Kristine Harley, Author at Atheists for Liberty

The Pursuit of Equity Vs. the Pursuit of Happiness

February 28, 2023 by Kristine Harley in Opinion

Fundamentalism can be defined as nostalgia for a world that never existed. What then is this belief in a future utopia in which “equity” is promised, especially since it will likewise remain elusive? It is difficult to pin down who coined this phrase, but here is an example of equity versus equal opportunity: Equality gives […]

With Richard Dawkins in the Galapagos Islands, Part Six: Day Three, Fernandina

January 24, 2023 by Kristine Harley in Opinion

On Sunday morning, Mother’s Day, we visited Fernandina, one of the youngest of the islands. We walked on the smooth and roping Pahoehoe lava, which emerges from the volcano as a liquid or close to it, en route inland to see the sharper A’a lava, which emerges less liquidy and […]

With Richard Dawkins in the Galapagos Islands, Part Five: Videos and Lectures

January 10, 2023 by Kristine Harley in Opinion

Each morning and each afternoon, the naturalists on our ship ferried us on pangas to explore the islands. Being at the equator, it was too hot and bright to be outside at noon. We would eat lunch, have some free time, and enjoy a presentation. On this day, Richard Dawkins presented reactions he had received […]

With Richard Dawkins in the Galapagos Islands: Part Four – Day Two, Española

December 20, 2022 by Kristine Harley in Opinion

The next morning we were up at 6 a.m. to see Española (Hood) Island at Punta Suarez. The guide for our group was Grace. Animals spotted: Sea lions, blue-footed boobies, red-headed (lava) lizards, mockingbirds, pink iguanas, Sally Lightfoot crabs, albatrosses, gulls, Nazca boobies, heron, Galápagos doves in the rocks on the path, and finches – […]

With Richard Dawkins in the Galapagos Islands, Part Three: Day Two – Floreana

December 5, 2022 by Kristine Harley in Opinion

Before lunch that same day we enjoyed a lecture by Richard Dawkins, “Responses to The God Delusion,” then one after lunch by Eddie Tabash, “The Present Threat of the Religious Right to Our Modern Freedoms.” (I will summarize these in another post.) Then we landed at Punta Cormorant on the island of Floreana. The island had […]

The New Creationism?

November 21, 2022 by Kristine Harley in Opinion

Many of us fought against Intelligent Design in the early 2000s, and for evolution to be taught in our nation’s science classes without mystical inclusions, fake “controversies” or impeaching strawmen. That battle was won, and in the wake of our triumph I speculated on how the next specter of creationism would rear its head. It […]

Atheists Should Have No Secular Heaven

November 14, 2022 by Kristine Harley in Opinion

In the mid-2000s the Intelligent Design, “Climate Skepticism,” and the Left Behind movements unified atheists to fight for sound science in our nation’s classrooms and a popular refutation of the negative, apocalyptic claims of the End Times and the Rapture. Sadly today, after noted victories, atheists are divided by similar apocalyptic, pessimistic claims about racism, […]

Suspense, Horror, and Drama for the Discerning Atheist

October 31, 2022 by Kristine Harley in Opinion

Love horror movies but weary of supernatural explanations? Want a suspense/thriller with a rational approach for a change? Looking for a universal message grounded in plausibility? Or just want to escape ludicrously contrived plot twists and two-dimensional characters that insult your intelligence? Look no further, for below is a list of films, TV shows, and […]

With Richard Dawkins in the Galapagos Islands – Part Two: Las Bachas, Santa Cruz

October 9, 2022 by Kristine Harley in Opinion

That first afternoon, we landed at Las Bachas on the island of Santa Cruz. To the right are turtle nests. To the left is an interesting intersection of tracks (an iguana and turtles). This beach is the home to the Pacific Green Sea Turtle, the Sea Iguana, the Great Blue Heron, flamingos, and various other […]

With Richard Dawkins in the Galapagos Islands – Part One: Quito and Baltra

September 26, 2022 by Kristine Harley in Opinion

In May of 2007 I went with the Center for Inquiry on one of their cruises, with the express purpose of meeting Richard Dawkins and Paul Kurtz. Unfortunately, Paul was unable to make this cruise so Eddie Tabash came in his place. (I was to meet Paul later at a conference.) The title of this […]

Atheists Should Have No Secular Devil

September 5, 2022 by Kristine Harley in Opinion

There’s a saying: “Don’t think of a pink elephant.” In other words, what one resists can dominate and even control one’s mind, making the action a person wishes not to do the action that person ultimately does. Religious believers often use this accusation against atheists. We allegedly “resist” or “deny” a belief in God, therefore […]