freethought (atheist)

Why Obama is not the fulfillment of Martin’s Dream

By Omid Safi — January 21, 2013
No, Brother Obama, that talented, charismatic, and eloquent speaker, is not yet the fulfillment of Brother Martin’s dream.

The faith of dogs

By Omid Safi — January 19, 2013
If this faithfulness and love is the faith of dogs, I pray for the faith of dogs for us human beings.

Malala Yousufzai, the young Jihadist, released from hospital. #RiseAgain

By Omid Safi — January 5, 2013
Malala is ready to embark on the her Jihad. #RiseAgain

Gandalf and Goodness–today

By Omid Safi — December 19, 2012
I love spiritual mentors, wise old souls that see beyond, see that something in us that we don’t see in ourselves.      I love Yoda, love Dumbledore, love Gandalf. The Gandalf character has grown on me, bit by bit. In the Hobbit movie, there is a line that really spoke to me. He disagrees with his […]

Poll: More than one-third of Americans see signs of end times in extreme weather

By Lauren Markoe — December 13, 2012

(RNS) A new poll shows more than a third of Americans believe the severity of recent natural disasters is evidence that we are in the “end times” described in the Bible – a period of turmoil preceding the return of Christ and the end of the world. By Lauren Markoe.

Q&A with ‘Nonbeliever Nation’ author David Niose

By Kimberly Winston — September 4, 2012

(RNS) In his new book, "Nonbeliever Nation: The Rise of Secular Americans," David Niose charts the development and growth of the religious right, tackles the "War on Christmas" as a manufactured controversy, and explains why George W. Bush's election was the best thing to happen to the secular movement. By Kimberly Winston.

Not just chess: Atheists are organizing high school clubs, too

By Kimberly Winston — June 28, 2012

(RNS) High school kids can join the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Jewish Student Union, the Muslim Students Association and, in some schools, a Hindu or a Buddhist club. Now they can join the young atheists club, too. By Kimberly Winston.

Blacks say atheists were unseen civil rights heroes

By Kevin Eckstrom — February 22, 2012

Why is Martin Luther King, a Christian, remembered by so many for his contributions to the civil rights movement while A. Philip Randolph, an atheist, is honored by so few? That is a question many black nonbelievers are asking this Black History Month. By Kimberly Winston.

Christopher Hitchens’ atheism was a gift to believers

By Kevin Eckstrom — December 17, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) Christopher Hitchens will be remembered as many things: an acerbic essayist, connoisseur of Scotch and cigarettes and roguish writer whose forceful pen was fueled by an imposing intellect. Yet his impact on American life, which will be felt long after his death at age 62 on Thursday (Dec. 15), is likely to be […]

`Protest chaplains’ shepherd movement’s spiritual side

By Jack Jenkins — October 10, 2011
BOSTON (RNS) As waves of demonstrators descended on New York City to protest corporate greed, they were met by typical sounds of raucous youth-led protests: drum beats, police sirens and shouted political slogans. They didn’t expect to hear hymns. Yet protestors rounding the corner of Zuccotti Park encountered dozens of white-robed worshipers singing spirituals and […]

Senators probe politics and piety in new books

By Jack Jenkins — August 18, 2011
“Big government is a religious issue,” said South Carolina Sen. Jim DeMint, a Presbyterian.

Jedis and Pastafarians: Real religion or joke?

By Jack Jenkins — August 12, 2011
(RNS) When congregants of West Side Church and the Christian Life Center in Bend, Ore., awoke in June to news that their churches had been vandalized, they expected to be frustrated. What they didn’t expect was to be confused. In addition to the anti-Christian slogans scrawled on the walls of the two buildings, the words […]

Poll: American Muslims hopeful about life in the U.S.

By Lauren Markoe — August 3, 2011
(RNS) Ten years after the 9/11 attacks, an extensive new survey of Muslims finds them as optimistic as other Americans, even as large minorities of Christian Americans question Muslims’ loyalty to the United States. The survey, released Tuesday (Aug. 2) by the Gallup organization’s center in the Middle East, presented a community less than fully […]

Is Anders Breivik a `Christian’ terrorist?

By David Gibson — July 27, 2011
Some have pushed back against such a carefully cordoned-off interpretation of Breivik's faith, or Christianity itself.

Senators debate bill to recognize gay marriages

By Jack Jenkins — July 20, 2011
WASHINGTON (RNS) Senators wrestled with issues of faith and religious freedom on Wednesday (July 20) as they debated a new bill that would allow the federal government to recognize same-sex marriages. The Senate Judiciary Committee held hearings on the Respect for Marriage Act, which was sponsored by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and endorsed by the […]
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