FreeThoughtAction: September 2014

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Openly Secular: An Introduction from Richard Dawkins

Atheist coalition wants you to know they are 'Openly Secular'

The campaign, "Openly Secular: Opening Minds, Changing Hearts," was unveiled at the 65th annual gathering of the Religion Newswriters Association here on Sept. 20. It includes a website, resources for families, employers and clergy, and a YouTube channel featuring both prominent and rank-and-file nonbelievers announcing their names followed by the declaration, "I am openly secular."

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/atheist-coalition-wants-you-to-know-they-are-openly-secular/2014/09/24/a1964cfa-4429-11e4-8042-aaff1640082e_story.html

Godless to meet at Charlotte convention

Atheists, agnostics, freethinkers and humanists from all over North and South Carolina will converge on Charlotte the weekend of September 26-28 for the fourth Annual Carolinas Secular Conference. Organized by the Carolinas Secular Association and co-hosted by the Charlotte Coalition of Reason (Charlotte CoR) and the Charlotte Atheists & Agnostics, the event will be held at the Hilton Charlotte Executive Park hotel, 5624 Westpark Drive.

MORE: http://www.enquirerjournal.com/features/church/x1528971349/Godless-to-meet-at-Charlotte-convention

Godless Billboard in Denver Heralds Secular Conference

"Don't believe in a god? Join the celebration."

MORE: http://unitedcor.org/national/news/godless-billboard-denver-heralds-secular-conference

Godless Road Sign Vandalized in Chico

A vandal has pasted words over part of an Atheists of Butte County Adopt-a-Highway road sign. The sign is located on the south side of Highway 99, near Nelson Road. The words in black block letters add "God loves" above "Atheists of Butte County."

MORE: http://unitedcor.org/national/news/godless-road-sign-vandalized-chico

Atheist Lawsuit Against Pittsburgh's Port Authority Settled

A federal lawsuit by the Washington DC-based United Coalition of Reason (UnitedCoR) against the Port Authority of Allegheny County has been settled. The Port Authority offered to pay UnitedCoR $20,000 in damages and pay the Appignani Humanist Legal Center of the American Humanist Association--which handled the case for UnitedCoR--$40,000 in legal expenses. This offer of judgment was accepted and lawyers for the Port Authority and UnitedCoR filed notice of the agreement in federal court yesterday.

MORE: http://unitedcor.org/national/news/atheist-lawsuit-against-pittsburghs-port-authority-settled

'I'm an Atheist': Stephen Hawking on God and Space

World-famous theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking says flat-out that he doesn't believe in God, but he does believe that space travel offers the best hope for our species' immortality.

MORE: http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/im-atheist-stephen-hawking-god-space-travel-n210076

Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry turning 20 years old

The Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry, a nonprofit group of self-described "atheists, agnostics and other freethinkers," is throwing a 20th anniversary party Saturday.

MORE: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140917/PC16/140919486/1177/secular-humanists-of-the-lowcountry-turning-20-years-old

Study: "Spiritual" People More Likely to Commit Crimes than Atheists

Atheists also less likely to be mentally troubled, suffer anxiety and have phobias.

MORE: http://www.alternet.org/religious-people-more-likely-commit-crimes-atheists

Graphs: 5 signs of the 'Great Decline' of religion in America

We are in the midst of the "Great Decline of Religion" in America.

MORE: http://tobingrant.religionnews.com/2014/08/01/five-signs-great-decline-religion-america-gallup-graphs-church/

Atheists Are Just 2% of the Population, but 59% of Americans Claim to Know One

So many atheists remain in the closet that the vast majority of Americans probably *do* know an atheist. They just don’t know that they know an atheist.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/07/17/atheists-are-just-2-of-the-population-but-59-of-americans-claim-to-know-one/

Religion Remains a Strong Marker of Political Identity in U.S.

Little change in basic relationship over last six and a half years.

MORE: http://www.gallup.com/poll/174134/religion-remains-strong-mReligion%20Remains%20a%20Strong%20Marker%20of%20Political%20Identity%20in%20U.S.arker-political-identity.aspx

Supreme Court Rulings Raise Concerns Among Secular Groups

Secular activists were at the Supreme Court and Capitol Hill this week raising concerns about the wall of separation between religion and government. The Secular Coalition for America led demonstrations against recent Supreme Court decisions, including the Hobby Lobby ruling, which they believe allow religion to encroach on the state. They expressed their concern with a symbolic "wall of separation" that was sewn from 1600 knitted bricks collected from supporters across the country.

MORE: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/headlines/secularists-knit-wall-separation-government-religion/

US Air Force: 'So help me God' in oath now optional

The policy change comes after an atheist airman in Nevada struck out the words on his Department of Defense reenlistment paperwork and ran afoul of a policy that prohibits omissions. The case went up to the Department of Defense General Counsel, which issued an opinion saying the language could be left out if the airman preferred. All of the other military services have allowed the alternate language for years.

MORE: http://www.gopusa.com/news/2014/09/19/us-air-force-so-help-me-god-in-oath-now-optional/

The irony of the Air Force's anti-atheist oath

Christians, once forced to swear oaths to powers in which they did not believe, seem now to be forcing others to swear oaths to powers in which they do not believe.

MORE: http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2014/09/17/the-irony-of-the-air-forces-anti-atheist-oath/?hpt=us_bn3

Arguments Heard in Challenge To Tax Exemption for Clergy

This week, the Seventh Circuit Federal Appeals Court heard oral arguments in Lew v. Freedom from Religion, a constitutional challenge to tax exemptions for cash allowances made to clergy members.

MORE: http://hamodia.com/2014/09/11/arguments-heard-challenge-tax-exemption-clergy/

Plucky NC High Schoolers Win Right To Start Atheist Club In Stunning Civil Rights Victory

It began last summer, when a small group of atheist students decided to form an after-school club. They put in their request, like every other club, but their application was turned down. They met with Assistant Principal Connie Weeks, who told them that she needed to "look into” whether or not they could form their group. More meetings followed and, eventually, the students were told that their group just "didn’t fit in" at Pisgah High School.

MORE: http://www.addictinginfo.org/2014/02/20/pisgah-high-nc-students-atheist-club/

Atheists want you to sit down for the Pledge of Allegiance

"Until the Pledge is restored to its inclusive version, we can take it upon ourselves to refuse to participate in what's become a discriminatory exercise," the campaign's website, Don't Say the Pledge, says. It also describes the current pledge as "twisted, with divisive religious language that implies true patriots must be believers."

MORE: http://www.religionnews.com/2014/09/09/atheists-want-sit-pledge-allegiance/

See also...

Have You Talked with Your Kids About Pledging Allegiance?
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-humanity-naturally/201409/have-you-talked-your-kids-about-pledging-allegiance

Atheist Kicked Out of Florida City Meeting for Refusing to Stand for Pledge of Allegiance
http://www.christianpost.com/news/atheist-kicked-out-of-florida-city-meeting-for-refusing-to-stand-for-pledge-of-allegiance-125750/

Study: One-Third of Americans Support Changing Pledge of Allegiance
http://www.newsmax.com/US/Pledge-of-Allegiance-American-Humanist-Association-Pledge-poll/2014/09/05/id/592822/

David Niose: 'Under God' in Pledge Divides Americans
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsmax-Tv/Pledge-divisive-God-Americans/2014/08/26/id/590989/

Pledge of Allegiance center of school dispute

The American Humanist Association's Appignani Humanist Legal Center has sent a letter to school officials, saying that coercing a student to stand for the pledge infringes on his or her constitutional rights.

MORE: http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Pledge-of-Allegiance-center-of-school-dispute-5759119.php

Researchers: Children exposed to religion have difficulty distinguishing fact from fiction

A study published in the July issue of Cognitive Science determined that children who are not exposed to religious stories are better able to tell that characters in "fantastical stories" are fictional -- whereas children raised in a religious environment even "approach unfamiliar, fantastical stories flexibly."

MORE: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/18/researchers-children-exposed-to-religion-have-difficulty-distinguishing-fact-from-fiction/

Group That Evangelizes to Young Children Comes Under Scrutiny From Activists and Media

A protest group, Protect Portland Children, rose to the challenge and took out an ad in the local alt-weekly to explain.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/07/23/group-that-evangelizes-to-young-children-comes-under-scrutiny-from-activists-and-media/

Barely Literate? How Christian Fundamentalist Homeschooling Hurts Kids

The Religious Right touts homeschooling as the "responsible" educational choice. But what about the kids whose parents opt-out of the system -- and out of educating them, as well?

MORE: http://www.alternet.org/education/barely-literate-how-christian-fundamentalist-homeschooling-hurts-kids

Creationism is just the start: How right-wing Christians are warping America's schools

Miseducation isn't only a red-state problem. Right-wing Christians are effectively writing our country's textbooks.

MORE: http://www.salon.com/2014/09/19/creationism_is_just_the_start_how_right_wing_christians_are_warping_americas_schools_partner/

Proposed Texas textbooks are inaccurate, biased and politicized, new report finds

Ideas promoted in various proposed textbooks include the notion that Moses and Solomon inspired American democracy, that in the era of segregation only "sometimes" were schools for black children "lower in quality" and that Jews view Jesus Christ as an important prophet.

MORE: http://www.sanfranciscosentinel.com/?p=173279

Humanist Group Decries Clergy-Police Patrol Partnership

The program, called "Clergy on Patrol," is described as helping to build relationships between members of the police department and the local community. However, the letter points out that the program has what appears to be a primarily, if not exclusively, Christian emphasis, and that it conveys authority and stature to clerics in violation of the constitutional requirement of church-state separation.

MORE: http://americanhumanist.org/news/details/2014-09-humanist-group-decries-clergy-police-patrol-partners

How the Catholic Church masterminded the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby debacle

While evangelical Christians ultimately brought down the contraception mandate, they had big help from Catholics.

MORE: http://www.salon.com/2014/09/14/how_the_catholic_church_masterminded_the_supreme_courts_hobby_lobby_debacle/

Satanists want to use Hobby Lobby decision to exempt women from anti-abortion laws

In a statement, the Satanic Temple said that it will use the Supreme Court's recent Hobby Lobby decision to exempt its believers from state-mandated informed consent laws that require women considering abortions to read pro-life material.

MORE: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2014/07/28/satanists-want-to-use-hobby-lobby-decision-to-exempt-women-from-anti-abortion-laws/

Florida Satanic Church To Pass Out Children's Coloring Books In Public Schools

The details: A Christian group received permission to distribute Bibles and other religious materials to their students, leading atheist groups to appeal for an equal opportunity. It wasn't long before the Satanic community hopped on board as well.

MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/09/19/satanic-coloring-book_n_5846640.html

Roane Co. orders 'In God We Trust' signs for courthouse

Enough money has been raised to post "In God We Trust" on the Roane County courthouse.

MORE: http://www.wate.com/story/26515471/roane-co-orders-in-god-we-trust-signs-for-courthouse

Judge Orders the Removal of Ten Commandments From a New Mexico City Hall

A judge has ruled against a Ten Commandments display located in a New Mexico city hall, deciding in favor of a lawsuit brought by two Wiccans.

MORE: http://www.christianpost.com/news/judge-orders-the-removal-of-ten-commandments-from-a-new-mexico-city-hall-124669/

Fargo Officials Have Spent More Than $120,000 of Taxpayer Money to Defend a Ten Commandments Monument

If I were living in Fargo, I'd be furious. Let's hope there’s someone leading the charge to unseat the irresponsible elected officials who voted to keep this baseless fight going.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/09/08/fargo-officials-have-spent-more-than-120000-of-taxpayer-money-to-defend-a-ten-commandments-monument/

Secularists Fight Arizona’s Tax-Funded 'Office of Faith'

Proponents of secularism in Arizona on Wednesday sent a letter to Gov. Jan Brewer (R) asking that her Office of Faith and Community Partnerships not use public funds to advocate for religiosity.

MORE: http://rhrealitycheck.org/article/2014/09/12/secularists-fight-arizonas-tax-funded-office-faith/

City, mayor sued over rejection of atheistic display

The city of Warren and Mayor Jim Fouts have been named in a federal lawsuit over the rejection of a resident's request to distribute atheistic literature at City Hall, where a "prayer station" has been permitted to operate for years.

MORE: http://www.candgnews.com/news/city-mayor-sued-over-rejection-atheistic-display

See also...

Michigan Mayor Who Denied a "Reason Station" in City Hall (but Allowed a "Prayer Station") Hit with Federal Lawsuit
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/07/23/michigan-mayor-who-denied-a-reason-station-in-city-hall-but-allowed-a-prayer-station-hit-with-federal-lawsuit/

Atheist to Deliver Invocation at Thursday's City Council Meeting

Critics have attacked the city for how city council invocation invitations have been handled. In June, a Wiccan priest was removed from the agenda after the city faced a backlash over a decision to have him offer the opening prayer.

MORE: http://whnt.com/2014/09/23/atheist-to-deliver-invocation-at-thursdays-city-council-meeting/

Atheists Protest At Rowlett City Hall

The group requested to give an invocation at the beginning of a city council meeting, but the city rejected its offer.

MORE: http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2014/09/16/atheists-protest-at-rowlett-city-hall/

SLO atheists to partake in city council invocations

Atheists United San Luis Obispo is planning on joining the regular rotation for city council invocations in Arroyo Grande and Paso Robles.

MORE: http://calcoastnews.com/2014/09/slo-atheists-partake-city-council-invocations/

Lake commissioners start meeting with secular invocation rather than Christian prayer

The secular invocation was delivered Tuesday by Paul Tjaden, a member of the Central Florida Freethought Community, a group of "nonbelievers" and a chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Tjaden noted that Lake is a diverse community with residents of many faiths including Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Wiccan and "people who profess no religious belief at all."

MORE: http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/lake/os-lk-secular-invocation-lake-county-commission-20140830-story.html

Atheists may not pray, Brevard (Fla.) county commissioners say

A group of county commissioners in Florida is testing a recent Supreme Court decision by banning atheists from delivering an invocation before local public meetings.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/atheists-may-not-pray-brevard-fla-county-commissioners-say/2014/08/21/8d80b8c0-295a-11e4-8b10-7db129976abb_story.html

Atheists joining those making invocations at local government meetings

Bolstered by a recent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court, the group has asked eight municipalities in Pinellas and Hillsborough for a chance to perform the invocation. They plan to approach all governments in Pinellas and Hillsborough, Adkins said. The case supported the right of Greece, N.Y., to hold an invocation. In the ruling, Justice Anthony Kennedy said opportunities to lead invocations must extend to "a minister or layperson of any persuasion, including an atheist."

MORE: http://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/atheists-joining-those-making-invocations-at-local-government-meetings/2191987

Atheist takes turn giving council blessing

Novotny is president of the Siouxland Freethinkers. Her occasion to speak to the council arises after a Supreme Court ruling in May upheld invocations of of a town board in Greece, N.Y.

MORE: http://www.argusleader.com/story/news/2014/08/02/supreme-court-affirmation-of-public-prayer-gives-all-an-opportunity-to-share/13537023/

School Prayer Fight Begins Anew

Tennessee and North Carolina implement religious expression laws in public schools.

MORE: http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/08/27/school-prayer-fight-begins-anew

Mississippi School District Stops Prayers After Atheists' Threaten to Sue

The Washington, D.C.-based American Humanist Association announced that the Jackson Public School District had agreed to stop the religious practices.

MORE: http://www.christianpost.com/news/mississippi-school-district-stops-prayers-after-atheists-threaten-to-sue-125517/

Despite court battles from coast to coast, many area football coaches still do pregame prayers

"I'm a little nervous talking about it with all the court cases," Novak said. "But everywhere I've coached it's been engrained. Whiting. Clark. East Chicago. It's a team-bonding type of thing. We say our prayer before we go to battle. We do it in the locker room. The captain comes up and says the 'Our Father' prayer.

MORE: http://www.nwitimes.com/high-school/andrean/despite-court-battles-from-coast-to-coast-many-area-football/article_d2b9e787-3f80-5b71-8555-8b1440c8e593.html

See also...

Football and Christian Politics in the South
http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/our-humanity-naturally/201408/football-and-christian-politics-in-the-south

Atheist group tells Georgia high school football team to punt the prayers
http://www.sodahead.com/united-states/atheist-group-tells-georgia-high-school-football-team-to-punt-the-prayers/question-4449691/

Texas cheerleaders continue court fight over Bible banners

"Nothing has changed," Cavel said. "These banners continue to be school-sponsored speech, and they continue to violate the Establishment Clause, so depending on the outcome of this litigation, we'd certainly be prepared to sue."

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/texas-cheerleaders-take-bible-banner-fight-to-state-supreme-court/

Pence says he supports state park sculpture with cross

State park officials and Gov. Mike Pence himself have given their blessing to permanently placing a cross-adorned statue on public land, even though a national atheist group says it constitutes the government endorsing Christianity.

MORE: http://www.king5.com/story/news/nation/2014/09/02/mike-pence-backs-statue-cross/14999973/

See also...

Indiana is no stranger to church-and-state controversies
http://www.indystar.com/story/news/2014/09/16/hoosiers-church-and-state-controversies/15721533/

Arkansas State removes Christian symbol from football helmets

Arkansas State is removing a Christian cross decal from the back of its football helmets following a complaint that it violated separation of church and state laws, the school said Wednesday.

MORE: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2014/09/10/arkansas-state-removes-memorial-crosses-from-helmets/15402697/

Ground Zero cross can stay at 9/11 museum, appeals court rules

A cross-shaped beam from the wreckage of the World Trade Center can remain on display in the National Sept. 11 Memorial and Museum at Ground Zero, a three-judge panel of the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled, dismissing a lawsuit brought by atheists.

MORE: http://www.thestate.com/2014/07/31/3593977_ground-zero-cross-can-stay-at.html?rh=1

PDK/Gallup Poll Shows Continued Public Opposition to Vouchers

The 46th Annual PDK/Gallup Poll of the Public's Attitudes Toward the Public Schools came out in late August, illustrating public opinions about a variety of education issues. Two of the issues the Poll addressed are the public's lack of support for private school vouchers and its misunderstanding about the fact that charter schools cannot teach religion.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/legislative/pdkgallup-poll-shows-continued-public-opposition-to-vouchers

An atheist for Congress?

This fall, for the first time in U.S. history, an openly atheist candidate is running for Congress. James Woods is fighting an uphill battle as a Democrat seeking to represent the very Republican 5th Congressional District in Arizona.

MORE: http://edition.cnn.com/2014/08/31/opinion/moreno-atheists-unelectable-congress/index.html

'Ghost Adventures' Star Gets Fired, Reveals Disappointing Truth About Paranormal Television Series

"If we film all night long and came back with uneventful material, they actually make us go back, and act out scenes. It's sickening really," said an angry Goodwin.

MORE: http://empirenews.net/ghost-adventures-star-gets-fired-reveals-disappointing-truth-about-paranormal-television-series/

Ken Ham wants to end the U.S. space program because the aliens are all going to hell

Why? Well, according to Ham, who also runs the Creation Museum in Kentucky, there's no point in spending money on finding extraterrestrial life for a couple of reasons: First, the search is a deliberate rebuking of God, and second because aliens are already damned to hell.

MORE: http://www.salon.com/2014/07/21/ken_ham_wants_to_end_the_u_s_space_program_because_aliens_can%E2%80%99t_have_salvation/

Noah's Ark Theme Park Could Receive More Than $18,000,000 in Tax Breaks from Kentucky Tourism Board

All this over an homage to a fictional boat that might bring in money but will also destroy brain cells. Even for the tourism board, it shouldn’t be worth the tradeoff.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/07/27/noahs-ark-theme-park-could-receive-more-than-18000000-in-tax-breaks-from-kentucky-tourism-board/

Lessons Learned from the Atheist Alliance of America Convention

This year's convention drew in approximately 100 attendees throughout the weekend, according to Amy Monsky, Executive Director of Atheist Alliance of America (AAA). Monsky states that the AAA National Convention has several primary goals including: to bring atheists together; to hear great speakers; to network and socialize; and to raise awareness through education.

MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/andreea-nica/lessons-learned-from-the-atheist-alliance-of-america-convention_b_5679932.html

Ted Cruz's Father Suggests Placing Atheists in 'Camps'

Rafael Cruz, father of Texas Senator and Tea-Party favorite Ted Cruz, spoke recently against atheism and secular humanism at a gathering of an Oklahoma Second Amendment advocacy group. He claimed that the belief systems are two of the main ills facing our society, that they lead to sexual perversion, sexual abuse, and the complete loss of hope, and that people following these two views should be rounded up and placed in special 'camps' to keep them separated from the rest of America.

MORE: http://www.newslo.com/ted-cruzs-father-suggests-placing-atheists-in-camps/

After Praying for Years to Have a Son, Mother Loses 22-Month-Old Toddler to Drowning in Church Baptistery

"A lot of this stuff we deal with is not good, but the Bible says it's for good," Strong said in his sermon.

MORE: http://www.christianpost.com/news/after-praying-for-years-to-have-a-son-mother-loses-22-month-old-toddler-to-drowning-in-church-baptistery-126843/

Do you see God in this eggplant?

A chef at Gino's Restaurant in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, says he experienced divine intervention while chopping eggplants.

MORE: http://www.hlntv.com/video/2014/07/09/god-eggplant-jermarcus-brady-baton-rouge?hpt=hp_hln

No ghosts, no gods, no aliens on my atheism channel

DID aliens build the pyramids? Can psychics contact the dead? Are ghosts real? For anyone with a grasp of critical thinking, the reply might be a chuckle, followed by: "Wait. You're not serious?"

MORE: http://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22329850.200-no-ghosts-no-gods-no-aliens-on-my-atheism-channel.html

How do former churchgoers build a new moral identity?

As their moral perspectives change, disillusioned churchgoers find it increasingly difficult to remain associated with their church, yet many also find it difficult to leave. According to a new study, former churchgoers experience deep identity crises as their most important relationships and beliefs are put at risk.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140826121102.htm

Anticipating experience-based purchases more enjoyable than material ones

To get the most enjoyment out of our dollar, science tells us to focus our discretionary spending on trips over TVs, on concerts over clothing, since experiences tend to bring more enduring pleasure than do material goods. New research shows that the enjoyment we derive from experiential purchases may begin before we even buy.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140825100051.htm

Human sense of fairness evolved to favor long-term cooperation, primate study suggests

The human response to unfairness evolved in order to support long-term cooperation, according to a new research. Fairness is a social ideal that cannot be measured, so to understand the evolution of fairness in humans scientists have studied the behavioral responses to equal versus unequal reward division in other primates.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140918141151.htm

The evolutionary roots of human altruism

Until now, many researchers assumed that spontaneous altruistic behavior in primates could be attributed to factors they would share with humans: advanced cognitive skills, large brains, high social tolerance, collective foraging or the presence of pair bonds or other strong social bonds. As Burkart’s new data now reveal, however, none of these factors reliably predicts whether a primate species will be spontaneously altruistic or not. Instead, another factor that sets us humans apart from the great apes appears to be responsible. Says Burkart: "Spontaneous, altruistic behavior is exclusively found among species where the young are not only cared for by the mother, but also other group members such as siblings, fathers, grandmothers, aunts and uncles." This behavior is referred to technically as the "cooperative breeding" or "allomaternal care."

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140827092002.htm

Is empathy in humans and apes actually different? 'Yawn contagion' effect studied

Whether or not humans are the only empathic beings is still under debate. In a new study, researchers directly compared the 'yawn contagion' effect between humans and bonobos -- our closest evolutionary cousins. By doing so they were able to directly compare the empathic abilities of ourselves with another species, and found that a close relationship between individuals is more important to their empathic response than the fact that individuals might be from the same species.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140812122220.htm

Human faces are so variable because we evolved to look unique

Why are human faces so variable compared to other animals, from lizards and penguins to dogs and monkeys? Scientists analyzed human faces and the genes that code for facial features and found a high variability that could only be explained by selection for variable faces, probably because of the importance of social interactions in human relationships and the need for humans to be recognizable.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140916112240.htm

See also...

Our brains judge a face's trustworthiness, even when we can't see it
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140805220718.htm

Society bloomed with gentler personalities, more feminine faces: Technology boom 50,000 years ago correlated with less testosterone
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/08/140801171114.htm

Far-Out Feat: India's Mars Probe Goes Into Orbit

India's Mars Orbiter Mission spacecraft successfully maneuvered itself into orbit around the Red Planet on Tuesday, following in the footsteps of NASA's Maven orbiter and sparking congratulations from around the world.

MORE: http://www.nbcnews.com/science/space/shining-symbol-indias-mars-orbiter-mission-goes-orbit-n209756

Hotel chain in UK removes Bibles from rooms for sake of 'diversity'

One of the biggest hotel chains in Britain has decided to remove all Bibles from its rooms to avoid offending people with other beliefs to the consternation of the Church of England.

MORE: http://www.ecumenicalnews.com/article/hotel-chain-in-uk-removes-bibles-from-rooms-for-sake-of-diversity-26087

Former Vatican ambassador under house arrest for sex abuse

The Vatican says it has put its former ambassador to the Dominican Republic under house arrest following allegations he sexually abused young boys in the Caribbean country.

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-vatican-ambassador-under-house-arrest-for-sex-abuse/

Uganda Court Overturns Anti-Homosexuality Act

Courts have overruled Uganda's Anti-Homosexuality Act, stating that the law punishing any act of homosexuality--from holding hands with someone of the same gender to gay marriage--with life in prison is unconstitutional.

MORE: http://news.yahoo.com/uganda-court-overturns-anti-homosexuality-act-225818594.html

Suicide bombing kills 16, Somali official says

The Al-Shabaab terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack and said Americans and South Africans were among those killed.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/08/world/africa/somalia-violence/index.html

See also...

Al-Shabaab grew amid Somalia's lawlessness
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/21/world/africa/somalia-al-shabaab-explainer/index.html

12 dead in Islamist attack on Somali prison
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/31/world/africa/somalia-bombing/index.html

2 UN peacekeepers killed in latest in spate of attacks in Mali

The U.N. mission in the West African nation is there to guard against militant Islamists, which have been in the country for years and recently threatened to move on the capital, Bamako.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/16/world/africa/mali-un-attacks/index.html

Boko Haram blamed in abduction of Cameroonian official's wife

"The gunmen are believe to be from Boko Haram from our neighbor Nigeria," Moussa said.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/27/world/africa/boko-haram-wife-cameroonian-official/index.html

Boko Haram engaged in talks over kidnapped girls

Nigerian government officials and the International Committee of the Red Cross have had talks with Boko Haram about swapping imprisoned members of the Islamist terrorist group for the more than 200 Chibok school girls kidnapped in April, a source involved in the negotiations told CNN.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/20/world/africa/nigeria-boko-haram-kidnapped-girls/index.html

See also...

Gunmen set off bombs, open fire at college in Nigeria; 13 die
http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/17/world/africa/nigeria-violence/index.html

Boko Haram kidnaps at least 97, kills 28 in raid
http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/15/world/africa/boko-haram-kidnapping/index.html

Two suicide blasts kill 40 in Nigeria
http://www.cnn.com/2014/07/23/world/africa/nigeria-bombings/index.html

Boko Haram Fast Facts
http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/09/world/boko-haram-fast-facts/index.html

Call to arrest atheist bloggers

Manama: Saudi Arabia’s Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice has asked the interior ministry to arrest several people for apostasy and atheism.

MORE: http://gulfnews.com/news/gulf/saudi-arabia/call-to-arrest-atheist-bloggers-1.1373110

French President: Islamic extremists beheaded French hostage

The video appears to show the latest beheading of a Westerner by an Islamist extremist group. Since mid-August, ISIS has beheaded American journalists Steven Sotloff and James Foley and British aid worker David Haines.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/24/world/africa/algeria-france-hostage-beheading/index.html

What's the difference between ISIS, al-Nusra and the Khorasan Group?

2 Americans among 3 killed by Taliban in Afghanistan

The Taliban claimed responsibility for a suicide car bombing targeting a convoy of foreign forces in the Afghan capital, the militant group's spokesman Zabiullah Mujahid said.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/16/world/asia/afghanistan-violence/index.html

See also...

Taliban suicide bombers target Afghanistan spy agency
http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/04/world/asia/afghanistan-violence/index.html

Israeli soldier's death raises toll from Gaza conflict

The United Nations has said more than 2,100 Palestinians were killed in the violence in Gaza. The U.N estimates at least 70% of the Palestinians killed were civilians, but Israel reports a higher number of militants among the dead.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2014/08/31/world/meast/israel-soldier-death/index.html