mrboma, Author at Progress Pond

Secular Coalition Issues Action Alert on Alito

The Secular Coalition for America has issued an Action Alert regarding Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito and his views on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Citing Judge Alito’s judicial opinions and writings made before he took the bench, the SCA’s Action Alert states that Alito likely poses a serious threat to the separation of Church and State. They are urging citizens to write to their senators to make sure Alito is fully vetted on his stance regarding the establishment clause.

I have reprinted a few paragraphs from the Action Alert across the break.

Alito’s writings and history on the U.S. Court of Appeals demonstrate that his judicial philosophy differs dramatically from Court principles that have guided Establishment Clause precedent for the past 60 years.

When applying for President Reagan’s deputy attorney general position, Alito wrote his “deep interest in constitutional law [was] motivated in large part by disagreement with Warren Court decisions, particularly in areas [such as] the Establishment Clause …”

Alito’s opinions in several cases demonstrate his view that religious expression trumps the rights of students to avoid government endorsed prayer, proselytizing, and other religious expressions in our public schools. He has also indicated his willingness to limit a taxpayer’s right to challenge government actions under the Establishment Clause, which has been settled law since Flast v. Cohen (1968).

Humanist Network News: Jan 5

This is the weekly summary of the Humanist Network News (HNN). The Humanist Network News (HNN) is published every Wednesday via e-mail and on the Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS) Web site. This diary is a slightly reformatted copy of the weekly email they send me, which I post here every Thursday (Yes, I have permission from the IHS). (CP @ MLW, BT, SP)

January 4, 2006
Humanist Network News
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Godless groups coming together
Humanist lobbyist ready for 2006 legislative issues
UN bioethics panel on Women’s Rights – Jan. 27, NYC
Humanists in a Canadian election
Sweet Reason, Muslim dad making me pray
Letters to the Editor
Cathartic Comics
Humanist Humor
Poll of the Week

Summaries, links and MY TAKE across the break.
1. Godless groups coming together
Representatives of humanist, atheist and other freethought groups from across the United States will meet this January in Los Angeles to discuss ways to collaborate. The Institute for Humanist Studies is sending two representatives to the summit, hosted by the Atheist Alliance International. The IHS reps. will be able to speak to leaders of dozens of freethought organizations from across the country. So what would YOU like us to tell them? The IHS wants to hear from HNN readers. What indicatives would YOU like to see freethought organizations work together on? Please share your thoughts with us so we can share them at the summit. MORE

MY TAKE: Great idea to pool their resources and political clout, but it might not be the best PR move to call themselves “Godless,” no matter how true. Then again, I also hate the contrived term “Brights” these groups often use for themselves, too. As for the agenda: I think the focus should be on protecting the separation of Church and State.

2. Humanist lobbyist ready for 2006 legislative issues
Humanist activists have their work cut out for them in the coming year, both on the national and local levels. Dr. Tim Gordinier, director of public policy of the Institute for Humanist Studies, is gearing up for the 2006 legislative season. See what he thinks 2006 holds in store for humanists. MORE

MY TAKE: Every year is a big year, especially while Bush is still in office. But maybe with so many GOP lawmakers in hot water, there might be more openings for actually getting things done. Also, check out The Secular Coalition for America’s 2005 Year End Report to see what they got done in 2005.

3. UN bioethics panel on Women’s Rights – Jan. 27, NYC
On Friday, January 27, 2006 a panel of leading bioethicists will discuss women’s reproductive and sexual rights at the United Nations. MORE

MY TAKE: I wonder how John Bolton will react. Hopefully, he wont be let in.

4. Humanists in a Canadian election
Canadians are in the middle of another election campaign. Canadian humanist columnist Doug Thomas answers the question: “What can Canadian humanists do to get the humanist agenda on Canadian politicians’ minds?” MORE

5. Sweet Reason, Muslim dad making me pray
A mostly humanist reader living in Bangladesh is being forced to pray by a Muslim father. Sweet Reason offers some humanist advice for dealing with the situation. MORE

6. Letters to the Editor
Letters from readers on “intelligent design”, humanism in Africa, and the importance of humanistic art. READ THEM

7. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. This week, Carthartic Comics debuts a new cartoon titled “Thank God for Atheism.” MORE

8. Humanist Humor
A Los Angeles reader sent in this joke: “What do you call a Freethinker who eats beans?” GET THE JOKE

9. Poll of the Week
Do you plan to donate your body or organs to science?MORE

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About the IHS:

The IHS promotes nonreligious perspectives on social, political, and ethical issues and serves as a resource for and about the humanist community. Questions, comments, concerns, got a better joke or a story? Send a letter to the editor.

If anything here interests you, or if you are one of those people who doesn’t “get” humanism, you may also be interested in my diary on what secular humanism is and what it is like to be a secular humanist in today’s political climate: I Am The Boogeyman.

Humanist Network News: Dec. 28

December 28, 2005
Humanist Network News
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Ringing out the old year
Editor’s thoughts on 2005
2005 in Review
2005 in Pictures
Cathartic Comics
Humanist Humor

Summaries and links across the break (no MY TAKE this week).
1. Ringing out the old year
Around this time of year, IHS Public Policy Director Dr. Tim Gordinier tries to be charitable to his enemies. But this year, the way the religious right carried on, he just can’t do it. MORE

2. Editor’s thoughts on 2005
2005 was an extraordinary year for humanism and for Humanist Network News. We hope this “year in review” will help jog your memory. Or, for those of you who joined us at various points throughout the year, we hope this will provide you with an adequate picture of our activities in 2005. MORE

3. 2005 in Review
A timeline with summaries of important articles that appeared in Humanist Network News in 2005. MORE

4. 2005 in Pictures
Here is 2005 in HNN pictures. Do you remember what events these pictures show? MORE

5. Cathartic Comics
Here are, what HNN editor Duncan Crary thinks are some of the funniest cartoons we published in 2005. MORE

6. Humanist Humor
Read the editor’s pick for funniest HNN joke of 2005. MORE

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About the IHS:

Humanist Network News: Dec. 22

December 22, 2005
Humanist Network News
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Dec. 20 HNN Audio now available!
Separation principle upheld in Pa. “intelligent design” case
A note from the Editor
Message from IHS President Larry Jones
First century pulp fiction: CBS at the manger
AAI announces new freethought cooperation award
Letters to the Editor
Cathartic Comics
Humanist Humor
Poll of the Week

Summaries and links and MY TAKE across the break.

1. Dec. 20 HNN Audio now available!
Humanist Network News has a new installment of our audio program that is now available for listening! In this installment, IHS President Larry Jones talks about the existence of Santa. Dr. Gopi Upreti, president of the Humanist Association of Nepal, speaks about humanism in Nepal. Dr. Tim Gordinier, IHS public policy director, describes his work as a lobbyist for humanism. MORE

2. Separation principle upheld in Pa. “intelligent design” case
Dr. Gordinier, public policy director of the Institute for Humanist Studies, writes: “Good sense has triumphed over religious extremism in Dover, Pa.” MORE

MY TAKE: Seeing the courts continue to make good rulings gives me hope that some day we as a nation can overcome the stupidity.

3. A note from the Editor
HNN Editor Duncan Crary writes about the importance of supporting the Institute for Humanist Studies. MORE

4. Message from IHS President Larry Jones
IHS President Larry Jones writes: “Since 1999, I have been proud to support the Institute for Humanist Studies with both my time and financial resources.” MORE

MY TAKE: This diary is how I support the IHS; I help them get their message out.

5. First century pulp fiction: CBS at the manger
R. Joseph Hoffmann, professor of Religious Studies at Wells College, separates the fact from fiction in a new CBS documentary on the birth of Jesus. MORE

MY TAKE: I fear that many religious folks will see Mr. Hoffmann’s article as an attack on their faith, rather than an attempt to set the historical record straight. This is an interesting piece. I learned some things, maybe you will too.

6. AAI announces new freethought cooperation award
The Community Cooperation Award will grant a single award of $500 to one Freethought organization each year to foster cooperation, ethical awareness and positive images in the Freethought community. MORE

7. Letters to the Editor
Letters on the Holidays, the War on Christmas, atheist comedians, evolvefish, celibacy and MORE

8. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. MORE

MY TAKE Here is my cathartic comic: Merry Crispix

9. Humanist Humor
Congressman John D. Dingell (MI-15) recited the following poem on the floor of the US House of Representatives concerning House Resolution 579, which expressed the sense of the House of Representatives that the symbols and traditions of Christmas should be protected. MORE

MY TAKE: This is a must read! Fantastic, Congressman Dingell! I did a parody piece of my own about the “War on Christmas” at Booman Tribune a couple of weeks ago: Help Put The Cross Back In Crossing.

10. Poll of the Week
How will Creationists react to the recent Dover, Pa. ruling? CAST YOUR VOTE

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About the IHS:

Humanist Network News: Dec. 8

December 7, 2005
Humanist Network News
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Got secular holiday traditions? Call HNN listener line
Humanist holiday gift ideas
Atheists making Falwell’s (X-mas) dreams come true
Is phony X-mas controversy rousing real discrimination?
Rationally Speaking: How to change a mind
Human Rights Day–How About Sex?
Celibate from…?
Book Review: A Matter of Opinion
Film Review: Walk the Line
Sweet Reason, how can I get along with nosy believers?
Letters to the Editor
Cathartic Comics
Humanist Humor
Poll of the Week

Summaries, links and MY TAKE across the break.
1. Got secular holiday traditions? Call HNN listener line
Call the HNN comment line (206-339-4168) to share your secular holiday traditions. Select voice recordings will be included in the next audio HNN. MORE

MY TAKE: I was raised Catholic, so I was raised celebrating Christmas. My wife’s family is kind of a non-denominational Christian lot, so she, too, has always celebrated Christmas. Even though my wife and I are secular humanists, we still celebrate a secular Christmas. We usually get a tree, hang stockings, put up lights, do gift exchanges, attend parties (including a Wiccan friend’s Solstice party), and even sing carols.

2. Humanist holiday gift ideas
Still looking for the perfect gift for your freethinking friend, family member or significant other? Here are some ideas. MORE

MY TAKE: My wife and I get seem to get a new Darwin Fish from evolvefish.com every year, and after a few months it gets ripped off our car. Kind of rude.

3. Atheists making Falwell’s (X-mas) dreams come true
An atheist group has actually declared “war on Christmas.” MORE

MY TAKE: Idiotas! These are the kind of people that give the rest of us atheists a bad name.

4. Is phony X-mas controversy rousing real discrimination?
Tim Gordinier, IHS public policy director, takes a look at Bill O’Reilly’s “war on Christmas” hype. MORE

MY TAKE: Another well reasoned argument by Gordinier. He never disappoints. I did a parody piece on the “war on Christmas” at Booman Tribune last Sunday: Help Put The Cross Back In Crossing.

5. Rationally Speaking: How to change a mind
Rationally Speaking blogger Massimo Pigliucci muses on Changing Minds, a book by Harvard psychologist Howard Gardner that deals with the human willingness (or unwillingness) to change our minds. MORE

MY TAKE: Sounds like a book the Democratic leadership needs to read.

6. Human Rights Day–How About Sex?
December 12 is International Human Rights Day. And along with many other noble statements in support of human rights, Sexual Intelligence publisher Marty Klein wants to hear a few statements in support of sexual rights. MORE

MY TAKE: This is one of the most succinct and well worded arguments I have heard: “…the expression of consensual sexuality is a fundamental human right — and that every one of us deserves that right without government interference or social hysteria.”

7. Celibate from…?
Canadian columnist Doug Thomas examines the Catholic Church’s celibacy rules. MORE

MY TAKE: When will the Roman Catholic Church simply let priests (and nuns) marry? Many other denominations do. Most of the Apostles were married. As Dan Brown has pointed out, there is not even definitive proof that Jesus himself was not married. Originally, the ban on priestly marriage was an effort by the church to prevent church money and property from being passed to a priest’s family as an inheritance. Is that really a concern today? I don’t think so.

8. Book Review: A Matter of Opinion
David A. Niose reviews A Matter of Opinion, by Victor S. Navasky of The Nation. MORE

MY TAKE: Navasky is the publisher emeritus of “The Nation”, so the book is part personal memoir, part history of “The Nation”. The reviewer says that the book should appeal to liberals, but is also quite flawed. I probably wont read it.

9. Film Review: Walk the Line
Carolyn Braunius reviews Walk the Line, a film about Johnny Cash. MORE

10. Sweet Reason, how can I get along with nosy believers?
A freethinking divorcee in the Bible Belt, who prefers that beliefs about religion be kept personal, needs help avoiding nosy folks who think church is the place to meet a special someone. MORE

11. Letters to the Editor
We have tons on letters on O’Reilly, the recent audio HNN, God would be an atheist, student displays of religion and much MORE

12. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. READ THEM

13. Humanist Humor
Want to hear another Internet creation myth? GET THE JOKE

14. Poll of the Week
Should the U.S. government continue to recognize Christmas as a federal holiday? CAST YOUR VOTE

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About the IHS:

Help Put The Cross Back In Crossing

[From the diaries by susanhu. Perhaps Mr. Boma was inspired by my December 2nd tome on “Taking Christ out of Christmas“? I’ll pray with you, Mr. Boma.]

The secular humanist left is at it again. While the upstanding religious folk have been fighting the blasphemers in their attempt to take the Christ out of Christmas, another threat has slipped by under the radar. I am, of course, talking about the effort to take the Cross out of crossing.

It is clear the devil worshipping, atheist, liberals are behind this effort. We all know that the left lacks any new ideas, so they have simply repeated themselves by replacing everything Christian with the letter X, as if they are symbolically x-ing out all religion. By now, we are all familiar with their blasphemous “Xmas”, but now the secular left has replaced the Christian cross with an X, creating the bastard term “Xing.” They are evil twins: Xmas and Xing, and we must fight back.

Perhaps you have seen a sign like the one at left? If you haven’t yet, I’m sure you will soon. These signs are springing up everywhere. Follow me across the break to see more examples of this quickly spreading evil.
A quick Google images search turned up more examples of this festering blasphemy:

It isn’t just for humans that they have taken the cross out of crossing:

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It is time we put an end to this. I am asking everyone to start tearing down these signs anywhere and everywhere you see them. Write to your city councilman (that’s right, liberal left, councilMAN). Write to your local newspaper op-ed pages. We must not let this continue. Please, help put the cross back in crossing.

South Africa OKs Gay Marriage

South Africa’s highest court has ruled that same sex marriages must be considered the same under the law as heterosexual marriages. The ruling makes South AFrica the fifth country to remove legal barriers to gay and lesbian unions. The winds of change are ablowin’.

Meanwhile, the rightwing in the U.S. is still trying to push us in the opposite direction. No doubt the new-look Bush court featuring Roberts and Alito would rule against gay marriage in the U.S. And with the GOP very weak heading into ’06, I’m sure we will see a huge anti-gay push by the right in order to get the fanatics and bigots out to the polls next November.

Details on the South Africa ruling are after the break.
Link

… the Constitutional Court said the refusal to give legal status to gay marriages, though grounded in common law, violated the Constitution’s guarantee of equal rights. The justices said marriage laws must be amended to include the words “or spouse” alongside provisions that now refer to “husbands” and “wives.”

The decision was essentially unanimous, with one of the court’s 12 judges arguing that the ruling should take effect immediately rather than being stayed.

There it is, plain and simple: a ban on gay marriage violates equal rights.

… the court stayed its ruling for a year to give Parliament time to amend a 1961 marriage law to reflect its decision. Should the legislature balk, the court said, the law will be automatically changed to make it conform with the ruling.

Few expect Parliament to resist, even though Africans are generally intolerant of gay relationships and many South Africans are conservative on social issues. Among political factions here, only the tiny African Christian Democratic Party, whose positions carry a strong religious undercurrent, called for a constitutional amendment to bar gay marriages.

The African National Congress, which controls the presidency and more than two-thirds of Parliament’s seats, was silent on the court’s decision.

So even in a land of bigotry, the court made the correct legal ruling. Dare we hope for the same thing here?

Humanist Network News: Dec. 1

November 30, 2005
Humanist Network News
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Teacher fired for non-immaculate conception
Secular lobbyist challenges O’Reilly’s X-mas campaign
Humanist Podcasting vs. Godcasting
Number of non-believers in Northern Ireland increases
Annual Day for Freedom of Religion or Belief at the UN
Skepchicks, International
Rationally Speaking: Plato, Freud, and the roots of our discontent
God would be an atheist: Why can’t we all be Japanese?
When is it no longer personal?
Sweet Reason, how can I prevent humanist burnout?
Media Roundup
Cathartic Comics
Humanist Humor

Summaries, links, and MY TAKE across the break.
1. Teacher fired for non-immaculate conception
A Catholic school in Queens, N.Y. recently fired an unmarried 26-year-old teacher for becoming pregnant. Dr. Tim Gordinier, public policy director of the Institute for Humanist Studies, remarks on this issue. MORE

MY TAKE: An interesting case, and a an excellent analysis by Gordinier.

2. Secular lobbyist challenges O’Reilly’s X-mas campaign
Lori Lipman Brown, director and lobbyist of the Secular Coalition for America made her second appearance on The O’Reilly Factor last night. This time she was there to speak to the Fox News talk show host about how secularists view Christmas. As with her first two appearances on Fox the hate mail flowed into the SCA. But so did the positive messages. MORE

MY TAKE: I’m still not sure why Lipman Brown even bothers to go on O’Reilly’s show. No doubt she can kick his ass in a fair debate, but his show tilts the playing field so far to his advantage that it hardly seems worth it. Even if she does do well, it will never make it on the air. And O’Reilly is wrong to think none of the Founders anticipated non-Christians. If he read some Thomas Jefferson, he would know that.

3. Humanist Podcasting vs. Godcasting
Last week the Institute for Humanist Studies releasted the first-ever audio version of Humanist Network News. There’s still time to listen. MORE

MY TAKE: I still haven’t listened… and don’t know if or when I will. Maybe if I had an MP3 player…

4. Number of non-believers in Northern Ireland increases
A new report has revealed a significant increase in the number of people in Northern Ireland who now see themselves as having no religion. The National Secular Society Newsline (U.K.) reports. MORE

MY TAKE: Seeing so much death and destruction over minor religious differences might just drive the faith out of a person.

5. Annual Day for Freedom of Religion or Belief at the UN
Matt Cherry, executive director of the Institute for Humanist Studies, will chair the 2005 Annual Day for Freedom of Religion or Belief at the United Nations on Thursday, Dec. 1. Cherry will be overseeing the event in his capacity as president of the United Nations NGO Committee on Freedom of Religion or Belief. HNN readers are welcome to attend. MORE

MY TAKE: Happy International Freedom of Religion or Belief Day. Nice that the UN recognizes non-religious beliefs and places them on par with religion.

6. Skepchicks, International
Rebecca Watson describes Skepchicks, an organization of smart, skeptical women who are dedicated to the promotion of critical thinking. By sponsoring initiatives, funding scholarships, and encouraging discussion and debate, they hope to increase the number of women in the community of skeptics. This column is reprinted from eSkeptic. MORE

MY TAKE: Love the name, love the goals, love the initiative. The calendar is a bit pricey, but I love a woman who is not afraid to show off her… um… brains.

7. Rationally Speaking: Plato, Freud, and the roots of our discontent
Rationally Speaking columnist Massimo Pigliucci just “happened to be mulling over the fairly well known relationship between Plato’s idea of the tripartite soul and Freud’s theoretical framework for understanding our mind.” SEE WHAT HE CAME UP WITH

8. God would be an atheist: Why can’t we all be Japanese?
Columnist Martin Foreman writes: “Top of the class, in both atheism and good behavior, come the Japanese.” MORE

MY TAKE: This story reports on a study showing that more secular nations have less violent crime and teen pregnancy than more religious nations. Anyone who has studied history knows that religion has always been a major source of conflict. But this study shows correlations aside from religious conflict. Of course, correlation is not the same as causation, and other cultural factors no doubt play some role in the findings. But religiosity may be playing a role in those other cultural factors as well, so maybe there is some causation at work here.

9. When is it no longer personal?
Canadian columnist Doug Thomas writes: “…the crosses worn by some students have been becoming larger and male students often wear them hanging outside their sweaters or shirts. Given that there have been incidents in our school of Christian students challenging students of other faiths and as well as non-believers about their personal philosophies, I wonder if there is a connection. When does a simple expression of personal faith become a symbol of intense loyalty to a group and when does the group become a gang?” MORE

MY TAKE: As I stated above, anyone who has studied history knows that religion has always been a major source of conflict. I’m sure most would not consider bullying behavior to be very Christian, but Christian gangs are not such a new thing.

10. Sweet Reason, how can I prevent humanist burnout?
A reader states: “I’ve always tried to be involved and do what I can to support humanistic causes and organizations but I’m afraid of becoming burned out.” READ SWEET REASON’S ADVICE

MY TAKE: This is good advice for any kind of activism burnout.

11. Media Roundup
Penn Jillette reads his essay “There Is No God” on NPR’s “This I Believe” series. The Pope plans to abandon idea of unbaptised babies forever in limbo. A school runs a contest for best anti-gay essay. A 15 year old girl is suspended from high school for not praying. And a Darwin exhibition is frightening off corporate sponsors. DETAILS

MY TAKE: As always, good stuff in the media round-up

12. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. READ THEM

13. Humanist Humor
The Discovery Institute has announced its public policy agenda for 2006. It will now be promoting a few more not-so-intelligent ideas along with “intelligent design”. MORE

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About the IHS:

Humanist Network News: Nov. 24

November 23, 2005
Humanist Network News
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HNN now “on the air”
SURPRISE! This week’s edition of Humanist Network News is an audio magazine (a.k.a. podcast). We hope all our readers will enjoy this new format, which delivers humanist commentary, announcements, and some great music right to your computer or portable media player wherever you go! MORE

MY TAKE: Quite a surprise. I haven’t listened, yet. In fact, I’m not sure when I will have an opportunity to listen (I don’t have an MP3 player). I like the written HNN. It gives me the opportunity to peruse at my own leisure and spend time only on the stories that interest me. This format seems less flexible in some ways.

Happy Thanksgiving.

About the IHS:

If anything here interests you, you may also be interested in my diary on what it is like to be a secular humanist in today’s political climate: I Am The Boogeyman.

Humanist Network News: Nov. 17

November 16, 2005
Humanist Network News
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Darby quits post at Atheist Law Center; New president says “No Hard Feelings”
Atheists, out of their foxholes and on the national mall
IHS in the News: Atheists in Foxholes
Religious holidays and school closings
Another political bombshell in Canada
Film Review: Pride & Prejudice
Sweet Reason, Christian students trying to convert me
Letters to the Editor
Cathartic Comics
Humanist Humor
Poll of the Week

Summaries and links across the break.
Unfortunately, I was too busy this week to include “My Take”. I’ll try to stop by later to make some comments.

1. Darby quits post at Atheist Law Center; New president says “No Hard Feelings”
Larry Darby has resigned as president of the Atheist Law Center, the small but controversial activist group he founded in Montgomery, Ala. Now he’s running for public office. MORE

2. Atheists, out of their foxholes and on the national mall
On Veterans Day, a small group of atheist veterans assembled on the national mall to march and rally. But some say the attendance and the media coverage for the event were dismal. MORE

3. IHS in the News: Atheists in Foxholes
New York News Connection interviewed IHS Executive Director Matt Cherry and occasional HNN contributor Warren Allen Smith about the Atheist in Foxholes event. MORE

4. Religious holidays and school closings
Dr. Tim Gordinier, public policy director of the Institute for Humanist Studies, asks: “Closing public schools to ‘observe’ a religious holiday would seem, on first impression, to violate the principle of separation of church and state. Wouldn’t any reasonable person see that as government endorsement of a particular religious viewpoint?” MORE

5. Another political bombshell in Canada
Canadian columnist Doug Thomas reports: “A New Democratic Party MP, Joe Comartin, has put a motion on the table to have his party start a ‘faith-based’ caucus within that federal party.” MORE

6. Film Review: Pride & Prejudice
HNN film critic Carolyn Braunius writes: “Pride & Prejudice is a fresh look at an old favorite.” MORE

7. Sweet Reason, Christian students trying to convert me
A college student feels overrun by proselytizing Christian students. CHECK OUT SWEET REASON’S ADVICE

8. Letters to the Editor
Letters about Atheists in Foxholes, abstinence until ‘later’, and atheist clubs in public schools. MORE

9. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. READ THEM

10. Humanist Humor
A future humanist grows restless in church. GET THE JOKE

11. Poll of the Week
We have last week’s poll results on how many HNN readers claim to be veterans. But we’re taking a break from the poll this week. MORE

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About the IHS:

If anything here interests you, you may also be interested in my diary on what it is like to be a secular humanist in today’s political climate: I Am The Boogeyman.