Sacramento Freethought Day will be celebrated in California this Sunday and, just as they’ve done in the past, organizers asked the Mayor’s Office and Governor’s Office to issue a Proclamation marking “Freethought Day.” This is last year’s proclamation, signed by Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger issued a similar proclamation last year. For some reason, though, Gov. Jerry Brown refuses to extend the same courtesy this time around: … Brown’s office sent an email informing the group he would… Read more
Elizebeth Joy isn’t raising her children in any religious faith, but she’s teaching them a set of values that rivals anything you’ll ever find in a holy book: Be Kind and Gentle to everyone and everything. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Have love for humanity and the universe. Enjoy this life as much as you can. Assume this is all you are going to get (there may not be an afterlife). Search for beauty and good… Read more
If the 24-hour news networks existed a couple thousand years ago, it’s unlikely anything would be different… (via SpaceboyProductions) Read more
I watched this infuriating-yet-hilariously-entertaining segment about women’s reproductive rights and Mitt Romney on Rachel Maddow last night and it had me all sorts of smiling beginning at the 3:55 mark… Send it to your favorite Republican relatives. And, you know, men. Read more
Leah Libresco (who’s now on Patheos!) adds her thoughts to the “chaplain controversy.” She answers the question of whether a Humanist group should have a leader or whether that makes us too “church-y”: An egalitarian community can still have people specialize and take on leadership roles. Anarchy is not the only way to respect the members of an organization and let them contribute… … It can be completely rational to create structures of authority and even to let your Grand… Read more
Who knew popular atheist vloggers were now collaborating? And working on scripts?! Thunderf00t and religiousantagonist did just that and I’m told more vlogger mixing is forthcoming. The premise: Jesus is back and he wants your attention! I love the lines at the 2:20 mark 🙂 At least they can go to lunch at Chick-fil-A? Read more
There’s a new Foxhole Atheist — Megan Hurwitt — and the video of her induction into the Texas Army National Guard is something I’m not used to seeing: Justin Griffith offers this transcript: “I, your name.” I, Megan Hurwitt. “Do solemnly swear.” Do solemnly affirm.*pause* “To support and defend” To support and defend “The Constitution of the United States” the Constitution of the United States, “And the state of Texas” and the state of Texas, “against all enemies”, against all… Read more
At the 2011 Secular Student Alliance conference, I gave a talk about the need for more critical thinking in math education. The video of the talk is finally available so I wanted to share that with you. (Plus, I’m at a math conference this weekend and it seemed like the perfect time to post it.) Hopefully, it won’t scare you away even if you hate the subject! (Spoiler: If you’re coming to Skepticon IV next month and you want to… Read more
In Tennessee. the Shelby County Commission has awarded a “family planning grant” to… a group that opposes family planning: Planned Parenthood has received the family planning grant money for years, but lost in the bidding process to [Christ Community Health Center] when the state turned the funding decision over to the County. … Christ Community says it is morally against the morning after pill, but will contract with a third party to provide it. Christ Community is also against abortion… Read more
