Worldviews in the News

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• CRANSTON, R.I. — She is 16, the daughter of a firefighter and a nurse, a self-proclaimed nerd who loves Harry Potter and Facebook. But Jessica Ahlquist is also an outspoken atheist who has incensed this heavily Roman Catholic city with a successful lawsuit to get a prayer removed from the wall of her high school auditorium, where it has hung for 49 years. A federal judge ruled this month that the prayer’s presence at Cranston High School West was unconstitutional, concluding that it violated the principle of government neutrality in religion. In the weeks since, residents have crowded school board meetings to demand an appeal, Jessica has received online threats and the police have escorted her at school, and Cranston, a dense city of 80,000 just south of Providence, has throbbed with raw emotion.

  January 27, 2012 Student Faces Town’s Wrath in Protest Against a Prayer
  by ABBY GOODNOUGH Source: The New York Times

• (CNSNews.com) – Anti-euthanasia activists are praising the passage by a leading European governmental body of a resolution stating clearly that euthanasia “must always be prohibited.” Although not legally-binding on the 47 countries belonging to the body, the measure may have an impact on legislative and judicial processes, they say.

  January 27, 2012 Euthanasia ‘Must Always Be Prohibited,’ European Body Says
  by Patrick Goodenough Source: CNS News

• Atheist Richard Dawkins appears to be leading the charge among non-believers in the U.K. who are appalled that a Swiss philosopher and writer residing in London plans to build a "temple for atheists" in the city's financial center. Alain de Botton said he wants to counter Dawkins' "aggressive" and "destructive" approach to non-belief by building a 151-foot tower to celebrate a "new atheism," according to news reports out of the U.K.

  January 27, 2012 Richard Dawkins Opposed to Temple for Atheists Planned for London
  by Alex Murashko Source: Christian Post

• An abortionist should not be able to ply his trade over the Internet. That’s what several lawmakers in Indiana think, according to a bill introduced by state Sen. Travis Holdman that passed a committee on a 5-4 vote Wednesday. For the last year, Planned Parenthood has been expanding its operations by having women consult with abortionists by webcam. Regardless of where the doctor is located, he pushes a button which remotely dispenses the chemical abortion drug RU-486 to the woman.

  January 27, 2012 Indiana Floats Bill Banning Telemedicine in Abortions
  by Steve Jordahl Source: CitizenLink

• According to a soon-to-be-published study, cohabiting couples are happier and have more self-esteem than married ones. Using data from the National Survey of Families and Households, Cornell University’s Kelly Musick and Larry Bumpass of the University of Wisconsin-Madison compared the well-being of both married and cohabitating couples including levels of depression, happiness and health.

  January 27, 2012 Study: Cohabiting Better Than Marriage
  by Karla Dial Source: CitizenLink

• Atheists have long criticised devout followers of faith. But now it seems Atheism is stealing from that very religious tradition by erecting a temple of worship. Author Alain de Botton announced plans to build an Atheist temple in the U.K., reports DeZeen magazine.

  January 26, 2012 Atheist Temple: Nonbelievers To Get Place Of ‘Worship’ In UK
  by Tara Kelly Source: Huffington Post

• Morals aren't begotten from religion, but secular moral philosophy, jurisprudence and dinner table conversation, renowned atheist Richard Dawkins recently argued at the Jaipur Literature Festival in India. Criticizing ethical systems based on religions like Judaism, Christianity and Islam, The God Delusion author continued to uphold the view that ethics came from secular values and not godly ones.

  January 26, 2012 Richard Dawkins: Morals Come From Enlightened Secular Values, Not Religion
  by Eryn Sun Source: Christian Post

• The Arkansas Department of Human Services announced a new proposed rule Tuesday opposing the use of religious activities at state-funded preschools. Though proponents believe that the new rule will keep some faith-based preschools in line with the Constitution, specifically the separation of church and state, one state lawmaker says that it may be doing the opposite.

  January 26, 2012 Arkansas DHS Proposes Rule to Ban Religious Activities in Even Christian Preschools
  by Eryn Sun Source: Christian Post

• A New York State Senate committee passed a bill on Tuesday as the first step toward overriding a New York City policy banning churches from holding weekend worship services in rented public schools. The city’s Department of Education gave churches their eviction notice in late December, after the U.S. Supreme Court refused to rule on a 16-year-old viewpoint-discrimination case of a church in the Bronx that was kicked out of a public school. The city has given some 60-odd churches serving primarily poor neighborhoods until Feb. 12 to find other facilities to call home.

  January 26, 2012 New York Senate Committee Passes Church/School Bill
  by Karla Dial Source: CitizenLink