An Impromptu Carnival

Even though I’ve become aware of more atheist blogs since I started this site, I’ve found myself with less and less time to actually read them. More than ever, I find myself ‘scan-reading’. In recent weeks, I’ve found that the emphasis has shifted more and more on to the ‘scanning’ rather than the ‘reading’, and I’m actually taking in and retaining very little. This has lead to me developing a guilt complex about falling behind on the blogs of those people who are kind enough to read and comment on just about every article I write.

So, this weekend, rather than researching a new article of my own, I’ve really taken the time to read other blogs and get back up to speed. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed this indulgence, although it has left me lamenting the temporal drought that denies me the luxury of addressing my reading and writing quotas equally.

So, I find myself needing to write a post today, and I’ve done no research. There are plenty of articles I’ve read over the weekend that I could discuss, but I wouldn’t know what to choose, so spoilt for choice am I. In the back of my mind, I’m aware that there are two imminent, high profile carnivals that I’m due to host in the coming months. I’ve never hosted a carnival before, so I figure a trial run wouldn’t go amiss. Hence this impromptu (sort of mini) carnival; this is a collection of (some of) the best essays I’ve read from the last week or so of atheist blogging. In the absence of anything profound to say, I am referring you to my contemporaries.

Over at Atheist Revolution, Vjack explores the path we non-believers have taken since 9/11 and deals with a commonly asked question, in Atheism: Becoming a Movement.

David W, author of Atheist Self discusses a major news story in the blogosphere recently, Ken Ham’s Creation Museum, in his article Not in Kansas Anymore.

Sean at Black Sun Journal skilfully refutes an initiative from the automotive industry to down-play the problems our environment faces, with Automakers Launch PR Blitz to Halt Standards.

My new friend Playstation Girl at The Blue Linchpin is clinical in her critique of a right wing Christian chain-email, in Rape the Atheists.

Ebonmuse, at Daylight Atheism, once again shows his dedication to meticulously thorough research, with his article How Did the Apostles Die?

Exaplogist, writing at Debunking Christianity, puts on his philosophy cap to deal with the question Are Abstract Objects A Problem For Non-Theists?

Inspired by the musical talents of Fred Phelp’s Westboro Baptist Church members, Ellis14 at Evanescent takes the liberty of pointing out one or two things he would have done differently if he were the boss, in his compelling piece My God.

The Exterminator, writing at No More Hornets gives us an hilarious list of religious puzzles, with commentary and instructions for each one, in Carnival of Indoctrination.

The Spanish Inquisitor examines the roads we take to our beliefs, and how we might go about finding routes to new horizons, in his article Acceptance vs. Analysis.

There’s some great reading here, I’m sure you’ll agree. The next edition of The Impromptu Carnival will be, well, it’s hard to say. Look out for it.