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.
Laura Beck gave birth to her first child Truman back in August… but he died just three days later. As hard as it was to cope with the loss, it didn’t help that so many of the people around her were using the phrase “angel baby,” or telling her he was in a “better place,” or that it was all part of “God’s plan.” As all of us who have dealt with the death of a loved one know it’s… Read more
Don’t have any big plans for the weekend? Live in Portland? Then the Portland Humanist Film Festival is where you’re going: The event is sponsored by the Center for Inquiry–Portland and it’ll feature film producer Roger Nygard, Skeptoid host Brian Dunning, and Free Inquiry editor Tom Flynn. A preview of the films is below: Monty Python and Jennifer Garner? Say no more. If I wasn’t 9342342 miles away, I’d be there in a heartbeat. Read more
The Baltimore Sun has a wonderful editorial in support of “humanist lay leaders in the military, a position Capt. Ryan Jean is trying to obtain: What’s certain, however, is that the military needs to be accepting of those who do not believe, and that apparently hasn’t always been the case at Fort Meade and other military bases. Chaplains and religious lay leaders have been accused of treating atheists either as moral pariahs unfit to wear the uniform or trying to… Read more
After the pathetic response atheists got to the White House petition to remove “Under God” from Pledge of Allegiance, you have to ask yourself, “Why even bother?” If you feel the same way, I’ve got a new petition for you: WE PETITION THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION TO: Actually take these petitions seriously instead of just using them as an excuse to pretend you are listening Although the ability to submit petitions directly to the White House is a noble and welcome… Read more
When the University of Georgia in Athens holds its graduations (about three a year), they have someone recite a prayer at the ceremony. It’s always a “sectarian” prayer that leans Christian — kind of like all those “non-denominational” prayers people recite before so many city council meetings… The UGAtheists are trying to put a stop to that. They’d rather see a secular observation that is far more inclusive than what they currently hear. Already, though, they’ve hit a standstill. They… Read more