INTELLECTUALISM: “Stephen Fry on Religion” / The Origins Podcast / Lawrence Krauss ☮

The Origins Podcast is now a part of the Origins Project Foundation. Consider supporting the podcast and the Origins Project Foundation at http://www.originsprojectfoundation.org. In this inaugural clip from the new partnership, Stephen and Lawrence discuss Religion from a variety of perspectives, touching on intellectual laziness, the feeling that we can and should be better people, and the how joy of discovering that learning more about how things actually work enhances, rather than detracts, from the awe and wonder of the Universe.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES: “The Rise of Atheist Churches?” / ReligionForBreakfast / Andrew Henry ☮

As religiously unaffiliated people become a larger and larger portion of the US population, scholars are noticing a rise in atheist/humanist/agnostic gatherings that mirror some of the characteristics of Christian churches (i.e. meeting on Sundays, participating in collective rituals such as singing). What can we learn about these gatherings? Can we call this a godless form of religiosity?

CHRISTIANITY: “The Reason for the Season” ☮

Dec[ember] 25 is not [Jesus’ — or Joshua’s for those people who like to be historically correct] birthday. Biblical scholars have debunked the blind belief that Jesus was born on Dec. 25 time and time again. Instead, through scientific, historical and astrological calculations, they’ve pinpointed September of the year 3 B.C. as a more accurate date. . .

Many people are familiar with the Winter Solstice, and for those who are not, it’s when the sun reaches its lowest point in the sky on Dec. 21, actually appearing to stop moving for three days, then rising again on Dec. 25. With just a cursory examination, one can understand that the “Birth of the Son” is actually the “Return of the Sun.”

Read more . . .

NEOLIBERALISM: “The Biggest Myths of John McCain with Matt Taibbi” / Watching the Hawks RT / Tyrel Ventura, and Tabetha Wallace ☮

John McCain’s latest HBO documentary tells the story of a different McCain… seems to conveniently leave out his war-hawkish history. Author and journalist Matt Taibbi joins the show to discuss

ZOMBIE JEBUS DAY: “About That So-Called ‘Sacrifice'” ☮

 If I donated a kidney, but got it back three days later, that wouldn’t be a sacrifice either, would it?

h/t: Friendly Atheist