What's New Archive ● 2002 ● August
August 28, 2002
Updated Cosmology and the Koran: A Response to Muslim Fundamentalists (2001) by Richard Carrier
Corrected some sentences for clarity, removed some superfluous text, and added some relevant links.
August 24, 2002
B. Steven Matthies has again updated his article "Christian Salvation?" This was the Feature article for March 2002, and if you missed it then, you owe it to yourself to read it now.Ever wonder how you can be "saved"? Christians themselves cannot agree--and the confusion is embarrassing. A survey of sixteen major denominations proves the point.The May/June 2002, and July/August 2002 issues of The Skeptical Review (TSR), Farrell Till, Editor, are now online. TSR is now up to date!
August 22, 2002
Added EXIT FUNDYISM to the listing of Secular E-Mail Lists.This is a support group for Born Again and Fundamentalist Christians and ex-Born Againers who have serious questions about their beliefs and either have left, want to leave or are thinking about leaving born again fundamentalist Christianity. Subscribers may freely discuss spiritual conflicts, guilt, fear of losing good friends, dealing with Christian family members, fear of losing salvation, fear of losing fellowship with God, etc.--but absolutely no preaching, evangelizing or witnessing!
Added a link to Contra Craig by Mark Smith (Off Site) on the index page of well-known Christian apologist William Lane Craig.
This is a site devoted to dissecting & disemboweling the arguments of Christianity's #1 living apologist: Dr. William Lane Craig.
August 20, 2002
Added "The Separation of Church and State: an American Revolutionary Tradition" by Terrie Albano to the Agora.The suspected origin of the catastrophic terrorist attacks on NY and Washington is a grouping of extreme Islamic fundamentalists. Why do they hate us? Albano offers good insight as well as insight on freedom and the willingness to fight for it.Added "One Nation, Under Socialist Ideals" by Terrie Albano to the Agora.
"As soon as I saw the ruling, I could see the headlines. It was a no-brainer. About as predictable as George W. calling everyone who doesn't agree with him an 'evil-doer.' I'm talking about the 'under God' ruling and the firestorm after, including all who rushed to be more 'religious' and more 'patriotic' than thou."
August 19, 2002
Added "The Case for a Coherent God" by Joseph A. Sabella to the Modern section of the Library.This is Sabella's rebuttal to Incompatible-Properties Arguments: A Survey by Theodore M. Drange in which Sabella presents his case for the logicality of the existence of a coherent God.
August 18, 2002
Added "Poisoning the Well" by Richard Morey, the second featured article for August, to the Kiosk.The public debate about Newdow v. U.S. Congress is of very low quality. Politicians, the media, columnists, and the public all seem to either have severe misunderstandings of the issues involved, or worse, appear to deliberately twist the facts. Until the public debate becomes more rational, we cannot hope to have anything good come out of it.
August 17, 2002
Added "My Experience with the Pledge of Allegiance" by Brandon Seger to the Agora.Seger describes how he handled the Pledge of Allegiance as a nonbelieving student at his school.
August 16, 2002
Added Defining Our Mission (2002) by Richard CarrierA brief essay explaining the mission of the Internet Infidels, especially our focus on Metaphysical Naturalism. Includes a reading list of books on Naturalism and a discussion of our values and how the Secular Web is fulfilling its mission.Added an "Editor's Note" to The Jesus of History: A Reply to Josh McDowell by Gordon Stein regarding Stein's position with respect to Josephus' "Testimonium Flavianum."
August 14, 2002
Added "An Open Letter to John Derbyshire" by Michael Drake to the Agora.This open letter is in response to March of the Godless, published by National Review Online.
August 12, 2002
Added links to "A Comment on Richard Carrier's Review of The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin With a Mythical Christ?" by Earl Doherty.This is Doherty's response to "Did Jesus Exist? Earl Doherty and the Argument to Ahistoricity" by Richard Carrier, Carrier's critical review of Doherty's "The Jesus Puzzle: Did Christianity Begin with a Mythical Christ? Challenging the Existence of an Historical Jesus."
August 11, 2002
B. Steven Matthies has updated his article "Christian Salvation?" This was the Feature article for March 2002, and if you missed it then, you owe it to yourself to read it now.Ever wonder how you can be saved? Christians can't agree, and the confusion is embarassing. A survey of sixteen major denominations proves the point.
August 6, 2002
The November/December 2001, January/February 2002, and March/April 2002 issues of The Skeptical Review (TSR), Farrell Till, Editor, are now online--with more to come.August 1, 2002
Added "On Arrogance" by AJ Milne, the featured article for the first half of August, to the Kiosk. A Canadian's perspective on the Pledge issue."To the citizens, legislators, and judiciary of the U.S., . . . I say: keep those words out of your pledges; let the message be clear: the state has no intention, and no right, to influence what you believe on such questions, in any way whatsoever. . . . It has been said before. Let me say it once more: if your god needs the protection of legislation, he must be a feeble creature indeed." - AJ Milne
See "What's New? " for past months