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.
When I get emails from crazy people, I delete them. When Dear Abby gets them, she reinforces their lunacy. Like yesterday, when someone wrote in to talk about her psychic powers: DEAR ABBY: I will graduate from college in June and be a social worker. I am psychic, although I dislike that word because it conjures up visions of crystal balls, quacks and scams. For legitimate psychic individuals, it can be overwhelming to live this way. I first noticed my… Read more
So there’s a week to go before the Reason Rally and the complaining is already in full stride. As if all the organizers and volunteers don’t give a damn about reason and are just letting anyone with a pulse onstage… Since I’ve been helping organize the event (mostly on the Internet end of things), here’s what it sounds like from my end. I should add that I speak only for myself here: Everyone: Why aren’t there any politicians speaking to… Read more
Debbie Walker urges everyone to become a “Capital A” Atheist and — Grammar Nazi issues notwithstanding — I couldn’t agree with her more: I think there are a lot more little “a” atheists out there than we realize. People who don’t have anything to do with any religion yet haven’t made a stand, a commitment to Atheism. Since I’ve “come out” loud and clear, I’ve had a few friends tell me they’re thinking of coming out too. I’ve had several… Read more
In case you missed it this morning, here’s the video of American Atheists president Dave Silverman talking about the Reason Rally on CNN: It’s a quick and appropriate dismissal of what the critics have said about the Hebrew and Arabic billboards. Also, the host asks Dave about Alain de Botton’s idea of an “Atheist Temple” and Dave says — very calmly, I might add — that it’s probably not something he would go to, but if it helps someone who’s… Read more
Here’s an interesting question from a reader… It begins with some assumptions and a conclusion. Yes, the assumptions are generalized (obviously, there are exceptions), but I hope you find it worth discussing. Feel free to poke holes in the argument. Assumption 1) Christians are opposed to abortions. Assumption 2) According to Christians, if a baby (or fetus) is aborted, then surely Jesus would allow it to go to heaven. Assumption 3) If an atheist couple raises a child, there’s a… Read more