If you’ve ever wanted a signed first edition of God Is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens… or a wall clock autographed by Richard Dawkins… or a hand-signed copy of The Fable of Christ by Luigi Cascioli (the man who literally took the Vatican to court over Jesus’ existence!)—now’s your chance.
Right-wing media has influenced people into voting for Republicans through the use of repetitive false-messaging and selective framing. Research has shown that media outlets like Fox News have a significant impact on their viewers’ political beliefs. For example, a study by Princeton University found that consistent Fox News viewers were more likely to adopt conservative viewpoints and vote Republican compared to those who consumed a broader range of media sources. A study from Harvard University found that media framing around healthcare significantly influenced public opinion, with right-wing media often framing the Affordable Care Act negatively, which shaped conservative voters’ opposition to it despite broad support for its components. A separate study found that if a Fox News viewer converts to CNN for a month, it “caused substantial learning and moderated participants’ attitudes in covered domains.”
I’ve now gone multiple years without directing the words “Merry Christmas” at someone in the traditional sense of wishing a “Merry Christmas.” The societal pressure to conform is disconcerting. It’s often overlooked how taxing it is to live in a world dominated by the literal belief in an imaginary entity. I hope anyone that reads my views with a sour thought can have empathy for my position and conceptualize how uncomfortable it is to constantly navigate a society of adults with literal adherence to obvious myths. I will never fully experience a world governed purely by facts, but I endeavor to get as close to that ideal as possible, living authentically according to my understanding of reality.
Across the globe, from Stonehenge to Newgrange, ancient monuments align with the solstice sun, showcasing humanity’s long-standing reverence for our life-giving star. As the Northern Hemisphere experiences the shortest day, and the Southern Hemisphere its longest, we’re reminded of the Sun’s central role in our lives, transcending cultural and religious divides. From the ancient Goseck Circle’s alignment to the serpent-like shadow at Tulum’s Mayan Temple, these events highlight the sun’s influence throughout history, well before the advent of major religions. Join me in celebrating the Solstice, a time for reflection, renewal, and recognizing our place in the universe. Let’s appreciate the sun, our universal binder, and the reason for our existence on this incredible planet.
The concept that babies are born atheists is not just a statement of defiance against theistic norms but a factual representation of what atheism fundamentally is: a lack of belief in gods, or simply existing without god belief. This idea gains its strength from the etymology of ‘atheism’ itself. The term originates from ‘atheos,’ a Greek word meaning ‘godless’ or ‘without gods.’ Breaking down the word, ‘a’ signifies ‘without,’ and ‘theism’ stands for ‘theistic belief.’ Therefore, an atheist, by definition, is someone without theistic belief. This isn’t a complex philosophical stance but a basic, factual condition.
We know that the matter and energy comprising you will continue to exist beyond your death, certainly for millions of years past the date that your life ends. You are made of material that has existed throughout the entire course of life on Earth, and in fact, was previously part of other life forms. Their matter and energy exist in you right now, and in the future, yours will exist in others.