With all the debate over whether what teacher Jerry Buell did was permissible or not, here’s a clear cut case of what a public school teacher should not do. A teacher in the Bossier Parish Schools (in Louisiana) — about an hour from Damon Fowler’s school — put bracelets promoting Christian ministry Team Impact on all of her students last week: This particular teacher didn’t even hand those bracelets out. She put them directly on the kids. According to the… Read more
Even though the James Randi Educational Foundation has been offering huge sums of money since 1996 to any psychic who could prove his/her supernatural powers, the current prize of $1,000,000 doesn’t seem to get as many headlines as one would hope. But since Randi’s appearance on “ABC’s Primetime Nightline: Beyond Belief” last week, a number of articles about the prize are popping up — and they’re not only publicizing the Challenge, they’re exposing specific targets. So far, no one has… Read more
We already know Alcoholics Anonymous is not a program designed for atheists. 6 of the famed “12 Steps” refer to a Higher Power/God. There are secular alternatives, but nothing with the size and scope of AA. Author Marya Hornbacher knew she needed help battling her addiction but, as an atheist, AA didn’t seem like the right place for her. Instead of attending a meeting of a secular alternative, though, she went through AA’s program, finding her own ways to get… Read more
Of all the atheist billboards to get rejected by advertising companies, this one will amaze you: “You don’t need God — to hope, to care, to love, to live.” What’s wrong with that? You don’t need a god for any of those things. And if you feel you do need god in your life, well, this billboard isn’t directed at you. Still, that harmless message has been deemed “too controversial” in Knoxville, Tennessee. First, some background: The Center for Inquiry’s… Read more
There’s an article by Kimberly Winston of Religion News Service making the rounds about how 9/11 was a major spark for the New Atheism movement. It’s the event that led Sam Harris to write The End of Faith, and that book was followed by several others: Published in 2004, Harris’s “The End of Faith” launched the so-called “New Atheist” movement, a make-no-apologies ideology that maintains that religion is not just flawed, but evil, and must be rejected. … Within two… Read more
There’s an update on Jerry Buell, the anti-gay high school teacher who was reassigned from the classroom because of things he posted on his Facebook page, but allowed back into his classroom on Thursday. A couple days ago, I defended his right to free speech, arguing that he should be able to post his thoughts — bigoted as they are — on his private Facebook page without it affecting his employment. If his classroom was kept free of judgment, and… Read more
We all know there’s an awful relationship between Christian schools and LGBT students. At some schools, the mere mention that you like someone of the same sex will cause the Christian Police to come after you (reparative therapy, anyone?)… At some schools, like Harding University in Arkansas, anonymous gay students put out an ezine with their stories. Even at evangelical stronghold Wheaton College, there’s now a community of LGBTQ and ally students. Still, these students have to remain anonymous or… Read more
Dave Silverman, president of American Atheists, was invited to be a guest on FOX Business’ “Varney & Co.” Friday morning. He was brought on to talk about “what Atheists do during times of crisis and how they will prepare for Hurricane Irene.” Dave knew exactly what he was going to say. Something to the effect of: Atheists will stock up on goods, batteries, water, etc. We will evacuate if necessary. We’ll help our family and neighbors stay safe. What we… Read more
A couple weeks ago, Richard Wade posted a link for readers to go vote for the Filipino Freethinkers in the Globe Tatt Awards. One of the categories they were nominated for was called “The One” which goes to… …the most influential trendsetter that shaped opinion, moved people, and ultimately starting fire in Philippine internet. This person is ahead of the pack in terms of online popularity and content. Guess what? They won! They received a trophy and a $2,351 (USD)… Read more
