The Humanist Advocate

Nye Deserves Thumbs Up

Nye Deserves Thumbs Up

In spite of criticism from scientists and secularists, who advised that debating a creationist just gives a bully pulpit to mental defectives, February 4th’s debate between Creation Museum Director Ken Ham and “Science Guy” Bill Nye was a secular success. Nye did a good job of sticking to the facts, and although he probably went quickly above the heads of his largely creationist audience, he managed to score some key points in favor of logic and observation. Just as importantly,…

What I Believe

Former NOSHA board member Will Hunn recently read this personal essay at our January 2014 meeting. *********************************** It seems particularly appropriate to me for two reasons to have at this point in my life an opportunity to make a statement of what I believe.  The first reason is that, at 42, I have entered into what is commonly referred to as “middle age,” and by now should have formed some definite opinions.  The second reason—the more important one—relates back to…

Selling Out the Good Way!

If you buy from Amazon, then you can support NOSHA by using this link.  NOSHA will get credit for the sale if the URL you used to get to Amazon.com contains our identifying tag. This is true whether or not you can see the whole URL on the screen. You can use the link here or go to to the button at the upper right corner of the NOSHA.INFO website, both contain the correct identifying tag and ought to work fine….

There’s Always Room for Research

Child Cognition Lab at Boston University is conducting a study that compares how religious vs. non-religious adults think about nature. They have collected data from religious participants and now need non-religious participants to make the comparison. Would you be interested in helping us with our research?Your participation in this research is voluntary. If you decide to participate, the participation only requires you to visit our study webpage to look at a series of pictures and make judgments about them, and then complete…

Are You a February Baby?

Harry wanted to pass along this interesting information that he dug up from CNN about what the summer solstice really means for our recent NOSHA picnic: (CNN) — In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice has a history of stirring libidos, and it’s no wonder. The longest day of the year tends to kick off the start of the summer season and with it, the harvest. So it should come as no surprise that the solstice is linked to fertility —…

The Bible and Sex….a non-theist review

The Bible and Sex….a non-theist review

  This year NOSHA Vice-President, Jim Dugan, attended the annual Greer-Heard Forum. This is his report:   ********************   The 2013 Greer-Heard Forum took place at the Baptist Theological Seminary in New Orleans on February 15th and 16th. The forum is an annual event designed to present a diversity of opinions on broad religious issues, and often includes a point-counterpoint between a theist and a non-theist. This year’s forum was probably of less interest to most non-believers, as the various…

BOOK REVIEW: Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know — and Doesn’t

BOOK REVIEW: Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know — and Doesn’t

By Stephen Prothero For decades secular Americans have been painfully aware of an odd American phenomenon: secularists and unbelievers tend to know a great deal more about religion in general, Christianity in particular, and the contents of the Bible, than most of our neighbors who profess a faith. In Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know — and Doesn’t, author, professor of religion, and commentator Stephen Prothero tries to explain this phenomenon. A believer himself, Prothero acknowledges that Americans…

A Thanksgiving Sermon by Robert Ingersoll

At our November meeting NOSHA board member, Rose Mortillaro, read this time-honored piece to commemorate the holiday. We wanted to share it here for anyone who has never experienced it. *****  Whom shall we thank? Standing here at the close of the 19th century — amid the trophies of thought — the triumphs of genius — here under the flag of the Great Republic — knowing something of the history of man — here on this day that has been set…

Christianity In Its Own Words: Cherry-picking the Bible

NOTE: This is a guest column by NOSHA member, Bill Sierichs. For those who are not aware, for several years Sierichs has written a regular column for the Atheists for Human Rights newsletter (edited by Marie Alena Castle). It’s called “Christianity In Its Own Words.” He focuses on specific issues (marriage and sex, racism, church-state separation friends and foes, laws Christians used to suppress dissent) by mostly quoting from Christian sources with some commentary and context. In the following, he dissects a Cal…

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