Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear (D) has proposed a 2012-2013 budget that includes heavy cuts to some key departments while giving a $43 million tax break to a massive creationist theme park.

In his plan, Beshear calls for a 6.4 percent cut to Kentucky's higher education department, a…

First of all, one has to realize that international politics are purely Machiavellian - might does make right. Since the only enforcer of international law is the chronically fragmented UN there is precious little recourse if it is violated.

I sincerely doubt Iran has any plans to slow down their nuclear weapons capabilities program. There is no upside for the leadership of Iran in doing this - Gadhafi gave his up and was killed, Jong-Il didn't and could extort whatever he wished.…

An Indonesian civil servant who declared himself an atheist on Facebook was arrested and is now facing jail for blasphemy after being attacked by an angry mob, police said today.

Alexander An, 30, who wrote "God doesn't exist" on his Facebook page, was beaten by a mob of dozens on Wednesday in his hometown in Pulau Punjung, West Sumatra province.

"He is suspected of having blasphemed against Islam," local police chief Chairul Aziz told AFP.

"The man told police…

I recently found this article, with the help of reddit, that empathy may not be unique to humans. This got me thinking about the engrossing argument that religion begets morality.

He's no Rat, He's my Brother!

Now, obviously we have logical evidence and rationality that morality is innate, but this may provide concrete evidence for those who are…

My fundie cousin is one of those young Earthers who subsequently doesn't believe in evolution (Her words "No!! God created us....we are not evolved apes."). She's also into the whole build your immune system and you'll never get sick hype. 

So she posts this link on FB today ...…

Mr. Romney appeared on Fox News and dismissed concerns that with the release of his tax returns, he might lose support when voters learn how much money he had donated to the Mormon Church. He said he had made a promise “to God” to tithe 10 percent of his income to his church.

He said voters would be “pleased with someone who made a commitment to God and followed through on the promise.”…

I have recently acquired a small book authored by Roy Lessin titled, "Promises to Pray Over Your Children". The book claims to be a helpful tool to parents who aren't sure how to effectively pray for their kids.



However, I find this book disturbing and twisted, and just another way to indoctrinate children and shackle parents. Here's why:…

According to this news article, Christians are under attack just because they are Christian. Hrm... funny thing - again, it is NOT Atheists who are attacking them. Instead the Christians are being attacked by Mohammedans.



Christians like to say that they are being attacked, even when they aren't, such as when Atheists bring up the fact that there is zero proof…

I ran across this article Why I Don’t Believe in the New Atheism this morning. I have joined Wikipedia as an editor, and was reading the article on "New Atheism " after becoming part of the WikiProject Atheism, and the article was cited.

Anyway, Tom Flynn argues that there's nothing 'new' about "new atheism"…

Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends! :) 'Preciate you guys stopping in so we can recap the week together!

Fill the hole in your soul by checking out the latest episode of the Think Atheist Radio Show! When I learned about God's…

   One week ago today after getting home from work I decided to take care a few things around the yard followed by wrestling the spare tire from under the minivan to change a flat. Then it hit, my chest hurt rapid heart rate shortness of breath so I went into the the house. I sat in a the chair while my family asked I I thought I was having a heart attack? I said I don't know, this wasn't passing quickly like a few other times I had simular but not as strong feelings. After 20 minutes I…

I am sure you may have experienced this and the frustration that goes with it.  In short, belief perseverance is a commonplace phenomenon that occurs in all areas of life where belief in something persists even when the position has lost all original reasons for it's credibility.  It isn't just common for people to do this with religion, it is common for people to do it with all sorts of ideas.  It is really common in politics.

People believe this is specific to religion and criticize…

Why do people challenge belief in GOD? When they can challenge belief in the SOUL and SPIRITUALITY?

I have a hard time understanding why people argue for atheism in this time yet won't mention their disbelief in the soul unless it comes up in conversation. Most people I know KNOW there is no god... to me today's problem is the belief in the SOUL. I even know many agnostics and even atheists ACTUALLY claim to believe in souls!…

Every society has people that will not be silent. Such is the story of Iranian Actress Golshefteh Farahani. Farahani 28, who is also a musician, is one of Iran’s most popular actresses. The full story can be read here by the Daily Beast. Applaud her. Celebrate her. Support her.…

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20440961

Henneberg M, Saniotis A.

Abstract

Evolving brains produce minds. Minds operate on imaginary entities. Thus they can create what does…

There Are Many Apps.

On Facebook And iPhone And What Not.

And I Have Always Found Them Odd.

Because To Me.

The People That Create These Apps.

Only Want Their Audience.

To See The Pretty Verses.

You Know.

About Strength.

Patience.

Love.

How Great God Is.

And What Not.

They Don't Want Their Audience To See.

Any Of The Many Messed Up Bible Verses.

Like About Rape.

Or Murder.

So…

Platitude of the Day For those across the pond or elsewhere in the world there is a four minute slot every morning Mon-Fri on the main radio news and current affairs programme on the BBC Radio 4 Channel. It's called "Thought for the Day" and it's usually done by a priest or some other religious nutjob, anyway I've discovered this website which parodies these broadcasts and it's very funny!