Quote of the Day, by Papalinton ;-)

The rise and rise of Debunking Christianity as a forum for measured discussion continues. And just as a heading-lock gyro in a helicopter keeps it tracking true, no matter the direction the wind is blowing, so too does DC track straight and true. It is the place I start the morning, first thing, with a coffee, orientating my day. Increasingly DC is becoming a point of first referral at many sites across the blogosphere, its status and standing as a platform for reasoned discussion continues to consolidate, forensically clipping the remaining bedraggled and time-worn strands to a by-gone worldview, challenging head-on the recalcitrant nature of supernatural superstition.

Seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand

After over 300 comments on how I know E=mc2 I'm transferring the discussion/debate here. I do find it interesting, so in a way I thank Steve for raising it. Now he has brought up a different example. In his own words:

My Podcast Interview With Reasonable Doubts

It's Episode 116 (my part begins around 31:30). Unlike almost all others this 30 minute interview was done in a studio. It's about my two recent books.

How Do I Know E=mc2

Since I demand sufficient objective evidence for what I think is true, here is the question:

I assume, from reading your book the OTF, that you believe that E=mc2. (Perhaps you would say that you do not "believe" that E=mc2; rather, you "know" that E=mc2. Either way; I won't quibble. At least not for now.) The initial question that I have for you is: How do you believe (or, if you insist, know) that E=mc2? Not why, but how? What is the process by which you John Loftus have arrived at the belief (knowledge) that E=mc2?

*Sheesh* Right now I have other things to do than waste it on this drivel. Maybe others can help me out here. [FYI: I did a master's degree research paper on the theory of general relativity.] Here we see another science denier for Jesus.

Use of Classical Greek Etymologies as an Apologetic Defense for New Testament Hellenistic Greek: A Two Edged Sword

I received two comments telling me that I was wrong on the use of the word the church (τη εκκλησια) in Matthew 18: 17. The first was more technical by a Daniel and is quoted in full below.

A Biblical Lie (The Exodus) Exposes Jesus Christ as a Fraud

Sadly for all Christians, their Holy Savior Jesus Christ (as a good Jew) swallowed this baseless Jewish myth hook-line and sinker! What we now find exposed is the fact that this all-knowing Son of God was little more than a wandering ignorant Jewish bigot (if he ever existed).

Victor Reppert Again. I Swear Christians Have Stunted Imaginations

It's as if they cannot even conceive of anything different than what they believe. I showed this with regard to Richard Swinburne in The End of Christianity.[By the way, that is a damned good book even if I say so myself]. Victor is defending the "truth" but also the ridiculousness of the three-tiered world that is required in order to believe Jesus ascended into heaven (i.e. the sky). How does he do it? He rhetorically asks: "And if God is going to show first-century people that he went to heaven, how would you suggest he go about doing it?" My response:

Vic, this is easy. Jesus could have predicted he will disappear into the spiritual realm from whence he came. He could have said he will disappear at high noon the next day from off Mt. Olives. Then the next day when the crowd arrived, he would say goodbye and then *poof* he's gone.

Again, you can't make this shit up. No wonder we reserve the right to ridicule his beliefs along with how he defends them. His brain is made stupid by his faith, I'm sorry to say.

PZ Myers Takes Down Yet Another Attempt to Save Genesis from Refutation

PZ is best when he writes about science, his expertise. He has just written a devastating critique of Daniel Friedmann's attempt to defend concordism, the view that the six days of creation in Genesis represent an unspecified literal chronological order in Genesis. I highly recommend it. All such attempts fail, all of them. If you want to read a book length treatment of other attempts to harmonize the Bible with itself and science get Robert Price and Edwin A. Suominen's excellent book, Evolving out of Eden: Christian Responses to Evolution.

Randal Rauser: "Theology is the Queen of the Sciences"

Randal was interviewed not long ago on the "Apologetics 315" podcast. The 315 refers to 1 Peter 3:15 where we read, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have." Randal was raised to believe, which is typical. He is a generalist, just like me. But he affirms the antiquated view, long ago rejected, that "theology is the queen of the sciences." How is theology a science? What evidence does it deal with? What is the method of faith? This all baffles me to no end. You can't make this shit up! LINK. I do appreciate that Randal is willing to revise his theology by reinventing the origins of Christianity when needed. And I appreciate that he doesn't think atheists are necessarily irrational. But come on Randal, you know better than this, don't you? To Brian Auten of "Apologetics 315" I say, why don't you open up your interviews to atheists like me? Do what Justin Brierley of Unbelievable does. Invite a real dialogue not a monologue. Your site would be better. Unlike Justin, you couldn't even link to my blog.

Christian Philosopher Victor Reppert: "Ridiculousness and truth are not incompatible."

Here is the major defender of the argument from reason to God speaking, mind you. Either he is deliberately trying to be provocative in order to get hits or, well, you decide. He said:.

I can listen to someone mock my beliefs, in fact I can even mock them myself, and not find any reason whatsoever in the mockery for rejecting that belief. I enjoy this kind of mockery. In fact, I hold that there are certain beliefs that are on the one hand completely ridiculous, and on the other hand, completely true. Ridiculousness and truth are not incompatible.

The definition of Ridiculousness: "Deserving or inspiring ridicule; absurd, preposterous, or silly. See Synonyms at foolish." I would never say that of the things I think are probably true, since probabilities are all that matter here. Faith makes you say stupid things Vic. Your Brain is Made Stupid By Faith. I'm serious folks. You can't make this shit up!

An Interview With Joe Nickell, Author of "The Science of Miracles"

Prometheus Books just released an interview with Joe Nickell about his new book, The Science of Miracles: Investigating the Incredible.It's a book I wrote a blurb for and recommend highly. Here is their interview:

Is Atheism a Set of Beliefs?

One of the most annoying and persistent accusations made against atheists is that we have a set of beliefs. Let me try, probably in vain, to disabuse believers of their ignorance on this. They utterly fail to understand what we think. It's as if they close their eyes and stop their ears and shout while we try to explain it. Randal Rauser claims he's trying to understand us. Is he? There is a distinction to be made. Can he make it? Let's see.

Justin Brierley Interviews Randal Rauser and Myself On "Unbelievable"

Unbelievable is a top notch Christian online radio show in the UK. We were scheduled to be interviewed at 7 AM that day but Justin called at 5 AM instead (citing a time zone error). So we scrambled together to do it at 5:30 AM. I was not completely awake, nor did I have enough energy for it, but here ya go. LINK.

Dr. James Lindsay, The Outsider Test for Faith is a "Silver Bullet"

Lindsay is the author of the wonderful book, God Doesn't; We Do: Only Humans Can Solve Human Challenges.He said some really nice things about my book, The Outsider Test for Faith.Here's the money quote:

John Loftus's Outsider Test for Faith is well-written; it is passionate; it is important; it is engaging; and it is surprising. It's well worth the relatively short read and a lot of consideration. It's a silver-bullet argument on its central theme: which religion is true? None of them! Get it; read it; and press the OTF out into the world where it can do some good. I strongly recommend it for anyone interested in discussions about religious faith. LINK.

Dr. Hector Avalos's Book on Slavery is Now Available At An Affordable Price!

Previously Hector sent me a review copy of his book, Slavery, Abolitionism, and the Ethics of Biblical Scholarship.I wrote a three part review of it, which can be read beginning with this first post. Now it's available at an affordable price. GET THAT BOOK NOW! Don't delay. It is without a doubt the best book on slavery and the Bible out there, and probably the best atheist book published in the last ten years or more, depending on your interests.

"The Call of God" by Ex-Preacher Is Free Today Through Sunday

The Bible says, "Many are called, but few are chosen..." This mini-book examines the call of god on the lives of Pastors, Preachers and lay people. Ex-Preacher also addresses the argument that people who leave the faith must never have been truly saved in the first place. With real life testimonials from other ex-church leaders and ex-Christians this book is a must read for all those who have left the faith or are questioning their beliefs! LINK.

My own five definitive answers to Christians who say I was never saved can be read here.

Does Randal Rauser's Silence Mean He Cannot Answer Our Objections?

I just did an interview for the Reasonable Doubts podcast of Freethought Blogs (to be aired later). They asked me the above question concerning their objections to his views on the genocidal texts in the Old Testament. In February Randal said he would respond, but he needs prodding I suppose. Their objections make good sense to me. See what you think.

"This Book Changed the Course of My Life"

It's not often that one book can change the course of someone's life, but it does happen. That's what a reviewer recently said of a book. Which one? What else did he say? Here, read it for yourself:

Did You Know Ed Brayton of Freethought Blogs Was Recently Ordered to Take His Site Down?

That's right! Here's what he was told:

You are heretofore given notification to take down your atheist website. You are notified your website leads to scientific illiteracy. You are therefore hereby commanded the following: this communication also functions to notify you of the narrow minded and blasphemous nature of the content you host. It is decided atheist fiction and error has no rights. It has therefore been decided that both the conceptual and physical expression of atheist superstitions has no raison d’être either on your site or anywhere else for that matter. The Sovereign Jurisdiction of the Holy Roman Church has made this determination. Should you fail to abide by that which has been declared herein: expect a swifter arrival of condemnation. Outside the Catholic Church There is No Salvation: view www.vaticancatholic.com

Did he do it? Hell no. What utter and complete nonsense. But that's what you get when your brain is made stupid by faith, and everyone who has faith is made to be stupid to some degree, as I recently argued. Christian, you can see it in others. Why can't you see it in yourself?

Southern Baptists Continue Their Tradition of Bigotry.

The Southern Baptist Convention, under the leadership of Rev. Fred Luter Jr. just voted to officially condemn the policy of the Boy Scouts of America, which now allows the participation of gay Scouts. They will seek the removal of executive and board members of the Boy Scouts who tried to allow gay members without first consulting religious groups. They affirm support for churches which decide to drop ties with the Boy Scouts..

The irony in all of this? The Southern Baptist denomination formed as a pro-slavery breakaway from American Baptists, in 1845. In 2012, they tried to atone for their racist past by electing Fred Luter - a black man - as their leader. And now, under his leadership, they vote overwhelmingly to support bigotry against gays. Seriously, you can't make this stuff up!

Written by J. M. Green

Do Pro-Life Christians Really Care About Babies?

Lately, I've noticed a number of instances of Christian schools (Protestant and Catholic) firing teachers who become pregnant out of wedlock. The schools are the sort that like to micromanage the personal lives of their teachers, as well as their students, and often require teachers to refrain from ‘ungodly’ activities such as pre-marital sex, pornography, and homosexuality. Quite possibly masturbation or reading 50 Shades of Grey might also be firing offenses.

In the case of Cathy Samford, she was engaged to be married and offered to move up the wedding date, so as to remedy her pregnant-out-of-wedlock status, but that simply wasn't good enough the squeaky-clean Pharisees at the Heritage Christian Academy in Rockwall, Texas.

According to Headmaster Dr. Ron Taylor,

"It's not that she's pregnant. The issue here is being an unmarried mother. Everything that we stand for says that we want our teachers, who we consider to be in the ministry, to model what a Christian man or woman should be."

Apparently, what the model Christian man would do is kick the pregnant Ms. Samford - along with her two dependent children from a previous marriage – out on the streets, leaving her with no job or medical care – WWJD – right?

Debating Randal Rauser in Edmonton, Canada

You can now listen to the audio of our debate in Randal's home church. It was our third and last one. There is a twist though. Just listen to the introduction to hear what it is. Hint: the Q&A was different. Enjoy. The video of it will be available soon.

A Tea Party Member Laments the Passing of White Christian Male America

{Note: Occasionally I’ll receive a spam email from the far right. The email below really drives home the ideology of the Tea Party as it confronts a changing America. Yet the IRS is being attacked for not giving immediate tax exempt charitable (non-political) status to Tea Parties with the mindset of the member below! Harry}

Written by a USMC Vet

(Spammer's Comment: The saddest, albeit possibly most accurate, short message you will read. I'm afraid this guy might be right on target! I can't argue with any of it. Passing it along as it was received.)

He wrote: The American Dream ended (on November 6th) in Ohio. The second term of Barack Obama will be the final nail in the coffin for the legacy of the white Christian males who discovered, explored, pioneered, settled and developed The greatest Republic in the history of mankind.

The Theology of a God as an Intelligent Designer Exploded!

Christian apologists claim that the detail of the universe proves the creation of a master designer: God. However, as you can plainly see in this video, a man made dumb frequency generator can create many different detailed intricate designs. Enjoy!

Tomorrow Night I'll Be Speaking for the CFI Group in Grand Rapids, Michigan

Here's the link. If you'd like to have me speak for your group email me at johnwloftus@comcast.net. Serious inquiries only.