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.
Reader Justin Scott, an Iowan who takes his politics seriously, has been going to meet-and-greets with a number of candidates to ask why atheists should consider supporting them. Yesterday, at a Carly Fiorina rally, he asked the Republican two questions. One was about her support of vouchers (which church/state separation advocates oppose because they allow taxpayer money to fund religious schools) and the other was about her take on religious freedom. The questions were arguably linked since Justin, as an atheist, could say it violates his own beliefs to fund a religious school. Fiorina gave what amounted to a stump speech on vouchers… but her response to the religious liberty question ended up being all about how Christians are being persecuted. Read more
Christian Pastor Steven Anderson has never been a fan of feminism. He has said his daughters “are gonna be taught not to be independent.” And that “normal” women want to follow a leader (that is, unless they’re “reprobate lesbians”). And that women should have no say in how our country is run. So, by comparison, saying feminism “gives Christianity a bad name” is really anti-climactic. It’s like he’s mellowing out. Read more
As cringe-worthy as it was to see Sarah Palin on stage last night endorsing Donald Trump for President, you have to admit it’s somewhat enjoyable to see the fringe elements of the Republican Party scrambling to figure out which horse to bet on. Evangelicals have largely abandoned the politicians whose reputations are built around their faith — people like Mike Huckabee and Rick Santorum — and they’re coalescing around Trump, who couldn’t name his favorite book in the Bible, can’t speak the language of the religious base, and incorrectly referenced a Bible verse at Liberty University. It’s driving right-wing Christian blogger Matt Walsh crazy, since he thinks Trump has no business in the White House. But it’s not because Trump is an insincere Christian. Instead, Walsh jumps to the other end of the spectrum and says Trump is godless. Read more
Yesterday, I mentioned that activist Chaz Stevens had countered a Nativity scene, Christmas tree, and menorah outside City Hall in Hallandale Beach, Florida with a giant upside-down cross that reads “In Chaz We Trust. All others pay cash.” That’s what happens when a local government allows religious displays on public property — they can’t say no when someone else makes a very unpopular request. But get this: Last night, Stevens saw that the city had erected a sign next to his cross: Read more
