–
On March 9, the Islamic Education & Research Academy (IERA) organized a debate at the University College in London between atheist Dr. Lawrence Krauss and Muslim Hamza Andreas Tzortzis on the question, “Islam or Atheism: Which Makes More Sense?” But before the debate even began, Dr. Krauss walked out.
Krauss was originally told by the organizers that the audience of the debate was to be segregated by gender. Couples were to be allowed to sit together, but single women were to be seated in the back. Krauss had told the organizers that he would not be a part of debate with such seating restrictions and on Friday, he posted this Facebook status update:
“News update: Have now been informed that the event in London will NOT be gender segregated. Read more
Echoing with joyful song and with a congregation bent on leading better lives, this London church is like any other – except there’s no mention of God Watch video <–
Whooaa it’s like the dark ages..
–
Lawyers filed a lawsuit Friday against some of Puerto Rico’s top police officials, accusing them of discriminating against an officer for being an atheist and not adhering to the separation of church and state.
It is one of the first cases of its kind filed in the deeply religious U.S. territory, where 85 percent of the people consider themselves Roman Catholic and a large minority is Protestant.
The lawsuit names the island’s police chief and three supervisors. It was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union in Puerto Rico and the Washington-based ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief.
The case involves police officer Alvin Marrero Mendez, 38, who repeatedly refused to participate in Christian prayers held at his precinct because he is an atheist.
In one case, attorneys say his supervisors held a prayer in the parking lot of a shopping mall prior to an intervention. Marrero objected and his supervisors ordered him to abandon the formation, yelling, “He is standing there because he doesn’t believe in what we believe in,” the lawsuit states.
After Marrero filed a complaint, lawyers said, supervisors demoted the 14-year veteran, stripped him of his gun and made him wash patrol cars and act as a messenger.
“The Lord is Not On Trial Here Today” is a Peabody Award-winning documentary by Jay Rosenstein that tells the compelling personal story of Vashti McCollum, and how her efforts to protect her ten-year-old son led to one of the most important and landmark First Amendment cases in U.S. Supreme Court history — the case that established the separation of church and state in public schools.
learn more about the film at jayrosenstein.com/pages/lord.html
–David Silverman, President of American Atheists, joins David to talk about the recent series of billboards purchased by American Atheists targeting specific Republican politicians
Professor Lawrence Krauss on the Q&A panel with Tanya Plibersek, Greg Hunt, Dr John Dickson & Dr Cindy Pan: A lively interactive discussion hosted by Tony Jones where the audience at home and in the studio questions political leaders and opinion makers.
The Unbelievers’ follows renowned scientists Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss across the globe as they speak publicly about the importance of science and reason in the modern world – encouraging others to cast off antiquated religious and politically motivated approaches toward important current issues.
