A while back, I started receiving issues of Charisma (+ Christian Life) magazine. I didn’t know who ordered it for me but it was always interesting to see what extremely conservative Christians had to say. The subscription ended in the middle of last year. Imagine my surprise when a new issue came in the mail a few days ago (ironically, alongside the new issue of the wonderful magazine Seed). Someone wants me to read this magazine. So I’m flipping through… Read more
At the Atheist Alliance International Convention, I had a chance to speak with several prominent leaders and speakers in the atheist community. Pastor Deacon Fred was not one of them. He is the head of the satirical Landover Baptist Church. The picture below shows Fred (right) during the moment of realization that rapper Greydon Square is black: The pastor spoke with me via email before the conference: Hemant: Will you be getting your own private jet like Benny Hinn? Pastor… Read more
And to think people actually fork over $40/day for this conference… Someone please tell them ghosts don’t exist, every single one of the “ghost stories” was made up, and they should save their cash. Of course, these are probably the same people who believe the Cubs haven’t won a World Series in 99 years because of a f&*%ing Billy Goat. [tags]atheist, atheism, skepticism, supernatural, ghost, paranormal[/tags] Read more
If you’re near Madison, Wisconsin tomorrow afternoon, keep your eye out for the first atheist billboard (above)! It’s being put up by the Freedom From Religion Foundation and can be seen “on the feeder road off the West Beltline next to Culver’s Restaurant, facing west.” “We are launching a campaign to place freethought billboards up around the country, wherever an irreverent billboard is needed–which is practically everywhere!” says Annie Laurie Gaylor, Foundation spokeswoman. “We don’t go to Mass, but we… Read more
Highlights from the Atheist Alliance International Convention 2007: Getting into the hotel ballroom only after going through the hand-held metal detectors and handing over my bag to the people in the storage room. Realizing that it was the second time that day I had to go through a “special screening.” Being told that atheist conventions in the future would have to use these security measures due to “terrorists, fatwas, and death threats” (Those weren’t exaggerations. Ayaan Hirsi Ali had bodyguards… Read more
A brief writeup on the convention (that doesn’t do it justice) and a video (that doesn’t do it justice) was seen on Good Morning America Weekend Edition this morning. Check it out here! [tags]atheist, atheism[/tags] Read more
Bomb sniffing dog. White men dancing to rap music. One speaker’s suggestion that there should be a special fast-track line for atheists at airports. Because, really, are there ever atheist suicide bombers? Details (and more!) to come later. Good night! Read more
Great speeches by Richard Dawkins/Sam Harris. I have entertaining pictures. I was Daniel Dennett for an evening. ( Read more
I’m off to DC in the morning for the Atheist Alliance International convention. Good times will be had. Pictures will be taken. Interviews will be transcribed. And if I have my way, Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris will be signing my copies of I Sold My Soul on eBay. With some possible exceptions, I’ll be back in a few days. Be good while I’m gone. [tags]atheist, atheism[/tags] Read more
There’s an article in The New York Times about Ben Stein’s movie Expelled. It mentions Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers and others who were duped into giving interviews to a group of Creationists who lied about their intentions for filming the interviews. Anyway, the reason I bring this up is because PZ and others are glowing about this phrase by reporter Cornelia Dean: There is no credible scientific challenge to the theory of evolution as an explanation for the complexity… Read more
