Category: Religion

New Dawkins Scale Images

Hey everyone. Well, after more than 1,000 downloads and a lot of great emails and feedback, I’ve finally updated the Dawkins Belief Scale Images Set.

The new set (Version 2) of the Dawkins Scale Images are 200 x 230 pixel PNG badges with rounded borders and a thin drop-shadow set on a transparent background. (As seen in the image to the right.)

The new set is available for download at the Dawkins Scale Images page. There are two new downloads, Ver. 2 for light backgrounds and Ver. 2 for dark backgrounds. Both downloads include the Photoshop template PSD file.

The original (Ver. 1) set will still be available for download as well. I really appreciate all the great feedback I’ve gotten and I hope everyone enjoys the new set.

Letting Go of God

Julia Sweeney’s one-woman show, Letting Go of God, is one of the most inspiring monologues I’ve ever heard. A brutally honest recollection of her path from superstition to reason.

From the poster of Virgo on her wall to the copy of ‘Origin of Species’ on the deck of a Galapagos cruise-boat to her pair of ‘No God’ glasses, Julia bears her heart, mind, body and yes (dare I say it) soul to tell us the story of how she slowly came to realize there was no God.

Considering this is the second time I’ve posted about this amazing performance, I honestly can’t recommend this show enough. Julia is funny and inspiring, all the while, presenting deep and thought-provoking content.

Please, go out and grab the CD or DVD ASAP.

After 4 years of harassment, Strippers fight back – Protest church

Source: Kyle Robertson - Dispatch

In one of those stories that just makes me smile, a group of strip-club dancers have turned the tides on church-goers bent on imposing their own morality on others.

For four years now, Pastor Bill Dunfee of New Beginnings Ministries and his congregation have been trying to shut down Ohio’s Foxhole strip-club by staging disruptive protests and generally harassing the establishment’s patrons.

Every weekend for the last four years, Dunfee and members of his ministry have stood watch over George’s joint, taking up residence in the right of way with signs, video cameras and bullhorns in hand. They videotape customers’ license plates and post them online, and they try to save the souls of anyone who comes and goes.

Now, fed up with the tactics of Dunfee and his flock, Foxhole employees are ready to accept the invitation to come to church… Dressed in their Sunday best skimpiness, the Foxhole dancers have started showing up every Sunday to do a little protesting themselves.

Via: Atheist Revolution

Science can answer moral questions – Sam Harris at TED

Sam Harris argues that science can — and should — have something to say about the great moral questions.

Sam Harris is such a great speaker. I love listening to his lectures. He always makes me think about things in a new light. There are many great points made here.

“How have we convinced ourselves that every culture has a point of view on these subjects that is worth considering? Does the Taliban have a point of view on physics that is worth considering? No. How is their ignorance any less obvious on the subject of human well being?”

I don’t have as much a problem with the commercial imagery of women as Sam does though. Partly because I enjoy the imagery but mostly because I think the U.S. is a little too sexually repressed as it is and, even though it’s mostly accessed through commercial media, I think the desensitization will help in the long run. Every generation is a little more open than the last and won’t be shocked and awed by the same imagery as their parents. The bulk of the media targets the youth and many others just follow suit.

Via: TED Talks

Nell McCafferty gives the church a piece of her mind

Nell McCafferty lashes out at the catholic church, questioning their continued use of titles like “Father”, “Your Grace” and “Lordship” in response to the Vatican’s cover-up of sexual abuse of children by catholic priests and how the reputation of the church was deemed more important than the welfare of children.

I love when she goes off on “What’s holy about the Vatican?” and “What’s holy about the Pope in this context?”

Via: Pharyngula