To protest university funding of on-campus religious services, University of Central Florida Student Senator Webster Cook “stole” a Eucharist during a Mass on June 29th. Drilling down to Cook’s precise motives and exactly what happened can get complicated, but there’s a pretty good account of it here:
Controversies Galore - We take a look at the ongoing feud between Senator Barack Obama and his former pastor Reverend Jeremiah Wright. To see Wright’s National Press Club appearance start here [link].
Not only is John McCain kowtowing to the worst elements of the Religious Right, he’s also a superstitious nut [link].
Why was President Ellen Johnson fired from American Atheists Inc.? The leadership has issued vague and contradictory statements. We’re not asking them to wallow in the mud, but it would be nice if they gave their membership and the taxpaying public a straightforward explanation. Visit nogodblog.com for more (or less) info.
Religion and Insanity
- Recent, tragic cases in the news involving filicide and/or suicide by insane and possibly religiously motivated people (Banita Jacks, John Violette and Marcelle Thibault).
- A look back at the sad story of Andrea Yates, who infamously drowned all five of her children.
The Portable Atheist by Christopher Hitchens - We take a look at the latest collection of writing selected and introduced by the Bad Boy of Unbelievers!
A review of the science fiction anthology
Galileo’s Children, edited by Gardner Dozois
by John C. Snider © 2008
It has been nearly four centuries since Galileo Galilei lost his legendary showdown with the Catholic Church’s Court of the Inquisition. Threatened with imprisonment, torture and certain death, Galileo backed down — officially, at least — from his outrageous claim that the earth and the planets orbited the sun (a claim which he had the audacity to support with — gasp! — data, meticulously gathered and brilliantly analyzed).
Since Galileo’s time, science has marched messily forward and superstition has been forced to retreat; although lately superstition has engaged in some clever stalling tactics. The ancient Catholic Church could enforce its will through military force and terror; in 21st century America, the more loosely organized Protestants simply outmaneuver scientists by dominating school boards and swarming the halls of Congress. Evangelical hegemony has replaced outright theocracy.
One-third believe in ghosts, UFOs - How pathetic do you have to believe to go to all the trouble to move out of your house because you think it’s haunted? (Of course, journalists haul out these stats every Halloween.)
Superstitious sports fans - I’m not sure how much of this is in jest and how much is serious; still, even if it’s a little true, it just shows how susceptible people can be to all sorts of foolishness (religion included).
Man accused of sexual assault claims triskaidekaphobia - The infuriating thing here is, the judge honored his request, instead of throwing him in jail for contempt of court or something.
