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.
Riverdale, Illinois already has money trouble, but at least they’re getting about $50,000 a year in property tax from a nearby lot that sits vacant. Now, the Israel of God church wants to build on that land. That could mean even further devastation for the community: “Someone has to pay for it, and we have to make up for those monies in some way,” [Riverdale Mayor Deyon] Dean said. “When you look at it, this may increase fees for many… Read more
It was only a week ago when the Michigan House of Representatives passed the “Julea Ward freedom of conscience act,” an act that would ban schools from punishing, say, Christian counseling students who don’t want to help gay clients. Ward wasn’t the only Christian who refused to help people because of their sexual orientation. Jennifer Keeton was in the same boat at Augusta State University in Georgia. She took things one step further. She made it clear that if any… Read more
The James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) has launched a biweekly podcast called Consequence, exploring “how pseudoscience and claims of the paranormal can be harmful to believers.” It’ll feature stories of people who have been hurt (financially, physically, emotionally) by psychics and other scam artists. You can download/subscribe to that podcast here. … In Canada, Justin Trottier has started a podcast focusing on astronomy and space exploration called The Star Spot: They’ve already spoken with the Cassini Saturn mission’s Dr. Carolyn… Read more
There’s a village in Cambodia that’s fertile grounds for missionaries trying to convert residents to Christianity. It seems to be working, too. 80% of the locals are now Christian. But it’s not because they believe in the divinity of Jesus or the power of prayer. It’s just a cheaper form of bullshit: Sev Chel, 38, said she made the switch because when she used to get sick, it could cost her hundreds of dollars to appease the gods with a… Read more