Thinking Out Loud
Four responses to Biblical slavery
You know slavery is profoundly wrong and you believe God is the only source of objective morality. You discover that God in the Bible permits holding slaves. He permits you to buy and sell slaves, to ...
Debating believers—a masterclass in under 900 words
If you’re an atheist, there’s a very good chance you have spent time debating believers. Here are my top tips to make these discussions more productive. The basics Start by remembering bel...
Do you have to be stupid to believe in God?
When I hear atheists saying people have to be stupid to believe in God, I am reminded of Christians who say you can’t have morals without God. Both statements are crass because the evidence is a...
Why heaven could be hell
If there is eternal life and you sign up for it, you’ve signed a contract with no termination clause. No matter what happens to you, there is no way out. You can’t change your mind. Your c...
Say goodbye to Christianity in 2019
If you are a Christian, there is a lot that you have to take on faith; was Jesus born of a virgin? Did Jesus die and resurrect? Did Jesus ascend to heaven? Is Jesus alive today? You have no way of kno...
How myths undermine God
It is uncontroversial that the Sumerians invented their pantheon of gods and their elegant myth explaining the creation of the world. They believed the goddess Nammu gave birth to her husband Anki. Th...
The true horror of indoctrination
You want your kids to grow up sensible, right? You’re educated and have experience of the world, and this has led you to choose the best political party. You know better than your five-year-old ...
How a clown-god fails Christians
Let’s be honest, God is not a star when it comes to the brains department. Apparently, within days of creation, he was outwitted by a crafty snake. Soon everything went pear-shaped and he regret...
Is slavery wrong?
Recently a Muslim asked me, “Why is it bad to own slaves?” It’s a good question and it needs an answer. What religions tell us Both Christians and Muslims can answer this question fr...
Six awkward questions on Biblical morality
Religious people tell me atheists have no basis for morality–all we have are opinions and no one’s opinion is more valid than anyone else’s. Instead, they point me to a book they say...
Ten bad reasons to be an atheist (and one good one)
I am an atheist but I often find myself disagreeing with other atheists. There are good reasons to be an atheist and there are bad reasons. Here are ten commonly heard bad reasons: “My mum got s...
Why Christianity’s most important story is 100% wrong
Christianity’s most important story set in the Garden of Eden, tells us that God left innocent humans, who had no knowledge of good and evil, in the company of a crafty serpent. God told the hum...