Kimberly Winston
Kimberly Winston is a freelance religion reporter based in the San Francisco Bay Area.
All Stories by Kimberly Winston
American Atheists leader wins fight for ‘ATHE1ST’ license plate
By Kimberly Winston — August 28, 2013
(RNS) "'Atheist’ is not an offensive or objectionable word anymore than the word ‘Jew’ or ‘Christian’ or ‘man’ or ‘woman’ is,” said David Silverman, president of the New Jersey-based American Atheists.
Court says atheist was wrongly jailed over religious rehab
By Kimberly Winston — August 26, 2013
SAN FRANCISCO (RNS) In a move that could have wider implications, a federal appeals court ordered a lower court judge to consider preventing state officials from requiring parolees to attend rehabilitation programs that are focused on God or a “higher power.”
N.Y. Freethought Trail traces nonbelievers who chartered a historic course
By Kimberly Winston — August 26, 2013
SENECA FALLS, N.Y. (RNS) Settlers transformed West-Central New York into a hotbed of radical social and religious ideas, including Mormonism and Spiritualism. A new Freethought Trail highlights the prominent atheists and agnostics who also called the region home.
Are atheists smarter than believers? Not exactly.
By Kimberly Winston — August 16, 2013
(RNS) Miron Zuckerman is careful to point out that his work does not mean only dumb people believe in God. Rather, he said, it shows only that more intelligent people may have less need for religion.
House rejects call to allow nonreligious military chaplains
By Kimberly Winston — July 24, 2013
(RNS) The Pentagon recognizes more than 200 endorsing agents, all of them based on a belief in God. But there has been a recent push by Humanists to endorse their own military chaplains.
Humanists want a military chaplain to call their own
By Kimberly Winston — July 22, 2013
(RNS) The Humanist Society -- like all organizations that represent nonbelievers -- is not among the Department of Defense’s list of approximately 200 groups allowed to endorse chaplains. They want to change that.
Is the growth of the nonreligious good or bad? Americans are divided
By Kimberly Winston — July 5, 2013
(RNS) Some observers caution there's a difference in asking about an increase in the nonreligious rather than a decrease in the religious.
Home schooling without God? Humanists find a way
By Kimberly Winston — July 1, 2013
(RNS) While two-thirds of home-schooling families are evangelical Christian, the number of secular home-schoolers is significant -- 25 percent, according to the Home School Legal Defense Association.
Immigration flap over conscientious objection resolved peacefully
By Kimberly Winston — June 21, 2013
(RNS) Margaret Doughty, who describes herself as a person with no religious affiliation, declined to sign an oath to take up arms for the United States.
Atheists to unveil first monument to unbelief on public land
By Kimberly Winston — June 6, 2013
(RNS) After years of unsuccessful challenges to religious monuments on public land, atheists are adopting a new strategy: if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
One Scouts ban remains intact: Atheists
By Kimberly Winston — May 30, 2013
(RNS) As of next January, gay boys will be able to join the Boy Scouts of America, but one group continues to face a longstanding ban that's unlikely to change anytime soon: atheists and nonbelievers.
Robert Ingersoll, in his own words
By Kimberly Winston — May 29, 2013
(RNS) Atheists, humanists and agnostics say Robert Ingersoll's thoughts on civil rights and church-state separation are as relevant today as they were in the late 19th century.
Meet Robert Ingersoll, America’s most famous forgotten atheist
By Kimberly Winston — May 29, 2013
(RNS) Robert Ingersoll was a Victorian-era rock star who packed theaters with people who traveled hundred of miles to hear his lectures against religion. Though largely forgotten, the man known as ``The Great Agnostic'' is enjoying a bit of a revival.
Atheists like what they see in Pope Francis’ new openness
By Kimberly Winston — May 23, 2013
(RNS) When Pope Francis said believers and atheists can agree on the goal of doing good, and that even atheists were part of Christ's redemption, atheist leaders say this is the kind of pope they can work with.
Study suggests bad World War II experiences led vets to church
By Kimberly Winston — May 23, 2013
(RNS) "If veterans have had a bad experience, it is clear that one alternative that has helped people understand the world or find a common community has been religion," researcher Craig Wansink said.
