Monthly Archives: September 2011

After a Complaint, One Christian Pastor’s Illegal Healing Methods Come to Light

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Hemant Mehta

When you call yourself a Minister, you can get away with almost anything… unless your victims speak up. That’s what Linda Erickson is doing in Illinois. She is coming forward with news that Philip Livingston, who “broke away from South … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 20 Comments

I’m Going to South Carolina… to Talk About Math!

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Hemant Mehta

I’ll be speaking at the University of South Carolina (in Columbia) on Sunday night, October 9th! (When you’re a teacher in the middle of the school year, this is how you make the most of your long weekends.) And the … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, General, Math, Secular Student Alliance | 5 Comments

Some Great Responses for the Jehovah’s Witnesses At Your Door

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Hemant Mehta

I’ve known Dale McGowan for several years now — long before we began working on his vision for Foundation Beyond Belief. He’s always been the nicest guy in the room as well as the perfect atheist ambassador to religious groups. … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 108 Comments

The Archbishop of Canterbury is Right: Atheists *Are* Cool

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Hemant Mehta

Last week, the Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams said that “atheism is cool” and that’s why the church is having so many problems getting its message across. Yesterday, I responded to that comment in the Washington Post‘s On Faith section. … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Secular Student Alliance | 11 Comments

Update on the Student Who Said ‘Homosexuality Is Wrong’ in His German Class

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Hemant Mehta

A few days ago, I posted about a Christian student who said in his high school German class that “being a homosexual is wrong.” That student, Dakota Ary, was suspended after he said that when his teacher, Kristopher Franks, cited … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, General, GLBT | 65 Comments

An Open Letter to Reuel Johnson of the American Cancer Society from Todd Stiefel

Posted on September 28, 2011 by Hemant Mehta

This is a guest post by Todd Stiefel. Todd is the President and Founder of the Stiefel Freethought Foundation. For background on this letter, I suggest reading posts here and here. In short, the American Cancer Society rejected the Foundation … Continue reading →

Posted in Atheist Generosity, General | 57 Comments

Church-or-Jail Program in Alabama Now Being Reconsidered…

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Hemant Mehta

What happens when your plan to give non-violent criminals the option of going to church instead of jail makes its way into the media? Everyone complains. The media calls. You realize this plan isn’t going to go under-the-radar like you … Continue reading →

Posted in General, Lawsuits, Politics | 20 Comments

An Atheist University Opens in India

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Hemant Mehta

Alright, I’ll admit I don’t know what they plan to teach or research… but at least their goals are promising? The Atheist Centre [in India] will open the country’s first atheism university and research centre, coinciding with the centenary celebrations … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, General | 10 Comments

A Humanist Perspective on the Death Penalty

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Hemant Mehta

John Shook of the Center for Inquiry offers a Humanist take on the death penalty: Humanism cannot support the death penalty. … Humanism stands for valuing the lives of all, individual human rights, justice for everyone, and governments that defend … Continue reading →

Posted in General | 145 Comments

Vanderbilt University Christians: Why Can’t We Discriminate?

Posted on September 27, 2011 by Hemant Mehta

Registered college organizations have to adhere to a few rules, one of which is that they must not be discriminatory. You can’t reject homosexuals or black people or Republicans or atheists from your organization because you don’t agree with their … Continue reading →

Posted in Education, General | 50 Comments