Note: When letter writers sign with their first names instead of a pseudonym or nickname, I randomly change their name for added anonymity. Hi Richard. I’ve been an Atheist for many years and an Agnostic for many years before that. I grew up with Evangelical, born again parents and I went along with it until the age of about 16, when I started to question it. I’m now 40 years old and I can honestly say that I’m quite confident… Read more
How the hell does this happen? Bradley Johnson, a math teacher at Westview High School in the Poway Unified School District in California — a public school system — had put up banners in the classroom advocating his faith. The banners are about 7 feet wide and 2 feet tall. One has the phrases “In God We Trust,” “One Nation Under God,” “God Bless America” and “God Sheds His Grace On thee.” A second reads “All Men Are Created Equal,… Read more
Guess what this is? Well, a couple days ago, it used to be this: That’s beyond vandalism. I suppose we should be happy that another Sacramento billboard only had to deal with “Christ Loves U” graffiti: That makes three billboards in Sacramento vandalized in the past couple weeks. Instead of getting both billboards replaced, the Sacramento Area Coalition of Reason is asking that two of the other billboards in the area stay up an additional week: “This isn’t Clear Channel’s… Read more
Members of the Atheist Agenda group at the University of Texas at San Antonio ran a “Smut for Smut” campaign yesterday — similar to one run in previous years by the same group. Essentially, it works like this: You give them your Bible. They give you pornography. It’s all smut, right? It certainly gets them media attention (though less this year than in previous years). It does spark a debate. It does get people to join the group. And I… Read more
In case you were unaware, “Intelligent Design” still makes no sense whatsoever, as Overcompensating explains: The full strip is here. (Thanks to Dan for the link!) Read more
When Leah was 5, she wrote a letter to her grandparents, who were Mormon missionaries. Check it out here. How do you tell Leah-from-1985 that her grandparents weren’t “teeching the trooth” at all? It’s tough. But at least Leah-from-2010 knows better. Read more
Last year, Jason from Indiana had some problems when he requested a “NO GODS” license plate. The Bureau of Motor Vehicles initially said (in so many words) it was “offensive” but they finally relented after receiving pressure from the ACLU and media. Jason finally has his plates and they look great! Too bad his car’s only going to be around for a couple more weeks before some religious vandals get to it… 🙂 Good for him for standing up for… Read more
Last year, atheist Doug Stewart hit the streets of New Orleans to “preach” atheism. He presented an alternative to all the fundamentalist Christian preachers who try to do the same thing (but are completely serious about it). He did it with an amusing sign (courtesy of commenter Siamang, who suggested it): That was last year. This year, he was back in action. For the conversations I had with the general public I went out of my way to not be… Read more
What’s worse than a Creation Museum spreading lies? A Traveling Creation Museum spreading lies. The Traveling Creation Museum consists of more than 40 exhibits relating to the six days of creation, the flood, the ice age, cave men, dinosaurs and much more. “It shows how the real scientific and historical information supports the Genesis account of creation,” said John Wilfong, administrator at First Wesleyan Christian School. “The museum reveals the grandeur of God’s creation and how his actions in history… Read more
The Goito City Council in Mantua, Italy has approved a resolution that essentially says if parents want their child accepted into the local public school, they must first sign a statement of faith. The story’s in Italian but here’s a rough translation from one of the new law’s opponents: “We believe it is the first time in Italy may experience such a thing, an extreme gravity, on whose constitutional checks must be done — says Maria Bacchi, vice president of… Read more