Foundational Essays
The core of Ebon Musings, these essays refute theistic belief, justify atheism from the ground up, and lay out the foundation for an atheistic worldview.
- All Possible Worlds
The problem of evil - the question of why pain and suffering exist in a world supposedly ruled by a morally good god - is the oldest and most enduring argument against many varieties of theism. This essay presents a concise formulation of the problem from evil and argues that theists have failed to provide a satisfactory answer to it.
- A Ghost in the Machine
An enduring theistic dogma is that each of us is inhabited by an immaterial soul that confers on us our consciousness and survives the death of our bodies. This essay powerfully refutes that notion, drawing on the evidence of science to establish that our minds arise from nowhere but our physical brains.
- The Ineffable Carrot and the Infinite Stick
Some theists claim that atheism offers no standard for moral behavior, even encourages immorality. This essay falsifies that claim by establishing the source of an atheist's ethics, and then turns the argument on its head by exposing the problems with the theist system of reward and punishment.
- Life of Wonder
One of the most ingrained societal prejudices about atheism is that it necessarily implies a bleak, purposeless life without hope or meaning. This essay confronts that prejudice head-on and demonstrates that atheism is fully compatible with all the things that make life worth living.
- The Necessity of Atheism
This essay offers a brief summary of the core justifications for atheism, listing a variety of compelling reasons evidentiary, moral and practical to reject all forms of theism and god belief.
- One More Burning Bush
Where is God? Why doesn't he simply show himself in the world and put an end to the mystery? This essay presents a formulation of this quandary, which is known as the problem of divine hiddenness, and argues that the most probable answer is because he does not exist.
- Unmoved Mover
Throughout the centuries, theistic philosophers have offered logical arguments in support of God's existence. Most of these can be divided into four major classes - ontological, cosmological, teleological, and moral - and so this essay examines and refutes each of them.
Building Blocks
Building on the Foundational Essays, these articles critically examine more specific tenets of religious belief and present additional arguments in favor of atheism.
Meditations
Miscellaneous writings on a variety of topics, most related to atheism and theism, some not. Rants, humorous pieces, and general odds and ends.
Guest Essays
Written pieces from the best atheist and freethought writers on the Internet and elsewhere, ranging from the humorous to the sublime.
- What an Atheist Ought to Stand For, by Richard Carrier (Offsite)
A brilliant and powerful summation of atheist principles in the areas of thought, life and ethical behavior.
- How to Think Like a Fundy, by Adrian Barnett (Offsite)
The classic and definitive guide to fundamentalist thought processes.
- The Tale of the Twelve Officers, by Mark Vuletic (Offsite)
An incisive and darkly humorous parody of theist solutions to the problem from evil.
- Kissing Hank's Ass, by Jim Huber (Offsite)
The best satire ever written, bar none, of religious proselytizers and their reasons for believing.
- Enough of Heaven, by Emily Ruskovich (Offsite)
There's no need to look for a white light in the sky. We can create a heaven for ourselves by turning our attention to this Earth.
- An Open Letter to Charles Walker, by Ron Garrett
An atheist Army veteran speaks out against a hateful piece of theistic propaganda.
- A Tribute to Ebon C. Ingersoll, by Robert Ingersoll
A moving eulogy written by a famous 19th-century freethinker for his departed brother.
- Answers to 11 Questions for Atheists, by Alex Weaver
Comprehensive replies to 11 anti-atheist questions posed by a Christian apologetics site.
- Thoughts on Religion, by N.D. Guerre
A contributor's self-published book recording some thoughts on many aspects of religious belief.
- Religion 101 Final Exam, by Terrence Kaye
Those who do well on this test have a bright future ahead of them in the field of theology.
Deconversion Stories
Personal stories, essays and testimonials from former believers who broke free of religion.
- How I Walked Away, by Kenneth Nahigian (Offsite)
- From Believer to Atheist, by Mark Vuletic (Offsite)
- Losing Faith in Faith, by Dan Barker (Offsite)
- Seeing the Light, by Carolyn Briggs (Offsite)
- No, I'm Not a Christian -- Not Anymore!, by James Buckner (Offsite)
- Leaving Christianity, by Steve Locks (Offsite)
- A Salvation Story, by Lauri Davi (Offsite)
- Paradox's Testimony, by Anonymous (Offsite)
- Awake for the First Time, by thelodger (Offsite)
- Faith Dissolved, by Heather Ann Kaldeway (Offsite)
- How Questioning Changed Me, by Merle Hertzler (Offsite)
- The Night I Lost My Faith, by R. David Lee, M.D. (Offsite)
- A Word About Living a Double Life, by John O. Andersen (Offsite)
- Minister Turns Atheist, by Joe Holman (Offsite)
- A Long Day's Journey Into Light, by Farrell Till (Offsite)
- From Missionary Bible Translator to Agnostic, by Kenneth Daniels (Offsite)
- Religion and Intelligence, by Nancy Sherer (Offsite)
- Here I Stand... I Can Do No Other, by Zachary Taylor (Offsite)
- From Indifference to Passion, by Toby Selwyn (Offsite)
- My Fall From Grace, by evanescent (Offsite) (added 6/28)
- The Joys of Christianity, by Eric von Laudermann
- God, My Old Friend, by John J. Diegel
- I Did Not Understand, by Shelby Sherman
- Lifting a Great Weight, by Matt Hollinger
- Falling Pennies, by Vincent Rautenbach
- From Faith to Reason, by James Edwards
- Freedom, by A.F. Maas
- Getting Better All the Time, by Ben Loewen
- How the Bible Led Me Out of Christianity, by Aaron Rossetti
- More testimonials from Out of Christianity (Offsite)
- More testimonials from Internet Infidels (Offsite)
- More testimonials from Internet Infidels (Offsite)
- More testimonials from the Internet Infidels Discussion Board (Offsite)
- More testimonials from Positive Atheism (Offsite)
- More testimonials from exchristian.org (Offsite)
- More testimonials from the ExChristian.net Forums (Offsite)
Atheists in Foxholes
Refuting the claim that "there are no atheists in foxholes," the following pieces are testimonials written by atheists and nonbelievers who served in the military in defense of freedom, or who faced life-threatening situations without becoming theists.
- The Work Gods Are Too Busy to Tend To, by Karl E. Taylor
- A Striking Tale, by stoney
- Atheists in Foxholes, Bunkers and Barfights, by Jos Flachs
- A Latent Atheist in a Foxhole, by Jody White
- Untitled, by Sniperman
- Touching the Void, by Joe Simpson (Offsite)
- I Was an Atheist in a Foxhole, by Philip Paulson (Offsite)
- Memorial Day, by Liquid Grace (Offsite)
- Dispelling Another Theist Myth, by Foxhole Atheist (Offsite)
- More testimonials from the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (Offsite)
In the News
(Offsite) News stories and editorials about atheism and theism spotted on the Internet.
- Sympathy for the Devil
(By Tony Ortega for the Los Angeles New Times) Tory Bezazian was a veteran Scientologist who loved going after church critics. Until she met the darkest detractor of them all...
- The Empty Box
(By Ed Weathers for the Memphis Flyer) It has to be said:
"A man truly awake does not need religion. He doesn't need gods. He doesn't need miracles. He doesn't need holy lands here below or celestial heavens up above. For him, life in this universe is itself holy, as is every patch of ground and every path he walks. Life itself is enough of a miracle. To believe in a god who made this life is to believe in a miracle even greater than this miracle. Who needs more than one unfathomable miracle? Existence is a fluke, a freak, a wonder, a dream, a bizarre uncanny thing. Our own consciousness of this existence is so incredible a phenomenon that I don't understand why anyone feels the need to believe in anything else more 'spiritual.' It's all spiritual. It's all true magic. Why add imagined magic to explain the magic that is right before us?"
- I'm An Atheist -- So What?
(By Robyn Blumner for the St. Petersburg Times) A columnist steps forward to declare her nonbelief in response to a city council meeting in which the council members walked out rather than listen to an invocation by an atheist, and opines on how atheism is the last societal group against which it is still considered acceptable to discriminate. (See also the follow-up, A Heartening Response).
