A new issue of Freethought Today is out. An interview with Alain de Botton, author of Religion for Atheists. Getting Real: A new breed of skeptics is boldly challenging pseudoscience, blind faith, and all manner of “woo-woo”. What explains foxhole theism? Helen De Cruz investigates. From Religions, a special issue on spiritual exemplars. From Vice, Liz Armstrong writes in defense of cults. Chuck Smith says the End Times means a bright outlook for the Christian church. From SSRC, what is religious freedom supposed to free? Webb Keane wonders. For schools of theology, it's time to bend tradition: Amid financial troubles and declining enrollments, the largest challenge may be cultural — seminaries have to adapt to a changing world. The majority of mainline Protestant churches require pastors to obtain a master of divinity (MDiv) degree, but some argue that a person whom God has endowed with exceptional gifts of ministry can be effective without going to seminary — so why require it, especially in these lean times? What we wear to church: Why what we put on may be more important than we think. A review of Christians Get Depressed Too by David P. Murray.
