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 video below, part of The Atheist Voice series, discusses books about Heaven, written for children: You can read more about the book in question here: We’d love to hear your thoughts on the project — more videos will be posted soon — and we’d also appreciate your suggestions as to which questions we ought to tackle next! Read more
You remember Rebecca Vitsmun, the Oklahoma native whose family survived the nasty tornado this past spring. During an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, she had this notable exchange: Blitzer: Well, you’re blessed. Brian, your husband, is blessed. Anders is blessed… and I guess you gotta thank the Lord, right? Do you thank the Lord? For that split-second decision? Vitsmun: I… I… I’m… I’m actually an atheist… [Laughs] Blitzer: Oh, you are! [Laughs] But you made the right call! Vitsmun: Yeah, yep. We are here! And, you know, I don’t blame anybody for thanking the Lord. Blitzer: Of course not. It was fantastic 🙂 At the Atheist Alliance of America 2013 National Convention this past weekend, Vitsmun spoke about the disaster, the aftermath, and TIME magazine’s Joe Klein. (Skip to the 12:00 mark to hear the actual speech!) [Click headline for more…] Read more
Here’s Jackson County (Mississippi) Sheriff Mike Byrd on April 29 of this year, helping lead a local National Day of Prayer event: The [National Day of Prayer] observance for Jackson County-Pascagoula is set for 11:30 a.m. at the Jackson County Courthouse in Pascagoula. Praise and worship music begins at 11:30 a.m., and the prayer ceremony begins at noon. The program should run approximately 50-minutes. … Praise and worship will be provided by Scott Capers and Church At The Square praise team. Guest soloists include Charlotte Watts, vocalist and music director at Central Elementary School, Rev. John White, music minister at First Baptist Church Pascagoula and Sheriff Mike Byrd. And here’s Jackson County Sheriff Mike Byrd as of late last week: [Click headline for more…] Read more
This is an actual ad for an upcoming event for the Caldwell County Republican Party in Texas: Yes… clinging to their God and Guns (a reference to an awkwardly-worded statement made in 2008 by then-candidate Barack Obama). The best part may be the photo they used: A cowboy of sorts with a gun in one holster and a Bible in the other. [Click headline for more…] Read more
There’s a reason to watch the show as it heads into its 17th season: It’s time for this nerd to get dancin’. O yes, season 17 of #DWTS, here I come. #GMADancing— Bill Nye (@TheScienceGuy) September 4, 2013 Bill Nye’s competitors include ex-Scientologist (and “King of Queens” star) Leah Remini, comedian Bill Engvall, Showgirls and “Saved by the Bell” actress Elizabeth Berkley Lauren… And Snooki. Bill Nye and Snooki. Who will be linked together in the same sentences until one of them gets kicked off the show. Let that sink in. [Click headline for more…] Read more