Martin Wagner, one of the co-hosts of The Atheist Experience, filmed a segment for Chris Johnson’s multimedia book about atheists and what gives them joy and meaning in life. In the segment below, Wagner talks about the importance of discovery and how that makes life worth living even when you don’t believe in a god: (via The Atheist Book) Read more
You know how President Obama has given millions of dollars to religious groups? You know how he invited Pastor Rick Warren to give the invocation address at his inauguration? You know how he urged the Democrats to put the word “God” back into the party’s platform? You know how he speaks at the National Prayer Breakfast? Phyllis Schlafly, the conservative anti-feminist activist, must have missed every single one of those memos because she went on Mike Huckabee’s show a couple… Read more
Remember how, back in August, the Coalition of African-American Pastors held a press conference to announce their opposition to same-sex marriage? (After reporter Jamila Bey asked Rev. William Owens about God’s position on polygamy, he asked to have her removed from the room.) On Friday, a different group of African-American pastors — including Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Otis Moss III (the successor to Jeremiah Wright) — held their own press conference to announce their support for marriage equality; in… Read more
In anticipation of the upcoming Kansas City Regional Atheist Meeting, the Kansas City Atheist Coalition has put up two identical billboards in the city reading “Godless Government Now!”: “Our convention is intended to unite people who are concerned that religious fundamentalism in government will seriously harm public education, science policy, women’s rights, gay rights and America’s standing in the world,” said Sarah Hargreaves, president of the Kansas City Atheist Coalition. “We believe that separation of church and state is fundamental,… Read more
In Iran, more than 30 universities have banned women from taking classes in 77 different subjects. Why? Just because. So stop questioning the judgment of the religious leaders. Heathen. No official reason has been given for the restrictions to courses… Banned courses include nuclear physics, computer science and English literature. The US-based Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the restrictions extended a creeping “Islamicisation” of Iran’s universities that have been imposed under president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. … Iranian human… Read more
I know that everyone is probably sick of Carly Rae Jepsen “Call Me Maybe” along with all of its covers, but this one is pretty darn cool. A group of Virginia women called Coochwatch made the video in response to Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s campaign to close abortion clinics in his state: At least it’s better than this version by the Chicago Young Republicans. Read more
This was news to me: Patheos has an Astrology channel: It features gems like this: Pluto goes direct today in Capricorn closely squaring Uranus in Aries. Mercury, the planet of communication just went into Libra, the sign of balance and fairness; add to that the Sun going into Libra for the Autumnal Equinox on Saturday and we’ve got a very distinct shifting of energy. Bonus points to you if you can distinguish how that made-up nonsense is any worse than,… Read more
In Germany, where people are “officially” registered as Catholics (or Protestants or Jews or whatever), you pay a “religious tax” each year that can be about 8-9% of your annual income tax bill. That’s part of how the Church makes its money. If you’re an atheist, you don’t pay that fee. And it’s a problem for religious leaders when people no longer attend Church or list themselves as Catholics… yet take advantage of the Church’s services. So local bishops are… Read more
When U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens was killed by terrorists in Benghazi a week and a half ago, the people of Benghazi condemned the attack. They gathered to demonstrate against the violence and to send their condolences to the American people. But the protests didn’t end there. While still angry about the insulting “Innocence of Muslims” film, the people of Benghazi would no longer tolerate the militia group believed to be responsible for the attack on the U.S. consulate. Friday brought a new protest… Read more
Taking a page from the Jefferson Bethke playbook, Catholic priest Fr. Claude (Dusty) Burns (a.k.a. Fr. Pontifex, because he’s hip) offers this spoken word/poetry piece on why God loves you if you’re a homosexual* *But only if you never act on it, and never get married, and never love someone else of the same sex, and never adopt a child, and repent for your sins. In marriage two become one flesh, open to life for propagation Two of the same… Read more
