http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner en-us Mon, 23 Nov 2009 06:39:27 -0700 Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:52:18 -0700 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m11d18-The-Origin-of-Species-Ray-Comfort-and-profound-ignorance?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner The day has come.  We in the atheist and scientific communities have been waiting for it with mild amusement or annoyance.  And to our surprise it came a day early.  We almost missed it as a result.  But I didn't. For those of you... atheism knowledge religion irreducible complexity science Christianity evidence skepticism evolution creationism Darwin Origin of Species Ray Comfort Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:52:18 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m11d18-The-Origin-of-Species-Ray-Comfort-and-profound-ignorance?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m10d26-Atheist-in-the-pews-part-2?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner A little while back, I wrote an article about my experience in visiting a Presbyterian church. I contacted the gentleman who gave that sermon that day, exchanged a few pleasantries, but never heard from him again after he read the article. But I am n... atheism religion insecurity fear Christianity Epicurus projection faith materialism church Matthew 6 Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:06:26 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m10d26-Atheist-in-the-pews-part-2?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m10d26-Atheist-conspiracy-and-secular-culture?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner Atheists are distrusted more than any other group in the United States according to at least one poll. Things such as the “war against Christmas” and the culture wars in general help to create the perception that atheists and other secula... atheism god religion science secularism separation of church and state critical thinking skepticism Mon, 26 Oct 2009 09:22:03 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m10d26-Atheist-conspiracy-and-secular-culture?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m10d17-The-pseudodepth-of-religion?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner We, unfortunately, live in a largely anti-intellectual and unsophisticated culture. There is not ample interest in things philosophical or subtle. I will not lament this here for its own sake, but I will mention this as a pretext to address anothe... belief religion insecurity spiritual Christianity childhood faith church Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:15:39 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m10d17-The-pseudodepth-of-religion?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m10d2-The-cultural-assumption-of-monogamy-and-gods?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner It is clearly true that most people believe in god and that, in the end, we should at least try to choose one life-partner.  Not everyone will like that term, conservatively preferring the more traditional 'husband' or 'wife,' but this seems to ... fear freedom sex polyamory monogamy assumptions Fri, 02 Oct 2009 11:45:30 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m10d2-The-cultural-assumption-of-monogamy-and-gods?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m9d18-Atheist-v-theistic-arrogance?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner One of the charges leveled against the so-called "new atheists" is that of arrogance.  This comes in more than one form, however.  The first can be exemplified by the recent book I Don't Have Enough Faith to be an Atheist, which m... god belief religion theology Christianity evidence faith rrogance Fri, 18 Sep 2009 14:20:47 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m9d18-Atheist-v-theistic-arrogance?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m9d16-Theology-and-science-fiction?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner If you want to make a little money, write a book. If you want to make a lot of money, create a religion L. Ron Hubbard (creator of Scientology) I like science fiction. I wrote a science fiction novel (it has not yet been published).  But nonethe... atheism god belief religion science Jesus Christ theology Christianity scientology science fiction Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:57:37 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m9d16-Theology-and-science-fiction?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d28-Religious-Hippies-why-they-annoy-me?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner Insert photo caption or credit hereConservative fundamentalist Christians don't like criticism of their worldview.  And there are all sorts of perspectives from which they receive such criticism; from atheists, other religions, and even other d... atheism religion moderate Christianity moderate religion science post-modernism homeopathy spiritual theology Christianity skepticism materialism hippies the secret pagan wicca Fri, 28 Aug 2009 11:40:35 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d28-Religious-Hippies-why-they-annoy-me?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d24-I-am-an-atheist-because-God-wants-me-to-be-an-atheist?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner If God were a superhero, he'd wear this.I don't generally try and define God.  It is not my place to tell people what a god is.  I will generally ask what a person believes and why, and then deal with what I hear rather than attack straw-m... agnostic god belief religion free will determinism calvinism freedom Christianity Epicurus theodicy problem of evil Mon, 24 Aug 2009 11:47:22 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d24-I-am-an-atheist-because-God-wants-me-to-be-an-atheist?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d21-Faith-v-evidence?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner   All too often I will hear from theists (but not exclusively), that there is plenty of evidence for what they believe.  And sometimes there is.  In that case, well bravo! Now we have something to talk about.  But inevitably, som... atheism god belief knowledge religion burden of proof critical thinking evidence skepticism faith creationism Fri, 21 Aug 2009 09:10:55 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d21-Faith-v-evidence?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d17-An-atheist-in-the-pews-Part-1?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner I have not been to church in many years, at least outside of weddings and such.  I often think about dropping in for a sermon to see what people are hearing from the pulpit. But a few days ago my girlfriend, who has just recently become rather d... atheism god belief knowledge religion calvinism Philadelphia Christianity faith hope materialism church sermon Presbyterian Mon, 17 Aug 2009 09:09:23 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d17-An-atheist-in-the-pews-Part-1?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d15-Rifqa-Bary-caught-between-two-worlds?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner Fathima Rifqa Bary Recently, a 16 year old girl ran away from home.  She was living with her Moslem family in New Albany, Ohio and went to Florida to be with pastor Blake Lorenz of Global Revolution Church.  Why did she do this? Because sh... religion insecurity fear Islam sharia Christianity faith honor killing apostasy apostate Koran Sat, 15 Aug 2009 11:47:55 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d15-Rifqa-Bary-caught-between-two-worlds?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d15-New-atheists-hate-the-sin-not-the-sinner?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner  I spend a fair amount of time writing about religion, atheism, and related matters.  Why do I care so much? Why do I bother? Why not just spend time doing something more constructive than writing articles?Is it because, deep down, I know t... atheism god religion moderate Christianity moderate religion angry atheists science miracles fear Islam new atheists Christianity atheist evangelist projection evolution faith creationism PZ Myers Mooney Kirshenbaum Sat, 15 Aug 2009 09:04:03 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d15-New-atheists-hate-the-sin-not-the-sinner?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d14-Do-we-need-a-soul-to-understand-ourselves?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner  What are we? We have bodies, including a nervous system, bones, muscles, etc, but most people think that we are more than this, that a mere mortal coil is not enough to make us what we are.  There is a sense in which a spirit lives, and in... science spiritual burden of proof evidence faith sul spirit vitalism energy materialism Fri, 14 Aug 2009 09:38:04 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d14-Do-we-need-a-soul-to-understand-ourselves?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d10-False-hope-of-faith?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner Insert photo caption or credit hereMany people of faith have this notion of hope.  Now, I believe that hope can be a good thing in many cases.  I have hope about some things, even if I am often cynical that they may be realistic.  But... god belief religion Christianity evidence die for a lie faith hope Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:20:09 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d10-False-hope-of-faith?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d10-Martyrdom-dying-for-a-lie?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner I've spoken to a number of people over the years about the veracity of religious claims. I've heard answers that appeal to personal experience, lack of answers altogether (usually due to the fact that most people don't know why they believe what they... belief religion Christianity pascal's wager martyr die for a lie Mon, 10 Aug 2009 08:53:52 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d10-Martyrdom-dying-for-a-lie?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d6-Intelligent-design-and-special-pleading?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner All too often I hear from people that there is proof of god everywhere.  The trees and the birds, our hands and our feet, the flesh-eating bacteria and the natural disasters that destroy cities.  OK, those lasts two are not generally used t... atheism god religion irreducible complexity science Christianity critical thinking evidence evolution special pleading Thu, 06 Aug 2009 10:51:00 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d6-Intelligent-design-and-special-pleading?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d5-Projection-seeing-ones-own-sins-in-others?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner Many of us in the atheist and skeptical community have noticed this trend within many people.  It is certainly not unique to religious people nor is it ubiquitous within religious groups, but this particular force is quite strong with many belie... atheism god religion history of religion angry atheists hypocrisy insecurity Christianity critical thinking projection Mark Sanford homophobia Wed, 05 Aug 2009 09:51:37 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d5-Projection-seeing-ones-own-sins-in-others?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d4-Ancient-skeptics-and-new-atheists?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner Epicurus' head There have been doubters of religious ideas for thousands of years. Since before anything you or your family likely believe to be true about the nature of the universe and its creator, there have been people who doubted that any of th... atheism god religion history of religion theology new atheists Carvaka Epicurus Democritus skepticism Tue, 04 Aug 2009 10:26:21 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d4-Ancient-skeptics-and-new-atheists?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d3-Extraordinary-claims-of-religion-and-being-skeptical?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner So, I think that most of us have been out at a bar, a party, or even just taking a stroll through town while talking to someone when they make a claim that stands out to us as unlikely.  It might be about the time that they met Michael Moore sh... atheism god belief religion burden of proof Christianity critical thinking childhood scientology evidence bullshit Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:53:56 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-11708-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner~y2009m8d3-Extraordinary-claims-of-religion-and-being-skeptical?cid=exrss-Philadelphia-Reason--Religion-Examiner