The Unchurched

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Atheism in the blogoshpere

On Religion...

luckyshirt : I hear and read many people calling themselves atheists, and just out of some combination of curiosity and intense interest wonder how many of them are actually agnostic. So many people confuse the two because unfortunately agnosticism is frequently folded under atheism by many of the loudest voices. But there is a very important difference between them. In short (at the risk of criminally generalizing an important topic): an atheist believes there are no dieties in existenc

Ask Richard: Her Catholic Boyfriend is Uncomfortable Discussing Her Atheism

Dear Richard, Okay, I had to take the bait when I read your blog post. I am an atheist, and my boyfriend (who I live with) is Catholic. Normally, it is not an issue. He is not a devout Catholic, he never wants to go to mass, he doesn’t pray, he even told me he’s really not sure there is a god. However, he gets really offended if I say anything bad about Catholicism or religion and thinks I don’t need to be so outspoken about my atheism. I’m not really sure what to do as I see myself more as r

What Might I Substitute for Empiricism in Getting at the Truth of Ultimate Questions?

I would say nothing. I think that empiricism and reason are the best that we can do. So then why, as an agnostic, am I defending (in a previous post ) Francis Collins’s explicitly theological gestures? Here’s why: I think that, with regards to the ontological mystery and ultimate questions, we hit an impasse where empiricism cannot go (either because we lack evidence or because certain questions result in question-begging regardless of what answer you might give—such as whether matter prece

Norma McCorvey: From Pro-Choice to Pro-Life

***Update*** : For some reason, comments were turned off on this posting earlier. They’re back on, now! Sorry for the confusion. … Norma McCorvey was once known as “Jane Roe” in the Roe vs. Wade Supreme Court case that legalized abortion throughout the country. For years, she was proud to be pro-choice. Most of you may know that that’s no longer the case. McCorvey now works with extremely religious pro-life groups. There was a fascinating article about her transition in The

The Struggle Continues - responses to contributors on God in schools, pomposity and the Liberals, among other things

I am accused - this often happens - of being pompous. I have found that this tends to mean that I speak, where possible, in complete sentences, don't use glottal stops or affect an estuary accent. I used to do this even when I sold the 'Socialist Worker' outside Woolworths on Saturdays, and indeed outside Goole Docks on Fridays, and who is to say now whether or how it affected sales? It is just the way I was brought up, which is perhaps the problem. Or not the problem. What do people mean to say

Perth Lectures, Perth Events!

I’ve been busy! You can be too! I’ll be presenting at a conference early next week, conducting a community of inquiry, and catching a talk by another member of the Perth Atheists (who, I should add, are preparing to help out with the Skeptic Zone talk planned for August).Firstly! Monday - 13th July at the Flying Scotsman - 639 Beaufort St, Mt Lawley, 7pm: One of our own members is keen to practice a talk he is doing for the UWA Atheist and Agnostic Society next semester. We thought it would be a

Francis Collins, Jerry Coyne, and “Shameful” Non-Empirical Languages

The Evangelical Christian geneticist, Francis Collins, has been taking some rather harsh rhetorical hits lately from atheist biologist and blogger, Jerry Coyne (of the University of Chicago). Collins recently started a foundation (The BioLogos Foundation) that explores intersections between science and religion, and he had an article  on the foundation’s website that included some reflections on what quantum physics might imply for the Christian doctrine of immanence. Coyne, for Collins’s eccen

Once You Leave the Realm of the Empirical, How Do You Discriminate Between Non-Empirical Languages?

I think this is a very tricky question. Once you leave the sciences and the languages of empiricism that scientists speak to one another in, or once you come up against questions that empiricism cannot directly address (such as should we humans be good to one another?), then how, exactly, does one decide which kind of non-empirical language to speak? For example, how do you discriminate between, say, Hobbesian language v. Lockean language in talking about society? I myself prefer Lockean l

Interview with an Ex-Atheist: Me

Okay. First, let me apologize. Launching this ex-atheist series took longer than I hoped. So sorry I drug my feet. In my defense, though, the reason I took so long was because I wasn’t sure this was the right thing to do. Just a gut feeling. But maybe I was veering off in the wrong direction. So…I spent time in prayer. Mulled it over with God. And talked about it with some close friends. In the end, I feel good going forward. Think it’ll be harmless. Hopefully eye-opening. And at lea

Weight Watchers and the Historical Atrocities Argument

We've all heard the slogan that atheism is superior to theism because of all the atrocities committed in the name of religion. If you flick through the pages of the new-atheist publications by the likes of Dawkins, Hitchens, Loftus, Harris, et al you'll probably find some version of this assertion in each. Setting aside the dubious factual claims, I could list a stack of atheist atrocities that could outnumber the theist ones just from the last century alone, last night at Thinking Matters T

Mr. Deity

Larry/Deity 03 Eye for an Eye

A luxury animal wasn't available

Mr Deity and the Magic

Lucy tries to tell Mr Deity that Illusionists aren't magical beings

Larry/Deity 02 Rode in on a Donkey

A luxury animal wasn't available

Mr Deity Presents Words Episode 5 Sold Out

Brian decides he has to make money from Mr Deity

Larry/Deity 01 Baptism Of Fire

Mr. Deity is asked about the Baptism of Fire

NewAthei.st

 

Latest Activity

Rok on Brother R, forge on through the fog and find the far shore- and cry out for the rest of us to follow. I salute you, a man turned good. -Kirk Bailey
June 21
KIRK BAILEY is now a member of The Unchurched
June 21

Forum

Ravenone

Introduce yourself! 26 Replies

Started by Ravenone. Last reply by A Dead Relative Dec. 4, 2008.

IntergalacticHussy

Coming Out Godless: What's your Story?

Started by IntergalacticHussy Aug. 9, 2007.

The Barefoot Bum

Blog posts

Started by The Barefoot Bum Jul. 5, 2007.

The Barefoot Bum

Hundreds of 'Proofs' of God’s Existence

Started by The Barefoot Bum Jul. 4, 2007.

Ravenone

The 10 Reasons Why Christianity is Wrong

Started by Ravenone Jul. 1, 2007.

Ravenone

Conflating racism and atheism -- are they the same?

Started by Ravenone Jul. 1, 2007.

Ravenone

A pictorial guide to one Mormon plural family

Started by Ravenone Jul. 1, 2007.

mikepence

From Jehovah's Witness to Atheist: How & Why Witnesses Fade from Congregations 1 Reply

Started by mikepence. Last reply by mikepence Jun. 30, 2007.

mikepence

Richard Dawkins' social network

Started by mikepence Jun. 30, 2007.

Blog Posts

Ravenone

You're an Atheist; How could you do that to your kids?

You're an Atheist; How could you do that to your kids?





It's in our nature to cherish our children. If you have children yourself
then you will know what I am talking about. (Unless you're emotionally
retarded.) As soon as you rationalize that it is OK for a "God of Love"
to put disobedient children to death....you lose me!! (Truthfully, you
lost me at the God part!) Parents in the USA would be imprisoned and
(if in Texas, hehe) possibly put to death… Continue

Posted by Ravenone on May 1, 2007 at 3:43pm — 3 Comments

Robby Russell

NewAthei.st

Mike mentioned about this on NewAthei.st and I thought that I'd give it a whirl. :-)


Posted by Robby Russell on May 1, 2007 at 2:37pm

Ravenone

Note to self









Note to self,

Self ....today I was talking to my friend Jennifer, she is also a mom and an Atheist. I told her that my husband Mike and myself had been Jehovah's
Witness ministers...she asked if we were still together ....Heh heh.

Yes
, I am still with the same man...LOL! We have to be the strangest
couple ever. Mike was leading a double life wh


Continue

Posted by Ravenone on May 1, 2007 at 3:39pm

Ravenone

Oprah's Dirty 'Secret"


By continuing to hawk "The Secret," a mishmash of offensive
self-help cliches, Oprah Winfrey is squandering her goodwill and
influence, and preaching to the world that mammon is queen.

By Peter Birkenhead

http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2007/03/05/the_secret/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
This
story follows Oprah Winfrey's campaign for "The Secret". "The Secret"
is a self help book that tells us that we attract wh… Continue

Posted by Ravenone on May 1, 2007 at 3:49pm

mikepence

Why Christians keep having pre-marital sex

Meet the Romeo-and-Juliet effect.

Among Jehovah's Witnessed, dating means the dry-humping Olympics. Should you "slip-up" and actually have sex, you risk being disfellowshipped and shunned by friends and family alike. Everyone you know and love will cut you off and never speak to you again, because you had sex.

So much for Christian love.

Posted by mikepence on May 1, 2007 at 10:00pm

Music

 
 

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