http://atheism.about.com/?r=9F Get the latest headlines from the About.com Agnosticism / Atheism GuideSite. http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hh http://www.about.com/?r=9F 118 20 en-us 2009-11-24T08:00:22Z Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:22 +0000 hourly 1 2000-01-01T12:00+00:00 http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/joey-nelson-atheists-have-no-one-to-thank-on-thanksgiving.htm?r=9F I read a lot of material written by religious theists -- mostly Christians -- about atheists and atheism. I see a lot of different myths, misconceptions, mistakes, and even outright lies. Too many to count, in fact. One characteristic which I see that is common to so many different myths and lies, though, is the failure or refusal on the part of Christians to show any interest in learning something factual about the subject they are writing on. <p>It seems very clear to me that when they sat down to write something about atheists and atheism, they decided to rely entirely on their religious ideology instead of spending even a second doing the most basic research. What this means is that the "atheism" and "atheists" they write about aren't the atheism and atheists of the real world, but rather are just props in a religious ideology. These Christians aren't writing about real people with real histories, real feelings, and real interests, but cardboard cutouts that can be invested with whatever nonsense the religious ideology happens to require at any given moment. <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/260161.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/joey-nelson-atheists-have-no-one-to-thank-on-thanksgiving.htm">Joey Nelson: Atheists Have No One to Thank on Thanksgiving</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 12:00:19.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/joey-nelson-atheists-have-no-one-to-thank-on-thanksgiving.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/joey-nelson-atheists-have-no-one-to-thank-on-thanksgiving.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/joey-nelson-atheists-have-no-one-to-thank-on-thanksgiving.htm&zItl=Joey Nelson: Atheists Have No One to Thank on Thanksgiving">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/joey-nelson-atheists-have-no-one-to-thank-on-thanksgiving.htm Tue, 24 Nov 2009 12:00:19 +0000 2009-11-24T12:00:19Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/comment-of-the-week-popularity-truth.htm?r=9F Almost every atheist who debates the existence of gods with theists will, at some point, be presented with some sort of argument from popularity: lots of people do now or have in the past believed in higher powers, so doesn't that prove that gods exist -- or at least that belief in gods is reasonable? This argument isn't just limited to belief in gods, too. We often find people arguing that political and economic positions which enjoy popular support must be correct. <p>The argument from popularity is a logical fallacy for a good reason: there is nothing about the popularity of unpopularity of an idea which has any relation to its truth or falsehood. Popular ideas can be false and unpopular ideas can be true. Perhaps even worse than this, however, is the fact that people who use "popularity" in their arguments frequently misrepresent just how popular the relevant idea really is. <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/262213.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/comment-of-the-week-popularity-truth.htm">Comment of the Week: Popularity & Truth</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Tuesday, November 24th, 2009 at 08:00:22.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/comment-of-the-week-popularity-truth.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/comment-of-the-week-popularity-truth.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/comment-of-the-week-popularity-truth.htm&zItl=Comment of the Week: Popularity & Truth">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/24/comment-of-the-week-popularity-truth.htm Tue, 24 Nov 2009 08:00:22 +0000 2009-11-24T08:00:22Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/parapsychology-parapsychology-religion-self-deception-denial.htm?r=9F The link between parapsychology and religion helps explain people’s incredible will to believe psychic claims. These beliefs are very often critic-proof - no matter what sorts of critiques are offered, people will continue to believe. It doesn’t matter if the alleged psychic is shown to be using tricks or even if they admit, openly, to using tricks. People will refuse to become more skeptical. <p>&#160; <p><b>Read Article</b>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://atheism.about.com/od/parapsychology/a/selfdeception.htm">Parapsychology &#038; Religion, Self-Deception &#038; Denial</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/parapsychology-parapsychology-religion-self-deception-denial.htm">Parapsychology: Parapsychology & Religion, Self-Deception & Denial</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 15:00:00.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/parapsychology-parapsychology-religion-self-deception-denial.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/parapsychology-parapsychology-religion-self-deception-denial.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/parapsychology-parapsychology-religion-self-deception-denial.htm&zItl=Parapsychology: Parapsychology & Religion, Self-Deception & Denial">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/parapsychology-parapsychology-religion-self-deception-denial.htm Mon, 23 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000 2009-11-23T15:00:00Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/atheists-and-atheism-on-thanksgiving.htm?r=9F A number of Christians treat Thanksgiving as a religious and even Christian holiday. They can be so convinced that Thanksgiving is religious and dedicated to thanking God that it may seem odd to them that atheists would do anything on the day. The truth is, however, that there is nothing inherently religious about Thanksgiving. There are plenty of people who can be thanked and plenty of reasons to be thankful, all without religion or gods entering into the matter. <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/258536.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/atheists-and-atheism-on-thanksgiving.htm">Atheists and Atheism on Thanksgiving</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 12:00:36.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/atheists-and-atheism-on-thanksgiving.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/atheists-and-atheism-on-thanksgiving.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/atheists-and-atheism-on-thanksgiving.htm&zItl=Atheists and Atheism on Thanksgiving">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/atheists-and-atheism-on-thanksgiving.htm Mon, 23 Nov 2009 12:00:36 +0000 2009-11-23T12:00:36Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/does-god-exist-4.htm?r=9F <div style="float:right; margin:5px" align="center"> <a href="http://atheism.about.com/od/bookreviews/fr/GodDebateOxford.htm"><img src="http://z.about.com/d/atheism/1/G/M/5/bk_GodDebateOxford.gif" border="0" align="right" width="105" height="150" alt="God? A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist"></a> <br />_{Image courtesy PriceGrabber.com} </div> <p>Debates about the existence of God fascinate some and bore others; nevertheless, they have occupied a great deal of philosophical, theological, and scientific interest over the centuries. Many of the arguments currently used are very old, while others are based upon recent developments in science and philosophy. Has either side developed an advantage over the other? <p>Book of the Week: <a href="http://atheism.about.com/od/bookreviews/fr/GodDebateOxford.htm"><i>God? A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist</i></a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/does-god-exist-4.htm">Book of the Week: God? A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Monday, November 23rd, 2009 at 08:00:00.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/does-god-exist-4.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/does-god-exist-4.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/does-god-exist-4.htm&zItl=Book of the Week: God? A Debate Between a Christian and an Atheist">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/23/does-god-exist-4.htm Mon, 23 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000 2009-11-23T08:00:00Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/harry-potter-do-the-harry-potter-books-promote-immorality.htm?r=9F The Harry Potter books have come under fire from different critics for many reasons. Perhaps the most serious accusation is that it teaches immorality by telling children it’s OK to act immorally on behalf of some cause that is perceived as more important. Thus, it is argued, Harry Potter teaches kids to accept moral relativism or moral egoism rather than the moral absolutism of traditional Christianity. Does Harry Potter promote immorality? Is Christianity based on moral absolutes? <p>&#160; <p><b>Read Article</b>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://atheism.about.com/od/harrypotter/i/immorality.htm">Do the Harry Potter Books Promote Immorality and Immoral Behavior?</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/harry-potter-do-the-harry-potter-books-promote-immorality.htm">Harry Potter: Do the Harry Potter Books Promote Immorality?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 15:00:00.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/harry-potter-do-the-harry-potter-books-promote-immorality.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/harry-potter-do-the-harry-potter-books-promote-immorality.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/harry-potter-do-the-harry-potter-books-promote-immorality.htm&zItl=Harry Potter: Do the Harry Potter Books Promote Immorality?">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/harry-potter-do-the-harry-potter-books-promote-immorality.htm Sun, 22 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000 2009-11-22T15:00:00Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/the-un-pilgrims.htm?r=9F During the Thanksgiving holidays, most people focus on the experiences and the legacy of the Pilgrims - they are, after all, a primary source for Thanksgiving traditions and mythology. At the same time, however, they were not the first settlers in the Americas nor were they the only ones to experience and survive serious hardship. Most have never really learned about the Dutch settlers and their colony of New Netherland - a region which was characterized by religious and social diversity. <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/046547.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/the-un-pilgrims.htm">The Un-Pilgrims</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 12:00:00.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/the-un-pilgrims.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/the-un-pilgrims.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/the-un-pilgrims.htm&zItl=The Un-Pilgrims">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/the-un-pilgrims.htm Sun, 22 Nov 2009 12:00:00 +0000 2009-11-22T12:00:00Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/mailbag-making-choices.htm?r=9F <b>From</b>: "Leeann"<br /> <b>Subject</b>: Faith <blockquote> <i>i think i have an idea of how you might feel about the subject of God. (please forgive if i am wrong). for more years that i care to remember, i didnt believe God wanted anything to do with me. I had commited so much sin and was so ashamed that i figured i had no hope.</i> </blockquote> <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/032937.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/mailbag-making-choices.htm">Mailbag: Making Choices</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 08:00:00.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/mailbag-making-choices.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/mailbag-making-choices.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/mailbag-making-choices.htm&zItl=Mailbag: Making Choices">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/22/mailbag-making-choices.htm Sun, 22 Nov 2009 08:00:00 +0000 2009-11-22T08:00:00Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/nietzsche-vs-gibson-suffering-debt-and-guilt-with-jesus.htm?r=9F One of the curious features of Mel Gibson's film "The Passion" is how it is almost entirely preoccupied with the suffering and death of Jesus. We are told nothing about his message or his ministry - even the resurrection is given little attention. In their place, the camera lingers over Jesus' reaction to being whipped and even over the stripping of his flesh through torture. What does this have to say about Mel Gibson's theology and, perhaps, Christianity generally? <p>&#160; <p><b>Read Article</b>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://atheism.about.com/library/FAQs/christian/blxtn_passion_niet.htm">Nietzsche vs. Gibson: Suffering, Debt, and Guilt with Jesus</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/nietzsche-vs-gibson-suffering-debt-and-guilt-with-jesus.htm">Nietzsche vs. Gibson: Suffering, Debt, and Guilt with Jesus</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 15:00:00.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/nietzsche-vs-gibson-suffering-debt-and-guilt-with-jesus.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/nietzsche-vs-gibson-suffering-debt-and-guilt-with-jesus.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/nietzsche-vs-gibson-suffering-debt-and-guilt-with-jesus.htm&zItl=Nietzsche vs. Gibson: Suffering, Debt, and Guilt with Jesus">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/nietzsche-vs-gibson-suffering-debt-and-guilt-with-jesus.htm Sat, 21 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000 2009-11-21T15:00:00Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/catholic-church-guilty-of-money-laundering.htm?r=9F Many churches in America have set up separate divisions in their organizations to administer charitable programs in their local communities. The reason for this, rather than administering the programs directly, is that creating this separation allows them to solicit and receive government funding for the projects. Government cannot give money directly to church coffers because that money could be used for religious purposes, a violation of church/state separation. Government can, however, give money to a church-run organization where the money is separated from church funds and which is run according to secular standards. <p>This has worked rather well for quite some time now but the Catholic Church, which benefits massively from this process, has declared that it's actually a form of money laundering. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops didn't make this statement with respect to funding church charities, but rather about an amendment offered by Brad Ellsworth (D-Ind.) to the recent health care reform bill. Ellsworth's amendment would have created a separation between government funds and funds that pay for abortion, a distinction much like that relied upon by churches which receive government funds. <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/262205.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/catholic-church-guilty-of-money-laundering.htm">Catholic Church: Guilty of Money-Laundering?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 12:00:51.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/catholic-church-guilty-of-money-laundering.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/catholic-church-guilty-of-money-laundering.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/catholic-church-guilty-of-money-laundering.htm&zItl=Catholic Church: Guilty of Money-Laundering?">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/catholic-church-guilty-of-money-laundering.htm Sat, 21 Nov 2009 12:00:51 +0000 2009-11-21T12:00:51Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/bible-commentary-jesus-resurrection-and-the-empty-tomb-mark-161-8.htm?r=9F After the Jewish sabbath, which occurs on Saturdays, women who were present at Jesus' crucifixion come to his tomb to anoint his corpse with spices. These are things his close disciples should have done, but Mark portrays Jesus' female followers as consistently showing more faith and courage than the men. <p><b>Read Article</b>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://atheism.about.com/od/biblegospelofmark/a/mark16a.htm">Jesus' Resurrection and the Empty Tomb (Mark 16:1-8)</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/bible-commentary-jesus-resurrection-and-the-empty-tomb-mark-161-8.htm">Bible Commentary: Jesus' Resurrection and the Empty Tomb (Mark 16:1-8)</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Saturday, November 21st, 2009 at 08:00:17.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/bible-commentary-jesus-resurrection-and-the-empty-tomb-mark-161-8.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/bible-commentary-jesus-resurrection-and-the-empty-tomb-mark-161-8.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/bible-commentary-jesus-resurrection-and-the-empty-tomb-mark-161-8.htm&zItl=Bible Commentary: Jesus' Resurrection and the Empty Tomb (Mark 16:1-8)">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/21/bible-commentary-jesus-resurrection-and-the-empty-tomb-mark-161-8.htm Sat, 21 Nov 2009 08:00:17 +0000 2009-11-21T08:00:17Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/why-should-theists-prove-that-god-exists-why-do-atheists-ask-for-proof-of-god.htm?r=9F When atheists and theists debate the existence of gods, atheists generally ask for some sort of proof of the god or gods that the theist claims exist. Why do they do this? That is a difficult question to answer because while it is true that atheists often ask theists for proof that their god exists, sometimes they shouldn't. Asking for proof may end up confusing the important issues, causing distraction, and leading the conversation away from where it should be. <p>&#160; <p><b>Read Article</b>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://atheism.about.com/od/atheismatheiststheism/a/TheistsProveGod.htm">Why Should Theists Prove that God Exists? Why Do Atheists Ask for Proof of God?</a> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/why-should-theists-prove-that-god-exists-why-do-atheists-ask-for-proof-of-god.htm">Why Should Theists Prove that God Exists? Why Do Atheists Ask for Proof of God?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 15:00:42.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/why-should-theists-prove-that-god-exists-why-do-atheists-ask-for-proof-of-god.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/why-should-theists-prove-that-god-exists-why-do-atheists-ask-for-proof-of-god.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/why-should-theists-prove-that-god-exists-why-do-atheists-ask-for-proof-of-god.htm&zItl=Why Should Theists Prove that God Exists? Why Do Atheists Ask for Proof of God?">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/why-should-theists-prove-that-god-exists-why-do-atheists-ask-for-proof-of-god.htm Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:00:42 +0000 2009-11-20T15:00:42Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/christian-veterans-throw-temper-tantrum-as-lesson-to-students.htm?r=9F The American Legion has a long, sordid history of reactionary and even authoritarian policies -- for example bigotry towards atheists coupled with promoting theocratic government. The latter came to the fore in Bloomington, Minnesota, when American Legion Post 550 insisted on inserting Christian prayers into a Veterans' Day flag raising ceremony. <p>When they were informed that religious rituals couldn't be made an official part of an official school function, they not only refused to do the ceremony completely but also decided to withdraw funds for college scholarships. So if they couldn't impose their religious beliefs on other people's children, they wanted to take their flag and their money and go home. What a great lesson to teach the students about morality, patriotism, and religion. <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/262199.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/christian-veterans-throw-temper-tantrum-as-lesson-to-students.htm">Christian Veterans Throw Temper-Tantrum as Lesson to Students</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 12:00:27.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/christian-veterans-throw-temper-tantrum-as-lesson-to-students.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/christian-veterans-throw-temper-tantrum-as-lesson-to-students.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/christian-veterans-throw-temper-tantrum-as-lesson-to-students.htm&zItl=Christian Veterans Throw Temper-Tantrum as Lesson to Students">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/christian-veterans-throw-temper-tantrum-as-lesson-to-students.htm Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:00:27 +0000 2009-11-20T12:00:27Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/pentecostal-superstition-is-pentecostal-christianity-especially-superstitious.htm?r=9F <p>Superstition is "excessively credulous belief in and reverence for supernatural beings" and an "unjustified belief in supernatural causation." From the perspective of nonbelievers, all Christianity is "superstitious" because none of it is justified. If we take as a given some minimal level of belief in the supernatural, though, some forms of Christianity involve a much more than other forms and are thus arguably more superstitious. Pentecostal Christianity fits readily into this category. <p><b>Read Article</b>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://atheism.about.com/od/pentecostalism/a/Superstitious.htm">Pentecostal Superstition: Is Pentecostal Christianity Especially Superstitious?</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/pentecostal-superstition-is-pentecostal-christianity-especially-superstitious.htm">Pentecostal Superstition: Is Pentecostal Christianity Especially Superstitious?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Friday, November 20th, 2009 at 08:00:02.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/pentecostal-superstition-is-pentecostal-christianity-especially-superstitious.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/pentecostal-superstition-is-pentecostal-christianity-especially-superstitious.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/pentecostal-superstition-is-pentecostal-christianity-especially-superstitious.htm&zItl=Pentecostal Superstition: Is Pentecostal Christianity Especially Superstitious?">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/20/pentecostal-superstition-is-pentecostal-christianity-especially-superstitious.htm Fri, 20 Nov 2009 08:00:02 +0000 2009-11-20T08:00:02Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/harry-potter-christian-censorship-of-harry-potter.htm?r=9F The Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling are not only popular with children, they are popular with Christian censors as well. Harry Potter books have consistently been among the most challenged books in schools and libraries for the past several years, according to the American Library Association. Why do so many Christians object to Harry Potter? How have conservative Christians attempted to censor the Harry Potter books and prevent kids from reading them? <p>&#160; <p><b>Read Article</b>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://atheism.about.com/od/harrypotter/a/censorship.htm">Christian Censorship of Harry Potter: Schools, Libraries, and Free Speech</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/harry-potter-christian-censorship-of-harry-potter.htm">Harry Potter: Christian Censorship of Harry Potter</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 15:00:00.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/harry-potter-christian-censorship-of-harry-potter.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/harry-potter-christian-censorship-of-harry-potter.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/harry-potter-christian-censorship-of-harry-potter.htm&zItl=Harry Potter: Christian Censorship of Harry Potter">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/harry-potter-christian-censorship-of-harry-potter.htm Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000 2009-11-19T15:00:00Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/evolution-of-brain-size-and-cognitive-ability.htm?r=9F Our big brain is one of the most interesting questions in the field of human evolution: why did our species evolve such big brains, why didn't other species do so as well, and why did it happen at some particular time in our evolutionary history about opposed to another? Current evidence indicates that hominid brains nearly doubled in size at the onset of an ice age 2.5 million years ago -- coincidence or not? Perhaps not. <p>It's being argued that we were only able to evolve big brains because the cooling climate allowed us to burn off the excess heat created by bigger brains. Many people may not realize just how much energy is required by their brains: that bundle of neurons in your skull burns through nearly half of the energy you use while at rest. This generates a lot of excess heat (Remember mom telling you to wear your hat in the winter? You lose a lot of body heat through your head) that would cause more problems in a hot climate. <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/262193.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/evolution-of-brain-size-and-cognitive-ability.htm">Evolution of Brain Size and Cognitive Ability</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 12:00:14.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/evolution-of-brain-size-and-cognitive-ability.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/evolution-of-brain-size-and-cognitive-ability.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/evolution-of-brain-size-and-cognitive-ability.htm&zItl=Evolution of Brain Size and Cognitive Ability">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/evolution-of-brain-size-and-cognitive-ability.htm Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:00:14 +0000 2009-11-19T12:00:14Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/daily-poll-will-liberal-catholics-in-america-reform-their-church-just-fade-away.htm?r=9F <div style="float:right; margin:10px"> <SCRIPT LANGUAGE= "javaScript" SRC="http://guidepolls.about.com/atheism/8946465375/poll.js?linkback=<!--#echo var="SCRIPT_URI"-->"></script> </div> <p>Probably the largest and most influential group of liberal Catholic believers is the Voice of the Faithful. They seek to reform not just the church's position on specific policies like abortion and gay marriage, but also more fundamentally in matters of organization and control. The problem is that Voice of the Faithful is primarily older and white, which is not the demographics of the church's future -- neither in America nor globally. They won't get anywhere if they cannot attract a membership which will endure. <p>What's more, they also won't get anywhere without a membership that is passionate. I don't mean to suggest that the current membership of Voice of the Faithful and other liberal Catholic organizations don't really care, but are they as committed and as passionate as members of traditionalist organizations? Are they as willing to fight and sacrifice as traditionalists? I don't think it's coincidence that more conservative and traditionalist Christian groups across many denominations have generally done better over the past decades than more liberal and moderate groups. <p>Liberal Catholic groups are fighting an uphill battle in more ways than one: they are fighting centuries of entrenched conservatism, they are fighting forces based primarily in a distant land, they are fighting social and religious forces spread across the entire planet, and they are fighting a legitimate orthodoxy. Making the fight harder by having a narrow, limited, and even dwindling base of support isn't a good idea -- but how easy would it be for them to broaden their appeal? <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/daily-poll-will-liberal-catholics-in-america-reform-their-church-just-fade-away.htm">Daily Poll: Will Liberal Catholics In America Reform Their Church or Fade Away?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Thursday, November 19th, 2009 at 08:00:31.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/daily-poll-will-liberal-catholics-in-america-reform-their-church-just-fade-away.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/daily-poll-will-liberal-catholics-in-america-reform-their-church-just-fade-away.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/daily-poll-will-liberal-catholics-in-america-reform-their-church-just-fade-away.htm&zItl=Daily Poll: Will Liberal Catholics In America Reform Their Church or Fade Away?">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/19/daily-poll-will-liberal-catholics-in-america-reform-their-church-just-fade-away.htm Thu, 19 Nov 2009 08:00:31 +0000 2009-11-19T08:00:31Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/myth-being-irreligious-is-risky-short-sighted-behavior-like-crime.htm?r=9F Many associate atheism with anti-social and even criminal behavior, but such assertions are usually little more than that: bare assertions without substantiating evidence or arguments. The most people offer may be question-begging claims about religion and god being necessary for moral behavior. Here, however, we have a new twist which claims that there is a physiological, biological reason behind people - or at least men - rejecting religion and gods. Unfortunately, it's rife with flaws. <p>&#160; <p><b>Read Article</b>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://atheism.about.com/od/isatheismdangerous/a/RiskyCrime.htm">Myth: Being Irreligious is Risky, Short-Sighted Behavior Like Crime</a> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/myth-being-irreligious-is-risky-short-sighted-behavior-like-crime.htm">Myth: Being Irreligious is Risky, Short-Sighted Behavior Like Crime</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 15:00:33.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/myth-being-irreligious-is-risky-short-sighted-behavior-like-crime.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/myth-being-irreligious-is-risky-short-sighted-behavior-like-crime.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/myth-being-irreligious-is-risky-short-sighted-behavior-like-crime.htm&zItl=Myth: Being Irreligious is Risky, Short-Sighted Behavior Like Crime">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/myth-being-irreligious-is-risky-short-sighted-behavior-like-crime.htm Wed, 18 Nov 2009 15:00:33 +0000 2009-11-18T15:00:33Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/unhappy-holidays.htm?r=9F Atheists with religious families frequently encounter a variety of conflicts during the holidays. One source of conflict is disagreements over how much religion should involved in holiday celebrations. Atheists can't begrudge religious believers their religious practices, but religious believers don't always return the favor. By that I mean atheists are too often expected to participate in those religious practices, even to the point of pretending to be religious themselves in order to give the appearance of a united religious front. <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/262189.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/unhappy-holidays.htm">Unhappy Holidays</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 12:00:09.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/unhappy-holidays.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/unhappy-holidays.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/unhappy-holidays.htm&zItl=Unhappy Holidays">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/unhappy-holidays.htm Wed, 18 Nov 2009 12:00:09 +0000 2009-11-18T12:00:09Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/forum-discussion-r-crumbs-genesis.htm?r=9F It should probably go without saying that none of us can look at then explain any text without some sort level of interpretation being added in. No text can make an impression on us without first being mediated by things like culture and politics, personal history and emotions, and so forth. No one can approach any text absent any preconceptions, assumptions, attitudes, etc. <p>But that doesn't mean we can't try to approach texts in as neutral a manner as possible, and it doesn't mean that the attempt to set aside as many preconceptions as possible won't produce something interesting, valuable, and useful. I think that's what's happened with R. Crumb's illustrated version of Genesis. <p>Crumb didn't create the illustrations in an ideological vacuum, but he tried to set aside personal preconceptions and he certainly worked without all the preconceptions which the average Christian brings to the text. The result is a Genesis that lays bare a lot events and personalities that are otherwise missed because it would be too uncomfortable to address them too directly. <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/262186.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/forum-discussion-r-crumbs-genesis.htm">Forum Discussion: R. Crumb's Genesis</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Wednesday, November 18th, 2009 at 08:00:04.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/forum-discussion-r-crumbs-genesis.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/forum-discussion-r-crumbs-genesis.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/forum-discussion-r-crumbs-genesis.htm&zItl=Forum Discussion: R. Crumb's Genesis">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/18/forum-discussion-r-crumbs-genesis.htm Wed, 18 Nov 2009 08:00:04 +0000 2009-11-18T08:00:04Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/are-tax-exemptions-a-church-subsidy.htm?r=9F One of the key arguments offered by those who oppose tax exemptions for churches and religious organizations is that tax exemptions constitute a type of subsidy for these groups. Subsidies for religious organizations are unconstitutional, however, because they represent a means by which churches are able to obtain public, taxpayer support for their religious goals. <p>&#160; <p><b>Read Article</b>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://atheism.about.com/od/churchestaxexemptions/a/churchsubsidy.htm">Are Tax Exemptions a Church Subsidy?</a> <p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/are-tax-exemptions-a-church-subsidy.htm">Are Tax Exemptions a Church Subsidy?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 15:00:47.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/are-tax-exemptions-a-church-subsidy.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/are-tax-exemptions-a-church-subsidy.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/are-tax-exemptions-a-church-subsidy.htm&zItl=Are Tax Exemptions a Church Subsidy?">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/are-tax-exemptions-a-church-subsidy.htm Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:00:47 +0000 2009-11-17T15:00:47Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/scientology-values.htm?r=9F As with individual people, there can be a tremendous difference between what an organization claims to value and what it actually values. Case in point is the Church of Scientology, an organization which insists it's a religion which values many of the same basic moral principles valued by various traditional religions. Those religions, however, don't make members or volunteers sign a contract like a corporation and don't exhibit paranoia about what potential volunteers think, whom they are related to, or what their finances are. Why is Scientology so worried about potential critics and potential lawsuits? <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/262183.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/scientology-values.htm">Scientology Values</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 12:00:01.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/scientology-values.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/scientology-values.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/scientology-values.htm&zItl=Scientology Values">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/scientology-values.htm Tue, 17 Nov 2009 12:00:01 +0000 2009-11-17T12:00:01Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/comment-of-the-week-confusing-religion-reality.htm?r=9F If you discuss religion with believers often enough, it's inevitable that you'll come across someone trying to give credit to their religion or trying to attribute to their religion some pre-existing aspect of reality or culture. The effect of this is to make religion appear to be more important, more fundamental, and more necessary than it really is. It's unlikely that this is a deliberate deception, though. I think that most people who do this sincerely fail to recognize the extent to which things like morality or economic policies are prior to or simply outside the borders of their religion. <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/262180.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/comment-of-the-week-confusing-religion-reality.htm">Comment of the Week: Confusing Religion & Reality</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009 at 08:00:58.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/comment-of-the-week-confusing-religion-reality.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/comment-of-the-week-confusing-religion-reality.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/comment-of-the-week-confusing-religion-reality.htm&zItl=Comment of the Week: Confusing Religion & Reality">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/17/comment-of-the-week-confusing-religion-reality.htm Tue, 17 Nov 2009 08:00:58 +0000 2009-11-17T08:00:58Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/parapsychology-falsifiability-is-parapsychology-falsifiable.htm?r=9F Scientific theories are falisifiable, and one of the characteristics of pseudoscience is that pseudoscientific theories are not falsifiable, either in principle or in fact. The principle of falsifiability or falsification was originally conceived of by Sir Karl Popper, an Austrian-born, British philosopher of science. According to Popper, it is the ability to falsify a theory that makes it scientific, not the ability to verify it. <p>&#160; <p><b>Read Article</b>: <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&#038;zu=http://atheism.about.com/od/parapsychology/a/falsifiability.htm">Falsifiability: Is Parapsychology Falsifiable?</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/parapsychology-falsifiability-is-parapsychology-falsifiable.htm">Parapsychology - Falsifiability: Is Parapsychology Falsifiable?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 15:00:00.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/parapsychology-falsifiability-is-parapsychology-falsifiable.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/parapsychology-falsifiability-is-parapsychology-falsifiable.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/parapsychology-falsifiability-is-parapsychology-falsifiable.htm&zItl=Parapsychology - Falsifiability: Is Parapsychology Falsifiable?">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/parapsychology-falsifiability-is-parapsychology-falsifiable.htm Mon, 16 Nov 2009 15:00:00 +0000 2009-11-16T15:00:00Z http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/european-court-crucifix-not-a-symbol-of-culture-tolerance-secularism.htm?r=9F It's all too common to see Christians in America trying to argue that their sectarian, religious symbols are somehow "secular" in nature. It's a transparent attempt to rationalize using the power of the state to promote and endorse a religious ideology. Unfortunately, it's not just American Christians who offer such dishonest arguments -- Italian Christians do it as well. <p>This was revealed recently when the Italian government tried to argue before the European Court of Human Rights that it was justified in placing crucifixes in all public school classrooms. According to the Italian government, the crucifix is not a religious symbol but rather a symbol of tolerance, secularism, history, culture, and identity. What a shock that the court didn't buy a word of that, finding in favor of the plaintiffs. <a href =http://atheism.about.com/b/a/262177.htm>Read more...</a><p style="background:#f5f3ef;border: 1px solid #d5d0bf;padding:.5em;"><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/european-court-crucifix-not-a-symbol-of-culture-tolerance-secularism.htm">European Court: Crucifix Not a Symbol of Culture, Tolerance, Secularism</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/">About.com Agnosticism / Atheism</a> on Monday, November 16th, 2009 at 12:00:37.</p><p><a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/european-court-crucifix-not-a-symbol-of-culture-tolerance-secularism.htm">Permalink</a> | <a href="http://clk.about.com/?zi=1/1hc&zu=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/european-court-crucifix-not-a-symbol-of-culture-tolerance-secularism.htm#gB3">Comment</a> | <a href="http://atheism.about.com/gi/pages/shareurl.htm?PG=http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/european-court-crucifix-not-a-symbol-of-culture-tolerance-secularism.htm&zItl=European Court: Crucifix Not a Symbol of Culture, Tolerance, Secularism">Email this</a></p> http://atheism.about.com/b/2009/11/16/european-court-crucifix-not-a-symbol-of-culture-tolerance-secularism.htm Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:00:37 +0000 2009-11-16T12:00:37Z