Ayaan Hirsi Ali, the best-selling author of Infidel and the subject of many death threats from angry Muslims, spoke at the Atheist Alliance International convention a couple weeks ago. You can now see the videos of her talk! The first video is her speech (she is introduced by Herb Silverman, president of the Secular Coalition for America). The second is the Q & A portion. [tags]atheist, atheism[/tags] Read more
A local news station is looking for you: … We’d like to talk on-camera to atheists, humanists or agnostics who live in the Sioux Falls area. We’d like to learn more about your beliefs and what challenges you face in a society that places high importance on religion. (via IIDB) [tags]atheist, atheism, South Dakota[/tags] Read more
You better be there! The event starts at 7:00 p.m. in 151 Loomis Lab. [tags]atheist, atheism[/tags] Read more
According to Father Jonathan Morris, who appeared on Studio B with Shepard Smith: Atheists. … Father Morris said it had to do with atheism. Father Morris said the kids needed to get more spirituality into their lives. He went on to say that atheism was involved. He said he wasn’t talking about shoving religion down their throats but people are naturally religious, it helps us find meaning in life. He finished by saying we can’t let government take religion away… Read more
The Exterminator got several responses from fourth graders to the prompt “What Atheism Means to Me.” Like this one: I go to church every Sunday and when I do I believe in God. He is great. But sometimes when the other kids make fun of me because I stink in sports I don’t think God is so great. Why did He make me stink in sports? I wouldn’t make anybody stink in sports if I was God because people who… Read more
I should have been born a couple years later. Then, I could’ve had a shot at the now-$2500 scholarship (Increased from previous years’ $2000) from American Atheists! Thanks to the donors who make that scholarship possible! (The deadline for the next set of awards is not until February 28th. Find out more here.) [tags]atheist, atheism, scholarship[/tags] Read more
Back in March, the Illinois Senate approved a bill mandating a moment of silence in the state’s public schools. In August, Governor Rod Blagojevich vetoed the bill: “The law in Illinois today already allows teachers and students the opportunity to take a moment for silent thought or prayer, if they chose to,” Blagojevich wrote. “I believe this is the right balance between the principles echoed in our constitution, and our deeply held desire to practice our faith. As a parent,… Read more
The atheist student group at my alma mater is running a terrific project, inspired by Richard Dawkins’ OUT campaign. The University of Illinois at Chicago Rationalists and Freethinkers (RAFT) want to promote the idea of going public with one’s atheism. So if you’re able and willing, please submit your name to their master list! Your email stays private, but your name and location will be visible. Let’s see how large this list can grow… [tags]atheist, atheism, coming out[/tags] Read more
Last week, Cary Tennis of Salon gave a horrible response to an atheist father seeking advice on how to deal with his fundamentalist daughter: I am the father of a 13-year-old daughter whose mother has been taking her to an evangelical Christian church her whole life… As my daughter has gotten older, she has become fearful that because I’m not a Christian, I’m going to hell. When I try to explain my beliefs (that I don’t believe in God or… Read more
