What’s New on the Secular Web?

Added The Quest for the Historical Paul (Part A) (2025) by John MacDonald to the Historicity page under Christianity in the Modern Documents section of the Secular Web Library.

In this first of four articles, John MacDonald offers the suggestion that the historical Paul did not exist and was a literary creation of Acts in two ways. This then makes the Pauline letters fictive epistles like Seneca’s moral epistles. First, as a theoretical framework MacDonald summarizes Nina Livesey’s recent book arguing to this effect. Next, he uses that foundation to make the case that the converted Paul in Acts is a literary creation as the literary pair of the converted soldier at the cross in Luke—just as the forgiving dying Jesus is paired with the forgiving dying Stephen.

New in the Kiosk: Group Hallucination is as Common as the Earth I Stand Upon (2025) by Trygve Rasmussen

In this fun little essay new Secular Web author Trygve Rasmussen expounds upon a selection from the great Frenchman Gustave Le Bon’s The Crowd that gives several examples of group hallucination. From this selection Rasmussen draws insights about the confused Gospel accounts of the resurrection of Jesus and wonders aloud whether there is some very minute possibility that a few chaps in old Jerusalem ‘hallucinated’ a thing or two altogether. The author concludes with a consideration of the resources and duty that Le Bon’s study leaves a naturalist, and his widely unexplored counterapologetic possibility has parallels in contemporary examples of social contagion like the November/December 2024 New Jersey drone sightings.

Recommended reading: The War on Science: Thirty-Nine Renowned Scientists and Scholars Speak Out About Current Threats to Free Speech, Open Inquiry, and the Scientific Process (2025) edited by Lawrence M. Krauss

From assaults on merit-based hiring to the policing of language and replacing well-established, disciplinary scholarship by ideological mantras, current science and scholarship is under threat throughout Western institutions. An unparalleled group of prominent scholars from wide-ranging disciplines and political leanings detail ongoing efforts to impose ideological restrictions on science and scholarship throughout Western society. The very future of free inquiry and scientific progress is at risk, and many who have spoken up against this threat have lost their positions, creating a climate of fear that strikes at the heart of modern education and research. Topics covered include free speech, victimhood, ideology, corruption of academic disciplines, cancel culture, diversity-equity-and-inclusion, gender, and race, and what rationalists can do about them.

Added Series 3, Episode 9 of The UnShaw Podcast YouTube interview Thou Shalt Not Mansplain? (2025) by Robert Shaw to the Videos category on the Secular Web.

In this nearly 45-minute discussion with returning guests Mark Alsip and Nick Cowan, Kiosk Editorial Review Committee member and Secular Web author Robert Shaw discusses what the Christian Bible says about women. From passages urging silence in church to stories of strong and influential female figures, the texts themselves appear to offer conflicting visions. Are these contradictions evidence of divine intent, cultural baggage, or human misinterpretation? Author Mark Alsip argues that the Bible and its traditional interpretations have long upheld patriarchal control, while Christian Nick Cowan presents the counterpoint that Scripture, when understood properly, elevates women in ways often overlooked. Together they explore whether the Bible truly offers guidance for equality, or whether its ambiguities have fueled centuries of oppression.

Added Series 3, Episode 8 of The UnShaw Podcast YouTube interview Kosher Questions, Balkan Answers (2025) by Robert Shaw to the Videos category on the Secular Web.

In this 40-minute discussion with Rabbi Ari Edelkop, Kiosk Editorial Review Committee member and Secular Web author Robert Shaw discusses the legacy of Rabbi Menachem Schneerson, whose vision transformed Chabad into a global network with extensive humanitarian programs and a network of emissaries in 100 countries. The conversation with Rabbi Edelkop then turns to contemporary issues from a Chabad perspective, with Edelkop offering his views on the situation in Gaza and the universal ethical principles of the Noahide Laws. The interview also canvasses the humanitarian programs run by Edelkop’s synagogue, demonstrating how his community translates its principles into action.

Added Series 3, Episode 7 of The UnShaw Podcast YouTube interview Come to the Sabbat—Satan’s There! (2025) by Robert Shaw, Paul Clark, and Joseph Rose to the Videos category on the Secular Web.

In just under an hour in discussion with returning guest Paul Clark and Hail Satan Podcast host Joseph Rose, Kiosk Editorial Review Committee member and Secular Web author Robert Shaw explores how the character Satan developed over time in Jewish and Christian thought before interviewing Joseph Rose on his insights into modern Satanism.

Added Series 3, Episode 6 of The UnShaw Podcast YouTube interview Do the Montenegrins Have John the Baptist’s Right Hand? (2025) by Robert Shaw, Mark Alsip, and Neel Ingman to the Videos category on the Secular Web.

In this shy of one-hour discussion in Montenegro with returning guest Mark Alsip and Neel Ingman via satellite link-up in Thailand, Kiosk Editorial Review Committee member and Secular Web author Robert Shaw looks into the mystique surrounding John the Baptist. From the persistent claim that John the Baptist’s incorrupt right hand is held at the Cetinje Monastery in Montenegro, the interlocuters discuss how much truth lies behind the myriad of claims by various churches to possess relics, from the bones and skulls to the fingernail clippings and even tears of saints, and supposedly even relics of Christ himself.

Added Series 3, Episode 5 of The UnShaw Podcast YouTube interview John the Baptist: History’s Nearly Man? (2025) by Robert Shaw, Tim O’Neill, and James McGrath to the Videos category on the Secular Web.

In this discussion with History for Atheists blogger Tim O’Neill and Clarence L. Goodwin Chair in New Testament Literature James McGrath, Kiosk Editorial Review Committee member and Secular Web author Robert Shaw takes a deep dive into the life, legacy, and historical mysteries surrounding John the Baptist, a prophet whose influence in first-century Judea may have rivaled, or even eclipsed, that of Jesus himself. Shaw, O’Neill, and McGrath explore the theological puzzles raised by Jesus’ baptism, John’s apocalyptic message, and the lingering question of whether Christianity might have taken a very different path had John’s movement not been violently interrupted. They also meet the Mandaeans—modern-day followers of John the Baptist—and uncover what their existence reveals about the roots of one of history’s most transformative religious figures.

Added Should Atheists be Worried about Modal Calvinist Epistemology? (2025) by Lok-Chi Chan and Shawn Standefer to the Faith and Reason page and the Alvin Plantinga page under Christian Apologetics and Apologists in the Modern Documents section of the Secular Web Library.

In the philosophy of religion, ‘de jure objections’ cover a wide variety of arguments for the conclusion that theistic belief is rationally impermissible, whether or not God exists. ‘Modal Calvinism’ counters these objections by proposing that ‘if God exists, God would ensure that theistic belief is rationally compelling on a global scale’, a modal conditional that is compatible with atheism. In this article Lok-Chi Chan and Shawn Standefer respond to this modal Calvinist argument by examining it through the lenses of probability, modality, and logic—particularly, with possible world semantics, Bayesian reasoning, and paraconsistent models. After examining various forms of the argument, we argue that none can compel atheists to believe that serious theistic possibilities worth considering would involve the purported divine measure. If successful, these arguments eliminate any significant threat from Alvin Plantinga’s celebrated Warranted Christian Belief and block arguments that relativize reason by appealing to the presence of supernatural entities.

New in the Kiosk: Beyond the Veil of Belief: Why God Fails the Test of Reason (2025) by David Falls

In this essay David Falls examines belief in God through the lens of rational inquiry, arguing that the concept of God fails to meet the standards of clarity, evidence, and logical coherence demanded by reason. Drawing on Bertrand Russell’s teapot analogy and a cascade of moral, metaphysical, and epistemological critiques, the piece exposes how theological claims rest on unfalsifiable premises and speculative abstractions. The argument addresses common defenses such as postmortem justice and divine immanence, showing how they defer accountability or collapse into vagueness. Ultimately, the essay contends that faith without form or testability cannot withstand intellectual scrutiny—and that traditional theism dissolves under the weight of reasoned examination.

Recommended reading: Atheism Step by Step: How Humanity Has Questioned Gods and Learned to Live Without Them (2025) by James Smith

Curious about what atheism really means? Whether you’re questioning your faith, newly nonreligious, or just want a deeper understanding of life without gods, Atheism Step by Step is a clear, thorough, and refreshingly honest guide. In a world where religion is often the default, this book gives voice to the other side—those who choose to live without supernatural beliefs and find meaning, morality, and purpose in reality itself. With historical depth, philosophical rigor, and practical advice, this book shows that rejecting divine authority doesn’t mean rejecting wonder, ethics, or humanity. It means taking responsibility for your own life—thoughtfully and bravely.

Added Series 3, Episode 4 of The UnShaw Podcast YouTube interview My Mormon Experience: A Discussion about Mormonism with Ryan Erwin (2025) by Robert Shaw and Ryan Erwin to the Videos category on the Secular Web.

In this discussion with former Mormon Ryan Erwin, Kiosk Editorial Review Committee member and Secular Web author Robert Shaw recounts his unexpected deep dive into Mormonism—from scripture study classes and church services, to late-night conversations with missionaries and personal reflections on faith, doubt, and belonging. Along the way, Shaw visits a local temple, grapples with the Church’s complex history, and explores what it means to believe in something that many argue defies reason. Shaw is joined by Ryan Erwin, a former Latter-day Saint who grew up in the heart of Utah’s Mormon culture. Together, they explore why so many young people raised in the LDS Church are now walking away—and what they’re walking toward. It’s a thoughtful, personal, and at times surprising exploration of one of America’s most distinctive religious traditions.

Added Series 3, Episode 3 of The UnShaw Podcast YouTube interview The Animals Went in Two by Two: A Discussion about Ark Encounter with Mark Alsip & Nick Cowan (2025) by Robert Shaw to the Videos category on the Secular Web.

In this discussion with returning guest Mark Alsip and young-Earth creationist Nick Cowan, Kiosk Editorial Review Committee member and Secular Web author Robert Shaw explores the life-sized replica of Noah’s Ark in Williamstown, Kentucky and Mark Alsip’s recent protest there, as well as the the broader implications for reason, religion, and the public purse.

Added Series 3, Episode 2 of The UnShaw Podcast YouTube interview The Myth of an Afterlife: A Conversation with Keith Augustine (2025) by Robert Shaw and Keith Augustine to the Videos category on the Secular Web.

In conversation with Internet Infidels Executive Director Keith Augustine, Kiosk Editorial Review Committee member and Secular Web author Robert Shaw explores the reasons to think that biological death ends human consciousness and responds to arguments commonly put forward by afterlife proponents.

Added Series 3, Episode 1 of The UnShaw Podcast YouTube interview Borrowed Bodies, Lingering Minds: A Conversation with Simon Bown (2025) by Robert Shaw to the Videos category on the Secular Web.

In conversation with past-life hypnotherapist Simon Bown, Kiosk Editorial Review Committee member and Secular Web author Robert Shaw explores the limits of identity and time, whether the mind continues on after the death of the body, and what Bown takes to be the evidence of consciousness beyond death, particularly reincarnation, from hypnotic regressions to children who recall ostensible past lives. Are we just matter in motion—or are our minds part of a longer thread?

Added Briefly Scrutinizing Biblical Miracles (2025) by John W. Loftus to the Argument from Miracles page under Arguments for the Existence of a God in the Modern Documents section of the Secular Web Library.

Miracle reports are often offered as corroboration for the Gospel message of salvation. For example, “doubting” Thomas was admonished for questioning reports that Jesus was raised from the dead: “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” And in other parts of the New Testament, faith in what one has not seen for himself is often praised: “We walk by faith, not by sight.” Since an argument from the Bible assumes the soundness of an argument from miracles, if the latter fail, then all religions grounded in the biblical text are undercut.

New in the Kiosk: The Easter Rush: The Burial of Jesus (2025) by G. P. Denken

Good Friday and Easter Sunday bookend the three holiest days on the Christian calendar. Millions of Christians travel to Jerusalem to see the sites where Jesus’ crucifixion, burial, and resurrection supposedly took place. This explores the ten verses in Mark that discuss the specific period between Jesus’ death and burial (Mark 15:37-46). The text describes how, in a little over three hours, a Joseph of Arimathea obtained custody of Jesus’ body, removed it from the cross, prepared it for burial, and then placed it in a tomb before sunset. Based on modern scholarship and a granular reading of Mark, the essay examines the question: was there enough time for Joseph of Arimathea to bury Jesus before sunset?

Recommended reading: God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction (2023) by Dan Barker

What words come to mind when we think of God? Merciful? Just? Compassionate? In fact, the Bible lays out God’s primary qualities clearly: jealous, petty, unforgiving, bloodthirsty, vindictive—and worse! Originally conceived as a joint presentation between influential thinker and bestselling author Richard Dawkins and former evangelical preacher Dan Barker, God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction provides an investigation into what may be the most unpleasant character in all fiction. Barker combs through both the Old and New Testament (as well as thirteen different editions of the “Good Book”), presenting powerful evidence for why the Scriptures shouldn’t govern our everyday lives. This witty, well-researched book suggests that we should move past the Bible and clear a path to a kinder and more thoughtful world.

Added the ninety-eighth Freethinker Podcast YouTube sixth Interview with Gutsick Gibbon on Evolution (2025) to the Freethinker Podcast page under Resources on the Secular Web.

Check out Freethinker Podcast host Edouard Tahmizian’s nearly half-hour interview with biological anthropology doctoral candidate Gutsick Gibbon (Erika) on problems with the feasibility of taking the biblical account of Noah’s Ark literally, Kent Hovind’s creationist apologetics, and the biological evidence that animals have developed new information over time. The interlocutors canvass how accelerated nuclear decay poses problems for young Earth creationism, how many animals could have fit on Noah’s Ark if we treat that account as if it were historical, the infeasibility of surviving daily life on the imagined Ark, Kent Hovind’s most annoying creationist argument, and how natural selection acting on random mutations could have produced new genetic information. Tune in for a lively overview of the biological facts that tell against creationist apologists’ preferred narratives!

Added Review of A Lawyer Looks at the Trials of Jesus: Using Legal Apologetics to Defend the Gospel Story (2025) by Robert G. Miller to the Resurrection page under Christianity and the Christian Apologetics and Apologists page under Christianity in the Modern Documents section of the Secular Web Library.

In A Lawyer Looks at the Trials of Jesus: Using Legal Apologetics to Defend the Gospel Story, Christian legal apologist Matt Vega attempts to defend the Gospel account of Jesus’ resurrection by arguing that the presence of twenty-five legal errors in Jesus’ Jewish and Roman trials prove that the execution of Jesus was that of an innocent man. He then goes on to argue that, when combined with other ‘facts,’ this in turn ‘proves’ that Jesus miraculously resurrected from the dead. In this review retired attorney Robert G. Miller argues that Vega’s arguments simply do not show any of the key points that Vega claims to show. Miller concludes that Vega’s book only superficially addresses traditional legal apologetics, and furthermore that it doesn’t even begin to establish either Jesus’ innocence of the accusations leveled against him, or that he was resurrected from the dead.

New in the Kiosk: Dilemmas of Self-Condemnation in Traditional Christianity and Islam (2025) by Reinhard von Richter

In this article Reinhard von Richter investigates the existential dilemmas arising from the literal adoption of salvific exclusivism and the doctrine of eternal torment, as upheld in traditional versions of Christianity and Islam: that is, that a Hell of eternal misery is the final destination of those who fail to achieve salvation. Through the analysis of various scenarios—which range from antinatalism and the dilemmas faced by physicians and politicians to family conflicts and extreme situations involving world leaders—the von Richter demonstrates how the attempt to minimize eternal suffering can lead to paradoxical and morally disturbing choices. This only underscores the horror and existential absurdity of these conceptions of reality.

Recommended reading: The Letters of Paul in their Roman Literary Context: Reassessing Apostolic Authorship by Nina E. Livesey

Since the late-nineteenth century, scholars have all but concluded that the Apostle Paul authored six authentic community letters (Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Philippians, and 1 Thessalonian) and one individual letter to Philemon. In The Letters of Paul in their Roman Literary Context, by contrast, Nina E. Livesey argues that this long-held interpretation has been inadequately substantiated and theorized. In her groundbreaking study, Livesey reassesses the authentic perspective and, based on her research, reclassifies the letters as pseudonymous and letters-in-form-only. Like Seneca with his Moral Epistles, authors of Pauline letters extensively exploited the letter genre for its many rhetorical benefits to promote disciplinary teachings. Based on the types of issues addressed and the earliest known evidence of a collection, Livesey dates the letters’ emergence to the mid-second century and the Roman school of Marcion. Her study significantly revises the understanding of Christian letters and conceptions of early Christianity, as it likewise reflects the benefit of cross-disciplinarity.