Severe Sermon: Iowa Pastor Lashes Out At Woman Who Dared Question His Political Involvement

In a misogynistic and violent sermon given Oct. 7, Youngblood was quoted in the Des Moines Register as saying "don't call yourself a Christian" if you’re going to challenge him and he'd "like to slap" the woman who made the complaint.

MORE: http://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/severe-sermon-iowa-pastor-lashes-out-at-woman-who-dared-question-his

Texas attorney general intervenes in lawsuit to allow cheerleaders to use Bible verses

Abbott has filed court papers to intervene in a lawsuit that cheerleaders at Kountze High School filed against the school district complaining that a new policy violated their freedom of speech. In September, district officials told the cheerleaders to stop using Bible verses at football games after the Freedom From Religion Foundation complained.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/texas-attorney-general-intervenes-in-lawsuit-to-allow-cheerleaders-to-use-bible-verses/2012/10/17/99e5094e-187d-11e2-a346-f24efc680b8d_story.html

See also...

Texas AG attacks atheists, defends Christian cheerleaders
http://www.examiner.com/article/texas-ag-attacks-atheists-defends-christian-cheerleaders

Banner Blowhards: Texas Governor's Cheers Are Not For The First Amendment
http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/banner-blowhards-texas-governor-s-cheers-are-not-for-the-first-amendment

Texas cheerleaders can keep Christian banners, for now, judge rules
http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/18/14539901-texas-cheerleaders-can-keep-christian-banners-for-now-judge-rules?lite

Group seeks lawyer in war memorial case

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WPRI) -- An atheist group is reportedly taking steps toward re-igniting their fight against a local war memorial.

MORE: http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/blackstone/woonsocket-atheist-group-seeks-lawyer-in-war-memorial-case

Controversy Over Atheist Speaker Spurs Discussion of District 99 Parent Notification Procedures

Officials received hundreds of emails last month about Downers Grove North's Constitution Week speaker Jessica Ahlquist, a Rhode Island teen who sued her school to have a prayer removed from the gymnasium wall.

MORE: http://woodridge.patch.com/articles/jessica-ahlquist-atheist-constitution-week-downers-grove-north-district-99

Billy Graham's organization removes Mormonism from its list of cults

The Billy Graham Evangelistic Association this week removed Mormonism from its list of religious cults, the Charlotte Observer reports. Mormons consider themselves Christians, though not all of their beliefs align with mainstream Christian doctrine.

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57535071/billy-grahams-organization-removes-mormonism-from-its-list-of-cults/?tag=contentAux;mostDiscussed

See also...

Evangelistic Association’s website cuts Mormonism from listing of ‘cults’
http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2012/10/18/3603920/graham-family-ties-tighten-with.html

War on Christmas 2012 Kicks Off! Christians Sue Santa Monica to Fight City's Atheist-Inspired Nativity Scene Ban

"In a highly disappointing action, the Santa Monica City Council voted 5-0 June 12 to ban all December displays, including the Nativity Scenes and menorah, from Palisades Park," the Christian group wrote on its web site this summer.

MORE: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/war-on-christmas-2012-kicks-off-christians-sue-santa-monica-to-fight-citys-atheist-inspired-nativity-scene-ban/

Why Anti-Blasphemy Laws Ban All Religions

The inevitable conclusion driven by the internal logical of anti-blasphemy theory is that all theism and atheism is committing offensive blasphemy against one another, one way or another, so all expressions of theism and atheism must be banned. All the churches, temples, mosques, and atheist discussion groups must be rendered illegal and closed. No one can express any sort of opinion for fear of offending the precious feelings of others.  

Ergo, those who promote anti-blasphemy laws are not thinking beyond their noses. That's because their true priority is to gain the upper hand over those who dare disagree with them. Which is arrogance by threat of the highest order. Theists are engaging in incredible speculations as to the existence and nature of supernatural entities that they cannot even demonstrate exist. Yet a substantial number of them want to punish those who do nothing more than point out -- whether it be careful but damning analysis or biting satire -- that one, more or all theist doctrines are false. It's a crass power play dressed up as prevention of upsetting the sensibilities of believers that for some reason so delicate that they must be protected by threats legal or otherwise.

MORE: http://www.opednews.com/articles/Why-Anti-Blasphemy-Laws-Ba-by-Gregory-Paul-121012-659.html

Released Files Detail Alleged Abuse in Boy Scouts

The so-called "perversion files" were reportedly kept at Boy Scouts headquarters in Texas and contain memos between scouting officials and letters from victims. They span 20 years -- from 1965 to 1985 -- and include the names of more than 1,200 alleged pedophiles.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/US/released-files-detail-alleged-abuse-boy-scouts/story?id=17512745

Cancer Diagnosis Does Not Make Young People Religious, Research Suggests

ScienceDaily -- A sociologist of religion from the University of Copenhagen has interviewed 21 young patients diagnosed with a life-threatening cancer about their religious beliefs. She concludes that a cancer diagnosis will not make young people, who are not religious already, turn to religion. But it can confirm already existing beliefs.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121018123058.htm

Had Enough Yet?

Did we think Jerry Springer was bad? I'd rather see people breaking chairs over each other's heads than sitting still for "Discovery," "History" or "Learning" channels to program scientifically un-proven rubbish. Yet it goes on and on, every day, with almost weekly alerts coming across my desk for more and more casting calls for "psychics, mediums and ghost hunters wanted."

MORE: http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/10/16/had-enough-yet/

Quackademic medicine invades the military again

As much as I write about the infiltration of quackademic medicine into medical academia, there is one particular area that is being increasingly invaded by such quackery. It's an area that you wouldn't necessarily expect, although anyone who’s read The Men Who Stare at Goats might not be so shocked. Yes, I'm referring to the military, and, as I've documented time and time again, increasingly our men and women in uniform are being subjected to abject quackery.
MORE: http://scienceblogs.com/insolence/2012/10/18/quackademic-medicine-invades-the-military-again/

Defense of Marriage Act ruled unconstitutional by second appeals court

A federal appeals court in New York on Thursday became the second appeals court to strike down the Defense of Marriage Act, ruling that the law defining marriage as a union between a man and a woman is unconstitutional.

MORE: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/18/14537805-defense-of-marriage-act-ruled-unconstitutional-by-second-appeals-court?lite

Bible Belt Christian pretends to be gay

Timothy Kurek talks to HLN's "Evening Express" team about why he pretended to be gay for a year.

MORE: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/17/bible-belt-christian-pretends-to-be-gay/comment-page-1/

Gallup survey claims 3.4 percent in U.S. are LGBT

According to the survey, which was conducted between June and September, 4.6 percent of African-Americans identify as LGBT, 4 percent of Hispanics, 4.3 percent of Asians and 3.2 percent of whites. Overall, a third of those identifying as LGBT are nonwhite, the report said.

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57535450/gallup-survey-claims-3.4-percent-in-u.s-are-lgbt/?tag=cbsnewsHardNewsFDArea;fdmodule

Man asks state to pardon 11 executed for witchcraft

Retired New Haven Police Sergeant Tony Grieco is trying to get the state to pardon or clear the names of 11 people executed in the 1600's for witchcraft in Connecticut.

MORE: http://www.wtnh.com/dpp/news/new_haven_cty/man-asks-state-to-pardon-11-executed-for-witchcraft?hpt=us_bn7#.UH_m264hQ85

Male Politicians Have 'Bigger Heads' in More Gender-Equal Cultures

ScienceDaily -- When it comes to analyzing gender stereotypes in the media, studies have shown that photographs of men focus on male faces while photographs of women are more focused on women's bodies. A recent study from Psychology of Women Quarterly, a SAGE journal, finds that this type of "face-ism" is even more extreme in cultures with less educational, professional, and political gender discrimination.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121017181351.htm

See also...

Female Pulitzer Prize Winners Require Higher Qualifications, Study Finds
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121018123054.htm

NASA's Curiosity Rover Finds More Shiny Objects on Mars

When NASA's Curiosity rover found a shiny object on Mars last week, researchers believed it was just part of the rover. But now, the rover has found more bright objects in Mars' soil, leading NASA officials to believe it is something native to the planet.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/10/nasas-curiosity-rover-finds-more-shiny-objects-on-mars/

Felix Baumgartner Successfully Lands After Highest Freefall from Edge of Space

ScienceDaily -- Austria's Felix Baumgartner earned his place in the history books on Sunday (Oct. 14, 2012) after overcoming concerns with the power for his visor heater that impaired his vision and nearly jeopardized the mission. Baumgartner reached an estimated speed of 1,342.8 km/h (Mach 1.24) jumping from the stratosphere, which when certified will make him the first man to break the speed of sound in freefall and set several other records* while delivering valuable data for future space exploration.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121014170655.htm

See also...

China's Wingsuit Flying World Championship
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/10/chinas-wingsuit-flying-world-championship/

Calif. Man Established World Record with Jet Pack Flight Over Pacific
http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/technology/2012/10/calif-man-established-world-record-with-jet-pack-flight-over-pacific/

Pope Is No Fan of Russian Punk Rockers

MOSCOW -- The Pussy Riot trial last summer captured worldwide attention and support from cultural icons like Madonna, Sting, and Paul McCartney. Now the case has attracted attention from a higher power: the pope. But unlike those musical superstars, Pope Benedict XVI has reportedly backed their condemnation.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/10/pope-is-no-fan-of-russian-punk-rockers/

Ireland's first abortion clinic opens to protests

The first abortion clinic on the island of Ireland opened Thursday in downtown Belfast, unleashing angry protests on the street and uniting Catholic and Protestant politicians in calls to investigate the new facility.

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57535515/irelands-first-abortion-clinic-opens-to-protests/?tag=cbsnewsHardNewsFDArea;fdmodule

British Atheist Richard Dawkins Explores Sin and Morality in New TV Series

"If there is no God watching us, why be good?" poses the description on a new television series by evolutionary scientist Richard Dawkins on Britain's Channel 4. The program, running through October and taking Dawkins from a London inner-city to America's Bible Belt, examines the argument that "religion's absolutist moral codes fuel lies and guilt".

MORE: http://global.christianpost.com/news/british-atheist-richard-dawkins-explores-sin-and-morality-in-new-tv-series-83113/

University of Windsor drops convocation prayer after campus atheists protest

Shawna Scott, one of the leading advocates for the prayer's removal, took particular umbrage with the line "eternal God" as "the source of all goodness, discipline and knowledge."

MORE: http://ca.news.yahoo.com/blogs/dailybrew/university-windsor-drops-convocation-prayer-campus-atheists-protest-185028435.html

See also...

University removes convocation prayer
http://uwindsorlance.ca/2012/10/09/university-removes-convocation-prayer/

Atheist schoolboy, 11, is banned from the Scouts as he refuses to pledge allegiance to God and Queen

An 11-year-old boy has been banned from joining the Scouts because he does not believe in God and refuses to swear allegiance.

MORE: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2219513/Atheist-schoolboy-11-banned-joining-Scouts-refuses-swear-duty-God.html

Pianist Vs. Muezzin: Atheist On Trial For Insulting Islam In A Divided Turkey

That a world-renowned pianist could be indicted for joking about Islam is worrisome to the country's many secularists, and this gets to the heart of Turkey's central dichotomy.

MORE: http://www.ibtimes.com/pianist-vs-muezzin-atheist-trial-insulting-islam-divided-turkey-849317

Court resumes in trial of Egyptian atheist

Saber, 27, was arrested in September after a mob surrounded his house and accused him of ripping up a Koran and publishing anti-Islamic comments online.

MORE: http://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2012/10/18/Court-resumes-in-trial-of-Egyptian-atheist/UPI-22611350584254/

See also...

Trial of 'atheist' Alber Saber resumes
http://www.egyptindependent.com/news/trial-atheist-alber-saber-resumes

And...

Egyptian teacher fired for cutting the hair of girls who didn't wear headscarves
http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/18/14538277-egyptian-teacher-fired-for-cutting-the-hair-of-girls-who-didnt-wear-headscarves?lite

Mali Islamists destroy tombs in Timbuktu

(CNN) -- Al Qaeda-linked rebels in northern Mali destroyed historic and religious landmarks in Timbuktu on Thursday, claiming the relics are idolatrous, residents told CNN.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/18/world/africa/mali-shrines/index.html?hpt=iaf_c1

See also...

Fear grows as Mali extremists compile list of unmarried mothers
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/12/world/africa/mali-women-lists/index.html

Suspected al-Qaida attack on Yemen army base kills 26

ADEN, Yemen - At least 13 soldiers and 13 suspected al-Qaida militants were killed in an attack on an army base in the southern province of Abyan on Friday, medical and military sources said.

MORE: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/19/14550140-suspected-al-qaida-attack-on-yemen-army-base-kills-26?lite

After attack on Malala, Taliban threaten journalists who cover it

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- The Pakistani Taliban sought to silence the teenage education activist Malala Yousufzai by shooting her in the head. They're also trying to stifle the widespread criticism of the attack in the news media by threatening journalists in Pakistan.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/19/world/asia/pakistan-taliban-media-threat/index.html?hpt=hp_t3

See also...

Attack on Pakistani schoolgirl galvanizes anti-Taliban feeling
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/16/world/asia/pakistan-activist-reaction/index.html

Girl shot with Malala: Memory of attack 'still in my head'
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/17/world/asia/pakistan-teen-attack/index.html

And...

Who are the Pakistani Taliban?
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/17/world/asia/pakistan-taliban-profile/index.html

Bomb kills 17 in Pakistan
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/13/world/asia/pakistan-blast/index.html

Afghan woman beheads daughter-in-law for refusing prostitution, police say

In 2009 in Peshawar, Pakistan, near Afghanistan, the Taliban issued an official edict mandating that no more girls should be able to go to school. That was after the Taliban had regained their stake in the control in the region after the 2001 invasion.

Girls and women's families sometimes abuse and kill them. In July, the Taliban executed a woman in public, justifying the killing by saying she had committed adultery.

In 2011, people around the world were appalled to learn about a then-13-year-old named Sahar Gul who had been married off to a member of the Afghan Army. Sahar said her husband raped her, and enraged that she didn't immediately conceive, her in-laws locked her in a basement for months. They tortured Sahar with hot pokers and ripped out her nails. Ultimately, she said, they wanted to force her into prostitution as punishment for failing her obligation as a woman.

MORE: http://news.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/18/afghan-woman-beheads-daughter-in-law-for-refusing-prostitution-police-say/?hpt=hp_t3

See also...

Suicide attack on army base wounds dozens of Afghan soldiers
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/17/world/asia/afghanistan-attack/index.html

Bombs kill 12 in gas-rich area of southwest Pakistan
http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/11/world/asia/pakistan-blasts/index.html

In message, al Qaeda leader purportedly calls for more protests

(CNN) -- In an audio message credited to Al Qaeda's top leader, the speaker praises last month's deadly attack on a U.S. Consulate in Libya and calls for more protests against offensive depictions of the Prophet Mohammed.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/13/world/meast/zawahiri-message/index.html

Security official for U.S. Embassy in Yemen killed

The killing of Qassim Aqlan, a Yemeni national, bears the hallmarks of al Qaeda, the officials said.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/11/world/meast/yemen-us-embassy-shooting/index.html

"Nones" on the Rise

The number of Americans who do not identify with any religion continues to grow at a rapid pace. One-fifth of the U.S. public – and a third of adults under 30 – are religiously unaffiliated today, the highest percentages ever in Pew Research Center polling.

In the last five years alone, the unaffiliated have increased from just over 15% to just under 20% of all U.S. adults. Their ranks now include more than 13 million self-described atheists and agnostics (nearly 6% of the U.S. public), as well as nearly 33 million people who say they have no particular religious affiliation (14%)

--snip--

One important factor behind the growth of the religiously unaffiliated is generational replacement, the gradual supplanting of older generations by newer ones. Among the youngest Millennials (those ages 18-22, who were minors in 2007 and thus not eligible to be interviewed in Pew Research Center surveys conducted that year), fully one-third (34%) are religiously unaffiliated, compared with about one-in-ten members of the Silent Generation (9%) and one-in-twenty members of the World War II-era Greatest Generation (5%). Older Millennials (ages 23-30) also are substantially less likely than prior generations to be religiously affiliated.

But generational replacement is not the only factor at play. Generation Xers and Baby Boomers also have become more religiously unaffiliated in recent years. In 2012, 21% of Gen Xers and 15% of Baby Boomers describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated, up slightly (but by statistically significant margins) from 18% and 12%, respectively, since 2007. The trend lines for earlier generations are essentially flat. Not only are young adults less likely to be affiliated than their elders, but the GSS shows that the percentage of Americans who were raised without an affiliation has been rising gradually, from about 3% in the early 1970s to about 8% in the past decade. However, the overwhelming majority of the “nones” were brought up in a religious tradition. The new Pew Research Center/Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly survey finds that about three-quarters of unaffiliated adults were raised with some affiliation (74%).

MORE: http://www.pewforum.org/Unaffiliated/nones-on-the-rise.aspx

See also...

New Report Finds One-in-Five Adults Have No Religious Affiliation
http://www.pewforum.org/Press-Room/Press-Releases/%E2%80%9CNones%E2%80%9D-on-the-Rise--New-Report-Finds-One-in-Five-Adults-Have-No-Religious-Affiliation.aspx

Pew: 20% of Americans Are Now Atheist, Agnostic or Unaffiliated With a Religion
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/pew-20-of-americans-are-now-atheist-agnostic-or-unaffiliated-with-a-religion/

Study: Protestants no longer a majority in U.S.
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57529286/study-protestants-no-longer-a-majority-in-u.s/?tag=categoryDoorTopNews;catDoorTopNews

One in five Americans reports no religious affiliation, study says
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/one-in-five-americans-reports-no-religious-affiliation-study-says/2012/10/08/a7599664-11c8-11e2-855a-c9ee6c045478_story.html?hpid=z1

Humanists Recognize Increasing Number of "Nones" as Feeding Secular Movement's Growth
http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2012-10-humanists-recognize-increasing-number-of-nones-as-fe

Survey: One in five Americans has no religion
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/09/survey-one-in-five-americans-is-religiously-unaffiliated/?hpt=hp_c2

 

Are Americans Becoming Less Religious?
http://www.foxcharlotte.com/news/local/Are-Americans-Becoming-Less-Religious-173422271.html

None of the Above: The Rise of the Religiously Unaffiliated

Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, the national PBS television program produced by Thirteen/WNET, is launching a three-part mini-series, "None of the Above: The Rise of the Religiously Unaffiliated," based largely on a new survey about the views of the 46 million Americans who say they are not affiliated with any particular religion.

--snip--

The first segment, None of the Above: Who Are They, will begin airing on public television stations nationwide on October 12, 2012. It provides an overview of who these religiously unaffiliated people are and what they believe. The story will be reported by R&E Host Bob Abernethy and produced by Marcia Henning.

The second segment, None of the Above: Political Implications, which begins airing on October 19, 2012, focuses on how the growing number of religiously unaffiliated citizens could affect elections and the role of religion in politics. The segment will be reported by R&E Managing Editor Kim Lawton and produced by Patti Jette Hanley.

The third segment None of the Above: Religious Implications, which begins airing October 26, 2012, looks at the possible influence of this trend on religious congregations and institutions. This segment will be reported by R&E Contributing Correspondent Deborah Potter and produced by Susan Goldstein.

MORE: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/current-stories/none-of-the-above-the-rise-of-the-religiously-unaffiliated/13337/

Missing Church: Penchant For Politics May Be Sending Congregants Out The Door

Religious Right activists may feel that time is running out, and they may be trying to maximize their power while they can. That means we can’t just sit back, look at these numbers and wait for the Religious Right to become extinct.

MORE: http://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/missing-church-penchant-for-politics-may-be-sending-congregants-out-the

How to Spread the Good News of Secularism

Five tips for nonbelievers from the Carolinas Secular Conference.

MORE: http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/how-to-spread-the-good-news-of-secularism/Content?oid=4202148

Earlier...

Carolinas Secular Conference Held In Charleston, SC
http://freethoughtactionblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-carolinas-secular-conference-held.html

Atheist Group Forms to Lobby S.C. Lawmakers

About 80 activists from North and South Carolina convened in Charleston over the weekend of Sept. 30 to focus on how to better their groups and facilitate their involvement in the non-theist movement.

MORE: http://www.free-times.com/index.php?cat=1992912064017974&ShowArticle_ID=11010910121629734

Atheist group set to form state lobby

ENID, Okla. -- Oklahoma atheists are uniting their voices with non-believers across the U.S. to lobby for more separation between church and state.

MORE: http://enidnews.com/localnews/x1149577407/Atheist-group-set-to-form-state-lobby

See also...

Atheist group tries to get foothold in Nebraska
http://www.omaha.com/article/20121005/NEWS/710059907

'Teen Mom' Kailyn Lowry and fiance Javi Marroquin won't marry in a church

October 9 Teen Mom News reported that Kailyn says she won't marry in a church because of hers and Javi's religious convictions. Kailyn is a known atheist while Javi is catholic.

MORE: http://www.examiner.com/article/teen-mom-kailyn-lowry-and-fiance-javi-marroquin-won-t-marry-a-church

Peace cross sparks free speech debate

Atheist group fighting to take memorial down.

MORE: http://video.foxnews.com/v/1882501538001/peace-cross-sparks-free-speech-debate/

Sunday Scofflaws: It's Time For The IRS To Crack Down On 'Pulpit Freedom Sunday'

The Internal Revenue Service is charged with enforcing this law. I'll concede that the agency hasn’t been very aggressive. For too long, the IRS has put the emphasis on education, not enforcement.

--snip--

Why the hold-up? To the IRS I say: You know what happened this weekend. It's time to get the ball rolling by stripping some of these politicking churches of their tax-exempt status.

MORE: http://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/sunday-scofflaws-it-s-time-for-the-irs-to-crack-down-on-pulpit-freedom

Teacher's firing justified

Humanist and secular groups joined the side of a school board yesterday in a court fight over the firing of a public-school science teacher who kept a Bible on his desk and was accused of preaching religious beliefs in class.

MORE: http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/10/05/foes-teachers-firing-justified.html

See also...

Humanists Back Ohio school Board In Bible Case
http://www2.nbc4i.com/news/2012/oct/04/humanists-back-ohio-school-board-bible-case-ar-1195734/

Anti-jihad ads make their way to D.C. subways

The ad by the American Freedom Defense Initiative states, "In any war between the civilized man and the savage, support the civilized man. Support Israel. Defeat Jihad."

MORE: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/10/anti-jihad-ads-make-their-way-to-d-c-subways/

Ship of Foolishness

Every few months or so, you see a "documentary" on a cable program searching for Noah's ark. Every other year or so, the media picks up a story where someone has "discovered Noah's ark." The latest incident occurred when former Baywatch actress and Playboy model Donna D'Errico was injured trying to climb Mt. Ararat. All it takes is a quick web search to discover that these foolish quests and dubious claims happen over and over again, year in and year out, just like false prophets who proclaim the end of the world in six months. The most famous of these "false alarm" discoveries occurred in 1993, when George Jammal hoaxed a documentary about "discovering" the Ark; it was later revealed he never went to Turkey, and that the "wood" he showed was a piece of pine soaked in soy sauce.

MORE: http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/10/10/ship-of-foolishness/

See also...

101 Reasons Why Noah’s Story Doesn't Float
http://www.biblicalnonsense.com/chapter6.html

Two school districts recognize LGBT Month

(CNN) – American schools recognize African-American History Month and Women's History Month. This year, for the first time, two school districts are celebrating LGBT History Month, which started seven years ago and kicked off this year on October 1.

MORE: http://inamerica.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/08/two-school-districts-recognize-lgbt-month/?hpt=us_bn1

See also...

Celebrating National Coming Out Day
http://www.americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2012-10-celebrating-national-coming-out-day

The Good, the Bad, and the Guilty: Anticipating Feelings of Guilt Predicts Ethical Behavior

In a new article in Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, researchers Taya Cohen and Nazli Turan of Carnegie Mellon University and A.T. Panter of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill examine the existing research on guilt proneness, exploring how it might influence our behavior in the workplace and beyond.

According to Cohen, Panter, and Turan, guilt proneness isn't the same thing as feeling guilty after you've done something wrong -- people who are guilt prone actually anticipate having negative feelings before they ever commit a moral transgression. Importantly, these people don't need their mother, their boss, or their significant other looking over their shoulder to prevent them from committing moral transgressions because their conscience does it for them.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121010141452.htm

See also...

Looking out for Number One Can Make You Happy, If You Have No Choice
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121009171502.htm

Testosterone Increases Honesty, Study Suggests
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121010172212.htm

Cambrian Fossil Pushes Back Evolution of Complex Brains

ScienceDaily -- Complex brains evolved much earlier than previously thought, as evidenced by a 520-million-year-old fossilized arthropod with remarkably well-preserved brain structures.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121010131436.htm

See also...

Marine Worms Reveal the Deepest Evolutionary Patterns
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121009092533.htm

SpaceX Cargo Mission: Return Science Sample Capability as Important as Space Station Resupply

ScienceDaily -- While the first NASA Commercial Resupply Services (CRS) flight to the International Space Station is historic, the delivery and more importantly the return of science samples is pivotal. Since the retirement of the shuttles, the only return capability available from the space station was via the Russian Soyuz vehicle, with cold stowage even more limited -- but not anymore. Space Exploration Technologies Corp., or SpaceX, is now able to provide this service, as well.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121010134354.htm

Shiny Object on Mars Update: Likely 'Benign' Plastic

Lost earring? Cigarette butt? Those were just a couple of ideas tossed around loosely by the public about what this unusual object could be, found laying near the Mars Curiosity rover. The rover team is still looking closely at the shiny object, seen in images of the sandy regolith near the rover, and they issued a report today saying their initial assessment is that the bright object is something from the rover, and not Martian material. It appears to be a shred of plastic material, "likely benign," they said, but it has not been definitively identified.

MORE: http://www.universetoday.com/97798/shiny-object-on-mars-update-likely-benign-plastic/

See also...

NASA: Mars rover spots bright glint
http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/sciencefair/2012/10/09/mars-curiosity-rover-bright-glint/1622603/

Curiosity got shaved?
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2012/10/09/curiosity-got-shaved/

NASA's Mars Rover Curiosity: Work Resumes With First Scooped Sample
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121010152853.htm

More Space Science News

Surprising Spiral Structure Spotted by Astronomers
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121010131403.htm

Sweeping X-Ray Imaging Survey of Dying Stars Is 'Uncharted Territory'
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121010141448.htm

Large Water Reservoirs at the Dawn of Stellar Birth
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121009111238.htm

Saturn's Ever-Changing F Ring
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121010152523.htm

NOAA Satellites -- Helping Save Lives for 30 Years
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121010111837.htm

Paris police find bomb-making materials; suspects' detentions extended

The searches were connected to a big police operation Saturday targeting radical Islamists suspected of involvement with the bombing of a Jewish supermarket in September.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/10/world/europe/france-terror-operation/index.html?hpt=ieu_c1

Attack on teen blogger consumes Pakistan

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- The brazen shooting of a defiant teen blogger has stirred the conscience of Pakistan, a nation plagued for decades by violent extremism.

--snip--

On Tuesday, Taliban militants stopped a van carrying three girls, including Malala, on their way home from school in northwestern Pakistan's conservative Swat Valley.

One of the gunmen asked which one was Malala Yousufzai. When the girls pointed her out, the men opened fire. The bullets struck all three girls.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/10/world/asia/pakistan-teen-activist-attack/index.html?hpt=hp_bn2

See also...

14-Year-Old Peace Prize Winner Shot by Taliban in Critical Condition
http://readersupportednews.org/news-section2/330-131/13884-14-year-old-peace-prize-winner-shot-by-taliban-in-critical-condition

The Case Against Faith

Einstein letter, set for auction, shows scientist challenging idea of God, being 'chosen'

Decades before atheist scientist and author Richard Dawkins called God a "delusion," one world-renowned physicist - Albert Einstein - was weighing in on faith matters with his own strong words.
 
"The word God is for me nothing more than the expression and product of human weaknesses, the Bible a collection of honorable, but still primitive legends," Einstein wrote in German in a 1954 letter that will be auctioned on eBay later this month. "No interpretation no matter how subtle can (for me) change this."

MORE: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/10/04/einstein-letter-set-for-auction-shows-scientist-challenging-idea-of-god-being-chosen/?hpt=hp_c2

Atheist group tries to get foothold in Nebraska

The Secular Coalition for America has set out this year to organize chapters in all 50 states, including Nebraska and Iowa.

MORE: http://www.omaha.com/article/20121005/NEWS/710059907/1694

POLL: U.S. Air Force Academy Undermines Atheist Venue Gathering, Right or Wrong?

The U.S. Air Force Academy has pulled out of their commitment with no concrete reasons to host a previously planned speaking engagement by Richard Dawkins for Monday, Oct. 15, that offered free entry for military families.

MORE: http://fortbragg.patch.com/articles/u-s-air-force-academy-undermines-atheist-venue-gathering

The Other Believers: Mark D. Hatcher, a black atheist

Mark D. Hatcher, 31, is a Ph. D. student in physiology and biophysics at Howard University. He started the group Secular Students, the first of its kind at any historically black college or university, at Howard in 2011. Hatcher is a consultant with African Americans for Humanism.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/therootdc/post/the-other-believers-mark-d-hatcher-a-black-atheist/2012/10/02/684b665c-ed72-11e1-b09d-07d971dee30a_blog.html#

American Humanist Association Files Amicus Brief Against Teacher Who Taught Creationism

"Public school teachers cannot use their governmental position to promote religious views to children entrusted in their care," said Bill Burgess, attorney and legal coordinator of the American Humanist Association's legal arm, the Appignani Humanist Legal Center. "This case is nothing more than a sneaky attempt to indoctrinate our students under the guise of free speech."

MORE: http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2012-10-aha-files-amicus-brief-opposing-public-school-credit

Greencastle-Antrim School board Backs down on fight for prayer

The Greencastle-Antrim School Board has announced to the community that it will drop the Lord's Prayer from its meetings.

MORE: http://www.therecordherald.com/article/20121006/NEWS/121009862/-1/googlenewssitemap

Birth Control Battle: Federal Court Upholds Contraceptive Mandate

Efforts by conservative religious organizations to restrict Americans' access to birth control are ongoing. For the time being, the action has shifted to the courts.

MORE: http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/birth-control-battle-federal-court-upholds-contraceptive-mandate

Moral Morass: Religious Right Groups Love To Judge Your Ethics -- But How Are Their Own?

Something I've noticed from years of attending Religious Right meetings: a pattern of deceit.

MORE: http://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/moral-morass-religious-right-groups-love-to-judge-your-ethics-but-how-are

Zombie Muhammad' Atheist Who Was Attacked by Angry Muslim Wants 'Shariah Ruling' Judge Kicked Off the Bench

"While Mr. Perce is aware that The Board has already issued a private rebuke of Judge Martin, as Mr. Perce is the actual victim in this matter both by physical assault and the deprivation of justice due to judicial bias, he requests that the Judicial Board of Conduct re-examine Judge Martin's misconduct," reads a press release put out by The Legal Project last month.  "In our estimation, the severity of Judge Martin's judicial misconduct calls for the Judicial Board of Conduct to file formal charges which could ultimately remove Judge Martin."

MORE: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/zombie-muhammad-atheist-who-was-attacked-by-angry-muslim-wants-shariah-ruling-judge-kicked-off-the-bench/

Texas family planning cuts dismantling the safety net for women's preventive care; researchers chronicle early impacts

Texas' family planning funding cuts have resulted in 160,000 women losing access to critical preventive health services, including STD and cervical cancer screenings, and the shuttering of about 60 women’s health clinics across the state. According to the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy, Texas is already home to some of the nation's highest teen birth and unintended pregnancy rates.

In east Austin, a Planned Parenthood clinic that's been receiving state funds to provide care since 1974 no longer has a contract with the state, said Sarah Wheat, vice president for community affairs at Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas, which serves central and north Texas. It's a story that’s repeating itself throughout the state, she told me.

MORE: http://scienceblogs.com/thepumphandle/2012/10/05/texas-family-planning-cuts-dismantling-the-safety-net-for-womens-preventive-care-researchers-chronicle-early-impacts/

Hearing set for man behind anti-Muslim film

A federal judge in Los Angeles will decide next week whether the man behind an anti-Islamic film that sparked violence in the Middle East should be sent back to prison for violating his probation.

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57527423/hearing-set-for-man-behind-anti-muslim-film/?tag=cbsnewsCategoryStacksArea;stackU.S.

Abortion Rates Plummet With Free Birth Control

ScienceDaily -- Providing birth control to women at no cost substantially reduced unplanned pregnancies and cut abortion rates by 62 percent to 78 percent over the national rate, a new study shows.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121004200908.htm

Dating Between Modern Humans and Neandertals

ScienceDaily -- To discover why Neandertals are most closely related to people outside Africa, Harvard and Max Planck Institute scientists have estimated the date when Neandertals and modern Europeans last shared ancestors. The research, published in the journal PLoS Genetics, provides a historical context for the interbreeding. It suggests that it occurred when modern humans carrying Upper Paleolithic technologies encountered Neandertals as they expanded out of Africa.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121004201046.htm

Quantum measurements leave Schrödinger's cat alive

Researchers had suggested it should be possible, in principle, to make measurements that are "gentle" enough not to destroy the superposition. The idea was to measure something less direct than whether the bit is a 1 or a 0 -- the equivalent of looking at Schrödinger's cat through blurry glasses.

MORE: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22336-quantum-measurements-leave-schrodingers-cat-alive.html

See also...

More Certainty On Uncertainty's Quantum Mechanical Role
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121004121638.htm

Entangled in the Past: "Entanglement Between Photons that have Never Coexisted"
http://scienceblogs.com/principles/2012/10/05/entangled-in-the-past-entanglement-between-photons-that-have-never-coexisted/

And...

How Order Arises from the Random Motion of Particles in the Cosmos
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121005092939.htm

Surprising Black Hole Discovery Changes Picture of Globular Star Clusters
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121003132119.htm

SpaceX Dragon's liftoff begins the new normal for NASA

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- SpaceX's commercial cargo ship rocketed into orbit Sunday in pursuit of the International Space Station, the first of a dozen routine supply runs under a $1.6 billion contract with NASA.

MORE: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/49323756/ns/technology_and_science-space/#__utma=14933801.1796274438.1343881820.1349237752.1349664422.14&__utmb=14933801.2.10.1349664422&__utmc=14933801&__utmx=-&__utmz=14933801.1343881820.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=14933801.|8=Earned%20By=msnbc%7Ccover=1^12=Landing%20Content=Mixed=1^13=Landing%20Hostname=www.nbcnews.com=1^30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Earned%20to%20Mixed=1&__utmk=184252838

NASA's Swift Satellite Discovers a New Black Hole in Milky Way Galaxy

ScienceDaily -- NASA's Swift satellite recently detected a rising tide of high-energy X-rays from a source toward the center of our Milky Way galaxy. The outburst, produced by a rare X-ray nova, announced the presence of a previously unknown stellar-mass black hole.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121005162822.htm

See also...

Star Discovered Racing Around Black Hole at Center of Our Galaxy: Crucial to Revealing Fabric of Space and Time
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121004141749.htm

Surprising Black Hole Discovery Changes Picture of Globular Star Clusters
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121003132119.htm

NASA's Infrared Observatory Measures Expansion of Universe

ScienceDaily -- Astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope have announced the most precise measurement yet of the Hubble constant, or the rate at which our universe is stretching apart.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121003134808.htm

See also...

Why I am a liar straight from the pit of hell
http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2012/10/05/why-i-am-a-liar-straight-from-the-pit-of-hell/

And...

Mass of Dark Matter Revealed by Precise Measurements of the Galaxy
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121005082539.htm

Deep Impact Spacecraft Completes Rocket Burn
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121005134931.htm

Getting NASA's Solar Dynamic Observatory Into Focus
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121005134704.htm

New Frontiers in Astronomy: Cosmic Abundance of Kardashevs

The New Frontiers in Astronomy and Cosmology program announced its research grant award winners yesterday.

MORE: http://scienceblogs.com/catdynamics/2012/10/05/new-frontiers-in-astronomy-cosmic-abundance-of-kardashevs/

Punjabi atheists, agnostics unite in B.C.

These Punjabis are determined to declare the dignity inherent in secularism and in a non-religious identity.

MORE: http://blogs.vancouversun.com/2012/10/04/punjabi-atheists-unite-in-canada/

See also...

Local Punjabi Writer Pens An Ode To Atheism From A True Believer's Perspective
http://thelinkpaper.ca/?p=22955

Reading University's Atheist Society 'Thrown Out Of Fair Over Blasphemous Mohammed Pineapple'

A group of atheist students were kicked out of their university's fresher fair because of a "blasphemous pineapple" named Mohammed.

MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2012/10/04/reading-university-atheist-society-thrown-out-blasphemous-mohammed-pineapple_n_1939317.html?ncid=GEP&just_reloaded=1

Paolo Gabriele: Pope's Butler Convicted; Sentenced to 18 Months in Prison

While he admitted he took thousands of documents from the pope's private apartments and leaked them to the media, he believed he was not guilty of theft because he was doing it for the good of the church -- "to bring the church back on the right track," and to show the "evil and corruption" of the church. During the trial Gabriele said he acted alone and was not influenced by anyone.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/International/paolo-gabriele-popes-butler-convicted-sentenced-18-months/story?id=17412012

Witchcraft in Tanzania: the good, bad and the persecution

People with albinism have been dismembered in western parts of the country because so-called witchdoctors perpetuate a belief that albino body parts bring great wealth.

Those suspected of witchcraft are also targeted; an estimated 600 elderly women were killed in 2011 due to the suspicion they were witches, according to the Legal and Human Rights Center in Tanzania.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/05/world/africa/tanzania-witchcraft/index.html

Syria: Dozens killed in suicide blasts in Aleppo

Al-Nusra Front said the strikes were carried out by suicide bombers driving cars packed with explosives, followed by raiders disguised in Syrian military uniforms, according to a statement posted on a website that publishes claims from extreme Islamist groups.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/03/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html

4 killed in Baghdad attack

...insurgent attacks against civilians and security forces persist as the nation smolders with sectarian tension and political infighting.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/04/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html

Carolinas Secular Conference Held In Charleston, SC

Members of secular groups across the Carolinas gathered for the second annual Carolinas Secular Conference in Charleston, SC this past weekend. 

Organized by the Carolinas Secular Association and hosted by the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry, the conference was organized to provide a ground for learning and sharing, to bring in speakers to inform and train, as well as to award grass roots achievement by individuals across North and South Carolina.  Attendees joined in a live network of planning to meet the challenges of the next year and the coming decade.  Beyond its role as a working event, the Carolinas Secular Conference was a joyous celebration of the growing secular movement and culture and an opportunity for nontheists of all stripes to make new friends across the region.


The centerpiece of the three-day event was the Carolinas Freethinker Banquet on Saturday night which featured speakers Edwina Rogers, executive director of the Secular Coalition for America, and Maggie Ardiente, director of development and communications for the American Humanist Association.

During the banquet, Amy Monsky, president of the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry and camp director of Camp Quest, SC received the Carolinas Freethinker of the Year award; Jennifer Lovejoy, founder and current president of Western North Carolina Humanists and the spokesperson for Western North Carolina Atheists, was presented with the FREETHOUGHT ACTION HERO award; and Justin Griffith, creator of the Rock Beyond Belief festival at Fort Bragg was given the 2012 Special Achievement award.  Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, was also in attendance.


Before the close of the evening, Edwina Rogers signed a “Memo of Understanding" with Secular Coalition for South Carolina Executive Board Co-Chairs, Amy Monsky and Matthew Facciani to mark the official launch of the latest state-wide chapter of the Secular Coalition for America. 

Earlier on Saturday, former president of the American Humanist Association Mike Werner gave a special presentation on starting and growing secular groups and chapters.  On Sunday, Edwina Rogers gave a presentation on “Politics and Secularism” and Maggie Ardiente spoke about Humanism on the national level. 

Last year, at the first annual event, attendees gathered at Carolina Beach, North Carolina, and began to establish a network of communities across the region. Since that time, established groups and programs have grown and new coalitions and groups have been formed across both states.

Some pictures from the conference can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/48595559@N08/sets/72157631678858624/

Presentation of the FREETHOUGHT ACTION HERO Award


See also...

SC Atheist Lobbying Group Launches
http://standrews.patch.com/articles/sc-atheist-lobbying-group-launches-today

Earlier...

Freethought "Action Hero" to Be Honored
http://freethoughtactionblog.blogspot.com/2012/09/godless-action-hero-to-be-honored.html

Atheist group joins Iowa scene

DES MOINES -- The Secular Coalition for America is working to bring a new voice to the Iowa Capitol, on behalf of atheists and non-theistic residents who want to see a strong separation of religion and government.

MORE: http://thegazette.com/2012/09/30/atheist-group-joins-iowa-scene/

A case of nonbelief

The nation’s atheists went to Capitol Hill on Monday to launch an effort that they hope will someday give them the lobbying clout of the Christian conservative movement.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dana-milbank-a-case-of-nonbelief/2012/10/01/749d6624-0c0f-11e2-bd1a-b868e65d57eb_story.html

See also...

Who would vote for an atheist: Dems vs. Republicans
http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/gnxp/2012/10/who-would-vote-for-an-atheist-dems-vs-republicans/

In God, they don't trust
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentaries/172291551.html

Atheists sue another Pa. school over commandments

CONNELLSVILLE, Pa. -- A Wisconsin-based atheist and agnostic group has sued another southwestern Pennsylvania school district over a monument of the Ten Commandments currently on school grounds.

MORE: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/09/27/4860878/atheists-sue-another-pa-school.html

Indecent Proposal: Another 'Religious Supremacy' Amendment Surfaces In The U.S. House

It is deeply disturbing that a government body that has sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution would consider a resolution that disrespects a principle that comes straight from the First Amendment.

MORE: http://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/indecent-proposal-another-religious-supremacy-amendment-surfaces-in-the-us

See also...

Atheists condemn House resolution to reaffirm importance of religion
http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2012/09/25/atheists-condemn-house-resolution-to-reaffirm-importance-of-religion/?utm_source=Raw+Story+Daily+Update&utm_campaign=c3cdce11e4-9_26_129_26_2012&utm_medium=email

Radical Rally: Religious Right Meets In Philadelphia To Demand 'Christian Nation'

An estimated 8,000-10,000 people attended the event on Independence Mall. Here's Bro. Pat's money quote: "I don't care what the ACLU says or any atheist says, this nation belongs to Jesus!"

MORE: http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/radical-rally-religious-right-meets-in-philadelphia-to-demand-christian

Mass Mess: Bishops Use Church Service To Lobby Supreme Court

It's a shame that the justices allow the bishops to play their lobbying game by attending the mass.

MORE: http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/mass-mess-bishops-use-church-service-to-lobby-supreme-court

Bishops Behaving Badly: Catholic Prelates Preach Partisan Politics

Vote the wrong way, go to hell, says Illinois bishop.

MORE: http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/bishops-behaving-badly-catholic-prelates-preach-partisan-politics

Texas Tall Tale: Americans United Is Anti-Christian -- Not!

We want the Hays County Commissioners Court to obey the law, honor the U.S. Constitution and respect the religious diversity in America. This has nothing whatsoever to do with hostility toward any faith.

MORE: http://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/texas-tall-tale-americans-united-is-anti-christian-not

Judge dismisses Pa. suit over 'Year of the Bible'

Yet U.S. Middle District Judge Christopher C. Conner also questioned whether the resolution should have been adopted at all. The nonbinding resolution, introduced by state Rep. Rick Saccone, urges Pennsylvanians to read the Bible during 2012.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/judge-dismisses-pa-suit-over-year-of-the-bible/2012/10/02/2c4442ce-0cd4-11e2-ba6c-07bd866eb71a_story.html

See also...

District court dismisses lawsuit challenging 'Year of the Bible'
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20121002_District_court_dismisses_lawsuit_challenging__quot_Year_of_the_Bible_quot_.html

California governor OKs ban on gay conversion therapy, calling it 'quackery'

(CNN) -- Therapy aimed at turning gay kids straight will soon be illegal in California, with the state's governor declaring he hopes a new law will relegate such efforts "to the dustbin of quackery."

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/01/us/california-gay-therapy-ban/index.html?hpt=hp_bn1

See also...

Christian group files suit to stop gay therapy ban
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57524679/christian-group-files-suit-to-stop-gay-therapy-ban/?tag=cbsnewsHardNewsFDArea;fdmodule

Church unveils new 50-foot Jesus statue

A church in Ohio dedicates its new 50-foot statue of Jesus after lightning destroyed the original two years ago.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_bn1#/video/us/2012/10/02/dnt-new-50-foot-jesus-statue-after-lightning.whio

Rover finds evidence of ancient water on Mars

(CNN) -- If the Curiosity rover had been sent to Mars in ancient times, it might have found itself sinking in a stream.

The 2,000-pound super-rover, which made its now-legendary landing on Mars on August 6, has come across stones in conglomerate rock suggesting that water must have flowed there in the past.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/27/us/mars-rover-water/index.html?hpt=hp_inthenews

See also...

Mars Rover Opportunity Working at 'Matijevic Hill'
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120930160414.htm

A Curious Cold Layer in the Atmosphere of Venus

The planet Venus is well known for its thick, carbon dioxide atmosphere and oven-hot surface, and as a result is often portrayed as Earth's inhospitable evil twin.

But in a new analysis based on five years of observations using ESA's Venus Express, scientists have uncovered a very chilly layer at temperatures of around -175ºC in the atmosphere 125 km above the planet's surface.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/10/121002185050.htm

See also...

Saturn's Moon Titan Shows Surprising Seasonal Changes
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/09/120928085222.htm

Pope's Butler Told Court He Leaked Private Documents for the Good of the Church

The scandal, known as "Vatileaks," built this spring as more and more confidential papal documents began appearing in Italian newspapers. They exposed widespread corruption, cronyism and backdoor payments in return for favors.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/International/vatican-butler-leaked-documents-good-church/story?id=17378353

Court: Pussy Riot appeal hearing to continue next week

The group's prayer was inspired by their anger about the relationship between the Russian government and the Orthodox Church, according to the band's manager, who is married to one of the suspects.

A judge rejected the women's defense that they were acting from political motives, ruling that they had intended to insult the Orthodox Church and undermine public order.

An Orthodox church leader has been widely reported as saying Putin's years in power have been a miracle from God.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/01/world/europe/russia-pussy-riot-appeal/index.html?hpt=ieu_c2

Kenya military reports success in Somali fight

(CNN) -- Kenya's military controls half of the Somalian port city of Kismayo as it tries to drive out the al Qaeda-linked militant group Al-Shabaab from one of its last strongholds, a military spokesman said Saturday.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/29/world/africa/somalia-kismayo/index.html?hpt=iaf_c2

Bangladesh Muslims torch Buddhist shrines, police say

(CNN) -- Crowds of angry Muslims attacked Buddhist shrines and homes, torching some of them Sunday in Bangladesh to protest after a photo of a partially burned Quran was posted on Facebook, police said.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/30/world/asia/bangladesh-muslim-buddhist-violence/index.html?hpt=hp_bn2

Images of women shelved in IKEA's Saudi catalog

Images of women were airbrushed from copies of the Swedish-based retailer's annual catalog shipped to the religiously conservative Islamic kingdom.
MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/02/world/meast/saudi-ikea-women/index.html?hpt=hp_bn2

Setback for Pakistani teen facing blasphemy charges

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- Three witnesses whose testimony could absolve a 14-year-old Pakistani girl facing life in prison have changed their statements.

It's the latest twist in the case of Rimsha Masih, a Christian teenager who was charged more than a month ago under Pakistan's blasphemy laws for allegedly burning pages of Islam's holy book for cooking fuel. She has denied the charges.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/01/world/asia/pakistan-blasphemy-girl/index.html?hpt=ias_c2

Panetta: Terrorists 'clearly' planned Benghazi attack

A senior U.S. official told CNN that there was evidence within 24 hours of the attack that suggested it was the work of extremists either affiliated with al Qaeda groups or inspired by them.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/27/world/africa/libya-consulate-attack/index.html

Now 2 bounties on producer of anti-Islamic film

Islamabad, Pakistan (CNN) -- For the second time in less than two weeks, a prominent Pakistani is offering a six-figure bounty to anyone who kills the man who produced "Innocence of Muslims," a film that has offended many Muslims throughout the world.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/01/world/asia/pakistan-film-bounty/index.html?hpt=imi_c2

See also...

Producer of anti-Islam film arrested, ordered held without bail
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/27/world/california-anti-islam-filmmaker/index.html?hpt=iaf_c2

September is deadliest month in Iraq in more than 2 years

Baghdad (CNN) -- Violence in Iraq surged last month, with 365 deaths reported, the Interior Ministry said Monday.

That's the deadliest single month since August 2010, when the toll reached 426, the ministry said.

--snip--

Baghdad's Shiite-dominated government has blamed the recent attacks on Sunni insurgents with ties to al Qaeda.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/01/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html?hpt=imi_c2

Officials: Suicide attacker kills 3 NATO forces, 4 Afghan police

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack, saying a suicide bomber had killed eight foreign forces and six Afghan security forces.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/10/01/world/asia/afghanistan-violence/index.html?hpt=ias_c2

See also...

2 Americans dead in Afghan attack
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/29/world/asia/afghanistan-violence/index.html

Roadside bomb kills 2 in Afghanistan
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/29/world/asia/afghanistan-bombing/index.html

Despite deadly risks, Afghan girls take brave first step
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/26/world/asia/cnnheroes-afghan-schoolgirls/index.html

'A ray of hope' where girls didn't count
http://www.cnn.com/2012/09/27/world/asia/cnnheroes-razia-jan-interview/index.html