ريتشارد دوكنز's Blog, page 65

Conservative Christians are upset Facebook won’t let them advertise that gays can be “cured”

By Alex Bollinger Facebook and Instagram said that they’re taking steps to ban content promoting conversion therapy on their platforms, and some conservative Christians are complaining that their free speech is being violated by the social media giants. Representatives of Facebook – which owns Instagram – told CNN Business late last week that they would be taking …

Coronavirus: Blogger Emna Charqui given jail term over Koran-style post

By the BBC A blogger in Tunisia has been sentenced to six months in prison after sharing a satirical post about Covid-19 written in the form of a verse from the Koran. Emna Charqui, 28, was arrested in May for sharing a message on Facebook urging people to follow hygiene rules in the style of …

Christian Activist: Women’s Right To Vote ‘Product Of Soviet Bolshevik Revolution’

By Michael Stone Misogyny For Jesus: Conservative Christian activist Scott Lively claims a woman’s right to vote is a “product of the Soviet Bolshevik Revolution” and runs contrary to “a truly Biblical worldview.” Lively, a radical anti-LGBT Trump-loving conservative Christian, made his remarks during Sunday’s “Breaking News Bible Study” program, which airs on radio station …

For The First Time, Scientists Have Completely Sequenced a Human Chromosome

By Michelle Starr In 2003, history was made. For the first time, the human genome was sequenced. Since then, technological improvements have enabled tweaks, adjustments, and additions, making the human genome the most accurate and complete vertebrate genome ever sequenced. Nevertheless, some gaps remain – including human chromosomes. We have a pretty good grasp of them …

Nigerian Preacher Sues Atheist for $52 Million for Challenging Her Harmful Ideas

By Hemant Mehta A preacher and self-styled “Lady Apostle” named Helen Ukpabio, who has been accused of promoting the idea that babies can be possessed by demons — allegedly leading her followers to torture babies — is suing one of her critics for tens of millions of dollars. In 2009, she sued Nigerian atheist activist Leo Igwe after members of …

New ad uses Bible, ‘Amazing Grace,’ Jesus to call Republican Christians to vote against Trump

By Jack Jenkins A new political advertisement calls on Republican Christian voters to turn against Donald Trump this November, arguing the president’s rhetoric and actions are out of step with their faith. The ad, released on Tuesday (July 14), features several self-identified Republicans discussing Trump and his presidency as a piano softly plays the hymn …

Grant Imahara, host of ‘MythBusters’ and ‘White Rabbit Project,’ has died

By Joe Sutton and Hollie Silverman Grant Imahara, host of Discovery Channel’s “MythBusters” and Netflix’s “White Rabbit Project,” has died, according to a statement from the Discovery Channel. He was 49 years old. The host was known in Hollywood for his work in electronics and animatronics. “We are heartbroken to hear this sad news about …

The universe’s clock might have bigger ticks than we imagine

By Adam Mann The smallest conceivable length of time might be no larger than a millionth of a billionth of a billionth of a billionth of a second. That’s according to a new theory describing the implications of the universe having a fundamental clock-like property whose ticks would interact with our best atomic timepieces. Such …

Sudan bans FGM and breaks with hardline Islamist policies

By Jason Burke Sudan is to ban female genital mutilation (FGM), cancel prohibitions against religious conversion from Islam and permit non-Muslims to consume alcohol in a decisive break with almost four decades of hardline policies under the former Islamist government, its justice minister has said. The transitional government which took over after the Sudanese autocrat Omar al-Bashir …

State Director Of Christian Right Legislative Group, ‘Project Blitz,’ Calls For Lynching Of Rep. Ilhan Omar

By Frederick Clarkson This began as a story about a Christian Right leader who joined in calling for a Member of Congress and others to be hanged for treason. And then it got interesting. In a recent Facebook post (since taken down) Rev. Dale Witherington, the State Director of the Minnesota action arm of the Christian Right …