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.
Last week, I posted about how the Pinellas Park City Council (in Florida) keeps a copy of the Bible next to the Mayor’s seat atop the dais in City Hall: City officials argue there’s a historical purpose for the Bible being there, but there’s nothing historical about it. It’s a Bible that was gifted to them by the local Kiwanis Club several years ago, certainly not a good enough reason to give it such a prominent position at meetings. Tonight, the Pinellas Park City Council will have its monthly meeting, and they’re in for a media treat: Terry Jones, the pastor who caused worldwide controversy with his “International Burn A Koran Day” on September 11, 2010, will be at the meeting tonight: Read more
You all remember the student-led revolution that began at Eastside Catholic High School in Seattle, Washington last month after Assistant Principal Mark Zmuda was forced to resign after school officials confronted him about his sexual orientation and summer wedding: That forced firing resulted in a massive student protest last month and an even bigger one next week. The New York Times is covering the controversy in a front-page story today, and I was surprised by a couple of the updates. Read more
The ACLU of Louisiana along with its parent organization is suing the Sabine Parish School District because of its “long history of proselytizing students and promoting religion” and the list of complaints against Negreet High School (in the district) is just stunning: We know about the problems thanks to plaintiffs Scott and Sharon Lane and their five brave children, including sixth grader C.C., a “Buddhist of Thai heritage” who doesn’t believe in God. [C.C.’s] science teacher, Rita Roark, repeatedly taught students that the Earth was created by God 6,000 years ago, that evolution is “impossible,” and that the Bible is “100 percent true.” Roark also regularly features religious questions on her tests such as “ISN’T IT AMAZING WHAT THE _____________ HAS MADE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!” When C.C. did not write in Roark’s expected answer, “LORD,” she belittled him in front of the rest of the class. While studying other religions, Roark has told students that Buddhism is “stupid.” When Plaintiffs objected, Sabine Parish Superintendent, Sara Ebarb, told them that “this is the Bible belt.” She suggested that C.C. should “change” his faith or transfer to another district school 25 miles away where, in her words, “there are more Asians.” What the hell…?! Read more