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FI JAS 15.Indd RONALD A. LINDSAY: Being Better Without God CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY August/September 2015 Vol. 35 No.5 THE MYTH OF AN AFTERLIFE Excerpts from the Late Philosopher Michael L. Martin’s Last Landmark Book MICHAEL L. MARTIN STEVE STEWART-WILLIAMS Neurologist BERNARD M. PATTEN reviews Proof of Heaven RAFIDA BONYA AHMED, FAISAL SAEED AL MUTAR, and RYAN SHAFFER on the Bangladeshi Blogger Crisis LEAH MICKENS | Castrati, Catholicism, and the Transgender Moment 80% 1.5 BWR PD A/S 08 JAMES SNELL | Dreading the Prospect of King Charles Introductory Price $4.95 U.S. / $4.95 Can. 09 TOM FLYNN | GRETA CHRISTINA | JAMES A. HAUGHT Published by the Center for Inquiry in association 7725274 74957 with the Council for Secular Humanism a program of the Center for Inquiry August/September 2015 Vol. 35 No. 5 CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY 14 The Myth of an Afterlife 30 You Are Not Even Worth Despising Introduction Rafida Bonya Ahmed Tom Flynn 32 Bangladesh: A Backgrounder 15 On the Origin of Afterlife Beliefs by Ryan Shaffer Means of Memetic Selection Steve Stewart-Williams 35 Theology of the Odd Body: The Castrati, the Church, and the Transgender Moment 22 Problems with Heaven Leah Mickens Michael L. Martin 38 Secular Humanism’s Second Wave: 29 Michael L. Martin, Philosopher How Scholarship Undermines Religion and Author, 1932–2015 James H. Dee Nicole Scott EDITORIAL LETTERS REVIEWS 4 Good Without God—But Better 13 59 Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Without God? Journey into the Afterlife Ronald A. Lindsay DEPARTMENTS by Eben Alexander, M.D Reviewed by Bernard M. Patten 48 Doerr's Way OP-EDS Krauthammer’s Wolf Howl, 61 Animal Liberation and Atheism: God’s Bankers, Potiphar’s Wife 7 Where Have All the Dismantling the Procrustean Bed Edd Doerr Anti-altruists Gone? by Kim Socha Tom Flynn Reviewed by Brooke Horvath 50 International Humanism The Madness of King Charles 8 Why Raif Badawi Matters 63 Living in the Crosshairs: The Untold James Snell Faisal Saeed Al Mutar Stories of Anti-Abortion Terrorism by David S. Cohen and Krysten Connon 52 God on Trial 9 Skepticism and Emotional Responses Reviewed by Tom Flynn Imprisonment and Religiosity to Terrible Ideas Richard G. Dumont Greta Christina 64 No Longer on Pedestals by Carol A. Kuhnert 11 Application for the Position 55 Great Minds Reviewed by Edd Doerr of Biblical Evangelist Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar Mark Rubinstein James A. Haught OBITUARY 62 Anne Nicol Gaylor, Feminist, Activist, LOOKING BACK 57 The Faith I Left Behind and Freethinker, 1926–2015 Why I Am an Atheist Jew 12 35 Years Ago in FREE INQUIRY Shirley Blumberg 25 Years Ago in FREE INQUIRY POEM 58 Humanism at Large 54 One Last They Burned with Strange Lusts by Alexander Nussbaum M. C. McDonald a program of the Center for Inquiry Editor Thomas W. Flynn Managing Editor Andrea Szalanski Ronald A. Lindsay Editorial Columnists Ophelia Benson, Russell Blackford, Greta Christina, Edd Doerr, Shadia B. Drury, Nat Hentoff, Tibor R. Machan, Faisal Saeed Al Mutar, Mark Rubinstein Senior Editors Bill Cooke, Richard Dawkins, Edd Doerr, James A. Haught, Jim Herrick, Ronald A. Lindsay, Taslima Nasrin Contributing Editors Roy P. Fairfield, Charles Faulkner, Levi Fragell, Good Without God—But Better Adolf Grünbaum, Marvin Kohl, Lee Nisbet Assistant Editors Julia Lavarnway Without God? Nicole Scott Literary Editor Cheryl Quimba Permissions Editor Julia Lavarnway Art Director Christopher S. Fix Production Paul E. Loynes Sr. Center for Inquiry Inc. Chair Edward Tabash Board of Directors R. Elisabeth Cornwell here is no God. This assertion is very than the opportunity to hang out with Kendrick Frazier probably true. Humanists agree on people with similar worldviews. Barry A. Kosmin this point, although there may be Hector Sierra T Granted, there’s still substantial Leonard Tramiel some difference in the level of certainty stigma attached to being a nontheist, Judith Walker assigned to this proposition. at least in the United States, so mutual Lawrence Krauss (Honorary) But so what? What’s the practi- support in the face of intolerance and Chief Executive Officer Ronald A. Lindsay cal significance of rejecting belief in discrimination remains a valid reason to Director, Campus and a deity? Why should humanists band be a member of a humanist group. With Community Programs Debbie Goddard together in local or national groups, the increase in nonreligious Americans, Director, African Americans for Humanism Debbie Goddard publish magazines, hold conferences, however, let alone the tidal wave of and so forth? It can’t be simply to show Director of irreligion in Europe, there is reason to Development Martina Fern that we are right and others are wrong think this prejudice against nonthe- Director of Libraries Timothy Binga about the existence of God. ists will diminish. Accordingly, joining Communications Director Paul Fidalgo Humanists do share a number of forces to protect the rights of the non- beliefs, of course, and not just their religious cannot be the sole reason for Database Manager Jacalyn Mohr belief that there are no gods. So belonging to humanist groups—or, if Matthew Licata Webmaster humanists form a natural affinity group so, these groups may lose their raison Staff Pat Beauchamp, Ed Beck, of sorts. But although being a member d’etre in a few decades. Melissa Braun, Shirley Brown, Eric Chinchón, of a like-minded group with similar No, there has to be something else. Lauren Foster, Roe interests has its attractions, the level There has to be some other motivation Giambrone, Nora Hurley, Paul Paulin, Michael Rupp, of commitment of most of those who that explains why people join together Anthony Santa Lucia, are members of the Center for Inquiry to promote humanism. Diane Tobin, Vance Vigrass or the American Humanist Association And there is. It seems to me that or other humanist groups indicates one of the principal reasons human- Council for Secular Humanism that we think humanism is much more ists belong to CFI or other humanist Executive Director Thomas W. Flynn Director, Secular Organizations important than being a member of an groups is that we believe we can make for Sobriety Jim Christopher astronomy club, sewing circle, or soft- the world a better place. I would sub- ball team. There has to be more to join- mit that we are correct in this belief, ing and supporting humanist groups but it’s important to understand how 4 FREE INQUIRY AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 secularhumanism.org it is we can improve the world—in way of improving this character. This other words, what makes humanism should not be a surprising conclusion. distinctive and better than religion as We humanists think we have a better a means to satisfy human needs and understanding of what practices and FREE INQUIRY (ISSN 0272-0701) is published bimonthly by the Center for advance human interests. In partic- policies will lead to a better world, Inquiry in association with the Council for Secular Humanism, P.O. Box ular, it’s important to understand in but bad character is not a question of 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664. Phone (716) 636-7571. Fax (716) 636- 1733. Copyright ©2015 by the Center for Inquiry and the Council for what way humanist morality can be an ignorance, of not knowing the cor- Secular Humanism. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be improvement over religious morality. rect moral principles. A lying hypocrite reproduced without permission of the publisher. Periodicals postage paid at Buffalo, N.Y., and at additional mailing offices. National distribution knows what he or she is supposed to by Disticor. FREE INQUIRY is indexed in Philosophers’ Index. Printed in o begin our analysis, we need to do—he or she simply will not do it. the United States. Postmaster: Send address changes to FREE INQUIRY, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664. Opinions expressed do not Trecognize there are distinct types of Assuming we have the standard neu- necessarily reflect the views of the editors or publisher. No one speaks moral failings. We need to recognize rological equipment (yes, brain anom- on behalf of the Council for Secular Humanism unless expressly stated. these distinctions if we are to have alies can produce sociopaths), then our TO SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW an appropriate understanding of the characters are largely a product of our Call toll-free 800-458-1366 (have credit card handy). advantages (and limits) of humanism Internet: www.secularhumanism.org. and the extent to which it can improve Mail: FREE INQUIRY, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664. Subscription rates: $35.00 for one year, $58.00 for two years, upon religious morality. $84.00 for three years. Foreign orders add $10 per year for Someone can be a “bad” person surface mail (Canada and Mexico); $14 per year outside North America. Send U.S. funds drawn on a U.S. bank; American in the sense of having a bad moral Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa are preferred. character. A person with a bad moral Single issues: $5.95 each. 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