This is the 13th part of this series, reading The Qur’an; A New Translation by Abdel Haleem. We’ll occasionally compare that to other translations and with tafsirs for clarification. We’re also reading each “chapter” [surah] in order of revelation rather than the order in which they are typically printed. If you missed some of this series, you can see: my 1st post on […]
Secular Community Fundraiser for Orphans of the Smith Tragedy
Tomorrow night at 7:30 CST the (watch here:)Ra-Men Podcast will have guests on promoting the fundraiser for the three Smith children. You can contribute here and the podcast will also donate its Patreon proceeds for the video to the cause. Some background from the fundraising page from their uncle, Grant Brady: As many of you know, […]
Secular Idea for Giving Tuesday
Giving Tuesday is a campaign to break the record for 24 Hour charitable giving. Before you think, “Well, La, Dee, Da…”, it is sort of a reaction to the crass consumerism of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. (I would like to see us break the record for Voting Tuesday, which I just made up.) Also, […]
What really matters…The So-Called Secular Arguments Against Choice
It is often difficult and awkward to move disagreements forward to where they become productive in the insular, organized atheist community. Especially for a family that is as actively involved as the Ra family, because a lot of times we know and like and often respect the people involved on a personal level. And to […]
The Trouble with Religious Bullies
Sometimes it must be hard for religious bullies to punch down as hard as they would like to on despised minorities like nonbelievers and LGBT especially when they’re asked to stop. It seems no matter how politely you phrase it; the mere act of the mildest resistance to their authority is met with denials, outright […]
MotorCops for kids toy run
Skepticon was my last conference/convention for the year, and 2012 was a great year for me: The GAC in Australia, the Reason Rally in DC, TAM in Las Vegas, and other events in several other states. I was on 33 airplanes this year, but I still drove to many of the rallies I attended. I also used my 9-passenger SUV as a limo to cart around […]
“God” Really Doesn’t Need Anyone’s Money
By Lilandra, the Mrs. Ra How many former believers remember being told that their money already belonged to god anyways? Heck, he apparently had enough lucre lying around to pave his streets with gold. Prosperity gospel preachers encourage their followers to give to god as if he is like a usurious, heavenly banker. They promise […]