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Direct observations of evolution
by Sjoerd Westenborg, posted: 02 Apr 2013 46 - Category: Science
I was wondering if, besides the Lenski Experiments and the island lizards in the South Adriatic Sea, you guys knew some more instances where evolution has been directly observed. Either by experiment or by 'accident'. It's...
Freethinking in Bangladesh
by atheist.asif, posted: 02 Apr 2013 16 - Category: Atheism
Yesterday 3 bloggers of Bangla blog community have been arrested for not believing in any organized religion and for criticizing of the religious fundamentalism, religious institutions and religious Dogmas. Few days back, 84 freethinker bloggers...
Ishtar Vs. Easter
by EnigmaticSkeptic, posted: 01 Apr 2013 22 - Category: Religion
Hello everyone! In light of today's misunderstood and pointless holiday (Easter), I was curious to see how many of us involved on these discussion boards came across this whole Ishtar Vs. Easter...
Justifying fear
by more_confusion, posted: 31 Mar 2013 22 - Category: Atheism
Hi everyone, Right now I'm sitting in my living room with my two month old son. Other than my son, who's currently napping, i'm alone. I have the baby monitor on, and keep hearing the occasional bang from upstairs...
The big brain
by sylwin1, posted: 30 Mar 2013 62 - Category: Science
I have always been bothered by the same question.Given that life has existed on this planet for 3.8 billion years (give or take a day or two) then why did evolution take nearly all that time...
On Good Bits of the Bible, and of Religion generally.
by Zeuglodon, posted: 30 Mar 2013 19 - Category: Religion
According to the online version of the Skeptic's Annotated Bible, there are only 511 good verses or passages in the whole of the Bible, Old and New Testament inclusive. Given that there are about 1189...
i've got questions =/
by kangsj_, posted: 29 Mar 2013 31 - Category: Science
So it'ts kind of embrassed to ask..well first of all i'm korean and im studtying in america and im freshmen at lutheran high school at this moment. I came here 6 month ago ( my...
Religion and sex
by kbala, posted: 28 Mar 2013 18 - Category: Religion
Hallo zusammen, I have always wondered why religions demonize sex and often depict women as subordinates. Any one who has visited ancient temples in India would have come across...
The trick on Ontological Argument
by baaltzebub, posted: 28 Mar 2013 37 - Category: Religion
Hi, guys !English is not my native language. I never made a class on this language. Thus, i know that this text is poor in grammar and vocabulary. I don't know if it is relevant...
Unchanged organisms
by aydin, posted: 26 Mar 2013 34 - Category: Science
Hello,It's a bit embarrassing but I was asked the following question and wasn't able to give a satisfactory answer;"Fossil record shows that certain animals that we see today have not changed for hundreds of millions...
Need some advice on evolution argument
by Possum-Pie, posted: 26 Mar 2013 31 - Category: Science
Hi, I am currently working on my next book, and need a very simple explanation to give Creationists as to why we don't see neanderthals and Homo Erectus walking around today.   I grasp the...
Graham Hancock and Ruper Sheldrake allege to have had their TEDx talks banned
by dilated_in_disbelief, posted: 26 Mar 2013 46 - Category: Pseudoscience
At the TEDxWhitechapel event that took place on January 13th, 2013, Graham Hancock and Rupert Sheldrake gave their own talks. Their talks did not meet the scientific standards of TED's advisory board, so TED decided...
Time to speak up.
by Andy Mcquillan, posted: 25 Mar 2013 68 - Category: Atheism
On visiting a house with the potential to buy, i asked the owner what the residents next door were like "Oh their christians and they do alot for charity"the estate agent knodding "no worries there...
New trends in teaching biology in Russia
by Hank Baunt, posted: 24 Mar 2013 16 - Category: Education
Well, I would take the liberty of raising the question how to react to the trends we are seeing here in Russia. Teaching biology is only one of the points worth mentioning. Just recently a...
Are Political Affiliations Useful?
by Coffee Addict 83, posted: 24 Mar 2013 15 - Category: Politics
For those of us who claim the label of Atheist (or Antitheist) we only have one thing necessarily in common. We reject the existence of a deity as having insufficient evidence (and in the case...
What evidence would be enough?
by Chipmunk, posted: 22 Mar 2013 306 - Category: Religion
Before I start, I would like to say that I think that most of what Dr. Dawkins thinks about religion makes very good sense. I understand and agree with the idea of not believing in what there...
Is this Gods Plan?
by Tacomakid, posted: 22 Mar 2013 30 - Category: Atheism
As I take a look at the world around me I can't help but notice all of the horrible suffering taking place on our planet. Theists claim that God has a plan for us all....
Talk Origins Archive
by Sebastian878 , posted: 21 Mar 2013 3 - Category: Science
I love the TalkOrigins Archive but is there another site that is similar but with more current information and updates.  The Archive doesn't seem like its being updated anymore.  In fact not for some time.
The pervasiveness and compatibility of pseudoscience and religion makes them a hard nut to crack!
by scienceftw, posted: 21 Mar 2013 30 - Category: Science
*** I was not sure whether to post this in science or religion***While having a lively debate with Christians on facebook about the frontiers of science and the 4th dimension, the idea of the soul...
Should our personal beliefs enter the classroom when teaching RE?
by zoe.garnett, posted: 20 Mar 2013 30 - Category: Education
I was first brought to consider this by a question one of my year 10 students asked me during an RE lesson. “Miss, what do you think about abortion?”, she said. I paused....
Americans: The world can't go on without them
by kcjones10, posted: 18 Mar 2013 33 - Category: Politics
I now live in the 49th state.  I think it may be akin to living in the primordial stew.  Seriously, though, I have been thinking about the fall of civilizations.  Rebecca Costa's "Watchman's Rattle" has been a bit of a wake-up for me.  What does anybody else have to say?
The greatest hoax on earth ?
by Nathan Henderson, posted: 18 Mar 2013 50 - Category: Pseudoscience
Recently, I have been rather obliged to read the book 'The Greatest Hoax On Earth, refuting Dawkins on evolution' by a friend, because I made him read the original Dawkins book, and I have written a 20 page...
Either you're with us, or you're with the Evil ones
by The Buachaill, posted: 16 Mar 2013 90 - Category: Religion
No this isn't a discussion about George Bush and his McCarthyesque attempts to frame anyone who disagreed with him as a terrorist.Rather this is a disappointing, and yet hardly unsurprising, look at the divisive and...
An Autistic Atheist in a Roman Catholic School
by marokaal, posted: 15 Mar 2013 10 - Category: Education
Hello all,I know by the title of this post you might say why did you do that, but for my son, the school we have sent him to was the best option for him in...
Pope Francis' views on science
by Sjoerd Westenborg, posted: 15 Mar 2013 20 - Category: Religion
There's a new Pope in town, and even though most of us probably don't give a damn about his theological qualities, it might be of interest to us to know his views on scientific matters. The...
Are Atheists Naturalists or Humanists?
by Stardroid, posted: 13 Mar 2013 57 - Category: Atheism
Perhaps a little bit of a strange topic as, common sensically, one can be all three. (I'm new to the forums and I don't know whether RDF.net is the appropriate place to call for a philosophical discussion...
Is evidence all that matters?
by bjchiaro50, posted: 12 Mar 2013 183 - Category: Religion
I, as I am sure many other atheists do, always cite the lack of evidence for a god as one of the main reasons for my disbelief. However, I often wonder if that's sufficient enough...
Evolutionary Biology and Horror Films?
by Jogre, posted: 12 Mar 2013 36 - Category: Science
Hello all! As a recently awakened former preacher I was mindlessly watching late night programming, reading some scientific literature, when multiple commercials endorsing some new horror films flicked across the screen. As I watched, I couldn't help but...
Lost two friends this week... this atheism lark is getting lonely....
by Disco Dan, posted: 11 Mar 2013 53 - Category: Atheism
A friend of mine saw a post on my Facebook page about Religion/Morals - long story short we had a 'discussion' with her basically saying "prove my religion is immoral, bad etc". Cue about 5...
Advocating a Naturalistic View in a Catholic Ethics Class
by ArmchairCat, posted: 11 Mar 2013 24 - Category: Education
 I've come to ask you folks for a bit of advice and information, but let me give you the context before making the request.I'm in a medical ethics course at a private Catholic university. In almost...
Queen to sign new charter backing gay rights: The irony of the U.S.
by MANintheMIDDLE, posted: 11 Mar 2013 22 - Category: Religion
I was pointed to this article, by a friend, in an online discussion: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/9920238/Queen-to-sign-new-charter-backing-gay-rights.htmlYou know, there's a certain irony in this. The U.S. was born partly due to discrimination felt by groups like the Pilgrims. They...
A statement of faith
by GlenNeuro, posted: 09 Mar 2013 27 - Category: Religion
Is it legal for an employer to ask you to sign a statement of faith?I recently started a new part time job whilst studying for my Bsc (Hons) Neuropsychology. Before being a student I was...
Science and Morality - Conflict?
by utopia, posted: 09 Mar 2013 87 - Category: Science
I've seen many arguments now where people are disagreeing about the nature or morality and right vs. wrong. Some say morality is: subjective (depends on the person, purely a cultural thing, based on preference, etc.) objective...
New TV Series (coming soon): The Bible
by itraining, posted: 08 Mar 2013 13 - Category: Religion
The news.com.au web site posted an article about a new 5 part television series screening soon on The History Channel. The official web site is here: http://www.bibleseries.tv/From news.com.au: Introducing, The Bible: Ten hours of dramatic TV re-enactments of history’s most...
Can Atheists qualify as Conscientious Objectors?
by whiteraven, posted: 08 Mar 2013 20 - Category: Atheism
Conscientious Objector status is not a trivial exemption to obtain. How can Atheists (etc.)  have a fair chance at achieving it if the general attitude is that without a belief in god, one has no...
Canadian Officials Ambivalent on Including Atheist Persecution in Foreign Policy
by justinian, posted: 07 Mar 2013 11 - Category: Politics
The Centre for Inquiry's Think Again! TV released an investigative report that's been posted to YouTube:Canada's Office of Religious Freedom: Protect Persecuted Atheistshttp://youtu.be/D3ieEyO4qg0The expo includes video remarks by Canada's Minister of Foreign Affairs explicitly stating that...
Television and Secularism
by Gyrene251, posted: 07 Mar 2013 21 - Category: Education
What role should television play in promotong secularism, atheism, or freethought? Should we have our own cable network, much like many religious entities do? Should we have a syndicated program to air every Sunday morning...
I am trying to know what Atheism is and also to validate myself please help me
by fritzrayner, posted: 06 Mar 2013 36 - Category: Atheism
I am from the Philippines brought up by my parents as religious kid. Nevertheless in my teens I had a lot of curiosity about God/Religion, a had a lot of life problems this maybe contributory factor for me to not believe in God. My question is...
A new crackpot theory Christians are preaching
by hueman0un, posted: 06 Mar 2013 58 - Category: Pseudoscience
 That god created the building blocks of life..or matter itself..THEN evolution occured...the fact of the matter is evolution has been strongly proven..rather than look even more foolish than debate evolution which many christians do they...
I'm a16 year old and i do not want to be "force fed" theistic beliefs
by tim2142, posted: 05 Mar 2013 37 - Category: Religion
Recently my parents have started taking me to a baptist church and forcing me to accept this new concept of an omniscient omnipotent being which cannot be proven to exist, and I'm not trying to...
Disturbed by the religiousness of inner city gangs and organized crime groups
by hueman0un, posted: 05 Mar 2013 19 - Category: Politics
I've lived in a few very rough neighborhood where gangs rule the streets as their turf, deal drugs, and harass.  Unfortunately, I had to live alongside these thugs for sometime.  What disturbs me is how...
Ceremonies: the rich heratige of religion
by Paul Sousek, posted: 04 Mar 2013 7 - Category: Atheism
The main world religions have existed for hundreds or thousands of years. In that time they have developed a whole series of ceremonies with which to celebrate or commemorate various life stages, such as death, marriage, birth,...
Tricky? Transgender students in high school
by Sjoerd Westenborg, posted: 04 Mar 2013 16 - Category: Education
Perhaps some of you have already read about a case in Colorado in which the parents of a transgender girl (born boy, identifies as girl) of six are suing* for her right to use the...
Religious Accommodation: Examination Scheduling - in Canada!
by EnthusiasticAtheist, posted: 02 Mar 2013 19 - Category: Education
As I have indicated in other posts (some published some yet to be), I work at a very prominent Canadian University as administrative support staff.  Recently I was informed of the following policy at my...
Daniel Everett Lost Tribe Lost Faith
by zennonanon, posted: 02 Mar 2013 13 - Category: Religion
Hi RDF,I hope this is the correct place to let you know about the fantastic story behind the you tube videohttp://youtu.be/Zju5YwsP8GEI could not find anything on RDF about Daniel Everett and I'm sure everyone will...
Wedding Ceremony
by jennystephenson, posted: 28 Feb 2013 16 - Category: Atheism
Hello all-My little sister is getting married later this year, and she wants me to officiate at the ceremony. Neither she nor her partner is religious, and they want a secular ceremony. However, according to...
Does anyone else go through difficulty growing up
by uncertain18, posted: 28 Feb 2013 26 - Category: Religion
My entire 18 years of life I've never felt the "divine spirit" or the voice that everyone seems to go on about at congregations or any other things of the sort that uplifts people... I always found myself...
Prove there's no god
by paxpoker, posted: 27 Feb 2013 135 - Category: Religion
When I say to a christian ,provide proof there is a god,the answer is often,provide proof there is no god.How do we prove that there is no god?.If we say that based on science I BELIEVE that...
"Near-death" experiences: can they prove or dis-prove the concept of "afterlife"?
by raised_atheist, posted: 26 Feb 2013 49 - Category: Science
NPR featured a critical care physician, Dr. Parnia (@ Stony Brook University). http://m.npr.org/news/Books/172495667 "Resuscitation medicine is now sometimes capable of reviving people after their heart has stopped beating and their brain has flat-lined." Dr. Parnia studies resuscitation medicine....
superstitious atheist >_<
by demon, posted: 25 Feb 2013 50 - Category: Atheism
Hi everyone,i'm Indonesian (from chinese origin) and i think i'm an atheist, i don't believe in god or deities but i can't reject the notion that there's part of me that still can't deny...
The Rational Wisdom of Bertrand Russell
by Russell W, posted: 25 Feb 2013 21 - Category: Education
Bertrand Russell is someone whom I have found to be of great inspiration. While I am sure many of the readers here will be more than familiar with him, I wanted to share a quotation...
Religious fundamentalists & capital punishment
by kbala, posted: 24 Feb 2013 30 - Category: Religion
Hi,I was quite ambivalent about capital punishment before moving to England. But after listening to my colleague (gulping few pints at the pub) at the university where I was studying, I got convinced that...
Starting simple and building up complexity over time
by Axulus, posted: 23 Feb 2013 44 - Category: Science
I have often heard Richard say that the universe had a simple beginning, and that starting simple and building up to something more complex over time is a far simpler explaination than positing that something complicated...
Raising an Atheist child
by Cogan1988, posted: 22 Feb 2013 47 - Category: Atheism
Hello everyone,  I was wondering if people who have experience with raising a child as an Atheist could give me any advice on the best way to go about it. My girlfriend and I are...
Why is it okay to believe in a God?
by Liam91, posted: 22 Feb 2013 40 - Category: Religion
If I said to someone that I believe in Father Christmas or the tooth fairy for example, any right-minded person would laugh in my face. However if someone said that they believe in a God,...
macro evolution??
by Manjunath K, posted: 22 Feb 2013 30 - Category: Science
I have people arguing with me about evolution based on this linkhttp://www.seekingtruth.co.uk/evolution.htm reasoning with religious people is so tough, they agree with micro evolution but not macro, but i cant find enough information or a website...
practically valid?
by sbijapure, posted: 21 Feb 2013 33 - Category: Science
To begin with, can you create a simple replicator in a simple chemical soup of your choice?Can it be done in laboratory? You may not have the atmospheric conditions of the earth billions of years...
Non-religious preschool?
by Andychud, posted: 21 Feb 2013 10 - Category: Education
Hi Everyone. For my first ever post, I'd like to ask thoughts & opinions on an uncomfortable predicament that I face. I live in the Philippines (I'm not actually Filipino) and, as you're no doubt...
non believer to believer
by Andy Mcquillan, posted: 19 Feb 2013 168 - Category: Atheism
Just out of intrest in there anyone out there who has recently had first hand experience or knows someboby in this day and age of reason and science that has coverted from atheism to religion....
isn´t it time we reframe the enviromental issue?
by nico, posted: 19 Feb 2013 36 - Category: Politics
I open the debate on the idea that, more or less 30 years have passed since the issue of climate change and global warming arised in the general press and mass media, and despite all the...