What's New Archive ● 2009 ● December
What's New on the Secular Web?
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December 31, 2009
New in the Kiosk: Is Moral Relativism the Only Logical Option? (2009) by Jeff Summers
Christian apologists are quick to tout the notion that human morality must be based upon an objective, unchanging standard. These defenders of the faith speak at great length in an attempt to enumerate the absurdities of a moral code which is relative to time, culture and person. However, if one dissects their arguments they are shown to provide no logical case for objective morality; rather, they merely assert a need for it and show that relativism does not meet that need. Not only do they fail to show a naturally necessary case for objective morality, they fail to understand that their own stated mechanism—in this case the Christian god—necessarily fails to impart humans with an objective moral code upon which they can reliably base decisions.
December 22, 2009
New in the Bookstore: Slaves to Faith: A Therapist Looks Inside the Fundamentalist Mind (2009) by Calvin Mercer.
Based upon the author's twenty years of classroom and clinical study, Slaves of Faith explores and explains the emotionally laden dynamic at work in the fundamentalist mind. As Dr. Mercer posits, the fundamentalist is fundamentally driven by anxiety layered over a fragile sense of self-identity constructed upon a system of beliefs that is both logically inconsistent and highly suspect in light of modern science. Mercer insists that if the Christian terminology were eliminated from contemporary fundamentalist Christian rhetoric, what would remain would be a framework that fundamentalists from other religions would find quite familiar and even comforting.
December 12, 2009
New in the Kiosk: Why I Am Not A Christian (2009) by Dan Ferrisi
Hitting hard, Ferrisi--born into a 100% Roman Catholic family--explains the main reasons that he completely rejects Christianity.
December 4, 2009
New in the Bookstore: The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing (2009) by Richard Dawkins (Ed.)
The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing is a rich and vibrant anthology that captures the poetry and excitement of scientific thought and discovery. Boasting almost one hundred articles and book excerpts, The Oxford Book of Modern Science Writing is a breathtaking celebration of the finest writing by scientists—the best such collection in print—packed with scintillating essays on everything from "The Discovery of Lucy" to "The Terror and Vastness of the Universe."
New in the Bookstore: Out of God's Closet (2009) by Stephen Uhl, Ph.D.
Faithful Catholic priest-become-atheist psychologist shows how he did—and how you, too—can unlearn childhood prejudices and superstitions, and really enjoy the modified Golden Rule. The practical details of the most important journey of life are found in this little book. A generous sprinkling of earthy humor richly seasons this revolutionary book for enjoyable spiritual nourishment.