Thursday Religion and Skepticism Report 01/08

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alabama, anti-vaxxer, bill, cardinals, china, christianity, church, congress, DC, exemptions, FFRF, god, hindu, india, judaism, marriage, methists, military, millennials, neil degrasse tyson, new york, parents, pastors, pope francis, priests, public, rabbi, religion, religious, same-sex, schools, science, SOCAS, taxes, usa today, women

Freedom From Religion Foundation Raps NY Eruv Decision

The Freedom from Religion Foundation denounced yesterday’s U.S. Court of Appeals ruling that allows Orthodox Jews to escape certain prohibitions on the Sabbath in a designated area in Westhampton Beach. [Read more]

3 Religious Exemption Cases to Look for in 2015

We already know that 2014 was a big year for religious exemption cases, from the gravely serious to the immensely trivial. But what will 2015 have in store? [Read more]

Freedom From Religion Foundation Has Passion for Truth

Kudos to Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker as they move into their expanded offices. Over the years that I have followed the Freedom From Religion Foundation, my respect for and appreciation of them and their work has continued to grow. [Read more]

The Religious Composition of the 114th Congress

More than nine-in-ten members of the House and Senate (92%) are Christian, and about 57% are Protestant, roughly the same as in the 113th Congress (90% and 56%, respectively). [Read more]

USA Today’s “Year in Defense” Publication Includes Full-Page Ad Honoring Military Atheists

If you look through USA Today‘s “Year in Defense” publication, there’s a full-page ad supporting atheists in foxholes (on page 71). [Read more]

Motion: Bible Distribution in Public Schools (with MP3)

A policy adopted by the Delta County School Board allows outside parties to distribute religious materials on school grounds. [Read more]

Concerning a Seriously Neglected Church-State Drama in the District of Columbia

On Dec. 2, the District of Columbia Council unanimously amended the city’s Human Rights Act in order to end exemptions that aided religions opposed to same-sex relationships. [Read more]

Leelah Alcorn Isn’t Alone: What Happens When Religious Parents Reject Transgender Teens

The trans teen’s suicide has sparked a conversation about rejection—and acceptance—of LGBT youths in religious communities. [Read more]

‘Anti-Vaxxers’ Lose; 2nd Cir. Finds Religious Beliefs Not ‘Sincere’

Nicole Phillips and other parents challenged New York State’s requirement that children be vaccinated in order to attend public school. [Read more]

New Religious Action Center Leader Aims to Sharpen Reform Judaism’s Stamp on Policy

Boston Rabbi Jonah Pesner, a 46-year-old marathon-running community activist, takes over from Rabbi David Saperstein, a respected dean of Washington faith advocates and law professor who was confirmed last month. [Read more]

The Thing About Millennials And The Church That Nobody Wants To Talk About

Lately it seems like a day doesn’t go by when at least half a dozen articles about millennials and the Church don’t fill up my Facebook newsfeed. [Read more]

Alabama City Council Officials Declare God ‘Owner’ of Their Little City

The small city of Winfield, Alabama, recently decided that they would like a little divine insurance against what they see as the “awful condition” of the rest of the country. [Read more]

What Christianity Contributes to China’s Economic Rise

China is home to the world’s second largest religious population after India, according to the latest demographic estimates by Pew Research. [Read more]

Cardinal Raymond Burke: ‘Feminized’ Church and Altar Girls Caused Priest Shortage

Cardinal Raymond Burke, a senior American churchman in Rome who has been one of the most outspoken critics of Pope Francis’ push for reform. [Read more]

Pope Francis is Reshaping the Geography of the College of Cardinals

In naming his second group of cardinals, Pope Francis has continued to shift the balance of Roman Catholic Church’s leadership away from the continent it has long called home. [Read more]

United Methodists Settle Complaint Against Bishop Over Same-Sex Wedding

The United Methodist Church is dropping a complaint against a retired bishop who performed a 2013 same-sex wedding in Alabama, offering at least a brief respite within a larger heated debate over same-sex marriage. [Read more]

Bill Would Protect Pastors Who Refuse to Perform Same-Sex Marriages

A proposal in the Oklahoma House of Representatives would shield religious leaders from lawsuits if they have objections to same-sex marriages. [Read more]

Indian Lawmaker Wants Hindu Women to ‘Protect’ Faith By Having At Least 4 Children

A member of parliament from India’s ruling party has urged Hindu women to produce at least four children in an effort to “protect” their religion as concerns grow about the stridency of Hindu extremists. [Read more]

Can Science and Religion Save Each Other?

A flurry of controversy surrounded the astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson two weeks ago when he took a jab at religion in the name of science. [Read more]