News Tidbits

Christian Post: Public Decries Christian Men's Conference for Featuring Speakers Accused of Rape, Sexual Abuse Cover-Up

Washington Blade: Anti-LGBT legal organization designated a hate group

The Hill: Washington court rules against florist who refused flowers for gay wedding

ABC 33/40: Alabama: Briarwood Presbyterian Church seeks lawmakers’ approval to establish police force

Huffington Post: Creationist Ken Ham’s Giant ‘Noah’s Ark’ To Feature Dinosaurs vs. Giants Diorama

Gay Star News: New Mexico Senate votes to ban anti-LGBT conversion therapy

Pink News: Christian radio host Bryan Fischer says homosexuals are ‘literally’ Nazi stormtroopers

Washington Post: Influential conservative group: Trump, DeVos should dismantle Education Department and bring God into classrooms

The Independent: UK: Children at faith school 'ordered by teachers to ignore classmate because her parent is transgender'

Commentary Tidbits

The Lancet: The Trump global gag rule: an attack on US family planning and global health aid

Baltimore Sun: Ordinary Americans carried out inhumane acts for Trump   (Hat tip to Progressive Eruptions)

Washington Post: Sharia law may be coming to America. But it’s Christians who are bringing it.

Tell Me Why the World Is Weird: Runaway Radical: The Stories You Can't Tell In Church

Friendly Atheist: Creationist Ken Ham Will Permanently Illuminate Ark Encounter in Rainbow Colors. Because God.

Religion Dispatches: The Deafening Silence of "Religious Freedom" Defenders on Trump’s Muslim Ban

Commentary Tidbits

New York Times: Kentucky’s Ark Defies Science but Evokes a Version of Christianity

Leaving Fundamentalism: The Terrifying Entry Conditions for Abusive Christian Reform Homes

New York Magazine: Top Evangelical Leader Suggests Trump Was Recently Born Again

Metro News: Because dinosaurs: Why Alberta must evolve beyond creationism

The Noah Conference Will Bring Together Ken Ham, Kevin Swanson, and the Benhams

Noah Conference Official Trailer from Kevin Swanson on Vimeo.



Ken Ham, creator of the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter theme park, will be taking part in a conference that likens modern "ungodliness" to the Great Flood.

The Noah Conference will take place on August 19-20 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Registration includes admission into the Ark Encounter theme park nearby. The Noah Conference website describes the event as an opportunity to disciple children in the midst of an "enticing me-centered, entertainment-saturated, and peer-dominated culture".

"You, like Noah, are competing against a thousand corrupt voices," the website tells visitors. "Like Noah’s sons, your children must also follow you into an ark to be saved – the ark that is Jesus Christ."

"You and your family might feel like you’re swimming upstream. But have you ever tried swimming against a flood?

4,000 years ago, the earth was covered by the greatest flood of all time. Every man, woman and child was swept away...except for one man and his family. But that wasn’t all. Another flood was raging which posed even greater danger to Noah and his family - a worldwide flood of ungodliness.

What did Noah do?

By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.” (Heb 11:7)

What can you do?

Join families from across the country for the Noah Conference in Cincinnati on August 19 & 20 - just minutes away from the new life-size Ark Encounter and Creation Museum. Based on lessons from the life of Noah, the Noah Conference will prepare you to engage your kids, disciple them in an ungodly generation, and launch them into life as ambassadors of the Gospel of Jesus Christ."

The all-white, all-male list of conference speakers includes Ken Ham, the Benham Brothers, anti-abortion activist Flip Benham, and the ever-colorful Kevin Swanson. (Let's hope that Swanson refrains from screaming, gesticulating, and making references to manure and pus-filled sores this time.) The workshop schedule features the typical right-wing fare about how the Christian family is supposedly under attack from a wicked world, and how families must batten down the hatches under male headship.

• Lot vs. Noah: Combating the Influence of the World on Your Home
   
• Children, Obey Your Parents


• Why Every Family Needs an Ark


• Discipleship 101: Bringing Your Children into the Ark


• It’s Time to Build an Ark in the Secular Age


• Living Among Lions: How to Thrive like Daniel in Today's Babylon


• Getting Your Kids on Board: How Dad Passes a Vision to His Children

The Noah Conference brims with Christian myths, and not just the Great Flood myth. Fundamentalist Christians are not living in an era of incomparable evil. Some monolithic, wicked "world" is not out to taint their families and persecute them for their faith. Adopting a siege mentality and shunning the outside world will not keep them safe or sanctified. Heaven's floodgates have not opened, and there is no need for a metaphorical ark.

Commentary Tidbits

The Clarion-Ledger: Methodist ministers pen open letter on Mississippi religious freedom law

Slate: A Day With Ken Ham

Raw Story: Creationist Ken Ham faces wrath of Twitter over rant about ‘secularists’ making fun of his ‘stupid’ ark

Progressive Eruptions: See that grumpy old man scowling in the banner above this post?

Commentary Tidbits

Danthropology: Atheist group raising money to put up counter Ark Encounter billboards

The Guardian: A 'queer Bible'? Better to re-interpret The Word through a new lens

Huffington Post: How Mormonism Is Creating an Increasingly Toxic Environment for Its LGBT Youth

In These Times: I Saw the Good, Bad and Ugly of Donald Trump Supporters at His Chicago Rally

Buzzfeed: Far Right In Europe Hope Donald Trump Will Set Them Free

Los Angeles Times: Will evangelicals take Trump on faith?

It's 2016, and Ken Ham Still Believes Labor Pain Is a Consequences of Sin

Let's take a break from politics for a moment and discuss some Religious Right silliness. I was stunned to learn that it 2016, at least one fundamentalist Christian still believes that labor pains are a result of Eve's sin in the Garden of Eden.

On February 11th, Ken Ham posted a two-minute audio snippet entitled "What Causes Birth Pains". Labor pain is a result of sin rather than evolution, he claimed.

"The Smithsonian Institute launched a human evolution traveling exhibit last year visited libraries across America. At one library, they had a lecture on why women have pain in childbirth when chimpanzees and bonobos don't. They claim it's due to our evolutionary heritage of walking upright and having bigger heads, but the Bible gives us the real answer. God originally created everything very good. There wasn't any suffering, pain, or death in the original creation, but Adam and Eve's sin changed everything. One consequence of sin was pain in childbirth. Women have a difficult time giving birth today because of sin and the curse, not because of some evolutionary story."

As always, Ham is interpreting Genesis 3:16 as a literal account of history rather than a just-so story written by ancient men. To my surprise, other fundamentalist Christians agree with his claim that labor pain for women was God's response to Eve's transgression.

Even though Ham sees labor pains as a punishment inflicted on women for Eve's sin, his organization condoned the use of anesthesia during labor. A 2011 Answers in Genesis commentary piece argues that anesthesia is permissible during childbirth. The author, Elizabeth Mitchell, encourages communication and trust between a pregnant woman and her obstetrician regarding pain management during childbirth and supports patient empowerment.

The claim that labor pain is a punishment for Eve's sin is ridiculous for several reasons. First, there is no evidence that the Garden of Eden story in Genesis is historically accurate, and copious evidence that humans came about through evolution instead. Second, if a supreme being truly wanted women to suffer during childbirth, that being wouldn't have made labor pain so easy to circumvent through anesthesia and other medical interventions. Third, if God wanted to punish all women for Eve's sin, using labor pains as punishment excludes significant numbers of women who never give birth. Fourth, it would be unfair and pointless for God to punish billions of women for one woman's actions. Finally, women experience vastly different levels of severity of labor pain and postpartum pain, so why would the Almighty arbitrarily punish some women more than others?

Ham's labor pain argument is yet another example of the absurdities that result when one takes a collection of ancient stories literally.

News Tidbits

New York Daily News: Two women share shocking accounts of forced labor and sexual abuse by prominent Christian leader Bill Gothard    (Trigger warning)

Reuters: Kentucky Noah's Ark park developer may alter religious worker rules

WTVQ: The Ark rises, despite controversy

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin: Judge tells Chino Valley school board to stop prayers in meetings

Edge Media Network: Utah Lawmaker: Mormon Church 'Snuffed Out' Discussion of Hate Crimes

USA Today: Ted Cruz uses faith freely on campaign trail

LGBTQ Nation: Ted Cruz: ‘Disastrous’ marriage ruling led to ‘unprecedented’ ‘persecution’ of Christians

New York Times: Pope Francis Suggests Donald Trump Is ‘Not Christian’

Pink News: Donald Trump tells evangelicals: You can trust me to overturn gay marriage ruling

Associated Press: Tennessee senate: OK to deny counseling due to religious beliefs

News Tidbits

Hawaii News Now: Hawaii lawmakers: Ban gay conversion therapy for minors

Georgia Voice: Anti-gay preacher, LGBT community prepare for back-to-back rallies at Georgia Capitol

Buzzfeed: Ted Cruz’s Iowa Backers Blast The Attacks From Huckabee Allies

Washington Post: Marco Rubio talks to Iowa about God

New York Times: Indictment Deals Blow to GOP Over Planned Parenthood Battle

Reuters: Texas Supreme Court sides with cheerleaders on ‘Bible banners’

Associated Press: Judge Sides With Ark-Building Group on Tax Incentive

Associated Press: Court to weigh practice of Christian prayers at meetings

MSN News: Self-avowed anti-Islam activist arrested in connection with the Oregon 'militia' investigation

Commentary Tidbits

SPLC Hatewatch: Fresh Off Speaking to Anti-Muslim Group, GOP Candidates Address Event Organized by anti-LGBT Hate Groups

New Republic: Bully Pulpit

Washington Post: Donald Trump is running as Christianity’s savior. And it might work.

Gawker: I Watched Michael Bay's Benghazi Movie at Cowboys Stadium With 30,000 Pissed-Off Patriots

RH Reality Check: Denver Archbishop: Shun Candidates Supporting Planned Parenthood

Friendly Atheist: Ken Ham is Wrong; Newsweek’s Article About His Noah’s Ark Theme Park was Accurate

Finding Fundamental: Feelings Are Fundamental

Homeschoolers Anonymous: Kirk Cameron Lends Support to G.A. Henty Audio Drama

News Tidbits

NBC 4 Washington: Trump Scheduled to Make Stop at Liberty University

Richmond Times-Dispatch: Students voicing objections to timing of Trump visit to Liberty University

The Advocate: Mike Huckabee Loses it When Questioned About Duggars

Newsweek: Noah's Ark Rises in Kentucky, Dinosaurs and All

Christianity Today: Kenya Puts Rules to Rein In Prosperity Preachers on Pause

News Tidbits

Reuters: Noah’s Ark theme park in Kentucky to open July 2016

The Guardian: Supreme court to hear Christian argument for contraception exemption

Reading Eagle: Alvernia Seniors College course examines separation of church and state

Daily Monitor: Abed Bwanika to Use Prophesy to Govern Uganda

Pink News: Australia: These anti-gay marriage Christians want to stop being called ‘bigots’

News Tidbits

Pew Research Center: What’s a sin? Catholics don’t always agree with their church

Columbus Dispatch: Gay-marriage debate facing Pope Francis at Philadelphia event

Buzzfeed: LGBT Catholics Alarmed With Pope’s Remarks About “Unjust Discrimination”

New Orleans Times-Picayune: Jindal: Boehner resignation isn't enough; 'It's time to fire everybody'

Reuters: Evangelicals’ event to hear Trump and Carson — no Jeb Bush

CNN: Conservatives boo Trump after Rubio 'clown' insult

Associated Press: Kentucky Clerk Kim Davis Blames Governor for Legal Woes

Topeka Capital-Journal: Ken Ham's book looks at millennials and the church

New York Times: Refugee Crisis in Syria Raises Fears in South Carolina   (Hat tip to Infidel753) 

News Tidbits

CNN: Kim Davis released, but judge bars her from withholding marriage licenses

Washington Post: Conservative dissent is brewing inside the Vatican 

New York Times: Pope Francis Announces Measures to Simplify Marriage Annulments

The Guardian: Ohio Planned Parenthood fights back at frontline of new conservative assault 

Raw Story: Creationist Ken Ham: Science has ‘contaminated’ kids into believing in evolution and LGBT rights

Pink News: Australian TV ad suggests equal marriage will lead to more rapists and drug users

Commentary Tidbits

Danthropology: 5 things I learned by attending Ken Ham’s Answers Conference

Queerty: Right-Wing Christian Group Tries To Trick TV Viewers Into Donating To Antigay Cause

The Guardian: No, the anti-choice movement doesn't care about sexism, racism or ableism 

New York Times: The Republican Conception of Conception 

The New Civil Rights Movement: Why Did Josh Duggar Do It? Former FRC Analyst Explains Conservative Christian Hypocrisy

Commentary Tidbits

Christian Today: Protesting Mark Driscoll at the 02: Lone campaigner on why she took a stand

Vice: Why I'm Never Going Back to the Mormon Church

We Were Going to Be Queens: Mormonism makes family relationships difficult

Monsters and Critics: The Duggars Are Still Delusional

News*com*au: Aussie behind bizarre and ‘scary’ life-size replica of Noah’s Ark

Right Wing Watch: World Congress Of Families Feigns Ignorance About Supporting Anti-LGBT Extremism

Huffington Post: Exposing the Global Coalition of Organisations That Support Anti-Gay Laws Around the World

Inquisitr: Ex-Believers Accuse Jehovah’s Witness Leadership Of Covering Up Sexual Abuse

Washington Post: Living with the Amish is actually no romance novel, one woman explains

Wall of Separation: Arkansas Law Attacking LGBT Protections Goes Into Effect

News Tidbits

Associated Press: Jury finds promise of 'gay conversion' therapy was a fraud

Reuters: Gays can't use U.S. Catholic family meet to attack Church, bishop says

Washington Blade: Catholic bishops reaffirm opposition to same-sex marriage

Religion News Service: Rome summit looks to improve church’s handling of child sexual abuse

Edge Media Network: California Judge Agrees to Dismiss Kill-Gays Ballot Measure

Minneapolis Star Tribune: Noah's ark takes shape in Kentucky pasture; project remains afloat after hitting rough water

Salt Lake Tribune: Human Rights Campaign to sponsor counter-conference in Utah to celebrate ‘Inclusive Families’

Raw Story: Mike Huckabee calls for less dialog on race and more ‘conversions’ for Jesus: God already ‘solved’ racism

The Guardian: Bobby Jindal: Republican who brought creationism into schools to join election

News Tidbits

Christian Post: Ken Ham Says Life-Size Noah's Ark on Track to Open in 2016, Despite 'Naysayers, False Information' 

Bloomberg: Conservatives Regroup on Religious-Freedom Bills

Raw Story: Rick Santorum: Media ‘perversion’ of Indiana law was rammed ‘down the public’s throat’

Reuters: New Jersey gay therapy ban is upheld over boy's challenge

The Advocate: NOM Wants SCOTUS to Ignore National Support for Marriage Equality

Pink News: Hate group tells parents: Take your children out of schools that condemn homophobic bullying

News Tidbits

USA Today: Noah's Ark park officials plan to sue Kentucky 

Talking Points Memo: Huckabee: Muslims Are The Only Group To Have Obama's 'Undying' Support

UPI: Pope Francis: It's OK to spank kids, just don't humiliate them

Reuters: Clergy sexual abuse victim criticizes pope over spanking remark

Georgia Voice: Anti-gay former Atlanta fire chief compares himself to Jesus Christ at sermon

The Advocate: Leading Homophobe Scott Lively Considers Run for Congress

Raw Story: Tucker Carlson: ‘We don’t have slavery in the world today’ thanks to Christianity

Raw Story: Fox ‘historian’: More evidence than atheists ‘would ever imagine’ that Jonah was ‘swallowed by a whale’

Commentary Tidbits

Explorations in Egalitarianism: John Piper, Rape, Seduction, and Sin-Leveling

The Root: I Spent MLK Day With Presidential Hopeful Ben Carson. Here’s What I Learned

Right Wing Watch: Bobby Jindal's Prayer Warriors Fret About Protests, Declare 'No-Go Zone For Demons'

Dianna E. Anderson: Christ Under the Gun: Owen Strachan Is Wrong About American Sniper

Wall of Separation: Ark Encounter Gave Kentucky Officials Inflated Attendance Projections

No Longer Quivering: March For Life Day & the Duggar’s Growing Political Activism: This Is Why They Are Dangerous for Our Country 

Salon: Religious right’s pope problem: Why Rick Santorum & co. are so desperately confused