Veritas Forums are university events that engage students and faculty in discussions about life's hardest questions and the relevance of Jesus Christ to all of life. The forums are created by local university students, professors, and ministers while shaped and guided by the national Veritas Forum team. Veritas began at Harvard University in 1992 when a visiting student at the Harvard Divinity School, Kelly Monroe, observed that many of her fellow students felt isolated in their search for meaning and truth. This sense of disconnection was particularly striking in contrast with what she learned about Harvard’s spiritual history. As she read these accounts of lives changed and true life found, Kelly wondered: Why not gather these humble and bright believers in person and invite the whole university to join in, exploring our questions in relation to veritas—knowable in and through the life of Jesus Christ? ~ Site's "About" The Veritas Forum's sites features well organized audio recordings of hundreds of talks and exchanges between eminent thinkers on "life's hardest questions".

Reasonable Faith aims to provide in the public arena an intelligent, articulate, and uncompromising yet gracious Christian perspective on the most important issues concerning the truth of the Christian faith today, such as: the existence of God, the meaning of life, the objectivity of truth, the foundation of moral values, the creation of the universe, and the reliability of the Gospels. Reasonable Faith features the work of philosopher and theologian Dr. William Lane Craig in order to carry out its three-fold mission: 1) to provide an articulate, intelligent voice for biblical Christianity in the public arena. 2) to challenge unbelievers with the truth of biblical Christianity. 3) to train Christians to state and defend Christian truth claims with greater effectiveness. ~ About this Site

First Things is published by The Institute on Religion and Public Life, an interreligious, nonpartisan research and education institute whose purpose is to advance a religiously informed public philosophy for the ordering of society. As far as I can tell, all of their print articles are available in full online. And, these articles are almost always of high quality. If you're curious about how religious people actually think about the appropriate place of religion in a multicultural society under a secular state, you can do no better than to begin your reading here.

A "one-stop shopping superstore" in the marketplace of ideas; a searchable collection of resources and interactive opportunities; a ResourceBASE containing thousands of articles, reviews, research papers, essays, books & book chapters, commentaries, video & audio files, poems and more; rooted in the university, sponsored by Christian Leadership Ministries, the faculty outreach and training arm of Campus Crusade for Christ International, Leadership U includes resources from the high school to research levels, with an emphasis on the scholarly; a multi-disciplinary vehicle to help reach professors, students and other thinkers with the best in Christian thought on a variety of compelling issues; a growing community of apologists for the historical Christian faith who are engaging their culture on a variety of fronts; a current-issues-based approach to the deeper issues facing humanity (e.g., evil and suffering, morality and ethics, public policy, philosophy, origins and eternity).

Under the direction of Dr. Michael Shermer, the Skeptic Society engages in scientific investigation and journalistic research to investigate claims made by scientists, historians, and controversial figures on a wide range of subjects. The Society also engages in discussions with leading experts in our areas of exploration. It is our hope that our efforts go a long way in promoting critical thinking and lifelong inquisitiveness in all individuals. Since 1992, the Skeptics Society has published Skeptic, a quarterly journal that examines a wide variety of social, scientific, and pseudoscientific controversies. Sent out each week to over 19,000 readers, our newsletter eSkeptic provides reviews, essays, and opinion editorials on a current happenings in science and culture." Skeptic Magazine is a worthy representative of a skeptical posture and a champion of science as the superior avenue of knowledge. The writing is first rate, and the subject matter broad and fascinating. Unfortunately but understandably, most articles and resources are available only to subscribers.

Luke Muehlhauser ("lukeprog") is an atheist who arrived there via a journey as a devout pastor's kid. His story is moving. The tone and discussion here is sympathetic and friendly, and the writing almost always thought provoking. The site includes some impressive resources, like an evaluation of all of William Lane Craig's debates and a voluminous list of debates about God. Luke's site is a beacon of thoughtful and respectful dialogue, no doubt in part because he has been on both sides of the fence. Highly Recommended. About itself: "See, believers have two ways of thinking. In most situations, they think with the same logic as most people do: this is our 'common sense.' Tell a believer that the bank stole his money, or that an ancient book says you can heal disease by dancing around a fire, and he will ask for evidence. That is common sense. ... The whole point of my website is this: If a believer applies his special thinking to any other area of life, it becomes clear how irrational that special thinking is. And if he applies common sense to his religion, it becomes clear how irrational that religion is."

Day after day, millions of Americans who frequent pews see ghosts when they pick up their newspapers or turn on television news. They read stories that are important to their lives, yet they seem to catch fleeting glimpses of other characters or other plots between the lines. There seem to be other ideas or influences hiding there. One minute they are there. The next they are gone. There are ghosts in there, hiding in the ink and the pixels. Something is missing in the basic facts or perhaps most of the key facts are there, yet some are twisted. Perhaps there are sins of omission, rather than commission.

In its own words: "The misreporting of the evolution issue is one key reason for this site. The newsmedia in the U.S. seem to have rediscovered the evolution controversy recently. Unfortunately, much of the news coverage has been sloppy, inaccurate, and in some cases, overtly biased." Evolution News' raison d'être is to remedy these innacuracies by noting and commenting on references to Intelligent Design in the news. Evolution News is a publication of the Discovery Institute's Center for Science and Culture, the undisputed leading proponent of Intelligent Design, and thereby a good place to hear it from the horse's mouth. The site is updated almost daily.

Irreverent reflections on the life of faith from those who've been there and back. Killing the Buddah features a remarkably eclectic, occasionally offensive, and always provocative collection of writers. About itself, it says: Killing the Buddha was founded in November of 2000 by Peter Manseau, Jeff Sharlet, and Jeremy Brothers. Since then, it has won an Utne Independent Press Award, receivedvarious press and praise, and published Killing the Buddha: A Heretic’s Bible, which was named one of Publishers Weekly’s best religion books of 2004. Believer, Beware: First Person Dispatches from the Margins of Faith is being published by Beacon Press in 2009. Utne Reader declared Ktb as “one of fifteen websites that could shake the world.”

In its own words: "The Scriptorium is the new media daily of the Torrey Honors Institute at Biola University. Established by John Mark Reynolds, Paul Spears, and Fred Sanders in 2005, the Scriptorium seeks to combat what we perceive to be the decline of a reasonable pursuit of the Christian faith and the transition away from the use of the mind in the Christian journey. This decline is causing Christians to lose their confidence in the truth claims of Christianity. As a result, Christians are also losing their ability to appreciate the depth, richness, and beauty of the works of God in the world. By actively engaging in the conversations of today's culture and challenging the predominant, non-Christian worldviews therein, the Scriptorium is a winsome, thoughtful, active Christian voice in the marketplace of ideas."

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The place for resources and discussion on the cornucopia of religious varieties. Belief.net is itself non-partisan, but provides a space for pluralists and proponents of every faith to speak their peace on all manner of religious issues.

This is a blog to discuss philosophy, chess, politics, C. S. Lewis, or whatever it is that I'm in the mood to discuss. I am the author of C. S. Lewis's Dangerous Idea: In Defense of the Argument from Reason, published by Inter-Varsity Press. I received a Ph.D in philosophy from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1989.

In a culture that is increasingly indifferent and ignorant of Christianity, it is not only important for Christians to understand what we believe but why. We must see it necessary to reclaim the importance of the intellectual life, not only to safeguard the witness of the New Zealand church but also its health and identity. Without diminishing a passion for lives that demonstrate radical love and conformity to the Gospel, we must yet take seriously the biblical call to always be ready to give a reason for the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15) and to thoroughly refute secular arguments that are raised against it (2 Corinthians 10:5). More

The New Atlantis is an effort to clarify the nation’s moral and political understanding of all areas of technology — from stem cells to hydrogen cells to weapons of mass destruction. We hope to make sense of the larger questions surrounding technology and human nature, and the practical questions of governing and regulating science — especially where the moral stakes are high and the political divides are deep. We also hope to stir things up — to challenge policymakers who know too little about science, and to push scientists who often fail to think seriously or deeply about the ethical and social implications of their work. This much seems clear: Technology will be central to the future of American life and American politics. It will create new political divides and new moral quandaries. It will force liberals and conservatives, Republicans and Democrats, to rethink their guiding principles and political vision. The New Atlantis hopes to be at the center of redefining politics for the technological age — by helping scientists, policymakers, and citizens deal more wisely and more creatively with the promise and perils of our nation’s future.

I study the bible, with bits of Christian origins and early Christianity thrown in. I’m also an atheist, both in the sense of not-believing-there-is-a-God, and believing-there-is-no-God. I’m fascinated by all kinds of things, from typography to chess, from conlangs to competitive swimming, from creative cartography to the mathematics of music. This is my bible and religion blog. I have been studying the bible for 20 years now. I’m particularly interested in New Testament criticism, although I have a soft spot for non-canonical Christian literature and try to dabble and keep up with the broad movements in Hebrew Bible scholarship and early church history." ~ Ian

I grew up in a liberal progressive agnostic family, became a christian in college, and left the faith nearly two decades later. Leaving the faith was a gut-wrenching process over a long period of time, but in the end was painful but rather quick, sort of like pulling off a band aid. It has proven more difficult to untangle myself from the web of religion because of the relationships involved. I am not here to disuade anyone from Christianity. I am happy to help dissuade anyone from an unexamined faith, though to be honest, when I examined my faith, it pretty much crumbled away. I believe contemporary american evangelicalism is woefully inadequate in this regard, and I seriously question whether it is intellectually compatible with modern thought. I strongly believe people need to be allowed and encouraged to think for themselves, and my experience of evangelicalism was that it only promoted that within very limited parameters. I know there are others forms of Christianity out there, but an experience with conservative christianity can make it very difficult to honestly consider them."

I'm an ex-Christian, but I think some part of me still clings to Christianity in a very loose, irrational sense, but I do not believe anymore and consider myself an Agnostic Atheist. I think spirituality is a personal thing and should be between the individual and whatever he or she chooses to focus on. In that regard, I respect others views regardless of whether or not I agree with them. I simply do not experience anything in my life that I would identify as God, but wouldn't ignore a grand revelation."

The Centre for Public Christianity (CPX) is an independent research and media organization seeking to promote the public understanding of the Christian faith in Australia and beyond employing the best of scholarship via the best of media. Established by Dr John Dickson and Dr Greg Clarke the Centre: seeks to be a benchmark for Christian thinking and communication in Australia and beyond; offers free vodcast/podcast comment, lectures and interviews, and other web-based resources; produces a range of popular and academic works exploring the relevance of the Christian faith; is a one stop shop for media outlets in search of informed and independent Christian comment; runs events and short courses for the curious and sceptical alike; supports a network of Christian scholars and research projects across the disciplines; serves as a speakers bureau and training facility for Christian thinkers and communicators. The Centre has no denominational affiliation and seeks to represent historic Christianity as defined by the Nicene Creed.

Hendrik van der Breggen, Ph.D., is assistant professor of philosophy at Providence College, Otterburne, Manitoba.From the introduction: "Any argument in an apologia centers on showing respect to those persons with whom one disagrees. (Yes, I am here influenced by 1 Peter 3:15b.) Because many people today are eager to belittle or hurt those with whom they disagree (for example, by insult or, worse, by wearing explosives), I am convinced—and convicted—that the art of apologia should be revived. Hence, this column. Caution: I will undoubtedly err in this column. I hope, therefore, that my mistakes will provide opportunities for us to work together to draw nearer to truth. Plato calls truth our “common master.” I believe he is right.

Catapult magazine is an online publication that releases biweekly thematic issues on the implications of following Christ in and through all aspects of culture. catapult fosters collaborative thought on practically living out faith in all areas of life and inspires hopefulness and action through the experience of community and the acknowledgement of the Holy Spirit working through Kingdom servants here and now. Volunteers and staff connected to *culture is not optional have been publishing catapult since September 2002. ~ From the About Page Also see Catapult's "Backpage" for a stream of thematically relevant articles plucked from across the Web.

This blog is about faith & culture and features the musings of Jim and Amy Spiegel (and occasional special guests of whom we are fond or at least don’t despise). Each month we post, in some form or another, on theology, philosophy, current events, books, film, and music. Read at your own pace and pleasure. Interact with us. Floss daily. Jim Spiegel holds a PhD from Michigan State and is a professor of philosophy at Taylor University. He is the author of several books, a popular speaker, and a self-produced musician.

The Harvard Ichthus is a journal of Christian thought. It exists for the purpose of fostering deep Christian thought among the members of the Harvard community, taking seriously the motto of Harvard University: “Veritas Christo et Ecclesiae,” in English “Truth for Christ and the Church.” In an age of skepticism, many come to the College with misconceptions about Christianity and whether a vigorous intellectual life is compatible with a Christian one. The Harvard Ichthus seeks to engage, critique, and ultimately defy these falsehoods about Christian faith. We will do so in a thoughtful, generous, and professional manner that bears witness to a God who desires-commands!-each of us to love Him with all our mind. ~ The About Page

Although the progress of scholarship has raised new questions and provided additional lines of evidence, many older works on apologetics are of more than merely historical interest. Most of the objections raised against Christianity today are variations on objections that go back hundreds of years. These objections were thoroughly discussed by some of the finest minds of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, and their responses are as cogent now as when they were first printed. Unfortunately, there has been little guidance to this literature for interested Christian readers, and as a result some masterpieces are almost unknown even among seminary graduates and students of apologetics. The Library of Historical Apologetics is dedicated to making accessible these historical resources and to advancing the ongoing dialog about Christianity’s historical claims.

Chad McIntosh, the author, says: "The two loves of my life: coffee and books. Put them together and what do you get? A Christian philosophy student, of course! I am a philosophy major at Calvin College and a member of the Evangelical Philosophical Society." His bottom line? "As Keith Ward eloquently put it, 'I am committed to belief in God, as the most morally demanding, psychologically enriching, intellectually satisfying and imaginatively fruitful hypothesis about the ultimate nature of reality known to me.'" McIntosh's ongoing training in analytic philosophy is evident as he surveys contemporary issues in philosophy of religion. Barely a post goes by in which an argument is not broken down into premises, often with symbolic logic for good measure. See especially, a growing outline with references on evidence for Christian theism.

Authored primarily by David Smart (Ryft) of British Columbia, the Aristophrenium addresses philosophy, religion, science, and politics. In its own words, it is: "a modest platform launched in early 2009 as a center for publishing intelligent, opinionated and engaging articles from a growing range of sincere contributors who are interested in exploring and sharing their unique perspective on issues related to philosophy, religion, and science. It is intended by its co-founders as a grassroots effort to broaden opportunities for collaboration and dialogue on these subjects between open-minded thinkers who are not imprisoned by either sacrosanct dogma or popular propaganda, people who are passionate about exploring the issues authentically and rationally with a civil tone." ~ From the About Page More

The Center for Naturalism promotes science-based naturalism as a comprehensive worldview - a rational and fulfilling alternative to faith-based religions and other varieties of supernaturalism. The under-standing that we are fully natural beings is the foundation for an effective approach to personal and social concerns, and highlights our intimate connection to the awe-inspiring universe described by science.  Through its educational activities and initiatives, the Center develops constructive applications of naturalism, supports progressive social policy, and in collaboration with other secular groups, helps to build a community of naturalists."
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ConversantLife.com is a blog and social media hub that delivers engaging content on faith and culture. Our site is a free place where people can access content and connect with a community of believers and spiritual seekers on a variety of culturally relevant topics such as Creative Arts, Film, Music, Spirituality, Global Concerns, Relationships and more. We have a large number of bloggers who are creating daily content in the form of blogs, podcasts and videos. Our blog roll features communicators who are actively engaging their faith and writing about their experiences in key areas of the world. We have writers in missions across the world, professors who are experts in their field of education, pastors, as well as industry professionals in the Film industry, the Arts community, the Music world, Apologetics and more."

Credo: "Christians do not hold the truth, we are held by it." About Tom: "My graduate degree is in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. Science and philosophy are things I do in my free time. Does that hinder my credibility here? I hope not. I do my homework, and I stick to things I understand, or if I have questions you’ll know about it in what I write... I/O Psych is among the most quantitative (i.e. mathematical) of all the social sciences. The “hard” scientists sometimes say that none of the social sciences are really science, but this comes as close as you’re going to get. It has the advantage as well of trying to account for personality, which enters into a lot of my thinking about evidences for God, the ultimate personality. But the main question I invite you to ask is, “Does what I say make sense?” And if it doesn’t, by all means leave a comment and let me know!"

Responding to the current epidemic of atheist manifestos, Dinesh D’Souza applies just the right balm for the troubled soul. Assembling arguments from history, philosophy, theology, and science—yes, science!—he builds a modern and compelling case for faith in a loving God. If you’re seeking the truth about God, the universe, and the meaning of life, this is a great place to look." ~ Francis Collins D'Souza's site is primarily a clearing house for his books. A few articles are available, as well as videos from some of his debates and appearances.

Its mission: "Some think church is irrelevant. Others, out on their own for the first time, are attracted by all the world has to offer and put God on the back burner. Yet many leave because they’ve come to doubt Christianity. In fact, intellectual skepticism is a major reason cited by those who have left. Our mission at CrossExamined.org is to equip high school and college students to know why Christianity is true, how to defend it, and how to refute those who try to corrupt them."

From his bio: "Atheist-turned-Christian Lee Strobel, the former award-winning legal editor of The Chicago Tribune, is a New York Times best-selling author of nearly twenty books and has been interviewed on numerous national television programs, including ABC's 20/20, Fox News, and CNN. Described by the Washington Post as "one of the evangelical community's most popular apologists," Lee shared the prestigious Charles "Kip" Jordon Christian Book of the Year award in 2005 for a curriculum he co-authored about the movie The Passion of the Christ. He also has won awards for his books The Case for Christ, The Case for Faith, The Case for a Creator, and Inside the Mind of Unchurched Harry and Mary." Lee's site includes his "Ask Lee" blog, a wealth of video resources, and of course, the chance to buy books and videos.

Stand to Reason trains Christians to think more clearly about their faith and to make an even-handed, incisive, yet gracious defense for classical Christianity and classical Christian values in the public square. STR teaches the value of using our minds to love God and share the Gospel. We teach careful reasoning and well thought-out answers so that Christians will participate in public discussion (at home, at work, or at the university) so that the Christian world view has a place in the debate. We encourage Christians to develop coherent answers to questions that challenge Christianity so that their faith is deepened and thereby are emboldened to share the Gospel."

The mission of Mars Hill Review is to reveal Christ in the various texts of our contemporary culture. To this end, we commission full length essays from provocative thinkers, conduct in-depth studies of issues having theological import and obtain interviews with leading-edge writers, teachers and artists. The journal also publishes original fiction, nonfiction, poetry and critical reviews of film, books and music and other texts that remind us of God and of his participation within the stories of our contemporary lives.

Also see, http://www.bowness.demon.co.uk/map.htm.

In its own words: "While run-on sentences, comma splices, split infinitives, and other such grammatical minutiae may rarely make appearances in the best of our nation’s dailies and weeklies, and a small but growing class of press watchdogs help to correct errors of fact (pointing out bias, factual omissions, and distortions), a more perilous corruption lurks under the clean surface of the printed page: specious reasoning." ... "Our contemporary political discourse is, to put it bluntly, a mess. As a population we simply are not trained in the basic logical, rhetorical, and analytic tools necessary to navigate the swamp of contemporary politics." ... "Logical analysis should be a first line of defense against the hijacking of our political discourse by cynical manipulators. Even without knowing the truth of the premises of an argument, one can determine whether or not the conclusion is justified by these premises. Sadly, as we will have ample opportunity to show in detail, many editorialists cannot even pass such a basic and fundamental test. This transforms their editorials from opinions that are worth taking seriously into mere nonsense and empty assertions. As we say, we are speaking 'validity to power' — not truth as the phrase usually runs, but validity."

Richard Carrier is a nationally-renowned author and speaker. As a professional historian, published philosopher, and prominent defender of the American freethought movement, Dr. Carrier has appeared across the country and on national television defending sound historical methods and the ethical worldview of secular naturalism. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University in ancient history, specializing in the intellectual history of Greece and Rome, particularly ancient philosophy, religion, and science, with emphasis on the origins of Christianity and the use and progress of science under the Roman empire. He is best known as the author of Sense and Goodness without God and a major contributor to The Empty Tomb, as well as writer and editor-in-chief (now emeritus) for the Secular Web, and for his copious work in history and philosophy online and in print. ~ From Richard's Website. More

Phil is a pastor, college instructor in philosphy and ethics, theology, and spiritual formation, book lover and hiker. His blog, according to its tagline, is "a set of reflections on the contemporary church, culture, Christian philosophy, and doctrine". Recent posts include the whether doctors have the right to not perform abortions as a matter of conscience, Newsweek's cover story on the demise of America as a Christian nation, a review of the Apologetics Study Bible, and President Obama's honorary degree from Notre Dame.

John on his motivation for the site: "I backed into what I’m doing right now. I initially wanted to explain to people who knew me why I rejected the Christian faith, because several people were surprised about this and they wanted to know. To do this I self-published my first book to explain my reasons. At that point in my mind I was done with the Christian faith. I fully expected to get on with life. Unexpectedly though, I got noticed as a former student of William Lane Craig’s. It hadn’t occurred to me this was important, but people on both sides took notice of it. So I began engaging in the debate online and found the Christian reasoning lame and offensive in the circles I frequented. I was personally attacked by these Christians. This challenged me to no end. It made me want to go for the jugular vein of the faith that justified their abusive treatment of me. I wondered to myself whether they would light the fires that burned me at the stake in a previous century when the church had the power to do so. This made me think about the many heretics who suffered at the hands of Christians because of this same mentality. I decided at that point I would not let their blood be shed in vain, so I took up their cause. It became personal with me."

Ben Witherington III is an evangelical Biblical scholar, and lecturer on New Testament Studies. Witherington is Professor of New Testament Interpretation at Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky. He is a graduate of UNC, Chapel Hill and holds an M.Div. degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. from the University of Durham in England. He is an elected member of Studiorum Novi Testamenti Societas, a society dedicated to New Testament studies. Witherington is an author and speaker. He has written over thirty books, and has made many appearances on radio interviews, and on television programs featured on the History Channel, Discovery Channel, and other major networks.

In its own words: In a day and age where chicken soup for the soul was very telling of our culture's starvation with all things spiritual, well maybe we can serve some delicious thomistic tacos for the starving soul. An old recipe indeed; but like Thomas of Aquinas (1225-1274), old is gold. And when you have a man who loved common sense only because it was common sensical to do it, his life, work and legacy is a good recipe for a society where the only thing available in the soup kitchen is what we conjure by our vain attemtps to create sprituality. We should all love Thomas because he loved God. We will give resources to what Thomas wrote as well as resources in apologetics, theology, and philosophy in addition to commentary to politics, reviews, and ministries among other things novel.

Online resources, information, and media. Habermas is distinguished professor and chair of the Department of Philosophy and Theology at Liberty University. Habermas has dedicated his professional life to the examination of the relevant historical, philosophical, and theological issues surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. His extensive list of publications and debates provides a thorough account of the current state of the issue. Christian believers as well as unbelievers may find within the contents of this site a strong argument for the philosophical possibility of miracles and the historicity of the resurrection of Jesus, as well as the theological and practical implications of this event.

In his own words: "Doug is Professor of Philosophy in the Talbot Department of Philosophy at Biola University (La Mirada, CA). He teaches graduate and undergraduate courses in the areas of epistemology and the philosophy of religion. In addition, he has taught courses on the new atheism, and on film and philosophy. Doug is the author or editor of several books. He is co-editor with Jim Spiegel of the book Faith, Film, and Philosophy: Big Ideas on the Big Screen. He has lectured throughout the United States, and in Canada, England, Scotland, Spain, France, Sweden, China, and Ukraine. Doug’s hobbies include sea kayaking, reading outside his discipline, digital photography, travel, and studying foreign languages. His favorite place in the country is the Olympic Peninsula, Washington. He writes for himself and others. He scavenges for useful tips for writing of all kinds, for any of his hobbies, and for general life management. This blog is devoted to exploring all of these themes . . . and more. Doug has always believed that he fell into philosophy because he’s interested in so many seemingly unrelated things. As a philosopher, he lives with the illusion that they’re all connected."

The Next Right is the place for wired activists to build a new Republican Party and conservative movement. As a community-driven grassroots action website for the right, we'll feature in-depth political analysis, on-the-ground reports, and strategic discussion and debate. The site's founding editors are Soren Dayton, Jon Henke, and Patrick Ruffini.

There's no "about" page, so how about a sampling of content: A huge banner ad for Bill Maher's film, Religulous. As for articles: "Muslim Diapers: When you gotta go, you gotta go." "Phallus Faith: Prehistoric Pagan Penis Pretty Pissed." "Scientology: Xenu is my homeboy." "Anton LaVey: The One True Satanist." "Orlando, Israel: Holy Shit, it's Holy Land!" "All about the Mormons? Find out why Mormons are such pussies." There's a host of interesting links in the "Blasphemy Box", and you can find out all about "Big Important Religions". From the Daily Babel, "Christianity began in the year 0001; coincidentally, the same year a carpenter’s wife named Mary had gotten mysteriously knocked up. Figuring that he could be worse off than taking sloppy seconds to the Creator, Joseph hung around until the birth of her baby, whom she named Jesus." I think you get the gist. Irreverent, satirical skewering of religion from self-styled skeptics.

In its own words: "The New Criterion, now co-edited by the art critic Hilton Kramer and Roger Kimball, was founded in 1982 by Mr. Kramer and the pianist and music critic Samuel Lipman. A monthly review of the arts and intellectual life, The New Criterion began as an experiment in critical audacity—a publication devoted to engaging, in Matthew Arnold’s famous phrase, with “the best that has been thought and said.” This also meant engaging with those forces dedicated to traducing genuine cultural and intellectual achievement, whether through obfuscation, politicization, or a commitment to nihilistic absurdity. We are proud that The New Criterion has been in the forefront both of championing what is best and most humanely vital in our cultural inheritance and in exposing what is mendacious, corrosive, and spurious. Published monthly from September through June, The New Criterion brings together a wide range of young and established critics whose common aim is to bring you the most incisive criticism being written today."

In its own words: "SoMA is a magazine devoted to dissecting matters of the soul — the sacred and the profane, the ridiculous and the sublime. We don’t think of religion primarily in terms of churches or institutions. We side with the theologian Paul Tillich who understood faith, and indirectly religion, as “ultimate concern.” He saw faith as a movement toward the unconditional, or God, the “ground of being” that eludes theistic thinking. Thus, religious vitality can be found in things that aren’t overtly religious, such as a “secular” films, art, and literature. Similarly, explicitly religious beliefs, symbols, and systems easily become rigid and lose their meaning, turning idolatrous. As Tillich said, religion itself is paradoxically one of the great threats to the religious life. As an ongoing autopsy of religion and culture, SoMA seeks to illuminate the difference between authentic and inauthentic faith, not because we consider ourselves experts on the subject — we don’t — but because we need to keep reminding ourselves that there is a difference. Our faith depends on it."

In its own words: "We live in an age filled with seekers in their twenties and thirties who are desperately trying to find deeper meaning in their lives but whose journey has little to do with traditional religious institutions. BustedHalo.com believes that the experiences of these pilgrims and the questions they ask are inherently spiritual. Based in wisdom from the Catholic tradition, we believe that the joys and the hopes, the griefs and the anxieties of the people of this age are the joys and hopes, the griefs and anxieties of all God’s people. Nothing genuinely human fails to raise an echo in their hearts. BustedHalo.com strives to reveal this spiritual dimension of our lives through feature stories, reviews, interviews, faith guides, commentaries, audio clips, discussions and connections to retreat, worship and service opportunities that can’t be found anywhere else. We are committed to creating a forum that is: open, informed, unexpected, unpredictable, balanced, and thought-provoking. Every time we ask questions about what our lives mean and what keeps us alive, we are talking about something that’s relevant to BustedHalo.com."

Heeb magazine was brewed in Brooklyn in 2001 as a take-no-prisoners zine for the plugged-in and preached-out. Covering arts, culture and politics in a voice all its own, Heeb has become a multi-media magnet to the young, urban and influential. More

The Revealer is a daily review of religion in the news and the news about religion. We're not so much nonpartisan as polypartisan — interested in all sides, disdainful of dualistic arguments, and enamored of free speech as a first principle. We publish and link to work by people of all persuasions, religious, political, sexual, and critical. The Revealer was conceived by Jay Rosen of New York University's Department of Journalism, and created by journalist Jeff Sharlet and staff. We begin with three basic premises: 1. Belief matters, whether or not you believe. Politics, pop culture, high art, NASCAR — everything in this world is infused with concerns about the next. As journalists, as scholars, and as ordinary folks, we cannot afford to ignore the role of religious belief in shaping our lives. 2. The press all too frequently fails to acknowledge religion, categorizing it as either innocuous spirituality or dangerous fanaticism, when more often it's both and inbetween and just plain other. 3. We deserve and need better coverage of religion: sharper thinking; deeper history; thicker description; basic theology; real storytelling.

In its own words: Because it’s time we untangle the narrative of faith from the fundamentalists, pious self-helpers and religio-profiteers. And let’s do it with holy mischief rather than ideological firepower. We’ll explore the point at which word, action and image intersect, and then ignite. So let’s blaspheme the gods of super-powerdom, instigate spiritual action campaigns and revamp that old Picture Bible. We’ve set up camp in the outback of the spiritual commons. A bustling spot for the over-churched, out-churched, un-churched and maybe even the un-churchable. A location just beyond boring bitterness. A place for wannabe contemplatives, front-line world-changers and restless cranks. A place where the moon shines quiet, instinct runs mythic and belief rides a bike (or at least sits on the couch entertaining the possibility).

From the about page: Ship of Fools was first launched in 1977 as a studenty print magazine, but sank in 1983 after ten issues. It was raised again on April Fool's Day 1998 as a website, and quickly grew into an online community as well as a webzine. "We're here for people who prefer their religion disorganized," says the Ship's editor and designer, Simon Jenkins. "Our aim is to help Christians be self-critical and honest about the failings of Christianity, as we believe honesty can only strengthen faith." More

From the site: "Our worldview impacts all areas of life including the arts. The arts also reflect philosophical and cultural trends in human societies. If philosophical and scientific concepts of intelligent design (ID) are valid, we believe they will both inspire, and be reflected in, our art, music, literature and film. Much of the focus of the ID movement to date has been on left-brain activities (logical, sequential, rational, analytical, objective, focused on parts). We believe there is also a right-brain approach to the issues (more intuitive, focused on the creative process, standing back looking at the whole and not just the parts) that may speak to an even wider audience through the arts. Some people, who might never crack a science book, will grasp ID concepts through image, lyric, or prose."

From Reason Online's "About Us": Reason is the monthly print magazine of “free minds and free markets.” It covers politics, culture, and ideas through a provocative mix of news, analysis, commentary, and reviews. Reason provides a refreshing alternative to right-wing and left-wing opinion magazines by making a principled case for liberty and individual choice in all areas of human activity.

In it's own words: "We are a group of students concerned with a variety of controversial philosophical, scientific, ethical, and religious issues. The title of our blog is meant to express a commitment to sober-minded discussion. We assume the classical principles of logic and we uphold the stylistic virtues of clarity and precision. Although the issues we treat are wide-ranging, an ongoing theme in this blog is the articulation and defense of philosophical theism. We reject the new militant (better: dogmatic) atheism, the 'brights' movement, new age fluff, and moral and epistemological relativism."

DALLAS WILLARD is a Professor in the School of Philosophy at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. He has taught at USC since 1965, where he was Director of the School of Philosophy from 1982-1985. He has also taught at the University of Wisconsin (Madison, 1960-1965), and has held visiting appointments at UCLA (1969) and the University of Colorado (1984). His undergraduate studies were at William Jewell College, Tennessee Temple College (B.A., 1956, Psychology) and Baylor University (B.A., 1957, Philosophy and Religion); and his Graduate education was at Baylor University and the University of Wisconsin (Ph. D., 1964: Major in Philosophy, Minor in the History of Science). More

In the editor's words: "Our mission at Truthout is one of education aimed at perpetuating and strengthening our American democracy. We are committed to making available a broad range of political news and editorial analysis. This central theme is the driving force behind everything we do. And even though we acknowledge that not everyone will agree with all of the decisions we make, we have Jefferson's faith that a citizenry well-informed by an independent and free press will be better able to make wise decisions for themselves in the support of our democratic institutions and principles."

With Talking Points Memo, Josh Marshall—along with his obsessive band of political reporters—is building the prototype of what an Internet-based news-gathering organization might one day look like. Don’t believe us? ~ GQ To get to the newsroom of Talking Points Media in lower Manhattan, you need to visit a pungent block of cut-flower wholesalers on Sixth Avenue, then climb a narrow stairway to an eight-hundred-square-foot suite that might once have been an accountant’s office. This modest space is the home of a news organization that—among several other notches in its belt—was almost single-handedly responsible for bringing the story of the fired U.S. Attorneys to a boil. ~ Columbia Journalism Review

In its own words: "RedState is the leading blog for right of center online activists. Established in May of 2004 by Ben Domenech, Mike Krempasky, and Josh Trevino, RedState has played an integral role in the right's fight online against the left. RedState continues to be the most widely read right of center blog on Capitol Hill and is the most cited right of center blog in the media. RedState has a community of tens of thousands of readers. It has a Board of Directors of six members, four permanent and two who rotate annually.

In its own words: Markos Moulitsas — a.k.a. "kos" — created Daily Kos on May 26, 2002, in those dark days when an oppressive and war-crazed administration suppressed all dissent as unpatriotic and treasonous. As a veteran, Moulitsas was offended that the freedoms he pledged his life for were so carelessly being tossed aside by the reckless and destructive Republican administration. Daily Kos has grown in those five years to the premier political community in the United States... Among luminaries posting diaries on the site are President Jimmy Carter, Sen. Barack Obama, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and dozens of other senators, congressmen, and governors.

In its own words: "Ars Disputandi is the first online journal for the philosophy of religion. It publishes refereed articles, literature surveys and discussion notes, as well as book reviews and bibliographies. Unlike traditional journals, it will not appear in issues; papers that are accepted will be immediately published online. AD does not aim to be a rival to established philosophy of religion paper journals, but to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and arguments. AD is concerned to promote research and discussion of issues in the philosophy of religion by providing for the fast publication of contributions to ongoing debates."

Edited by Jeremy Stangroom, TPM is the online doppelgänger of The Philosopher's Magazine. Articles from the print edition are all available to read online. The TPM Blog also includes regular philosophical reflections and links to philosophical articles are featured in "Latest Philosophy News". Philosophy rarely escapes the domain of academic journals and books, and TPM is much appreciated as an accessible trough of food for thought, not the least of which for making its articles freely available.

Book reviews on publications addressing politics, philosophy, and society.

In its own words: "The Secular Web is a website operated by the Internet Infidels, a nonprofit educational organization dedicated to defending and promoting a naturalistic worldview on the Internet... With over 8,000 documents and as many as 600,000 unique visitors per month, the Secular Web is the largest and most heavily visited nontheistic website on the Internet... The Secular Web is the definitive resource for online atheists, humanists, agnostics and freethinkers." The Secular Web hosts a multitude of contemporary and classic essays to this end in their library as well as a lively forum, blog, and newswire. In addition to addressing issues of faith and philosophy, science and ethics, the Secular Web publishes regular criticism of the "religious right". Books, videos, and bumper stickers are for sale. Sympathizers can find a list of likeminded organizations ready to enlist them for the cause.

OneWorld.net is a unique source of world news drawing its stories from thousands of non-profit organizations working toward humanitarian ends around the world.

The venerable BBC provides news from around the world drawing on its strengths with reporters in far flung locales.

This encyclopedia of philosophy is a volunteer project by specialists in philosophy to describe key terms, concepts, and people in the philosophical endeavor. Unlike Wikipedia, the IEP is stewarded by general editors James Fieser and Bradley Dowden. Most of the articles in The Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy are original contributions by specialized philosophers around the Internet; these are identifiable by the author's name at the foot of the article. Others are are temporary, or "proto articles," and have largely been adapted from older sources. The IEP is highly recommended as an introduction to the subjects it covers.

Cambridge University Press is, of course, a very highly regarded imprint offering a multitude of seminal works in philosophy, science, etc. Many titles are now available as eBooks. In its own words: "This year C.U.P. celebrate 425 years of continuous publishing, a year that also marks the 475th anniversary of King Henry VIII’s grant to Cambridge University Press of ‘Letters Patent’ allowing us to print ‘all manner of books’. 2009 also sees the 800th anniversary of the University of Cambridge, providing an occasion for us to join in celebrating our respective foundations by commemorating the books, people, ideas and achievements that have emerged from this shared history and which continue to inspire and transform the world."

A list of home pages for the Association of American University Presses, member presses, and some other academic presses. From Academy Chicago to Yale University Press, the publications via the links here represent several lifetimes' worth of reading. At the least, it's a helpful starting point for discovering a plethora of scholarly reads.

Where other academic publishers stress a book’s profitability, UPA is committed to the belief that the most important question relevant to the publication decision is: Does this work provide a significant contribution to scholarship? With innovative publishing programs designed for scholarly monographs as well as classroom texts and text supplements, UPA benefits scholars in all phases of their careers — from junior faculty and emerging scholars to established scholars and professors emeritus. Subject areas include philosophy, ethics, peace and conflict studies, religious studies, history, and world history.