The resurrection of Jesus is a fundamental belief to Christians. But nonbelievers have to reconcile the fact that any resurrection occurrence would break the laws of biology with the fact that very early Christians had unshakeable beliefs that Jesus had risen from the dead. Two possibilities exist for those with a naturalistic worldview. Was the Resurrection a hoax to which they all subscribed, or did they genuinely believe in its reality? In this essay, Robert Shaw addresses this question with his characteristic sagacity.
The Pledge of Allegiance states that the United States of America is "one nation under God." Additionally, polling shows that an overwhelming majority of American evangelical Christians believe that the United States is "uniquely blessed" by God. But is there any mention of the Americas in the Bible, or were they ever mentioned by Jesus or any of the Old Testament prophets? This article seeks to answer this question.
Kings David and Solomon are said to have ruled over a huge kingdom that stretched from the Euphrates River to as far as the border of Egypt (according to the Bible). Archeological confirmation of the existence of such an expansive kingdom is inconclusive, however. Some apologists hold that evidence for their reign would not have survived some three millenia later. In this essay, however, Robert Shaw considers a similarly sized civilization, contemporaneous with that of David and Solomon, to explore what remnants of a three-thousand-year-old polity can reasonably be expected to be discovered today.
The story of Moses and the Exodus continues to be seen as a historical fact by many Americans, and its events are commemorated with a 'Seder' meal in over a million households every year. In this article, Robert Shaw considers whether or not the story can be placed comfortably into the timeline of Egyptian history as we currently understand it.
The Bible has long been lauded as a moral guidebook for humankind. In this article, Robert Shaw asks whether the Bible offers any guidance to help us deal with the more complex issues that we face in the modern era. At a time when many minds are focused on the forthcoming US presidential election, Shaw also considers whether the Bible gives any counsel as to how countries should be governed, and what types of political leaders are biblically preferred.
The current COVID-19 pandemic has led many, whether believers or not, to consider how widespread suffering can be reconciled with a belief in a loving God. In this article, Shaw considers the arguments advanced by people of faith to square this circle, such as the idea that the novel coronavirus has been sent by God as a punishment.
In this article Robert Shaw examines some of the successes attributed to the authors of the Bible, and compares them to those of other secular prophets such as Nostradamus, in being able to precisely tell the future. Shaw looks at a number of ways in which these prophecies are given the appearance of fulfillment by those that advocate their validity. He then argues that the skill of being able to predict the future accurately is scientifically impossible.
An embellished and creatively written history of the origins and development of a Canaanite tribe underlies Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. None of the myriad of documents from ancient Egypt ever mention hundreds of thousands of foreign slaves leaving following a series of catastrophes, for example, nor has any archaeological evidence of the movement of a supposed half a million refugees from the Sinai peninsula ever been uncovered. Nevertheless, the Jesus of the Gospels seems to concur with this erroneous version of history, affirming the Genesis creation myth, the existence of the mythological Noah and Abraham, and the historicity of Moses' exodus, among other things. The Qur'an and Islamic exegesis subscribe to the historicity of such people and events no less. The arbitrary selection of Yahweh—the Canaanite god of metallurgy—from the vast Canaanite pantheon of gods over 2,500 years ago has had a profound effect on the belief systems of billions of people who have lived since.
Christianity has brought many people to believe that those who behave badly face permanent torture in the afterlife. In this article, Robert Shaw argues that the historical Jesus envisaged a rather different fate for such individuals, and that the very idea of Hell as pictured by many Christians today was in fact an invention of the later Church.
In this article, Robert Shaw explores the crucifixion of Jesus and how the Gospel narratives of this event were embellished with allusions to Old Testament passages. In addition, Shaw shows that early Christians developed an interpretation of Jesus' death as part of a premeditated divine plan that was at odds with contemporary Jewish expectations of the Messiah.
It's that time of the year when the story of the birth of Jesus of Nazareth begins to pervade the everyday lives of people in the West. In this article, Robert Shaw looks at the origins of the story in first-century Palestine. Neither the earliest Gospel nor the earlier letters from St. Paul to fledgling Christian churches around the Mediterranean make any mention of the circumstances of Jesus' birth, but later embellishments are weaved together with contrived reinterpretations of Old Testament passages to bolster Jesus' messianic credentials.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
Kiosk Editorial Review Committee member (and Secular Web author) Robert Shaw has announced the return of his Unshaw Podcast on atheism, religion, and everything in between. Join him in September for series two of the Unshaw Podcast!
