AOF Online - Freethought News

I don’t play favorites; I disbelieve in all gods equally.

Atheists have a tendency to decry the religion most closely associated with their culture and geographic region. This is just a reminder that atheists have more credibility when we treat ALL RELIGIONS as the bonkers worldviews that they are. That[…]

The Religious Freedom Case That’s United Both Sides Of Church-State Divide

(ANALYSIS) In recent years, litigation on certain types of religious freedom lawsuits have been practically run of the mill: prayer on school premises, for example, and government funding for students at faith-based schools.

As Violence Rages On, Nigeria’s Christians And Muslims Find Unity Through Soccer

Two soccer teams — each comprised of eight Muslims and eight Christians — faced off as a mixed crowd cheered. Only months earlier, 52 people were killed in yet another religious massacre nearby. Some of the players on the field[…]

Benny Johnson says if you don't believe in God, then "you're not an American, actually"

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Does anyone else get angry when someone says they’re praying for you.

Because I’ve started the train of thought lately that if God were to somehow make me “better” in accordance to whatever the pray-ee was praying for and bypassed all the wars , all the genocides, all the suffering to focus[…]

Which Religious Groups Are Most — And Least — Likely to Get Tattoos?

(ANALYSIS) My assumption was that religious folks — especially those from more conservative backgrounds — wouldn’t feel very positively about tattoos. But it’s also clear that the overall stigma around tattoos has faded tremendously over the last couple of decades.

My dad and his family are now super Christian - they feel alien to me

My (28F) dad, stepmom, step brother, and half brother are super Christian now. I never grew up religious. I think I’ve been to church less than 5 times. My parents divorced when I was 2 and I moved into my[…]

Children are discardable for God

When I was 6 years old my mom told me the story of Abraham and Isaac, so I asked her: “mom, if God asked you to do that, would you do it?” She said yes without hesitation. I remember being[…]

Bible Reading Linked To Greater Generosity And Love

Reading the Bible makes Christians and others more generous with their time, talents and money, and encourages acts of brotherly love, the American Bible Society said in its latest release from the 15th annual State of the Bible.

The Relic Hunters: How Enthusiasts Have Helped Build Collection Of Saints’ Artifacts

When other boys his age were trading Pokémon or Yu-Gi-Oh trading cards, Eric Lavin was collecting saints’ relics. In seventh grade, Lavin began writing to other dioceses to request relics, and now, more than 16 years later, Lavin has grown[…]

Crossroads Podcast: Rise Of The ‘Nones’ And Democrats’ Religion Problem

The bottom line: There have been important, newsworthy trends taking place on the “religious left” as well as the “secular left.”

Brandi Carlile is 'Secularist of the Week' for state-church protest anthem - FFRF Action Fund

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Brandi Carlile is FFRF Action Fund's 'Secularist of the Week' for her protest song “Church and State,” which she performed on “Saturday Night Live” this past weekend.

FFRF Action Fund honors singer/songwriter Brandi Carlile as its “Secularist of the Week” for her protest song “Church and State,” which she performed on “Saturday Night Live” the past weekend. The poignant song, part of her newly released album “Returning[…]

Supreme Court to weigh longshot bid by Kim Davis to overturn same-sex marriage precedent.

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The Great Lisbon Earthquake of 1755

On Sunday, November 1, 1755, in Lisbon, Portugal, a great earthquake took place while Christians were worshipping their good all-powerful God. Since it was All Saints Day more Christians were in church than on other Sundays. Known as the Great[…]

As Belief in God(s) Fades, Does Morality Diminish As Well?

John Loftus and Russell Blackford make the case for atheist moralityMany years ago I knew a devout Catholic woman who would tolerate no questioning of her faith, because—full stop—she was eager to see her mother again in heaven. I recently[…]

Love In Many Languages: Diverse Christians Connect In Mediterranean Melting Pot

God and Google can bring people together in any language. A diverse group of Christians connected on a recent Sunday in Marseille, France.

‘Sarah’s Oil’ Serves Up A Christian Message Aimed At Tackling Racism

(REVIEW) While evangelicals are often said not to care about racism, quite a few movies made for that audience over the years have dealt with the topic. “Sarah’s Oil” is in that tradition — a decent faith-based historical drama that[…]

I don't know how people feel about Neil deGrasse Tyson but he explains all the different beliefs in God and dismisses each of them so eloquently!

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In War-Torn Syria, Muslim Women Unite To Ease Tensions

When she began wearing the hijab, critics accused Wafaa Al-Khudari of abandoning her sect, but now she and other Syrian women are leading the charge to ease religious tensions in their communities. The country, which recently ousted a regime, regularly[…]

🌟 New Community for Non-Religious Connections 🌟

Hey everyone! 👋 If you’ve ever wanted a space to meet like-minded non-religious people, check out r/AtheistMatch — a new community made for atheists, agnostics, secular humanists, and anyone identifying as non-religious who want to connect, date, or make genuine[…]

On Religion: Reports Of Christian Genocide Grab Trump’s Attention

(ANALYSIS) The Rev. Ezekiel Dachomo had every reason to be emotional as he stood in a shallow grave containing the corpses of 11 members of his Nigerian church. Responding to pleas from Republicans in Congress and religious conservatives, President Donald[…]

The First Pages of "God and Horrendous Suffering, 2nd Edition"

This is a final draft of my Preface, Blurbs, Contents, and Introduction to the 2nd edition of "God and Horrendous Suffering" at Academia.edu. CLICK HERE! Enjoy.

Which Gospel Is the Worst of the Four?

When theology overwhelms story tellingOnce upon a time—a very long time ago—four guys who had written stories about Jesus submitted their works to the Bible Screening Committee. They each received a notice to be near the screening committee’s headquarters on[…]

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[…]

One of the Most Dangerous Cults in the World

The Catholic church thrives on make-believe andauthoritarianism Okay, I admit it: I was raised in a small town in rural Indiana, which had three Protestant Church—I belonged to the Methodist brand—and one Catholic Church. We got used to being taunted[…]

Christianity Doesn't Make Any Sense--My BAHA Talk

LINK to PowerPoint Slides When you get to the slides click on VIEW then SLIDESHOW.

The Best Cure for Christianity Is Reading the Bible, Essay No. 6

Bad theology in the Old TestamentNot too long ago I saw a video: a conservative woman being interviewed by a man who wanted to know her opinion about what should be taught in public schools. She was adamant that the[…]

A Second Visit to the Cahan’s

A Second Visit to the Cahan’s: Figure 1: The Cahan’s Meeting House’s unused Presbyterian pulpit. My fellow Ulsterman, Ignorant Amos, thought this picture hauntingly meaningful when discussing the decline of Christianity in Ireland. As pointed out in a previous post,[…]

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[…]

The Gospels Fact-Check Themselves, Including Two Kickers!

Biblical Scholar Dr. David Madison has written:If we are expected to take the gospels seriously as authentic accounts, we would need to see the rigorous disciplines that historians follow. Take a look at any modern biography, at any modern description[…]

Do You Know God?

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[…]

Secular Coalition for America’s Stance on Political Violence

Secular Coalition for America’s Stance on Political Violence WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Secular Coalition for America unequivocally condemns all forms of political violence. A healthy democracy depends on vigorous debate, peaceful protest, and fair elections—not intimidation, threats, or bloodshed. Violence[…]

Heretic on the Hill: Judicial Activism, and the Treaty of Tripoli?

It’s the August recess in Washington and Members of Congress left town faster than a Texas Democrat. So Congress is not threatening to pass any bad legislation at the moment, which is nice. And it’s a good time to meet with Congressional[…]

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[…]

The Federal Workforce is now Allowing Proselytizing. Here’s how Secular Groups are Taking a Stand

The Office of Personnel Management, in partnership with the White House Faith Office, has released a memorandum on “Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace.” The memo is filled with policies that support religious coercion and proselytizing in the workplace, which[…]

Heretic on the Hill: Telling Your Federal Co-worker They’re Going to Hell OK Now

The federal government has about 2.3 million employees, not counting postal workers. It’s difficult to get an exact count because so many have been fired this year and their firings are being appealed in court. 2.3 million is slightly larger[…]

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[…]

SCA Let’s it be Known: The Johnson Amendment MUST be Enforced

The IRS has officially destroyed the Johnson Amendment as we know it. The creation of the Johnson Amendment happened over seven decades ago because Congress knew religious places of worship should not engage in political activities. As a coalition of[…]

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[…]

American Humanist Association Admonishes School Privatization Program, Other Heartless Provisions in Senate Reconciliation Package

"This bill is as un-American as it is un-humanist." The post American Humanist Association Admonishes School Privatization Program, Other Heartless Provisions in Senate Reconciliation Package appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Humanists Incensed By Supreme Court Ruling on Curriculum Opt-Outs

"A betrayal of public school students across the country." The post Humanists Incensed By Supreme Court Ruling on Curriculum Opt-Outs appeared first on American Humanist Association.

American Humanists Say “No War With Iran”

"Choose diplomacy over destruction." The post American Humanists Say “No War With Iran” appeared first on American Humanist Association.

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[…]

Humanists Outraged at SCOTUS Decision on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors

"Gender-affirming care saves lives, period." The post Humanists Outraged at SCOTUS Decision on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors appeared first on American Humanist Association.

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[…]

Implications of Supreme Court Ruling Could Be Broad and Dangerous, Warn Humanists

"Today’s decision is yet another wake-up call for secular Americans." The post Implications of Supreme Court Ruling Could Be Broad and Dangerous, Warn Humanists appeared first on American Humanist Association.

ICYMI: Center for Freethought Equality Testifies in Support of Legislation to Protect Oregon Consumers

Read Fish Stark's testimony warning against health care sharing ministries. The post ICYMI: Center for Freethought Equality Testifies in Support of Legislation to Protect Oregon Consumers appeared first on American Humanist Association.

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[…]