Below is an excerpt from Richard Carrier’s essay, “Yes, the Dark Ages Really Were a Thing.” It resonates with me because while teaching philosophy, especially at Catholic universities, I often encountered the (mistaken) view that the Dark Ages weren’t really that bad. Continue reading Richard Carrier on the Dark Ages
The Yazılıkaya sanctuary in Turkey, with the twelve gods of the underworld
My recent post linked to a few of the many essays I’ve written on religions. For those who want an even briefer summary of my views here are a few quotes that exemplify them. Continue reading Quotes Attacking Religon
Dr. Darrell Arnold, Professor of Philosophy
Note – My last post elicited multiple thoughtful comments from readers but I thought that Dr. Darrell Arnold’s were worth reprinting in their entirety. I have known Dr. Arnold for more than 30 years and he is a careful and conscientious thinker whose thought I highly value. Continue reading Religion as Community
The way to Jamaraat Bridge (2011)
A few weeks ago tragedy struck during the hajj, the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. A new tally shows that at least 1621 were killed, and thousands more were injured or are missing. Other sources put the death toll near 2,000. Continue reading The Mina Stampede: Tragedy and God’s Will
I recently read an article from the New York Times by the Stanford anthropologist, T. M. Luhrmann. She begins by noting that her family will go to church on Christmas. There is nothing unusual about this except that Luhrmann will attend a Unitarian church. Continue reading Religion Without God