AOF Online - Freethought News

‘Rosary beads? Yes. But crystals, No.’: Catholic school counselor loses her job. An employee who invited three Wiccan high priestesses to speak to marketing students did not believe that the crystals they handed out nor their religion would cause such a stir.

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Worried About Christian Nationalism? End the National Prayer Breakfast

The National Prayer Breakfast has been a slap in the face to secular Americans throughout its history. It is one of far too many things that should never occur in a nation that values the separation of church and state.[…]

The executive pastor of a Texas Baptist Church, who is also the president of the local district school board, has been arrested and charged with indecent sexual contact with a child.

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Alabama middle school teacher and wrestling coach who also doubled as the youth director of a church was arrested and jailed Wednesday on child porn charges.

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A Christian baker who has spent years fighting for the right to discriminate against LGBTQ+ people has lost his appeal in a case about his refusal to make a cake for someone celebrating their gender transition.

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After a islamic terrorist attack, the Spanish Opposition Leader makes the next statement: "You won't see catholics killing in the name of their faith."

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Egypt’s religious body calls for Swedish and Dutch boycott over Quran burnings. Called them “barbaric crimes under the inhuman and immoral banner they call freedom of expression.″

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Parents Charged With Murder After 4-Year-Old Dies After 'Exorcisms'

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Child Porn Charges Added to Life Sentence for Youth Pastor Who Killed and Dismembered Teen.

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Jut a reminder about abortions: when abortion is outlawed, rich people will still get abortions.

They will still get abortion pills. They will still get travel passes for out-of-state abortions. They will still get the world's best post-abortion medical care. It will not matter their (or their husbands') political leanings. Please keep this in mind.[…]

Republican demands "stronger laws" to stop women from leaving state to get abortions

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“Meteor-Illogical” – Leaving Religion, New Secret Powers for Horse Paste, and Other Health and Wellness Woo

Greetings, heretics! How the devil are you? Welcome to the Morning Heresy, your thrice-weekly collection of news and headlines for the reality-based community. Rob Palmer has a new interview with Dave Warnock, “a one-time evangelical pastor who now publicly opines[…]

India: Supreme Court rules in favor of filmmaker

Indian Supreme Court rules that filmmaker Leena Manimekalai should not be arrested The post India: Supreme Court rules in favor of filmmaker appeared first on Humanists International.

Kenya: updates in case against Atheists in Kenya Society

Case against Atheists in Kenya Society progresses The post Kenya: updates in case against Atheists in Kenya Society appeared first on Humanists International.

Should You Carry a Pocket Notebook? A Free Way to Find Out

Have you seen other people carrying small pocket notebooks? Some of them look cool, don't they? Have you wondered how they use them and whether you should try one? You could run out and buy a 3-pack of Field Notes,[…]

“Urged to Skip Breakfast” – Skeptics Down Under, Pelosi’s New Exorcise Regimen, and Unwelcome ‘Cognitive Dissonance’

Happy Monday! Welcome to the Morning Heresy, our regular round-up of news and headlines for the reality-based community. The Center for Inquiry is one of 30 organizations – both secular and religious – that have signed onto a letter to[…]

Nigeria: 1,000 days without Mubarak Bala

Mubarak Bala spends 1000th day in a cell The post Nigeria: 1,000 days without Mubarak Bala appeared first on Humanists International.

Expect Atheists to Differ Because There's More Than One Path to Atheism

Imagine that you come up with an idea of something you want to write about. You are considering a title like, "Things I've Learned About..." And then you get stuck. You could list several things you learned about whatever the[…]

“Faceplanting Into The Litter Box” – Florida Man, Horace Mann, but Still No Evidence of Little Green Men

Greetings, heretics! How the devil are you? Welcome to the Morning Heresy, your thrice-weekly collection of news and headlines for the reality-based community. Bigfoot Bluffin’: Curious Credentials in Cryptozoology. You don’t need an advanced degree to search for Bigfoot, Benjamin[…]

Humanity’s Urgent Need to Outgrow Religion

The scams and deceptions continueHere’s a headline that caught my attention this week: “Jesus baptism site makeover aims to draw a million Christians in 2030.” (BBC News, 15 January 2023) The article includes this text: “Samir Murad, who chairs the non-profit[…]

"God and Horrendous Suffering" Now $9.99

Kindle edition of "God and Horrendous Suffering" is now $9.99 at Amazon! LINK

American Humanist Association Condemns National Prayer Breakfast

Annual event torches the line between church and state. The post American Humanist Association Condemns National Prayer Breakfast appeared first on American Humanist Association.

“An Asinine Notion” – Hijacking George Carlin, the Necessity of Scientific Thinking, and the Responsibility of Ghost Hunters

Greetings and salutations! Welcome once more to the Morning Heresy, your thrice-weekly collection of news and headlines for the reality-based community. There are certain historical figures and commentators that everyone likes to claim (and selectively quote) to claim as “theirs.”[…]

Twitter is Hard to Justify Without Viable Third Party Clients

I joined Twitter in 2008, and I enjoyed using it until 2021. I started re-evaluating my use of it then, as I found that I was enjoying it much less than I used to. The benefits I had derived from[…]

“A Special Silver Hammer” — Vaccination Litigation, Religious Exemptions, and More

Greetings, heretics! How the devil are you? Welcome to the Morning Heresy, your thrice-weekly collection of news and headlines for the reality-based community. In his latest feature for Skeptical Inquirer, the Morning Heresy’s own JD Sword investigates whether or not[…]

New US Report Forecasts Christian Nationalist Movement’s State-Level Strategy in 2023

American Atheists' new report warned about white Christian nationalists’ likely strategy for 2023, following the midterm elections. The post New US Report Forecasts Christian Nationalist Movement’s State-Level Strategy in 2023 appeared first on Humanists International.

Support Christians Who Speak Out Against Christian Nationalism

Many atheists have called on Christians to denounce Christian nationalism. I know I have. There are various ways atheists and other secular folks can help, but there aren't enough of us. Thus, much of this particular fight rests with Christians[…]

Chapter 13: "Christianity Can be Hazardous to Your Health, by Harriet Hall

Dr. Skepdoc Harriet Hall died peacefully in her sleep last night. In her honor I present a sample of her work from my anthology Christianity is not Great. If there is any occasion to see the truth of her chapter[…]

A Pop Quiz for Christians, Number 6

What devout scholars know vs. what devout churchgoers believeA long time ago, devout scholars thought they could strengthen the faith by studying every chapter and verse of the gospels. Thus an industry was born: Christian academia. Many, many thousands of[…]

David Wood vs John Loftus Debate: Did Jesus Rise from the Dead? (May 2015)

A friend who goes by the name Ozzy Ozone just posted this debate with commentary. He sped up the video of my talk without telling people that he did so, until well into it. He just wanted to get through[…]

“Likely to Cause Serious Offense to Christians” — Remembering Harriet Hall, the Hamline Hornet’s Nest, and Faith Healing Fails

Welcome to the Morning Heresy, your thrice-weekly round-up of news for the skeptic and reality-based community. We were shocked and deeply saddened to learn that Harriet Hall, CSI Fellow and co-founder of Science-Based Medicine, has died. Ron Jette, editor of[…]

“The Conspiracy Theory Congress” — Secular Rights Report Card, Birtherism Rebirth, and Rob Lowe Battles Bigfoot

Greetings, heretics! How the devil are you? Welcome to the Morning Heresy, your thrice-weekly round-up of news for the skeptic and reality-based community. American Atheists’ 2022 State of the Secular States report, which examines “state law and policy that affects[…]

How the Church Manipulated the Original Bible

By G.M. Gates ~ What if Christianity is lying about the Bible? What if the original Bible in Hebrew was manipulated by the Church? What if the Old Testament was still being still being changed, hundreds of years after the[…]

My Journey Out of Christianity

By G.M. Gates ~ It was the spring of 2003. I had broken up with my then girlfriend for what was, probably, the fifth or sixth time in the span of a year. The cause of the break up wasn't[…]

“Tic-Tacs Over Tucson” — A ‘New Low’ for Anti-Vaxxers, The Liver King, and More

Greetings, heretics! How the devil are you? Welcome to the Morning Heresy, bringing you the latest news for the skeptic and reality-based community. The Skeptic’s Guide to Sports Science. In a new article on the Skeptical Inquirer website, Nick Tiller[…]

Norway: First ever state-sponsored humanist funeral

The Norwegian government awarded political activist and comedian Shabana Rehman with a state-sponsored humanist funeral. The post Norway: First ever state-sponsored humanist funeral appeared first on Humanists International.

Christian Faith is Not Necessary to Motivate Social Justice

Shortly after his win in Georgia, Sen. Raphael Warnock thanked some sort of god. And why wouldn't he? Professional athletes, such as his opponent, have been doing this sort of thing for as long as I can remember.Democratic observers were[…]

Who Was Jesus? Lunatic, Liar, Failed Prophet, Cynic, Sage, Celestrial Being...

Over at The Secular Frontier John MacDonald singled me out for my journey from someone who previously believed Jesus was the Son of God, to thinking he was a failed apocalyptic prophet, to taking an agnostic stance on the question,[…]

“Detox is a Scam” — Where is Soheil Arabi, Congressional Chaos, and Connected Eating

Greetings, heretics! How the devil are you? Welcome to the Morning Heresy, bringing you the latest news for the skeptic and reality-based community. CFI has joined a group of atheist, secularist, and freethought organizations led by the Council of Ex-Muslims[…]

The Colossal Embarrassment of Mark 16

A Bible chapter that damages Christian credibility The case can be made that most Christians don’t take all that seriously the god described in their Bible. This god knows amazing things about every human: “…even the hairs of your head are all[…]

Upcoming Debate: "Does God Exist?"

Earlier in April I announced I'm done writing and editing books. I'm not done writing, blogging, speaking, debating, or doing interviews though. Far from it! I have been invited to debate in person whether God exists. How would you go[…]

“Aimless, Clumsy, and Cruel” — Year-End ICYMI, Rewriting the Rules on Mifepristone, and Controversy at Hamline U.

Greetings, heretics! How the devil are you? Welcome to the Morning Heresy, bringing you the latest news for the skeptic and reality-based community. We’ll start with a couple of “in case you missed it” features from our year-end hiatus. The[…]

To Oppose Christian Nationalism, We Need to End Christian Privilege

The United States has a problem with Christian nationalism. It is not a new problem, and it is important to understand that it predates Donald Trump. It has flared up in some major ways we have to confront. If we[…]

Good News for the New Year!

I am pleased to announce that my 2021 book, Ten Things Christians Wish Jesus Hadn’t Taught, and Other Reasons to Question His Words… is now available in Spanish translation: The Kindle version will be priced at $.99 through January 3rd: LINKThe paperbound version costs[…]

Common Sense: CFI Hails Inclusion of Thomas Paine Memorial in Omnibus Government Spending Bill

Thomas Paine is regarded as America’s “forgotten founder.” Paine’s 1776 pamphlet Common Sense made the case for American self-governance, independent of the British crown. Common Sense helped spark support for the American Revolution and the creation of a new nation,[…]

All Is Calm, All Is Bright: Not According to Jesus

The coming of his kingdom will be horrific“Silent night, holy night! All is calm, all is bright. Round yon Virgin, Mother and Child. Holy infant so tender and mild, Sleep in heavenly peace, Sleep in heavenly peace.” The sentiment-saturated Christmas season is gradually receding,[…]

Catch Up on Your Reading: Atheist Revolution's Most Popular Posts of 2022

What is your evaluation of 2022 as compared to other years? Was it better than most, worse than most, or the same? I don't find this an easy question to answer. Some things were better, and some were worse. There[…]

Christian Nationalism Helped to Motivate the January 6 Capitol Insurrection

The Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol released its final report this month. As expected, the report has faced mixed reactions. Some secular organizations in the U.S. have questioned the lack of attention[…]

Humanists Condemn New York Governor Hochul’s Veto of Non-Religious Recovery Options Bill

Those struggling with substance use deserve access to programs free of religious propaganda. The post Humanists Condemn New York Governor Hochul’s Veto of Non-Religious Recovery Options Bill appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Do Social Norms Against Discussing Religion Do More Harm Than Good?

I grew up in a time and place with a social norm against discussing religion in public. I learned that the topic was so divisive that it would invite conflict. Most families discouraged children from talking about it. Mine was[…]

Center for Inquiry Calls for Renewed International Support of Iranian Protesters

Friday, December 16, marked three months since the death of twenty-two-year-old Mahsa Amini while in the custody of the Iranian government’s “morality police.” Since then, tens of thousands of Iranian men and women have taken to the streets in a[…]

European Humanist Federation dissolves

The cooperation between European humanists, agnostics, and atheists will continue in Humanists International. The post European Humanist Federation dissolves appeared first on Humanists International.

AHA Board Statement on Mandisa Thomas

Read the AHA Board Statement on Mandisa Thomas. The post AHA Board Statement on Mandisa Thomas appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Center for Inquiry, Allies Call on Senate to ‘Take Rapid and Effective Action’ Toward Supreme Court Reform

America’s trust and confidence in the U.S. Supreme Court is at a fifty-year low. In 2022, the Supreme Court has been rocked by leaks, allegations of inappropriate contact between justices and political actors, an undeniable disregard for precedent, and an[…]

Humanist Society Singapore publish an illustrated guidebook on Interfaith

Humanist Society Singapore published an illustrated Interfaith Guidebook to help with conversations from different religions or beliefs. The post Humanist Society Singapore publish an illustrated guidebook on Interfaith appeared first on Humanists International.

Center for Inquiry Lauds Final Passage of ‘Respect for Marriage’ Act

The Center for Inquiry (CFI) celebrated Thursday’s U.S. House of Representatives vote to pass the Respect for Marriage Act. Following the 258-169 vote, CFI Director of Government Affairs Azhar Majeed said, “We’re very pleased to see the House of Representatives[…]

Report reveals the impact of the precarious state of secularism globally

11th edition of Freedom of Thought Report exposes that only 4% of the global population live in societies that are truly secular The post Report reveals the impact of the precarious state of secularism globally appeared first on Humanists International.

Call for Research Participants:

My name is Ines W. Jindra, and I am an assistant professor of Social Work at Idaho State University. We are conducting a study that examines the biographies of those leaving various Christian churches, and the process by which it[…]

Registration for the World Humanist Congress 2023 is now open

Join us in Copenhagen in 2023 to explore the theme: “Building better democracies through humanist values.” The post Registration for the World Humanist Congress 2023 is now open appeared first on Humanists International.

May Be My Last Words. The DIY Obit.

By Carl S ~ Wizened Sage and I entertained the idea of writing our own obituaries. We don't want others taking advantage of our deaths to impose their superstitious absurdities. We don't want people assuming we were believers. What led[…]

A God So Unloved the World

By Carl S ~ If you've watched videos of police interrogating suspects, you'll understand. Sometimes there's a time of relief for both questioner and suspect. It's when the cop reaches a point where he can safely say, "Quit the bullshit,[…]

‘Forcing Taxpayers to Fund Religious Schools’: Center for Inquiry Decries Oklahoma AG’s Opinion on Charter School Funding

On Thursday, December 1, Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor issued an opinion that clears the way for public funding of charter schools operated by religious entities. The Center for Inquiry (CFI) condemns this new opinion, which summarily upends existing state[…]

The Star of Bethlehem - an Astronomers Perspective

By Paul Hannah ~Every year articles appear in the mainstream press and magazines speculating on the 'real' explanation for the Star of Bethlehem. Given our modern understanding of astronomy, there are a number of candidates which have been given to[…]

Humanist Association of Ghana holds first humanist funeral service in the country

Humanist Association of Ghana reached a new milestone for the organization after conducting its first humanist funeral. The post Humanist Association of Ghana holds first humanist funeral service in the country appeared first on Humanists International.

From the Intern Desk: Let’s Future-Proof the Johnson Amendment

In July of 2017, then-President Donald Trump sat down for an interview with Christian Broadcasting Network founder Pat Robertson, and bragged about one of his recent accomplishments: “I’ve gotten rid of the Johnson Amendment. […] I signed an executive order[…]

Stuart Vyse Named Interim Editor of Skeptical Inquirer

Stuart Vyse has been named the interim editor of Skeptical Inquirer and will oversee publication of the long-running journal of science and skepticism while it searches for a new, permanent editor. The announcement by Barry Karr, executive director of the[…]

Void...

By Jason7 ~ Recovering x-Christian here. Struggling spiritually. My life used to revolve around church. All my friends were from the church. My ex-wife & 4 kids were all heavily involved with the church. We were there every Sunday. We[…]

Kendrick Frazier, Longtime Editor of Skeptical Inquirer, Has Died at Age 80 (Updating)

Kendrick Frazier, the acclaimed science writer and skeptic who has been the editor of Skeptical Inquirer for nearly all of its 46-year history, has died at age 80 following a brief illness. The entire Center for Inquiry community is shocked[…]

American Humanist Association Presents University Award to Tufts University

The award celebrates the expression of humanism in higher education. The post American Humanist Association Presents University Award to Tufts University appeared first on American Humanist Association.

From the Intern Desk: An Economics Lesson for Christian Nationalists

Recently, as an economics student interning with a secular advocacy group, I found myself typing “economics of religion” into the search bar of Google Scholar. I expected that it would return articles on the Johnson Amendment, which concerns the political[…]

American Humanist Association Announces New Director of Communications

Jasmine Banks announced as AHA's new Communications Director. The post American Humanist Association Announces New Director of Communications appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Demons and The Devil

By austinrohm ~ When I stopped turning a blind eye to all the problems with the Bible and Christianity and started applying the same skepticism that I applied toward other religions, the usual response that I got from Christians was, “You[…]

From the Intern Desk: Where is the “Secular Left”?

"The idea that religion and politics don't mix was invented by the Devil to keep Christians from running their own country." -- Jerry Falwell If Roe v. Wade were decided today, it's safe to assume that religious conservatives would be[…]

Morality is not a Good Argument for Christianity

By austinrohm ~ I wrote this article as I was deconverting in my own head: I never talked with anyone about it, but it was a letter I wrote as if I was writing to all the Christians in my[…]

From Street Preacher to Atheist

By austinrohm ~ This will be my first time posting here. As a matter of fact, this will be my first time in a long time that I will be able to be completely honest with people regarding my true[…]

Homeopathy on Trial: CFI Suits Against Walmart and CVS on Consumer Fraud Allowed to Proceed

This morning, a three judge panel for the D.C. Court of Appeals, the highest court in the District, reversed the dismissal of suits the Center for Inquiry brought against Walmart and CVS over claims that they deceived customers by marketing[…]

Victories in State Legislatures, Fighting School Vouchers, Federal Lobbying, and SCOTUS Damage Control: CFI’s Office of Public Policy

CFI’s Office of Public Policy (OPP) has been hard at work lobbying on behalf of the secular community. We have several victories to report in state legislatures, and we are leveraging our relationships on the Hill to make a difference[…]

Secular Day of the Dead Celebrations

The coming months are full of iconic celebrations of both life and death. We'll see signs of harvest, hear talk of superstitions surrounding black cats and the number 13 (even though the next Friday the 13th isn't until January 2023),[…]

Flights of Fancy | An Interview with Richard Dawkins on Skeptical Inquirer Presents, September 1

Have you ever dreamt you could fly? Or imagined what it would be like to glide and swoop through the sky like a bird? Do you let your mind soar to unknown, magical spaces? In Flights of Fancy, Richard Dawkins[…]

Steven Emmert Takes the Lead

On Tuesday, August 16, 2022 the Secular Coalition for America welcomed Steven Emmert to the organization as our new Executive Director. He brings valuable experience from the world of nonprofits and advocacy with his unique perspective to promote our mission.[…]