Bullied for Not Believing in God

Despite secularism and atheism being on the rise, some areligious students feel discriminated against--at times violently. Now teachers across the U.S. are creating Secular Safe Zones to "curtail anti-atheist bullying, discrimination, and social isolation."

MORE: http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2013/09/harboring-young-atheists/279095/

Group sues over SC public school event at chapel

The suit against the Greenville County School District also seeks to stop school-sponsored prayers at future events.

MORE: http://www.wbtv.com/story/23414259/group-sues-over-sc-public-school-event-at-chapel

See also...

Use of Christian University's Chapel for Public Elementary School Graduation Results in Lawsuit
http://americanhumanist.org/news/details/2013-09-use-of-christian-universitys-chapel-for-public-eleme

Mass. lawyer releases new list of names in alleged church sex abuse

BOSTON -- Six Roman Catholic clerics and a choir director were named publicly as alleged abusers for the first time by a prominent lawyer for clergy sex abuse victims.

MORE: http://www.telegram.com/article/20130904/NEWS/309049475/1116

Faith healing parents charged with manslaughter in daughter's death

Syble Rossiter, the daughter of Travis and Wenona Rossiter, died at the couple's home from complications related to type 1 diabetes, after her parents withheld treatment in favor of prayer.

MORE: http://www.religionnewsblog.com/27392/faith-healing-parents-charged-with-manslaughter-in-daughters-death

American Parents Convicted of Manslaughter in Death of Adopted Ethiopian Daughter

After Hana's death, The New York Times reported that the couple's abusive parenting tactics had mimicked instructions from Christian parenting book To Train Up a Child. According to the report, Carri Williams had recommended the book to a friend and beaten Hana with a plastic tube---a device recommended in the book.

MORE: http://www.christianpost.com/news/american-parents-convicted-of-manslaughter-in-death-of-adopted-ethiopian-daughter-104232/

Pat Robertson Marks 9/11 By Blaming Separation Of Church And State For Inviting Radical Muslim 'Fifth Column' Into America

Two days following 9/11 terrorist attacks, televangelists Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell blamed the attacks on "the pagans, the abortions, the feminists and the gays and lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People For the American Way."

MORE: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/pat-robertson-marks-911-blaming-separation-church-and-state-inviting-radical-muslim-fifth-co

Heart Of Darkness: Pat Robertson's African Adventures Are News Again

A new documentary confirms allegations that his charity, Operation Blessing, used supporter donations to mine diamonds in what is now the Democratic Republic of Congo.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/heart-of-darkness-pat-robertson-s-african-adventures-are-news-again

We don't trust in god, or Hobby Lobby: How accurate was Hobby Lobby's July 4th Ad?

The Christian trinket-purveyor Hobby Lobby places religious holiday ads in national newspapers reaching in some cases more than 47 million readers. Hobby Lobby's July 4, 2013 ad features quotes from the founders scattered around huge font screaming, "In God We Trust." The quotes are meant to give the false impression that the U.S. is a Christian nation and that our nation "trusts in God." But, just like Hobby Lobby's god, the quotes aren't very trustworthy. They are wildly inaccurate in some cases.

The misrepresentations range from the mild, such as capitalizing "His" to refer to a Christian god when Washington, Franklin, and Jefferson actually wrote "his" to refer to a deistic god, to the outrageous, such as omitting entire sentences without notifying the reader, combining quotes from multiple sources into one quote, omitting thousands of words with an ellipsis, and completely mischaracterizing quotes, speakers and Supreme Court cases.

MORE: http://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/18729-we-don%E2%80%99t-trust-in-god-or-hobby-lobby-how-accurate-was-hobby-lobby%E2%80%99s-july-4th-ad

He's Baaaaaaack!: Disgraced 'Christian Nation' Advocate David Barton Sought By Politicians Looking To Court Religious Right

No matter how many actual historians or scholars debunk Barton and no matter how often it happens, he is beyond reproach in his own head.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/he-s-baaaaaaack-disgraced-christian-nation-advocate-david-barton-sought-by

US pastor Terry Jones held after threats to burn Korans

A controversial US pastor has been arrested in Florida after announcing plans to burn nearly 3,000 copies of the Koran on the anniversary of 9/11.

MORE: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-24059408

Barking Over A Seal: Fla. Residents Not Happy Over AU's DeLand Cross Protest

We all live under the same constitution in this country. A city in Florida is just as bound by that document as is one in Minnesota, Connecticut or Idaho.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/barking-over-a-seal-fla-residents-not-happy-over-aus-deland-cross-protest

Bible's End Times Prophecy Linked to Possible US Attack on Syria

With President Barack Obama working tirelessly to garner congressional approval for attacking Syria for its use of chemical weapons, some Christians are debating if it could lead toward the fulfillment of end-time prophecies in the Bible.

MORE: http://www.christianpost.com/news/possible-us-attack-on-syria-being-linked-to-bibles-end-times-prophecy-103509/

Messages in tongues down among Pentecostals

As the religion becomes more widely accepted, Walters said, there has been a tendency for large Pentecostal churches to downplay the differences between Pentecostalism and other well-known Christian denominations.

MORE: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/messages-tongues-down-among-pentecostals

Woman who escaped cult: 'I could no longer silence that voice'

In "The Witness Wore Red," Rebecca Musser tells the story of how she was able to break free of the oppressive Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, headed by Warren Jeffs. Musser told TODAY's Erica Hill she knew she had to escape, calling it a "do or die" situation.

MORE: http://www.today.com/video/today/53007839/#53007839

School Vouchers Come to North Carolina

For the first time in its history, North Carolina will allow taxpayer funds to go to largely unaccountable private schools, 70 percent of which are religious institutions, beginning in the 2014-15 school year.

MORE: http://www.ncpolicywatch.com/2013/09/04/school-vouchers-come-to-north-carolina/

Schools in voucher program oppose testing requirements

Private schools need to understand that if they decide to take public money under the voucher program, they will be treated more like public schools, said Sen. Tim Cullen, D-Janesville.

MORE: http://www.thonline.com/news/iowa-illinois-wisconsin/article_07ab0875-1573-543e-8562-60a566653c5d.html

New laws relax oversight of home-schoolers

For home-school advocates, rollbacks on home-school regulation in Gov. Terry Branstad's 2013 education reform bill were a resounding victory that made Iowa a model for the nation. For those skeptical of the absence of government oversight of home-school curriculum, testing and teacher qualifications, the rollback smacked of hypocrisy, especially because the public education system is entering into a new era of accountability.

MORE: http://thegazette.com/2013/09/08/new-laws-relax-oversight-of-home-schoolers/

See also...

New homeschooling statistics: 1.77 million children, more minorities
http://www.examiner.com/article/new-homeschooling-statistics-1-77-million-children-more-minorities

Religious exemption inspires heated debate at ENDA panel

Currently, ENDA has a religious exemption that provides leeway for religious organizations, like churches or religious schools, to discriminate against LGBT employees. That same leeway isn't found under Title VII, which prohibits religious organizations from discriminating on the basis of race, gender or national origin.

MORE: http://www.washingtonblade.com/2013/09/12/enda-situation-room/

Humanist Society to Marry Gay and Lesbian Troops for Free

The Humanist Society has just announced that it will marry gay and lesbian military members for free throughout 2013.

MORE: http://www.gayapolis.com/news/artdisplay-issues.php?artid=25793

See also...

Free Wedding Services to Same-Sex Military Couples Being Offered by Humanists
http://americanhumanist.org/news/details/2013-09-free-wedding-services-to-same-sex-military-couples-b

Group files lawsuit challenging Kentucky's ban on same-sex marriage

FRANKFORT -- The Kentucky Equality Federation has filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the state's 2004 constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage.

MORE: http://www.kentucky.com/2013/09/12/2817807/group-files-lawsuit-challenging.html

Pa. judge asked to halt the issuing of same-sex marriage licenses

"On one hand I have a statue to uphold. On the other I have the Constitution, and I chose to uphold the Constitution," Haines told abc27 in July.

MORE: http://www.abc27.com/story/23344039/p

Texas National Guard denies benefits for same-sex spouses

The Texas National Guard has said it will not provide benefits for same-sex couples, despite a Pentagon directive requiring the military to treat all marriages equally.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2013/09/04/texas-national-guard-denies-benefits-for-same-sex-spouses/?wprss=rss_politics

Texas Textbook Trouble: Lone Star State Faces Yet Another Creationist Push

The controversy began when Texas' State Board of Education appointed a number of creationists to review panels meant to ensure the quality of new biology textbooks.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/texas-textbook-trouble-lone-star-state-faces-yet-another-creationist-push

Young Students Against Bad Science

For his high school senior project, Zack Kopplin started a campaign to repeal the Louisiana Science Education Act, a 2008 law passed in his home state that opens a "back door" to teaching creationism in public schools, he says. Currently taking a year off from Rice University to work and travel, Mr. Kopplin, 20, is widely recognized as the state's leading voice against science denial education. He has expanded his campaign to fight similar laws across the country, as well as the use of public vouchers to send students to religious schools. He argues regularly, if unsuccessfully, before the Louisiana Senate to strike down the law, and his April appearance on "Real Time With Bill Maher," in which he faced off against a conservative economist, Stephen Moore, went viral.

MORE: http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/03/science/young-and-against-bad-science.html?_r=2&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1378220464-C3aom535V9dkqXAtMpSU+A&

See also...

Bayou Battle: Zack Kopplin Fights To Access Public Records On Louisiana's 'Science Act,' Voucher Program
https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/bayou-battle-zack-kopplin-fights-to-access-public-records-on-louisiana-s

Dating of Beads Sets New Timeline for Early Humans

An international team of researchers led by Oxford University have new dating evidence indicating when the earliest fully modern humans arrived in the Near East, the region known as the Middle East today. They have obtained the radiocarbon dates of marine shell beads found at Ksar Akil, a key archaeological site in Lebanon, which allowed them to calculate that the oldest human fossil from the same sequence of archaeological layers is 42,400-41,700 years old. This is significant because the age of the earliest fossils, directly and indirectly dated, of modern humans found in Europe is roughly similar. This latest discovery throws up intriguing new possibilities about the routes taken by the earliest modern humans out of Africa, says the study published online by the journal PLOS ONE.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130913093314.htm

See also...

Assumptions About Origins of Life Challenged
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130913185848.htm

Generosity Leads to Evolutionary Success, Biologists Show

"Our paper shows that no selfish strategies will succeed in evolution," Plotkin said. "The only strategies that are evolutionarily robust are generous ones."

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130902162716.htm

See also...

Radical New View of Health: Stem Cells Are Wired for Cooperation, Down to the DNA
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130912143217.htm

NASA's Voyager 1 Spacecraft Embarks On Historic Journey Into Interstellar Space

The plasma wave science team reviewed its data and found an earlier, fainter set of oscillations in October and November 2012. Through extrapolation of measured plasma densities from both events, the team determined Voyager 1 first entered interstellar space in August 2012.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130912135507.htm

See also...

The Inside of the Milky Way Galaxy in 3-D
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130912092720.htm

Hubble Bubble May Explain Different Measurements of Expansion Rate of the Universe
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130909092520.htm

Guinness Record: World’s Thinnest Glass Is Just Two Atoms Thick

Besides its sheer novelty, Muller said, the work answers an 80-year-old question about the fundamental structure of glass. Scientists, with no way to directly see it, had struggled to understand it: it behaves like a solid, but was thought to look more like a liquid. Now, the Cornell scientists have produced a picture of individual atoms of glass, and they found that it strikingly resembles a diagram drawn in 1932 by W.H. Zachariasen -- a longstanding theoretical representation of the arrangement of atoms in glass.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/09/130912095241.htm

Listening to pop and rock music may make you smarter

Would you believe that Bon Jovi can make you more intelligent? Contrary to popular belief, listening to music while you study could actually make you smarter, according to new research.

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50155076n

High Court Indicates Support for Indian Teacher's Right Not to Pray

No person attending any educational institution recognised by the State or receiving aid out of State funds shall be required to take part in any religious instruction that may be imparted in such institution or to attend any religious worship that may be conducted in such institution…

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/09/09/high-court-indicates-support-for-indian-teachers-right-not-to-pray/

Bride Aged 8 Dies After Suffering Internal Sexual Injuries During Wedding Night With Man, 40

Al Bawaba reports over a quarter of young girls in Yemen are married before the age of 15.

It adds the country passed a law in February 2009 setting the minimum age of marriage at 17, but that it was repealed after conservative lawmakers declared it "un-Islamic".

MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/09/09/bride-aged-8-dies-internal-sexual-injuries-wedding-night-_n_3892892.html?utm_hp_ref=tw&just_reloaded=1

Priest in Zanzibar attacked with acid in third such incident in two months

The attack against the two women came as Islamist extremism is rising in the area.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/14/world/tanzania-priest-acid-attack/index.html?hpt=hp_t2

Indonesian Muslim clerics: Cancel Miss World pageant

(RNS) Indonesian Muslim clerics are asking the government to cancel this month's Miss World pageant because Islam prohibits women from publicly "exposing their bodies in a contest."

MORE: http://www.religionnews.com/2013/09/03/indonesian-muslim-clerics-cancel-miss-world-pageant/

No truce: Army, Islamic militants fight on in Philippines

The crisis in Zamboanga City began when large numbers of rebels from the Muslim militant group came ashore at the start of the week.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/14/world/asia/philippines-muslim-rebels-standoff/index.html

Turkey's young people politicized by fears of Islamist influence

Young people in Turkey are more politicized following mass anti-government protests that rocked the country this summer. For many Turkish citizens in their late teens and early 20s, a long-standing belief that Islamist students have an upper hand in an important university entrance exam is provoking many to take to the streets.

MORE: http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/09/14/20156833-turkeys-young-people-politicized-by-fears-of-islamist-influence

U.S. consulate in Herat, Afghanistan, attacked, 3 dead

The Taliban claimed responsibility for the attack in an e-mail to CNN.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/12/world/asia/us-consulate-afghanistan-attack/index.html

See also...

Afghan militants target, kill female author, police say
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/05/world/asia/afghanistan-indian-author-killed/index.html

Afghan police deaths double as international troops exit
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/03/world/asia/afghanistan-police-deaths/index.html

Iraq suicide blast kills 25 at funeral in ethnic minority Shabak town

The attack was the latest violence in a country torn by sectarian conflict. On Friday, a bomb hidden in a mosque's air-conditioning ducts killed 30 Sunni worshipers and wounded 52 others near Baquba, Iraq, which is about 37 miles (60 kilometers) northeast of Baghdad.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/14/world/meast/iraq-suicide-blast/index.html

See also...

Suicide bomber kills 30 at Baghdad mosque, police say
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/11/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html

Gunmen kill 10 family members in Iraq
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/04/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html

27 slain in Baghdad bombs
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/03/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html

Iraq's grim August toll: 804 dead, more than 2,000 wounded
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/01/world/meast/iraq-august-death-toll/index.html

Deadly raid hits Iranian exile group's camp in Iraq
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/01/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html

Atheist Org Recruits Allies in Schools to Prevent Religious Bullying

The Secular Safe Zone program is designed to create knowledgeable and skilled allies across the nation who can recognize and respond to anti-atheist bullying.  Volunteers are given training on subjects including identifying and understanding secular students, speaking up against discrimination, and dealing with resistance from the community.  After completing the training, allies receive signs to designate their classroom or office as a Secular Safe Zone.

MORE: http://secularstudents.org/node/5491

Students find secret solace in atheist-friendly clubs

For members who were formerly involved in religious youth groups or ministries, the group serves as a replacement for the community closeness they may have felt in those organizations.

"In an ideal world, we'd find the courage to tell people what our beliefs really are," Conklin says. "But for now, for some people, this club is the only thing they've got."

MORE: http://www.usatodayeducate.com/staging/index.php/campuslife/students-find-secret-solace-in-atheist-friendly-clubs

Academic administrators: hide your unbelief!

While top administrators wield a considerable amount of power on their campuses, they are also vulnerable (like their counterparts in the world of politics) to people and forces that can undermine their positions and potentially jeopardize their careers.

MORE: http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2013/08/26/academic-administrators-hide-your-unbelief/

See also...

When Atheist Children Are As Good As Dead To Their Parents
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/08/25/when-atheist-children-are-as-good-as-dead-to-their-parents/

Prominent organizations partner to support legislation based on reason, science and evidence

The Secular Coalition for America has formed a strategic partnership with the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science U.S. through the remainder of 2013.

The goal of the partnership is to maximize the strengths of both organizations-drawing on the Secular Coalition's strong nonprofit and strategic planning experience and the Dawkins Foundation's strong web and social media savvy, scientific expertise, and broad outreach, the Secular Coalition reports.

MORE: http://www.goddiscussion.com/113991/church-state-news-prominent-organizations-partner-to-support-legislation-based-on-reason-science-and-evidence/

'We're Winning a Lot of Legal Victories': Should Christians Fear This Atheist Group's 130 Percent Membership Growth?

Dubbed the fastest-growing atheist group in the country by the Wisconsin State Journal, the FFRF has reportedly experienced a 130 percent member increase over the past six years.

MORE: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/08/27/were-winning-a-lot-of-legal-victories-should-christians-fear-this-atheist-groups-130-percent-membership-growth/

Do Christian conservatives believe in the First Amendment?

Fundamentalists in different religions have a lot in common, usually to the detriment of those who support religious freedom and diversity.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/08/26/do-christian-conservatives-believe-in-the-first-amendment/

Atheists in foxholes are entitled to their own chaplains

Increasingly, atheists are insisting that their message is not just a negative one, and are competing with theist religions for governmental recognition. When an interfaith service was organized to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombings, "non-theist" groups complained that not a single speaker reflected their beliefs. Unable to convince the Supreme Court that Ten Commandment monuments on government property are always unconstitutional, atheists are donating their own memorials to stand alongside the Decalogue.

MORE: http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-atheists-chaplains-religion-20130827,0,4619739.story

Atheist runs for mayor in a city that makes it illegal to laugh near a church

Smith has lived in LaGrange more than 50 years, is married to Sumie Smith, and has three children and one grandchild living in LaGrange. He is president of LaGrange Humanists, Inc. and a member of the NAACP, ACLU, American Humanists Association, Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Skeptics Society, and Center For Inquiry.

MORE: http://www.goddiscussion.com/114081/atheist-runs-for-mayor-in-a-city-that-makes-it-illegal-to-laugh-near-a-church/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+GodDiscussion+%28God+Discussion%29

Remembering March on Washington Organizer Asa Philip Randolph, 1970 Humanist of the Year

Contrary to popular belief, the march wasn't organized by King. It was the brainchild of a humanist named Asa Philip Randolph.

MORE: http://americanhumanist.org/news/details/2013-08-remembering-march-on-washington-organizer-asa-philip

N.Y. Freethought Trail traces nonbelievers who chartered a historic course

Now, the Council for Secular Humanism, based in nearby Amherst, is seeking to highlight that history with "The Freethought Trail," a self-guided tour through some of the most important historical sites dotting the rolling farmland and glacial lakes of West-Central New York.

MORE: http://www.religionnews.com/2013/08/26/trail-traces-nonbelievers-who-chartered-a-historic-course/

Atheist parolee sent back to prison must be compensated, court says

SAN FRANCISCO -- California should compensate an atheist parolee for returning him to prison after he resisted participating in a religious-based drug treatment program, a federal appeals court decided unanimously Friday.

MORE: http://touch.latimes.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-77136574/

Atheist Sent To Jail For Rejecting God, In Blatant Violation Of The Constitution
http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/08/27/atheist-sent-to-jail-for-rejecting-god-in-blatant-violation-of-the-constitution/

NJ Commission Reverses Decision on Atheist License Plate

Cranford, NJ--As public backlash was growing, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission reversed its decision on Wednesday, approving American Atheists President David Silverman's application for custom license plates reading "ATHE1ST."  American Atheists, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is a national non-profit dedicated to fighting discrimination against atheists.

MORE: http://news.atheists.org/2013/08/28/nj-commission-reverses-decision-on-atheist-license-plate/

See also...

American Atheists President David Silverman files appeal for denied custom New Jersey "ATHE1ST" license plate
http://news.atheists.org/2013/08/28/american-atheists-president-david-silverman-files-appeal-for-denied-custom-new-jersey-athe1st-license-plate/

Texas Pastafarian Wins Battle At DMV, Becomes First In U.S. To Wear Colander In License Photo

Castillo is the first American to successfully have his government-issued photo identification taken while wearing a colander, though DPS officials are reportedly planning to follow up with Castillo in order to "rectify" the situation. Others have tried unsuccessfully, and Castillo told KLBK that he was surprised at his victory, which he called a "political and religious milestone for all atheists everywhere."

MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/26/texas-pastafarian-license-photo_n_3816839.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

See also...

Texas Tech student allowed to wear pasta strainer in driver's license photo
http://www.kltv.com/story/23248235/texas-tech-student-allowed-to-wear-pasta-strainer-in-official-dps-photo

Michigan community approves non-discrimination ordinance

The ordinance bans discrimination based on several factors, including race, sex, age, religion, national origin, height, weight, marital status, familial status, citizenship, physical or mental ability, gender identity, sexual orientation or genetic information.

MORE: http://www.freep.com/article/20130828/NEWS06/308280077/Michigan-community-approves-non-discrimination-ordinance

Kentucky Department of Education Reminds Public School Superintendents That Teachers Should Not Proselytize During Work

Earlier this week, the Kentucky Department of Education did something every state's education department should do: They sent an email to every public school district superintendent in the state (173 of them in all) reminding them what the law says about church/state separation.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/08/30/kentucky-department-of-education-reminds-public-school-superintendents-that-teachers-should-not-proselytize-during-work/

A battle over prayer -- and much more

Congressional Prayer Caucus' influence growing as it walks church-state line under banner of religious freedom.

MORE: http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2013/8/27/a-battle-over-prayeraandmuchmore.html

Atheists threatening lawsuit over planned 9/11 memorial

The American Atheists, based in New Jersey, told the mayor of Princeton this week that they will take the town to court if the side of a beam recovered from the World Trade Center site was displayed on public property or publicly funded.

MORE: http://www.capitalbay.com/news/376026-atheists-threatening-lawsuit-over-planned-9-11-memorial.html

Parents charged with manslaughter in daughter's death

"They belonged to a belief system called the Church of the First Born," said Capt. Eric Carter of the Albany Police Department. "I'll let you do your own research."

MORE: http://www.katu.com/news/local/Parents-charged-with-manslaughter-in-daughters-death-for-lack-of-medical-care-221686141.html

See also...

Another Set of Faith-Healing Parents Arrested After Allowing Their Daughter to Die of a Treatable Disease
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/08/30/another-set-of-faith-healing-parents-arrested-after-allowing-their-daughter-to-die-of-a-treatable-disease/

Judge sides with hospital that forced chemotherapy for Amish girl with leukemia

An appeals court has sided with a hospital that wants to force a 10-year-old Amish girl to resume chemotherapy after her parents decided to stop the treatments.

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-204_162-57600494/judge-sides-with-hospital-that-forced-chemotherapy-for-amish-girl-with-leukemia/

Measles Cases Put Texas Megachurch Under Scrutiny

The teachings of televangelist Kenneth Copeland and his family focusing on the virtues of trusting God to keep healthy are under scrutiny after a cluster of measles cases linked to his family's North Texas megachurch revealed many congregants hadn't been vaccinated against the highly contagious disease.

MORE: http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/measles-cases-put-texas-megachurch-scrutiny-20126684

Jindal: Education Next Civil Rights Battle

On Meet The Press on August 25, 2013, Governor Jindal blasted the U.S. Department of Justice for filing a petition challenging equal opportunity for education and school choice in Louisiana.

MORE: http://www.breitbart.com/Breitbart-TV/2013/08/25/Jindal-sees-education-as-next-civil-rights-battle

See also...

14 Wacky "Facts" Kids Will Learn in Louisiana's Voucher Schools
http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2012/07/photos-evangelical-curricula-louisiana-tax-dollars

Ten Commandments: The lessons of neutrality

A lawsuit is filed that demands removal of a Ten Commandments monument from the state Capitol grounds. Surely such demands are not representative of good old "conservative" Oklahoma values? Think again.

MORE: http://www.tulsaworld.com/article.aspx/Ten_Commandments_The_lessons_of_neutrality/20130823_65_A15_CUTLIN206670

See also...

Preaching The Gospel Of Separation: Baptist Minister Challenges Ten Commandments Display On Okla. Capitol Grounds
https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/preaching-the-gospel-of-separation-baptist-minister-challenges-ten

Jesus Of South Dakota?: Spearfish Man Seeks To Erect Large Statue Of Christ On Public Land

Erecting a 35-foot-tall statue of Jesus on city-owned land would definitely violate the separation of church and state.

MORE: https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/jesus-of-south-dakota-spearfish-man-seeks-to-erect-large-statue-of-christ

Orwellian freedom of religious conscience bill introduced in Wisconsin

Your religion does not give you the freedom to force your beliefs onto others.  You should not have carte blanch to ignore discrimination laws or to otherwise punish others, a privilege rightly afforded to nobody else, simply because of what you believe about god.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/wwjtd/2013/08/orwellian-freedom-of-religious-conscience-bill-introduced-in-wisconsin/

Persecution Or Privilege? The Real Status Of American Houses of Worship

If you believe the fundamentalists, they're merely defending themselves against an overwhelming tide of secularist persecution.

MORE: https://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/persecution-or-privilege-the-real-status-of-american-houses-of-worship

Why is religious pandering so prevalent?

In a remarkable book titled "The God Strategy," David Domke and Kevin Coe describe how the infusion of religion into politics surged since the Reagan presidency. While prior presidents regularly made references to God, Reagan made them almost systematically. For instance, Lyndon Johnson invoked God in 61 percent of his national addresses, compared to 26 percent for Richard Nixon and 25 percent for Jimmy Carter. But Reagan did so 96 percent of the time. His successors carried on: Bush I (91 percent), Clinton (93 percent), and Bush II (95 percent). (The study was completed before Obama's presidency.) Reagan was the first president to start emphasizing "God bless America," an expression that all his successors adopted. This chauvinistic slogan had only been used once, by Nixon, in a national presidential speech before Reagan.

MORE: http://www.salon.com/2013/08/23/ruled_by_a_bipartisan_god_religious_pandering_dominates_america/singleton/

Why Is There More Depression Among Clergy Members Than in the General Population?

Recently, researchers from the Clergy Health Initiative at Duke Divinity School decided to look into the mental health of members of the clergy. Using phone surveys and written questionnaires, they interviewed over 1,700 United Methodist pastors, and found that depression is about 1.6 times higher in that group compared to the general population (8.7% versus 5.5%).

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/08/30/why-is-there-more-depression-among-clergy-members-than-in-the-general-population/

Ginsburg will be first justice to officiate at same-sex wedding

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg will become the first Supreme Court member to conduct a same-sex marriage ceremony Saturday when she officiates at the Washington wedding of Kennedy Center President Michael M. Kaiser.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/ginsburg-to-officiate-same-sex-wedding/2013/08/30/4bc09d86-0ff4-11e3-8cdd-bcdc09410972_story.html

IRS shifts to equal tax treatment for same-sex marriages

Same-sex married couples will be allowed to file joint federal tax returns, the same as married heterosexual couples, the Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service announced Thursday.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/irs-shifts-to-equal-tax-treatment-for-same-sex-marriages/2013/08/29/bbdffac4-10dc-11e3-85b6-d27422650fd5_story.html?wprss=rss_politics
See also...

IRS Will Recognize Same-Sex Marriages in States That Don't Allow Same-Sex Marriage
http://www.christianpost.com/news/irs-will-recognize-same-sex-marriages-in-states-that-dont-allow-same-sex-marriage-103338/

Calif. court upholds ban on gay psychotherapy

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco, in a 3-to-0 decision, ruled that the state's ban on conversion therapy for minors doesn't violate the free speech rights of licensed counselors and patients seeking treatment.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2013/08/29/a4ef9dce-10e6-11e3-bdf6-e4fc677d94a1_story.html?wprss=rss_politics

N.J. gay conversion therapy ban challenged in federal court

New Jersey is the second state in the nation to ban therapy that purports to change a child's sexual orientation from homosexual to heterosexual. California enacted the first ban, but Liberty Counsel, a national religious-based legal and public policy group, filed an injunction it before it took effect earlier this year. A judge overseeing the case heard arguments in April and has not issued a decision.

MORE: http://www.religionnews.com/2013/08/26/n-j-gay-conversion-therapy-ban-challenged-in-federal-court/

Gay marriage legal in New Mexico, sort of

County clerks in New Mexico will begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples after a state judge ruled Monday that the state's marriage law, which uses gender-neutral terms to define domestic relationships, doesn't specifically prohibit gay marriage.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/govbeat/wp/2013/08/28/gay-marriage-legal-in-new-mexico-sort-of/?wprss=rss_politics

Gay rights, civil rights causes converge even if terms don't

When speakers at Wednesday's "Let Freedom Ring" rally listed the social injustices that still need to be addressed, discrimination based on sexual orientation made almost every speech.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2013/08/30/gay-rights-civil-rights-causes-converge-even-if-terms-dont/?wprss=rss_politics

Anti-LGBT columnist warns men: Lesbians will have your children and make you slaves

The Council for Marriage Policy (CMP), a Christian anti-LGBT group that is a division of the right-wing Renew America PAC, issued a frantic warning on Friday that if same sex marriage becomes legal in all 50 states, lesbians will trick gay and straight men into fathering their children and turn them into economic slaves. According to Right Wing Watch, the 37-pragraph column was written by CMP president David R. Usher and was entitled "Our last chance to save traditional marriage."

MORE: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/08/24/anti-lgbt-columnist-warns-men-lesbians-will-have-your-children-and-make-you-slaves/

Robertson: Gay People Deliberately Spread HIV/AIDS By Cutting People With Special Rings

"You know what they do in San Francisco, some in the gay community there they want to get people so if they got the stuff they'll have a ring, you shake hands, and the ring's got a little thing where you cut your finger," Robertson said. "Really. It's that kind of vicious stuff, which would be the equivalent of murder."

MORE: http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/robertson-gay-people-deliberately-spread-hivaids-cutting-people-special-rings

Hard-Wired for Giving

Contrary to conventional wisdom that humans are essentially selfish, scientists are finding that the brain is built for generosity.

MORE: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324009304579041231971683854.html?mod=e2fb

Just Thinking about Science Triggers Moral Behavior

Across all these different measures, the researchers found consistent results. Simply being primed with science-related thoughts increased a) adherence to moral norms, b) real-life future altruistic intentions, and c) altruistic behavior towards an anonymous other. The conceptual association between science and morality appears strong.

MORE: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=just-thinking-about-science-triggers-moral-behavior

Study offers insight into the origin of the genetic code

An analysis of enzymes that load amino acids onto transfer RNAs--an operation at the heart of protein translation--offers new insights into the evolutionary origins of the modern genetic code, researchers report.

MORE: http://phys.org/news/2013-08-insight-genetic-code.html

Mind control? Brain controls brain in new demonstration

Researchers at the University of Washington have demonstrated what they say is the first example of a noninvasive human-to-human brain interface. In a video posted online, they show how a scientist could control another scientist's hand motions just by using brain signals sent over the Internet.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/28/health/brain-interface/index.html

See also...

Human brains successfully grown in lab
http://www.goddiscussion.com/114089/human-brains-successfully-grown-in-lab/

Scientists confirm new element 115 after atoms collide

Why create elements that disappear in a flash? Scientists hope one day to make one that doesn't, thus creating a brand new lasting element, Popular Science magazine reports.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/28/world/europe/new-chemical-element/

Modified Law of Gravity Predicts Dwarf Galaxy Feature Prior to Observations

"Most scientists are more comfortable with the dark matter interpretation," McGaugh said. "But we need to understand why MOND succeeds with these predictions. We don't even know how to make this prediction with dark matter."

--snip--

"At stake now is whether the universe is predominantly made of an invisible substance that persistently eludes detection in the laboratory, or whether we are obliged to modify one of our most fundamental theories, the law of gravity," McGaugh continued.

MORE: http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2013/08/130828103446.htm

Atheism a creed that needs the same religious protections of Christianity and Islam: Ontario Human Rights Tribunal

The ruling was spurred by a complaint from self-described secular humanist Rene Chouinard, who was opposing the District School Board of Niagara's policy regarding the distribution of Gideon bibles.

MORE: http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/08/27/atheism-a-creed-that-needs-the-same-religious-protections-of-christianity-and-islam-ontario-human-rights-tribunal/

Christianity is dying in England, and in France Catholic priests are only preaching to pensioners

A WARNING has been sounded by the Catholic Bishop of Shrewsbury that Christians may soon become "strangers in our own land".

--snip--

Meanwhile, the Catholic Church in France also appears to be on its last legs. According to this recent report, more than one-third (35 percent) of France's overll population and almost two-thirds (63 percent) of youth said they belonged to "no religion" and very few people,  just an estimated one in 20, regularly attend Mass.

MORE: http://freethinker.co.uk/2013/08/28/christianity-is-dying-in-england-and-in-france-catholic-priests-are-only-preaching-to-pensioners/

Disgraced Cardinal Keith O'Brien prevented inquiry into sexual abuse

Analysis was halted when he withdrew support - a year before resigning over his own inappropriate sexual conduct.

MORE: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/disgraced-cardinal-keith-obrien-prevented-inquiry-into-sexual-abuse-8781698.html

Guatemalan President Names Jesus Christ Lord of Guatemala

The President of Guatemala, Otto Perez Molina, declared Jesus Christ as the Lord of the country last week during their first national prayer breakfast.

MORE: http://global.christianpost.com/news/guatemalan-president-names-jesus-christ-lord-of-guatemala-103040/

Indians Fight for Recognition of 'No Religion' Category in National Census

Indian atheists are now trying to petition their government for the creation of a "No Religion" category in the Census.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/08/29/indians-fight-for-recognition-of-no-religion-category-in-national-census/

Months After an Assassination Attempt, a Bangladeshi Atheist Blogger is Still Speaking Out

Earlier this year, Asif Mohiuddin, a 29-year-old Bangladeshi man, was violently attacked for being an outspoken atheist blogger in his country.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/08/28/months-after-an-assassination-attempt-a-bangladeshi-atheist-blogger-is-still-speaking-out/

Bombings, shootings leave 23 dead in Iraq

The country has endured months of escalating violence stemming from decades-old discord between the nation's Sunnis and Shiites, the two largest branches of Islam. July was the deadliest month in Iraq since the peak of sectarian violence in 2006 and 2007. According to the United Nations, 1,057 Iraqis were killed and another 2,326 were wounded in acts of terrorism and violence last month.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/29/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html

See also...

Baghdad bombs: Dozens killed, scores wounded
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/28/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html

27 killed in attacks across Iraq
http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/25/world/meast/iraq-violence/index.html

Militants in Afghanistan kill at least 12

The Taliban claims responsibility for the attack, Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/28/world/asia/afghanistan-suicide-attack/index.html

Controversial Billboards Pop Up In SD

The words, "Don't believe in God? Join the Club, "superimposed over an image of the Earth, no doubt catch your eye. But what exactly is the message behind them?

MORE: http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=29224&Itemid=57

See also...

Atheist Billboards Go Up All Across South Dakota
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/08/20/atheist-billboards-go-up-all-across-south-dakota/

'Don't believe in God?' billboards prompt discussion on state of religion in S.D.
http://siouxfallsbusinessjournal.argusleader.com/article/20130820/UPDATES/308200036/New-billboards-message-Don-t-believe-God-Join-Club-

New billboards' message: 'Don't believe in God? Join the Club'
http://world.topnewstoday.org/world/article/7381787/

Godless SD billboards reach out to non-theistic
http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Godless-SD-billboards-reach-out-to-non-theistic-4746864.php

Billboard in Vermillion, South Dakota Raises Questions
http://www.kcautv.com/story/23222166/billboard-in-vermillion-south-dakota-raises-questions

SD Anti-God Billboards Reach Out to Non-Theists
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2013/August/SD-Anti-God-Billboards-Reach-Out-to-Non-Theists/

Groups place ‘godless’ billboards across SD
http://www.mitchellrepublic.com/node/1574986

Godless Billboards Blanket South Dakota
http://www.unitedcor.org/national/news/godless-billboards-blanket-south-dakota

Mr. Deity and the Hat

See also...

Mormon theology and Mr. Deity
http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2013/08/14/mormon-theology-and-mr-deity/

Religion Becoming Obsolete? It Could Happen!

Religious people could be the minority by the year 2041 according to Biopsychologist Nigel Barber, who says this is the case in well-developed countries as personal wealth increases. In a recent article in Psychology Today," Barber said: "Research has shown that religion declines not just with rising national wealth but also with all plausible measures of the quality of life, including length of life, decline of infectious diseases, education, the rise of the welfare state, and more equal distribution of income.

MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/steve-siebold/religion-becoming-obsolet_b_3755870.html

Religious people are less intelligent than atheists, study finds

Religious people are less intelligent than non-believers, according to a new review of 63 scientific studies stretching back over decades.

MORE: http://news.yahoo.com/religious-people-are-less-intelligent-than-atheists--study-finds--113350723.html#upCr476

Science could deliver the comforts of religion

Research suggests that a scientific worldview actually helps people cope with anxieties about their own mortality.

MORE: http://www.salon.com/2013/08/12/what_about_evolution_makes_people_so_skeptical_partner/

Letter seeking Christians as employees raises concerns

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- The director of operations of 20 Subway restaurants across West Virginia may have violated the state Human Rights Act when he sent a letter to several churches and congregations saying his company was "in need of Christian employees."

MORE: http://www.wvgazette.com/Business/201308180023

Everything You Need to Know About Town of Greece v. Galloway, the Supreme Court Case About Government Prayer

This October, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in Town of Greece v. Galloway, a case that could change the way we deal with, among other things, invocation prayers at city council meetings. It's the first time in 30 years that the Supreme Court will consider a case dealing with legislative prayers. There are a lot of details to the case, leading to some underreporting and some misreporting, so I'm hoping this post offers a thorough, easy-to-understand summary of what's going on so we know what's at stake and why this is such an important case.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/08/16/everything-you-need-to-know-about-town-of-greece-v-galloway-the-supreme-court-case-about-government-prayer/

See also...

GA attorney general joins coalition in support of legislative prayer
http://www.gadailynews.com/news/atlanta/168681-ga-attorney-general-joins-coalition-in-support-of-legislative-prayer.html

Prayer Push: Clergy Demand Sectarian Invocations Before Government Meetings Despite Legal Risks

Cases like Greece v. Galloway, which Americans United will argue before the U.S. Supreme Court this fall, are giving local officials serious pause when they consider allowing official sectarian prayers before public meetings.

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/prayer-push-clergy-demand-sectarian-invocations-before-government-meetings

Back To Prayer?: California Officials Sponsor Religious Event To Kick Off School Year

As public school students head back to class this week in a number of districts nationwide, the Religious Right and its allies wasted no time stirring up trouble with a back-to-school prayer stunt in California. 

MORE: https://au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/back-to-prayer-california-officials-sponsor-religious-event-to-kick-off

Prayer at Smyrna public high school event stirs debate

Former Riverdale High School teacher Steve Cates says he's a Christian and a member of the First Baptist Church of Murfreesboro, but contends folks, especially elected officials, shouldn't force prayer on anyone.

"I think it was totally out of place," Cates said. "[Sandlin] was using his position as a county commissioner to promote his religion on public property, government property. I don't think that was the time and place to do that."

MORE: http://www.wsmv.com/story/23140417/prayer-at-smyrna-public-high-school-event-stirs-debate

You give religions more than $82.5 billion a year

When people donate to religious groups, it's tax-deductible. Churches don't pay property taxes on their land or buildings. When they buy stuff, they don't pay sales taxes. When they sell stuff at a profit, they don't pay capital gains tax. If they spend less than they take in, they don't pay corporate income taxes. Priests, ministers, rabbis and the like get "parsonage exemptions" that let them deduct mortgage payments, rent and other living expenses when they're doing their income taxes. They also are the only group allowed to opt out of Social Security taxes (and benefits).

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/08/22/you-give-religions-more-than-82-5-billion-a-year/

Green light for FFRF’s anti-church politicking suit

The Freedom From Religion Foundation’s closely watched federal challenge over illegal partisan politicking by churches just got a green light from U.S. District Judge Lynn Adelman of the Western District of Wisconsin.

MORE: http://ffrf.org/news/news-releases/item/18614-green-light-for-ffrf

See also...

Catholic priest emails Rhode Island senators and stated he will actively campaign, from his pulpit, against those who voted for same-sex marriage
http://www.goddiscussion.com/113799/catholic-priest-emails-rhode-island-senators-and-stated-he-will-actively-campaign-from-his-pulpit-against-those-who-voted-for-same-sex-marriage/

We Should Be Taxing Churches
http://www.slate.com/blogs/moneybox/2013/08/22/churches_should_be_taxed_then_everyone_can_speak.html

Staying in a Georgia State Park? Starting Today, You Can Find Atheist Literature in the Cabins

Back in May, former American Atheists president Ed Buckner visited a state park in Georgia and found a Bible in his rented cabin. That wouldn't be unusual in a privately-owned hotel... but a state park?!

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/08/14/staying-in-a-georgia-state-park-starting-today-you-can-find-atheist-literature-in-the-cabins/

Atheist Prison Group Deserves Reconsideration

A Wisconsin inmate's request to form an atheist study group deserves the same consideration afforded to a recognized "religious" group, the 7th Circuit ruled.

MORE: http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/08/20/60450.htm