Nameless Heathen

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  • Weekly Newsletter for NamelessHeathen.com

    Date: May 10, 2026

    📰 This Week’s Top Secular & Atheist News

    1. Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Hears Arguments on Religious Statues In Quincy, MA, secular groups and local residents are fighting the mayor’s plan to install 10-foot-tall statues of Saint Michael and Saint Florian at the entrance of a public safety building. Arguing that it violates the state’s requirement for religious neutrality, plaintiffs are being represented by a coalition of secular defenders, including the ACLU, Americans United, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF).

    2. “Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias” Releases Controversial Report The Trump administration’s newly established task force has released a 208-page report claiming widespread anti-Christian bias in the federal government. Secular advocates argue the task force is actively attempting to enforce a narrow Christian nationalist agenda and attack LGBTQ and women’s rights. Organizations like Americans United for Separation of Church and State have already filed Freedom of Information (FOIA) lawsuits against the secretive task force.

    3. Pushback on the National Day of Prayer & “Freedom 250” During the National Day of Prayer observance at the U.S. Capitol, several politicians pushed the narrative that America is fundamentally a “praying nation” founded on religion. Secular organizations immediately countered the pseudohistorical claims, reminding the public that the U.S. Constitution is distinctly secular. Further controversy is brewing over the White House’s upcoming May 17 “Freedom 250” prayer rally, which critics are calling Christian nationalist co-optation of the nation’s 250th birthday.

    4. Rejecting Church-State Separation Tops “Religious Liberty” Wish List Recent reports outline the growing momentum within current political commissions to actively reject the traditional separation of church and state. Proposals are openly seeking to dissolve the boundaries that protect non-believers and religious minorities, elevating the importance of secular activism in 2026.

    5. Court Battles over Telehealth Mifepristone Access The intersection of religious dogma and healthcare continues to be a major battleground. Freethought advocates are sounding alarms over a looming appeals court ban on telehealth mifepristone, warning that religiously motivated legislation is systematically stripping away reproductive freedoms following the overturning of Roe.

    Thank you for reading the NamelessHeathen.com weekly update. Support secular journalism and the organizations fighting for the wall of separation!

  • The Heathen’s Weekly: May 2, 2026

    Logical implications for a superstitious world.

    1. The Oklahoma “Religious Charter” Collapse

    In a significant win for the Establishment Clause, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has blocked the state’s attempt to fund the St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School. The court ruled 7-2 that the state cannot use taxpayer dollars to fund a school that is “sectarian in its programs and operations.” You can read the full court opinion at Justia.

    • The Heathen’s Take: This is a victory for the “Lemon Test” principles. Education is a civic function; the moment you introduce sectarian indoctrination on the public dime, you aren’t providing “choice”—you’re providing a state-sponsored subsidy for mythology.

    2. Talarico: The “Christlike” Atheist

    Texas State Representative James Talarico—himself a seminarian—recently pointed out the staggering hypocrisy in the Texas legislature. He noted that while many “Christian” politicians are busy gutting healthcare and education, his atheist colleagues are often the ones fighting for the vulnerable. Talarico’s speech on the House floor has been widely circulated; watch the highlight on Youtube.

    • The Heathen’s Take: It’s a punchy observation, though it highlights the irony of our “closet” existence. It takes a progressive Christian to point out that “morality” isn’t a proprietary product of religion, while the “fundamentalist rubbish” being passed in the statehouse does nothing but breed fear and inequality.

    3. The “Anti-Christian Bias” Nothingburger

    The final report from the “Anti-Christian Bias” task force, a holdover project from the Trump era, has finally been released, and Friendly Atheist has the breakdown. Despite years of searching for a “war on Christianity,” the report reveals… absolutely nothing. No systemic persecution, no “closet” for believers, just a series of grievances about not being allowed to use the state to bully others.

    • The Heathen’s Take: Read the full analysis at Friendly Atheist. It’s a classic study in the “fear of becoming a minority.” When you’re used to 100% privilege, equality feels like oppression.

    4. Academic Purge in Turkey

    In a disturbing international trend of regression, a prominent Turkish professor recently had his honorary doctorate revoked solely because of his public stance as an atheist. The university argued that his lack of faith was “incompatible” with their values, despite his massive contributions to his field. Details on the academic community’s response can be found via the UK National Secular Society.

    • The Heathen’s Take: This is exactly why many of us stay “underground” in the workplace. Even in the 21st century, a “preponderance of evidence” in your professional work doesn’t protect you from the “self-inflicted lunacy” of those in power who feel threatened by a lack of superstition.

    5. The “Reason Tax” in Louisiana

    Louisiana’s new law requiring the Ten Commandments in public colleges is officially being challenged in federal court this week. The lawsuit, Roake v. Brumley, argues that the mandate creates a “coercive religious environment” that violates the First Amendment. Check the case status: Official Case Statement (ACLU): Roake v. Brumley – Challenging Louisiana’s Ten Commandments Mandate

    Legal Complaint (PDF): You can access the full First Amended Complaint which outlines why the plaintiffs believe this mandate is “inherently coercive.”

    • The Heathen’s Take: This is the “incremental tool” at work again. If you can force a bronze-age list of rules onto a college campus, you’ve successfully signaled that ideology trumps academic freedom.

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