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.
Some people hate the meme, but I feel left out. Someone make this happen! I’ll even get you started (with help from the folks on Twitter): “You’re an atheist? But you’re so nice!” “Do you believe in Satan?” “Your life must be bleak and meaningless.” “So why do you even bother to live?” “You were never a true believer.” “Why do you hate God?” “You’re just going through a phase.” “Deep down, you really believe.” “Just wait till you have… Read more
Three Republican state senators in Indiana have a plan to fix public education in the state: Have someone recite the Lord’s Prayer at the beginning of every school day. Really. It’s Senate Bill No. 25 (PDF): In order that each student recognize the importance of spiritual development in establishing character and becoming a good citizen, the governing body of a school corporation or the equivalent authority of a charter school may require the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer at the… Read more
***Update 2***: Additional updates can be found here. … ***Update 1***: The 40-page decision from U.S. District Court Judge Ronald R. Lagueux can be read here (PDF). Highlights: The Court rules that Plaintiff [Ahlquist] has standing in this matter and rules in her favor on the merits of this dispute. The Court also orders the immediate removal of the Prayer Mural from the auditorium at Cranston West. … The Court refrains from second-guessing the expressed motives of the Committee members,… Read more
I didn’t know about this until yesterday. And now that I know it, I’m angry I didn’t know about it sooner. For decades now, when the government compiled national crime statistics, the number of sexual assaults reported was lower than it should’ve been. That’s because the FBI’s definition of rape — “the carnal knowledge of a female, forcibly and against her will” — didn’t include penetration with an object, instances when someone was roofied, cases with male victims, the rape… Read more
