Creationism Could Now Be Taught In Arkansas Science Classrooms

On April 7th, Arkansas’s House Bill 1701, which would allow Christian beliefs to be taught in schools, passed the House vote 72 to 21. The voting was strictly partisan, with Republicans having the majority.

SHAME: The Arkansas House just passed an unconstitutional bill that allows public schools to teach the Christian theory of creationism as science. https://t.co/TV9vdwyEPy

French Senate Bans Hijab for Muslim Women Under Age 18

France’s move to outlaw wearing the hijab in public places for girls under age 18 was proposed under France’s “Separatist Bill” and approved by Members of Parliament (MP) on February 16th. The French Senate decided in favor of the bill on March 30th.

The Separatist Bill was officially named for “reinforcing Republican principles.” The objective of this legislation is to give France the resources to fight Islamic radicalism.

New Law Allows Medical Workers To Refuse Treatment To LGBTQ People

On March 26th, Arkansas’s Governor, Asa Hutchinson (R), enacted Senate Bill 289 (Medical Ethics and Diversity Act,” into law.This legislation will allow doctors and medical professionals to refuse treatment that conflicts with their religious or moral beliefs. Opponents say this legislation will give providers an easy path to deny LGBTQ patients the medical treatment they need.

Rapper Lil Nas X Releases “Satan Shoes” With Human Blood

Montero Lamar Hill, a well-known rapper better known as Lil Nas X, created and recently released his “Satan Shoes” to solicit publicity by stirring up controversy.

Prophet Muhammad cartoon sparks massive fallout at UK Grammar School

On March 22nd, a West Yorkshire school teacher showed his students a cartoon image depicting the prophet Muhammad to illustrate a lesson within the school’s curriculum. Within three days, at least 50 demonstrators gathered outside of Batley Grammar School to protest the teacher’s actions.

Pakistani Man Was Axed to Death Over Allegations of Blasphemy

On March 24th, a religious scholar from the Shia community was axed to death over blasphemy allegations in Punjab's Jhang district.

Argentinian Ex-Priest Disavows Decree Against Blessing Same-Sex Unions

On March 14th, the Vatican office that manages doctrine announced that the Catholic Church is not authorized to bless same-sex unions.

A former priest in Argentina, Andrés Gioeni, formally disavowed his Catholicism after the Vatican’s decree. In recent years, Gioeni became an LGBTQ activist lobbying for a more open Catholic Church. He has blessed same-sex unions in Argentina, where Pope Francis was born and initially became part of the Catholic Church.

New Study Finds That Being ‘Godless’ May Be Good For Your Health

Several studies in recent decades found that being religious correlates with good health. New studies have challenged the finding that being an atheist correlates with poor health!

Believers who attend church services regularly are less likely to smoke, use drugs or become obese. They may live longer than those who do not attend any religious church services. Some have been led to conclude, according to those findings, that if religion is good for you, then being an atheist must be bad for your health.

Pakistani Court Grants Bail to Christian In Blasphemy Case

Nabeel Masih, a 16-year-old Christian, was accused by Akhtar Ali on September 18, 2016, of committing blasphemy in a Facebook post. Ali claimed the post “defamed and disrespected” the Kaaba in Mecca. Ali also claimed that he and some friends discovered a picture on Masih’s timeline depicting a pig on top of the Kaaba.

Indian Girl's Beheading Prompts Calls for “Honor Killings” Laws

On Thursday, March 4th, a man walked from his village home en route to the local police station in northern India — carrying a severed head. His neighbors in the community were shocked at the sight and called the police ahead of his arrival.