Yesterday, I mentioned that Oklahoma City got a brand new atheist billboard thanks to their local Coalition of Reason: Why put it up? Reaching out to the like-minded isn’t the only goal of the effort. “We also want Oklahomans to know that there are many humanists, agnostics and atheists living here, contributing to the community,” added Nick Singer, coordinator of the Oklahoma City Coalition of Reason. “We’re your coworkers, neighbors, friends and family members. And like many people, we are… Read more
It’s not as bad as Jesus Camp, but seriously, talk about brainwashing children? Click on the image for the full video… How long can you watch before you have to turn it off…? (via The Freethinker) … ***Update***: My friend Matt Kane discovered a nice little hidden message at the 0:38 mark… 🙂 Booby! Read more
(via Joe. My. God.) Random story from the classroom: A couple years ago, I taught a remedial math class where some of the boys would draw penises on everything (maybe because Superbad had come out not long before…). It was very disturbing. I talked to them, their counselors, their parents. Nothing seemed to help. Anyway, this really sweet girl asked me after class one day, “Mr. Mehta, I don’t get it. Why do they draw boy parts on everything? Why… Read more
Jennifer Hancock is the former executive director for the Humanists of Florida Association. She now writes a blog called Happiness Through Humanism and just released a book called The Humanist Approach to Happiness: Practical Wisdom: [This] is a book that basically says — here are personal ethics, here is why they are important, and here is how you can apply them to your daily life and why doing so will help you live a happier more productive life. It isn’t… Read more
The Oklahoma City Coalition of Reason has formed and they have put up a billboard of their own! The board faces south and is on the corner of I-44 and NW 10th. It’s an interesting phrasing on the billboard and I wonder if it might be slightly off-putting to anyone who takes it literally — which they obviously shouldn’t. If you no longer believe in a god, the last thing you want to do is join any group that might… Read more
Note: Letter writers’ names are changed to protect their privacy. Hi Richard, I have two children, 3 and 7 years old. I recently had an acquaintance tell me “if you don’t give them something, they will look for anything” as it related to my lack of religion. I am confused and concerned by this statement and need help processing the truth. I was raised very loosely Methodist by a father who was raised a staunch Methodist (that was atheist by… Read more
While we’re on the topic of being outspoken, here’s an interesting story from Dale McGowan. His high-school-age son, Connor, had a bit of a disappointing start to the school year in his science class… He had enrolled for physical science and was looking forward to it, thinking it was physics. Turns out it’s actually basic mechanics and other concepts he’s already had. But it was the teacher himself who had made the biggest impression — and not a good one…. Read more
I’ve gotten a few emails about upcoming events that might be of interest to those of you in the areas, so here you go: Tuesday, September 7th, 7:00 p.m. Tickets are $25. In Birmingham, AL, Christopher Hitchens will make a public appearance to debate the author of “The Devil’s Delusion: Atheism and Its Scientific Pretensions” (and a guy seen in Ben Stein’s Expelled), David Berlinski. The topic is “How Atheism Poisons Everything.” More information can be found here and here…. Read more
I don’t have a lot of background on this story, but a reader brought it to my attention. Maybe someone with more knowledge on the situation can shed more light on what’s going on here. In 1976, the Code of Laws of South Carolina were written. Among other things, it discusses the University of South Carolina and how it should be run… Section 59-117-100 is particularly interesting: President shall not be atheist or infidel. The board of trustees shall take… Read more
People are getting all hot and bothered by the (close to) Ground Zero Mosque (and community center)… but why aren’t we paying more attention to this? That is one freaky website, too… (via Reddit — Thanks to Joe for the link) Read more
