Dawkinsia, new genus

Etymology. The genus is named for Richard Dawkins, for his contribution to the public understanding of science and, in particular, of evolutionary science.

MORE: http://richarddawkins.net/articles/646501-dawkinsia-new-genus

Son: Iranian dad arrested for my Facebook posts

With more than 21,000 likes, the page explains, "Our goal is to use satire to take out the superstition from religion."

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/12/world/facebook-iran-imam/index.html?hpt=wo_t2

International outrage grows over destruction of Mali shrines

(CNN) -- The United States is condemning the destruction of two more tombs in northern Mali as international outrage grows over Islamist militants' attacks on historic and religious landmarks in the nation.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/12/world/africa/mali-shrines-destroyed/index.html?hpt=iaf_c2

Suicide bomber detonates at Afghan wedding, kills at least 17

"We suspect it is the Taliban who are enemies of Afghanistan."

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/14/world/asia/afghanistan-wedding-blast/index.html?hpt=ias_c1

Gunmen kill 9 Pakistani prison guards in attack on building

Shortly afterward, the Taliban claimed responsibility for the act.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/12/world/asia/pakistan-violence/index.html?hpt=ias_c2

See also...

Bomb blast at political rally in Pakistan kills 7, police say
http://www.cnn.com/2012/07/13/world/asia/pakistan-unrest/index.html?hpt=ias_c2

"Godless Billboard" Stirs Emotions

Omaha, NE -- It's the sign that has thousands talking about their religion or even their lack of religious beliefs.  Have you seen it?  It's sitting on the corner of 72nd and Pacific, the billboard is the first 'Godless Billboard' in Nebraska.

MORE: http://www.kmtv.com/news/local/161872095.html

See also...

Atheist Billboard Goes Up in Omaha
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2012/07/06/atheist-billboard-goes-up-in-omaha/

Godless Billboard in Omaha Heralds Freethought Conference
http://unitedcor.org/national/news/godless-billboard-omaha-heralds-freethought-conference

You don’t need God to be good . . . or generous

Examples of charitable relief efforts set up by non-believers in recent years include the Skeptics and Humanists Aid and Relief Effort, organised by the admirable Center for Inquiry; and the Humanist Charities operated by the American Humanist Association. At the time of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science set up Non-Believers Giving Aid (NBGA). Entirely through the website RichardDawkins.net, NBGA raised more than half a million dollars (for Doctors Without Borders and the Red Cross) in less than a month, almost all of it in the form of small donations from thousands of individual subscribers, passed on in their entirety, with no deductions for expenses, handling changes etc.

The most ambitious example of such an initiative for non-believing donors has just been launched by the atheist activist and philanthropist Todd Stiefel. The Stiefel family has pledged to match up to half a million dollars, which would bring in a target total of a million dollars in aid of cancer research through Foundation Beyond Belief.

MORE: http://richarddawkins.net/articles/646445-you-don-t-need-god-to-be-good-or-generous-also-in-polish

Join the American Humanist Association in Helping To Raise $1 Million for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

Humanists from around the world are uniting to raise $1,000,000 for LLS, and we need your help. Now's the time to show what we can achieve together when we unite around our reason-based values.

MORE: http://www.americanhumanist.org/news/details/2012-07-join-the-american-humanist-association-in-helping-to

What "Dummies" need to know about atheism

Dale McGowan is an author and executive director of Foundation Beyond Belief, a nontheistic charitable organization. He was recently enlisted to write "Atheism for Dummies," the first book about nontheists from the "Dummies" series of books.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-faith/what-dummies-need-to-know-about-atheism/2012/07/09/gJQAtKZvYW_story.html

Five Recommendations for a New Politeness

With political correctness an irreformable term, and chivalry having its own baggage, perhaps we can learn to be polite without allowing it to hamper our ability to be opinionated.

MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/five-recommendations-for-_b_1648705.html

Timelapse video: artist paints 30 foot high mural on a CERN control room

This short, time-lapse video was finished June 2012, using photos that were taken during the project's execution:

What would disprove evolution?

If evolution is a scientific theory worth its salt, then there must be some conceivable observations that could show it to be wrong.

MORE: http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2012/07/09/what-would-disprove-evolution/


Free iPad app: Evolution -- Making Sense of Life
http://richarddawkins.net/articles/646450-free-ipad-app-evolution-making-sense-of-life

Evangelicals Fight Over Therapy To 'Cure' Gays

Supporters call it "conversion therapy." Critics call it "praying away the gay." Whatever name you use, it's creating a ruckus in Christian circles about whether a person can change his or her sexual orientation. And now the largest "ex-gay ministry" is rejecting the approach.

MORE: http://www.npr.org/2012/07/06/156367287/evangelicals-fight-over-therapy-to-cure-gays?sc=fb&cc=fmp

Former Scientologist opens up on religion

CNN's Anderson Cooper talks to a former Scientologist about her experiences with the religious group.

MORE: http://www.cnn.com/video/?hpt=hp_t2#/video/bestoftv/2012/07/10/ac-woodcraft-scientology-interview.cnn

Job And Justice: Judge's Mandate Is Mistake Of Biblical Proportions

Should judges require convicts to read the Bible and write essays about it? In a nation that separates religion and government, you’d think the answer would be a clear "No!"

MORE: http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/job-and-justice-judge-s-mandate-is-mistake-of-biblical-proportions

Courting Confusion: Why Is The Ohio Supreme Court Hearing A Creationist Teacher's Case?

A middle school science teacher who was fired in January 2011 is set to have his case reviewed by the Ohio Supreme Court even though he not only taught creationism, but also was accused of branding a student with a cross.

MORE: http://www.au.org/blogs/wall-of-separation/courting-confusion-why-is-the-ohio-supreme-court-hearing-a-creationist

See also...

Ohio Supreme Court agrees to hear creationism appeal
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2012/07/05/supreme-court-to-hear-creationism-appeal.html

Family moves cross from adopt-a-spot after atheists complain

The white cross featuring the words God Bless America recently caused a stir when local atheist group, the Humanists of Rhode Island, wrote a letter to the mayor asking that it be removed because it violated separation of church and state since it sat on public land. The cross is located on a median on Pleasant Valley Parkway across from the Coca-Cola factory.

MORE: http://630wpro.com/Article.asp?id=2489978&spid=37719

Episcopal bishops authorize gay blessing

(AP) Episcopal bishops approved an official prayer service for blessing same-sex couples Monday at a national convention that also cleared the way for transgender ordination.

At the Episcopal General Convention in Indianapolis, the House of Bishops voted 111-41, with three abstentions, to authorize a provisional rite for same-sex unions for the next three years. The liturgy next goes to convention's deputies for their authorization.

MORE: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57469077/episcopal-bishops-authorize-gay-blessing/?tag=cbsnewsSectionContent.1

Indiana abortion law ruled illegal

(CNN) - A controversial Indiana law that would keep low-income women from using federal Medicaid benefits to receive any kind of reproductive medical care from Planned Parenthood is unacceptable because it denies women the freedom to choose their health care providers, according to a federal hearing officer.

MORE: http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2012/07/09/indiana-abortion-law-ruled-illegal/?hpt=hp_t2

Nature journal wins libel case, highlights holes in UK defamation law

A three-year long libel case brought against a science journal has been dismissed, in a move that highlights the need for a public interest clause in UK defamation law to protect the free press.

MORE: http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2012-07/06/nature-wins-libel-case