I want to make one thing clear. I do not hate religious people nor am I interested in oppressing their right to exerecise their religion. I have issues with some of their fundamental beliefs and the way they can affect (harm) other people. I will not tolerate those who assert their religious freedom is being oppressed when it violates the separation of church and state a la abortion, same-sex marriage, and contraceptive rights.  As with racism,...

Pascal's Wager

What a hunk. "Pascal's Wager" is an argument in favor of God's existence, trumped by Christian philosopher Blaise Pascal in the 17th century. He argues that no matter if a person believes there to be a god or not, one should believe in it anyway because if there happens to be a god then it would be better to be a believer when it comes time to "meet your (so-called) maker"-- as a sort of safety precaution. It's better to believe because it's a...

This Just In: Women Shouldn't Have Rights To Their Body!

Debates over women's contraception "privileges" dominated news last year as old white men argued over women's rights to their body. While the issue is mostly to do with privacy rights, the massive opposition is deeply rooted in the religious sentiment that contraception is a method by which humans subvert God's plans, considering the Bible says that the matter of copulation is only to produce offspring. Why would any women need birth control if she's...

If Atheists Ruled the World

"If Atheists Ruled the World" is a YouTube video released by user sliptivity which has garnered over 2.5 million views. The video is a satire of sorts, for the speakers are repeating comments on Christian fundamentalist forums online. The creators are making fun of these commenters by delivering the lines in a deadpan way. The last part is probably my favorite clip of all time. Of course, the commenters could have been, as the internet savvy say, "trolls"but I have a deep sinking feeling that they are not. Enj...

A few years ago, Bill Maher, host of Real Time with Bill Maher on HBO, wrote and starred in a documentary called "Religulous," which centers on religion as it stands today in America by interviewing outspoken and fervent Christians, visiting a creationist museum, and contemplating the origins of the Christian religion and God. He even interviews Ken Ham! (Yep, the one that debated Bill Nye.) While it is super easy to cut Maher's interviews...

Pope Francis's Crusade Against Capitalism

Pope Francis's Crusade Against Capitalism: Stephen Colbert addresses the pope's ongoing critique of capitalism raises concerns that he might be a socialist. First, Bill O'Reilly claims the far left is skewing Pope Francis's words to fit their agenda. Then, news outlets break the news that the pope is calling for the redistribution of wealth. What a guy. This week on "I can't believe we're still having this debate," we're still having this debate....

The Power of Myth

By recommendation from my freshmen year English teacher, I read The Power of Myth, a series of video interviews between Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell that were transcribed into book format regarding mythology around the world. According to his Wikipedia description, Campbell is credited as an American mythologist who focuses on comparative mythology and religion. The main idea of the book is the reoccurrence of the "monomyth," a common...

TheInfuriatingAtheist

Youtuber and blogger TheAmazingAtheist, or TJ Kincaid, has gained quite a reputation in the atheist community and it's not for the better. Watch the video of his above and listen to the voice you will hear in hell ('cause you're goin' there anyway, ya heretics). It's wonderful that an unreligious person is able to voice opinions not held by the majority in the mainstream, if only his message was not so militant. I can totally understand the frustration that much of the non-theistic community feels at this standard that at the slightest provocation,...

Pastafarianism

Ever felt like you're missing something from your life? Like there is a higher purpose and a higher being presiding over it? Look no further than the Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster. With his great Noodly Appendanges, the Flying Spaghetti Monster will wrap you in all the existential love you need. As part of his mystery, the FSM has never been seen nor heard, but there is much and more evidence that he exists. Just visit the homepage of...

Is Atheism Irrational?

As a part of a series, philosophy-inspired blog The Stone is dedicating a series to religion, which questions theism and atheism alike. In this installment, Gary Gutting interviewed Alvin Plantinga, a professor of philosophy at Notre Dame.  Gutting addresses several pressing issues of both sides of the debate from what (Plantinga believes) are the best arguments for atheism ("the so-called 'problem of evil'") and the best arguments for theism (the 'fine-tuned' nature of the universe). I always find articles like this interesting, especially...

'Cosmos' Controversy And Why It's Ridiculous

After years of absence and a subconsciously upset consumer audience, popular TV show Cosmos returned, hosted by astrophysicist Neil Degrasse Tyson and produced by comedy writer Seth MacFarlane. For my younger crowd, the original Cosmos: A Personal Voyage ran for a stint of 13 episodes in 1980 when it was hosted by Carl Sagan and garnered worldwide acclaim as the most-watched series by PBS in history. It was broadcasted in 60 countries and allotted...

Wendy Wright v. Richard Dawkins

Wendy Wright sat down with Richard Dawkins to conduct an interview on their own personal beliefs about human evolution, for Dawkins' TV documentary called "The Genius of Charles Darwin." Wright is an outspoken Creationist whose views differ greatly from Dawkins'. Really, the only thing I can say about this interview is that it hurts my head and makes me cringe a little. Give it a go. She may look like an angel but she is a mean, white ball...

So, I read this article on Buzzfeed where they asked users to send in questions they would like to ask Bill Nye during the Bill Nye-Ken Hamm debate. Because these people thought it was worth their time to write down these questions they believe unanswerable, I figured it would be worth my time to answer them. I think I can forgive this one because this person does not know the definition of evolutionists/secularists/humanists/non-God believing...

Why Do People Persist in Believing Things That Just Aren't True? - Reaction

[note: I am woefully going to focus on Christian beliefs for the majority of this blog because they are the beliefs I am most well-versed in and surrounded by on a daily basis. Another day Islam and Judaism. Another day.]  Recently, the New Yorker published this article by Maria Konnikova, a writer on psychology, entitled "I Don't Want To Be Right." Give it a quick read because I think it’s important.  In case you’re not feeling it, I’ll give a quick run-through. Konnikova opens discussing Dartmouth professor __ experiment, which...

Pennsylvania Approval of Gay Marriage is Progressive! ...Or is it?

This just in: Pennsylvania courts have overruled that the ban on gay marriage is unconstitutional and therefore may be repealed. The linked article is an affirmation that the governor will not go out of his way to appeal the ruling. This is awesome-- I have no qualms with this. However, the fact that this is news, something to be lauded, instead of expected is just baffling. There is no reason why these issues should be debated in courts where...