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All the most recent posts from all of AU's blogs. All in one place.

Evolution Revolution: Florida Aces Its Science Test – Will The Rest Of Us Do So Next?

Feb 20, 2008 by Barry Lynn in Wall of Separation

Evolution finally got the respect it deserves in Florida yesterday. The State Board of Education voted to approve new science standards that explicitly mention the word "evolution" (gasp!) and make clear that it is the "fundamental concept underlying all of biology" (gasp again!)

Revisions to the standards commenced after a 2005 report by the Thomas B. Fordham Institute gave the 1999 standards a failing grade. Read more

The Diabolical Dr. Drake: SBC Official Had More Power Than SBC Flack Admits

Feb 19, 2008 by Rob Boston in Wall of Separation

For various reasons, I've been in and out of the AU office recently, so I've been enjoying the latest developments in the Wiley Drake saga from afar via my home computer.

I always seem to miss Drake's diabolical assaults on AU. I was on vacation when Drake issued his first fatwa back in August. While staff members were dealing with his "imprecatory prayers" for their deaths, my family and I were enjoying stunning views at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Read more

George Washington And The Religious Right: Theocratic Movement Seeks To Recruit Founding Fathers

Feb 18, 2008 by Jeremy Leaming in Wall of Separation

In honor of Presidents' Day, let's talk presidents.
 
Religious Right activists devote large amounts of their time and resources to revising history. Certain facts about the nation's founding have been terribly inconvenient for that movement for decades.

These historical revisionists loathe the church-state separation principle. They've knocked it as un-American, linked it to communism and derided it as a modern-day tool used to prod Christianity from the public square. Read more

Of Death Prayers And Facts: A Response To The Southern Baptists' 'Request For Correction'

Feb 15, 2008 by Joseph L. Conn in Wall of Separation

Is the Rev. Wiley S. Drake typical of the fundamentalist leadership of the Southern Baptist Convention? As one of the targets of Drake's Baptist fatwah, I have a pressing need to know.

Earlier this week, Americans United issued a press release announcing that Drake's First Southern Baptist Church of Buena Park is being investigated by the IRS for illegal electioneering. Read more

Wishful Wallis: Death Of Religious Right Is Greatly Exaggerated

Feb 14, 2008 by Rob Boston in Wall of Separation

Here we go again.

"Moderate" evangelical leader Jim Wallis has yet again proclaimed the death of the Religious Right. Wallis has a new book out pushing this idea, and on Monday he joined a few others on a press call promoting a new poll that supposedly shows that evangelicals are fed up with the Religious Right. Wallis said they are leaving the movement in droves.

I sat in on the call. I read the poll. I'm not convinced. Read more

Courting Disaster: Honaker Nomination Is An Insult To The Constitution

Feb 12, 2008 by Rob Boston in Wall of Separation

No one should make the mistake of assuming that President George W. Bush considers himself a lame duck. In fact, Bush is as busy as ever trying to put his cramped view of church-state separation into practice in as many places as possible.

That includes the federal judiciary. Bush has nominated Richard Honaker, a former member of the Wyoming House of Representatives, to a federal judgeship. It's an alarming move, considering Honaker's extreme views. Read more

Dobson's Choice: Perpetually Disgruntled Dogmatist Threatens To Stay Home On Election Day

Feb 7, 2008 by Joseph L. Conn in Wall of Separation

Is Dr. James Dobson an Old Testament prophet standing in the street corners decrying wickedness and calling for righteousness? Or is he just a crank and a closed-minded zealot?

He thinks he's the former. I lean toward the latter.

This week, the Religious Right leader issued an Election Day jeremiad in which he vowed never to vote for Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Read more

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