Self-Organization & Self-Assembly in Nature
Friday August 31, 2007
A common pseudo-scientific argument against evolution is the claim that it's impossible for anything in nature to become organized without the intervention of an intelligence acting with a purpose. This ... Read More
Religious Tax Exemptions: Overview of Current Laws
Friday August 31, 2007
Tax laws are more complicated than the average person can readily understand; tossing into the mix various things tax-exempt organizations might or might not be allowed to do threatens to ... Read More
Atheism is Logically Self-Defeating?
Friday August 31, 2007
If religious theists cannot make their ideologies more appealing by providing evidence to support their claims, perhaps they can argue that not believing their claims is somehow self-contradictory and self-defeating. ... Read More
Adolf Hitler on Faith: Quotes from Adolf Hitler on the Need for Religious Faith
Friday August 31, 2007
If Adolf Hitler's political and social policies were a product of atheism and secularism, why did he consistently say that religious faith was necessary for morality? Why did Hitler insist ... Read More
We Should Impose Severe Punishments Ordered by God
Thursday August 30, 2007
Defenders of God and apologists for traditional religion — traditional Christianity in particular — frequently cite the harsh punishments of the past as a reason for why crime wasn't as ... Read More
Commercial Tax Exemptions for Church Businesses
Thursday August 30, 2007
Tax exemptions on church property used for specific worship purposes or religious work may be most easily defended because of the charitable and community work performed. Serious problems come into ... Read More
Secular Atheists vs. Religious Theists: Who is Really Militant?
Thursday August 30, 2007
There is a lot of rhetoric about atheists and secularists being "militant," but it's common for such labels to be used not to provide a neutral, objective description but rather ... Read More
Weekly Poll: Do People Have a Right to Use Contraception?
Thursday August 30, 2007
Christian Privilege vs. Muslim Exclusion
Wednesday August 29, 2007
Criticism of Islam has become a popular pastime among conservative Christians in America, but one of the most interesting aspects of this phenomenon is just how inconsistent — or perhaps ... Read More
Tax Exemptions Available to Churches
Wednesday August 29, 2007
America’s tax laws are designed to favor non-profit and charitable institutions which presumably benefit the community. Churches benefit the most from tax exemptions because they qualify for many of them ... Read More
Indiana Drops Controversial Chaplain Program
Wednesday August 29, 2007
In 2006, Indiana's Family and Social Services Administration hired Rev. Michael Latham, a Baptist minister from Fort Wayne, to create and administer a network of volunteer clergy. Their job would ... Read More
Forum Discussion: Making Contraceptives More Difficult to Obtain
Wednesday August 29, 2007
Although most Americans don't seem to realize it, there is a growing movement in the Christian Right to make contraceptives more difficult to obtain and use. Although they are a ... Read More
Decline and Fall of Modern Conservatism in America?
Tuesday August 28, 2007
The modern, politically active, and Republican-committed Christian Right can be traced to the backlash against the Equal Rights Amendment, but it truly became a major factor in American politics with ... Read More
Backlash Against Religious Tax Exemption Laws
Tuesday August 28, 2007
It is a fact of law that charitable organizations, including churches, which have tax-exempt status are not allowed to participate in political campaigns on behalf of political candidates. A focus ... Read More
Religious Tests for Public Office in America
Tuesday August 28, 2007
If voters refuse to vote for people who hold the "wrong" religious and theistic views, does this mean that there is a religious test for public office? Yes, though it ... Read More
Comment of the Week: Status of Nonbelievers in the Qur'an
Tuesday August 28, 2007
People may claim that atheists are "militant" for daring to criticize theistic religion and even suggest that perhaps it would be better if religion died off, but you don't find ... Read More
Why Do Believers Need a God? Is Religious Theism an Addiction?
Monday August 27, 2007
Religious theists will likely take offense at the idea that their belief in a god is anything like an addiction or crutch, but that doesn't change the fact that some ... Read More
Religious Tax Exemptions vs. Government Policies
Monday August 27, 2007
Most people are aware that a church or religious organization can lose their tax exempt status for engaging in partisan political activity, like endorsing a political candidate. What many aren't ... Read More
Republicans Against Contraception, Reproductive Freedom
Monday August 27, 2007
Mitt RomneyPhoto: Getty / Scott Olson
Efforts by Christians to criminalize abortion are not solely about abortion, they are also about restricting reproductive freedom generally. There are people who oppose abortion ... Read More
Book of the Week: The Nazi Conscience
Monday August 27, 2007
Image courtesyPriceGrabber.com
Some may imagine that the very idea of a 'Nazi conscience' is a contradiction in terms - after all, weren't Nazis responsible for some of the most immoral acts ... Read More
School Sued Over Voting on Graduation Prayers
Sunday August 26, 2007
Americans are big believers in the power and values of democracy, but not every question or issue can legitimately be decided by democratic vote. This is because democracy is more ... Read More
Church Tax Exemptions: No Political Campaigning
Sunday August 26, 2007
Not all churches and religious organizations have been content to live within the rules. Quite a few have attempted to evade the rules, either secretly or very openly, in order ... Read More
School Bible Classes: An Effort to Have State Endorse Christianity, God
Sunday August 26, 2007
Image Source: Jupiter Images
There are good reasons to consider teaching about the Bible in public school classes. After all, biblical themes can be found throughout the history of Western literature, ... Read More
Albert Einstein Quotes on a Personal God: Einstein Denied Personal Gods, Prayer
Sunday August 26, 2007
Did Albert Einstein believe in God? Many religious theists cite Einstein as an example of a smart scientist who was also a religious theist like them. This supposedly rebuts the ... Read More
Mailbag: How Can You Not Believe?
Sunday August 26, 2007
From: "M.L.B."
Subject: None
I will pray for you. I truly believe that you are wrong. However, each of us must make their own way in life and your way is not ... Read More
Court Upholds Ban on Gideon Bible Distribution in Public Schools
Saturday August 25, 2007
One might imagine that allowing a religious organization enter public schools during the school day for the purpose of distributing Bibles would be recognized as an obvious violation of church/state ... Read More
Tax Exemptions vs. Church Political Activity
Saturday August 25, 2007
By not taxing churches, the government is prevented from directly interfering with how churches operate. By the same token, those churches are also prevented from directly interfering with how the ... Read More
Evolution of Humans: Lines of Evidence Keep Converging
Saturday August 25, 2007
Image Source:Jupiter Images
One of the most important factors demonstrating the truth of evolution is known as "converging lines of evidence." What this means is that we don't have just one ... Read More
Excusing Anti-Atheist Bigotry: Atheists are Privileged, Better Educated in America
Saturday August 25, 2007
One way people try to dismiss claims of anti-atheist bigotry is to argue that atheists in America are too well educated, too privileged, and too well off financially to be ... Read More
Catholicism & Catholic Dogma Can Endanger Your Health
Friday August 24, 2007
Pope Benedict XVI in AssisiPhoto: Franco Origlia / Getty Images
How can it be possible that Catholicism and Catholic dogma could endanger the health of non-Catholics? The answer is simple: through ... Read More
Are Tax Exemptions a Church Subsidy?
Friday August 24, 2007
One of the key arguments offered by those who oppose tax exemptions for churches and religious organizations is that tax exemptions constitute a type of subsidy for these groups. Subsidies ... Read More
Canada: Muslim Cabbies Given Right to Not Treat Blind People Equally
Friday August 24, 2007
Photo: Don Farrall / Getty Images
People with physical handicaps have to deal with numerous adversities every day, not the least of which are various forms of discrimination from everyone else. ... Read More
Myth: Atheism is a Crutch, Opiate of the Egotistical, Prepackaged Worldview
Friday August 24, 2007
It's not uncommon for atheists to argue that religion and theism are a sort of crutch that makes it easier for people to deal with problems in life, so perhaps ... Read More
Are Christian Churches Producing Atheists?
Thursday August 23, 2007
A popular myth among Christians it that biggest cause of atheism are the crimes and misdeeds of Christians who force people to flee. An interesting twist on this myth is ... Read More
Do Churches Deserve Tax Exemptions?
Thursday August 23, 2007
Based upon court rulings on how tax exemptions for charitable groups work, we cannot be conclude that churches and religious organizations automatically deserve exemptions. Even if one believes that their ... Read More
Nicole Kidman vs. Philip Pullman's Books: Religious Critique Pulled?
Thursday August 23, 2007
Nicole Kidman, 2007Photo: Stephen Shugerman / Getty Images
Philip Pullman is an atheist whose critical views of religion and theism make their way into his novels. Now that the first of ... Read More
Weekly Poll: What Effect Would Gay Marriage Have?
Thursday August 23, 2007
Why is Robert Morey Not an Atheist?
Wednesday August 22, 2007
When people argue against atheism, it would be nice if they actually argued against atheism as it really exists and against atheists who really exist. Instead of this, many create ... Read More
Why Taxation of Religion Matters
Wednesday August 22, 2007
Tax exemptions may not be the most common issue facing courts in arguments over the separation of church and state, it is one of the most fundamental. Initially it appears ... Read More
Streetprophets as Purveyors of Falsehoods and Myths
Wednesday August 22, 2007
Liberal and moderate religious believers regularly inform atheists that their rhetoric and critiques of religious theism are all very divisive, harmful, and ultimately damaging to social cohesion. These believers agree ... Read More
Forum Discussion: Christian Family Love
Wednesday August 22, 2007
Christians commonly claim that religion generally, and their religion in particular, are necessary for morality, moral standards, and proper moral behavior. Just how often is it, though, that religion can ... Read More
Reasonable Religion? Defining Feminine Social Roles
Tuesday August 21, 2007
One of the most significant, negative effects of religion and theism in modern society is the defense, preservation, and promotion of traditional gender roles. Religious theists regularly cite the authority ... Read More
What are Religious Tax Exemptions for Churches?
Tuesday August 21, 2007
To what extent, and even if, tax exemptions should be given to religious organizations and churches depends on why tax exemptions exist at all. If you think tax exemptions exist ... Read More
Lamenting the Absence of Imposed Christianity, Anti-Atheist Discrimination
Tuesday August 21, 2007
Image © Austin Cline
Original Poster:University of Georgia
Some Christians don't just have a generally negative impression of atheists and secularism, they actively lament the fact that the government is no longer ... Read More
Comment of the Week: Lord, Liar, or Lunatic?
Tuesday August 21, 2007
The idea that people must judge Jesus a "lord, liar, or lunatic" has become a popular apologetic, but it's ultimately more a rationalization than a good reason to adopt Christianity. ... Read More
Chuck Norris: Academic Qualifications Unnecessary to Teach Bible
Monday August 20, 2007
Chuck Norris, 2004Photo: Frederick M. Brown /Getty Images
If public schools are going to include classes or any course work about the Bible, don't you suppose that there should be strong ... Read More
Evolution Basics: Is Evolution Scientific?
Monday August 20, 2007
This question isn't as simple as it sounds, but the short answer is yes, evolution is science. Evolution meets the criteria generally accepted by scientists as defining science, and the ... Read More
Is Atheism Increasing, or Just Honesty About Atheism?
Monday August 20, 2007
A recent Gallup poll shows that 86% of Americans believe in God. This is a lot, but it's also less than the 90% who said yes in 2004 and 2001. ... Read More
Book of the Week: Inhuman Bondage: The Rise and Fall of Slavery in the New World
Monday August 20, 2007
Image courtesyPriceGrabber.com
The mass enslavement of millions of Africans is one of the greatest moral evils committed by both European civilization generally and America in particular - it was America, after ... Read More
Fulla & the Burqini: Marketing to Muslim Gender Norms
Sunday August 19, 2007
Muslims in America are richer and better educated than the average American. According to JWT, an advertising agency, two-thirds of Muslim households make at least $50,000 a year and one-quarter ... Read More
Bible Commentary: What is a Gospel? Gospels and 'Good News' as a New Literary Genre
Sunday August 19, 2007
As a literary form, the gospels have a lot in common with biographies. They also have many similarities to martyrologies, lives of philosophers, and even the aretologies (stories of “virtue”) ... Read More
In Politics, God Should Be Irrelevant
Sunday August 19, 2007
In a secular, liberal democracy, political decisions should be based on practical, pragmatic calculations. Politicians should look at the best evidence available and pursue policies which promote the best interests ... Read More
Adolf Hitler on God: Quotes from Adolf Hitler Expressing Belief & Faith in God
Sunday August 19, 2007
Adolf HitlerPhoto: Jupiter Images
If Adolf Hitler was an atheist, why did he keep saying that he believed in God, had faith in God, and was convinced that he was doing ... Read More
Mailbag: Atheism and Faith
Sunday August 19, 2007
From: "Lucas"
Subject: Atheism is a faith
Logically, you cannot have a "lack of belief in". What you have to do instead is "believe in the lack of" deity. If you want ... Read More
Sex Police Cracking Down: Making Masturbation a Crime
Saturday August 18, 2007
Conservative Christians' assault on all things sexual knows no boundaries. Every aspect of sexual pleasure or entertainment that isn't directed at the specific purpose of procreation, and within the context ... Read More
Church & State Fundamentals: The Constitution Refers to Christianity and Jesus
Saturday August 18, 2007
One common argument in favor of the separation of church and state is that the Constitution, which is the founding legal document of this nation, makes no reference to religion ... Read More
Don't Vote for Ignorance! Science and Reality Matter
Saturday August 18, 2007
Arkansas Governor Mike HuckabeePhoto: Alex Wong / Getty Images
Denial of reality is so common and normal in American society today that it's possible for a person to run a serious ... Read More
Myth: Atheists are Only Good Because Christians Force them to be Good
Saturday August 18, 2007
Religious theists' arguments against atheists' ability to be moral are frequently condescending and bigoted, but this myth about atheists' morality is not only all of that, but adds in unmitigated ... Read More
Clashing Faith: Korean Christians vs. Muslim Taliban
Friday August 17, 2007
When two groups with divergent values and agendas are both convinced that they are doing the will of God, it's probably best if they do their utmost to avoid each ... Read More
C.S. Lewis vs. Atheism and Atheists: Why Does Lewis Ridicule Atheists?
Friday August 17, 2007
C.S. Lewis is often described as an "apostle" to the skeptics - that he somehow has a special affinity for the arguments, sensibilities, and perspectives of religious doubters and can ... Read More
Jim Holt on the Mind, Body, and the Afterlife
Friday August 17, 2007
It's sometimes argued that fear of death and non-existence is an important driving force behind religiosity and belief in god. Can belief in personal immortality — the idea that you ... Read More
Excusing Anti-Atheist Bigotry: I Don't Really Hate Atheists, Honest!
Friday August 17, 2007
Perhaps the most hypocritical response to atheists' denunciations of anti-atheist bigotry is the excuse that "I don't really hate atheists." Typically heard from a person who just finished complaining that ... Read More
Reasonable Religion? Religious Homophobia Causes Real Harm
Thursday August 16, 2007
Too often, Christian homophobia is defended as nothing more than a legitimate and protected religious right. It's true, of course, that people have a personal right to be homophobic and ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Children and the Bible: Status of Children in Old Testament Laws
Thursday August 16, 2007
Let's turn our attention now to that group of any society which is perhaps its most defenseless: children. A society can often be judged by how it treats its children. ... Read More
Islam & Democracy: What Lesson Does Secular Turkey Offer?
Thursday August 16, 2007
Turkish Secularists Protest, 5 May 2007Photo: Burak Kara / Getty Images
In July, the Justice and Development (AK) Party won a decisive victory in Turkey, providing it with enough votes in ... Read More
Weekly Poll: Is There Such a Thing as Christophobia?
Thursday August 16, 2007
Charity as a Means for Getting a Date or a Mate
Wednesday August 15, 2007
A recent paper in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology provides evidence that altruism towards strangers — that is, altruism that isn't towards kin or in an exchange relationship ... Read More
Church & State Fundamentals: Modern Resurrection of Sabbath Laws
Wednesday August 15, 2007
The idea of legally enforcing a "day of rest" has lain somewhat dormant until recent years, but lately the cat-calls from the choir have begun increasing in volume. In Massachusetts, ... Read More
Reasonable Religion? Taslima Nasrin Attacked in Hyderabad
Wednesday August 15, 2007
Taslima Nasrin is a Bangladeshi author whose life has been threatened numerous times by Muslim extremists who object to her books. Once a Muslim herself, Nasrin is now a secular ... Read More
Forum Discussion: Is Truth Desirable?
Wednesday August 15, 2007
Most people probably assume that truth is more desirable than falsehood, but upon what basis is this assumption made? Doesn't experience suggest that perhaps people are more interested in whatever ... Read More
Court Approves of Government Aid to Fix Up Churches
Tuesday August 14, 2007
Should the government provide funds to help fix and improve churches if the government is providing funds for fixing and improving other buildings in the community? The city of Detroit ... Read More
C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien
Tuesday August 14, 2007
Many fans are aware of that C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien were close friends. Tolkien helped convert Lewis to Christianity, whereas Lewis encouraged Tolkien to expand his fictional writing; both ... Read More
Christian Love in Misrepresenting Atheism
Tuesday August 14, 2007
Christians naturally want to "reach out" to nonbelievers and non-Christians in order to convert them to Christianity. There is much discussion among Christians about the best way to do this ... Read More
Comment of the Week: Secular Morality Informs Religion
Tuesday August 14, 2007
Many religious believers insist that there can't be any genuine, independent secular morality — that morality always requires god and religion and, therefore, that attempts at secular "morality" are necessarily ... Read More
Excuse #387: Decorating Walls is 'Secular Intent'
Monday August 13, 2007
Image Source:Jupiter Images
Conservative Christians who don't believe in church/state separation always seem to be looking for new excuses to justify efforts to have the government promote, endorse, and encourage their ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Jesus, The Son of Man - What Does 'Son of Man' Mean?
Monday August 13, 2007
In the gospels Jesus is frequently depicted as referring himself as the 'Son of man.' What this label means has been the subject of a great deal of debate among ... Read More
Arab & Atheist: Will There Be Changes in the Arab World?
Monday August 13, 2007
When people in the West think of Arabs, they are almost certain to immediately think of Muslims — the truth, though, is that lots of Arabs are Christians and Jews, ... Read More
Book of the Week: Party Wars: Polarization And the Politics of National Policy Making
Monday August 13, 2007
Image courtesyPriceGrabber.com
There is an interesting debate going on about the nature of debate between political parties: is there more polarization and less cooperation between Republicans and Democrats in Washington D.C. ... Read More
Majority Should Rule... Except When They Aren't Christians
Sunday August 12, 2007
Photo: David Silverman / Getty Images
A popular argument used by Christian Nationalists who don't believe that church and state should be separated is that the "majority" in a community should ... Read More
Church & State Fundamentals: Origins of Sabbath Laws
Sunday August 12, 2007
Where did the Sabbath Laws come from, how have they been enforced, and what sorts of legal challenges were made against them? It has often been said that if you ... Read More
Desperate Theists: Attacking Atheists, not Atheism
Sunday August 12, 2007
The rising popularity of atheists' books questioning religion and arguing on behalf of a godless, secular life is creating a real problem for many religious theists — and especially Christians. ... Read More
Mailbag: What do Atheists Do?
Sunday August 12, 2007
From: "Miss"
Subject: What is Atheism?
I just want to know if atheists practice anything like sacrificing animals or anything sort of devilish? I don't know much about the subject, so sorry ... Read More
Faith-Based Government: Religious Bias & Discrimination
Saturday August 11, 2007
The evangelical emphasis on faith-based government and values cannot be divorced from the increase in allegations of faith-based bias and discrimination in government. Religion does not exist in the abstract; ... Read More
C.S. Lewis and the Argument from Desire
Saturday August 11, 2007
One of the earliest arguments offered by C.S. Lewis for believing in the existence of God can be labeled the 'Argument from Desire.' According to Lewis and other apologists, every ... Read More
They Cannot Be Reasoned With; They Can Only Be Killed
Saturday August 11, 2007
Religious extremists typically believe that they are on a mission from God and fulfilling the Will of God. Because they are doing what God wants, it's hardly surprising that there ... Read More
Excusing Anti-Atheist Bigotry: Atheists are Totalitarian for Opposing Majority Votes
Saturday August 11, 2007
Atheists are not just closely associated with church/state cases generally, but specifically with those which deny the government authority in religious matters. Because government efforts to assume such authority are ... Read More
Jewish Philosopher on Atheism
Friday August 10, 2007
Many attacks on atheism made by religious theists are constructed on the basis of religious the theological principles, often resulting in circular and very unpersuasive arguments. A more philosophical approach ... Read More
Bible Commentary: What is Crucifixion? Execution in the Ancient World through Crucifixion
Friday August 10, 2007
Image Source: Jupiter Images
Today crucifixion is associated with Jesus and Christianity, but as a method of execution it enjoyed widespread popularity with tyrants and governments throughout the ancient world. It ... Read More
Mel Gibson Enriches Schismatic Catholic Church
Friday August 10, 2007
Mel Gibson, 2000Photo: Nick Laham / Getty Images
As many readers may know by now, Mel Gibson is "Catholic" in only a loose sense — he belongs to a movement of ... Read More
Debating Jehovah's Witnesses Unique Resurrection Doctrine & Afterlife Beliefs
Friday August 10, 2007
Millions of Christians look forward to an afterlife where they will be rewarded with a heavenly resurrection while the spirits of the wicked are punished in Hell. Jehovah's Witnesses, in ... Read More
Southern Baptist Convention Misleading Christians on Church/State Separation
Thursday August 9, 2007
In the past, Baptists in America have been among the staunchest supporters of church/state separation. Although there are still Baptists who follow this tradition, the Southern Baptist Convention has been ... Read More
What is Science: Profile of Science, the Scientific Method, How Science Works
Thursday August 9, 2007
Distinguishing modern science from other endeavors requires focusing in particular on its methodology — the means by which it achieves results. Fundamentally, then, science can be characterized as a method ... Read More
Tom Tancredo Defends Religious War Against Islam
Thursday August 9, 2007
Tom Tancredo (R-CO)Photo: Scott Olson / Getty Images
Some conservatives in America have made an effort to argue that America's "War on Terrorism" is not really a war against Islam. Many ... Read More
Weekly Poll: The Seven Deadly Sins - Which Is Your Favorite?
Thursday August 9, 2007
Won't Anyone Stand Up for God? Well, Why Bother?
Wednesday August 8, 2007
There appears to be a problem with God. Secular atheists have published multiple books critical of religion, religious beliefs, and theism in particular but none of them have been struck ... Read More
Epistemology: Truth as Emotions, Intuition, & Instinct
Wednesday August 8, 2007
This second group of criteria for truth are very personal and internal, involving the manner in which a person reacts to the outside world and even the very nature of ... Read More
Florida Court Approves of Churches as Polling Places
Wednesday August 8, 2007
Voters at Cedar Hill Lutheran ChurchCedar Hill, Missouri, 2004Photo: Elsa / Getty Images
When Jerry Rabinowitz wanted to vote in the 2006 elections in Florida, he was forced to do so ... Read More
Forum Discussion: Can God Be Put on Trial?
Wednesday August 8, 2007
A popular argument against the existence of the god of traditional, orthodox Christianity is the idea that the actions attributed to this god are too immoral to be compatible with ... Read More
Black Collar Crimes: Child Porn, Molestation, Indecent Exposure
Tuesday August 7, 2007
There have been so many reports lately of criminal activity by religious leaders or people claiming to be very religious that it isn't worth separating them all into different posts. ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Apocalyptic Gospels: New Testament Gospels and Apocalyptic Literature
Tuesday August 7, 2007
Although apocalyptic writing constitutes its own independent literary genre, it still plays an important role within the gospels of the New Testament. In each of the four canonical gospels, a ... Read More
Bible Classes in Public Schools: What's the Real Motivation?
Tuesday August 7, 2007
Image © Austin Cline
Original Poster:Library of Congress
In Colorado, the Moffat County School District Board of Education has joined school boards around the nation debating whether they should adopt some sort ... Read More
Comment of the Week: Making Up Secular Excuses for Religious Policies
Tuesday August 7, 2007
One of the problems that seems to regularly come up in church/state cases is Faux Secularism on the part of religious conservatives. It is well-known that the government has no ... Read More
The Atheist Conservative & Jillian Becker
Monday August 6, 2007
Most atheist sites and conversations on the internet tend very strongly towards liberalism or libertarianism — and there are a number of good cultural and political reasons for this. Nevertheless, ... Read More
Parapsychology: Does Parapsychology Do Any Harm?
Monday August 6, 2007
A common objection to critiques of psychic and parapsychological claims is that neither research into them nor belief in them really does anyone any harm - does it? After all, ... Read More
Authoritarian or Libertarian? Ron Paul on Church/State Separation, Secularism
Monday August 6, 2007
US Representative Ron Paul (R-TX)Photo: Jamie Rector / Getty Images
Ron Paul is frequently portrayed as a "sensible" conservative and staunch libertarian, thus making him increasingly attractive as a presidential candidate. ... Read More
Book of the Week: Seduced By Hitler. The Choices of a Nation and the Ethics of Survival
Monday August 6, 2007
Image courtesyPriceGrabber.com
In hindsight, it seems clear that Adolf Hitler's policies and beliefs were immoral to an extreme. Even at the time, the things he wrote and said should have made ... Read More
Pointy-Haired Cartoonist? Scott Adams Misrepresents Atheism & Agnosticism
Sunday August 5, 2007
Although he is a good cartoonist, Scott Adams frequently reveals persistent and deep-seated ignorance when he strays very far into scientific and philosophical matters on his personal blog. Many times ... Read More
Epistemology: Truth as Correspondence & Naive Realism - Criteria of Truth Based Upon Reality
Sunday August 5, 2007
Perhaps the simplest test for separating truth from falsehood is to focus upon that which is real: if something corresponds accurately to reality, then it is true. If it doesn’t ... Read More
ACLU vs. Alorton, Illinois - Where Jesus is Lord
Sunday August 5, 2007
Alorton, Missouri has a lot of churches despite being a relatively small town. That may be one reason why no one before has challenged two signs, first put up in ... Read More
Mailbag: Bitter Atheists
Sunday August 5, 2007
From: "Joseph"
Subject: Anger
Hey Austin, it must really suck living life so angry all the time. you appear to be a very bitter individual. Im not judging you, Im just saying ... Read More
Priest Presumes to Tell Atheists: Why You Don't Believe in God
Saturday August 4, 2007
Many religious believers simply refuse to believe what atheists say about themselves — especially when it comes to why they are atheists in the first place. This is, at least ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Biblical Communism: What Does the Bible Say About Communism & Socialism?
Saturday August 4, 2007
One topic of discussion which comes up every so often is the connection between fervent evangelical Christianity and equally fervent anti-communism. In the minds of many, atheism and communism are ... Read More
Pharmacists Sue Over Morning-After Pill
Saturday August 4, 2007
Plan B, 'Morning After' PillPhoto: Joe Raedle / Getty Images
There are any number of people who believe that because abortion is murder, then use of "morning-after" pill which might cause ... Read More
Atheist Bigotry: Are Atheists Bigots for Generalizing About Religious Theists?
Saturday August 4, 2007
One complaint made about some atheist activists is that they are in fact anti-religious and anti-theistic bigots who are just expressing their personal bigotry, not arguing on behalf of atheists' ... Read More
Young Evangelical Christians Leaving Republican Party?
Friday August 3, 2007
The committed, passionate "base" of the Republican Party consists primarily of conservative evangelical Christians. If they start voting for any party other than the GOP, Republican candidates will have a ... Read More
Theological Trends: Natural Theology vs. Theology of Nature
Friday August 3, 2007
Most theology is done from the perspective of a committed believer, one who has faith in the dominant texts, prophets, and revelations of a particular religious tradition. Theology also attempts ... Read More
Norma Gabler, Textbook Censor: 1923-2007
Friday August 3, 2007
Censorship of public school textbooks is a key way the Christian Right in America has sought to both promote its ideological agenda and to keep children ignorant of the real ... Read More
Debating the 6 Biblical Proofs of the Watchtower Society & Jehovah's Witnesses
Friday August 3, 2007
The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society argues it is the True Religion on the basis of six biblical requirements that only they allegedly meet. Atheists may debate these biblical proofs ... Read More
Do Atheists Not Define Themselves?
Thursday August 2, 2007
There is so much misunderstanding of atheism out there that some of it has to be considered willful. Even people who supposedly have spent a little time reading about atheism ... Read More
Parapsychology: Spiritualism & the Religious Origins of Parapsychology
Thursday August 2, 2007
Parapsychology tries to portray itself as a science, but it has more resemblance to religion than to physics or traditional psychology. The relationship between parapsychology and religion began right at ... Read More
Albert Ellis, Humanist Therapist: 1913-2007
Thursday August 2, 2007
In past ages, any sort of "counseling" that a person might received was done either by family members or by clergy. The development of modern science and biology were instrumental ... Read More
Weekly Poll: Should Abortion be Legal?
Thursday August 2, 2007
Atheist Doctors as Likely to Care for Poor as Religious Doctors
Wednesday August 1, 2007
Photo:Medioimages / Getty Images
According to a recent study of doctors, those who describe themselves as atheists, agnostics, or simply not religious were actually a little more likely than religious doctors ... Read More
Bible Commentary: Jesus' Messianic Secret: Did Jesus Conceal His Identity?
Wednesday August 1, 2007
Image: Jupiter Images
Throughout the gospels, but especially in the gospel of Mark, we have regular examples of Jesus’ admonishing both people and demons not to reveal to others who he ... Read More
Religion of Peace? Christians Beheading Muslims
Wednesday August 1, 2007
Conservative evangelicals in America have made a lot of noise about Muslim terrorists beheading captives in Iraq. Criticisms of Muslims have frequently included accusations of "barbarism" and the implicit idea ... Read More
Forum Discussion: Is God Unnecessary? Why Care About God?
Wednesday August 1, 2007
A popular argument for the existence of God is that God is "necessary." It's not possible for God not to exist because God is, by definition, a "necessary" being. This ... Read More