Welcome to Reads of Reason, a weekly compilation of news-clippings that relate to our work advocating for the equal rights of nonreligious Americans and the separation of religion and government.
 

News We Care About
(Good to know for protecting the Wall of Separation)

Congress passes a bill that makes it easier to punish groups overseas that violate internationally recognized human rights, which frequently involves religious persecution. https://www.realclearreligion.org/2022/04/21/a_bipartisan_win_for_religious_freedom_828162.html?utm_source=rcp-today&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=mailchimp-newsletter&mc_cid=6a64c31f18&mc_eid=8581d49c3f

Christian healthcare ministries may not always be a scam, but they are never the same as health insurance, as 10,000 families just learned the hard way.   https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/april/health-care-sharing-ministries-bankrupt-sharity-trinity-unp.html

This is a little off-topic but when a Michigan state senator gives a speech on character assassination that includes this, "I learned that service was far more important than performative nonsense like being seen in the same pew every Sunday or writing “Christian” in your Twitter bio and using that as a shield to target and marginalize already-marginalized people," it's worth a listen. https://religionnews.com/2022/04/21/michigan-lawmakers-forceful-speech-rebuts-grooming-attack/
 

Who We Are
(Who are we? What are we up to?)

Interesting analysis of different types of regions across the country and their religious orientation, with some info on the unaffiliated. Well, interesting to us. https://www.prri.org/spotlight/religious-stereotypes-vs-reality-in-urban-suburban-and-rural-america/

A recap of the American Atheists conference in Atlanta.
 https://religionnews.com/2022/04/20/atheists-spurred-by-growing-ranks-gather-in-atlanta-for-first-time-in-two-years/


Commentary
(Everyone has an opinion...)

Conservative lawmakers and judges have recast religious neutrality as religious bigotry. https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2022/04/how-republicans-recast-christian-indoctrination-as-religious-freedom.html

Scientists disagree on what happened at an archeological site some consider to be the Biblical Sodom.
https://religionnews.com/2022/04/20/after-scientists-debate-meltdown-of-biblical-sodom/
   

Opposing Views
(Always good to know what others are saying)

A former congressman comments on the rise of atheism, humanism, and Wicca. Spoiler: beware of the metaverse. https://dailycaller.com/2022/04/18/barr-the-rise-of-atheism-wicca-and-humanism-in-the-public-arena/
 

Christian Nationalism from the Nationalists' side.   https://www.realclearreligion.org/articles/2022/04/22/political_power_wont_fix_christian_nationalism_828459.html

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