What's New Archive ● 2000 ● November
November 30, 2000
Added "Copan's Critique of Atheistic Objective Morality" (2000) [ 44K ] by Michael MartinMartin responds to a recent article by Paul Copan. Martin argues that a theistic ontological foundation of morality is impossible, that moral realism is possible in a godless universe, that theistic morality is subject to the accusation of arbitrariness whereas naturalistic moral realism is not, and that human beings are not "special" in the sense intended by theists. In short, Martin argues that Copan's critique atheistic metaethics is mistaken and his defense of a theistic moral realism is unsound.
November 29, 2000
Modified the Feature Article Bush Abandons the People by Richard Carrier.Author's Note: I firmly believe in always correcting my mistakes, and one such mistake was discovered and corrected above shortly after this essay was published: I erroneously read the Lexis-Nexis database of state codes as indicating that the Texas hand-count law was passed in 1999, when in fact it was passed in 1986 and amended in 1993. As a result, I had incorrectly attributed an even more extreme hypocrisy to George W. Bush than the facts warrant. I sincerely apologize for the error, and thank our readers for pointing out my mistake.
November 25, 2000
Added Feature Article Bush Abandons the People by Richard Carrier.It seems most reasonable that a hand-count in all of Florida should be conducted, if Bush really wanted what was fair instead of what only helped him, and something should be done to redress the violation of the law in Palm Beach county, where the will of the people was silenced by an illegal ballot. Bush may yet still win in the end, but that doesn't mean these things should not be done. If he really believed in the people, he should be supporting them.
November 22, 2000
Added the July/August 2000 issue of the The Skeptical Review.November 16, 2000
Revised and expanded The Date of the Nativity in Luke (2000) [ 132K ] by Richard CarrierThe essay is now complete, addressing some new claims, covering the usual ones more thoroughly, and all organized in a way easier to employ as a reference rather than reading the entire thing. Establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that Luke and Matthew contradict each other irreconcilably in setting the date and circumstances of the birth of Jesus.
November 14, 2000
Completed the new 4th edition of Why I Don't Buy the Resurrection Story [ Index ] (2000) by Richard Carrier, including a completely new shorter version based on a recent Yale lecture.This fourth edition involves two changes: (1) the addition of a new shorter version, a slightly different paper on the same topic containing material and argument that adds to the original essay, all based on a lecture I gave at Yale; (2) since I have over the past six months collected a lot of mail and feedback from people who failed to understand what I said at several points in the original essay, I have rewritten every section to make it clearer. No substantial changes were made apart from how I say the same things this essay already said in the third edition.Expanded the sixth footnote to The Formation of the New Testament Canon [ 112K ] (2000) by Richard Carrier.
Eusebius, the first Christian historian, openly defends telling lies to support Christianity.
November 13, 2000
Added A Moral Existence by Steven Mahone to the Freethought section of the Modern Library"Consider that Chachapoya never had access to the Judeo laws and morals as handed down by Moses. They had never heard of Vishnu, Brahma, or Maheshawara (Hindu), nor did the angel Moroni bestow revelations to anyone in their culture as far as we know. How, then, did they manage to manage for so long?"
November 8, 2000
Added Feature Article An Enquiry Concerning the Evangelical Religion by Brian RaineyThe author, once a member of the evangelical religion, attempted to reconcile his homosexuality with his faith. In so doing he exposed several characteristics about evangelism that led to a full rejection of religious belief and an understanding of the hypocrisy that underlies fundamentalism. In the following essay Brian Rainey recounts his experiences and offers a glimpse into the many interpretations of Biblical passages that address the issue of homosexuality.
November 6, 2000
Added Author's Note to Richard Carrier's article The War For Our Future in the Atheists & The Elections section of the Point-Counterpoint SeriesAuthor's Note: When I wrote the following speech I was riding a tide of fire and brimstone born from indignity and astonishment after seeing the debates and hearing interviews with undecided citizens. But after settling down a bit and hearing intelligent advice from others, I find I over did it--a lot. Contrary to my hyperbolic assertion in the very first paragraph that my vivid wake up call is not an exaggeration, it certainly is. I now ask that the passionate tenor not detract from the core of the argument, for though the scale of effect won't be quite as extreme as I make it seem here, the differences will remain, and the effects will still matter enough to all rationalists to be an important reason to act as I suggest.- Richard Carrier
November 4, 2000
Added November's Book of the Month: Livefrom the Gates of Hell: An Insider's Look at the Anti-Abortion Movement by Jerry ReiterAdded A Tribute to Steve Allen by Dr. Paul Kurtz
Entertainer, composer, author, and star of stage, screen and television, Steve Allen, passed away on Monday, October 30. Dr. Kurtz, founder and chair of the Council for Secular Humanism and the Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal, pays tribute to a friend and colleague that will be sorely missed by the Rationalist Community..Added Feature Article An Open Letter to the American People from Alan Hale
Alan Hale, co-discoverer of Comet Hale-Bopp, urges Americans to think critically about the upcoming Presidential Elections. In an open letter to the American public, he confronts the issues at hand, addresses the diversity of stances being made, and emphasizes the importance this election will have on the very future of human civilization. "The decision we make next week will have effects which will reverberate throughout our nation and our overall human society for many decades to come..."Added two new articles to Atheists & The Elections in the Point-Counterpoint Series.
Counterpoint: By Their Fruits: A Response to Richard Carrier by Dave Holloway.
Point: An Open Letter to the American People from Alan Hale.