Suppose a religious group wants to put up a Nativity scene on public property. What’s the typical atheist group’s response? (As if you don’t already know…) Simple: If they want to put something up, then we get to put something up, too. Either that or no one gets to put up a display. Recently, a giant menorah went up in Kelowna, British Columbia. Ron Seymour, a reporter for The Daily Courier, called up the spokesperson for Centre for Inquiry Okanagan… Read more
All my Reddit Secret Santa really knew about me was that I was a math teacher (and an atheist, though that wasn’t relevant here)… and s/he sent me the following (after the jump)! (more…) Read more
Here’s an awful story: Three-year-old Brooklyn Hunter was shaken, beaten, and abused by her stepfather last month, shattering her skull and putting her in the ER. There’s some good news: She’s doing better. She’s conscious of what’s going on around her. She knows it’s Christmas. She wants a doll, etc… and she’ll go in for another surgery soon. But what stands out in this article is the boneheaded thing one of her doctors said: Since the incident, [mother] Hunter and… Read more
Adidas recently tried to trademark the term “adiZero” for a new line of footwear/clothing… but the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office denied the request. Why? Because it’s dangerously close to a phrase the Christian Faith Fellowship Church in Zion, Illinois has already trademarked: “Add a zero.” As in: Add a zero to the amount you’re already tithing us because Jesus needs more cash. As in: Giving us $100? Now give us $1,000. (***Edit***: Or, as some commenters point out, Giving… Read more
In recent days, I’ve heard stories about two different students, both expressing anti-gay sentiments in a school setting and both being penalized for that expression. They each filed suit after their respective penalties were imposed, so they should each get the same result, right? I don’t think so. First: Jennifer Keeton was a graduate student in counseling at Augusta State University and made no secret of her belief that homosexuality is a choice (and a morally wrong one at that). … Read more
This has nothing to do with atheism, but I saw this video by LookItsMolly and it made me laugh more the longer I watched it 🙂 It’s only 1:17. Check it out: Ok, I’ll bite: What’s making you happy? Read more
The Secular Coalition for America has just published a report card for the 2012 presidential candidates… and while you can make a pretty strong prediction as to how this will pan out, the differences are really remarkable. (Keep in mind that the SCA does not endorse candidates.) The grades break down like this: An A means the candidate has been “consistently positive” on that issue. A B means the candidate has been “neutral or occasionally positive” on that issue. A… Read more
by Jesse Galef – That’s right: religion is ruining the true spirit of Christmas. That’s my argument in today’s US News & World Report Debate topic “Has Christmas Become Too Secular?” Believe me, I had a lot of fun answering. The secular submissions are dominating the religious ones – go upvote the ones you like! US News gathered four secular representatives: Me, with the Secular Student Alliance Roy Speckhardt of the American Humanist Association, Annie Laurie Gaylor with the Freedom… Read more
Several black atheist groups — yep, there are many of them these days — are planning a Day of Solidarity on February 26th and hoping that it becomes a yearly tradition. The idea is the brainchild of Donald Wright, author of The Only Prayer I’ll Ever Pray: Let My People Go: The idea of a Day of Solidarity occurred as a result of me pondering Black History Month with more focus on black free thinkers and non-believers. I felt that… Read more
