AlterNet.org: Belief

What if People Actually Treated Religion as Just a Metaphor (Like Trekkies and Secular Jews)?

Greta Christina, AlterNet — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

It's possible to keep the good parts of religion -- like the music, rituals and pageantry -- and get rid of the sex-hating dogma, the belief in god and other troublesome aspects.

Anti-Abortion Group to Protest Palin

Stephanie Mencimer, Mother Jones Online — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

To liberals, she epitomizes the anti-choice far right of the GOP. But to American Right to Life, Sarah Palin is not pure enough.

What Makes a Young Person Embrace Death and Murder? Former Jihadists Speak Out

Johann Hari, Independent UK — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

Former radical Islamists share their tales of why they turned to extremism, and why they repented.

Why the Catholic Bishops Who Pushed Through the Stupak Amendment Are Hypocrites

Jon O'Brien and Nancy Keenan, AlterNet — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

The same language the bishops thought too weak to truly ban public funding for abortion maintains their charities' own access to public money.

The Top One Reason Religion Is Harmful

Greta Christina, AlterNet — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

Religion is uniquely armored against anything that might stop it from spinning into extreme absurdity, extreme denial of reality and extreme, grotesque immorality.

Introducing ChristianChirp, the Evangelical Right's Alternative to Twitter

Allison Kilkenny, AlterNet — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

ChristianChirp.com, which promises to be a "family friendly" site, was founded by a man who claims to have been banned from Twitter for defending Rush Limbaugh.

How Catholic Bishops Threw the Health Care Debate into Turmoil with Anti-Abortion Maneuver

Adele M. Stan, AlterNet — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

It took a virulently anti-choice measure to pass the House's health care reform legislation. Progressives are strategizing how to keep it from the final bill.

Is Blind Faith in God and the Bible a Modern Invention?

Devilstower, Daily Kos — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

A new book points out that the ancient Christians -- and even early Americans -- did not share the blind faith of today's fundamentalists.

Nobel Laureate Slams the Bible, Calls It "A Catalogue of Cruelties"

Mario de Queiroz, IPS News — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 09:00:01 PST

The holy book is a "manual of bad morals," according to JosÃ© Saramago.

Atheists, It's Time to Stand Up to Jesus

Russell Blackford, Udo Schuklenk, Comment Is Free — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

Civility has its uses, but atheists should not be afraid to mock faith to undermine religious power.

U.S. Troops in Afghanistan Are Burning Copies of the Koran? Are We Really That Stupid?

Abdullah Obaidi, Asia Times — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

According to villagers, several U.S. soldiers burned Korans when they couldn't locate insurgents they believed had blown up part of their convoy.

Are the "New Atheists" As Bad as Christian Fundamentalists?

Frank Schaeffer, AlterNet — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 00:00:01 PST

The most aggressive members of the "New Atheism" movement have quite a bit in common with religious extremists like Pat Robertson and Ted Haggard.

Oscar-Winning Hollywood Big Shot: Why I'm Leaving Scientology

Guy Adams, Independent UK — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Paul Haggis, who wrote hits like Crash and Million Dollar Baby, fires parting shot at "hate-filled and bigoted" church.

An Atheist's Review of the Book of Genesis Illustrated by a Legendary Comics Artist

Greta Christina, Greta Christina's Blog — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

This isn't Beatrix Potter here. It's more like "Dangerous Liaisons" by way of Quentin Tarantino. With tents, sand, and sheep.

How Mormonism Created Glenn Beck

Joanna Brooks, Religion Dispatches — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

With Glenn Beck now a mainstay in the national debate, the public is getting exposure to a peculiar strain of religious political conservatism rooted in Mormon culture.

The Untouchables: Right-Wingers Put Themselves in an Uncompromising 'World Apart'

Isaiah J. Poole, Blog for Our Future — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

A report issued Friday by Democracy Corps shows that the most conservative Republicans consider themselves part of an underdog minority.

The Rise of the Religious Left -- Why Christianity Isn't Just for Conservatives

Anna Hartnell, Comment Is Free — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

It's easy to paint American Christians as right wing free-marketeers -â€“ but the truth is far more complex.

Anti-Immigrant Hardliners Declare War on the Clergy

Wendy Feliz Sefsaf, Immigration Impact — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:00:01 PDT

Nativist groups are pulling an old strategy out of their play book as they attack members of the clergy.

Why I Like Buffy the Vampire Slayerâ€™s Body Better Than Jennifer's

W. Scott Poole, Religion Dispatches — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

Has a new horror film about a murderous cheerleader subverted the mythos of woman as the source of evil or just the opposite?

$214 Billion in Obama's Stimulus Money Is Still Out There: 10 Ways You Can Benefit from It

Aaron Glantz, New America Media — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:00:01 PDT

There are countless government programs that give citizens access to money earmarked to boosting the economy. Here's where the money is being spent.