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.
This is a guest post by Derek Miller. He is a sophomore at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a member of the Illini Secular Student Alliance (ISSA). As the dust settles from the 2011 Secular Student Alliance Conference, I feel a need to call some extra attention to what I consider to be the most misunderstood speaker of the weekend. I am referring to Anthony Pinn, a professor of Humanities and Religious Studies at Rice University. His talk, titled… Read more
This is a guest post by Dave Muscato. He is a student at the University of Missouri, and is a member of the University of Missouri Skeptics, Atheists, Secular Humanists, & Agnostics (SASHA). In light of Texas governor Rick Perry’s “The Response,” I’m writing briefly about prayer. Prayer is one of those things that religious people love and atheists love to hate. But actually, I’d like to put forth the idea that prayer can be—can be—a useful thing. I’m not… Read more
This is a guest post by Stef McGraw. Stef is a Junior at the University of Northern Iowa, and is a member of the UNI Freethinkers and Inquirers (UNIFI) . After being discussed by Jon Stewart on The Daily Show this past Thursday, it’s now more than just the atheist community debating the so-called “9/11 cross.” The controversy, for those who don’t know, is over whether or not two beams that formed a cross in the Ground Zero rubble should… Read more
This is a guest post by Ed Clint. He is a senior at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a member of the Illini Secular Student Alliance (ISSA). A letter to Interfaith, from ISSA (Illini Secular Student Alliance) Dear Interfaith, It’s over between us. Here’s the thing, Interfaith: I tried. I really tried. Two years ago I knew nothing at all about you, but I felt obligated to at least get to know you. I went to your dinner with… Read more
This is a guest post by Conrad Hudson. He is a senior at University of Kansas, and a member of the Society of Open-Minded Atheists & Agnostics (SOMA). “Tell everyone why you’re involved in SOMA’s leadership.” Last year these words struck me with anxiety. As a new officer for the Kansas University Society of Open-Minded Atheists and Agnostics (SOMA), they meant I would be speaking in front of a crowd in 30 seconds. But when it was my turn the… Read more
