online archive

The war on terror, American history, religion and atheism

From Wired, an article on the evolutionary brain glitch that makes terrorism fail. A special report on a world wide web of terror: Al-Qaeda's most famous web propagandist is jailed, but the internet remains its best friend. The myth of al-Qaida's omnipotence: In reality, the terrorist network has no useful answers to the complex questions of modern Islamic societies. In time, it will wither away; and don't flatter terrorists with po-faced hush. Mock them: Taking the mickey out of these criminals is a serious necessity - by laughing at them we deny them all dignity. A review of The Utility of Force: The Art of War in the Modern World by Rupert Smith. Planet Pentagon: How the Pentagon came to own the earth, seas, and skies.

From Common-place, an article on Private Wealth, Public Influence: The Jeffersonian tradition and American philanthropy; a review of Rape & Sexual Power in Early America by Sharon Block; a review of A Well-Regulated Militia: The Founding Fathers and the Origins of Gun Control in America by Saul Cornell; and The Architect of Colonial Desires: Did the tragic consequences of colonialism spring from the original intent of Europeans or were they largely unexpected? The US state of Oklahoma almost entered the Union as two states – Oklahoma and Sequoyah. The latter is the name of a failed attempt in the early 20th century by Native Americans to constitute a state of their own. A review of A Nation Among Nations: America's Place in World History by Thomas Bender.

From The New Humanist, a review of Have a Nice Doomsday: Why Millions of Americans Are Looking Forward to the End of the World by Nicholas Guyatt, and a review of The Threat to Reason: How the Enlightenment was hijacked and how we can reclaim it by Dan Hind. In Europe, God Is (Not) Dead: Christian groups are growing, faith is more public. Is supply-side economics the explanation? Some liken capitalism to a religion. The comparison goes too far, yet unquestionably some religious faiths and ethnic groups seem to have a particular affinity for free enterprise. From Commonweal, between theology & exegesis: A review of Jesus of Nazareth: From the Baptism in the Jordan to the Transfiguration by Pope Benedict. A review of Misquoting Jesus: The Story Behind Who Changed the Bible and Why by Bart D. Ehrman. A review of Jesus for the Non-Religious by John Shelby Spong.

From Monsters and Critics, an interview with Daniel Dennett, author of Breaking the Spell. What is God? Unfortunately, most of us do not think for ourselves. Michael Gerson on what atheists can't answer, and a response by Christopher Hitchens. More and more on God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens. Joe Sobran on The Atheist Renaissance. A force for evil? AC Grayling on why religion is the lunatic fringe of human thought - scores are murdered daily in the name of faith, and riled religious respondents should study epistemology and the disappearance of fairy beliefs, and also apply some sound ethics.