Ok, here's the deal, folks; before you read this article, I have to warn you that you're not going to like reading some of the details of this story. I've written a lot about male genital mutilation (colloquially known as 'circumcision') in the past, but for some reason, this one story sent visuals in my head that I can't shake off. So, you've officially been warned. The story begins in Manchester, where a ...

Jake: Today I have a very special guest, someone who is going to join me to talk about the problem of child witches in Africa as well as the conflation of religion and superstition in that region. I wanted to ask someone who has had their feet on the ground here, because, you know, I am an isolated blogger and I want to make sure that I am not just saying false information and with this in mind, I invited L ...

This week, Leo Igwe joins me as we tackle the problem of child witches and superstition in Africa. Leo is a former representative of the International Humanist and Ethical Union, and a founding member of the Nigerian Humanist Movement. ...

In our brave new world, multicultural and diverse as it is, our moral sensibilities can often be rattled by the brutishness and ignorance of many cultural traditions that make their way to our shores. As some of you reading this blog may remember, my heart bleeds for the way African children are tortured due to a dangerous mix of new and ancient religious superstitions. The Christian crusade to possess Afri ...

I've written countless articles denouncing these Christian preachers in Nigeria for accusing innocent children of witchcraft; it's one of the few times I've taken a subject so seriously. It isn't only because of the images of these poor children -victims of a toxic mix of ancient superstition and organized religion - are seared into my brain. No, my passion comes mainly from the fact that this issue has bee ...

Untitled from Giant Midget on Vimeo. Yes, I realize that "religion" and"scam" are synonymous, but these kinds of evangelical preachers are a special breed. Maybe it's the way they relish luxury while the poor continue to dump their money into his giant garbage-bins. Either way, when this bullshit gets exported to Nigeria, it takes on a whole life of its own. Check out scumbag "Dr." Sign Fireman and his litt ...

Nigeria is currently the battleground between Christianity and Islam. Since last year, over 2000 people have died fighting. Despite communities trying to sign various peace treaties with one another, every once in a while they just start attacking one another again. It's a perfect example of the kind of division and strife that mutually incompatible beliefs cause. The latest incident involves 18 Christians ...

If you're a Muslim and you find the idea of child brides offensive, how do you respond to Senator Yerima's claim since Mohammed married a 9 year old (Aisha), this justifies his recent "marriage" to a 13 year old girl? Muslims believe their prophet led a blameless life, and if the Koran is really supposed to be a guide for how to live one's life, then he isn't wrong in his assertion. This is precisely the pr ...

So, according to this guy, atheists are a plague; a bunch of unimaginative accountants of rationalism, unable to appreciate the beauty of a Picasso because we have yet to surrender our reason to dogma. Likewise, the audience that Greg Craven tries to appeal to (disgruntled Catholics who feel attacked by "new atheists") believe every single nonbeliever is a crusty curmudgeon hell bent on ruining everyone's " ...

Pope Benedict XVI is on a mission; he's decided to tour Europe to fight what he's dubbed "atheist ideology" and "hedonistic consumerism" (this from the same man who quite literally eats off gold plate in a gigantic palace). His first stop is the European capital of unbelief: the Czech Republic. According to the latest polls, only about 19% of the population claims to believe in God, and those figures keep d ...