NewsTrust - Faith and Reason - Most Recent Stories: Opinion (Mainstream)

Let’s just say it: The Republicans are the problem.

Sun, 29 Apr 2012 00:00:00 -0700

Washington Post - By Thomas E. Mann, Norman J. Ornstein - Apr. 29 (Opinion) - Rep. Allen West, a Florida Republican, was recently captured on video asserting that there are “78 to 81” Democrats in Congress who are members of the Communist Party. Of course, it’s not unusual for some renegade lawmaker from either side of the aisle to say something outrageous. What made West’s comment — right out of the McCarthyite playbook of the 1950s — so striking was the almost complete lack of condemnation from Republican congressional leaders or other major party figures, including the remaining presidential candidates. It’s not that the GOP leadership agrees with West; it is that such extreme remarks and views are now taken for granted.

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The Republicans are now the anti-science party

Sun, 04 Sep 2011 00:00:00 -0700

New York Times - By Paul Krugman - Sep. 04 (Opinion) - Jon Huntsman Jr, a former Utah governor and ambassador to China, isn't a serious contender for the Republican presidential nomination. And that's too bad, because Mr Hunstman has been willing to say the unsayable about the Republican party in the United States, namely, that it is becoming the "anti-science party". This is an enormously important development. And it should terrify us. To see what Mr Huntsman means, consider recent statements by the two men who actually are serious contenders for the Republican nomination: Rick Perry and Mitt Romney.

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Argument, Truth and the Social Side of Reasoning

Thu, 30 Jun 2011 00:00:00 -0700

New York Times - By Gary Gutting - Jun. 30 (Opinion) - In a recent discussion about reasoning, one point was overlooked: Knowledge of the truth is a social process. Philosophers rightly think of themselves as experts on reasoning. After all, it was a philosopher, Aristotle, who developed the science of logic. But psychologists have also had some interesting things to say about the subject. A fascinating paper by Dan Sperber and Hugo Mercier has recently generated a lot of discussion.

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Jewish prayers for Egypt's uprising

Tue, 01 Feb 2011 00:00:00 -0800

Aljazeera - By Michael Lerner - Feb. 01 (Opinion) - Many Jews from around the world support Egyptian self-determination because of Judaism's own historic past with Egypt.

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The American Debate: A death-row opponent: Be still, my heart

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 00:00:00 -0800

Philadelphia Inquirer - By Dick Polman - Dec. 12 (Opinion) - Ever since a self-described loser named Steven Hayes went on trial this autumn for the murders of a Connecticut doctor's wife and two daughters, my gut has been warring with my brain.

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The folly of pretence

Thu, 16 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0700

The Guardian - By Daniel Dennett - Jul. 16 (Opinion) - I am confident that those who believe in belief are wrong. That is, we no more need to preserve the myth of God in order to preserve a just and stable society than we needed to cling to the Gold Standard to keep our currency sound.

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Mind Matters

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0700

New York Times - By Steven Johnson, Jonah Lehrer - Mar. 18 (Review) - Most great stories revolve around decisions: the snap brilliance of Captain Sullenberger choosing to land his plane in the Hudson, or Dorothea’s prolonged, agonizing choice of whether to forsake her husband for true love in “Middlemarch,” or your parents’ oft-told account of the day they decided to marry. There is something powerfully human in the act of deliberately choosing a path; other animals have drives, emotions, problem-solving skills, but none rival our capacity for self-consciously weighing all the options, imagining potential outcomes and arriving at a choice. As George W. Bush might have put it, we are a species of deciders.

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The Republican Rump

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0800

New York Times - By Paul Krugman - Nov. 03 (Opinion) - Maybe the polls are wrong, and John McCain is about to pull off the biggest election upset in American history. But right now the Democrats seem poised both to win the White House and to greatly expand their majorities in both houses of Congress.

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What's God's interest in pipeline?

Thu, 25 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

Seattle Post Intelligencer - By Hubert G. Locke - Sep. 25 (Opinion) - On Nov. 4, voters have a vested interest in ensuring that someone who is so glibly confident about knowing God's plan does not get within a heartbeat of the presidency of the United States. People who profess to know what God is thinking engage in the worst, most dangerous form of self-delusion. They should never be allowed anywhere near positions of public responsibility that put the rest of us -- and the world -- at risk.

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Without God

Mon, 22 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0700

The New York Review of Books - By Steven Weinberg - Sep. 22 (Review) - In his celebrated 1837 Phi Beta Kappa Oration at Harvard, titled "The American Scholar," Ralph Waldo Emerson predicted that a day would come when America would end what he called "our long apprenticeship to the learning of other lands." His prediction came true in the twentieth century, and in no area of learning more so than in science. This surely would have pleased Emerson. When he listed his heroes he would generally include Copernicus and Galileo and Newton along with Socrates and Jesus and Swedenborg. But I think that Emerson would have had mixed feelings about one consequence of the advance of science here and abroad--that it has led to a widespread weakening of religious belief.[1]

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Defining who's 'qualified' in a diverse nation

Sun, 02 Dec 2007 09:36:43 -0800

Seattle Post Intelligencer - By D. Parvaz - Dec. 02 (Editorial) - But... Mitty, buddy, Habibi. Islam isn't an ethnicity. It's a religion. This is something a guy hoping to run a global superpower -- one that's trying to disabuse the Middle East of the notion that the wars it's waging there are rooted in hatred for the faith (one culture's jihad is another's crusade) -- ought to know. But this isn't about forcing Romney to hire someone on the basis of his or her religion. He was asked if he'd consider a qualified Muslim-American for a high-ranking position, and he said no -- based either on the demographic reason, as Ijaz claims, or for reasons that have something to do with his view of the Middle East as filled with nothing but violent fundamentalists. Sounds like Romney needs to clarify his clarification.

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Goodbye to All That

Mon, 05 Nov 2007 11:44:45 -0800

Atlantic Monthly - By Andrew Sullivan - Nov. 05 (Opinion) - The logic behind the candidacy of Barack Obama is not, in the end, about Barack Obama. It has little to do with his policy proposals, which are very close to his Democratic rivals' and which, with a few exceptions, exist firmly within the conventions of our politics. It has little to do with Obama's considerable skills as a conciliator, legislator, or even thinker. It has even less to do with his ideological pedigree or legal background or rhetorical skills. Yes, as the many profiles prove, he has considerable intelligence and not a little guile. But so do others, not least his formidably polished and practiced opponent Senator Hillary Clinton. Obama, moreover, is no saint. He has flaws and tics: Often tired, sometimes crabby, intermittently solipsistic, he's a surprisingly uneven campaigner. A soaring rhetorical flourish one day is undercut by a lackluster debate performance the next. He is certainly not without self-regard. He has more experience in public life than his opponents want to acknowledge, but he has not spent much time in Washington and has never run a business. His lean physique, close-cropped hair, and stick-out ears can give the impression of a slightly pushy undergraduate. You can see why many of his friends and admirers have urged him to wait his turn. He could be president in five or nine years' time--why the rush?

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Rational Atheism

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 09:37:59 -0700

Scientific American - By Michael Shermer - Sep. 02 (Opinion) - Since the turn of the millennium, a new militancy has arisen among religious skeptics in response to three threats to science and freedom: (1) attacks against evolution education and stem cell research; (2) breaks in the barrier separating church and state leading to political preferences for some faiths over others; and (3) fundamentalist terrorism here and abroad.

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God's Warriors

Wed, 22 Aug 2007 20:54:05 -0700

Variety - By Brian Lowry - Aug. 22 (Review) - CNN has pledged to enlarge its footprint in serious documentaries, representing a welcome use of the news network's resources, as opposed to trying to out-Fox Fox News or out-sleaze TMZ.com on Paris Hilton exclusives. Deftly tackling a potentially explosive topic in this three-part project, correspondent Christiane Amanpour delves into religious fundamentalism -- Jewish, Muslim and Christian -- showcasing the volatility that ensues "when piety meets politics." The channel will surely endure charges of moral equivalency from Christian groups, but it's a tough, smart, historically grounded look at the intractability of these issues. Amanpour begins her reporting in Jerusalem, the focal point of so many claims and counterclaims of divine rights and inspiration. At times, the project feels like a greatest-hits compilation of religious intolerance and fanaticism, centering on those who have found and continue to find justification for violence in the name of their beliefs, including the militants who assassinated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. Although Amanpour concludes the three parts by saying the goal was not to judge these "warriors" but simply "to explain them," that's virtually impossible given the touchiness of the subject matter. Still, the reporting nicely mixes interviews with experts, leaders and true believers.

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Amanpour's `God's Warriors' Airs on CNN

Mon, 20 Aug 2007 22:05:49 -0700

Associated Press - By David Bauder - Aug. 20 (Review) - Christiane Amanpour's work on the documentary series ''God's Warriors'' took her directly to intersections of extreme religious and secular thinking. She watched, fascinated, as demonstrators in San Francisco accused teenagers in the fundamentalist Christian group BattleCry of intolerance in a clash of two cultures that will probably never understand each other. Understanding is what Amanpour is trying to promote in ''God's Warriors,'' which takes up six prime-time hours on CNN this week. The series on religious fundamentalism among Christians, Muslims and Jews airs in three parts, 9 p.m. EDT Tuesday through Thursday. Many people know only stereotypes of these true believers, even the ones in their own country, she said. Yet it's vital to be familiar with their thinking given the growing importance of these movements in the war on terrorism, the never-ending conflicts surrounding Israel and conservative politics in the United States. ''I'm not interested in drumming up false fears, or falsely allaying fears,'' CNN's chief international correspondent told The Associated Press by phone from France, where she added last-minute touches to the series. ''I just want people to know what's going on.'' Amanpour traveled extensively over eight months to work on the series. The trips to Amanpour's native Iran are most fascinating. She explored the ancient roots of the conflict between Shiites and Sunnis, and talked with one of the country's most accomplished female politicians about how Muslim women are treated.

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Hitchens vs Hitchens - Am I my brother's reviewer?

Sat, 02 Jun 2007 05:55:04 -0700

Daily Mail - By Peter Hitchens - Jun. 02 (Review) - Am I my brother's reviewer? A word of explanation is needed here. Some of you may know that I have a brother, Christopher, who disagrees with me about almost everything. -- Some of those who read his books and articles also know that I exist, though they often dislike me if so.

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Mission Accomplished

Tue, 29 May 2007 20:29:31 -0700

Universal Press Syndicate - By Ted Rall - May. 29 (Opinion) - ORLANDO--I'm against the war. Who isn't? (Maybe the two percent who tell The New York Times/CBS poll that Iraq is going "very well.") But this column isn't about the war. It's about logic. In his new book Al Gore argues that Americans are losing the ability to, well, argue. "Reason, logic and truth seem to play a sharply diminished role in the way America now makes important decisions," claims the President-in-Internal-Exile. Never mind left versus right; irrationality has become so prevalent that outlandish jingoism and sentimental lunacy have displaced reason as the framework of our national dialogue. What passed for debate on the latest funding bill for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan makes a convincing case for Gore's thesis. The 2006 midterm sweep was widely interpreted as an electoral mandate to end the war. Democrats were supposedly now in the driver's seat on Iraq. So why do they keep steering right, as if November never happened? Despite Democratic control of both houses of Congress and polls that show widespread contempt (76 percent) for the war and Bush (63 percent), party leaders felt they had no choice but to give Bush exactly what he wanted: another $100 billion, no strings attached.

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Answers To the Atheists

Fri, 06 Apr 2007 08:30:05 -0700

Washington Post - By E. J. Dionne Jr - Apr. 06 (Opinion) - The neo-atheists, like their predecessors from a century ago, are given to a sometimes-charming ferociousness in their polemics against those they see as too weak-minded to give up faith in God. What makes them new is the moment in history in which they are rejoining the old arguments: an era of religiously motivated Islamic suicide bombers. They also protest the apparent power of traditionalist and fundamentalist versions of Christianity.

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Myth: Atheism is Promoted By Church/State Separation & Religious Neutrality

Sun, 01 Apr 2007 14:49:20 -0700

About - By Austin Cline - Apr. 01 (Opinion) - Myth: When the government refuses to erect Ten Commandments displays or set aside time for prayer in public schools, it's endorsing atheism. Since atheism is a religion, this means the atheism becomes an officially established religion in violation of the Constitution. Response: This is a common myth repeated by Christians who want the government to promote and endorse their religion, but it's so bizarre that I have trouble figuring out how anyone could sincerely believe it. Where is the logical connection between the premise "the government is not endorsing any religion" and the conclusion "therefore, the government is endorsing atheism"? Even if one mistakenly assumes that atheism is the same as irreligion, this conclusion does not logically follow from the premise. If we accepted this myth, then we'd have to conclude that it isn't possible for the government not to violate people's constitutional rights: if the government promotes one religion, it violates the rights of people who aren't members of that religion; if the government doesn't promote any religions, then it violates the rights of people of all religions.

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The Devoted Student

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 10:54:58 -0800

New York Times - By Mark C. Taylor - Dec. 21 (Opinion) - MORE college students seem to be practicing traditional forms of religion today than at any time in my 30 years of teaching. At first glance, the flourishing of religion on campuses seems to reverse trends long criticized by conservatives under the rubric of "political correctness." But, in truth, something else is occurring. Once again, right and left have become mirror images of each other; religious correctness is simply the latest version of political correctness. Indeed, it seems the more religious students become, the less willing they are to engage in critical reflection about faith.

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Hume and humility (and Richard Dawkins)

Thu, 21 Dec 2006 20:34:52 -0800

NPR - By John Lienhard - Dec. 21 (Opinion) - In his best-selling book The God Delusion, scientist Richard Dawkins makes the case for atheism. Prominent in his pantheon of intellectual heroes is David Hume. Yet this 18th century Scot, who pushed skeptical thought to its limits, would view such an honor with some skepticism.

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When Not Seeing Is Believing

Mon, 09 Oct 2006 13:20:35 -0700

Time - By Andrew Sullivan - Oct. 09 (Opinion) - Something about the visit to the U.N. by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad refuses to leave my mind. It wasn't his obvious intention to pursue nuclear technology and weaponry. It wasn't his denial of the Holocaust or even his eager anticipation of Armageddon. It was something else entirely. It was his smile. In every interview, confronting every loaded question, his eyes seemed calm, his expression at ease, his face at peace. He seemed utterly serene. What is the source of his extraordinary calm? Yes, he's in a relatively good place right now, with his Hizballah proxies basking in a military draw with Israel. Yes, the U.S. is bogged down in a brutal war in Iraq. But Ahmadinejad is still unpopular at home, the Iranian economy is battered, and his major foes, Israel and the U.S., far outgun him--for now. So let me submit that he is smiling and serene not because he is crazy. He is smiling gently because for him, the most perplexing and troubling questions we all face every day have already been answered. He has placed his trust in the arms of God. Just because it isn't the God that many of us believe in does not detract from the sincerity or power of his faith. It is a faith that is real, all too real--gripping billions across the Muslim world in a new wave of fervor and fanaticism. All worries are past him, all anxiety, all stress. "Peoples, driven by their divine nature, intrinsically seek good, virtue, perfection and beauty," Ahmadinejad said at the U.N. "Relying on our peoples, we can take giant steps towards reform and pave the road for human perfection. Whether we like it or not, justice, peace and virtue will sooner or later prevail in the world with the will of Almighty God."

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Faith & Reason - Bill Moyers interviews Salman Rushdie

Fri, 23 Jun 2006 00:00:00 -0700

PBS - By Bill Moyers - Jun. 23 (Interview) - Our world seems mightily divided right now between the religious and the secular - and even between the faiths which share the heritage of Abraham. Yet I'll wager that most of us don't live such polarized, one-sided lives. The people I know seem to move back and forth in the twilight of the mind where doubt and belief stroll together like old lovers, often estranged, now reconciled, trying to carry on a respectful, intimate conversation in the hope of getting to know each other just a little bit better. Throughout the double helix of our DNA, it seems, the molecules of faith and reason chatter away, and it's in our interest, and the world's, that they stay on good speaking terms. So I have asked some noted writers, storytellers, to sit down with me and talk about faith and reason. These free-thinking men and women hail from diverse backgrounds. But because their work unites clashing desires and perspectives, they just might lead us to a place where our humanity and our values -- our self-worth and our hunger for community -- are not mutually exclusive. As you listen to what they say, listen as well to how they say it - and then go online to join the conversation.

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Pull of science eroded born-again view

Sat, 27 May 2006 20:06:06 -0700

Miami Herald - By Patrick S. Pemberton - May. 27 (Interview) - As one of the nation's foremost skeptics, Michael Shermer's days as a born-again Christian might seem like another lifetime to him.

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A Failure of the Press

Thu, 23 Feb 2006 14:10:33 -0800

Washington Post - By William J. Bennett, Alan M. Dershowitz - Feb. 23 (Opinion) - Radical Islamists have won a war of intimidation. They have cowed the major news media from showing these cartoons. The mainstream press has capitulated to the Islamists -- their threats more than their sensibilities.

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