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November 2018

November 30, 2018

American Pluralism: Its Promises and Struggles

On November 1 – 7, 2018, more than 10,000 people from all over the world...

November 29, 2018

The Power of Potentialism

We don't live in a world driven by potentialism. But we should.

September 2018

September 02, 2018

Storytelling while Secular: Writing about Loss in an Indifferent Cosmos

Last week I offered up a rather dense introduction to the storytelling problem of "sacrifice"...

August 2018

August 12, 2018

The Joker and the Supermen: Secular Story-Telling in a Spiritual World

It happens with uncanny frequency here in Colombia: when I talk to a male person,...

August 04, 2018

Atheism in Colombia: Not as Different as You Might Think

I had the opportunity a few days ago to read a column on atheism in...

July 2018

July 25, 2018

Atheism as Click-bait: Playing into Media Sensationalism

I suspect it's clear by now, to readers of this blog, that I am more...

July 16, 2018

A Better Use for Biblical Pedantry

The other day a family member wrote me with a "joke": an email that contained,...

July 08, 2018

“You’re Not Angry Enough”: Humanist Outrage and… Grace?

It's been a wild ride in Colombia this past week, if you're up on your...

June 2018

June 22, 2018

Bible-Shaming Won’t Work: The Love Thy Neighbour Problem

As outrage spread in response to the U.S. policy of separating children from parents at...

June 18, 2018

Beyond the Brand: Finding the Communal Self Behind Our Labels

The Russian World Cup is well underway, and whenever I catch a glimpse of Colombia's...

June 09, 2018

Leader Worship and Populism: A Humanist Nightmare

If you believe that human beings are responsible for fixing the world's problems, populism can...

May 2018

May 31, 2018

“Philanthrocapitalism”: From Religious to Secular Masters of Men

One reason I resist strict religious/secular binaries is because shared human behaviours often warrant closer...

May 26, 2018

A Humanist in Colombia: Lessons for a Hurting World

Colombians will rarely ask you your religion. Why would they, when “Catholic” is the default...

April 2018

April 03, 2018

Exploring the Bleeding Borders of the Secular and the Sacred

Julian Baggini, founding editor of The Philosopher's Magazine, asserts that a search for common ground between...

March 2018

March 13, 2018

Why Skydiving Only Feels Like A Religious Experience

What do skydivers and mystics, for example, have in common? Their thrilling payoffs are completely...

March 07, 2018

Down-To-Earth Reasons Explain Religion’s Endless Existence

How American Christianity Perpetuates Reason #1: Skeptics Inadvertently Enable It As I read the new...

February 2018

February 26, 2018

Was God necessary for creation? Science suggests no.

Contrary to what ancient Christian theologians hypothesized, the universe was not necessarily created from a...

August 2017

August 07, 2017

The International Secular

by Marc Schaus For anyone currently following the secular movements happening all over North America...

July 2017

July 19, 2017

See Me

Inside Out, The People's Art Project: A Global Art Project Transforming Messages of Personal Identity...

February 2017

February 27, 2017

Toward a Post-Lies Future

Caption: Trumpocchio Head of Donald Trump___________________________________________________________________ DONALD TRUMP is our first post-truth president. And he...

February 13, 2017

Preserving Our Democracy on Valentine’s Day

Caption: Photograph of author and wife on Valentine’s Day outing (Image courtesy of Gleb...

January 2017

January 24, 2017

Freedom’s Path Series: Tales TRUMP Trust

This has nothing to do with President Trump. I just needed to use the word....

January 23, 2017

What Would Gandhi Do About Trump? High-Time For a Science Of Wisdom

Source: wikimedia commons/ Mahatma Ghandi close up potrait Written by Charles Cassidy MPhys, Director of...

January 12, 2017

Freedom’s Path Series: Emotional Hardships of Deconversion

“You doing okay, Pat?” The question was asked by Buzz, one of my regular passengers...

January 05, 2017

Why Humanist Education is Needed Now

There has never been a greater need for the humanist perspective.

December 2016

December 06, 2016

Fear and Anger Over the Ohio State Knife Attack

Source: Muteb Gz/Flickr I felt a stab of cold fear when I first learned about...

December 01, 2016

Don’t Be Fooled This Giving Season: Give Wisely!

Caption: Facepalm by Captain Jean-Luc Picard (AJ Cann, Flickr) ___________________________________________________________________ There are millions of charities...

November 2016

November 19, 2016

The Worst Problem In American Politics?

Source: Cara Masto, Used with permission Like many Americans, I was left with a heavy...

November 15, 2016

Applying The Scientific Method To Charity

Caption: Hands touching world (image credit) Written by Dr. Gleb Tsipursky, Intentional Insights Co-Founder and...

September 2016

September 11, 2016

On Being a Weird American on 9/11

Caption: Person saluting the American flag (image credit) ______________________________________________________ On this anniversary of the 2001...