Secular Outpost
@secularoutpost.bsky.social
Dad. Husband. USAF veteran. Future PCT hiker. Philosopher of Religion. Paul Draper’s bulldog. Atheist. Never Trumper. Politically homeless.
https://philpeople.org/profiles/jeffery-jay-lowder
https://philpeople.org/profiles/jeffery-jay-lowder
Pinned
Agree or disagree?
a: It is unrealistic to expect all teens will abstain from sex.
b: Teens having sex but preventing unwanted pregnancies (through contraception) is better than teens having sex and unwanted pregnancies.
c: Teens should have access to contraception.
a: It is unrealistic to expect all teens will abstain from sex.
b: Teens having sex but preventing unwanted pregnancies (through contraception) is better than teens having sex and unwanted pregnancies.
c: Teens should have access to contraception.
Reposted by Secular Outpost
Where is the outrage from all the MAGA Christians? I’m an atheist and I’m outraged by how this minister was treated.
November 17, 2025 at 8:13 AM
Where is the outrage from all the MAGA Christians? I’m an atheist and I’m outraged by how this minister was treated.
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NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Can someone--anyone--please explain why it was necessary to have this minister face-down on the pavement while arresting him? I assume that it is standard procedure to handcuff a person when they are arrested, but if they were not violent, why do they have to be put on the pavement?
Incredible photo.
Those who truly seek to emulate Christ are the natural enemies of this administration.
Those who truly seek to emulate Christ are the natural enemies of this administration.
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
November 15, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Can someone--anyone--please explain why it was necessary to have this minister face-down on the pavement while arresting him? I assume that it is standard procedure to handcuff a person when they are arrested, but if they were not violent, why do they have to be put on the pavement?
Given that there is something rather than nothing, the fact that anything mental at all exists is antecedently more expected on source idealism than on source physicalism. So, the fact conscious beings like humans exist is evidence against source physicalism.
November 15, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Given that there is something rather than nothing, the fact that anything mental at all exists is antecedently more expected on source idealism than on source physicalism. So, the fact conscious beings like humans exist is evidence against source physicalism.
Given that there is something rather than nothing, the fact that anything physical at all exists is antecedently more expected on source physicalism than on source idealism. Theism is a type of source idealism, so the existence a physical world is evidence against theism.
November 14, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Given that there is something rather than nothing, the fact that anything physical at all exists is antecedently more expected on source physicalism than on source idealism. Theism is a type of source idealism, so the existence a physical world is evidence against theism.
Reposted by Secular Outpost
Reposted by Secular Outpost
Betcha didn't have money on the Catholic Church being the only institution with the spine to stand up to fascism this time round.
BREAKING: At Pope Leo XIV’s urging, U.S. Catholic bishops just delivered the strongest rebuke of a sitting president in Church history — condemning Trump-Vance raids as “inhumane” and “dehumanizing” in a 216–5 vote.
NEW: At Pope Leo’s Urging, Bishops Issue Historic Rebuke of Trump’s Raids
Nearly all U.S. Catholic bishops united in Baltimore to denounce the Trump administration’s “inhumane” deportation campaign — a near-unanimous, unprecedented moral stand against a sitting president.
www.thelettersfromleo.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:22 AM
Betcha didn't have money on the Catholic Church being the only institution with the spine to stand up to fascism this time round.
In addition to WWJD, we now have WWAIJD:
November 12, 2025 at 3:53 PM
In addition to WWJD, we now have WWAIJD:
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Arizona has paused development of hundreds of thousands of homes on the far Phoenix fringes due to insufficient groundwater supplies, @highcountrynews.org finds: www.hcn.org/issues/57-10...
The dried-out subdivisions of Phoenix - High Country News
A groundwater crisis halted the construction of thousands of homes and pitted affordability against environmental concerns.
www.hcn.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Arizona has paused development of hundreds of thousands of homes on the far Phoenix fringes due to insufficient groundwater supplies, @highcountrynews.org finds: www.hcn.org/issues/57-10...
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We have perverse incentives on all media platforms (from social media to traditional media) to inflame conflict.
It's profitible because it captures attention and drives engagement ("mobilization")
In turn, this drives political actors to focus more on these issues.
It's profitible because it captures attention and drives engagement ("mobilization")
In turn, this drives political actors to focus more on these issues.
Cool new working paper on why and how cable news threw gasoline on the culture war fire. The culture war isn't optimal for electoral candidates, but it's optimal for cable news companies.
ungated: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/27v4x...
ungated: www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/27v4x...
November 3, 2025 at 9:04 PM
We have perverse incentives on all media platforms (from social media to traditional media) to inflame conflict.
It's profitible because it captures attention and drives engagement ("mobilization")
In turn, this drives political actors to focus more on these issues.
It's profitible because it captures attention and drives engagement ("mobilization")
In turn, this drives political actors to focus more on these issues.
Reposted by Secular Outpost
In 40 years, the vast majority of Christians will be LGBT affirming, just as the vast majority of Christians today are interracial marriage affirming. @randalrauser.bsky.social's new book points the way.
www.amazon.com/dp/173877187...
www.amazon.com/dp/173877187...
The Wideness of the Sea: How to be Evangelical and Gay Affirming
The Wideness of the Sea: How to be Evangelical and Gay Affirming [Rauser, Randal] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Wideness of the Sea: How to be Evangelical and Gay Affirming
www.amazon.com
October 30, 2025 at 2:13 PM
In 40 years, the vast majority of Christians will be LGBT affirming, just as the vast majority of Christians today are interracial marriage affirming. @randalrauser.bsky.social's new book points the way.
www.amazon.com/dp/173877187...
www.amazon.com/dp/173877187...
November 5, 2025 at 11:38 PM
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For each additional moral–emotional word in a social media post, the number of shares increases 13%
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
November 5, 2025 at 4:58 PM
For each additional moral–emotional word in a social media post, the number of shares increases 13%
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
Our new meta-analysis finds robust evidence of moral contagion (N=4,821,006)
The moral contagion effect is even stronger in larger, pre-registered studies (17%).
academic.oup.com/pnasnexus/ar...
I’m glad we have that settled.
Jesus, not Virgin Mary, saved the world, Vatican says - www.reuters.com/world/jesus-...
Jesus, not Virgin Mary, saved the world, Vatican says - www.reuters.com/world/jesus-...
Jesus, not Virgin Mary, saved the world, Vatican says
Jesus may have heard words of wisdom from his mother Mary, but she did not help him save the world from damnation, the Vatican said on Tuesday.
www.reuters.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:38 AM
I’m glad we have that settled.
Jesus, not Virgin Mary, saved the world, Vatican says - www.reuters.com/world/jesus-...
Jesus, not Virgin Mary, saved the world, Vatican says - www.reuters.com/world/jesus-...
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The meme is free speech protected by the First Amendment. The activist should be freed; the County should be civilly liable for his incarceration; and the Sheriff should be fired.
MUST WATCH: Tennessee sheriff defends jailing liberal activist for posting Trump meme about school shooting www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
Tennessee sheriff defends jailing liberal activist for posting Trump meme about school shooting
A Middle Tennessee sheriff is defending the arrest of a man for posting an online meme quoting President Donald Trump.
www.newschannel5.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:15 AM
The meme is free speech protected by the First Amendment. The activist should be freed; the County should be civilly liable for his incarceration; and the Sheriff should be fired.
The meme is free speech protected by the First Amendment. The activist should be freed; the County should be civilly liable for his incarceration; and the Sheriff should be fired.
MUST WATCH: Tennessee sheriff defends jailing liberal activist for posting Trump meme about school shooting www.newschannel5.com/news/newscha...
Tennessee sheriff defends jailing liberal activist for posting Trump meme about school shooting
A Middle Tennessee sheriff is defending the arrest of a man for posting an online meme quoting President Donald Trump.
www.newschannel5.com
October 29, 2025 at 4:15 AM
The meme is free speech protected by the First Amendment. The activist should be freed; the County should be civilly liable for his incarceration; and the Sheriff should be fired.
Reposted by Secular Outpost
www.bloomberg.com/news/article... — Trump decisions volatile, whimsy, irrational. Canadians think we have become a goofy and irrational enemy. Annex Canada? Nuts.
Trump Says All Trade Talks With Canada Are Terminated
US President Donald Trump said he would immediately halt all trade negotiations with Canada, citing a Canadian advertisement against his signature tariffs plan featuring the voice of former President ...
www.bloomberg.com
October 24, 2025 at 5:22 AM
www.bloomberg.com/news/article... — Trump decisions volatile, whimsy, irrational. Canadians think we have become a goofy and irrational enemy. Annex Canada? Nuts.
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A disgraceful action against this beautiful national treasure. Not a peep from Congress. Trump rules by decree.
The White House is only 55,000 sq ft. A ballroom that is 90,000 sq ft and is significantly larger than a football field. The ballroom at Versailles was only 8,000 sq ft. There is no way it’s "just a ballroom" - He is building himself a new palace.
October 25, 2025 at 7:32 PM
A disgraceful action against this beautiful national treasure. Not a peep from Congress. Trump rules by decree.
MDPI just published my essay, "Is Divine Law Indispensable to Moral Obligation? A Reply to Elizabeth Anscombe" in the peer-reviewed journal, "Religions". See www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16...
@mdpiopenaccess.bsky.social
#philosophy #metaethics #atheism #theism #apologetics
@mdpiopenaccess.bsky.social
#philosophy #metaethics #atheism #theism #apologetics
www.mdpi.com
October 22, 2025 at 4:50 AM
MDPI just published my essay, "Is Divine Law Indispensable to Moral Obligation? A Reply to Elizabeth Anscombe" in the peer-reviewed journal, "Religions". See www.mdpi.com/2077-1444/16...
@mdpiopenaccess.bsky.social
#philosophy #metaethics #atheism #theism #apologetics
@mdpiopenaccess.bsky.social
#philosophy #metaethics #atheism #theism #apologetics
Does Atheism Mean that Hitler Just Had Bad Molecules?
#atheism #metaethics
open.substack.com/pub/secularo...
#atheism #metaethics
open.substack.com/pub/secularo...
Does Atheism Mean that Hitler Just Had Bad Molecules?
Materialism & Objective Morality: Refuting "Bad Molecules" & Is/Ought Arguments.
open.substack.com
October 20, 2025 at 7:16 AM
Does Atheism Mean that Hitler Just Had Bad Molecules?
#atheism #metaethics
open.substack.com/pub/secularo...
#atheism #metaethics
open.substack.com/pub/secularo...
Is it really too much to ask that theistic philosophers of religion at least *try* to represent atheist philosophy of religion accurately?
I just re-read Kreeft’s (1990) introduction to the Moreland-Nielsen debate. I found myself thinking, “He cannot be serious!” I’ll explain in a Substack post.
I just re-read Kreeft’s (1990) introduction to the Moreland-Nielsen debate. I found myself thinking, “He cannot be serious!” I’ll explain in a Substack post.
October 19, 2025 at 9:21 PM
Is it really too much to ask that theistic philosophers of religion at least *try* to represent atheist philosophy of religion accurately?
I just re-read Kreeft’s (1990) introduction to the Moreland-Nielsen debate. I found myself thinking, “He cannot be serious!” I’ll explain in a Substack post.
I just re-read Kreeft’s (1990) introduction to the Moreland-Nielsen debate. I found myself thinking, “He cannot be serious!” I’ll explain in a Substack post.
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"The more analytic philosophy became dominant in the universities, the more it became removed from the concerns of the average person with philosophical interests."
The Paradox of Analytic Philosophy’s Success - Daily Nous
"The paradox is that the more analytic philosophy became dominant in the universities, the more it became removed from the concerns of the average person with philosophical interests." And "it has had...
dailynous.com
October 17, 2025 at 2:54 PM
"The more analytic philosophy became dominant in the universities, the more it became removed from the concerns of the average person with philosophical interests."
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The Executive is laying taxes without the consent of Congress.
The Executive is spending money without the consent of Congress.
Other than that, everything is totes normal.
The Executive is spending money without the consent of Congress.
Other than that, everything is totes normal.
October 13, 2025 at 12:25 PM
The Executive is laying taxes without the consent of Congress.
The Executive is spending money without the consent of Congress.
Other than that, everything is totes normal.
The Executive is spending money without the consent of Congress.
Other than that, everything is totes normal.
Reposted by Secular Outpost
There is absolutely zero chance that a man who took $50,000 in cash in a paper bag from an FBI agent on camera would have been appointed to any position by any other president.
October 13, 2025 at 3:30 AM
There is absolutely zero chance that a man who took $50,000 in cash in a paper bag from an FBI agent on camera would have been appointed to any position by any other president.