In season of giving, atheist groups' charity rebuffed
Washington Post
'Tis the season for giving — but not always for receiving. As the holiday season peaks, atheist and humanist groups around the country have seen their charitable impulses rebuffed by both Christian and secular organizations. Recent incidents of ...
Library Rejects $3000 Donation From Atheist Blogger, Saying He Belongs To ...Huffington Post

all 12 news articles »

Christian Post
Atheist Symbol Seeks To Overshadow Nativity Scenes
Christian Post
They say the "A" stands for Atheist, but it also represents Attack, given its timing and placement. While the nativity scene is linked to Christmas, and the menorah is part of Hanukah, the only apparent purpose for this lighted letter "A" is to demean ...

Just because TNH mentioned it, because it’s lovely, and because I had to take a brief break.

In season of giving, atheist groups' charity rebuffed
Religion News Service
As the holiday season peaks, atheist and humanist groups around the country have seen their charitable impulses rebuffed by both Christian and secular organizations. Recent incidents of “thanks, but no thanks,” include: A group of Kansas City, Mo., ...

At least, that’s what I keep telling myself. The grading pile is shrinking, at least, but there’s much more to go. This image has some personal meaning, as well as some larger irony. Read more

Animals Dressed for Christmas

This is the lounge. You can discuss anything you want, but you will do it kindly.

Status: Heavily Moderated; Previous thread

Atheist PAC Announces First Political Endorsements
Christian Post
The atheist PAC said that its endorsed candidates were chosen because they "show a commitment to promote a more secular government and a will to protect the rights of all people, including the now 20 percent of Americans that don't identify with any ...

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Arson attempted at atheist billboard put up to protest Christmas, NJ police say
Fox News
PITMAN, N.J. – Police say someone tried to torch a billboard in New Jersey that was put up by atheists to protest a "Keep Christ in Christmas" banner. The billboard paid for by Madison, Wisc.-based Freedom from Religion Foundation proclaims "Keep ...

Christian Science Monitor
Atheist billboard burned (well, almost) in New Jersey. Why?
Christian Science Monitor
In Chicago, the same atheist group has erected an 8-and-a-half foot tall letter "A," which stands for Atheist or Agnostic, at the annual Christmas market in Chicago's Daley Plaza, Thursday, Dec. 12, 2013, in Chicago. RECOMMENDED: Are you smarter than ...
What Vandals Attempted to Do to Atheists' Anti-Christmas Billboard Could Lead ...TheBlaze.com
Arson Attempted at Atheist Billboard in NJABC News
Church Christmas Sign Upsets Atheist OrganizationMyFox Philadelphia
Fox News -6abc.com -Cherry Hill Courier Post
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Christian Science Monitor
Arson Attempted at Atheist Billboard in NJ
ABC News
Police say someone tried to torch a billboard in New Jersey that was put up by atheists to protest a "Keep Christ in Christmas" banner. The billboard proclaims "Keep Saturn in Saturnalia," a reference to an ancient celebration of the Roman god of ...
Atheist billboard burned (well, almost) in New Jersey. Why?Christian Science Monitor
Arsonist tries to torch atheist billboard in Pitman, NJ6abc.com
Church Christmas Sign Upsets Atheist OrganizationMyFox Philadelphia
Christian Post
all 85 news articles »

Cuttlefish is sharing the latest poll results — we’re winning.

Behold the change between 2003 and 2013: god belief declined 11% in America, while the ranks of the unbelievers swelled by 7%; the agnostics are hesitantly riding our coattails, and they’ve also increased in numbers by 4%.

Cuttlefish also notes the likely cause: the establishment of a publicly accessible font of information on righteous godlessness, Freethoughtblogs. Obviously. I should probably point out that “Support FtB” donation link over there on the left sidebar. Keep us going so we can continue to push back the forces of ignorance.

I suppose there are also a few other organizations, like the FFRF, American Atheists, American Humanists, Americans United, or your local freethinking group that have been making some contribution as well, so it would also be OK if you sent them an end-of-the-year donation in appreciation of their work.

It’s always nice to hear the grown ups talking. Last night on Virtually Speaking Science, Tom Levenson interviewed Janet Stemwedel and Maryn McKenna on the subject of science writers and sexual harassment/gender discrimination. I listened to it while I was grading papers, and I think it may have contributed half a grade point or so on my evaluations, just by putting me in a more positive mood.

Now you can listen in too — it’s a pleasantly rational discussion of a real problem, and that’s how we take a small step towards correcting it.

Popular Science Internet Radio with Virtually Speaking Science on BlogTalkRadio

This is what Catholics need: a sense of justice, and a desire to vigorously pursue abuse within the church, rather than covering it up. Transparency and a willingness to change! Investigation and ending the abuse! So in the St Paul diocese there in my backyard, we’ve got a priest, Archbishop John Nienstedt, who has been charged with touching a choir boy inappropriately, and I would expect the church to take the issue seriously and bring in secular investigators to either clear his name or get a dangerous man out of their church. The Catholic League is willing to help and … OH BILL DONOHUE NO!

“Somebody knows who this character is who is making these accusations — I can’t wait to get to the bottom of this,” said Catholic League President Bill Donahue. “Nienstedt has been the subject of a non-stop crusade orchestrated by enemies of the Catholic Church. The time has come when people need to fight back.”

Donohue’s solution to the problem of pedophilia in his beloved church is … to hunt down and expose the names of children who dare to accuse priests. He also accuses the St Paul police of anti-Catholic bias.

Not that the Catholic church needs his help. They’ve got their response down to a ritual.

St. Paul Police has yet to comment. However, St. Paul Police Chief Thomas Smith accused the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis Tuesday of not fully cooperating with investigations into alleged sex abuse by priests. He said that church officials declined to make clergy available to investigators.

15 Things You Shouldn't Say to an Atheist
The Jewish Press
While we feel that the whole world would do well to live according to the rules of the Torah intended for them, as interpreted by our sages, it's OK if they stay Christian, Muslim or even pagan and atheist with a strong sense of right and wrong and a ...

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Column: An atheist's Christmas miracle
Cincinnati.com
Navin is a militant atheist. He proudly protested a Nativity scene at his high school. He refuses to say “under God” when reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and he praises President Obama for removing “Creator” when quoting the Declaration of Independence.

Why There Is No Such Thing as a Good Atheist
Huffington Post
While it is true that there is no definitive atheistic worldview, all atheists share the same fundamental beliefs as core to their personal worldviews. While some want to state that atheism is simply a disbelief in the existence of a god, there really ...

Atheist Ads Banned In Vancouver Find A Home (PHOTOS)
Huffington Post Canada
An atheist ad campaign that was rejected by a Vancouver billboard rental company has found a home on the city's downtown transit shelters and on billboards in Burnaby. The Centre for Inquiry (CFI) Canada, a charity that promotes a scientific world view ...

PolicyMic
Atheists Are Still Excluded From Public Office in Certain States
PolicyMic
You probably know that atheists are the least-trusted minority in the United States. What you might not know is that discrimination against nonbelievers is still institutionalized. When an atheist decides to run for office, he or she must overcome more ...

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PolicyMic
Atheists Are Still Excluded From Public Office in Certain States
PolicyMic
You probably know that atheists are the least-trusted minority in the United States. What you might not know is that discrimination against nonbelievers is still institutionalized. When an atheist decides to run for office, he or she must overcome more ...

Atheist PAC Announces First Slate Of Endorsements
Huffington Post
By FREDREKA SCHOUTEN c. 2013 USA Today. (RNS) A political action committee that bills itself as a nontheist PAC announced its first slate of endorsements on Tuesday (Dec. 17), backing four House candidates and two state lawmakers. The Freethought ...
Atheist PAC makes first list of political endorsementsReligion News Service

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