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SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2009
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NEWS ABOUT: atheism

atheism stories: 18 news summaries
UNHOLY CAMPAIGN

 Atheist Ads to 
 Hit NYC Subways 

Coalition to launch godless monthlong campaign

Oct 21, 09 5:36 AM CDT
(Newser) - Eight atheist organizations are the creators of a unique month-long ad campaign beginning next week in Manhattan subways that will challenge the belief in God. "A million New Yorkers are good without God. Are you?" the ads will ask on posters featuring blue sky and clouds. Because the city's... More »

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New York • Manhattan • religion • God • church • advertisements • atheism • NYC Subway • New York City Subway • atheists • ad campaign • god is dead

Atheists Split Over How Mean to Be to Faithful

'New atheists' want to decry religion, not just promote secularism

Oct 19, 09 11:28 AM CDT
(Newser) - Can a non-religion schism? Maybe that’s too dramatic a phrase, but there’s a rift growing between so-called “new atheists,” who favor an aggressive, mocking stance toward religion, and the old live-and-let-live kind. On “Blasphemy Day” last month, for example, new atheists were out in force,... More »

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religion • atheism • blasphemy • atheists


 Facebook: Defining 
 Religion in 100 Characters 

From agnostics to Jedis, users wonder how to sum up views

Aug 30, 09 1:08 PM CDT
(Newser) - It could be a quick question: What's your religion? But Facebook’s request for that information has led many to review and revise their beliefs to fit into a 100-character space, the Washington Post reports. Answers range from Christian, Facebook’s most popular belief system, to a professed belief in... More »

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social networking • Islam • Internet • Christianity • religion • Facebook • atheism • agnostic

Atheist Campers Learn Archery, Swimming, Skepticism

Nonbelievers' kids need fresh air, too

Jul 18, 09 12:32 PM CDT
(Newser) - Atheist parents have it rough: They can't exactly pack the kids off to Bible camp for the summer. That’s changing, thanks in part to establishments like Camp Quest, a humanist-staffed getaway that promotes skepticism. Counselors teach the scientific method and deliver lectures about famous free thinkers. Kids are... More »

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religion • atheism • atheists • summer camp • bible camp • Camp Quest • Answers in Genesis

 Turkish Game Show 
 Tries to Convert Atheists 

Imams, priests, rabbis, and monks given chance to convert unbelievers live on TV

Jul 3, 09 1:29 AM CDT
(Newser) - This was probably only a matter of time: A Turkish game show starting this fall will bring on 10 atheists per show and give holy men from four faiths the chance to convert them, the Guardian reports. A Muslim imam, a Greek Orthodox priest, a rabbi, and a Buddhist monk... More »

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Islam • Turkey • Christianity • religion • Judaism • game show • Buddhism • atheism

 US Atheists 
 Step 'Out 
 of Closet' 

Growing movement seeks acceptance, not members

Apr 27, 09 10:14 AM CDT
(Newser) - Atheists across the country are turning up the volume, gathering openly and advertising their lack of faith, the New York Times reports. Their goal isn’t to win others over—“The most important thing is coming out of the closet,” said one activist—and win acceptance for their... More »

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religion • secularism • atheism • agnostic • Secular Coalition for America

Atheist Bus Ads Draw Fire from UK Christians

Complaints say campaign breaks requirements of 'truthfulness and substantiation'

Jan 9, 09 4:43 PM CST
(Newser) - A series of pro-atheism ads on London buses have prompted nearly 150 complaints to Britain’s advertising regulator, the Guardian reports. The complaints largely claim that the ads, which declare, “There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life,” are offensive to monotheists and break... More »

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United Kingdom • God • Christians • Britain • advertisements • atheism • atheists • Bill Maher Grid

Ky. Atheists Fight 'Foolish' Security Law

Amendment says state relies on 'almighty God' for protection

Dec 5, 08 12:03 PM CST
(Newser) - Atheists are kicking up an almighty fuss about legislation that states Kentucky's safety and security can only be achieved through reliance on God, the Chicago Tribune reports. Bluegrass State unbelievers have filed a lawsuit seeking to have the offending law repealed, saying they fear their security may be in the... More »

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religion • Kentucky • First Amendment • US Constitution • atheism • atheists

(Newser) - The odds are getting better that Nietzsche was not only crazy, but wrong, the Telegraph reports. An Irish bookmaker has lowered the odds on finding proof of God's existence to 4-1, after atheist ads on London buses sparked a flurry of pro-God betting. The bookie, Paddy Power, began taking the... More »

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God • betting • atheism • Large Hadron Collider • Bill Maher Grid

Dawkins to Battle the Harry
Potter 'Delusion'

Atheist author will write children's book to wean kids from magic

Oct 25, 08 9:30 AM CDT
(Newser) - Evengelical atheist Richard Dawkins will take on Harry Potter in his next book, the Daily Telegraph reports. The God Delusion author is working on a book aimed at teaching children not to put their faith in "anti-scientific" fairytales. The professor plans to examine what effect raising children on stories... More »

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Harry Potter • religion • myth • children's books • atheism • atheists • Richard Dawkins • Bill Maher Grid

 UK Group Raises $80K 
 for Atheist Bus Ads 

Fundraising target far surpassed, campaign may expand nationwide

Oct 22, 08 2:47 PM CDT
(Newser) - A campaign to plaster London buses with agnostic advertising has far exceeded its fundraising goal, the Guardian reports. The ads, aimed to counter what one writer sees as overbearing Christian messages, will say, “There’s probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life.” Organizers have raised... More »

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London • advertising • Christianity • Britain • atheism • Church of England • agnostic • fundraising • Ariane Sherine • Bill Maher Grid

Christianity in China Grows Quickly, Quietly

Government puts total enrollment at 21M; others say 130M

Oct 3, 08 3:32 PM CDT
(Newser) - Despite government restrictions, Christianity in China is widespread and growing. Authorities typically look the other way, occasionally applying pressure that only seems to spread religion's influence, reports the Economist. Most of the Protestant "house churches" consist of 25 people—the largest legal gathering—where new Christians lead newer converts... More »

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China • Christianity • religion • church • Catholicism • atheism • Protestantism • Chinese Communist party

Pragmatism Dictates China's Religious Policy

Strategic chip firm
given leeway for Christian worship

Jul 2, 08 8:51 PM CDT
(Newser) - China officially sanctions religious worship only at state facilities, but the Christian Science Monitor finds that plenty of wiggle room exists in the business world. It profiles one company whose Christian CEO is allowed to put up a church at every worksite. Why such accommodation in a formally atheist state?... More »

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China • technology • Christianity • electronics • religious freedom • semiconductor chip • atheism • religious conflict

OPINION

 Top Ideas of Past Year 

Atlantic Monthly runs down issues steered the national discourse in past year

Jun 11, 08 5:19 PM CDT
(Newser) - Which ideas informed the national discourse (or lack thereof) in the past year? Well, the Atlantic Monthly knows, and there are 11 … er, 11½. From the troop surge in Iraq to post-partisan politics to the provocatively titled “mass-market atheism,” a look at some of the most captivating... More »

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Iraq • Iran • Barack Obama • torture • MySpace • carbon footprint • list • human genome • atheism • subprime crisis • Atlantic Monthly

Atheist Soldier Sues Army for Harassment

Says superior threatened charges over meeting in Iraq

Apr 26, 08 3:53 PM CDT
(Newser) - An atheist soldier is suing the US military for harassment after commanders pressured him to find faith, the Topeka Capital-Journal reports. One officer broke into Jeremy Hall's atheist meeting in Iraq last year and said, “People like you are going against what the founding fathers, who were Christians, wanted... More »

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religion • lawsuit • faith • US Army • atheism • Bill Maher Grid

Rice Plans Another
Vampire Book

Interview author had vowed to concentrate
on Christian writing

Feb 25, 08 12:50 PM CST
(Newser) - When atheist and chronicler of the undead Anne Rice embraced Christianity in 2005, she seemed to seal the coffin on her Vampire Chronicles. But she's backtracking on her vow to write only about the Lord and not Lestat. "I have one more book that I would really like to... More »

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Christianity • atheism • vampire • Anne Rice • Lestat • Vampire Chronicles • Interview With a Vampire • The Queen of the Damned

Pope Condemns Atheism

Lack of belief 'has led to the greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice'

Nov 30, 07 3:20 PM CST
(Newser) - Pope Benedict issued a strong condemnation of atheism today and warned that advances in technology must be met with similar advancements in ethics. In his second encyclical, the pope said atheist ideologies have "led to the greatest forms of cruelty and violations of justice," Reuters reports. "Man... More »

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Pope Benedict XVI • Catholic Church • Marxism • encyclical • atheism

Compass Film Strips Book's Anti-God Moral

Author Pullman's stab at organized religion gets mass-appeal makeover

Nov 9, 07 9:58 PM CST
(Newser) - When the film version of hit children’s book The Golden Compass hits theaters this month, its atheist message will be thoroughly scrubbed—but the author is mainly holding his tongue. Philip Pullman says New Line would have scored a bigger hit by preserving God and clergy as villains, but... More »

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Hollywood • New Line Cinema • Golden Compass • Philip Pullman • atheism • His Dark Materials trilogy

18 Stories


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