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.
The separation of church and state, championed by thinking believers and non-believers alike across the United States, has been a key part of the country’s success since the First Amendment was adopted in 1791. This separation not only protects freedom of (and from) religion by ensuring the government isn’t affiliated with any particular faith; it also protects religions themselves from possible political interference. It was thought up by our Founding Fathers early on and has been upheld and expanded by the U.S. Supreme Court ever since. But even with all these advantages, some people want to tear down the Wall of Separation. Here are the most serious threats against secularism in modern America: Read more
We already knew the Boy Scouts of America was a religious organization. The Scout Oath has a line about how “I will do my best / To do my duty to God,” the Scout Law includes “reverent” as a quality worth having, and open atheists have been systematically kicked out of the organization. The fact that it took until very recently for the BSA to accept both gay scouts and gay leaders has everything to do with religious opposition within its membership. But now, beginning next year, all scouts will be required to “tell” how they’ve done their duty to God. Forget being a closeted atheist. That means you can’t even be questioning your faith anymore. Read more
In an excellent interview with Fareed Zakaria on Friday night, Richard Dawkins lamented all the Republican candidates who reject evolution, rightfully calling it a “disgrace.” He threw them a bit of a bone by saying he didn’t think they were all that ignorant; they were probably just pandering to their base. The most specific criticism, though, was reserved for Dr. Ben Carson. As a skilled doctor, Dawkins argued, he should be first in line defending science, not disregarding the evidence in favor of primitive, biblical thinking. That’s the part that infuriated Creationist Ken Ham. Read more
