Monthly Archives: October 2015

The Best Way to Convert an Atheist to Religion Is to Become an Atheist

Posted on October 28, 2015 by Rayan Zehn

The title above is probably not only provocative; it’s also highly counterintuitive. But please bear with me. Before I approach the religious part of this post—that it’s easier to convert an atheist to religion if you’re an atheist—I’m going to … Continue reading →

Posted in Political Science | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

A Quick Quote from a Research Project I’m Working On

Posted on October 25, 2015 by Rayan Zehn

One of the main projects I’m tasked with this semester is to empirically analyze Islam in contemporary Europe since March 11, 2004. To do this I’m using World Values Survey data. Doing this as someone who is biased against Islam is … Continue reading →

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Want to Legally Stop Evangelism? Become the State

Posted on October 23, 2015 by Rayan Zehn

I work for a publicly funded university. My office is small and windowless and has three computers shared between considerably more than three grad students. Whenever I feel cramped or frustrated I go outside and sit in the sun, watching all the … Continue reading →

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Using Bayes’ Rule to Disprove Jesus Is a Double-Edged Sword

Posted on October 21, 2015 by Rayan Zehn

Last year historian Richard Carrier published On the Historicity of Jesus: Why We Might Have Reason for Doubt. While I haven’t read it (and therefore don’t plan on critiquing it now), it is on my reading list. As a grad student … Continue reading →

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On Tempting Fate: Not Even Skepticism Can Cure My Irrational Fears

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Rayan Zehn

I’m a Ph.D student. I don’t write this to brag or infer that I’m an authority on any subject matter. Instead I write this because it’s central to this one cognitive failure I make again and again. Despite thinking of … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism | Tagged , , , | 6 Comments

Martyrs for Fundamentalism: Signaling High Costs for Religious Mobilization

Posted on October 5, 2015 by Rayan Zehn

By now Kim Davis is old news. She’s had her 15 minutes of fame, but several questions still linger on. Mostly the debate is settled; she broke the law and paid a very public price for it. Most of the … Continue reading →

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Atheism and Non-Religion in Lebanon: More Common than Thought

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Rayan Zehn

As I’ve written about numerous times, I used to live in Beirut, Lebanon. To be more precise, I lived in Hamra, Beirut, Lebanon, which is the intellectual and artistic capital of Lebanon. Filled with universities, startups, cleverly-themed cafes, and a … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheism | Tagged , , | 1 Comment