subject: None
The fool has said in his heart, "There is no God" I wouldn't fool with God, He is, and He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek ... Read More
Philosophy Fundamentals: Philosophy of History: Philosophy of Historical Events & Progress
Monday April 24, 2006
The Philosophy of History is the study of history, writing about history, and what impact history has upon the present day. It can be referred to as the Critical, Analytical, ... Read More
Daily Poll: Is Christianity Inherently, Necessarily Anti-Semitic?
Monday April 24, 2006
American Christians today have rejected the overt, bigoted anti-Semitism that characterized Christianity of the past. They no longer conspire to keep Jews out of housing, jobs, universities, and other places ... Read More
God, Morality, & Principled Choices (Book Notes: Toward a New Political Humanism)
Monday April 24, 2006
The divine command theory of ethics is the idea that nothing is right or wrong outside of God's will. If God wills something, then it's good. If God wills that ... Read More
Religion Reference
Monday April 24, 2006
Book of the Day: The Religion Book: Places, Prophets, Saints, and Seers, by Jim Willis. Publisher: Visible Ink Press.
The laws in most liberal, democratic nations are human laws - that ... Read More
Marriage: What is Marriage? What Does the Bible Say About Monogamy, Polygamy?
Sunday April 23, 2006
Marriage is an institution which can be found in every human culture. Although the forms and rules differ, marriages always involve some form of legally legitimized sexual relationship. Traditionally, marriages ... Read More
Richard John Neuhaus: Revolution for Christian Fascism
Sunday April 23, 2006
The Christian Right is outraged that American courts are not allowing them to impose their beliefs on others. Many in the Christian Right believe that the courts are anti-democracy because ... Read More
Discussion: Our Purpose is to Worship?
Sunday April 23, 2006
A forum member writes: God created us, so that we could worship him. Is that the best explanation people could come up with when creating the Judeo-Christian religion? What is ... Read More
Secularization of Buddhism
Sunday April 23, 2006
Can Buddhism be promoted as a secular belief system rather than a religion? That seems to be one of the goals of Master Hsin Yun, a Buddhist monk in Taiwan. ... Read More
This Date in History: United Methodist Church
Sunday April 23, 2006
April 23, 1968: In Dallas, the Methodist and the Evangelical United Brethren churches unified to form the United Methodist Church, creating the second largest Protestant denomination in the USA.
Bible Commentary: Transfiguration of Jesus (Mark 9:1-8)
Sunday April 23, 2006
Jesus appears here with two figures: Moses, representing Jewish law and Elijah, representing Jewish prophecy. Moses is important because he was the figure believed to have given the Jews their ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should Journalists Report Unpleasant Facts, Even If It Makes America Look Bad?
Sunday April 23, 2006
Do journalists have a duty to truth that can supersede whatever patriotic duty they may have to the nation? This is an important question for America's "war on terrorism" because ... Read More
What Are Gay Rights? (Book Notes: Toward a New Political Humanism)
Sunday April 23, 2006
There is a lot of debate over "gay rights," but just what are "gay rights" in the first place? Are they special rights that no one else should have access ... Read More
History and Haunting
Sunday April 23, 2006
Book of the Day: Possessions: The History and Uses of Haunting in the Hudson Valley, by Judith Richardson. Publisher: Harvard University Press.
Haunting is a relatively common phenomenon in America, but ... Read More
Joseph of Arimathea: Image Gallery of Joseph of Arimathea
Saturday April 22, 2006
The role and behavior of Joseph of Arimathea is one of the few things discussed in all four gospels. According to the gospels, Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man, ... Read More
Discussion: Are Theists Necessarily Irrational?
Saturday April 22, 2006
A forum member writes: I have read many atheistic publications such as Free inquiry and Skeptical Inquirer. While I was impressed with the level of intelligence of the people writing ... Read More
Political Christians vs. Nazi Liberals
Saturday April 22, 2006
Getting involved with politics is a double-edged sword for religious groups: on the one hand, they have the opportunity to affect national policies in a way that is compatible with ... Read More
This Date in History: In God We Trust
Saturday April 22, 2006
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.
Evolution and Creationism: Recent News, Commentary, and Posts
Saturday April 22, 2006
Wondering about what has been going on in the world when it comes to evolution and creationism? Where are politicians trying to get Intelligent Design in public schools? How are ... Read More
Daily Poll: Has The Jesus Seminar Done More To Modernize Or Undermine Christianity?
Saturday April 22, 2006
The Jesus Seminar is the modern culmination of more than two centuries of academic work on who the 'historical' Jesus really was. There are currently more than 200 fellows in ... Read More
Neoconservatism & Christianity in America (Book Notes: Toward a New Political Humanism)
Saturday April 22, 2006
In contemporary America, there has been a political union between neoconservatives and traditionalist Christians. Both have sought to reinforce the other in their political agenda. Are their ideologies really compatible, ... Read More
Introduction to Christianity
Saturday April 22, 2006
Book of the Day: Christianity: A Short Introduction, by Keith Ward. Publisher: Oneworld Publications.
Christianity is the largest and, perhaps, the most diverse religion on the planet. You can study it ... Read More
Mary Magdalene: Image Gallery of Mary Magdalene, Disciple of Jesus
Friday April 21, 2006
Mary Magdalene is not mentioned often in the gospels, but she does appear at key moments and has become an important figure for those interested in the role of women ... Read More
Did Tom Cruise Eat Katie Holmes' Placenta?
Friday April 21, 2006
So, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes have had their first child, a girl they've named Suri but which the media has dubbed TomKitten. Before the birth, it was reported that ... Read More
Discussion: Resurrection is Nonsense
Friday April 21, 2006
A forum member writes: Why would Jesus (God) need to die such that God can forgive mankind's sins? Is God powerless to simply forgive us without the sacrifice of ... Read More
Profiling Suicide Bombers
Friday April 21, 2006
If Islam is a religion of peace and suicide is forbidden, then why are there so many suicide bombers in Islam but not in Judaism or Christianity? That's a difficult ... Read More
This Date in History: Toleration of Catholics
Friday April 21, 2006
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
Mailbag: Atheism and Homosexuality
Friday April 21, 2006
From: "Mike"
Subject: Gay Stuff
WHAT ON EARTH IS ALL THIS GAY_GAY_GAY STUFF.?????..Just because we refuse to be the victims of the hucksters of religious fantasy doesn't mean we think homosexuality is ... Read More
Church/State Fundamentals: Glassroth v. Moore (2002)
Friday April 21, 2006
Can a government official erect a massive monument to the Ten Commandments in a government building by asserting that they have a secular rather than a religious purpose? What if ... Read More
Christianity, Christian Reconstructionism, Slavery (Book Notes: Toward a New Political Humanism)
Friday April 21, 2006
For hundreds of years, Christians defended slavery as a godly and divinely ordained institution. One would think that the South's loss in the Civil War had finally and irrevocably ended ... Read More
Sodomy and Christian Theology
Friday April 21, 2006
Book of the Day: The Invention of Sodomy in Christian Theology, by Mark D. Jordan. Publisher: University of Chicago Press.
The concept of sodomy has played a role in Christian theology ... Read More
Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code & the Holy Grail: What's the Truth?
Thursday April 20, 2006
Dan Brown's The Da Vinci Code is one of the most popular fiction books of recent memory, but it's just that: a work of fiction. How many readers who are ... Read More
Teacher Asked to Remove Flying Spaghetti Monster From Door
Thursday April 20, 2006
The Flying Spaghetti Monster has become a popular symbol of derision of the Intelligent Design movement. Since they refuse to admit that their Intelligent Designer is supposed to be their ... Read More
Discussion: War on Abortion
Thursday April 20, 2006
A forum member writes: Before Roe, there were safe and legal abortions in the US, but a woman might have to travel to another state (which could be too expensive ... Read More
Time Twin Study Discredits Astrology
Thursday April 20, 2006
Originally tracked as part of a different medical study, data on a group of 2,000 people born within minutes of each other demonstrates that claims about power of astrology are ... Read More
This Date in History: Pope Leo XIII on Human Rights
Thursday April 20, 2006
April 20, 1884: Pope Leo XIII, in his encyclical Humanum genus, rejected the idea that humans have equal rights and should be sovereign.
What Does Rome Have to Teach Us? Rethinking Rome's Place for Modern Life
Thursday April 20, 2006
The 'classical' civilizations of Greece and Rome have had a profound influence on America's art, architecture, and even politics. Many people tend to conflate the two, but there were radical ... Read More
Borders, Waldenbooks Sacrifice Free Speech to Muslim Terrorism
Thursday April 20, 2006
The April-May issue of Free Inquiry published the controversial Danish cartoons of Muhammad, something that is sure to annoy some people. Unfortunately, many won't even know about this because Border ... Read More
Does God Exist? Introduction to Theology: Origins, Nature, Crisis in Theology
Thursday April 20, 2006
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
Daily Poll: Should The Catholic Church Be Allowed To Keep Hiding Records On Sexual Abuse?
Thursday April 20, 2006
It is thought that Catholic diocese around the country have records and evidence of how they have covered up the large numbers of criminal priests who have sexual abused children. ... Read More
Why Was The Satanic Verses Offensive? (Book Notes: Terror and Liberalism)
Thursday April 20, 2006
Although the world-wide protests over the publication of the Danish cartoons of Muhammad are foremost on people's minds, these incidents were not unique - they were very much like the ... Read More
Evolution and Religious Terrorism
Thursday April 20, 2006
Book of the Day: Soldiers of God: Primal Emotions and Religious Terrorists, by Jay D. Glass. Publisher: Donington Press.
The human species has obviously evolved from earlier primates, which means that ... Read More
Joseph of Arimathea: Who Was Joseph of Arimathea? Did He Carry the Holy Grail?
Wednesday April 19, 2006
The role and behavior of Joseph of Arimathea is one of the few things discussed in all four gospels. According to the gospels, Joseph of Arimathea was a rich man, ... Read More
Christian Anchor: Working for Competition is Religious Right
Wednesday April 19, 2006
Frank Turner is a news anchor WXYZ-TV, a Detroit-based ABC affiliate station. He is also a born-again Christian who regularly preaches and makes no effort to hide his evangelical bias. ... Read More
Discussion: Questions About Islam
Wednesday April 19, 2006
A forum member writes: I was wondering if wearing the veil is compulsory all the time. What about Muslim women who want to go swimming? What if they want to ... Read More
Defining Theocracy Down: Is the Risk of Theocracy Overblown?
Wednesday April 19, 2006
Quite a lot of liberals express concerns about whether America is heading in the direction of theocracy because of the theocratic goals and efforts of the Christian Right. Some believe ... Read More
Alan Keyes Defends State-Level Theocracies
Wednesday April 19, 2006
Should state governments be able to create a theocratic order by establishing particular churches and religions as a preferred form of worship and belief? Most Americans believe in religious freedom ... Read More
This Date in History: Assault on the Branch Davidians
Wednesday April 19, 2006
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.
Mailbag: Promoting Atheism & Emptiness
Wednesday April 19, 2006
From: "Danny"
Subject: Curious...
From a Christian prospective, I am curious to know what motivates you to spread the word of atheism. I simply cannot digest the concept as being a positive ... Read More
Coming Out as an Atheist: Should You Come Out as an Atheist, or Keep Quiet?
Wednesday April 19, 2006
Atheists are the most distrusted and despised minority in America; it's no surprise, then, that so many atheists don't reveal their atheism to friends, family, neighbors, or coworkers. Atheists are ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should Charities Accept The Donations Of Wiccans?
Wednesday April 19, 2006
A Wiccan coven in Ramah, Colorado, caused trouble because they wanted to raise money for charity and local Christians couldn't stop them. Eventually, the hospital they wanted to raise money ... Read More
Did Jesus' Disciples Write the Gospels? (Book Notes: Apocalyptic Prophet)
Wednesday April 19, 2006
Who wrote the gospels of the New Testament? It's common for believers to act as though they were written by the disciples whose names appear at the top. To call ... Read More
Germans, Christians, and Nazis
Wednesday April 19, 2006
Book of the Day: Twisted Cross: The German Christian Movement in the Third Reich, by Doris L. Bergen. Publisher: University of North Carolina Press.
The relationship between Christianity and Nazism has ... Read More
Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury Tor: Image Gallery
Tuesday April 18, 2006
The region around Glastonbury has long been associated with King Arthur and his Round Table. In 1191 monks at the ruins of Glastonbury Abbey claimed to have found the tombs ... Read More
North Carolina: School Rejects Gay/Straight Club
Tuesday April 18, 2006
In North Carolina, the Rowan-Salisbury School Board refused to allow a Gay-Straight Alliance group to be started by students in the South Rowan High School. The school board was influenced ... Read More
Discussion: Regulations and Regulators
Tuesday April 18, 2006
A forum member writes: Regulatory capture is the prediction made by economic theory that maintains that regulation has a self-interest origin. Regulated businesses develop and nurture cooperative relationships with the ... Read More
What Would Jesus Eat?
Tuesday April 18, 2006
Gluttony is one of the seven deadly sins of Christian tradition, but you don't hear much about it when Christian leaders attack sin in America - usually they focus on ... Read More
This Date in History: Pope Julius II & St. Peter's Basilica
Tuesday April 18, 2006
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
Mailbag: Gays and Abortion on the Site
Tuesday April 18, 2006
From: "Dave"
Subject: Newsletter
Is this newsletter about atheism or for you to use as a private soap box to tout your stands on abortion and gays? This newsletter should be more ... Read More
Should We Respect Religion? Does Religion Deserve Respect?
Tuesday April 18, 2006
An increasing source of conflict in the world today is centered around religious believers' demands for respect. Muslims demand 'respect' that would forbid criticism, satire, or mocking of their religion. ... Read More
Daily Poll: Do Governments In Utah Favor The Mormon Church Too Much?
Tuesday April 18, 2006
The Salt Lake City government sold a plaza to the Mormon Church, leading to a lawsuit that alleged the sale to be a sham, giving the church power to limit ... Read More
Evangelicalism & Anglicanism: Development of Religion in the American South (Book Notes: Southern Cross)
Tuesday April 18, 2006
Today the American South is defined by evangelical Christianity - not just in terms of religion, but also politics, culture, and history. Many may be surprised, though, that there was ... Read More
American Theology
Tuesday April 18, 2006
Book of the Day: Theology in America: Christian Thought from Age of the Puritans to Civil War, by E. Brooks Holifield. Publisher: Yale University Press.
It can be argued that understanding ... Read More
Knights Templar: Image Gallery of the Templar Knights
Monday April 17, 2006
As with most religious orders, there were special requirements before joining as well as an initiation ceremony; little is known about the various internal ceremonies of order, which has given ... Read More
Discussion: Genetically Enhanced Superhumans
Monday April 17, 2006
A forum member writes: If we genetically engineered super-athletes, then only the genetically engineered would have a chance to compete. I don't think it is the same as just happening ... Read More
Am I My Brother's Keeper?
Monday April 17, 2006
Important to many Christians is the idea that we are all our brothers' keepers - usually taken to mean that we have some responsibility to watch out for and care ... Read More
This Date in History: Martin Luther at the Diet of Worms
Monday April 17, 2006
April 17, 1521: Martin Luther appeared before the Diet of Worms. The next day Luther refused to repudiate his works unless convinced of error by Scripture or reason. According to ... Read More
Turkey's Internal Conflict: Mosque vs. State
Monday April 17, 2006
It's not unusual for critics of Islam to argue that there are no Muslim democracies - but that's not true. Turkey is a democracy. It's even almost a liberal democracy; ... Read More
Philosophy Fundamentals: What is Nihilism?
Monday April 17, 2006
The term nihilism comes from the Latin word 'nihil' which literally means 'nothing.' Many believe that it was originally coined by Russian novelist Ivan Turgenev in his novel Fathers and ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should Coaches At Public Schools Lead Their Teams In Prayers?
Monday April 17, 2006
No one says that students can't pray, but there is a problem when coaches put their stamp of approval on any prayers by initiating or participating with them. If students ... Read More
Slavery & Christianity: Justifying Oppression as a Means to Social Order (Book Notes: Noah's Curse)
Monday April 17, 2006
That slavery was not merely tolerated, but actively endorsed and defended by Christians in the American South is a matter of public record. Few people are willing to think much ... Read More
Atheism
Monday April 17, 2006
Book of the Day: Natural Atheism, by David Eller. Publisher: American Atheist Press.
Religion, particularly forms of religion that are fundamentalist or fervent in nature, have experienced explosive growth in recent ... Read More
Jesus' Resurrection & Ascension: Contradictions in the Gospel Accounts
Sunday April 16, 2006
Christians point to Jesus' resurrection as one of the things which distinguishes Christianity from all other religions. After all, the founders of other religions (like Muhammad and Buddha) are all ... Read More
Christians Suing for Ability to Discriminate, Be Bigots
Sunday April 16, 2006
Bigotry against gays, and attempts to discriminate against people for no other reason than because they are gay, is no better than bigotry against people for no other reason than ... Read More
Discussion: Is the World Getting Smaller or Bigger?
Sunday April 16, 2006
Kate writes: As we know, the wonders of modern technology mean we can all talk to each other easier than ever - through the net, on the phone, etc. We ... Read More
Richard John Neuhaus: Atheists Can't Be Good Citizens
Sunday April 16, 2006
A common expression of bigotry towards atheists is that they can't be good citizens - meaning either that they can't be patriotic (like George H.W. Bush claimed) or that they ... Read More
This Date in History: Excommunicating Segregationist Catholics
Sunday April 16, 2006
April 16, 1962: In Louisiana, Catholic archbishop Joseph Francis Rummel excommunicated three segregationists for refusing to integrate church schools.
Mailbag: Making Choices
Sunday April 16, 2006
From: "Leeann"
Subject: Faith
i think i have an idea of how you might feel about the subject of God. (please forgive if i am wrong). for more years that i care ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Jesus' Instructions on Discipleship: Who Was a Disciple? (Mark 8:34-38)
Sunday April 16, 2006
After Jesus' first prediction of his passion, he describes the sort of life he expects his followers to lead in his absence - although at this point he is speaking ... Read More
Daily Poll: How Historically Accurate Is The Bible?
Sunday April 16, 2006
Quite a few Christians believe that the Bible is 100% accurate in every detail - not a single error or contradiction can be found in the text. Others believe that ... Read More
The Attraction of Patriarchy for Women (Book Notes: Desert Patriarchy)
Sunday April 16, 2006
Traditional religions tend to be very patriarchal, giving men most if not all social, political, and familial power while relegating women to second-class status at best. The attraction of so ... Read More
Christians and Gays
Sunday April 16, 2006
Book of the Day: Perfect Enemies: The Religious Right, the Gay Movement, and Politics, by Chris Bull and John Gallagher. Publisher: Madison Books.
The debate over gay rights generally and gay ... Read More
Jesus' Burial & the Empty Tomb: Contradictions in Gospel Accounts
Saturday April 15, 2006
Jesus' burial is important because without it, there can be no tomb from which Jesus can arise in three days. It's also historically implausible: crucifixion was intended as a shameful, ... Read More
Pharmacists Refusing to Fill Prescriptions for Vitamins, Antibiotics
Saturday April 15, 2006
At first, right-wing pharmacists only refused to dispense drugs they claimed caused abortions, and the government rolled over to allow them to do. Then the right-wing pharmacists refused to dispense ... Read More
Discussion: Are You Satisfied With Your Life?
Saturday April 15, 2006
A forum member writes: Does anyone feel comfortable enough with their lives to the point of satisfaction? Maybe its greed and ill-advised youthfulness that make me want more. I don't ... Read More
Banning the Bible in America
Saturday April 15, 2006
Will the Bible be banned in America? That's what Hal Lindsey has argued, although his reasoning on this matter doesn't quite qualify as very 'reasoned.' Lindsey, like millions of Christians ... Read More
This Date in History: Excommunicating Liberal Catholics
Saturday April 15, 2006
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
Creationism Fundamentals: Scientific Creationism and the Bible
Saturday April 15, 2006
Scientific Creationism may rely upon the Bible as the central organizing text of creationist beliefs, but they do not in practice try to make their arguments from the entire Bible. ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should The U.S. Torture And Abuse Prisoners In The War On Terrorism?
Saturday April 15, 2006
The American Senate voted to ban torturing and abusing detainees, but not unanimously: nine Senators voted against the bill, thus effectively authorizing the American government to torture prisoners. Does this ... Read More
Islam in the World
Saturday April 15, 2006
Book of the Day: Islam Under Siege: Living Dangerously in a Post-Honour World, by Akbar S. Ahmed. Publisher: Polity Press.
Muslims are under pressure from two fronts: on the one hand ... Read More
American Courts Violating Constitution?
Friday April 14, 2006
Are the courts in America violating the Constitution by interpreting the laws and the Constitution itself incorrectly? Some people in the United States certainly think so, but sometimes if you ... Read More
Crucifixion of Jesus: Contradictions in Gospel Accounts of Jesus' Crucifixion
Friday April 14, 2006
Crucifixion may be one of the most horrible methods of execution ever invented. A person is nailed to a cross or stake and hangs there until their own weight suffocates ... Read More
Christian Coalition Completely Falling Apart
Friday April 14, 2006
It really wasn't that long ago that the Christian Coalition was the primary representative of conservative, evangelical Christianity in American politics. The Christian Coalition was a powerful organization which could ... Read More
Discussion: Why Have Brains if We have Souls?
Friday April 14, 2006
A forum member writes: Why do we have brains at all? If Christianity is correct, then we have souls. Souls contain our memories, emotions, decisions, free will, everything that makes ... Read More
Tucker Carlson: Strippers Shouldn't Be Treated Like Normal Women
Friday April 14, 2006
Tucker Carlson was famously insulted by Jon Stewart during the latter's appearance on Crossfire. Well, Crossfire has been eliminated, forcing Carlson to find new work MSNBC and Stewart is still ... Read More
This Date in History: Karl Jaspers
Friday April 14, 2006
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.