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Godless Politics: A Political Manifesto for Godless Atheists

Fri, 30 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000

America's Christian Right complains often about godless liberals and godless liberalism, presuming that neither politics nor law can be pursued without a basis in a monotheistic religion - preferably Christianity ...

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Does Strong Atheism Imply or Require Certainty?

Thu, 29 May 2014 15:00:52 +0000

It is not true that strong atheism in any way implies or depends upon certainty. A strong atheist who asserts that no gods exist is not simultaneously asserting that they are certain that no gods exist. No other existential or empirical claims imply absolute certainty, so why should anyone think that the claim of strong atheism implies absolute certainty? This is not to say that a strong atheist couldn't also claim to be certain; merely that it's not inherent.

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Philosophy of Religion: Karl Marx's Analysis of Religion

Wed, 28 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000

According to Karl Marx, religion is like other social institutions in that it is dependent upon the material and economic realities in a given society. It has no independent history; ...

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Was God Pleased or Displeased with Creation?

Tue, 27 May 2014 15:00:48 +0000

Genesis has inconsistent depictions of how God feels about his creation -- the earth and its inhabitants. Immediately after creation, Genesis says that God was pleased with his work. Later on, though, Genesis says that God displeased -- so displeased, in fact, that God regrets creating at all and attempts to kill everyone. So was God pleased or displeased with his handiwork?

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Flaws in Reasoning: Pedantry - Details at the Expense of Substance

Mon, 26 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000

Very often, debates become embroiled over what appear to be very minor issues. Sometimes this may be appropriate and sometimes it may not - when it is not, there is ...

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Abortion Rights, Privacy, Sexual Autonomy: Christian Right is Wrong on Abortion

Sun, 25 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000

Americans' right to abortion is founded upon a more fundamental right to privacy -- particularly when it comes to matters involving marriage, children, and sexuality. The Christian Right never fully ...

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Humanist Metaphysics: Humanism & the Universe

Sat, 24 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000

Many of the basic questions in metaphysics are centered around the reality we exist in - or, more specifically, the universe we exist in. What is it, why does it ...

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Godless Living in America: What Can the Godless Do in a Religious Society?

Fri, 23 May 2014 15:00:48 +0000

Godless Americans are like other people in America: they grow up, date, get married, raise children, celebrate holidays, and all the other things which religious theists do. Godless Americans simply ...

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How Moderate Should Atheists Be? How Should Atheists Be Less Extreme?

Thu, 22 May 2014 15:00:57 +0000

Many religious theists would like atheists to be more 'moderate' in their criticisms of religion, religious beliefs, and theism. They contend that atheists are too intolerant of religion and should ...

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Life is Material, not Supernatural: We Are Material, Natural Beings

Wed, 21 May 2014 15:00:44 +0000

Most religions say that life is much more than the flesh and matter we see around us. In addition, there is supposed to be some sort of spiritual or supernatural ...

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Don't Vote for Bigots! Why Atheists Shouldn't Vote for Anti-Atheist Bigots

Tue, 20 May 2014 15:00:04 +0000

You can't simply assume that someone who is politically and religiously liberal doesn't share the anti-atheist bigotry which is so common in America. Granted, such bigotry is perhaps less common ...

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Which is Better, Atheism or Theism? Why Should Anyone Consider Atheism?

Mon, 19 May 2014 15:00:19 +0000

Given how atheism and theism are mutually exclusive, and how atheists and theists debate so much, it may seem natural to wonder which of the two is "better." This is ...

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Evolution Basics: Freiler v. Tangipahoa (1999)

Sun, 18 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000

In an effort not to offend religious families who object to the teaching of evolution, is it permissible for schools to insist that a "disclaimer" be read to the class ...

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Church & State Fundamentals: Modern Resurrection of Sabbath Laws

Sat, 17 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000

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, ...

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Zombie Jesus: Only the Living Dead Can Give You Eternal Life

Fri, 16 May 2014 15:00:02 +0000

_{Photo © istockphoto/Birgitte Magnus
Poster © Austin Cline}

If Jesus died and was buried, but rose from the grave after three days, does that mean Jesus was an Original Zombie (OZ)? New Testament accounts describe him as having wounds you could stick your hands in, something that you can't normally do to living people, but dead people also aren't walking around. There are no stories about Jesus eating people's brains, but we can hardly expect his followers to draw attention to such behavior. Communion is about eating Jesus, not the other way around.

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Myth: Isn't Atheism Too Much of a Risk? Isn't it Safer to Bet on God & Christianity?

Thu, 15 May 2014 15:00:59 +0000

This question, which is really just a simplified version of Pascal's Wager, is one of the most popular questions which religious theists - particularly Christians - pose to atheists. It ...

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Church & State Fundamentals: The Politics of Public Religion

Wed, 14 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000

To what extent is it legitimate to use religion as a basis for political decisions on public policy? Many people believe that such a use of religion ultimately results in ...

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Bias and Vested Interest: Interpreting Facts Unreasonably

Tue, 13 May 2014 15:00:33 +0000

An important thing to watch for in arguments -- both our own and those offered by others -- is the influence of bias or vested interest. Both are variations on ...

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What is Weak Atheism? What is a Weak Atheist?

Mon, 12 May 2014 15:00:15 +0000

Weak atheism, also sometimes referred to as implicit atheism, is simply another name for the broadest and most general definition of atheism: the absence of belief in any gods. A weak atheist is thus defined as someone who is not a theist and who does not believe in the existence of any gods -- no more, no less.

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Humanist History: Deism & Humanism

Sun, 11 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000

Deism is not generally thought of as a type of humanism, but it did play an important role in the development of humanist thinking in Europe. For deists, the universe ...

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Propaganda Poster: God is a Republican & Conservative

Sat, 10 May 2014 15:00:39 +0000

It's interesting, and more than a little bit disturbing, just how often conseravtives and Republicans claim that God is on their side politically -- ...

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Excusing Anti-Atheist Bigotry: Atheists are Totalitarian for Opposing Majority Votes

Fri, 09 May 2014 15:00:21 +0000

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 ...

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Holy Foreskin! Whatever Happened to Jesus' Foreskin?

Thu, 08 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000

The power and popularity of relics in Medieval Europe was dependent upon the saintliness of the original "owner." The ultimate source of relics was Jesus himself, but there was just ...

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Evolution Basics: LeVake v. Independent School District (2001)

Wed, 07 May 2014 15:00:00 +0000

How much authority do school districts have over the material taught in public school classes? It has been established that they cannot ban the teaching of evolution for religious reasons, ...

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Myth: Atheists and the Atheistic World View Don't Allow for Forgiveness

Tue, 06 May 2014 15:00:49 +0000

I've encountered many different and unusual myths about atheists and atheism, most of which depend upon making assumptions about atheists without paying attention to who they are or what they ...

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