AOF Online - Freethought News

Mizrahi Jewish College Students Don’t Fit An Easy Israel-Palestine Narrative

When Jessica Yeroshalmi started her political science degree at Baruch College in New York six years ago, she was surprised to learn that some students in her classes had no idea there were Jews with roots in the Middle East.[…]

My bf is Christian and I’m not

Me and my boyfriend are both early 20s and we’ve been together for three years. His family is religious, but I never thought he was seriously religious until now. Today we were talking about having kids in the future and[…]

The pope dying is no different than any other human dying.

I’m curious to hear everyone else’s thoughts as far as human equality goes. It’s kind of ironic the whole false idol thing religion says to avoid and yet religion cries extra hard for someone like the pope dying. Rest in[…]

‘Voice For The Voiceless’: The Dalai Lama’s Struggle For Tibet And Religious Survival

(REVIEW) The Dalai Lama has these hopes for Tibet, but as someone who knows the feeling of having governance forced upon him all too well, he does not say that these conditions are the absolutely correct ones. Instead, he makes[…]

As a Christian, how could you be okay with a person burning for eternity? Wouldn't it throw off the heaven vibes

I've always been stumped at the thought of religious people hanging out in heaven doing heaven-things while knowing that the people they spent life on earth with are burning in a lake of fire FOREVER. I feel like after a[…]

People can stop talking about the Pope any time now. That will be just fine with me. ;-)

My partner is a news analysis junkie, and we have a news analysis program going on TV most of the time. (During dinner time, both in the TV room and in the kitchen, so that partner will not be forced[…]

Washington Finally Does the Right Thing: SB 5375 Ends Clergy’s “Get Out of Jail Free” Card for Child Abuse Confessions

In an absolutely galaxy-brained move that’s been years in the making, Washington State lawmakers have finally decided that maybe—just maybe— protecting child abusers in the name of “religious freedom” is a bit of a yikes. Enter SB 5375, the legislative[…]

Trump administration wants to cut LGBTQ+ suicide crisis line’s funding

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Do NOT abuse the Task Force on Anti-Christian Bias email address (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.). This is very serious business and should ONLY be used for reporting anti-Christian bias.

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Why do American Christians feel so persecuted?

I work for the VA and just received this email from the VA Secretary: MESSAGE FROM THE SECRETARY Task Force on Anti-Christian Bias On February 6, 2025, President Trump enacted Executive Order (EO) 14202, Eradicating Anti-Christian Bias, establishing a Task[…]

Pope Francis’ Funeral Set For Saturday: What Happens Next?

Pope Francis’ funeral will be held this Saturday in a ceremony to be held in St. Peter’s Square. The funeral Mass will be celebrated by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, the dean of the College of Cardinals. The decision was announced[…]

I don't pretend to respect religion anymore.

If there's not a movement worldwide to fight religion, to help eliminate it finally, and replace it with real humanism and progress, there should be. I've stopped saying I "respect religion" because I don't, and if other atheists can say[…]

Discussing Reason & Evidence With An Apologist

Here's good discussion I had with a Christian Apologist:APOLOGIST:Consider. If an atheist like yourself claims to be using "reason" why do you trust it? For no doubt you thought you were using "reason" when you believed Christianity was true. What[…]

Americans Have Higher Church Attendance Standards Than Pastors

Most Americans may not regularly attend church themselves, but they have a higher threshold for calling someone a regular churchgoer than pastors.

Indiana resolution declares "unified" allegiance to "the Lord, Jesus Christ". House Resolution 53 revives the myth of a Christian Nation—at the expense of everyone else.

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Pope Francis: ‘Death Not The End Of Everything, But The Beginning’

This is why I said earlier that these are pages born “from the thought and the affection” of Cardinal Scola: not only from thought, but also from the emotional dimension, which is the one to which Christian faith points, since[…]

Before the Dawn: Hundreds Hike Mount Rubidoux to Celebrate Easter Sunday

In the still 5 a.m. darkness, street lights flicker as cars circle to find parking. Friends and families embrace at the base of Mount Rubidoux as the crowd quietly begins the 2.7 mile climb. Parents push strollers, while others help[…]

This Just In: Traditional Religion In The US Now ‘Obsolete’

(ANALYSIS) “Americans have lost faith in traditional religion,” announces the sweeping first sentence of a contentious book published during Holy Week: “Why Religion Went Obsolete: The Demise of Traditional Faith in America.”

What Will Happen At The Funeral Of Pope Francis

(EXPLAINER) The funeral rites take place in three parts, called stations. The first takes place in the pope’s private chapel, after medical professionals have certified his death. Until recently, this stage had taken place at the pope’s bedside. After the[…]

Why Aquinas Matters: Battle For Campus Intellectual Freedom And His Timeless Relevance

(REVIEW) The university system is under attack. Professors risk careers by publicly speaking out on issues of intellectual freedom. Campuses have become tinderboxes. Meanwhile, the lines between church and state are blurring, imperiling the independence of the former while power-hungry[…]

Frontrunners To Succeed Francis: 6 Cardinals Who Could Be The Next Pope

The Catholic Church’s next leader will likely be chosen from a group of cardinals who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in both spiritual and organizational capacities. The process of choosing the next pope is known as a papal conclave. This occurs[…]

Evangelical Apologist Daniel Ray Objects To Atheism, Part 1

It's not unusual for apologists to argue with me. But I have met and talked with Daniel Ray and his objections are real. I'll let him introduce his 3-Part blog post series (so far) that objects to several of my[…]

Why Isn’t the Resurrection a Bigger Deal?

"He died for your sins, bro!" It doesn't matter how many times I hear this. It still doesn't make any sense to me. I didn't know him, and I didn't ask him to die. Everybody dies, so that part seems[…]

Making Sure Our Memories Are Accurate

How much of what we remember from our childhood is accurate? How many of those memories reflect what happened? We know that some of our memories are not accurate. What we remember may be closer to what we wished would[…]

The New Testament Itself Sabotages Belief in the Jesus Resurrection

We don’t have to ask science to explain why it didn’t happenIt is so hard for Christians to grasp that—a very long time ago—their religion fell down a deep rabbit hole of superstition and magical thinking. It doesn’t require very[…]

Luke's Gospel Rejects Matthew's Previous Gospel!!

Luke's Gospel begins with this preface:1 Since many have undertaken to compile a narrative of the events that have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as those who were eyewitnesses from the beginning and ministers of the word have handed[…]

On Quoting The Consensus In Order to Support the Consensus

David Pallmann is a young interesting evangelical Christian apologist who is willing to question beliefs based merely on the consensus of scholars. Given that on Facebook he shared a picture of the three big conservative apologists, Gary Habermas, Michael Licona,[…]

Heretic on the Hill: Bill Would Formalize Politics in Churches

At the Secular Coalition we try to stay in our lane, and our lane is not trade and tariffs. However, when someone with a high school understanding of trade deficits blows up $8 trillion in market value, changes his mind[…]

A Christian Defends Popular Theobabble with Amateur Theobabble

Religious personal opinion doesn’t replace epistemology In my article here last week, I explained exactly why He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands—popular though it might be—is nonetheless theobabble. It makes no sense whatever when we honestly admit that there is so[…]

A Classic with a Renewed Relevance: Anti-intellectualism in American Life (1964)

A Classic with a Renewed Relevance: Anti-intellectualism in American Life (1964): Figure 1: My copy of Anti-Intellectualism in American Life (1964) by Richard Hofstadter (1916–1970). New reading material. Anti-Intellectualism in American Life (1963) by Richard Hofstadter (1916–1970). Although written more than 60 years[…]

From the Intern’s Desk: Book Banning

One of the spaces with the most debate surrounding the First Amendment is schools. From Engle v. Vitale, who found that a mandatory nondenominational school prayer was unconstitutional, to recent debates surrounding education vouchers, this has always been a highly[…]

We Are People and We Reject Being Labeled As Consumers

I found myself watching some TV news the other day, which is something I've been avoiding lately. The story that stood out started as a broad examination of the state of the U.S. economy. The commentators highlighted some of the[…]

Video: The 3rd Creation Account in the Bible:

Debunking Christianity Article: |. Video: The 3rd Creation Account in the Old Testament: The 3rd Creation Account in the Old Testament: Introduction: Jennifer Bird PhD asked, in a thumbnail, the question: How many creation accounts are there in the Bible?[…]

“He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands” Is Fantasy Theobabble

It’s the religious version of “Always look on the bright side of life”Once god-is-good, god-is-great has been locked into religious human brains, it can be difficult to grasp the world as it actually is: that is, so much suffering and pain are overlooked or[…]

Heretic on the Hill: It’s Not in the Constitution, But…

Arizona is one of several states considering legislation that would allow chaplains to join or replace licensed school counselors in public schools. Texas, Louisiana, and Florida have already passed this travesty of an effort to bring religion into schools through[…]

An Interesting Documentary on Northern-Irish Monarchism

R. C. Sproul (1939–2017) is a Presbyterian Philosopher whom I like to listen to. He mentions the German word for: Enlightenment, which is: ‘Aufklärung’. I love this German word! It means, etymologically: ‘on-clearing’! It is as though Christianity were a[…]

When Does the Irrational Belief Become Harmful?

Suppose we have two worlds. World A and B are identical in every way but one. In World B, there is evidence that haunted houses are real. What kind of evidence, you ask? That's a good question! The evidence of[…]

American Humanists Denounce Trump’s Executive Order Attempting to Close the Department of Education

Not sit idly by while public education is torn away from children. The post American Humanists Denounce Trump’s Executive Order Attempting to Close the Department of Education appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Center for Freethought Equality Proudly Supports Bill to Empower New York Consumers and Bring Greater Transparency to Health Care Sharing Ministries

HCSMs often deny or reject coverage based on religious or moral grounds. The post Center for Freethought Equality Proudly Supports Bill to Empower New York Consumers and Bring Greater Transparency to Health Care Sharing Ministries appeared first on American Humanist[…]

Heretics on the Hill: Last Tuesday

Last year I called it our Superbowl so this time I’m saying that last weekend was the Secular Coalition’s March Madness. On Sunday and Monday the 20 executive directors of the member organizations, plus the SCA board of directors, met to hear from speakers, talk government affairs, plan, collaborate,[…]

Arguments for the Existence of Gods Aren’t Needed in a Post-Truth Era

I used to enjoy learning about the arguments Christians had put forward in support of their god. The philosophy of religion was a favorite topic while studying philosophy in college. We'd learn each argument and examine the various rebuttals against[…]

Humanists Team with Legislators in Vermont to Introduce Bill Protecting Health Care Consumers

Ensure Vermonters have the information to make decisions about their families’ health. The post Humanists Team with Legislators in Vermont to Introduce Bill Protecting Health Care Consumers appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Secularism Keeps Us Free From Imposed Religion

There's a person out there somewhere who has religious beliefs. His religious beliefs are different from yours. You do not share his faith. Whatever he believes is different from what you believe. So why should his religious beliefs affect you[…]

Craving Social Media Without the Doomscrolling

It hit me the other day out of the blue. I've almost stopped doomscrolling on social media, and I don't miss it at all. But why only "almost", and what's holding me back from getting all the way there? To[…]

Heretic on the Hill: The Events of February 6th, and Yesterday

If you have been following current events, and there have been a ton of them in the last three weeks, you start getting overwhelmed. It’s important to take the time to decide which events are unlikely, which are insignificant, and which[…]

Association of Secular Elected Officials Incorporated into the Center for Freethought Equality

Joining forces to support to humanist, atheist, agnostic, and nonreligious elected officials. The post Association of Secular Elected Officials Incorporated into the Center for Freethought Equality appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Are We Entering an Era of Meanness?

Consider everything you dislike about organized religion. For some of you, the list will be a long one. Is possible that organized religion could morph into something even worse? I'm imagining something that took most of what we dislike about[…]

SCA Urges Senators to to Oppose the Nomination of Linda McMahon to be Secretary of Education.

The Secular Coalition for America, on behalf of its twenty member organizations dedicated to the separation of church and state, freedom of religion or belief, and the rights of the nonreligious, is writing to urge Senators Bill Cassidy and Bernie[…]

Center for Freethought Equality Proudly Supports Bill to Bring Greater Transparency to Health Care Sharing Arrangements and Empower Oregon Consumers

HCSAs often deny or reject coverage based on religious or moral grounds. The post Center for Freethought Equality Proudly Supports Bill to Bring Greater Transparency to Health Care Sharing Arrangements and Empower Oregon Consumers appeared first on American Humanist Association.

I'm Considering Ending Atheist Revolution

While considering my waning interest in atheism, I've asked myself several questions. Some have been easier to answer than others. Is it possible that I've addressed every facet of the subject? No, not even close. Atheism may be narrower than[…]

Have Water Bottles Become Essential Accessories?

There's one thing I can count on seeing in every meeting I attend. At least 20% of the attendees will have brought large water bottles, and the numbers are often much higher. I've been in meetings where I was the[…]

SCA Lobby Day 2025: Together we can protect public education

The Secular Coalition for America needs your help on Lobby Day to oppose a bill that would lower tax revenue by up to $10 billion and send that same amount in school vouchers to private and religious schools. This program[…]

We Oppose the Nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr as Secretary of Health and Human Services

The Secular Coalition for America (SCA), alongside its coalition partners, has submitted a letter to Senators John Thune and Charles Schumer to oppose the nomination of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS). As organizations,[…]

Heretic on the Hill: Flooding the Zone in Washington

I could pick one or two things that happened since Inauguration Day and discuss, but there are so many that this is just going to be a list. A very troubling list. On Inauguration Day President Trump repealed numerous[…]

American Humanists Condemn Trump’s Executive Orders on School Voucher Expansion

Public students must be free from religious interference or indoctrination. The post American Humanists Condemn Trump’s Executive Orders on School Voucher Expansion appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Secular Organizations Oppose the Nomination of Russell Vought to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget

The Secular Coalition for America (SCA), along with its 20 coalition partners, has submitted a letter to Senators John Thune and Charles Schumer, in opposition to the nomination of Russell Vought to be director of the Office of Management and[…]

American Humanists Launch Three New Ways for Humanists to Find Community, Connect Digitally

Providing ways to be inspired, motivated, and uplifted. The post American Humanists Launch Three New Ways for Humanists to Find Community, Connect Digitally appeared first on American Humanist Association.

Statement from American Atheist, Humanist, Freethought, and Secular Groups Affirming Commitment to Protecting LGBTQ+ Rights

We cannot and will not ignore bigotry, no matter its source. The post Statement from American Atheist, Humanist, Freethought, and Secular Groups Affirming Commitment to Protecting LGBTQ+ Rights appeared first on American Humanist Association.

ACLU-WV, American Humanists Challenge $5 Million Water Funds Grant to ‘Radically Catholic’ School

"No one should have to pay taxes to fund someone else's religion." The post ACLU-WV, American Humanists Challenge $5 Million Water Funds Grant to ‘Radically Catholic’ School appeared first on American Humanist Association.

ACLU-WV, American Humanists Challenge $5 Million Water Funds Grant to ‘Radically Catholic’ School

"No one should have to pay taxes to fund someone else's religion." The post ACLU-WV, American Humanists Challenge $5 Million Water Funds Grant to ‘Radically Catholic’ School appeared first on American Humanist Association.

AHA Launches Campaign to Provide Gifts, Supplies to Florida Families for the Holidays

Gov. DeSantis' harmful policies make holiday season difficult to afford. The post AHA Launches Campaign to Provide Gifts, Supplies to Florida Families for the Holidays appeared first on American Humanist Association.

AHA Launches Campaign to Provide Gifts, Supplies to Florida Families for the Holidays

Gov. DeSantis' harmful policies make holiday season difficult to afford. The post AHA Launches Campaign to Provide Gifts, Supplies to Florida Families for the Holidays appeared first on American Humanist Association.

AHA Stands Ready to Defend Constitution, Uphold Church-State Separation

They cannot take away our democracy unless we allow them to. The post AHA Stands Ready to Defend Constitution, Uphold Church-State Separation appeared first on American Humanist Association.

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[…]

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