Comments on: Christians Persecute Atheist Teacher

By: Daylight Atheism > 6 Ways Atheists Can Band Together to Fight Religious Fundamentalism

Tue, 02 Aug 2011 21:10:16 +0000

[...] people like everyone else. And we can cite abundant evidence: There are atheist doctors, teachers and firefighters. There are active-duty atheist soldiers and atheist veterans. Atheists donate to [...]

By: What are your religious beliefs, if any - Page 9 - Political Props

What are your religious beliefs, if any - Page 9 - Political Props — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:56:00 +0000

[...] Really, where did you here that? Here's one example of the persecution of atheists in America. Daylight Atheism > Christians Persecute Atheist Teacher __________________ "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm [...]

By: Atheist Persecution « Blogging with Badger

Atheist Persecution « Blogging with Badger — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:47:16 +0000

[...] atheists do suffer persecution. Don’t believe me? Check this article. It’s all about an atheist teacher who Christians are trying to hound from his job. Charming. [...]

By: deconversion

deconversion — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 13:00:46 +0000

Their site is displaying this message "HTTP/1.1 New Session Failed" Did they get overwhelmed by comments?

By: Tommykey

Tommykey — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:59:08 +0000

I know who he is too.

By: the chaplain

the chaplain — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 23:29:32 +0000

Ebon: I'll email you. I don't want to say too much publicly, because I don't want to cause more trouble for the guy. It's not my place to "out" him, so to speak.

By: Ebonmuse

Ebonmuse — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:57:38 +0000

Who was that, chaplain? I don't recall hearing about this.

By: the chaplain

the chaplain — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 22:55:00 +0000

I hope Hemant comes through this okay. Earlier this year, someone complained about another atheist blogger/teacher. He was given a choice: shut down your blog, or lose your job. He shut down his blog, of course - he has a wife and family to support. And, the atheosphere lost a fine voice.

By: cl

cl — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 20:46:44 +0000

I caught this the other day, and meant to say something:

The IFI's fearmongering follows the usual religious right smear-job tactics: dig around for anything controversial that can be linked to the person they're attacking - especially anything having to do with sex, which the Christianists are obsessed with to the point of paralysis - and then describe it to make it sound as upsetting to mainstream sensibilities as possible. Gasp! Another poster on Hemant's blog answered an e-mail from someone who practices polyamory! Gasp! Hemant linked to the "obscene column" of "homosexual activist" Dan Savage! Heavens, won't someone please think of the children?! (Ebonmuse)

Right on, I am with you all the way here, and I think the way you offer to support Hemant is commendable. You're free to denounce it as concern trolling of course, but it's stuff like that which really makes atheists shine, IMO. Outshining hate with love never fails.

By: Thumpalumpacus

Thumpalumpacus — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 18:02:14 +0000

With respect to Ebon, it also seems that her foaming and flailing is more triggered by Mehta's "scandalous" ideas about sexuality, than his "scandalous" ideas about spirituality. On her website, she only mentions his atheism in connection to his "promotion" of homosexuality. I'm not sure it's religion at the heart of this argument.

Admittedly we can neither know the source of her bigotry, but it seems to me that homophobes arrive at their particular bigotry through faith, and not the other way around. That would seem to make religion the substrate here, to my mind.

By: Sarah Braasch

Sarah Braasch — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:26:34 +0000

I suggest you read this post by Ms Higgins on IFI's website regarding the new CEO of Chicago Public Schools. It really leaves little else to be said.

http://www.illinoisfamily.org/dsa/contentview.asp?c=34242

By: Sarah Braasch

Sarah Braasch — Sun, 23 Aug 2009 21:11:30 +0000

Ms Higgins' bio on the IFI website makes her agenda crystal clear (and it appears that promoting Judeo-Christian family values in public education is exactly the heart of the matter). I would also argue that her methods and verbiage betray a legal and media savvy. From the website it also appears that IFI has a relationship with the ADF (Alliance Defense Fund):

Laurie Higgins
DSA Director

Prior to working for the Illinois Family Institute (IFI), Laurie worked full-time for eight years in the writing center of Deerfield High School, a public high school located in a Chicago suburb.

Laurie is the Director of the Division of School Advocacy (DSA) for IFI. The newly established Division of School Advocacy is committed to assisting Illinois residents address issues related to the breakdown of Judeo-Christian family values and community standards in public education.

Laurie's cultural commentaries have been carried on a number of pro-family websites including Champion News, Culture Campaign, Americans for Truth, and Laigle's Forum.

Laurie has been interviewed by Donna Hearne on Bott Radio Network's Encounter program, Jon Gauger and Mark Elfstrand for Moody Radio, Sandy Rios for The Sandy Rios Show, Pete Chagnon for OneNewsNow, Dr. Jody Hice for Let Freedom Ring, Charlie Butts for the USA Radio Network, and Matt Hadrow for CNS News.

Laurie and her husband of 35 years are the parents of four adult children.

Laurie has a Bachelor's degree in English from Northwestern University.