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Secular Outpost

@secularoutpost.bsky.social
1.8K followers 706 following 968 posts

Dad. Husband. USAF veteran. Future PCT hiker. Philosopher of Religion. Paul Draper’s bulldog. Atheist. Never Trumper. Politically homeless. philpeople.org/profiles/jeffery-jay…

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Lawrence Lessig @lessig.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Tune in this weekend for a conference about an Article V (aka, "constitutional") convention at HLS, beginning with a talk by the extraordinary Jill Lepore. Everything begins 4:45pm ET Friday. Streaming here: www.vthepeople.org/watch.html
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
If the universe had an absolute beginning, it was not caused to exist. #atheism #philosophy secularoutpost.substack.com/p/the-kalam-...
secularoutpost.substack.com
The Kalam Cosmological Argument’s Mirror Image
William Lane Craig’s kalam cosmological argument is simple:
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Olga Lautman 🇺🇦 @olgalautman.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
More terrorist attacks from terrorist Russia as they bomb a hospital in Kyiv and the Science Academy Every single day Russia carries out mass terrorist attacks across Ukraine
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Sammy Roth @sammyroth.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
OK. Huge baseball fan here, and I've also backpacked the Teton Crest Trail. Building a baseball stadium at a national park is one of the dumbest ideas I've ever heard. It's insane that MLB would ask, and worse that the National Park Service would consider Grand Teton.
washingtonpost.com
Trump administration considers building baseball park in Grand Teton National Park
Major League Baseball contacted the administration about hosting a game in a national park, with an agency official scouting Grand Teton as a possible location.
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Matthew Facciani @matthewfacciani.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
A four-wave study in Sweden found that conspiracy thinking, use of right-wing alternative media, and social media reinforce each other over time. In contrast, mainstream news use was associated with lower levels of conspiracy thinking. www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
tandfonline.com
Breeding conspiracy thinking? Investigating the longitudinal relationship between media use and conspiracy mindset
Over the last decade, conspiracy theories and beliefs in them have become a more pressing social and political problem. Despite different media being the main channels through which conspiracy theo...
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Melissa Deckman @melissadeckman.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
@ruthbraunstein.bsky.social and I published an op-ed, out today in @rns.org ,about what the case of Utah and Latter-day Saints tell us about assuming most religious conservatives endorse Christian nationalism, drawing from our latest survey on CN resistance. religionnews.com/2026/09/24/c...
religionnews.com
Can a person be very conservative and also oppose Christian nationalism? Our survey says yes.
(RNS) — Latter-day Saints diverge from the white evangelicals they resemble in their political conservatism and Republican partisanship.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This is probably going to seem very random compared to my usual content, but I’m an avid hiker who collects maps. So here goes. I’ve started to appreciate certain maps as an art form. I think they can be subjectively quite beautiful. Am I the only person who thinks this?
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
You Can't Pop Into Existence Without a Time to Pop Into: Why Craig's Kalam Argument Needs More Than Examples secularoutpost.substack.com/p/you-cant-p... #philsky #philosophy #atheism #apologetics
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Kate Starbird @katestarbird.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Rumors about “rigged elections" are now a fixture of U.S. elections, leading to diminished trust in election results & democracy (broadly). These rumors can sometimes be hard to debunk, esp. in their early stages. Our UW team has identified the 6 common ways that election integrity rumors mislead:
Infographic titled "Six Ways 'Rigged Election' Rumors Mislead." A two-column table pairs six labeled categories with descriptions. The first three categories are:

No Evidence: The rumor is entirely unsubstantiated. There's no evidence to support the rumor.

Fake/False Evidence: The rumor is based on fake or synthetic evidence (e.g. AI-generated content), manipulated evidence, or false witness testimony.

Misinterpreted Evidence: This rumor is based upon real evidence that has been misinterpreted or intentionally mischaracterized to create a false impression.

A black banner then introduces the final three categories: "Real Evidence, Real Voting Issue, False Narrative."

Exaggerated Impact: The rumor centers on a real issue with voting but falsely insinuates or exaggerates impact on election results.

Ignored Remedies: The rumor centers on a real issue with voting but ignores and/or obscures the remedies that would address this problem

False Blame: The rumor centers on a real issue with voting but either falsely attributes intent for an accidental issue or places blame on an innocent party.

Source: UW Center for an Informed Public, September 2026.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Whoever is responsible for promoting Scotland as a tourism destination really needs to discover your account. Your photos are beautiful.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
This is so sad. Thanks for keeping his memory alive.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Congrats!
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Cool photo and congrats!!!
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
No one inside America (besides Trump) calls it that.
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Randal Rauser @randalrauser.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Joe Schmid is hiding pro-choice arguments on his YouTube page to keep people from sinning. youtu.be/VbjBjc_NxM8
youtu.be
Is Joe Schmid censoring pro-choice arguments?
YouTube video by Randal Rauser - The Tentative Apologist
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
He is. When you said to me that you people are weird, it made me think you thought I was a Trump supporter.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
???
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
What are your top priorities for the U.S. Government to focus on? Do you have your list in mind? Now compare your list to this breaking news: wapo.st/4gQOTqL
wapo.st
Trump says U.S. could rename Lake Ontario as Lake America amid Canada trade war
The president cited his tariff fight in a social media post, saying the United States doesn’t expect to be “doing much business with Ontario any longer.”
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Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
www.indcatholicnews.com/news/55673
indcatholicnews.com
USA: Retired Anglican priest detained by ICE | ICN
A 78-year-old Colorado priest has been in ICE detention for almost a year. He is now malnourished, in a wheelchair, has a persistent cough, and with chest pain. The only treatment he gets is cough med...
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
I’ve never been to Scotland, but after viewing several of your photos, it reminds me of where I live (the Pacific Northwest in the United States). Scotland looks gorgeous!
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
I love your photos.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 15/08/2026
To adapt Bilbo Baggins: I understand half of Thomism half as well as I should like, and less than half of it half as well as it deserves. #philosophy #LOTR #Thomism
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 13/08/2026
Stephen Darwall’s new paper dismantles a classic argument (Anscombe, Taylor): that obligation is inherently "owed to someone" and thus requires a Lawgiver. He shows that resolving conflicting duties & supererogation inescapably requires nonrelational (monadic) moral obligation. shorturl.at/XeKMG
cambridge.org
Why Obligations can’t be Relational All the Way Down | Canadian Journal of Philosophy | Cambridge Core
Why Obligations can’t be Relational All the Way Down
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
This is my best friend, Buddy, resting his head on his favorite toy. #goldenretrievers #dogs
An English crème golden retriever lays down on the floor, resting his head on his favorite toy.
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Luca @lucagalletti.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Bambi and Thumper, the adult years 💕 TT: @medy_evans Port Angeles, Washington
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Michelle @michelleroy78.bsky.social · 04/08/2026
I’m old enough to remember when lying about adultery was worthy of impeachment. Feels quaint at this point.
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Petra Michaela @petramichaela.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
The greatest gift we can leave future generations isn’t money it’s a healthy planet. Protect forests today, so life can thrive tomorrow. There is no Planet B.
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atlasmind @atlasmind.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
Turquoise lake in Colorado 🇺🇸
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
May I ask what focal length you used to get this?
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
North Bend?
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 01/08/2026
I’m so sorry for your loss.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Wow!!! The top right pic is especially good.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
Last night was a great night for a hike. #PNW #hiking #photography
Interstate 90 cuts through the dense Snoqualmie Valley, framed by rugged foreground rocks and conifers.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Sometimes you just have to stop and look up. Caught this dizzying worm's-eye view of the canopy along Margaret's Way. Pushed the HDR brackets just enough to capture that incredible sunlit glow on the moss. 📸🌿 #NaturePhotography #PNW #SquakMountain #LandscapePhotography
Gaze up into the lush, towering canopy of the Issaquah Alps, where sunlight dances through heavily moss-draped branches in the peaceful forests of Margaret's Way.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
Found this incredible, moss-draped sentinel standing guard over the trail today. I love how the dappled mid-day sun hits the trunk like a spotlight, highlighting all that rugged texture against the deep shadows of the woods. 🌲✨ 📍 Margaret's Way, Squak Mountain #PNW #Forest #Hiking #Photography
A rugged, moss-draped tree trunk bends sharply over a dirt hiking trail on Margaret's Way, illuminated by harsh, dappled mid-day sunlight cutting through the dense summer canopy of the Issaquah Alps.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 20/07/2026
There is nothing quite like the feeling of standing at the start of a new trail. The wooden stairs of Margaret's Way curving up and disappearing into that dense, sun-dappled green just pull you right in. Ready to hike! 🥾🌲 📍 Squak Mountain, Issaquah Alps #PNW #Hiking #Forest #OptOutside
Wooden stairs curve invitingly upward into the sun-dappled, moss-heavy forests of the Issaquah Alps, marking the peaceful beginning of the Margaret's Way Trail.
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Barry McCaffrey @brma64.bsky.social · 19/07/2026
Mr Trump has the US stuck in a quagmire. No way to force the Straits without significant US ground forces. 200,000 IRGC…600,000 Army. Doable. Stiff battle. A year. To what end? Iran is going nuclear within 5 years. No allies. No voter support. No strategy.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
This is a sad day for the U.S. Navy and the USA. The Secretary’s impulse is to separate sailors, primarily Black sailors, rather than seek to find a solution for the breathing masks that is compatible with facial hair. Based on the article, it is not even clear that Hegseth asked about other options
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 12/07/2026
This is a sad day for the U.S. Navy and the USA. The Secretary’s impulse is to separate sailors, primarily Black sailors, rather than seek to find a solution for the breathing masks that is compatible with facial hair. Based on the article, it is not even clear that Hegseth asked about other options
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tomwellborn3rd @wellborn.net · 10/07/2026
Pete Hegseth toured a naval vessel, got upset that sailors had beard exemptions, and launched a Pentagon-wide crackdown. Iran hostilities just resumed with no end in sight. The Secretary of War's top priority is facial hair on Black men with a documented skin condition.
rawstory.com
Pete Hegseth sends heads rolling after noticing his no-beard policy is going unenforced
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth noticed too many people were getting exemptions from his strict "no beards" crackdown while visiting a naval ship last month, CNN reported — and heads rolled over it....
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 29/05/2026
This is both rigged and stupid. In a democracy, voters choose their politicians. In the U.S. House of Representatives, the political party that controls a Representative’s state government chooses the choose its politicians’ voters through partisan redistricting.
ground.news
Republicans are poised to finish this year’s redistricting war 10 seats ahead of Democrats
By Fredreka Schouten, CNN (CNN) — The coast-to-coast battle to gain an edge in November’s elections through partisan gerrymandering is racing to its conclusion – with Republicans poised to finish with...
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Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · 01/05/2026
If Ukraine ceases firing, Ukraine ceases to exist. IF Russia ceases, the war ceases
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Justin Wolfers @justinwolfers.bsky.social · 16/04/2026
Here’s the thing—especially on April 15: cutting the IRS isn't some abstract budget trim. It's a tax cut delivered through weaker enforcement. And it mostly goes to people with the most scope to hide income.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
I find it hard to believe that any Christians will accept Trump’s gaslighting:
Asked about the post Monday afternoon, Trump said he posted it.
“I thought it was me as a doctor, and had to do with Red Cross, as a Red Cross worker, which we support,” Trump said. In the photo, Trump’s clothing is reminiscent of clothing worn in Jesus’ time and does not appear to be an outfit a modern doctor would wear. There is no reference in the photo to the Red Cross.
“It’s supposed to be me as a doctor, making people better,” Trump continued. “And I do make people better. I make people a lot better.”
Trump said “only the fake news” could suggest he was depicting himself as Jesus, ignoring the criticism he received from his own religious supporters.
The president last year posted an image of him as pope that appeared to be AI-generated.President Donald Trump posted to Truth Social on Sunday what appeared to be an AI-generated image depicting him as Jesus.
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The Intellectualist @theintellectualist.bsky.social · 10/04/2026
As Ukraine burns, Trump displays a White House photo with Putin during an active war. The image pairs a convicted U.S. president with a leader under ICC warrant, signaling proximity as allies question U.S. reliability. theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/as-ukraine...
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
Happy to be added
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Pete Buttigieg @petebuttigieg.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Regardless of whether it’s all talk, when the leader of our country expresses plainly genocidal intent, everyone has to do something. For citizens of all political stripes, it means rejecting this madness. For Congress, it means taking action to rein him in. Now.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
I’m an atheist who is happy to join with the Pope in condemning Trump’s threats.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
From Catholic philosopher Edward Feser:
An unspeakably evil threat. Every soldier has the duty to disobey orders to carry this out, every government official has the duty to do whatever is in his power to stop it, every churchmen has the duty to speak out against it, every citizen to resist in any moral way possible.
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Secular Outpost @secularoutpost.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
That looks like one of my favorite hiking trails in Washington state. Very nice.
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