Fundamentalists won't let men/women pray together

"The moment we allow these groups a foothold, then tomorrow they will start to restrain us in our own synagogues, in the name of democracy, in the name of liberalism and in the name of pluralism," says one Shmuel Poppenheim, an Israeli ultra-Orthodox activist. What he was...

Atheists attacked and large public support for Christianity

As an atheist, I never realized that I was a threat to take down the remains of the World Trade Center. That I was trying to "finish the job" that Muslim terrorists committed on 9/11/01. I must be, because some guy named Shawn Akers (who I haven't even heard of until 5...

Examples of Christian nationalism in our public schools

Issues in the News: I. Bill O'Reilly, debated with devout Christian and talk show host Laura Ingraham about his previous on-air statement, "The compelling argument is on the side of homosexuals. That is where the compelling argument is. We're Americans, we just...

Why almost everyone is wrong about the terms atheism and agnostic

I was listening to a conservative Jewish talk show host who I will only go by his initials, D.P. because I don't want to give him any unnecessary publicity.  D.P. is of the opinion that agnostics should attend a church 26 weeks a year. Or a syngogue. To him agnostic...

Christian lawmaker tells mother her daughter is a fool

 I wish I wasn't writing this column, but alas, theocracy and Christian nationalism never sleeps. In the state of North Carolina there is a bill, with considerable Republican support, to enact a state church. The idea behind this bill is that the First Amendment's,...

Beyonce for same sex marriage

Issues in the NewsI. To those who state that we shouldn't have registration of guns or even background checks because Hitler took away all the guns of Germans, that is a myth. The average German continued to enjoy gun ownership throughout the world. Indeed, it was...

GOP withdrawals med. pot bill because voters "harass" lawmakers?

Issues in the news: I. Fox News, the propaganda arm of the religious right-wing in America, is upset that Google didn't do one of their famous holiday doodle screens with an Easter theme, on Easter. Who did they honor that day? Well, one of the greatest labor leaders...

Boy Preaches Against Gay Marriage Outside Pro-Gay Church - VIDEO

"An unidentified child stood outside the Green Street United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and preached against homosexuality on Easter Sunday. “You have your chance to repent, to stop your sinning, to quit affirming the gay people," the boy...

Conservative compares same sex marriage to marrying dogs and kids

A few points on same sex marriage while watching the debates at the Supreme Court and reading posts about it.  First, to those who state that marriage did not originate with government, it did though. It originated among early human groups, maybe living in cave. That was...

Why do anti-gay opponents think they are persecuted?

Well, I was listening to conservative talk radio (and calling into some shows) on the issue of marriage equality for gay couples, as this issue is before the U.S. Supreme Court right now. Now, one of the hosts stated that those young people who think of their elders...

Court to take up marriage equality today and oh about Rihanna

Well, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments today on the anti-same sex marriage referendum of California. A referendum that was heavily funded by the Catholic and Mormon churches. I guess Catholics had some money left over after paying child abuse cases. This could be...

Why the U.S. should cease recognizing the Vatican as a nation

Well, we've had a new Pope, in Pope Francis I, for over a full day now. Not we, as the Catholic Church, but we as the world. I say the world because no matter what your religion might be (or if you have no religion like me) the Church is still very powerful in much of the...

Illegal police search of cellphones and more anti-gay zealotry

Various issues in the news: I. San Francisco police arrested one Bob Offer-Westort in January 2012 for his protests against city public policy regarding the homeless. He refused to unpitch his tent from a public park. Hardly Al Capone stuff. Well after his arrest his phone...

A tale of two Freds, with one who welcomed you to be his neighbor

Everyone of my age loved Mr. Rogers growing up. My age being the same age of watching the Incredible Hulk and MASH on television. Simply, Fred Rogers is one of the greatest and most wonderful men that our nation has ever produced. Although I an atheist and he was a...

Why would a god care about who heads a household anyway?

Fundamentalist religion gives cover for the most sexiest beliefs one can imagine. Supposedly there is a god who jump started the vast, vast universe with quadillions of stars, but he cares about your sex life. He wants you to be heterosexual and he wants to be sure that a...