UN Human Rights Council statement prepares the way for international criminalization of religiously offensive speech
President Barack Obama in his history-making Inaugural Address today sounded the clarion call for a more inclusive and progressive America. The President’s speech outlined a largely humanistic agenda, promising to “restore science to its rightful place,” as we collectively face the massive challenges facing us as a country in the twenty-first century. Significantly, in affirming the pluralistic character of American society, President Obama expressly included “non-believers” among Christians, Muslims, Jews and Hindus, as part of the body politic.
The Center for Inquiry and the Council for Secular Humanism, in collaboration with the American Humanist Association and seventeen other nontheistic organizations, have banded together to call for President-elect Barack Obama to decline an invitation by the Boy Scouts of America to receive the honorary presidency of the group. The BSA makes no attempt to downplay the fact that it does not allow a substantial segment of the population to join—and ejects members in good standing—for the simple reason that they do not believe in a deity. What these nontheistic groups perhaps find most offensive is the Scouting bylaw that claims, “no member can grow into the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God.”
In a move designed to firm up faith-based opposition to embryonic stem cell research and other cutting-edge biomedical technologies, the Vatican has released a 32-page document titled “Dignitas Personae” – meaning “the dignity of a person.”
The Center for Inquiry is appalled that at its current session the U.N. General Assembly is adopting a resolution to combat the “defamation of religions,” which urges member states to curtail freedom of expression out of respect for religious belief, particularly Islamic belief
Some people want investigations because inexplicable events happen and/or they see ghosts or they want to join a ghost hunting group. There are those who desire a psychic reading, to contact with deceased loved ones or communicate with a pet. People attend lectures and read books to learn about the paranormal. When to get help? It’s like trying to find a good handy or cleaning person. Companies offering these services aren’t available in all geographic locations. What does one do after finding a potential person or organization? Using debunking principles is an excellent tool for identifying bona fide people and organizations.
CSI’s senior research fellow Joe Nickell will provide a hard-nosed dose of science and skepticism to the subject of exorcism in general and Bob Larson in particular on today’s CNN Newsroom.
The Ten Most Wanted Celebrities Who Promote Harmful Pseudoscience
Simon Baker will star as The Mentalist, a man who uses his keen abilities of observation to solve crimes. He can pick up small clues and then synthesize them, allowing him to see the big picture in a case. It’s a bit like “House”, but for a detective and not a doctor. Follow this article to watch the first episode.
For centuries the faithful have gathered in their thousands to watch one of Christianity’s most enduring mysteries. But yesterday they were told that the “miracle of the blood” was an elaborate hoax.
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