Atheism: An Intermediate Reading List by Atheist Revolution
Check them out and become better informed, seen here.
Free Will in Heaven?
Under Christian theology, humans have the free will choice to accept or reject God and to follow or reject the temptation of sin. Assuming this version of reality is true, what happens when you go to heaven? Do you stop wanting to sin? Is it impossible to sin? Or can you still choose to reject God and be sent to hell?
An Atheist Meets God
Come on now, think Christians. Use your noggins not to explain away but to explain.
Christian, Tell Us in Advance Which Prayers if Unanswered Would Count Against Your Faith
I recently pointed out how a high profile prayer on national TV was not answered by God. I claim this as yet another piece of evidence that God doesn't answer prayers even if he exists, which he does not. So along come the Christian wannabe apologists, and guess what, surprise...
Sex With the Virgin Mary
Dispelling the Original Sin in Eden
Over the last 5 years National Geographic has conducted “The Genographic Project” to establish human origins. They have tested the DNA of approximately 35,000 people and what they have found will have a profound impact, especially on inerrant bible believing Xtians.
Why? The study has shown that ALL males share the same Y chromosome (Male Y chromosome is passed on unchanged from generation to generation), which traces back to a single male – Adam, in the Garden of Eden, 4,000 BC, right? – No, the East Coast of Africa, 50-60,000 BC (let’s call him Alpha Y).
Review of Paul Moser's The Elusive God: Re-Orienting Religious Epistemology
HT (Hat tip): Former team member here at DC exapologist links to it.
Excellent BBC Special on Secularism (Richard Dawkins, Alister McGrath, Ellen Johnson, and Former DC Team Member Ken Daniels Interviewed in it)
Check it out below:
On CBS Survivor God Had a Chance to Show the World He Answers Prayer and Blew it!
Last night God blew it. Plain and simple. He had a chance to show the world he answers prayers. But he was a no-show, which is par for the course, again. The episode took place during the reward challenge and starts at 3:30 through 14:40 seen here in this link (sorry about the ads). Natalie and two others prayed to win the challenge, calling herself a "prayer warrior." Watch what happened. Oh, but nothing will change the mind of a believer, right? It just wasn't God's will, right? Failed prayer is always explained away like this. But then what could ever count as evidence against faith?
Who or What is a Christian?
When apologist type Christians hear our deconversion stories they probe to look at something we didn't say (a precise set of words) or do (like pray the sinners prayer, or baptism) in order to claim we were never Christians in the first place. There are other cases when believers or churches do something terribly wrong that self-proclaimed apologists for the faith will claim these other believers or churches were not true Christians either. Okay then. Below is an article defining once and for all what is a Christian. It's such a quagmire that even believers themselves cannot agree. I find it absolutely hilarious that any of these apologists has the gall to tell anyone else what is a Christian. ;-)
"Why Would Anyone Believe in God?" by Gregory W. Dawes
Dr. Dawes is the author of the book Theism and Explanation where he defends the methodological naturalism of the sciences.
Check out Jay at "Debunking Creationism"
Link. He plans to post more often than any of us before, so subscribe to the Blog.
Another Former Apologist Leaves the Fold: "Confessions of a Heretic"
Here's a few excerpts of what he recently wrote:
"Holy Relics Batman!" The Spear of Destiny and the Holy Foreskin
Over at God is for Suckers there is an informative post about the spear that supposedly pierced Jesus when on the cross: Allegories Gone Wild – The Shish-Kebab Of Destiny. Isn't this laughable? The religious imagination is rich isn't it? But it's just one of the reasons I reject such fantasy. It gets worse. Did you know there is one piece of the flesh of Jesus still on earth? Can't guess? Take some time. Think circumcision. Yep! Not long ago Ed Babinski wrote about it: Indiana Jones and the Quest for the Holy Foreskin. These relics have healing power you know. Who wants to kiss the Holy Foreskin? Apparently many do. Step right up and get in line. Yeeeeeach! Now if we can just know where it is or if it exists. [Hi Tyro ;-)]
To All Atheists Who Have Moved Beyond Linking to Debunking Christianity
A somewhat popular atheist site removed my blog from his links recently and I asked why. Here's what he said and my reply:
Christopher Hitchens On the Christmas Wars
I never cease to be amazed by how little the Bible-believing Protestants, who constitute most of the soldiery in the Christmas wars, know about their own tradition.
The Power of Prayer? Prove It!
The video below discusses prayer from a scientific perspective. It's fairly good.
Oral Roberts Died Today at 91 Years of Age
Oral Roberts was a kook. What better person then to be known as a pioneer for what the American church has become! ;-) The problem is that he will never realize he was wrong since he will never wake up from the dead. In any case here is a news item summarizing his life:
Hey Religious Believers, Where's Your Evidence? By Greta Christina
You'll have to read all that she wrote but here's the final part:
Democratic Loving People, We Need Your Vote at Fox News
Vote on whether an atheist councilman in N. Carolina should step down.
If Faith Brings Salvation Then Why Should Believers Care About Morality?
A former team member here at DC, DagoodS, asks this important question.
Christian, Why Don't You Reject Modern Science, All of It?
It's simply amazing that Christians accept the findings of science in every single area except the few having to do with their ancient holy book. That's one of the reasons why David Eller argues there is no debate between science and religion. [Read and vote on my review of his book right here]. The debate is rather between specific local religions and specific scientific claims. Why the duplicity? Why the double standard? Why not just throw out all science in order to maintain faith? Why not?
My Own Scale for Dumb Theistic Arguments
Luke over at Common Sense Atheism has a scale for how he ranks several theistic arguments and asked me how I would rank them. Okay, why not?:
The Intelligence² Debate, Is Atheism the New Fundamentalism? With Richard Dawkins, AC Grayling, Richard Harries
This debate is posted below:
A Great Review of Jack Good's Book: "The Dishonest Church"
"Andrew J. (Jack) Good, author of The Bible: Faith’s Family Album (Chalice Press 1998), is an ordained pastor of the United Church of Christ. Educated at Boston University School of Theology, the Maxwell School at Syracuse University (International Relations), and the Lancaster Theological School, Dr. Good has practiced his socially oriented theology in pastorates for over forty years. He has lived in villages in Pakistan and Bangladesh and has, through these and other experiences, formed a great respect for other cultures and other ways of worshiping God." Here's a great review of his book The Dishonest Church:
"One of the surprising discoveries of modern psychology is how easy it is to be ignorant of your own ignorance.”
I had started in September with what I call the Argument From Ignorance, Part I of which can be found here. This is Part II, the final part. Sorry it took me so long.
What Type of Critique of the Christian Faith Do I Have to Offer?
There are different types of critiques of Christianity. Each one of them stresses something different coming from different areas of expertise. Some of the major areas of criticism come from 1) The sciences, especially evolution and brain science; 2) Biblical and historical criticism; 3) Philosophy, especially the philosophy of religion; 4) Archaeology; 5) Cultural anthropology; 6) Psychology; and, 7) Social and moral criticism of the Bible and the church. There are others. Which one do you think is more effective? Christian which one gives you the most trouble?
Two More Leave the Fold
Here is a story from Vince, and another one titled Freedom from the Bondages of Evangelical Christianity by a former missionary.
Waiting for Armageddon
Is it any wonder why we think religion causes suffering in the world? Check this out:
Jaco Gericke: Fundamentalism on Stilts: A Devastating Response to Alvin Plantinga's Reformed Epistemology
[Written by John W. Loftus] Being a philosopher of religion specializing in the analysis of ancient religions and a biblical scholar to boot, Dr. Gericke has written what can be considered a refutation of Plantinga's Reformed Epistemology. "The trouble with Craig and and Plantinga," he tells me, "is that their philosophy of religion conveniently ignores the problems posed for their views by the history of Israelite religion. They might as well try to prove Zeus exists. People sometimes forget 'God' used to be Yahweh and it is possible to prove from textual evidence that 'there ain't no such animal.'"
Bart Willruth On The Christmas Wars.
Bart was a team member here at DC at one time. Now he's writing for "Fresh Conservative." Don't ask me why 'cause I don't know.
Jaco Gericke on "The Collapse of Realism, Cognitive Dissonance and the 'Died-Again' Christian Syndrome"
Previously I posted an amazing deconversion story written by Dr. Gericke right here. Then I posted something from him on how he got over his angst at leaving the Christian faith right here. In what follows he writes on the issue of cognitive dissonance (used with permission):
PZ Myers on Life After Death: "The Dead are Dead"
One of the most important tools for promulgating religion is fear, and one of the biggest sources of fear is the inescapable fact of personal mortality: we're all going to die someday, and we all know people we've loved who have died. Religion steps up to the challenge of death in its usual glib and dishonest way, and promises a mysterious "afterlife," in which you'll get to go on being you despite the inconvenience of your flesh rotting away. None of the proponents of this belief have the slightest scrap of evidence for their claims, other than an appeal to emotion and desire, and sometimes some really bad experiments and sloppy observations of phenomena that vanish when a little rigor is applied.
A Major Survey of What Philosophers Believe Just Released.
David Bourget and David Chalmers have released the results of the largest survey of professional philosophers ever conducted. There were 931 respondents from 99 leading philosophy departments around the world. Luke over at Common Sense Atheism tells us some of the results:
Christian Can You Really Worship a God Who Will Send Your Family and Friends to Hell?
I want you to think about it rather than regurgitate the standard pat answers from the Bible itself. Just think about it. I attended a funeral this weekend and my brother conducted the memorial service. In it he warned us that "the wicked will end up in hell." At the funeral dinner I asked him if he thought I was going to be in hell and he responded: "Only God can judge." Now think about this, okay?...and be consistent. Is it just that believers cannot say what their theology commits them to when it comes to a family member? Look your non-committal family members in the eye and tell them they are going to hell. Can't do it? Why? That's what you preach. And then think about this song:
On Richard Dawkins Refusing to Debate William Lane Craig
In a mocking YouTube video Bill Craig tells us he wants to debate Richard Dawkins. There is even a petition Christians have set up for this debate to happen and a discussion about it at Richard Dawkins.net. Here's a clip being linked to by Christian sites where Dawkins declines:
C. Michael Patton on Essential Creedal Expressions for Christian Salvation
C. Michael Patton has come up with a list of essentials that true Christians must believe along with a chart that supposedly distinguishes what is non-essential from unimportant beliefs. Here are the essentials according to him:
Okay Now, This is Just Damn Funny!
This is unbelievably good! Some girl is showing us video clips of Christian rappers and then singing one herself. Way too funny. Christians are repressed sexually. No wonder so many of them are obsessed about it. If you want to skip her intro on sex education then start watching at 2:19.
Another One Bites the Dust: Simon
Simon emailed me saying: "Just wanted to let you know that your site was a contributing influence during my journey this year."
News Flash: A Debate With William Lane Craig Is In the Works
All I know at this point is that someone is working on it. I do not know if Dr. Craig has been asked or whether he has agreed. I'll leave it to the bookies to take your bets and set the odds. D'ya think there's a chance? Link. Would you like to see it?
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