Here is an interesting article on the Founding Fathers’ intent for the separation of church and state, focusing on the practices of the Post Office: http://atheism.about.com/b/a/242048.htm/ I’d never seen some of these points before. Thanks to Bill Schultz for pointing this out to me.

World Magazine recently blogged about the “shrinking liberal family.” Although I usually disagree with the viewpoint expressed by that magazine, this is one issue where I find myself in agreement with them. In fact, it is something I have been saying for years. I don’t claim to have hard statistical evidence, but it has always … The Shrinking Secular Family

Philosopher of religion Mark Vuletic now has his own blog.

I recently read a web-exclusive commentary on Newsweek magazine’s website by Rabbi Marc Gellman entitled, “Trying to Understand Angry Atheists.” The article’s sub-title asked the question, “Why do nonbelievers seem to be threatened by the idea of God?” Gellman begins his article with the following words: I think I need to understand atheists better. I … Are Atheists Angry or Threatened by God?

Just when you thought Christianity’s penchant for the bizarre had exhausted itself comes news from UPI that a group calling itself “Pray Live” organized a D.C. prayer rally to lower gasoline prices. According to the story “various Christian clergy from around the country” met last Thursday and prayed to resolve the energy crisis. I wonder … Prayer Rally to Lower Gas Prices

There is something that each of us does not understand. Rabbi Gellman just can’t understand why atheists “are often so angry” and I just can’t understand why theists prefer to promulgate this tired canard at every opportunity. Gellman might as well have added how he can’t understand why blacks sing and dance all the time … Yet Another “Angry Atheist” Stereotype

Old-fashioned young earth creationists and intelligent design advocates occasionally air their disagreements in public, as described by this piece in Christianity Today. It’s too much to hope that they’ll all go on a heresy-hunt within the faith and leave the reality-based community alone for a bit, but it’s still nice to see them bashing one … Creationism vs ID

I just caught up with a recent issue of The Nation that includes a couple of articles by political liberals who are also religious. They argue that the Democratic party shouldn’t be so cool toward religious language and devout people. That the religious right can only properly be countered by a religious left that uses … Politically liberal religion

There’s a troubling news item concerning a scholar of Mormon history whose research has contradicted the official Mormon version of events, and possibly as a consequence, is having trouble getting an academic post. From the story: Mr. Quinn’s struggles reflect the rising influence of religious groups over the teaching of their faiths at secular colleges, … Funding professorships