Last month, we learned that Cullman County Schools (Alabama) Superintendent Billy Coleman was planning his third annual “Prayer Caravan” in which he visited the schools in his district and prayed for them. There’s only one important question for us here: Was the Prayer Caravan illegal? If a bunch of private citizens wanted to pray, they have every right to do that. However, the moment Coleman used school resources and his official title to promote the event, he crossed the line. … Just to be clear: FFRF’s only objection to this event was that it gave off the impression of being supported by the district. But Alabama House Republicans — the bright bunch at they are — don’t care about the facts. They’ve launched a petition they intend to send to FFRF headquarters in Wisconsin in which they voice their opposition to the group’s non-existent “War on Prayer.” [Click headline for more…] Read more
After initially being told he could not get a New Jersey license plate reading ATHE1ST on grounds that it was “offensive,” American Atheists’ President Dave Silverman finally received an official confirmation yesterday from the state’s Motor Vehicle Commission. This is the email Silverman received from the MVC on Wednesday morning: Success! More importantly, success without litigation. The MVC called it a “clerical error.” I’m not sure if I believe that, but at least this was resolved quickly and with a happy ending. Read more
The Church of Scientology has big plans involving its spiffy headquarters in Clearwater, Florida. The massive seven-story structure that occupies an entire city block is scheduled to officially open in October with a dedication ceremony at which about 10,000 people are expected to be present. A month later, it will be the site of an international gathering of Scientologists that is scheduled to draw some 8,000 Xenu believers. To accommodate the visitors, a huge tent will have to be erected — which was bad news for two fine oaks that stood in the Church’s way, close to the $80,000,000 edifice. Church authorities decided to cut down the trees, despite being under orders from the city to preserve them. [Click headline for more…] Read more
Last month, when there was a strong push to allow Humanist chaplains in the military, Rep. John Fleming (R-LA) responded by explaining the obvious consequences: “This I think would make a mockery of the chaplaincy,” said Rep. John Fleming (R-La.). “The last thing in the world we would want to see was a young soldier who may be dying and they’re at a field hospital and the chaplain is standing over that person saying to them, ‘If you die here, there is no hope for you in the future.'” We all know he has no idea what he’s talking about. Which must be why Christian pseudo-historian David Barton wanted to speak with him on “WallBuilders Live.” You know, intellectual equals and all. [Click headline for more…] Read more
What’s it like to be accused of blasphemy in an Islamic country? Just watch this video if you have the guts to sit through it all: (via ConversationWithA) Read more
For years now, several groups around Raleigh, North Carolina have been giving food and clothing to the homeless in Moore Square. The media has been lumping them all together as “church groups” but one of them is a Humanist service group called Human Beans Together, who have been distributing goods there since January of 2012. A few weeks ago, the Raleigh Police Department told them they couldn’t hand out food in public space, so they all moved to the nearby Salvation Army’s parking lot… until the city took that space over, too. This past weekend, all that goodwill came to a sudden halt when the police shut them down: [Click headline for more…] Read more
Last week, at a back-to-school rally at Oral Roberts University, a bald eagle made an appearance. A very brief appearance. University officials hired World Bird Sanctuary, in Valley Park, Mo., [to] bring in a real bald eagle to raise the student’s excitement. The eagle, named Lewis, was supposed to fly from the top of the chapel down to its trainer on stage, but got disoriented… And this is what happened, amid chants of “U.S.A.” [Click headline for more…] Read more
The American Humanist Association has, on its website, a nice remembrance of A. Philip Randolph, the union organizer who was central to organizing the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom that we’re celebrating the 50th anniversary of today. [Click headline for more…] Read more
Eight days ago, Dr. Narendra Dabholkar was assassinated by extremists in Pune, India presumably because his debunking of supernatural claims angered a few too many people… Today, an arrest was finally made in the murder: [Click headline for more…] Read more
