Number of people in the world: 6,602,224,175. Number of people who have seen or heard the “JESUS” film: 6,224,795,000. Number of people who see the movie more than once? Not mentioned in the stats. (via Balance and Paradox) [tags]atheist, atheism, Christian, Jesus film project[/tags] Read more
It took me an entire Sunday, but I finished the book. Good stuff. Here’s what I learned from the book and from a Harry Potter release party: When I sold my soul, I should have done it in 7 separate parts. Even one of the largest Potter Parties in the country can be ruined by Christian fundies on the street screaming to everyone that they’re going to hell. Here’s one guy… though there were several more in his vicinity: Other… Read more
The new Carnival of the Godless is at Aardvarchaeology. Go check it out! The next CotG is at Atheist Revolution in two weeks. Submit your entries here! … The Humanist Symposium can be found this week at The Green Atheist. The next HS is at A Load of Bright in three weeks. Submit your entries here! [tags]atheist, atheism, Carnival of the Godless, Aardvarchaeology, Atheist Revolution, Humanist Symposium, The Green Atheist, A Load of Bright[/tags] Read more
A sad loss for many, many people. Harvard’s Humanist Chaplain Greg Epstein wrote up a nice piece about him (via email), so I’ll just reprint it here: Dear friends, It is with profound sadness that I inform you of the death of one of the greatest Humanist leaders of the 20th Century, my beloved friend and teacher Rabbi Sherwin T. Wine, the 2003 American Humanist of the Year. Rabbi Wine and his longtime partner, Richard McMains, were vactioning in Morocco…. Read more
In a few hours, I’ll be heading to downtown Naperville, IL for “The Party that shall not be named.” And then I’m taking a hiatus from the world (Minus one event) until I’m done with the new Harry Potter book. In the meantime, here’s a project. There are certain questions that atheists get asked all the time. If you search online, the answers we give are often long-winded when they don’t have to be. Yes, there are some questions that… Read more
This is from The Seeker’s column in the Chicago Tribune: Is Harry Potter a Christ figure? Or does author J.K. Rowling simply employ a common literary technique that novelists use to describe their heroes by giving them Christ-like qualities? As Potter fans await the release of the seventh and final installment at 12:01 a.m. Saturday, it’s a question worth considering. Although Rowling’s novels never explicitly mention religion, they do seem to follow in the traditions of C. S. Lewis in… Read more
Ok, under two days. Woo! The Saturday-at-midnight launch date is upsetting Israeli lawmakers. Because Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath and, dammit, you’re supposed to observe it. With Israelis already clamoring for Deathly Hallows, many bookstores are planning to launch the book on time anyway. That has drawn fire from Orthodox Jewish lawmakers, including Industry and Trade Minister Eli Yishai, who threatened to fine any store that opens Saturday. “Israeli law forbids businesses to force their employees to work on the… Read more
I missed this one last Friday. Larry King had an episode about Roswell, New Mexico and the evidence (or lack thereof) that a UFO crashed there. Michael Shermer, publisher of Skeptic magazine, was one of Larry King’s guests. Another guest was Dr. Jesse Marcel, Jr., who “was shown UFO debris by his father, Major Jesse Marcel.” Marcel is also the author of The Roswell Legacy. Best part of the transcript: KING: Are you open to the possibility, Michael? SHERMER: Of… Read more
In the next week, I’ll be participating in two church events that I think are pretty noteworthy. On Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m., I will be at the Midwest Emergent Gathering conference. Pastor Mike Clawson will be interviewing me on stage and we’ll be discussing a variety of topics including the good and bad things churches do, how atheists/Christians can work together for common goals, and many others. Helen Mildenhall will also be at the conference, leading a breakout session… Read more
A thread at the Internet Infidels Discussion Board had people submitting their favorite atheist slogans/quotations/catch-phrases. Some of my favorite are below: Evolve: The other fish doesn’t have a leg to stand on The hard work of one does more than the prayers of millions Athiesm is myth-understood If Jesus loves me, why doesn’t he call? Jesus saves but smart people invest I’ve never seen faith move mountains, but I’ve seen what it can do to skyscrapers It’s been 2000 years…. Read more
