I ask those proponents of same-sex marriage (S-SM) this question: what is marriage? This is not some glib rhetorical question. The responses from the previous commentaries have me scratching my head and wondering what it is S-SM advocates believe marriage's purpose is. I must ask because there … [Read more...]
Authorized Personnel Only
May 26, 2011 by 46 Comments
In the last commentary I responded to an op-ed piece from Rich Benjamin on NYTimes.com in which he made his case for boycotting the weddings of his heterosexual family and friends. I argued that his reasons for his protest are empty in content, since what he suggested the homosexual community … [Read more...]
Répondez S’il Vous Plaît
May 23, 2011 by 63 Comments
In a NYTimes op-ed piece titled Not Going to the Chapel, Rich Benjamin presents his case defending his recent decision to boycott the weddings of his heterosexual friends and family. It’s true. I’m boycotting all heterosexual weddings. How utterly absurd to celebrate an institution that I am … [Read more...]
Reconciling The Circularity
May 21, 2011 by 3 Comments
I hold to my religious conviction pretty strongly. But like everyone else, I have some unanswered questions. There are gaps in my certitude. I don't find this to be a problem with my worldview or my convictions. I'd like to make the subjects of the next few commentaries some of the gaps in my … [Read more...]
What If You’re Wrong?
May 13, 2011 by 35 Comments
At some point everyone should deeply examine their beliefs. I say 'should' because not everyone does or even thinks to do this. I believe there is a tendency for a good many people to form beliefs hastily, reacting emotionally to issues and letting their feelings govern what they believe is true. … [Read more...]
Dear God,
May 11, 2011 by 29 Comments
Recently I read about a little girl who wrote a letter to God about her dog that had just died. She sent pictures and a letter addressed to God asking that He take care of her dog. A few days later there was a package on the family's porch which contained a book for children about how to grieve … [Read more...]
Blinded By Hate
May 8, 2011 by 8 Comments
Paris Hatcher, the executive director of SPARK, Reproductive Justice Now, is being interviewed to get her reaction to "how pregnant women are treated" starting with a minority woman from Nashville who gave birth while incarcerated. The woman was reportedly placed in restraints while in transport to … [Read more...]
I Don’t Not Believe It!
May 4, 2011 by 17 Comments
In the war against Atheism's true and traditional usage, Atheists have devised a rhetorical device in an effort to remove the burden of proof which would require them to offer a defense of their belief God does not exist. The have employed the phrase "I lack belief" in a god or gods, or, "I don't … [Read more...]
Let’s Talk Shop
April 29, 2011 by 2 Comments
Christianity's critics have no shortage of complaints. They offer many reasons for rejecting religion, some are understandable, some are unreasonable. But what about when those reasons are shown to be based on a faulty understanding of what it is they are rejecting? Of the Atheist's I encounter … [Read more...]
GaGa For God
April 22, 2011 by 58 Comments
Lady GaGa is quite the performer. She has a commanding stage presence and demands attention where ever she goes. I'm not a fan of her music. Not out of protest, but I don't listen to much music, and the music I do listen to is of a different genre. I had recently read a headline reporting that … [Read more...]
The World Is Full Of Awfulness
April 20, 2011 by 14 Comments
The problem of evil is perhaps one of the strongest arguments against the character of a God who is described as loving and powerful. Skeptics challenge Christian theists with this objection in an effort to show an inconsistency between the description of God as presented in the Bible and what … [Read more...]
Win By Default
April 14, 2011 by 14 Comments
In any serious discussion the participants must present arguments for their respective position. Both people bring an opinion into every discussion. Most people understand this, but sometimes someone comes to the table under the impression that their view is correct by default. A classic example … [Read more...]
Acting Like An Animal
April 9, 2011 by 14 Comments
Scientific American published online an article titled: The Evolution of Prejudice, in which they report new evidence suggests human racism and prejudice is a psychological trait inherited through evolutionary means. "Overall, the results support an evolutionary basis for prejudice", though some … [Read more...]
Who Are You To Say?
April 4, 2011 by 53 Comments
What is it about the subject of morality that causes people to retreat to preference from prescription? When assessing moral actions, many people will make every attempt to avoid making moral judgements on the actions of others. Why is it so hard to say "that is morally wrong", is there something … [Read more...]
The Impossibility Of Miracles
March 31, 2011 by 13 Comments
Supernatural events are central to the discussion of the truth of religious claims. Whether supernatural events --- miracles --- are possible affects whether claims made by religions can be trusted. For example, if miracles are not possible, Jesus did not rise from the dead, and therefore the … [Read more...]
Emotional Problems
March 25, 2011 by 24 Comments
We all have reasons why we believe the things we do, ranging from what we would admit to being vacuous, to what we believe to be well grounded -- and varying degrees in between. Of course how others view our reasons is often very different from our own assessment. Every once in a while, however, a … [Read more...]
Religious Extinction
March 23, 2011 by 1 Comment
Making headlines is a newly released study "conducted by Richard Wiener of the University of Arizona, and Daniel Abrams and Haley Yaple of Northwestern University, took data stretching back 100 years for those nine countries. In a large number of modern secular democracies, there's been a trend … [Read more...]
But Where’s The Body?
March 22, 2011 by 72 Comments
Today in a landmark victory (for now) for the pro-life movement, South Dakota Governor Dennis Daugaard signed a bill requiring mothers seeking an abortion to wait 72 hours between the initial counseling with the doctor and having the abortion, in addition to requiring a visit to a crisis pregnancy … [Read more...]
Three Questions For Atheists
March 22, 2011 by 57 Comments
I have just three questions for Atheists that I would be genuinely grateful to have answered honestly. Rather than speculate what the answers may be, I'd like to hear it straight from the horse's mouth, so to speak. I am sure you have had at least one asked of you previously, so you may already … [Read more...]
The Price Of Tea In China
March 9, 2011 by 27 Comments
The internet has no shortage of skeptics arguing against the existence of God. They refer to themselves as "freethinkers". They claim their arguments for rejecting the existence of a deity is based on logic and reason, and absent of emotion. I have interacted with quite a few skeptics over the … [Read more...]
Sifting Reality 
Who said what…