This is a piece by Melia Robinson. Melia is a Syracuse University junior, dual majoring in magazine journalism and information management and technology. She is the design director of The Student Voice, a biweekly student-run news magazine, in which this piece originally ran. … Lynde Folsom was a curious child. When she was four, she asked her mother that if God was all-powerful, why couldn’t he bring her pet frog back to life. A year later, she asked if she… Read more
by Jesse Galef – It’s not every day you see USA Today call out a sitting Supreme Court Justice. Apparently Justice Antonin Scalia isn’t quite as accomplished a theologian as he is a judge. Speaking at Duquesne University about the death penalty, he said some pretty revealing things. In a great article by Lisa Miller, he’s quoted as saying: “If I thought that Catholic doctrine held the death penalty to be immoral, I would resign. I could not be part… Read more
Dale and Shannon Hickman, members of the “we support faith healing” Followers of Christ Church, were found guilty of second-degree manslaughter last month after they let their newborn son die: Prosecutors provided a timeline that showed there was as much as 45 minutes between the time the baby’s condition noticeably changed and his death, more than enough time to get emergency medical help. Instead, Dale Hickman held his son and anointed him with oil. He said he was with the… Read more
by Jesse Galef – Want a heartwarming story of progress? Patrick Henry High School in San Diego just made history by crowning the nation’s first lesbian homecoming couple. The students voted Rebeca Arellano (left, below) Homecoming King last Friday, and this week they named her girlfriend Haileigh Adams Homecoming Queen. What a sign of the times. We already know that younger generations are more supportive of GLBT rights, but this goes above and beyond. The two girls told ABC News… Read more
Yesterday was a big day for American Atheists in court because they won a major court case. If you don’t know the details, here’s what you need to know to understand it: This was always a risky lawsuit to file because, on the surface, it sounded like atheists were attacking fallen Highway Patrol Officers in Utah. Of course, the truth was far from that. The atheists had all the respect in the world for officers who died while on duty…. Read more
Today, the 112th Congress will be voting on one of the most important bills it could possibly consider. If approved, this bill will drastically improve the economy and job situation we’re currently fac—-wait, what? No? Strike all that. H. Con. Res. 13 seeks to reaffirm “In God We Trust” as the official motto of the United States. Begin *facepalming* now. This is what Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) thinks is a good use of time. Whereas John Adams said, ‘Statesmen may… Read more
Next week (Nov. 9th) marks Carl Sagan Day and there are celebratory events taking place all over the country. In Chicago, on Nov. 12th, a number of local freethought groups are co-sponsoring an event downtown (at the Lurie Medical Research Center of Northwestern University) that sounds terrific — a panel discussion on “Science, Skepticism, and the Legacy of Carl Sagan,” food (apple pie, from scratch!), and drinks (Cosmos, of course, for those 21 and older!). More details are here. Did… Read more
Take a look at this infographic about Christian megachurches from GOOD and Column Five. Not that you doubted it before, but pastors at those churches are making bank. This is what they get for selling people false hope, convincing them that gay people aren’t deserving of equal rights, and ruining science and sex ed curriculums across the country. Sure, they might help people in some ways, but in other ways, they’re doing incredible amounts of damage. That’s only a portion… Read more
I will respond to everyone who writes to me about this post just to let you know I received your email. If you don’t hear back, it’s because my friendlyatheist email is (for some reason) not working correctly. If that’s the case, please write me here. Sorry for any confusion! Read more
Me: Been writing here for a while and would love to introduce another voice or two to the interwebs… You: A reader of this site who has a lot to say about religion/atheism/babies/etc, knows how to say it effectively, and would like to become a contributor on this site. What’s in it for you? The change to write for a large readership of awesome people. Plenty of flexibility in what you talk about. Money. Nothing crazy, but you would get… Read more
