religion
Did Einstein Pray? What the Great Genius Thought about God.
In 1936, a school girl named Phyllis wrote a letter to Albert Einstein to ask whether a person could believe in both science and religion. He was quick to reply.
2 Flaws That Plague Unscientific Belief, from the Alt-Right to Religious Doctrine
Richard Dawkins responds to the Alt-Right, Trump's policies, and discusses the evil potential of ideology.
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5 min
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Why Aren’t More Women Openly Skeptical of Faith?
Where are the four "horsewomen" of new atheism? Well, here are two of them, secular scholars Rebecca Goldstein and Susan Jacoby.
Religion: Miracle drug or mere placebo?
A recent study reported that middle-aged adults who attended religious services were half as likely to die prematurely. Is religion truly a miracle drug?
Is the human person naturally religious?
Fr. Thomas Joseph White on the source of our religious inclinations.
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Do humans have free will, or are we programmed by society?
Humans are a programmable species, and we live inside the most ancient operating system of all — ideology.
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8 min
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What 46 Years of Hostage Data Tells Us About Religious Terrorism
New research claims religious terrorism is on the rise, and it appears that it's going to get worse before we see a decline in such horrendous acts.
Want the Benefits of Faith without Believing in God? Try Hope.
You have to be a little envious of those who have faith—they have a motivational force behind them that is near impossible to beat. What if there was a secular equivalent, wonders philosophy professor Sam Newlands.
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4 min
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Will the couple that prays together stay together?
Two sociologists examine how religious practice impacts African American and Latino marriages.
Atheism vs. Religion: Which Is the Healthier Viewpoint?
What does Robert Sapolsky—an "utter, complete, atheist"—think about the persistence of magical thinking in our modern world?
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3 min
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Hey Bill Nye! Do the Laws of Nature Allow for God?
Physics finds no trace of God so far—but does it matter?
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2 min
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How a 1,000-Year-Old Religious Edict Shaped the Modern Chicken
Research suggests that a religious edict from the Catholic Church shaped the evolution of the modern chicken.
How Does Jesus Fit Into Islam?
Jesus was a revered figure and prophet in the Quran. But what exactly do Muslims believe about him?
Study finds link between brain damage and religious fundamentalism
A new study finds a connection between brain lesions and the ability of a person to consider other beliefs.
Is Hope for Weak People? One Man’s Journey through Life with MS
Many people will try to give you hope or sell it to you, says Richard M. Cohen, who was diagnosed with MS at 25, and has battled two bouts of cancer, but hope is an internal discovery.
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6 min
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Religion Can Divide. Joking about It Can Help Unite.
Faith is absurd — let’s embrace the comedy in that.
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4 min
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Faith Is Fine, as Long as We Laugh at Our Own Beliefs
A religious person without a sense of humor? That's a dangerous combination.
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2 min
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Hiring Managers Cannot Suppress Their Biases in Job Interviews, Study Finds
It’s illegal, yet usually a subconscious act. So how can we scrub bias from the hiring process?
Scientology: It’s the McDonald’s of Religions
Scientology is the true religion of America's capitalist soul. "To me," says Louis Theroux, "Scientology is selling spiritual hamburgers."
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5 min
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Albert Einstein’s Surprising Thoughts on the Meaning of Life
Albert Einstein shared his thoughts on the meaning of life and his own spiritual views.
Gods and Celebrities: Do Both Obsessions Stem from the Same Impulse?
Although we know better intellectually, we treats celebrities as if they exist in a different realm. Is there an element of misplaced religion at work?
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3 min
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Hidden Logic of Genes In Genesis?
Scarcely noticed in the Eden story, there lurk fruitful scientific ideas about why biology generated morality.
Pope Francis: Challenge Your Feelings of Contentment
His Holiness Pope Francis wants to see the end of two things in this world: red sauces at diplomatic dinners, and arrogance.
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6 min
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What Is the Most “Godless” City on Earth?
Surveys reveal the least religious, most atheistic population centers in the world.
What Is the Most Popular Superstition in America?
Researchers find the most common superstitions in the United States, breaking them down by gender, age and part of the country.
Scientists find religion triggers same area of brain as sex, drugs and love
Researchers scan the brains of people having strong spiritual experiences.
Millions of Muslims March Against ISIL
Millions of Muslims marched to Karbala, Iraq even after suicide bombing and continued threats by ISIL. The Arbaeen pilgrimage continues to be a show of religious freedom.
Study: Religious and Superstitious People Struggle to Understand the Physical World
People who believe in God or the supernatural don’t quite understand the physical world, claims a new study from researchers at the University of Helsinki.
How Old Is the Bible?
New research provides more clues about the age of the world's most popular book.
10 Reasons Atheists Do It Better
There is a growing number of atheists in the world. There is also a growing amount of evidence pointing to the benefits of non-believing.