Atheist Author Greg Epstein Elected as the Chief Chaplain of Harvard Uni...

One of the special interests listed in the profile of Harvard’s new Chief Chaplain is “meaning and purpose beyond religion.” A very striking deviation from the century-old tradition of religious guidance usually expected of a chaplain. 400-years in the making, Harvard, an institution whose original mission was to educate religious ministers, has elected its first openly atheist chapel minister.

Christian Designer Who Won’t Make Same-Sex Wedding Websites Loses Case

On July 26th, the U.S. Court of Appeals held the lower court’s decision to deny a web designer’s petition to discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community in Colorado. There have been many other court rulings in the United States deciding if a business that denies service to LGBTQ+ people is considered prejudice or exercising their right to religious freedom.

Secular Offense: Anti-Islamic Separatism Bill Passes French Lower House

Gerald Darmanin, France’s Interior Minister, in an interview with RTL radio in February 2021, commented on the proposed Anti-Separatism Bill. Darmanin describes the bill as tough but necessary, calling it “an extremely strong secular offensive.” The bill passed the lower house of the French parliament on Friday, July 23, 2021. Darmanin sponsored the bill with the support of his party, La République En Marche.

New Survey finds 2 In 3 Indians Oppose Interfaith Marriages

According to a recent survey by the Pew Research group, every 2 in 3 Indians express strong opinions on interfaith marriages and would actively like to stop them. The survey result indicates that most Indians like to believe that India is tolerant of other religions while they themselves oppose interfaith relationships.

7 American States Still Ban Atheists From Holding Office

In January 2021, Republican Tennessee State Senator Mark Pody sponsored Senate Joint Resolution 55 to amend Article IX of the Constitution of Tennessee. Article IX has three sections that bar church ministers, atheists, and people who participate or aid a duel from holding any office in the civil department of the state.

Texas Firm Petitions Court For Religious Exemption to Fire LGBT People

A Texas federal court received a petition from Braidwood Management, Inc. to provide a religious exemption that will allow them to discriminate against LGBTQ+ staff.

Millions Leave Southern Baptist Christian Denomination in Massive Decline

For 14 years in a row, statistics for Southern Baptists, the country’s largest Protestant denomination, are still declining. In 2020, the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) saw crucialcomponents falling, including membership, attendance, donations, and the total number of congregations.

Televangelist Says Gay People Need Warning Labels on Their Foreheads

On May 3, 2021, the right-wing pastor and televangelist Andrew Wommack made horrible anti-LGBTQ+ comments on his podcast alongside his guest, anti-LGBTQ+ religious-right activist, Janet Porter. He said that gay people should wear labels on their foreheads as a warning sign because their sexuality could be "hazardous" to health.

Atheists Condemn Philippines's biased "Magna Carta of Religious Freedom"

On March 24th, 2021, House Bill No: 6538, otherwise known as "The Magna Carta of Religious Freedom", was approved by Philippine lawmakers. Authored by Deputy Speaker Eddie Villanueva and Representative Domingo Rivera, this bill was first approved on December 2nd, 2020, subject to amendments. Later in January, House Bill 8469 was filed by Camarines Sur 2nd District Rep.

Court Rules Quebec Can Bar Government Workers From Wearing Hijab

On the morning of Tuesday April 20th, the Canadian Province of Quebec announced plans to appeal a ruling which exempted minority teachers and some politicians from wearing religious attire or symbols.

The ruling, that supports much of a 2019 law, does not apply to teachers in Quebec's English-language school boards, as they hold special rights over education under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.