Weekend Atheism and Religion Report (02/27)

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activist, ancient, apologists, atheist, bangladesh, belief, bible, bill, christian, conference, conservatives, coptic, daughters, death row, film, god, gop, iraq, ISIS, islamic state, jesus, landscape, mistakes, murder, museum, myths, offensive, presidents, reason, religious, right wing, theology, virgins, voddie baucham, white house, witch, women, worldview

Why We Must Offend Religion More

Our enduring deference to toxic ancient myths is what allows religion to survive.

American Atheist Blogger Hacked to Death in Bangladesh

A prominent American blogger of Bangladeshi origin has been hacked to death with machetes by unidentified assailants in Dhaka, after he allegedly received threats from Islamists.

The Handbook: The Second Big Mistake Apologists Make

The reason an argument’s basis is really important is that if an argument is built purely around what the arguer wants to be true rather than what actually is true, then the conclusions are less likely to reflect reality.

Beliefs & Reasoning – Differentiating Beliefs from Reasoning

The problem isn’t that people mistakenly assume that they are the same, but rather that people can assume that having “good” or “right” beliefs as ends in themselves, regardless of the reasoning process that produce them.

In a First, Atheist Activist Addresses Conservative Conference

CPAC has not only allowed American Atheists an information booth at its Washington, D.C., meeting, it permitted American Atheist board member Jamila Bey a main stage address.

Myth: Atheism is a Crutch, Opiate of the Egotistical, Prepackaged Worldview

Is the absence of belief in elves a crutch? Is disbelief in fairies a crutch? Christians don’t believe in Zeus or Odin, but are those crutches?

Is This Atheism?

Dale Tuggy posted not that long ago on the late Marcus Borg’s view of God, declaring it essentially a form of atheism. This is a very old accusation.

The Religious States of America, in 22 Maps

Last year, for the first time ever, Protestants lost their majority status in an annual survey conducted by the Public Religion Research Institute.

Voddie Baucham, Daughters, and “Virgin Brides”

Last summer, Michael Farris denounced patriarchy. Or, so he claimed. Among those who homeschool for religious reasons, there is a subculture sometimes called the “patriarchy movement.”

9 Facts On The Shifting American Religious Landscape

In 2007, Pew Research found the religiously unaffiliated to be the second-largest religious group in the country, at 16 percent of the population.

Season of the Witch: Why Young Women Are Flocking to the Ancient Craft

Women in the US have been harnessing its power for decades as a ‘spiritual but not religious’ way to express feminist ambitions.

D.C. Bible Museum Will Be Immersive Experience, Organizers Say

In Washington, D.C., construction is underway on the Museum of the Bible, an eight-story, $400 million enterprise funded by Hobby Lobby President Steve Green.

There Is No Such Thing As A Christian

Let’s be honest, there is no such thing as a “true” Christian. It’s common to observe Christians advertising the virtues of their faith and how they live their lives to honor and praise their God.

Making Christianity Our National Religion Would Be Terrible for Christianity

A 57 percent majority of Republicans surveyed agreed that Christianity should, in fact, be established as the United States’ national religion.

Road-Tripping With Jesus? 6 Batsh*t Crazy Right-Wing GOP State Bills

These states are pushing the boundaries of constitutional law and common sense.

Los Angeles Jewish Cemetery Sued for Dumping Bodies — Again

Several dozen relatives of people buried at Eden Memorial Park Cemetery filed a complaint Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court alleging mass disturbances of their loved ones’ graves.

Jesus and American Sniper

In the United States, conservative evangelicalism has become so tightly bound with traditions of patriotism and national pride that it can be difficult to separate the two.

Theological Purity Tests Will Ruin Presidents and the Presidency

Conservative religious elites and the public increasingly have hounded, judged and derided President Obama over his Christian bona fides, and the ways his private Christian faith finds expression in his public and political life.

Why Do Kids Desert the West to Fight with ISIS?

One of the most alarming things about the Islamic State and similar groups is their appeal to young Muslims who have grown up in the West.

Coptic Christian Protest Urges White House Action Against Islamic State

About 50 demonstrators, who marched slowly from the White House to Capitol Hill under police escort, demanded that U.S officials take more aggressive action against the Islamic State and other radical Islamist groups.

ISIS Demolishes Destroys 5000-Year-Old Assyrian/Iraqi Sculptures in Iraqi Museum