Monday Religion and Atheist Digest

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Celebrity Atheists: List of Stars Who Deny Religion and God’s Existence

Despite the fact that atheism is usually a huge taboo subject for mainstream media and general dinner-table talks, it recently became quite a comfortable stance for people as a way of life. [Read more]

Conference to Focus on Why Black Atheism Differs from White Atheism

Organizers of the conference called Moving Social Justice say that it’s about time the concerns of black atheists are recognized. [Read more]

Letter: Don’t Let Religion Overtake Government

It’s easy to identify modern day examples of nations having government imposed religious practices — Saudi Arabia, Iran, and Israel come to mind. Be careful what you wish for! [Read more]

The Problem I Have With Religion: Going Beyond Bill Maher

For a while now, I’ve wondered about the violence we don’t tend to talk about — for example, what I see as a futuristic kind of genocide embraced in the fundamentalist Christian belief that anyone who does not accept Jesus as their savior will go to Hell. [Read more]

5 Right-Wing Outrages This Week: Biblically Correct Sex Edition

Boy are some Christians having “biblically correct” sex going to be pissed if they come down with an STD. “Duck Dynasty” patriarch, Phil Robertson, told them this would not happen. [Read more]

Shocker: Leading Atheist Richard Dawkins Finally Admits That Religion ISN’T the Problem in the Mideast

In a recent interview with Russia Today, the evolutionary biologist and noted atheist was questioned about the Islamic religion and its ties to ISIS and just how much responsibility it bears in the brutal beheadings carried out by the terrorist group. [Read more]

8 Black Celebrities Who Don’t Believe In Jesus

Religion is something that is deeply ingrained into black culture. Most black people—especially entertainers, come from a Christian background. This is evident at every award show. [Read more]

Atheists Don’t Owe Social Justice a Damn Thing

No. I don’t believe this. I am quite involved in social justice and am a very hands on person with regards to that, but this piece piqued my “interest”. Long story short? Battle Lines were drawn up between two groups of people. [Read more]

Atheist Sam Harris Slams Ben Affleck Over Islam Debate, Defends Rosamund Pike’s ‘Gone Girl’ Leading Man From Critics

After a heated debate on Islam views on “Real Time With Bill Maher,” atheist Sam Harris took to his blog to explain why he thinks “Gone Girl” star Ben Affleck actually proved his point on Islam. [Read more]

Where’s the Line Between Religion and Radicalism?

A conversation about radical Islam and America. [Watch video]

CBS Rejects Ad By Militant Atheist Group

FFRF had asked for the ad to be run on 60 Minutes. CBS declined to run it at all. This, after all, is one of the most dishonest television networks in an ecosystem where dishonesty in the norm. [Read more]

Salman Rushdie Condemns ‘Hate-Filled Rhetoric’ of Islamic Fanaticism

Salman Rushdie says all religions have their extremists but “the overwhelming weight of the problem lies in the world of Islam.” [Read more]

KFC Refusal of Handwipes to Avoid Offending Muslims Upsets UK Customer

A KFC customer was shocked when he was refused a handwipe by the staff of the halal-only branch of KFC in St. George’s retail park, Leicester, U.K. [Read more]

Iranian Atheist Begs: ‘Don’t Send Me Back Home … I’ll Be Killed’

The nephew of a former Iranian deputy defence minister who has become a prominent and outspoken atheist in Scotland has made a desperate appeal not to be returned to his homeland, claiming his life is now at risk as he will be seen as a “traitor of Islam”. [Read more]

The Neglected Religions of Des Moines

Today, one of the tallest religious statues in the state will be dedicated here in Des Moines. It’s not of Jesus or Mary or Moses. It’s the Vietnamese Buddhist bodhisattva of compassion, Quan m. [Read more]

Jim Wallis on Ferguson: Repentance Has Not Happened There Yet

In the following Q&A — edited for clarity and length — Wallis talks about how faith plays a role in his decision to come to St. Louis and how his past involvement in the civil rights era compares to today. [Read more]

Televangelist Lost All to Mining, Plagued by Investors’ Complaints

Former Canadian televangelist Len Lindstrom is facing the toughest challenge of his life after losing everything to his mining business. “I am absolutely flat busted,” Lindstrom told CBC’s iTeam. [Read more]

Pastor’s Wife Tried To Kill Daughters After Getting ‘End of the World’ Messages from Estranged Husband

A Montgomery, Illinois, woman who attempted to kill her three daughters told police that she wanted them to “meet Jesus Christ,” after receiving messages from her estranged pastor husband telling her the world was coming to an end. [Read more]

Religion’s Influence Waning, Study Says

Does it really matter if religion is not the focal point of a person’s life, or if they look to themselves first to find solutions, rather than God or the church? [Read more]

Helping Converts Learn the Rites of a New Religion

Members of other Christian denominations, Jews, Hindus, Mormons and even an atheist have successfully completed the program and become practicing Catholics. Anyone is welcome regardless of religious background, [Mary] Murphy said. [Read more]

Nick Strobel: Religion and Science Complement One Another

More than 100 people attended the panel, with speakers from Bakersfield, Santa Barbara and the Bay Area addressing “Are Religion and Science Compatible?” [Read more]

Schools Set Up Community Nights to Allow Churches, Nonprofit Groups to Distribute Material

Though its members honor “the divine feminine,” Mother Grove Goddess Temple set up to share information in the Reynolds High cafeteria like any other mainline religious group. [Read more]

Supreme Court Says Firing Of Ohio Creationist Science Teacher ‘Justified’

The United States Supreme Court rejected Monday the appeal of Ohio science teacher John Freshwater, who was fired three years ago for teaching creationism. [Read more]

Ohio Community Defies Atheist Group’s Threat With Public Prayer at High School Football Game

An Ohio community sent a message to the atheist advocacy group Freedom From Religion Foundation Friday night as community members made it known ahead of time that they would hold a large public prayer following the completion of the local public high school football game. [Read more]

Some Mormons Pushing Church on Gay Marriage

Court decisions this week paving the way for same-sex marriage to become legal in dozens of states have emboldened a growing group of Latter-day Saints who are pushing the conservative church to become more accepting of gay members. [Read more]

World Council of Churches Head Meets Russian Patriarch Kirill in Moscow

Rev. Olav Fykse Tveit, World Council of Churches general secretary, has met Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church in Moscow to discuss churches and peacemaking challenges. [Read more]

Irrational Atheism

Not believing in God isn’t always based on reasoned arguments—and that’s okay. [Read more]

Are You There, Nobody? It’s Me, Margaret

New children’s book is a gentle introduction that there is no dog but dog. For nearly two thousand years, religious groups have held a monopoly on how to teach morals to young children. [Read more]

The Kink in the Human Brain–How Are Humans OK with Destroying the Planet?

If the news that in the past 40 years the world has  lost over 50% its vertebrate wildlife (mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish) fails to tell us that there is something wrong with the way we live, it’s hard to imagine what could. [Read more]

Pat Robertson Has Annual Halloween Freakout

It’s October, so it’s time for Pat Robertson to tell his ignorant and credulous followers that if they let their kids trick or treat on Halloween, they’re going to come home possessed by demons.

[Read more]