Freethought + Free Markets?

While there is no predetermined political affiliation for freethinkers, I’ve noticed that many, if not most, identify as either liberal (both socially and fiscally) or libertarian (socially liberal, fiscally conservative).    Michael Shermer falls into the latter category, and has published several pieces recently extolling the virtues of free market capitalism and the private sector.
I’ve read [...]

A Bright Spot

For a while there, it didn’t seem like August was going to be too great a month for reason and rationality.  Watching this healthcare reform “debate” so far has been nothing short of excruciating.  Personally, I’ve seen a number of facebook friends unleash lightning strikes of pure misguided irrationality in their status lines and the [...]

If Only He’d Read Jared Diamond…

We can now add another item to the long list of reasons to read Jared Diamond’s Guns, Germs, and Steel:  Your athletic career just might depend on it.
If you haven’t already read this expansive, exhaustive survey of human history, there’s no time like the present.  Framed by the question, “How did it happen that Francisco [...]

Atheism – Good Enough for Brad Pitt, Good Enough for Me

I’m not sure if he still carries the “heat” in Hollywood that he used to, but I’m glad he’s on our side.  Reading the vacuous little “entertainment section” on MSN finally paid off, for once:
“Inglorious Basterd” Brad Pitt is going to burn in Hellfire for this one: The demi-god thespian was recently interviewed by German [...]

Not an Acedemic Pursuit

Yesterday’s New York Times featured an article about the popularity of football leagues for the home-schooled.  As they often do, the NYT also published a related slideshow.  The first photo from this slideshow:

Obvious sign is obvious.

I only wish this was photoshopped.

Affirmations of Secular Humanism – #3

Democritus

(This post is the third in a series discussing the affirmations of secular humanism. The introduction to the series can be found here, the first post here, the second here.)

We believe that scientific discovery and technology can contribute to the betterment of human life.
As he often did, perhaps Carl Sagan said [...]

“Good Without God” Essay Contest

I know Greg Epstein rubs some of us the wrong way, but I think this contest is a great idea.  Let’s flex some FreeThought Fort Wayne rhetorical muscle:
Good Without God Essay Contest
The deadline is June 23, and first prize is $1,000.00, which would buy a lot of Firefly coffee.  Good luck!

Affirmations of Secular Humanism – #2

(This (long overdue) post is the second in a series discussing the affirmations of secular humanism. The introduction to the series can be found here, the first post here.)
We deplore efforts to denigrate human intelligence, to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, and to look outside nature for salvation.

The [...]

Lefty Loves Science

Phil Mickelson

(Note:  I started writing this post on Tuesday.  Yesterday, it was revealed that Phil Mickelson’s wife, Amy, has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  I’d like to express on behalf of FreeThought Fort Wayne that we wish Mrs. Mickelson the best in care and treatment and hope that she makes a full recovery.)
I’m not sure [...]

Unchurched No Longer?

On the first Sunday of this month, I attended services at our local Unitarian Universalist Congregation.  I “went to church,” if you like.
However, calling the UU a “church” is a bit like calling Fresh Market a “restaurant.”  They don’t presume to feed you a fully prepared meal of one exclusive flavor of religious doctrine; rather, [...]