Reality Apologist
Philosophical Correspondent
Jon received his BA in philosophy from UC Berkeley, and is now a PhD student in philosophy at Columbia University in New York City. His interests are wide-ranging over contemporary analytic philosophy, but revolve generally around philosophical naturalism and the relationship between philosophy and the natural sciences. He has particularly deep interests in issues in the philosophy of cognitive science (especially consciousness and artificial intelligence), the philosophical foundations of physics (especially the nature of time), and in developing naturalism as a comprehensive philosophical system. Jon is also an avid teacher, and (aside from his duties in the Columbia philosophy department), is one of the founding members of a philosophy outreach program designed to bring philosophical instruction into New York City public classrooms. His blog at AtheistNews.org is focused primarily on presenting philosophical analysis of and commentary on current debates in religion, ethics, metaphysics, and public policy as they relate to atheism and naturalism.
Less philosophically, Jon also has a deep and abiding fascination with stupid human tricks, and enjoys contact juggling, devil stick juggling, coin tricks, and other bits of manipulation art. He is also a minimalist runner, and is training to compete in the Manhattan half-marathon. He lives in an Ivory Tower with his Siamese cat Cerebro.
Samuel CNews Assault Squadron
Samuel grew up in Portland, Oregon in a Catholic household. After high school he served a term in the USMC which included tours in Okinawa, the Philippines, and Iraq. After concluding his enlistment in the summer of 2006, he began taking classes for an associates transfer degree. Currently he is working as a freelance writer while finalizing his plans to obtain a bachelor’s in journalism.
His hobbies include screen printing, video games, and jazz music. He can play the harmonica and electric bass just good enough to embarrass himself around anyone who actually knows what they’re doing.
moJoeExecutive Editor
Joe was raised fairly indifferent to religion until he was sent to Catholic school in sixth grade. He became a confirmed atheist during his freshman year of Catholic high school when a nun told him that his beloved and sainted Grandmother was probably going to go to hell for being irreligious. He is now the Editor of the Atheist News Blog and co-hosts both the Atheist News Podcast–with his colleague, “Brother” Richard Haynes and the Chariots of Iron podcast–with his good friends Eli and Lamar. He serves as Senior Moderator on the popular atheist social networking site Atheist Nexus as well as sitting as a member of its executive advisory board.
He lives in Portland Oregon with his wife and son. He owns an enormous cat. He hates vegetables. He owns a skateboard and occasionally rides it even though he is far too old. His hobbies include: reading vapid fantasy novels, playing video games, obsessing over news feeds, watching late-night movies with his wife and staging epic water gun wars with his son on his front lawn.
He loves cheese.
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