religion

I just finished Atheists: A Groundbreaking Study of America's Nonbelievers, by Bruce Hunsberger and Bob Altemeyer, both Canadian professors of psychology. (Hunsberger is now deceased.) According to the authors, who searched the existing literature, this book reports the findings of one of the first social scientific studies of atheists in history.

Here's a letter-to-the-editor that will be printed in my local paper. Permission hereby granted to use any part or all of it in letters to your hometown papers.

Reverend Jeremiah Wright said some horrible things about America. He is evil. Forget about the good he has done in his life. He is evil. I saw it on CNN.

How many words has Barack Obama spoken during this campaign? Hundreds of thousands? Yet we obsess over 25 words that he recently uttered about Americans’ bitterness with the way their government has let them down. And we act as if his entire essence is determined by these 25 words alone.

Here's Obama’s magnificent response to Clinton and McCain attacking him on his "people are bitter" comment:

Let's face it: there's way too much flaming that goes on in internet forums and in local newspapers over Reverend Wright's sermons.

It generates a lot of heat, but no light.

So how about if we back up a little and try to do what Barack has asked us to do: sit down and have a quiet conversation and try to understand one another?

Sponsored by Devout Democrats, this local symposium features keynote Speakers Rev. Barry Lynn and US Representative David Price; and a moderated board discussion.

Location: The Olin T. Binkley Memorial Baptist Church is adjacent to University Mall at the intersection of Willow Dr and US 15/501. The address is 1712 Willow Drive, Chapel Hill.

Purpose: This program will equip and encourage North Carolinians to respond effectively when religious issues arise in the political arena. We need to be articulate both about the separation of church and state, and about our own motivating values. The PAC, Devout Democrats offers North Carolinians a unique look into the current realities of politics and religion.

Put the CHRIST back in CHRISTMAS!
JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON!
It's not a Holiday Tree, it's a CHRISTMAS TREE!

Sad, isn't it?

Crossposted from Left Toon Lane, Bilerico Project & My Left Wing


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One of my favorite thinkers and writers in the world is Edward O. Wilson. Today I came across this very well-crafted column about the inherent conflicts between religion and science. I thought you might enjoy it.

IT IS surpassingly strange that half of Americans recently polled (2004) not only do not believe in evolution by natural selection but do not believe in evolution at all. Americans are certainly capable of belief, and with rock-like conviction if it originates in religious dogma. In evidence is the 60 per cent that accept the prophecies of the Bible's Book of Revelation as truth, and in yet more evidence is the weight that faith-based positions hold in political life. Most of the religious right opposes the teaching of evolution in public schools, either by an outright ban on the subject or, at the least, by insisting that it be treated as "only a theory" rather than a "fact".