American Humanist Association
Airman denied re-entry to Air Force for refusing to say ‘so help me God’
By Kimberly Winston — September 5, 2014
(RNS) He's willing to sign a secular version of the Air Force oath but there's no such legal option.
Atheist politicians may run the UK, but they remain closeted in the US
By Brian Pellot — August 22, 2014
(RNS) The U.K.'s All Party Parliamentary Humanist Group has more than 100 members. The number of openly atheist members of U.S. Congress stands at zero. In the land of church-state separation, what’s keeping vocal nonbelievers out of office?
12 atheist books you may have overlooked: Part 2
By Chris Stedman — June 18, 2014
A critical look at race and atheism. An answer to the question, "Why was I born?" An atheist response to "day-to-day unhappiness." Here are six more atheist books you may have overlooked.
Barney Frank: Why I didn’t talk about my atheism while serving in Congress
By Chris Stedman — June 6, 2014
Former Congressman Barney Frank tells RNS how anti-Semitism impacted his decision not to talk about his nontheism sooner, shares his advice for atheists who want to run for public office, and explains how responses to his nontheism have differed from responses to his sexual orientation.
Why atheists should care about transgender issues: A conversation with Kayley Whalen
By Chris Stedman — May 10, 2014
Kayley Whalen, an atheist and queer transgender woman who works for the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, talks with RNS about her journey to acceptance and how atheists can be trans allies and advocates.
New Jersey lawsuit seeks to ban Pledge of Allegiance
By Kimberly Winston — April 21, 2014
(RNS) The suit against the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in New Jersey schools continues a new legal strategy.
Religious atheists? Maria Greene on Unitarian Universalist Humanists
By Chris Stedman — April 10, 2014
Atheists and Humanists have long been involved in Unitarian Universalism. But the idea of religious atheists is controversial among many atheists. Maria Greene of the Unitarian Universalist Humanist Association speaks with RNS.
Calif. city torn by multiple fights over public crosses
By Kimberly Winston — March 11, 2014
(RNS) “They said they have to take that (cross) down,” local resident Doug Johnson told the Riverside Press-Enterprise. “But they didn’t say anything about putting another one up.”
Judge rejects California city’s religious war memorial
By Kimberly Winston — February 27, 2014
(RNS) On Thursday (Feb. 27), a U.S. district judge ruled that a granite monument depicting a soldier kneeling in prayer before a cross lacked “a secular purpose” and has “the unconstitutional effect” of endorsing religion over nonreligion.
Jessica Ahlquist looks back — and ahead — 2 years after Ahlquist v. Cranston
By Chris Stedman — January 5, 2014
Two years ago this week, Jessica Ahlquist’s life changed forever. On January 11, 2012, a federal judge ordered the removal of a “School Prayer” banner at Cranston High School West in Cranston, Rhode Island, saying that it violated the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. Ahlquist—then a 16-year-old student at Cranston High School West—was a plaintiff in Ahlquist […]
Humanists warn public schools over Franklin Graham’s ‘Operation Christmas Child’
By Kimberly Winston — November 14, 2013
(RNS) The toys collected by Operation Christmas Child come with an invitation for recipients to accept Christianity. Since its founding in 1993, Operation Christmas Child has sent 100 million boxes of toys to poor children.
Atheists and humanists launch Freethought Equality Fund PAC
By Katherine Burgess — September 18, 2013
WASHINGTON (RNS) Organizers of the new Freethought Equality Fund political action committee claim there are more than 24 nontheists in Congress, although only Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., publicly identifies her religion as “none.”
Mass. Supreme Court to hear challenge to Pledge of Allegiance
By Kimberly Winston — August 30, 2013
(RNS) An atheist couple challenging the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance hopes that the same Massachusetts court that legalized gay marriage can set another precedent against the phrase "under God."
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.
Humanists find ways to say ‘I do’ without God
By Amanda Greene — May 17, 2013
WILMINGTON, N.C. (RNS) With one in five Americans claiming no religious connection, national atheist and humanist agencies are developing ordaining programs to establish nontheist ministers in most states to perform weddings and funerals.
