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FEATURED ARTICLES
House Votes to Reaffirm 'In God We Trust' as National Motto
Human Events
The House on Tuesday passed a measure reaffirming In God We
Trust as the national motto of the U.S., in an effort to
encourage its display in public buildings and send a message to
those who seek to remove God from the public domain...
http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=47273
ATHEISM
Nate Phelps, the 'counterbalance' for the Westboro Baptist Church,
speaks at MU
Columbia Missourian
Now an atheist, Nate Phelps has been speaking at events, including
gay pride parades and atheist conventions, around the US for the
past three years. He is also in the process of publishing a book
about his life that is "pretty much written," he said. ...
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2011/10/28/nate-phelps-spoke-mu-about-his-life-westboro-baptist-church/
Atheist Billboard Controversy
KTLA
(KTLA) -- An atheist group has posted a controversial message in a
public place -- and may lack the facts to back it. The billboards
quote Thomas Jefferson as saying "I do not find in Christianity one
redeeming feature. It is founded on fables and ...
http://www.ktla.com/news/landing/ktla-controversial-atheist-billboard,0,1305531.story
World religious leaders, atheists talk peace in Italy
GMANews.TV
In a historic event that included four atheist intellectuals, Pope
Benedict XVI gathered world religious leaders and non-believers
alike 25 years after his predecessor organized the first meeting of
its kind in Italy. It was, for Benedict XVI, ...
http://www.gmanews.tv/story/237041/world/world-religious-leaders-atheists-talk-peace-in-italy
Athiest billboard misquotes Thomas Jefferson
WPEC
Bruce Gleason, whose group paid for this and other recent atheism
billboards that have gone up in OC in recent months, said Wednesday
he wasn't sure about the origin of the quote. He agreed that
Monticello was an authoritative source. ...
http://www.cbs12.com/news/jefferson-4736303-mesa-athiest.html
Atheist Student Organization invites campus for Q & A
StateHornet.com
Ben Hoyt, senior history major, writes the line-up of speakers
during a meeting for their "Ask an Atheist" event on Thursday.
Members of Sac State's Atheist Student Organization read opening
statements during "Ask an Atheist," held Thursday in the ...
http://www.statehornet.com/news/atheist-student-organization-invites-campus-for-q-a/article_bd5b10e2-04bc-11e1-938d-0019bb30f31a.html
Fighting the oppression of religion: Australian freethinkers head
to Houston ...
God Discussion
Despite suffering from cancer, Christopher Hitchens attended the
conference, where he was presented the Freethinker of the Year
Award by Richard Dawkins, who praised his efforts in promoting the
"honesty and dignity of atheism. ...
http://www.goddiscussion.com/84011/fighting-the-oppression-of-religion-australian-freethinkers-head-to-houston-to-hear-the-word-of-no-god/
SHSU secular group educates students on apostate life, views on
religion
SHSU Houstonian Online
The student organization's members are not all atheist, many are
agnostic, Christian, humanist, deist and other religions. The SSA
was originally the Sam Houston Atheist Alliance (SHAA), and was
cofounded in 2008 by Brian Louden, a senior biology major ...
http://www.houstonianonline.com/news/shsu-secular-group-educates-students-on-apostate-life-views-on-religion-1.2664424#.TrlreXL4I90
BOOKS, FILM, THEATRE, TV, YOU TUBE
God's comic: Daily Show veteran takes on
religion
Salon
You hit upon such an elegant argument about evolution that it's
stunning the Intelligent Design folks haven't latched onto it: The
evidence for evolution is incontrovertible because God planted it
there. It's a cosmic hoax on scientists. ...
http://www.salon.com/2011/10/29/gods_comic_daily_show_veteran_takes_on_religion/singleton/
Penn Jillette's 10 Commandments...For Atheists
Reason Online (blog)
Currently the top-read story at USA Today is Penn Jillette's "10
Commandments forAtheism," a list he created and turned into the
best-selling book God, No! after Glenn Beck asked him to come up
with a list of moral dictates for non-believers. ...
http://reason.com/blog/2011/10/31/penn-jillettes-10-commandments
Penn Jillette's Signs You May Already Be an Atheist
Religion Dispatches
But does Jillette accomplish his goal of demonstrating the truth of
atheism? Probably not. The problem comes in the form of the issue
itself: we are all experts when it comes to religion. Not even a
magician can convince us we're wrong. ...
http://www.religiondispatches.org/books/atheologies/5333/penn_jillette%E2%80%99s_signs_you_may_already_be_an_atheist/
Lantern's "New Jerusalem" Becomes Theater Season's First Sleeper
Hit
PW-Philadelphia Weekly
A charge of atheism was levied against Spinoza, and the play is
constructed as a courtroom drama with Spinoza defending his ideas
under the stringent questioning of a grand inquisitor. The stakes
are high both for Spinoza (who faces excommunication) ...
http://www.philadelphiaweekly.com/arts-and-culture/stage/133012763.html
EVOLUTION, CREATIONISM, I.D.
Mayor Bloomberg says White House candidates must believe in
evolution, global ...
New York Daily News
The mayor used an international economic forum at Columbia
University to pop off against any candidates who doubt the science
behind hot-button political topics such as evolution and global
warming. "We have presidential candidates who don't believe in
...
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/mayor-bloomberg-white-house-candidates-evolution-global-warming-article-1.971946?localLinksEnabled=false
Candidate Supports Religion in Schools
Kenyon Collegian
Freshwater taught science at Mount Vernon Middle School until it
came out that he burnt a cross into the arm of a student during a
science experiment and gave extra credit assignments like watching
pro-intelligent design documentaries. ...
http://www.kenyoncollegian.com/news/candidate-supports-religion-in-schools-1.2681553#.TrlounL4I90
SCIENCE
Scientists Measure Dream Content for the First Time: Dreams
Activate the Brain in a Similar Way to Real Actions
ScienceDaily (Oct. 28, 2011) The ability to dream is a
fascinating aspect of the human mind. However, how the images and
emotions that we experience so intensively when we dream form in
our heads remains a mystery. Up to now it has not been possible to
measure dream content. Max Planck scientists working with
colleagues from the CharitÈ hospital in Berlin have now
succeeded, for the first time, in analysing the activity of the
brain during dreaming...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111028113626.htm
Scientists Chart Gene Expression in the Brain Across Lifespan
ScienceDaily (Oct. 28, 2011) The "switching on" or
expression of specific genes in the human genome is what makes each
human tissue and each human being unique. A new study by
researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health,
the Lieber Institute for Brain Development, and the National
Institute of Mental Health found that many gene expression changes
that occur during fetal development are reversed immediately after
birth...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111028121759.htm
Astronomers Pin Down Galaxy Collision Rate With Hubble Data
ScienceDaily (Oct. 27, 2011) A new analysis of Hubble
surveys, combined with simulations of galaxy interactions, reveals
that the merger rate of galaxies over the last 8 billion to 9
billion years falls between the previous estimates...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111027173542.htm
Shaken, Not Stirred: Scientists Spy Molecular Maneuvers
ScienceDaily (Oct. 27, 2011) Stir this clear liquid in a
glass vial and nothing happens. Shake this liquid, and
free-floating sheets of protein-like structures emerge, ready to
detect molecules or catalyze a reaction. This isn't the latest
gadget from James Bond's arsenal -- rather, the latest research
from the U. S. Department of Energy (DOE)'s Lawrence Berkeley
National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) scientists unveiling how slim
sheets of protein-like structures self-assemble. This "shaken, not
stirred" mechanism provides a way to scale up production of these
two-dimensional nanosheets for a wide range of applications, such
as platforms for sensing, filtration and templating growth of other
nanostructures...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111027132457.htm
New 'Scarless' Surgery Takes out Tumors Through Natural Skull
Opening
ScienceDaily (Oct. 26, 2011) A technique developed by
Johns Hopkins surgeons is providing a new route to get to and
remove tumors buried at the base of the skull: through the natural
hole behind the molars, above the jawbone and beneath the
cheekbone...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111026113822.htm
Quantum Computer Components 'Coalesce' to 'Converse'
ScienceDaily (Oct. 26, 2011) If quantum computers are ever
to be realized, they likely will be made of different types of
parts that will need to share information with one another, just
like the memory and logic circuits in today's computers do.
However, prospects for achieving this kind of communication seemed
distant -- until now. A team of physicists working at the National
Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has shown for the
first time how these parts might communicate effectively...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111026162701.htm
Starburst Captured: Students Photograph Exploding Star in Pinwheel
Galaxy
ScienceDaily (Oct. 18, 2011) In the Pinwheel Galaxy some
21 million light years from Earth, a supernova beams brightly,
out-shining its cosmic neighbors and causing a stir among
starwatchers...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111018214618.htm
Issues Faced by Friends and Family of the Suicidal
ScienceDaily (Oct. 21, 2011) A study focusing on the
family and friends of people who were suicidal has highlighted the
main challenges they face when trying to judge whether a person is
in danger and decide what they should do about it...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111021074726.htm
Researchers Complete Mollusk Evolutionary Tree
ScienceDaily (Oct. 26, 2011) Mollusks have been around for
so long (at least 500 million years), are so prevalent on land and
in water (from backyard gardens to the deep ocean), and are so
valuable to people (clam chowder, oysters on the half shell) that
one might assume scientists had learned everything about
them...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/10/111026143715.htm
SEPARATION CHURCH / STATE
Court upholds Kentucky law requiring reliance on 'Almighty God' for
security
Lexington Herald Leader
Charlie Noyes "I've concluded the church/state separation issue
will never actually be settled, no matter what legal decrees are
made. Same discussions will go on in 100 years, probably 1000
years." Buck Woodford The Kentucky Office of Homeland
...
http://www.kentucky.com/2011/10/28/1938427/court-upholds-kentucky-law-requiring.html
More Oregon public schools host church services
San Antonio Express
In the state, eight of the 10 biggest districts currently rent out
buildings for religious services. While some believe that
school-based churches violate the Constitutional requirement of
separationbetween church and state, the courts have generally
...
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/article/More-Oregon-public-schools-host-church-services-2243999.php
American Atheists successful in Utah State Highway Patrol case
Examiner.com
Today, American Atheists claimed yet another legal victory in the
state of Utah. In 2005, AmericanAtheists and some members of the
organization filed a motion to sue the state of Utah and
individuals representing the state of Utah in order to remove
...
http://www.examiner.com/atheism-in-scranton/american-atheists-successful-utah-state-highway-patrol-case
Justices turn aside appeal over highway crosses
CNN
And last year, the conservative majority of the court concluded
that a cross designed as a war memorial in a lonely stretch of
national parkland in the California desert did not violate the
constitutional separation of church and state. ...
http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/31/justice/scotus-highway-crosses/
Is praying around a flag pole unconstitutional?
WOKV
The United States Constitution clearly outlines that
they're be a separation of church and state. And the schools, at
least public schools, are run by the state, says Rubin. He
says the freedom of religion is a guarantee that all religions will
be ...
http://www.wokv.com/news/news/local/prayer-clay-county-schools-causing-controversy-amo/nFSQM/
Illinois appeals court hears atheist's case over cross
Rockford Register Star
The 7th Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday heard the appeal of
atheist Rob Sherman involving a $20000 state grant used to
refurbish the 111-foot Bald Knob Cross for Peace in Alto Pass.
Sherman argues that using taxpayer money for the cross is ...
http://www.rrstar.com/news/x1992152234/Illinois-appeals-court-hears-atheists-case-over-cross
House passes In God We Trust for public schools and Fed
buildings
DigitalJournal.com
However, in the Telegraph.co.uk article,
Atheist, in battle to remove 'In God We trust ' from US
currency, an atheist believes that the words under
God should be removed from US currency and from the Pledge
of Allegiance as it breaches his ...
http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/313606
House reaffirms 'In God We Trust' as official US motto
Los Angeles Times
The nonbinding resolution, which passes 396 to 9, reopens debate
over separation of church and state the sort of social
issue that has taken a back seat this year to economic challenges.
By Kathleen Hennessey, Washington Bureau The House took a ...
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-house-motto-20111102,0,4529006.story
School prayer bill passes first test at state Capitiol
WTSP 10 News
Opponents say the legislation would violate the constitutional
separation of church and state and lead to lawsuits. But for those
who argue there is no place for religion in school settings, Sen.
Siplin simply says "they're wrong. ...
http://www.wtsp.com/news/article/218587/19/School-prayer-bill-passes-first-test-at-state-Capitiol
Judge won't throw out school-prayer suit, allows new plaintiff
San Antonio Express
Rob Boston, a spokesman for the Washington, DC-based Americans
United for Separation of Church and State, which is representing
the plaintiffs, said Doe is not related to the Schultzes. Biery
said Doe has until Dec. 20 to decide whether he or she ...
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Judge-won-t-throw-out-school-prayer-suit-allows-2249277.php
'In God We Trust' to Remain National Motto
ThirdAge
President Obama, in a speech last year in Indonesia, said "E
Pluribus Unum" --"Separation of Church and State" -- was the
national motto. It was never corrected in the official transcript,
Forbes said. In God We Trust.
http://www.thirdage.com/news/in-god-we-trust-to-remain-national-motto_11-02-2011
Appeals court hears case over 111-foot Ill. cross
BusinessWeek
Sherman, an atheist, argued that using taxpayer money for the cross
was unconstitutional. A judge had dismissed his case earlier this
year. The three-judge panel Wednesday suggested the cross had a
clear religious meaning and was not just a tourist ...
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9QOOKBO0.htm
Group seeks investigation of legislator's preschool
Arkansas News
Harris said his preschool is not exclusively for Christian children
the children it serves include some from atheist homes, he
said but it is up front with parents about its religious
aspects. You understand that you are going to get exposed
to ...
http://arkansasnews.com/2011/11/03/group-seeks-investigation-of-legislator%E2%80%99s-preschool/
Texas DMV board to consider Confederate, religious license plates
next week
The American Independent
No state ought to be involved in the promotion of religion
on an officially produced government license plate, said
Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for the
Separation of Church and State. His group successfully opposed a
religious ...
http://www.americanindependent.com/202871/texas-dmv-board-to-consider-confederate-religious-license-plates-next-week
Upton to form policy after prayer vigil rejection causes a stir
Milford Daily News
The Board of Selectmen at that time felt that there should be a
separation of church and state. We understood why these people
wanted to us it, but we felt it was the proper action (for the
board) to take." During Tuesday night's selectmen's meeting at
...
http://www.milforddailynews.com/topstories/x394189740/Upton-to-form-policy-after-prayer-vigil-rejection-causes-a-stir
MISCELLANEOUS
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