Well, this is sad. There also seems to be an issue over where Billy Graham and his wife will be buried. The Washington Post reported that Ned Graham opposed burying his parents at the library. He and other members of the family preferred a burial site at The Cove, a Bible training center near the Grahams’ mountain home. The paper said evangelist Franklin Graham, who has taken over leadership of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, wanted his parents’ graves to… Read more
Chuck Colson told a large group of Southern Baptists that enemies are afoot. Enemy 1: At one point, Colson said “Islam is a vicious, evil … ” and then before finishing the sentence, said, “Islamo-fascism is evil incarnate.” … Comments about Islam have generated controversy at past Southern Baptist meetings. In 2002, a former Southern Baptist Convention president, the Rev. Jerry Vines, called Muhammad, the Muslim prophet, a “demon-possessed pedophile.” What is with Baptists and the insanity over Islam? Enemy… Read more
This site’s now been up for exactly one year, and at the risk of sounding hokey, it’s like an extension of me now. It’s like the baby I didn’t really want to have, but I made a mistake and had one, and now that it’s growing up, I can’t imagine life without it. As you can tell, my metaphor-writing skills have also improved. So thanks to everyone who has commented, sent emails, or simply read the posts. Here’s to another… Read more
While I’m on the AU blog, here’s one more posting. A sadder one. Rob Boston tells the story: More than 40 years ago, Roy Torcaso was appointed a notary public in Maryland. When it came time for the swearing in, Torcaso refused to take the oath because it contained a reference to God. Torcaso, an atheist, said that would violate his freedom of conscience. Maryland officials pointed to their state’s Constitution, which said public officials had to declare a belief… Read more
Barry Lynn of Americans United for Separation of Church and State writes an eye-opening piece about a documentary called Wall of Separation that will be airing on PBS later this month. The movie is produced by Boulevard Pictures, which says this about our nation’s history: “…[W]hat would surprise most Americans is the discovery that this [understanding of separation of church and state] is not what the Founding Fathers of our country intended when they established our nation and wrote the… Read more
With all the brouhaha over Kentucky’s Creation Museum, let’s not forget that Canada has its own blight on intelligence. The Big Valley Creation Science Museum opened last Tuesday. But, unlike the Kentucky museum’s opening, no one really cared. It’s almost as if the museum’s owner wished there were protesters: Owner Harry Nibourg had braced for demonstrators — as was the case when a similar museum opened in the United States — when he opened what he claims is Canada’s first… Read more
In Australia, politicians make sense: A LABOR MP has described parliamentary prayers as an “archaic practice” and a waste of time, angering fellow politicians. Legislative Council backbencher Ian Hunter wrote a letter to The Advertiser after it was reported he was reading a book during prayers. “Of course, as an atheist, I don’t say prayers,” he said. “I see them as just one more example of an archaic practice which wastes the time of MPs. “However, I am a polite… Read more
Local papers sometimes have the most interesting articles. Karen Lancaster’s piece in the Chillicothe (Ohio) Gazette is proof of that. Karen, an atheist guest columnist, writes a brief letter to people who view atheists negatively. We are scientists, doctors, lawyers, teachers and students. We are mechanics, plumbers, waitresses and janitors. We are mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. We are aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, grandparents and grandchildren. We are best friends and we are sworn enemies. We are atheists, but… Read more
The latest Gallup poll on the subject sheds light on how politics and church attendance correlate with thoughts on evolution. As the Gallup report states: This suggests that when three Republican presidential candidates at a May debate stated they did not believe in evolution, they were generally in sync with the bulk of the rank-and-file Republicans whose nomination they are seeking to obtain. No surprise here, either. Many churches think that science can’t be compatible with faith. Though we need… Read more
Siamang shares some examples of people going to Christian places for money. This one in particular hit a nerve: We need you to visit five churches in the Toronto area during the month of June with our host Drew Marshall. In return for your time and opinions based on your non-churched experience, The Drew Marshall Show will pay you $100 per church and invite you to be our guest during our July 7th show to share your experience. No catch,… Read more
