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.
Every now and then, we come across a situation where it’s not entirely clear how atheists should respond. Is every public mention of a god by a politician deserving of a lawsuit? Are there times when a religious issue may be controversial but worth fighting for, regardless of the PR ramifications? Are there ever times when it’s a smarter move to keep our mouths shut on an issue? Of course, the answers to all these questions depend on the particular… Read more
While I was gone last week, Nightline ran a segment about out-of-body experiences and Bob Woodruff interviewed atheist superwoman Margaret Downey for a perspective that doesn’t involve the supernatural. She sets him straight about why those visions occur, politely counters when he brings up his own memories of a “spiritual experience,” and generally comes off as a voice of reason. (Especially when juxtaposed with a woman who begins speaking in tongues…) I think she comes off wonderfully. Of course, Woodruff… Read more
Richard Dawkins’ next book, The Magic of Reality: How We Know What’s Really True, is set to be released on October 4th: Dawkins is making a few appearances in the U.S. to promote the book in October. Stops include Miami, Houston, New York City, Virginia, and Kentucky. Check out the link for more details. … Meanwhile, that Sam Harris book none of you read is set to come out in paperback on September 13th: So here’s your chance to pick… Read more
Remember how awesome it was that the top three finishers at the Google Science Fair were all girls? They got some well-deserved attention for that. Here’s a story that probably won’t get as much press, but it’s just as impressive considering how few women go into mathematics. At the 2011 International Mathematical Olympiad, 18-year-old Lisa Sauermann not only obtained a perfect score — giving her sole possession of first place — her gold medal performance put her atop the IMO… Read more
