Quote of the Day, by Russ

Christian Apologetics is nothing more than making up answers that then become boilerplate, pat responses to hand out in lieu of thought.

Noteworthy Items

Check out Mike D's blog The A-Unicornist.

What percentages of atheists vs Christians are in prison? Who's better now?

Check out Dan DeMura's blog Discussions of Doubt.

James McGrath writes a note about the Christian troll DM.

Info on DM (a.k.a. Dave Mabus) Internet Troll and Nutcase

Link. He'll show his face here soon enough.

Atheism is Not Culturally, Historically Conditioned

Atheists today subscribe to a variety of philosophies, ideologies, and viewpoints. The critiques which any one atheist makes of religion, theism, or politics can reasonably be deconstructed to get at that atheist's own personal viewpoint. Their viewpoint can also be examined to get a better understanding of why they don't believe in any gods and why they reject the religious traditions of their culture. At no point, though, will such critiques tell us anything about mere atheism by itself. Link

ExChristian Former Pastor on the Fate of American Christianity

American Christianity is under assault from every side. Science, archeology, and history constantly push at the claims of the Bible. (and let me make one point very clear. A Christianity without the Bible is no Christianity at all) Seismic shifts in social and cultural norms continue to raise numerous questions about the value of the Bible and its teachings. Very often the modern world is a paper shredder and the Bible is the scrap paper. American Christians respond to this assault in one of two ways. They either entrench or retrench.

What Bruce Gerencser says is a very worthy read. Check it out.

The Crimes of Protestant Pastors are Many

I don't post stories about the crimes of Protestant pastors. I leave that up to others. Who does the best job of documenting these stories? I think Dave at exchristian.net does. Check back almost daily for more and more and more crimes of pastors. Is there any wonder why we can't take Christianity seriously when even their leaders don't seem to be any better for their faith? We're told that by their fruits we'll know them. Yep. We're told there are tares as well as wheat in the crops. But at some point there is just too much bad fruit and too many tares to believe the Christian faith produces fruit or wheat at all.

Catholics AND Bob Jones University: We Both Have Our Pedophiles!

A man who was a staff graduate assistant at Bob Jones University is accused of sex crimes against a child. Link

What is it with these idiot pedophiles? If there is no difference between the behavior of the general population and Christians then I see no reason to believe. It's especially bad when it seems sex crimes are more prevalent in the church. Christian, do you understand this?

Hat Tip: Harry McCall, an alumnus of BJU.

Quote of the Day, by Mike D

God is nothing more than the biggest argument from ignorance ever devised – an attempt to hastily dismiss mysteries by appealing to a bigger, by-definition-unsolvable mystery.

Is Skepticism Incompatible with Mystery?

There is a popular perception that skeptics are all just cynics who are unable to tolerate the existence of mysteries while believers — whether in gods or in the paranormal — are more open minded and willing to embraces the mysteries of life. Atheists are often accused of being unable to say "I don't know" and appreciate mystery in their lives. This is not only false, but it's exactly the opposite of the truth: it's the believers who reject mystery while atheists and skeptics accept it. Link

The Clergy Letter Project

There are 12,672 signatures from clergy as of 9/12/10. The Clergy Letter Project has been officially endorsed by The United Methodist Church, the Southeast Florida Diocese of the Episcopal Church and the Southwestern Washington Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Soooo, what I want to know is that if evolution is a godless "theory" then would some intelligent person tell me why these sincere Christians embrace it? Could it be because the evidence for evolution is there and that it has the capability of convincing even people of faith? Read at least one book on it, Why Evolution Is True.

Larry King Live - Stephen Hawking, Leonard Mlodinow...

Link. Hawking: "We don't need God to explain the universe." This is something he argues for in his #1 selling book on Amazon, The Grand Design.

Stephen Hawking's New Book, The Grand Design "is a Great Read"

Hawking's book is out and from what I've heard it's a great book sure to be talked about in the coming months and years ahead. Dan Barker said,

...this morning I finished Hawking's newest book, The Grand Design (while others were in church), and he makes the case even stronger than before. Since time is a dimension, it no more needs a "beginning" than any other dimension . . . what is the "beginning" of any of the three spatial dimensions? Ancients would have thought that the earth was flat and had an edge, so what kept the water from falling off? But we now see things better than that, through better models . . . and it all comes down to mental models.

The Grand Designis a great read!

Belgium Church Sex Abuse Report, a "Body Blow" to the Church

Harrowing details of some 300 cases of alleged sexual abuse by Roman Catholic clergy in Belgium have been released by a Church investigator. Peter Adriaenssens said cases of abuse, mostly involving minors, had been found in nearly every diocese, and 13 alleged victims had committed suicide. [The] findings were a "body blow" to the Church in Belgium. Link. HT: Harry McCall.

Yep, the Church is a divine institution all right! And in other news a cow flew over the moon.

Did You Know That Krishna is the Father of Christ Jesus?

Yep, check it out. While you're at it read The Truth About the Gita. Christians just can't see it can they? Religion is bunk so Christianity is likewise bunk!

On the Anniversay of 9/11 American Atheists Call for an End to Religious Intolerance and Persecution

Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists, issued the following statement to commemorate the anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and the pressing issue of religious intolerance:

Religious populations are down all over America

Check this out below:

"Guys like Loftus, Oppy, Carrier, etc. are the real deal."

So says someone at Christian apologist Douglas Groothuis's Blog. The full quote is this:

Do you have plans to review John Loftus' Why I Became An Atheist? Or Loftus and Richard Carrier's The Christian Delusion? Two reasons to inspire your potential reviews of their books:

1.) They are inspiring many deconversions (check Loftus' blog for the deconversion testimonials).

2.) They are equipping and encouraging these deconverts with better intellectual tools to combat Christianity than any of the New Atheists.

The New Atheists are the strawmen.

Guys like Loftus, Oppy, Carrier, etc. are the real deal.

William Lobdell is Looking for Stories About Sex and the Christian

Yep. Bill is the author of Losing My Religion: How I Lost My Faith Reporting on Religion in America and Found Unexpected Peace, and he's working on another book. Here's the scoop from him:

Heads Must Roll Before Islam is Integrated Into the Global Community

People have performed symbolic acts to protest ideas and policies for as long as anyone can remember or document. The prophet Isaiah walked though the streets naked (chapter 20). Lady Godiva rode through the streets naked. Then there was the Boston Tea Party. People have burned national flags and effigies of people in protest. And they have burned books for the same reasons. It's just what we do. And it is legal to do. In the past, churches have burned different Bible translations and they still do today. So what's all the fuss about some dumb preacher named Terry Jones who wants to burn the Koran?

Quote of the Day, by exreformed

I spent over a decade studying systematic theologies, apologetics, and hard core Bible study. I even learned a good deal of Greek so I could translate the N.T. for myself. I spent many, many, hours in prayer to no avail. Finally after years of vigorous study, and unanswered prayer and an outsider test of faith, I became an agnostic.

It is so liberating not having to defend Christianity anymore. Not only do you have to accept the ridiculous story of Noah and his ark, but you also have to defend eternal conscious torment, and of course you have to defend against all of the cults: Mormonism, J.W.'s, Muslims, Catholics. No wonder I had a nervous breakdown.

See his new Blog.

Thanks to My Buds and Buddesses, I Love Ya Men and Women

Yep, that's how I feel, gratitude, a great deal of it. I appreciate skeptics who can help argue with the Christians here. I do not have the time nor patience to do this myself, so here's to you! And for Christian commenters who are tempted to watch porn I have a special gift for you, some hot stuff (you must be 18 to see more):

Losing My Religion by Gina

John Loftus has a chapter in his book called the “Outsider Test for Faith,” where you basically look at religion from a skeptic’s point of view. My ability to easily accept, and then abandon my religion with such ease, I believe, partly stems from this concept of the outsider test (and the theory of the accidents of birth)....I realized that once I began asking “outsider” questions, I was no longer capable of believing in what my peers believed. Link.

Quote of the Day, by Terry Prachett and Neil Gaiman

God does not play dice with the universe; He plays an ineffable game of his own devising, which might be compared, from the perspective of any of the other players (i.e., everybody), to being involved in an obscure and complex version of poker in a pitch-dark room, with blank cards, for infinite stakes, with a dealer who won't tell you the rules, and who smiles all the time.

I'm Speaking at the Texas Freethought Convention, October 8-10th

It's a month away so I'm announcing it just in case you'll want to make plans on coming. Looks like quite the line-up and some fun to boot. Check it out. It's always nice to meet the people who visit here, so come on out if you can!

Quote of the Day, From Nontheistdavid on Amazon

If God's existence is so self evident as the christian proclaims, then why on earth have oceans of ink been spilled trying to prove this being? Link.

Let me put a finer point on this: If the God of evangelical Christianity exists then why isn't it more obvious to others that he does? Do evangelicals who travel the country and the world even bother thinking about this as they see non-evangelicals everywhere? [Edit: That's non-evangelicals. Everyone who is not an evangelical is a non-evangelical for the logically impaired].

Original Sin: Can't Live With It, Can't Live Without It

Dr. Richard Schoenig has a new essay at the Secular Web called Original Sin: Can't Live With It, Can't Live Without It. Schoenig has two Ph.D's, one in Chemistry and the other in Philosophy. In 2007 he participated in a little known debate against Jim Laws on God's existence.

Dr. Avalos on the NYC Mosque

Dr. Avalos addresses the hypocritical arguments of Newt Gingrich, Rush Limbaugh and Sarah Palin against the mosque. Read Dr. Avalos' column here

Outsider Test Merchandize Now Available

To the left is a design that Dan DeMura made for me and is now one of the items you can buy. It would be a great conversation starter if you bought one of the shirts! If you have some interesting slogans you would like to see on some select merchandise let me know. And yes, when you buy an item not only do you help advertise and fund this site, but you also proclaim your undying loyal allegiance for this site til you die (okay, okay, that was a bit over the top I'll admit).

Just click here.

Quote of the Day, By Stephen Hawking

Because there is a law such as gravity, the Universe can and will create itself from nothing. Spontaneous creation is the reason there is something rather than nothing, why the Universe exists, why we exist. Link,

Richard Carrier Responds to The Infidel Delusion ebook

To read what he said just click here.

Dr. Keith Parsons Calls It Quits Regarding the Philosophy of Religion

He wrote:

Over the past ten years I have published, in one venue or another, about twenty things on the philosophy of religion. I have a book on the subject, God and Burden of Proof, and another criticizing Christian apologetics, Why I am not a Christian. During my academic career I have debated William Lane Craig twice and creationists twice. I have written one master’s thesis and one doctoral dissertation in the philosophy of religion, and I have taught courses on the subject numerous times. But no more. I’ve had it.

I now regard “the case for theism” as a fraud and I can no longer take it seriously enough to present it to a class as a respectable philosophical position—no more than I could present intelligent design as a legitimate biological theory. BTW, in saying that I now consider the case for theism to be a fraud, I do not mean to charge that the people making that case are frauds who aim to fool us with claims they know to be empty. No, theistic philosophers and apologists are almost painfully earnest and honest; I don’t think there is a Bernie Madoff in the bunch. I just cannot take their arguments seriously any more, and if you cannot take something seriously, you should not try to devote serious academic attention to it. I’ve turned the philosophy of religion courses over to a colleague. Link

I Now Have an Online Shop

To the left is one of the items you can buy. I plan on creating others. If you have some interesting slogans you would like to see on some select merchandise let me know. This is gonna be good. And yes, when you buy an item you proclaim your undying loyal allegiance for this site til you die (okay, okay, that was a bit over the top I'll admit). But you will help advertise this site for me, and I'll receive some needed money when you do.

Just click here.

7 Frustrating Creationist Policies in Public Schools

Ignorance is thriving. See for yourselves. Link

My Response to Dr. Craig Blomberg

I engage Christian scholars all the time and have even allowed a few of them to post something substantive here at DC, including Craig. So after having said he has read my stuff extensively and after both admitting neither one of us will likely change our minds, Craig asked me this:

John, I guess my question for you is, from your perspective, how should people who hold views like you and I, respectively, proceed in conversation, if at all? The consistent pluralist would say that we should each tolerate each other's perspectives. But you and I are apologists, and you are an evangelist ("de-evangelist?") as well. You aren't content to let Christians believe what they want; you positively want to "deconvert" them and show them how and why their views are delusional. I don't engage in much overt evangelism but I certainly want people who haven't thought about the classic reasons for Christian faith to at least give them serious thought. We can't both be right. We could both be wrong. But the more interesting question for me is how, as two persons who both want to be guided by reason but believe that reason has led us in quite opposite directions, proceed from here? Link

Paul Tobin Responds to The Infidel Delusion (Part 3)

This is part three of Paul's response to the ebook The Infidel Delusion, which is an amateur attempt to deal with our book The Christian Delusion. The first two parts can be read beginning here.

Agency Detection

Check this interesting news story out:

Why Should I Rent a Comedy When The Bible is a Joke?

Yep, take a look:

Patheos Articles on the Future of Humanism

Founded in 2008, Patheos.com is the premier online destination to engage in the global dialogue about religion and spirituality and to explore and experience the world's beliefs. Patheos is the website of choice for the millions of people looking for credible and balanced information or resources about religion. Patheos brings together the public, academia, and the faith leaders in a single environment, and is the place where people turn on a regular basis for insight into questions, issues, and discussions. Patheos is unlike any other online religious and spiritual site and is designed to serve as a resource for those looking to learn more about different belief systems, as well as participate in productive, moderated discussions on some of today's most talked about and debated topics.

Now they have a link to some key people discussing the future of Humanism.

Uncle Noah And His Magic Boat,

Guest post by Matt Hensley:

I am fascinated at the things people are willing to believe. Not the crazy, end of the world sign holding type person, or the I was abducted and anally molested by space aliens type person, but by your average, walking down the street living in the suburbs perfectly ordinary in every way individual. Ask an average person if they believe in Bigfoot. Or the Loch Ness Monster. Most people don’t. They have a hard time believing that these things exist, because of the lack of evidence. People are pretty sure that if a colony of giant hairy men and women (other than hippies or bears) were living in the forests of northern California, we would have found them by now. If a giant fish monster were really living in a lake, someone would have caught one. People like proof. We like explanations that make sense. We prefer to know that things are real before we believe them, because they add stability to our lives. We don’t like the thought of unknown elements, possibly dangerous, running amok in our world, because we like stability and normalcy. But ask that same person, your banker or lawyer, for example, if they believe in god and the bible, the answer is usually yes.

P.Z. Myers - Speaking Truth to Absurdity

Video below:

What's the Difference Between a Cult and a "Legitimate Religion"?

In this interesting letter to the editor Jeffrey Kline is found bewailing cultist mind control. Does he not see the equivalent mind control of an enculturated "legitimate religion." Didn't every single religion start out as a cult in the first place? Then what causes one religion to eventually become a "legitimate religion"? Time? Numbers? What is a "legitimate religion" anyway?

New Lutheran Denomination Planned Because of Gay Ordinations

That's right. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to ordain homosexual pastors so the conservatives are splitting off into a new denomination. That's how it usually goes too. There is a discernible liberal trend among church denominations, publishing houses, and seminaries that has taken place since the enlightenment. You would think this is strong evidence against conservative type Christianities, but no, conservatives maintain despite this evidence that God predicted there would be a falling away from the faith (I Tim. 4:1). Okay, but remember this, the conservatives who turned liberals knew about that prediction and became liberals anyway! How do you explain that? Read this story for more

Quote of the Day, by John W. Loftus

Christians are not bothered in the least that they are risking Allah’s hell by not being Muslims. We all risk the hell of other religions. All I do is risk one more hell than what others do. Once I risk one hell they all look like nothing but empty threats.

Quote of the Day, By Michael

When explaining why atheism is not a religion Michael explains it like this:

Let "a" be the proposition, "A deity exists." Then "~a" denotes its negation "No deities exist." If theism is S = {a}, atheism is the empty set {}, NOT the set T = {~a}.

Warning! Warning! A Bit of Self-Promotion Ahead; Or, Why Oh Why Do Ignorant People Bother to Speak?

We're all ignorant about some things, I know. All of us. And if we're ignorant we will speak ignorantly. I've done my share of that too. But here's the deal. People who have never read my book Why I Became An Atheist, seem to come out of the woodwork to poo poo it whenever it's included on a list of recommended atheist books with the deservedly famous New Atheists, as if that's not saying much. While I am indeed happy to be on these lists, this poo pooing happens almost every single time. One such person, who thinks these other New Atheist books are "terrible," argued that

Books like "Arguing about Gods" by Graham Oppy, and "Logic and Theism" by J.H. Sobel are light years ahead of Dawkins et al. Being put on a list with them would be something to be proud of.

Okay, then take a good look at this list of the best atheist books of the decade. I think the reason my magnum opus tops several lists of popular AND scholarly atheist books is because it's both scholarly and also understandable to the intelligent general reader. That was my goal. But your opinion of it is the only one that counts. Carry on. Sorry for this interruption of your regularly scheduled show.

Five of the Best Contemporary Books for the Non-Believer

Compared to Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Victor Stenger, and Daniel Dennett, I'm a nobody. I really am. So it's nice to see my work listed with theirs. The only question left is whether you have read it yet. Have you?

You Can't Argue With Christians

One of the things I have noticed in dealing with Christians on this blog and in person is that they are hard to deal with. They are hard to deal with because of their belief system and their world view. They are nearly impossible to talk with rationally (about religion, especially theirs) and they are dead set in their ways. They can quote snippets of the Bible with such forceful authority that it can make your hair stand on end. They speak as if their opinion is the God-sanctioned truth about both religion and politics.

Taking Scripture Out of Context

This video is funny:

One More Time: Atheism is NOT a Religion

So argues the Cobourg Atheist.

Quote of the Day, By Russ

Wow! Now here's something to ponder from Russ:

So, why might I hate Christianity so much? Hmmm, let me see.