I’ve been planning a set of posts on atheism and morality for some time now, but kept kicking the can down the road because I’ve had easier things to write about. I’m still busier than a one-legged woman in an arse-kicking competition, but it’s time to open me gob on the whole subject. Consider this …
Category Archive: religion
Mar 20 2011
Two Posts on Religion Everyone Should Read
Back before I got so completely immersed in Doctor Who and the subsequent explosions of ideas that I haven’t had time for much else, I was spending quite a lot of time catching up on every post ever written by Eric MacDonald. His blog, Choice in Dying, is one I can’t recommend highly enough for …
Mar 06 2011
The Limits of Tolerance
Johann Hari asks a very good question: “Can we talk about Muslim homophobia now? (h/t)” Here’s a few portents from the East End that we have chosen to ignore. In May 2008, a 15 year old Muslim girl tells her teacher she thinks she might be gay, and the Muslim teacher in a state-funded comprehensive …
Feb 27 2011
Tell Me Again that Science and Religion are Compatible
But before you do, consider this (h/t): The official Vatican position on evolution tilts towards intelligent design. Its point man on the subject, Cardinal Schönborn, says: “Scientific theories that try to explain away the appearance of design as the result of ‘chance and necessity’ are not scientific at all, but, as John Paul put it, …
Jan 30 2011
I Don’t Get It. I Don’t Understand.
Confession: I was, for a few brief months in my teens, a Bible-thumper. So it may seem odd now that I can’t get myself into the minds of believers. I’d never been a religious kid, not particularly. I had this nebulous idea that God existed and that he was good. I prayed when things were …
Jan 20 2011
So You Know Exactly How God Did It, Then?
You know, sometimes it seems like USA has come to stand for “United States of Appalling Ignorance.” A lot of people in this country need to read an improving book. And I’m not talking about the Bible. That one only seems to improve people’s ability to be smug about their appalling ignorance.MTHellfire found this bit …
Dec 13 2010
Handy Reference Guide to Biblical Rape Laws
For those who like to take their religion literally, here’s an easy-to-use reference guide: Lessee… had we been following those guidelines, I do believe I would’ve been married. Believe me when I say that given the choice between that and stoning, I would have been handing out rocks. This is one of the reasons I …
Oct 13 2010
As For Being Shrill, Strident, Etc.
Once again, the “tone” argument’s making the rounds (does it ever cease? It circles like a dog attempting to capture its own fugitive tail). Ophelia Benson’s already pointed out a few of the more annoying examples. And she led me to this delightful bit by Jason Rosenhouse, which comes just in time, because a dear …
Sep 12 2010
Sunday Read: So An Atheist and a Chaplain Walk Onto a Battlefield…
You can’t miss this. Truly cannot. Go. Read. And marvel at the power of faith to make dangerous ridiculous fucking morons out of some people. I’m going to inflict it on my Christian best friend, because I do so love hearing him howl at people who put the blind in blind faith. Perhaps someday he’ll …
Sep 12 2010
In Which I Tell You About That Time I Read the Koran
George has this habit of making me think. Last night, he voiced every thought I wish I had the eloquence to voice on the whole Koran-burning-pastor kerfluffle. If you haven’t read it, go now and do so. Sums it up rather wonderfully. And then, there’s his promised response, Protesting Xenophobic Ignorance. Yes! That’s how …
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