The goal of science has always been to uncover the secrets of nature. This pursuit has, in the past, been the hobby of rich men who did it out of sheer pleasure and curiosity. As the cost of conducting experiments has increased, however, a devil's bargain was struck; science became increasingly about the ability to exploit discoveries for profit. Many of us are unaware that in the late 90s, a race was being ...

In the past, I've been critical of a number of atheists who have discouraged me from participating and expanding a broader secular movement. These 'naysayers' now have a name, according to Austin Cline. These are 'Uncle Tom Atheists', and they are, apparently, a big problem. I'd like to start by pointing out how terribly insulting that phrase is. I'm not black, but I have many friends who are, and this moni ...

The 'War on Christmas' is making everyone who fights for the promulgation of Christianity a little bit crazy. The latest story comes from Washington State, where a lawsuit was filed that allows distinct religious symbols to be displayed. After a bunch of Christians and Jews put up their decorations, it's now the turn of atheists to display their faith, and they have erected a sign that says There is no God, ...

Alright, I'll start off by saying I'm always skeptical of any study that finds any major distinctions between human beings as a result of their religious belief. I simply see no compelling evidence that religiosity makes you more or less moral. Still, it's quite satisfying when a study comes out that throws cold water in the faces of religious pundits who think their flocks are incapable of immoral action. ...

In case you were completely cut off from the whole world and haven't heard, a group of Islamic terrorists executed 170 people in cold blood in Mumbai, India last week, and many religious leaders in the Muslim community have come out condemning the attacks, while also vehemently denying there is anything about their faith that may be causing these violent outbreaks. If Islam is such a peaceful religion, why ...

Some propose constructing a new language to be taught internationally, designed specifically to be easy to learn and understand, would you support such an idea? The idea of creating a new language was tried many years ago, and it was a dismal failure. Esperanto is now considered to be a joke among philologists (people who study languages). Generally speaking, it would be unrealistic to assume that anyone wo ...

Melody Laluz and Claudaniel Fabien are both abstinence teachers in Chicago, and they are about to get married despite never having kissed one another. The pair, which instituted the no kissing rule as a way of avoiding temptation, had elaborate ways of quelling their natural biological impulse to copulate. They avoided being totally alone together, and when they cuddled while watching TV, they made sure to ...

I've only ever liked one holiday of the year. I usually can't stand Christmas, mostly because I find it shameful that the celebration of winter solstice has devolved into a consumerist holiday. Halloween is just annoying; although it's cute to see little kids in their funny costumes, I see more young adults dressed like fools desperately trying to recapture the magic of their childhood. Easter is a waste of ...

In 2007, a French teenager jumped off a bridge in Amsterdam. Because he was high on hallucinogens, the Dutch government worked diligently to try and reverse their lax policies on drugs, and as now made 'magic mushrooms' illegal. Selling the drug was already illegal, but now growing it for personal use carries serious penalties. I think the move is both ludicrous and a giant waste of time. The Dutch governme ...

My early memories of Christmas involved dreaming about what presents would be waiting for me under the tree when I awoke. I also remember the occasional disappointment over the sweater or sock in my stocking, but generally despite the usual selfishness of children, the experience was fun and enjoyable. Like most of my friends, we celebrated Christmas for the presents, and although the story of Jesus was nev ...