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Gregg Easterbrook

Beliefnet Columnist

Gregg Easterbrook has been a contributing editor at Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report. A senior editor of The New Republic and a contributing editor for Atlantic Monthly and Washington Monthly, Easterbrook is a two-time winner of the Investigative Reporters and Editors Award and a distinguished fellow of the Fulbright Foundation. He is the author of several critically acclaimed books, including The Progress Paradox and Beside Still Waters: Searching for Meaning in an Age of Doubt. His website is greggeasterbrook.com.

Columns and articles by Gregg Easterbrook

Does God Believe in Richard Dawkins? Oct 27, 2006
In 'The God Delusion,' a vocal atheist ignores more sophisticated concepts of God in favor of fundamentalist stereotypes.

Soccer is NOT Morally Superior Jun 9, 2006
The world's favorite sport has a dark side that spurs mass hysteria, murderous riots, and general hooliganism.

Organ Donation: Where Your Religion Stands Feb 14, 2006
Nothing's worse than when a chance to donate an organ is missed because of the false belief that donation is prohibited.

The Scopes Trial vs. 'Inherit the Wind' Jul 19, 2005
The movie's inaccuracies have perpetuated stereotypes

The Scopes Monkey Trial Jul 19, 2005
Did you know that 'creationism' was never mentioned at the Scopes trial? There's a lot about the trial you may not know

The Scopes Trial, Take Two Jul 19, 2005
A fictional account of how the century's most famous trial would play out today

Can Science Explain Everything? May 9, 2005
Many questions and a continued debate on intelligent design versus evolution.

Virgins and Virtuecrats Mar 8, 2004
The surprising drop in teen pregnancy may mean Dan Quayle was right all along.

The Unseen Dimensions That May Govern Existence Nov 24, 2003
Do hidden superstrings form us from the void by their rapid spinning? Why superstring theory and theology are close cousins.

Bible-Cutters, Mystics, and Masons: Our Presidents Jul 2, 2003
The religious convictions of Jefferson, Lincoln, and Washington were far more controversial than George W. Bush's beliefs.

What If It's Really True? May 20, 2003
A new Dutch study makes it harder to dismiss the phenomenon of 'near death experience'

Science and Religion: The New Convergence Nov 27, 2002
Once, we thought science would solve the Big Questions. But the more scientists learn, the more mysterious the questions become.

Would the World Be Safer Without Religion? Apr 1, 2002
Faith makes people want to kill each other--but it's the best thing we've got.

The High Priests of Bible-Bashing Mar 27, 2002
Those who insist that every part of the Bible is false are just as closed-minded as those who insist the reverse.

Forgiveness Is Good For Your Health Mar 14, 2002
Psychological studies are showing that it is better to forgive than to be forgiven.

Robots R Us Feb 19, 2002
A new book by the head of MIT's Artificial Intelligence Lab speculates on our future with robotic helpmeets.

Nine Lives--and Counting Feb 15, 2002
Pet cloning may be a growth industry soon, but the idea of many failed Fidos preceding a successful clone should give us pause.

Work, Work, Work for Those Medals Feb 5, 2002
Why athletes from Protestant nations seem to walk away with more Olympic gold.

Brave, Daring, Inspiring--and Spiritual Dec 21, 2001
The passengers and crew of Flight 93 showed that our side is willing to sacrifice to save others.

Biotech Advances: What to Worry About Dec 19, 2001
Is genetic engineering about to produce something horrifying? Maybe not. Is human cloning is uncomfortably close? Maybe so.

The Skinny on Victoria's Secret Nov 27, 2001
Assessing the damage from the November sweeps on television

Are the Laws of the Universe Changing? Nov 16, 2001
Permanence in the physical universe is often used as an argument for God. What if physical constants aren't so constant?

Breaking News from the Big Dipper: Another World Like Ours? Nov 5, 2001
If there is a living Earth-like world at 47 Ursae Majoris, the spiritual questions leap off the page.

Dear God, Please Crush the Other Team Nov 1, 2001
Prayers that God shouldn't listen to.

Did Noah's Flood Really Happen? Oct 15, 2001
Scientific discoveries deepen suspicions that Bible stories are as much history as legend

The Morals of Might Sep 18, 2001
How do we respond without stooping to the terrorists' level?

Waging a Just War Against Terrorism Sep 11, 2001
Mortal sin has been committed against the U.S. How can America act decisively without committing more sins?

'Bullied and Brainwashed' Aug 29, 2001
A strident anti-creationist's churlish rhetoric debases what could be fascinating conversation about what made us and why.

Was Life Begun By Chance?
Not a Chance Aug 27, 2001
The life of astronomer Fred Hoyle, whose atheism was shaken by the indications of purpose he found in the universe.

Are SUVs Immoral? Aug 7, 2001
The evidence against the mobile monsters is mounting, but Americans keep buying them.

Adult Stem Cells:
Uncertain Promise Jul 12, 2001
In the stem cell research debate, adult cells seem like the obvious answer. But they may not solve the moral issues.

Anti-Catholic Bias in 'Witchblade': Where's the Outrage? Jul 11, 2001
The pope and Hitler collude. Satan wears a Roman collar. Why isn't anyone up in arms about 'Witchblade'?

A Stem-Cell Primer Jun 26, 2001
What are we really talking about?

Where Do the Embryos Come From? Jun 26, 2001
Before we debate stem cell research, we should make sure we're asking the right questions.

"A New Religious America" Jun 15, 2001
A review of Diana Eck's much-discussed book on pluralism

The Nuclear Family Explodes? May 17, 2001
Modern life is complicated; so are modern moral barometers.

An Echo of Sublime Power Apr 30, 2001
Wonder, fascination, and other reasons why recent discoveries about the Big Bang should excite spiritual people.

A.A.: America's Stealth Religion Mar 19, 2001
It's largely invisible--and it's everywhere.

British Scientist-Priest Wins $1M Templeton Prize Mar 7, 2001

Can You Pray Your Way to Health? Mar 2, 2001
Studies show that praying for your own health may be beneficial, but they are less conclusive about when others pray for you.

Lieberman: Nation Experiencing 'New Spiritual Awakening' Mar 1, 2001
Former vice-presidential candidate discusses school prayer, anti-Semitism (or lack thereof), and faith-based programs.

Fasting Chic? Feb 21, 2001
Has fasting become a fad? In an age of over-abundance, people of all faiths are fasting as a spiritual path.

Designed to Love Feb 11, 2001
We need more human contact and more emotion--for reasons of cell structure and brain chemistry as much as sheer satisfaction.

Bush Establishes Office, Releases New Rules for Faith-Based Organizations Jan 29, 2001
Announcements fulfill campaign promises but are certain to ignite controversy.

Well, What Did We Expect? Jan 17, 2001
Why Ashcroft is a legitimate choice for Bush's attorney general.

Do Only Christians Go to Heaven? Dec 29, 2000
And other questions for the year 2001.

The Half and Half Holiday Dec 11, 2000
Let's spend as much on charity as we do on Christmas gifts.

A Jubilee for Impoverished Nations Nov 14, 2000
Why the United States should lead the movement for debt forgiveness to fruition

Two Points the Election Pundits Have Missed Nov 10, 2000
Despite the intense coverage, the media have overlooked two critical issues.

Rx for Life: Gratitude Nov 7, 2000
Why every day should be a day of thanksgiving.

Why We Can't Clone Jesus Oct 15, 2000
If science has a say in it, the Second Coming won't happen anytime soon.

Quipping About Capital Punishment Oct 12, 2000
Presidential candidates put a strange face on the death penalty debate

RU Serious? Oct 4, 2000
What presidential candidates Al Gore and George W. Bush didn't say about abortion and RU-486

The Morality of Mifepristone Sep 28, 2000
Abortion's always a controversial issue, but RU-486 does have one ethical point in its favor

A Moral Precedent for the Siamese Twins Case Sep 15, 2000
In 1977, Dr. Koop and Orthodox Jewish parents faced the agonizing choice that two Catholic parents face in Britain today

In Search of Other Worlds Aug 30, 2000
They're there, but the news Is not encouraging

How Loud Was the Big Bang? Aug 20, 2000
The quantum physics of answering machines and other humorous mysteries of science

Are We Ready for a Jewish Vice President? Aug 7, 2000

The Secret of Their Success Aug 7, 2000
Like Kansas' Daniel Glickman, Lieberman won in a traditionalist Christian state partly by playing against type

Will Faith-Based Organizations Be Able to Keep Their Faith? Aug 3, 2000
Despite the support of both presidential candidates, some in the faith community remain nervous about charitable choice

The Battle for Genetic Mastery Jul 24, 2000
Are we ready to manage who we are?

Cheating the Kids Jul 18, 2000
Test-fudging schools send the message that what really matters is whether you appear to learn

The Jewish Veepstakes Jul 17, 2000

We're Not Necessarily a 'Chemical Fluke' Jul 7, 2000
The notion of life as a vacuous accident is an opinion, not an objective induction

Kansas Against Darwin: What Happened? Jul 7, 2000
A brief summary of the school board's decision--and the fallout.

The Human Genome Is Mapped
--Now What? Jun 26, 2000

Science vs. Religion? Jun 26, 2000
Francis Collins, lead Human Genome researcher, sees no conflict

Why Bad TV Survives Jun 22, 2000
Like water seeking its own low level, "Survivor" makes a splash

Life: Mechanical or Miracle? Jun 13, 2000
Scientists who talk of living things as "machines" aren't doing anyone a favor, says the author of a new book

Mind, Meet Body May 31, 2000
A new book by a medical researcher argues that there exist tangible connections among emotions, beliefs and health

Hamburger Helper May 22, 2000
For those who don't eat meat because of the violent way animals are slaughtered, science may soon provide an alternative

Coming Soon to a Cell Near You: Genetic Engineering May 8, 2000
Genetic advances are coming faster than governments and religious groups seem to realize--and no one has a plan

Reporters Find Religion Apr 28, 2000
Journalists aren't as godless as they used to be

It's Not All Relative Apr 27, 2000
Einstein's Theory of Relativity is widely--but mistakenly--understood to assert that nothing is definitively true

And There Was Light Apr 26, 2000
New images of "cosmic background radiation" show a pattern of the very, very first light from the beginning of the universe

The Morality of Taxes Apr 12, 2000
Cheating, fudging, protesting, and other rites of spring.

Something Bright All Right in Mensa Mar 30, 2000
The universe may be more resilient than it appears

Honey, I Misplaced the Universe Mar 28, 2000
Science can't find 90% of the cosmos. This "missing mass" problem may hold clues to the Big Bang and to the plane of the spirit.

It Came from Outer Space! Mar 17, 2000
How was the spark of biology lit? Increasingly, scientists wonder if life originated in space.

The Insignificance of the Antichrist Mar 5, 2000
Ignore the hype. In the Bible itself, the Antichrist is barely mentioned.

The Vatican's Turn to Recant Mar 3, 2000
Scientists censured in the past are being posthumously redeemed

Mega-Blast from the Past Feb 28, 2000

Lots of Galaxies, But Why? Feb 28, 2000

'In the Beginning' Is Now Feb 28, 2000
Cosmologists once thought the universe was old and winding down. Now it appears it may just be starting up.

Broken Bread? Feb 24, 2000
Genetically modified crops are becoming common. Should we worry?

Hang Six Feb 15, 2000
Christians should talk about the Six Commandments, not Ten. Just post those and constitutional contraints fade away.

Life in the Beltway Feb 10, 2000
Why is the National Right to Life Committee attacking John McCain? Because it's more pro-money than pro-life.

Good Guys Finish First Feb 10, 2000
In a remarkable new book, Robert Wright contends that most human interactions have had 'nonzero' or 'win-win' outcomes

Aborting Nuance Feb 4, 2000
Line up with the interest groups and you're okay. Admit it's complex and you're denounced.

You Were Once a Supernova Jan 31, 2000
It is believed that the early universe contained a profusion of hot stars that burned up quickly, then exploded into supernovas

Family, Si; Familia, No Jan 26, 2000
The candidates' family-values talk doesn't apply to Cubans.

Really, Really Far-Flung Jan 12, 2000
Perhaps intergalactic distance is simply the result of physics, or perhaps it reflects preternatural logic

Hubble Highlights: Insights on Cosmology Jan 12, 2000

Beliefnet Buys General Motors Jan 10, 2000
'What's good for Beliefnet is good for the country,' chairman says

Finding a Common Language of Awe Dec 17, 1999
In this area, believers will challenge science, scientists will challenge belief, and both will seek areas of consensus

Star of Wonder Dec 8, 1999
Is the star of Bethlehem now a pulsar?

Does Affluence Fuel Spirituality? Dec 4, 1999
Instead of rotting our souls, money may make us contemplate the profound