atheism
Atheists find a Sunday-morning connection with other nonbelievers
By Kimberly Winston — April 16, 2013
HOUSTON (RNS) Despite the rows of chairs, the coffee hour and the passed collection plate, don’t call Houston Oasis an "atheist church,'' leader Mike Aus said. He and other nonbelievers are aiming for something new: a community that looks to nurture the common human qualities that can unite people.
A year after losing faith, atheist pastor finds a new calling
By Kimberly Winston — March 26, 2013
(RNS) When Teresa MacBain declared her loss of faith last Easter, she expected to lose her pulpit and many friends. She did. But in the year since, she's gained a new community and a new sense of confidence.
Pope Francis says the ‘nones’ can be allies for the church
By Alessandro Speciale — March 20, 2013
VATICAN CITY (RNS) Pope Francis extended a hand to those who don't belong to any religion, urging them on Wednesday to work with believers to build peace and protect the environment.
Alcoholics Anonymous wrestles with its spiritual roots
By G. Jeffrey MacDonald — March 20, 2013
(RNS) For Alcoholics Anonymous to continue helping addicts find freedom in sobriety, the 75-year-old organization has to reclaim its spiritual roots. That’s the message coming from reformers who say the group has drifted from core principles, but what exactly constitutes the heart of AA spirituality is a matter of spirited debate.
‘Ask an Atheist’ event replaces participation in St. Patrick’s Day parade
By Sally Morrow — March 18, 2013
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (RNS) Among the constant flow of people wearing green, toting beers and milling around the bars in Kansas City’s Westport neighborhood on Sunday (March 17), a man in a red plaid kilt held a sign that said, “Kiss me – I’m a Left-handed, Red-headed, Kilt-wearing Irish Atheist Stepchild!” The Kansas City Atheist […]
After giving up religion, atheists try giving up something else for Lent
By Kimberly Winston — March 18, 2013
(RNS) What would an “atheist Lent” look like? A group of young nonbelievers are finding out, observing the Christian practice minus its religious context.
One woman’s journey out of faith, family and fear
By Kimberly Winston — March 3, 2013
(RNS) A young woman stood outside a Greyhound bus with a ticket in her hand and a backpack over her shoulder. She was guilty of two offenses: rejecting her father's choice of husband and renouncing her family's Islamic faith. Deciding whether to boarding that bus, she said later, would be the hardest thing she had done in her 18 years.
When spouses lose faith, sticking together is hard
By Peggy Fletcher Stack — February 15, 2013
(RNS) Kylee and Matt Duff were the picture of Mormon happiness until Matt began to question his beliefs. Some couples, like the Duffs, can survive a loss of faith, but for others it means the loss of a marriage. By Peggy Fletcher Stack.
Is God the missing character in ‘Downton Abbey’?
By David Gibson — February 14, 2013
(RNS) The third season of the megahit television series “Downton Abbey” wraps up on Sunday (Feb. 17), capping another must-see run of ruin and redemption at Lord Grantham’s stately English manor. Yet some are still left puzzling over the absence of what should be a leading player in this colorful cast: God.
Catholic college engages atheism head-on
By Ron Csillag — January 25, 2013
TORONTO (RNS) It's an unlikely setting for an unlikely class. The chapel at Jesuit-run Regis College is adorned with stained glass, icons of Mary and Joseph, and the Stations of the Cross. The eight-week course being taught here is on atheism. More properly, "Responding to 21st-Century Atheism.''
“Atheist pro-lifer”? Not an oxymoron
By David Gibson — January 24, 2013
Rather, it is a thing, as Catholic World Report explains: Kelsey Hazzard is a 24-year-old, pro-life University of Miami alumna and recent graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law. She was raised in the United Methodist Church, but as an adult began having doubts about God. “I took a break from religion for […]
Humanists slice and dice the world’s sacred texts
By Kimberly Winston — January 11, 2013
(RNS) "A Jefferson Bible For the 21st Century'' takes Thomas Jefferson’s slice-and-dice Bible one step further. By Kimberly Winston.
Secularists see ‘HumanLight’ as new December holiday
By Kimberly Winston — December 20, 2012
(RNS) In addition to Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa, secular humanists have added a new celebration to the crowded calendar. HumanLight, observed on Dec. 23, is a secular celebration of human potential that is growing in acceptance. By Kimberly Winston.
The `nones’ now form the world’s third-largest ‘religion’ *
By Kimberly Winston — December 18, 2012
(RNS) A new report on global religious identity shows that while Christians and Muslims make up the two largest groups, those with no religious affiliation — including atheists and agnostics — are now the third-largest “religious” group in the world. The study, released Tuesday (Dec. 18) by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, […]
Atheists find holiday refuge in Ha Ha Heathens comedy show
By Kimberly Winston — December 13, 2012
SAN FRANCISCO (RNS) It’s just another night of stand-up comedy at the Punch Line as Jesus takes the microphone. It's "Holiday Heathens,'' a December comedy show featuring humor poking fun at religion, written by atheists for atheists. By Kimberly Winston.
