Hemant Mehta is the founder and editor of FriendlyAtheist.com, a YouTube creator, and podcast co-host. He is a former National Board Certified math teacher in the suburbs of Chicago. He has appeared on CNN and FOX News and served on the board of directors for Foundation Beyond Belief and the Secular Student Alliance. He has written multiple books, including I Sold My Soul on eBay and The Young Atheist's Survival Guide. He also edited the book Queer Disbelief.
Noting that Richard Dawkins and Cardinal Pell became conveniently ill just as they were mentioned on your blog, we are nervous about doing the same. However, we cannot resist a chance to tell about an unnecessary law written in New Zealand in 1877 that is finally getting challenged in court thanks to our Secular Education Network. Read more
It’s one thing for Senate Republicans to pretend that they’re taking an honorable stand by not holding confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Merrick Garland. It’s another thing altogether when they’re confronted on their hypocrisy by one of their fellow senators. Senator Al Franken (D-MN) laid into the GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee this week, challenging them on how this isn’t about principle at all. It’s about obstruction and nothing more. Read more
The officials on the Planning Board in New Paltz, New York decided this week that they would no longer say the Pledge of Allegiance at meetings. It was a 4-3 vote to eliminate it. The correct reaction to this is, “So they’re not wasting 15 seconds of taxpayer time on a meaningless ritual they could easily do at home before they arrive? Excellent. More of this, please!” That’s not the reaction everyone had. Read more