Evangelical Atheism - challenging belief in the implausible

 By

Sean Ewart

Once it has been established that I am an atheist the inevitable question is volleyed: "why," asks my counterpart, "do you insist on pointing out the problems with religion when you don't believe in it? Why bother?" It's a good question. I neither believe in the infinity of life nor the various claims of salvation, reincarnation, or elevation that I consistently tear down. Because it is typically someone who holds sacred their belief in the implausible who voices this question, it carries with it an assumed follow up. I am not only being asked why I bother but, more importantly, why am I bothering them? Why do I insist on rocking the boat?

Loving resentment: a sober homage to Singapore

 By

Saiful Saleem 

Sitting in a small café in the Marais district of Paris, watching an interesting mix of tourists and locals pass by under the bright May sun, I begin to reflect. Only I am not quite sure what I am reflecting on. I keep staring out into the passing crowd, putting on a look I only hope could be described as pensive. So I sit there pensively watching people. The locals are marching forward purposefully, erect and elegant, while the tourists stumble forward looking clueless and conspicuous in their khaki pants, colorful shirts and obscene hats.

Viva the [American] Revolution - and get the Queen out of our supermarkets

 By

Sean Ewart

Will and Kate have been married for a little over a year now and now they are with child. How do I know? Because every supermarket news stand in the nation has been touting exclusive photo collections and in-depth descriptions of the young royals' first year. The Queen of England, Liz, has also just celebrated her 60th year in power. I am enlightened.

Mad Men Season 5 Episode 13: The Phantom

 Joe Chiarenzelli is an editor at The Gadfly Press and wishes he was Don Draper.

In God We Teach

By

Vic Losick

(Interview with the director following the film and article)

 "In God We Teach," a documentary by Vic Losick

Revolutionary Egypt and the Looming Israeli Conflict

 By

Sean Ewart

The Atlantic

With all the press coverage and speculation of a possible Iran-Israeli war, the greatest threat to regional stability has gone, largely, unnoticed. As the consequences of the so-called Arab Spring continue to reverberate across the Middle East, the destabilizing nature of the populist program has already become evident. Embryonic democratic movements are by nature more volatile than static autocracies. Without calling into question the long term benefits of democratization (i.e. the plausibility of the democratic peace theory), the short term realities should concern us. As I like to remind readers, Europe saw hundreds of minor conflicts and two World Wars before it settled down, in the middle of the 20th century, to become the haven of civilized society we know today – we have no reason not to expect a similar trajectory for other regions. For this reason we can, with caution, predict that revolutionary Egypt, and its tenuous relationship with Israel, is in fact a far more volatile situation than that of the Israeli cold war with the theocratic Iran.

Mad Men Season 5 Episode 12: Commissions and Fees

 Joe Chiarenzelli is an editor at The Gadfly Press and wishes he was Don Draper.

             Mandy Lafond is a graduate of St. Lawrence University with a degree in Philosophy and a minor in Asian studies.  She’s currently working as a Naturalist at the Seacoast Science Center. In her spare time she likes philosophizing, playing with her pet rabbit and reading Wikipedia for fun.

Justifying Murder: Rev. Donald Spitz and the Crusade Against Abortion

American anti-abortion terrorist praises arson against abortion clinics and the murder of abortion doctors.

By

Sean Ewart

Rev. Donald Spitz

The Reverend Donald Spitz spoke with The Gadfly Press via phone on June 1, 2012.

It's been a bad month for the pro-choice community. With the third anniversary of the mid-sermon murder of Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller coming on the heels of two arson attacks against abortion clinics in Georgia over the week of May 25, pro-choice advocates are, understandably, on edge. Add to the list of concerns a host of anti-abortion legislation being pushed at the state and federal levels and it's easy to see the truth in the claim that abortion rights are, literally, under attack.