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.
Yesterday, Donald Trump held a highly-publicized/total-flameout meeting with several black ministers in an effort to show how much their community supports him. In a revelation that will surprise absolutely none of you, one of those pastors was James David Manning, better known as the guy who thinks Starbucks’ lattes contain the “semen of sodomites.” Manning also uses anti-gay slurs when referring to people in the LGBT community. Because that’s what Christ would do. Read more
If you visit Bladensburg, Maryland, you’ll see a 40-foot-tall World War I memorial called “Peace Cross.” Not only is it clearly a Christian symbol, it’s on public property, maintained by the Maryland National Capital Park and Planning Commission: In 2012, the American Humanist Association asked the Commission to take down the monument. It was perfectly fine to honor veterans, but not with a symbol that elevates one religion over all others and implies that only Christian soldiers fought in the war. Read more
Alabama State Rep. Alan Harper made a sensible plea to his constituents on Monday, telling them to buy “American” when they go shopping or get gas this holiday season. He wouldn’t be the only politician saying something like that, but he may be the only one who followed it up with a helpful hint for where people shouldn’t spend their money: Read more
The other day, I posted a video clip in which Christian evangelist Joshua Feuerstein told his followers to go after doctors who provide abortion services. This wasn’t metaphorical, either. He said very clearly in the clip: “I say, tonight, we punish Planned Parenthood. I think it’s time that abortion doctors should have to run and hide and be afraid for their life.” Read more
As I mentioned last month, Foundation Beyond Belief, a wonderful non-profit I work with, is in the middle of its #HumanistsCare challenge, and we’d love your support. Any donations go toward supporting our beneficiaries, helping on-the-ground volunteers in the U.S. and overseas (we currently have a team in Ghana), and providing resources in emergency disaster situations. You can make a donation right now. Not only will the first $20,000 raised be matched, effectively doubling your gift, there are all sorts of prizes available to those who give: Read more
