Interesting Articles and Blog Entries

[Many people have inspired me to write through their wonderfully written entries and their willingness to write about important topics.  These are some articles and blog entries that I found interesting or thought provoking in some way.  Needless to say, I don' t necessarily agree with all of the views of the authors whose articles are included here.  I may agree with them on some things and disagree with them on other ideas.  The ones I've included made me think, and I think they are worth sharing.  I hope you enjoy them.  I plan on updating this page whenever I find something worthy of inclusion (and whenever I want to remove an article for some reason).  If there is an article you think I may want to include here, please email me at ani.sharmin@gmail.com.]

Ali, Ayaan Hirsi

• Women Victims of Islam[Butterflies and Wheels] (August 25, 2005)
  • Ali writes about the horrible treatment of women in Islam, arguing that this abuse actually endorsed by the holy texts of the religion itself.

Baggini, Julian

• If science has not actually killed God, it has rendered him unrecognizable[The Independent] (September 4, 2010)
  • Baggini discusses the conflict between science and religion, arguing that while science does not prove that God is impossible, it does contradict the version of God that most people believe in.  If a person retains a belief in God while also accepting science, it has to be a deistic version of God that they accept.

Blackford, Russell [Metamagician and the Hellfire Club]

• With Friends Like These:  Atheists Against the New Atheism[ABC] (April 28, 2011)
  • Blackford writes about atheists who make odd accusations against and criticisms of the so-called “new atheists”
• Godless science fiction writers; godless science fiction (January 7, 2010)
  • Blackford responds to a blog post at a religious Christian site, in which the author warned people to beware science fiction due to the godlessness of some science fiction authors.
• Fundamentalism(October 8, 2007)
  • Blackford discusses fundamentalism in religion and whether there is fundamentalism (or something like it) in atheism.

Braasch-Joy, Sarah [Blog; Guest Posts at the old Daylight Atheism (Adam Lee's blog)]

• Gender Desegregation Wednesday[guest post on Adam Lee's blog Daylight Atheism] (9 September 2010)
  • Braasch writes about the horrible treatment of women by religious groups and demands that we should not accept religion as an excuse for these disgraceful actions.
• Moroccan Feminine Wiles[Freethought Today Vol. 25 No. 8] (October 2008)
  • Braasch writes about a trip to Morocco and what she learned there.  She writes that insisting on human rights is not imperialistic.
• The Real Religious Terrorism[Freethought Today Vol. 25 No. 5] (June/July 2008)
  • Braasch writes about being raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, her escape from her family, and how her experience motivated her to fight for human rights, especially against religious abuse.

Beinart, Peter

• The Failure of the American Jewish Establishment [The New York Review of Books] (May 12, 2010)
  • Beinart writes that the American Jewish establishment has failed to promote a “liberal Zionism”.  He criticizes groups like AIPAC and Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations for supporting anything the Israeli government does, even if it’s wrong, and points out that the opposition to a Palestinian state and indifference to the rights of the Palestinians is based not just on concern about terrorism, but also on an outright hatred of Arabs.

Christina, Greta [Greta Christina's Blog]

• Why “Yes, But” Is the Wrong Response to Misogyny(29 December 2011)
  • Christina writes about the common “yes, but” comments that are often the response to someone pointing out misogyny on the internet.
• Wealthy, Handsome, Strong, and with Endless Hard-Ons: Is Masculinity Impossible?(28 June 2011)
  • Christina writes about the narrow, rigid, and unattainable idea of masculinity in our culture and why it is better to be yourself.
• How Religion Contorts Morality:  Respected Theologian Defends Genocide and Infanticide(12 May 2011)
  • Christina criticizes Christian apologist William Lane Craig’s defense of the genocide and infanticide ordered by God against the Canaanite in the Bible.  She points out how religion can contribute to this contorted view of morality.
• How Sexism Hurts Men, Part 2:  Why Do I Care (28 September 2010)
  • Christina continues writing about how sexism hurts men, explaining why it is important to care about this topic.
• How Sexism Hurts Men:  ”Undatable” (27 September 2010)
  • Christina writes about the way that sexism hurts men, criticizing a book called Undateable: 311 Things Guys Do That Guarantee They Won’t Be Dating or Having Sex, in which the author offers questionable advice to men, telling them to follow impossible and stereotypical advice about how to be a man.
• All Boy-Boy Action(5 April 2010)
  • Christina writes about women enjoying gay male porn.
• Trekkie Religion and Secular Judaism:  What If Religion Really Were Just a Metaphor (December 3, 2009)
  • Christian writes about truly secular versions of religion, comparing them to the Star Trek fandom and societies which study works of literature.  She writes that this could be a way to preserve the good parts of religion while not following the inaccurate parts.
• The Armor of God, or, The Top One Reason Religion is Harmful (November 25, 2009)
  • Christina writes about the one aspect of religion that she thinks makes it especially harmful and likely to cause damage.
• When Anyone Is Watching: Metaphors and the Slipperiness of Religion(23 October 2009)
  • Christina writes that there are religious believers who say they see religion as a metaphor but then still get upset if someone point out that it’s not literally true, showing that they change their position depending on whether they talking with skeptics or with other people with similar beliefs as their own.
• Race, Gender, and Atheism, Part 2:  What We Need To Do — And Why(10 September 2009)
  • In a continuation of Getting It Right Early, Christina writes about pragmatic and idealistic reasons why we should care about diversity in the atheist movement.  She makes an analogy with the issues of race and gender in the LGBT movement and cautions atheists not to make the same mistakes.
• Getting It Right Early:  Why Atheists Have to Act Now On Gender and Race(9 September 2009)
  • Christina writes about the issue of gender and racial diversity in the atheist movement and discusses some ways that a movement can become dominated by people of on gender and race, even unintentionally.
• The Big Guns:  Greta Answers Some Theologians (30 January 2009)
  • Christina answer some questions posed by some Christian apologists on Hemant Mehta’s Friendly Atheist blog.  She shows that the explanations for faith given by these apologists are no better than the explanations given by the average believer and are no more convincing.
• How Can Atheists Be Good Allies(29 December 2008)
  • Christian explains how atheists can be good allies when working together with other groups.  (This is a continuation of/follow-up to How to Be an Ally with Atheists.)
• How to Be an Ally with Atheists (December 16, 2008)
  • Christina explains how the LGBT equality movement (and other movements in general) can be allies with atheists.  (This is a continuation of Being an Atheist in the Queer Community.)
• Being an Atheist in the Queer Community (December 15, 2008)
  • Christina discusses her experiences as an atheist in the queer community.  She writes that she feels much more supported an accepted as a queer in the atheist community than as an atheist in the queer community.
• What Do You Want, Anyway?  An Atheist’s Mission Statement (May 25, 2008)
  • Christina explains what she hopes to accomplish by speaking out about atheism and which of two goals she thinks is more reasonable to expect, given the nature of much of religious practice.
• Dumbledore Is Gay:  Good Guys and Literary Closets(23 October 2007)
  • Christina writes about Albus Dumbledore being gay.  She writes that it’s cool that a very moral character is gay and that it’s too bad Rowling didn’t include it in the books — that it’s too bad we live in a society where, if a major character is gay, people will focus on that part of the book.
• Atheists and Anger:  A Reply to the Hurricane (October 18, 2007)
  • Christina replies to some of the comments she received on her Atheists and Anger post.
• Atheists and Anger (October 15, 2007)
  • Christina provides a (very long) list of reasons why she is angry about religion, illustrating repeatedly that the harm done by religion is indeed something which any person should be angry about.
• Short Memories: AIDS Denialism and Vaccine Resistance(10 October 2007)
  • Christina writes about people having short memories — not remembering what horrible diseases were like before vaccines and treatments were developed, and then denying that these medical advances work.
• Why Religion Is Like Fanfic(8 October 2007)
  • Christina writes that religion is like fanfic, with followers/fans trying to fill in the gaps in the stories and reinterpret or fix the inconsistencies, though the difference is that fanfic writers know that it’s fiction.
• The Galileo Fallacy, and the Gadly Corollary(23 September 2007)
  • Christina writes that disagreeing with popular opinion and angering other people does not make an argument correct or incorrect.  She writes that arguing for the veracity of an argument based on its (un)popularity is an example of lazy thinking, of “equating belligerence with genius”.

Corvino, John

• What the Bible doesn’t say[365Gay] (April 22, 2011)
  • Corvino writes that both Christians who favor discrimination against homosexuals and Christians who favor equal rights selectively quote the Bible to support their own views, often reading into it what it does not say.  He points out that it is important to criticize this action, even when it’s done by allies who support equal rights, because the gay-rights battle is tied in with other important issues in society.

Coyne, Jerry A.

• Science and religion aren’t friends[USA Today] (October 11, 2010)
  • Professor Coyne explains why science and religion are not compatible.  He writes that they are different approaches to understanding that are irreconcilable, since science can find truth while religion can’t.
• Seeing and Believing:  The never ending attempt to reconcile science and religion and why it is doomed to fail. [The New Republic ] (February 4, 2009)
  • Professor Coyne writes about efforts to reconcile science and religion, especially the arguments which are made by some people who speak out in favor of evolution and again intelligent design (such as Karl Giberson and Kenneth Miller).  He explains why these attempt don’t work, since they often rely on either changing God to an entity with characteristics most theists wouldn’t accept or distorting science so that it does not resemble what is actually supported by evidence.
• The Faith That Dare Not Speak Its Name:  The case against intelligent design. [The New Republic] (August 22 & 29, 2005)
  • Professor Coyne criticizes and dismantles intelligent design, showing that it is just religious creationism in disguise.
• Intergalactic Jesus[London Review of Books] (May 2002)
  • Professor Coyne reviews Michael Ruse’s book Can a Darwinian Be a Christian?  The Relationship between Science and Religion, disagreeing with Ruse’s premise that Christianity and evolution can be reconciled and be mutually reinforcing.

Dawkins, Richard

• Forgive me, spirit of science[New Statesman] (December 29, 2o10)
  • Professor Dawkins writes about the Authorized King James Version translation of the Bible, which is celebrating its 400th birthday in 2011.  He writes about the ways in which our language and literature have been influenced by the KJV and advocates teaching it as literature in schools. (This was also posted at Richard Dawkins’ site; it can be found here.)
• “It must have happened for a reason”[RichardDawkins.net] (August 6, 2010)
  • Professor Dawkins writes about a hymn that was in his mind on this particular day, showing that stories involving a remarkable uncanny coincidence get repeated and spread while unremarkable ones don’t.
• Sky-blue-pink.  A colour never before seen?[RichardDawkins.net] (June 12, 2010)
  • Professor Dawkins wonders about whether it is possible to describe a color to a person who has never seen that color.
• Richard Dawkins:  the truth dogs reveal about evolution[The Times] (August 25, 2009)
  • An excerpt from chapter two of Professor Dawkins’s The Greatest Show on Earth:  The Evidence for Evolution.
• Creationists, now they’re coming for your children[The Times] (August 24, 2009)
  • An excerpt from chapter one of Professor Dawkins’s The Greatest Show on Earth:  The Evidence for Evolution.  (The title of the article is odd and was probably added by an editor at the paper.)

Dennett, Daniel C.

• The Unbelievable Truth:  Why America has become a nation of religious know-nothings[The NY Daily News] (October 3, 2010)
  • Professor Dennett writes about the results of a Pew Survey about religion, in which atheists and agnostics scored better than many religious groups.  He writes that many religious people avoid looking to closely at their religion in order avoid confronting the contradictions with reality.
• Religious no longer a protected class[On Faith] (January 12, 2010)
  • Professor Dennett writes  that there is no media bias against Christianity, explaining that after being protected from criticism for too long, religion is finally being criticized.
• Thank Goodness[Edge] (November 3, 2006)
  • Professor Dennett discusses his health problems, the people who are praying for him, and the goodness of the medical professionals who are helping him in his recovery.

Deutsch, Barry

• The Male Privilege Checklist:  An Unabashed Imitation of an Article by Peggy McIntosh
  • Deutsch, in an imitation of McIntosh’s article about white privilege, writes an about male privilege, including examples of it.

Eberhard, John [JT Eberhard's father; JT sometimes posts his father's writing at What Would JT Do?]

• The Reason for the Season(4 December 2011)
  • Eberhard responses to the claim that “Jesus is the reason for the season” by pointing out that there are other religions that celebrated holidays in December and that The War on Christmas is “an attempt to get attention, jockey for victimhood, and to impose your preferences onto everyone”.
• We Don’t Expect Perfection(27 November 2011)
  • Eberhard responds to the accusation that atheists expect Christians to be perfect.  He writes that if Christians aren’t willing to concede that people are equal, then he expects them to be, in his words, “less evil.”

Eberhard, JT [What Would JT Do? (current blog); Zerowing21 on Xanga (old blog)]

• Moral lesson(Friday, 01 October 2010)
  • Eberhard writes about an experience he had of arguing with a now former friend and the moral lesson he learned from it.
• Thoughts on losing(Thursday, 30 September 2010)
  • Eberhard writes that he detests bullies and that it is important to do the right thing, to stand up for what you believe is right, even if you don’t win.
• The twelve basic arguments for god #2:  Argument from miracles(Thursday, February 4, 2010)
  • Eberhard discusses why arguments based on miracles do not prove the existence of god.
• The twelve basic arguments for god #1:  Argument from Holy Scripture(Wednesday, 3 February 2010)
  • In the first of a series addressing the twelve basic arguments for god, Eberhard discusses why arguments based on holy scripture do not prove the existence of god.
• Hope is best found in reason(Tuesday, 21 April 2009)
  • Eberhard responds to the claim that religion gives people hope by arguing that our best hope can be found through reason.
• An Old Letter about “true” ™ Christianity(Tuesday, 14 April 2009)
  • Eberhard responds to the common assertion made by Christians that another person who disagrees with them is not a “true Christian”.  I think his argument applies equally well to members of other faiths who make the same assertion.
• The Gay Marriage arguments(Saturday, 4 April 2009)
  • Eberhard dismantles the arguments against same-sex marriage.
• The incompatibility of science and faith(Thursday, 5 March 2009)
  • Eberhard argues that science and faith are incompatible and explains his reasons for thinking so.

Fincke, Daniel [Camels With Hammers blog]

• Don’t Call Religious Believers Stupid (Tip 1 of 10 For Reaching Out To Religious Believers)(5 October 2011)
  • Finke writes that atheists should not call religious believers stupid.  It is both incorrect and will prevent a mature, thoughtful conversation between religious believers and atheists.
• Top 10 Tips For Reaching Out To Atheists(22 February 2011)
  • Finke offers tips to religious believers about how to reach out to atheists.
    

Garton, Ray [Atheist Oasis]

• An Open Letter To Christians:  Merry Christmas From An Atheist[AO] (December 13, 2010)
  • Garton writes that there really is no War on Christmas, and that the claim that there is one has its origin in discrimination against non-Christians.

Gould, Stephen Jay

• The Median Isn’t the Message
  • Gould writes about his cancer diagnosis, his efforts to look up statistics about his disease, and how he was able to have a positive outlook.

Grossman, Lev

• The Boy Who Lived Forever [Time Magazine] (7 July 2011) (entire article on one page is here)
  • Grossman writes about fan fiction.
• Good Books Don’t Have to Be Hard: A novelist on the pleasure of reading stories that don’t bore; rising up from the supermarket racks(29 August 2009)
  • Grossman writes about the pleasure of reading a good story, declaring that we need “a basic belief that plot and literary intelligence aren’t mutually exclusive”.

Hale, Miranda Celeste [Miranda Celeste Hale (MCH -- old blog), Miranda Celeste Hale on Tumblr (MCH.t), and ex-Catholic Girl (eCG.t) on Tumblr]

• Fairyology is a crucial academic subject[MCH.t] (August 17, 2010)
  • Hale, in response to Sophia Deboick’s article Theology is a crucial academic subject, argues that theology is just as ridiculous as fairyology and that theology requires one to believe in God, which means that religion cannot be studied the way it should be (with skepticism) within theology.  She also argues that Deboick misrepresents the reason for atheists’ dismissal of theology.
• Why Bother?[MCH] (February 28, 2010)
  • Hale, in response to a journal article called Different Identity Accounts for Catholic Women, writes that she does not understand why women who disagree with the Roman Catholic Church decide to remain members instead of leaving.
• Rabbit is the question(MCH) (December 27, 2009)
  • Hale’s hilarious satire of Mark Vernon article God is the question.

Hari, Johann [IMPORTANT NOTE:  It's been found out that Johann Hari had been lifting quotes that people gave to other writers and using those quotes in his own articles without giving credit to the original interviewer (making it seem as though the person said the quote to him).  I don't know if that was the case for the articles below and am considering removing them from this page due to Hari's very dishonest actions.]

• Can we talk about Muslim homophobia now? [Johann Hari's website; originally published in Attitude] (February 25, 2011)
  • Hari writes about Muslim homophobia, especially in Britain.  He gives examples of Muslims handing out hateful leaflets, threatening gay people with hellfire, and even attacking gay people.  He writes about the large gap between attitudes towards homosexuality among Muslims compared to the general population and offers suggestions for how to address this, especially in the schools.
• Why is it wrong to protect gay children?[The Independent] (January 28, 2011)
  • Hari writes about the importance of addressing the bullying that gay children face in school.  He condemns those who promote discrimination against gays while portraying themselves as The Real Victims.
• Catholics, it’s you this Pope has abused [The Independent; also on Johan Hari's website under the title Catholics --- shun the Pope who has abused you] (September 9, 2010)
  • Hari writes about the horrible actions of Pope Benedict XVI and encourages Catholics to realize that the people hurt by the Pope include Catholics themselves.
• The slow, whiny death of British Christianity(August 10, 2010)
  • Hari takes apart the claim that Christians are being persecuted in Britain by pointing out the many unfair and unjust special privileges that religious groups receive.
• Islamists, their victims, and hypocrisy[The Independent] (May 20, 2010)
  • Hari writes about the danger faced by people who stand up against fundamentalist Islam in countries where Islam has political power.  He points out that sending them back to their home countries (instead of letting them immigrate) is a death sentence, and that we should protect them.
• Dear God, stop brainwashing children[The Independent] (May 8, 2009)
  • Hari criticizes the mandatory worship in British schools, in the form of a prayer to God.
• Why should I respect these oppressive religions?[The Independent] (January 28, 2009)
  • Hari writes about freedom of speech, which must include the right to criticize religion.

Harris, Sam

• A New Year’s Resolution for the Rich[Huffington Post] (December 29, 2010)
  • Harris writes about the recession and about the great inequalities in wealth and income in the United States, arguing that the rich can afford to pay more and that we have to invest in areas such as education and clean energy for a better future.
• Can There Be a Science of Good and Evil[Huffington Post] (October 3, 2010)
  • Harris writes that, currently, religious fundamentalists falsely claim to have the moral answers while many secular people express uncertainty that there can be a way to figure out what is truly right.  He says this has caused liberals to wrongly surrender their intellectual standards and political freedoms over to fundamentalists.  Harris argues that we can figure out what is morally right without religion.
• The Science of Good and Evil[The Daily Beast] (October 2, 2010)
  • Harris offers an excerpt from his book The Moral Landscape a few days before its release on October 5th.  He argues that we can figure out human values and increase the well-being of conscious beings without religion, and that science can offer us the information to do this.
• In Defense of Elitism/When Atheists Attack:  A noted provocateur rips Sarah Palin — and defends elitism[Newsweek] (September 20, 2008)
  • Harris sharply criticizes Sarah Palin (who, at the time of the writing of this article, was running for Vice President of the United States of America) for her lack of knowledge.  He declares that we need people who are more knowledgeable and thoughtful about the important issues in positions of power.
• Losing Our Spines to Save Our Necks[Huffington Post] (May 5, 2008)
  • Harris writes about Islamic violence and the fear which has made many people reluctant to criticize Islam.
• God’s Hostages[On Faith at The Washington Post] (January 22, 2007)
  • Harris writes about the horrible treatment of women that is promoted in religions, especially the three Abrahamic faiths.
• 10 myths — and 10 Truths — About Atheism[The Los Angels Times] (December 24, 2006)
  • Harris lists and refutes ten misconceptions that many people have about atheism and atheists.
• The Language of Ignorance[Truthdig] (August 15, 2006)
  • Harris tears apart Francis Collins’ The Language of God, a book in which Collins tries to provide reasons why science and religion are in harmony.
• Who Are the Moderate Muslims?[Huffington Post] (February 16, 2006)
  • Harris writes about some of the criteria that should be used to determine whether someone really is a moderate Muslim.
• An Atheist Manifesto[TruthDig] (December 7, 2005)
  • Harris explains atheism.

Hitchens, Christopher

• Trial of the Will [VanityFair] (January 2012)
  • Hitchens writes about undergoing treatment for cancer and how it has caused him to reconsider the accuracy of the famous quote, “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger”.  He writes that he wonders now why he ever found it profound.
• A Ridiculous Rapid Respons:  Why did so many “experts” declare the Oslo attacks to be the work of Islamic terrorists?[Slate] (July 24, 2011)
  • Hitchens writes about the terror attacks in Oslo.  ”One way of phrasing the question is this: Do the extreme jihadists and their most virulent opponents really have a symbiotic relationship?”
• Unspoken Truths[Vanity Fair] (June 2011)
  • Hitchens writes movingly about the loss of his voice, in a way that makes one appreciate the power of words and speech.
• When the King Saved God[Vanity Fair] (May 2011)
  • Hitchens writes about the King James translation of the Bible and its great impact on our language and culture.
• Don’t Mess With Wisconsin[Vanity Fair] (February 28, 2011)
  • Hitchens writes about the protests in Wisconsin, including a story about his own experiences in Wisconsin, some history, and a reference to literature.
• How To Make a Decent Cup of Tea:  Ignore Yoko Ono and John Lennon, and heed George Orwell’s tea-making advice [Slate] (January 3, 2011)
  • Taking inspiration from an essay by George Orwell, Hitchens writes about making a proper cup of tea in a surprising yet fascinating article.
• Tea’d Off [Vanity Fair] (January 2011)
  • Hitchens writes about the discriminatory and immature behavior of the Tea Party movement.
• Mr. Kissinger, Have You No Shame [Slate] (December 27, 2010)
  • Hitchens writes about comments made by Henry Kissinger on a recent batch of Richard M. Nixon’s Oval Office tapes.  He condemns Kissinger and those who have made excuses for his words, calling Kissinger’s words unpardonable.
• Miss Manners And the Big C[Vanity Fair] (December 2010)
  • In the fourth part of his series about his illness, Hitchens writes about the difficulties of knowing what to say to someone who is ill and of knowing how to best speak about one’s own illness.
• Israel’s Shabbos Goy:  Why America will come to regret the craven deal Obama is offering Netanyahu [Slate] (November 15, 2010)
  • Hitchens writes about the negative effect that the teachings of extreme Jewish preachers, such as Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (who Hitchens refers to as an “elderly Sephardic ayatollah”), are having on Israel and on any prospect for peace in the region between Israelis and Palestinians.
• Tumortown[Vanity Fair] (November 2010)
  • In the third part of his series about his illness, Hitchens writes about the advice that many have been offering to him, some of which is pseudoscience.  Others have been offering him good advice, some of which he has followed and other advice which  is (sadly) not applicable or would not be effective in his case.
• Unanswerable Prayers[Vanity Fair] (October 2010)
  • In the second part of his series about his illness, Hitchens writes about the prayers people are saying for him, some hoping he’ll get better and/or hoping he’ll convert.
• Tropic of Cancer[Vanity Fair] (September 2010)
  • Hitchens writes eloquently and bravely about his illness.  He was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, but that hasn’t stopped his writing or his wit.  (This is the first part of a series.)
• White Fright:  Glenn Beck’s rally was large, vague, moist, and undirected—the Waterworld of white self-pity.[Slate] (August 30, 2010)
  • Hitchens writes that support for Glenn Beck’s rally is due to people’s fears about the changing demographics of the United States, leading to complaints of imaginary grievances.
• Mau-Mauing the Mosque:  The dispute over the “Ground Zero mosque” is an object lesson in how not to resist intolerance[Slate] (August 9, 2010)
  • Hitchens argues that resisting intolerance should not involve ignoring the First Amendment and should not be based on unreason.
• In the Name of the Father, the Sons . . . [New York Times] (July 9, 2010)
  • Hitchens reviews Philip Pullman’s The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ.
• In Your Face:  French attempts to outlaw the burqa strike a blow for the rights of women [Slate] (May 10, 2010)
  • Hitchens on the burqa and equal rights for women.
• Holy Names:  Now some Islamists want to prohibit non-Muslims from referring to God as Allah[Slate] (February 8, 2010)
  • Hitchens points out how ridiculous it is for members of one religion to claim that a certain word belongs to them and can’t be used by anyone else.
• In Defense of Foxhole Atheists[Vanity Fair] (December 15, 2009)
  • Hitchens speaks with and writes about atheists in the United States armed forces, showing clearly that the old an annoying assertion “there are no atheists in foxholes” is a lie.  He writes about the special treatment given to extremist Christians in the military, which is clear violation of the First Amendment, and insists that separation of church and state should prevail.
• Yale Surrenders:  Why did Yale University Press remove images of Mohammed from a book about the Danish cartoons?[Slate] (August 17, 2009)
  • Hitchens writes that we should not let fear stop us from showing the controversial images of Mohammad, saying that the violence is not the fault of those who drew or published the cartoons, and that it is wrong to blame ourselves for the violence of those who threaten and attack us.  He provides a link to the actual Danish cartoons.
• A Man’s Home Is His Constitutional Castle:  Henry Louis Gates Jr. should have taken his stand on the Bill of Rights, not on his epidermis or that of the arresting officer.[Slate] (July 27, 2009)
  • Hitchens writes that the race was a less important consideration in this situation.  The most important consideration is to stand up for rights.
• An Army of Extremists:  How some military rabbis are trying to radicalize Israeli soldiers.[Slate] (March 23, 2009)
  • Hitchens writes about rabbis in the Israeli military who are quoting hateful Bible versions and promoting extremism in the military.
• Believe Me, It’s Torture[Vanity Fair] (August 2008)
  • Hitchens undergoes waterboarding and, in this article, writes about why it is indeed torture.
• God Bless Me, It’s a Best-Seller![Vanity Fair] (September 2007)
  • Hitchens writes about his book tour to promote God Is Not Great.  Some of the experiences he had during the tour are very amusing.  This article is included as the Afterword in the paperback edition of the book.
• The Boy Who Lived[The New York Times] (August 12, 2007)
  • Hitchens reviews Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.
• Oxford’s Rebel Angel[VanityFair] (October 2001)
  • Hitchens reviews Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy.

Jacoby, Susan [The Spirited Atheist (SA) and On Faith at the Washington Post]

• Sleep Mad, Christopher Hitchens, in this age of American unreason[SA] (16 December 2011)
  • Jacoby writes about Christopher Hitchens after his death.
• College too late, too little for secular studies in America[SA] (31 August 2011)
  • Jacoby writes that while college classes about secularism are well and good, they should not be used to correct the mistakes made during earlier education.  She explains that public schools are often reluctant to teach about secularism, due to the false belief that the United States is a Christian nation, citing David Barton and the Texas School Board as an example.  She writes that secularism is an important part of our history that everyone should learn about.
• Wanted:  A toughminded, tenderhearted secular social conscience[SA] (July 21, 2011)
  • Jacoby, in an excellent article, writes that a secular social conscience is important and needed to address the social economic issues by standing up for helping those who are in need.
• Supreme Court opens door wider for taxpayer support of religion[SA] (April 13, 2011)
  • Jacoby criticizes a Supreme Court decision that prevents taxpayers from legally challenging tax credits, exemptions, and deductions that benefit religious schools.  She cites Justice Kagan, who asked in her dissent if similar tax credits would be considered acceptable for other religious expenditures.
• What turns “the Other” into one of us?[SA] (March 16, 2011)
  • Jacoby writes about the Japanese earthquake and Representative Peter King’s hearing on the loyalty of American Muslims.  She writes about how attitudes towards Japanese people have changed and hopes that attitudes towards American Muslims changes as well.
• Notes from a proud free-speech junkie[SA] (March 10, 2011)
  • Jacoby writes about the importance of freedom of speech, even for people like Fred Phelps.
• Who decides when medicine prolongs dying, not living?[SA] (January 31, 2011)
  • Jacoby writes about the importance of making end of life decisions while we are still well, so that our loved ones and medical professionals know our wishes.
• Without secular government, there is no religious freedom[SA] (January 3, 2011)
  • In response to threats and violence against Christians committed by Muslim extremists, Jacoby writes that theocracies cannot protect religious freedom and that attacks on Christians by Muslim extremists have not received the attention they should be getting.  She makes the point that secularism, with no religion receiving special status, is needed for religious freedom.  (Please also read the article she links to, Hani Shukrallah’s J’accuse at Ahram Online.)
• Henry Kissinger’s Jewish and human rights problem[SA] (December 18, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about a recent batch of Richard M. Nixon’s Oval Office tapes, in which Henry Kissinger makes a comment that is dismissive of the horrible persecution suffered by the Jewish people.  Jacoby condemns Kissinger’s actions and also strongly disagrees with those who make excuses for his words.
• Conviction of Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper/rapist a victory for secular feminism[SA] (December 12, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about how secular feminists fought against the idea of blaming people who were raped for what was done to them, contrasting the way that rape trials were conducted in the past with the way that the trial of Elizabeth Smart’s kidnapper/rapist is being conducted.
• The religious right:  back in business with censorship at the Smithsonian[SA] (December 8, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about the bullying behavior of the religious right, specifically the demand to censor the Smithsonian exhibit “Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture” that they object to due to their religious beliefs.
• Many charter schools continue to defy church state separation[SA] (December 1, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about the fact that many charter schools, under the guise of improving the education system, are actually religious schools receiving government funding, which both violates the First Amendment and separates children based on religion.
• Religion’s role in gay teen suffering[SA] (November 11, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about bullying and the importance of opposing it.
• The politics of ignorance:  Election 2010[SA] (October 20, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about the ignorance of politicans who cannot even explain “why they believe what they believe”.
• Nuremberg:  Its lesson for today[SA] (October 18, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about Nuremberg:  Its Lessons for Today, a documentary that was completed in 1948 but was not actually released until recently due to the shocking and sensitive nature of the content.  She writes that it is important to know about the horrors that have happened and to remember the importance of reason and justice.
• The Chilean mine rescue:  a glimpse of what humanity could be[SA] (October 13, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about the rescue of Chilean miners and discusses how people worked together to help others.  She says that this shows that humanity can do good and that we should do good more often.
• Why the religious right has a permanent political edge over secular America[SA] (October 10, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about the edge that the religious right has over secular America because of religious groups’ ability to organize and influence the government.
• Atheists know more about religion than the religious[SA] (October 6, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about the results of a Pew Forum Survey in which atheists and agnostics scored higher than many religious groups.
• Cyberviciousness and a student’s suicide:  the fault is always in ourselves[SA] (October 2, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about the suicide of a college student’s suicide, explaining that our focus should not be on the technology.  It is not the technology but rather the bad actions of people which caused this.
• Martyrdom, selective memory and Pope Benedict in England[SA] (September 22, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about Pope Benedict XVI’s visit to England, pointing out his selective memory of history and commenting on martyrdom.
• Kennedy on church and state:  a speech no candidate would make today[SA] (September 15, 2010)
  • For the anniversary of Presidential candidate John F. Kennedy’s speech on the separation of church and state, Jacoby writes on the importance of this separation and laments that such a speech would not be made by a candidate today, given that too many people have grown to expect religious involvement in politics.
• Unreason infects atheism (too) in the culture of American rage[SA] (September 11, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes that the culture of rage has infected atheists, some of whom are willing to discriminate against others, such as Muslims, instead of remembering how they themselves are discriminated against and realizing that it’s wrong.  She writes that atheism should be about furthering intellectual progress.
• The culture of rage:  America in the hands of angry fools[SA] (September 9, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about the hate and rage which has lead to discrimination and violence and the fact that this is being promoted, not just by fringe elements, but by mainstream news organizations.  She also writes that it is incorrect to consider mosque building and book burning equivalent, when the later is clearly worse.
• Dissecting Presidential theology not an American tradition[SA] (September 6, 2010)
  • Addressing the discussion and speculation on President Obama’s religious beliefs, Jacoby writes that the attention being given to the President’s religious beliefs is due to both the religious right and religious left trying to include religion in the government.  Jacoby explains that, despite claims to the contrary, this is not an American tradition and not a practice which should be continued.
• Multiculturalism and Its Discontents:  Why are liberals excusing religious abuses on ground of cultural relativism?[Big Questions Online] (August 19, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes that we should be more vocal in criticizing human rights violations and abuses, even if the people committing them claim that they are acting according to their religious beliefs.  She encourages people on the left to criticize religious abuse and reach out to those who have been victims of it.
• Biblical religion the only–and illegitimate–basis for anti-gay laws[SA] (August 7, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about the ruling of Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker, which overturned Proposition 8.  She makes it clear that the arguments against same-sex marriage are not based on any good reasons, but are just the product of religious discrimination.
• Summer Reading for Infidels[SA] (July 8, 2010)
  • Jacoby compiles a wonderful list of recommended reading for infidels.
• The Texas Bored of Education, Real Estate and Dentistry[SA] (March 22, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about the revisions to the social studies curriculum made by members of the Texas Board of Education.  She writes that the content of the curriculum is being decided by people who don’t know enough about the subject and that the changes are motivated by religious and political ideologies, rather than accurate history.
• One Classroom, From Sea to Shining Sea[The New York Times] (March 18, 2010)
  • Jacoby writes about the problems in the United States public school system, pointing out that a lack of national standards may be one of the causes.
• The Dumbing of America:  Call Me a Snob, but Really, We’re a Nation of Dunces[The Washington Post] (February 17, 2008)
  • Jacoby laments the anti-intellectualism that has become so pervasive in the United States.

Jemisin, N. K. [Epiphany 2.0, N. K. Jemisin's official website]

• Don’t Put My Book in the African American Section.(May 26, 2010)
  • Jemisin, in response to a note she received from a fan of her book The Hundred Thousand Kingdoms, writes about why she doesn’t like the African American section in libraries and bookstores.  She wishes this section did not exist, because its existence is the result of the discriminatory belief that people won’t read books by an author of a different race.

Kamal, Ajita

• Freeing Devi:  A Pragmatist Argument For Gender Equality In The Freethought Movement In India[Nirmukta] (20 April 2010)
  • Kamal counters claims that goddess worship should be used to support equal rights, pointing out how superstitions support discrimination, and writes about the importance of supporting gender equality in the freethought movement.

King, Stephen

• J. K. Rowling’s Ministry of Magic[Entertainment Weekly] (10 August 2007)
  • King reviews J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and writes about the aspects of the series which he thinks made it successful with both children and adults.
• Review of J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix[Entertainment Weekly] (June 26, 2003)
  • King writes that the fifth installment of the Harry Potter series is the best one so far.

Kirby, Paula

• Religion lies about women[On Faith] (April 13, 2011)
  • Kirby writes about how religion harms women, telling them to be submissive to men, not letting them make their own decisions, and using certain portrayals of women in holy books to create an unrealistic and hateful idea of how women should act.

Krisko [GodlessLiberal on Xanga]

• Affirmative Action[GL] (May 22, 2009)
  • Krisko discusses affirmative action and suggests that a policy based on socioeconomic and situational factors instead of race would be a better way to help those who are disadvantaged.

Kristof, Nicholas

• Religion and Sex Quiz[The New York Times] (May 21, 2011)
  • Kristof presents a quiz on the sexual rules in the Bible, pointing out that people do not know and do not follow the contents of the Bible.
• Test Your Savvy on Religion [The New York Times] (October 9, 2010)
  • Kristof presents a religious quiz in response to the results of a survey that showed ignorance of religion among the United States population.  He shows that it is easy to cherry pick the faiths and that we should not rush to conclusions based on out-of-context quotes.

Lee, Adam (a.k.a. Ebonmuse) [Daylight Atheism (DA), Daylight Atheism Archive of posts dated earlier than 4 October 2011 (DA), and EbonMusings (EM)] (Since the EbonMusings entries are not dated, I’ve listed them alphabetically.  After them are the Daylight Atheism entries, listed similarly to others on this page.)

• Parting the Pantheon:  Debunking the Greek Gods[EM]
  • Lee hilariously debunks the ancient Greek gods as a way to respond to Christians who claim that he spends all his time writing about Christianity and to show that, as an atheist, he disbelieves in all religions equally.
• The Theist’s Guide to Converting Atheists:  What would convince an atheist that a religion is true?[EM]
  • Lee offers a guide to theists explaining what he would accept as evidence for the truth of a religion.
• American Secularism and Christian Tolerance [DA] (11 October 2011)
  • Lee responds to Peter Lawler’s response to Is America a Christian Nation?.  Lawler claimed that the ideas of freedom in the Constitution are Christian ideas.  Lee argues that democracy and rights have affected Christianity, rather than the other way around.
• Is America a Christian Nation?[DA] (23 October 2011)
  • Lee argues that America is not a Christian nation.  (This article was published on 4 October 2011 at AlterNet  under the title Conservatives Want America to be a “Christian Nation” — Here’s What That Would Actually Look Like.)
• Defending Genocide, Redux[DA] (April 11, 2011)
  • Lee, in an entry related to an earlier one titled “Defending Genocide”, criticizes and condemns the excuses that are used to defend genocides in the Bible.  (Also read the comment thread.)
• Civil War Denialism:  A Further Response to the “The Jewish Prophecy of Exile” [DA] (September 24, 2010)
  • Lee addresses the claims of a religious apologist who tried to claim that there is just as little evidence for the United States Civil War as there is for the exile described in the Hebrew Bible.
• Escaping Ultra-Orthodox Judaism [DA] (September 7, 2010)
  • Lee writes about an article in which members of ultra-Orthodox Judaism talked about leaving the faith.
• Creeping Fundamentalism in Israel [DA] (September 6, 2010)
  • Lee writes about how ultra-Orthodox or haredi Jewish groups are affecting Israel, by promoting discrimination and receiving government payments while studying the Bible.
• The Fiction of Corporate Religious Freedom[DA] (November 5, 2010)
  • Lee, in response to a column by Stanley Fish, writes that the idea of corporate religious freedom is an attempt to allow religious groups to control other people.  He makes the point that religious people can already voluntarily follow their respective religions and makes it clear that “corporate religion freedom” is a way to give one or certain religious groups the ability to take away people’s religious freedom.
• Why Atheists Should Be Feminists[DA] (August 20, 2010)
  • Lee argues that atheists should be feminists, both because it will make women feel more welcome in atheist groups and because it is just the right thing to do.
• The Jewish Prophecy of Exile[DA] (May 10, 2010)
  • Lee writes about and addresses the claims of a religious apologist who claims that there is evidence for the exile in the Hebrew Bible.
• An Unserious Response to the Theist’s Guide[DA] (April 28, 2010)
  • Lee receives another response his The Theist’s Guide to Converting Atheists.  The person responding makes unreasonable demands, which Lee points out it equivalent to saying that nothing would ever change one’s mind about the existence of God.
• Demanding the Right to Discriminate[DA] (23 April 2010)
  • Lee writes about and condemns religious people who believe that they should be allowed to discriminate (and thereby be exempt from following the anti-discrimination laws).
• An Atheist at Liberty University[DA] (4 part series, February 18, 2010-March 4, 2010)
  • Lee writes about his visit to Liberty University, which includes a sermon, a tour of the academic halls, and a trip to the campus bookstore.
• Cathedrals[DA] (10 February 2010)
  • Lee writes about the great modern cathedrals, scientific experiments devoted to better understanding the cosmos.
• Bloody-Handed Evangelicals [DA] (January 27, 2010)
  • Lee writes about American evangelical Christians who told lies about homosexuals in Uganda, which had an influence on an anti-homosexuality bill.  He writes that we should not let evangelicals pretend to be authorities on morality when they’ve taken such actions.
• How Long the Arc[DA] (December 5, 2009)
  • Lee writes about marriage equality, encouraging supporters of keeping up hope, because the the question is not if we will win but when.
• Defending Genocide[DA] (September 10, 2009)
  • Lee criticizes and condemns the excuses that Christian apologists use to defend genocides in the Bible.
• Too High a Price to Pay for Comfort[DA] (August 12, 2009)
  • Lee responds to the claim that religion is comforting, pointing out that the harm it causes is too high a price to pay.
• To Those Who Doubt Their Religion[DA] (July 1, 2009)
  • Lee writes to people who doubting their religion, reassuring them that they are not alone.
• Anti-Gay Bigotry is Anti-American[DA] (May 2, 2009)
  • Lee writes about the increase in support for marriage equality and rightly accuses those who favor discrimination of being anti-American, expressing the hope that they will keep losing support.
• Atheists, Show Some Respect![DA] (March 2, 2009)
  • In response to accusations of atheists being disrespectful (in which a passage written by Lee was quoted), Lee argues that that it is respectful to stand up for freedom for everyone against those who threaten innocent people and also that it is respectful to be honest about one’s views, so that people can discuss and debate to reach the right answers.
• To Bigotry No Sanction[DA] (November 14, 2008)
  • In response to the results of the 2008 U. S. Presidential election, which included the passage of Proposition 8 (defining marriage as being between one man and one woman) in CA, Lee writes about the importance of equal rights and standing up against bigotry, specifically about standing up for equal rights for LGBT people.
• Words That Burn[DA] (August 1, 2008)
  • Lee discusses words of freethinkers who have played an important part in fighting against tyranny.
• Imaginary Crimes[DA] (July 28, 2008)
  • Lee criticizes the imaginary crimes that religion contains, writing that these imaginary crimes are not actually bad and are argued for only by appealing to God’s will.
• An Exercise in Empathy[DA] (July 16, 2008)
  • Lee writes about the same-sex marriage, pointing out that the arguments used against same-sex marriage are very similar to the arguments used against interracial marriage.  He also mentions that his own relationship has made him appreciate this issue even more than he already did.
• Flickers of Conscience[DA] (November 7, 2007)
  • In a follow-up to the 2006 post A Seriously Warped Moral Compass, Lee write about believers who show concern for people who they believe will end up in Hell, according to God’s plan.  He writes that this shows that, despite the horrible religious doctrine of Hell, these believers are showing some conscience and may realize the wrongness of the belief.
• Why I Am Not a Libertarian[DA] (June-July 2007)
  • In a three-part series, Lee writes about his objections to libertarianism, clearly explaining aspects of libertarianism that would not work in the real world.
• How to Think Critically[DA] (March 30, 2007 – present)
  • Lee’s ongoing series about critical thinking is filled with very useful and fascinating information.
• Religion’s Harm to Women[DA] (November 16, 2006)
  • Lee writes about the sexist beliefs that can be found in various religions and concludes that every feminist should be an atheist.
• A Seriously Warped Moral Compass[DA] (November 10, 2006)
  • Lee writes that religion gives people a warped moral compass, so that some theists will defend the horrible violence in their holy books but condemn homosexuality.
• How Big is the Library of Babel?[DA] (14 March 2006)
  • Lee writes about Jorge Luis Borges’ story “The Library of Babel”.
• A Mile Wide and an Inch Deep[DA] (March 12, 2006)
  • Lee, based upon a report showing little knowledge that Americans have about Christianity and the Bible, argues that the large numbers of people who call themselves Christian is not an accurate representation of how many actually know about their own religion.  He suggests that people should read the whole Bible (as well as the writings of other religions) and writes that he thinks people who are only holding on to religion out of habit may leave it after doing so.
• The Fallacy of Free Speech[DA] (15 February 2006)
  • Lee writes about the distortion of the idea of free speech by those who demand that their freedom of speech is being violated if others don’t agree with them, illustrating his point with the news story of a Christian school which is demanding that students should receive college credit for courses taught from an explicitly Christian viewpoint and claiming that not giving credit constitutes discrimination.

Le Guin, Ursula K.

• Some Assumptions about Fantasy(4 June 2004)
  • In a speech presented at the Children’s Literature Breakfast at BookExpo America (Chicago, IL), Le Guin talks about three assumptions people make about fantasy: “1) the characters are white, 2) they live sort of in the Middle Ages, and 3) they’re fighting in a Battle Between Good and Evil”.

Leiva, Steven Paul [This 'n That Blog]

• A Book By Any Other Cover:  on E-books and “Real” Books[This 'n That blog] (November 20, 2010)
  • Leiva writes a moving entry about e-books and his (and many other readers’) attachment to paper books.

Levy, Rick [Towards a Rational America and an Enlightened Judaism/4Enlightenment]

• A Struggle Resolved[4Enlightenment] (September 3, 2010)
  • Levy writes a followup to Cognitive Dissonance:  My Stressed-Out Sympathies for Israel.
• Cognitive Dissonance:  My Stressed-Out Sympathies for Israel[4Enlightenment] (July 9, 2010)
  • Levy writes about his support for Israel and various factors which have made him question his support, including Israel’s dependency on America, the influence of Orthodox Judaism on the Israeli government, and the odd alliance that Israel’s government and Orthodox Jews have made with American Christian fundamentalists.
• Religious Extremism:  Israel’s and America’s Threat from Within[4Enlightenment] (December 2, 2009)
  • Levy writes about the similarities between the influence of the haredim (an extreme Orthodox Jewish group) in Israel and the influence of extreme fundamentalist Christian groups in America.

Malik, Kenan [Pandaemonium]

• Myths of Assimilationism and Multiculturalism (25 November 2011)
  • Malik writes that there are important similarities between assimilationism and multiculturalism.  He writes that the bad parts of these two ideas have been put into practice, rather than the good.
• I’m Still a Critic of Muliculturalism, Honest(10 February 2011)
  • Malik writes about a debate he participated in, where he ended up on a different side than the one he expected to be on, due to the fact that he is a critic of multiculturalism and also a critic of those who support the “clash of civilizations thesis”.
• Shadow Boxing[The Humanist] (May/June 2009)
  • Malik writes that both cultural relativism and Western chauvinism share a loss of faith in universal values.

Manji, Irshad [Irshad Manji blog and official website]

• For Arabs, the challenge of democracy starts with the family[The Globe and Mail] (February 18, 2011)
  • Manji writes that the family is used for social control, with people constantly seeking approval for their actions, and that a necessary part of moving towards more democracy and freedom has to include rethinking the family.
• Stopping the rot in multiculturalism(June 23, 2010)
  • Manji writes about Aqsa Parvez, who was murdered.  She makes the point that multiculturalism, which was started as a good idea, has become distorted.  She reminds readers that human beings are equal but cultures aren’t.

Manoj, T. V.

• Why I Criticize Hinduism The Most [Nirmukta] (30 September 2008)
  • Manoj writes about why he criticizes Hindism most often.  (This is a good article for anyone to read if they wonder why a person is criticizing one particular religion more often than other religions, especially if the religion being criticized is the one that is in the majority in a particular country.)

McCreight, Jen [Blag Hag]

• Skepticism & fiction(23 July 2011)
  • McCreight, in response to a comment about how she can enjoy Harry Potter despite the suggestions of an afterlife, writes that a people can be skeptical and still enjoy fiction, since they know it’s fiction.
• Harry Potter and Skeptical Thinking(23 July 2011)
  • McCreight writes about skepticism in Harry Potter.

McIntosh, Peggy

• White Privilege:  Unpacking the Invisible Knapsack
  • An excerpt from McIntosh’s famous article about white privilege, including a list of example of white privilege.

Myers, PZ [Pharyngula]

• Comes a Horseman[The Humanist] (November/December 2009)
  • Professor Myers writes about how he became an atheist as a result of his fascination with science and encourages humanists to “mount up” and be more vocal in criticizing religion.

Namazie, Maryam [Maryam Namazie's Blog]

• The Far-Right and Islamism are two sides of the same coin [written with Adam Barnett](15 August 2011)
  • This is the conclusion of the One Law for All report – Enemies not Allies:  The Far-Right.  In it, Namazie and Adam Barnett explain the similarities between Islamism and the Far-Right, both of which need to be opposed.
• Sharia Law is a code of despair; a code obsessed with women(20 July 2011)
  • Namazie writes about the discriminatory nature of sharia law.  This was Namazie’s speech at the 28 June 2011 debate on Sharia law at the House of Commons (in the UK).
• The Islamic Inquisition(7 June 2011)
  • Namazie writes about the horrors of Islamism and the necessity of standing up against it.  She insists that people, not beliefs, are equal.  This was the Keynote Address at the World Atheist Conference, 4-6 June 2011.
• Islam, Political Islam and Women in the Middle East[Butterflies and Wheels] (March 6, 2005)
  • Namazie writes about equal rights for women and the importance of confronting Islam in order to defend those rights.  (This is a speech Namazie delivered on March 8, 2002 at the “Islam, Secularism and Women in the Middle East” conference in London.)

Nugent, Michael [Chairperson of Atheist Ireland]

• Atheist Ireland Publishes 25 Blasphemous Quotes [Atheist Ireland's Blasphemy website] (January 1, 2010)
  • In response to a blasphemy law in Ireland, Atheist Ireland intentionally posted quotes to show that an idea that is wonderful to one person may be blasphemous to another.

Petsko, Gregory A.

• A Faustian Bargain:  An Open Letter to George M Philip, President of the State University of New York At Albany[Genome Biology] (October 31, 2010)
  • Petsko writes a letter to Philip in order to oppose the elimination of the departments of French, Italian, Classics, Russian and Theater Arts.  Throughout the letter are many literary allusions that make the letter a pleasure to read and which serve to underscore the point.

Pullman, Philip

• The war on words[Guardian] (November 6, 2004)
  • Pullman writes that reading is democratic and that theocracies don’t know how to read.  He writes that theocracies censor what people can read and how they can read, whereas democratic reading is a conversation between the book and the read.  He expresses concern that attitudes towards reading in the US resemble the way theocracies act.
• Lost the plot[Guardian] (September 30, 3003)
  • Pullman writes that the way students are taught in schools is causing them to hate reading.  He writes that too much testing and structured formulas for writing discourage kids from seeing reading as something they would enjoy.

Romano, Aja

• YA Publishing Industry De-Gays Books: What are the Options? [The Mary Sue] (15 September 2011)
  • Romano writes about attempts to remove gay characters from YA books.
• NY Times to YA Publishing: Stop Being So Girly [The Mary Sue] (25 August 2011)
  • Romano writes a response to an article about boys and reading, pointing out that there are in fact many books with male characters and that the argument that “boys won’t read books with female characters” is used to exclude girls. She says there should be better writing and diversity.

Rowling, J. K.

• For Girls Only, Probably… [Official website]
  • Rowling writes that what a person is like on the inside is more important than appearance on the outside, such as weight. (When I first read this, I wanted so very much to thank Rowling and give her a big hug.)
• The single mother’s manifesto:  David Cameron says the ‘nasty party’ that castigated people like me has changed.  I’m not buying it[The Times] (April 14, 2010)
  • Rowling writes about her time as a poor single mother and the way she and others like her were treated by the Conservative Party in the UK.
• The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination (Harvard University Commencement Address, June 2008)[Harvard Magazine] (June 5, 2008)
  • Rowling spoke at Harvard University’s June 2008 commencement ceremony.  This article contains a video and transcript of her speech.

Rushdie, Salman

• Muslims unite!  A new Reformation will bring your faith into the modern era[The Times] (August 11, 2005)
  • Rushdie encourages Muslims to challenge Islamic extremism and reform the faith.
• Imagine no heaven:  The six billionth person was born this week into a world still plagued by religious conflict and oppression. Salman Rushdie has an important message for this new member of the human race[The Guardian] (October 16, 1999)
  • Rushdie writes a letter to the six billionth person, explaining the effects of religion on this world and how much can be accomplished without religion.

Sagan, Carl

• Letter to fellow members of The Explorers Club, concerning the admission of women to The Club[written in early 1981; Letters of Note posted this letter on their website on March 9, 2011]
  • Sagan, in 1981, wrote to fellow members of The Explorers Club in order to convince them that the club should not exclude women.  The Club changed its rules and welcomed female members later that year.

Sawyer, Robert J.

• The Death of Science Fiction [Random Musings]
  • Sawyer writes that various factors are making it more difficult to find quality science fiction and advises the science fiction field to think of developing for the future, rather than focusing on the short term.
• Escapism and SF [Random Musings]
  • Sawyer writes that reading science fiction is not escapism but is a way to learn about humanity.

Scalzi, John [Whatever blog]

• What Authors Know About Their Characters (October 29, 2007)
  • In response to those, such as Edward Rothstein, who were criticizing J. K. Rowling for stating that Albus Dumbedore is gay, Scalzi defends J. K. Rowling’s statement, writing that authors know more about their characters than they include on the actual pages of a book. (I found this via the Word of Gay page on TV Tropes.)
• Being Poor (September 3, 2005)
  • Scalzi writes about what it means to be poor, in a list of examples showing what poor people experience on a regular basis.

Scotlyn [writing guest posts on Adam Lee's blog Daylight Atheism]

• Naming Activist Fallacies:  The Separatist Paradise[guest post] (October 1, 2010)
  • Scotlyn writes about the fallacy of the false belief that people should only extend fairness and rights to members of their own group, and cites Bible verses to show that this idea of selective fairness is present in religion.  She writes that our Fairness Circle should include everyone.
• Naming Activist Fallacies [guest post] (September 17, 2010)
  • Scotlyn introduces herself and the series of posts she’s going to write as a guest on Daylight Athesim.  She explains a little bit about her own religious background and how she came to question her previous religious beliefs.

Sharlet, Jeff

• Jesus killed Mohammed:  The crusade for a Christian military[Harper's] (May 2009)
  • Sharlet writes about attempts to Christianize the military o/f the United States of America.  It shows the disturbing fact that there are some who promote not freedom but rather a certain brand of Christianity, discriminating against all others, including their fellow soldiers.

Smith, Joan

• In defence of modern Britain:  I’ve always thought it a bit rich for Christians to accuse other people of belonging to a ‘culture of death’, when they go in for all those crucifixions, pietas and bleeding hearts[The Independent] (September 2, 2010)
  • Smith stands up for her country, reminding readers that the “modern, tolerant, secular Britain” is a recent development, after much hard work.  She rightly criticizes “religious bigots” reminding them that Britain is one of the most civilised places in the world, unlike the theocratic countries.

Standing, Edmund [contributor to Butterflies and Wheels]

• The Emptiness of Academic Theology(October 29, 2010)
  • Standing writes that academic theology tries to wrongly undermine secular reason in order to make theology look better while not actually making a good case for god.
• Are the ‘New Atheists’ avoiding the ‘real arguments’?(October 30, 2007)
  • Standing responds to the argument that the “new atheists” are not responding to the “real arguments” made by religious believers (addressing specifically Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury), explaining that the actual beliefs of Christianity are not real arguments.
• On the Validity and Necessity of Atheist Criticism of Islam(August 25, 2010)
  • Standing discusses the necessity of atheist criticism of Islam and explains why the explanations offered by more moderate or liberal Muslims don’t hold water when comparing the nicer claims with the actual content of the Qur’an.

Stenger, Victor

• Why Religion Should be Confronted[Huffington Post] (October 28, 2010)
  • In an article based on his opening remarks in the “Science and Religion:  Confrontation or Accommodation” debate, Stenger writes that it is important to confront religion, stop sucking up to religious people, and stop assuming that religious people are automatically more moral than nonreligious people.

Uygur, Cenk

• If You’re a Christian, Muslim or Jew – You are Wrong[Huffington Post] (October 23, 2005)
  • Uygur plainly states that religious beliefs are wrong.  He writes that people should get informed and stop believing such ridiculous things.

White, Mel

• What the Bible Says — and Doesn’t Say — about Homosexuality[Soulforce]
  • Rev. Dr. White writes about what the Bible has to say about homosexuality and explains why he believes that Christians should accept (not condemn) homosexuals.  (This article is also available as a pdf file.)

Wise, Tim [Red Room blog]

• This is Your Nation on White Privilege(September 13, 2008)
  • Wise writes about white privilege, offering examples from the 2008 United States Presidential election.

Read the words written, whispered into the wide expanse, yearning to be read,

Ani Sharmin