"In America it is sport that is the opiate of the masses."

--Russell Baker

"Pro football is like nuclear warfare.  There are no wionners, only survivors."

--Frank Gifford

"Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play.  It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules, and sadistic pleasures in witnesssing violence: in other words it is war minus the…

So, you find yourself questioning the existence of your god. No matter your religion, that’s pretty frightening. All these years, raised to believe that an all-knowing, all-loving being was out there, somewhere, and that he had a plan for you. That your parents and community knew the ‘Truth.’ Most importantly, you’ve been instructed that when you die -if you followed all the rules, or asked for forgiveness- you’d join your loved ones for eternity in a paradise of sorts.

Maybe this…

I'd like to share the news that my novel, "The Holy Family," is now available in paperback and digital editions.

Dale McGowan, author of the forthcoming "Atheism for Dummies," had this to say about "The Holy Family": "'The Holy Family' is a rich and engrossing story, elegant and moving. Though it…

Magic and magic, what do they have in common? Perhaps I should clarify. What do prolific supernatural beliefs have in common with conjuring tricks?



In between study, I work as a close-up magician, performing at weddings, coorporate dinners, birthday parties and other such events. My passion for creating illusion has led me to perform for thousands of people, and to spend countless hours in front of the mirror, fiddling with cards, and studying the techniques and psychology of magic.…

“If God wants us to do a thing he should make his wishes sufficiently clear.  Sensible people will wait till he has done this before paying much attention to him.”

Samuel  Butler

“I cannot believe in a God who has neither humor nor common sense.”

W. Somerset Maugham

Followers of the riveting “Zachary’s Brain” series will remember that Zach is my 6-year-old stepson (7 this month) whose task of configuring the world – his…

There's a fundamental disconnect between atheists and the word "atheist". Part of this is because there isn't complete agreement on what the word means.

• Lack of belief in God
• Lack of belief in God's existence

I think it is time to redefine “belief”, or at least to limit its use a little. While it is true that the dictionary defines belief as “an acceptance that a statement is true or that something exists”, in many cases people seem to add “as a matter of faith” or “in spite of a lack of evidence”.

Read more…

Is myth more comforting than reality?

by Quinn O'Neill

For parents wishing to introduce their children to a scientific worldview, two new books may make the job a bit easier. Daniel Loxton’s book “Evolution: How We and All Living Things Came to Be” recently won the 2010…

The Columbus, Ohio newspaper, The Republic, just today printed the story Religion: Battle Over Circumcision, describing the battle that is erupting in San Francisco over a November 8 ballot that would ban male circumcision. While much of the article tries to distract readers from the issue by making reference to Foreskin Man and how it incites the anger of religious groups like Jews. I think the real issue is not what the author of “Foreskin Man” is up to, but the fact that there is an…

I have been, in the past, accused of endlessly whining about religion generally and Christianity specifically and not doing more about it. I respond usually that my activism has included going on marches and writing to my MP.

Here is an example of a recent exchange between me and my MP on the reform of the house of lords which proposes an increase in the religious representation and not as I would prefer the removal of this anachronistic oddity and the advance of a secular…