The value of logical syllogisms are in their utility – tied to what we ‘accept’ rather than merely what is ‘true’.

What is hell? Is it a literal place of torture and torment? Is it separation from a god? Is it annihilation? Is there anything real behind the threats? Which religion’s hell should we avoid? What is this concept doing to people?

This talk was delivered to the Unitarian Universalist Humanists of Tampa Florida in April, 2016.

From time to time we’ll see and hear atheists referred to as “professed atheist”, “self-professed atheist” and “professing atheist”. What does this mean? Where does it come from? Is it just a claim that we’re lying? Or does it tell us far more about the person using the label than the person the label is applied to?