According to the drumbeat from religious leaders and the media, religion and science are heading for a profound reconciliation and synthesis that will benefit all humanity. The purpose of this discussion is to expose the irrationality of this contention and state the proper relationship of the two. Let’s deal first with the claims that religion and [...] [...more]
Most people don’t have to think very hard to come up with organizations they believe are compassionate and moral. Churches and faith-based organizations usually come to mind. It’s a misconception, however, that “religion” is the only measure of morality and that only religious people do good work. There are also many secular/atheist charitable organizations in the [...] [...more]
With all of the fun and fascination at Skeptrack 2009, a couple of controversies emerged in the conversations there. The first, discussed openly in a few panels, was the role of religion in the skeptic/atheist/freethought movement. This is still a sore spot for some, particularly given the wide range of individuals who fall under the [...] [...more]
Lately I’ve been listening to the archived episodes of the Skepticality podcast. A few weeks back I heard a good quip, one that I’ve been thinking a lot about in the meantime. Unfortunately I’ve managed to forget not only the exact quote, but also the guest who quoted it as well. Leaning hard on my poor [...] [...more]
America’s secular heritage begins with the founding of the country in the late 1700’s. While 200 years may seem like a long time ago, it’s a blink compared to the history of secularism that has threaded through most civilizations over the past 3,000 years. Freethought is by no means an American invention. It appeared in various [...] [...more]
I’ve belonged to Orlando Atheists & Freethinkers group for a little while now. Previously, I was on like-minded Internet sites for several years. One of the many things I find interesting is the acknowledged need for freethought educational resources for our children. But I see very little conversations or requests for adult continuing education on [...] [...more]
