Atheism Videos

Gnostic teacher and author, Azrael Ondi-Ahman, addresses atheism and provides a Gnostic understanding of the nature of God that is not bound by the limitations and fallacies inherent in mainstream definitions of God. Other topics discussed include: free will, doubt, adversity, and choice. http://www.songofgod.com

...Continued from part A: Gnostic teacher and author, Azrael Ondi-Ahman, addresses atheism and provides a Gnostic understanding of the nature of God that is not bound by the limitations and fallacies inherent in mainstream definitions of God. Other topics discussed include: free will, doubt, adversity, and choice. http://www.songofgod.com

Economist Brad DeLong noted on his blog that part of the productivity gain in the U.S. economy comes not from job production, but from squeezing more work out of employees scared to lose their jobs.

In Max Blumenthal's book Republican Gomorrah and in his GRITtv appearance, he introduced us to Francis Schaeffer, one of the important figures in the anti-choice and religious right movements in the United States. Frank Schaeffer, Francis's son, wrote a book about growing up in the religious right, Crazy for God: How I Grew Up as One of the Elect, Helped Found the Religious Right, and Lived to Take All (or Almost All) of It Back . Schaeffer has a new book now, Patience with God: Faith for People Who Don't Like Religion (or Atheism) , and in it he takes on both the "incipient fascism" of the religious right and what he called "proselytizing" atheism of Richard Dawkins and others. He joins Laura on GRITtv for a fascinating interview about his own journey, and how people, religious or irreligious, are all looking for answers to the same questions.

Dr. Victor Stenger will be returning to the show to tell us about his latest book, The New Atheism: Taking a Stand for Science and Reason. Check out Dr. Stenger's Website at http://www.colorado.edu/philosophy/vstenger

Russell Blackford is an Australian writer, philosopher, and critic, and editor-in-chief of The Journal of Evolution and Technology. His new book, edited with Udo Schuklenk, is 50 Voices of Disbelief: Why We Are Atheists. In this interview with D.J. Grothe, Russell Blackford explains the need for 50 Voices of Disbelief. He argues that there can be no more important question than whether religion and faith deliver on their promises. He explores whether religion will persist. He contends that religious leaders are not our society's moral leaders. He discusses a number of contributed essays in the 50 Voices collection, such as James Randi's, entitled "A Magician Looks at Religion," which explores how a background in magic may inform one's understanding of religion, and Peter Adegoke's essay, which argues that religion is impeding Nigeria's social, economic and scientific progress. He talks about how the book includes contributions from people all over the world and from every continent, except Antarctica. He discusses essays by Sumitra Padmanabhan and Prabir Ghosh that explore the harms that religion cause in India, and alternatives to religion, such as humanism. He talks about how the diversity of views in the essay collection show that there is "no party-line of atheism."Â He comments on essays by psychologist and parapsychologist Susan Blackmore ("Giving Up Ghosts and Gods"), and philosopher Philip Kitcher ("Beyond Disbelief"). He discusses recent controversies over CFI's International Blasphemy Day, and opposing views of Paul Kurtz and Ron Lindsay regarding criticism of religion, and whether "moderate religion" should be criticized or viewed as an ally to advance secular, pro-science values. He talks about the relationship between atheism and progressive social values. And he argues that religion should not be allowed to remain private, and therefore beyond public scrutiny and critique.