HitchSlap

The Importance of Unbelief

2012-07-01T13:28:00.001-07:00

Catholic Priest Sexually Abuses a Woman During Her Exorcism

2012-07-01T13:20:00.003-07:00

A brave woman from Virginia says she was sexually assaulted by a Catholic priest who was carrying out an “exorcism” on her. But despite the tough time she must have had, she is getting even with the Catholic church.

Jane Doe (her identity is being protected) is rightly suing the Catholic Diocese of Arlington, its bishop Paul Loverde who I should mention isn't the roving handed priest, and pro-life group Human Life International which hired the offender.

Allegedly, Jane Doe asked Rev. Thomas Euteneuer, to perform an exorcism on her. Over two years, she allowed him to clear her of “unclean spirits.”

The exorcisms allegedly led to disgusting behaviour on the priests part according to reports in the media:

'He kissed the corners of her mouth; stroked her legs, breasts and thighs; caressed her face; laid his body on top of hers; and frequently explained full, passionate kisses as ‘blowing the Holy Spirit into her.’

Jane Doe came to realize that the conduct was inappropriate and so she complained to the diocese, and Euteneuer resigned from his post at HLI and was recalled to the Diocese of Palm Beach.

This move to Palm Beach was done without shame. Simply put, the church found out about the allegations and instead of investigating it they chucked him far to one side in another state entirely. Disgusting behaviour. Let's hope that a full investigation is served for Jane.

'Wonderful Things Happen When You Share Your Light'

2012-07-01T13:01:00.000-07:00

Basically, and I shouldn't be surprised, prayer has found many homes on the big old web. Prayabout.com and ipraytoday.com have joined toll-free telephone services that give believers an opportunity to ask others to pray for them.

These sites vary by religion and share a notion that if more people pray for a cause, it has a better chance of actually happening. This I find a little confusing, does it mean that one person praying is not as important to god?

Having found reports of these websites in the New York Times who wrote that one of the religious users had said "Please pray for me for my financial accounting 2 exam. This is my 3rd attempt on this paper and I pray that the Lord will grant me wisdom and a clear mind.”

Norman Vincent Peale, the author of “The Power of Positive Thinking,” has influenced one such website but that site does not display responses to prayer requests, but users can contact each other directly.

Having others pray for you is known in these online communities as intercessionary prayer. It isn't new however.

Back in 1890, the Unity Church, a Christian church, began offering a 'prayer-by-mail service' whereby anyone could write asking for church members to pray for them. Later in 1907, the same church began to branch out and started offering the prayer service by phone. As recently as 1998, Unity began its Web site.

When people phone Unity Church, a 'prayer associate' takes their first name and what the person would like to pray for. After a brief shared moment of silence, the prayer associate says the prayer aloud.

In an amazing piece of arrogance, the Vice President of the church told media four ago in an interview the following; “We answer the call and God answers the prayers,”

“We want to remind those who contact us that God is the answer, and that answer is within them, that divine presence is within them.”

Unity takes in a staggering two million prayer requests a year of which 1.3 million come along by telephone, 500,000 by mail and 200,000 through the Internet.

But, Atheists have, according to the owners of these websites, have attacked the system. Many within these organisations claim that atheists are exploiting the websites to force the atheist message that God doesn't exist. As an Atheist myself, I wouldn't go with the description of attacked, rather dismissed such practices.

The Web site Godisimaginary.com urges atheists to spread the word by posting links to Godisimaginary on forums, blogs and news groups and these links have been found on the prayer websites from time to time.

Scientists have also commented on the websites. Wendy Cadge, a sociologist at Brandeis, wrote a forthcoming article for the Journal of Religion surveying 18 clinical studies, some dating back to 1965, on the power of intercessionary prayer to heal people.

“Most of the larger, more scientifically designed studies have found that intercessionary prayer, prayer by strangers at a distance, does not make people better faster,” she said.

But we don't need science to tell us that.

Circumcision ruling condemned by Germany's Muslim and Jewish leaders

2012-06-29T14:01:00.000-07:00

Religious leaders were united on Wednesday in their reaction to a German court's decision to outlaw the circumcision of young boys after a judge found that the act amounted to bodily harm.

Jewish and Muslim communities called the ruling 'insensitive and discriminatory', saying it was an 'attack on centuries of religious tradition.'

The Cologne court where the ruling was passed said that the circumcision of minors went against a child's interests because it led to a physical alteration of the body, and because adults were determining the child's religious affiliation with out consent.

Religious leaders said the court was undermining their religious authority and contravened Germany's constitution.

The chairman of the Religious Community of Islam in Germany, said in an outburst: "I find the ruling adversarial to the cause of integration and discriminatory against all the parties concerned."

Dieter Graumann, president of Germany's Central Council of Jews, labelled the ruling as "an egregious and insensitive measure" which amounted to "an unprecedented and dramatic intervention in religious communities' right of determination".

The ruling came after a long, drawn out legal battle was kicked off when a Muslim couple took their son to be circumcised for religious reasons, by a Muslim doctor in Germany. The doctor, identified only as Dr K, performed the circumcision on the then four-year old boy in November 2010, before giving the wound four stitches. That same evening, he checked on the boy at the family home. When the boy began bleeding again two days later, his parents took him to the casualty department of Cologne's University hospital. The hospital told the police, who commenced an investigation. The doctor was charged with bodily harm, and the case was taken to court.

The court acquitted Dr. K on the grounds that he had not broken any law, it ruled that circumcision of minors for religion should be outlawed, and that neither parental consent nor religious freedom justified the procedure.

The court considered three articles from the basic law: the rights of parents, the freedom of religious practice and the right of the child to physical integrity.

The court said that the child's body would be "permanently and irreparably changed", and, clearly, that would be "against the interests of a child to decide for himself later on to what religion he wishes to belong".

Condemnation also came, predictably, from Rabbi Aryeh Goldberg of the Brussels-based Rabbinical Centre of Europe who slammed the ruling of being "fatal to freedom of religion".

Putzke, who is a leading voice in the discussion about circumcision in Europe said: "After the knee-jerk indignation has subsided, hopefully a discussion will kick off about how much religiously motivated violence against children a society is ready to tolerate."

Top 46 sick beliefs and rules of our worlds leading religions

Apparently, 46% of Americans believe in creationism

2012-06-28T14:25:00.002-07:00

A brand spanking new Gallup poll shows 46 percent of Americans believe in creationism, or that God created human beings some 6000 years ago.

Participants were asked which three options for human creation best represented their views on the origin of the human race.

Theistic evolution: Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God guided this process
Evolution: Human beings have developed over millions of years from less advanced forms of life, but God had no part in this process
Creationism: God created human beings pretty much in their present form at one time within the last 10,000 years or so

46 percent of those people polled believe in creationism, 32 percent said they believe in theistic evolution and 15 percent believe in evolution without any divine intervention.

This represents is a small increase over the past 30 years in the number of Americans who believe in creationism and those who believe in evolution. The theistic belief in evolution has decreased in the same time period.

Of those who say they attend church weekly, 66% believe in creationism, 25 percent believe in theistic evolution and 3 percent believe in evolution. Gallup Poll

De-constructing a church sign

De-constructing a Church Sign

2012-06-26T15:04:00.000-07:00

This is taken from a favourite website of mine called Planet Atheism, funny!

CLICK PICTURE TO EXPAND

Church of England 'homophobic', says Vicar

2012-06-26T14:56:00.000-07:00

In Lancashire, North of England, a senior churchman has stated that he believes the Church of England is "institutionally homophobic". The Vicar of Lancaster, aka Rev Chris Newlands, went on to further say that there was a "glass ceiling" in the church for clerics who openly backed same-sex marriage.

The reverend, who is in a civil partnership, claimed in an interview that others in the Blackburn Diocese and the church supported his views but were far too scared to speak out. Another Bishop, this time of Blackburn, Rt Rev Nicholas Reade, bluntly rejected the claims.

Rev Newlands said: "I think the church will remain homophobic, until there is no more discrimination against people.

"There is this glass ceiling. Jeffrey John is the case in point.

"He was seen as a first class candidate to be Bishop of Reading but people were very disappointed by the fact he was in favour of same-sex marriage and is in a civil partnership.

"There are bishops who say you will not get this job because you are in a civil partnership.

"People don't want to put their head over the parapet because when they do, they are put down."

His own partner had been "accepted and affirmed" by his parishioners at St Mary's Priory, Lancaster, Rev Newlands added.

Bishop Reade, defending the church said: "I do not believe that the Blackburn Diocese or the Church of England as a whole is institutionally homophobic.

"As a bishop and as a diocese we are very open when it comes to appointments and always seek to appoint on merit. We have incumbent clergy who are in civil partnerships."

He also added: "We have made appointments from across the board and many have been of people with more liberal views.

"And within the Church of England as a whole many senior appointments have been made of those with liberal views on this and other topics - one recent example being that of the new Dean of St Paul's."

Atheist Story: Becoming Atheist, by Peter White

Becoming Atheist, by Peter White

2012-06-26T14:33:00.000-07:00

What follows is a unique story from Peter White. Peter lives in Lapu-Lapu City, Philippines. I again extremely grateful that one of my Facebook friends has taken the time to submit their personal story to this site. Not only does it resonate with other atheists, it surely gives closet-atheists courage to come out and lead a free, rational thinking life. Again, massive thanks to Peter.

"I realized at an early age that I could tell when people were lying to me. I asked a lot of questions, enough that my older sister complained to me about it many years later. When I started attending church and Sunday school I quickly got the impression that something wasn't quite right. I went along with the crowd because I wasn't old enough to know if my feelings were warranted. By the age of 10 I had decided the people in my church were evil, crazy, or stupid for not behaving the way I was taught to behave.

As I learned more about religion I began to reject more and more of it. I lived in a place that was 95% Catholic but I was Protestant. I was surprised to discover we were all Christian. In high school many of my classmates were Jewish. I was shocked to discover their bible was the old testament of the Christians. The closer I looked the crazier religion appeared to be. Around age 13 I decided I was going to live my life free of fear and superstition and rejected all religions. By age 16 I was pretty much an atheist but I didn't know I could put a label on my beliefs. Atheism was never a topic of discussion.

I was the top science student in my school and threw myself into learning everything I could about the universe. To avoid changing schools I went to live with my sister and her family for my final year of school. I didn't know they were members of a religious cult. My science background made me a target for them and we had many debates on religion and science, particularly evolution. I was forced to do a lot of research to support my beliefs which only made them stronger. The seminal moment came when my sister announced that the world was coming to an end some time in the 1990's. I had a vision of a nutcase on a street corner holding a sign saying "Repent Sinners The End Is Near"

With the growth of the internet I found a lot of other people who felt the same way I did and starting taking an active part in discussions and debates. I now belong to several atheist, freethinking, and secular organizations fighting ignorance and superstition. I have never regretted becoming an atheist. I remember the feeling of relief when I decided to reject all the silliness and live a rational life."

If you would like to 'friend' Peter at Facebook, click here

Atheist Story: A Cross to Bear, by Sarah Rean

A Cross to Bear, By Sarah Rean

2012-06-23T13:40:00.006-07:00

Recently, I went out to all my Friends on Facebook and asked those of the atheist persuasion if they would care to share their stories about becoming atheists. Sarah Rean Lives in Calgary, Alberta and her story is a fascinating and moving read of somebody who has taken brave and sensitive steps on her journey to atheism. My thanks go out to Sarah for being so candid and honest. I truly hope that her story encourages others to send in their stories to my facebook page. I will post all stories here on the website.

"I've been an atheist since about the age of 4 but I didn't realize that was what I was. I credit my grandfather with my becoming an atheist. He used to read me the bible and laugh (sometimes until tears rolled down his face) and say things like "What a load of shit". FWIW he says he's "probably" been an atheist for as long as he can remember but he never talked about his atheism because he didn't want to make a scene.

My mother used to drag me to church until she quit the church because the married pastor was having affairs with married parishioners. I was constantly being kicked out of Sunday school for not taking the lessons seriously, being "rude" (aka asking uncomfortable questions) and such. As a child I HATED when questions didn't have logical answers. "Because the bible says so" just didn't cut it for me.

My mother sent me to catholic school (in Canada the catholic system is tax payer funded and they have smaller class sizes, the ability to expel poorly performing students and allegedly provide a better quality education). In third grade I was getting beaten up on a regular basis. My mother confronted the teacher about it and the teacher sided with the bullies saying I was a trouble maker and was disrespectful. I was immediately transferred to the public system for the rest of grade 3 until graduation.

As a child I didn't think of myself as an "atheist" I knew that I didn't believe in god, the teachings of the bible or anything else. I felt like a pariah for my lack of belief and as though I was stupid for not being able to grasp something that everyone around me found so simple.

In my late teens/early 20s I stared shopping around for a new religion. I figured that perhaps christianity wasn't the right fit and I'd find god in another religion. I went to temple with some Jewish friends and read books about Islam, Buddhism, paganism and others. I soon realized that the inability of religion to answer my questions (fsm how hokey does THAT sound?!) was universal. I came to the conclusion that I was flawed in some way.

As a result of my embarrassment I kept my atheism under my hat from everyone. Although my husband (also an atheist btw) and I had a secular wedding ceremony we hadn't talked about WHY we both wanted a secular ceremony. It wasn't until I read Richard Dawkins "The God Delusion" that I realized: holy crap - that's me - I'M an atheist! I immediately came out to my family and some close friends (I didn't want to offend my very religious friends with my atheism). My mother was initially aghast but she soon read The God Delusion, God Is Not Great and other books and she soon came out too (I figure in her case she was only a believer because of tradition).

Although I never believed in god I always acted as if he was real (if that makes any sense!) When I got sick it was because I'd done something bad and god was punishing me. When I was molested as a child - god willed it (and the anger I felt that he hadn't stopped it was quite the cross to bear!) I felt guilty about sex and so never enjoyed it.

As an out and about atheist, free from my self imposed shackles of christianity I am confident, I no longer have the previously mentioned cross to bear about god not protecting me from being molested as a child. I think I'm also a better person. I realize that my actions have consequences in THIS life so I better make my actions have positive consequences."

Sarah Rean (you can friend Sarah at her facebook page)

Movie Theatre in Texas Discriminates Against Atheists

2012-06-22T13:41:00.001-07:00

Like millions of people I have a healthy appreciation of the magic generated by the movie theatres that adorn our towns and cities. The last thing you would expect from a community entertainment hub is discrimination spearheaded by the religious groups who seem, ironically, hell bent on smothering into silence those who don't believe in their god. Unfortunately, Angelika Film Center in Plano, Texas have taken the stupid step to uphold the views of the local religious community who have put them under pressure.

Patheos said: A nonreligious group in the North Texas area, the Dallas-Fort Worth Coalition of Reason, contracted with the theater to run a pre-film advertisement promoting a positive image of local atheist families. At first, it looked like a win-win situation: the coalition was told it could promote its message to local nonreligious families, and the theater would get the profits from the sale of advertising space.

But then the theists got wind of the news through local media and rallied against the theater with phone calls and letters objecting to the advert. Amazingly, the theatre crumbled to the religious groups' pressure and pulled the advertisement, leaving the 'Coalition of Reason' group without a venue to reach out to atheists and other nonreligious Texans.

This is terrible, imagine arriving at the theatre to be told you can't enter because you're an atheist! That's effectly the message they are portraying by making this decision. The prejudice being shown is far too clear for all to see.

Visit: The Coalition of Reason

Voting: Americans won't vote for an atheist

Americans Least Likely To Vote For Atheist and Muslim Presidential Candidates

2012-06-22T07:40:00.003-07:00

When Mitt Romney and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman declared their presidential bids, so started the debate over whether or not Americans would happily vote for a Mormon president. Amazingly- the vast majority- 80 percent- are, while 18 percent would not, according a newly released poll from Gallup.

I'm always sceptical of polls, especially when you consider that the poll has hardly gone to the whole of the US. Not too many moons ago, I worked in marketing for a huge global bank and market research was never dead on the money when it came to giving us an accurate prediction of consumer activity. In the poll by Gallup, it showed that Americans are least likely to vote for a candidate who identifies as Atheist- 54 percent, with individuals of Muslim faith following closely behind- just 58 percent of Americans responded they’d think of voting for someone who was Muslim. 68 percent said that they would cast a vote for a presidential candidate who was gay or lesbian, while the rest of the groups- Black, Female, Catholic, Hispanic and Jewish, each had yes responses 90 percent or more. These stats show that the poll is potentially flawed. Basically, the religious will vote for the gays. Hmmm? Not so sure their god would approve.

It does surprise me that the percentage of Americans who say that they would not vote for a Mormon presidential candidate sat still since Mitt Romney’s father, George Romney, ran for president in '67. A Gallup poll taking from the April of that year found that 17 percent of those surveyed said they would not vote for a “well-qualified presidential candidate who happens to be Mormon.” Americans resistance to voting for presidential candidates of the other mentioned groups including those of a certain race, gender, or religious background has subsided hugely over roughly the same time period. Gallup polling from '58 onwards has shown gradual increases in the percent of Americans showing a preference to vote for candidates who were Black, Jewish, female, Catholic, and Gay or Lesbian.

The Muslim question was not included in polling until 2012.

Despite these findings, I'm happy to note that Atheists have seen an rise in support. In 1958 just 18 percent of Americans said they’d be willing to vote for an Atheist presidential candidate.

Top 46 sick beliefs and rules of our worlds leading religions

Source

Top 46 sick beliefs and rules of our worlds leading religions

2012-06-21T13:55:00.003-07:00

Check out these actual 46 beliefs and rules that are taken directly from our worlds leading religions. Normally, I would say something like "you couldn't make this stuff up", but clearly, you can!

Homosexuals should be killed
Cross-dressers should be killed
Adulterers should be killed
Members of other religions should be killed
Members of no religions should be killed
Children should be beaten with sticks
Television is the gateway to hell
The Internet is the gateway to hell
The movies are the gateway to hell
Women are the gateway to hell
Dead babies will burn in hell forever
Mentally ill people will burn in hell forever
People who drink alcohol will burn in hell forever
People who drink coffee or tea will burn in hell forever
Eating certain foods will send you to burn in hell forever
Everyone “else” will burn in hell forever
A blood transfusion will get you and your soul annihilated
Women should not be allowed to own property
Women should not be allowed to vote
Women should stay at home and have babies
Women should always be submissive to their husbands
A husband has the right to beat his wife
A husband has the right to rape his wife
A husband has the right to have more than one wife
A husband has the right to a pre-pubescent wife
Pedophilia s the fault of atheists and secularists
Obama is the Anti-Christ and should be destroyed
The United States was founded as a Christian Nation
The <insert holy book> is the only true word of god
The earth is 6000 years old, Satan made it look older
The earth is 6000 years old, God made it look older
Evolution was invented by Satan, evolutionists worship him
Members of other religions are insane and deluded
Members of no religion are insane and deluded
There is no such thing as mental illnesses; it is just the results of living in sin
Only god and faith can be trusted for healing (thousands of children die each year as a result)
The earth is really flat (yes, these people still exist)
Black people are cursed by god to forever be servants and slaves
Some people should be burned alive
Some people should be tortured, then burned alive
If their god tells them to kill strangers, they are compelled to obey
If their god tells them to kill their friends, they are compelled to obey
If their god tells them to kill their family, they are compelled to obey
If their god tells them to kill someone for drawing a harmless cartoon, they are compelled to obey
If their god tells them to kill themselves in the process, they are compelled to obey

Evangelism: Against gay marriage

Evangelical churches against gay marriage

2012-06-21T13:14:00.003-07:00

Scotland's largest evangelical churches are unsurprisingly calling on the first minister not to change the law defining marriage.

The evangelicals drafted a letter of opposition to same-sex marriage and delivered it to Alex Salmond at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh.

This follows Scottish governments consultation on the issue.

Before the consultation closed last Friday, 50,000 responses were submitted. A report on the hotly debated issue will be published in the spring.

Representatives from more than 60 of Scotland's largest evangelical churches signed the letter to Mr Salmond.

It read: "In supporting marriage, we are not removing rights from anyone. Redefining marriage is not an issue of equality or fairness, as argued by those calling for this change. Equality does not mean sameness but recognises diversity.

"Despite the sincere promises to protect those who disagree with redefining marriage, we have well-founded misgivings about the religious liberty implications. However, our chief concern is that Scottish society will be the poorer if the definition of marriage is rewritten. Marriage is foundational and so much else rests upon it."In the Scottish government's consultation document it is abundantly clear that homosexual couples already have the rights of marriage available through civil partnerships.

"You cannot radically alter the definition of marriage without it having knock-on effects on so much else in our society."

The letter was hand delivered by three signatories, Reverend Alex Macdonald, Reverend Jeremy Middleton and Reverend David McCarthy, who will then take part in a rally.

Equal Marriage campaigners have moved to submit around 18,000 responses to the government's consultation.

Gay equality charity Stonewall Scotland is sending postcards to MSPs asking them to urgently to support same-sex marriage.

Scotland's deputy first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, said all views would be listened to, but added that ministers "tended towards the initial view" that same-sex marriage should be introduced.

Gav's Note:"It is undoubtedly positive news that ministers are likely to push for same sex marriage but perhaps the real issue is that the religious community feels threatened by the homosexuals their gods despise."

Evangelism: John Hagee tells Atheists to leave the USA

Jury deadlocked in trial of Catholic Church official

2012-06-21T12:46:00.002-07:00

After 12 days of hard deliberations, the jury in the landmark trial of a Roman Catholic Church official accused of covering up sexual abuses by other priests said yesterday it was deadlocked on four of the five charges.

Judge M. Teresa Sarmina of the Court of Common Pleas gave strict direction to the jury to keep trying to reach a unanimous verdict on all five charges, which include two counts of 'endangering the welfare of children' and one of 'conspiracy against the church official, Monsignor William J. Lynn', and charges of 'endangerment and attempted rape against a priest', the Rev. James J. Brennan.

Lynn, 61, is the first U.S. church official in the country's history to be tried for allegedly enabling abuses by priests. Via

Catholic Church: Stephen Fry dismantles the Catholic Church

PZ Myers - Sacking the City of God

2012-06-21T12:37:00.003-07:00

PZ Myers is the American biology professor from the University of Minnesota Morris (UMM) and the successful author of the well known atheist and science blog Pharyngula. He is a self confessed "godless liberal" and outspoken atheist, plus, he is a vocal skeptic of all forms of religion, superstition, supernaturalism and spirituality.

Atheists: Ricky Gervais on religion

Don't work on the Sabbath! God has anger management problems!

2012-06-20T12:43:00.001-07:00

Here is a choice passage from the Holy Bible, the Christians moral compass!

³²Now while the sons of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man gathering wood on the sabbath day. ³³Those who found him gathering wood brought him to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation; ³⁴and they put him in ^[a]custody because it had not been^[b]declared what should be done to him. ³⁵Then the Lord said to Moses, “The man shall surely be put to death; all the congregation shall stone him with stones outside the camp.”³⁶So all the congregation brought him outside the camp and stoned him ^[c]to death with stones, just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

Ricky Gervais: On religion and Atheism

Ricky Gervais on religion and atheism (Feb 2012 interview)

2012-06-19T14:56:00.003-07:00

In this clip from February 2012, comedian, Ricky Gervais gives his views on Atheism and religion to Piers Morgan with his usual dose of funny observations.

Judaism: Child abuse scandal in Brooklyn

Ultra-Othodox Jews Child Abuse Allegations, Brooklyn

2012-06-19T14:29:00.002-07:00

The Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities of Brooklyn, NY are well known for forging a way of life that mirrors their ancestors from centuries ago. Over the years, the tolerance of New York has seen a proud and diverse community thrive and build a great reputation. The Ultra Jews however seem to have made themselves outcasts with allegations rife of child abuse. The Ultra-Orthodox Jews stand out without these allegations as they carry on the fashion, hair, language, education, food, values, prayers, traditions that they have inherited from their ancestors. Their way of life is a direct reflection of their faith in God.

To the naked eye it is impossible to imagine that they have been hiding vile secrets containing child sex abuse.

Leaders of the community are accused of giving shelter or hiding to child predators and in sickening moves, punishing the victims who dare to speak out about the vulgar and upsetting acts against them.

CNN’s Gary Tuchman talked with Rabbi Nuchem Rosenberg who is trying to change things. He told Tuchman, “The rabbis feel very hurt that this is what's happening in the community so they want to push it under the cover, so that it shouldn't come out.”

All religions are haunted by demons they have created themselves and the ultra-Orthodox Jews cannot escape this awful truth.

In news reported by CNN, in Brooklyn, there are allegations of child abuse in schools, homes and religious havens. Several boys have come forward and said they were sexually abused in a ritual bath called 'mikvah'. The mikvah is the ultimate symbol of purity in the Jewish community and some Ultra-Orthodox men go there before the Sabbath. CNN report that under the guise of observance, the accused find their victims where they are most vulnerable and trusting – a heinous strategy.

So insular the community can be, some of the victims seek justice for these crimes in rabbinic courts to avoid Rabbis losing authority in the community and bringing a dark shadow of disgrace over the community.

Pearl Engelman says her son was molested by a school official as a young boy 20 years ago. She spoke with Tuchman: “We stand for truth, for justice. And the cover-up is deeply painful to me”. The Hasidim in Brooklyn are a powerful voting block. District Attorney Charles Hynes has been criticised by victims for his tactics which allegedly include appeasing rabbis in order to get their support and keep his position strong.

Hynes of course defends his position. During 2009, he started a program and hotline to help victims called Kol Tzedek (“Voice of Justice” in Hebrew). Amazingly, he refuses to disclose the names of the men arrested through the initiative. The Jewish Daily Forward’s request for the records filed under the state’s Freedom of Information Law was denied.

Tuchman asked Hynes how he reconciles instituting a policy for the Hassidim, but no other groups, like the Roman Catholic Church. He says because “there’s never been any intimidation by priests.”

On June 10 2012, a group of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered at Crown Heights to talk about preventing child sex abuse. Hynes was on the panel. Some of the communities rabbinic leaders have said, rightly, that anyone with knowledge of child abuse should go to the police as soon as possible and don't, under any circumstances need to talk with a rabbi first.

News: Atheists are the fastest-growing philosophical segment of every state

Atheists are the fastest-growing philosophical segment of every state

2012-06-18T13:16:00.001-07:00

That's according to the president of American Atheists.

David Silverman, said 15 to 16 percent of Americans are atheists, and nearly 30 percent of people under 30.

He said about 70 percent of them are Democrats, 15 percent are libertarian and 15 percent are Republican.

Silverman says that the big task facing the American Atheists is to call closet atheists out into the open.

"The biggest problems that atheists face in this country all go back to the fact that we're closeted. People don't know how many atheists there are in this country. There are more atheists than Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists combined, and doubled."

Silverman was on the money when he also said that public attitude toward atheists has been somewhat negative, because "religion hates us".

"We're seeing the beginning of a true change in America's attitude toward atheists. It will not be long before we'll have an atheist president," he said.

"We're the Marines of the free-thought movement, the first to raise a voice, to raise a fist, and to raise a picket sign.

"We're the hardliners. We say what needs to be said even if it's not politically correct: that it's silly to believe in a myth. ... God is a myth."

The organization has never been shy in tackling religion and has invested large amounts of money in marketing campaigns encompassing billboards and newspaper adverts. Furthermore, they have confronted ignorant politicians, filed lawsuits and provided a social setting to give atheists a voice and help those worried to do so, to come out and be secure and proud in their views on religion.

American Atheists has approx 3,500 members who pay $35 a year fees, a quarterly magazine and newsletter, a budget just over $500,000 and seven employees, three of them part time.

"It's about raising awareness," said Silverman.

Silverman grew up in a Reform Jewish family near Boston.

When he was just 6, sitting in the back seat of his mother's car, he said, he had an "epiphany", realizing that God and Santa Claus and the tooth fairy were really all the same thing - fiction.

Like many before him, he questioned his religious leaders about it, "their answers were lame", he said.

At 13 as an atheist, he found himself "lying the whole time," and became adept at debating Orthodox Jews at Brandeis University, debates he claims, he won.

"I've done my reading, I've come to the conclusion based on my own research that there is no God. Does that mean I know everything? Of course not. Certainly if God shows himself, I'll change my mind."

Silverman, perhaps surprisingly, given his position, married a religious, theistic Jew. They have a 15-year-old daughter.

"My daughter agrees with me that religion is bunk," he said.

He said, speaking ahead of the Oklahoma Freethought Convention, that atheists find their moral foundation from the same place that religious people do.

"Morality comes from within," he said. "That's why there are good and bad Christians, and good and bad atheists."

He said atheists can be found on both sides of the abortion debate, but are 100 percent behind gay equality.

News: John Hagee tells Atheists to leave the USA

John Hagee Tells Atheists To Leave The USA

2012-06-17T14:57:00.003-07:00

Any Atheist will tell you that John Hagee is probably more focused on exploiting people through religion than he is on actually learning anything about it. Here, he tells all atheists to leave the USA. While it would be easy for some of us to get angered by his comments I would encourage you to laugh at this silly little man as I did. I think writers could centre a fantastic sitcom around this character.
Islam: Facebook Atheist Jailed

Facebook Atheist Jailed in Indonesia

2012-06-16T03:25:00.001-07:00

Despite the advances of most nations, we still have a world order that is largely dominated by the small, closed minds of the religious. While some of us are able to express our views on religion in societies that encourage free speech, others are still suffering at the rules and hands of those nations living under the deluded devotion to what are essentially man made gods and subsequent idiotic 'moral' values.

This point cannot be demonstrated much better or clearly in Indonesia where a man extolling the virtues of atheism has been slung without just trial or sane cognitive thought into prison for two-and-a-half years. While many human rights activists say this is a step backwards for Muslim nation, I say that they never really made any steps forward in the first place.

The man posted the words “God does not exist” on his Facebook page and it was this that caused atheist Alexander Aan so much trouble.

The civil servant from Sumatra was beaten by an angry mob and later arrested, but it was not only for his admission of atheism.

This writer, has no problem with the complete mockery of religion. The only way to demystify religion is to strip it naked and reveal it's stupidity and belonging to the infancy of our species. Aan posted several explicit cartoons of the prophet Muhammad online, one depicting the prophet having sex with his servant, another that showed him finding his daughter-in-law sexually alluring. Some will say that he showed no respect for others belief but how can we show respect to something that is as real as flying monkeys or large pink, two-headed crocodiles who shop exclusively at Harrods? Anyway, he received a physical beating in the street for his beliefs, that readers, is disgusting and intolerant.

He was charged with blasphemy, inciting hatred and encouraging atheism, a Sumatra court ruled and Aan will spend the next two-and-a-half years in prison and pay a $10,000 fine.

His lawyer Deddi Alparesi said the decision is unjust. The judges did not consider the facts, Aparesi said, as Alexander never intended to spread religious hatred.

Freedom of religion is guaranteed in the world’s most-populous Muslim nation, but Indonesians must adhere to one of the six official religions. Atheism is not a sanctioned option. That's like being dragged to the polls and being forced to vote for a party you don't believe in.

Hitchens responds to Widdicombe

2012-06-13T13:25:00.002-07:00

Following on from Stephen Fry's wonderful assesment of the Catholic church, here is the 'afters' between Hitchens and Anne Widdicombe. You wonder why she even challenged the man.

Stephen Fry dismantles the Roman Catholic Church

2012-06-12T14:10:00.004-07:00

This speech from Stephen Fry is one of the most eloquently delivered speeches against the Catholic church in recent years. That Fry clearly delivers at the Intelligence Squared Debate with so much emotion makes it all the more hitting.

Also listen out for a special Hitchslap moment on Anne Widdicombe.

Hitchens: Christopher Hitchens proves Christians acceptance of murder

Christopher Hitchens proves Christians acceptance of murder

2012-06-12T13:24:00.000-07:00

Christopher Hitchens takes on another religious nut. This time he describes the immoral approach of the religious in their attitude towards murder. Surprisingly, his theocratic opponent does little to deny the views of Hitchens.