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‘We Have Endured’: Islam’s Third Branch Has Deep Roots On This African Island

Wedged between a pizzeria and a clothing shop in Houmt Souk, the capital of Tunisia’s island of Djerba, lies an ancient treasure. The El Barounia Library is one of the oldest centers preserving Ibadi heritage in North Africa. Ibadism presents[…]

How do u accept that your consciousness will disappear after death ?

I am a Muslim but lately I've been having a lot of doubt, I've been thinking about leaving islam since a long time but this week I didn't even pray once. The thing that keeps me from making the decision[…]

Augustine: The Man Who Forever Rewired Christianity

(ANALYSIS) The man who would become one of Christianity's most formidable minds spent his early life doing things he knew were wrong and deploying his considerable intelligence to explain why that was probably fine. Saint Augustine of Hippo would go[…]

A Fourth Circuit panel rejected a West Virginia family’s religious challenge to school vaccine requirements on Wednesday, determining that the state law serves the public interest

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

USDA Secretary blasted ~100,000 federal employees with a full-on Christian sermon for Easter

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is calling out U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins for sending an explicitly Christian devotional email, apparently to almost 100,000 USDA employees. FFRF has received multiple complaints from USDA staff regarding the April 5 message,[…]

UPDATE: My boss was admonished by higher ups after they spoke with me and my co workers.

Hi everyone. I just thought that I'd give an update on the situation involving a lunch prayer with my boss. After speaking with myself and my co workers who backed me up, he was given a stern warning and has[…]

Birmingham pastor charged after man drowned during baptism

submitted by /u/Alarming-Safety3200 [link] [comments]

Would Christianity collapse if people couldn’t indoctrinate their children into their worldview?

Would removing the possibility of childhood indoctrination make religions collapse globally? Or would religion still be around despite the absence of childhood indoctrination? submitted by /u/hypermiler2205 [link] [comments]

A pastor has been charged with gross negligence manslaughter after a man died during a baptism ceremony in Birmingham England

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

FFRF Action Fund goes 5 for 5 in Wisconsin spring elections: Voters are showing up for secular government and reproductive freedom — and it’s working.

The FFRF Action Fund is celebrating victories for all five of its endorsed candidates in Wisconsin’s April 7 nonpartisan elections, extending a perfect endorsement record in the Badger State across two consecutive election cycles. Judge Chris Taylor’s election to the[…]

A very surreal and provocative realization just went off in my head!… I’d like comments from the atheists only please .

So, this morning, thinking again about existence and nonexistence.. … a weird (maybe) but obvious thing came to me, that: LIFE is just an interruption in our nonexistence! Now I have a deeper appreciation for people who think that death[…]

9 Police Officers Sentenced To Death In India Over Custody Killings

Nine police officers were sentenced to death in India over the 202 deaths in custody of a father and son.

Religion was made to control people in my opinion

I feel like no religion is built on peace. Every religion I’ve heard about or seen or whatever has always been built on fear. Don’t do this or you burn for eternity, don’t do this or you will be punished[…]

Ohio Church Prevails In Right To Run Housing Shelter

Dad’s Place, the temporary housing shelter in Bryan, Ohio, that has been fighting for its right to operate, has finally reached a conclusion to its ongoing legal matters.

Can Conservative Christians Take Back Mainline Churches?

When you picture an American church, what comes to mind? Is it a palatial, gothic cathedral that dwarfs its neighboring buildings and carries with it an air of ancient mystery? Is it a small, white chapel with a sharp steeple[…]

Dozens Killed In Nigeria As Violence Mars Easter Celebrations

At least 54 Christians were killed early Easter in Nigeria’s Middle Belt, many during worship, with dozens more abducted from Evangelical Church Winning All Souls and other sites, International Christian Concern reported.

Churchgoers Trust God’s Involvement In Their Lives, But Many Admit Doubts

When facing difficult circumstances, most churchgoers trust in God’s love and provision. Some, however, begin to question God’s character and involvement in their lives — and their number has grown in recent years.

Here is a Visual of the Book "God and Horrendous Suffering"

In case you need a visual this is a very B.I.G. book! 600+ pages! Just released! You’ll get your money's worth. Get it. Review it. Laud it. Praise it. Love it. Hate it. It should challenge most readers to consider[…]

Temporary Gains In The US And A False Revival in Britain

(ANALYSIS) Christianity is growing globally, especially in the Global South and parts of Europe, with record adult conversions in Monaco, France, Austria, Belgium and rising U.S. Catholic baptisms. But earlier claims of a British revival were debunked, and U.S. secularism,[…]

Emergency Expenses And American Religion

(ANALYSIS) Before there was Dave Ramsey, there was Suze Orman. The OGs will know exactly what I’m talking about right now. She had a show on CNBC that ran on Saturday nights. We would watch it almost every week.

The Fulfillment Paradox: Why Success Can Leave You Empty

(OPINION) Striving for success, status, and achievement often deepens emptiness rather than fulfillment. True meaning comes from cultivating love, faith in something greater, hopeful expectation, benevolence toward others, a sense of humor and mercy. These qualities, more than external rewards,[…]

The World’s Most Dangerous Cult Continues to Thrive

The Catholic church qualifies for this titleIs it really fair to call Catholicism a cult? Or does this reflect my growing up in a mostly Protestant small town in rural northern Indiana in the 1940s-1950s? We were good friends with the[…]

Federal Judge Sides With Humanists on Monumental 10 Commandments Victory in Arkansas

“State capitals should be welcoming to all citizens." The post Federal Judge Sides With Humanists on Monumental 10 Commandments Victory in Arkansas appeared first on American Humanist Association.

American Humanists React to SCOTUS Decision on Conversion Therapy

"A decision completely divorced from reality." The post American Humanists React to SCOTUS Decision on Conversion Therapy appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Leaving the Church: A Welcome Relief or Trauma?

It can be a mixture of bothBy the time I finished my PhD in Biblical Studies in 1975 (Boston University), I had become an atheist. Primarily because questions raised in the course of those years were not given credible answers,[…]

A New Paper On Miracles Forthcoming!

I have published more than a dozen books on key issues relating to Christianity, beginning with my magnum opus "Why I Became an Atheist" [see the first comment below on it].In the last few years I focused on the twin[…]

Christianity’s Role in Fueling the Nazi Holocaust

“Atheism Was Not the Cause of the Holocaust” My subtitle today is, in fact, the title of an essay by Hector Avalos in John Loftus’ 2010 anthology, The Christian Delusion: Why Faith Fails. In this essay, Avalos provides a thorough, scathing[…]

Talking Points in Opposition to the Free Speech Fairness Act

During SCA's 2026 Member Meeting, we urged Congress to oppose the Free Speech Fairness Act. You can read more about the bill and how to talk to your members of Congress about it here: Talking Points in Opposition to the[…]

My Debate Notes: "God Probably Doesn't Exist Given the Existence of Horrendous Suffering, by John W. Loftus

Get this huge book!!I had mentioned this debate yesterday. Here is my planned opening statement: My focus is on heinous, hideous, horrific levels of horrendous suffering given the belief in a theistic God who is all-powerful, all-knowing, and perfect good. Unless[…]

The 1941 Babi Yar Massacre vs. God-Is-Good Theology

Horrendous suffering can never be ignored in guessing about god(s)Please be aware that a primary role of the clergy is always to promote their own cherished version of the faith, despite the fact that there are thousands of competing denominations, brands, sects,[…]

The Cult-Goofy, Defective Final 16th Chapter of Mark’s Gospel

Wrapping up my honest sermons on this first gospel For many centuries, religious scholars and laity alike had no clue that the final chapter of Mark is defective. But as ancient manuscripts came to light, there was a surprise: the[…]

"Why Adam and Eve Sinned & Problems with Free Will" by Edouard Tahmizian

"Why Adam and Eve Sinned & Problems with Free Will" by Edouard Tahmizian is Secular Web's Editor's Choice, Kiosk Article! Congrats goes to Edouard who is the Vice President & Social Media Manager of Internet Infidels! LINK

For Good Reason, Respect for Clergy Has Been in Decline

The clergy themselves are to blameMany times on this blog I have wondered, “Why isn’t membership in the Catholic church down to zero by now?” Are its faithful members just not paying attention? Their church has paid more than four billion dollars[…]

American Humanists Launch “How to Humanist” Podcast

Introducing humanist conversations to major streaming platforms. The post American Humanists Launch “How to Humanist” Podcast appeared first on American Humanist Association.

American Humanists Launch the American Empathy Project

"Our response to the crisis of cruelty plaguing our communities." The post American Humanists Launch the American Empathy Project appeared first on American Humanist Association.

2026 National Prayer Breakfast Opposition Letter – Organizational and Community Leaders Sign On

The Secular Coalition for America has joined several nonprofits, including the Freedom From Religion Foundation, to oppose the National Prayer Breakfast. The National Prayer Breakfast harms our national unity, the separation between religion and government, and the rights of the[…]

Heretic on the Hill: Help Us Fight Preachers Endorsing Politicians

The Johnson Amendment is under attack. The legal prohibition against preachers endorsing candidates from the pulpit would be repealed if bills in the House and Senate pass this year. When you see a bill with a vague and seemingly patriotic title, like the Free Speech Fairness[…]

The United States Was Not Founded As A Christian Nation

You may have seen claims that the Founding Fathers created the United States to be a "Christian nation". This Christian nationalism narrative rewrites history and ignores America's Founders' mission to create a secular government where religious freedom is protected but[…]

American Humanists: “No More Regime-Change Wars”

“This is an issue of humanity." The post American Humanists: “No More Regime-Change Wars” appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Humanists Denounce Pete Hegseth’s Attacks on Religious Pluralism in the Military

"No right to tell anyone what to believe or how to pray." The post Humanists Denounce Pete Hegseth’s Attacks on Religious Pluralism in the Military appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Heretic on the Hill: The Law of Unintended Consequences Can’t Be Repealed

If this goes down as the “Pay Me” presidency with President Trump playing the role of mafia boss, demanding payments from universities, tech companies, networks, and whomever else he can shake down, then Stephen Miller will undoubtedly be the consigiliere. Miller[…]

Heretic on the Hill: Groups Like SCA Are Calling the Shots, Says Important Republican Senator. We Try.

Not long ago the Office of Personnel Management, the government’s HR department, released new guidelines for religious activity in federal offices. We thought they were so inappropriate, counterproductive, and counter to established federal employment policy that we put together our[…]

The Office of Personnel Management’s “Protecting Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace” Memorandum: What You Need to Know

The Office of Personnel Management’s “Protecting Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace” Memorandum: What You Need to Know Recently, Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Scott Kupor issued a memorandum detailing the rights and permissible behavior of religious federal employees[…]

Heretic on the Hill: Working Around the Shutdown

You’ve heard there’s a government shutdown. Most federal offices are closed and the “essential workers” are working without getting paid. Members of the military will miss a paycheck on October 15 which is the first event that might get one[…]

Humanists Applaud Introduction of Separation of Church and State Resolution in Congress

Real religious liberty can’t be taken for granted. The post Humanists Applaud Introduction of Separation of Church and State Resolution in Congress appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Heretic on the Hill: The Water’s Getting Hot

Tom Cruise has a good story about the incredibly dangerous stunt he did climbing the side of the world’s highest building in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. He had been dreaming about doing that stunt himself for years, finally got to the[…]

After Court declares that grant to Ohio religious school was unconstitutional, no funds to be spent on religious education

State funds cannot be spent on religious instruction. The post After Court declares that grant to Ohio religious school was unconstitutional, no funds to be spent on religious education appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Heretic on the Hill: A Thoughtful Presidential Statement on Building the Wall

Sixty-five years ago today President John Kennedy said about the Wall of Separation, “I believe in an America where the separation of church and state is absolute, where no Catholic prelate would tell the president (should he be Catholic) how to act, and[…]

Do Our Souls Require a Gender?

Do you regularly operate a motor vehicle of some kind? If so, is your motor vehicle male or female? This will seem like a nonsensical question to some. Machines don't have a gender! Others might think of their vehicle as[…]

How Does One Become a Christian Today?

Suppose I woke up tomorrow morning and decided that I wanted to be a Christian. I realize that seems unlikely, but that's not the point here. And because it isn't the case that I want to be a Christian, we[…]

Dying Without Withdrawing From Your Faith Savings Account

Imagine that your parents set up a savings account for you when you were a child. They did so to teach you about money, the importance of savings, and whatever else. Every month, they required you to make a small[…]

Some Lessons Learned During My Angry Atheist Phases

I've gone through at least two prolonged "angry atheist" phases in my life so far. I regret one of them. I knew it was counterproductive and hard to justify at the time. This insight wasn't enough to stop me, but[…]

I Live My Life As if Bigfoot Does Not Exist

Do Bigfoot creatures exist? I don't know, but it strikes me as quite unlikely. It would be cool if they did, but that isn't an adequate basis for believing that they do. And yet, it would not occur to me[…]

I Have Known Few Atheists

Living in the United States, it comes as no surprise that most of the people I've met have been Christians. I recently started to wonder how many atheists I've known. This question is much more difficult to answer than it[…]

VICTORY: Court rules grant to out-of-state Catholic Institution violates West Virginia Constitution

“Public dollars should always serve the public good." The post VICTORY: Court rules grant to out-of-state Catholic Institution violates West Virginia Constitution appeared first on American Humanist Association.

American Humanists Decry the Death of the Johnson Amendment

"All bets are off" The post American Humanists Decry the Death of the Johnson Amendment appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Is Identifying Oneself as an Atheist a Claim About Reality?

Suppose someone proclaimed that there were no gods or insisted that gods don't exist. They would have made a claim about the world, right? Well, maybe not our world since gods aren't supposed to inhabit our world but to transcend[…]

The Wheres and Whens of Growing Up Atheist

What's it like to grow up in the United States and realize at some point along the way that one is an atheist? It depends a great deal on where one lives, doesn't it? The influence of religion varies a[…]

When Uncomplicated Grief is a Luxury

"Everybody grieves in different ways." This sentence has been replaying in my head since my mom died a week ago. It reminds me that it is okay to grieve and that I will do it sooner or later. I'll do[…]

Finding the Balance Between Staying Informed and Sinking Into Despair

If you ask most people why they interact with news sources, you'll hear some version of the same answer. We do it to stay informed. We want to know what's happening, and that's why we interact with the news. This[…]

France Declares Scientology a Fraud, Not Religion

Isn't this a bit link saying the Strawberry ice cream isn't really ice cream? Link: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/regions/europe/france/120202/france-labels-scientology-business-not-church

In Honor of Black History Month: Ex-Slave Tells Ex-Master to "Shove it"

This is brilliant and really needs minimal comment Dayton, Ohio, August 7, 1865 To My Old Master, Colonel P.H. Anderson, Big Spring, Tennessee Sir: I got your letter, and was glad to find that you had not forgotten Jourdon, and[…]

Indiana Slouches Toward Idiocy

As was mentioned in an earlier post, the Indiana state senate was scheduled to vote on allowing school districts to require "creationism", aka religious drivel, to be taught in public schools. They did, and it pasted with 28 out of[…]

Keep your Temples; We Have Greater Things

Alain de Botton, wants to build an Atheist Temple in London. Alain de Botton has announced plans to construct a 150 foot high temple to atheism in the heart to London. He claims that it is a terrible thing that[…]

A Review of "A Universe From Nothing"

From the AVClub: "With an afterward by Richard Dawkins, A Universe From Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather Than Nothing is solidly in the New Atheism camp, a cosmologist’s version of Dawkins’ The Blind Watchmaker. Krauss takes several jabs at[…]

The Myth of Jesus

UCF Professor Tells Ignorant Students What Higher Education is Really About

Charles Negy Charles Negy directly address the impact of students' religious bigotry, small mindedness and irrationality in the college classroom. Anyone who has ever taught a college class, especially in the humanities, knows that every word he wrote is accurate. Negy[…]