Nathan Alexander
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nathgalexander.bsky.social
Nathan Alexander
@nathgalexander.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1K following 720 posts
Historian (race, atheism), Univ. of Ottawa 🇨🇦. Self-publishing a fantasy novel, Ashes of the Revolution 🐉. Author, Race in a Godless World. Project manager, @nonreligioncf.bsky.social‬. Co-host, Beyond Atheism Podcast.

https://www.nathangalexander.com
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nathgalexander.bsky.social
A (long-ish) health update:

TLDR: I have cancer but I’m doing well overall haha.

To recap, I was diagnosed with stage-four colorectal cancer this past July. I’ve now done over three months of chemotherapy. I’m feeling much better than before I started!
November 19, 2025 at 8:41 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
It seems like the bots are malfunctioning!!

I believe this is the first time someone has wished me congratulations for having cancer haha
A screenshot of an exchange with a bot (?): My initial post said: I don't think I know too many people personally on here, so this may just disappear into the ether. But just in case, some personal news: Hey all, I have some heavy news to share unfortunately: I’ve recently been diagnosed with stage-four cancer. It originated in my colon but has spread to my liver and lungs as well. I’ll soon start chemotherapy, but the doctor has told me that I may only have several years left to live, if that. Of course, it could be the case that I respond really well to the chemotherapy, and this then opens up other options for treatment, but I was cautioned that this would be a very big surprise. Still, I am staying positive. Not that I am holding out hope for a miracle cure, but rather that I am choosing to focus on all of the good things in life: the many amazing experiences and adventures I’ve had, and the meaningful relationships I’ve formed. I’ve had a really good life so far, and I’m treating any time left as a great bonus. So, while it is obviously a sad time, I’m mostly just feeling incredibly fortunate and grateful for everything. 🙌 The bot said: Congratulations on your personal news! Wishing you all the best as you share this new chapter. I said: Thank you!! I am very excited to begin this new chapter!! They said: That’s awesome it’s always nice
November 7, 2025 at 12:12 AM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
This is about the challenges of doing stand-up comedy in the age of social media, but it really resonated with me as an aspiring writer too!
I have resigned myself to the need that creating some type of curated internet database of myself is a necessity for the job I am in. I was talking to my agent about what I should be posting and he said "whatever feels genuine". It's good advice, but where does that leave artists whose most authentic behaviour would be to not post at all? Ideally, I would write a great hour, tour it, film it, release it, disappear, and return a year or two later with a new one. That is no longer an option. I am grateful for what the internet has to offer, but I mourn who I could have been with a functional attention span and full focus on actually trying to become a great comedian. I'm not coming at comics who have successfully learned how to use the internet for their benefit. I'm incredible proud and jealous. It is lawless out there. But I didn't get into this to be good at the internet. I did not lay in bed dreaming of becoming a "content creator". I wanted to be a comedian.
November 4, 2025 at 8:00 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
Atheists are by far the most progressive lifestance demographic when it comes to views on trans issues:

www.pewresearch.org/religion/202...
58% of religiously unaffiliated Americans say greater acceptance of people who are transgender is a change for the better
October 12, 2025 at 2:37 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
Makes me think of this cartoon

xkcd.com/774/
Two stick figures with one saying "Personally, I find atheists just as annoying as fundamentalist Christians" and the other saying, "Well, the important thing is that you've found a way to feel superior to both"
October 11, 2025 at 8:43 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
Though I always think about Douglas Adams' rules for technology...
1. Anything that is in the world when you’re born is normal and ordinary and is just a natural part of the way the world works. 2. Anything that’s invented between when you’re fifteen and thirty-five is new and exciting and revolutionary and you can probably get a career in it. 3. Anything invented after you’re thirty-five is against the natural order of things.
September 23, 2025 at 7:07 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
This was a beautiful tribute from Bob, but it's hardly out of character for him. That pages shares daily stories of his greatness, such as when he helped this poor child, abandoned by a wealthy family because of a spot on his face!! Who knew??
A Facebook post from a page called The Harmonica Chronicles. It shows Bob Dylan and a child with a black spot over his eye in various poses. 🚨 BREAKING: Abandoned by Wealthy Family at Birth Because of a Dark Spot on His Face — What Bob Dylan Did Next Years Later Not Only Changed a Child’s Life Forever, But Also Moved Millions Around the World to Tears…😭 👉 FULL STORY 👇👇👇
September 13, 2025 at 2:45 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
(By the way, for a really good literary essay on the hollowness of academia, this one stayed with me: www.theparisreview.org/blog/2020/05...)
I send my sons on a scavenger hunt because it’s day fifty-eight of homeschooling, and I’m all out of ideas. I give them a checklist: a rock, soil, a berry, something soft, a red leaf, a brown leaf, something alive, something dead, an example of erosion, something that looks happy, a dead branch on a living tree. They come back with two canvas totes filled with nature. I can’t pinpoint what this lesson is exactly. Something about identification and possession. Something about buying time. As I empty the bags and touch the moss, and the leaves, and the twigs, and the berries, and a robin-blue eggshell, I consider how much we depend on useless, arbitrary tasks to prove ourselves. I consider how much we depend on these tasks so we can say, at the very end, we succeeded.
August 30, 2025 at 2:57 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
The voice that ChatGPT adopts of concerned friend/therapist is just so repulsive. I hope the people responsible for creating this monstrosity have this on their conscience forever
What devastates Maria Raine was that there was no alert system in place to tell her that her son’s life was in danger. Adam told the chatbot, “You’re the only one who knows of my attempts to commit.” ChatGPT responded: “That means more than you probably think. Thank you for trusting me with that. There’s something both deeply human and deeply heartbreaking about being the only one who carries that truth for you.”
August 26, 2025 at 2:35 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
I don't think I know too many people personally on here, so this may just disappear into the ether. But just in case, some personal news:
Hey all, I have some heavy news to share unfortunately: I’ve recently been diagnosed with stage-four cancer. It originated in my colon but has spread to my liver and lungs as well. I’ll soon start chemotherapy, but the doctor has told me that I may only have several years left to live, if that. Of course, it could be the case that I respond really well to the chemotherapy, and this then opens up other options for treatment, but I was cautioned that this would be a very big surprise. Still, I am staying positive. Not that I am holding out hope for a miracle cure, but rather that I am choosing to focus on all of the good things in life: the many amazing experiences and adventures I’ve had, and the meaningful relationships I’ve formed. I’ve had a really good life so far, and I’m treating any time left as a great bonus. So, while it is obviously a sad time, I’m mostly just feeling incredibly fortunate and grateful for everything. 🙌
July 21, 2025 at 11:09 AM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
New episode of the Beyond Atheism podcast!

Ep. 74: Humanism and Neurodiversity – Alastair Lichten

In this episode, we are joined again by Alastair Lichten, a humanist community builder and the author of the blog, Humanist Dad (@humanistdad.bsky.social).
A poster which says NEW EPISODE at the top The episode title is Ep. 74: Humanism and Neurodiversity – Alastair Lichten There is a picture of Alastair as well. He has a beard and is wearing glasses.
July 2, 2025 at 10:57 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
Excited to share the maps for my forthcoming fantasy novel, Ashes of the Revolution!! They were made by Wouter Goedkoop (@wfgworkshop.bsky.social) who was truly a miracle worker.

I'm planning to self-publish and with luck the novel will be out sometime later this year. Watch this space!!
A black and white world map. The main continent, Ogard, is central, with countries of Estenland, Friezzia, Callington, and Esbeck. In the North is the contintent of Otela, with the Dragon Isles off the east coast. In the West is the continent of Ozenzal. City map of Goldhall in Estenland. This is an industrial city on the coast with a river running through it. Main points of interest in the city are the palace, the prison, and a district called Iron Town. Outside the city is one of the main characters' estates and a small village called Farnestead.
June 19, 2025 at 10:26 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
New episode of the Beyond Atheism podcast!

Ep. 73: Unbelief in Iran, Past and Present – Arash Ghajarjazi

Listen here: www.spreaker.com/episode/ep-7...
May 27, 2025 at 11:07 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
I'm doing a webinar with @thefreethinkermag.bsky.social in July called "Atheism and Vegetarianism in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries: A Match Made in Heaven?"

Check it out!

Details here: freethinker.co.uk/2025/05/free...
May 26, 2025 at 10:55 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
The crazy thing is that I literally just won one!!!! The Spider Solitaire gods must've heard me haha
May 22, 2025 at 12:10 AM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
"Oh my God, he admit it!"
April 10, 2025 at 11:37 AM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
I'm sure by June or July we'll almost definitely be done with winter...
A street in Ottawa covered with snow. Snow-covered trees line the street and there is a bicyclist riding down the street.
April 8, 2025 at 1:25 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
Someone needs to make an equivalent photoshop of Rubio like this haha
A photoshopped picture of Ben Shapiro next to Jordan Peterson, where Shapiro is shrunk to be about a foot shorter than Peterson
April 4, 2025 at 2:59 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
As I prepare to self-publish my fantasy novel, I'm just learning how to use Vellum, this software which formats the novel for you. It's pretty cool!! 🙌

#writingcommunity
Title page: Ashes of the Revolution Nathan G. Alexander Chapter 1 Charlotte “I believe you may be lost, my lady,” said the hulking doorman. Charlotte was a curious sight, she supposed. “I believe not,” she replied. Charlotte extended her hand and grasped his, placing her thumb upon his middle knuckle, tapping twice, then sliding her middle finger across his palm as she relinquished her grip. This softened his menacing look. “My map-reading abilities have never once failed me,” she said with a wink. “Apologies, my lady,” he said, amused. “In these times we must be careful, you understand. Please, do come in.” Charlotte entered the building – the meeting hall of the Working-Men’s Benevolent Association – located amidst the tenements of Iron Town. She walked toward the chattering coming from the main hall and dropped a generous donation into the collection box upon entering the crowded room. The clinking of the coins brought a surprised smile to the ruddy face of the woman guarding the box. Most of the attendees evidently did not give so much as Charlotte. A steady hum of boisterous conversation filled the room as attendees waited for the meeting to begin. The men – for it was mostly men – were as well dressed as could be expected given their relative poverty. The suits they wore, if somewhat thread-
March 30, 2025 at 6:25 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
It's just great that Facebook has banned sharing actual news on its site (for Canadians) but also allows misleading sponsored ads masquerading as news

¯\_(ツ)_/¯
A screenshot of an ad on Facebook from a site called Canadian Broadcasting. The text reads: "A controversial decision from the new PM that could destroy Canada's already fragile economy!" There is also a photo of Mark Carney and a link purporting to come from CBC with the headline, "BREAKING: Carney shocked Canadians today with a surprise announcement just days after calling a snap election"
March 26, 2025 at 3:39 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
New episode of the Beyond Atheism podcast!

Ep. 72: The Omega Course – Paul Clark (@paulclark42.bsky.social)

In this episode, we’re joined by Paul Clark, author of The Omega Course, a coming-of-age novel about guilt, redemption, and loss of faith.
March 4, 2025 at 11:33 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
This is JD Vance today...
Four panels from the Simpsons: Panel 1: Marge says, "Thank you, Bart, thank you, Lisa, for all your help." Panel 2: Homer says, "What about me? You didn't thank me" Panel 3: Bart says, "You didn't do anything!" Panel 4: Homer says, "I like being thanked..."
March 1, 2025 at 2:24 AM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
February 10, 2025 at 6:45 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
Just reading about the pardon of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes when I see this amazing passage.

This timeline couldn't get any stupider...
Rhodes, who wears an eye patch after accidentally shooting himself in the face with his own gun, founded the Oath Keepers in 2009. The militia group's members include current and retired U.S. military personnel, law enforcement officers and first responders.
January 22, 2025 at 1:39 PM
nathgalexander.bsky.social
In the wake of Trudeau's resignation, please spare a thought for these poor souls 🙏
An image with a guy in a cowboy hat and plaid shirt leaning against a truck with "Fuck Trudeau" flags on it. The top of the image says, "Well, shit... what am I going to base my entire personality on now?" And at the bottom, it says, "without him, who even am I?"
January 8, 2025 at 1:28 PM