free speech
Brittany Maynard dies * ISIS crucifies teen * Sneaky bat mitzvah: October’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — November 3, 2014
Brittany Maynard ends her life. ISIS fighters crucify a Syrian teen for taking photos. And Women of the Wall host a sneaky bat mitzvah in Jerusalem. This and more in this month’s recap.
The road to sedition: Malaysia and Myanmar crackdown on dissent
By Brian Pellot — October 21, 2014
On my (lack of) freedom trail across Asia, fresh sedition and defamation charges are pressuring journalists and activists to self-censor government criticism or face hefty consequences.
Under God * Statue porn * Incest rights?: September’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — October 2, 2014
From church-state battles in America to religious freedom news around the world. Catch up on last month’s dirt, now with more snark.
Facebook, Twitter and Google back Anti-Defamation League’s 10 best practices for challenging cyberhate
By Brian Pellot — September 29, 2014
Online hatred takes many forms, including anti-Semitism, misogyny, xenophobia, homophobia and Islamophobia. Internet companies and the Anti-Defamation League are teaming up to fight these and other forms of intolerance. Will it work?
All Hail Satan, First Amendment Champ
By Brian Pellot — September 24, 2014
Satanic school books, black masses, statues and protests remind us where church-state lines should be drawn in America and highlight the need to protect unpopular speech.
Anti-Semitism * Helmet hair * ROHINGYA : August’s Religious Freedom Recap
By Brian Pellot — September 2, 2014
Anti-Semitism continues to seep across Europe following the Israel-Hamas ceasefire. Motorcycle-riding Sikhs in Ontario must wear helmets, even though they don’t fit over their turbans. And Myanmar is asking foreign officials not use the word “Rohingya,” to which I say “ROHINGYA ROHINGYA ROHINGYA.”
Despite trolls, hate, and lies, we still need online anonymity
By Brian Pellot — August 28, 2014
Yes, online anonymity can breed and foster deception, hatred, and incivility. But without it we risk silencing voices that desperately need to be heard.
A right not to be offended? Atheists say ‘No thanks’
By Brian Pellot — August 12, 2014
The World Humanist Congress adopted a declaration Sunday proclaiming, “There is no right not to be offended, or not to hear contrary opinions.” Yet nearly 100 countries have laws banning blasphemy, apostasy and defamation of religion.
Oxford Declaration on Freedom of Thought and Expression (full text)
By Brian Pellot — August 12, 2014
Posting this in full now. I’ll comment in a subsequent post. The Oxford Declaration on Freedom of Thought and Expression The 2014 World Humanist Congress, gathered in Oxford, UK, on 8-10 August 2014, adopted the following declaration on freedom of thought and expression: All around the world and at all times, it is freedom of […]
Richard Dawkins keeps digging on ‘mild’ date rape and pedophilia
By Brian Pellot — August 11, 2014
Richard Dawkins told the World Humanist Congress in Oxford that “mild pedophilia” is not as bad as “something that would scar you for life.” Attempting to use logic and reason to rank others’ emotional scars --- now that’s irrational.
World Humanist Congress in Oxford will tackle freedom of thought and expression
By Brian Pellot — August 6, 2014
This weekend’s World Humanist Congress (#WHC2014) focuses on freedom of thought and expression, AKA my life. I couldn’t be more excited.
Can robots find religion? Meet @oliviataters
By Brian Pellot — July 23, 2014
Olivia Taters started life as an oracle Twitter bot designed to deliver absurd truths. Now she’s an emotionally erratic, highly opinionated teenager with some wild thoughts on religion.
‘That Jew Died for You’
By Brian Pellot — July 22, 2014
A video released by the Christian...no Jewish...no Christian group Jews for Jesus depicts Jesus as a Holocaust victim sent to the gas chambers. Holocaust fiction aside, where should we draw the line when one group’s beliefs conflict with and offend another’s?
The Universal Declaration of Corporate Rights: Because companies are people, too.
By Brian Pellot — July 3, 2014
If corporations have the same rights as humans, why stop at free speech and religious freedom? Hobby Lobby should have the right to bear arms and be forced to attend kindergarten.
Saudi, Sudan…Salt Lake City: Mormon Church stifles dissent with apostasy charges against Kate Kelly
By Brian Pellot — June 24, 2014
On the same day news broke that Sudanese Christian Meriam Ibrahim had been cleared of apostasy charges, the Mormon Church excommunicated Kate Kelly for the same offense. The church’s obsession with controlling its image amounts to short-sighted censorship.
