Humanists Take on the World

We are joined this week by Brigid Fitch from Holy CRAP! The VlogCast.http://holycrapthevlogcast.com/https://brigidfitch2112.wordpress.com/DUSTIN’ OFF THE DEGREE - The Unification ChurchNEWSHundreds of couples gathered, wearing crowns, for the AR-15 blessing ceremony at the Unification Sanctuary http://cbsn.ws/2tmL8UaThe Unification Church’s most famous ritual is mass weddings, but they also do other commitment ceremonies, such as the one that the Moonie offshoot World Peace and Unification Sanctuary in Newfoundland, PA held last week with hundreds of couples showing up wearing crowns and carrying their AR-15 style assault rifles, which the church believes to be the rod of iron in Revelation. During the service they drank holy wine and exchanged or renewed wedding vows. Protesters and state police were outside the church and a school across the street bused students across town to another campus.During the service the Rev. Sean Moon prayed for “a kingdom of peace police and peace militia where the citizens, through the right given to them by almighty God to keep and bear arms, will be able to protect one another and protect human flourishing."Florida state senator thinks thoughts and prayers are the only solution http://bit.ly/2D1AcLzThe state of Florida debated, passed, and then rescinded an assault rifle ban. One republican voting against the bill was state senator Kelli Stargel. She’s also interested in limiting gun sales to those under 21, increasing mental health services, and increasing the amount of armed personnel on school campuses, but ultimately…The Tennessee GOP and Lt. Gov. have attacked a special election candidate for the state senate because of her atheism http://bit.ly/2H8gkJ0Gayle Jordan is the executive director of Recovering from Religion and she’s also running for the Tennessee State Senate in a special election. A few weeks ago the state Republican Party Chairman Scott Golden called on voters to reject her because she is a quote “radical atheist”.On March 1 Lt Gov Randy McNally went to social media and wrote:"In my 40 plus years in Tennessee politics, I’ve seen few candidates as dangerous as Gayle Jordan. She is not just out of step with a majority of Tennessee on matters of policy. She is out of step on matters of values and faith.In her daily work, she directs an organization called “Recovering from Religion.” Most Tennesseans, whether they are strong believers or not, recognize the strength and comfort faith provides. Gayle Jordan rejects faith as a positive force for good in the world. She believes faith is something from which people need to be rescued.This is not the type of person we need in the Tennessee Senate."An atheist in Ohio is suing over the court mandated religious addiction treatment program he has to attendhttp://bit.ly/2Hb8ZZ1James Lindon was convicted of drug possession and theft for stealing five hydrocodone pills from the clinic he was working as a pharmacist at and convicted of tampering with evidence for swallowing four of the five pills when confronted by security guards.He was sentenced to a month in a substance abuse program and two years of probation. He’s now suing because the program is Alcoholics Anonymous which requires people to submit to a higher power and he’s an atheist, thus this court ordered program violates his religious freedom.A Kentucky bill to end child marriage is stalling due to lobbying from conservative groups and parental rights concerns http://cjky.it/2oIvyxKSenate Bill 48Pulled from scheduleKentucky Family FoundationAlabama bill would eliminate marriage licenses http://n.pr/2FXj1xP13 Alabama counties do not offer marriage licensesProbate judges “may” issue licenses not “shall”Passed state senate and house judiciary committeeEliminate marriage licensesForm to affirm meeting legal requirementsMarriage contractThe Utah governor is asking people to pray for snow http://bit.ly/2FZ6v0sSupport the show