Entries from January 2008
January 26th, 2008 · by John · 4 Comments
Mormons believe that the Holy Ghost speaks to them in “a still small voice:” [wp_youtube]0NlIMQ31EjY[/wp_youtube] Can you ask for any clearer evidence? What are you all waiting for–there’s a baptismal font and two young men in suits waiting for you!
[Read more →]
Tags: Mormonism · Politics
January 25th, 2008 · by John · 3 Comments
Elaine is a mostly-recovered Mormon who retains a great interest in belief systems of all kinds. She has a BA in Intercultural Studies (that’s what her university calls cultural anthropology), with a concentration in the anthropology of religion. In real life she takes care of her mother, writes for some websites in the UK, works [...]
[Read more →]
Tags: Getting over Religion · Leaving the Garden · Mormonism
January 25th, 2008 · by John · No Comments
Bill Lobdell, the LA Times reporter who famously (or infamously, depending on your perspective) lost his faith as a result of covering the religion beat, will be speaking at the Center for Inquiry – West in Hollywood this Sunday at 11am. Apparently he is the guest of the monthly meeting of the local Atheists United [...]
[Read more →]
Tags: Atheism · MoF Events
January 25th, 2008 · by xJane · 1 Comment
I was reading Pharyngula the other day & ran across a fantastic quote illustrating the differences among atheists, theists, and radicals. In light of recent conversation on this theme, I felt it contributed a very clear argument. However, it also stands alone in the sea of things-we-post-about here at MoF. Here is PZ Myers: There [...]
[Read more →]
Tags: Atheism · Belief · Doubt · Fantasy · Religion
January 24th, 2008 · by xJane · 2 Comments
I ran into this question today while writing an essay in which I made mention of Aristotle. I’ve often heard/thought that he was an atheist, but part of me wanted to say “agnostic”. Perhaps he did believe in a Higher Power, as AA would say, but he was profoundly concerned with an ethics that did [...]
[Read more →]
Tags: Atheism
January 24th, 2008 · by John · 4 Comments
Primarily because she was frustrated with the Clinton campaign’s dirty tactics: Hillary Clinton was telling…pro-choice rallies of young women that Barack Obama was weak on choice when he was a state senator which was patently false. I was president of Chicago NOW at the time and I worked closely with him. He had a 100% [...]
[Read more →]
Tags: Feminism · Politics
January 24th, 2008 · by xJane · 4 Comments
I recently went to get tea at my favorite tea joint & as I was walking away, I realized why I really like my favorite baristo (I know, it’s Italian, but still): he looks like my hairdresser! I immediately felt like sharing this but needed to get back to work. So I played out the [...]
[Read more →]
Tags: Feminism · Gender · Sexuality · Tea
January 23rd, 2008 · by John · 3 Comments
I can barely keep my eyelids propped open, but I wanted to share some thoughts before I lie down for some sweet, sweet rest. We live in a stranger universe than anything we could imagine on our own. Recent science news give tiny little snapshots of this crazy reality: Scientists have discovered a black hole [...]
[Read more →]
Tags: News · Science · Science Fiction and Fantasy
January 23rd, 2008 · by John · 17 Comments
To “swear not at all.” I received a jury summons today, and after reading it, realized that I might run into some difficulties as a Quaker and an atheist. Any Quakers or atheists out there want to tell me how I can avoid swearing an oath on the Bible, so help me God? Update: After [...]
[Read more →]
Tags: Atheism · Quakerism · Ritual
January 22nd, 2008 · by John · 25 Comments
Horia wrote a comment critical of my recent shout out to Atheists and Agnostics Who Go to Church. I am grateful for Horia’s direct honesty, and want to give this person’s arguments careful consideration. Rather than burying my response in the comments, I’d like to elevate it to post status because a) I want to [...]
[Read more →]
Tags: Atheism · Doubt · Getting over Religion