Analysis of current events, politics, and culture through an atheist perspective. These posts connect news stories to issues of belief, secular values, and the defense of free thought.
By Mike Smithgall | September 10, 2025 | Atheistville On September 4th, 2025, Florida made history—but not the kind anyone concerned with public health would celebrate. The state became the first in American history to completely eliminate school vaccine mandates. Not loosen them, not add more exemptions, but eliminate them entirely. What followed was a…
By Mike Smithgall | September 3, 2025 | Atheistville Here’s a conversation starter that’s guaranteed to make dinner parties awkward. Does prayer actually work? Ask most atheists and they’ll give you a hard no. Ask most believers and you’ll get an emphatic yes. But here’s the problem, both sides are having completely different conversations because…
By Mike Smithgall | August 27, 2025 | Atheistville Picture this: A defendant stands before a judge, accused of a serious crime. Their defense? “Your Honor, God told me to do it.” The courtroom falls silent, not out of reverence, but because everyone knows this argument will go nowhere fast. American culture overflows with claims…
The post emphasizes that atheism is often misunderstood, advocating for consistent evidence standards for all extraordinary claims, including religious ones. It highlights the need for intellectual consistency, questioning religious authority, and calls for evidence-based moral frameworks. The essence focuses on practical discussions of truth rather than cosmic beliefs.
Grief is deeply painful, especially with the loss of a child. While religious phrases often intend to comfort, they can inadvertently deepen the pain, implying that the deceased is better off. True support requires presence, listening, and practical help, acknowledging the bereaved’s individual needs over hollow platitudes.
Kim Davis, the former Kentucky clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples, is petitioning the Supreme Court to overturn the 2015 Obergefell decision legalizing marriage equality. Legal experts doubt her case’s success, but it reflects ongoing efforts to challenge secular rights using religious arguments, emphasizing the need for continuous vigilance to protect these rights.
