And your best shot to do good in the world and avoid harm is to call upon reason and evidence, do your research and -- here is where religion often trips up -- ask the questions that could show you wrong.
There are many models for accommodating a diversity of faiths in the public square, and excluding it altogether is among the worst.
Once again, here's my top ten of 2009 -- an interesting year for movies. And no, I haven't seen Avatar yet.
Even though most people reuse an artificial tree for up to six years on average, artificial trees would need to be kept for at least 20 years to compete with natural trees on greenhouse impact.
The final week of each year, from Christmas through New Year's, offers us all a vivid marker by which to measure our lives. Where were we a year ago, a decade ago, a generation ago?
We either gave gifts as usual this Christmas or heeded the advice of Joel Waldfogel, author of Scroogenomics, who argues in his book that we should not have given gifts.
For those of us who have struggled with eating disorders, being home for this season -- the combination of food and family -- is an incredibly fraught scenario.
We may have been told to 'follow the golden rule' as children (to do unto others as you would have others do unto you) but now science is illustrating the powerful role doing just that can have on humanity.
Okay what's going on? Someone tries to blow up an American jetliner, somebody else dies at the age of 32, the arctic continues to melt and Christmas is behind us.
I experienced the rebirth of the hope, excitement and magic of this holiday -- and of all places, where it came together for this resurrection was at the Wafi Mall in Dubai.
One man's trash may be another's treasure, but before you burden another by regifting, consider the following karma-friendly alternatives.
There are certainly many alternatives for purchasing products with greater ethical standards. But let's face it -- parents are busy, disposable incomes are tight, children need stimulation, time is money, and this is America.
A misguided offshoot of the men's rights movement has recently started to assert paternal rights for sperm donors. Now the Irish Supreme Court has granted parental rights to one such donor.
I am spending my holiday in the mountains of Idaho in our log cabin, and after a lovely Christmas Eve pizza party, the lights went out -- everywhere.
When we chose projects from the Natural Home arsenal to decorate the president's guest house, we had no idea we were so in tune with the Obama family's ideas. We were all thinking decoupage.
Wenceslas was a ruler whose power was due to personal faith and integrity as well as physical prowess.
As recognition that religious majorities often make religious minorities feel left out, as well as to follow that pesky "separation of church and state" rule that keeps our country free, we don't use public schools to promote religion.
I hope your every holiday wish came true as far as the books you wanted. Are you going to write in them?
What we believe God is, even today, is almost precisely what we believe Santa Claus is. And I say this with no disrespect to either. Let's just consider the similarities.
I would like to share a Christmas story that many people today do not know. The true story of how the tale of Jesus and Mary saved the nascent religion of Islam from annihilation.
You can choose to participate in the obligatory consumer materialism of the season or choose to focus on what is real: love, joy, and the generosity of your presence with loved ones.
