The Secular Coalition for Arizona is doing something so awesome, so unique, and so important, that I’m amazed it’s getting no publicity whatsoever. (Yet.) They’re organizing trainings this fall… for atheists who want to run for public office. Training will primarily be aimed at those interested in running for local and state level offices such as school board, city council, and state legislature. This training will focus on campaigning, messaging, and the nuts and bolts of effective leadership. … “We… Read more
There’s a new video in the excellent Symphony of Science series. This once focuses on “The Quantum World” and features Morgan Freeman, Stephen Hawking, Michio Kaku, Brian Cox, Richard Feynman, and Frank Close. Read more
Reader Matt took this picture at a church in Seattle: Someone was obviously trying to be funny about it, but I think it just undermines what the church teaches. God isn’t looking after us. We have to look after ourselves and others. And if it’s better to play it safe than sorry, there’s no reason to put your money on any god. Read more
It’s been a while since we’ve seen her, but if you’re like me, you didn’t miss her one bit. Becky Fischer is the woman at the heart of Rachel Grady and Heidi Ewing’s shocking 2006 documentary Jesus Camp. Remember how, in The God Delusion, Richard Dawkins made a point of saying children shouldn’t be saddled with religious labels (like “Muslim child”) before they’re old enough to understand what religion is? Yeah, well, Fischer never bought into that. She has every… Read more
American Atheists is still in the middle of its lawsuit to prevent the Christian Cross from being displayed in the National September 11 Memorial & Museum (unless museum officials allow icons from all faiths and no faith to be included as well). Meanwhile, Rep. Michael Grimm (R-NY) has found a way to give the two steel girders even more symbolic-and-after-the-fact meaning: A New York congressman plans to introduce legislation that would make a national monument out of the so-called World… Read more
The folks at Mr. Deity are trying a little something different this week, by highlighting a type of therapy I knew nothing about… until now. It’s part of a series called “Way of the Mister” (a play on Ray Comfort’s show). My favorite line: “If you’re gonna buy a lottery ticket and someone says to you, ‘Hey, I have a way for you to double your odds,’ are you just gonna blow them off?” Love the cameo, too 🙂 Now,… Read more
Reader Adrian Covert made these nifty Christopher Hitchens limited edition prints: His suit is designed using collage from the writings of Albert Einstein, Richard Dawkins, Salman Rushdie, David Hume, Mark Twain, and John Updike. The background is designed using collage from the King James Bible and the Holy Koran. The actual size is 18″ x 24″ — could make for a nice present for that special atheist on… um… Jesus’ birthday. Come to think of it, Adrian’s other pieces are… Read more
For my stalkers: I’m traveling around the country a little bit this fall and a whole lot more in the spring — my schedule is here. Right now, plans include visiting South Carolina, North Carolina, Michigan, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Washington, DC. If your campus or local group is interested in having me give a talk, there are a few open dates left remaining on my calendar for this school year. (With rare exceptions, I can’t go anywhere between November and… Read more
Adnan Oktar (a.k.a. Harun Yahya), the Islamic Creationist nut, has put up bus ads in London that read “Modern Science Demonstrates That GOD EXISTS” — the ad includes his picture and a link to his clearly-hasn’t-been-updated-since-1998 website: Somehow, I don’t think the ad will gather anywhere close to the level of traction or publicity that the original Atheist Bus Campaign had. (via New Humanist) Read more
