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I grew up chanting "one nation, under God" at a public school with my hand over my heart alongside all my classmates. I bought my lunches with currency that said "In God We Trust." During science classes, I listened to my teachers present information about creationism and intelligent design alongside the theory--just theory--of evolution. And when I came home, I'd see politicians on the television eagerly give soundbites about their faith in Jesus Christ like strutting peacocks showing off their tails. I was still a Christian during this part of my life, so I hardly noticed and certainly didn't mind. It all fit with my beliefs, and I didn't t

Throughout history, mankind has turned to many different sources for guidance on how to do the right thing. Over two billion people today turn to the Abrahamic religions--Judaism, Christianity, and Islam--just as their ancestors did (CIA). However, these belief systems provide flimsy ethical frameworks for modern life when measured by their moral consistency, regard for the practical consequences of their teachings, and encouragement of the pursuit of a full life. The trumpeted morals and teachings of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam are flamboyantly inconsistent. The Sixth Commandment, as supposedly given by God himself, states very clearly

Some days, all I do is close my eyes and try to see if one of the lawyers in my mind's court can come up with anything to stump the other. Any interesting questions are fair game, and no questions are dismissed until I've come up with an answer. To the disapproval of many of my fellow Americans, I do not believe in God. My disbelief in contemporary religions is matched by the religious believer's disbelief in every religion but their own, but my skepticism goes one deity too far for many people. I don't claim to be absolutely certain about God's nonexistence--at least not more or less than how I feel about things like ghosts, psychics, and u

"I can't believe it's not butter!" sang the boy, grinning. He was just like a commercial: thrilled, bouncing, mindless. Is this what today's youth has come to? Superheroes and spaceships replaced by stupid slogans? Where did all the dreams go? Boy, we let them down. We were terrible shepherds. It's too late. We're zombies. Dead.

The washed light of fluorescent bulbs pointed into her face, just like it always had. She tried to move her head and hold her hands up to block it, but the only arm moving in the room belonged to the clock on the wall. "How long have I been here? I want to move," she thought to herself just as the door opened. In walked Tom, and a big smile spread across the cracked remnants of her face. He smiled back at her, but then his foot caught on the corner of the door and the stained glass vase he'd been holding kept going without him. It smashed on the floor in a cacophony of blues, purples, and greens until all the little bits had danced and jingl