A while back, Cherry Creek Public Schools began promoting “40 Developmental Assets” — a program that would help students become “responsible and confident young adults.” One of those assets was Asset Number 19. It suggested “young adults spend one or more hours per week in activities in a religious institution.” The Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit on behalf of parents in the district. The case lasted two years. It was finally settled this week. The new wording for… Read more
***Update***: A press release put out by Robertson’s people does thank doctors, though almost as a throwaway line: Robertson said, “Only the prayers of thousands of believing people kept me on this earth. As it is, I anticipate many more years of creative service in the ministry I founded (CBN), as well as Regent University and other endeavors devoted to the service of mankind. I cannot praise enough the dedication and professionalism of Dr. Andy Kiser and his staff who… Read more
Hemant has been urging me to tell this story, and with the recent mentions of Bill Donohue, it seems like a good time to bring this up: Yes, I’m laughing at Bill Donohue on Fox News. (Here’s a link) This happened was while I worked for the American Humanist Association, when we had put up the “controversial” bus ads stating “Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness’ sake.” We got so much attention the next day that… Read more
The pot meets the kettle again. The Creation Museum’s founder Ken Ham has been visiting Japan this past week. He made a trip to a Buddhist temple, and it’s very strange to see him discussing the faith. He sounds remarkably like the rest of us do when visiting his museum…: We were able to visit a Buddhist Temple. I took photographs of a couple of their “gods” — I notice they were not very powerful, as they couldn’t even get… Read more
In case you missed it, the seventh season finale of Penn & Teller: Bullshit! aired a few days ago. The topic: The Vatican. Reasonable Catholics are speaking out against this… and by Catholics, I mean only Bill Donohue. And by reasonable, I mean batshit crazy. “This was the most Nazi-like assault,” Donohue said. “The most unrelenting half an hour of bashing I’ve ever seen.” … “The Nazis couldn’t have done better,” Donohue said in a statement. “Having been in this… Read more
Foundation Beyond Belief is a charity for atheists (I’m a board member). Our goals are to focus, encourage and demonstrate humanistic generosity and to support a nationwide nonreligious parent education program. We’re putting together a promotional video and could use your help: Make a short video telling why you are excited or intrigued by the concept of Foundation Beyond Belief, what you first thought when you heard about it, or what you hope it will accomplish. Videographer Greg Walsh will… Read more
I mentioned yesterday a high school band in Sedalia, Missouri that had $700 worth of t-shirts revoked because they featured the “evolution of a trumpet player” and religious parents complained about the “evolution” aspect of it. An editorial in The Sedalia Democrat gets it partly right… We find nothing wrong with the T-shirts and believe the students should be able to continue wearing them if they choose to. It’s a play on words that did not endorse or blaspheme any… Read more
nakedpastor recently spoke to several friends who have left the church. Their statements about church sound like things I’ve heard from a lot of atheists: When they’ve been gone from church for a while and return they are all shocked by the strange lingo that people talk. It is a coded and getto-ized language that no one else understands but insiders. When they go back more than once, suddenly there is a huge feeling of expectation that weighs down on… Read more
Yesterday, Hemant put up a video of Patton Oswalt doing stand up “Sky Cake”. I thought it was ok, but I much prefer Jim Gaffigan: “I don’t know much about the bible myself. I haven’t read it. ‘Cause I don’t have to. ‘Cause I’m a Catholic. And to show that Cake is a recurring theme in religious talk: “An apple? Have you ever been tempted by an apple? I would have been like, ‘cover it in caramel and come back… Read more
Several weeks ago, I asked readers to help out my friend Kim in a contest in which she was entered: The Cirkus Prinsessan Festival is a competition/showcase in Sweden for female circus artists. They are searching for the “world’s best female performer” and 14 candidates will advance to the finals. 13 chosen by a panel of judges, and 1 chosen by the YouTube viewing audience. All finalists get an all-expenses paid trip to the finals in Stockholm! The winner of… Read more
