At the Atheist Alliance International Convention, I had a chance to meet several prominent leaders and speakers in the atheist community. One of them was Daniel Dennett. Dennett is a Professor of Philosophy at Tufts University. He is responsible for helping bring the word “Bright” into the national lexicon because of a piece he wrote for the New York Times. He is also the author of the best-selling Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon and Darwin’s Dangerous Idea:… Read more
Recently, The New York Times ran an article on Ben Stein’s deceptive movie Expelled. The article focused on how the religious producers lied about their intentions when they interviewed prominent scientists. American Humanist Association director Roy Speckhardt has a response letter in today’s NYT: To the Editor: There’s a hidden question in “Scientists Feel Miscast in Film on Life’s Origin” (front page, Sept. 27). If one needs to believe in a god to be moral, why are we seeing yet… Read more
Sam Harris said that we should stop using the “atheist” label at the Atheist Alliance International convention. Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists, has a slightly different opinion. In the recent Humanist Network News, she writes this: … We give ourselves a name because we are proud of who we are. A group needs to be identified in some way. And we want to be a “group.” We aren’t just against something. We are something. Is the American Cancer Society… Read more
Google does answer all of my questions… It remembers all my searches. And like many Christian churches, it sells advertising. The parallels are endless, I tell you. So go worship at The Church of Google. And while you’re at it, read the hate mail section. (Thanks to Max for the link!) [tags]atheist, atheism, Church, Jesus[/tags] Read more
Last year, Angel R. Llavona went to church and was unhappy with the sermon. So he called up the pastor, Rev. Luis Alfredo Rios, and left a message: “I attended Mass on Sunday and I have seen poor homilies, but yesterday broke all records.” The pastor, unable to take criticism, played that message for the congregation. He then said the following: “[Llavona] is the person in charge of religious education here last year. That’s why it is no surprise to… Read more
I had mentioned that Sam Harris’ talk at the Atheist Alliance International convention had a divided response. Some people really appreciated it; others didn’t like it at all. You can now read an edited transcript of his speech here. Given the absence of evidence for God, and the stupidity and suffering that still thrives under the mantle of religion, declaring oneself an “atheist” would seem the only appropriate response. And it is the stance that many of us have proudly… Read more
As of this weekend, Freethought Radio will be airing on Air America! Christopher Hitchens will be the guest on their national debut. You can look for air times and local stations here. In most places, the show will air on Saturday from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. (ET). How exciting that a radio show for/about/by atheists will be carried nationally! It’s one more step toward becoming mainstream. Congratulations to the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor for… Read more
Last week, I asked this question: What would you name a Christian/Atheist podcast? Here are the Top 5 answers (with submitters)! 5| To Question and To Kneel (A riff on The Captain and Tennille) (Joe M) 4| Real & Grace (A riff on Will & Grace) (Jedipunk) 3| Heretical Sabbatical (Josh Charles) 2| Atheist and A Theist (Mercredi) 1| Abbott and Christello (Joe K.) Congratulations to the winners! The top three will be receiving specially-made Friendly Atheist wristbands (in the… Read more
Who knew that cavemen were smarter than Sherri Shepherd? See the video here. Gotta love the open mockery of her idiotic beliefs. (via Memoirs of a Skepchick) [tags]atheist, atheism, GEICO, The View[/tags] Read more
Ashley had a chance to ask Richard Dawkins a question at the Atheist Alliance International convention. He was signing her copy of The Selfish Gene at the time. It’s slightly hard to understand in the video below, but here is what she says to him: You mentioned that the male species tries to spread their genes to as many people as possible. I was wondering why you haven’t started to do that. Because we could use more little Dawkins. His… Read more
