February 2012
13 posts
Debunking Christianity
The Scale of the Universe Link. Drag the square at the bottom from left to right and back. Where is God? ;-) Nikita Khrushchev later said after Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin flew into space in 1961 that “Gagarin flew into space, but didn’t see any god there.” Such a comment was… The OTF for Mormonism Mormons assume other religions have the burden of proof. They assume...
Feb 13th
Atheist Revolution
Honoring Darwin Today is Darwin Day, a celebration of the birth of Charles Darwin on Feb. 12, 1809. Whether we are talking about science or religion, Darwin’s significance cannot be overstated. Darwin Day is a perfect excuse to reflect on Darwin’s contributions and where… The Catholic War on Women As we near the 2012 presidential election, continued economic progress means that...
Feb 12th
Debunking Christianity
Quote of the Day, With Examples If the same kind of reasoning produces support for two different conclusions then the reasoning is delusional. By your host here, John W. Loftus ;-)—Example 1) Ontological argumentation for God’s existence equally supports the Oriental conception of… BBC Program “Phantoms in the Brain” Hosted by V.S. Ramachandran This is an episode...
Feb 11th
Atheist Media
About a Jesus… via Friendly Atheist (Thanks Josh) The Reason Rally - March 24, 2012 ReasonRally.org New Rule: Atheism is not a religion! - Bill Maher February 3, 2012 on Real Time with Bill Maher The Real Time host brings Mitt Romney’s father-in-law back to the realm of the dead atheist. via: Atheist Media Blog
Feb 10th
Debunking Christianity
Is William Lane Craig Dishonest With the Facts? I’ve Drawn a Line in the Sand. Most people know that I defend William Lane Craig against the charge that he is dishonest as an apologist. Among skeptics I am his biggest defender, perhaps the only one. But I have just asked him three questions about the inner witness of the Holy Spirit… *Sigh* The Inner Witness of the Spirit...
Feb 10th
Debunking Christianity
An Interview With Richard Carrier About His Book, “Proving History” Richard Carrier has kindly agreed to answer some questions I posed after reading his soon to be released book Proving History: Bayes’s Theorem and the Quest for the Historical Jesus (Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. 2012). This book introduces Bayes’s… Quote of the Day, by articulett on the OTF ;-) You can...
Feb 8th
Debunking Christianity
Quote of the Day, by Kel Self-authenticating private evidence is useless, because it is indistinguishable from the illusion of it. An Explanation About the Books I Recommend I should say something about the books listed in the sidebar that I recommend. There are lots of books debunking Christianity and/or in defense of reason and science not listed. So let me explain my choices since some authors...
Feb 7th
Debunking Christianity
William Lane Craig: “Christian belief is not based on the historical evidence.” This is the very last sentence Craig writes that can be read here, which is his conclusion after dealing with the problem of Lessing’s Ugly Broad Ditch. This is where I think Christians are impaled on the horns of a dilemma. Let me explain. First let’s… via: Debunking Christianity
Feb 6th
Atheist Revolution
Asking Why I had a bit of a rebellious streak in my youth, and I am sure that there were times when I adopted a minority position simply to rebel against authority. This was probably also a contributing factor to how outspoken I was about my atheism during my college… Delegitimizing Atheists in the Media Staks over at Dangerous Talk recently brought up a great point about how people -...
Feb 5th
Debunking Christianity
Delusional on a Grand Scale: Assessing The Inner Witness of the Spirit William Lane Craig claims the inner witness of the Spirit “trumps all other evidence.” It is “an intrinsic defeater-defeater” for anyone who experiences to it. So even if I don’t have that witness, and even if I don’t like the idea of such a witness,… Richard Carrier On The Eclipse of...
Feb 4th
Atheist Media
Alain de Botton: Atheism 2.0 - TED … via: Atheist Media Blog
Feb 3rd
Debunking Christianity
“Why We Must Treat the Bible No Differently Than Any Other Book” By Biblical Scholar James A. Metzger …many theologians and biblical scholars continue to speak of the Christian God in only the most sterling manner: as, for instance, all-loving, just, infinitely wise, and inexhaustibly merciful. But this is not the God of the Bible – not even close…. “On Visions and...
Feb 3rd
Debunking Christianity
Not Even an Omniscient God Could Convince Me That I Willfully Reject Christianity Against the Overwhelming Evidence I cannot conceive of an omniscient God being able to do this given all that I know about Christianity, the Bible, theology, philosophy, science, and the history of the church. For God to do this he would have to re-create this universe and basically rewrite… There is No Hell!...
Feb 1st
January 2012
23 posts
Debunking Christianity
The Christian Delusion is Never More Apparent Just once—once mind you—I’d like to see just one believer, only one, who will say, “Hey, I’m like most people. What I believe is based on my cultural prejudices just like most everyone else.” I have never heard one believer admit this, not one, even… William Lane Craig: “No Amount of Evidence or...
Jan 31st
Debunking Christianity
Michael Licona Refuses to Debate Me Michael Licona is a Christian friend of mine. I have met Mike and had pleasant conversations with him. He moderated the debate I had with David Wood on whether God exists, seen here. The first time I met him was at the 2009 Society of Biblical Literature… via: Debunking Christianity
Jan 30th
Atheist Revolution
Decline of Christian Extremist Influence Should Not Be Overstated Every few years, a story appears in the U.S. media suggesting that evangelical fundamentalist Christianity is losing political influence and is on its way out. These predictions never seem to materialize, but that doesn’t stop people from making them…. Anti-Bullying Legislation Cannot Exempt Religiously-Motivated...
Jan 29th
Debunking Christianity
It’s Possible God Exists Even Though All Life Has Evolved The implications of evolution are enormous, as I have said before. But even though all life has evolved it’s still possible for a supernatural force (or being) to exist. To see this all we need to do is look at what dog breeders do on a regular basis…. John Green is Now Writing for “the Other Team” John Green...
Jan 28th
Atheist Media
Richard Dawkins at the Jaipur Literature Festival Richard Dawkins and Lala Ward read excerpts from The Magic of Reality and Unweaving The Rainbow (via RDnet and 3 Quarks Daily) Colorado Springs Billboard: God Is An Imaginary Friend January 23, 2012 on KKTV 11 News: The Colorado Coalition of Reason or COCORE is behind a billboard that will sit on I-25 and Garden Of The Gods. The billboard will...
Jan 27th
Debunking Christianity
“My Christianity is Right” via: Debunking Christianity
Jan 27th
Debunking Christianity
Romulus and Jesus Compared Richard C. Miller’s “Mark’s Empty Tomb and Other Translation Fables in Classical Antiquity,” Journal of Biblical Literature, v. 129, no. 4 (2010) is a good read. According to Miller the story of an empty tomb as found in the earliest Gospel owes more… via: Debunking Christianity
Jan 26th
Debunking Christianity
“Here it Comes” I’m Done With My Revised Book Files This clip from “The Wrath of Khan” expresses my thoughts as I ponder the impact of my revised book, Why I Became an Atheist, which I am now officially done editing. No violence is intended here at all. It’s purely metaphorical and a bit humorous even… via: Debunking Christianity
Jan 25th
Debunking Christianity
My Top 25 Substantive Posts in 2011 Here they are: 25) I Stand in the Gap 24) Answering Some of My Critics 23) The Top Ten Misconceptions About Atheists 22) The Ten Marks of a Deluded Person 21) Once Again, Atheism is Not a Belief Nor a Religion 20) In Defense of Debates 19) Ten Ways How… via: Debunking Christianity
Jan 24th
Debunking Christianity
That Which Disconfirms UFOs From Mars Also Disconfirms God’s Existence In 1971 a NASA space orbiter named Mariner 9 discovered that the canals on Mars were illusory. This discovery strongly disconfirmed the claim that there was intelligent life on that planet. Before this discovery many people claimed they encountered Martians…. via: Debunking Christianity
Jan 23rd
Atheist Revolution
Remember Christian Extremism on the 39th Anniversary of Roe Today is the 39th anniversary of Roe v. Wade, the U.S. Supreme Court decision that recognized a woman’s legal right to abort a pregnancy. As we celebrate this important case and its promotion of reproductive freedom, we must not forget to acknowledge… Congratulations, Newt He’s an ethically challenged hypocrite who...
Jan 22nd
Debunking Christianity
The 2012 Debunking Christianity Challenge Four years ago I challenged Christians to take the Debunking Christianity Challenge. Just like last year I’m proposing twelve reasonably priced college level books, one per month. My challenge is for Christians to read our books and test their faith to… Oprah Winfrey’s Half-Sister and The Odds of The Resurrection of Jesus There are a...
Jan 22nd
Debunking Christianity
Why Do Christians Disagree? Why is it Christians cannot agree to the point where they have condemned each other to hell and/or slaughtered each other because of doctrinal differences that other Christians don’t think are essential for salvation? My answer is that Christianity is… via: Debunking Christianity
Jan 21st
Atheist Media
BBC The Big Questions: Has The Time Come To Repent? January 8, 2012 on BBC One With atheist stand-up comic and political activist Kate Smurthwaite (Thanks to TreVelocita) via: Atheist Media Blog
Jan 20th
Debunking Christianity
The 2012 Debunking Christianity Challenge Four years ago I challenged Christians to take the Debunking Christianity Challenge. Just like last year I’m proposing twelve reasonably priced college level books, one per month. My challenge is for Christians to read our books and test their faith to… Stenger’s New Book: God and the Folly of Faith: The Incompatibility of Science and...
Jan 19th
Debunking Christianity
Bruce Gerencser on Atheism, The Bible, and Jesus Atheists have a wide and divergent view on most everything. There is no atheist position, atheist viewpoint, or atheist worldview. Atheists can’t even agree on what the words atheist or atheism mean. Religionists are used to narrow, defined, sectarian… Ten Reasons Why Most Believers Don’t Seriously Question Their Faith This topic...
Jan 18th
Debunking Christianity
Is Christianity the Worst Religion in the World? Ben Cain thinks so. See what you think. via: Debunking Christianity
Jan 17th
Atheist Revolution
Sexism in the Atheist Community: Initial Objections I have only written two posts so far in this series on sexism in the atheist community, an introduction to the series and an explanation of why I believe that sexism is a problem in our community, and I have already received quite a few objections. A… Idiot of the Week: Richard Floyd A state representative in Tennessee, Richard Floyd...
Jan 15th
Debunking Christianity
There is No Atheist Community, No Atheist Movement I want to briefly make the case that there is no atheist community. There are only atheist communities. There is likewise no atheist movement. There is only an atheist momentum. Atheists do not even share the same goals. Again, briefly, because my time… Stay Tuned I’m Coming Back I’ve decided to return to blogging here. I like...
Jan 14th
Atheist Media
Pope: Gay Marriage Could End Humanity January 9, 2011 on Jimmy Kimmel Live via: Atheist Media Blog
Jan 13th
Atheist Revolution
Sexism in the Atheist Community: Introduction “Oh, come on! Not another blog writing about sexism in the atheist community!” Yep. I have been thinking about this subject a great deal lately. This is certainly not a new problem, but a growing number of atheist women I respect have come forward and… Atheist Community Is there an atheist community? Should there be an atheist...
Jan 8th
Atheist Media
The Best of the Hitchslap - Part Two Christopher Hitchens’ Amazon Page via: Atheist Media Blog
Jan 6th
Atheist Revolution
The Atheist Movement in 2012 Welcome to 2012! It is precisely 2012 years after the death of someone who may well have never lived in the first place. I trust you enjoyed last night’s culturally-sanctioned alcohol abuse and are now ready to spend money you don’t have on mass produced… Idiot of the Year 2011 Whew! That year went by quickly, didn’t it? With the annual war on...
Jan 1st
December 2011
16 posts
Atheist Media
Tim Minchin: WoodyAllenJesus by Tim MinchinThis song was meant to air on the Jonathan Ross Show tomorrow night (23rd December 2011), but at the last minute ITV cut it. Here’s my whiney blog about it.(Thanks Gordon) via: Atheist Media Blog
Dec 30th
Atheist Revolution
‘War on Christmas’ Generates Money for Conservative Organizations You and I both know that there is no war on Christmas. Encouraging people to be respectful of one another (e.g., saying “happy holidays” rather than presuming to know which holidays someone celebrates) is not a war. Reminding government that it is not… Social Pressure Does Not Constitute a Ban What...
Dec 25th
Atheist Media
Channel 4 - Can Atheists Enjoy Christmas? From 4Thought.tv: Christmas is one of the most important dates in the Christian calendar but what does it mean to non-believers? In the week before Christmas seven atheists spell out their views. More (Thanks Dharmender) The intolerance of diversity by Pat Condell Fischer: God Sent Christopher Hitchens to Hell Because He Loved Him Bryan Fischer says that...
Dec 23rd
Atheist Revolution
My Take on Lowe’s Pulling Their Ads I’ve been asked what I think about the recent decision by Lowe’s to pull their ads from the All-American Muslim show in response to pressure by a Christian extremist group in Florida. I believe there are two issues here that can be addressed separately…. Idiot of the Week: Southern Baptist Convention Lots of idiots to choose from this...
Dec 18th
Atheist Media
Christopher Hitchens Dies at 62 December 16, 2011 on ABC News: Christopher Hitchens, the maverick essayist, unabashed atheist and cable television gladiator whose long list of targets included Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger, and even Mother Teresa and organized religion, has died of… Saudi Woman Beheaded for ‘Sorcery’ December 13, 2011 on CNN via: Atheist Media Blog
Dec 16th
Atheist Revolution
Maybe Christmas Should be Time to Reconsider Consumer Culture Some people want to tie the recent Black Friday pepper sprayings and other bad behavior to the dismal economy. They have a point in that dire economic circumstances can make people more desperate, increasing the chances of bad behavior. But most of the… Idiot of the Week: Rick Perry (Yet Again) When you are a moron with a solid...
Dec 11th
Debunking Christianity
I Have a Larger Audience at Freethoughtblogs.com That’s what it looks like to me and I like it. So to introduce these new readers to my work I’ll probably re-date a few of my archived posts for a while. To see them as they’re posted check out the link. via: Debunking Christianity
Dec 10th
Atheist Media
Jailed Afghan rape victim freed but ‘to marry attacker’ Video embedding disabled by uploader, watch on Youtube From BBC News: Afghan President Hamid Karzai has pardoned a rape victim who was jailed for adultery, after she apparently agreed to marry her attacker. A government statement said she agreed to the… via: Atheist Media Blog
Dec 9th
Debunking Christianity
I’m Blogging at Freethoughtblogs.com, So Here’s What I’ve Decided As you know I’m blogging at Freethoughtblogs.com. But I have a vested interest in DC which has an archive that exceeds the one transferred over to my new blog, which presently stands at 3558 to 1596 posts. The file was too large to transfer them all…. If Republicans nominate Newt Gingrich for President...
Dec 9th
Debunking Christianity
I’m Blogging at Freethoughtblogs.com, So Here’s What I’ve Decided As you know I’m blogging at Freethoughtblogs.com. But I have a vested interest in DC which has an archive that exceeds the one transferred over to my new blog, which presently stands at 3558 to 1596 posts. The file was too large to transfer them all…. via: Debunking Christianity
Dec 5th
Atheist Revolution
Why It Makes People Uncomfortable When You Talk About Your Religious Beliefs I have heard many religious believers, mostly Christians, ask why it makes other people uncomfortable when they talk about their religious beliefs. It is a fair question, and as you might expect, different people are going to have many different answers…. How to Get Rid of Nativity Scenes on Government...
Dec 4th
Debunking Christianity
Tommy G. Baker Has Spoken His Last Word From the Grave I had mentioned our good friend Tommy had died and had six posts yet to be released. Unfortunately upon examination two of them were duplicates. So he has spoken his last word. To see his posts follow this link. I hate death. It’s the final enemy. Paul… A Jealous God and Divine Domestic Violence If a human husband said that to his...
Dec 4th
Debunking Christianity
A Neglected Atheism: A View from Sam Harris If atheism is the rejection of belief in gods then Buddhism is an atheistic system!  Buddha himself was an agnostic who said in Deer Park, “I can not say whether there is a god, no god or not a not-god. But I can tell you how to obtain enlightenment” … I Ate Some Crap the Other Day Yep. I am not exempt from this. I own a carpet...
Dec 3rd
Atheist Media
Fox News: Outrage Over Rhode Island’s ‘Holiday Tree’ December 1, 2011 on Fox & Friends Stephen Colbert Interviews Neil deGrasse Tyson at Montclair Kimberley Academy (via RichardDawkins.net) Sky News: Church Tells HIV Patients To Stop Treatment November 25, 2011 on Sky News: At least six people have died in Britain after being told they had been healed of HIV and could stop...
Dec 2nd