Remember that Christian pastor from The Incredible Happenings Ministry in South Africa? The one who used a “demon banishing” service as an excuse to molest and abuse young women? You’ll be happy to know Paseka Motsoeneng (a.k.a. “Mboro” or “Mbhoro”) was recently arrested, albeit not for the obvious reasons: Mbhoro spent a night in a freezing Bedfordview police holding cell on the eve of Freedom Day this week after he was arrested with his bodyguards, who were all carrying unlicensed… Read more
Headline: CNN Poll: Majority in U.S. say bin Laden in hell Popular t-shirt: Several political cartoons: The front page of the New York Daily News: … Osama bin Laden is not in hell. Because hell doesn’t exist. Damn, it feels good to get that off my chest. Read more
The Freedom From Religion Foundation has put up a billboard in Wenatchee, Washington that seems perfect for this time of year: The billboard, “God & Government — A Dangerous Mix: Keep State & Church Separate,” was posted in time to counter the National Day of Prayer today. Congress sets aside the first Thursday in May and requires an annual presidential proclamation exhorting citizens to “turn to God in prayer.” … “This billboard conveys a message that there are folks among… Read more
Remember the billboard that was put up by the Central Valley Coalition of Reason (in Fresno, California)? It said: “Don’t believe in God? Join the club.” That billboard went up on Tuesday afternoon. It didn’t even last a week before the vandals got to it. Here’s what the billboard looks like now: The word “Don’t” has been crossed out… leaving “believe in God? Join the club.” And I guess MADC wants to take credit for the destruction… Calladus, a part… Read more
Last month, students at Larkin High School in Elgin, IL took part in Ask An Atheist Day by setting up a couple tables in their cafeteria with permission from the principal. When I posted about the event a few weeks ago, one local paper quoted a crazy parent: “They were here to talk about atheism,” said Shavon Stanback of Elgin. “That’s totally unacceptable to me.” She continued: “I’m a Christian woman. I believe in God. I believe in heaven and… Read more
Here’s a misleading headline for you, courtesy of Christianity Today: They’re referring to the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s case against the National Day of Prayer — last month, the U.S. 7th Circuit Court of Appeals said that FFRF lacked standing in the case, thus allowing the NDOP to proceed with government support and presidential proclamations. However, the way that headline reads, you wouldn’t even know the case was about government support of prayer. It looks like a court “allowed” Christians… Read more
David Barton, the Christian conman who’s revising history to have a far more Christian slant to it than it deserves — and influencing several state history curriculums in the process — was on The Daily Show last night. The extended interview is now on their website. The Daily Show With Jon StewartMon – Thurs 11p / 10cExclusive – David Barton Extended Interview Pt. 1www.thedailyshow.comDaily Show Full EpisodesPolitical Humor & Satire BlogThe Daily Show on Facebook The whole thing is just… Read more
She has two mommies, she knows her grammar, and she corrected her teacher. Coolest. Child. Ever. (via The New Yorker — cartoon by Willian Haefeli) Read more
There are people who ask tough questions, who (at least theoretically) are willing to change their mind if the evidence points the other way, who don’t pretend to know all the answers, who can see both sides of the debate when warranted. I like those people. We need more of those people. Then, there are those people who are stubborn, who cling to their beliefs no matter what the evidence says otherwise, who think that the person who’s right is… Read more
California’s getting a number of atheist billboards this month! The Orange County Coalition of Reason is putting up the traditional “Don’t believe in God? You’re not alone” billboard: Just in time, too, since they’re hosting the Orange County Freethought Alliance Conference on Sunday, May 15th. “The point of our ongoing nationwide awareness campaign is to reach out to the millions of atheists and agnostics living in the United States,” explained Fred Edwords, national director of the United Coalition of Reason…. Read more