atheism

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Punishment for Atheism in 7 Countries: Death
Punishment for Atheism
in 7 Countries: Death
new report
Dec 10, 2012 8:49 AM CST

Punishment for Atheism in 7 Countries: Death

And atheists don't enjoy full rights in Arkansas: report

(Newser) - Choosing not to believe can be a deadly choice in seven of the world's countries, according to a new report out today. It found that atheists can be executed for their views in Afghanistan, Iran, Maldives, Mauritania, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Sudan. Reuters notes that the report didn't...

This Year's Nativity Flap: the 'Atheists Won'

Judge's ruling will likely end 60-year Santa Monica tradition

(Newser) - After almost 60 years of displaying Nativity scenes in a public park, Santa Monica Christians may be out of luck: A judge yesterday tentatively ruled to bar such scenes, and all other seasonal displays, from public spaces. The fight between the Christian groups and atheists began a few years back,...

Anti-Romney Billboard Rips Mormon 'Bigotry'

Meanwhile, Ohio takes down voter fraud billboards

(Newser) - Mitt Romney's Mormon faith hasn't been much of an issue this election, but American Atheists is trying to make it one. The group is sending out a mobile billboard reading "No Blacks Allowed (until 1978)" and "No Gays Allowed (Current)" to follow Romney for the next...

No Longer a US Majority: Protestants
 No Longer 
 a US Majority: 
 Protestants 
study says
Oct 9, 2012 7:30 AM CDT

No Longer a US Majority: Protestants

One-fifth of US doesn't identify with any traditional religion

(Newser) - The US population is no longer dominated by Protestants, a Pew study finds: They account for just 48% of us. And while 79% of the US remains affiliated with a traditional religious group, nearly a fifth of American adults—and a third of those under 30—don't identify with...

Cheerleaders Start Row With Bible Verse Banners

They hire a lawyer when atheist group takes issue

(Newser) - A squad of East Texas cheerleaders wants everyone to know they have God on their side—even if it means going to court. The Kountze High School squad had taken to holding up gigantic banners with Bible verses on them before every game, so that the Kountze players could dramatically...

Atheists May Sue School Over Songs Mentioning God

They're songs, not prayers, says Clifton Park district

(Newser) - Stop singing about God or go to court, or so says an atheist organization threatening to sue a school district in Clifton Park, New York. The Freedom From Religion Foundation wants the Shenendehowa district to stop teaching two songs to elementary school kids that include lyrics referencing an almighty creator....

Atheism Up, Religion Down in US

 Atheism Up, 
 Religion 
 Down in US   
new poll
Aug 14, 2012 6:15 PM CDT

Atheism Up, Religion Down in US

Atheists now make up 5% of population, says new survey

(Newser) - Seven years ago, 73% of Americans identified as religious; now, that figure is down to 60%. Meanwhile, the proportion of the US calling itself atheist has climbed from 1% to 5%, a poll finds. Experts have an idea why: The year the poll was last taken, 2005, marked the beginning...

Atheist Billboards Go Up for Democratic Convention

Group puts up anti-Christianity, anti-Mormonism signs

(Newser) - People headed to the Democratic National Convention will be greeted by billboards condemning religion, thanks to American Atheists. The group is specifically targeting Mormonism and Christianity with the ads, which will be up starting today for a month in Charlotte, CNN reports. They read:
  • Christianity: "Sadistic God; Useless Savior,
...

Westboro Founder's Son to Speak—as Westboro Protests

Other Phelps kin will protest at 'Reason Rally'

(Newser) - The Westboro Baptist Church consists mainly of founder Fred Phelps' extended family, and they will be facing off against one of their own at an atheist rally in Washington, DC, next weekend. Fred's estranged son, Nate Phelps, a gay rights advocate and anti-child abuse activist , will be joining speakers...

Atheist Richard Dawkins: God Might Exist

The evolutionary biologist says he isn't totally sure

(Newser) - World-famous atheist Richard Dawkins said in a debate this week that he's at least a little bit agnostic, the Telegraph reports. Sharing an Oxford University stage with the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams, Dawkins said he was “6.9 out of seven” certain of his atheism. “...

Atheists Raise $44K for Teen Prayer Foe

'Evil little thing' Jessica Ahlquist awarded scholarship

(Newser) - Rhode Island teen Jessica Ahlquist's fight against a school prayer banner didn't win her many friends in her strongly Catholic hometown—but it has won her a hefty college fund. Prominent atheists, who praise the 16-year-old for standing up to critics "with class and style," are...

Atheist Richard Dawkins: Slavery Profiteer?

Telegraph newspaper: His family once owned slaves

(Newser) - Renowned atheist Richard Dawkins fired back at the Telegraph today after the paper accused him of profiting—albeit indirectly—from slavery, the Guardian reports. The Telegraph's article notes that Dawkins' great great great great great grandfather, Henry Dawkins, owned 1,013 Jamaican slaves before he died in 1744. Dawkins...

Man Arrested for Declaring Atheism on Facebook

Indonesian civil servant faces up to 5 years for 'blasphemy'

(Newser) - Indonesian atheists, look out. An angry mob attacked a civil servant in Padang after he declared his atheism on Facebook, said police—who promptly arrested the civil servant. "He is suspected of having blasphemed against Islam," a police chief said of Alexander An, 30. "The man told...

Critics of Christopher Hitchens Assail His 'Hagiography'

 Hitchens-Haters 
 Get Their Day 
 Online 
reality check?
Dec 17, 2011 2:13 PM CST

Hitchens-Haters Get Their Day Online

Critics assail his atheism, pro-war stance, 'random bile'

(Newser) - Sure Christopher Hitchens was erudite, bold, and endowed with a stunning memory . But now that he's been dead for two days, the complaints are rolling in ... and they're none-too-pretty:
  • "His writing contained provocation aplenty, but far too much of it ... a few hundred words of dashed off
...

Christopher Hitchens Dead of Cancer at 62

 Christopher 
 Hitchens 
 Dead at 62 
OBITUARY
Dec 16, 2011 7:20 AM CST

Christopher Hitchens Dead at 62

Cancer claims one-of-a-kind firebrand author

(Newser) - Author, intellectual, and firebrand atheist Christopher Hitchens has died at the age of 62 after a long fight with esophageal cancer. The British-born writer, who had lived in Washington DC since 1982, chronicled his illness with the same caustic insight he directed at targets including Bill Clinton, Mother Teresa, and...

California Atheists Snap Up Nativity Spaces

Christians get just 2 of 21 spaces in Santa Monica park

(Newser) - Santa Monica's Christians are crying foul over a lottery system that has left 18 of the 21 park spaces that usually hold Nativity scenes in the hands of atheists. A Jewish group snagged another spot, leaving the California city's church with just two spaces and only enough room...

Believers Find Atheists as Untrustworthy as Rapists
Believers Find Atheists as Untrustworthy as Rapists
study says
Dec 2, 2011 10:25 AM CST

Believers Find Atheists as Untrustworthy as Rapists

And many would discriminate against them in hiring: study

(Newser) - Atheism might just be the most reviled (un)belief system out there, according to a new study from the University of British Columbia, which found that believers think atheists are roughly as trustworthy as rapists. In one of the study’s six parts, researchers described an untrustworthy “archetypal freerider” performing...

Black Atheists Dare to 'Come Out'

But face ostracism in highly religious community

(Newser) - African American atheism is not exactly a time-worn tradition. It's so rare, in fact, that black atheists risk losing friends and family, and having a much smaller pool of potential life partners, if they dare speak up, the New York Times reports. Washington resident Ronnelle Adams first told his...

Atheists to Military: Recognize Us

Handful apply to be humanist leaders, thus far without success

(Newser) - The nonreligious may make up just a fraction of the military, but they say their beliefs are as valid as those of their religious counterparts—and the military should recognize them. Some dozen troops are currently applying to become humanist lay leaders—joining the lay Christians, Muslims, and Jews who...

Atheist Group to Rip Out 'Immoral' Bible Pages

To point out 'immoral' sections

(Newser) - An outspoken California atheist group is taking a page out of Terry Jones’ book, and more than one page out of the Good Book. Backyard Skeptics will hold a demonstration on Huntington Beach tomorrow in which they rip pages out of the bible that they say depict immoral teachings, the...

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