Newsfeed
Newsfeed History
February 2009
March 2009
April 2009
May 2009
June 2009
July 2009
August 2009
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
February 2010
March 2010
April 2010
May 2010
June 2010
July 2010
August 2010
September 2010
October 2010
November 2010
December 2010
February 2011
March 2011
April 2011
May 2011
June 2011
July 2011
August 2011
September 2011
October 2011
November 2011
December 2011
February 2012
March 2012
April 2012
May 2012
June 2012
July 2012
August 2012
September 2012
October 2012
November 2012
December 2012
Newsfeed Articles
The evolution of religion
Michael Shermer and Francisco Ayala
July 31, 2009
Print: Los Angeles Times
Michael Shermer and Francisco Ayala discuss the theory that religious belief is hard-wired in humans by evolution.
Death of Nigerian ‘Taliban’ leader ‘best thing for the country’
Mike Pflanz
July 31, 2009
Print: The Telegraph
Nigeria welcomed the death in police custody of a hardline Islamist leader but human rights groups condemned an unlawful killing. Muhammed Yusuf died of multiple gunshot wounds late on Thursday less than an hour after he was captured by police in the northern Nigerian city of Maiduguri.
Madonna turns scribe to extol the virtues of Kabbalah
Dina Kraft
July 31, 2009
Print: The Telegraph
Madonna has used a newspaper column to reveal that she was inspired to adopt African children by her conversion to the Kabbalah sect of Judasim. The U.S. pop star said learned of the plight of AIDS orphans in the southern African nation when she and a teacher at the Kabbalah Centre were seeking a project to help disadvantaged children.
UK endorses creationist exams
Jessica Shepherd
July 30, 2009
Print: The Guardian, UK
In Christian fundamentalist exams, comparable to international A-level exams, pupils are expected to belive that Loch Ness monster disproves evolution and apartheid benefited South Africa.
Do Shamans Have More Sex?
By Robert Wright
July 30, 2009
Print: Slate
If you think religion is bad today, think about what it was like in prehistoric times when everything was explained by the supernatural.
“A forceful shaman of established reputation may…command penance. An apparently common atonement is for the shaman to direct an allegedly erring woman to have intercourse with him (his supernatural power counteracts the effects of her sinning).”
Newsweek: Should faith disqualify NIH nominee?
Lisa Miller
July 30, 2009
Print: Newsweek
Faith, reason, and the NIH nominee.
Sam Harris on Francis Collins at the NIH
MICHA J STONE
July 28, 2009
Print: Examiner.com
Harris is right to question the wisdom of Collins leading the NIH. If Collins rejects the possibility of a scientific understanding of human nature he is rejecting the effort of cognitive scientists and other scientists engaged in that very task. Science, and the nation, deserve better.
On the origin of education
Michael Reiss
July 28, 2009
Print: Guardian.co.uk
To deny the importance of teaching evolution is to fail to grasp a basic truth about children
Organ Failure
By Benyamin Cohen
July 28, 2009
Print: Slate
The recent FBI corruption sting in NJ not only indicted mayors for bribery but, strangely enough, also rabbis for trafficking in organs. This Slate article examines Jewish attitude towards organ donation. And again, religion seems to be a barrier against rational humanitarian behavior.
Meet “Tiny,” a mouse grown from induced stem cells
Katherine Harmon
July 28, 2009
Print: Scientific American
Chinese researchers grow mice from adult skin (induced pluripotent) stem cells.
Of Green Men and policemen…
July 28, 2009
Print: Economist
A British police association for Pagans seeks to take its place among Muslim and Sikh counterparts.
Atheist summer camp launched in Somerset
July 27, 2009
Print: Telegraph.co.uk
An atheist summer camp for children has been launched in Somerset to offer an alternative to religious camps for youngsters.
Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams speaks of ‘two-tier’ church
Duke Helfand
July 27, 2009
Print: Los Angeles Times
He outlines a different role for the Episcopal Church within the worldwide Anglican Communion.
Mom told police she killed newborn
Eva Ruth Moravec and Michelle Mondo
July 27, 2009
Print: San Antonio Express-News
A mother who used a steak knife to repeatedly stab, mutilate and decapitate her 4-week old baby says “the Devil” told her to do it.
Creationism For Liberals
By Jerry A. Coyne
July 27, 2009
Print: The New Republic
Jerry Coyne reviews Robert Wright’s book, The Evolution of God.
Library bans Sunday school’s ‘religious’ poster
Stephen Adams
July 27, 2009
Print: Telegraph.co.uk
Library staff have banned a Sunday school leader from putting up a poster advertising a church craft fair because they said it promoted religion.
Archbishop of Canterbury attempts to paper over Church schism
Ruth Gledhill
July 27, 2009
Print: TimesOnline
The Archbishop of Canterbury today tried to paper over the cracks as he acknowledged the Anglican church is in schism in all but name
Christian doctor reinstated to adoption panel over homosexuality row
Caroline Gammell
July 27, 2009
Print: Telegraph.co.uk
Dr Sheila Matthews a Christian doctor barred from an adoption panel after refusing to recommend that children live with homosexual couples has been reinstated but cannot vote on whether adoption goes ahead.
Science Is in the Details
By Sam Harris
July 26, 2009
Print: The New York Times
Sam Harris discusses the appointment of Francis Collins as Director of the National Institutes of Health.
An Abortion Battle, Fought to the Death
By DAVID BARSTOW
July 26, 2009
Print: The New York Times
An in-depth piece from the New York Times on Dr. George Tiller’s assassination.
