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This may not be the biggest story in the world, but it’s a perfect example of how powerful companies are letting bad behavior slide because religion is involved.

While both Uber and Lyft have strict rules prohibiting religious discrimination, there’s no rule blocking drivers from proselytizing and attempting to win new converts. And Christians know it.

A recent Associated Press article and plenty of older tweets feature riders frustrated by preaching drivers. This isn’t just some minor annoyance either. There’s no way for passengers to know what might make a driver snap. How many of them smiled and nodded, or pretended to want to hear about Jesus, because they worried about what might happen if they said they weren’t interested?

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is now calling for both companies to revise their policies to stop drivers from taking advantage of their captive riders by attempting to win new converts.

My coverage of this controversy got further attention from Raw Story:

As always, I appreciate your support through Patreon and Substack, which allows me to write about these stories while working on other projects.

Two trends in America are finally converging in a way that could become the dominant story of future elections: More Americans are leaving organized religion, and nonreligious voters are crucial to Democrats and their agenda.

Non-religious voters gave Democrats crucial wins. Will people notice? | Man votes during 2022 midterms

The Associated Press, which conducts a massive survey called the AP VoteCast, says that voters without any religious affiliation—roughly 22% of all voters—backed Democratic candidates and abortion rights “by staggering percentages” during the midterms.

I analyzed those numbers and wrote about what it could mean for Democrats… if candidates and elected leaders care to listen.

Are (white) evangelicals backing away from Donald Trump? You might think that if you read this headline at Semafor:

The article is mostly a short list of prominent white evangelicals who appear to be done with Trump. They’re fed up with his fixation on the 2020 elections and they’re disturbed by his more recent meetings with white nationalists (Nicholas Fuentes) and antisemites (Kanye West).

But don’t let the headline fool you. White evangelical leaders are more interested in power than principle, and if Trump wins the GOP presidential primary in 2024, they’ll quickly flock to his side… again.

It’s exactly what they did in 2016 after the hateful speeches and Access Hollywood tape. Today, no one should expect conservative Christians to take the moral high road when we have years and years of evidence of them scraping the bottom of the barrel.

This Christian’s anti-sex video is troubling…

April Ajoy @aprilajoyr

This Christian influencer says masturbation is witchcraft and creates generational curses that will "literally bleed into your future children's life." I don't miss these pentecostal circles at all. So much needless shame 😭

… but April Ajoy’s response is glorious:

April Ajoy @aprilajoyr

@hemantmehta This was my response on TikTok 🙈

Three months ago, megachurch pastor Matt Chandler, who had a history of downplaying sexual misconduct in his church, stepped away from the pulpit after sending "unwise" DMs to a woman on Instagram.

Without giving details, disgraced pastor Matt Chandler returns to pulpit | Pastor Matt Chandler returned to the pulpit after a three-month rehab that involved who knows what

Now he's back and he doesn't want to talk about any of it.

What changed between three months ago and now? What exactly did he do? How did church elders set up his rehab? Who is he apologizing to? Anyone?

We can’t assess whether the church went too far or didn’t go far enough without knowing the true nature of the Instagram conversations. Given his track record, though, the public would be wise to assume the worst. He hasn’t earned the benefit of the doubt.

Someone should elect this guy to Congress:

Rep. Jamie Raskin @RepRaskin

As my GOP colleagues try to block the Respect for Marriage Act, I remind them what we taught anti-gay politicians a decade ago: you placed your hand on the Bible and swore to uphold the Constitution. You didn't place your hand on the Constitution and swear to uphold the Bible.

Members of The Family Foundation, a Christian hate-group, were outraged after their reservation was canceled at Metzger Bar and Butchery in Richmond, Virginia. The restaurant’s staff found out that they were people who fight against civil rights for LGBTQ people, deny the existence of trans people, and want women to give birth against their will, and refused to serve them.

Citing staff safety & dignity, restaurant refuses to serve Christian hate group | Metzger Bar and Butchery

They have every right to do that and it’s not religious discrimination for reasons I explain here, but it’s ironic that the same Christians who routinely file lawsuits so bakers and florists and wedding website designers can discriminate against LGBTQ people are shocked to be the receiving end of perceived persecution.

Christian evangelist and former TV star Kirk Cameron claims public libraries are censoring him even while welcoming drag queens and hosting LGBTQ-friendly events. He and his publishers told FOX that they reached out to 50 libraries to see if they would sponsor events in which Cameron would read his book to kids.

Public libraries aren't censoring Kirk Cameron. He's just wants attention. | Kirk Cameron loves playing the victim

They wanted the libraries to advertise the events on their websites and market the readings as they do other children’s events. Naturally, many of them said no. They also reminded Cameron’s team that they were always free to reserve (or rent) space in the buildings and hold their own events.

Cameron could have taken that option. He didn’t. There’s no victimhood in that.

As one tweeter put it, all future stories involving Cameron should include “Drama Queen Story Hour” in the title. I’m mad I didn’t think of it first.

This is troubling in part because it’s not the first time it’s happened.

On Tuesday, atheist Joseph Richardson of the Central Florida Freethought Community was slated to deliver an invocation during a meeting of the Lake County Board of County Commissioners in Florida. He gave an excellent speech, thanking the commissioners and staffers for their hard work and urging everyone to keep their “hearts and minds open.”

Perfectly fine. Completely non-offensive.

But then, moments after Richardson was done, Fred Schneider from the local Public Works Department was invited to give a second invocation. A replacement invocation. A Christian invocation. Because, apparently, the secular one didn’t count.

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

On Tuesday, atheist Joseph Richardson gave an invocation at a meeting of the Lake County (FL) Board of Commissioners. A Christian pastor was then invited to give a second invocation. A *replacement* one. Since Joseph's apparently didn't count. My story: onlysky.media/hemant-mehta/a…

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has now sent a letter to the commissioners in Lake County, calling their actions “discriminatory, unconstitutional, and a slap in the face to all of Lake County’s non-Christian citizens.”

Set aside some time to read this excellent-but-disturbing piece (gift article) about a very messed up situation. Two guys went down a COVID misinformation rabbit hole full of conspiracies, Jesus, and Satan. It didn't end well.

Richard Dawkins did an interview with The Australian (paywalled) before a recent series of talks in the country, and some of the answers are… not ideal.

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

This interview with Richard Dawkins didn't age well... [Whispers in ear] I'm told this is from two days ago.

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

This is hilarious b/c it's the *exact argument I made* for why it was fine for the American Humanist Association to rescind an honor they once gave Richard Dawkins. They didn't "cancel" him, as some said. They symbolically took back an award most people had never heard of.

Get ready to cringe for two straight minutes. (Not because of what he’s into but because of how he talks about it.)

Christian Nightmares @ChristnNitemare

Unintentionally hilarious real talk with two Christian bros…

Happy Satan-mas to all who celebrate:

CBS Chicago @cbschicago

Satanic holiday display unveiled at State Capitol in Springfield cbsnews.com/chicago/news/s…

I don't care about his size, but evangelist Joshua Feuerstein said he would become a registered Democrat if he didn’t hit his goal weight by this week. Is anyone going to hold him accountable…?

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

Four months ago, Christian hate-preacher Joshua Feuerstein said he would "register as a Democrat (seriously)" on December 5th if he hadn't achieved his goal weight.

You know things aren’t going well in South Dakota when conservative Christians make news for angering the Republicans in charge:

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

Two GOP lawmakers in South Dakota "stained five chairs... with oil" before a meeting. Presumably to anoint them. "It took the Capitol’s groundskeepers about three hours to clean..." Now the legislature has issued new policies about religious symbols.

apnews.comSouth Dakota Legislature tackles Christian marks in CapitolSIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota lawmakers can adorn their office with a crucifix, but they can’t pound the nail into the state Capitol’s wall, a legislative oversight board clarified on Tuesday as part of a policy regulating how religious symbols can mark the state’s seat of government.

The framing of this week’s Supreme Court case involving a bigoted Christian wedding website designer has been incredibly frustrating:

Jeff Sharlet @JeffSharlet

This headline makes me furious. As if LGBTQIA+ people can’t be religious. As if one particular thread of one faction of one faith in one country at one time represents “Religion.”

If you’re looking for a summary of the oral arguments, Andrew Seidel has a terrific rundown:

Andrew L. Seidel @AndrewLSeidel

Today, the Supreme Court will hear oral argument in 303 Creative LLC case. This is the redo of the Masterpiece Cakeshop case (where a bakery refused to serve a gay couple claiming religion & speech, violating a civil rights law, and SCOTUS let the business get away with it).

I really wish the Creation Museum's offices had a livestream so I could see their faces as they read this article about how ancient DNA (more than a few thousand years old) holds hidden secrets.

The monarchy is bad and yet evangelist Ray Comfort found a way to make it worse:

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

Christian evangelist Ray Comfort plans to distribute *millions* of these fake £1,000,000 notes on the day King Charles III gets coronated. On the back is a desperate attempt to convert people. pandasthumb.org/archives/2022/…

This Onion tweet feels strangely appropriate in light of that:

The Onion @TheOnion

New Square Feature Allows Customers To Tip With Bible Quote bit.ly/3Y0Erlb

Square tip screen with an add a bible quote option.

Here’s one more legal story that didn’t get much attention…

In stunning reversal, TX judge can continue his coercive courtroom prayers | Wayne Mack delivers a sermon in 2022

In September, an appellate court ruled 2-1 that Texas Justice of the Peace Wayne Mack, who opened courtroom sessions with coercive Christian prayers, could keep doing it, reversing an earlier decision.

Now the full 5th Circuit has upheld that egregious mistake. No word yet on whether the Freedom From Religion Foundation will appeal, but since the Supreme Court is the only option and their decision is a foregone conclusion, this may be the end of the line.

Steve Wells, the author behind the incredible Skeptics Annotated Bible, has started a podcast where he and his wife summarize each chapter of the Bible... but without the boring parts (i.e. the "begats"). Definitely worth checking out!

Do nearly half of all Americans really want to live in a "Christian Nation"? A recent survey said so. I went through the data and made this video.

Fundamentalist Christian grandmother Lori Alexander, a.k.a. The Transformed Wife, took us on a ride…

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

Just read the first lines in each tweet of this thread and enjoy your ride on a wild Christian roller coaster.

And now for your weekly dose of fundie insanity and right-wing preaching:

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

Today, Christian hate-preacher Greg Locke said he was invited to Mar-a-Lago on Thursday and declined. Then, on Friday, he was invited to join Donald Trump's "inner circle."

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

Christian hate-preacher Steven Anderson isn't a fan of Kamala Harris.

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

Christian hate-preacher Steven Anderson says the problem with Kanye West's appearance on Alex Jones' show — the one where Ye praised Hitler — was that he didn't promote Jesus.

matt @mattxiv

she started crying at the idea of gay people getting married but we are the snowflakes

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

It sure sounds like Trump-loving evangelist Mario Murillo is calling out Christian "prophetess" Kat Kerr without saying her name. I made this mashup based on a sermon Murillo delivered on Tuesday.

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

Today is scamvangelist Kenneth Copeland's 86th birthday. A few years ago, he said God wanted him to live to 120.

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

Nothing says you’re great to live next to like forcing your neighbor to give birth against her will.

This week in Atheist Bible Study? Numbers 31: Moses needs to make sure the Midianites are destroyed. In a book full of gruesome, unjustifiable cruelty, this is one of the worst.

I spoke with my co-host Jessica Greiff about many of the stories in this newsletter during this week’s podcast:

Finally, congratulations to Sen. Raphael Warnock for his runoff victory. The Christian defeated Christian Nationalism.

Hemant Mehta @hemantmehta

I've never seen this many atheists in my timeline rooting for a reverend. #GArunoff

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