$2/ £2/ ?2 where sold Issue 1 2019 The Heart of the Matter
The Origins of the Abrahamic Religions
In this issue: From Courtney's Archive 10 Applying Logic to the god proposition 11 Editorial 2 Religion/ConspiracyT heory 12 President's Letter 3 Eggs, Bunnies and Crosses? 4 The Kalaam Cosmological Argument 1 3/14 From Polytheism to Monotheism 5 About the Editor 15 An Island Divided (Cyprus) 6 /7 Escape from Faith 1 6/17 I'm Disorder, you're entropy 8 AAI Hero threatened by gunmen 1 8 Things Theists Say 9 AAI's Freethinking Hero 19 Religion is another aspect of Galilee in present-day Israel. They were culture which, as with clothing and early static populations: hotbeds for Editorial music, starts somewhere and then the birth of cultural movements. spreads out rather like an infectious Naturally, the faiths that caught the disease. A few millennia ago, the popular imagination became the waves Middle East was the first region with that the self-appointed 'men of god' Believe it or not, the three most the right conditions for this to happen, surfed on. These were opportunities popular monotheisms all originated initially to Judaism, then to that offered comfortable employment in that tiny circle in the 'Middle East' Christianity and, lastly, to Islam. without raising a sweat. Cushy shown in the red cross-hairs on the What are these conditions? Well, white-collar positions with job-for-life world map above. Arguably, they are self-proclaimed prophets who are security, to use the modern idiom. also the most warlike religions ambitious to gather a following need a It's unsurprising that expansion despite their attempts to represent captive audience. They can't deliver took place; that the enterprises spread themselves as peaceful. It's campaign leaflets to hunter-gatherers: like parasites through a population. It reasonable to ask why is this? You there's no letter box! And they can't do doesn't stretch credibility to suggest won't be surprised to hear that I am street preaching without a street! So, that they reached a stage where they going to suggest a possible humanity had to develop farming, encountered rival myth-suppliers and explanation. So here goes: permanent housing and townships competition began. That was the We all know how fashions spread; before faiths could begin; they need a beginning of the religious conflict that I'm old enough to remember when settled community. still plagues the Middle East today. rock and roll swept through the world Another useful condition for spreading a message is literacy. To and the girls got circular skirts that John Richards retain credibility, faith leaders must spun up to reveal their legs when they AAI Publications Director jived. Then blue jeans came in and the have a consistent message, so their music turned to beat groups. These stories need writing down. This are aspects of culture that can be becomes especially important when a traced back to an epicenter where they leader starts to get 'disciples'; he started. In the case of Rock and Roll, doesn't want his underlings deviating the origin was in the USA around from the doctrine. A 'scripture' Memphis, Tennessee where Elvis solidifies a leader's authority. Presley began his career. In the case Societies with the necessary of Beat Music, it was Liverpool, UK, features first appeared in the fertile home of The Beatles. Nile valley and around the Lake of
2 Secular World Magazine President?s Letter
Welcome to 2019
Even in democracies, candidates of study, from high school to All of us at and leaders alike enlist internet bots university, that educators can use to spread their propaganda. The only around the globe. Atheist Alliance treatment for this is to educate the In a world of increasing chaos, International wish population to think critically. complex issues and divisiveness, So what?s to organize? The Critical Thinking is the only solution. you the very best. information and resources for It allows for people to have open critical thinking appear to be discussions and debate the issues. It scattered. It is hard to find a single allows for evidence to rule and bias to be acknowledged. Yet, the only I hope 2019 will be the Year for source where we can get what we dedicated course leading to an A/ AS Critical Thinking. need to proceed with Critical level qualification in Critical Thinking Really,, every year should be a Thinking at all levels. is being discontinued by assessment year for Critical Thinking but now is At AAI we receive requests for authority OCR! the time when it's needed more than teaching materials from many The promotion of Critical ever before. If you research the topic people in education. An education Thinking is essential for the on the internet, you'll discover there professor in Uganda is looking for betterment of mankind. It's a big are more entries today than even children books on the subject; a high challenge but one to which we are one year ago. We hear Critical school in Guatemala needs more fully committed. Thinking mentioned more often in activities for its students so they can the media, but there is also a new practice and learn the skills; a Join us this year in promoting kid on the block and he's a serious university professor in the USA says Critical Thinking around the world. enemy: Fake News. his medical students lack critical People just don't know what to thinking and asks where he can find believe nowadays. Spoof articles, course material to teach them. conspiracy theories, contrary It is our goal for AAI to become Gail Miller thought and outright lies get a focus for critical thinking. A place President, Atheist Alliance International repeated on the internet until we are where one can go to find out more all bemused. Sometimes it's mixed about it or how to teach it. We?re up with narrative which appears to starting this year with a project to be the new 'truth'. Political campaign develop an online interactive organizers no longer worry about program for students to learn accuracy; instead their concern is to Critical Thinking. It?s a beginning, but 'win the narrative'. we also want to work on programs
3 Secular World Magazine Eggs, bunnies and crosses?
effect in the bulge of the tropics so remembrance of torture and death What is going on? those regions do not experience followed by 'resurrection'. The A collision of cultures, that's what. seasons or variations in day-length. absence of evidence means that In-between those positions on beliefs can only be maintained by the Following on from The Reason the orbit, the Earth's tilt is side-on to constant reiteration of stories. So, in for the Season in our last edition, the sun so, at the quarter and order to retain control of their flock, this article sets out to explain the three-quarter positions, the Northern the clerics promote the ritualistic weird mash-up of influences that hemisphere gets spring and fall. The commemoration of these events have produced our modern Easter Southern hemisphere gets the every year. holiday. Oddly, Easter attempts to opposite seasons from the North. After two millennia the pagan commemorate the rebirth of nature, For the early agrarian societies, origins of our annual religious and the death and 'resurrection' of spring was the awakening: the time holidays have been downplayed, but Christ all on one long weekend! of year when the temperature rose, have not completely gone away. Regular readers will know that plants started to grow, birds laid Remnants in the form of Holly our 'Western' religious festivals eggs and rabbits had baby bunnies. wreaths, bauble bedecked Christmas originated in the Northern Early men gave thanks to the deity trees and chocolate Easter eggs still hemisphere: Europe and the 'Holy they assumed was responsible for persist. Commandeering previous Land', to be exact. Why is that? Well, this replacement of winter's cold traditions is one thing; wiping them it's simply because that was the with a fertile season. Naturally, being out is another thing altogether. location of the early human cultures a period of rebirth, it was assigned To me it seems that the whose traditions went on to become to a mother goddess: Eostre from superimposition of Christ's execution the holiday fixtures on our calendar. whom we get our word 'Easter'. on the celebration for Eostre, a Those who read the December Some centuries later, the motherly goddess involved in new 2018 issue of Secular World will also Romans adopted Christianity as the birth, is a strange pairing! Wouldn't a know that the seasons, a higher state religion and imposed it Welcome to Spring Festival have been latitudes phenomenon, are caused throughout their conquered lands. a better match for The Nativity? by the Earth orbiting the sun while It's always easier to adapt an Especially considering that scholars spinning on a tilted axis. When the existing tradition than to introduce a argue about whether Jesus was North pole is pointed at 23 degrees new one, so Saturnalia was renamed actually born in June or October! towards the sun, it gets summer 'Christmas' to celebrate Christ's and, on the other side of the orbit birth, and the joyous spring festival John Richards when it is tilted away from the sun, it was morphed into a sombre experiences winter. The tilt has little
4 Secular World Magazine FROM POLYTHEISM TO MONOTHEISM
The ancients had lots of ?gods?. king of the gods, Posiedon, god of that are easy to relate to. They can The Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, the sea, Hera, goddess of marriage, have characters and emotions like Norsemen (Vikings) and other Hades, god of the underworld, rage and love. They can get drunk, cultures had whole pantheons of Dionysus, god of wine, and Apollo, can dance and have tantrums. More ?gods?. The Hindus still have many god of music, to name but a few. gripping stories can be written and ?gods?. Yet today, many believers The Romans adopted and audience attention can be better insist there is only ?one true god?. modified many of the Greek gods. held. Then, when the hat is passed Why is that? So Aurora was the goddess of the round, the donations will reflect the The early ?gods? were assigned dawn, Bacchus the god of wine, quality of the entertainment, and specific roles. Taking all the ancient Ceres the goddess of the harvest, that?s the point: it?s a business! Egyptian deities together, they had Diana the goddess of the hunt, Now peer through the lens of a the common overarching job of Hercules the god of strength, and preacher of long ago. Would you maintaining the universal order Jupiter the king of gods. rather be marketing your ability to while, individually, Shu was The earliest gods were influence Diana the huntress or Ceres supposed to look after the air, appointed to natural items like rivers the harvester? Which would drum up Khnum had responsibility for the and volcanoes or phenomena like most income? Would you prefer to be Nile?s annual flood and Ra was the drought and sin and they were doorstepping with a suitcase of sun god. They even had bad gods: represented by very crude idols cleaning products or would you Apep was the force of chaos, and rather than human images. However, rather sell a god so powerful he can they deified dead Pharoahs! as artistic skill improved, so it meet every need and cure all ills? In the Norse pantheon there became possible to make gods Claiming to be an agent of an were 39 gods and 45 goddesses! more humanoid. The Egyptian gods all-powerful, all-knowing, everywhere, Thor was the god of thunder and were often two dimensionally Jack-of-all-trades kind of god opens battle, Eostre the goddess of spring, depicted as having the bodies of up many more opportunities to earn Frigg the goddess of marriage, men and the heads of animals. The by selling lots of 'services'. Expansion Baldur the god of beauty and Bragi Greeks had mastered sculpture and of the product range is good the god of poetry. many beautiful three dimensional commercial practice. It's why The Ancient Greeks had so marble statues of gods, modeled on cosmetic companies have created many gods we?ve had to put them human anatomy, still survive today. lip-salve for our young daughters who into several categories: Primordial Gods are made in the image of man, mustn't wear lipstick in school. Deities, Titans and Titanesses, not the other way round. Monotheism is simply a better Gigantes, Sea Deities, Sky Deities, Making gods look like humans business model than polytheism. etc. Individual deities included Zeus, enables them to have personalities
5 Secular World Magazine An island divided
The island of Cyprus, situated in Despite the fact that Cyprus is community, there is discontent with the Eastern Mediterranean and constitutionally secular, religion is the Greek Orthodox Church on the home to less than a million people, prevalent in Cypriot society and is island, due to its wealth, nationalistic is divided, since 1974, between the closely tied to the identity of each and racist stance. The Church?s Republic of Cyprus and the community. The Republic of Cyprus involvement in education, and self-declared Turkish Republic of is a hugely religious state as, politics, is not well-received by a Northern Cyprus (TRNC). according to Eurobarometer Survey sizeable number of Greek-Cypriots. In 1960, when Cyprus got its 2010, 97% of the population believes Various humanist and secular independence from the United that there is a God or some sort of pressure groups battle the Church?s Kingdom, the constitution of the spirit force. The effects of religion influence in politics and education, newly founded state recognized two are largely negative, especially in the the biggest one being the Cyprus communities - the Greek-Cypriot and Greek-Cypriot community. Humanist Association which is the Turkish-Cypriot. A prevalent The Greek Orthodox Church in pressuring for the complete characteristic, as set in the Cyprus plays a major role in secularization of the state, both on a constitution, of each community education, politics, and social life, societal and legal basis. was its religion. A Christian was and is often consulted when The influence of religion in the considered to be a member of the government policies are made. The Greek-Cypriot community is also Greek-Cypriot community, and a Archbishop of Cyprus, obvious in education. In schools, Muslim a member of the Chrysostomos II, makes public religious ceremonies take place, Turkish-Cypriot community.. appearances and comments on religious icons exist in classrooms, Both the Republic of Cyprus and government decisions, education, and morning prayer is obligatory. the self-declared TRNC are migration, relations between the two Some schools even take time off constitutionally secular states and communities and other issues. He their usual schedule to take students freedom of religion is protected, as has often referred with derogatory to church and encourage them to well as practice of religion and comments to the Turkish-Cypriot attend confession and take the holy expression of one?s religious beliefs. community, to refugees, and to communion. However, sections 141-142 of the homosexuals. His views are In the Greek-Cypriot community, Cypriot Criminal Code of the influential to a large proportion of especially when it concerns one?s Republic of Cyprus enable a de the population in the Republic of parents, grandparents and wider facto blasphemy law which states Cyprus. family, it is not easy to declare that it is an offence to insult Despite the fact that oneself as an atheist. religions. Greek-Cypriots are a religious
(continued on page 7)
6 Secular World Magazine (continued from page 6) rules on alcohol, prayer, and fasting. Religion has traditionally been Despite the secularity of the something that separated the two While it is unlikely that someone will Turkish-Cypriot community, some Cypriot communities, but, nowadays, be ostracized from their family for aspects of society, such as when people aspire to unite their being an apostate, it is not well education, have religious island, understanding of the common received. characteristics which are tied to identity of the two communities is On the other hand, the national pride. Religious education vital. In this process, religion needs Turkish-Cypriot community is class is mandatory in to be left outside, as it does not increasingly secular, and this is one Turkish-Cypriot schools. Recently, facilitate peace on the island. aspect which differentiates it from ?mam Hatip schools have been built the mainland Turkish Republic, aimed at training Muslim clerics. Angelos Sofocleos despite the latter?s attempts to Mainland Turkey?s increasing Editor of Secular Nation, influence the former. Religion is influence strives to Islamicize the Atheist Alliance of America largely absent from politics in the Turkish-Cypriot community and to self-declared TRNC and religious make religion more influential in leaders are not consulted when politics. The increasing Islamic government decisions are made, in radicalization of northern Cyprus will contrast to the Republic of Cyprus see society becoming less tolerant where this is occasionally the case. to atheists. Recently, a number of Moreover, while tradition has events have taken place which close ties with religion in the included violence towards Greek-Cypriot community, tradition non-religious individuals. Religion in in the Turkish-Cypriot community is Cyprus acts as a barrier of largely devoid of religious communication between the two Many thanks to Samin Gokcekus for significance. Even though most communities as a number of her insight into religiosity in the Turkish-Cypriots identify as Muslim, misconceptions and misbeliefs are very few actually practice Islamic held towards each other's religion. Turkish-Cypriot community.
7 Secular World Magazine I?m disorder: you?re entropy We?re a phase of the heat death of the universe Made of, what seems eternal, but is probably finite when it?s gathered up as us.
I?m up quarks, down quarks, charmed quarks and strange "Insightful, informed, touching quarks, I?m strange? and funny in equal measure." Leptons and electrons, muons and gluons, Richard Wiseman, Professor of Maybe tiny, tiny, vibrating strings Psychology All gathered up together once in a primordial atom: A "One of the UK's most nothing, accomplished, versatile comedians." But a nothing with a lot of potential The Guardian Rubbing shoulder to shoulder but, before shoulders, or Buy the book here: thoughts, ht t ps:/ / t inyurl.com / y7h8qzm v Waiting for gravity, matter and time We were potential and probability and, maybe, with a destiny...
And, now, we?re Oxygen and Sodium, Hydrogen and Nitrogen Phosphorus and Calcium and, maybe, a tiny bit of Uranium Assembled by law and equation but, Seemingly, not outside instruction
Though some might say an Elon Musk simulation A Periodic menagerie, A particle zoo A bacterial multitude, waiting for my heat death But, currently, very, very, pre-occupied with being alive?
By Robin Ince Taken from Cosmic Shambles 2018
8 Secular World Magazine might be done. I suggest that a ?prayed for? and ?not prayed for? genuine preacher should have better groups. Worse than that, those in the communication and a better group that knew they were being relationship with god than a fake prayed for took significantly longer to one; they must agree. ?So,? I go on, recover! ?shouldn?t a real preacher?s prayers Now, this investigation did not be answered more often than those involve preachers, quack or coming from a false scoundrel?? otherwise, but it does show the They can?t deny it. ineffectiveness of prayer. That casts ?OK. Then we only need to doubt on the claim to have a hotline ?These quack devise a method for testing that to god, to be ?genuine?, made by all preachers are hypothesis and we should be able to those who pray, including preachers. sort the quacks from the proper Interestingly, the prayer test giving religion priests and pastors, shouldn?t we?? could help doubters - they could do it Then I tell them that an experiment on themselves! Even Justin Welby, a bad name!? like that has already been done. the Archbishop of Canterbury, has The John Templeton admitted having doubts, he said, Foundation, a Christian organization, Sometimes Christians send me spent $2.4m over three years from "The other day I was praying over videos of preachers laying their 2003 to 2006, on the Study of the something as I was running, hands on the genitals of their Therapeutic Effects of Intercessory and I ended up saying to God followers to ?help? them have a baby, Prayer (STEP). It was a well carried 'look this is all very well, but isn't it or getting their flock to eat grass! out scientific investigation, with a about time you did something, i The senders complain about them. large sample size, appropriate f you're there?' Which is probably Guess what I do? I ask them controls and double blind recording; not what the Archbishop of how they can tell a false preacher a randomized controlled trial (RCT). Canterbury should say." from a real one, of course! Following heart by-pass surgery, (September 14th 2014 BBC) ?Supposing,? I say, ?you are on the 1,800 patients were assigned to management committee of a church groups, one group was openly Why doesn?t Justin Welby set and you have several applicants for prayed for, another group was himself a prayer test to settle the the post of church leader. How are secretly prayed for and a third group matter one way or the other? you going to determine whether they was not prayed for at all. How long it Otherwise we might be entitled to are quacks or not?? Often that?s took for them to recover back to think, "If it looks like a preacher and when they leave the conversation. health was recorded. sounds like a preacher, it?s a quack?" Is that such a difficult question to The results were disappointing answer though? for the Templeton Foundation: they John Richards If I can re-engage them, I tell had wasted their money. No https://tinyurl.com/yd6x2afj them that I have an idea for how it difference was found between the
9 Secular World Magazine Secular World Magazine
From Courtney's Archive Anish's tale
Divine Dole Queue by Sebastian
My parents are religious and I The mother finds this and, am the black sheep of the family. My through a goddess, begs Shiva to story is mostly concerned with the restore it. Shiva sends his minions to Hindu religion and how stupid it is. find a human but apparently in the There are several gods in India Himalayas they find a baby elephant (apparently 2000+) and most of and they bring that and Shiva them must be jobless according to beheads the elephant and fits in this me. My mom told me a story which kids head and voila, he's back to life. was my first step to atheism. After this story I raised near There's this famous god called about countless questions and mom Ganesha. He has the head of an was like faith must not be elephant and body of a human. He questioned. Science cannot explain was created by the lady goddess everything. This is where I was like, Parvati who is the wife of the God of "Stuff faith!" Destruction. Funny part is, she made And when I saw George Carlin's him with clay and sand and did YouTube videos after this incident I some mumbo jumbo and voila, out had my thoughts confirmed that god emerged this god (at first he was is nonsense. completely human looking, like he Anish didn't have the elephant head when his construction was done). What happened next in the story Courtney Heard was this woman asked her child to AKA Godless Mom Last Words is the story of the stay out of their house and guard it, man behind some of the most seminal comedy of the last half not let anybody in, as she was about century, blending his signature to do something important in the http://godlessmom.com acerbic humor with never-before-told house (apparently they lived in the stories from his own life, including Himalayas tallest point and they encounters with a Who?s Who of magically had a house) this young 1970s celebrity? from Lenny Bruce kid stood there and then entered the to Hugh Hefner? and the origins of destruction God Shiva to the scene, some of his most famous stand-up saying he wanted to go in. routines. The child said, "No." Apparently Shiva didn't know it was his child Buy it by clicking on the picture or and launched his Trident in anger copy/ pasting this url: Click the pic to view or copy/ paste which separated the head of the kid https://tinyurl.com/yd7c2tjf this url from his body. https://youtu.be/8r-e2NDSTuE
10 Secular World Magazine Secular World Magazine
Applying Logic to the God Proposition
The fifth article in the series
Argument from geographical regions, and presciently in line with the true facts Dr Carrier refers to this book by Religious of the world and human existence, John W Loftus right from the start. Experience Atheism predicts instead, that Buy the book these communications will be by clicking here. By cherry picking their own pervasively inconsistent across time religious experiences from all the and space, and full of factual errors assorted descriptions of 'godly about the world and human experiences' made by others, the existence, exactly matching the level believer tries to turn their own of ignorance prevalent in the culture experiences into evidence for their ?experiencing the divine? at that (own) God. To do this they must time. And guess what? ignore every other claimed religious We observe exactly what experience that contradicts theirs. atheism predicts; not what theism Hence when we actually bring predicts. Theists must resort to back in all the evidence that they adding excuses for their experience, deliberately neglect, the conclusion which only makes it even more goes the other way. (This is superbly improbable. argued from every angle and against Thus, the actual evidence of nearly every possible excuse by religious experience is highly John Loftus in The Outsider Test for probable for atheism, and highly Faith, with an excellent response to improbable for theism. This disparity his remaining critics in The Christian in probabilities entails that the Delusion, Chapter 4.) evidence from religious experience We have evidence of alleged argues that God does not exist. divine communications going back tens of thousands of years (in shamanic cave art, the crafting of John Loftus is an escaped religious icons, ritual burials, and Dr. Richard preacher who is available for eventually shrines, temples, and Carrier speaking engagements actual writing, on stone and clay, Ancient Historian then parchment, papyrus and www.debunking-christianity.com paper). Theism predicts that all https:// tinyurl.com/ ya6fg873 communications from the divine would be consistently the same at all times in history and across all
11 Secular World Magazine Secular World Magazine
'My religion/conspiracy theory EXPLAINS WHAT ALTERNATIVE THEORIES CAN'T and is CONSISTENT WITH THE EVIDENCE' from Stephen Law's blog 23rd September 2017
Buy Your editor wears another hat: I gremlins, fairies, the CIA) operating Stephen Law's book am also the Chairman of a Skeptics behind the scene easily solves. For by clicking here. in the Pub. My skeptical duties example, why the twin towers came include observing a lot of expert down like that, how life began, why British philosopher and editor speakers and, some time ago, I you can't find your keys. Stephen Law explores 25 of attended a presentation by a young life's Big Questions in a psychologist who had just 2. be ingenious at explaining stuff sprightly volume designed to completed his PhD on Conspiracy away. Any apparent evidence be a "course in thinking". He addresses queries both grand Theory. He gave us an interesting against your theory can always be and eternal such as "Does God run down of the characteristics of accounted for given some ingenuity, Exist?" and "Where Did the conspiracy theories which enable e.g. if you believe in Young Earth Universe Come From?" them to be identified as such. Creationism, cook up explanations In the Q and A, I asked, "I for the fossil record, etc.; if you couldn't help noticing that most of believe in a good, loving god, cook Publishers Weekly the features of a conspiracy theory up explanations for all the are also common to religious horrendous suffering we see in beliefs. Is this just my bias or is it a nature; if you believe the royal family real effect?" Before the speaker are alien shape-shifters, cook up If you think your belief system is could answer, there was a round of explanations for why they're never reasonable because it ticks boxes (i) applause! This does not normally spotted in alien form, how they and (ii), I suggest you think again. happen for a question, but I guess it could possibly have got here, Many utterly ludicrous belief tells us something about a skeptical infiltrated the royal blood line, etc. systems also tick both boxes. That audience! Consistency with the available can't be the reason your belief evidence can always, by such system is reasonable if, indeed, it is... Here's Stephen Law's blog on means, be achieved. the subject of conspiracy theories: Stephen Law ~~~ So, you can now (often Reader in Philosophy at Heythrop correctly!) declare that: College, University of London The recipe for generating a successful new religion or (i) your new religion or conspiracy conspiracy theory usually involves theory explains, by appeal to hidden two key components: agency, what orthodox theories do not or cannot, and 1. identify supposed 'mysteries' that appealing to your preferred unseen (ii) your new belief system is also intelligence (Men In Black, God, consistent with the evidence!
12 Secular World Magazine The Sly Circularity of the Kalåm Cosmological Argument
Youtuber Alex O'Connor refutes the Lane Craig of ReasonableFaith.org, prove false the claim that the Kalaam Cosmological Argument the argument generally takes the universe began to exist. famously championed by top following form: However, I will stress that in apologist, William Lane Craig. granting that ?the universe began to - Premise one: Everything that exist?, we are really granting that ?the begins to exist has a cause; universe began to exist out of "The universe has a cause." - Premise two: The universe began nothing?. If the universe were created to exist; out of pre-existing material, we would The claim seems - Conclusion: Therefore, the universe be left with the question of where uncontroversial enough. David has a cause. this material itself came from, and Hume was perhaps more right than the argument would prove nothing he could have known when he wrote To grant credit where it is due, important. If ?beginning to exist? of the human mind?s propensity to this argument benefits from logical means anything philosophically in associate cause with effect validity. This means that it cannot be this context, it must mean beginning regardless of whether it has a the case that the conclusion is false to exist from nothing. rational basis for doing so. if the premises are true, since the It is with this in mind that we Increasing evidence suggests that former logically follows from the should assess the first premise: the principle of causality may well latter. That makes the task of ?Everything that begins to exist has a be something not learned through refuting this syllogism a plain one, cause.? This phrase, in all its experience, as he had suggested, one or both of the premises must be unassuming simplicity, has the but biologically and psychologically shown to be false. potential to strike its reader as a inherited, which would render us I often find, in the efforts of truism, but it pays to ask yourself an creatures made naturally others to do just this, a important and relevant question: uncomfortable by the prospect of an subordination of the importance of when have you ever actually known effect occurring without a the fist premise to the importance of something to begin to exist? Have corresponding cause. It is upon this the second. In an attempt to reverse you ever seen something begin to intuitive inclination? an inclination this philosophical injustice, I shall exist, or even heard of such a thing? which ultimately has no basis in simply grant the second premise. Of You may be inclined to answer that rational thought? that rests one of course, it may be the case, despite this happens all the time. Just this the most popular and persuasive the overwhelming evidence that our morning my coffee began to exist ? arguments for the existence of a universe is not an eternal one, that only, it didn?t really begin to exist at supernatural first mover (or, more something came before it (if ?before? all, rather it was the product of a bravely, a god): The Kalãm can even make sense in such a rearrangement of preexisting matter. cosmological argument. context), or that it is only one of Taking its Arabic name from its many coexisting in a multiverse. On roots in Islamic theology and this point it is fair to remain championed today by Dr. William agnostic, and so I will not attempt to (continued on page 14)
13 Secular World Magazine (continued from page 13) realization that allows us to dispel this premise is identical to the the first premise as founded on an conclusion, and thus the Kãlam can Bear in mind that if the Kãlam equivocation fallacy, since the also be rendered as follows: seeks to draw a parallel between concept of ?beginning to exist? is things within the universe beginning being used, it seems, inconsistently. - Premise one: The universe [that is, to exist and the universe itself Nonetheless, it might be said, everything that begins to exist] has a beginning to exist, they must ?begin this (always conserved) mass must cause; to exist? in the same fashion. We collectively have an origin. This is of - Premise two: The universe began to have already concluded that, for course correct, but this origin exist; philosophical relevance, the consists in the very beginning of the - Conclusion: Therefore, the universe argument must deal with things that universe itself, when all matter has a cause. begin to exist from nothing. Since simultaneously began to exist. That this was palpably not the case with is to say, no matter has ever begun As is clear, the second premise is my coffee, it is an inappropriate to exist except when the universe in fact irrelevant, and the argument is comparison. itself came into being some 13.8 now transparently circular. It says What, then, within the universe, billion years ago. The only thing that nothing whatsoever, since the first has truly begun to exist from nothing ever actually began to exist from premise states the same as the at a particular point in the past? nothing is the universe itself, and conclusion, and therefore is not an Nothing. The answer is nothing. even this is only the case because of argument, but a mere claim. A claim Matter cannot be created or our granting the entire first premise which, to be at all convincing, will destroyed, and thus nothing in of the Kãlam. require a far superior argument to physical existence ever ?began to Consider the implications of support it than this unimpressive exist? in the sense we are interested this. If the only thing that ever began attempt. in. Not my coffee, nor my father, nor to exist (in the relevant sense) is the the Burj Khalifa. Even something as universe, then the premise, Alex O'Connor seemingly abstract as an idea ?Everything that begins to exist has a Cosmic Skeptic cannot begin to exist from nothing, cause? becomes ?The universe has a since ideas are ultimately nothing cause?, since the universe is more than signals in the brain, and everything that begins to exist. It hence physical in nature. It is this should be immediately apparent that
Alex is an example of that peculiarly modern phenomenon, the young intellectual Youtuber. Historically, youngsters had to have extreme musical or sporting ability in order to get an audience, but technology has enabled anyone who has access to some reasonably affordable computer hardware, and an internet connection, to broadcast anything that can be digitized. Alex's latest video is on Free Speech Alex, and a few other bright young https://youtu.be/JMbM8HcFRCQ men are in the vanguard of a movement to transmit deep thinking Please join the 240k subscribers to his channel to their followers and patrons. ht t ps:/ / t inyurl.com / yc7lh45v
He has just started at Oxford This m an has a glit t ering career ahead of him University and is already campaigning!
14 Secular World Magazine About the Editor Click on the photos to watch;
John Richards, Anti-theist
At the risk of being accused of Five years ago, I started a self promotion, I wondered if you'd Skeptics in the pub group in our like to know more about ME! You local town which enables me to know me as the editor of Secular invite lots of interesting expert World, which is a job I was offered a guests on all sorts of subjects and I year ago and have been loving ever now get invited to speak myself. I've since, however, I also have several been all over England addressing other strings to my bow. Skeptics and Humanists and have I'm a retired Science teacher ventured overseas! who can't stop and who has I also debate against theists, discovered, from interacting with a even, occasionally, in their own lot of religious folks on social media, churches! Subjects that I have that my job is far from done. One of presented or debated on include: the big advantages of being retired God versus Science, Creation versus is that you become your own boss Science, Evolution versus Intelligent so you can spend your days Design, The Authenticity of the Bible, pursuing your personal mission Religions cause more Harm than instead of having to do your Good, The Unimportance of Belief employer's bidding. and so on. My mission consists mostly of I have also written some acting as a keyboard warrior anti-theistic books, for which I used correcting the ignorance that fills the the pseudonym 'Elliot George' (I've Click here to buy heads of believers, but I am allowed since dropped that nom-de-plume as https:// tinyurl.com/ ya7xebym out sometimes! That picture shows it became clear that there was little me presenting to Middlesborough reason to hide) and I have a patreon Skeptics on Why Intelligent Design is site where I regularly post articles, "I was very impressed with Mr not Science. (No, it wasn't taken audio and videos with some George's book. He covers back in the days of black and white cartoons by my friend Sebastian. My many of the fallacies that chemical photography! It was taken latest project consist of making 2 Theists use and explains them in November 2017 by a digital minute videos with the title, Things very well." cameraman who just likes the tones Theists Say. of monochrome.) Please visit:
www.patreon.com/user?u=5850943
15 Secular World Magazine Escape from Faith
Ex-Seventh Day Adventist
The last time I attended a drive with other Adventists from was given the explanation of Seventh-day Adventist church I heard scattered villages. evolution within created kinds, but a man marvel about how the water I start out with these points there was no interest within the table was balanced just right for us, because I think they are both the church in finding out how fast ignoring that large sections of land strengths and weaknesses of species diverge nor how we can are too wet or too dry.. This was an Adventism. Adventists are identify relationships. I was told that insult to my lifelong pursuit of encouraged to study, and in so doing both evolution and creationism are science. I was also finding divine many find out how evolution works. matters of faith, that we don?t have command theory insulting. It is easy Adventists are encouraged to self evidence one way or the other. Since to leave the SDA when you stop segregate from other this was something I wanted to know spending time with them. denominations, and a few either it became my mission to become a The SDA church is a Protestant notice the hypocrisy and corruption scientist, the first one to find denomination that tends to think at Adventist schools or find evidence one way or the other. If I most other denominations are themselves lonely in a small geriatric was going to be a scientist in heaven apostate while other Christians think church. Adventists are encouraged I might as well start now. Adventist are kooks. In my personal to share their faith, to witness that It was during these years, when I observation many of the their prayers do not cure an Indian was 14, one cloudless morning we denominations of Baptist, man of blindness while the money were shocked to see how far faith Presbyterians, Nazarenes, and they brought can be given to a local could go. I did not become an atheist Methodist are interchangeable to doctor to remove a tumor from a then, but September 11th 2001 is one their members and number well over woman. Adventists install hours of of my clearest freshest memories. 50 million across the United States, creationism and biblical literacy in Although I understood that the while Adventist do not form a the education of their children, telling motive was more than just about coalition with any other groups and us that if we were to critically religion, I slowly realized that number less than a million within the question the claims of our church it rejecting Islam was not just because United States. Like many people would hold up to scrutiny. For myself I was not born in a Muslim family, but raised in the Adventist church I was and many like me the plan backfired. also because I was rejecting divine home schooled in a rural area. I grew By the time I was a preteen I was command theory. I eventually came up near Methodist grandparents and already interested in science, to realize faith itself was at fault, that the Methodist church was less than reinterpreting what I read in secular people who say their god would an hour walk from my home, a place encyclopedias through a creationist never command violence fail to where many in my village met every lens. It became apparent to me that realize morality has nothing to do Sunday. But I rarely associated with there are at least four species of with God. my grandparents or our village, clover in my backyard. I also learned instead going to church every there are several species of cats, Saturday in a city over half an hour bears, deer, citrus, fowl, and drupe. I (continued on page 17)
16 Secular World Magazine (continued from page 16) maybe there is a god that supports network, like I'd had at church. I gay marriage, hates groveling and decided I needed to find not just I continued to call myself an doesn?t want us to circumcise lovers, but friends. When I was in my Adventist for about the next 10 babies, but no one knows of him, local library studying evolution one years. In the middle of this time I especially not the biblical patriarchs. day, I found a bookmark telling me went on a few short mission trips One night, as my thoughts about a small local community of and came back with other ideas drifted into the realization that my atheists and humanists, and I visited while noticing a little bit of racism in Universe could be vast and lonely, I libertarian colonies in a nearby state. my partners. The latter half of that asked Google, how to become an The humanists talked about using decade belonged to the libertarian atheist. That was it. I could keep it rainbow flags to mark safe homes wave, a community that introduced to myself. I could become vocal. I for LGBT teens who need to escape me to deism and ways of thinking could look for other atheist. The abusive parents, while the that involved horizontal rather than only criterion is that I mustn?t believe libertarians tolerated gays but said vertical ethical systems. It also in a god. I fitted that requirement we should depend on our boyfriends. helped that I became immersed in because I couldn?t mentally place These days my community is science fiction shows, one an any being above morality or the mostly the local humanist group, a American/ Canadian franchise about Universe, so I didn?t believe in God. few of whom have taken me to LGBT aliens that tricked humans into I was just suddenly alone with Pride. We sometimes go out for worshiping them, many of the no one hearing my thoughts; just potlucks, walks, movies, book clubs, episodes seeming to talk about free. I knew that one day I was going and meetings. My only complaint is it Christianity; another about a to die, but that I no longer had to live is not yet enough for someone who culturally pluralistic interplanetary for the impossible standards of a really needs people to notice us. federation, introducing me to judgmental being who say we There are still LGBT in the churches secular humanism. The paleo diet, a deserve the torture and execution he who believe what is preached. There memeplex that spread in libertarian arranged for an innocent man 2000 are still Christians who think LGBT circles, also threw a last punch at years back. Huge amounts of guilt want Jesus to take this ?burden? my Adventism, showing me the were gone; guilt over things I away. There are people who need to church don?t understand the realized I shouldn?t feel guilty about. see that our networks exist and are implications of human morphology. All the evolution I had read about ready to help. Each and everyone of (I still decided to not eat pigs, but for was suddenly making sense. What I you is hope for a single mother or a ethical reasons instead.) knew was right and wrong was gay teenager trapped in a judgmental I only went to church a few becoming clear without having to go community. You might find only one times in 2012, rather spending my through god. A month or two latter I reason to attend your local humanist time talking to people of varying decided to do what I had always potlucks, but it's an important one. backgrounds online, mostly about wanted to do. Admitting to myself That reason is to make heaven politics but keeping an open mind that I am gay, I searched for a on Earth for those who have lost about other things. In 2009 my state boyfriend. hope in an afterlife. introduced same-sex marriage, but I That year I developed a strong joined a voter referendum to reject it anger for monotheistic religion, Editor's note: the author of this based on fear mongering from my experiencing how it affects the touching story has, understandably church. In 2012, when I stopped LGBT who grow up in it, how it asked to remain anonymous for the calling myself an Adventist, I voted isolates communities, how it present. I have published it in full in support of a citizen initiative for miss-educated me. With the threat with very minor edits, even though it same-sex marriage. I was still that my family would cut me off I is twice the length of our guidelines, looking for a reason to continue in was forced to move in with the guy I because it is so well written. the church, hoping that maybe my was talking to. I soon broke-up with church could evolve to be my boyfriend, returning home progressive, perhaps we could realizing that many gay youth must If any readers would like to submit support religious freedom for other feel overly dependent on their lovers their own story or an article on a churches while rejecting it for because they have been ostracized topic of possible interest to Secular ourselves. The more I thought about by their religious parents. World, please email me at: it the more I realized I should stop When I returned to my family I giving them my money. I thought decided I needed to find a support [email protected]
17 Secular World Magazine AAI Freethinking HeroThreatened by Gunmen The dangers of being an atheist in theistic country
The last edition of Secular World hopefully, Narendra will be safe. what the word is used to mean: two featured Indian rationalist Professor Why do believers want to kill us? opposing positions in vociferous Narendra Nayak as the subject of our Well, they often have a mission to disagreement. If they had evidence and regular inside back cover article headed spread their faith and yet they fear that not just argument, faiths would be no Atheist Alliance International's their belief systems are vulnerable to more vulnerable to criticism than our Freethinking Hero. Since then, Narendra criticism. To this end, two things have understanding of the effect of gravity. has been identified as a target by Hindu happened: Who argues over what will happen if extremists who have been arrested in 1. Over the centuries, words have been someone jumps off a roof? connection with the murder of coined by believers for the purpose of Atheists are victimized all over the journalist Gauri Lankesh. Fortunately, labeling, insulting and demonizing world: in the Bible belt of the USA it's he has not been harmed and has been non-members of their group: words best to stay 'in the closet' if you want a given security guard protection. like, 'heathen', gentile' and 'infidel'. job or accommodation, and in thirteen One of the arrested, Rajesh 2. Legislation has been enacted to different Muslim areas the punishment Bangera, the arms trainer of the group, punish people who act in a way that for revealing that you are an atheist can revealed that Narendra, the President of the leaders of a religion might find include execution. These are not tourist the Federation of Indian Rationalist challenging. So, we have 'blasphemy' destinations but, if you do find yourself Associations, was under surveillance for protecting the faith from in the following countries, you'd better for two days by recruits trained to carry questioning or criticism, 'heresy' for keep quiet about your atheism: out an attack. Officers found a diary offending the leaders and 'apostasy' Afghanistan, Iran, Malaysia, Maldives, belonging to the prime suspect of the for criminalizing quitting a faith. Mauritania, Nigeria, Pakistan, Qatar and accused with entries listing the names The vulnerability of faiths is due to the Yemen. of the gang members chosen for the them only being supported by Yes, believers may start out with attacks and their intended victims. argument. As we all know, an persuasion, but don't be fooled, the silk They are now under lock and key, so, argument can be contested - that's glove hides an iron fist.
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18 Secular World Magazine Secular World Magazine
ATHEIST ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL?S
FREE THINKING HERO The Late Prof. Arunachalam Kumar
Founder Member of Dakshina Kannada Rationalist Association
On the 8th December, 2018 it lower caste maid to enter the Canada, as he had been worried that will be a year after the passing away kitchen! He also mentioned that, the Prof would not have any financial of Prof. Arunachalam Kumar, the despite her liberal views, she resources after retirement from eminent teacher of Anatomy, classified people into Brahmins and service! His students had undertaken researcher and genius. He followed Shudras - according to her anyone a drive to collect funds for his his principles right to his end. His who wasn't a Brahmin was a Shudra! treatment and it had grown to a body was donated to the Anatomy He told us about his childhood substantial sum and keeps growing. Department of Kasturba Medical days which started the process of College, Mangalore where questioning the norms of society. He He recalled instances of how preparations are on to dissect and also spoke about incidents from his rational thinking had made him preserve it so that his memory shall time as a medical student and how undertake research into various be permanently kept in the place he his long hair had brought trouble. topics and had stood him in good loved the most - the dissection hall. Going back to those days he recalled stead throughout his life. But, he said When I visited him last month how he was soundly ticked off by his that his role in the movement was he said that, despite of all his surgery professor, Dr.C.R.Ballal, for limited to occasional talks. However problems, he refuses to believe in cutting the finger of his glove to help he expressed his appreciation for any supernatural power and remains him with surgery! Incidentally those working for the taking the a staunch rationalist. During the Dr.C.R.Ballal was in the audience movement to the people to make course of our conversation he and laughed at this incident. He also them think and question. wanted to speak about it to all those recalled incidents from his student To add something which was not interested to clear any days when some of the professors in the press note, I would like to misconceptions that people may had sworn not to pass him till he mention that he was quite frank and have about him possibly having had had his hair cut and how he had open about the details of his a death bed conversion. So, we resisted those attempts! In fact he personal life too! organized a meeting and this is my jocularly mentioned that the main report of the event. aim of those treating him for cancer He spoke about how his was to see that his hair fell off and Prof Narendra development as a rationalist came they had not succeeded to date! Nayak about because of his mother who He expressed his gratitude President of the had a rational streak in her. He towards his students who had stood Federation of recalled how she would go to by him during times of crisis and Indian temples not to worship the gods but recalled one who had instructed his Rationalist to give alms to the beggars. At the sister to remit a certain amount to Associations same time she would not allow a his account from her location in
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