Writings, Reviews, Cultural Criticism
How do we answer those who apply doubt to sway public opinion in favour of irrational views? How do we respond to the well-orchestrated media campaign that encourages people to doubt the credibility of evolutionary biology in favour of supernatural fiat?
The Atlanta Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has developed a new device to prevent the spread of stupidity.
Clear Heart Open Mind is a reflection on the Tibetan meditative practice of Chenresig. Those who follow my blog or are aware of my sometimes hyper-rational predilections may wonder why I’m reviewing a book about mystical practices. I beg your indulgence.
The United Church of Canada has responded to the atheist bus ad campaign by launching a campaign all its own.
The British Humanist Association has funded the atheist bus ad campaign in London: “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.”
From Reuters we have the story of outrage at Chilean fashion designer Ricardo Oyarzun who is planning a show that dresses models in garb which borrows from the iconography of the Virgin Mary.
The election of Barack Obama has been accompanied by a mood of optimism: America (and the whole world for that matter) might at last enjoy some respite from the reactionary politics of George W. Bush and his caterwauling coterie on the extreme right.
Donations to charitable organizations are down this Christmas, largely as a result of the economic downturn we have experienced this fall. We have been hearing a lot from the Salvation Army in particular.
Mohammed had been sitting outside on a rock for about a thousand years when Youssef pushed his way from the tent to join his brother. For nearly a hundred years, Mohammed had been waiting on the rock while Youssef deflowered virgin number seventy-two, taking her every-which-way his imagination would allow.
A popular target of liberal religious criticism is the “literal interpretation.” This is an idea which is easy enough to dispose of—“literal interpretation” is incoherent since, by definition, if something is interpreted, then it’s not literal.
In a surprising move, officials from nouspique.com announced today that Nouspique would forgive the Vatican for its abuse of the idea of forgiveness.
While conservative Christians are hostile towards atheists, Harris laces his book with such invective against Islam and reaches such extreme conclusions that there must be at least a few Fundie preachers who take secret delight in his writing.
Last week, 85 year old poppy-selling veteran, Alan Lawrence, was told to leave the premises of The Bay office tower in Toronto. He was selling poppies to raise money for the Poppy Trust Fund which then makes distributions to vets who have suffered from bad retirement planning advice.
In 2000, I began discernment. Within the United Church of Canada, discernment is a formalized process that potential ministers engage to “listen to the will of God.” I should have known right from the start that I’d be in trouble. For me, “the will of God” is kind of an inside joke.
This year, at least in Canada, Yom Kippur almost coincides with Thanksgiving. In English, Yom Kippur is referred to as the Day of Atonement and involves repentance for sins committed in the previous year.