At a lot of high school football games, to pump up the crowd and the players, the cheerleaders hold some sort of large paper sign in front of the tunnel and the players *burst* through it as they make their way onto the field. If you’re in Kountze, Texas, though, the signs look very out of place for a public high school: Hmm… how did Bible verses become an official part of the Kountze High School football games? This isn’t… Read more
Perhaps it’s the fact that politicians are under even more scrutiny than ever before, but there seems to be many more high profile gaffes being made of late. Embarrassing mistakes have always plagued politicians of every stripe in every corner of the globe, but there is just something about the way American Republican leaders have detached themselves from reality that allows for the most amazing mind bending antics. Sitting on the sidelines and unable to vote, it is a very entertaining spectacle! Political gaffes are… Read more
About a week ago, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga said they would stop their practice of public Christian prayers before home football games. But what about UTC’s sibling school, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville? That’s the school with the major football program, the school where Peyton Manning played, the school where the exact same type of prayer was taking place. Would they stop, too? The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent them a letter of complaint late last week, focusing… Read more
“Have you wished you could find a simple flyer for your older grade school or middle school children about homosexuality?” That’s how the conservative Christian group Mission: America introduces its handy brochure called “Questions and Answers for Kids about Homosexuality.” While there are a few pieces of useful advice (“Always speak up and help someone who is being bullied”), it’s not quite as “anti-bullying” as the group wants you to think. Mission: America’s brochure explains (in simplistic terms meant for… Read more
President Obama can’t afford to lose his most ardent supporters on Election Day, but many black pastors are urging their congregations not to vote at all since the choices are a Mormon or the gay-marriage-endorsing President: “When President Obama made the public statement on gay marriage, I think it put a question in our minds as to what direction he’s taking the nation,” said the Rev. A.R. Bernard, founder of the predominantly African-American Christian Cultural Center in New York. Bernard,… Read more
Just a reminder that Salman Rushdie’s new book Joseph Anton: A Memoir is out today: Michiko Kakutani reviewed the book in today’s New York Times: … Mr. Rushdie has written a memoir that chronicles those years in hiding — a memoir, coming after several disappointing novels, that reminds us of his fecund gift for language and his talent for explicating the psychological complexities of family and identity. Although this volume can be long-winded and self-important at times, it is also… Read more
There’s been plenty of talk already about Newsweek’s offensive cover… and the backlash… and the backlash to the backlash… … but Ayaan Hirsi Ali’s cover story is worth discussing just on its own: The Muslim men and women (and yes, there are plenty of women) who support — whether actively or passively — the idea that blasphemers deserve to suffer punishment are not a fringe group. On the contrary, they represent the mainstream of contemporary Islam. Of course, there are… Read more
Secular Woman is planning a fundraiser for this November with a very interesting and highly provocative subject matter. It’s a calander titled “Atheists Breaking Through — The Reveal” and it will feature “nude and semi-nude nonbelievers of various races, genders, ages and body types.” According to a press release: The rationale behind the calendar’s nudity theme is to project the imagery of openness, joy, and freedom within the freethought community, in distinct contrast to cultures that objectify and repress. Bridget Gaudette, Vice President of… Read more
The Bluegrass Coalition of Reason in Kentucky just put up its first billboard in anticipation of the upcoming Kentucky Freethought Convention: The ad costs $5,650 and was paid for by the United Coalition of Reason. It’s already getting press: “We are not here to change anyone’s opinion or tell anybody they are wrong or right or anything else,” said Clay Maney with the Bluegrass Coalition of Reason. “We are just trying to advertise that we are here.” Atheists exist?! The… Read more
