Author Archives: Rayan Zehn

About Rayan Zehn

I'm a political scientist.

God’s Music (Part 2)

Posted on July 22, 2016 by Rayan Zehn

A while ago I posted about my favorite music ever written in praise of (mostly the) Christian god. Consider this part two. Blind Willie Johnson (1897 – 1945), an almost preacher who picked up a cigar box guitar as a … Continue reading →

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The GOP and Pornography: And Why Should We Protect Children from Sex?

Posted on July 11, 2016 by Rayan Zehn

According to this article in Fortune released today, GOP delegates meeting in Cleveland have been contemplating their party’s platform language. Among their points of contention include pornography, which is no surprise considering the amendment being contemplated was offered by the sex-obsessed Family … Continue reading →

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Rant about Brexit and Hume’s Guillotine

Posted on June 27, 2016 by Rayan Zehn

[[Per the title, this post really is a rant.]] As a political scientist whose background includes an extensive study of international cooperation, the Brexit referendum was an event that drew out the most curiosity I’ve ever felt during my career. … Continue reading →

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Update: Orlando Shooter Did Have an Expressed Goal

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Rayan Zehn

A couple days ago I published a post asking what the Orlando Pulse Nightclub shooter’s goal was. In it I mentioned that as far as we knew he made no demands during his 911 calls to the police. As it … Continue reading →

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What Was the Goal of the Pulse Nightclub Shooting?

Posted on June 18, 2016 by Rayan Zehn

Last week’s terrorist attack against patrons of the Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, which claimed the lives of 49 people, has me scratching my head. Although coming to terms with such a tragedy is difficult enough, the most puzzling aspect … Continue reading →

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Quran Contradictions #9: Did Allah Create the Heavens or Earth First?

Posted on June 14, 2016 by Rayan Zehn

In this rather silly contradiction in the Quran there seems to be a lot of confusion about what came first, the earth or the heavens. In the second and forty-first books of the Quran it’s explicitly claimed that Allah created … Continue reading →

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Bible Contradictions #56: Magic?

Posted on June 12, 2016 by Rayan Zehn

I remember as a young teenager watching the Disney adaptation of Moses’ story, titled The Prince of Egypt. In the film storytellers and animators inject a lot of comedy slapstick into the story where god commands Moses to out-magic the Pharaoh’s … Continue reading →

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Moses’ Invisible Pen: How the Pentateuch Destroyed Any Hope of Faith

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Rayan Zehn

In the early years of Rayan, I steadfastly rejected religious claims, but for the most part I did so silently. It’s not that I had complaints about the telephone game, extraordinary claims, or even the utter implausibility of the stories … Continue reading →

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Should Social Expectations Follow Naturally from Anyone’s Beliefs?

Posted on June 1, 2016 by Rayan Zehn

I’m vegan. I chose this lifestyle for personal, moral reasons. Living a life that causes the least amount of harm as possible is the only way I know to live. I gave up animal products on August 1, 2007, and I never … Continue reading →

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Hume’s Guillotine: An Instruction in Explanation

Posted on May 24, 2016 by Rayan Zehn

Ask any atheist. The reason we object to religion is because of the harm organized religions inflict upon societies. But the source of our disdain goes deeper than that, and believers are often left bewildered because we do not adequately … Continue reading →

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