Rational Discourse Weekly - Episode 39 "Inside the World of Non-Believers"
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CNN debuts a documentary titled "Atheists: Inside the World of Non-Believers" - we cover that, and much more!
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Rational Discourse Weekly - Episode 38 "Je suis Charlie"
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We welcome back the new year by talking about the Charlie Hebdo attacks, some comments Pope Francis made, and more. Thanks for staying with us, and we promise to continue filming in 2015!
Read MoreIs Atheism Faith-based in the Same Way Religion Is?
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This week, I’d like to explore whether atheism is based on faith in the same way that religious belief is. It’s a commonly asked question, and one that I am sure many (if not most) atheists have encountered at one point or another. On its face, it seems potentially troubling. However, I am certain that atheism is not faith-based in the same way as religion.
Read MoreRational Discourse Weekly - Episode 37 "Google, India, and Free Speech”
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This week, we talk about Google results and the right to free speech, blasphemy laws, and the recent election in India.
Read MoreThe Supreme Court, Prayer, and a Town Called Greece
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The Supreme Court recently ruled that the town of Greece, N.Y. was not violating the First Amendment rights of its citizens by conducting prayers before town hall meetings. This was a 5-4 decision along political lines that no one will find surprising (hint of the day: the conservatives were the five who voted in favor of the town of Greece). The case was originally brought against the town by two women – an atheist and a Jew – who claimed that the prayers violated the establishment clause of the First Amendment. The reasoning given by the majority fell strongly upon two points: (1) the prayers did not constitute the “establishment of religion” as they were performed by various clergymen over the years, and (2) the prayers were being used for an acceptable ceremonial purpose...
Read MoreRational Discourse Weekly - Episode 36 "God Isn't Dead - He Doesn't Exist"
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This week, we talk about Christian movies making headlines, Neil deGrasse Tyson’s visit to Georgia Tech, and why the advancement of science and technology is important to our society.
Read MoreIn Remembrance of My Uncle Michael
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I know it has been a while since I posted anything. These last few weeks have been filled with a lot of changes to my personal life, and it has taken my focus away from [37G]. Most of the changes have been positive, but not all of them. I am sad to report that I recently lost my uncle Michael to cancer, only five weeks after his initial visit to the doctor to investigate a painful mass in his neck.
Read MoreRational Discourse Weekly - Episode 35 "Bill Nye, Arizona, and Philosophy”
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This week, we talk briefly about the Bill Nye vs. Ken Ham debate over evolution and creationism. Also, other stuff.
Read MoreWhy I Believe a More Inclusive Atheism Benefits Us All
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I was perusing r/TrueAtheism recently and came across a link to an article by Sam Harris. It turned out to be a response to Daniel Dennett’s criticisms of Harris’ book Free Will, written in the form of an extended, somewhat conversational (if not a bit irritated) essay. As someone with a strong philosophical inclination [looks at Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy hanging on wall], I found the essay’s topic – free will - to be quite interesting, even if I had not read either Free Will or Dennett’s extensive critique. What I found to be more interesting, however, was the lone comment attached to the article, posted by reddit user Siguard. To quote...
Read MoreBill Nye Debates Ken Ham: A Minute-by-Minute Recap
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I notated pertinent parts of the debate found at the link above and have created a paraphrased reference guide for anyone who might be interested. I’ve provided hour/minute/second marks for the link above, though they may not translate to all versions of the video...
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