Read about Henry VIII joining church and state, American comedian Kathy Griffin, historian Will Durant, American film director Mike Nichols, French nuclear physicist Marie Curie, French statesman Émile Combes separating church and state, American science author Carl Sagan, and more …

It was on this date, November 4, 1960, that American comedian and actress Kathy Griffin was born Kathleen Mary Griffin in Oak Park, Illinois. At about age 18, she moved to Los Angeles to study drama at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute, becoming a member of The Groundlings improvisational comedy troupe like her […]

Read about the devil’s violinist Niccolò Paganini, the late conversion of Constantine the Great, the religious tolerance of Cyrus the Great, the Deism of John Adams, Martin Luther’s Reformation, the free speech of pornographer Larry Flynt, Annie Laurie Gaylor’s fight for freedom from religion, and more …

By Ronald Bruce Meyer I have a GPS in my car, that space-based satellite navigation system that tells me where to go and where to get off at. Oh, I know where my usual destinations are, but in my work I travel to a lot of new places from, or to, my accustomed destinations, so […]

Read about philosopher John Dewey, Alfred Nobel and his prize, a disappointing end of the world, an unbelievable beginning of the world, Scottish philosopher James Mackintosh, Geoffrey “Canterbury Tales” Chaucer, Seth “Ted” MacFarlane, and more …

It was on this date, October 24, 1765, that Scottish political philosopher and politician James Mackintosh was born in Aldourie, near Inverness-shire, Scotland. Because his mother died while he was a child, and his father was frequently abroad, Mackintosh was reared by grandparents. He studied at King's College, University of Aberdeen and, in 1787, took […]

Read about comic Lenny Bruce, Moonies over America, philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, Oscar Wilde, the consecration of Chartres Cathedral, feminist and atheist Rebecca Watson, writer Leigh Hunt, and more …

It was on this date, October 18, 1980, that American blogger and podcast host Rebecca Watson was born. Sometimes known as “The Skepchick,” Watson is the founder of the “Skepchick” blog and, from 2006, co-hosts “The Skeptics’ Guide to the Universe” podcast. Watson grew up in New Jersey and earned a Bachelor of Science degree […]

Read about William Tyndale burned for a Bible, Cornell University founded without religion, the Council of Chalcedon defining the split personality of Jesus, Christians v. Pagans, comedian Julia Sweeney, Henry VIII—Defender of the Faith, “Jesus Christ Superstar” rocks religion, and more …

It was on this date, October 10, 1959, that American actress, comedian and author Julia Sweeney was born in Spokane, Washington. From her start with the improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings, Sweeney was discovered in 1989 by “Saturday Night Live” producer Lorne Michaels and became a featured player on the TV show from 1990 to […]