http://www.washingtonpost.com?wprss=rss_linksetIn search of a new Age of Reason, with Susan Jacoby.enCopyright 2012 Washington Post CompanyWed, 04 Jan 2012 17:58:51 GMTWed, 04 Jan 2012 17:58:51 GMT5http://media3.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/hp/image/wp_web.gifhttp://www.washingtonpost.com?wprss=rss_linksethttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638a7/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Camerican0Eatheists0Emust0Edefine0Ethemselves0Enot0Ebe0Edefined0Eby0Ethe0Ereligious0C20A110C120C270CgIQAovELMP0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p/> <p>I am sorry to tell you that this will be my last regular “Spirited Atheist” column, and I want to thank all of you who have followed my essays, including many who have taken the trouble to write me lengthy personal letters on my author Web site. Although I will continue to write occasionally on issues of unusual importance, a weekly column diverts too much time from the research for my next book, to be titled, “Conversions: A Secular History.” </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/american-atheists-must-define-themselves-not-be-defined-by-the-religious/2011/12/27/gIQAovELMP_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638a7/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=American+atheists+must+define+themselves%2C+not+be+defined+by+the+religious&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Famerican-atheists-must-define-themselves-not-be-defined-by-the-religious%2F2011%2F12%2F27%2FgIQAovELMP_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114132/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638a7/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114132/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638a7/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114132/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638a7/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 28 Dec 2011 14:46:53 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/american-atheists-must-define-themselves-not-be-defined-by-the-religious/2011/12/27/gIQAovELMP_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/227e888a/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Csleep0Emad0Echristopher0Ehitchens0Ein0Ethis0Eage0Eof0Eamerican0Eunreason0C20A110C120C0A70CgIQA1nrXyO0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p/> <p>My old friend Julius Hobson, an unconventional Washington civil rights leader in the 1960s (he once drove a cage of rats to Georgetown and threatened to release them at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street so the power brokers would know how the other half lives), used to say, “I sleep mad.” When I mentioned this many years ago to <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/christopher-hitchens-a-vanity-fair-writer-was-a-religious-skeptic-and-acerbic-master-of-the-contrarian-essay/2010/12/17/gIQAtiBHxO_story.html">Christopher Hitchens, who died of cancer Thursday</a>, Christopher remarked, “What a great epitaph that would be!”</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/sleep-mad-christopher-hitchens-in-this-age-of-american-unreason/2011/12/16/gIQA1nrXyO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/227e888a/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Sleep+Mad%2C+Christopher+Hitchens%2C+in+this+age+of+American+unreason&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fsleep-mad-christopher-hitchens-in-this-age-of-american-unreason%2F2011%2F12%2F07%2FgIQA1nrXyO_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114120/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/227e888a/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114120/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/227e888a/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114120/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/227e888a/a2t.img" border="0"/>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:34:40 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/sleep-mad-christopher-hitchens-in-this-age-of-american-unreason/2011/12/07/gIQA1nrXyO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638ae/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Csleep0Emad0Echristopher0Ehitchens0Ein0Ethis0Eage0Eof0Eamerican0Eunreason0C20A110C120C160CgIQA1nrXyO0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p/> <p>My old friend Julius Hobson, an unconventional Washington civil rights leader in the 1960s (he once drove a cage of rats to Georgetown and threatened to release them at the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street so the power brokers would know how the other half lives), used to say, “I sleep mad.” When I mentioned this many years ago to <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/christopher-hitchens-a-vanity-fair-writer-was-a-religious-skeptic-and-acerbic-master-of-the-contrarian-essay/2010/12/17/gIQAtiBHxO_story.html">Christopher Hitchens, who died of cancer Thursday</a>, Christopher remarked, “What a great epitaph that would be!”</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/sleep-mad-christopher-hitchens-in-this-age-of-american-unreason/2011/12/16/gIQA1nrXyO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638ae/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Sleep+Mad%2C+Christopher+Hitchens%2C+in+this+age+of+American+unreason&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fsleep-mad-christopher-hitchens-in-this-age-of-american-unreason%2F2011%2F12%2F16%2FgIQA1nrXyO_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114107/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638ae/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114107/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638ae/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114107/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638ae/a2t.img" border="0"/>Fri, 16 Dec 2011 17:34:40 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/sleep-mad-christopher-hitchens-in-this-age-of-american-unreason/2011/12/16/gIQA1nrXyO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/220ebf07/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cegypts0Eelections0Eand0Ethe0Erisky0Erule0Eof0Egod0C20A110C120C0A10CgIQAxRGucO0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>Among the more disturbing news developments in recent weeks is the surprising (to some western pundits, at least) strength shown by the hardest line Islamic party in the first round of <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/egypts-muslim-brotherhood-claims-big-win-in-parliamentary-run-offs/2011/12/07/gIQAB3inbO_story.html">Egypt’s parliamentary elections</a>. This story is being buried inside newspapers and at the bottom of newcasts, as the American media concentrate on truly important subjects such as the size of Professor Newt Gingrich’s head and former candidate <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/what-will-god-whisper-in-herman-cains-ear-next/2011/12/06/gIQAi4vDZO_blog.html">Herman Cain’s strange exit from the presidential primary stage. </a> </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/egypts-elections-and-the-risky-rule-of-god/2011/12/07/gIQAxRGucO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/220ebf07/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Egypt%E2%80%99s+elections+and+the+risky+rule+of+God&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fegypts-elections-and-the-risky-rule-of-god%2F2011%2F12%2F01%2FgIQAxRGucO_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114095/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/220ebf07/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114095/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/220ebf07/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114095/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/220ebf07/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:08:14 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/egypts-elections-and-the-risky-rule-of-god/2011/12/01/gIQAxRGucO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638b3/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cegypts0Eelections0Eand0Ethe0Erisky0Erule0Eof0Egod0C20A110C120C0A70CgIQAxRGucO0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>Among the more disturbing news developments in recent weeks is the surprising (to some western pundits, at least) strength shown by the hardest line Islamic party in the first round of <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/middle-east/egypts-muslim-brotherhood-claims-big-win-in-parliamentary-run-offs/2011/12/07/gIQAB3inbO_story.html">Egypt’s parliamentary elections</a>. This story is being buried inside newspapers and at the bottom of newcasts, as the American media concentrate on truly important subjects such as the size of Professor Newt Gingrich’s head and former candidate <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/what-will-god-whisper-in-herman-cains-ear-next/2011/12/06/gIQAi4vDZO_blog.html">Herman Cain’s strange exit from the presidential primary stage. </a> </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/egypts-elections-and-the-risky-rule-of-god/2011/12/07/gIQAxRGucO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638b3/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Egypt%E2%80%99s+elections+and+the+risky+rule+of+God&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fegypts-elections-and-the-risky-rule-of-god%2F2011%2F12%2F07%2FgIQAxRGucO_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114083/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638b3/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114083/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638b3/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114083/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638b3/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 07 Dec 2011 19:08:14 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/egypts-elections-and-the-risky-rule-of-god/2011/12/07/gIQAxRGucO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/223be123/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cblack0Efriday0Ecyber0Emonday0Eand0Ethe0Emorality0Eof0Emoney0C20A110C0A40C170CgIQAhx4gCO0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p/> <p>I’ve been thinking a lot about possessions lately, as the now-inevitable<a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/shooting-pepper-spraying-other-violence-mars-black-friday-shopping/2011/11/26/gIQAuklxxN_story.html"> reports of violence inflicted by Black Friday shoppers </a>on one another during the struggle for discounted Xboxes and television sets has coincided in my life with the depressing and exhausting task of cleaning out my mother’s apartment after her death at age 90.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/black-friday-cyber-monday-and-the-morality-of-money/2011/11/30/gIQAhx4gCO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/223be123/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Black+Friday%2C+Cyber+Monday+and+the+morality+of+money&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fblack-friday-cyber-monday-and-the-morality-of-money%2F2011%2F04%2F17%2FgIQAhx4gCO_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114072/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/223be123/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114072/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/223be123/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114072/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/223be123/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:50:00 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/black-friday-cyber-monday-and-the-morality-of-money/2011/04/17/gIQAhx4gCO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638b9/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cblack0Efriday0Ecyber0Emonday0Eand0Ethe0Emorality0Eof0Emoney0C20A110C110C30A0CgIQAhx4gCO0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p/> <p>I’ve been thinking a lot about possessions lately, as the now-inevitable<a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/shooting-pepper-spraying-other-violence-mars-black-friday-shopping/2011/11/26/gIQAuklxxN_story.html"> reports of violence inflicted by Black Friday shoppers </a>on one another during the struggle for discounted Xboxes and television sets has coincided in my life with the depressing and exhausting task of cleaning out my mother’s apartment after her death at age 90.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/black-friday-cyber-monday-and-the-morality-of-money/2011/11/30/gIQAhx4gCO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638b9/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Black+Friday%2C+Cyber+Monday+and+the+morality+of+money&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fblack-friday-cyber-monday-and-the-morality-of-money%2F2011%2F11%2F30%2FgIQAhx4gCO_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114061/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638b9/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114061/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638b9/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114061/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638b9/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:50:00 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/black-friday-cyber-monday-and-the-morality-of-money/2011/11/30/gIQAhx4gCO_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/224b9401/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cchristian0Epoliticians0Eexalt0Esuffering0Ein0Egop0Ecampaign0C20A110C110C0A50CgIQAa9HVoN0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>Imagine that the year is 1932 and presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt, instead of addressing himself to the economic paralysis that has gripped the nation, talks endlessly about the polio-induced paralysis of his own legs as some sort of unique qualification for the presidency. He blathers on about his deep faith in God as the reason he should be elected, weeps at the memory not only of his struggle with polio but of his own sins, and generally talks to the Americans as if they were choosing a Confessor/Penitent-in-Chief instead of a president. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/christian-politicians-exalt-suffering-in-gop-campaign/2012/03/15/gIQAa9HVoN_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/224b9401/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Christian+politicians+exalt+suffering+in+GOP+campaign&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fchristian-politicians-exalt-suffering-in-gop-campaign%2F2011%2F11%2F05%2FgIQAa9HVoN_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114049/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/224b9401/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114049/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/224b9401/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114049/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/224b9401/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:27:46 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/christian-politicians-exalt-suffering-in-gop-campaign/2011/11/05/gIQAa9HVoN_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638be/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cchristian0Epoliticians0Eexalt0Esuffering0Ein0Egop0Ecampaign0C20A110C110C220CgIQAa9HVoN0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>Imagine that the year is 1932 and presidential candidate Franklin D. Roosevelt, instead of addressing himself to the economic paralysis that has gripped the nation, talks endlessly about the polio-induced paralysis of his own legs as some sort of unique qualification for the presidency. He blathers on about his deep faith in God as the reason he should be elected, weeps at the memory not only of his struggle with polio but of his own sins, and generally talks to the Americans as if they were choosing a Confessor/Penitent-in-Chief instead of a president. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/christian-politicians-exalt-suffering-in-gop-campaign/2011/11/22/gIQAa9HVoN_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638be/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Christian+politicians+exalt+suffering+in+GOP+campaign&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fchristian-politicians-exalt-suffering-in-gop-campaign%2F2011%2F11%2F22%2FgIQAa9HVoN_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114040/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638be/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114040/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638be/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114040/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638be/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 23 Nov 2011 15:27:46 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/christian-politicians-exalt-suffering-in-gop-campaign/2011/11/22/gIQAa9HVoN_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638c5/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cbreaking0Echildrens0Espirits0Ein0Egods0Ename0C20A110C110C160CgIQATGkQRN0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>“<a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.amazon.com/Train-Up-Child-Michael-Pearl/dp/1892112000">To Train Up a Child</a>” is the revealing title of an authoritarian child-rearing manual, written by a right-wing evangelical pastor and his wife, that has been found in the homes of at least three families implicated in horrific cases of homicide by child abuse. The book, by Michael Pearl, pastor of the Church at Cane Creek in Pleasantville, Tenn., and his wife Debi, is particularly popular among Christian home-schoolers. Just think of this as the anti-Dr. Spock manual. It begins by advocating taps with switches to teach six-month-old babies not to roll off their blankets and progresses to recommendations for the use of a quarter-inch thick flexible plumbing line to strike older children on the arms, legs or back.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/breaking-childrens-spirits-in-gods-name/2011/11/16/gIQATGkQRN_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638c5/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Breaking+children%E2%80%99s+spirits+in+God%E2%80%99s+name&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fbreaking-childrens-spirits-in-gods-name%2F2011%2F11%2F16%2FgIQATGkQRN_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114029/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638c5/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114029/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638c5/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114029/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638c5/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:14:35 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/breaking-childrens-spirits-in-gods-name/2011/11/16/gIQATGkQRN_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638cb/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Ceducating0Efundamentalists0C20A110C110C10A0CgIQAW5dV8M0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>If there is one thing that infuriates defenders of the faiths about atheists, it is that we keep pointing out the worldwide connection between the most literal forms of religion and lack of education. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/educating-fundamentalists/2011/11/10/gIQAW5dV8M_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638cb/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Educating+fundamentalists&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Feducating-fundamentalists%2F2011%2F11%2F10%2FgIQAW5dV8M_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114018/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638cb/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114018/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638cb/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114018/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638cb/a2t.img" border="0"/>Thu, 10 Nov 2011 13:52:33 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/educating-fundamentalists/2011/11/10/gIQAW5dV8M_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638d1/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cmississippi0Epersonhood0Eamendment0Etakes0Eaim0Eat0Ebirth0Econtrol0Eas0Ewell0Eas0Eabortion0C20A110C110C0A20CgIQAT96xgM0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>Due to the serious illnesses of two family members, the Spirited Atheist has been absent from this column for two weeks. What awaited her upon her return was news of the latest assault on personal liberty and science by the far religious right, in the form of a proposed amendment, Proposition 26, to the Mississippi state constitution that would declare any fertilized egg a person with full legal rights. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/mississippi-personhood-amendment-takes-aim-at-birth-control-as-well-as-abortion/2011/11/02/gIQAT96xgM_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638d1/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Mississippi+%E2%80%98personhood%E2%80%99+amendment+takes+aim+at+birth+control+as+well+as+abortion&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fmississippi-personhood-amendment-takes-aim-at-birth-control-as-well-as-abortion%2F2011%2F11%2F02%2FgIQAT96xgM_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114005/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638d1/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544114005/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638d1/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544114005/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638d1/a2t.img" border="0"/>Thu, 03 Nov 2011 01:32:12 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/mississippi-personhood-amendment-takes-aim-at-birth-control-as-well-as-abortion/2011/11/02/gIQAT96xgM_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/22840280/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cour0Eproducts0Eourselves0Ethe0Eglorification0Eand0Edemonization0Eof0Esteve0Ejobs0C20A110C10A0C120C82e85130A0Ef4e10E11e0A0Ea9dd0Eb43cc8ed0A8f40Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>Am I the only one who finds something downright weird -- dare I say cultish -- about the flowers and apples left as impromptu memorials to <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/the-career-of-steve-jobs/2011/07/20/gIQAL5bDcJ_gallery.html">Steve Jobs </a>in front of Apple stores around the country and the world? “I don’t think we’ll see another person like him in our lifetime,” said Nathaniel Hare, 31, <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/10/06/2011-10-06_steve_jobs_remembered_at_apple_stores_in_new_york_fans_pay_tribute_to_tech_innov.html">a sound engineer interviewed in front of the Fifth Avenue Apple Store in Manhattan</a>. “The first piece of technology I see in the morning is my iPhone, and it’s the last thing I see at night.”</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/our-products-ourselves-the-glorification-and-demonization-of-steve-jobs/2011/10/12/gIQABSEKfL_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/22840280/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Our+products%2C+ourselves%3A+The+glorification+and+demonization+of+Steve+Jobs&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Four-products-ourselves-the-glorification-and-demonization-of-steve-jobs%2F2011%2F10%2F12%2F82e85130-f4e1-11e0-a9dd-b43cc8ed08f4_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113996/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/22840280/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113996/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/22840280/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113996/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/22840280/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:50:04 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/our-products-ourselves-the-glorification-and-demonization-of-steve-jobs/2011/10/12/82e85130-f4e1-11e0-a9dd-b43cc8ed08f4_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/224cb460/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cour0Eproducts0Eourselves0Ethe0Eglorification0Eand0Edemonization0Eof0Esteve0Ejobs0C20A120C0A80C10A0C82e85130A0Ef4e10E11e0A0Ea9dd0Eb43cc8ed0A8f40Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>Am I the only one who finds something downright weird -- dare I say cultish -- about the flowers and apples left as impromptu memorials to <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/the-career-of-steve-jobs/2011/07/20/gIQAL5bDcJ_gallery.html">Steve Jobs </a>in front of Apple stores around the country and the world? “I don’t think we’ll see another person like him in our lifetime,” said Nathaniel Hare, 31, <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/10/06/2011-10-06_steve_jobs_remembered_at_apple_stores_in_new_york_fans_pay_tribute_to_tech_innov.html">a sound engineer interviewed in front of the Fifth Avenue Apple Store in Manhattan</a>. “The first piece of technology I see in the morning is my iPhone, and it’s the last thing I see at night.”</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/our-products-ourselves-the-glorification-and-demonization-of-steve-jobs/2011/10/12/gIQABSEKfL_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/224cb460/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Our+products%2C+ourselves%3A+The+glorification+and+demonization+of+Steve+Jobs&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Four-products-ourselves-the-glorification-and-demonization-of-steve-jobs%2F2012%2F08%2F10%2F82e85130-f4e1-11e0-a9dd-b43cc8ed08f4_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113984/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/224cb460/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113984/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/224cb460/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113984/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/224cb460/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:50:04 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/our-products-ourselves-the-glorification-and-demonization-of-steve-jobs/2012/08/10/82e85130-f4e1-11e0-a9dd-b43cc8ed08f4_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638d9/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cour0Eproducts0Eourselves0Ethe0Eglorification0Eand0Edemonization0Eof0Esteve0Ejobs0C20A110C10A0C120CgIQABSEKfL0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>Am I the only one who finds something downright weird -- dare I say cultish -- about the flowers and apples left as impromptu memorials to <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/the-career-of-steve-jobs/2011/07/20/gIQAL5bDcJ_gallery.html">Steve Jobs </a>in front of Apple stores around the country and the world? “I don’t think we’ll see another person like him in our lifetime,” said Nathaniel Hare, 31, <a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/10/06/2011-10-06_steve_jobs_remembered_at_apple_stores_in_new_york_fans_pay_tribute_to_tech_innov.html">a sound engineer interviewed in front of the Fifth Avenue Apple Store in Manhattan</a>. “The first piece of technology I see in the morning is my iPhone, and it’s the last thing I see at night.”</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/our-products-ourselves-the-glorification-and-demonization-of-steve-jobs/2011/10/12/gIQABSEKfL_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638d9/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Our+products%2C+ourselves%3A+The+glorification+and+demonization+of+Steve+Jobs&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Four-products-ourselves-the-glorification-and-demonization-of-steve-jobs%2F2011%2F10%2F12%2FgIQABSEKfL_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113974/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638d9/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113974/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638d9/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113974/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638d9/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:50:04 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/our-products-ourselves-the-glorification-and-demonization-of-steve-jobs/2011/10/12/gIQABSEKfL_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/21f5bc45/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cdawkins0Eteaches0Echildren0Ehow0Enot0Ewhat0Eto0Ethink0C20A120C0A20C0A80CgIQAa9JDQL0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>When my niece was seven years old, she saw another child, with a severely deformed torso and cleft palate, on the merry-go-round we were riding. Then she asked me the question, about why bad things happen, that every parent must dread: “How did that little boy get hurt so he looks like that?” I explained, as best I could, that he hadn’t been hurt by anyone but had been born the way he was. Since cleft palate is often genetically determined, I talked about DNA as a set of “instructions” that make each of us unique and explained that sometimes, for reasons no one fully understands (though we understand much more than we once did), the instructions are mixed up.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/dawkins-teaches-children-how-not-what-to-think/2011/10/06/gIQAa9JDQL_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/21f5bc45/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Dawkins+teaches+children+how%2C+not+what%2C+to+think&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fdawkins-teaches-children-how-not-what-to-think%2F2012%2F02%2F08%2FgIQAa9JDQL_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113962/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/21f5bc45/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113962/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/21f5bc45/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113962/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/21f5bc45/a2t.img" border="0"/>Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:13:51 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/dawkins-teaches-children-how-not-what-to-think/2012/02/08/gIQAa9JDQL_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638df/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cdawkins0Eteaches0Echildren0Ehow0Enot0Ewhat0Eto0Ethink0C20A110C10A0C0A60CgIQAa9JDQL0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>When my niece was seven years old, she saw another child, with a severely deformed torso and cleft palate, on the merry-go-round we were riding. Then she asked me the question, about why bad things happen, that every parent must dread: “How did that little boy get hurt so he looks like that?” I explained, as best I could, that he hadn’t been hurt by anyone but had been born the way he was. Since cleft palate is often genetically determined, I talked about DNA as a set of “instructions” that make each of us unique and explained that sometimes, for reasons no one fully understands (though we understand much more than we once did), the instructions are mixed up.</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/dawkins-teaches-children-how-not-what-to-think/2011/10/06/gIQAa9JDQL_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638df/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Dawkins+teaches+children+how%2C+not+what%2C+to+think&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fdawkins-teaches-children-how-not-what-to-think%2F2011%2F10%2F06%2FgIQAa9JDQL_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113952/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638df/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113952/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638df/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113952/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638df/a2t.img" border="0"/>Thu, 06 Oct 2011 15:13:51 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/dawkins-teaches-children-how-not-what-to-think/2011/10/06/gIQAa9JDQL_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/22519b31/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Csaudi0Ewomens0Evote0Egreat0Enews0E0E0Eif0Ethis0Ewere0E19110C20A120C0A80C280Ce3fd75480Ee9e90E11e0A0E8a0A50Ec10Aec10A7dc660Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p/> <p>The underwhelming news of the week i<a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/saudi-women-to-vote-but-still-cant-drive/2011/09/26/gIQAV7INzK_video.html">s Saudi Arabia’s 87-year-old King Abdullah’s decree that Saudi women be granted the right to vote</a>, apparently in the year 2015. This development, a piece of largesse from the absolute monarch of an oil-rich Islamic theocracy, is actually being hailed by some in the West as a great example of progress for women in the Islamic world in the wake of the “Arab spring.”</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/saudi-womens-vote-great-news---if-this-were-1911/2011/09/28/gIQAdWgf5K_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/22519b31/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Saudi+women%E2%80%99s+vote+great+news--+If+this+were+1911&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fsaudi-womens-vote-great-news---if-this-were-1911%2F2012%2F08%2F28%2Fe3fd7548-e9e9-11e0-8a05-c10ec107dc66_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113941/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/22519b31/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113941/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/22519b31/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113941/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/22519b31/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:47:19 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/saudi-womens-vote-great-news---if-this-were-1911/2012/08/28/e3fd7548-e9e9-11e0-8a05-c10ec107dc66_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638e3/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Csaudi0Ewomens0Evote0Egreat0Enews0E0E0Eif0Ethis0Ewere0E19110C20A110C0A90C280CgIQAdWgf5K0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p/> <p>The underwhelming news of the week i<a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/saudi-women-to-vote-but-still-cant-drive/2011/09/26/gIQAV7INzK_video.html">s Saudi Arabia’s 87-year-old King Abdullah’s decree that Saudi women be granted the right to vote</a>, apparently in the year 2015. This development, a piece of largesse from the absolute monarch of an oil-rich Islamic theocracy, is actually being hailed by some in the West as a great example of progress for women in the Islamic world in the wake of the “Arab spring.”</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/saudi-womens-vote-great-news---if-this-were-1911/2011/09/28/gIQAdWgf5K_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638e3/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Saudi+women%E2%80%99s+vote+great+news--+If+this+were+1911&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fsaudi-womens-vote-great-news---if-this-were-1911%2F2011%2F09%2F28%2FgIQAdWgf5K_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113930/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638e3/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113930/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638e3/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113930/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638e3/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 28 Sep 2011 23:47:19 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/saudi-womens-vote-great-news---if-this-were-1911/2011/09/28/gIQAdWgf5K_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/226ad1bb/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cmichele0Ebachmann0Eand0Eanti0Ehpv0Evaccine0Eunreason0C20A110C0A30C210CgIQARAVAlK0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>When Michele Bachmann publicly shared the story of a mother who believed that as a result of being immunized against the human papilloma virus (HPV), her 11-year-old daughter had contracted<a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/michele-bachmann-continues-perry-attack-claims-hpv-vaccine-might-cause-mental-retardation/2011/09/13/gIQAbJBcPK_blog.html"> “mental retardation</a>,” the media treated the incident as just one more example not only of Bachmann’s breathtaking ignorance but of the Christian right’s obsession with sex. That is a fair interpretation as far as it goes, but most political commentators missed the larger story. Bachmann’s airheaded campaign talk has the potential to cause real harm to public health because it melds perfectly with an overall anti-vaccination crusade that represents one of the most destructive examples of junk science in our time. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/michele-bachmann-and-anti-hpv-vaccine-unreason/2011/09/21/gIQARAVAlK_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/226ad1bb/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Michele+Bachmann+and+anti-HPV+vaccine+unreason&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fmichele-bachmann-and-anti-hpv-vaccine-unreason%2F2011%2F03%2F21%2FgIQARAVAlK_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113915/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/226ad1bb/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113915/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/226ad1bb/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113915/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/226ad1bb/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:59:00 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/michele-bachmann-and-anti-hpv-vaccine-unreason/2011/03/21/gIQARAVAlK_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/22281a0c/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cmichele0Ebachmann0Eand0Eanti0Ehpv0Evaccine0Eunreason0C20A120C0A90C0A20C7c9d477c0Ee45b0E11e0A0E8a0A50Ec10Aec10A7dc660Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>When Michele Bachmann publicly shared the story of a mother who believed that as a result of being immunized against the human papilloma virus (HPV), her 11-year-old daughter had contracted<a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/michele-bachmann-continues-perry-attack-claims-hpv-vaccine-might-cause-mental-retardation/2011/09/13/gIQAbJBcPK_blog.html"> “mental retardation</a>,” the media treated the incident as just one more example not only of Bachmann’s breathtaking ignorance but of the Christian right’s obsession with sex. That is a fair interpretation as far as it goes, but most political commentators missed the larger story. Bachmann’s airheaded campaign talk has the potential to cause real harm to public health because it melds perfectly with an overall anti-vaccination crusade that represents one of the most destructive examples of junk science in our time. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/michele-bachmann-and-anti-hpv-vaccine-unreason/2011/09/21/gIQARAVAlK_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/22281a0c/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Michele+Bachmann+and+anti-HPV+vaccine+unreason&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fmichele-bachmann-and-anti-hpv-vaccine-unreason%2F2012%2F09%2F02%2F7c9d477c-e45b-11e0-8a05-c10ec107dc66_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113903/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/22281a0c/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113903/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/22281a0c/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113903/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/22281a0c/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:59:00 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/michele-bachmann-and-anti-hpv-vaccine-unreason/2012/09/02/7c9d477c-e45b-11e0-8a05-c10ec107dc66_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638e7/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cmichele0Ebachmann0Eand0Eanti0Ehpv0Evaccine0Eunreason0C20A110C0A90C210CgIQARAVAlK0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>When Michele Bachmann publicly shared the story of a mother who believed that as a result of being immunized against the human papilloma virus (HPV), her 11-year-old daughter had contracted<a data-xslt="_http" href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/michele-bachmann-continues-perry-attack-claims-hpv-vaccine-might-cause-mental-retardation/2011/09/13/gIQAbJBcPK_blog.html"> “mental retardation</a>,” the media treated the incident as just one more example not only of Bachmann’s breathtaking ignorance but of the Christian right’s obsession with sex. That is a fair interpretation as far as it goes, but most political commentators missed the larger story. Bachmann’s airheaded campaign talk has the potential to cause real harm to public health because it melds perfectly with an overall anti-vaccination crusade that represents one of the most destructive examples of junk science in our time. </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/michele-bachmann-and-anti-hpv-vaccine-unreason/2011/09/21/gIQARAVAlK_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638e7/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Michele+Bachmann+and+anti-HPV+vaccine+unreason&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fmichele-bachmann-and-anti-hpv-vaccine-unreason%2F2011%2F09%2F21%2FgIQARAVAlK_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113888/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638e7/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113888/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638e7/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113888/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638e7/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:59:00 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/michele-bachmann-and-anti-hpv-vaccine-unreason/2011/09/21/gIQARAVAlK_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638eb/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cseparation0Eof0Echurch0Eand0Estate0Egood0Efor0Ereligion0C20A110C0A90C140CgIQAtHjOSK0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>If any more evidence were required that a nation whose Constitution guarantees individual religious liberty does not need members of the clergy presiding over and pontificating at public events, it was provided at the 9/11 memorial ceremony by the numerous references to God and an afterlife from family members of those who died in the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center,</p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/separation-of-church-and-state-good-for-religion/2011/09/14/gIQAtHjOSK_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638eb/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=Separation+of+church+and+state%3A+Good+for+religion%3F&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fseparation-of-church-and-state-good-for-religion%2F2011%2F09%2F14%2FgIQAtHjOSK_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113873/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638eb/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113873/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638eb/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113873/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/1f9638eb/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:44:59 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/separation-of-church-and-state-good-for-religion/2011/09/14/gIQAtHjOSK_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/224c9278/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cthe0Esacralized0Emyth0Eof0E9110C20A110C0A90C0A70Cfd93da480Ed9580E11e0A0E9dca0Ea4d231dfde50A0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>This Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, will undoubtedly mark the apotheosis of the long sacralization of the terrorist attacks that brought down the towers of the World Trade Center and killed more than 3000 in New York, Washington and Shanksville, PA. By sacralization, I do not mean the phantasms of those who see a crucifix in a surviving piece of metal among the ruins but an ongoing attempt, usually in religious but also in secular rhetoric, to elevate this event from one more chapter in the history of human evil to “the day that changed everything.” </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/the-sacralized-myth-of-911/2011/09/07/gIQAIJ8O9J_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/224c9278/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=The+sacralized+myth+of+9%2F11&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fthe-sacralized-myth-of-911%2F2011%2F09%2F07%2Ffd93da48-d958-11e0-9dca-a4d231dfde50_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div><br/><br/><a href="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113860/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/224c9278/a2.htm"><img src="http://da.feedsportal.com/r/144544113860/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/224c9278/a2.img" border="0"/></a><img width="1" height="1" src="http://pi.feedsportal.com/r/144544113860/u/0/f/635877/c/34656/s/224c9278/a2t.img" border="0"/>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:36:07 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/the-sacralized-myth-of-911/2011/09/07/fd93da48-d958-11e0-9dca-a4d231dfde50_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacobyhttp://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638f2/l/0L0Swashingtonpost0N0Cblogs0Cspirited0Eatheist0Cpost0Cthe0Esacralized0Emyth0Eof0E9110C20A110C0A90C0A70CgIQAIJ8O9J0Iblog0Bhtml0Dwprss0Frss0Ispirited0Eatheist/story01.htm<p>This Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, will undoubtedly mark the apotheosis of the long sacralization of the terrorist attacks that brought down the towers of the World Trade Center and killed more than 3000 in New York, Washington and Shanksville, PA. By sacralization, I do not mean the phantasms of those who see a crucifix in a surviving piece of metal among the ruins but an ongoing attempt, usually in religious but also in secular rhetoric, to elevate this event from one more chapter in the history of human evil to “the day that changed everything.” </p> <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/the-sacralized-myth-of-911/2011/09/07/gIQAIJ8O9J_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheist">Read full article &#62;&#62;</a><img width='1' height='1' src='http://feeds.washingtonpost.com/c/34656/f/635877/s/1f9638f2/mf.gif' border='0'/><div class='mf-viral'><table border='0'><tr><td valign='middle'><a href="http://share.feedsportal.com/viral/sendEmail.cfm?lang=en&title=The+sacralized+myth+of+9%2F11&link=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.washingtonpost.com%2Fblogs%2Fspirited-atheist%2Fpost%2Fthe-sacralized-myth-of-911%2F2011%2F09%2F07%2FgIQAIJ8O9J_blog.html%3Fwprss%3Drss_spirited-atheist" target="_blank"><img src="http://res3.feedsportal.com/images/emailthis2.gif" border="0" /></a></td></tr></table></div>Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:36:07 GMThttp://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/spirited-atheist/post/the-sacralized-myth-of-911/2011/09/07/gIQAIJ8O9J_blog.html?wprss=rss_spirited-atheistSusan Jacoby