William Lobdell, religion reporter for the Los Angeles Times, has written a moving account of the some of the stories he has covered and his journey into and out of faith.

My friend Vic Reppert was kind enough to address some responses to my “Atheist Manifesto” on his Dangerous Idea blog. I would like to address his comments. Vic and I go back thirty years or to the time that we were both students at Emory University’s Candler School of Theology. I think Candler had a … Reply to Vic Reppert on Cosmological Questions

Since I rant here on Islam-related issues, I should point out that Free Inquiry has just run my article, “A False Quest for a True Islam” and also put it on their web site. It points out what I think are some errors of secular critics of Islam.

Keith Parsons, in his inaugural blog, declares that he is “new to this whole blogging thing, but [he] thought [he] would start off with a big post”—and thus provided us with his “Atheist Manifesto.” He expressed the desire “to hear what some of you think, and maybe get some others to submit their own manifestoes.” … A Metaphysical Naturalist Manifesto

In response to the challenge to reply to Michael Gerlson’s argument against atheism, I offer the following: It is hard to say what exactly Mr. Gerlson’s argument is since it is not expressed very clearly or precisely. Reading between the lines, I think the argument may be reconstructed as follows: The problem of deriving an … …

In a recent editorial commenting on “New Atheists” Dawkins, Harris, and Hitchens, Michael Gerlson presents the following purportedly unanswerable objection to atheism: But there is a problem. Human nature, in other circumstances, is also clearly constructed for cruel exploitation, uncontrollable rage, icy selfishness and a range of other less desirable traits. So the dilemma is … Open Question to All Atheists: Can You Answer This?

Ebon Musings argues that atheism is a civil rights issue, while DJ Grothe argues that it is not. LINKS:“Atheism Is a Civil Rights Issue” by Ebon Musings“A Reply from DJ Grothe” (includes rejoinder by Ebon Musings) by Ebon Musings

I’m new to this whole blogging thing, but I thought I would start off with a big post. A few weeks ago my nephew, who is an evangelical Christian of the progressive Jim Wallis type, not the neanderthal James Dobson type, asked me to explain briefly why I am an atheist. I wrote the following … Atheist Manifesto

Here’s a hearty, full-throated recommendation for Philip Kitcher’s latest book, Living with Darwin: Evolution, Design, and the Future of Faith. If you’re looking for a short, very readable but substantive book on creationism, intelligent design, and the very real challenge Darwinian evolution poses for any supernaturalistic faith, this is the one. Go out and buy … Living with Darwin

There are, no doubt, many quiet cases of religious discrimination that never make headlines. A submission to the News Wire alerted me to this one, but I was unable to post it on the Wire, because the story is told in three separate installments on a blog. The story begins on 27 April, when high-school … Atheist high school student’s ordeal ends