Judge Declares Tax Exclusion For Clergy Housing Payments Unconstitutional

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has won a stunning victory in the United States District  Court For The Western District Of Wisconsin where Judge Barbara Crabb has ruled that a substantial tax benefit enjoyed by many thousands of clergy -- ministers, priests, rabbis, imams and others -- is unconstitutional.

MORE: http://www.forbes.com/sites/peterjreilly/2013/11/23/judge-declares-exclusion-for-clergy-housing-payments-unconstitutional/

See also...

Federal District Court Declares A Religious Income Tax Exemption Unconstitutional
http://thenewcivilrightsmovement.com/breaking-federal-district-court-declares-a-religious-income-tax-exemption-unconstitutional/politics/2013/11/22/79158#.UpAj0OL4KfX

Two Years After Rejecting Atheist Bus Ads, Port Authority of Allegheny County Gets Sued

Nearly two years ago, the United Coalition of Reason offered to pay $5,700 to the Port Authority of Allegheny County (in Pennsylvania) to put up 12 king-sized bus ads over the course of a month to advertise the newly-formed Pittsburgh Coalition of Reason.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/11/28/two-years-after-rejecting-atheist-bus-ads-port-authority-of-allegheny-county-gets-sued/

See also...

Group sues Pa. transit agency over non-theist ads
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/group-sues-pa-transit-agency-over-non-theist-ads/2013/11/27/f4d351b6-576b-11e3-bdbf-097ab2a3dc2b_story.html

Port Authority faces suit over 'Godless' ads
http://www.post-gazette.com/local/2013/11/26/Washington-D-C-group-sues-Port-Authority-over-refusal-of-Don-t-believe-in-God-ads/stories/201311260144

D.C. group sues Port Authority for refusing to run nontheist ads
http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/5152467-74/authority-ads-run#ixzz2lp39v8ro

Port Authority Sued By Non-Theistic Group Over Ad Space
http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/11/27/port-authority-sued-by-non-theistic-group-over-ad-space/

Atheist Billboards: Pennsylvania Non-Theist Organizations Sues Port Authority for Refusing to Run Advertisements
http://www.hngn.com/articles/18247/20131127/pennsylvania-non-theist-organizations-sues-port-authority-for-refusing-to-run-advertisements.htm

Group sues Port Authority over nontheist ads
http://www.wtae.com/news/local/allegheny/group-sues-port-authority-over-nontheist-ads/-/10927008/23184020/-/k844pz/-/index.html

Atheists Sue Pittsburgh's Port Authority for Rejecting Godless Bus Ads (Original Press Release)
http://unitedcor.org/national/news/atheists-sue-pittsburgh%E2%80%99s-port-authority-rejecting-godless-bus-ads

Giving thanks, the 'nones' way

"My thankfulness is to have participated in this truly awesome Universe -- or multiverse, if you prefer -- and to have been born and lived a life that is meaningful in how I have contributed to our human society."

MORE: http://www.daily-times.com/farmington-opinion/ci_24606612/column-giving-thanks-nones-way

See also...

Thanksgiving Non-Prayers for Humanists
http://americanhumanist.org/HNN/details/2013-11-thanksgiving-non-prayers-for-humanists

Center For Inquiry Launches Digital Billboard in Times Square: 'Millions Show Love and Gratitude Without God'

The Center For Inquiry launched an ad campaign in New York City's Times Square reminding everyone that atheists, too, can take part in this season of gratitude and giving.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/11/27/center-for-inquiry-launches-digital-billboard-in-times-square-millions-show-love-and-gratitude-without-god/

New Study: Three-Quarters of American Giving Goes to Religion

Probably the most notable statistics, though, are those which compare religious and non-religious philanthropy. Religion is supposed to make us better people, which includes, I assume, being more generous. So, is it the case that religious people give more generously than the non-religious?

Well, yes and no. Remember that statistic, that 65% of religious people donate to charity? The non-religious figure is 56%. But according to the study, the entire 9% difference is attributed to religious giving to congregations and religious organizations. So, yes, religion causes people to give more--to religion itself.

--snip--

So, most religious people are equally generous; they only give more than non-religious people because they give to religious organizations. 

MORE: http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/culture/7417/new_study__three_quarters_of_american_giving_goes_to_religion/

See also...

Are Religious People Really More Generous Than Atheists? A New Study Puts That Myth to Rest
http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/11/28/are-religious-people-really-more-generous-than-atheists-a-new-study-puts-that-myth-to-rest/

So How Badly Do Christians Tip, Anyway?

This year, the phenomenon of restaurant customers writing aggressive, even hateful "Christian" messages on credit card receipts in lieu of a tip seems to have reached, well, a tipping point. We've also seen that it's common in some circles to leave, rather than a gratuity, a fake ten-dollar bill with a Bible verse printed on the back. And a few years ago, we got reports that some Christians who go out to dine on Sunday tell the wait staff they won't tip ... because they don't approve of people working on the Christian Sabbath.

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/11/17/so-how-badly-do-christians-tip-anyway/

Atheist: Still a Scarlet Letter in American Politics?

The growth of the religiously unaffiliated, who now account for roughly 1-in-5 Americans, may presage warmer feelings toward atheists. Yet what seems more likely, at least in the short term, is that views of the non-religious will improve.

MORE: http://publicreligion.org/2013/11/atheist-still-a-scarlet-letter-in-american-politics/

Atheists challenge IRS over nonprofit finances

(RNS) Nonbelievers are challenging the Internal Revenue Service's special exemptions for religious organizations in a federal court in Kentucky, saying churches and other religious groups should have the same financial rules as other nonprofit groups.

MORE: http://www.religionnews.com/2013/11/22/atheists-challenge-irs-nonprofit-finances/

Humanists warn public schools over Franklin Graham's 'Operation Christmas Child'

(RNS) An organization of nonbelievers is threatening legal action against public schools that participate in an evangelical Christian charity that delivers Christmas toys to poor children.

MORE: http://www.religionnews.com/2013/11/14/humanists-warn-public-schools-franklin-grahams-operation-christmas-child/

Being Good for Goodness' Sake: Why Operation Christmas Child Is Wrong

'Tis the season for giving, and according to the World Giving Index, America is the most charitable nation in the world, giving over 200 billion dollars annually. Unfortunately, some religious charitable organizations are staining American philanthropy's good name by giving gifts with strings attached. Rather than giving because it's the right thing to do, these charities give aid in exchange for religious conversion.

MORE: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/roy-speckhardt/being-good-for-goodness-s_1_b_4337826.html

The Child-Rape Assembly Line

The powerful men--and it is worth noting that this community is regulated by men only--who govern the world of ultra-Orthodox Judaism would rather their adherents be blind in their faith, their eyes closed to the horrors Rabbi Rosenberg is exposing. Like the Catholic establishment, the rabbinate seeks to cover up the crimes, quiet the victims, protect the abusers, and deflect potential criticism of their institutional practices. Those who speak out are vilified, and the faithful learn to shut their mouths.

MORE: http://www.vice.com/read/the-child-rape-assembly-line-0000141-v20n11

Another couple found guilty of murder for parenting by "To Train Up a Child"

Two parents in Washington state have been found guilty of murder after following the abusive parenting techniques advocated in the parenting book "To Train Up a Child" by Michael and Debi Pearl.

MORE: http://www.examiner.com/article/another-couple-found-guilty-of-murder-for-parenting-by-to-train-up-a-child

See also...

Faith Healing: Religious Freedom vs. Child Protection
http://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org/faith-healing-religious-freedom-vs-child-protection/

Fallen followers: Investigation finds 10 more dead children of faith healers

None of the parents of the children who are buried at Peaceful Valley Cemetery will be prosecuted. Oregon wiped out its laws protecting faith-healers. Idaho did not.

MORE: http://www.katu.com/news/investigators/Fallen-followers-Investigation-finds-10-more-dead-children-of-faith-healers-231050911.html

Witness says Inuit girls came up with their own plan to stop attacks by priest

The trial in Iqaluit, Nunavut, started with Dejaeger pleading guilty to eight counts of indecent assault. Testimony began on the remaining 69 charges he faces, including sexual abuse, indecent assault, making threats and confinement.

MORE: http://westcoastnativenews.com/witness-says-inuit-girls-came-up-with-their-own-plan-to-stop-attacks-by-priest/

2 arrested in alleged Calif. exorcism kidnapping

A father and son are in custody in California on suspicion of kidnapping the father’s ex-wife to perform an exorcism.

MORE: http://www.thecalifornian.com/article/20131112/NEWS06/311120047/2-arrested-alleged-Calif-exorcism-kidnapping?gcheck=1&nclick_check=1

Atheists in the military need chaplains, too

Service members who are atheists or have no religious affiliation are the second largest "religious group" in the military.

MORE: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/wp/2013/11/22/atheists-in-the-military-need-chaplains-too/

Non-Religious Wedding Officiant Training Now Available Online From the Humanist Institute

With an increasing demand for non-religious wedding officiants in the U.S., formal online wedding ceremony training is now available through The Humanist Institute's Continuum for Humanist Education. The course is available to current humanist celebrants as well as those who are considering becoming one.

MORE: http://americanhumanist.org/news/details/2013-11-non-religious-wedding-officiant-training-now-availab

Church-state separation group blasts academy in TV ad

An organization that advocates for the separation of church and state in the military plans to air a television commercial that blasts the Air Force Academy for what the group says is religious intolerance.

MORE: http://www.airforcetimes.com/article/20131119/NEWS/311190009/Church-state-separation-group-blasts-academy-TV-ad

New Jersey Rejects Another Atheist License Plate, But Allows a Baptist One

The Motor Vehicles Commission of the state of New Jersey continues its war on nonbelievers!

MORE: http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2013/11/23/new-jersey-rejects-another-atheist-license-plate-but-allows-a-baptist-one/

SCOTUS Tackles Government Prayer in Greece v. Galloway

When the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Town of Greece v. Galloway last week it marked the first time in 30 years that the court revisited the issue of prayer in the public square. The question before the court this time is whether it is constitutional for a town council to consistently open its legislative meetings with sectarian prayers. 

MORE: http://www.religiondispatches.org/archive/politics/7392/scotus_tackles_government_prayer_in_greece_v__galloway/