By Carl S ~ As a True Believer, one’s worship and dependency on invisible supernatural forces restrained your goodness, as you spent time, labor, money in appeasing, pleading with, and most of all trying to ascertain the particular will of that deity for your life. You examined your motives and your relationships to others in that context. You examined your virtue in comparison to that of the examples of other 'holy' ones held up to you. You were involved in self-criticism based on beliefs you had been taught to be the most important matters in life. All of these things, if you notice now,…
Atheism
-
Most Topular Stories
-
God is an Impediment
ExChristian.Net -- encouraging ex-Christians16 May 2012 | 5:08 am -
Update on Student Who Wore ‘Life is Wasted Without Jesus’ Shirt
Atheism: News, Events, Media and Blogs - Recent8 May 2012 | 4:21 amThere have been a couple of updates on Forest Heights Community School senior William Swinimer, the Nova Scotia student who wore a shirt reading "Life is Wasted without Jesus" and got in trouble for it.William Swinimer (Ryan Taplin - National Post)He returned to school today after his five-day suspension — wearing the same shirt — but his father quickly pulled him out:The Swinimers clearly prioritize getting an education (Mike Dembeck - The Canadian Press)John Swinimer said he wants Forest Heights Community School in Chester Basin, Lunenburg County, to only teach… -
Thou Shalt Not Display Commandments in Court
Divided Under God20 Jul 2011 | 7:29 amFinally. A federal judge has ordered Dixie County officials to remove a 5-foot tall monument to the Ten Commandments from the front of a courthouse in Florida. The 6-ton granite waste of taxpayer money must be removed from the courthouse in 30 days, which will ultimately waste another heap of cash in an already financially strapped state. The ACLU of Florida sued the county back in 2007, citing the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. For the Evangelicals reading this, the Establishment Clause prohibits the government from not only establishing religion, but based on case law, also… -
A Flawed Defense of the Catholic Church
Atheist Revolution15 May 2012 | 8:21 amE. J. Dionne, Jr. is a well-respected columnist for the Washington Post and someone with whom fans of the MSNBC political shows may recognize. He's been a guest on Maddow countless times, and he usually sounds rational.Dionne recently wrote a post for TruthDig about the full-page ad the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) ran in the Washington Post calling on Catholics to leave the church. Dionne sought to explain why he is not leaving the church. Unfortunately, his flippant tone and many misconceptions about the issues suggest that he made little effort to take it seriously.Putting aside… -
U.S. Loses Over $71 Billion in Religious Tax Exemptions
Atheist Revolution16 May 2012 | 7:08 amThe following is from a press release distributed by the Center for Inquiry: AMHERST, NY: In times of crippling cutbacks to badly needed government services, a new article published by Free Inquiry magazine details how the tax exemptions enjoyed by religious institutions cost the U.S. a staggering $71 billion per year, at the least. Meanwhile, this religious privilege helps to subsidize the lavish homes and lifestyles of numerous clergy on the taxpayers’ dime. In their new report, “How Secular Humanists (and Everyone Else) Subsidize Religion in the U.S.,” researchers Ryan T. Cragun,…
-
Unreasonable Faith
-
Would you die for your beliefs?
15 May 2012 | 2:08 pmBertrand Russell wouldn’t: -
When’s the Next Rapture?
14 May 2012 | 11:53 amGotta love Ricky Gervais: -
Christianity in a Meme
12 May 2012 | 4:07 pmThis might actually be the most succinct description of BibleGod that I’ve ever seen. -
The Top of the Sears Tower
12 May 2012 | 11:00 amAccording to the most reliable newspaper in the world, this plaque is on the top of the Sears Tower: -
Blog Break
12 May 2012 | 6:00 amI suspect you can see where this is going.The death of my grandfather, combined with some medical problems among the rest of my family, mean that I’m going to have to take some time off to deal with family matters. I’m not likely to be near a computer for the next week.If the silence gets too much, you can use the time to write a guest post of your own. You can submit your posts to: vorjack.unreasonablefaith@gmail.comThanks folks. Back in a week or so.Vorjack
-
Debunking Christianity
-
How Science Leads to Naturalism (At Least For Me)
16 May 2012 | 2:17 amWe should be skeptics of extraordinary claims of miracles in the ancient past. Tell me why we shouldn't? There are too many of them in every culture, too many mythical stories.Science must assume a natural explanation for every event. Historians must do likewise. When in the Infancy Gospel of Thomas we find that Jesus took clay, made it into birds and let them fly, how should a historian proceed? He cannot take that claim seriously. My claim is that even if Jesus did miracles there is no way given the historical tools at our disposal to say that he did. Doing so against the tools available to… -
Victor Stenger On Science and Religion
15 May 2012 | 2:22 pmLink. -
Are Skeptics Exclusivists? Apologist David Marshall Opines, "Yes." *Sigh*
15 May 2012 | 11:44 amI've tried to disabuse him of this. Anyone else want to try? ;-) He said:You make the epistemic claim:A1 "There isn’t enough evidence to positively assent to that belief."or the historical claim:A2 "Religionists have not produced the evidence to believe."A in both cases is in conflict with non-A, and therefore excludes it. A1 and A2 are also both universal claims to know what you can't possibly know. That kind of sweeping claim makes more sense on theism, in which God could presumably reveal it to you, than on atheism, in which you are just one, subjective, biased, brain in a skull with a… -
Plantinga is Grossly Monumentally Massively Wrong
15 May 2012 | 1:13 amChristian philosopher Alvin Plantinga defends exclusivism by arguing that it “need not involve either epistemic or moral failure, and that furthermore something like it is wholly unavoidable, given our human condition.” He tells us there are three alternatives to religious diversity, (1) to continue believing, (2) to withhold belief, or (3) to deny one’s belief. Against (2) withholding belief, he argues “there is no safe haven here, no way to avoid risk. In particular, you won't reach safe haven by trying to take the same attitude towards all the historically available patterns of… -
Occidental vs Oriental Ontological Arguments
15 May 2012 | 1:08 amWhen it comes to the ontological argument most believers can use it to their own conceptions of god. An eastern pantheist could easily begin Anslem’s ontological argument by conceiving that the greatest conceivable being is the One, that which cannot be conceived. This conception of the One denies that there is a personal god, something westerners conceive differently because of being born and raised in the Occident rather than the Orient. But by following the train of reasoning involved, the proper conclusion would be that therefore the One, that which cannot be conceived, exists. For…
-
Pharyngula
-
Mary's Monday Metazoan: Nothin’ there!
14 May 2012 | 8:22 pm(via Australian Geographic) (Also on FtB) Read the comments on this post... -
First they came for the political scientists…
11 May 2012 | 10:01 amMeet Jeff Flake from Arizona. His number one goal is the destruction of the federal government, one piece at a time. His first target: the National Science Foundation. The NSF funds a big chunk of the country's basic research to the tune of about $7 billion/year, and Flake proposed cutting it by a billion dollars. He didn't get what he wanted, fortunately. But now he's fallen back on the tricks of anti-science demagogues everywhere, falling back on using his ignorance to justify gutting programs, one by one. He's managed to block funding of all political science research through NSF, because,… -
Friday Cephalopod: looks hungry
11 May 2012 | 9:03 am(via Duke Institute for Brain Sciences) (Also on FtB) Read the comments on this post... -
Mary's Monday Metazoan: If Fisher-Price made embryos…
7 May 2012 | 9:49 pm(via Listverse) Read the comments on this post... -
The reports of dinosaurs dying of farts are greatly exaggerated
7 May 2012 | 1:50 pmNo, dinosaurs did not fart themselves to death. This is what happens when you get your information from Fox News. Dinosaurs may have farted themselves to extinction, according to a new study from British scientists. The researchers calculated that the prehistoric beasts pumped out more than 520 million tons (472 million tonnes) of methane a year -- enough to warm the planet and hasten their own eventual demise. Until now, an asteroid strike and volcanic activity around 65 million years ago had seemed the most likely cause of their extinction. So I read the paper. The researchers didn't say…
-
Atheist Media Blog
-
Teresa MacBain on CNN 'Faces of Faith' with Randi Kaye
8 May 2012 | 3:19 pmThe Clergy Project -
Come Ye Out From Among Them, 3 Former Preachers Talk About Coming Out As Atheists
3 May 2012 | 3:02 pm3 former preachers in the movement talk about coming out as atheists, the hardships, the persecutions and things we miss. Brother Richard, Jerry Dewitt and Ernest Perce V (The Saint's Revenge) reflect on the past and the emotions are overwhelming. The intro is 2 minutes long.Non-believing preachers listen up blog -
Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss: Something from Nothing | ANU
25 Apr 2012 | 8:51 amCritically-acclaimed author and evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins and world-renowned theoretical physicist and author Lawrence Krauss discuss biology, cosmology, religion, and a host of other topics at this event entitled 'Something for Nothing'. This video was recorded at The Australian National University on 10 April 2012. (via RDnet) -
Doing Good...Without God
13 Apr 2012 | 3:53 pmby The Thinking Atheist: Thanks for supporting 2 secular charities that are making a difference. Here are the links to find out more and make your donation: Charity Water: http://mycharitywater.org/thethinkingatheist Responsible Charity: http://www.razoo.com/story/Thethinkingatheist -
Richard Dawkins and RDF at the Reason Rally
10 Apr 2012 | 11:20 amRichard Dawkins speaking at the Reason Rally March 24, 2012 is preceded by Sean Faircloth, Director of Strategy & Policy at the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science US, then Executive Director Dr. Elisabeth Cornwell, Executive Director of the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason & Science US.
-
Friendly Atheist
-
Do Rape Victim Have Too Many Rights?
16 May 2012 | 1:00 pmAccording to Rebecca Kiessling, they do. She believes women who have been raped should not have the right to have an abortion if they become pregnant by their rapists. This October, she’s lined up to speak at the University of Washington in October at an event hosted by Students for Life of America and the (Catholic) Newman Center. You might have heard of them: they invited Abby Johnson to speak earlier this month on why women have “too many rights.”Kiessling’s mother was brutally raped at knifepoint by a stranger and became pregnant as a result. This was before Roe v. -
Rush Limbaugh Inducted into Hall of Famous Missourians
16 May 2012 | 10:00 amGreat news, Missourians! Rush Limbaugh has been inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians.Rush Limbaugh (via Global Grind)The best part about the news story is that Missouri House Speaker Steven Tilley selected Limbaugh himself for this honor and actually kept the time of the ceremony under wraps so that he could try to avoid public backlash.Gee, it’s almost like he knew it was a bad idea in the first place, don’t you think? Putting someone like Rush Limbaugh, self-appointed slut designator and misognynist to the stars, in the same sphere as people such as Sacagawea, Edwin… -
Want People to Trust Atheists More? Remind Them of Cops and Courts, Says New Study
16 May 2012 | 5:00 amIs there a way to get religious believers to trust atheists? We already know we’re the least trusted minority group out there — can we change that?Researchers Will M. Gervais and Ara Norenzayan of the University of British Columbia, Vancouver are back and they believe there is a way.In the May, 2012 edition of the journal Psychological Science, they lay out one solution:Remind people of secular authority. In other words, remind them that we place authority in cops and courts (and, implicitly, not god).For believers, thinking of God, like thinking of social surveillance by peers,… -
Discounted Memberships for Secular Student Alliance Alumni
15 May 2012 | 9:00 pmIt’s May! You know what that means — hordes of former students are being thrown into the real world and job market with this thing we call “graduation” this month. Now it’s time to start finding a real job (good luck!) and, hopefully, supporting former students like yourself.However, with paying back student loans (eek!), paying for rent, your car, your gas money, your groceries, your cat, and all those other bills, how are you ever going to afford to support students?Luckily, the Secular Student Alliance is full of people who have been exactly where you are now… -
Atheists in Hats and Cats Questioning the Bible
15 May 2012 | 6:00 pmI didn’t know these Tumblrs needed to exist… but I’m informed that they are vital to our movement.Atheists in Hats:Author Douglas Adams in a hat.Cats Questioning the Bible:See? Isn’t your life better already? Obviously.
-
Atheist News Discussions - Atheist Nexus
-
Greyhounds: The Coolest Commercial On This Planet
14 May 2012 | 8:02 pmFeaturing the recent Absolut Vodka commercial and the Swedish House Mafia. Human potential to this very day is still uncharted to a fascinating degree. With such a high threshold of creativity, one might wonder why our society is soooo far off from materializing these concepts. One also must take into consideration the many variables that have proven to be constricting possibilities for evolution, of which are socially acceptable factors of everyday life. ***Warning, a discussion about Modernized Religion*** http://evilforalltime.blogspot.com/2012/04/greyhounds-coolest-commercial-on-this.html -
Pope Benedict Wants Catholic Colleges To Ensure That Faculty Are Faithful To Church Doctrine (HuffPost)
8 May 2012 | 3:11 pmVATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Benedict XVI on Saturday (May 5) called on Catholic colleges and universities in the United States to do more to affirm their "Catholic identity," particularly by ensuring the doctrinal orthodoxy of their faculty and staff.Speaking to a group of bishops from Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Wyoming, who are in Rome on a regularly scheduled visit, Benedict said there has been a "growing recognition" on the part of Catholic colleges of the need to "reaffirm their distinctive identity."But "much remains to be done," the pope said, singling out the church law requirement… -
The Clergy Project - Clergy losing their faith
7 May 2012 | 2:34 pmWhen Religious Leaders Lose Their Faith Teresa MacBain was pastor of a United Methodist church. In March, she made a confession: She is now an atheist. MacBain, NPR religion correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty and Jerry DeWitt, executive director of Recovering from Religion talk about how losing faith changes lives and communities. http://www.npr.org/2012/05/07/152197685/when-religious-leaders-lose... -
It's Official, Jesus Doesn't Heal Cancer
4 May 2012 | 7:17 am"The New Zealand Advertising Standards Authority made a no-brainer of a decision earlier this week when they determined that a church billboard reading, “Jesus Heals Cancer,” violates advertising standards. Thank you, Captain Obvious! According to The New Zealand Herald The [ASA] complaints board acknowledged the church had no intention of causing offence with the billboard and instead wanted to provide a message of hope. However, it upheld the complaints, ruling the advertisement had “neither been prepared nor displayed with the due sense of social responsibility required” and… -
North Carolina Pastor Sean Harris: Parents Should 'Punch' Their Gay-Acting Children (HuffPost)
2 May 2012 | 6:48 amA North Carolina pastor's horrific anti-gay tirade is making the blogosphere rounds.Sean Harris, senior pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Fayettesville, spoke at length in support of North Carolina's proposed Amendment 1, which would outlaw same-sex marriage, during an hour-long sermon on Sunday. In this clip, provided by Jeremy Hooper of the blog Good as You, a man identified as Harris is heard urging his congregation to attack their children if they appear to be exhibiting behavior outside of gender norms.Notes Harris:"So your little son starts to act a little girlish when he is four years…
-
Atheist Geek News
-
Review: The Hunger Games
6 May 2012 | 8:48 amMy wife and I saw The Hunger Games recently. I had just read the novel and wanted a movie to poke fun at because I hadn’t done a mean spirited review in a while. (Dammit all to hell and stuff.) So, like a serial killer in need of a fix, I eagerly stalked The Hunger [...] -
News And Links For Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses: Governing Body Letter, Reduced Magazines
15 Apr 2012 | 5:37 amFirst, a reminder for those who are interested, I am now on Facebook, Google+, and Twitter (though I don’t tweet very much). Feel free to follow me or–even better–say hi! Governing Body’s Letter re. Reduced Magazines The Governing Body has noted the growing tendency for people to obtain reading material from the Internet and has [...] -
For The Disfellowshipped, The Bad Associates, And The Disowned: You Really Do Have A Choice
17 Mar 2012 | 3:24 pmWhether you’re a former Jehovah’s Witness who has been disfellowshipped1 or an atheist who has been disowned from a deeply religious family, take heart. This doesn’t have to be a soul tearing rejection from the only family you will ever get. Far from it. Here’s what you need to know: no matter what you’ve been [...] -
News And Links For Atheists: A New Strategy
29 Jan 2012 | 12:28 pmVIDEO: A New Strategy. VIDEO: In God We Trust Student Faces Town’s Wrath in Protest Against a Prayer For Jessica [Alquist], who was baptized in the Catholic Church but said she stopped believing in God at age 10, the prayer was an affront. “It seemed like it was saying, every time I saw it, ‘You [...] -
News And Links For Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses: Chemicals found buried in upstate NY…
30 Dec 2011 | 5:50 amChemicals found buried at upstate NY property; state agency investigating group’s property | The Republic SHAWANGUNK, N.Y. — State officials are investigating chemical pollution found buried at an upstate New York property owned by the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization. Blood-free kidney transplant carried out between two Jehovah’s Witnesses Surgeons have performed a blood-free kidney transplant between [...]
-
About.com Agnosticism / Atheism
-
Recovery from the Psychological Abuse of Christianity
16 May 2012 | 7:00 amOriginal Sin is one of the most essential doctrines of Christianity. Much, if not most, of the rest of Christianity depends on the premise that every human being is born sinful -- even born evil, depending on just how far you take the doctrine. Thus Christianity is founded on teaching people that they are bad -- so bad, that just by being born they deserve eternal torment as punishment. How does this not qualify as psychological and emotional abuse? Considering how Christianity also teaches that only Christianity can provide the "cure" or "solution," how does this not qualify as a con job? -
Forum Discussion: Atheism is Neither a Belief or Religion
16 May 2012 | 3:00 amIt would be difficult to find conservative Christians, and perhaps even Christians generally, who don't mischaracterize atheism as a belief or a religion. It's probably the most common misrepresentation out there and is the most fundamental misunderstanding of atheism possible. How do you respond to that when you encounter it -- and you definitely encounter it if you discuss atheism at all. Read Full PostForum Discussion: Atheism is Neither a Belief or Religion originally appeared on About.com Agnosticism / Atheism on Wednesday, May 16th, 2012 at 08:00:26.Permalink | Comment | Email this -
Persecution of Witches: Under Torture, Accused Witches Would Confess to Almost Anything
15 May 2012 | 10:00 amImage Source:Jupiter Images Confessions of witchcraft, extracted under torture or threat of torture, commonly came attached to denouncements of other possible witches, keeping the Inquisitors in business. In Spain, church records ...Read Full Post -
Seeing Omniscience Everywhere
15 May 2012 | 7:00 amIt's surprising, but apparently young children assume that others are omniscient and they have to learn that the rest of us in the world have limited knowledge. They know that they themselves are not omniscient of course, but they seem to automatically conclude that others -- even their parents -- know absolutely everything. That might be helpful for parenting at times, but it also suggests that belief in super-powerful gods and spirits might come naturally to human beings. Read Full PostSeeing Omniscience Everywhere originally appeared on About.com Agnosticism / Atheism on Tuesday, May 15th,… -
Comment of the Week: Christian Bigotry Against Christians
15 May 2012 | 3:00 amWhen talking about Christian bigotry and prejudice, at least in the United States, the targets are usually pretty consistent: gays, atheists, liberals, immigrants, etc. What we don't hear so much about is Christian bigotry against other Christians -- even though historically Christians have tended to target each other quite a bit. Christian bigotry against other Christians isn't dead and gone. Read Full PostComment of the Week: Christian Bigotry Against Christians originally appeared on About.com Agnosticism / Atheism on Tuesday, May 15th, 2012 at 08:00:31.Permalink | Comment | Email this
-
Atheism: News, Events, Media and Blogs - Recent
-
Sam Harris Continues the Discussion on Muslim Profiling
8 May 2012 | 4:24 amI know a lot of you are unhappy with him right now, but I’ll tell you what I like about Sam Harris. He doesn’t shy away from talking about controversial topics and he doesn’t back down from his critics. Instead, he’s continuing an interesting discussion.In his latest piece, he’s categorizing most of the assumptions held by his critics and responding to two of the more popular ones.He begins with a thought experiment:Imagine that you work for the TSA and are executing a hand search of a traveler's bag. He is a young man in his twenties and… -
Come Ye Out From Among Them, 3 Former Preachers Talk About Coming Out As Atheists
8 May 2012 | 4:24 am3 former preachers in the movement talk about coming out as atheists, the hardships, the persecutions and things we miss. Brother Richard, Jerry Dewitt and Ernest Perce V (The Saint's Revenge) reflect on the past and the emotions are overwhelming. The intro is 2 minutes long.Non-believing preachers listen up blog » original news -
Atheism Doesn’t Merit An Intervention
8 May 2012 | 4:23 amI am in the middle of a riotous love affair with the television show Intervention. The affair happened quickly, mostly out of boredom and, out of the chronically bizarre array of options on Netflix streaming, it received a resounding "whatever… good enough" before hitting the "play" button. Reality shows are not usually my cup of tea, and I had my reservations about a reality series' ability to not sensationalize an already difficult and too-often misunderstood reality of addiction, but I found myself unable to tear away from the absolutely absorbing human-ness of the… -
Update on Student Who Wore ‘Life is Wasted Without Jesus’ Shirt
8 May 2012 | 4:21 amThere have been a couple of updates on Forest Heights Community School senior William Swinimer, the Nova Scotia student who wore a shirt reading "Life is Wasted without Jesus" and got in trouble for it.William Swinimer (Ryan Taplin - National Post)He returned to school today after his five-day suspension — wearing the same shirt — but his father quickly pulled him out:The Swinimers clearly prioritize getting an education (Mike Dembeck - The Canadian Press)John Swinimer said he wants Forest Heights Community School in Chester Basin, Lunenburg County, to only teach… -
It’s Good to Have a Response When Someone Asks Why Atheists Gather
8 May 2012 | 4:19 amA Secular Student Alliance group just began at SUNY New Paltz (in New York) and, to advertise their meetings, the group put up flyers reading, “ARE YOU GOOD WITHOUT GOD? We are too.”“What?! Atheists have meetings?! That must be called into question!” said an ignorant person somewhere…In case you can’t read the handwritten note on the bottom left, it says:"Dear ‘Seculars’: Is there a point of people who believe in nothing, gathering?"The atheists pinned an excellent response right next to…
-
Daylight Atheism | Big Think
-
The Religious War on Women Continues
16 May 2012 | 5:00 amIt must be a terribly confusing time to be a member of the Vatican hierarchy. In an effort to stem the accelerating exodus of Catholic laypeople, they've been cracking down on suspected heretics left and right - on nuns who help the poor too much, on priests who want to change the rules of ...Read More -
Open Thread: Complaints & Grievances
15 May 2012 | 5:50 pmJust a quick note: In the past few days, I've had several complaints about the auto-playing video ads on the right sidebar. Rest assured, I find them just as annoying as you all do. I've written to the management at Big Think, and I've had assurances that they've already been changed so that the ...Read More -
Getting Apologists to Go Off-Script
14 May 2012 | 5:00 amIn a previous post about debating on Twitter, I wrote that I conduct most debates these days through the Socratic method. I find this more effective than arguing by assertion, since believers can reply to that with the standard apologetic counter-assertions, most of which they can reel off without ...Read More -
Weekend Coffee: The 3D Printing Revolution
12 May 2012 | 1:08 pmFor a mental health break, this weekend I wanted to write about something extremely cool: 3D printing, an emerging technological trend that's been covered by, among others, the Telegraph, the Economist, PC World, as well as right here at Big Think's IdeaFeed. As opposed to traditional ...Read More -
Book Review: The Better Angels of Our Nature
11 May 2012 | 5:00 amI've just finished reading Steven Pinker's The Better Angels of Our Nature, an extraordinary book that I think deserves wider attention. I want to write a full review, but this book is far too vast (696 pages!) and too broad in scope to do it justice in a single post, so I plan to split my review ...Read More
-
ExChristian.Net -- encouraging ex-Christians
-
God is an Impediment
16 May 2012 | 5:08 amBy Carl S ~ As a True Believer, one’s worship and dependency on invisible supernatural forces restrained your goodness, as you spent time, labor, money in appeasing, pleading with, and most of all trying to ascertain the particular will of that deity for your life. You examined your motives and your relationships to others in that context. You examined your virtue in comparison to that of the examples of other 'holy' ones held up to you. You were involved in self-criticism based on beliefs you had been taught to be the most important matters in life. All of these things, if you notice now,… -
Who is Arrogant?
16 May 2012 | 5:07 amBy WizenedSage (Galen Rose) ~ It appears to be fashionable these days to call atheists arrogant. Over and over we read how Dawkins is arrogant, Hitchens perhaps even more so, and Sam Harris is clearly just a “know-it-all” with an attitude problem. In fact, if you read the postings on this site for a bit, you will “learn” that we un-famous atheists are arrogant, too.Now, if expressing an unpopular opinion means that one is arrogant, then we have no defense. But, let’s look at a typical dictionary definition of the word: “Arrogant; having or showing an exaggerated opinion of one's… -
Taking Action
16 May 2012 | 5:06 amBy Jaded Rogue ~ Like many here I was also raised in a fundamentalist evangelical household with strict adherence to a literal interpretation of the Bible. After finishing seminary and pastoring a local congregation for a couple of years, my father decided to become a missionary. When I was about 8 years old we, my mother and my younger sister and two brothers, moved to Japan to fulfill this “calling”. Here we lived for a decade while my father went to language school and established a church. I attended public school until the tenth grade after which I attended an international Christian… -
Escaping the Word of Faith
16 May 2012 | 4:48 amBy Jonny Scaramanga ~ I used to be a Christian fundamentalist. Through college, this was my dirty secret. I only told my closest friends. Coming from Britain, where it's a smaller phenomenon, most of them had no idea people like me existed.Now I've come to own it. I used to be a fundamentalist, and I escaped. It's such a relief to declare it, and realise that I'm breathing fresh air for the first time in my life. Before, I had to make up excuses for why I'd never heard classic rock songs (because I was in church when they were on the radio), or never drunk alcohol. The relief of making… -
A "Dear God" letter
15 May 2012 | 5:18 amBy Danimal ~ Dear God,We have had a tumultuous relationship over the years. In spite of being physically abused as a boy and relentlessly bullied in school, I never blamed you for those. Even when I had difficulty making friends and maintaining friendships, I was to blame. I was the one born into sin. I was the one flawed. I could never blame someone who was holy and knew what was best for me.We never went to church as a family. I didn't learn about you until I was 17 when I was introduced to an Assemblies of God church. There I learned that your worship was vibrant and emotional. I learned…
-
Atheist Revolution
-
U.S. Loses Over $71 Billion in Religious Tax Exemptions
16 May 2012 | 7:08 amThe following is from a press release distributed by the Center for Inquiry: AMHERST, NY: In times of crippling cutbacks to badly needed government services, a new article published by Free Inquiry magazine details how the tax exemptions enjoyed by religious institutions cost the U.S. a staggering $71 billion per year, at the least. Meanwhile, this religious privilege helps to subsidize the lavish homes and lifestyles of numerous clergy on the taxpayers’ dime. In their new report, “How Secular Humanists (and Everyone Else) Subsidize Religion in the U.S.,” researchers Ryan T. Cragun,… -
A Flawed Defense of the Catholic Church
15 May 2012 | 8:21 amE. J. Dionne, Jr. is a well-respected columnist for the Washington Post and someone with whom fans of the MSNBC political shows may recognize. He's been a guest on Maddow countless times, and he usually sounds rational.Dionne recently wrote a post for TruthDig about the full-page ad the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) ran in the Washington Post calling on Catholics to leave the church. Dionne sought to explain why he is not leaving the church. Unfortunately, his flippant tone and many misconceptions about the issues suggest that he made little effort to take it seriously.Putting aside… -
Demanding Respect for Ridiculous Opinions
14 May 2012 | 6:32 amScott over at Atheism - That's for ME! captured my attention with a recent post about one of my pet peeves: the expression "Everyone has a right to their opinion." When I hear someone say this, I nearly always drop what I'm doing and get myself in an argument. I know that is silly of me, but it is like nails on a chalkboard. I usually point out that people may have a right to their own opinions but not their own facts and that it is a mistake to expect unsupported opinions to be given equal weight to facts. This nearly always seems to be what motivated the speaker to say this in the first… -
A Bible Without Christ
13 May 2012 | 8:48 amAccording to Professor David Capes of Houston Baptist University, the Christian bible "is probably the most owned and least read book out there. That's because, for many, it's too difficult to understand."You know, I think Professor Capes may have a point. I have encountered many Christians who have not read their own bibles. The early Christians who wrote the various books of what would later become their bible weren't writing for an audience in the remote future; they were addressing their contemporaries. And the early church that decided which books made it into the bible and which were… -
Colorado Court of Appeals Rules Against State Day of Prayer
11 May 2012 | 12:02 pmThere was some big news out of Colorado yesterday that was somewhat overshadowed by President Obama's announcement. The Colorado Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Freedom From Religion Foundation's 2008 lawsuit against the state governor's proclamations for a Colorado Day of Prayer.From Judge Steve Bernard's opinion:A reasonable observer would conclude that these proclamations send the message that those who pray are favored members of Colorado’s political community, and that those who do not pray do not enjoy that favored status.Absolutely! The court clearly gets it and found…
-
Divided Under God
-
Science Is No Longer Exact in Tennessee
22 Apr 2012 | 8:43 pmMore than 85 years after the Scopes trial in Tennessee, the state is again making headlines for its science education practices. Recently, a bill was passed by the state house and senate that will allow science teachers to insert their own curriculum into the fold, exposing students to whatever brand of “science education” their particular teachers feel is relevant. According to the explanation in The Tennessean, “it encourages students to question accepted scientific theories — listing as examples evolution, the chemical origins of life, global warming and cloning — and… -
Thou Shalt Not Display Commandments in Court
20 Jul 2011 | 7:29 amFinally. A federal judge has ordered Dixie County officials to remove a 5-foot tall monument to the Ten Commandments from the front of a courthouse in Florida. The 6-ton granite waste of taxpayer money must be removed from the courthouse in 30 days, which will ultimately waste another heap of cash in an already financially strapped state. The ACLU of Florida sued the county back in 2007, citing the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. For the Evangelicals reading this, the Establishment Clause prohibits the government from not only establishing religion, but based on case law, also… -
Pat Robertson is Bat Shit Crazy
28 Jun 2011 | 11:52 amOk, maybe the title is a little harsh. But come on, this is a guy that compared Liberals to Nazis, called feminists child murderers, and said that Haiti is suffering because of the pact they made with the devil to get the French out. And now his latest rant involves same sex marriage. Recently on the 700 Club, Mr. Robertson explained that America is turning into a modern day Sodom and is heading toward the path of God’s destruction. According to Pat, no civilization has ever embraced homosexuality and survived. I’m assuming he’s referring to ancient civilizations,… -
Is Our Country’s Culture Beyond Repair? Why Weiner Should Have Stayed in Office
16 Jun 2011 | 9:18 amThe recent developments in the Anthony Weiner “scandal” have forced me to give some thought to what’s going on with American society and whether or not it needs fixing. There are so many avenues I could go down with this post: the news media’s obsession with scandal, our voyeuristic culture, the ultra-sensitive fragile feelings of the masses, the opportunistic lawyers and civil rights advocates that are working for the almighty dollar rather than justice, or the tendency toward reveling in others’ pain in the comfort of our living rooms. All of these issues… -
The Right Has Nothing Better to Do
14 Mar 2011 | 2:01 pmYup… so instead of focusing on the crisis in the Middle East, unemployment, health care, education, and a myriad of other issues that threaten the great US of A, Michelle Bachmann and her Congressional Prayer Caucus have written a letter to President Obama correcting him on his reference to our National Motto. The Caucus, “dedicated to preserving America’s religious heritage,” (and supported by your tax dollars) has pointed out to our commander in chief that he misspoke in a speech on 11/10/10 in Indonesia, when he referred to our national motto as E pluribus unum…
-
An American Atheist
-
Profiling Muslims: Sam Harris vs. PZ Myers
9 May 2012 | 12:53 amFor those not fully informed, there is some dialogue between some high profile atheists (Sam Harris and PZ Myers) regarding profiling Muslims at the airport. Sam Harris recently wrote an article on his blog suggesting, in no uncertain terms, that we should be profiling Muslims for screening before boarding an airplane. This post stirred up [...] -
71: Mother Teresa, Negativity in Atheism, David Barton
9 May 2012 | 12:37 amColin, Robin, Tom, and Chris discuss negativity in atheism, Dan Savage’s recent trouble with some Christians, David Barton’s appearance on The Daily Show, the true character of Mother Teresa and more. -
Why I Am Not a Christian
6 May 2012 | 1:22 pmOne could argue that the entirety of Christianity's impetus revolves around Jesus' divinity and his power over death as portrayed in the Passion narratives. However, regarding many key events in Jesus' life, the Gospels do not agree. The birth narrative, his ministry, his parables (many of which are borrowed from earlier writings), et cetera.Since many celebrated Easter last month, let's focus on how the Gospels tell the story of the resurrection. This will not be exhaustive, but it should be more than enough to prove these four books are almost certainly fiction. -
Despite oppression, Black atheists fight to be heard
4 May 2012 | 2:48 amBlack atheists are relatively hard to come by. Even more rare, however, are the black atheists and agnostics accepted by their family despite their lack of religious faith. Click the image above to learn their stories. _________________________ Sean Austin said his family’s relationship changed when he told them he did not believe in God. Austin told [...] -
David Barton: still not an historian.
3 May 2012 | 3:08 pmDavid Barton, the pseudo-historian and Religious Right activist, went back on the Daily Show this week to promote his new book The Jefferson Lies: Exposing the Myths You’ve Always Believed About Thomas Jefferson. Now, I haven’t read Barton’s book, so I do not know every wrinkle of every argument within it – nor do I [...]
-
The Angry Atheist
-
The Angry Atheist 81 w/ Bridget Gaudette
14 May 2012 | 11:35 amThe Florida State Director for American Atheists, Bridget Gaudette talks with The Angry Atheist about what she is dealing with in Florida when it comes to separation of church and state. Gay marriage, Obama, and atheists telling other atheists how they should behave, an issue that never seems to fade away. You can find Bridget on FaceBook. You can also email her at BGaudette@atheists.org -
The Angry Atheist 80 w/ Greta Christina
12 May 2012 | 12:28 amGreta Christina spends an hour with the Angry Atheist talking about her book, marriage, anger, atheists, and attitude. For anyone who doesn’t know Greta- She blogs at freethoughtblogs.com as Greta Christina’s Blog Greta has also written a very informative and enjoyable book you can find here- Why Are You Atheists So Angry? 99 Things That Piss Off the Godless Her book is highly recommended and if you get a chance to hear Greta speak in person you are advised to do so, you won’t be bored. You can also find her on twitter -
The Angry Atheist 78 w/ Chuck Doswell
2 May 2012 | 4:49 amNext up we have a man who describes himself as a militant atheist, Chuck Doswel The Angry Atheist talks with Chuck about the weather but considering his background Chuck is the perfect man to educate someone on the subject. Chuck talks about how science is misrepresented by the media. When it is productive to have that ‘same old argument’ you’ve had a thousand other times? Is Rush Limbaugh an evil genius? You can hear Chuck on American Heathen Saturdays at 8pm est. You can also find his website here -
The Angry Atheist 77 w/ Ernest Perce The Saints Revenge
29 Apr 2012 | 2:13 amThe guest this time makes things plain and simple…… well, things are never simple. The Angry Atheist brings Ernest Perce to the podcast so even more people can hate him. Ernest is the Pennsylvania State Director for American Atheists and very outspoken. On this podcast you will learn what motivates him to go after religion and some of the ways it has effected him on a personal level. Like it or not there are many different sides to the atheist movement and all the complaining in the world isn’t going to change that, accept it. You can find Ernest on youtube… -
The Angry Atheist 76 w/ Emily Dietle
26 Apr 2012 | 10:53 amThe Angry Atheist had a wonderful chat with Emily Dietle who is also known as emilyhasbooks. Emily is a blogger, book lover, atheist, activist, and feminist. She currently is writing book reviews for the Friendly Atheist, and working as an organizer for the Houston Atheists.It’s a great discussion about atheists and activism. To download the Nude Photo Revolutionary Calendar, click here.
-
Deity Shmeity
-
Morality Week: Biblical "Morality"
16 May 2012 | 10:17 amChristians tend to argue one of two positions.Religion provides our morality through scripture.Morality is objective and we all have a God-given sense of right and wrong.The first is pretty straight forward, and I’ve found that the second eventually leads to the first. For example, a theist can argue a moral value against rape and murder is universal and use this as evidence that the value originates with God. Yet the same theist sees a similar moral truth in an issue like homosexuality, which is far from universal. In the U.S., roughly half the population is in favor of gay marriage, which… -
Morality Week: The Ubiquitous Rule
15 May 2012 | 3:25 pm -
Morality Week: Explaining to a True Believer Why He Shouldn't Kill Grandpa
15 May 2012 | 9:29 amThe following is another pointless debate with a theist. Apologist: What is the source or determinate of morality in a purely naturalistic reality? I understand that murder can be bad for society as a whole, and therefore a naturalistically adopted rule. But if benefit to the whole is the goal, shouldn’t we euthanize the elderly, physically disabled, etc? Society would benefit and thrive greatly without the burden of those who can not sexually reproduce or contribute labor or mental innovations. By what moral code do you defend the life of a person who is unable to contribute to society… -
Morality Week: A Moral Obligation to Ourselves
14 May 2012 | 9:44 amThis week I'm going to be talking about my views on morality and specifically voicing objections to "moral truth" as an argument for the existence of God. I currently have multiple debates logged on the subject and will be drawing on them as prompts to flesh out my position. I'll round out the week with a post summing up morality as I see it. Should be fun, right? Right!The following is a question from an apologist arguing that morality is objective and that moral truths can only come from God: “Do we have a moral obligation to be fair, or to act in our best interest, or to refrain from… -
One Step Forward, Two Steps Back.
11 May 2012 | 8:07 amGod answers questions of origin, purpose and method...with another question. In essence, replacing a natural mystery with a supernatural mystery. Seeing how we know the natural exists and we don't know the supernatural exists, I'm more comfortable with natural mysteries.The question of origin. Q: Where did we come from?A: From God.Q: Where did God come from?The question of purpose.Q: Why are we here?A: God put us here.Q: Why is God here?The question of method.Q: How did we come to be?A: God made us.Q: How did God make us?
-
Outcasts in Zion
-
Female Genital Mutilation in the UK
13 May 2012 | 10:14 pmAs many as 100,000 women in Britain have undergone female genital mutilation. This grotesque operation involves the removal of external genitalia and in some cases the stitching closed of the vaginal opening. Please let us know what you think in the comments. Female Genital Mutilation in the UK -
Episode 005 – Ben’s Story “Family Division”
8 May 2012 | 5:50 pmBen talks with Outcasts in Zion about his religious background and the polarizing effects that Religion has. -
Schoolgirls Poisoned in Afghanistan
5 May 2012 | 11:02 pmNearly 150 Afghan schoolgirls were poisoned at a high school. Officials are blaming conservative radicals opposed to female education. Article: Schoolgirls Poisoned -
Holy Ghost Rape Case
1 May 2012 | 3:04 pmGeody Harman, formerly of the Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven pleaded guilty to unlawful sex with a minor. Outcasts discuss some of the more interesting facts in this case as well as some highlights regarding the Church of the Firstborn and the General Assembly of Heaven Holy Ghost Rape Case Article Additional Information -
Easter Sunday in a Mosque
26 Apr 2012 | 9:46 pmSacramento Area League of Associated Muslims lends a hand to members of the spiritual life center of Sacramento in order to provide them a place to celebrate Easter. Easter Sunday in a Mosque
-
God Is Obsolete
-
Ban Gay Marriage? How About Banning Idiot Marriage?
9 May 2012 | 12:58 pmOn May 8th, yet another state, this time North Carolina, voted to make same-sex marriage illegal. The geniuses in North Carolina even went so far as to make gay marriage unconstitutional, thereby making any effort to overturn the law incredibly … Continue reading → -
There’s Nothing Intelligent About Intelligent Design
24 Apr 2012 | 2:57 pmSupport intelligent design? If so, you’re not so intelligent.Clipart courtesy of openclipart.org. PQ2V22NK4UHC -
Christian Logic
23 Apr 2012 | 10:29 amUnfortunately, the intellectual growth of children can be stunted by brainwashed parents: -
Possible or Probable?
21 Apr 2012 | 9:06 pmAnd now a short public service announcement for religious fanatics on the difference between possible and probable. Some religious fanatics don’t believe that dinosaurs existed because the Bible doesn’t say anything about dinosaurs. They believe that God put dinosaur bones … Continue reading → -
He’s Here! He’s Here! The Second Coming Of Christ
21 Apr 2012 | 3:44 pmHave you heard? Christ has returned to earth. After centuries of keeping us all waiting, through crusades, reformations, inquisitions and false gods, He has triumphantly returned to us… as this guy… to reclaim him earthly kingdom.That’s right, Jose Miranda, from … Continue reading →
-
Reason Being
-
The Divorce of Church and State
16 May 2012 | 6:29 amFrom RB: Today’s Post is from Grundy. Grundy is the author at the blog Deity Shmeity. His blogs is one of my favorite daily reads. I strongly encourage that you take a few minutes and check it out. The Divorce of Church and State By Grundy So I found myself agreeing with a priest during a Catholic homily last Sunday. (Yes, I occasionally go to church. Where do you think I get the material for my blog?) Surprisingly, the clergyman waxed poetic about the merits of the separation of church and state. He pointed out that when he officiates a marriage, he is acting on behalf of the… -
America…We Have a Problem.
15 May 2012 | 5:44 amChristianity and Politics in the U.S. As many of my loyal readers know, I have only been at this blogging thing since late January. I am going to be away for a few days and will not be posting. However, I am happy to announce that reason-being is going to be thriving during that time. I have invited some other bloggers to guest post here. Grundy (Deity Shmeity), Emily Dietle (Emily Has Books), Andrew Hall (Laughing in Purgatory), Martin S Pribble (Martin S Pribble) and a few others will provide posts for the rest of this week. I am excited and honored that these fine bloggers agreed… -
Kevin DeYoung: Another Case of Christian Bigotry
14 May 2012 | 8:42 amAnother Response to ‘Five Reasons Christians Should Continue to Oppose Gay Marriage’ I this post mostly complete last night. Before editing it, I decided to take a break and read some of my favorite blogs. I went to The Friendly Atheist and saw that Hemant Mehta had already written a piece on this. Hemant also did a great job in vocalizing some of the criticisms that I had written. Damn you Hemant! (Not to hell or anything, that would be silly). In all seriousness, Hemant wrote a great piece which you should read and can do so here. That said I have gone back and reworked my… -
To the Catholic Leadership…. “Fuck Off”
11 May 2012 | 10:18 amThe Catholic Church and Its War on America I am in a foul mood today. I did not have the time to write a post yesterday, which annoyed me. To make matters worse, recent comments and news regarding the Catholic Church has really gotten my dander up. As my regular readers know, it is not often that I curse in my posts. Today is one of those “not often days”. The other day I wrote a post discussing the monarchical qualities of the Catholic Church. One of the key features of an absolute monarchy is to be able to act in whatever manner they see fit. The Conference of Bishops is… -
The Catholic Church: A Bigoted Absolute Monarchy
9 May 2012 | 10:35 amThe Catholic Church Doesn’t Understand the First Amendment I was not sure what I was going to write about today. I scanned a few newspapers and nothing really jumped out at me. I then looked at some religious websites and found that I was getting angrier the more I read. I was angered over the numerous examples of religion being used as a crutch for hate and to oppress the First Amendment. Let me start off by stating that the bible is not an excuse for bigotry and hate. Religious bigotry and hate is still bigotry and hate. It really does not matter what the source is. Second,…
