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.
Comedian Pete Holmes interviewed hipster Christian author Rob Bell — while surfing — for his new late-night show. The clip is mostly lackluster, but it’s not often you hear someone ask a Christian pastor to do shrooms with him or try to recreate the gag-inducing “Footprints” poem. The highlight, though, is when Holmes asks Bell at the 0:47 mark: “Do you think Jesus ever surfed or was definitely a real person?” Read more
The Foundation Beyond Belief is looking for a few interns for the spring: Experience in the nonprofit sector is not a requirement but is certainly a plus, as are experience working with local groups, research skills, and writing experience. Foundation Beyond Belief is happy to work with students who are participating in internship credit programs through their school. Although interns often have tasks that overlap several areas of Foundation operations, each intern is primarily focused on one specific program area. Candidates should apply to only one internship position, but may indicate interest in other roles. It’s a great organization and our volunteers do a wonderful job. More information is right here. The deadline is Sunday night, so apply soon! Read more
In conjunction with this weekend’s opening of the Humanist Hub, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has issued a proclamation declaring Sunday to be Humanist Community Day: Whereas December 8, 2013 marks the first-ever public event at the Humanist Hub, a center supporting community life for Humanists, atheists, agnostics and the nonreligious in Cambridge and beyond; and Whereas the Humanist Hub of the Humanist Community at Harvard is the first such center for Humanist community life in the history of the Commonwealth… Read more
Daily Free Press, the student newspaper at Boston University, recently ran an article about the religious diversity on campus with a spotlight on the Interfaith Council: [University Chaplain for International Students Rev. Brittany] Longsdorf also explained that there are multiple resources available for students to explore their faith, learn about other faiths, or even just voice their opinions. “Students are at a place where they’re okay to say, ‘I’m not sure if this religion is absolutely correct — I’m not sure if any religion is absolutely correct — but there are all of these options for me to explore right in front of me,’” she said. Just one problem with that. When the Humanists of Boston University applied for inclusion in the Religious Life Council on campus, they were rejected. And can you really be interfaith when “none of the above” isn’t even an option on the menu? Read more
