AOF Online - Freethought News

How Hate Speech Became a Governing Strategy in India

India recorded 1,318 in-person hate speech incidents in 2025, averaging more than three each day and overwhelmingly led by Hindu nationalist groups affiliated with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. The report supports the inference that a political choice is behind[…]

Florida Baptist Pastor Found Guilty In Child Sex Sting After Traveling To Meet A '14 Year Old Boy'.

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TAKE ACTION: Urge your representative not to attend the National Prayer Breakfast!

The National Prayer Breakfast is happening once again — And we need you to urge lawmakers not to attend! On Thursday, Feb. 5, the 74th annual National Prayer Breakfast will be held following support from the White House and Speaker[…]

Comedian Druski Mocks Mega-Church Pastors in New Skit, Sparks Debate About the Black Church

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A proposed Oklahoma mosque appeared to meet all the zoning requirements. Bigotry still won out.

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Violence Against Christians Reaches All-Time High In 15 Nations

Violence against Christians has reached an all-time high in 15 countries, with 388 million people facing severe persecution worldwide, Open Doors reported. Nigeria remains the deadliest nation, while Syria saw the largest single-year rise amid instability. Other dangerous parts of[…]

Just a simple reminder: Everyone on Earth believes in automobile brakes. Reality doesn’t require missionaries.

I’ve said this before, but if there were evidence of your god, I wouldn’t need a knock on my door to hear about it. I’d have drawn that conclusion myself. “Trust me, bro” isn’t a foundation for belief. submitted[…]

How did you become an atheist?

I grew up in a home where religion was never really discussed. My aunt went to church, and when I was around 13 I considered joining her, but I didn’t feel drawn to it. Instead I spent years thinking about[…]

If “Adam” had eaten the fruit…

Men would celebrate Adam as “freeing” them from Eden and “revealing” knowledge and awareness of humanity. But no, Eve was tricked by “the devil” and takes the full blame for the “fall” of humanity. The bible makes every excuse possible[…]

How Big Is ‘The God Gap’ On College Campuses?

(ANALYSIS) It’s the most important feature of American religion and politics that I wish more people understood: The God Gap.

Philip Yancey’s Fall Forces Evangelicals To Confront Sin And Forgiveness

(ANALYSIS) Philip Yancey, a bestselling evangelical author known for emphasizing grace and compassion, retired after confessing to an eight-year adulterous relationship. His fall has sparked renewed debate within evangelical Christianity about sin, forgiveness, accountability and the dangers of weaponizing grace,[…]

China Banned This Religion — And Now It’s Coming For Hong Kong

(ANALYSIS) Religious freedom in Hong Kong and Macau seems to be at the mercy of the ruling authoritarian Chinese Communist Party in People's Republic of China. Falun Gong, a spiritual discipline that was banned by the People’s Republic of China[…]

South Carolina state Rep. RJ May (R) — an anti-LGBTQ+ politician who has accused drag queens and transgender people of harming kids — was sentenced to 17.5 years in prison after pleading guilty to five counts of distributing child sex abuse material

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How Iran’s Ethnic Provinces Reshaped The Protest Movement

(ANALYSIS) When protests began in Tehran’s Grand Bazaar in December, authorities misjudged them as limited economic unrest. Instead, demonstrations spread nationwide, killing thousands and drawing in ethnic minorities. The uprising exposed deep divides over change, revealing that centralized opposition visions[…]

Creation Museum/Ark Encounter Staffer And Church Worship Leader Gets 15 Years On Molestation Charges And 40 Counts Of 3rd-degree Sodomy.

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Nigerian Humanitarian Calls For Peaceful US Response To Religious Persecution

A Nigerian minister and humanitarian urged the U.S. government to use peaceful methods to address religious persecution during a Jan. 13 USCIRF hearing in Washington. Rebecca Dali said bombing worsened trauma for communities and encouraged intelligence-based cooperation, as witnesses testified[…]

‘The 200-Church Gap’: Data Shows Closures Eclipse Openings In the US

Lifeway Research estimates 3,800 new Protestant churches were started in the U.S., while 4,000 churches were closed. This is based on analysis of congregational information provided by 35 denominations or faith groups, representing 58% of all Protestant churches.

What Ancient Thinkers Teach Us About Virtue And ‘The Warrior Ethos’

(ANALYSIS) Pete Hegseth, the current defense secretary, has stressed what he calls the “warrior ethos,” while other Americans seem to have embraced a renewed interest in “warrior culture.” Debate about these concepts actually traces back for thousands of years. Thinkers[…]

Ministering To Mariners: Inside The Seamen’s Church Institute

Right now, across the waters of the world, massive cargo ships are floating from Hong Kong to Houston, from Marseille to Newark, from San Diego to Seoul. The ships carry everything from bananas to coal to toothbrushes. Some estimates claim[…]

Proposed rule prohibiting AI content

The mod team has developed the following rule prohibiting AI content. Now is the time for comment by the community. The rule should be considered in force currently. Enforcing the rule on a test basis is part of the approval[…]

Honest Sermons about the Gospel of Mark: Chapter 14

There is more bragging here about the holy hero’s colossal ego At 72 verses, Mark 14 is the longest chapter in this gospel. It also gives an account of many conversations, and this should prompt curiosity. How did the author of[…]

Announcing the 2nd Edition of "God and Horrendous Suffering"!!

The 2nd edition of "God and Horrendous Suffering" is now available as a Kindle book!!! CLICK Here!! If you want to see the Preface, Blurbs, Contents, Introduction, and learn about the contributors, CLICK HERE !! I'm very excited. Please spread[…]

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.

Richard Carrier On Why There Is No Free-Will

Edouard Tahmizian had an interesting discussion with Richard Carrier about the metaphysical impossibility of libertarian free will. Our actions are aimed at fulfilling our desires; but where did our desires come from? Did we choose our desires, or simply discover[…]

A Few Suggestions: New Year Resolutions for Christians

Let curiosity and a desire for knowledge seize the dayMany years ago, when I was the pastor of two Methodist churches in Massachusetts, the clergy in town—across several denominations—were fond of occasionally having “ecumenical” services. That is, all of the[…]

Announcing the First Draft of the Cover To My Last Book:

As I said it's just the first draft. I love the concept. You can read the Preface, Blurbs, Contents and Introduction to "God and Horrendous Suffering" 2nd Edition RIGHT HERE.

Christians: Please Read the Gospels, Think, Ponder—Non-Stop

Which is precisely what the clergy don’t want you to doIt is especially important to study the origins of the Christian faith, and—above all—the origins of Jesus. It doesn’t take all that much effort to discover that the four gospel[…]

The Christian Faith Makes No Sense At All

My latest article at the Secular Web. You're welcome. Please share! The Christian Faith Makes No Sense At All.

The Best Cure for Christianity Is Reading the Bible, Essay No. 7

Big problems with the apostle Paul: please stop calling him a saintJust how did the apostle Paul become convinced that Jesus was the key to salvation? He assured one of his congregations that he heard this news directly from Jesus[…]

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.

Honest Sermons on the Gospel of Mark: Chapter 13

How can devout Christians take this ancient superstition seriously? If Mark 13 were printed alone as a pamphlet—with the names changed—and handed out by goofy cult fanatics on street corners, churchgoers would be horrified by the cruelty, the promised violence[…]

The Case for Jesus as a Real Historical Person Continues to Erode

“But I feel Jesus in my heart” is evidence for what you’re feelingIn my most recent articles here I explained why we no longer need to pay much attention to the Sermon on the Mount and the Ten Commandments. Most devout churchgoers seem unaware of the[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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[…]

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