Church State Flag
Flag Desecration Amendment Although the issue of flag desecration is normally thought of as a free speech topic, it is also a church-state separation topic. Proposals to outlaw desecration of the U.S. flag may reasonably be viewed as blasphemy laws. Is the American flag a secular symbol or a sacred icon? (1998) by Edward Tabash […]
Church State Discrimination
Religious Discrimination & Government Promotion of Religion The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the freedom of conscience of both believers and nonbelievers by mandating government neutrality between belief and nonbelief. The government may neither legally sponsor particular religious beliefs, nor favor religious belief over nonbelief. Under U.S. law, individuals are perfectly free to […]
Church State Decisions
U.S. Supreme Court Decisions (arranged by date) Reynolds v. United States, 98 U.S. 145 (1879) Court finds that the federal antibigamy statute does not violate the First Amendment’s guarantee of the free exercise of religion. Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1 (1947) Court finds that a New Jersey law which included students of […]
Church State Creationism
Church, State, and Creationism ACLU Position Statement on “Creation-science” (Off Site) The Wedge at Work: How Intelligent Design Creationism Is Wedging Its Way into the Cultural and Academic Mainstream (2001) by Barbara Forrest This essay by Barbara Forrest, of Southeastern Louisiana University, analyzes the political and religious currents within the Intelligent Design movement.
Church State Christian Nation
Is America a Christian Nation? Getting Out God’s Vote (n.d.) by Frederick Edwords and Stephen McCabe Is America a Christian Nation? (n.d.) by The Freedom From Religion Foundation (Off Site) America has never been a Christian nation. We are a free nation. Anne Gaylor, president of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, points out: "There can […]
Church State Articles Vouchers
School Vouchers Articles Achievement Effects of the Milwaukee Voucher Program by John Witte The Effectiveness of School Choice in Milwaukee: A Secondary Analysis of Data from the Program’s Evaluation (August 14, 1996) by Jay P. Greene, Paul E. Peterson and Jiangtao Du A Critical Analysis of the Greene-Peterson-Du Paper (American Federation of Teachers) Educational Vouchers: […]
Charles Watts Why Do Right
Why Do Right? A Secularist’s Answer by Charles Watts London: WATTS & CO., 17, Johnson’s Court, Fleet Street, E.C. INTRODUCTION MOST persons can distinguish between right and wrong; but it is not so easy to decide why certain actions are right, and others the very reverse. According to orthodox Christianity, the sanction for right-doing is […]
Charles Watts Secularists Catechism
Secularists Catechism Charles Watts 17 page printout From an old, undated, book published by Watts & Co. entitled: 'Pamphlets by Charles Watts' Vol. I. The book contains the motto: -- "To Believe without evidence and demonstration is an act of ignorance and folly." -- Volney. **** **** THE SECULARIST'S CATECHISM: BEING AN EXPOSITION OF SECULAR […]
Charles Watts Secularism
Secularism: Its Relation to the Social Problems of the Day (1894) by Charles Watts SECULARISM, in dealing with the social problems of the day, relies upon human reason, not upon "divine" faith; upon fact, not upon fiction; upon experience, not upon a supposed supernatural revelation. It can discover no value in what is termed spiritual […]
Charles Watts Secular Morality
Secular Morality: What Is It? An Exposition and a Defence (1880) by Charles Watts AMONG the systems of moral philosophy that have been promulgated as guides for human conduct, Utilitarianism occupies the foremost place. It appears to Secularists as more definite and satisfactory than any other, and certainly at the present time it is more […]
Charles Watts Saints Or Sinners
Saits or Sinners: Which? by Charles Watts Author of “History of Freethought,” “Secularism: Constructive and Destructive,” “The Philosophy of Unbelief,” etc. NEW YORK: “TRUTHSEEKER” OFFICE, 33, CLINTON PLACE. SAINTS and sinners are not two selected from the numerous classes to be met with in the world, with which in every-day life we come in contact. […]
Charles Watts Origin
The Origin, Nature, and Destiny of Man Charles Watts THE origin, nature, and destiny of man have for ages been considered problems of a most interesting character. Philosophers and theologians have directed earnest attention to their solution, while poets have allowed their imagination unlimited scope in a field which seemed to be almost boundless. […]
Charles Watts Life Beyond The Grave
Is There a Life Beyond the Grave? A Reply to R.B. Westbrook, AM., D.D. (1894) by Charles Watts It has been aptly remarked that it does not necessarily follow, because an opponent has been replied to, that his arguments have been answered. The truth of this statement never appeared to me so evident as when […]
Charles Watts Existence Of God
The Existence of God or Questions for Theists (1894) by Charles Watts THEISTS of marked intellectual ability persistently avoid any attempt to defend the Christian’s notion of their God as he is delineated in the Bible. The reason, no doubt, of this is that the character given to the deity by the "inspired writers" is […]
Charles Watts Evolution And Creation
Evolution and Special Creation (1880?) by Charles Watts TAKING a retrospective view of the dark and unenlightened past, when the mighty forces of nature were almost entirely hidden from the human gaze; contemplating the sad spectacle of our forefathers being sunken in gross superstition, ere the light of to-day had arisen above the horizon of […]
Charles Watts Discreditable Tactics
Discreditable Tactics of Christian Disputants (1880?) by Charles Watts DURING the past thirty years I have met in public discussion fifty Christian disputants, many of whom were fair in controversy. But some of my opponents appeared to have peculiar views as to what was right and horrorable in their dealings with Secularists. In 1872 I […]
Charles Watts Death Of Christ
The Death of Christ (1896) by Charles Watts THE sermons preached on Good Friday last, as reported in the various newspapers, afforded strange and peculiar reading to the non-theological mind. The one theme dwelt upon in all the pulpits was the death of christ with its complete and sublime scheme of redemption for fallen man." […]
Charles Watts Claims Of Christianity
The Claims of Christianity Examined from a Rationalist Standpoint by Charles Watts "To believe without evidence and demonstration is an act of ignorance and folly." — VOLNEY. (Issued for the Rationalist Press Committee.) LONDON: WATTS & CO., 17, JOHNSON’S COURT, FLEET ST. PREFACE. IN the following pages there is no attempt to criticize all […]
Charles Watts Christianity And Civilization
Christianity And Civilization Charles Watts 14 page printout From an old, undated, book published by Watts & Co. entitled: 'Pamphlets by Charles Watts' Vol. I. The book contains the motto: -- "To Believe without evidence and demonstration is an act of ignorance and folly." -- Volney. **** **** CHRISTIANITY AND CIVILIZATION. Why Christianity is Still […]
Charles Watts Christ A Political Reformer
Was Christ a Political and Social Reformer? by Charles Watts ALTHOUGH Thomas Carlyle has said that "in these days it is professed that hero-worship has gone out and finally ceased," thousands of the professed followers of Christ idolize his memory to such an extent that they appear to be entirely oblivious of any defect either […]
Charles Watts Bible Morality
Bible Morality (1873?) by Charles Watts From an old, undated, book published by Watts & Co. entitled: 'Pamphlets by Charles Watts' Vol. I. The book contains the motto: -- "To Believe without evidence and demonstration is an act of ignorance and folly." -- Volney. **** **** BIBLE MORALITY. by Charles Watts Vice-President of the National […]
Charles Potter Message To America
A Message To America Broadcast in the World Of Religion Programme June 25, 1933 by the National Broadcasting Company by Charles Francis Potter Founder and Leader of The First Humanist Society of New York We people of America have passed through a period of great stress. We need fresh courage and faith for the adventurous […]
Charles Echelbarger Nonbelief Sbtest01
Review of Nonbelief and Evil (2005) Charles Echelbarger Review: Ted Drange. 1998. Nonbelief and Evil: Two Arguments for the Nonexistence of God. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. 403 pp. This article was originally published in Philosophy Now Issue 47 (August/September 2004). This Secular Web version contains minor editorial changes. Theodore Drange is one of a […]
Charles Echelbarger Nonbelief
Review of Nonbelief and Evil (2005) Charles Echelbarger Review: Ted Drange. 1998. Nonbelief and Evil: Two Arguments for the Nonexistence of God. Amherst, NY: Prometheus Books. 403 pp. This article was originally published in Philosophy Now Issue 47 (August/September 2004). This Secular Web version contains minor editorial changes. Theodore Drange is one of a […]
Charles Echelbarger Hume Atheism
Hume’s Tacit Atheism (1975) Charles Echelbarger This article was originally published in Religious Studies, Vol. 2 (1975), pp. 19-35. Reprinted with the permission of Cambridge University Press. For more information, see Cambridge Journals Online. 1. INTRODUCTION A recent paper, ‘Hume’s Immanent God’, (in (1)* by George Nathan, contains an insightful interpretation of Hume’s Dialogues Concerning […]
Charles Darwin Voyage Of Beagle Preface
The Voyage of the Beagle (1839) Charles Darwin Preface I have stated in the preface to the first Edition of this work, and in the Zoology of the Voyage of the Beagle, that it was in consequence of a wish expressed by Captain Fitz Roy, of having some scientific person on board, accompanied […]
Charles Darwin Voyage Of Beagle Chapter9
The Voyage of the Beagle (1839) Charles Darwin Chapter IX: Santa Cruz, Patagonia, and The Falkland Islands Santa Cruz — Expedition up the River — Indians — Immense Streams of Basaltic Lava — Fragments not transported by the River — Excavations of the Valley — Condor, Habits of — Cordillera — Erratic Boulders […]
Charles Darwin Voyage Of Beagle Chapter8
The Voyage of the Beagle (1839) Charles Darwin Chapter VIII: Banda Oriental and Patagonia Excursion to Colonia del Sacramiento — Value of an Estancia — Cattle, how counted — Singular Breed of Oxen — Perforated Pebbles — Shepherd Dogs — Horses broken-in, Gauchos riding — Character of Inhabitants — Rio Plata — Flocks […]
Charles Darwin Voyage Of Beagle Chapter7
The Voyage of the Beagle (1839) Charles Darwin Chapter VII: Buenos Ayres and St. Fe Excursion to St. Fe — Thistle Beds — Habits of the Bizcacha — Little Owl — Saline Streams — Level Plain — Mastodon — St. Fe — Change in Landscape — Geology — Tooth of extinct Horse — […]