There Is a War Going On At Freethought Blogs! Are they Self-Destructing?

Thunderf00T seems to have gone on a rampage. Ed Brayton wants to completely censor him from speaking at all atheist conventions. Natalie Reed subsequently blisters the atheist community. Atheistlogic even calls for a new atheist movement. There is a war going on! Natalie Reed writes:

Solomon's Decision Was the Dumbest Judicial Ruling in History

We all know the story told in I Kings 3. Solomon was given wisdom by God more than anyone else. To show us how wise he was Solomon issued a ruling involving two prostitutes who both claimed a particular baby was theirs. To settle the matter Solomon ordered that the child be cut in two, with each woman receiving half of him. This is supposed to be considered wise. I demurr. I think it was the dumbest judicial ruling in history, well, at least one of them. Here's why.

Just imagine Solomon’s so-called “wise” judgment in our day in a courtroom situation in a divorce child custody case. Go ahead. Imagine it. It was anything but wise. We would be morally repulsed if any judge issued such a judgment, for it was always possible that both women in Solomon's story might agree to have the child killed. Even the real mother might have wanted the child killed rather than have it raised by such a lying conniving pretender/thief. If this had happened then the child would have been killed since that’s what Solomon said, and he could not back out of it, could he? Any civilized judge issuing such a judgment would be thrown out of the country it’s so utterly repulsive. It’s actually the dumbest ruling that was ever made.

Did We Invent God?

In series hosted by "God" (Well, Morgan Freeman did play god a few times..;) he asks the question,  did we invent God?  I have watched a few episodes in this series, and they are quite interesting.  In this episode however, I found that the experiments were somewhat flawed in their conception.  (For instance, in the first experiment  children are set up to "cheat" at a game, but the administrator of the experiment never lets on that he thinks cheating is wrong, but in the second part of his experiment, he does imply that cheating is wrong.)

Anyway,  I did find the virtual reality experiments interesting--reminiscent of the "God Helmet."

You might find it interesting to watch too.  Episodes are free to download at Fastpasstv.ms

Enjoy!
_____________
Cathy Cooper

The Case Against Christianity (Dr. Keith Parsons)

This is the excellent opening statement from Keith Parsons in his debate against William Lane Craig.  The full debate can be heard here.

Dan Barker Speaks Out Against Hate Directed at Women

Surly Amy at Skepchick is collecting denunciations of hatred toward women in the atheist community. So far she's collected twelve of them from atheist leaders. One of the most recent ones is from Dan Barker, co-president of Freedom From Religion Foundation. I wholeheartedly agree with what Dan wrote, reproduced below. I would be extremely doubtful any atheist leader or leading blogger would not denounce this and embrace feminism. In fact, I don't think a woman-hater could be found among them, even prior to Elevatorgate.

The First Blurb for My Outsider Test for Faith Book

"Without doubt one of the best books I've ever read on faith. A masterpiece." -- Dr. Peter Boghossian, Portland State University Philosophy Department.

I consider it to be the solution to the problem of religious diversity. An outline of the book can be found here. It's scheduled to be published by Prometheus Books early next year. Of all my books I think this one just might possibly make the most impact.

Fired Pastor Jack Schaap Demonstrates How To Masturbate in the Pulpit

Jack Schapp was fired after admitting he had a sexual relationship with a 17 year old girl. But this amazing video should have provided church people a clue. This is must see stuff!

Is Shariah Law Also Biblical Law?

Dr. Avalos shows how Christians who oppose Shariah Law don't seem to know that much of what they fear about Shariah Law actually derives from Biblical laws. He writes: "Some of the most feared aspects of Shariah also derive almost directly from biblical values and laws." Link.

Back in the Stocks: A Short Treatise on Thought and Eternity (Part II of II)

Continuing with the previous observations, when we die, we die and forget it all. And then the cells that made us up disassemble and become a part of the earth again. Just like their dancing little sub-particle components, they dance and shift around and trade partners like some hand-clapping, toothless country folk with stupid smiles on their faces, as they switch partners in some rural dance hall with flickering neon lights seen from a poorly-paved, two-lane highway...

Having Some Good Biblical Fun With God

John’s post got me thinking about my lake experience last month. While out water skiing, I noticed that when I cut my slalom ski, the spray behind my ski was making a rainbow in the noonday sun. So I decided to have some fun with God as based on his covenant with Noah. According to Genesis 9, God uses all rainbows throughout the world like a string tied around his figure to remind him: “Hey, you don’t need to use water again to destroy humanity!” (How quickly God keeps forgetting about the million he destroyed)!

Was Jesus a Man of Science?

Yesterday a thunderstorm got us. You've seen them approaching. You know their effects. I was thinking as one approached what God had to do with it. No really, what did God have to do with it? At what point did he decide when to send it? Did he violate any known natural laws to do so? Did he make it rain here because of anything we had done or not done? Matthew 5:45 has Jesus, supposedly the Son of a creator God saying, "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."

Heads you win, tails I lose #2

I would like to draw people's attention to an interesting list of historicity criteria for establishing historical credibility in claims about Jesus found in the New Testament (provided by Richard Carrier here). Recently, and showing a similar technique, I posted a piece on how Christians have a tendency to argue things in such a way that no matter what end of the evidential continuum we have, they would claim it as evidence for God or similar:

If the universe had been much smaller, just right for human life on a human scale, then the universe would have been obviously designed for humans, so would claim the same theist. The universe is the direct opposite of that, but still this somehow shows that God obviously designed it, such as the design being based on other purposes, using the analogy of the Sistine Chapel (one marvels at the size and beauty of it but it doesn’t need to be that big; that the awe and wonder derives from its magnitude) and so on.

Quote of the Day, by Dr. Taner Edis

Sometimes it makes sense to speak of an "atheist movement" or the likes in the US, particularly in the context of efforts to increase social visibility and acceptance. But by and large, beyond such narrowly focused concerns, "atheists" are not a politically coherent group...I don't fully accept recent arguments like that by Greta Christina that "atheism demands social justice." Like it or not, people like Ayn Rand and her fandom are significant parts of the landscape of American atheism...To the extent that there is a "we" at all in the sense of "we atheists," we are a remarkably useless bunch in political terms. Link

Is God at the Olympics?

I'm loving the Olympics, I really am. I have even been to see some women's volleyball and it was great. It has all been so well organised (and in so being, it's great to put one up Mitt Romney for his silly comments). However, the good ole sporting problem raises its theological head. Who does God support?

Best Videos On Evolution and Atheism

There are hours and hours of good stuff in the following sites, an education if you will.

Evolution Documentary videos. Hat Tip: Jerry Coyne.

The Web's Best Videos on Evolution, Creationism, Atheism and More. This is a site I've recommended previously.

Then there is an interesting site where Christian and atheist philosophers/scientists are interviewed on the same topics. See Closer to the Truth.

Survey - Why Do Atheists Care Whether Christians Believe in Christianity or Not?

Recently, I wrote two posts indicating the relationship between the "mature social medium" in which we live, interact with, and that helps form our personal identity and self--in relation to the tragic shootings committed by James Holmes in Colorado. (Post 1; Post 2)

I argued that Christianity influences our "mature social medium" which then influences people such as James Holmes and others to act in the way they do.  The ancient Christian philosopher Pelagius also pointed this out long ago.  That is, the Christian version of salvation promoted by Augustine, leads to "moral laxity" as believers are "saved" regardless of their actions--no consequences in relation to their salvation.

"If you want to be awe-inspired.." (Christopher Hitchens)

A great excerpt from one of Hitch's debates.

What Does the Bible Say About the Chick-fil-A Controversy?

In light of anti-gay marriage comments by the president of Chick-fil-A, Mike Huckabee's concocted "Appreciation Day" was a success yesterday. What will happen in the future? We'll see. But these people probably do not have a clue about what the Bible says about marriage, sex and homosexuality. Let's inform them:

Jerry Coyne Is Admirably Tryng to Deal With Christianity

I find Dr. Coyne to be a refreshing alternative to Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers. They're all scientists but Coyne is actually trying to understand Christian theology and reach out across this great divide of ours. Victor Stenger and Michael Shermer do likewise. We need more scientists like them. Stenger and Shermer have both recommended my works. Now Coyne does too. He wrote:

I want to give two thumbs up to John Loftus’s book, Why I Became an Atheist. Despite its title, it’s far more than the story of Loftus’s journey from Christian minister to outspoken atheist. It’s really a thoughtful and well-documented dissection of religious arguments and theological claims. And there are two nice chapters on the “problem of suffering,” in which Loftus takes on and destroys the pathetic arguments offered by the faithful for why a good and powerful God allows gratuitous suffering. Link

¿Se puede saber si Dios existe? es EL libro ateo para personas de habla hispana

A pesar de un aumento enorme de recursos para ateos, existe todavía una escasez de recursos ateos para personas de habla hispana, y los cuales consisten de cerca de 500 millones de personas.

¿Se puede saber si Dios existe? (Prometheus, 2003), un libro escrito por el Dr. Héctor Ávalos, es, según lo que yo entiendo, el único libro escrito originalmente en español por un erudito bíblico ateo de habla hispana.

The Liberal “Social Gospel” Was Even Peddled By Jesus

One of the most popular sections of the Gospels used by both Fundamentalist and Evangelicals is the story given by Jesus of The Rich Man and Lazarus as recorded only in one Gospel: Luke 16: 19 – 31. Bible Believers, along with their preachers, love to harp on this section not only in their Gospel Tracts, but especially in revival sermons with the justification being; “I’d rather scare sinners into Heaven than to love them into Hell!”

For the average gullible Bible Believer who thinks everything he or she hears from their church’s pulpit is Gospel Truth, this afterlife story told by Jesus is but a foretaste of what an unrepentant sinner can expect immediately after death.

G. K. Chesterton on the Outsider Test for Faith

One Christian response to the Outsider Test for Faith is that it is faulty in some way. If that's the case then perhaps they ought to listen to Chesterton, who became a Catholic. His book, The Everlasting Man, contributed to C.S. Lewis's conversion to Christianity. In his Introduction Chesterton said:

Two Videos of Our World. Which One is True?

They both are! But see the difference for yourselves:

Lowder vs Hallquist's Claim That Dr. Craig is Dishonest: "Not Guilty"

I agree with Jeffery Lowder and ask Chris Hallquist to never again make such a claim. Link. I personally know William Lane Craig and am myself a former believer. Hallquist, just like PZ Myers, simply does not understand the mind of the believer. I have previously defended Craig against such an ignorant claim. Just read this closely.

Can PZ Myers Change His Ways? Should He?

I've been critical of PZ Myers for five principled reasons: 1) he doesn't understand the mind of the believer, 2) he treats people who disagree as if they are morons, 3) he's a divisive force within the ranks of atheism, 4) he panders to the younger baser type atheist audience, and 5) he doesn't much value the contributions of people like me who deal with Christians on their own terms. I don't understand his motivations. He may like the power and the money that come from having a large audience. Or, it just may be his personality. He may be an ideologue by nature, an extremist, the type of person who can usually make a big difference. Can he change his ways? Should he? That's the question here. One thing is sure, more atheists are speaking out against him and his ways. John Draper, an important Canadian atheist blogger known as the Cobourg Atheist, recently said of him: