I like to keep religious interference in my life to a minimum. I count myself lucky that I Iive in a social and work environment where there’s no expectation that I should attend any kind of religious service. And in politics as well, one of my leading concerns is to preserve church-state separation and to … After Secularism?

If anyone’s in the area—I’ll be giving a talk on Tuesday, April 3, 7pm, at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. It will be in the Alderson Auditorium in the Kansas Memorial Union, entitled “The Creation/Evolution Debate in the Muslim World.” Based on An Illusion of Harmony, naturally. Free and open to the public.

Normally, I don’t buy the sentiment expressed by Voltaire, that “as long as people believe in absurdities they will continue to commit atrocities.” Someone with accurate views about the nature of the universe can still be a complete and utter bastard; some of the most gentle, most pacifist people in the world link their behavior … Global warming and evangelicals

The Secular Islam Summit earlier this month appears to have produced “The St Petersburg Declaration,” which expresses some very agreeable sentiments. Normally I’d endorse it, and encourage others to endorse it as well. But I find it hard to support an event organized by some thoroughly vile neocon figures such as Michael Leeden, is dripping … Nice declaration, but…

That’s the headline of an opinion piece in today’s Los Angeles Times by Stephen Prothero. Prothero, chairman of the religion department at Boston University, is author of a new book, Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know–And Doesn’t. Part of his book is based on a “religious literacy quiz” he has given to his … We live in the land of biblical idiots

I should be on the “Faith and Freethought” internet radio show tomorrow at 8pm-9pm Eastern time to discuss An Illusion of Harmony: Science and Religion in Islam.

The Secular Coalition of America reports that Rep. Pete Stark of the 13th Congressional District of California has acknowledged his nontheism in response to their inquiries. A Los Angeles Times article carries a little more detail: “When the Secular Coalition asked me to complete a survey on my religious beliefs, I indicated I am a … 13th District of California: holy smiting imminent?

The 11 March New York Times bestseller list for hardcover books includes five that should be of interest and possible encouragement to infidels: The God Delusion and Letter to a Christian Nation are still there, of course, at #12 and #24 respectively; Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s Infidel is on for its third week, at #7; and … Good week for infidels in the book world