The Year That Was: Major Church-State Developments From 2012

Here are some major church-state stories from the past 12 months.

MORE: https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/the-year-that-was-major-church-state-developments-from-2012

See also...

Biggest moves in religion and politics in 2012
http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/31/our-take-biggest-moves-in-religion-and-politics-in-2012/?hpt=hp_t2

America mirrors global godless trend

So what does this all mean for this country and the world at large? Well, as the American nonreligious population continues to grow and unify, politicians will be forced to listen to this influential voting bloc and will finally address the political desires of the nonreligious community. This means that the government’s position on issues like gay marriage, church-state separation, and vouchers for religious schools are likely to reflect the growing nonreligious opinion that faith shouldn’t dictate public policy.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/america-mirrors-global-godless-trend/2012/12/28/ed08c4fc-5136-11e2-950a-7863a013264b_blog.html

See also...

6 Outrageous Incidents of Discrimination Against Nonbelievers
http://www.alternet.org/belief/6-outrageous-incidents-discrimination-against-nonbelievers?paging=off

Second atheist billboard defaced in Roanoke area

The Blue Ridge Coalition of Reason, a local chapter of the national United Coalition of Reason, placed four billboards in the Roanoke area in an attempt to attract more members. The billboards read, "Don't believe in God? Join the club."

On Friday, the group's billboard at 32 Boulevard St., in southwest Roanoke near Shaffers Crossing, was found with the "n't" portion of the word "don't" covered with duct tape and wrapping paper - flipping the message to read, "Do believe in God? Join the club."

MORE: http://hamptonroads.com/2012/12/second-atheist-billboard-defaced-roanoke-area

See also...

Another atheist billboard in Va. vandalized
http://www.wtop.com/120/3175366/Another-atheist-billboard-in-Va-vandalized
 
Another atheist billboard in Va. vandalized
http://www.nbc12.com/story/20464164/another-atheist-billboard-in-va-vandalized

Another atheist billboard in Va. vandalized
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Another-atheist-billboard-in-Va-vandalized-4154046.php

Atheist Billboard VANDALIZED

Atheist group for seniors targeted: Atheists Anonymous members say backlash growing

CARLSBAD, Calif. - A group of seniors in Carlsbad say they are being persecuted, targeted and jeered at for their religion, or rather for their lack of religion.

MORE: http://www.theindychannel.com/news/atheist-group-for-seniors-at-la-costa-glen-targeted-atheists-anonymous-members-say-backlash-growing-12252012

Just Say No: Supreme Court Should Skip Elmbrook Church Graduation Case

Public schools should not hold graduations in religious environments. Doing so sends a message that non-believers should stay away.

MORE: https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/just-say-no-supreme-court-should-skip-elmbrook-church-graduation-case

Atheist Activists Sue IRS to Strike Down 'Preferential Treatment of Churches'

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an atheist activist non-profit, has a history of advocating for church-state separatism. Most recently, in November, the group sued the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in an effort to force the government to crack down on the political activities being undertaken by churches. The group followed up this legal challenge with yet another lawsuit last Thursday -- one that targets the government's alleged "preferential treatment of churches."

MORE: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/atheist-group-sues-irs-citing-preferential-treatment-of-churches/

See also...

Atheist group sues IRS for "discriminating against' secular non-profits
http://www.repost.us/article-preview/#!hash=e051a3755f6d801a87f9104f40305638

Atheist group files lawsuit over church tax status
http://www.jsonline.com/news/wisconsin/atheist-group-files-lawsuit-over-church-tax-status-ub86k98-185090301.html

School board president Thomas Robichaux departs on national wave of anti-creationism support

District 7 residents gave sitting Orleans Parish School Board president Thomas Robichaux only 3,072 votes out of 14,688 cast in November's election. But Robichaux is floating out of office on a national wave of support from anti-creationism advocates, who have sent him over 2,000 emails and faxes praising largely symbolic policy changes he championed that take religion out of science and history classrooms.

MORE: http://www.nola.com/education/index.ssf/2012/12/orleans_parish_school_board_pr_1.html

Unholy Union: Why The Government Must Never Promote Theology

A government that presumes the power to determine which religion is 'right' tramples human liberty.

MORE: https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/unholy-union-why-the-government-must-never-promote-theology

Prayer Panacea: Illinois Lawmaker Advocates For Official Worship, Religious Shrines In Public Schools

For someone who believes so strongly in social justice and equality, why is he willing to ignore the rights of a growing segment of our population, the non-believers, atheists and humanists -- as well as all of those religious people who oppose mandated and coercive prayer in public schools?

MORE: https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/prayer-panacea-illinois-lawmaker-advocates-for-official-worship-religious

Atheists Get 'Soles': The Clever (and Vulgar) Way One Shoe Company Is Targeting the Godless

If you don't like corny puns, then click away now. That's because a German shoe company has created a new pair of shoes targeting atheists. In other words, Atheists now have the chance to buy some soles.

MORE: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/atheists-get-soles-the-clever-and-vulgar-way-one-shoe-company-is-targeting-the-godless/

Church members say face of Jesus appears on their door

At Care Baptist Church in Duncan, there are many images of Jesus but none as special as the one members see in the wood grain of a door next to the pulpit.

MORE: http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/20471011/church-members-say-face-of-jesus-appears-on-their-door?hpt=us_bn8

Gay couple ties knot in Maine for first time

(CNN) -- A chorus of whoops and cheers greeted Steven Bridges and Michael Snell as they exited City Hall in Portland, Maine, early Saturday as the first same-sex couple to wed under a new law.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/29/us/maine-same-sex-marriage/index.html?hpt=us_c2

The science of Champagne bubbles up again for New Year's Eve

If you really want to impress your bubbly-sipping friends tonight, be sure to chill a big bottle of Champagne to somewhere between 39 and 50 degrees Fahrenheit (4 to 9 degrees Celsius), bring out the narrow glasses (not those wide plastic cups!) and pour the stuff gently down the angled side of the glass like beer.

MORE: http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/31/16255128-the-science-of-champagne-bubbles-up-again-for-new-years-eve?lite

Birdsong Study Pecks Theory That Music Is Uniquely Human

A bird listening to birdsong may experience some of the same emotions as a human listening to music, suggests a new study on white-throated sparrows, published in Frontiers of Evolutionary Neuroscience.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121227080110.htm

You can literally throw your negative thoughts away

Petty says. That means you'll trick your brain into marking bad thoughts as gone, instead of suppressing them....

MORE: http://bodyodd.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/28/16197073-you-can-literally-throw-your-negative-thoughts-away?lite

The Universe Beyond Our Reach

Because of the way expansion will continue to work into the future, all the objects that are expanding away from us now will expand away increasingly faster in the future, and will eventually disappear from the part of the Universe we can reach.

MORE: http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2012/12/28/the-universe-beyond-our-reach/

See also...

An Image Gallery Gift from NASA's Swift
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121228203202.htm

Egyptian atheist's jail sentence blow to religious freedom

CAIRO, DECEMBER 31 - When a furious mob attacked Alber Saber's house in September, calling for his death and accusing him of burning the Koran and promoting the film The Innocence of Muslims on social networks, his mother phoned the police. On arriving, the police arrested him instead of his attackers, forced him to sign documents he hadn't read and left him alone with other detainees at the police station after inciting violence against him, Saber told ANSAmed.

MORE: http://www.ansamed.info/ansamed/en/news/nations/egypt/2012/12/31/Egyptian-atheist-jail-sentence-blow-religious-freedom_8013370.html

22 killed in three attacks in Nigeria

"Suspected members of the group have bombed or opened fire on worshipers in at least 18 churches across eight northern and central states since 2010. In Maiduguri, capital of Borno state, the group also forced Christian men to convert to Islam on penalty of death," it said.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/30/world/africa/nigeria-violence/index.html?hpt=iaf_c2

See also...

12 killed in attacks on two churches in Nigeria
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/25/world/africa/nigeria-christmas-attack/index.html?hpt=iaf_c2

20 Shiite pilgrims killed in Pakistan bus attacks

It was not immediately clear who carried out the attack. But in the past, Sunni militant group Lashkar e Jhangvi has targeted buses of Shiite pilgrims.

Shia Islam is a minority sect in the mainly Sunni Muslim country, and its members face persecution from extremists.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/30/world/asia/pakistan-pilgrims-killed/index.html?hpt=ias_c1

See also...

21 Pakistani security officers believed shot to death by Taliban
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/29/world/asia/pakistan-taliban-capture/index.html?hpt=ias_c2

Blasts Aimed at Iraqi Shiites, Police Kill 23

Overall violence has dropped since the nation neared a civil war several years ago, but attacks of a sectarian nature come almost daily, and government forces seem powerless to prevent them.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/iraq-10-people-killed-attacks-south-baghdad-18098730

See also...

Clashes erupt at Iraqi protest as sectarian tensions flare
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/30/world/meast/iraq-protests/index.html?hpt=wo_c2

Fight over water at a holy site

Why a fight over water threatened to shut down one of the holiest sites in Christianity.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=imi_t5#/video/world/2012/12/31/sidner-mideast-water-war.cnn

"Unaffiliated" becomes third-largest religious group worldwide

A new study from the Pew Forum found about one-in-six people around the world have no religious affiliation. That's about 1.1 billion people.

MORE: http://www.wbtv.com/story/20419525/unaffiliated-becomes-third-largest-religious-group-worldwide

See also...

Would You Know Atheist Discrimination If You Saw It?
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-humanity-naturally/201212/would-you-know-atheist-discrimination-if-you-saw-it

Pagan roots? 5 surprising facts about Christmas

Pre-Christian traditions abound in the beloved winter holiday.

MORE: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50284202/ns/technology_and_science-science/

See also...

That Christmas 'Star of Wonder' still leaves plenty to wonder about
http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/24/16115672-that-christmas-star-of-wonder-still-leaves-plenty-to-wonder-about?lite

How Santa got his reindeer
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/22/opinion/galloway-reindeer/index.html?hpt=hp_bn7

All about the Christmas Tree
http://www.religioustolerance.org/xmas_tree.htm

And...

Atheist holiday traditions (Humor)
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/12/24/1171603/-Atheist-holiday-traditions#

Local Humanist and Atheist Groups Volunteer to Feed the Needy Christmas Day

The Harrison County Feed The Needy program will be delivering thousands of meals to the needy tomorrow, Christmas Day, 2012. The Feed The Needy program has been delivering meals to vulnerable Harrison County citizens on Thanksgiving and Christmas for 17 years. Local secular humanist and non-theists have participated in the program from its beginning. This year the MS Gulf Coast Humanists, the Humanist Ethical Atheist and Rational Thought Society , and the Mississippi Gulf Coast Atheist and Freethinking Association will have members participating in the program.

MORE: http://www.examiner.com/article/local-humanist-and-atheist-groups-volunteer-to-feed-the-needy-christmas-day-1

Atheist Kids and Bullying: Just an Xbox and a Football Game Away From Redemption

"When the child goes to school, and encounters for the first time other kids who don’t believe the same thing, whether it's no belief or a different belief system, that can rock a kid's world," Campbell adds.

MORE: http://news.yahoo.com/atheist-kids-bullying-just-xbox-football-game-away-234136699.html

Stanford gets a chaplain for atheists

Chaplain John Figdor has a divinity degree from Harvard. He counsels those in need and visits the sick. And he works with Stanford students under the Office of Religious Life.

So Figdor is the last guy you'd tag with the "A" word.

But, yes. The chaplain is an atheist.

MORE: http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Stanford-gets-a-chaplain-for-atheists-4139991.php

Atheist lobby group takes on Christian-based center

Serah Blain, executive director of the Secular Coalition of Arizona, said the state is the first in the nation to have a full-time legislative lobbyist representing a "non- theistic" organization.

MORE: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2012/12/21/20121221atheists-join-forces.html?nclick_check=1

Bad Defense Maneuver: Military Spending Bill Provision Could Foster Religiously Based Discrimination

"[The provision] says those thoughts you've been thinking all along, you're allowed to keep thinking them," a Defense Department official said.  But critics like Americans United aren't so sure. Mother Jones reported that detractors said the new measure could allow an armed forces doctor to refuse to screen a female service member for cancer because she had engaged in premarital sex. In addition, those who feel homosexuality is a sin could refuse to serve alongside gays or lesbians.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/bad-defense-maneuver-military-spending-bill-provision-could-foster

See also...

Defense Bill Includes Broadened Version of Todd Akin's Anti-Gay Provision
http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/12/defense-bill-todd-akin-anti-gay-provision

West Milford mystery: How was atheist billboard destroyed?

An atheist group's billboard displayed in front of Town Hall was destroyed early Sunday morning, but police said it is impossible to know whether the cause was vandalism or mother nature.

MORE: http://www.northjersey.com/topstories/westmilford-hewitt-newfoundland/West_Milford_mystery_How_was_atheist_billboard_destroyed.html

Melissa Nelson: Dental Assistant Fired For Being 'Irresistible' Is 'Devastated'

"Although people act for a variety of reasons, it is very common for women to be targeted for discrimination because of their sexual attractiveness or supposed lack of sexual attractiveness. That is discrimination based on sex," Fiedler wrote. "Nearly every woman in Iowa understands this because we have experienced it for ourselves."

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2012/12/melissa-nelson-dental-assistant-fired-for-being-irresistible-is-devastated/

Delusions of Gender: Men's Insecurities May Lead to Sexist Views of Women

The survey results also showed that anxiously attached men tend to be romantics at heart who adopt benevolently sexist beliefs, while avoidantly attached men lean toward social dominance. That, in turn, leads them to embrace hostile sexism.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121219174331.htm

Jim Al-Khalili: 'I'm a cuddly atheist. I don't need to tell my mum her faith is stupid'

Jim Al-Khalili is about to become president of the British Humanist Association. He tells Tom Peck why bishops should be out of the House of Lords -- and why he's ready for a row at Christmas dinner.

MORE: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jim-alkhalili-im-a-cuddly-atheist-i-dont-need-to-tell-my-mum-her-faith-is-stupid-8430524.html

Atheist Ireland asks that civil registration Bill be referred

Atheist Ireland has written to President Michael D Higgins asking that he send the Civil Registration Amendment Bill to the Supreme Court to test its constitutionality on the grounds that it discriminates against non-believers.

MORE: http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/ireland/2012/1222/1224328121743.html

UN Concerned at Muslim-Buddhist Clashes in Myanmar

The U.N. General Assembly has unanimously adopted a resolution welcoming positive changes in Myanmar but expressing serious concern at an upsurge of sectarian violence between Muslims and Buddhists in Rakhine state.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/concerned-muslim-buddhist-clashes-myanmar-18059080

The girl the Taliban wanted dead

(CNN) -- The Pakistani teen blogger simply sought to get an education. But she became a symbol of defiance against militants, empowering young women worldwide.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/24/us/malala-cnn-most-intriguing-2012/index.html?hpt=wo_c1

Syrian fight now 'overtly sectarian,' U.N. says

(CNN) -- The civil war in Syria is morphing into a fight between ethnic and religious factions, the United Nations said...

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/20/world/meast/syria-civil-war/index.html?hpt=imi_c2

"Godless" billboards posted in Roanoke area

The group behind it wants atheists and agnostics to know they're not alone.

MORE: http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-godless-billboards-posted-in-roanoke-area-20121219,0,1484312.story

See also...

Godless Billboards Spring up across Roanoke
http://unitedcor.org/national/news/godless-billboards-spring-across-roanoke

Godless Billboards Spring up across Virginia
http://unitedcor.org/national/news/godless-billboards-spring-across-virginia

   

See also...

"Godless" billboard vandalized in Salem
http://www.wdbj7.com/news/wdbj7-godless-billboards-posted-in-roanoke-area-20121219,0,1484312.story

Pro-Atheist Signs Pop Up in Chico

CHICO, Calif. - A handful of signs that say "Don't Believe in God, Join the Club" have been popping up all over the city of Chico, causing a bit of controversy just before the holidays.

MORE: http://www.krcrtv.com/news/local/Pro-Atheist-Signs-Pop-Up-in-Chico/-/14322302/17726562/-/9dtw1qz/-/index.html

See also...

Billboards around Chico notify nonbelievers they are not alone
http://www.chicoer.com/fromthenewspaper/ci_22165940/billboards-around-chico-notify-nonbelievers-they-are-not

Coalition of Reason kicks off godless billboard campaign
http://www.newsreview.com/chico/allergic-to-religion/content?oid=8568892

Atheist Billboards Go Up in Chico, California
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/12/10/atheist-billboards-go-up-in-chico-california/

Atheists Inflame Local News Anchors With Billboard Campaign, Residents Hilariously Unaffected
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/atheists-inflame-local-news-anchors-with-billboard-campaign-residents-hilariously-unaffected/

Godless Billboards Blanket Chico
http://yubanet.com/regional/Godless-Billboards-Blanket-Chico.php#.UMdw9nfhd8E

Billboards notify nonbelievers they are not alone
http://www.chicoer.com/news/ci_22164792/billboards-notify-nonbelievers-they-are-not-alone

Godless Billboards Blanket Chico
http://unitedcor.org/butte_county/news/godless-billboards-blanket-chico

Vandals Deface One of Chico's Godless Billboards
http://unitedcor.org/butte_county/news/vandals-deface-one-chicos-godless-billboards

Newest Front in 'Christmas Wars:' Billboards
http://sojo.net/blogs/2012/12/18/newest-front-christmas-wars-billboards

Butte County Anti-Religious Signs
http://www.khsltv.com/mostpopular/story/Butte-County-Anti-Religious-Signs/15aOd2XH-kyBpFaZbdRyQg.cspx

Atheists, Humanists Suffer Persecution World Wide, Report

(Reuters) - Atheists and other religious skeptics suffer persecution or discrimination in many parts of the world and in at least seven nations can be executed if their beliefs become known...

MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/09/atheists-humanists-suffer_n_2268681.html

'Atheist Census' back online after hacker attack

Atheist Alliance International reports that its Atheist Census, an attempt to count the world's atheists, is now back online after hackers took it down more than a week ago.

MORE: http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/features-the-religion-world/2012/12/17/atheist-census-back-online-after-hacker-attack/

See also...

Atheist Census
http://www.atheistcensus.com/

Herb Silverman concedes U.S. Senate race

It is with a heavy (10.5-ounce) heart that I tell my millions of supporters I am ending my campaign to become the first acknowledged atheist to serve as a U.S. senator from South Carolina.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/herb-silverman-concedes-us-senate-race/2012/12/18/967bacea-493d-11e2-b6f0-e851e741d196_blog.html

Earlier...

Richard Dawkins endorses atheist to fill DeMint’s seat
http://www.charlestoncitypaper.com/charleston/richard-dawkins-endorses-atheist-to-fill-demints-seat/Content?oid=4246039

How to Celebrate HumanLight, A December Holiday for Humanists

This holiday season many humanists and non-theists are preparing their annual HumanLight holiday parties and celebrations. Awareness of HumanLight as a secular December holiday is growing across the country and around the world since the idea was formed in 2001.

MORE: http://www.americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2012-12-how-to-celebrate-humanlight-a-december-holiday-for-h

See also...

Keeping Our Human Light Lit During the Holidays
http://www.patheos.com/Atheist/Keeping-Human-Light-Roy-Speckhardt-12-10-2012.html

Holiday Shopping For the Greater Good: Supporting Humanistic Retail Companies
http://www.americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2012-12-holiday-shopping-for-the-greater-good-supporting-hum

The Advent of the Holidays

We are by our nature creatures who not only work and think, but who sing, dance, pray, tell stories, and celebrate. . . We are Homo Festivus.

MORE: ttp://www.americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2012-12-the-advent-of-the-holidays

See also...

Poll: What December Holiday Do You Celebrate?
http://www.americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2012-12-poll-what-december-holiday-do-you-celebrate
 

Nonbelievers Get HumanLight Display Erected in Wabash, IN

A Christian nativity scene has been joined by a HumanLight display on the grounds of the Wabash County Indiana courthouse. County officials approved it on Dec. 3 following an inquiry made by the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center.

MORE: http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2012-12-nonbelievers-get-humanlight-display-erected-in-wabas

Atheists wrap Anchorage buses in holiday ads asking Alaskans to 'imagine no religion'

On your next drive through Anchorage you may find yourself confronted with a handful of areligious commandments. Statements like "Sleep in on Sundays," "Enjoy Life Now There is No Afterlife," "Imagine No Religion" and "Yes, Virginia ... There Is No God" will grace the sides of PeopleMover buses throughout the month of December, compliments of the Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation.

MORE: http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/atheists-wrap-anchorage-buses-holiday-ads-asking-alaskans-imagine-no-religion?page=full

Displays banned from city of Cheboygan lands

On the advice of the city attorney, Cheboygan City Council decided Tuesday night to prohibit all private displays on city properties after a Madison, Wisc., group wanted to post a non-religious sign next to the Kiwanis' nativity scene.

MORE: http://www.cheboygannews.com/article/20121219/NEWS/121219347/1003/NEWS#

Atheist group claims its banner near nativity scene was vandalized in Warren

An atheist group claims that a banner it displayed in Warren to counter a 67-year-old nativity scene was damaged by vandals.

MORE: http://www.theoaklandpress.com/articles/2012/12/18/news/local_news/doc50d115db8ae23547591350.txt

American Atheists Place 2012 'Myth' Holiday Billboard In Times Square: 'Keep The Merry, Dump The Myth' (PHOTOS)

The American Atheists group wants to share the "true meaning of the holidays" with the masses. As part of that effort, members have put up a billboard in New York City's Times Square that reads,

"Keep the Merry! Dump the Myth!"

On the billboard, "merry" is accompanied by a picture of Santa, while "myth" sits below a picture of a Jesus statue.

MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/11/american-atheists-christmas-billboard-times-square_n_2273314.html

See also...

Atheist group joins in West Milford's holiday displays

WEST MILFORD -- Local officials said they wanted to open up Town Hall to seasonal displays from any religious group, and that’s exactly what they got -- with a message from an irreligious one, as well.

MORE: http://www.northjersey.com/news/Atheist_group_joins_in_West_Milfords_holiday_displays.html

Good Grief!: Elementary School Reluctantly Cancels Field Trip To See 'Merry Christmas Charlie Brown'

The school has no business taking children to see a Christmas play at a church, and given the comments made by both the school and the church, they still don’t seem to understand that what they tried to do was wrong.

Public schools cannot be in the business of promoting religion, but that is clearly what the school tried to do. Parents should be the ones to decide what religious education their children receive, and no parent or child should be put in the difficult position of choosing between their beliefs or fitting in with the crowd.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/good-grief-elementary-school-reluctantly-cancels-field-trip-to-see-merry

City councillors agree to keep 'Merry Christmas' message on Saskatoon buses

Following a brief debate during executive committee on Monday, city councilors decided Saskatoon Transit buses will continue to carry the ‘Merry Christmas’ holiday greeting. The city is also planning to explore the idea of allowing on buses in the future messages that reflect other religions.

MORE: http://www.thestarphoenix.com/life/City+councillors+agree+keep+Merry+Christmas+message+Saskatoon+buses/7710089/story.html

Christmas Confusion: Religious Right Keeps Looking For God In All The Wrong Places

Mat Staver and his allies believe only their fundamentalist version of Christianity is right and true, and they want government entities, including the public schools, to impose it on others.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/christmas-confusion-religious-right-keeps-looking-for-god-in-all-the-wrong

Live nativity scene at Bahrain base scuttled after atheist group complains

NAPLES, Italy -- A live Nativity scene planned at the U.S. Navy base in Bahrain was dropped from a holiday program after an atheist group complained that it amounted to command sponsorship of a Christian event and could put servicemembers in the Muslim-majority country at risk.

MORE: http://www.stripes.com/news/live-nativity-scene-at-bahrain-base-scuttled-after-atheist-group-complains-1.200575

See also...

Military Atheist Group Forces Naval Base To Remove Live Nativity Scene
http://washington.cbslocal.com/2012/12/11/military-atheist-group-forces-naval-base-to-remove-live-nativity-scene/

The 'War on Christmas': A holiday tradition for all

Christians have been engaged in several Christmas wars: Christmas has its origins in the winter solstice festivals that most ancient civilizations observed, and Mithras, who was a Persian savior-god with a sizeable Roman following, was born on Dec. 25. By appropriating this day for the birth of Jesus, Christians felt they could more easily convert those wayward pagans. Centuries later, some early American Puritans even prohibited Christmas celebrations because of its pagan origins. So a good case can be made that Christians initiated the first war on Christmas.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/the-war-on-christmas-a-holiday-tradition-for-all/2012/12/11/d066da66-43e2-11e2-9648-a2c323a991d6_blog.html

A Humanist Statement on the Connecticut School Tragedy

With the growing number of significant gun-related tragedies in recent years, it’s time to have a serious conversation about reason-based efforts to reduce such violence in the future.

MORE: http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2012-12-a-humanist-statement-on-the-connecticut-school-trage

See also...

Newtown Shooting: Why Did He Do It?
http://www.americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2012-12-newtown-shooting-why-did-he-do-it

Strange Gods: The Religious Right's Offensive Response To The Tragedy In Connecticut

As soon as we start talking about official prayer in public schools, we also start talking about which religion, what prayer and whose God. The God that gets talked about or promoted in your school could easily be the God that is worshipped by people like Mike Huckabee and Bryan Fischer.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/strange-gods-the-religious-right-s-offensive-response-to-the-tragedy-in

See also...

Wicked Words: Religious Right Leaders Blame Newtown Shooting On Church-State Separation
https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/wicked-words-religious-right-leaders-blame-newtown-shooting-on-church-state

Atheist, Faith-Based Organizations Rally Support for Sandy Hook Families

Numerous atheist groups have decided to team together to collect donations for the families of those killed in the Dec. 14 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn.

MORE: http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheist-faith-based-organizations-rally-support-for-sandy-hook-families-86908/

AHA Legal Center Gets "Bad Religion" T-Shirt Ban Overturned

An Aurora, CO public school has reversed course following intervention by the AHA's Appignani Humanist Legal Center, allowing a student at Vista Peak High School to wear a shirt for the punk band Bad Religion.

MORE: http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2012-12-aha-legal-center-gets-bad-religion-t-shirt-ban-overt

Curriculum Cleanup: Louisiana Parish Bars Creationism From Public Schools

Louisiana officials have often been far from favorable when it comes to church-state separation, so today we are particularly happy to salute school officials in Orleans Parish for doing the right thing.

This week, the Orleans Parish School Board voted to reject any science textbook "which presents creationism or intelligent design as science or scientific theories."

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/curriculum-cleanup-louisiana-parish-bars-creationism-from-public-schools

See also...

Take Action: Thank the Orleans Parish School Board for Defending Science Education!
http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2012-12-take-action-thank-the-orleans-parish-school-board-fo

Pleasant Surprise: Kentucky Legislator Says He Won't Push Creationism In 2013

As for Sen. Wilson, we appreciate this holiday gift. But why stop there? Maybe Wilson should spread his message to his peers in Montana and Indiana.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/pleasant-surprise-kentucky-legislator-says-he-won-t-push-creationism-in

You’ve Got (Stupid) Mail!: Texas School District Debunks Religious Right Curriculum Claims

Religious Right blowhards love to spread wild stories about things that are supposedly being taught in public schools.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/you-ve-got-stupid-mail-texas-school-district-debunks-religious-right

Pain Recurrence: Catholic Medical 'Partnership' Raises Church-State Questions In Kentucky -- Again

Kentuckians who care about church-state separation -- and healthcare conducted in the public interest, not a sectarian agenda -- have every reason to be concerned.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/pain-recurrence-catholic-medical-partnership-raises-church-state-questions

See also...

University of Louisville partnership with Catholic-based health firm raises academic concerns
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20121211/PRIME01/312120004/University-Louisville-partnership-Catholic-based-health-firm-raises-academic-concerns?odyssey=mod%7Cnewswell%7Ctext%7CHome%7Cp&nclick_check=1

Merger Malady: University Of Texas Plans To Train Medical Students At Catholic Hospital

When public entities merge with religious ones, there are always problems. Who is in charge? Who gets the final say? And what do you do when one side (or both) can’t work out a conflict through compromise?

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/merger-malady-university-of-texas-plans-to-train-medical-students-at

Anderson's most prayed-for man: Activist, atheist Michael Deanhardt dead at 76

In 2008, Deanhardt wrote in a column in the Independent Mail:

"We are not willing to cede the moral high ground to the fundamentalists of the religious and political right who are using the language of faith, religion and politics to advance a narrow-minded, mean-spirited agenda, which is built on what we consider to be immoral values of intolerance, exclusion, division, discrimination and repression. ... Moral values grow out of our calling people to create a society in which every person is respected and valued."

MORE: http://www.independentmail.com/news/2012/dec/19/andersons-most-prayed-for-man-activist-atheist/

The Young Atheist's Survival Guide: A Q&A with Author Hemant Mehta

Nearly a third of Americans under the age of thirty have no religious affiliation, the highest in any recorded generation. In this growing segment of "nones" are many young Atheists who have faced prejudice in their high schools and communities for standing up for their constitutional right of freedom from religion.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/takeandread/2012/12/the-young-atheists-survival-guide-a-qa-with-author-hemant-mehta/

Davenport same-sex couple wins battle over baby's death certificate

A judge has ordered the Iowa Department of Public Health to issue a death certificate acknowledging Jennifer and Jessica Buntemeyer as the legal parents of their stillborn son.

MORE: http://wqad.com/2012/12/17/davenport-same-sex-couple-wins-battle-over-babys-death-certificate/?hpt=us_bn9

Wonderful Phenomena Demand Wonderful Evidence

Credit for popularizing the phrase "extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence" is usually given to astronomer Carl Sagan, with many sources clarifying that Sagan paraphrased this slogan from an earlier saying attributed to sociologist (and founding Skeptical Inquirer editor) Marcello Truzzi. A few sources, looking deeper, note that similar sentiments were earlier expressed by French mathematician Pierre-Simon Laplace6 and Scottish philosopher David Hume.

MORE: http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/12/11/wonderful-phenomena-demand-wonderful-evidence/

How the Mayan calendar actually works

With chatter about the Mayan apocalypse intensifying as Dec. 21 approaches, you may have seen that while the ancient Mayan calendar "ends" on that day, the Maya themselves would not have seen that as the end of the world. But how does the Mayan calendar work, anyway?

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-57560001/how-the-mayan-calendar-actually-works/

See also...

Maya Scholar Debunks World-Ending Myth
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121220153802.htm

Debunking doomsday: 6 rumors dispelled
http://globalpublicsquare.blogs.cnn.com/2012/12/19/debunking-doomsday-6-rumors-dispelled/?hpt=hp_bn2

Bad taxonomy

One of the strangest aspects of "creation science" is their attempt to reconcile the fact that there are between 5-15 million species on earth, yet somehow they all had to fit on Noah’s ark (one pair or seven pairs of them, depending upon which version of the story you read).

MORE: http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/12/12/bad-taxonomy/

See also...

Truth in Education
http://www.skepticblog.org/2012/12/10/truth-in-education/

From Cassini for the Holidays: Backlit View of Saturn and Its Rings

On Oct. 17, 2012, during its 174th orbit around the gas giant, Cassini was deliberately positioned within Saturn's shadow, a perfect location from which to look in the direction of the sun and take a backlit view of the rings and the dark side of the planet.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121218153633.htm

See also...

A Cosmic Holiday Ornament, Hubble-Style
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121218094212.htm

Closest Single Star Like Our Sun May Have Habitable Planet

An international team of astronomers led by the University of Hertfordshire has discovered that Tau Ceti, one of the closest and most Sun-like stars, may host five planets -- with one in the star's habitable zone.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121219084102.htm

'So long, Ebb and Flow': NASA crashes probes into moon

As scheduled, the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory probes Ebb and Flow crashed into a mountain on the moon, ending a fruitful mission to study the surface and composition of the celestial body.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/17/us/nasa-moon-probes/index.html

See also...

NASA's GRAIL Lunar Impact Site Named for Astronaut Sally Ride
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121217181425.htm

Are We Closing in On Dark Matter?

"Ten years ago, I don't think you would've found astronomers, cosmologists, and particle physicists all agreeing that dark matter was really important," said Michael S. Turner, Rauner Distinguished Service Professor and Director of the Kavli Institute for Cosmological Physics at the University of Chicago. "And now, they do. And all of them believe we can solve the problem soon."

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121218142956.htm

Who's Zooming Who? Frogs, Fractals and the Tree of Life

As ecologists assemble ever larger parts of the tree of life, whose evolutionary branches connect the millions of species on Earth, they need better ways of presenting and organising information. Now, biologist Dr James Rosindell of Imperial College London has developed a revolutionary way of visualising the tree of life. He will demonstrate his new software, which could evolve into a biological equivalent of Google Earth, at this week's British Ecological Society Annual Meeting at the University of Birmingham.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/12/121217234946.htm

Stand up comedians launch UK's first atheist church in Islington

Stand-up comedians Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans will bring together a godless congregation in the Nave in St Paul's Road, Canonbury for services -- with wedding ceremonies and funerals for non-believers even on the cards.

MORE: http://www.islingtongazette.co.uk/news/stand_up_comedians_launch_uk_s_first_atheist_church_in_islington_1_1747944

See also...

Country's first 'atheist church' to open in London next year
http://www.london24.com/news/country_s_first_atheist_church_to_open_in_london_next_year_1_1749313

Proposal would allow same-sex marriage in England, Wales

(CNN) -- Early next year, British legislators will introduce a measure allowing gay marriage in England and Wales.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/11/world/europe/same-sex-marriage-england-wales/index.html

Ireland to clarify law on abortion when mother's life is at risk

(CNN) -- Ireland's government is to introduce a new law and regulations to clarify that abortions are permissible when the life -- but not health -- of the mother is at risk, Minister of Health James Reilly announced Tuesday.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/world/europe/ireland-abortion/index.html?hpt=hp_bn2

Cameroonian jailed for texting 'I'm in love with you' to another man

In Uganda, homosexual acts are punishable by 14 years to life, but lawmakers are trying to introduce a bill that toughens the law.

A handful of nations issue a death penalty for consensual same-sex relations, including Sudan, Mauritania, Saudi Arabia and Iran, according to the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/world/africa/cameroon-gay-text-jail/index.html?hpt=iaf_c2

China cracks down on 'Doomsday cult'

(CNN) -- Members of a fringe Christian group in China have been rounded up for spreading rumors of an impending apocalypse, pegged to the Mayan calendar.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/18/world/asia/china-doomsday-arrests/index.html?hpt=ias_c2

See also...

China detains monk over Tibetan immolations
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/10/world/asia/china-tibetans-arrests/index.html

Turkish Religious Affairs Directorate news portal refutes fictional atheist imam in satirical website Zaytung story

"Religion should not be taken as a subject for humor," it also said, referring to an "immoral story on an immoral website."

MORE: http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/religious-affairs-directorate-refutes-fictional-atheist-imam-zaytung-story.aspx?pageID=238&nID=37276&NewsCatID=341

AP Interview: Egypt Atheist Blasts Islamist Regime

An Egyptian atheist released from prison on bail this week says the new Islamist government is no better than the one it replaced.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/ap-interview-egypt-atheist-blasts-islamist-regime-18016480

See also...

Egyptian Atheist Convicted of Blasphemy Says 'I'm No Criminal'
http://www.christianpost.com/news/egyptian-atheist-convicted-of-blasphemy-says-im-no-criminal-86980/

And...

Islamists claim victory in 1st round of Egypt referendum
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/16/world/meast/egypt-referendum/index.html?hpt=imi_c2

More than two dozen dead in second day of Iraq violence

Many areas are still smoldering with sectarian tension and political infighting.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/17/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html?hpt=imi_c2

Taliban take credit for bomb that killed American, Afghans

One American was killed and three others were wounded.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/13/world/asia/afghanistan-panetta-bomb/index.html

UN Steps up Pressure on Israel Over Settlements

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and all members of the U.N. Security Council except the United States are criticizing Israel and demanding an immediate halt to new settlement construction.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/steps-pressure-israel-settlements-18017458

Mr. Deity and the Crash

Why we need to help young atheists

Young atheists don’t want special treatment, they want equal treatment. And the law is on their side. Yet, for all their efforts, they are often met with derision from their community and family as well as social ostracism. We can’t let that keep happening. The situation will only get corrected if more young atheists speak out and they get the support they need from the people around them. Even if you disagree on matters of theology, surely we should be discussing and debating our different perspectives, not stifling unpopular ideas.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/why-we-need-to-help-young-atheists/2012/12/05/8798ba48-3f00-11e2-bca3-aadc9b7e29c5_blog.html

Atheists in Texas: Who Knew? And on the Increase, Too

"Atheists aren't the problem here," Ra says, referring to the United States. "For one thing, we'd never force impressionable minors to recite a daily mantra that there is no God, because we're not the ones imposing our views onto other people's children. It's not the atheists impeding medical research either. Neither are we the ones who are against free or affordable health care, nor are we the ones trying to minimize or criminalize women's health care."

MORE: http://blogs.houstonpress.com/hairballs/2012/12/atheists_in_texas.php

Atheism Rising

Those folks across Texas who don't believe in God are getting organized and going public.

MORE: http://www.houstonpress.com/2012-12-06/news/atheism-rising-in-texas/

Former minister: 'We atheists love this time of year like everyone else'

The real "reason for the season" is the natural astronomical holiday. We all like to honor the shortest day of the year with lights, food, gifts, fun, music, and family gatherings, as it signals the return of the sun for another year. While everything in the upper northern hemisphere is dark and colorless, the evergreen signifies hope for a returning spring. None of this is supernatural. It has nothing to do with the birth of a god.

In America, Christians are welcome to celebrate whatever they want. We are happy to share the season with them. They just can't use the government to privilege their party over everyone else's.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/guest-voices/post/former-minister-we-atheists-love-this-time-of-year-like-everyone-else/2012/12/05/1eaac96a-3f0d-11e2-bca3-aadc9b7e29c5_blog.html

Atheist West Point Cadet Quits the Academy, Citing 'Christian Proselytizing' & 'Criminal' Constitutional Violations

Blake Page, a former West Point cadet, quit attending the prominent U.S. military academy this week, citing Christian proselytizing and the promotion of prayers and religion. Just shy of graduation, which was just months away, the 24-year-old is now speaking out against faith in the armed forces.

MORE: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/atheist-west-point-cadet-quits-the-academy-citing-christian-proselytizing-criminal-constitutional-violations/

See also...

Why I Don't Want to Be a West Point Graduate
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/blake-page/west-point-religious-freedom_b_2232279.html

Atheist Resigns from West Point Due to Anti-Atheist Discrimination and Promotion of Religion
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/12/07/atheist-resigns-from-west-point-due-to-anti-atheist-discrimination-and-promotion-of-religion/

Atheist West Point cadet drops out of military academy months before graduation because the school is too religious
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2244049/West-Point-cadet-quits-religion-months-graduation.html

CFI, AHA Write IRS Over Partisan Politicking by Churches

The Center for Inquiry (CFI) and American Humanist Association (AHA) on Tuesday sent a letter to the Internal Revenue Service voicing shared concerns and disappointment regarding the agency’s lack of action against churches which are blatantly violating laws that prohibit 501(c)(3) organizations from endorsing political candidates and parties.

MORE: http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2012-12-cfi-aha-write-irs-over-partisan-politicking-by-churc

Stay The Course?: Congress Advised Not To Change Tax Rules For Houses Of Worship

Rather than changing the rules of the game, the IRS needs to enforce the rules of the game.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/stay-the-course-congress-advised-not-to-change-tax-rules-for-houses-of

Humanists Challenge Congressional Prayer Caucus

In an interview on Fox News on Tuesday, Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA) called the American Humanist Association (AHA) "extremist" because the group launched a campaign to inform newly elected members of Congress about the anti-secular agenda of the Congressional Prayer Caucus (CPC).  The AHA sent a letter to incoming lawmakers last month in an effort to dissuade them from joining the caucus, which has long avoided public scrutiny. (Full disclosure: I am currently the AHA’s president.)

MORE: http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-humanity-naturally/201212/humanists-challenge-congressional-prayer-caucus

See also...

Atheist Group Pressures New Members of Congress Not to Join Prayer Caucus
http://foxnewsinsider.com/2012/12/04/atheist-group-pressures-new-members-of-congress-not-to-join-prayer-caucus/

Federal Court Rejects Atheist Group's Challenge Against Indiana Marriage Law

A federal court has rejected a lawsuit that was filed this year against the state of Indiana, which claimed that it is unconstitutional for current marriage laws to prohibit atheists from performing wedding ceremonies.

MORE: http://christiannews.net/2012/12/06/federal-court-rejects-atheist-groups-challenge-against-indiana-marriage-law/

Voucher Victory!: Louisiana Court Strikes Down Private School Aid Scheme

Louisiana has a long and sorry record of attempting to divert tax money away from public schools and into the coffers of private religious ones.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/voucher-victory-louisiana-court-strikes-down-private-school-aid-scheme

Creationism Canard: The Last Thing Fundamentalists Want Is Open Inquiry In The Classroom

An Indiana legislator pushes creationism -- again.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/creationism-canard-the-last-thing-fundamentalists-want-is-open-inquiry-in

Miami Vice: Commission Votes For Official Prayer, Against Diversity

Miami, Fla., is a major American city with extraordinary diversity. Why in the world would its elected leaders want to impose religion on its citizenry?

Yet the Miami/Dade Commission did just that this week. The commissioners voted 8-3 to scrap the moment of silence that has been observed at their meetings and move to spoken prayers.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/miami-vice-commission-votes-for-official-prayer-against-diversity

Are Nativity Displays Constitutional?

Although the First Amendment forbids the government from establishing religion, once again this holiday season, cities and counties across the country will be displaying nativity scenes to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ on government property. Nativity scenes (also known as crèches) have no place on government property. Indeed, the Supreme Court has held that stand-alone religious holiday displays violate the Establishment Clause. That much is clear.

MORE: http://www.americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2012-12-are-nativity-displays-constitutional

Group Finds Way Around Nativity Scene Drama

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) – One group in Ellwood City has found a creative way to circumvent a potential lawsuit by displaying a nativity scene in front of the municipal building.

Instead, they’re going to put it on a truck.

MORE: http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2012/12/06/group-finds-way-around-nativity-scene-drama/

See also...

Nativity Returns to Ellwood City
http://www.wytv.com/content/news/local/story/Nativity-Returns-to-Ellwood-City/82hGhT6IPE6r-uwxOb0sfQ.cspx

Christians Find 'Creative' Loophole in Atheist-Inspired Santa Monica Nativity Ban & Secure Permit for 'Live' Display

For the past year, atheists and Christians have been battling over the presence of nativity displays in public parks in Santa Monica, California. In an effort to temper the bickering, the city inevitably implemented a ban on all religious speech in local parks, thus ending a nearly-60-year tradition of having a display in Palisades Park. Just when all hope for Christians who wished to see the nativity tradition continued was lost, local believers found a loophole -- one that will allow them to, once again, host a nativity.

MORE: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/christians-find-creative-loophole-in-atheist-inspired-santa-monica-nativity-ban-secure-permit-for-live-display/

Atheist drops all lawsuits related to ETX Nativity scene

In his motion for dismissal, Greene said Attorney General Greg Abbott's private beliefs would conflict with his ability to be impartial in the case. Greene said he did not believe a fair ruling would be possible.

MORE: http://www.kltv.com/story/20272565/ags-office-reviewing-lawsuit-against-etx-nativity-scene

See also...

S.A. Atheist to Drop Lawsuit Over Nativity Scene
http://www.foxsanantonio.com/newsroom/top_stories/videos/vid_13124.shtml

Atheist cancels lawsuit after numerous threats
http://www.kltv.com/story/20176502/atheist-cancels-lawsuit-after-numerous-threats

Atheist group challenges another ETX Nativity scene

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) argues that the religious display is a violation of the constitution because it stands on government property.

MORE: http://www.kltv.com/story/20292016/atheist-group-challenges-another-etx-nativity-scene

Church will not do "Charlie Brown" school shows due to controversy

A church at the middle of a controversy regarding the play "Merry Christmas Charlie Brown" has decided to remove itself from the issue. Agape Church will not be offering the program for school matinees and will instead just have the public performances on the weekend. Here is a letter from the church that was sent to Channel 7.

MORE: http://www.katv.com/story/20222656/athiest-group-gets-legal-help-for-charlie-brown-school-controversy

Christmas Grinch? Atheist Gets Hawaii DOE to Halt Winter Charity Concert Just Hours Before the Show

Mitch Kahle, founder of Hawaii Residents for Separation of Church and State, wrote a letter to the Department of Education on "Freedom from Religion Foundation" stationary on December 3 demanding state officials stop the concert. He claimed the public high school was in cahoots with New Hope, one of Hawaii's largest Christian churches.

MORE: http://www.hawaiireporter.com/christmas-grinch-atheist-gets-doe-to-halt-winter-charity-concert-just-hours-before-the-show/123

Hapless Holiday Hostilities: Even Fox News Commentator Says 'War On Christmas' Is 'Silly'

After years of flap about the fictional “War on Christmas,” an unexpected source finally spoke out against this phony issue: a Catholic priest who works for the Fox News Channel.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/hapless-holiday-hostilities-even-fox-news-commentator-says-war-on-christmas

Local Atheist Brings "Festivus" to South Florida

After negotiating with elected officials and with help from the ACLU, corruption fighting atheist Chaz Stevens was allowed to install an eight feet tall Festivus pole outside of Deerfield Beach's main fire station, located on the corner of US1 and Hillsboro Blvd.

MORE: http://tamaractalk.com/local-atheist-brings-festivus-to-south-florida-8886

Supreme Court Takes Up Same-Sex Marriage Cases

The Supreme Court today decided to take up two major cases regarding gay marriage, one of which could ultimately lead the court to decide whether there is a fundamental right to same-sex marriage.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/supreme-court-takes-sex-marriage-cases/story?id=17844959

New website from Mormon church: 'Sexuality is not a choice'

The site includes an unusual statement for a major religious body: that sexuality, including same-sex attraction, is not a personal choice. But it maintains that acting on that attraction is still a "sin."

MORE: http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/07/15734686-new-website-from-mormon-church-sexuality-is-not-a-choice?lite

Meteors to bombard Earth this month

The world probably won't end this month, despite a widespread Mayan apocalypse myth, but that doesn't necessarily mean the sky won't fall. In fact, many experts predict the heavens will begin raining down fireballs as early as this week.

Those fireballs, of course, are part of the annual Geminid meteor shower, and virtually all will burn up in the atmosphere. That may disappoint doomsayers, but it's great news for skygazers. Not only are the Geminids among the year's most reliable and bountiful meteor showers, but they should be especially visible this year thanks to the waning moon, which will go dark just as they reach their peak Dec. 13 and 14.

MORE: http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/space/blogs/meteors-to-bombard-earth-this-month?hpt=hp_bn16

See also...

Moon has Spica, Saturn and Venus down on its dance card
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/50123611/ns/technology_and_science-space/

Queen and country over God? Britain's scouts propose new oath to let atheists in

LONDON -- Atheists could be allowed into Britain's boy and girl scouts after more than a century.

The Scout Association said Tuesday it plans to draft an alternative oath without references to God so that young people who do not have a faith could also join the organization.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/queen-and-country-over-god-britains-scouts-propose-new-oath-to-let-atheists-in/2012/12/04/b974185a-3e10-11e2-8a5c-473797be602c_story.html

See also...

Boy Scouts Atheist Oath Proposal Sparks Controversy In UK (VIDEO)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/12/07/boy-scouts-atheist_n_2259146.html

Debunking 'weeping Jesus' forces exile

A man in India is living in exile after being charged with blasphemy for debunking a "weeping Jesus".

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_c2#/video/world/2012/12/07/india-weeping-jesus.cnn

Pakistani schoolgirl activist Malala thanks supporters after being shot by Taliban

(CNN) -- Malala Yousufzai, the Pakistani schoolgirl activist who was shot in the head by the Taliban, has expressed gratitude to the people around the world who have supported her as she recovers from the traumatic attack.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/02/world/asia/pakistan-malala/index.html

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Pakistan military: 2 killed in army base suicide bomb attack
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/05/world/asia/pakistan-attack/index.html

Police: Suicide bombings target U.S.-Afghan base, kill 5

Taliban spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid claimed responsibility for the attack in a telephone call to CNN.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/02/world/asia/afghanistan-violence/index.html

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Afghan intelligence chief wounded in attack
http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/06/world/asia/afghanistan-attack/index.html

Amnesty details 'horrific abuses' in southern Yemen

(CNN) -- Residents in parts of southern Yemen experienced a "human rights catastrophe" when an al-Qaeda affiliate took control of the country's Abyan province for 14 months, according to Amnesty International.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/04/world/meast/yemen-amnesty-report/index.html

Israel defies international criticism of settlement plans

Israel plans to build 3,000 housing units in East Jerusalem and the West Bank, many of them in the large West Bank settlement of Ma'ale Adumim. Long-term plans call for the eventual construction of 5,000 units in the area.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/12/04/world/meast/israel-settlements/index.html

Pastafarian Holiday Tree rejected!

Chester County Pennsylvania commissioners rejected arguments this morning (Nov. 29) to rescind Resolution 58-10, which was enacted to exclude non-Judeo-Christian winter displays from the county courthouse lawn during the winter season. The resolution was originally intended to kick out the Freethought Society’s Tree of Knowledge from sharing equal space with the Jesus crèche and a Hanukkah menorah. This year, the Evangelical Pastafarian Church also requested a space on the courthouse lawn.

MORE: http://www.examiner.com/article/pastafarian-holiday-tree-rejected

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Bizarre Vid: 'Pastafarian' Reads Atheist Scriptures, Begs Politicians to Have Pasta-Decorated Pine Tree Included in PA Christmas Display
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/bizarre-vid-pastafarian-reads-atheist-scriptures-begs-politicians-to-have-pasta-decorated-pine-tree-included-in-pa-christmas-display/

Bill O'Reilly: Atheists Are A Merry Band Of Fascists!

Virginia official labels atheists as 'fanatical terrorists'

A Virginia official referred to a group of atheists as ‘terrorists’ after one of the group’s members criticized a local courthouse for putting up religious holiday decorations.

MORE: http://rt.com/usa/news/terrorists-courthouse-athiests-group-011/

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Display Drama: Virginia Official Calls Nonbelievers 'Terrorists'
https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/display-drama-virginia-official-calls-nonbelievers-terrorists

Controversy escalates after Loudoun supervisor calls atheists 'terrorists'
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/virginia-politics/post/controversy-escalates-after-loudoun-supervisor-calls-atheists-terrorists/2012/11/29/9f4787e6-3a55-11e2-b01f-5f55b193f58f_blog.html

Pat Robertson challenges creationism

Washington (CNN) – Televangelist Pat Robertson challenged the idea that Earth is 6,000 years old this week, saying the man who many credit with conceiving the idea, former Archbishop of Ireland James Ussher, "wasn't inspired by the Lord when he said that it all took 6,000 years."

MORE: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2012/11/29/pat-robertson-challenges-creationism/?hpt=hp_c2

Earlier...

Pat Robertson: 'Miserable' Atheists Are Trying to 'Steal' Christmas (VIDEO)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/19/pat-robertson-miserable-atheists-trying-to-steal-christmas_n_2159844.html?utm_hp_ref=religion

Atheists oppose 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' (Video)

The Arkansas Society of Freethinkinkers, an atheist group, is now fighting Charlie Brown. In a report date Nov. 28, the group believes that an elementary school should not take a field trip to see “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

MORE: http://www.examiner.com/article/atheists-oppose-a-charlie-brown-christmas

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AHA Legal Center Objects to Charlie Brown Church Trip for School Kids
http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2012-11-aha-legal-center-objects-to-charlie-brown-church-tri

Santa Monica Nativity Scene Lawsuit Dismissed, Judge Urges Churches To Consider Other Options

LOS ANGELES -- A Los Angeles federal judge on Thursday dismissed a Christian group's lawsuit to force suburban Santa Monica to reopen spaces in a city park to private displays, including Christmas Nativity scenes.

MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/30/santa-monica-nativity-scene-lawsuit_n_2218540.html

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Charles C. Haynes: In Christmas wars, court has said it’s all or nothing
http://lacrossetribune.com/news/opinion/charles-c-haynes-in-christmas-wars-court-has-said-it/article_0b8be032-3a79-11e2-ac1f-0019bb2963f4.html?comment_form=true

Lawsuit by atheists to remove Jesus from a Montana mountain

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has filed a suit that seeks the removal of a statue of Jesus from the Whitefish ski resort in Montana. The suit was filed on behalf of William Cox, a local resident and atheist. Cox states he frequently visits the resort, and considers the statue offensive.

MORE: http://www.goddiscussion.com/104766/lawsuit-by-atheists-to-remove-jesus-from-a-montana-mountain/

See also...

Atheist wants Jesus statue removed from ski resort (video)
http://video.foxnews.com/v/2000687832001/

Jesus Statue Lawsuit: Atheist Group Seeks Removal of Statue from Montana Mountain
http://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/3774/20121130/jesus-statue-lawsuit-atheist-group-seeks-removal-of-statue-from-montana-mountain-whitefish-mountain-resort-religious-freedom-from-religion-foundation-atheism.htm

Jesus statue: Lawsuit filed by atheists to remove it from Montana mountain
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/1130/Jesus-statue-Lawsuit-filed-by-atheists-to-remove-it-from-Montana-mountain

Restaurant Agrees to Offer Church Bulletin Discount for Atheist Publications After Investigation

Following a discrimination investigation by the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, a Cajun restaurant in the state has agreed to accept atheist publications toward its Sunday church bulletin discount.

MORE: http://christiannews.net/2012/11/30/restaurant-agrees-to-offer-church-bulletin-discount-for-atheist-publications-after-investigation/

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Gov’t Gives PA Restaurant a Choice: Give 10% Sunday Church Bulletin Discount to Atheists Too or Discontinue it Entirely
http://www.theblaze.com/stories/govt-gives-pa-restaurant-a-choice-give-10-sunday-church-bulletin-discount-to-atheists-too-or-discontinue-it-entirely/

Pa. Restaurant Forced to Open 'Church Bulletin' Discount to Atheists
http://www.christianpost.com/news/pa-restaurant-forced-to-open-church-bulletin-discount-to-atheists-85830/

Religious Right Role Model: Why Can't America Be More Like Uganda?

Not for nothing has the Southern Poverty Law Center designated the Family Research Council a hate group.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/religious-right-role-model-why-can-t-america-be-more-like-uganda

Florida Cop-out: Lawsuit Settlement Allows Christian College Students To Get State Grants

We often say that the Religious Right and its allies don’t give up easily, now here’s some proof. Less than one month after the overwhelming defeat of Florida’s Amendment 8, which would have allowed taxpayer money to flow to religious institutions, students attending a fundamentalist Christian college have been made eligible to participate in a state-funded grant program.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/florida-cop-out-lawsuit-settlement-allows-christian-college-students-to-get

Short-Sighted Sentence: Okla. Judge's Church-Attendance Mandate Is Wrong

On Dec. 4, 2011, Tyler Alred, an Oklahoma teenager who had been drinking, ran a truck into a tree. His passenger and friend, 16-year-old John Dum, was killed.

That's tragic. I doubt anyone would argue that Alred doesn't deserve to be punished. But an Oklahoma judge's response to the matter has been curious, to say the least: District Judge Mike Norman has sentenced Alred to attend church weekly for the next 10 years.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/short-sighted-sentence-okla-judge-s-church-attendance-mandate-is-wrong

Poll: 51 percent support same-sex marriage

Following an election that saw voters in three states -- Maine, Maryland, and Washington -- approve measures to legalize same-sex marriage, a new CBS News Poll finds 51 percent of Americans nationwide think same-sex marriage should be legal, while four in 10 do not.

--snip--

There is a generational divide on this issue. Young Americans (those ages 18-29) are some of the strongest proponents of allowing gay and lesbian couples to marry. Seventy-two percent of them support it, as do a majority --albeit a smaller one-- of Americans ages 30-44. However, support for same-sex marriage drops to 44 percent among those who are age 45-64 and even further to just a third of Americans age 65 and over. In fact, 56 percent of seniors oppose permitting same-sex couples to marry.

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-250_162-57556481/poll-51-percent-support-same-sex-marriage/

Supreme Court Takes No Action on Gay Marriage

When the nine Supreme Court justices retreated behind closed doors today for their regularly scheduled conference, they considered the issue of gay marriage and were widely expected to decide whether to take up a case that could ultimately determine whether there is a fundamental right to same-sex marriage.

But the justices surprised court watchers when they took no action at all.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/supreme-court-takes-action-gay-marriage/story?id=17815437