Why Do We Still Believe in Q?

Q is a hypothetical Gospel. The letter Q stands for Quelle, German for “Source.” It has long been a popular hypothesis, and it serves a lot of agendas well. But there is no evidence whatever for it. Q never existed. And there is no rational reason to believe it did....

The Guardian on Jesus: Dear oh dear…

[Update: This is my critique of Simon Gathercole’s Guardian article, which is amateurish and terrible. For his more professional article in JSHJ see my analysis in 2019.] -:- Everyone keeps asking about The Guardian article “What Is the Historical Evidence...
Hang Out with Me in Memphis!

Hang Out with Me in Memphis!

I’ll be hanging out, drinking and chatting with anyone who wants to come join me, Friday May 19, from 7pm to 10pm, at The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium (130 Peabody Place, Memphis, TN). Unless they haven’t reopened by then (they are closed for renovations...
How to Build a Sound Philosophy of Life: Course Begins May 1!

How to Build a Sound Philosophy of Life: Course Begins May 1!

Join in! And let anyone else know who might be interested: I’ll be teaching the basics of naturalism as a worldview, and how to build your own worldview, your own philosophy of life, from valid logic and sound facts, this May (2017). This fits right in with my...

The Case for Christ: The Movie!

So I went and saw it. Here’s a review. Read on, and enjoy your Easter week pondering the aesthetic merits of a film embedded with religious propaganda. I’ll remark on both, but my focus will be on the propaganda, and what this film tells us about how...
I’m Looking for a Translator of Medieval Arabic

I’m Looking for a Translator of Medieval Arabic

I am looking for someone who is facile at translating Medieval Arabic scientific treatises (in physics, mechanics, or engineering especially). For future research (and possibly my next book), I need a literal translation of two pages of the surviving Arabic...

Epilogue to the Sam Harris Moral Facts Contest

A few years ago, Sam Harris put on a contest, that awarded $2000 to the best essay critiquing his “moral landscape” theory of moral facts—and could have awarded them $20,000 had it convinced him. It didn’t. I agree it shouldn’t have. But...

Fishers of Evidence Gets Confused about Math

Someone asked me about a confusing critique of the math in On the Historicity of Jesus by a YouTuber who goes by the moniker Fishers of Evidence. I don’t know his alignment in the debate. But he has posted a short eight minute video entitled The Error of Richard...

Update: I’ll Be Speaking in Michigan in April

Susan Jacoby was originally slated to speak at the Birmingham Temple Congregation for Humanistic Judaism the evening before the Michigan Atheists Conference this year. But alas, she had to reschedule to speak the Friday before that (the 21st of April, 2017)....
Come Bowl with Me in Stevens Point, Wisconsin!

Come Bowl with Me in Stevens Point, Wisconsin!

Or just hang out, drink, and chat while I bowl. I’ll even have books to sign and sell. So come on over. I’ll be at Point Bowl (which also has a bar & grill) from 7-10pm on Monday, April 24 (2017). That’s at 2525 Dixon Street. I’ll have just...
Meet Me in Pittsburgh, Toast the Future!

Meet Me in Pittsburgh, Toast the Future!

I’ll be at Bar Marco in Pittsburgh, PA on April 8 (Saturday) from 7-10pm (2216 Penn Avenue), chatting with anyone who wants to come have a drink with me, and selling and signing my books, of which I’ll have an ample supply. And take note: Bar Marco is part...

On School Nutrition: How Republicans Create an Alternative Reality

The rolling shit show that is the Trump administration, and his Trumpish ilk in Congress, produces a lot of shock, horror, and tripe. But what if we examine a single little issue that a lot of people don’t know much about: school nutrition. We’ll find a...

Meet me in Alexandria Next Month!

I’ll be at Daniel O’Connell’s Irish Restaurant and Bar in Alexandria (VA) from 7-10pm on Sunday the 12th of March (2017). That’s on 112 King St. And as locals know, that’s in Old Town, just around the corner from Washington, DC. Although...