Esra’a (from Bahrain) at Mideast Youth posted an interview with a 23-year-old Arab atheist. His answers to a lot of questions are not too different from what you might hear an American atheist say. I posted some of the more interested questions and answers below. Q: … you said that you’re an atheist shortly before you tried to convince me that you’re not anti-Arab. Explain to me why you feel the need to do that? A: Because non-Muslim Arabs are… Read more
According to the Associated Press, here are some church abuse statistics that should frighten everyone: Three companies that insure the majority of Protestant churches in America say they typically receive upward of 260 reports each year of people under 18 being sexually abused by clergy, church staff, volunteers or congregation members. That’s an underestimate, since the denominations aren’t centralized and not every instance is reported. How does the Catholic Church do in comparison? The Roman Catholic Church has said there… Read more
Ed Brayton gives you the backstory about what’s happening in the Albemarle School District in Virginia: … Most schools have a system for sending home flyers to parents informing them of school events. Most schools also allow outside groups, like the Scouts or the YMCA, use that system to get the word out about summer camps and the like. In 2001, a Christian group tried to use a school’s system to inform parents of one of their events and they… Read more
If you’re offended, blame Reed. That’s by a Canadian comedy troupe called Picnicface, by the way. It’s been a while since I saw a really funny cartoon/video/whatever ripping on atheism. There must be some good stuff out there. If you know of something, please send me a link! We’re equal opportunity offenders here. [tags]Stephanie Rosen, Jew, Picnicface, Halifax, Canada, atheist, atheism[/tags] Read more
Right, I know. Who cares. But I did enjoy this email from the Secular Coalition for America. On Sunday, June 17th, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich will celebrate his 64th birthday. This is the man who claims that “our inalienable rights come from God,” who lambastes the courts for not following “the culture of 91 percent of America,” and who prepared the “Walking Tour of God in Washington, D.C.” June 17th is also the 49th birthday of Lori… Read more
The list of “The Top 10 Craziest TV Preachers” (with video) is now at Uber.com. The top three can be found here. Personally, you’ll get your fix if you watch numbers 2, 3, 5, 7, 9. Actually, #9 is going to give me nightmares for weeks. Don’t watch that one. [tags]atheist, atheism, preacher, pastor, church, uber.com[/tags] Read more
Claudia Parsons of Reuters has an article discussing a report put out by the EastWest Institute regarding religious extremism. It’s in advance of a conference to be held Thursday called “Towards a Common Response: New Thinking Against Violent Extremism and Radicalization.” What does the report say? It said extremists from each of the three faiths often have tangible grievances — social, economic or political — but they invoke religion to recruit followers and to justify breaking the law, including killing… Read more
Karen Lancaster wrote a nice piece in her local gazette. Now, there’s a follow-up letter by Richard Russell that also makes atheists look good: We [atheists], too, have every confidence we will take our rightful place as equals in a free society as soon as people get to know us personally. So kudos to Lancaster for reminding the good citizens of Chillicothe that a smart, articulate person such as she -as well as about one person out of seven nationwide… Read more
It’s not really atheist-related, but it pissed me off. Saskatchewanian Kieran King was suspended from his high school because he said (said!) that marijuana wasn’t as bad as alcohol. According to the National Post: “In my opinion, cannabis is safer than they say, it is not worse than alcohol or tobacco,” said King, a 15-year-old Grade 10 student. [Principal Susan] Wilson accused King of using and selling marijuana at school… King has offered to submit to a voluntary drug test… Read more
