Atheism in the News
Atheist Group Files Lawsuit Against Prayer at Presidential Inauguration
-Fox News December 30, 2008
The head of an atheist group told FOX News Radio on Tuesday that by allowing a prayer at President-elect Obama's inauguration, the government is subjecting atheists and agonostics to someone else's religious beliefs.
Merry Christmas! "There's probably no God."
-SF Gate December 25, 2008
"Recently, in Kansas City, members of the congregation at the Praise Chapel Christian Fellowship church informed their pastor they intended to dress up like Jesus Christ - as the holy-historical personage is often depicted in artists' images - in order to offer the public "a hard-to-miss reminder of the [Christmas] holiday's religious roots."
More atheist are sharing their views
-Courier-Journal September 24, 2008
"When she first logged onto an atheist Web site five years ago, Mikel Childers' hands were shaking. Since she was a teen, she had harbored growing doubts about the conservative Christian faith, "but I was so programmed against the word atheist," she said. When she eventually decided she was one, a "feeling of almost euphoria" descended upon her, said Childers, now 28."
Midwest Voices: Let us bow our heads in thanks for atheists
-Kansas City Star February 22, 2008
"The re-awakening of atheism in America is going to make for some very interesting times. Leaders of the Christian Right have spent years trying to cast themselves as the voiceless victims in a secular society, but the scapegoating is over."
Americans Change Faiths at Rising Rate, Report Finds
-The New York Times February 25, 2008
"More than a quarter of adult Americans have left the faith of their childhood to join another religion or no religion, according to a new survey of religious affiliation by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life."
My Arguement With God - How I went from a Jesus-loving Christian to a fun-loving infidel... in one afternoon - By Ricky Gervais
-Best Life Magazine
"I loved Jesus. He was my hero. More than pop stars. More than God. God was by definition omnipotent and perfect. Jesus was a man. He had to work at it."
Ken Miller on Intelligent Design
Ken Miller's talk on Intelligent Design at Case Western University. Ken Miller basically rips Intelligent Design apart in a 2 hour long exposé of the claims of intelligent design and the tactics that creationists employ to get it shoehorned into the American school system.
Judgement Day: Intelligent Design on Trial
- PBS Nova
Science is "Exhibit A" in a landmark trial on the teaching of evolution. Watch the entire two-hour Nova program in either Window Media or Quicktime.
Culture: Athiesm For Kids - by Pete Vere
-The Washington Times October 25, 2007
"J.K. Rowling sparked headlines this week by declaring that a major character in her Harry Potter book series is homosexual. Christian critics, meanwhile, are paying more attention to Britain's second-most-popular children's author. His name is Philip Pullman, whose best-known work is the "His Dark Materials" trilogy, which has won critical acclaim, but Mr. Pullman's critics charge that the books undermine the Christian faith and promote atheism."
Atheists don't speak with just one voice - by Nica Lalli
- USA Today (Sam Harris.org) October 19, 2007
"I have a question for the Christians out there: If you could pick one living person to be the face of the entire Christian faith, who would that person be? Even if you could pick three, or even five people, it would still be a challenge. I imagine it would be hard to figure out whether you wanted to pick those Christians who think most like you, or if you would pick people who could better represent the many colors of Christianity, the subtle differences and big-picture similarities."
Keeping the Faith - The US may be one of the most religious countries in the West but is it undergoing a period of doubt.
- BBC News October 19, 2007
" A few days ago, I attended a memorial service for a friend who died far too young, of throat cancer. The service was held at a history museum, and it was packed - standing room only."
Apostle for Atheism Speaks His Mind - By Peter Graff
-Reuters UK October 14, 2007
"Success has not made Richard Dawkins any easier to interview. The prickly Oxford biologist, whose bestselling atheist manifesto "The God Delusion" has become a global publishing phenomenon, answers the first question with a question. 'Why do you think a book by a British scientist on atheism has become so popular?' asks this reporter, in what is intended as a softball question to open a chat.
'I don't know why. Maybe it's a well written book. Did you consider that possibility?'
Ouch. ..."
Air America Launches Nationwide Atheist Program
-CNSNews.com October 08, 2007
"The liberal talk radio network Air America announced this week it will launch a nationwide show focusing on atheism. The first national show will feature Christopher Hitchens, author of "God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything."
The Positive Side of Atheism - By David Dubay
-Portland Press Herald October 04, 2007
"Why have atheists recently become so vocal?
Some say it's the last gasp of a dying movement. Yet, the City University of New York found that secular Americans increased from 8 percent of the population in 1990 to 14 percent in 2001. Newsweek found that around 6 percent of Americans are atheists.
The connection between 9/11 and Islamic fundamentalism alarmed many atheists, as does the prominence of Christian fundamentalists within the Bush administration and Congress. Indeed, Sam Harris began writing his book, "The End of Faith," which began the latest round of atheist publications, on Sept. 12, 2001. "
The Problem with Atheism - By Sam Harris
-On Faith / Washington Post September 28, 2007
"To begin, I’d like to take a moment to acknowledge just how strange it is that a meeting like this is even necessary. The year is 2007, and we have all taken time out of our busy lives, and many of us have traveled considerable distance, so that we can strategize about how best to live in a world in which most people believe in an imaginary God. America is now a nation of 300 million people, wielding more influence than any people in human history, and yet this influence is being steadily corrupted, and is surely waning, because 240 million of these people apparently believe that Jesus will return someday and orchestrate the end of the world with his magic powers."
Rational Atheism: An open letter to Messrs, Dawkins, Dennett, Harris and Hitchens - By Michael Shermer
-Scientific American September 2007
"Since the turn of the millennium, a new militancy has arisen among religious skeptics in response to three threats to science and freedom: (1) attacks against evolution education and stem cell research; (2) breaks in the barrier separating church and state leading to political preferences for some faiths over others; and (3) fundamentalist terrorism here and abroad."