12 May Religion and Atheism News Digest

Tags

abortion, abuse, anti-discrimination, anti-gay, atheists, baptist, church of bacon, churches, conference, creationism, daniel dennett, evangelicals, exorcism, faith, FFRF, FIA, fitness, fundamentalists, future, gay marriage, gofundme, interfaith, jeb bush, judicial watch, ken ham, kids, laws, lawsuit, liberty university, marco rubio, miami, millenials, nuclear, nutrition, orality, pope francis, prayer, protest, reconciliation, religion, religious, satanic temple, susan hemeryck, tax exempt, transparency, war, wells fargo, wisconsin, women

Atheists Answer Questions About Life, Morality, Meaning, Raising Good Kids

They don’t fear death – expecting no after-life just makes each day more precious. And they keep in mind that it is science that explains that grandeur, not a mythic god.

Atheists Protest Outside Wells Fargo Over ‘United Church of Bacon’ Discrimination

The protesters – many of whom were carrying placards featuring slogans like ‘stop discrimination against atheists’ – were seen gathered outside the branch on Las Vegas Boulevard on Thursday.

What Is the Future of Faith? These 10 Millennials May Hold The Answer

We didn’t ask them to predict, but rather to share their hopes for the direction spirituality might take and inspire us to imagine a world filled with wisdom, compassion, and justice and beauty.

Pope Francis Finally Opens Door to Reconciliation for Women After Abortions?

At the heart of this story is a journalistic virus that seems to be affecting journalists around the world. You know the one, the “Everything Pope Francis touches is brand new” bug.

Churches Can No Longer Hide the Truth: Daniel Dennett on the New Transparency

The prominent philosopher of science is an advocate for hard-nosed empiricism, and as a leading New Atheist he calls for naturalistic explanations of religion.

Use and Abuse of Religion

Through surveys, the huge industrialists found the preacher was considered the most trustworthy. They then enlisted religious activists with like minds, who would preach the message that Christianity meant “freedom under God,” industriousness and free enterprise.

Interfaith Groups Stress Inhumane Nature of Nuclear Weapons

Nuclear weapons “are incompatible with the values upheld by our respective faith traditions,” representatives of some 50 Christian, Buddhist, Muslim and Jewish organizations have said.

Ken Ham: Reason Is Evil

For your entertainment, dear reader, we are pleased to bring you another rant from Ken Ham (ol’ Hambo) — the Australian entrepreneur who has become the ayatollah of Appalachia.

Madison, Wisconsin, Statute Enacts Law That Bans Religious Discrimination Against Atheists

This year thus far has seen major political moves made over religion, ever since same-sex couples filed discrimination suits against Christian businesses that would not provide them services.

Don’t Plan Any Funerals for Religion Just Yet, Baylor Scholars Say

Conference speakers highlight statistics and trends showing that in the U.S. and around the world, faith is on the rise.

College After Homeschooling

I think there were several reasons undergrad did not resonate well with my spirit. I did not understand that it is okay if I do not get along with some people, so I tried to force people to be my friends.

The Problem with How Fundamentalists Use the Word Individualism

This idea that individualism is negative, and that anything that resembles individualism is therefore bad ideology is not new to me, nor is it an argument used exclusively against egalitarianism.

At Liberty University, Jeb Bush Seeks Support from Evangelicals

The potential presidential candidate in the November 2016 election gave the commencement speech to 34,000 people in the football stadium at Liberty University, a school founded by evangelical leader Jerry Falwell.

Marco Rubio’s Miami Church: Exorcisms, Creationism, Anti-Gay Policies

He seems positioned to appeal to the anti-LGBT, creationist segment of the Protestant evangelical right.

Religious Groups Vow to Break D.C. Anti-Discrimination Law

A coalition of pro-life organizations with offices in the nation’s capital claim a recent measure adding “reproductive health” to the city’s non-discrimination policy infringes on their religious freedom to employ only people who share their values.

The Panic Over Churches’ Tax-Exempt Status in a Gay-Married World

The American Family Association’s One News Now claimed that “Christian colleges and universities would be forced to decide between compromising their biblical beliefs and surviving financially.”

Lawsuit or a Law Partner? Judicial Watch Suspects IRS, Atheists Colluding

Judicial Watch has filed a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit on behalf of Alliance Defending Freedom, seeking documents about a lawsuit settled between the IRS and an atheist group, the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

Let’s Take Action Instead of Praying About It

America is a melting pot with many religions and belief systems, and prayer should be a private matter that the government and public officials stay out of.

How My Family Replaced Religion with Nutrition, Fitness

Over the years, what has replaced Catholicism, however, is a devout belief in fitness and nutrition. My sister and her husband are vegan.

Woman who damaged Satanic Temple seeks funds for war on Satan

Susan Hemeryck has launched a GoFundMe page partly, she says, because she lost her home and her job in the aftermath, but also because she wants to wage a war on Satanists and atheists.