Tag Archives: scotus

April 3 in freethought history…

Posted on April 3, 2016 by John C. Snider

April 3, 1962 – The US Supreme Court hears Engel v Vitale, a case that originated in New Hyde Park, NY, where a group of families sued to end the public school’s practice of opening the day with a generic … Continue reading →

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July 9 in freethought history…

Posted on July 9, 2015 by John C. Snider

July 9, 1968 – American author Vardis Fisher dies in his native Idaho, aged 73. He was best known for novels set in the Old West, including Mountain Man, the basis for the 1972 Robert Redford film Jeremiah Johnson. Fisher also … Continue reading →

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Podcast #228 – Jiggery-Pokery with a Side of Applesauce

Posted on July 2, 2015 by John C. Snider

We discuss the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges, with special attention to the bitter dissents seemingly aimed at delegitimizing the Court itself. We also look at the more-or-less predictible reactions by conservative politicians and pundits. Events are unfolding … Continue reading →

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June 17 in freethought history…

Posted on June 17, 2015 by John C. Snider

June 17, 1963 – The US Supreme Court rules in Abington v. Schempp and Murray v. Cutlett, that public school-sponsored Bible readings are unconstitutional. Young Ellery Schempp (whose family was active in the Unitarian Universalist movement) kept a relatively low profile in … Continue reading →

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June 4 in freethought history…

Posted on June 4, 2015 by John C. Snider

June 4, 1945 – Author and journalist Susan Jacoby is born. Her books include Freethinkers: A History of American Secularism, The Age of American Unreason, and The Great Agnostic: Robert Ingersoll and American Freethought. June 4, 1985 – The US … Continue reading →

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Podcast #218 – SCOTUS to Tackle Marriage Equality

Posted on January 28, 2015 by John C. Snider

The Supreme Court will finally hear arguments on two issues: whether states have the right to ban gay marriage, and whether states must recognize out-of-state gay marriages under the full faith and credit clause of the Constitution. We’ll know by … Continue reading →

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Podcast #208 – Live at DragonCon 2014

Posted on September 6, 2014 by John C. Snider

David couldn’t make it this year, so Allison jumps in to take up the slack! In this live version of the podcast we discuss recent Supreme Court decisions, take a look at Satanism, and share some really (really, really) bad … Continue reading →

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Podcast #207 – Ark Encounter Still Afloat

Posted on August 23, 2014 by John C. Snider

Ken Ham’s Ark Encounter continues to grasp for Kentucky taxpayer dollars, despite being a religious operation that promises to discriminate in its hiring policies. The Supreme Court has put marriage equality on hold in Virginia. Presumably they’ll hear this and … Continue reading →

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SCOTUS is wrong on Greece v Galloway

Posted on May 8, 2014 by John C. Snider

By now most of us have had a chance both to recover from the initial shock and to absorb some of the details of this week’s Supreme Court ruling on Greece vs. Galloway. Briefly, the Court was asked to decide … Continue reading →

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Podcast #198 – Hobby Lobby at SCOTUS

Posted on March 29, 2014 by John C. Snider

This summer’s Supreme Court ruling on the Hobby Lobby case will decide whether or not private, for-profit employers can opt out of federal legislation based on sincerely held religious belief. (Cartoon from RobRogers.com.) Fred Phelps, founder of the infamous Westboro … Continue reading →

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