Ronald Lindsay
@ralindsay.bsky.social
Philosopher, lawyer, author. Currently editor for Free Inquiry, a publication of the Center for Inquiry.
Atheists should feel free to celebrate the holidays in whatever fashion they choose, w/o worrying about betraying secular values: parties, gift-giving, decorations. Although maybe a creche goes too far, unless the ass has DJT's face.
In his column today, Ron Lindsay argues we should not let Christians determine how we celebrate the holidays, incl. Dec. 25. The Catholic Church picked that arbitrary date to take advantage of an existing Roman holiday. Talk about cultural appropriation! secularhumanism.org/exclusive/ch...
Christmas A La Carte | Free Inquiry
It’s that time of year when some committed secularists spend time pondering whether or how to observe the upcoming holiday season, especially December 25. F ...
secularhumanism.org
December 18, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Atheists should feel free to celebrate the holidays in whatever fashion they choose, w/o worrying about betraying secular values: parties, gift-giving, decorations. Although maybe a creche goes too far, unless the ass has DJT's face.
Oh, yeah, we definitely need more emphasis on God in the military. I suggest we emulate the Wehrmacht and have belt buckles saying "God Is With Us". Helped the Germans in WW2, didn't it? www.stripes.com/branches/arm...
Hegseth to overhaul chaplain corps, toss ‘unacceptable and unserious’ Army spiritual fitness guide
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered sweeping changes to the U.S. military’s chaplain corps.
www.stripes.com
December 17, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Oh, yeah, we definitely need more emphasis on God in the military. I suggest we emulate the Wehrmacht and have belt buckles saying "God Is With Us". Helped the Germans in WW2, didn't it? www.stripes.com/branches/arm...
The dilemma the Catholic Church has always faced is that it cannot change core doctrines without undercutting the pretense that it's correct on all its teachings.
Ron Lindsay is back with his column and in today's column he discusses the Catholic Church's lengthy consideration of the question whether women can become deacons. You will not be shocked by the outcome. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/th...
The Hamster Wheel of Catholic Reform | Free Inquiry
After ten years and two commissions’ worth of study, the Catholic Church has made the revolutionary decision—to do nothing. Specifically, the Church has dec ...
secularhumanism.org
December 11, 2025 at 3:25 PM
The dilemma the Catholic Church has always faced is that it cannot change core doctrines without undercutting the pretense that it's correct on all its teachings.
If you observe Thanksgiving, thank those who actually helped you, not some imaginary super-being.
In this week's column, Ron Lindsay argues that Thanksgiving is, in its origins & rationale, a religious holiday, one that assumes God craves expressions of gratitude, esp. for victories in war. But atheists can secularize the holiday, just like Christmas. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/th...
Thanksgiving Thoughts | Free Inquiry
The Thanksgiving holiday has religious roots. There is no denying that. Religious roots that are revealing. The first thanksgiving proclamation on American ...
secularhumanism.org
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
If you observe Thanksgiving, thank those who actually helped you, not some imaginary super-being.
God is anti-vax because vaccines aren't needed for those who have faith. It's true. Just consider how succesful prayer was in combatting smallpox and polio.
In his column today, Ron Lindsay comments on the recent anti-vaccine gathering in Austin and how it united religious fundamentalism with vaccine skepticism--a compounding of ignorance. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/go...
God Is Anti-Vax | Free Inquiry
It’s official. God doesn’t want you to take vaccines. We have this on good authority, namely the solemn assertion of Del Bigtree that “God is an anti-vaxxer ...
secularhumanism.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:46 PM
God is anti-vax because vaccines aren't needed for those who have faith. It's true. Just consider how succesful prayer was in combatting smallpox and polio.
Trump has been ruling by decree, with the acquiescence of the GOP controlled Congress. Unless the Court finds against him in the tariffs case, he'll continue to use "emergency" powers to do what he wants.
In his column today, Ron Lindsay expresses his hope that the Supreme Court will rule against Trump in the tariffs case. There is a need for the Court to act as a check on Trump's power grabs, because Congress has abandoned its role. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/no...
No Checks or Balances? | Free Inquiry
Everyone presumably has some dim memory of civics class wherein the genius of the American separation of powers was discussed. Through the U.S. Constitution ...
secularhumanism.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Trump has been ruling by decree, with the acquiescence of the GOP controlled Congress. Unless the Court finds against him in the tariffs case, he'll continue to use "emergency" powers to do what he wants.
Trump's exploitation of religion has been a key element of his success. Whether these "revivals" take place or not you can be sure that Trump's 2026 events will be saturated with religious sentiment.
In his column today, Ron Lindsay comments on a right-wing singer/preacher's claim that his group & the Trump admin. are planning "revivals" for 2026. Implausible? Not given Trump's record. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/go...
Government Sponsored Revival Meetings? | Free Inquiry
Sean Feucht, a far-right Christian songwriter/singer and preacher, has claimed during a podcast that he has been working with officials in the Trump adminis ...
secularhumanism.org
October 30, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Trump's exploitation of religion has been a key element of his success. Whether these "revivals" take place or not you can be sure that Trump's 2026 events will be saturated with religious sentiment.
Not only is religion tedious as experienced but the afterlife that religion promises -- an unending stretch of time -- would become, after a zillion years, unimaginably intolerable.
Back from his trip, in his column this week Ron Lindsay takes issue with a journalist's comment that atheism is "boring." To the contrary, Ron argues atheism opens up our lives whereas religion constrains our autonomy & immerses us in mind-numbing rituals. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/th...
The Tedium of Faith, As Lived and As Promised | Free Inquiry
Yesterday, I read a review in the Wall Street Journal of Charles Murray’s new book, Taking Religion Seriously—a singularly inapt title if taking religion se ...
secularhumanism.org
October 23, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Not only is religion tedious as experienced but the afterlife that religion promises -- an unending stretch of time -- would become, after a zillion years, unimaginably intolerable.
If Trump puts his face on a coin, it will be official: the US is now a monarchy, with a Congress more supine than the Parliament of Henry VIII. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/b...
Treasury Plans to Mint $1 Commemorative Trump Coin
www.nytimes.com
October 4, 2025 at 1:09 PM
If Trump puts his face on a coin, it will be official: the US is now a monarchy, with a Congress more supine than the Parliament of Henry VIII. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/03/b...
Trump's foreign policy, among other flaws, depends too much on who he talked to last -- and who flattered him the most.
In his column today, Ron Lindsay expresses his concern that at a time when democracies are under serious threat from a bloc of authoritarian countries (Russia, China, N. Korea, Iran) the U.S. has an incoherent foreign policy led by a man-child. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/de...
Democracy—The Good News and the Bad News | Free Inquiry
My wife and I are off to Spain in a few days, so this will be my last column for a couple weeks. I mention Spain not that you’re especially interested in my ...
secularhumanism.org
October 2, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Trump's foreign policy, among other flaws, depends too much on who he talked to last -- and who flattered him the most.
Mixing religion with government is never a good idea, and it's especially concerning when the government is headed up by a vengeful person who has no tolerance for criticism & believes he's infallible.
In his column today, Ron Lindsay says there is no longer any doubt that the Christian Right is now the dominant force in the MAGA coalition -- and that's not good news. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/th...
The MAGA Movement—A Conservative Christian-Dominated Coalition | Free Inquiry
Fundamentalist Christians have always been an important part of the MAGA movement. Although perhaps not a majority of Donald Trump voters, they have been hi ...
secularhumanism.org
September 25, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Mixing religion with government is never a good idea, and it's especially concerning when the government is headed up by a vengeful person who has no tolerance for criticism & believes he's infallible.
I wrote this column before the FCC Chair pressured ABC to suspend Kimmel. Another step in the concerted effort to silence/marginalize opponents of Trump.
In his column today (written before the Jimmy Kimmel suspension), Ron Lindsay speculates about how far Trump & Co. will go in exploiting the murder of Charlie Kirk. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/th...
The Murder of Kirk—Trump’s Reichstag Fire? | Free Inquiry
As should be obvious coming from the editor of a magazine with the name of “Free Inquiry,” I condemn Charlie Kirk’s murder, which appears to have been polit ...
secularhumanism.org
September 18, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I wrote this column before the FCC Chair pressured ABC to suspend Kimmel. Another step in the concerted effort to silence/marginalize opponents of Trump.
The whole notion of a "prophet" rests on the absurd premise that God created a cognitive class system in which some random person is clued into the "truth" & the rest of us schmucks must just sheepishly follow.
In his column this week, Ron Lindsay discusses the irrationality of turning one's life over to self-proclaimed prophets. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/th...
The Madness of Following ‘Prophets’ | Free Inquiry
The Messiah—or, if you prefer, the Mahdi—has arrived. Mooresville, Indiana, native Abdullah Hashem is a founder of the Ahmadi Religion of Peace and Light. A ...
secularhumanism.org
September 11, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The whole notion of a "prophet" rests on the absurd premise that God created a cognitive class system in which some random person is clued into the "truth" & the rest of us schmucks must just sheepishly follow.
Cynics claim Trump's prayer push is insincere. Not true. Here's DJT's daily prayer: "GIve us this day our daily grift; lead us into temptation but allow us to successfully deny; smite my enemies bigly; and may my will be done." www.whitehouse.gov/america250/a...
America Prays
AN INVITATION TO PRAYER & REDEDICATION OF THE UNITED STATES AS ONE NATION UNDER GOD IN PREPARATION FOR THE 250TH BIRTHDAY OF OUR COUNTRY 1776-2026
www.whitehouse.gov
September 9, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Cynics claim Trump's prayer push is insincere. Not true. Here's DJT's daily prayer: "GIve us this day our daily grift; lead us into temptation but allow us to successfully deny; smite my enemies bigly; and may my will be done." www.whitehouse.gov/america250/a...
It it making too much of the Trump drawing to notice that the small breasts resemble those of a teen --maybe 14 or 15?
September 8, 2025 at 10:50 PM
It it making too much of the Trump drawing to notice that the small breasts resemble those of a teen --maybe 14 or 15?
The drawing signed by "Donald" in his distinctive signature which Trump claimed he never drew. Every word out of that autocrat wannabe's mouth is a damn lie. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...
Trump Administration Live Updates: Epstein Estate Turns Over Birthday Drawing Apparently Signed by Trump
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2025 at 8:14 PM
The drawing signed by "Donald" in his distinctive signature which Trump claimed he never drew. Every word out of that autocrat wannabe's mouth is a damn lie. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/09...
Nicole's perceptive column confirms that the Christian right is determined to go full steam backwards. The irony is that the push for "household voting" is premised on a concept of family structure that no longer conforms to reality -- many households are now headed up by women.
Unprayerful Reflections has a guest columnist today: Nicole Scott, our managing editor. Nicole dissects the recent, bizarre push for "household voting" by Christian nationalists. On the road to Gilead? secularhumanism.org/exclusive/is...
Is Household Voting Another Step toward Gilead? | Free Inquiry
Last month, CNN interviewed Douglas Wilson, the senior pastor of Christ Church in Moscow, Idaho. During the interview, Wilson stated that he supported votin ...
secularhumanism.org
September 4, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Nicole's perceptive column confirms that the Christian right is determined to go full steam backwards. The irony is that the push for "household voting" is premised on a concept of family structure that no longer conforms to reality -- many households are now headed up by women.
Winners shape history. With Constantine & subsequent emperors, Christianity's myths became accepted reality. Trump is working hard to make his lies about the 2020 election reality & he already has over 1/3 of the population behind him.
In his column today, Ron Lindsay envisages a future where the combination of ideologically shaped perceptions & gov't pressure make Trump's claim of a rigged 2020 election the "official" version of that event. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/th...
The Resurrection of Jesus and the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election | Free Inquiry
Although there are some who claim Jesus was not even an actual person, I believe the more likely reality is that there was a guy from Galilee who attracted ...
secularhumanism.org
August 28, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Winners shape history. With Constantine & subsequent emperors, Christianity's myths became accepted reality. Trump is working hard to make his lies about the 2020 election reality & he already has over 1/3 of the population behind him.
This administration will soon have the highest percentage of sycophants & incompetent bootlickers since the Third Reich. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Hegseth fires head of Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has fired Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the latest national security senior officer to be purged.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 23, 2025 at 1:21 PM
This administration will soon have the highest percentage of sycophants & incompetent bootlickers since the Third Reich. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Another competent person fired b/c he didn't report what Trump wanted to hear. Since Trump wants to save $$, why doesn't he just can the whole intelligence community & have scriptwriters file intelligence reports based on his fantasies. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Hegseth fires head of Defense Intelligence Agency, Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has fired Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, the latest national security senior officer to be purged.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 23, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Another competent person fired b/c he didn't report what Trump wanted to hear. Since Trump wants to save $$, why doesn't he just can the whole intelligence community & have scriptwriters file intelligence reports based on his fantasies. www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
What our museums and parks should provide us is an accurate -- unbiased from the Right or the Left -- account of American history, warts and all. Too much to hope for?
In his column today, Ron Lindsay criticizes Trump's efforts to whitewash American history. He notes, however, that Trump's cultural counter-revolution is, in part, an (over)reaction to the excesses of the Left's identity politics. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/co...
Comments on the Continuing Cultural Counter-Revolution | Free Inquiry
A few months ago, I wrote about how the Trump administration was determined to bring about a cultural counter-revolution. In the next issue of Free Inquiry ...
secularhumanism.org
August 21, 2025 at 12:46 PM
What our museums and parks should provide us is an accurate -- unbiased from the Right or the Left -- account of American history, warts and all. Too much to hope for?
The threat of sanctions against Russia evaporated as soon as Putin supported Trump's fantasy that the war would not have happened had Trump been prez in 2022. Trump is so easily manipulated by Putin. Daddy gave the little boy some candy & now everything's better. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/u...
6 Takeaways From Trump’s Meeting With Putin
www.nytimes.com
August 16, 2025 at 12:44 PM
The threat of sanctions against Russia evaporated as soon as Putin supported Trump's fantasy that the war would not have happened had Trump been prez in 2022. Trump is so easily manipulated by Putin. Daddy gave the little boy some candy & now everything's better. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/15/u...
This astronomer's God is equivalent to a warm, fuzzy feeling. Can't argue with a feeling. But that warm feeling, according to the astronomer's church, consigns atheists to eternal damnation & condemns birth control, masturbation, etc. Yet this essay says it's atheists who are "intemperate."
In his column today, Ron Lindsay discusses the puff piece the
New Yorker ran on the "pope's astronomer." No conflict between religion & science. How could there be when God is just that nice feeling you get when the data plot lines up perfectly. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/ha...
New Yorker ran on the "pope's astronomer." No conflict between religion & science. How could there be when God is just that nice feeling you get when the data plot lines up perfectly. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/ha...
Hallmark Catholicism | Free Inquiry
A recent issue of the New Yorker published a piece about the “pope’s astronomer.” Inevitably, the essay, besides providing some interesting biographical det ...
secularhumanism.org
August 7, 2025 at 1:02 PM
This astronomer's God is equivalent to a warm, fuzzy feeling. Can't argue with a feeling. But that warm feeling, according to the astronomer's church, consigns atheists to eternal damnation & condemns birth control, masturbation, etc. Yet this essay says it's atheists who are "intemperate."
Trump didn't like the numbers in the jobs report today so he has fired the official overseeing production of the report. Will replace w/someone who'll make sure future reports please Trump. I didn't think trust in gov. could get any lower but now no reason to trust any info from this administration.
August 1, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Trump didn't like the numbers in the jobs report today so he has fired the official overseeing production of the report. Will replace w/someone who'll make sure future reports please Trump. I didn't think trust in gov. could get any lower but now no reason to trust any info from this administration.
The body of the Constitution has no reference to religion other than the prohibition of any religious test for office. It sets up a secular government that has no power to promote or inhibit religion. The phrase "church and state are separate" would have been redundant.
In his column today, Ron Lindsay discusses the claim of the Religious Right that the separation of church and state is a "myth," arguing that this claim shows a complete misunderstanding of the wording and structure of the Constitution. secularhumanism.org/exclusive/th...
The Myth About ‘The Myth of the Separation of Church and State’ | Free Inquiry
House Speaker Mike Johnson, a self-proclaimed “constitutional attorney and history buff,” has flatly stated that the separation of church and state is a “mi ...
secularhumanism.org
July 31, 2025 at 2:46 PM
The body of the Constitution has no reference to religion other than the prohibition of any religious test for office. It sets up a secular government that has no power to promote or inhibit religion. The phrase "church and state are separate" would have been redundant.