Papacy: Pope John Paul II Biography
Thursday August 31, 2006
John Paul II was the second pope to ever choose two names, following his predecessor. The reason for doing this was to both honor John Paul I and to indicate ... Read More
Randall Terry's Family Values: Putting Image Over Reality
Thursday August 31, 2006
Christian Nationalists use the phrase 'family values' at every turn. They claim to be defending and promoting family values, but quite often their efforts are more a matter of image ... Read More
Discussion: Teaching Kids about Religion
Thursday August 31, 2006
A forum member writes: My husband and I were both raised Christian and had baaaaad experiences - he as a Catholic and me as a Protestant. We have bitter feelings ... Read More
School Board President Denies Virtually All Modern Science
Thursday August 31, 2006
If a person is going to serve a a state-level school board, shouldn't they be at least reasonably knowledgeable when it comes to history, science, math, and other subjects which ... Read More
This Date in History: British Mandate of Palestine
Thursday August 31, 2006
August 31, 1947: The UN special committee on Palestine votes to recommend that the British Mandate of Palestine end and that the region should be divided into two states, one ... Read More
Christianity and Sexuality: Treating the Body as Evil
Thursday August 31, 2006
It is arguable that Christianity's most negative impact on Western society has been through it's treatment of the human body and sexuality. The extremely negative depiction of sex has caused ... Read More
Mailbag: The Difficulty of Belief
Thursday August 31, 2006
From: JHVHSKID
Subject: Why Women Don't Need Religion
Why it's so difficult to believe in a Holy Trinity? That the Bible is the inspired word of GOD? The redeeming Blood of JESUS? ... Read More
Does God Exist? God is Transcendent & Immanent
Thursday August 31, 2006
On the face of it, the characteristics of transcendence and immanence appear to be in conflict. A transcendent God is one who is beyond perception, independent of the universe, and ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should Public Humiliation Be Used As A Form Of Punishment?
Thursday August 31, 2006
Ethnicity, Nation-States, and Liberal Democracy (Book Notes: The Wrath of Jonah)
Thursday August 31, 2006
Today most people think of nationality in terms of political citizenship. A person might be a citizen of any nation without it necessarily saying much about them. The origins of ... Read More
Islam in the Modern World
Thursday August 31, 2006
Book of the Day: Islam and Democracy: Fear of the Modern World, by Fatima Mernissi.
Although democracy has taken hold in the West as a dominant form of government, the same ... Read More
History of the Papacy: Longest Reigning Popes
Wednesday August 30, 2006
Here is a list of the 13 longest pontificates in the history of the Roman Catholic Church. Each of these pope reigned over the Catholic Church for an unusually long ... Read More
Death of Robert S. Alley
Wednesday August 30, 2006
I don't know how many readers have heard of Robert S. Alley, but probably not enough. Robert S. Alley was for many years an important force for the separation of ... Read More
Discussion: The Role of Law
Wednesday August 30, 2006
A forum member writes: I try my hardest to obey the law to the letter, and [my mother] says that that is as bad as following a holy book to ... Read More
Katherine Harris: God, not People, Chooses the Rulers
Wednesday August 30, 2006
Image Source: Jupiter Images
Many Republicans don't appear to believe in the separation of church and state in any way, shape, or form. They don't just reject the idea that government ... Read More
This Date in History: Charles Darwin and the Beagle
Wednesday August 30, 2006
August 30, 1831: Charles Darwin was asked to travel on the HMS Beagle.
Morality and Impartiality: Must Moral Actions Be Impartial?
Wednesday August 30, 2006
If you are trying to arrive at the most moral decision, should you seek to reason as impartially and objectively as possible, or should you allow your biases and personal, ... Read More
Mailbag: Move to Cuba!
Wednesday August 30, 2006
From: "Mary"
Subject: Re: Atheism & Christianity
If you want freedom "from" religion, why not move to Cuba?
I don't need to move to Cuba in order to have freedom from religion — ... Read More
Atheism Basics: What is Atheism? What isn't Atheism?
Wednesday August 30, 2006
It is strange that atheism would be so difficult to understand, but it must be - otherwise, there wouldn't be so many arguments over what it means, what it entails, ... Read More
Daily Poll: Do You Trust Electronic Voting Machines?
Wednesday August 30, 2006
Minimal Invasion: How Far Should the Government Go? (Book Notes: Debating the Death Penalty)
Wednesday August 30, 2006
There are significant debates over how society should balance individual liberties against the scope of government power and authority. The more authority the government has over our lives, the less ... Read More
Sin and Salvation
Wednesday August 30, 2006
Book of the Day: Sin and Salvation in the World Religions, by Harold Coward. Publisher: Oneworld Publications.
The concepts of sin and salvation belong principally to Christianity, but do other world ... Read More
Nihilist Philosophy: Moral Nihilism
Tuesday August 29, 2006
One primary understanding of nihilism which existed even within early Russian Nihilism and has continued down through today is the idea that moral norms, but especially traditional morality, cannot be ... Read More
Church of Freethought Gets Tax Exemption in Texas
Tuesday August 29, 2006
In May, the Church of Freethought located near Dallas, Texas, was granted a tax exemption like other churches and religious organizations. Texas has become notorious for resisting granting the same ... Read More
Discussion: Atheists' Wagers
Tuesday August 29, 2006
A forum member writes: It's nice to know that the Christians can use (or misuse) Pascal's wager to their heart's content, however unreasonable it may be. Why not have our ... Read More
Is Scientology an Election Issue in Florida?
Tuesday August 29, 2006
The Church of Scientology has, over the past few years, developed a very strong presence in Clearwater, Florida. Early on residents weren't too happy about this; more recently people seem ... Read More
This Date in History: Sayyid Qutb Executed
Tuesday August 29, 2006
August 29, 1966: Sayyid Qutb was executed by hanging. Qutb is the Islamic philosopher who could be regarded as the ideological grandfather of Osama bin Laden and all of the ... Read More
Vegetarianism and Philosophy: Who Thinks About Animal Welfare?
Tuesday August 29, 2006
Does studying philosophy influence what you conclude about moral dilemmas? Absolutely, there is no disputing this - an education in philosophy has important consequences for how a person reasons. Does ... Read More
Mailbag: Catholic Divorce
Tuesday August 29, 2006
From: Crysostom
Subject: FYI
In your March 2nd article titled, "Schiavo's Catholic Parents Seek Divorce for Daughter" you said that it was against Catholic doctrine to divorce.
I said no such thing. Crysostom ... Read More
Atheists & Political Issues: What Do Atheists Believe About Political Issues?
Tuesday August 29, 2006
It's popular to imagine that atheists all share common views on various political issues. Since this assumption is frequent with those who think the same thing about all 'true' Christians, ... Read More
People in the Bible: Profile & Biography of Philip the Apostle
Tuesday August 29, 2006
Philip is listed as one of Jesus' apostles in all four apostolic lists: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Acts. He plays the largest role in John and appears little in the ... Read More
Daily Poll: Did you ever have any connection to the World Trade Center?
Tuesday August 29, 2006
Warfare and the Illusion of Power (Book Notes: Terror in the Mind of God)
Tuesday August 29, 2006
Most people would probably assume that peace is preferable to warfare. Most people surely believe this; unfortunately, there are people who disagree. Being in a state of war is, for ... Read More
Jesus Today and Yesterday
Tuesday August 29, 2006
Book of the Day: Jesus After 2000 Years, by Gerd Ludemann.
Assuming that Jesus really existed in some fashion, what did he really do and say? Can we know anything about ... Read More
Papal Resignations: Can a Pope Resign or Be Removed?
Monday August 28, 2006
Image Source: Jupiter Images
Like any secular monarch, the pope is elected for life - but that does not mean that it is impossible for a pope to step down while ... Read More
Oregon School Cancels Lunch-Time Clergy Visits
Monday August 28, 2006
In June, administrators at the Bend-La Pine School District in Oregon finally stopped inviting ministers at the Westside Church to visit students during lunch time. Parents complained because the school ... Read More
Discussion: Obsessed with Gayness
Monday August 28, 2006
A forum member writes: What possesses an individual to obsess about what other people are doing in their private personal lives and, further, to dictate to them what they should ... Read More
Teacher Burns Flags, Causes Uproar in Class
Monday August 28, 2006
If a teacher wants to provoke students as part of a less on free speech, there are few actions that would fit the bill as well as burning a flag. ... Read More
This Date in History: Jim Bakker's Trial
Monday August 28, 2006
August 28, 1989: Jim Bakker's fraud and conspiracy trial began.
Language, Experience, and Animal Rights
Monday August 28, 2006
What role does language play in the development of our cognitive abilities? Some might think that language is simply an expression of our abilities, but there are good reasons to ... Read More
Mailbag: Atheists Writing About Religion
Monday August 28, 2006
From: Purdy
Subject: Just An Opinion
I've never seen anything more silly than a site expecting the reader to take seriously an article written about denominations and religion....WRITTEN BY A SECULAR HUMANIST ... Read More
Philosophy Basics: Famous British Philosophers
Monday August 28, 2006
This biographical index lists only famous British philosophers. A few of the biographies are of other intellectuals - jurists, sociologists, scientists and others. However, the vast majority are philosophers of ... Read More
Daily Poll: Is Saudi Arabia Helping or Fighting Islamic Terrorism?
Monday August 28, 2006
Sex & Eroticism: Using Sexual Imagery to Sell Everything (Book Notes: Erotic History of Advertising)
Monday August 28, 2006
It's been said that 'sex sells' and most people are aware that sexual imagery is common in advertising, but people may not realize just how pervasive it really is. The ... Read More
Your Miranda Rights
Monday August 28, 2006
Book of the Day: Miranda: The Story Of America's Right To Remain Silent, by Gary L. Stuart. Publisher: University of Arizona Press.
You have the right to remain silent. If you ... Read More
Atheist Invited to New Orleans Prayer Service
Sunday August 27, 2006
On the first anniversary of the destruction of New Orleans by hurricane Katrina, the city will host a commemorative service which includes an ecumenical prayer gathering. This bothered Harry Greenberger, ... Read More
Existentialism: Ethical Individualism
Sunday August 27, 2006
Existentialist ethics is characterized by the emphasis on moral individualism. Rather than seeking a 'highest good' that would be universal, existentialists have sought means for each individual to find the ... Read More
Pope: Priests Not Meant to be Politicians
Sunday August 27, 2006
While visiting Poland in May, Pope Benedict XVI made a very clear statement against priests getting too involved in politics. Although not quite a statement in support of separating church ... Read More
Discussion: Holding Your Tongue
Sunday August 27, 2006
A forum member writes: My dad had to deal with a lot of family and home instability when he was younger, and spent a lot of his later youth with ... Read More
Christian Racism in the South: Church Turns Away Biracial Boy
Sunday August 27, 2006
It wasn't that long ago that Christians in the South kept their churches segregated on an official basis: white churches simply prevented non-whites from attending. Today churches tend to be ... Read More
This Date in History: Salvation Army
Sunday August 27, 2006
August 27, 1987: Jamie Dodge of Mississippi was fired from her job at the Salvation Army because she was Pagan. She later filed suit against the Salvation Army for religious ... Read More
Cloning and Minds: Do Clones Show that Immaterial Minds Exist?
Sunday August 27, 2006
A long-standing debate in philosophy and science is whether human beings are wholly material or whether there is some immaterial "spirit" which is responsible for our thoughts, opinions, desires, motives, ... Read More
Mailbag: Atheism and Different Religions
Sunday August 27, 2006
From: "Princess"
Subject: Hate Christianity?
I was wondering why all the discussions about atheism are directed towards arguing the validity of Christianity? I honestly thought atheism was "disbelief of the existence of ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Jesus' Authority Questioned (Mark 11:27-33)
Sunday August 27, 2006
After Jesus explains to his disciples the meaning behind his cursing of the fig tree and cleansing of the Temple, the entire group returns yet again to Jerusalem (this is ... Read More
Daily Poll: Why did America Really Invade Iraq?
Sunday August 27, 2006
Puritan Theology and Evangelical Christians (Book Notes: American Jesus)
Sunday August 27, 2006
For modern Christians, Jesus is the focus of everything they believe and do. What many don't realize, though, is that Jesus wasn't always the focus of American Christians. In the ... Read More
Pope John Paul II
Sunday August 27, 2006
Book of the Day: The Pontiff in Winter: Triumph and Conflict in the Reign of John Paul II, by John Cornwell. Publisher: Doubleday.
John Paul II was one of the longest-lived ... Read More
Papacy: Pope John Paul II, Parkinson’s Disease, and Paranoia
Saturday August 26, 2006
Everyone knows that Pope John Paul II suffered from Parkinson’s Disease. It not only caused him to shake uncontrollably, but it also caused him to come close to death more ... Read More
Republican Party of Texas: Firmly Controlled by Christian Right
Saturday August 26, 2006
According to the Texas Freedom Network (TFN), the Christian Right has developed a strangle-hold on the Texas Republican Party. It should not be ignored that the national Republican Party is ... Read More
Discussion: Is the Existence of God Unknowable?
Saturday August 26, 2006
A forum member writes: It seems rather odd to question this as theists and atheists alike seem to toss this statement as if it were canon. I believe that this ... Read More
It's in the Bible: Sunday School Teacher Fired... For Being a Woman
Saturday August 26, 2006
Mary Lambert, 81, has been teaching Sunday school classes for 54 years. Now, a pastor at the First Baptist Church in Watertown, N.Y., who has been alive for fewer years ... Read More
This Date in History: Richard I Lionheart
Saturday August 26, 2006
August 26, 1191: Richard I Lionheart marches 2,700 Muslim soldiers out of Acre, onto the road of Nazareth in front of the forward positions of the Muslim army, and has ... Read More
Internet Communities and Reinforcing One's Assumptions
Saturday August 26, 2006
Many people think that one of the best things about the internet is how it can bring together people with similar interests from all over the world - people who ... Read More
Mailbag: God Created Us
Saturday August 26, 2006
From: "Jessica"
Subject: I am not happy with ur site
I see ur a ahiest and do not know God our Lord. Well I hope u can find him soon for the ... Read More
Evolution Basics: Evolution and Jehovah's Witnesses
Saturday August 26, 2006
Published by the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society, the book Life: How did it get here? By evolution or by creation? is not only the standard reference work on evolution ... Read More
Daily Poll: Quality of Life vs. Length of Life?
Saturday August 26, 2006
Understanding Islam
Saturday August 26, 2006
Book of the Day: What Everyone Needs to Know About Islam, by John L. Esposito.
Islam, for the West, is commonly regarded as a perpetual "Other" - so very familiar but ... Read More
Christianity: What Type of Religion is Christianity?
Friday August 25, 2006
Approximately one-third of all people in the world belong to the Christian religion. There is no question that as a religion, Christianity is one of the largest and most powerful ... Read More
Baltimore Drops Plan to Fund Distribution of Bibles
Friday August 25, 2006
In Baltimore, Mayor Martin O’Malley and the city council thought it would be a good idea to give USD $297,500 to the National Baptist Convention to distribute bags of food ... Read More
Discussion: Public Humiliation as Punishment
Friday August 25, 2006
A forum member writes: The notion that public humiliation of anyone will induce them to behave better goes against human psychology. A parent or a teacher who humiliates a child ... Read More
Church of Body Modification Complains About Religious Discrimination
Friday August 25, 2006
How narrowly can government or employers define 'religion' when it comes to protecting people from discrimination against what they say is religious behavior? That's a difficult question and the boundaries ... Read More
This Date in History: Friedrich Nietzsche
Friday August 25, 2006
August 25, 1900: Friedrich Nietzsche died.
Nietzsche's Madness: Did Nietzsche Suffer from Syphilis?
Friday August 25, 2006
A popular story about Friedrich Nietzsche is that he went insane because of being infected with syphilis. The evidence for this is quite scanty, though - it seems that he ... Read More
Mailbag: Why Are You An Atheist?
Friday August 25, 2006
From: "Joel"
Subject: None
I am wondering: why do you believe what you believe? Who or what or what event caused you to embrace atheism and secular humanism? I've had many wonderful ... Read More
Church & State Fundamentals: Establishment of a National Church
Friday August 25, 2006
This myth relies on one of two misunderstandings. The first is that the First Amendment guarantee of religious liberty is only about preventing the government from setting up some particular ... Read More
Daily Poll: Is President Bush Politicizing Science Too Much?
Friday August 25, 2006
American Military & American Propaganda (Book Notes: Operation Hollywood)
Friday August 25, 2006
No one will be surprised to hear that the American government generally and the military in particular have engaged in deliberate propaganda efforts. Despite this, few people are aware of ... Read More
Skepticism and History
Friday August 25, 2006
Book of the Day: The Killing of History: How Literary Critics and Social Theorists are Murdering Our Past, by Keith Windschuttle.
Is it possible to write anything approaching an objective or ... Read More
Existentialist Philosophy: Existentialism and Darwinism
Thursday August 24, 2006
Initially, at least, there wouldn't appear to be any particular connection between Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and existentialist philosophy — but first impressions can be deceiving. As a matter ... Read More
Bible Display Must Be Removed from Courthouse
Thursday August 24, 2006
For several years now there has been a legal battle in Texas over whether a Bible display at the Harris Count Courthouse is constitutional or not. The government lost in ... Read More
Discussion: Communism Contained in Capitalism?
Thursday August 24, 2006
A forum member writes: I have been thinking recently about the fact that very small groups of people (families, some small villages and tribes) are naturally communist in their approach, ... Read More
Faith-Based Funding Hostile to Non-Christians
Thursday August 24, 2006
Bush has been shifting billions of dollars in tax money from secular organizations providing government services to religious - and mostly Christian - groups that provide the same services. Unfortunately, ... Read More
This Date in History: Pope Innocent III vs. the Magna Carta
Thursday August 24, 2006
August 24, 1215: Pope Innocent III declared the Magna Carta invalid. Innocent declared the Catholic Church to be a genuine state and, hence, heresy became a crime against the state ... Read More
Philosophers and War
Thursday August 24, 2006
Philosophers spend a lot of time studying ethics, politics, and what kinds of positions or principles can best be justified by sound reasoning and historical evidence. Based upon all of ... Read More
Mailbag: Agnostics Are Wrong
Thursday August 24, 2006
From: "Mr"
Subject: Agnostics Are Wrong
Agnostics are just as wrong as theist (ok mabye not quite). There is no proof of God, so why not take the position of not believing ... Read More
Does God Exist? Argument from Justice
Thursday August 24, 2006
This Argument from Justice starts from the premise that in this world virtuous people are not always happy and do not always get what they deserve while wicked people do ... Read More
Daily Poll: What Kinds of Music Do Atheists Like?
Thursday August 24, 2006
Divorce as a Sin and a Crime: Christianity, Marriage, and the State (Book Notes: Ungodly Women)
Thursday August 24, 2006
The arguments being used by the Christian Right today against gay marriage are not unique or sui generis. These arguments are an integral part of how the Christian Right views ... Read More
Understanding the Koran
Thursday August 24, 2006
Book of the Day: What the Koran Really Says: Language, Text, and Commentary, edited by Ibn Warraq.
Interest in Islam and the Qur'an has increased dramatically in recent months and years, ... Read More
Soren Kierkegaard & Existentialism
Wednesday August 23, 2006
Soren Kierkegaard was a Danish philosopher whose ideas about the nature of human freedom in an uncertain world make him one of the founders of the modern philosophy of existentialism, ... Read More
Ohio: Minister and Wife Charged with Child Pornography
Wednesday August 23, 2006
Christians like to claim that religion generally and Christianity in particular are necessary for morality. They also like to claim that so many problems in America today are due to ... Read More
Discussion: Reciprocal Justice?
Wednesday August 23, 2006
A forum member writes: Is there any philosophical justification for punishing a criminal equal to the amount of damage he has inflicted upon the victim? It seems to me that ... Read More
Top 10 Abortion Myths
Wednesday August 23, 2006
When conservatives make arguments against legalized abortion, it's far too common for them to base those arguments on misconceptions, misunderstandings, and myths about abortion - about what it is, how ... Read More
This Date in History: John Geoghan and Catholic Sexual Abuse
Wednesday August 23, 2006
August 23, 2003: John Geoghan, a former Roman Catholic priest who was implicated in a large number of cases of sexually abusing children over the course of many years, is ... Read More
Mailbag: Real Atheists
Wednesday August 23, 2006
From: "VLOWE2"
Subject: About Atheists
I have some good friends who are Atheists and are scientists. They claim a true Atheists would never spend a second wasting his time talking about Christianity, ... Read More
Why Are Atheists Disliked, Distrusted, and Discriminated Against?
Wednesday August 23, 2006
Atheists in modern America have more freedom and can be more open about their atheism than at any time in history. Paradoxically, this openness has led to more direct and ... Read More
Daily Poll: How Do You Feel About the War on Terrorism?
Wednesday August 23, 2006
Obscenity & Juries: If Pornography Harms, Why are Juries Subjected to It? (Book Notes: Government vs. Erotica)
Wednesday August 23, 2006
Over the decades government prosecutors at many levels have initiated criminal cases against so-called "obscenity." A common argument advanced for criminalizing obscene material is the idea that it harms those ... Read More
Democracy and Society
Wednesday August 23, 2006
Book of the Day: The Last, Best Hope: a Democracy Reader, by Stephen John Goodlad.
Just what is the basis of democracy - what are the conditions necessary for it and ... Read More
History of Celibacy in Roman Catholicism
Tuesday August 22, 2006
Celibacy has not always been a requirement for priests or other clergy members. Over time rules about the sexual abstinence grew out of the belief that sexual intercourse made a ... Read More
Bigots Continue to Attack Rainbow Flag in Kansas
Tuesday August 22, 2006
I wrote earlier about the bigoted attacks on the bed & breakfast in Kansas because the owners hung a rainbow flag out front. It wasn't meant as a statement on ... Read More
Lightning Strikes Agnostic
Tuesday August 22, 2006
I've written many times before about lightning striking religious believers, often while they are engaged in religious exercises or attending religious services in churches. Just how often does lightning strike ... Read More
Discussion: Taxes & Power
Tuesday August 22, 2006
A forum member writes: Most of us pay taxes. And my guess is that most of us don't like some of the places where our tax moneys are spent. So ... Read More
Connecticut Town Denies Field Permits During Church Time
Tuesday August 22, 2006
For a long time, blue laws in America ensured that the only thing happening on Sunday mornings, and perhaps all day Sunday, was church services. Stores were closed and most ... Read More
This Date in History: Council of Blood
Tuesday August 22, 2006
August 22, 1567: The "Council of Blood" was established by the Duke of Alba. Thousands of Dutch Protestants were convicted of treason and many were had to flee the Netherlands ... Read More
The Relationship Between Logic and Humor
Tuesday August 22, 2006
Logic is something hard, dense, and the occupation of dedicated scholars. Humor is light, entertaining, and accessible for everyone. Right? Maybe not - the truth is that there are many ... Read More
Mailbag: Shattered Visage
Tuesday August 22, 2006
From: "hiltop"
Subject: I was wondering...
Have you ever read the book 'A Shattered Visage'? It has challenged atheism to the core such that many are flocking out left and right; namely ... Read More
People in the Bible: Peter the Apostle (Simon Peter)
Tuesday August 22, 2006
Peter was one of the most important of Jesus' twelve apostles. Peter is known as Simon Peter, the son of Jona (or John) and brother of Andrew. The name Peter ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should Bishops Punish Pro-Choice Catholics?
Tuesday August 22, 2006
Incompatibility of Science and Religion (Book Notes: Philosophy in Crisis)
Tuesday August 22, 2006
[I]t is easy to see that science and religion are mutually exclusive rather than compatible. Indeed, science takes it for grated that the world is material and lawful rather than ... Read More
Religion and Atheism
Tuesday August 22, 2006
Book of the Day: Losing Faith in Faith: From Preacher to Atheist, by Dan Barker.
Is it possible for a fundamentalist preacher, dedicated to spreading the Word of God, to have ... Read More
Minnesota Christian Coalition Founder on the Run from Cops
Monday August 21, 2006
The Christian Coalition isn't what it used to be. Not long ago it was regarded as one of the most powerful political organizations in America. It far outstripped the Moral ... Read More
Catholicism: Married Catholic Priests
Monday August 21, 2006
You aren't likely to hear a great deal about married Roman Catholic priests, but they do exist. They are Roman Catholic priests and many are married - so many, in ... Read More
Christians Pressuring Museum to Hide Evidence of Evolution
Monday August 21, 2006
I've written before about how Kenya has had to hide it's irreplaceable and priceless collection of hominid fossils out of fear that Christians would come an destroy them. Right now, ... Read More
Discussion: Reasons to Support Abortion
Monday August 21, 2006
A forum member writes: A woman I work with has had constant infertility problems. 2 of her last pregnancies were stillborns because of a condition called Anencephaly: a defect in ... Read More
Kentucky Bans Infidel Texts in Schools
Monday August 21, 2006
For at least 100 years, the state of Kentucky has banned the use of "infidel" and other "immoral" books in public schools. No one's quite sure when the law was ... Read More
This Date in History: Roy Moore's Ten Commandments Monument
Monday August 21, 2006
August 21, 2003: Because Roy Moore refused to remove his Ten Commandments monument by the August 20th deadline, the associate Justices of Alabama Supreme Court unanimously overruled Moore and ordered ... Read More
Epistemology and Ignorance
Monday August 21, 2006
Citizens of democratic nations have a right to vote, but that right to participate in decisions about public policies comes with a responsibility: the responsibility to know enough to make ... Read More
Mailbag: Founders of Atheism
Monday August 21, 2006
From: "Willy"
Subject: Who Founded Atheism?
Isn't it funny that no matter how much you look through history you will find many of the leaders of atheism (Stalin, Lenin, Marx, Trotsky, etc.) ... Read More
Philosophy Basics: Famous American Philosophers
Monday August 21, 2006
This biographical index lists only famous America philosophers. Choosing who should and should not be included here is difficult. If a Russian philosopher studies in England and teaches at Harvard, ... Read More
Daily Poll: As An Atheist, Which Label Do You Use?
Monday August 21, 2006
Lethal Injection: Easier for the Condemned or for the Executioners? (Book Notes: Who Owns Death?)
Monday August 21, 2006
Many states across America now use lethal injection as the preferred or only method of execution. It is argued by defenders of the practice that lethal injection is more humane ... Read More
Law and Religion
Monday August 21, 2006
Book of the Day: Law and Religion - Current Legal Issues 2001 Volume 4, edited by Andrew Lewis and Richard O'Dair.
For most Americans, the relationship between law and religion is ... Read More
Americans Overwhelmingly Reject Science, Reason
Sunday August 20, 2006
The percentage of Americans who accept evolution as true is not only among the lowest in the developed world (only Turkey has a lower rate), but the numbers are declining. ... Read More
Should Catholic Priests Marry or Remain Celibate?
Sunday August 20, 2006
The opposition to ending the requirement of celibacy for Catholic priests is strong - but isn't it strange that, despite this requirement, there are so many married Catholic priests who ... Read More
Gen. H. Steven Blum Categorizes Atheists with Bigots
Sunday August 20, 2006
Religious bigotry towards atheists can pop up in the most surprising places. Sometimes people will express hostility towards atheism and atheists for no immediately apparent or good reason - it's ... Read More
Discussion: Prove that God Doesn’t Exist
Sunday August 20, 2006
A forum member writes: I would like to ask you to offer me proof that God does not exist. I find phrases such as "I believe" unacceptable... Christians are criticized ... Read More
What Does the Red Cross Mean?
Sunday August 20, 2006
Some people seem to think that the red cross which is used as a symbol by the American Red Cross and International Red Cross is a Christian symbol - and ... Read More
This Date in History: Rudolf Karl Bultmann
Sunday August 20, 2006
August 20, 1884: Rudolf Karl Bultmann was born. Bultmann was a German theologian and scholar in New Testament studies who, due to his research, concluded that nothing could reliably concluded ... Read More
The Importance of Logic and Philosophy
Sunday August 20, 2006
Few people in society today spend much time studying either philosophy of logic. This is unfortunate because so much relies on both: philosophy is a fundamental component to all areas ... Read More
Mailbag: Meaning and Purpose in Life, Part 2
Sunday August 20, 2006
From: "Mike"
Subject: a question
Look at it this way: if all you're living for is what is here and now, how can you ever be truly, deep down satisfied in the ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Jesus' Lesson of the Withered Fig Tree (Mark 11:20-26)
Sunday August 20, 2006
Jesus explains the power and importance of faith - it is faith in God that gave him the power to curse the fig tree and make it wither overnight and ... Read More
Daily Poll: Should Research into Human Cloning be Banned?
Sunday August 20, 2006
Cloning, Religion, and Ethics
Sunday August 20, 2006
Book of the Day: God and the Embryo: Religious Voices on Stem Cells and Cloning, edited by Brent Waters & Ronald Cole-Turner.
Biotechnology is advancing at a rapid pace - far ... Read More
Existentialism: Literary Existentialism
Saturday August 19, 2006
Because existentialism is treated as a 'lived' philosophy that is understood and explored through how one lives one's life rather than a 'system' that must be studied from books, it ... Read More
Church, State, and Building Codes
Saturday August 19, 2006
A number of times I've used building codes as an example of completely neutral laws which churches and other religious institutions should be expected to follow rather than ignore. I'm ... Read More
Discussion: Leaving Christianity
Saturday August 19, 2006
A forum member wrote: Well I decided after thinking about it long and hard that I don't want to be a Christian. ... I'm sorry but I can't follow a ... Read More
Bush Signs Bill, Feds Take Control of Soledad Cross
Saturday August 19, 2006
I've written many times about the efforts to get the city government of San Diego to follow the Constitution and take down the Christian cross from the war memorial on ... Read More
This Date in History: Battle of Manzikert
Saturday August 19, 2006
August 19, 1071: Battle of Manzikert: Alp Arslan leads an army of Seljuk Turks against the Byzantine Empire near Lake Van. Numbering perhaps as many as 100,000 men, the Turks ... Read More
Mailbag: Meaning and Purpose in Life, Part 1
Saturday August 19, 2006
From: "Mike"
Subject: a question
Just wondering: if you don't believe in God, what do you believe in? Lights out? Reincarnation? Just curious.
I believe lots of things, but I take it that ... Read More
Evolution Basics: Overview Lower Court Decisions on Evolution and Creationism
Saturday August 19, 2006
Most legal conflicts over creationism and evolution never reach the Supreme Court. Those which have been decided in lower courts are also important, and this overview takes a look at ... Read More
Daily Poll: Cloning Animals for Human Organs?
Saturday August 19, 2006
Christianity, Violence, and Holy Wars (Book Notes: Fighting For Christendom)
Saturday August 19, 2006
Christians often preach a religion of peace; the history of Christianity, though, is marked by rivers of blood shed in the name of righteous, religious causes. There is something incongruous ... Read More
Isaac Asimov
Saturday August 19, 2006
Book of the Day: It's Been A Good Life, by Isaac Asimov.
Who was Isaac Asimov, really? Where did he come from, what did he do and why did he do ... Read More
Demographics of World Christianity
Friday August 18, 2006
People are often interested in statistics concerning how many people in the world are Christian, how many actually go to church, how many Christians are Catholic, and so on. Unfortunately, ... Read More
Texas Church Fighting Rap Music
Friday August 18, 2006
Conservative Christians have a long history fighting just about every aspect of modern culture which comes along. Rock music, close dancing, short skirts, Harry Potter... you name it and conservative ... Read More
Discussion: Tom Cruise & Scientology
Friday August 18, 2006
A forum member writes: Faiths that mooch money from their members, brainwash or don't care about member's well-being are faiths that I have no acceptance for.
The Church of Scientology does ... Read More
Catholics Leading the Fight to Break Up American Protestant Churches?
Friday August 18, 2006
I have come across something more disturbing than perhaps anything else I have read in the past several years. I have written many times about the Institute on Religion and ... Read More
This Date in History: Pope Paul IV and the Inquisition
Friday August 18, 2006
August 18, 1559: Pope Paul IV died. Paul was so unpopular that, after he died, a mob stormed the Inquisition and tore down his statue.
Empathy and the Uniqueness of Human Beings
Friday August 18, 2006
Most people would probably agree that empathy not only exists, but is in fact an important and fundamental aspect of being human. Anyone not capable of empathy is regarded as ... Read More
Mailbag: Why Go On Living?
Friday August 18, 2006
From: "Atmos"
Subject: Simple questions
First off, I'll just say that yes, I am a Christian. I'm starting this discussion because I want to know what makes you (aetheists/agnostics) believe what you ... Read More
Church & State Fundamentals: Separation of Church and State Myth: Is It In The Constitution?
Friday August 18, 2006
It is true that the phrase ‘separation of church and state‘ does not actually appear anywhere in the Constitution. There is a problem, however, in that some people draw incorrect ... Read More
Daily Poll: Can People be Trusted to Know what the Want?
Friday August 18, 2006
Economics of Journalism: Is Journalism a Business or Public Service? (Book Notes: Into the Buzzsaw)
Friday August 18, 2006
Journalists are an important part of democratic society. In a democracy, the people make decisions about who should govern, but they can only make good decisions if they are allowed ... Read More
Brains, Biology, and Gods
Friday August 18, 2006
Book of the Day: The 'God' Part of the Brain: A Scientific Interpretation of Human Spirituality and God, by Matthew Alper.
Does a "God" exist, or is belief in gods actually ... Read More
Atheism & Existentialism
Thursday August 17, 2006
Although there is no denying that many Christian and even some Jewish theologians have made use of existentialist themes in their writings, it remains a fact that existentialism is much ... Read More
Focus on the Family Fighting for Religious Flag-Folding Ceremony
Thursday August 17, 2006
Not too long ago, the flag-folding ceremony at Air Force funerals included aspects that explicitly endorsed Christianity. The government recently eliminated a number of religious aspects to the ceremony without ... Read More
Discussion: Astrology
Thursday August 17, 2006
A forum member writes: Astrology drives me mad. I simply can't see why anyone would believe it. It baffles me. So, can anyone tell me...is there ANY evidence that astrology ... Read More
Christian Right: Boy Scouts Don't Need to Follow the Law
Thursday August 17, 2006
The Christian Right doesn't like the fact that discrimination and bigotry come with a price and have consequences. They fought hard to make sure that the Boy Scouts were declared ... Read More
This Date in History: Buddhism vs. Catholicism in Vietnam
Thursday August 17, 2006
August 17, 1963: Pope Paul VI appealed to President Diem of Vietnam to end the religious crisis that had been plaguing Vietnam through much of the year. Six Buddhist monks ... Read More
Evangelical Christians and American Politics
Thursday August 17, 2006
Conservative evangelical Christians disingenuously argue that their primary concern is that religion play a respected role in policy debates. The truth is that they are primarily concerned with having policies ... Read More
Does God Exist? God is Free
Thursday August 17, 2006
One attribute which does not receive a lot of individual attention, but which is commonly assumed when discussing other attributes, is the idea that God is absolutely and perfectly free. ... Read More
Daily Poll: Is Bush Too Beholden to the Christian Right?
Thursday August 17, 2006
Metaphysical Illusions and the Limits of Reason (Book Notes: Walking the Tightrope of Reason)
Thursday August 17, 2006
We all want to understand what is going on in the world around us. We want sensible explanations that make the world intelligible and help us find our place in ... Read More
The Nature of Science
Thursday August 17, 2006
Book of the Day: Einstein's Luck: The Truth Behind Some of the Greatest Scientific Discoveries, by John Waller.
A common perception of science tends to focus upon a few great figures ... Read More
Existentialism: Angst - Dread, Anxiety, and Anguish
Wednesday August 16, 2006
As a general principle, existentialist philosophers have emphasized the importance of psychologically critical moments where basic truths about human nature and existence come crashing down upon us, upsetting our preconceptions ... Read More
Did Ralph Reed Manipulate the Christian Right for Personal Power?
Wednesday August 16, 2006
At one time, Ralph Reed was one of the most powerful members of the Christian Right. After he left the Christian Coalition (in the nick of time - coincidence?), he ... Read More
Discussion: Future of Science in America
Wednesday August 16, 2006
A forum member writes: The National Science board sent the President a report on the availability of scientists in the future which concludes that not enough students are studying science ... Read More
Katie Holmes: Education Proceeding On Schedule
Wednesday August 16, 2006
Many people have expressed concern for Katie Holmes' relationship with Tom Cruise because they fear that her involvement with the Church of Scientology will do her more harm than good. ... Read More
This Date in History: Same-Sex Marriage in Canada
Wednesday August 16, 2006
August 16, 2004: In Canada, federal justice minister Irwin Cotler announces that the federal government will cease resisting court efforts to require provincial governments to provide marriage licenses to same-sex ... Read More
Mailbag: Repent!
Wednesday August 16, 2006
From: "PastorPablo"
Subject: You need to Repent!
Hi my name is Paul and I am a Christian. I am also trying to win converts to Christ on this web site. It would ... Read More
Agnosticism Basics: What is Agnosticism?
Wednesday August 16, 2006
The term agnosticism is used primarily for a single issue: do any gods exist or not? Those who disclai