Added On Cross-Cultural and Historical Near-Death Experiences: A Secular Historian of Religions Answers a Critic (2026) by Gregory Shushan to the Empirical Arguments section of the Life after Death/Immortality page in the Modern Documents section of the Secular Web Library.
In this article Gregory Shushan responds to Keith Augustine’s characterization of his recent article “Diversity and Similarity of Near-Death Experiences across Cultures and History: Implications for the Survival Hypothesis.” Addressing Augustine’s misconceptions of his theoretical, methodological, and disciplinary positioning, Shushan clarifies that he is a secular historian of religions who examines NDEs through cultural, historical, and ritual lenses. He reiterates that far from advocating a survivalist interpretation of the phenomenon, his article shows how the historical and cross-cultural accounts present distinct analytical challenges to both materialist and survivalist hypotheses. Shushan reaffirms his commitment to interpretive neutrality, emphasizing that the historical study of NDEs remains entirely independent of their underlying ontological status.
New in the Kiosk: One Week to Become an Atheist (2026) by Rafe Brena
In “One Week to Become an Atheist” Rafe Brena condenses the key points of his book Becoming an Atheist in One Week down to a few thousand words. This article’s sections (mirroring the book’s structure) outline a structured, daily curriculum (from Monday to Sunday) that encourages readers to scrutinize the evolutionary, psychological, and historical origins of religious belief. The essay aims to dismantle common religious assumptions through critical thinking and secular logic, and encourages readers to replace unverified ancient narratives with evidence-based reasoning and personal autonomy. The piece closes by promoting an intellectually mature perspective in which empathy and morality are viewed as innate human traits and cultural values such as freedom rather than rigid moral codes imposed on human beings from above by a divinity.
Recommended reading: Understanding Argument in a Post-Truth World (2023) by Heather Walters and Kristen Stout
In Understanding Argument in a Post-Truth World Heather Walters and Kristen Stout provide autodidacts and students with the necessary skills to help them critically evaluate situations increasingly encountered a technologically driven, “post-truth” world. In particular, Walters and Stout explore how the use of technology has changed the way people argue, and how disinformation, information overload, and polarization have impacted the study of argumentation. Broken down into ten succinct and accessible chapters, readers find all the information that they need to effectively participate in everyday arguments and productive civil discourse. In addition, the book highlights the practical benefits of critical thinking, provides updated analyses of core argumentation concepts, and demonstrates how to make better decisions. This thoroughly updated edition considers how recent events such as COVID-19 and the spread of disinformation (even outside of politics) have impacted our lives and altered the culture of argument.