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POPSFor those touched most by 9/11, a turning point in faith
rest of article: Brian Jordan, a Franciscan priest who ministered to rescue and recovery workers, says there were no atheists at Ground Zero — suddenly everyone had a spiritual life, no matter how tortured or confused. Jay Rosenbaum, a Long Island rabbi, says he was almost overwhelmed when he arrived at Ground Zero on Sept. 12. But later, he conducted a simple prayer service in vestments that included a hard hat, combat boots and a prayer shawl. “Our mission is to look not only at the devastation there,” he said in his impromptu sermon, pointing to the shell of one tower, “but the devotion here” — the dusty, exhausted, rescue workers around him. “It was one of the most affirming moments of my life,” he says now. “I felt this was something I was worthy of doing.” To others, 9/11 seems to belie the notion of an all-loving, all-powerful God. Sam Harris began writing The End of Faith, his best-selling attack on religion, the day after the attacks. Jonathan Miller, who wrote
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POPSReply from An Atheist-Theologian Excellent article addressing the Christian apologists who would try and claim that people not versed in Theology "don't get" what is "really" being said. Rubbish says Mark Barratt, who himself has a degree in this very area. The New Atheists are bang on..:) Rest of Article here: http://richarddawkins.net/article,1816,Are-the-New-Atheists-avoiding-the-real-arguments,Edmund-Standing-ButterfliesAndWheelscom
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POPSThe 10 Biggest Religion Stories
#4 | The Pope and Latin Mass Benedict XVI relieves priests of having to get their bishop’s permission to celebrate mass in old-school Latin. To many, it is an unwelcome return of church élitism. Others sink happily back into it. #5 | The Slow-Motion Episcopal/Anglican Train Wreck The Episcopal Bishops’ meeting in New Orleans fails to stem the ongoing defection of conservatives over the church’s positions on gays, or the likelihood of a worldwide Anglican split over the same issue. #6 | Green Evangelicals Global warming, along with poverty and torture, have become hot issues to a maturing conservative Christian movement. #7 | The Roar of Atheist Books There may or may not be more atheists, but there are more atheist authors--and readers want to give them a hearing. #8 | Another Blow to a Megachurch A year after Ted Haggard resigned as pastor of Colorado’s New Life Church--having admitted to “immorality” involving a gay escort--a gunman kills two congregants in
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POPSPhilosophers without Gods
From book blurb on site: Atheists are frequently demonized as arrogant intellectuals, antagonistic to religion, devoid of moral sentiments, advocates of an "anything goes" lifestyle. Now, in this revealing volume, nineteen leading philosophers open a window on the inner life of atheism, shattering these commonstereotypes as they reveal how they came to turn away from religious belief. These highly engaging personal essays capture the marvelous diversity to be found among atheists, providing a portrait that will surprise most readers. Many of the authors, for example, express great affection for particular religious traditions, even as they explain why they cannot, in goodconscience, embrace them. None of the contributors dismiss religious belief as stupid or primitive, and several even express regret that they cannot, or can no longer, believe. Perhaps more important, in these reflective pieces, they offer fresh insight into some of the oldest and most difficultproblems facing the h