Why Won’t the University of Notre Dame Allow an Atheist Group to Form on Campus? According to Notre Dame, all official student organizations must adhere to the University’s mission: “A club’s purpose ‘must be consistent with the University’s mission… No organization, or member of any organization on behalf of the organization, may encourage or participate in any activity which contravenes the mission of the University or the moral teaching of the Catholic Church.” It’s a private university. They have a… Read more
Jason Bachand was at today’s trial and he breaks down his experience for us. (If you want more background on the story, check out this post.) I love this bit: At one point, Judge Lagueux interrupted [defense counsel Joseph Cavanagh, Jr.’s] remarks to ask: “What if [the banner] had been written to the Great Buddha?” “Well, if that’s what the school had decided and established… if the school had grown up around it, that would be fine,” Cavanagh answered. And… Read more
Students at the University of Kentucky just formed an atheist group on campus back in August, but they’re already getting media coverage just for existing: The group has gained more members than it expected, and feedback has been mostly positive, said Ben Augustine, the alliance’s president. About 25 students attended its most recent meeting, and more than 100 people have “liked” its Facebook page. … Family science senior Bridgett Lyall said the group is a good support group for her…. Read more
If you look up to Lori Lipman Brown and Sean Faircloth, the Secular Coalition for America is looking for their next Executive Director and you could be following in their footsteps: The Executive Director will be the primary public face for the organization, be a central force in leading the organization, and cultivate relationships with current and prospective donors, member organizations, the media, and legislators. Additionally, the Executive Director must play an active role in nurturing the relationships between the… Read more
This video by DarkMatter2525 is completely depressing (and possibly NSFW), but the point is an important one. Religious people are conditioned to believe God is the answer to everything, no matter the outcome. And it’s an absolutely delusional way to think: I can’t believe I used to reason that way. If I just missed getting into an accident, it was God’s will. If someone died in an accident, it was a part of God’s Master Plan. If I survived a… Read more
For the first time since the story broke, the Foundation Beyond Belief’s Executive Director Dale McGowan has responded to the rejection from the American Cancer Society: It’s common practice for non-profits to decline support when they feel an association would result in a greater loss of support from other donors. Several such incidents have been in the news over the years. Unfortunately, such policies can have the effect of reinforcing stereotypes by keeping a perceived pariah on the cultural margins…. Read more
Richard Wade here. Are you interested in actually influencing a religious believer to start thinking critically, rather than just scoring “points” that only you are counting? Are you bored with doing the same old song and dance with faith-based minds, assured that your arguments were better, but knowing they had no effect? Would you like to make a difference rather than just make noise? Dan Fincke, who writes the very astute blog Camels With Hammers, has written a series of… Read more
Rebecca Skloot, the author of the *wonderful* book The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, has a new project in the works! In her new book, which is as yet untitled, Ms. Skloot will employ the intimate storytelling and masterful reporting that made The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks a favorite of readers and critics alike. She will explore, among many other subjects, the neurology of human-animal relationships, human nature and responsibility, and the unexamined ethics of our relationship with animals…. Read more
Last night, Dave Silverman of American Atheists debated Dinesh D’Souza at the University of Pennsylvania. Staks Rosch was there and gives his recap here. Shaun McGonigal also offers his own summary. I wasn’t there, but I’m guessing Silverman pulled out a lot of these: … Meanwhile, Jerry Coyne debated theologian John Haught over the topic: “Science and Religion: Are They Compatible?” at the University of Kentucky and gives his own interpretation on the event. (Video of the event is forthcoming,… Read more
