Is It Art? Charles Merrill & Desecration of Holy Books
Tuesday July 31, 2007
Charles MerrillPhoto Courtesy of Charles Merrill
The name Charles Merrill is most commonly associated with the co-founder of Merrill Lynch, an important stock brokerage. It's also the name of his cousin, ... Read More
Epistemology: Custom, Tradition, and Authority
Tuesday July 31, 2007
A criterion of truth is any standard that is used to differentiate between true beliefs and false beliefs. Criteria of truth are also often called standards of verification because they ... Read More
Hindus Ask 2008 Candidates to Denounce Christian Bigotry
Tuesday July 31, 2007
When I wrote about the rampant Christian bigotry that arose in reaction to the presence of a Hindu chaplain daring to give the opening prayer in the Senate, I noted ... Read More
Comment of the Week: Morality of Believing in a Vengeful God
Tuesday July 31, 2007
Christians frequently try to portray their god as a loving, benevolent god, but this ignores the long history of Christian theology which includes a great deal about their god being ... Read More
Why Does the Christian Right Hate Harry Potter?
Monday July 30, 2007
Harry Potter Book BurningChrist Community Church, 2001Alamogordo, New Mexico
Photo: Neil Jacobs / Getty Images
Now that the final Harry Potter book has been released, have we seen the end of fundamentalist ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Gospel Parables of Jesus
Monday July 30, 2007
One of the most prominent features of the four canonical gospels in the New Testament is the parables attributed to Jesus. Estimates usually place the number of parables somewhere between ... Read More
Guilty Plea in Plot to Blow Up Abortion Clinic
Monday July 30, 2007
In April, I wrote about an incident where an IED was left outside an abortion clinic in Austin, Texas. Paul Ross Evans was arrested shortly thereafter and he has pled ... Read More
Book of the Week: Truth: A Guide
Monday July 30, 2007
Image CourtesyPricegrabber.com
Everyone is familiar with the concept of 'truth,' or at least they think they are. People use the word 'truth' quite a lot, but the history of philosophy is ... Read More
Why Did Pat Tillman Really Die? Friendly Fire or Murder?
Sunday July 29, 2007
Pat TillmanPhoto © Department of Army
Corporal Patrick Tillman was just one of many American soldiers to have died in the Middle East since George W. Bush launched his invasions of ... Read More
Skepticism & Astrology: Astrology and Psychology
Sunday July 29, 2007
Why do people believe in astrology? The answer to the question lies very much in the same realm as why people believe in just about any superstition and even many ... Read More
Fired for Being an Atheist & Disagreeing with Anti-Arab Bigotry
Sunday July 29, 2007
Given the widespread prevalence of anti-atheist bigotry in America, it's surprising that there aren't more reports about active discrimination against atheists. Perhaps the bigotry isn't strong enough to cause discrimination ... Read More
Mailbag: Christianity Under Attack
Sunday July 29, 2007
From: "Boon"
Subject: Christianity Under Attack
Unfortunately, you are a carnal-minded person, who really needs to seek God for yourself....If you think that my statement was suppose to make you see, you ... Read More
America as a Christian Nation, America as a White Nation
Saturday July 28, 2007
Ku Klux Klan Rally in CincinnatiPhoto: Tom Uhlman / Getty
I've written more than once about how claims and arguments about America being a Christian Nation are equally valid for America ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Jesus' Exorcisms in the New Testament - Casting Out Demons
Saturday July 28, 2007
Image Source: Jupiter Images
The belief that people can be inhabited or even possessed by evil spirits has been a common feature of many societies. Concomitant with this is the presence ... Read More
Increasing Atheism? Reporting on Religion Leads to Loss of Faith
Saturday July 28, 2007
It's been my experience that the more one learns about religion, religious history, and religious behavior, the harder it is to retain religious convictions or even faith in the existence ... Read More
Bigotry & Discrimination Against Atheists & Godless Liberals in America
Saturday July 28, 2007
Critics pretend that godless Americans are part of a massive conspiracy to deny Christians their religious liberties. The truth is that the godless are a small minority in America with ... Read More
God Killed Your Dad to Punish Your Future Atheism
Friday July 27, 2007
No matter how much religious believer protest that their god is a "loving" and "merciful" god, it cannot be avoided that the god of western monotheistic religions is consistently portrayed ... Read More
Atheism Basics: Definition of Atheism in Reference Books
Friday July 27, 2007
The works cited here are all specialized reference materials designed not to provide general information for a general audience but, rather, information on specific topics like religion, sociology, or other ... Read More
Fred Thompson Gaining Credibility with Christian Right
Friday July 27, 2007
Fred Thompson, 2007Photo: J. Emilio Flores / Getty Images
America's Christian Right appears to be underwhelmed with the quality of the politicians vying to become the Republican candidate for president. The ... Read More
10 Things You Don't Know About Jehovah's Witnesses
Friday July 27, 2007
Some atheists enjoy debating religion and have a lot of experience with traditional Christian doctrines, but they may find themselves unprepared for that Jehovah's Witness who comes knocking at their ... Read More
J.K. Rowling Gets Death Threats Over Harry Potter
Thursday July 26, 2007
J.K. Rowling with'Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows'Photo: Cate Gillon / Getty Images
Americans have had to live with Christian extremists for so long that it can be difficult to realize ... Read More
Church & State Myths: The Constitution Reflects Christian Principles And Morals
Thursday July 26, 2007
On common argument offered by those opposed to the strict separation of church and state is the idea that the Constitution somehow embodies or at least reflects fundamental Christian morals ... Read More
Michael Vick & Dog Fighting: Can Christians Say Dog Fighting is Evil?
Thursday July 26, 2007
Michael Vick, 2006Photo: Doug Pensinger / Getty Images
One of the strongest arguments against the traditional gods of western monotheistic religions is the Argument from Evil even most theists acknowledge ... Read More
Weekly Poll: Are Conservative Complaints About Morality Really About Sex?
Thursday July 26, 2007
Sherwin T. Wine, Founder of Humanistic Judaism: 1928-2007
Wednesday July 25, 2007
Sherwin Wine started his career as an orthodox rabbi, but he later founded Humanistic Judaism "a fifth denomination" of Judaism alongside Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, and Reconstructionist. He retired in ... Read More
C.S. Lewis and Naturalism
Wednesday July 25, 2007
C.S. Lewis wanted to explain nature on the basis of his supernatural god; as a consequence, naturalistic explanations for nature represented a major threat - just as it does for ... Read More
Democratic Candidates on Religion & Politics: Who's Selling Out America Now?
Wednesday July 25, 2007
YouTube-CNN Debate, July 23Photo: Stephen Morton / Getty Images
For the most part, Democrats have proven to be far better than Republicans when it comes to maintaining the separation of church ... Read More
Forum Discussion: Vacation Bible Schools as Evangelical Training Camps
Wednesday July 25, 2007
Evangelism and proselytization are important features of many religions, including Christianity. Christians will "share" their beliefs with anyone they come across if they are given half a chance. They believe ... Read More
Priest Stole $200,000 for Trips, Married Male Stripper
Tuesday July 24, 2007
Rev. Mark Sorvillo used to be parish priest at St. Margaret Mary on Chicago's North Side. More recently, though, Sorvillo pleaded guilty to stealing nearly USD $200,000 from his church. ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Original Sin in the Bible
Tuesday July 24, 2007
The first mention of the concept of Original Sin is found, not in Genesis, where the fatal event was supposed to happen, but in the fifth chapter of Romans, written ... Read More
Coy Privette, Baptist Minister, Opposes Gambling but Aids Prostitution
Tuesday July 24, 2007
Coy C. Privette, a retired Baptist minister and former president of the Christian Action League in North Carolina, was suspended from the the board of directors of this organization ... Read More
Comment of the Week: Religion Hurts So Many People
Tuesday July 24, 2007
If religion is a force for good, why does it hurt so many people in so many ways? If belief in god is necessary for morality, why is so much ... Read More
Reasonable Religion? Killing Gays in the Name of God
Monday July 23, 2007
If religion is so reasonable and good, why do so many people commit so much violence on behalf of religious beliefs and what they think their god wants? Secular atheists ... Read More
Parapsychology: Parapsychological Research: Testing Psychics and Parapsychology
Monday July 23, 2007
Parapsychology tries to distinguish itself from run-of-the-mill psychics and reports of paranormal phenomena by its emphasis on science. If parapsychology is to make any of it respectable, it is through ... Read More
Fawning Over Tammy Faye: What About the Victims of Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker?
Monday July 23, 2007
Tammy Faye in 2005Photo: Frederick M. Brown / Getty
Tammy Faye Messner has died after an extended bout with cancer. Stories about her life and death have been all over the ... Read More
Book of the Week: Moral Reckoning: The Role of the Catholic Church in the Holocaust
Monday July 23, 2007
Although the debate over the actions of the Catholic Church during World War II and the Holocaust has been very heated for a relatively short period of time, quite a ... Read More
Crusade in the Middle East: Bush's Religious War, Religious Presidency
Sunday July 22, 2007
George W. Bush in PrayerPhoto: Pool / Getty Images
The Bush administration has tried to offer a lot of different excuses for invading and occupying Iraq: weapons of mass destruction, aiding ... Read More
Philosophy Profile - Aesthetics: The Philosophy of Art, Beauty and Perception
Sunday July 22, 2007
Aesthetics is the study of beauty and taste, whether in the form of the comic, the tragic or the sublime. The word derives from the Greek aisthetikos, meaning 'of sense ... Read More
Rabbi Marc Rubenstein: Atheists Cannot be Moral, Just, Intelligent
Sunday July 22, 2007
Atheists are frequently accused of being intolerant, rude, and disrespectful towards religious theists, but such accusations often appear to be predicated on the assumption that religious belief itself shouldn't be ... Read More
Mailbag: Respecting Religion
Sunday July 22, 2007
From: Sam
Subject: Intolerance
u say "irreligious atheists disagree with religious theism, say it is wrong, argue that it's harmful, and want people to change"
to say that religion or religious beliefs are ... Read More
Casper, Wyoming, Creates Lame Excuse to Promote Ten Commandments
Saturday July 21, 2007
The city of Casper, Wyoming had a Ten Commandments monument in the public plaza, but they had to move it because it represented a privileging of Christianity and Christian beliefs. ... Read More
Papacy: Pope John Paul II, Darwin, and Evolution
Saturday July 21, 2007
In America one is accustomed to seeing religious figures condemn evolutionary theory and argue that teaching evolution is incompatible with Christianity. Catholicism, however, not only doesn't reject evolution but in ... Read More
Theists' Real Objection: Rejecting Their God
Saturday July 21, 2007
So often religious theists complain about atheists being "rude" and "intolerant" towards religious beliefs, but sometimes their complaints reveal that something more is going on. Sometimes, it becomes clear that ... Read More
Myth: Equality is a Christian Principle and is Based on Christianity
Saturday July 21, 2007
Among the many things which some Christians try to take credit for is the ideal of human equality that lies behind modern democratic institutions. Democracy functions on the premise that ... Read More
Creationism, Science, and Authority: Authoritarianism Behind Creationism
Friday July 20, 2007
Creationism, Science, and Authority: Authoritarianism Behind Creationism
Creationism is both a religious and a political ideology which exists to attack naturalistic science because science is a threat to traditional, authoritarian religion ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Synoptic Gospel Problem: Comparing and Contrasting the Three Synoptic Gospels
Friday July 20, 2007
The first three gospels - Mark, Matthew, and Luke - are very similar. So similar, in fact, that their parallels cannot be explained by mere coincidence. The problem here has ... Read More
Masculinity & Conservative Christianity: Carlson vs. Obama
Friday July 20, 2007
Tucker CarlsonPhoto: Evan Agostini / Getty Images
Many people don't realize how strong the connection can be between political conservatism, religious conservatism, and protestations of hyper-masculinity. Almost anywhere you look, conservative ... Read More
Coming Out as an Atheist to Jehovah's Witnesses and the Watchtower Society
Friday July 20, 2007
Have you ever decided to come out as an atheist to your friends and family, only to have them react with anger or outright denial? Any atheist not just ... Read More
Homer Simpson vs. Cerne Abbas Giant: Pagans Pray for Rain
Thursday July 19, 2007
Located on a hill near the village of Cerne Abbas, north of Dorchester, England, is a giant chalk drawing of a naked man. Measuring 55 meters high and 51 meters ... Read More
Harry Potter: Does Harry Potter Promote Wicca or Witchcraft?
Thursday July 19, 2007
The Harry Potter books written by J.K. Rowling have sustained consistent attack from the Christian Right because of how they portray witchcraft. According to Christian critics, the Harry Potter books ... Read More
Conservative Christians: Being Feminine Means Childlike, Submissive, Demure
Thursday July 19, 2007
Image © Austin Cline
Original Poster:Library of Congress
One of the leading principles of conservative Christianity is the need to divide society along strict hierarchal lines. There must always be those above ... Read More
Weekly Poll: Should Judges Swear to God?
Thursday July 19, 2007
Why is there Something Rather than Nothing?
Wednesday July 18, 2007
A popular question which religious theists try to use to stump atheists is "why is there something rather than nothing." Religious theists think that only the existence of some god ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Strangers and the Bible: Status of Strangers in Old Testament Laws
Wednesday July 18, 2007
One of the issues worth looking at is how those from other tribes and nations were to be treated. It is unsurprising for people to wish to treat their extended ... Read More
Swedish Hotel Scandic Privileges Christianity, Christian Beliefs
Wednesday July 18, 2007
Not long ago, I wrote about how the Scandic Hotel chain in Sweden had decided to stop privileging Christianity by automatically including Bibles in every room. Instead, a collection of ... Read More
Forum Discussion: Christianity's Terminal Paradox
Wednesday July 18, 2007
There are a lot of arguments against the truth or reasonableness of Christianity. It's not a surprise that many arguments can be based on internal contradictions in Christianity both because ... Read More
Secular Science vs. Religious Pseudoscience: Turkish Scientists Confront Creationists
Tuesday July 17, 2007
Image Source:Jupiter Images
Turkey is probably the biggest producer and consumer of creationist pseudo-science outside of the United States. I'm not sure if anyone has explained exactly why this might be ... Read More
Parapsychology: Lack of Theoretical Foundation for Parapsychology
Tuesday July 17, 2007
Although science is driven by data, strong theoretical foundations must exist in order to explain that data. Otherwise, all we have is a collection of possibly related facts, and what ... Read More
Comparing Apples and Oranges: What Does Atheism Have to Justify?
Tuesday July 17, 2007
Perhaps one of the most common mistakes I see made by religious theists usually Christians when they try to discuss and critique atheism is the attempt to pretend ... Read More
Comment of the Week: What Do Atheists Believe In?
Tuesday July 17, 2007
Atheists don't believe in any gods, that much should be obvious, but is there any way to generalize about what atheists do believe in? Religious theists sometimes express exasperation over ... Read More
Queensland, Australia Favors Supernaturalism, Rejects Humanism
Monday July 16, 2007
In Queensland, Australia, schools allow "ministers of religion" (priests, pastors, rabbis, imams, etc.) to teach students about their religion. These classes are not the sort of objective, scholarly presentations which ... Read More
Harry Potter: Christian Censorship of Harry Potter
Monday July 16, 2007
The Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling are not only popular with children, they are popular with Christian censors as well. Harry Potter books have consistently been among the most ... Read More
Karris Golden, Faith Columnist, Misrepresents Atheism
Monday July 16, 2007
Newspapers around America have sections and columns dedicated to faith and religion. Rarely, if ever, do atheism, humanism, or freethought get any sort of attention the presumption appears to ... Read More
Book of the Week: End of the Republican Era
Monday July 16, 2007
The takeover of the Republican Party by conservative evangelical Christians is one of the most important political developments of the 20th century. The culmination of this takeover will play out ... Read More
Religious Book Seller Struck Down by Lightning
Sunday July 15, 2007
It's common for religious believers to think that they may be surrounded by 'signs" sent by a god or gods that are supposed to provide information about what those gods ... Read More
Religious Authority: Heresy as Intra-Religious Conflict
Sunday July 15, 2007
The term heresy comes from the Greek haireisthai, which means to choose. It came to refer to the act of holding very unorthodox and/or unpopular religious opinions. Technically speaking, then, ... Read More
Why are Atheist Books Selling Well?
Sunday July 15, 2007
Dennis PragerPhoto: Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images
Although the label "new atheism" gets used a lot, there is little that's "new" about atheism today except perhaps for the presence of a couple of ... Read More
Mailbag: Atheists are Fools
Sunday July 15, 2007
From: Arv
Subject: Atheists are Fools
By the way, if anyones states there is no God, logic would seem to indicate you would have to be God to know that. Only God ... Read More
Christians Threatening Evolutionary Biologists?
Saturday July 14, 2007
At the Boulder campus of the University of Colorado, professors of biology are probably looking over the shoulders and being extra careful right now. Starting July 6, someone or some ... Read More
Atheism Basics: Definition of Atheism for Early Freethinkers
Saturday July 14, 2007
Atheists and freethinkers have defined atheism relatively consistently over the past couple of centuries. Although a few have focused solely on the sense of 'strong' atheism, many more have differentiated ... Read More
Christians Fail to Halt Sunday Alcohol Sales in Wichita, Kansas
Saturday July 14, 2007
In April, the Wichita City Council approved the sale of alcohol on Sundays. A local Christian church opposed to Sunday alcohol sales immediately began a petition drive to force the ... Read More
Myth: Democracy is Based on Christian Principles, Requires Christianity
Saturday July 14, 2007
The ideal of democracy is such an important aspect of American history, government, and politics that it has become part of how Americans identify themselves. Many Americans also construct their ... Read More
Christian Right Objecting to Hindu Prayers in Senate
Friday July 13, 2007
For the first time in history, a Hindu chaplain has delivered the opening prayer at the start of session of the U.S. Senate. Rajan Zed of Reno, Nevada, had already ... Read More
Skepticism & Astrology: Who Cares About Astrology?
Friday July 13, 2007
Why bother to critique astrology at all? Even if it doesn't "work," isn't it harmless? Aren't skeptical critiques just a waste of time? Because of its general popularity, people are ... Read More
Authoritarian Church Denies Other Churches are Fully Christian
Friday July 13, 2007
Pope Benedict XVI in AssisiPhoto: Franco Origlia/Getty Images
The Vatican has released a document that is making a lot of waves and producing a lot of negative reaction. According to this ... Read More
Myth: Atheists and the Atheistic World View Don't Allow for Forgiveness
Friday July 13, 2007
I've encountered many different and unusual myths about atheists and atheism, most of which depend upon making assumptions about atheists without paying attention to who they are or what they ... Read More
Christian Mother Opposes Atheism Books Corrupting Kids in Schools
Thursday July 12, 2007
Image © Austin Cline
Original Poster:Library of Congress
Christians can go so far in their abhorrence to atheism that they will even object to the possibility of their children learning about atheism. ... Read More
Is Gambling a Sin? is Christianity a Gamble?
Thursday July 12, 2007
Is gambling a sin for Christians? There's a lot of debate about this question in Christian circles, and not all Christians agree on whether there is something wrong with gambling ... Read More
Discrimination Against Lesbians, Atheists
Thursday July 12, 2007
Lindy Vivas, once the women's volleyball coach for Fresno State University, is suing her former employer for $4.1 million and claiming that her contract was not renewed because of her ... Read More
Weekly Poll: When is a Religious Employer Not Religious?
Thursday July 12, 2007
Magic & Superstition: Catholic School Shuns Child Named Hell
Wednesday July 11, 2007
In Melbourne, Australia, a Catholic school originally refused to admit a new student whose last name is "Hell." Rather than a reference to Christianity's place of eternal torment, this is ... Read More
Church & State Fundamentals: Critiques of Secularism
Wednesday July 11, 2007
Needless to say, secularism had not always been regarded as a universal good. Even today, there are many who not only fail to find secularism and the process of secularization ... Read More
Christian Ideologues Muzzled Surgeon General to Silence Science
Wednesday July 11, 2007
Surgeon General Richard CarmonaTestifying in 2003Photo: Alex Wong / Getty Images
It's long been known that the Bush administration, motivated by religious extremism and ideology, has gone to great lengths to ... Read More
Forum Discussion: Prove the Existence of God
Wednesday July 11, 2007
Does God exist? Religious theists like Christians certainly think so, but they have a hard time proving it or even just explaining how their belief is reasonable. Under other ... Read More
George W. Bush on Religious Liberty
Tuesday July 10, 2007
President George W. Bush,National Catholic Prayer BreakfastPhoto: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
Does George W. Bush, President of the United States, believe in religious liberty? He should, if he's going to lead a ... Read More
Atheism Basics: How Modern Dictionaries Define Atheism
Tuesday July 10, 2007
What is the definition of atheism? How do atheists define atheism? How do dictionaries define atheism? A common theme throughout the definitions here is the primary use of 'disbelieve' when ... Read More
Christian Terrorist Cell Caught in Texas
Tuesday July 10, 2007
While the American government continues to try keeping people afraid of brown, foreign, Muslim terrorists, it may be that home-grown terrorist cells made up of white Christians have been developing. ... Read More
Comment of the Week: Christians who Disfellowship
Tuesday July 10, 2007
I published an article recently about the practice of disfellowshipping among Jehovah's Witnesses, but they aren't the only Christian denomination to engage in such a practice. I did mention the ... Read More
Matthew Nisbet on Atheists & Atheism
Monday July 9, 2007
One of the more vocal critics of atheists and atheism today is the rather unlikely Matthew Nisbet. Although he does not express any open and deliberate hostility towards atheism, he ... Read More
Godless Liberalism, Godless Liberals, and Godless Politics
Monday July 9, 2007
Politics in America is a very religious affair: religion infuses politics to a degree not found in most other industrialized nations of the West. The label godless, and especially godless ... Read More
Keith Ellison, Muslim Congressman, Speaks Before Atheist Group
Monday July 9, 2007
Keith EllisonPhoto: Mark Wilson / Getty Images
Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, recently spoke at a meeting of the Minneapolis-based Atheists for Human Rights ... Read More
Book of the Week: Baptized in Blood: The Religion of the Lost Cause, 1865-1920
Monday July 9, 2007
The American South is called the "Bible Belt" for good reasons: religion is much more a part of culture, politics, and the general social order than it is in other ... Read More
Chris Hedges In Denial About Religion & Fundamentalism
Sunday July 8, 2007
His recent book on the fascist tendencies in America's Christian Right has given Chris Hedges an aura of authority when it comes to religion and religious extremism in American culture. ... Read More
Lord, Liar, or Lunatic: C.S. Lewis and the Jesus Trilemma
Sunday July 8, 2007
Is Jesus really whom he is reported to have said he was? Was Jesus really the Son of God? C.S. Lewis believed so and also believed that he had a ... Read More
John Burnside: Zealous Critique of Religion, Theism is Irrational
Sunday July 8, 2007
There have been a lot of negative reactions to the few recent books written by secular atheists to criticize religion, theism, and religious beliefs. These negative reactions are valuable because ... Read More
Mailbag: Is Atheism a Philosophy or Belief System?
Sunday July 8, 2007
From: John
Subject: Atheism is not a philosophy?
You got to be kidding me??? Atheism is indeed a philosophy and a belief system.
No, it's the truth. Atheism is no more a belief ... Read More
Going To or From Church? Can't Be Arrested in Ohio
Saturday July 7, 2007
In Ohio, if you are traveling to or from work, you can be arrested. If you're traveling to or from a union meeting, you can be arrested. Traveling to or ... Read More
Church & State Fundamentals: Secularism vs. Secularization
Saturday July 7, 2007
Although secularism and secularization are closely related, they nevertheless differ because they do not necessarily offer the same answer to the question of the role of religion in society. Secularism ... Read More
Did the Vatican Steal Jesus' Foreskin?
Saturday July 7, 2007
One of the most interesting of all medieval relics would have to be Jesus' foreskin. There were several bits of allegedly divine flesh kept in churches around Europe, all supposedly ... Read More
Myth: Atheist Morality is Parasitic, Borrowing from Christian Culture
Saturday July 7, 2007
A popular argument used by Christians against atheists is to claim that atheists are only moral because they have inherited moral values from the "Christian" cultures in which they live. ... Read More
God Judging America Because of Atheists, or Gays?
Friday July 6, 2007
Graham Dow, Bishop of CarlislePhoto: Christopher Furlong / Getty Images
It wasn't that long ago in human history when it was commonly believed that whatever good or ill befell a community ... Read More
C.S. Lewis and Faith: Defending Faith in God by using Reason
Friday July 6, 2007
Christian apologist C.S. Lewis had a curious relationship with faith. On the one hand, he couldn't very well deny the importance of faith because it has been a core component ... Read More
Anti-Atheist Bigotry, Stereotypes Cause Real Harm
Friday July 6, 2007
Christians and other religious theists don't seem to realize just how much harm and damage they can cause with their bigoted, anti-atheist stereotypes. Bigotry of any sort can genuinely hurt ... Read More
From Jehovah's Witness to Atheist: Life Outside The Watchtower Society
Friday July 6, 2007
Many Jehovah's Witnesses are taught that life outside the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society is filled with wickedness and pointless misery. But what happens when one of them becomes an ... Read More
It's the Mere Presence of Outsiders that Infuriates the Christian Right
Thursday July 5, 2007
I've written before about how it's not so much specific religious or political positions which infuriates the Christian Right, but rather their mere presence. Being an atheist, gay, Muslim, or ... Read More
Church & State Fundamentals: Religion in a Secular Society
Thursday July 5, 2007
If secularism opposes the public support of religion or the presence of ecclesiastical authorities simultaneously exercising public authority, what role is left for religion in a secular society? Is religion ... Read More
The Dark Side of Diversity, or the Dark Side of Christianity?
Thursday July 5, 2007
Conservative and fundamentalist religion rely heavily on fear both fear of hell on the theological side and fear of dark, mysterious "enemies" on the political side. In the past, ... Read More
Weekly Poll: Should Atheists Be Allowed to Marry?
Thursday July 5, 2007
Does Voting in a Church Endorse the Views of the Church?
Wednesday July 4, 2007
It's far too common in America for people to have to go to church in order to vote. Rather than use public and neutral sites so people can vote for ... Read More
Ethics and Morality: Deontology and Ethics
Wednesday July 4, 2007
Deontological moral systems are characterized primarily by a focus upon adherence to independent moral rules or duties. Thus, in order to make the correct moral choices, we simply have to ... Read More
Be a Better Christian: Become an Atheist
Wednesday July 4, 2007
Christians promote a lot of values which sound great in theory, but for some reason rarely get translated very well into practice. It's common, for example, to hear Christians extolling ... Read More
Forum Discussion: Why Does 'God' Get Credit for My Accomplishments?
Wednesday July 4, 2007
It's common to find religious believers, and Christians in particular, attributing good events to the will and intervention of their god. If they get a raise, it's because of their ... Read More
Mitt Romney Getting Grilled on Religion, But Evades Questions
Tuesday July 3, 2007
Mitt RomneyPhoto: Getty / Scott Olson
Christian Supremacism in America has helped ensure that non-Christians have little access to the highest elected offices, especially the presidency. Christians themselves don't typically question ... Read More
Parapsychology: Unreliable Eyewitness Testimony and Memory
Tuesday July 3, 2007
Reports from eyewitnesses play an important role in the development and propagation of both religious and paranormal beliefs. People are often ready to believe the personal reports of what others ... Read More
Questioning Atheists? Critical Atheists? Passionate Atheists?
Tuesday July 3, 2007
If it's true that all publicity is good publicity, then the increase in articles in the mainstream media about atheism and atheists should be a good thing, regardless of how ... Read More
Comment of the Week: Acting in the Name of Religion
Tuesday July 3, 2007
A common criticism of religion is how so many people commit so much violence in the name of their religion even religions which purport to be peaceful belief systems. ... Read More
Alabama Governor Encourages Superstition
Monday July 2, 2007
Governor Bob RileyPhoto: Getty / Mark Wilson
Alabama is experiencing a drought. Instead of trying to do anything substantive and useful, Governor Bob Riley is encouraging people to pray for more ... Read More
Epistemology: Majority Opinion - Criteria of Truth Based Upon What Others Think
Monday July 2, 2007
Many people seem to base their ideas about what is 'true' and what is 'false' upon some form of majority opinion. Sometimes this takes the form of a simple majority ... Read More
Law & Order Republicans Won't Persecute Polygamists?
Monday July 2, 2007
Christian claims to be defenders of traditional morality typically go hand-in-hand with Republican claims to being defenders of law & order. Defending morality and law appear to take a back ... Read More
Book of the Week: Conversations on Consciousness: What the Best Minds Think about the Brain
Monday July 2, 2007
What is the nature of consciousness? What does it mean to be me or to be you? These are among the most difficult and arresting questions being researched by scientists ... Read More
Christians Threaten Library Over Summer Reading Program?
Sunday July 1, 2007
Christian demands that government and cultural institutions be limited by narrow theological doctrines can get quite extreme at times. Sometimes it's just a matter of complaining to authorities when institutions ... Read More
Parapsychology: Scientists vs. Illusionists in Testing Parapsychology
Sunday July 1, 2007
Much research into the existence of psychic phenomena utilizes a false dilemma as a fundamental premise. Stated simply, it is alleged that those who have researched these phenomena and have ... Read More
Louisiana Courthouse Challenged Over Jesus Portrait
Sunday July 1, 2007
Why would officials at a courthouse imagine that it would be remotely appropriate to hang a special portrait of Jesus inside? It would be difficult to imagine a secular context ... Read More
Raising Godless Children: What Should Atheist Parents Do for their Children?
Sunday July 1, 2007
Christians raise their children as Christians, Jews raise their children as Jews, and Muslims raise their children as Muslims, so doesn't it make sense that atheists raise their children as ... Read More