Barry Duke, the Angry Atheist

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1. 

   […] last time I had had occasion to write about Rowan County clerk Kim Davis, above, was three years ago…

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   Whatever is presented on the BBC, and I must admit I do not watch the TV, the fact is that…

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   “The curriculum had already drawn tensions among the county’s religious parents, with some worrying about appropriateness and arguing the material…

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   As someone who produced dozens of nativity plays as a teacher and a Sunday School leader, that title ‘A Gay…

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   The defence of a Christian view never seems to be settled by debate: exchange of facts, reference to historical events.…

PUPILS entering Llanidloes High School in Powys, headed by Daniel Owen, above, are confronted by “science” displays that, among other things, declare “Great are the works of the Lord” and “God created the creatures of the sea”.

But Owen, described by the BBC “as an elder or spiritual leader at an evangelical church in Newtown” wrote to parents this week, saying:

We not promote or instil any doctrines or ideologies, nor do we evangelise.

The school is now under investigation after the National Secular Society, on learning of the idiotic displays, called for a ban on creationism in schools in Wales.

Stephen Evans, above, Chief Executive of the National Secular Society, said:

Promoting creationism is entirely without educational justification, and actively undermines teaching about evidence-based theories such as evolution, as well as children’s critical thinking skills. The extensive campaign of evangelism at Llanidloes High School is a gross violation of the trust which should exist between pupils, parents, and staff. Significant school time and resources have been expended on efforts to inculcate the religious ideology of the headteacher. The Welsh Government must urgently introduce measures explicitly prohibiting the promotion of creationism.

The NSS said that the Welsh Government is understood to be investigating the school, saying:

Community schools are not permitted to have a religious leaning and we are in discussions with the relevant local authority.

Powys Council added:

The council will be taking these concerns seriously and are in discussions with the Welsh Government.

Ten Commandents displays in Louisiana schools

Earlier this month I reported that a reranged lawmaker in the state—Southern Baptist and homophobe Dodie Horton, above—authored a bill that would require public schools display the Ten Commandments.

Well, the bill has now received approval from Republican Governor Jeff Landry, making his state the only one in America to have a law that makes it mandatory for the commmandments to be displayed in all classrooms up to university level.

Four civil liberties groups have confirmed that they plan a legal challenge, highlighting the religious diversity of Louisiana’s schools.

The law was “blatantly unconstitutional”, said a joint statement from the American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation.

Hat tip: BarrieJohn.

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