God and His Gays • Harold Meyerson • 25th Mar 2007

Science is stealing up on America's religious fundamentalists, causing much alarm. Consider the dilemma of the Rev. R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville and a leading figure in the Southern Baptist firmament.

Nigeria teacher dies 'over Koran' • BBC News • 25th Mar 2007

Secondary school pupils in north-eastern Nigeria have killed a teacher after apparently accusing her of desecrating the Koran, police say.

A hundred residents of a Russian village have refused to switch to new passports because they believe the documents' bar codes contain satanic symbols • Reuters • 25th Mar 2007

A hundred residents of a Russian village have refused to switch to new passports because they believe the documents' bar codes contain satanic symbols, state television reported Wednesday.

Artificial Intelligence, With Help From the Humans • Jason Pontin • 25th Mar 2007

Computers still do some things very poorly. Even when they pool their memory and processors in powerful networks, they remain unevenly intelligent.

The many forms of fundamentalism • James Carroll, Boston Globe • 24th Mar 2007

NEARLY A decade and a half ago, this condemnation of fundamentalism was issued: "The fundamentalist approach is dangerous, for it is attractive to people who look to the Bible for ready answers to the problems of life . . . instead of telling them that the Bible does not necessarily contain an immediate answer to each and every problem. . . . Fundamentalism actually invites people to a kind of intellectual suicide. It injects into life a false certitude, for it unwittingly confuses the divine substance of the biblical message with what are in fact its human limitations." This robust denunciation came from the Vatican, in a 1993 document entitled "The Interpretation of the Bible in the Church."

Mormons miffed over coffee-swilling angel image • CNN.com • 24th Mar 2007

TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (AP) -- For a coffee shop, T-shirts of a Mormon angel with java flowing into his trumpet are selling well. But they don't have the blessing of religious leaders.

Atheist banned from committee on religious education • Simon Barrett • 24th Mar 2007

An atheist has spoken of his dismay after being sidelined from discussions on how religion is taught in schools.

Gimme That Old Time Religion (Bashing) • Frederick Clarkson • 24th Mar 2007

I love a good rant of rationalistic fervor. But don't get me wrong. I also appreciate a fervent, well-delivered sermon and have heard my share from quite a range of styles and theological perspectives.

New clues to why we see red • Melissa Lee Phillips • 24th Mar 2007

Mice engineered to express a human photopigment gene show trichromatic vision, a process that may replicate the evolution of primate sensory systems

Sex in the 1700s • PhysOrg • 24th Mar 2007

Prostitutes, perversions and public scandals – the stuff of the 21st century tabloids was familiar to readers three centuries earlier, according to new research from the University of Leeds.

New evidence of 'human' culture among primates • PhysOrg • 24th Mar 2007

Fresh evidence that suggests monkeys can learn skills from each other, in the same manner as humans, has been uncovered by a University of Cambridge researcher.

The Moral Necessity of Atheism • Christopher Hitchens • 23rd Mar 2007

Christopher Hitchens: "The Moral Necessity of Atheism." Convocation Hall February 23 at 4:30 p.m. Sewanee University.

Sea floor records ancient Earth • BBC, Jonathan Fildes • 23rd Mar 2007

A sliver of four-billion-year-old sea floor has offered a glimpse into the inner workings of an adolescent Earth.

Debate between Alister McGrath and Peter Atkins • AtheistDebate.org • 22nd Mar 2007

A special debate between Alister McGrath, Professor of Historical Theology at Oxford University, author of "Dawkins' God" and "The Dawkins Delusion" and Peter Atkins, Professor of Chemistry at Oxford University, well-known atheist and supporter of Richard Dawkins. As seen on Channel 4's "The trouble with atheism".

Germany Cites Koran in Rejecting Divorce • NYTimes.com, Mark Landler • 22nd Mar 2007

FRANKFURT, March 22 — A German judge has stirred a storm of protest here by citing the Koran in turning down a German Muslim woman's request for a fast-track divorce on the ground that her husband beat her.

If only gay sex caused global warming • Daniel Gilbert, LATimes.com • 22nd Mar 2007

NO ONE seems to care about the upcoming attack on the World Trade Center site. Why? Because it won't involve villains with box cutters. Instead, it will involve melting ice sheets that swell the oceans and turn that particular block of lower Manhattan into an aquarium.

The Salem Hypothesis • Bruce Salem • 22nd Mar 2007

The "Salem Hypothesis" is a description of an observed correlation between scientists who profess a belief in creation and the engineering disciplines. There are two distinct wordings of the hypothesis, each having a different implication. Both are associated with the "Salem Hypothesis" name, though.

Orr vs. Dennett/Dawkins • PZ Myers, Pharyngula • 22nd Mar 2007

H. Allen Orr and Daniel Dennett are tearing into each other something fierce over at Edge, and it's all over Orr's dismissive review of Dawkins' The God Delusion.

Religion • George Carlin • 22nd Mar 2007

George Carlin on religion.

Piecing Together the Clues of an Old Collision, Iceball by Iceball • Kenneth Chang, The New York Times • 22nd Mar 2007

Sometime, probably several billion years ago, a rocky iceball almost as large as Pluto crashed into another almost Pluto-size iceball.

Brain Injury Said to Affect Moral Choices • Benedict Carey • 22nd Mar 2007

Damage to an area of the brain behind the forehead, inches behind the eyes, transforms the way people make moral judgments in life-or-death situations, scientists reported yesterday.

Episcopal Church Rejects Demand for a 2nd Leadership • Laurie Goodstein • 22nd Mar 2007

Responding to an ultimatum from leaders of the worldwide Anglican Communion, bishops of the Episcopal Church have rejected a key demand to create a parallel leadership structure to serve the conservative minority of Episcopalians who oppose their church's liberal stand on homosexuality.

Why creationism is wrong and evolution is right • Professor Steve Jones • 21st Mar 2007

Science is about disbelief. It accepts that all knowledge is provisional and that any theory might in principle be disproved. Some theories are better established than others: the earth is probably not flat, babies are almost certainly not brought by storks, and men and dinosaurs are unlikely to have appeared on earth within the past few thousand years. Even so, nothing is sacred in 1905 classical physics collapsed after a seemingly trivial observation about glowing gases and the same is potentially true for all other scientific theories.

Britain Proposes Allowing Schools to Forbid Full-Face Muslim Veils • Alan Cowell • 21st Mar 2007

British authorities proposed new rules on Tuesday to allow schools to forbid Muslim students to wear full-face veils in class, reflecting a wider debate over Britain's relationship with its Muslim minority.

Religious Conviction vs. Political Dogmatism • E.J. Dionne, TruthDig.com • 21st Mar 2007

WASHINGTON—Evangelical Protestantism in the United States is going through a New Reformation that is disentangling a great religious movement from a partisan political machine. This historic change will require liberals and conservatives alike to abandon their sometimes narrow views of who evangelicals are.

Saving believers: Former Christian finds calling to preach the good news of atheism • Eileen E. Flynn, American-Statesman • 21st Mar 2007

This is the call Matt Dillahunty has been waiting for. He's been preaching on the air for almost 90 minutes, and so far, there has been no robust debate with his viewers. No real challenge.

Polish woman wins abortion case • Adam Easton, BBC • 20th Mar 2007

The European Court of Human Rights has awarded a Polish woman 25,000 euros ($33,000; £16,000) in damages after she was refused an abortion.

Scientist Finds the Beginnings of Morality in Primate Behavior • Nicholas Wade • 20th Mar 2007

Some animals are surprisingly sensitive to the plight of others. Chimpanzees, who cannot swim, have drowned in zoo moats trying to save others. Given the chance to get food by pulling a chain that would also deliver an electric shock to a companion, rhesus monkeys will starve themselves for several days.

Your Mom Was Wrong: Horseplay Is An Important Part Of Development • ScienceDaily • 20th Mar 2007

Playground roughhousing has long been a tradition of children and adolescents, much to the chagrin of several generations of parents who worry that their child will be hurt or worse, become accustom to violence and aggression.

The Fourth Flea! • John Cornwell • 20th Mar 2007

Oh my goodness, they just can't help themselves. John Cornwell signs up to combat the big scary Richard Dawkins with his new book, Darwin's Angel: A Seraphic Response to The God Delusion.

Biology teacher fired for referring to Bible • Associated Press • 20th Mar 2007

During his eight days as a part-time high school biology teacher, Kris Helphinstine included Biblical references in material he provided to students and gave a PowerPoint presentation that made links between evolution, Nazi Germany and Planned Parenthood.

A Brief History of Disbelief • Jonathan Miller • 20th Mar 2007

Jonathan Miller has a great program called 'A Brief History of Disbelief' along with some accompanying interviews called 'The Atheism Tapes.'

Christian soldier takes up arms as hustings near • Douglas Fraser • 19th Mar 2007

Onward Christian politics, marching to the Holyrood elections. Bishop Joseph Devine, one of Scotland's leading Catholics, has put the religious cat among the Labour Party pigeons when he said that he would not vote in protest at the new law on gay adoption.

US TV Commercial for The God Delusion during Countdown with Keith Olbermann • Houghton Mifflin • 19th Mar 2007

How about that, an ad for Richard Dawkins book The God Delusion as seen on Countdown w/Keith Olbermann.

'They Tried To Teach My Baby Science' • The Onion • 19th Mar 2007

Here's a little fun from The Onion thanks to Mark.

The Religion Clause Divided Against Itself • Stanley Fish • 19th Mar 2007

My last column told the story of the diminishing scope of the establishment clause of the Constitution. Once understood as prohibiting state actions that endorse, benefit or advance religion, the clause has in recent decades been re-read in ways that permit, among other things, taxpayer financing of evangelical student newspapers and the construction of buildings at sectarian (mostly Christian) schools.

UK Christians 'suffer for faith' • BBC • 18th Mar 2007

More than one in five Christians in the UK faces discrimination in their local communities because of their faith, a survey for a BBC programme suggests.

Ricky Gervais on Atheism • BBC • 18th Mar 2007

Ricky Gervais' character on EXTRAS talks about being an atheist. The conversation starts at about 1:45, but if you haven't seen the show or this episode I recommend watching the whole thing!

The History of Creationist Thought • Robin Ince, ITV • 18th Mar 2007

UK Comedian Robin Ince talks about Creationism and Intelligent Design. From the show "Comedy Cuts" aired 2007/03/15 on ITV in the UK.

Lonely Atheists of the Global Village • Michael Novak • 18th Mar 2007

Michael Novak reviews Letter to a Christian Nation, by Sam Harris; Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon, by Daniel C. Dennett; and The God Delusion, by Richard Dawkins.

Pursue pleasure: it's the natural way to do good in the world • A.C. Grayling • 18th Mar 2007

Claims that only religion can make you moral are misguided, writes the philosopher AC Grayling.

Atheism hasn't hurt Fremont Rep. Stark • John Wildermuth • 17th Mar 2007

Atheism might be the last political taboo, but it doesn't seem to have hurt Rep. Pete Stark in his East Bay district.

Chimpanzees 'hunt using spears' • BBC News • 17th Mar 2007

Chimpanzees in Senegal have been observed making and using wooden spears to hunt other primates, according to a study in the journal Current Biology.

Yanoconodon, a transitional fossil • PZ Myers, Pharyngula • 17th Mar 2007

The latest Nature reveals a new primitive mammal fossil collected in the Mesozoic strata of the Yan mountains of China. It's small and unprepossessing, but it has at least two noteworthy novelties, and first among them is that it represents another step in the transition from the reptilian to the mammalian jaw and ear.

Is Your Baby Gay? What If You Could Know? What If You Could Do Something About It? • NYTimes.com, AP • 17th Mar 2007

The president of the leading Southern Baptist seminary has suggested that a biological basis for homosexuality may be proven, and that prenatal treatment to reverse gay orientation would be biblically justified.

Kissing Hank's Ass • nimpsy.com • 17th Mar 2007

A humorous religion parallel between God and "Hank".

Stephen interviews Ayaan Hirsi Ali author of Infidel • The Colbert Report • 16th Mar 2007

Ayaan Hirsi Ali on The Colbert Report

Interview with Steven Pinker • The Colbert Report • 16th Mar 2007

Steven Pinker is interviewed by Stephen Colbert on The Colbert Report.

Cold is hot in evolution -- Researchers debunk belief species evolve faster in tropics • PHYSORG • 15th Mar 2007

University of British Columbia researchers have discovered that contrary to common belief, species do not evolve faster in warmer climates.

Amazing Meeting 3, 2005 • James Randi and Richard Dawkins • 15th Mar 2007

Randi and Dawkins discuss the perinormal and paranormal. This is only a brief clip of the conversation from the Amazing Meeting (January 2005) put on by the James Randi Educational Foundation.