AOF Online - Freethought News

I just converted to Atheism...And I feel so relieved!

This wasn’t just a sudden transition, as I have had my doubts about the existence of God for quite a while, but still believed, deep down, that he existed. It was just this past couple days where it finally hit[…]

Southern California Atheist Group Raising Funds To End Alzheimer’s Disease

Any donations to this worthy cause will be matched by an anonymous donor!

Joaquin Phoenix - “I don't believe in god. I don't believe in an afterlife. I don't believe in soul. I don't believe in anything. I think it's totally right for people to have their own beliefs if it makes them happy, but to me it's a pretty preposterous idea.”

He gets it. submitted by /u/HBarnill [link] [comments]

Columbus Co. Sheriff’s Office (NC) Adds “In God We Trust” to All Logos

If they're asking God for help, maybe they need better training.

Greek Bishop Who Blamed Atheist Prime Minister for Wildfires Will Finally Resign

He won't be missed.

Man Who Filmed Woman In Dressing Room Identified As High-Ranking Mormon Church Official

submitted by /u/Minifig81 [link] [comments]

"There's no god. He who created god was a fool; he who spreads his name is a scoundrel and he who worships him is a barbarian." ~ Periyar E. V. Ramasamy

As a person who was brought up in a religious household and a religious country (india) he was a voice that helped me understand how i was feeling in my life about religion. (this was 23 years ago, when I[…]

Religious Exemptions for vaccines might be going away in the state of New York - SSPX Traditional Catholic School in Syracuse, NY (Blessed Virgin Mary Mother of God Academy) has a load of religious exemptions for vaccines (no surprise there!)

submitted by /u/John_Gambino [link] [comments]

Texas Judge Upholds Law Banning “Secular Celebrants” from Solemnizing Marriages

Because of this ruling, trained Secular Celebrants are still not allowed to officiate weddings in Texas.

Perv who snapped pics of woman in dressing room turns out to be high-ranking Mormon church official

submitted by /u/Vein77 [link] [comments]

Sick Boy’s ‘Visit To Heaven’ Sounding More And More Like Wet Dream

submitted by /u/NotSmokinReefer [link] [comments]

“God’s Will” Prompted FL Woman to Try and Kill Her Two Sons and a Truck Driver

Thank goodness she didn't succeed.

Youth Pastor at Anti-Gay Church Accused of Sexually Exploiting Several Teen Boys

Keep your kids safe by not taking them to church.

Christianity is so annoyingly toxic

Alright y’all I just need to vent because I’m annoyed. I hate Christianity, and how it consumes people’s lives to the point that they are blind to how inconsiderate there God is. I just stumbled across a video of a[…]

A Catholic School Won a $838,264 Government Grant… That No One Else Knew About

The mayor also co-founded the Catholic school. He insists that's irrelevant.

Ordered To Post ‘In God We Trust’ Signs, This Public School’s Solution Was Right On The Money

Ordered To Post ‘In God We Trust’ Signs, This Public School’s Solution Was Right On The MoneybostonMon, 08/19/2019 - 09:22Authored byRob BostonImageA number of states have passed bills lately requiring public schools to post signs reading “In God We Trust.”[…]

Jesus wasn't who I thought he was

From a Catholic Questioner ~ I'm not very good at writing and to be honest I'm nervous to write as I'm not an ex-christian. I guess I just need to vent and get my head around a few things that[…]

Should religion be treated as a Mental Health issue?

My problem with religion, is whenever i try to understand it i end up comparing it to a mental health disorder... 1: You hear voice(s) that no one else can corroborate (Sounds too similar to a personality disorder to me)[…]

Anti-Gay Hate-Preacher Trashes Westboro Baptist Church for Being Too Anti-Gay

My irony meter just exploded.

Adventures in the Bible Belt

The snake-handlers and miracle men of evangelical Appalachia.

Don't try to Reason with Deliberate Ignorance

By Carl S ~ A dialog between Reason and Deliberate Ignorance. Reason (R.): You claim to believe in a god who has always existed, a god who says: Before anyone came to be, “I am.” You've also told me this same[…]

Western Democracies Were Shaped by Christianity

One of the most persistent memes floating around the Internet is the notion that those of us living in Western democracies should be grateful to Christianity (and probably even withhold whatever...

Youth pastor at Illinois based evangelical church charged with sexual exploitation of teen boy. The church fired him immediately, & it was reported to the Dept. of Family & Children's services. This is how every church should handle abuse. I applaud them. Unfortunately, this is not always the case.

submitted by /u/relevantlife [link] [comments]

Hundreds of Shameless Hucksters Say There’s a Homeopathic “Treatment” for Autism

There's something seriously wrong with these people.

After Losing Graduation Prayer Fight, SC District Will Challenge Court Ruling

When will these people learn that religious neutrality is not anti-Christian?

A Brief Review of Halloween (2018)

The original Halloween (1978) is one of my favorite horror films. Even though I could do without most of the sequels, I've always regarded it as a near-perfect example of the genre. When I first...

YOUR LAST-MINUTE GUIDE TO WAGERING ON THE 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS BETTING ODDS. Women’s Ice Hockey

Women’s Ice Hockey Where: Kwandong Hockey Centre When: February 10-21 Favorites: United States (-118), Canada (+110), Finland (+2,000) Since its beginning as an Olympic sport in Nagano 20 decades ago, the women’s hockey tournament has been a two-team competition, with[…]

YOUR LAST-MINUTE GUIDE TO WAGERING ON THE 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS BETTING ODDS. Figure Skating (Individual)

Figure Skating (Individual) Where: Gangneung Ice Arena After: February 9-23 Favorites: Guys – Yuzuru Hanyu, Japan (+175); Nathan Chen, U.S. (+200); Shoma Uno, Japan (+200); Girls – Evgenia Medvedeva, Russia (+100); Alina Zagitova, Russia (+175); Kaetlyn Osmond, Canada (+600). The[…]

YOUR LAST-MINUTE GUIDE TO WAGERING ON THE 2018 WINTER OLYMPICS BETTING ODDS. Half-Pipe Snowboardingy

Half-Pipe Snowboarding Where: Phoenix Park After: February 19-22 Favorites: Guys – Shaun White, U.S. (+200); Ayumu Hirano, Japan (+300); Yuto Totsuka, Japan (+350); Girls – Chloe Kim, U.S. (+170); Kelly Clark, U.S. (+450); Queralt Castellet, Spain (+450) Phoenix Park will[…]

California Sports Betting Faces Tough But Not Impossible Road

California is the fifth largest economy on earth — if you carved it from the US — but remains in the 20th Century regarding gaming regulation. Having a projected first-year tax earnings of $100 million, one would feel that California[…]

Oregon Betting

Oregon is one of the greater countries to live in as a gambler. Gambling options from the state include tribal casinos, one horse racing track, a state lottery, particular forms of online gambling, social gambling and charitable games. Additionally, the[…]

Texas

The state of Texas is among the least gambling friendly countries in the total United States. Despite being the second most populated country in the country and having plenty of curious bettors, physical places to put bets are almost non-existent[…]

Is Online Sports Betting Legal in Florida?

Presently online and offline sports betting isn’t legal in the state of Florida, but hopefully that won’t be the case for longterm. Florida is in a unique position when it comes to legalizing online sports gambling. Following the Supreme Court’s[…]

Maryland

Despite a rich history in gaming throughout the lottery and horse racing, Maryland was a late bloomer in regards to casino gambling. However, by passing a law to allow slot machines in 2008, Maryland set the wheels in motion to[…]

History of Sports Betting

History of Sports Betting In regards to sports betting, horse racing saw that the very widespread popularity throughout the 19th Century and into the early 20th Century. In its first phases racing was a game that was enjoyed and wagered[…]

A History of Sports Betting in the United States

In order to better grasp where gaming laws and gaming legislation at the U.S. is about, it is ideal to understand from where we have come. The U.S. has a long history of gaming and sports betting, in spite of[…]

Before You Describe Yourself as a Humanist in Your Twitter Bio...

Canadian Atheist posted an interview with Roy Speckhardt, Executive Director of the American Humanist Association, that caught my attention. I've been wondering about something related to humanism...

Friday Night Music: Liberty Song

This would have been better if I had posted it last month, but some messages are timely in every season. From the folk singer Josh Joffen, in the tradition of the great protest songs of the past, here’s a reminder[…]

Trump Administration Announces Rule Promoting Government-Funded Employment Discrimination

Trump Administration Announces Rule Promoting Government-Funded Employment DiscriminationLHayesFri, 08/16/2019 - 11:47Authored bySamantha SokolImageWhen you go to a job interview for a government-funded job, you don’t expect to be turned away because of your religion. But that’s exactly what happened to[…]

Christianity Gets Slam-Dunked

A review of Tim Sledge’s Four Disturbing Questions with One Simple AnswerThe Richard Dawkins 7-point scale, for rating the strength of belief or non-belief, has been widely referenced. Number 1 is Strong Theist, “I do not question the existence of[…]

The Fountainhead: Life Imitates Art

Even the grand doyenne of individualism turned out not to be as self-reliant as her protagonists.

Is Hate, like Love, Built Into Religion?

By Chris Highland ~ People in many faith communities assure us that “hate has no place” in their circles, their faith or their religion.I’m with them, for the most part.But we have to admit, don’t we, that there is something[…]

Project Blitz is Undermining Separation of Church and State

Maybe it is just me, but it seems like the Project Blitz folks have been getting really good at something they shouldn't be any good at: winning. Although our national secular organizations have been...

Humanist marriages continue to rise in Scotland, new figures show

Humanist marriages are on the rise in Scotland, with new official figures showing 6,117 humanist marriages (22% of total marriages) took place in Scotland in 2018, up from 5,702 marriages (20%) in the previous year. Humanists UK has welcomed these[…]

Americans United Ally MRFF Shares Emails From The Dark Side

Americans United Ally MRFF Shares Emails From The Dark SidebostonWed, 08/14/2019 - 09:52Authored byRob BostonImageIf you defend separation of church and state for a living, you’re going to hear from religious extremists – and chances are they’re going to be[…]

The Coming Secular Era, Continued

Religion is fading all over the world, in places you might expect and in places you wouldn't.

The Dangers Of The Denial Of Care Rule Are Very Real

The Dangers Of The Denial Of Care Rule Are Very RealbostonTue, 08/13/2019 - 10:20Authored byRob BostonImageOn June 12, 2016, a 29-year-old heavily armed man burst into Pulse, a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., that served a mainly LGBTQ clientele, and started[…]

Federal Court Approves ‘Christians-Only’ County Seal In Pa.

Federal Court Approves ‘Christians-Only’ County Seal In Pa. bostonMon, 08/12/2019 - 09:54Authored byRob BostonImageThe U.S. Supreme Court June 20 ruled that a 40-foot-tall cross on public land in Bladensburg, Md., may stay where it is, in part because the cross,[…]

The Internet Gives Doubters a Home

Many in-person atheist groups are struggling, but freethought is alive and well in online communities.

Does It Matter How You Address Your Prayers?

It is common to hear one partner in an intimate relationship say something to the other like, "If you really cared about me, I wouldn't have to tell you what I wanted." When we are not currently...

Snake Worshippers! This Could Be You!

All it would take is for you to be born in a Hindu family in Prayagraj, India. Then you too would worship snakes! You would be convinced they heal you when ill. You could not be talked out of your[…]

Immigration: Do Democrats Want Open Borders?

Suppose a country had a law that made it a crime to spit on the sidewalk. This was an old law that had been around almost as long as the country itself. Although it was still on the books, nobody[…]

Celebrating 30 years of rationalist activism in Maharashtra state

Rationalists have been campaigning against superstition and intolerance in Maharashtra state since 1989The post Celebrating 30 years of rationalist activism in Maharashtra state appeared first on Humanists International.

“A Simple Misunderstanding that Changed the Course of History”

The deep roots of Christian apologetics“Religion was invented when the first con man met the first fool.” There is some truth to this claim, but not enough. Our distant ancestors—those who first believed that priests could channel gods—were not fools:[…]

Christian Desperation

By Carl S ~ Breaking News: From the unexpurgated Gospel of Matthew: Then Jesus awakened Peter and said to him, “I command you, tell the disciples I was wrong and Lucretius is right. Preach to them, the good news is,[…]

Iowa Religious Extremist Who Burned Library Books Faces The Law

Iowa Religious Extremist Who Burned Library Books Faces The Law bostonFri, 08/09/2019 - 08:48Authored byRob BostonImageIn October 2018, I wrote a blog post about Paul Dorr, an Iowa man who made a video of himself burning several books with LGBTQ[…]

The Fountainhead: Hays Code

Ayn Rand versus Hollywood censorship.

Why Can't You Keep Your Atheism to Yourself?

I can keep my atheism to myself. In fact, I usually do. Most casual acquaintances do not know that I am an atheist because I've never told them. Some of my co-workers know because I stupidly confided...

Parents say religious worship is least appropriate activity for school assemblies, new poll reveals

Parents believe religious worship is the least appropriate activity for school assemblies, ranking it last among 13 possible topics or activities, according to a new poll released today. Humanists UK, which last week announced it is backing Lee and Lizanne[…]

Read the Solidarity and Action Statement Against White Supremacy

The tragedies of this past weekend represent a confluence of dangerous forces. The post Read the Solidarity and Action Statement Against White Supremacy appeared first on American Humanist Association.

These Mo. Teachers Were Told To Attend An Event At An Anti-LGBTQ Church. Their Response Was Perfect.

These Mo. Teachers Were Told To Attend An Event At An Anti-LGBTQ Church. Their Response Was Perfect.bostonThu, 08/08/2019 - 10:58Authored byZachary FreimanImageDuring my time at Americans United this summer, I’ve written about some pretty depressing things. Whether it was a[…]

Mourning the Church

By UKCatLover ~ My story begins as an 8-year-old girl listening to a bedtime story with her dad. I loved story time with dad and always managed to convince him to read two to me. I listened as his calm[…]

Praying Away the Gun Violence

In the wake of the recent round of mass shootings in El Paso and Dayton (or Toledo, depending on who you ask), we have seen several Christian extremists (e.g., Mike Huckabee) using their platforms to...

Sound Science Education May Start Devolving In Florida

Sound Science Education May Start Devolving In FloridabostonWed, 08/07/2019 - 09:10Authored byZachary FreimanImageDidn’t we solve this with “Inherit the Wind”? Nearly 95 years after the infamous Tennessee Scopes Trial on which the play “Inherit” is based pit a man accused[…]

Josh Harris Kisses Christianity Goodbye

Another former Christian fundamentalist discovers the failure of the anti-dating, virginity-obsessed belief system he taught and lived by.

Humanists Demand Equal Treatment for Nevada Prisoners before Ninth Circuit

AHA Senior Counsel concludes oral arguments before Appeals Court.The post Humanists Demand Equal Treatment for Nevada Prisoners before Ninth Circuit appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Separation Of Church And State Didn’t Cause The Recent Mass Shootings

Separation Of Church And State Didn’t Cause The Recent Mass ShootingsbostonTue, 08/06/2019 - 09:29Authored byRob BostonImageThe country witnessed two horrific mass shootings over the weekend, one in El Paso, Texas, and another in Dayton, Ohio. Our hearts are heavy as[…]

Why I Left Christianity

By Whitney N ~ Four years ago, I couldn’t have even dreamed of that being a title of something I would have written.But a little less than four years ago years my sweet husband sat me down with tears in[…]

The Amount of Horrific Suffering Makes The Existence of God Improbable

Recently I participated in an online debate on an omni-god and suffering. My Catholic opponent mostly quoted from the Bible and Church fathers. Like so many others he had a strategy of nitpicking and using up my time in the[…]

Christian Nationalism Is Spreading – And These Christians Have Had Enough

Christian Nationalism Is Spreading – And These Christians Have Had Enough bostonMon, 08/05/2019 - 10:27Authored byRob BostonImageChristian nationalism – the belief that a narrow version of right-wing, fundamentalist Christianity should merge with the state, direct public policy and control the[…]

The Biggest News of the 21st Century

Churches are shrinking, secularism is soaring, and humanist values wield ever-greater strength in public life.

What It Was Like to Be a Christian

Those who use Twitter do so for many different reasons. At its best, I find that Twitter can be a great source of inspiration for blog posts. This one was inspired by an atheist who was never...

A Brief Review of Hereditary (2018)

First up, I have to apologize for the misleading title. I chose it because I have been using "A Brief Review of [Name of Film (Year)]" for most of my recent reviews of horror films. It is misleading...

Is a Real Jesus Hiding Anywhere in the New Testament?

A Review of R. G. Price’s Deciphering the Gospels Proves Jesus Never ExistedIt’s standard practice for art dealers to provide documentation that the works they sell are the real thing; ideally there will be a paper trail showing ownership back[…]

The Fountainhead: Cutting Room Floor

How and why the film version of The Fountainhead compresses and changes the plot of the book.

English council backs down after legal challenge to exclusion of humanist from RE body

Humanists UK has won a proposed legal challenge against a London council that rejected a humanist representative’s application to join the council’s religious education (RE) body, in a decision likely to pave the way for more humanists to sit on[…]

Join our Humanist Studies Program this Fall at Meadville Lombard

Program dedicated to fostering ethically grounded leadership.The post Join our Humanist Studies Program this Fall at Meadville Lombard appeared first on American Humanist Association.

The Claim That There Are No Atheists

Instead of answering atheists' arguments, some believers just deny that there is such a thing as atheism. On their view, everyone knows that there is a God, and so-called atheists simply block out that fact because they don't want there[…]

Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir freed after 6 years in detention

Sentenced to death in 2014 following accusations of "blasphemy" and "apostasy", Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir has now been freed and relocated abroad.The post Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir freed after 6 years in detention appeared first on Humanists International.

Alice Roberts and Humanists UK shortlisted for 2019 charity awards

Humanists UK has been shortlisted in two categories in this year’s Third Sector Awards, it was announced today. Humanists UK President Professor Alice Roberts has been nominated to win the prestigious ‘Charity Champion of the Year’ award in recognition of[…]