ريتشارد دوكنز's Blog, page 94

Can faith healing work by phone? Charismatic Christians try prayer to combat the coronavirus.

By Michelle Boorstein Roy and Darlene Curry say that they — like all believing Christians — have the power to miraculously heal the sick. Roy once raised a friend from the dead right at the coffin, he says. A few years ago at their house church in Severn, Md., the couple laid hands on the …

Remains of 90 million-year-old rainforest discovered under Antarctic ice

By Laura Geggel About 90 million years ago, West Antarctica was home to a thriving temperate rainforest, according to fossil roots, pollen and spores recently discovered there, a new study finds. The world was a different place back then. During the middle of the Cretaceous period (145 million to 65 million years ago), dinosaurs roamed Earth and sea levels were 558 …

Here’s a look at what states are exempting religious gatherings from stay at home orders

By Madeline Holcombe and Stephanie Gallman Officials from the health care and federal and state governments have promoted social distancing as a powerful tool in the fight against coronavirus. But of the 39 states that have implemented stay at home orders, 12 make exceptions for religious gatherings. A revival held at a church resulted in …

Atheists Can Now Solemnize Marriages in Michigan After State Drops Opposition

By Hemant Mehta Here’s some good news in the midst of our national chaos. It starts with a question: Who has legal authority to perform a wedding ceremony? In most states, the answer includes certain government officials like judges (if you’re getting married in court) or religious ministers. It’s not like your best friend could …

Taxpayers Cannot Be Forced to Fund Churches–Even in a Pandemic

By Andrew L. Seidel Religious liberty is threatened in America, but not in the way you’ve been told. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, as it stands right now, poses a very real threat to the religious freedom of every American. The CARES Act allows businesses and nonprofits to borrow money from …

‘Lucy’s baby’ suggests famed human ancestor had a primitive brain

By Ann Gibbons In 1974, the world was stunned by the discovery of “Lucy,” the partial skeleton of a human ancestor that walked upright—and still spent time in the trees—3.2 million years ago. Later discoveries revealed her species, scattered throughout eastern Africa, had brains bigger than chimpanzees. But a new study of an ancient toddler …

Florida Follows Others in Allowing Church Amid Stay-Home Order

By Jonathan Levin and Keith Naughton Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a stay-at-home order after weeks of rejecting calls for such a measure. But like other mandates ranging from New York to New Mexico, it ensures that Floridians can still attend religious services. The carve-out for houses of worship comes as authorities across the U.S. …

Tony Spell Hires AL Judge Roy Moore to Defend Him, Holds Another Church Service

By Terry Firma Louisiana Pastor Tony Spell is not relinquishing the spotlight, but he’s decided to share it with alleged child molester Roy Moore, the Alabama judge — no doubt for the greater glory of both. Spell said he hired Moore to defend him against charges related to the embattled pastor continuing to keep his Life Tabernacle Church open. Its closure, and that of …

D.C. rabbi who secretly video-recorded dozens of women is released from jail early

By Michelle Boorstein and Keith L. Alexander Rabbi Barry Freundel, who plunged from national prominence after his 2014 arrest for spying on women in a ritual bath, was released from the D.C. jail Wednesday, the city Department of Corrections said. While prosecutors had initially sought a 17-year term for Freundel, who had secretly videotaped dozens …

Union-Busting in the Name of God

By Amy Littlefield Betsy Pingree has been living with friends for free because she can’t afford an apartment while finishing her dissertation on the precarious conditions of migrant laborers in the 20th century. Standing with fellow graduate-student workers at Boston College who are demanding recognition of their union, she acknowledged the irony. Like many in …