***Update***: Here is the ad in question (PDF) … UU World is the free denominational magazine for the Unitarian Unversalist Association. In their Fall, 2009 issue, they printed a paid ad from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. I don’t have a scan of it at the moment, but to my understanding, it featured their six bus ads with a request for donations so FFRF could place the posters across the country. The ad placement makes sense — a lot of… Read more
I help coach my school’s Speech Team. I think I’m going to plan a pre-season party to get everyone pumped up about the tournaments ahead — We’re going to listen to a motivations speaker and get dinner together. I won’t ask the administrators for money, but I am borrowing a school bus. Another coach will pay for the gas, though. No one *has* to go, but seriously… they should all go if they know what’s best for them. Oh. And… Read more
Don wrote a very long and candid letter which I have edited here for space reasons. I have kept the details that I believe are pertinent to the challenge he describes: Hi Richard! I’ve been following your new posts on The Friendly Atheist site for a couple weeks now. You have a great gift of communicating sensitive issues so elegantly for many diverse audiences. Thanks for everything you’ve given the community! Your advice and tone is exactly what is needed… Read more
Here at the Secular Coalition for America one of our primary goals is to increase the visibility of and respect for nontheists. Getting Rep. Pete Stark to become the first openly nontheistic member of congress was a big step for our visibility. But while that was part of a top-down approach, the bottom-up strategy is vital too. As there are more and more of us in the country, our voice and our presence will be stronger and more noticeable. And… Read more
Over the weekend, my cousin got married. Even though it was a mixed marriage (she’s Indian and the guy is white), much of the wedding was culturally Indian. Which means there will be dancing. Not just mass dancing for everyone, like at a reception, but individual performances. My family friends thought it would be hilarious if the guys in our group did something in honor of the occasion. Them: It’ll be hilarious! Us: Haha… no. Them: Ok, so you’ll do… Read more
There’s a new campus atheist group forming at Danville Area Community College (in Illinois) and they’re already getting press! [Nathan A.] Ingold, 27, of Danville, is a full-time DACC student in the new wind energy technician associate-degree program. When he returned to college after serving in the military and being in the work force, he noticed there were three Christian organizations on campus. “It seemed like something was lacking, a secular voice. I thought we needed representation as well,” said… Read more
I don’t say this often (really)… but remember that image of babies in cellophane? Apparently, there was at least one more in the series! And this time… there’s another child: Nicely done, DuPont. That’s what I call “setting the bar higher.” (Thanks to Enola for the link!) Read more
Kelli and Daniel witnessed an appearance of the Flying Spaghetti Monster in a pile of rubber bands! There’s a pun to be made here. I wonder what it is… In any case, prophet Bobby would be proud. Read more
I’ve been reading a book called Write These Laws on Your Children: Inside the World of Conservative Christian Homeschooling (Beacon Press, August, 2009) by Robert Kunzman. The book is a look at six Christian families and how they homeschool their children. Not every family fits the stereotype I know I have in my mind. Some are impressive; others leave much to be desired. The following passage highlights a family that is about as Christian and conservative as you can get…. Read more
