This is the second part of a discussion about the rhetoric I use on this blog and the dangers of linking identity to ideology. As I head out to the Reason Rally this morning, I wanted to address the second part of Brian Green’s comment: I suppose my real concern is a theory-practice one again, as usual. As you gain practical commitment to atheist causes, the bond strengthens. Theory follows practice. Habit deepens. When you become president of the American... Read more
— 1 — The Reason Rally is tomorrow, and I still need some help picking out a sign. I’m only set on one so far which would read “Bayesian Conspirator” with Bayes Theorem printed above or below. My goal is to only carry value-added signs (i.e. signs that no one else is likely to wave), and I’d prefer to promote specific things for other atheists to do or think, instead of knocking religion generically. Suggestions welcome! — 2 — Oh,... Read more
Today is the LAST day to vote in the About.com Atheism Awards. I’m one of five nominees for Best Atheist Blog. More details here. After reading my post about being visible as an atheist (and what comes next), Brian Green from The Moral Minefield was dismayed. He wrote (in two comments, which I’ve condensed): “My goal is for everyone to be atheists.” I thought your goal was to find the truth. Statements like this make me wonder if I should question... Read more
Remember you can vote once per day for the About.com Atheism Awards. I’m one of five nominees for Best Atheist Blog. More details here. It’s A Week again. No, not Improper Capitalization of Indefinite Articles Week, but a call for quiet atheists to come out of the closet and change their facebook profile pictures to something like the image above, to remind the people in their lives that they know atheists and that we don’t eat babies. Just like last year,... Read more
Remember you can vote once per day for the About.com Atheism Awards. I’m one of five nominees for Best Atheist Blog. More details here. The Reason Rally is taking place in DC this coming weekend, so I’ve got to make my sign for the march during the week. And given that I’ve still got to do makeup tests for the midnight showing of The Hunger Games (I’m dressing up as a bloodied Tribute, and I’ve not used liquid latex and modeling... Read more
Remember you can vote once per day for the About.com Atheism Awards. I’m one of five nominees for Best Atheist Blog. More details here. Last year, Theatre J sold out its run of New Jerusalem: The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza, so if you’re in the DC area and I didn’t successfully drag you to the show this past Wednesday, you had best get your tickets soon. The play is inspired by the excommunication of Baruch Spinoza by his synagogue and... Read more
— 1 — This weekend, I’m going up to NYC to see my family, and we’re all seeing the B’way production of Newsies! I certainly hope you’re all familiar with the best Disney musical, which is based on the Newsboys Strike of 1899, so perhaps you’d all like to pause and sing along with me and a very young Christian Bale: The NYT did a nice piece about the genesis of the musical and it’s relation to the source material.... Read more
Remember you can vote once per day for the About.com Atheism Awards. I’m one of five nominees for Best Atheist Blog. More details here. I was talking about posthumous Mormon baptism in an interfaith discussion group (I don’t object to it, see here: “The Mormons Try for a Mitzvah“), and someone asked why many of us have a strong, knee-jerk objection to proxy baptism of the dead, but don’t see anything odd about baptizing children. In both cases, you’re inducting someone who cannot... Read more
Remember you can vote once per day for the About.com Atheism Awards. I’m one of five nominees for Best Atheist Blog. More details here. Today’s problematic definition of ‘faith’ comes from Loftus, himself, as he expands his description of faith as “an irrational leap over the probabilities.” While emailing a Christian friend, he offered the following definition: In my opinion faith is what fills in the gaps of the probabilities. If, say there is a 70 % probability something is the... Read more
Remember you can vote once per day for the About.com Atheism Awards. I’m one of five nominees for Best Atheist Blog. More details here. I really appreciate all the definitions of ‘faith’ you guys are discussing in my Two Questions for Christians post and the Loftus post that prompted it. I’m not sure which one I most agree with, but I’ve spotted two I definitely want to kibosh. First off, Sam Urfer offered: Faith is knowing by testimony rather than by... Read more
Unequally Yoked
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