RTP - Home Page The Ragged Trousered Philosopher or 'RTP' as we are affectionately known to our friends, is an exercise in Web authorship which has been going on since 1996 (the core 'book' was started in 1986), the title of which was inspired by Robert Tressell's classic 'The Ragged Trousered Philanthropists'. But that's about as far as the resemblance goes. There is little doubt that life on Earth is headed in the general direction being painted here. The Atheist Experience Show Archive Using our Content The content of The Atheist Experience, including video and audio downloads and DVDs is currently all rights reserved. Please contact the ACA Board for special licenses. Atheist Experience Audio
Is "Freethinker" Synonymous with Nontheist? Jeffery Jay Lowder In this column, I want to consider two distinct but closely related questions: (1) can a theist be a freethinker?; and (2) are all nontheists freethinkers? I shall argue that the answer to (1) is "yes" and the answer to (2) is "no." I shall then argue that nontheists should stop using the word "freethinker" as an umbrella term. Can a Theist be a Freethinker?
Why extreme Islamists are intent on destroying cultural artifacts Saeed Khan / AFP - Getty Images, file A member of the Taliban stands near the remnants of a Buddha statue in Bamiyan, Afghanistan, in March 2001. The militia blew up two ancient Buddhas after a decree from their supreme commander to destroy all of the country's statues. By Ian Johnston, Staff Writer, NBC News Atheism with Positivity Alberta Officials Reject Proposed Catholic Sex Ed Lessons That “Deny Science” Alberta officials deserve praise for this strong stance against harmful misinformation. Read more
National Secular Society The National Secular Society campaigns for the separation of religion and state and promotes secularism as the best means to create a society in which people of all religions or none can live together fairly and cohesively. The NSS sees secularism — the position that the state should be separate from religion — as an essential element in promoting equality between all citizens. We work in the UK and Europe to challenge the disproportionate influence of religion on governments and in public life. We provide a secular voice in the media, defending freedom and equality as a counterbalance to the powerful religious lobby and some of the more destructive religious impulses that can threaten human rights worldwide. The National Secular Society is a non-party-political organisation with members from across the social and political spectrum.
Let Atheists (or Jews or Muslims) Care For Your Pets After the Rapture For a small fee, of course. Via Tyler Cowen, two websites -- Eternal Earth-Bound Pets, USA and JesusPets – that promise a service in which atheists who are also animal-lovers agree to care for the pets of those taken in the rapture. From Eternal Earth-Bound Pets: You've committed your life to Jesus. Christian fundamentalists are driving our country into the Dark Ages America has an infection. Whether it is terminal remains to be seen. The infection is that of anti-intellectualism, a steadfast refusal to acknowledge that one's worldview is mutable, a worldview in which facts are only facts if they fit that worldview, and that anyone who disagrees with a Christian fundamentalist worldview is an "enemy" of God. The infection has taken hold in conservative politics, where it has spread to a significant portion of the American population, and even into a significant amount of the Canadian population. In Katherine Stewart's article in the Guardian entitled "How Christian Fundamentalism Feeds Into the Toxic Partisanship of US Politics," Stewart notes:
Why atheism is winning-11: Some concluding thoughts The last hope of religion is the fear of death. Fear of death is what religion thinks of as its trump card. In any discussion with believers, they will invariably get around to talking about how you (as an atheist) are risking your immortal soul and ask whether you are not fearful of what will happen in the afterlife. By Mano Singham I know that this is coming and tell people who raise this that when I die, nothing spectacular will happen and that I will simply cease to be, with my body returning to the basic elements. The UK Islamic Mission, Mawdudi and Emel Magazine Emel Magazine is a lifestyle publication aimed at British Muslims. It is a glossy and attractive production, which positions itself at the forefront of modern Muslim British identity, suggesting a way for Islam in Britain to exist in a ‘lifestyle’ niche, just one more spiritual path amongst many. It would not look out of place on the magazine stand next to the latest edition of ‘Yoga Monthly’ or any other number of sedate periodicals.