Category Archives: Philosophy

THE GREAT AGNOSTIC: “What I want for Christmas” / Freedom From Religion Foundation / Robert Green Ingersoll ☮

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Robert Green IngersollWHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS
By Robert Green Ingersoll
The Arena, Boston, December 1897

If I had the power to produce exactly what I want for next Christmas, I would have all the kings and emperors resign and allow the people to govern themselves.

I would have all the nobility crop their titles and give their lands back to the people. I would have the Pope throw away his tiara, take off his sacred vestments, and admit that he is not acting for God — is not infallible — but is just an ordinary Italian. I would have all the cardinals, archbishops, bishops, priests and clergymen admit that they know nothing about theology, nothing about hell or heaven, nothing about the destiny of the human race, nothing about devils or ghosts, gods or angels. I would have them tell all their “flocks” to think for themselves, to be manly men and womanly women, and to do all in their power to increase the sum of human happiness.

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PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM: “A New McCarthyism with Ellen Schrecker” / RT America / On Contact with Chris Hedges ☮

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On this week’s episode of On Contact, Chris Hedges explores the rise of a new McCarthyism with Professor Ellen Schrecker, author of “Many are the Crimes: McCarthyism in America”. They examine the role of President Elect Donald Trump and the impact the suppression of dissent has had on higher education. RT Correspondent Anya Parampil looks at a few recent examples of targets of this new McCarthyism.

PROGRESSIVE INDEPENDENT JOURNALISM: “Trump is the Result of Years of GOP Anti-Intellectualism” / Ring of Fire / Farron Cousins ☮

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The Republicans have spent most of this century railing against so-called liberal elitism and intellectualism, demonizing intelligence. Donald Trump’s election is the end result of the Republican Party’s assault on intelligence.

ATHEISM: “Obama Signs Law Giving Protection to Atheists” Secular Talk / Kyle Kulinski ☮

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For the first time, atheists and other nonreligious persons are explicitly named as a class protected by the law.

President Barack Obama has signed into law the Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act. The new law protects atheists, humanists, and other freethinkers around the world from religious persecution.

ETHICS: “Christmas is All About Lying” / The Atheist Voice / Hemant Mehta ☮

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Christmas is coming and you know what that means: It’s the season of lies. Being dishonest may be the biggest tradition we have surrounding this holiday.

We lie to children this time of year more than any other.