Atheist author and blogger Dan Arel as recently written that he was wrong in his previous response to the critiques of Islam by “new atheists” such as Sam Harris and Richard Dawkins: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/danthropology/2015/10/i-was-wrong-about-new-atheism-sam-harris-and-islam/?ref_widget=popular&ref_blog=secularfrontier&ref_post=six-findings-from-experimental-science-which-disconfirm-theism To admit in public that one was wrong requires a greater commitment to honesty and truth than to ego, and this is rare. … Is Extremism Political, Religious, or Political/Religious?

PBS is hosting a series on the brain, appropriately titled The Brain hosted by Rice University Neuroscientist David Eagleman. I watched the first episode last week and found it highly informative and entertaining. People have wondered what scientific achievements of the 21st Century could rival those of the 20th Century—relativity theory, quantum physics, DNA and … Does the Brain Construct Reality?

I was watching the NBC Evening News a couple of nights ago as it covered the arrival of Pope Francis I. The allegedly objective reporter referred to the Pope not as “The Pope” or as “Pope Francis,” but as “The Holy Father” and “His Holiness.” Is NBC now CBS–The Catholic Broadcasting System? Would any imam or … Please Excuse me from the Francis-Frenzy

I have noted several unfortunate statements by scientists, some of whom I deeply respect, expressing disdain for philosophy. Their view, apparently, is that if you have science you have no need for philosophy. This attitude is doubly unfortunate. First, it betrays considerable ignorance, and, second, when scientists reject philosophy, they really, really should avoid philosophical … Darwin the Philosopher

Here is something written by a reader who asked not to be further identified. I think he makes a good point and raises the interesting question of when appeals to common sense are reasonable and when they are not. The author begins by commenting on a reply made to me by Craig in our 1998 … Craig on Appeals to Common Sense

This is a bit off topic, but psychology has important implications for understanding religious belief and the absence of religious belief and rejection of religious belief.  One hundred key psychology experiments published in three top psychology journals in 2008 were reproduced to see if the same results were obtained as the originally published experiment.  The … 100 Key Psychology Studies Repeated

Folks, it has come to my attention that some other atheists on other sites are indicating that we here at SO are not real atheists. We may even be crypto-Christians who appear in atheist guise to delude the unfaithful. So, I and Jeff and Bradley—and you atheists who frequently comment, like Scott, Ryan, and PDH—are … Atheist Revival Meeting