It’s May! You know what that means — hordes of former students are being thrown into the real world and job market with this thing we call “graduation” this month. Now it’s time to start finding a real job (good luck!) and, hopefully, supporting former students like yourself. However, with paying back student loans (eek!), paying for rent, your car, your gas money, your groceries, your cat, and all those other bills, how are you ever going to afford to… Read more
I didn’t know these Tumblrs needed to exist… but I’m informed that they are vital to our movement. Atheists in Hats: Cats Questioning the Bible: See? Isn’t your life better already? Obviously. Read more
I watched Jim Gaffigan’s excellent standup show “Mr. Universe” over the weekend. The best part (for this audience, anyway)? His bit on vitamins 🙂 (Click to enlarge) Also, I don’t know how to make those images. Read more
The US Military Academy at West Point has been having a rough year. First there was the Islamophobic Lt. General William Boykin getting hotly protested (and eventually replaced) after he was invited to speak at the National Prayer breakfast. Then, this month, the Academy was sued for covering up sexual assault. Bearing all this in mind, I present to you this third year Philosophy of Religion class description from the Red Book (course catalog): “What are the arguments for and… Read more
Last week, news broke that in late April the Pentagon had suspended a course called “Perspectives on Islam and Islamic Radicalism,” offered as an elective at Joint Forces Staff College in Norfolk, Virginia. The suspension came about as a result of a complaint by a student. The course itself is offered five times a year, with each course having around twenty students. Since 2010, it has been taught by Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Dooley. The story broke after a copy of… Read more
Nearly missed by the Beltway media, a tiny little amendment was brought to the House floor on May 9th by Rep. Jeff Flake of Arizona. Here’s what the gentleman suggested should be law: None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to carry out the functions of the Political Science Program in the Division of Social and Economic Sciences of the Directorate for Social, Behavioral, and Economic Sciences of the National Science Foundation. I’m sorry, what?… Read more
Here’s a short film featuring a young atheist having to deal with his religious parents in the wake of his brother’s death. It’s not even 30 minutes long — perfect for a college group meeting — and it’s called “Parrot.” Just FYI, there’s some nudity: If you like the film, considering making a small donation so the creators can continue to create work like this. Read more
It seemed to work so well 2,000 years ago… but maybe Jesus needs new recruiting tactics: (via religiousantagonist) Read more
Robin Hanson wonders why atheists — lovers of truth, so we say — don’t give up fiction: A few days ago I asked why not become religious, if it will give you a better life, even if the evidence for religious beliefs is weak? Commenters eagerly declared their love of truth. Today I’ll ask: if you give up the benefits of religion, because you love… truth, why not also give up stories, to gain even more… truth? Alas, I expect… Read more
It’s hard to understand why a school would bar a same-sex couple from attending prom… maybe because dancing leads to slow dancing and slow dancing leads to not procreating and that goes against all things good and holy. But that’s what Lexington Catholic High School in Kentucky did to senior Hope Decker and her date, sophomore Tiffany Wright: In an email Sunday, Lexington Catholic president Steve Angelucci said, “As a Catholic high school, we uphold every teaching of the Catholic… Read more
