Monthly Archives: December 2008

Does religion make you nicer or happier?

Posted on December 18, 2008 by Walter Olson

Well, it may depend on where you live — which in turn suggests that the answer may be more complicated than many assume, if not indeterminate. Paul Bloom in Slate last month, via Will Wilkinson: Many Americans doubt the morality … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | 30 Comments

Literary Diversions

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Bradlaugh

Nothing much to do with secularity or rightness, but heck, it’s Christmas, let’s have some light relief. My December/January issue of Literary Review arrived from London today, containing the finalists for the magazine’s annual Bad Sex in Fiction Award. In … Continue reading →

Posted in culture | 6 Comments

American Creation

Posted on December 17, 2008 by David Hume

I thought I would point to Jonathan Rowe’s weblog, American Creation.  He’s been leaving many informed and civil comments for a few weeks, from which I have learned much.  Would that the whole blogosphere was characterized by such gentlemanly discourse!

Posted in Blogs | Tagged | 2 Comments

Words in a pluralist world

Posted on December 17, 2008 by David Hume

In the comments below some note that several prominent Founding Fathers who would have self-identified as Christian would not be perceived by many as such today (e.g., Is Barack Obama a Christian?).  At the time of the Founding men such as … Continue reading →

Posted in history | Tagged , | 6 Comments

“No Evidence Bad Times Are Boosting Church Attendance”

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Walter Olson

Per Gallup, a trend spotted by the New York Times a few days back may not pan out as much of a trend after all: “a review of Gallup Poll Daily tracking data, in which 1,000 randomly selected people each … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 2 Comments

God of the Founders

Posted on December 17, 2008 by Bradlaugh

I’ve blogged before here about the way religious ideologues are for ever trying to “recruit” historical figures, in the spirit of “Beethoven was black.” Our nation’s Founders are popular subjects for this treatment. Here is an excellent antidote to the … Continue reading →

Posted in history, Uncategorized | 13 Comments

H. L. Mencken against the gods

Posted on December 17, 2008 by David Hume

Richard Spencer, editor of Taki’s Magazine, has an excellent piece up, The Old Right and the Antichrist. A lot to chew on….

Posted in philosophy | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Lawsuit: AIG bailout unconstitutionally promotes Islam

Posted on December 16, 2008 by Walter Olson

The Thomas More Law Center has filed a lawsuit claiming that the federal government is violating the First Amendment’s ban on establishment of religion by rescuing the giant insurer American International Group because, as one sliver of the broad range … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Day of Prayer? Day in court

Posted on December 16, 2008 by Heather Mac Donald

 The Freedom from Religion Foundation has sued to stop Colorado Governor Bill Ritter from issuing a proclamation in support of the National Day of Prayer, reports the Los Angeles Times.  My instincts are with my co-bloggers– secularists should stay out … Continue reading →

Posted in law, politics, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 8 Comments

Miscellany, December 15

Posted on December 15, 2008 by Walter Olson

Someone has called us the “world’s most boring blog“. I think not everyone must agree, because in the three and a half weeks since we launched we’ve had more than 100,000 page views and, remarkably, 2,300 reader comments. Confirming the … Continue reading →

Posted in Odds & Ends | Tagged , , , , | 12 Comments