Recently in Atheists, agnostics, doubters Category

What will the future of atheism look like? Some folks (Christopher Hitchens, Richard Dawkins, et al) promote a more aggressive, belittling approach toward the faith-minded. I recommend an interesting story from NPR on the growing divide among non-believers. An excerpt:

"It's really a national debate among people with a secular orientation about how far do we want to go in promoting a secular society through emphasizing the 'new atheism,' " says Stuart Jordan, an atheist who advises the evidence-based group Center for Inquiry on policy issues.

"And some are very much for it, and some are opposed to it on the grounds that they feel this is largely a religious country, and if it's pushed the wrong way, this is going to insult many of the religious people who should be shown respect even if we don't agree with them on all issues."

While I was on jury duty last week, an interesting historical tidbit landed in my inbox from the Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, a group of atheists, agnostics and other doubters based in York.

The subject is Pennsylvania state legislator named Rogers who, in 1817, served on the House "vice and immorality committee" (when did that committee disappear?). He introduced a resolution urging the U.S. Congress to add references to God into the U.S. Constitution. Read the Nonbelievers' press release at the jump.

Announcements about two new drinking groups came across my desk recently.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg is launching its own Theology on Tap, an outreach to young adults ages 21 to 30-something that's been popular in other dioceses. Think beer, wine and a guest speaker.

The first happy "half" hour kicks off 6:30 p.m. Aug. 28 with a discussion titled "Catholic? Why?" at the Weber Center on the grounds of St. Leo the Great Parish in Rohrerstown, Lancaster County. Next up is a Stump the Bishop wing night with Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades on Sept. 25.

In Harrisburg, the group PA Nonbelievers is organizing a monthly get-together called Skeptics Drinking Skeptically, which meets Sunday at Garrason's Tavern.

An atheist group has placed a billboard honoring "Darwin Day" along Route 74 in Dover Township near Blackberry Road.

Southbound travelers can read the poster, which reads "Praise Darwin: Evolve Beyond Belief." It features an image of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin.

The billboard was paid for by area members of the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation and PA Nonbelievers, a group of atheists, agnostics and humanists that meets in York.

An announcementfrom the foundation says a similar billboard was also placed in Dayton, Tenn. The towns were chosen because they were "sites of the 20th century's and 21st century's most significant evolution court battles," according to the foundation's Web site.

Comedian Bill Maher's 2008 documentary/comedy "Religulous" is playing in York for the first time at 3 and 7:30 p.m. Sunday at the Capitol Theatre.

In case you missed the reviews, the film satirizes organized religion and religious belief. It was directed by Larry Charles, the same guy who did "Borat." You may wonder how they got some of these folks to talk on camera, considering Maher's views on faith. (He has said religion is a neurological disorder that justifies crazies and stops people from thinking.)

Religion scholar Martin Marty muses over exit polls and offers his long-held observation and thesis, Marty's Law: No one ever wins culture wars.

Read his full essay at the jump.

Rabbi David Wolpe, author of the new book "Why Faith Matters," will take on atheist Christopher Hitchens in a debate later this month.

Wolpe will answer questions from author Jonathan Safran Foer and members of the Live from the 92nd Street Y audience, including those at the York Jewish Community Center, at 8:15 p.m. Nov. 25. Tickets to the York Township discussion, "The Existence of God and the Role of Faith in Society," (broadcast live via satellite) are $5 and available by phone at 843-0918.

You can listen to the last Wolpe-Hitchens debate here.