The Non-Prophets

Christian pastors were told to start private schools since taxpayers would foot the bill The Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on August 16, 2024 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/christian-pastors-were-told-to-start In Florida, the expansion of religious school vouchers has raised significant concerns about the state's education budget and the role of public funding in supporting private religio...

What does the winged victory of Samothrace represent? Internet debunks 'headless angel' at the Olympics claim Sportskeeda, By Karishma Rao, on August 12, 2024 https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/news-what-winged-victory-samothrace-represent-headless-angel-olympics-claim-debunked   The Non-Prophets, Episode 23.34.4 featuring Cynthia, Phil the Skeptic Atheist, Rob (Robert Croy) and Phoebe Rose B...

Ignoring racism won’t fix racism: A response to Robyn Blumner's misguided essay The Friendly Atheist, By Bakari Chavanu and Hemant Mehta, on Aug 13, 202 4 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/ignoring-racism-wont-fix-racism-a Bakari Shabanu, a Black atheist humanist, critiques Robert Blumer's editorial on secular humanism and the notion of a colorblind society. Blumer argues for a society that overlo...

Woman recalls alleged sexual abuse at age 3 in Michigan church, lawsuit saysNBC News, By Erik Ortiz, on August 13, 2024 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/woman-recalls-alleged-sexual-abuse-age-3-michigan-church-lawsuit-says-rcna165569   The discussion unfolds around the heartbreaking tale of a woman who recalls experiencing sexual abuse at the age of three, memories she later recovered during t...

Richard Dawkins lied about the Algerian boxer, then lied about Facebook censoring him The Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on Aug 11, 2024 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/richard-dawkins-lied-about-the-algerian Richard Dawkins, known for his influential writings on atheism and evolution, recently sparked controversy with comments on Twitter regarding transgender athletes in the Olympics. Dawki...

How US Public Schools Became a New Religious Battleground US News/Reuthers, By Liya Cui and Joseph Ax, on Aug. 7, 2024 https://www.usnews.com/news/top-news/articles/2024-08-07/how-us-public-schools-became-a-new-religious-battleground   In a discussion centering on the tension between religion and public education in the United States, the core theme highlights the rise of Christian nationalism and...

Inside Robby Starbuck's anti-DEI war on Tractor Supply, John Deere and Harley-Davidson US Today, by Jessica Guynn, on Aug. 2, 2024 https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2024/08/02/robby-starbuck-harley-davidson-john-deere-dei/74608637007/ The discussion delves into the recent activism of a conservative figure who has initiated a boycott against Harley-Davidson due to their support for LGBTQ+ initia...

Anti-trans Texas pastor arrested after paying undercover cop for sex The Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on Aug 05, 2024 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/anti-trans-texas-pastor-arrested The recent discussion sheds light on the issue of hypocrisy within religious leadership, exemplified by the arrest of a senior pastor in Plano, Texas, for soliciting a prostitute. This incident, referred to as...

Priest sues gay hookup app Grindr over data leak Catholic News Agency, By Daniel Payne, on Jul 26, 2024 https://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/258413/priest-sues-gay-hookup-app-grindr-over-data-leak   In this segment, the discussion centers around Monsignor Jeffrey Burr, a Catholic priest who faced public scrutiny and resigned from his position after being accused of using the social app Grinder...

Behind Jordan Peterson’s ‘Biblical’ Teaching Is His Own Humanistic AgendaThe Federalist, By Larry Taunton, on May 21, 2024 https://thefederalist.com/2024/05/21/behind-jordan-petersons-biblical-teaching-is-his-own-humanistic-agenda/ Jordan Peterson's foray into biblical teachings has been characterized by a problematic fusion of superficial theology and psychological self-help. His appeal to Christ...

Missouri Attorney General Opposes Opportunity for Marcellus Williams to Establish His Innocence Before Execution Date Death Penalty Information Center, By , on Jul 22, 2024 https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/missouri-attorney-general-opposes-opportunity-for-marcellus-williams-to-establish-his-innocence-before-execution-date Missouri is currently embroiled in a deeply troubling civil rights case inv...

99 years after the Scopes ‘monkey trial,’ religious fundamentalism still infects our schools Los Angeles Times, By Michael Hiltzik, on July 26, 2024 https://www.latimes.com/business/story/2024-07-26/99-years-after-the-scopes-monkey-trial-religious-fundamentalism-still-infects-our-schools Nearly a century ago, a significant trial unfolded in Tennessee, where the clash between religious fundamentali...

Oklahoma Bible mandate: Ryan Walters threatens 'rogue' districts The Oklahoman, By M. Scott Carter Murray Evans, on July 31, 2024 https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/education/2024/07/31/oklahoma-bible-in-schools-ryan-walters-threatens-rogue-districts/74599357007/ Oklahoma's State School Superintendent has stirred controversy again by mandating the teaching of the Bible in public school classroom...

A Texas public school superintendent won't stop promoting Christianity at workThe Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on Jul 24, 2024 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/a-texas-public-school-superintendent In the latest segment on religious issues in public schools, the focus turns to Rusk Independent School District (ISD) Superintendent Gray Burton and his controversial approach to prayer in school...

Olympics opening ceremony sparks outrage with drag queens parodying Last Supper: 'Gone completely woke' Fox News, By Alexander Hall, on July 26, 2024 https://www.foxnews.com/media/olympics-opening-ceremony-sparks-outrage-drag-queens-parodying-last-supper-gone-completely-woke The Paris 2024 Olympics opening ceremony ignited a storm of controversy, primarily due to a performance that some viewers mi...

Inside the two-year fight to bring charges against school librarians in Granbury, Texas NBC News, By Mike Hixenbaugh, Tyler Kingkade, Scott Friedman and Eva Parks, on July 23, 2024 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/school-librarians-banned-books-investigation-texas-rcna161444 In a saga reminiscent of the Keystone Cops, a two-year pursuit of felony charges against school librarians in Granbury,...

Sonya Massey shooting: Illinois police release bodycam video of fatal shooting of Black woman in her home CNN, By Eric Levenson, Jillian Sykes and Brad Parks, on July 23, 2024 https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/22/us/sonya-massey-police-shooting/index.html A distressing case of police brutality involving the death of a Black woman, Sonia Massi. Sonia, a 36-year-old mother of two, called the police for he...

Project 2025 would fundamentally change public education, experts sayThe Hill, By Lexi Lonas, on July 12, 2024 https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4766919-project-2025-trump-campaign-biden-heritage-foundation-public-education/   Project 2025 represents a significant conservative push to radically transform U.S. public education, primarily aimed at dismantling existing structures and reorienting...

Is Arizona erasing Black history? These leaders say contributions 'systemically oppressed' Arizona Republic, By Kaely Monahan Amanda Luberto, on July 9, 2024 https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/2024/07/08/is-arizona-erasing-black-history/74282912007/   Arizona, a state with a rich and diverse history, has long seen the stories and contributions of its African American residents underacknowl...

Texas megachurch pastor steps down over ‘moral failures,’ invokes Lucifer to bar congregants from talking New Your Post, By Alex Oliveira, on July 16. 2024 https://nypost.com/2024/07/15/us-news/texas-megachurch-pastor-steps-down-over-moral-failures/   In Frisco, Texas, Tony Karoda, pastor of Stonebrier Community Church, recently resigned after admitting to a "moral failure." The church's response,...

Donor-Funded Ziklag Backs Voter Purges, Christian RuleZiklag, funded by wealthy donors, wants voter purges and Christian NationalismThe Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta , on July 16. 2024 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/ziklag-funded-by-wealthy-donors-wants The biblical town of Ziklag, mentioned in the Old Testament as a place where King David strategized during his exile, is now being used as...

Thanks to Humanists, all British Columbia municipalities have ditched prayers at meetings., Friendly Atheist, by Hemant Mehta, on July 5, 2024,  https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/thanks-to-humanists-all-british-columbia In a significant step forward for humanists and advocates of secular governance, all City Council meetings in British Columbia will now be prayer-free. This development comes nine...

Satanists in Florida offer to fill school counselor roles after DeSantis lawThe Hill, By Lexi Lonas, on July 8, 2024 https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4760286-satanists-florida-public-school-counselors-desantis/   In an expected turn of events, the Satanic Temple is challenging a new law in Florida, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, which permits volunteer chaplains in public schools. Lucien G...

Lawyer for megachurch pastor blamed 12-year-old for initiating ‘inappropriate’ sexual conduct NBC News, By Mike Hixenbaugh and Antonia Hylton, on July 9, 2024 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/robert-morris-gateway-church-lawyer-letters-cindy-clemishire-rcna160661   The discussion continues to uncover and critique the abhorrent behavior of certain pastors within the church community. This episo...

Texas pastor fined after illegally using church donations to boost his city council campaign Friendly Atheist, By Hemant Mehta, on JULY 11, 2024 https://www.friendlyatheist.com/p/texas-pastor-fined-after-illegally In an unprecedented move, a Texas pastor and two churches have been fined by the Texas Ethics Commission for violating state election laws, emphasizing the ongoing importance of the sepa...