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.
There’s a new Christian Right group in Toronto with a specific focus: A religious advocacy group is taking the Ontario school system to court arguing that public schools need to provide “advance notice” of their teachers’ lesson plans so that parents can vet what their children are allowed to learn. … There is a disturbing trend in Canada’s educational system which is seeing inherent parental rights get trampled by a belligerent, government ideology. This state ideology seems determined to eradicate… Read more
Salman Rushdie’s new book Joseph Anton: A Memoir is an autobiographical account of what happened before, during, and after the infamous fatwa that was put on his life. (According to the Ayatollah Khomeini, Rushdie’s novel The Satanic Verses was blasphemous, “against Islam, the Prophet and the Quran.”) The book’s title refers to the pseudonym Rushdie used while in hiding. This week’s New Yorker features a lengthy excerpt from the new book: 1989 Afterward, when the world was exploding around him,… Read more
Earlier today, the group Atheists Helping the Homeless based in Austin, Texas held their 42nd giveaway — and because it’s their third anniversary, they gave away cake, too! Among the items they gave away: pre-packaged food, toilet paper, socks, soap, combs, razors, sunblock, and shampoo. Also, this marks the last giveaway for our friend Joe Zamecki (at least in an official capacity). He’s handing over AHH leadership to one of the other co-founders Mark Johnson. If you’d like to donate… Read more
It seems to me the people who disregard the separation of church and state are the sticklers that are always pointing to the Constitution (and the Bible for that matter) when and where it serves them. I want America back — the brave, progressive young country, unafraid of the unknown. Motivated by what is right and not reactionary and fear-based. — Actress/comedienne Sarah Silverman, speaking to Church & State about her upcoming performance for Voices United. Read more