Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers, has a great interview in The Atlantic about atheists in foxholes: What services could military chaplains provide to atheists? Should they be handing out books by Christopher Hitchens or Richard Dawkins? … Every military chaplain has to agree to provide mentorship and support to every service member. That’s part of the job description, even though 98 percent of them are Christians. They should be able to give general instruction… Read more
Carolyn S. Briggs, a self-described “wobbly agnostic,” attended the 2011 American Atheists convention in Des Moines and has a lot to say about what she saw there. I don’t know how seriously to take her, though, since she describes AA president Dave Silverman as “Jake Gyllenhall-cute”… I don’t know about that. You can decide for yourself: That aside, it’s a pretty enlightening read from someone new to this whole community: I swallow hard and listen closer. We’ve been told this… Read more
After my rant about the misguided Christian COEXIST poster, the folks at Truth-Saves made one that’s much more realistic (click on the image for a larger version): I appreciate the addition at the very end 🙂 Read more
How did the Foundation Beyond Belief members do during the 3rd Quarter of 2011? *Amazingly* well: We raised a total of $31,240 for our ten beneficiaries and even “funded a full four-year college scholarship for a Guatemalan high school scholar currently in the [Roots & Wings International] program”! We’re about to hit $200,000 in cumulative donations and that’s as good a time as any to celebrate! Please consider becoming a member if you aren’t one already 🙂 Read more
The Freedom From Religion Foundation just began a new billboard campaign in Oakland, California that’s bound to upset devout Christians. They pull no punches and go right after delusional thinking — specifically the kind that leads you to believe Jesus is coming back one day. Check out these new signs: They’re also bringing back one of their older billboards: In its “fool me once” campaign, the Freedom From Religion Foundation is asking onlookers to use their judgment not just to… Read more
As you undoubtedly know, the end of the world is coming on October 21st… at least according to Pastor Harold Camping. The Burrowing Owls wrote a song all about it 🙂 Catchy little tune, no? Read more
No, the American Cancer Society still hasn’t come to its senses. They still refuse to recognize an atheist National Team. But at least the story is getting picked up by more media sources… The Young Turks covered it yesterday and they don’t hold back at all: Also, I taped an interview with Jon Grayson of Overnight America on CBS radio in St. Louis and it should have aired by the time you read this. Hopefully, this story is only beginning… Read more
This is an article by Michael Werner. It appears in the November/December 2011 issue of The Humanist. You can read other articles from this issue and subscribe to the magazine by going to their website. … A fellow humanist once asked, regarding the fact that the American Humanist Association has published three Humanist Manifestos, “Can’t we ever get it right?” My answer is that we try to get it as right as we can at the time. Humanism espouses a… Read more
Last week, the Secular Student Alliance affiliate at East Central University in Oklahoma held a Blasphemy Bake Sale! The cost for the items was your soul… or your best offer 🙂 (Click on the image for a larger version) This. Is. Awesome: Cookie-pops with “dirty” words on them. “Sinfully sweet” cupcakes bearing blasphemous messages. Flying Spaghetti Monster Rice Krispies Treats! I don’t have a soul, but I’ll offer my future first-born for one of those Fetus Cookies. (via SSA at… Read more
Serah Blain, a lobbyist for the Secular Coalition of Arizona, gave a short talk for the University of Chicago Secular Alliance last week and they’ve put the video up online. The audio’s a little tough to hear but a transcript is at their website. It’s good to know we have vocal activists like this working on our behalf: (Thanks to Chana for the link!) Read more
