Hemant Mehta's Blog, page 1757

Nebraska’s New State Patrol Superintendent Has a History of Proselytizing While on the Job

Brad Rice (below), the person tapped to be the next superintendent of the Nebraska State Patrol, is going to provide this site with a hell of a lot of material during his tenure.

There was already an accusation that Rice once said “women don’t belong in law enforcement,” a statement he denies.

But there’s no denying how he pushes his Christianity while on the job:

“[Rice] was upset with me,” [employee Kent] Hanlin said. “He basically told me I was going to hell because of my beliefs.”

…

Rice, desc...

It’s a Miracle! Vatican Claims Coagulated “Blood” of St. Gennaro Liquefies After Pope Francis Kisses the Vial

The Catholic network Aleteia is named afterthe Greek word for truth, so this report must be totally truthful:

The blood relic of St. Gennaro [a.k.a. Januarius], patron saint of Naples, [yesterday] miraculously liquefiedin the presence of Pope Francis, the first time the miracle has occurred in the presence of a pontiff since 1848.

“His blood has half-liquefied,” the Archbishop of Naples, Cardinal Crescenzio Sepe,said at the conclusion of Pope Francis’ address to diocesan priest and religious in...

Where Can I Find Killing Jesus?

One of my many jobs includes part time book clerk. I’ve been at it for nearly 8 years now, and I seriously love it. It’s one of my greatest sources of amusement (oh, and I get great deals on rare books).

True story: A woman asked me for assistance finding Bill O’Reilly’s Killing Jesus with a look of urgency and concern. I mistakenly laughed, completely involuntarily and without self-control. Shame on me!

My friend John later gave me a more appropriate response, which I’ve illustrated for you.

(v...

Former Board Members of We Are Atheism Speak Out

Last week, I posted about several concerns I had regarding the group We Are Atheism. They misled donors about their non-profit status, collected tens of thousands of dollars in the aftermath of tragedies to help victims and then redirected some of that money to individuals who had no connection to the events, and lacked the sort of accountability you’d expect from a non-profit group.

We Are Atheism’s President Lee Moore issued a response to my post earlier this week.

Since then, I’ve heard from...

35 Years After Saying Gay People Should Die, Bob Jones III Apologizes… While At Event Opposing LGBT Rights

35 years ago, Bob Jones University president Bob Jones III (below) made this statement about LGBT individuals:

“It would not be a bad idea to bring the swift justice today that was brought in Israel’s day against murder and rape and homosexuality. I guarantee it would solve the problem post-haste if homosexuals were stoned, if murderers were immediately killed as the Bible commands.”

It wasn’t until this week that Jones, now the chancellor of the school, finally apologized for those remarks:

“I...

Seven Children Perish In Brooklyn House Fire; NYFD Suspects That a Hot Plate, a Sabbath Loophole, Is To Blame

Because I wrote about it at the time, I’ve always remembered the dozens of fires that broke out duringthe early months of 2005 fires in Bedford Gardens, Brooklyn, a bigapartment complex. That would have had to be the work of a serial arsonist, right? Not so:

A fire caused by stovetop burners left on for Passover killed three boys as it whipped through a Brooklyn apartment before dawn yesterday, a few hours after the family had gone to bed at the end of a night of feasting, singing and celebrat...

All Charges Dropped Against Woman Who Vandalized Satanic Display in Florida Capitol

Late last year, we learned that The Satanic Temple’s display in the Florida State Capitol Building had been vandalized.

It turned out that the vandal was Susan Hemeryck, a 54-year-old Tea Party activist who wore a shirt with the phrase “Catholic Warrior” on it.

Susan Hemeryck (via Leon County Sheriff’s Office)

At the time, she said this about her crime:

[Hemeryck] had only one regret about Tuesday’s incident.

‘I just yanked that little devil off the fishing line,’ she said. ‘I should have just don...

A Compilation of Matt Dillahunty’s Best Arguments and Comebacks

Here’s a compilation of Matt Dillahunty‘s best arguments and comebacks. (Likely the first of many such videos.)

(via Agatan Fnd)

This Humanist Group’s Inclusion on the AFA’s Bigotry Map is “Nothing Short of Saintly”

We already know reporters can’t seem to find any reason various Humanist/LGBT/AARP groups were included on the American Family Association’s “Bigotry Map.”

The American University Rationalists and Atheists (now known as the AU humanist Community) made the list — and they’re downright giddy about it:

“We are very humbled by your acknowledgement of our very existence and consider the act nothing short of saintly,” [president Nathaniel] Caspari said in the e-mail sent to the AFA.

…

“In reality, I di...

Human Trafficking is the Consequence of a “Godless Agenda,” Says Tony Perkins

Pop quiz: Which of the following is NOT found in Levitical law?

A) Prohibition against planting multiple types of crops in the same field

B) Mandated death for disrespectful children

C) Mandated death for slavers and those who fund them

D) Prohibition against seeking those who practice wizardry and have familiar spirits

If you answered C, a death penalty for slavers… you would be correct. It’s not found in Leviticus.

Which isn’t to say that Leviticus has nothing to say about slavery. On the contrar...