Now You See Me, Now You Don’t: The Blaine Amendment
This November, Oklahomans head to the voting booths to elect a president—and also to vote whether their tax money may be used to fund religious institutions. State Question 790, "Oklahoma Public Money for Religious Purposes,"... Read More
Vice Presidential Debate Is Surprisingly Presidential
After an initial presidential debate filled with insults and vague policy prescriptions, the first vice presidential debate held last night at Longwood University was a welcome surprise. The debate, while occasionally contentious, focused largely on... Read More
Atheist Pastor Deemed Unsuitable for Ministry
As reported by the Washington Post and other international media outlets, Gretta Vosper's tenure as an ordained United Church of Canada minister appears to be coming to an end. Vosper, minister for the Toronto-based West... Read More
PRRI Confirms What Humanists Already Knew: The Religiously Unaffiliated Are Rising
Much attention has been paid to the increasing number of Americans who identify as nonreligious. But what does their disaffiliation with religion mean and how does it affect their attitudes toward religion? A new study... Read More
Women in Secularism 4: Complex Issues, Respectful Discourse
This past weekend, my colleague Jessica Xiao and I had the honor of attending the Center For Inquiry’s Women In Secularism 4 (WIS). This conference brought together a diverse lineup of speakers---including American Humanist Association... Read More
Race and Climate Change in the First Presidential Debate
As a lobbyist, I hate election season. Campaigns show the worst side of politics: the fake folksiness, the reluctant baby-kissing, and the overstated promises that won’t be delivered on. The actual business of governing is... Read More
DC City Council Considers Death with Dignity Legislation
This week I attended a series of meetings with DC city council members as part of a bipartisan and interfaith effort to promote the Death With Dignity Act of 2015. The bill was introduced by... Read More