You often hear people insisting that religion is a real force for good in the world. This is of course not a good reason to believe religion’s factual claims, but I also think that the assertion isn’t true in the first place (overall). Earlier this week we got another vivid example of what I’m talking [...]
All posts tagged judaism
Religious beliefs and moral stagnation
Posted by NFQ on January 6, 2011
http://www.noforbiddenquestions.com/2011/01/religious-beliefs-and-moral-stagnation/
You know it’s a myth
Today, Andrew Sullivan at The Daily Dish quotes Rabbi Rami Shapiro on the American Atheists billboard near the Lincoln Tunnel in New York City. (The billboard reads, “You KNOW it’s a Myth. This Season, Celebrate REASON!”) In part, The characters found in myths represent aspects of our own psyches. The Virgin Birth is neither a [...]
Posted by NFQ on December 12, 2010
http://www.noforbiddenquestions.com/2010/12/you-know-its-a-myth/
Friday Link Roundup #26
Tea Party Republicans in Texas are clamoring for a “true Christian” to replace Joe Straus as Speaker of the state’s House of Representatives because Christians “are the people that do the best jobs.” Via John Loftus, here’s an insightful video by TheraminTrees applying transactional analysis to religion. Cartoonist and Christian blogger Wes Molebash asked some [...]
Posted by NFQ on December 10, 2010
http://www.noforbiddenquestions.com/2010/12/friday-link-roundup-26/
A not-so-happy Chanukah
Tonight is the eighth and last night of the Jewish holiday of Chanukah, also sometimes called the “Festival of Lights.” Wikipedia sums the basis for the eight days and the lights: According to the Talmud, at the re-dedication following the victory of the Maccabees over the Seleucid Empire, there was only enough consecrated olive oil [...]
Posted by NFQ on December 8, 2010
http://www.noforbiddenquestions.com/2010/12/a-not-so-happy-chanukah/
God is not (good)
When I watched this clip from God on Trial, I thought of a guy I was talking with a couple weeks ago. He told me that he believed in “God, sort of.” When I asked him to clarify, he explained that he believed there was a supremely powerful being guiding the universe and everything that [...]
Posted by NFQ on November 30, 2010
http://www.noforbiddenquestions.com/2010/11/god-is-not-good/
Part of the problem
I noticed this gem at (The Customer Is) Not Always Right, one of many — but one of my favorite — so-awful-it’s-funny anecdote collection websites. From a grocery store in Orlando, Florida: Me: “I hope you’ve found everything to your liking!” Customer: “Oh, thank you, I have! It’s so nice to meet a polite Christian [...]
Posted by NFQ on November 13, 2010
http://www.noforbiddenquestions.com/2010/11/part-of-the-problem/
Two new blogs
I’ve been meaning to make an announcement about one of the new links I’ve added to my blogroll, because it is so interesting and very unique among atheist blogs. It’s The Atheist Rabbi, written by Jeffrey Falick. In my communal service career, I work at a JCC with people from every conceivable background and this [...]
Posted by NFQ on October 21, 2010
http://www.noforbiddenquestions.com/2010/10/two-new-blogs/
My, how you’ve changed!
There are plenty of logical arguments to be had about whether a god might exist, or whether we have any evidence to suggest that a god actually does exist. However, I’m constantly being reminded, most religious people don’t actually justify their faith with such arguments (and, to be fair, many people who are atheists don’t [...]
Posted by NFQ on September 26, 2010
http://www.noforbiddenquestions.com/2010/09/my-how-youve-changed/
All the same god?
I’m sick of hearing that Jews, Christians, and Muslims “all worship the same god.” It’s such a popular characterization amongst proponents of interfaith collaboration. It sounds so nice. But it just doesn’t make sense. Suppose Alice says, “I believe in Zeus — he’s the god of the sky, and the king of all the gods.” [...]
Posted by NFQ on September 2, 2010
http://www.noforbiddenquestions.com/2010/09/all-the-same-god/
Christians disagree on hell
This shouldn’t come as a big surprise, but I thought it was a particularly vivid example. It’s next to impossible to generalize about “what Christians believe,” because they disagree on so many seeming points of fact. Justin Taylor recently asked, “What is the worst thing about hell?” and quoted Calvinist theologian R.C. Sproul to answer. [...]
Posted by NFQ on August 18, 2010
http://www.noforbiddenquestions.com/2010/08/christians-disagree-on-hell/
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