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Religion

Secular Passover Haggadah (article)
David Voron explores the idea of a Secular Passover Haggadah.
(from eSkeptic: April 5th, 2004)
Godless: The Church of Liberalism (book review)
Matthew Provonsha reviews Ann Coulter’s book Godless: The Church of Liberalism.
(from eSkeptic: September 21st, 2006)

Intelligent Design & Creationism

Georgia Takes on Evolution (article)
An Evolution/Creationism controversy erupts in Georgia — article by Andrew Jacobs.
(from eSkeptic: January 30th, 2004)
Intelligently Designed Laziness (article)
Michael Shermer recommends some good reading to counter Intelligent Design creationism.
(from eSkeptic: March 11th, 2004)
IRS Raids Business, Home of Creationist (article)
Brent Norman investigates the IRS’s investigation of Young Earth Creationist Kent Hovind.
(from eSkeptic: April 19th, 2004)
Then a Miracle Occurs (commentary)
Michael Shermer recounts his evening debating Kent Hovind, a Young Earth Creationist and Defender of the Faith.
(from eSkeptic: May 10th, 2004)
Intentional Deception (book review)
Bruce Grant reviews Creationism’s Trojan Horse: The Wedge of Intelligent Design by Barbara Forrest.
(from eSkeptic: June 1st, 2004)
Dembski, Darwin & Devils (book reviews)
Jason Rosenhouse reviews three books addressing Intelligent Design: The Design Revolution by William Dembski, God, the Devil and Darwin by Niall Shanks, and Darwinism, Design, and Public Education by John A. Campbell and Stephen Meyer.
(from eSkeptic: June 11th, 2004)
Patience and Absurdity (book review)
Paul R. Gross reviews Why Intelligent Design Fails: A Scientific Critique of the New creationism, edited by Mark Young and Taner Edis.
(from eSkeptic: October 29th, 2004)
Not Intelligent, Surely Not Science (article)
Michael Shermer presents “Not Intelligent, Surely Not Science,” an Opinion Editorial that previously appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
(from eSkeptic: April 5th, 2005)
God & Evolution (commentary)
Michael Shermer reports on George W. Bush’s remarks on Intelligent Design (ID) Creationism and discusses whether it is logically consistent to believe in God and the theory of evolution simultaneously.
(from eSkeptic: August 16th, 2005)
Young Earth Creationists of the World Unite! (commentary)
Jason Rosenhouse reports on the 2005 Creation Mega Conference — a young Earth creationist conference that took place in Lynchburg, Virginia, July 17th – 22nd, 2005.
(from eSkeptic: October 28th, 2005)
Dawkins on the Illusion of Design (article)
Richard Dawkins introduces a special section on “Darwin & Evolution,” which appeared in the November issue of Natural History magazine.
(from eSkeptic: November 23rd, 2005)
today’s ruling against Intelligent Design (commentary)
Burt Humburg and Ed Brayto report on the case of Kitzmiller et al v. Dover Area School District, which left the courts this morning with an important decision in the place of Intelligent Design.
(from eSkeptic: December 20th, 2005)
The Privileged Planet (film review)
Charles G. Lambdin reviews the film “The Privileged Planet: The Search for Purpose in the Universe.”
(from eSkeptic: January 9th, 2006)
Intelligent Design & SETI (article)
Robert Camp explores the validity of William Dembski’s argument from analogy for Intelligent Design.
(from eSkeptic: February 16th, 2006)
Random Thoughts in Kentucky (commentary)
Jeff Prewitt shares with us his report on the debate between William Dembski and Michael Shermer that took place on March 23rd at the Discovery Institute.
(from eSkeptic: April 13th, 2006)
The Other Intelligent Design Theories (article)
David Brin carries Intelligent Design creationism to its logical conclusion by showing the numerous “other alternatives” to Darwinian evolution that creationists don’t want you to know about.
(from Skeptic magazine: Vol 12, No 2)
Why Darwin Matters (book excerpt)
An excerpt from Dr. Michael Shermer’s latest book Why Darwin Matters: The Case Against Intelligent Design.
(from eSkeptic: August 30th, 2006)
The Language of God (book review)
Robert K. Eberle reviews Francis S. Collins’s book The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief.
(from eSkeptic: October 3rd, 2006)
The Bookshelf Talks (interview)
Amos Esty, Assistant Editor of American Scientist, interviews Michael Shermer about debating advocates of intelligent design, the importance of understanding evolution, and why Americans, in particular, are troubled by this fundamental tenet of science.
(from eSkeptic: October 25th, 2006)
Why Christians Should Accept Evolution (letters)
Letters to the editors of Scientific American in response to Michael Shermer’s column entitled “Darwin on the Right.”
(from eSkeptic: November 15th, 2006)
Creationism in Our National Parks (article)
Geologist and paleontologist Dr. Donald Prothero discusses the latest creationist challenge to science in the form of banning park rangers at the Grand Canyon from telling people how old it is! (see also the correction to this article)
(from eSkeptic: January 10th, 2006)

God & the Bible

The Probability of God (book review)
Craig Waterman reviews Stephen D. Unwin’s The Probability of God: A Simple Calculation That Proves The Ultimate Truth.
(from eSkeptic: January 12th, 2004)
The Passion of the Christ (article)
Tim Callahan explores the question, “Who really killed Jesus,” an inquiry inspired by Mel Gibson’s film The Passion of the Christ.
(from eSkeptic: February 23rd, 2004)
Blood and Passion (film review)
Tim Callahan reviews Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.
(from eSkeptic: March 11th, 2004)
”The Passion” Difuses Anti-Semitic Passions (film review)
Don Lattin reviews Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ.
(from eSkeptic: March 18th, 2004)
God Against the Gods (book review)
Tim Callahan reviews God Against the Gods: The History of War Between Monotheism and Ploytheism by Jonathan Kirsch.
(from eSkeptic: April 19th, 2004)
Roman Catholic Atheist (letter)
Frank Araujo’s letter on Roman Catholic Atheism in response to a debate between Michael Shermer and Young Earth Creationist Kent Hovind.
(from eSkeptic: May 17th, 2004)
The Question of God (film review)
Stephen T. Asma reviews the PBS documentary, A Question of God, in which Michael Shermer is a round-table participant.
(from eSkeptic: September 12th, 2004)
Letting Go of God (book reviews)
A summary of reviews for Julia Sweeney’s one-woman show, Letting Go of God.
(from eSkeptic: December 30th, 2004)
“One of You Will Betray Me” (reviews)
Tim Callahan reviews of The Gospel of Judas (National Geographic Channel, Sunday April 9, 2006); and The Gospel of Judas (National Geographic, 2006, ISBN 1426200420).
(from eSkeptic: May 3rd, 2006)
The End of Faith Revisited: a Good Start (book review)
Kenneth W. Krause reviews Sam Harris’ book Letter to a Christian Nation.
(from eSkeptic: January 24th, 2007)
Two reviews of The God Delusion (book reviews)
Norman Levitt and Michael Shermer provide their reviews of Richard Dawkins’ The God Delusion.
(from eSkeptic: January 31st, 2007)

Science & Religion

Conman’s Role in Prayer-power IVF ‘Miracle’ (article)
Paul Harris exposes the scandal behind a Columbia University Study purporting to scientifically prove the power of prayer.
(from eSkeptic: June 1st, 2004)
Sound Science? (article)
The New York Sun reports fraud and deceit in Columbia University’s study into the power of prayer.
(from eSkeptic: June 11th, 2004)
Questioning Healing Prayer (article)
Articles reprinted from Time and the Associated Press detail further strange events surrounding the prayer study scandal. (See also eSkeptic from June 1st and June 11th, 2004).
(from eSkeptic: July 16th, 2004)
The Blind Godmaker (book review)
Michael Shermer reviews Dawkins’ God: Genes, Memes, and the Meaning of Life by Alister McGrath.
(from eSkeptic: April 19th, 2005)
Prayer Therapy (press release)
The Commission for Scientific Medicine and Mental Health presents a follow-up study to a clinical trial on the efficacy of prayer therapy.
(from eSkeptic: September 2nd, 2005)
Science Without Borders (book review)
Michael Shermer reviews The Universe in a Single Atom : The Convergence of Science and Spirituality by the Dalai Lama.
(from eSkeptic: October 19th, 2005)
Einstein & the Church (article)
William C. Waterhouse investigates a statement, attributed to Albert Einstein, ostensibly praising the Church.
(from eSkeptic: January 1st, 2006)
Prayer & Healing (commentary)
Michael Shermer reports on the findings of a recent scientific study that tested the efficacy of intercessory prayer.
(from eSkeptic: April 5th, 2006)
Freedom & Foreknowledge (commentary)
William A. Wisdom responds to Robert K. Eberle’s review of Francis S. Collins’ The Language of God (eSkeptic, Tuesday 3 October 2006)
(from eSkeptic: October 11th, 2006)
Orthodox Jews & Science (article)
Alexander Nussbaum presents an empirical study of Orthodox Jewish college students’ attitudes toward evolution, the fossil record, and modern geology.
(from Skeptic magazine: Vol 12, No 3)

Psychology of Religion

Why Bush Thanks God for Blessing America (article)
Michael Shermer explores his theory of the evolution of morality in relation to George W. Bush in his opinion editorial “The Divinity of Politics: Throughout History, Leaders Have Claimed a Supernatural Link.”
(from eSkeptic: February 12th, 2004)
Survival of the Fittest … Religion (book review)
Michael Shermer reviews Knocking on Heaven’s Door: American Religion in the Age of Counterculture by Mark Oppenheimer.
(from eSkeptic: April 5th, 2004)
Left Below (tv review)
Tim Callahan reviews Resurrection, an ABC Television 20/20 special.
(from eSkeptic: June 1st, 2004)
God the Father (book review)
Kenneth W. Krause reviews The Psychological Roots of Religious Belief: Searching for Angels and the Parent-God by M.D. Faber.
(from eSkeptic: July 15th, 2005)
Daniel Dennett – Believing in Belief (book review)
Michael Shermer reviews Daniel C. Dennett’s book Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon.
(from eSkeptic: February 23rd, 2006)
Hardwired for Good (book review)
Kenneth W. Krause reviews Laurence R. Tancredi’s book, Hardwired Behavior: What Neuroscience Reveals About Morality.
(from eSkeptic: June 6th, 2006)
In the Beginning Was the Word (book review)
David Ludden reviews The Psychology of Religious Fundamentalism by Ralph W. Hood, Jr., Peter C. Hill, and W. Paul Williamson.
(from eSkeptic: July 7th, 2006)
Broken Spells & Unveiled Secrets (book review)
James N. Gardner reviews Breaking the Spell: Religion as a Natural Phenomenon by Daniel Dennett.
(from eSkeptic: July 13th, 2006)
Religious Belief & Societal Health (article)
Matthew Provonsha reports the results of a study examining the relationship between a nation’s religiosity and its “moral health.”
(from Skeptic magazine: Vol 12, No 3)