1.I came across a link to Stephanie Zvan’s Nov. 22 “Preacher at the Funeral” post, which I had missed, and I heartily sympathized with her dislike of the time spent by the preacher at her grandfather’s funeral, “advertising Jesus.”
In her case, the advertisement was separate from any statement about her grandfather. As she said, Continue reading “How To Kill the Dead”
These are not necessarily the TOP ten reasons. Maybe they’re not even the ONLY ten reasons. But they’re ten pretty good reasons I’m glad I am an atheist.
1. Sunday morning. Or Saturday. Or whenever. I get to sleep in if I want to. And if I don’t want to – I almost never do – I can get up and do things I want to do, and not things other people expect me to do, in church or otherwise. I don’t feel that I have to be seen worshipping in order to be accepted as a decent person. Continue reading “Ten Reasons I’m Glad I’m an Atheist”
I have a certain amount of sympathy for most Christians. Because I believe that, no matter what they say and do, they aren’t really in full control of their thoughts and actions. Because of this powerful fear they’ve been taught, they’ve given over control of their lives to others, people they hope really understand how to live and act.
In fact, I feel this same way about great numbers of religious ministers. I can barely imagine how torturous it must be to not really know what’s true or not true, and to have to pretend to your flock that you know exactly what you’re doing and that you have every right to be there telling THEM what’s true and not true, what’s good and not good. Continue reading “Pat Robertson is a Lying Sack of Shit”
One article from Forbes, one from Huffington, suggesting that this year could be either the Year of the Atheist, or the Year of Cold Fusion.
Ooh, baby, I favor both!
First, Huffington: Brandon G. Withrow, Assistant Professor of History of Christianity, Winebrenner Theological Seminary, weighs in on atheism: Continue reading “2012: Cold Fusion, Atheism, and Doubt”
Did you know they used to make baby bottles out of glass?
They did.
Amazing, isn’t it? You’ve got this item that, when dropped, shatters into razor-sharp and needle-sharp fragments, glass shards which are virtually invisible in low light, but capable of cutting deep enough to sever tendons, nerves, major arteries. Hell, every silver screen bar fight aficionado knows you can make a closely similar bottle into a deadly weapon simply by whacking it on a nearby chair. Continue reading “Thoughts on the History of Broken Glass”
Worth repeating, Phil Plait’s sterling words from 2005:
In April, I was asked to give a short speech to a group of local students who participated in a science fair. I wasn’t sure what to say to them, until I saw a newscast the night before the fair. The story was some typically inaccurate fluff piece giving antiscience boneheads “equal time” with science, as if any ridiculous theory should have equal time against the truth. Continue reading “Phil Plait: Where the Sun Never Sets”
Seriously, scientists, what is WRONG with you?? How could you not tell us about THIS??
This video reveals how prayer actually changes four distinct areas of the human brain: the frontal lobe, the anterior cingulate, the parietal lobe, and the limbic system.
It also details how a specific amount of prayer time per day can help prevent memory loss, mental decline, and even dementia or Alzheimer’s.
Plus, it covers 47 scientifically proven benefits of prayer, including pain relief, reduced risk of death from heart attack or stroke, lessened anxiety or depression, improved immune function, and more.
All this time, I LAUGHED at people who prayed. And now I find out there is SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE, yes proven scientific evidence, that all those nice Christians are going to live longer, happier lives! While all us atheists will die cold and alone, with depleted anterior cingulates and seriously compromised limbic systems. And probably have Alzheimer’s too!
As you watch the video, bear in mind that it’s totally unbiased.
“I tell everyone, if they want to call it a modern-day miracle, this is a miracle,” said Regan, 59, and a Catholic. “I have friends who are atheists who have called me and said, ‘I am going back to church.’ “
I know some part of this is the simple desire to express boundless gratitude that a loved one survived. And another part is the ridiculous “drama” writing on the part of the reporter.
But after a while, it just gets tedious. Like the 20th time you’ve seen an “evil twin” episode on a TV series. Or the 10th “hot young vampire” movie. Continue reading “Doctors Work Tirelessly, Then God Performs Breathtaking Miracle”
Reporter Alyssa Newcomb penned a deeply embarrassing bit of silliness at ABCNews.com yesterday.
First American Indian on Track Toward Sainthood
Jake Finkbonner was near death for months with a flesh eating bacteria, but made a miraculous recovery that the Vatican credited to The Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, marking the second miracle for the 17th century Mohawk-Algonquin woman and clearing the way for her to become the first American-Indian saint.
Pope Benedict XVI signed a decree Monday approving the miracle attribute to the intercession of the woman, and she could be canonized as soon as February. The Vatican said it believes that the prayers Finkbonner’s family directed to Tekakwitha were responsible for bringing the boy back from the brink of death. Continue reading “Indian, Martyr, Healer, Saint”
From an email:
Dear Mr Hank Fox,
To promote skepticism/critical thinking I wrote some questions for the Christian believer. Mefiante from South African Skeptics made a good translation. She is now working at the last part. The most sophisticated questions. Are you able to put the link to these questions at your blog?
Thank you very much,
Piet – Rotterdam – Netherlands Continue reading “Tough Questions for Believers”
