Advocatus Atheist

Now, sometimes I find it is necessary to laugh at people. Like when Muslims tell you they're going to kill the South Park creators for, apparently, not showing Muhammad? Oh well, laugh in their face and tell them to go pray for some intelligence or something. At any rate, when people say dumb things you can do one of three things: 1) ignore it, 2) politely correct them, 3) hold them to their words, and either A) laugh at their idiocy, or B) take the necessary precautions and prepare for Armageddon. Listen to this girl's rant about using Jesus' name in vain... let it soak in... take her words to heart that doing so will be a bad idea, literally a curse which will heap suffering and destruction upon you... as she eludes to your eternal damnation in hell... and the let I Am Matt O'Neil show you a bit of irony in style as he heaps some major PWNAGE onto this poor girl. In any case, Matt holds this Christian girl to her literal and legalistic principles, and choose...

A Matter of Common Sense William Lane Craig's Cosmological Argument Taken Down Once and for All   While reading an older post of Luke's over at Common Sense Atheism , I stumbled across a review Luke wrote about the 2009 god debate between William Lane Craig and Christopher Hitchens. Luke is quick to criticize atheists like Hitchens for a style he doesn’t agree with but praises Craig for a style he feels best suits the debate arena. Everyone is entitled to their tastes and opinions, but when it comes to making an argument and what qualifies as a good one, I feel that Luke has missed the mark completely. On his comments forum Luke stated about William Lane Craig’s rhetoric that: I agree that Craig's arguments fail, but at least he presents valid (but unsound) arguments and argues according to the rules of philosophical logic. Hitchens, it appears, has never read a logic textbook.  …if someone wants to attack Craig's cosmological argument they must realize it is ...

Everyone has certain role models whether they admit to it or not. Whether it's a young person looking up to their favorite NBA player or a middle aged man wishing he could get all the chicks like Tiger Woods, or a friend who overcomes cancer, a family member we look up to, a hero we read about either in history or in mythology, a person who stands up for a just cause, whatever or whoever they may be we all have those who inspire us, and in so doing, gain our admiration and respect. Sometimes they inspire us to follow suit and try to follow in their lofty footsteps. They help us to dream by showing that the impossible can become a reality if only we put our minds to it.  My personal heroes happen to be those men and women who sponsor the spread of science, prognosticators of progress all, and in their enthusiasm and love for learning, discovering the hidden truths, seeking knowledge, for their courageousness and never ending curiosity I am inspired to no end. To these daring men a...

In this educational interview the biblical historian James D. Tabor, Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, talks about what sort of Jew Jesus was and the importance of keeping the historical questions separate from the theological questions, but at the same time recognizing the importance of good research such as the Mt. Zion dig which Tabor investigates the real archeology of the past. Quite interesting if you want something more than quaint pastoral sermons and want to wet your pallet with some juicy historical trivia! Watch the interview by clicking HERE .

Biblical Alteration: Discussing the Canon “Although our New Testament gospels contain historical material, the theological editing is a factor that the discerning reader must constantly keep in mind.” –James D. Tabor (Biblical Historian) “[N] early 230 million Americans believe that a book showing neither unity of style nor internal consistency was authored by an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent deity. A survey of Hindus, Muslims, and Jews around the world would surely yield similar results, revealing that we, as a species, have grown almost perfectly intoxicated by our myths.” –Sam Harris (Neuroscientist) It has been my experience that atheists and independent freethinkers walk the road less traveled by because we seek out pearls of truth and wisdom—whereas believers are contented with the assumption that they contain the only truth they will ever need—their faith. Yet time and time again I have made it a point to raise the question, “What is your fait...