http://www.freerepublic.com/tag/atheism/ en-us Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:48:03 GMT Focus Forum 15 http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2047829/posts Stumbling to my feet amidst this show of inspiration, Crumbling to the earth in chunks of ebony; sublime! Wonder fills my senses with divine anticipation… Peeking through the twilight; blankets laced with starry night, ______________________________________________________ Like an orange flower blooming out of just a notion, Gentle beams of sunlight soon initiate the stream, Before you know it, floods of light come streaming like an ocean The sea lay there before me basking in its radiant beam ______________________________________________________ What do I owe this pleasure? To the gods of here or there? Or to a Heavenly Father who created all we see,... fracturedrepublic.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2047829/posts#comment Sat, 19 Jul 2008 01:48:03 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044740/posts Religion – including Christianity and Judaism – is "violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism, tribalism, and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children." At least that's according to the No. 1 New York Times bestseller "God is Not Great: Why Religion Poisons Everything" by journalist Christopher Hitchens. In the news business, we often cite a nation's current top-selling books – for example, the popularity of anti-Semitic titles in Arab countries – as evidence of the mindset of the people. Well, in the United States of America right now, some of the... worldnetdaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044740/posts#comment Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:56:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044739/posts LAS VEGAS – It was billed in jest as a Friday Night Fight in the city known for epic bouts, but a libertarian conference's headliner debate last night featuring "God is not Great" author Christopher Hitchens offered much more, reflecting the growing visibility and muscle of a new breed of atheists spreading their message with evangelical fervor. The debate was one of eight at this year's FreedomFest, which describes itself as the tradeshow for liberty and the world's largest gathering of free minds. With his trademark wicked wit, the British-born journalist Hitchens, now an American citizen, took on political writer... worldnetdaily.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2044739/posts#comment Sun, 13 Jul 2008 11:50:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043550/posts Neither faith nor science can answer the most important questions. So why are believers and atheists still bickering? I went to a debate recently in New York between a rabbi and the famous polemicist Christopher Hitchens, on the question "Does God exist?" Hitchens was called on to speak first, and he won the debate with his first two sentences: "I don't know why I have to speak first. He has the burden of proof." The mostly secular ... audience heartily applauded this sally, which was based on the premise -- never challenged by the rabbi -- that science provides an... The American, A Magazine of Ideas http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2043550/posts#comment Thu, 10 Jul 2008 18:31:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2043419/posts Paul Zachary Myers, a professor at the University of Minnesota Morris, has pledged to desecrate the Eucharist. He is responding to what happened recently at the University of Central Florida when a student walked out of Mass with the Host, holding it hostage for several days. Myers was angry at the Catholic League for criticizing the student. His post can be accessed from his faculty page on the university’s website. Here is an excerpt of his July 8 post, “It’s a Frackin’ Cracker!”: “Can anyone out there score me some consecrated communion wafers?” Myers continued by saying, “if any of... Catholic League http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2043419/posts#comment Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:28:58 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2042024/posts This item is available on the Apologetics Press Web site at: http://www.apologeticspress.org/articles/3740 - it was originally published in Reason & Revelation, 28[7]:49-55 AP Content :: Reason & Revelation The Bitter Fruits of Atheism [Part I]by Kyle Butt, M.A. [EDITOR’S NOTE: For several decades now, evolution has received preeminent exposure throughout American culture via public schools, natural history and science museums, television programming, national parks guide booklets, popular magazines, children’s toys and clothing, movies and cinema, and the list goes on. What have been the results of such widespread, unilateral propaganda? Has the teaching of evolution exerted a positive influence... Apologetics Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2042024/posts#comment Mon, 7 Jul 2008 20:55:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2041485/posts A University of Central Florida student, upset religious groups hold church services on public campuses, is holding hostage the Eucharist, an object so sacred to Catholics they call it the Body of Christ. Church officials say UCF Student Senator Webster Cook was disruptive and disrespectful when he attended Mass held on campus Sunday June 29. It was during that Mass where Cook admits he obtained the Eucharist.... A church leader was watching, confronted Cook and tried to recover the sacred bread. Cook said she crossed the line and that's why he brought it home with him. "She came up behind... WFTV.com http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2041485/posts#comment Sun, 6 Jul 2008 16:43:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2039641/posts Pope John XXIII believed Padre Pio, the hugely popular Capuchin monk who was canonised in 2002, was a fraud who had "incorrect" relations with women and whose soul was in danger.... Sergio Luzzatto...has also found documents in the Vatican archives suggesting that Padre Pio may have faked his stigmata, the marks of the wounds of Christ, with acid. Vatican officials say both allegations are already well known.... Followers of Padre Pio believe he exuded "the odour of sanctity", had the gift of bilocation (being in two places at once), healed the sick and could prophesy the future. TimesOnine http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2039641/posts#comment Wed, 2 Jul 2008 10:28:00 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2032973/posts As many readers know, I recently wrote a column titled “Logical Proof of the Existence of a Divine Creator, Why Atheism is Not Logically Sound,” which explored the logical and philosophical case for the Divine. As I painstakingly pointed out in the column, all of the arguments hold true whether one believes in evolution or not. Nonetheless, many chose to attack the column from a scientific standpoint, not by bringing specific examples, but because of the lack thereof. While they entirely missed the meaning of the column, I would still like to address their issues. Canada Free Press http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2032973/posts#comment Wed, 18 Jun 2008 20:51:50 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030755/posts A psychology researcher has controversially claimed that stupidity is causally linked to how likely people are to believe in God. University of Ulster professor Richard Lynn will draw the conclusion in new research due to be published in the journal Intelligence, the Times Higher Education Supplement reports. Lynn and his two co-authors argue that average IQ is an excellent predictor of what proportion of the population are true believers, across 137 countries. They also cite surveys of the US Academy of Sciences and UK Royal Academy showing single-digit rates of religious belief among academics. That professional skeptics don't believe in... The Register UK http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2030755/posts#comment Fri, 13 Jun 2008 20:38:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2029192/posts One of the beautiful aspects of self evident truths is that they can be proven on both the simplest and the most complex of levels. By contrast, to make an argument for what is in fact an illogical fallacy, one must use plenty of skill, sophistry and remain beholden to a dogmatic protection of what is really an illogical position. Yet even after a detailed case is made for the illogical side of the argument, it can instantly be deflated like a balloon with the simplest poke of clear logic. It can also be attacked piece by piece with even... CanadaFreePress http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2029192/posts#comment Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:31:56 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2027265/posts Can anyone tell me what they think of this? (see debate in comments section from post 36 on, see liberal spin before that) http://atheism.about.com/b/2008/05/26/yomin-postelnik-why-some-liberals-unresponsive-to-falsehoods-illogic.htm http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2027265/posts#comment Fri, 6 Jun 2008 19:55:11 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2027076/posts "Don't believe in God?" a bright blue billboard with images of puffy white clouds asks. "You are not alone."The 20-by-60-foot sign alongside I-95 was designed by a group of area atheists as an invitation to join the Greater Philadelphia Coalition of Reason, or PhillyCoR, the Philadelphia Inquirer reports."If you don't ... [h]undreds of thousands of your neighbors in the Delaware Valley feel the same as you do," the organization's website declares.Steve Rade, president of Wireless Accessories, Inc., gave the $22,500 to fund the billboard May 1, and he plans to keep it there until the end of August."Our mission is... WND http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2027076/posts#comment Fri, 6 Jun 2008 15:01:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026673/posts VIRGINIA - The objective of a new video game is to stop the spread of Christianity and Islam by brutally killing biblical prophets, says the game’s atheist creator. A graduate student at the University of Virginia created the game --which has not yet been released-- in order to give a voice to atheists, according to WSLS Television News. The grad-student wishes to remain anonymous for “fear of his safety.” His request is understandable --considering at one point in his game players win by beheading the Islamic Prophet Muhammad. Nearly a year ago, an even less bold stunt resulted in death... KUTV.COM http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2026673/posts#comment Thu, 5 Jun 2008 20:52:05 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025667/posts Atheists like to promote the false argument that religion has killed more innocent people than any other force in the history of mankind. Is that really true about those people professing the Christian religion? Actually, according to Vox Day in THE IRRATIONAL ATHEIST, atheist regimes in the 20th Century alone killed and murdered about 153.3 million people for philosophical, political and economic reasons, while in 2,000 years people mis-representing the Christian faith killed and murdered only about 1.65 million, or 93 times less the number of people in 20 centuries compared to only one century!!! Democide* Statistics, Christianity vs. Atheism... Movieguide® http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2025667/posts#comment Wed, 4 Jun 2008 04:22:29 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2023337/posts CHICAGO (AP) - A federal judge on Thursday barred school districts statewide from holding the daily moment of silence suitable for prayer that is required under state law. U.S. District Judge Robert W. Gettleman said he had given school districts time to object to his March 28 preliminary injunction on enforcement of the moment of silence law but received no objections. He therefore extended to the entire state the preliminary injunction originally designed to apply only to suburban Buffalo Grove District 214. The law passed by the Illinois General Assembly says every school district in the state must hold a... Att.Net US News http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2023337/posts#comment Fri, 30 May 2008 02:29:53 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2024386/posts Trailer Because it's billed as a more personal project for Mark Pellington after a string of interesting, idiosyncratic thrillers ("Arlington Road," "The Mothman Prophecies"), "Henry Poole Is Here" is all the more disappointing. Pic's tendency to lecture on the power of faith and religion and on the demerits of science seems to assume an almost childlike audience that needs to be spoon-fed Pablum. This tale of a single man whose medical death sentence is reversed in part by a neighborhood of believers won't advance the profile of the always-likable Luke Wilson, and Christian moviegoers will have to show up in... Variety http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2024386/posts#comment Sun, 1 Jun 2008 15:00:08 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2021037/posts Unbelievers think that skepticism is their special virtue, the key virtue believers lack. Bolstered by bestselling authors, they see the skeptical and scientific mind as muscular thinking, which the believer has failed to develop. He could bulk up if he wished to, by thinking like a scientist, and wind up at the “agnosticism” of a Dawkins or the atheism of a Dennett—but that is just what he doesn’t want, so at every threat to his commitments he shuns science. That story is almost exactly the opposite of the truth. Men of Truth The story is right about virtue: The smoothly... Touchstone http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2021037/posts#comment Sun, 25 May 2008 15:31:38 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020814/posts Church attendance in Britain is declining so fast that the number of regular churchgoers will be fewer than those attending mosques within a generation, research published today suggests. The fall - from the four million people who attend church at least once a month today - means that the Church of England, Catholicism and other denominations will become financially unviable. A lack of funds from the collection plate to support the Christian infrastructure, including church upkeep and ministers’ pay and pensions, will force church closures as ageing congregations die. In contrast, the number of actively religious Muslims will have increased... The Times of London http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2020814/posts#comment Sat, 24 May 2008 20:03:02 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2020846/posts It is a common myth of our day, not surprisingly propagated by atheists, that religious believers are undereducated folk who have abandoned the use of reason in favor of blind faith. So in his book Letter to a Christian Nation, Sam Harris writes that because of the religious belief of its citizens, the United States appears to the rest of the world "like a lumbering, bellicose, dim-witted giant." It is not surprising, in fact, that two of the most prominent neo-atheistic authors, Richard Dawkins and Christopher Hitchens, are British, representing an island known in our day for its religious indifference.... CERC http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2020846/posts#comment Sat, 24 May 2008 21:17:04 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019109/posts Hollywood has long been a purveyor of cultural poison, and a magnet for individuals to whom shame is a foreign concept. The trap of letting the facts get in the way of the weaving of a yarn that serves their ends is one they have always dodged quite artfully, but never has the disconnect between image and reality been as acute as in one of their latest efforts, Kinsey. The movie is based on the life and work of Alfred Kinsey, who wrote two volumes on human sexuality in the late 1940s and early1950s: Sexual behavior in the Human Male... American Thinker http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2019109/posts#comment Wed, 21 May 2008 13:40:23 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2018619/posts “The ‘atheist nation’ of China mourns for their dead and undertakes a huge humanitarian effort which proves their system of shame and honor is vastly superior to the Christian system of dogmatic and silly superstitions. Christians absolutely hate it when other people show more concern for their fellow humans than the Christians do. Christians only pretend to love their fellow humans and do so only because they think they have to, not because they actually want to. Once again atheism trumps Christianity as a much more viable and sane worldview. This is why Christianity is a dead religion that... American Vision http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/2018619/posts#comment Tue, 20 May 2008 14:34:35 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016880/posts Maybe the reason the misperception persists that there are no atheists in foxholes is that nonbelievers must either shut up about their views or be hounded out of the military. Just ask Army Spc. Jeremy Hall, who is making a splash in the news because of the way his atheism was attacked by superiors and fellow soldiers while he was risking his life in service to his country. Hall, 23, served two combat tours in Iraq, winning the Combat Action Badge. But he's now stationed at Fort Riley, Kan., having been returned stateside early because the Army couldn't ensure his... St. Petersburg Times http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016880/posts#comment Fri, 16 May 2008 14:55:57 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016653/posts Peter Singer is a calm, lucid and able debater, and our debate at Biola University in Los Angeles on April 25 was lively and hard-fought. Not for nothing is Singer considered a world-class philosopher and advocate. To watch the debate go to dineshdsouza.com and click on my AOL blog. Singer praised me for not simply making assertions of faith or hurling Bible passages at him but rather for using reason and argument to make my case . And I complimented Singer for stepping, so to speak, into the lion's den. (Biola actually stands for Bible Institute of Los Angeles.) Unlike... Townhall http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2016653/posts#comment Fri, 16 May 2008 02:13:06 GMT http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2011912/posts New film takes Da Vinci Code conspiracy theories and shaky evidence to new heightsJoseph Brean, National PostWhen Ben Hammott discovered the apparent tomb of a Knight Templar at the bottom of a hole in a cave in the countryside of southern France, he thought he had discovered the final resting place of Mary Magdalene, and so he did what any amateur treasure hunter in this age of the Da Vinci Code would have done. He returned with a Hollywood director, lowered a pole into the tomb with "some sticky stuff on the end," removed the shroud from the body, plucked... National Post http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2011912/posts#comment Tue, 6 May 2008 14:01:23 GMT