Hemant Mehta's Blog, page 1669

Giant Wall of Christian Crosses in Texas County Clerk’s Office Comes Down

I posted yesterday about how, in Texas, Gregg County Clerk Connie Wade refused to issue marriage licenses to gay couples because she was waiting for direction from the Attorney General.

But I didn’t believe her because she didn’t hide her personal faith-based opposition to marriage and there was a giant wall of crosses in her office:

Two important updates to this story.

First, the Wall of Crosses has come down:

“The employee voluntarily took the crosses down,” [County Judge Bill] Stoudt said, not...

Christianity Today: The Facebook Rainbows Are Assaulting Us

A writer for Christianity Today, a publication that believes committed gay and lesbian couples are “destructive to society,” is now trying to figure out how to deal with the assault to his faith on Facebook.

Because it’s totally Christian Persecution when someone’s profile picture has rainbow colors.

This is the actual headline. #NotTheOnion

That’s really shows you the nature of this fight, doesn’t it? Our side is trying to obtain civil rights for LGBT people and fix anti-discrimination laws… an...

Obnoxious Christian Evangelist Tells Inaccurate Stories Before Threatening Opposition with a Gun

Christian evangelist Josh Feuerstein (he of the vertical videos on YouTube), who represents Jesus by saying the most despicable things he possibly can and then acting like a martyr whenever anyone calls him out on his bullshit, has done it again.

First, check out the image he used when talking about homosexuality:

No veiled threat there at all…

Then you see what he wrote.

Gay Man files LAWSUIT to forcibly remove homosexuality from BIBLE

There’s no link for what he’s talking about, but that’s just...

A Former Jehovah’s Witness Explains Why He Left the Unethical Faith

Daniel Genser was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness, but the religion tore his family apart. His older sister was Disfellowshipped. His gay brotherwas never accepted by his parents. But it wasn’t until last year that he realized how awful the organization was.

He tells his detailed, compelling story at Medium:

Daniel and his wife Devon

I decided to stop going to meetings because my beliefs and values no longer align with the official policies of the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society and their affilia...

Another Compilation of Matt Dillahunty’s Best Arguments and Comebacks

Here’s another compilation of Matt Dillahunty‘s best arguments and comebacks.

(via Agatan Fnd)

Why Foundation Beyond Belief is Hosting a Conference with the Theme #BlackLivesMatter

Later this month, Foundation Beyond Belief (which I’m on the board of) will be having a one-day conference in Boston revolving around the theme #BlackLivesMatter.

When I’ve mentioned this on social media, the responses have, sadly, been exactly what you’d expect: People saying that #AllLivesMatter and people arguing that the theme has nothing to do with Humanism.

Assuming for a moment that people who raise these issues do so in good faith, hoping to get real answers, our staff put together this...

When a Seminary Professor Loses His Faith, What Should He Do?

Brandon G. Withrow (below) used to be an assistant professor of the history of Christianity and religious studies at the Winebrenner Theological Seminary… which sounds like a nice gig when you’re a Christian scholar.

Not so great, however, when you stop believing in God.

Withrow realized he was no longer religious last year, putting him in a difficult position: Should he fake it and keep the job, or be honest about his doubts and try finding another faculty position at a secular university?

He t...

Arkansas State Senator Behind Ten Commandments Monument Dismisses Debate Challenge from Satanist

Arkansas State Senator Jason Rapert is the politician who filed a bill — now a law — to install a Ten Commandments monument on the Capitol grounds. He’s still supporting his bill even though a similar monument was just declared illegal in Oklahoma.

Ten Commandments monument in Oklahoma (via James Nimmo)

Now that The Satanic Temple is trying to install its own monument in Arkansas, along with several other groups, there’s a lot of talk about whether or not that’ll be allowed.

[The Satanic Temple...

Ohio Attorney General Announces $300,000 Grant to Ministry That Points Kids to Jesus

Athletes in Action, a part of Campus Crusade for Christ (“Cru”), is a group with a very straightforward goal:

Since 1966, Athletes in Action has been using sports as a platform to help people answer questions of faith and to point them to Jesus.

That’s all fine. They have a right to promote their faith as they wish.

But here’s a question for you: Why is Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine giving the organization $300,000 so they can promote Jesus to students?

“For more than 45 years, Athletes in Ac...

Texas Clerk with Wall of Crosses Says Faith Played No Part in Refusal to Issue Gay Couple Marriage License

When it comes to religious people in government jobs, the rule of thumb has always been this: You’re welcome to keep Bibles or religious symbols around your personal space, but you shouldn’t have it on display for the public where it might be seen as government endorsement of that faith.

That’s why public school teachers, for example, can have a Bible in their office desk but they can’t post Bible verses around the classroom. (If it’s a less intrusive symbol, like a cross necklace, do what you...