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.
I don’t know what I just watched but… I’m getting this funny feeling inside… like Jesus and ‘Merica all rolled into one. And it makes me want to take down the ACLU. WHO’S WITH ME?! That’s from a real 2012 movie called “Last Ounce of Courage.” Because, as we know, it’s very hard to be a Christian in America. (Thanks to Christopher for the link) Read more
Sanal Edamaruku — a.k.a. “the Indian James Randi” — has debunked a lot of sacred cows in his life. Last year, after explaining how a statue of Christ could be dripping water seemingly on its own, he was charged with “hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community.” The “crime” could have resulted in a prison sentence of up to three years in addition to a fine, so Edamaruku fled from his home before he could be punished (or physically attacked). For the past year, Edamaruku has been in Finland. And recently, from his base in Helsinki, he announced the launch of an international journal (published quarterly) aptly called Rationalist: Read more
Chaz Stevens is the atheist activist best known for putting up Festivus poles in Florida. Last year, he got one up at a fire station outside Deerfield Beach. This year, he got one up inside the State Capitol building. This year, Deerfield Beach said they weren’t going to allow any religious/non-religious displays at all — success! — which is why Stevens went to the State Capitol in the first place, but it seems they changed their minds. Now, there’s a Nativity scene in front of the fire station again, along with a dinosaur wearing Santa’s hat, Snoopy saying “Happy holidays,” and what appears to be a snowy ferris wheel. I guess they felt they were safe as long as there were non-Christian displays in the mix, even though the manger appears to be front and center. Why can’t a Festivus Pole be part of that mix? I don’t know but Stevens is ready to sue. And you know what? If that was the whole story, I’d be on his side. Here’s where things get messed up. Read more
