Freethought-Now

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has been busy this week protecting students from religious coercion, pushing back against government-sponsored Christianity and keeping the spotlight on Christian nationalism’s latest attempts to rewrite both history and the law.

We’ve also got new episodes, fresh media coverage, a secularist rock star and reminders about two ways to stay engaged this summer and fall.

FFRF stops missionaries and Gideons in Michigan schools

FFRF has persuaded Michigan’s Fremont Public Schools to end two unconstitutional religious practices after learning that Christian missionaries were recruiting students during lunch and that Gideons International planned to distribute bibles on campus.

FFRF reminded the district that public schools may not offer religious organizations special access to students during the school day to proselytize, recruit or distribute religious materials.

The district responded appropriately, confirming that the missionaries are no longer permitted at lunch and that the Gideons bible distribution would not take place.

The Detroit News also covered the victory in “Michigan school no longer allows missionaries at lunch after complaint,” by Jennifer Pignolet.

FFRF ends Christian journaling requirement for student-athletes

FFRF also scored a victory for California student-athletes after a public high school basketball coach required players to complete Christian journal assignments or face extra conditioning during practice.

A district parent reported that the Enterprise High School basketball coach in the Shasta Union High School District was forcing students to complete daily affirmations and prayers in faith-based journals during the 2026 basketball season. The journals featured a Latin cross on the cover and were titled “The Empowered Christian Athlete Journal.”

Students who did not complete the religious assignments were reportedly punished with additional conditioning, including extra laps during practice.

FFRF reminded the district that public school coaches may not impose religious assignments on students or punish those who refuse to participate. The district has now ended the practice!
 

Media keeps watching FFRF’s work

Our legal and advocacy efforts continue to generate coverage across the country. In addition to The Detroit News, we were mentioned in several stories about current affronts via Christian nationalism.

In Alabama, the Calhoun Journal covered the ongoing Auburn baseball controversy in “Marshall Defends Auburn Baseball Players’ Right to Pray, Challenges FFRF Demands,” by Lee Evancho, which mentions the letter we recently sent.

In Maine, the Portland Press Herald published Ray Vensel’s opinion piece, “Trump ‘report’ on religion must be revealed for what it is,” citing FFRF.

In “USDA Serves Up Rightwing Christian Worship Services,” Brian Kaylor notes FFRF’s call for the U.S. Department of Agriculture to quit using official government communications and resources to promote religion, after receiving new complaints from USDA employees documenting an ongoing pattern of unconstitutional messaging.

And Arkansas’ much-touted “religious liberty” ranking drew scrutiny from multiple outlets. Hemant Mehta wrote in Friendly Atheist that Arkansas had won a fake “religious liberty” contest and that Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders wants praise for it. In Rogers, Ark., 40/29 News reported on the ranking and mentioned Huckabee’s response to FFRF: “Instead, they said we should celebrate with broadly observed secular aspects,” Sanders said. “Let me be clear, I think that’s crazy.” The Wild Hunt also reported her remarks about us.

That is the point: “Religious liberty” does not mean government favoritism toward conservative Christianity. Real religious liberty protects everyone — believers, dissenters and nonbelievers alike.

‘Secular Spotlight’ looks at the First Amendment’s religion clauses

The First Amendment’s religion clauses remain at the center of some of today’s biggest constitutional debates.

On the latest episode of “Secular Spotlight,” Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Jack Rakove explains the history behind the Establishment and Free Exercise clauses, what the Founders intended and how the Supreme Court’s modern approach is reshaping church/state separation.

FFRF Senior Policy Counsel Ryan Jayne and Legal Intern Paul Fuller host the episode.

Freethought Radio debunks astrology

On the July 16 episode of “Freethought Radio,” science journalist Carlos Orsi explains why decades of scientific research have found no evidence that astrology can predict personality or life events.

Orsi explores why horoscopes feel so accurate, the psychology behind belief in astrology and how to test the validity of an astrologer.

Watch “Why Astrology Feels So Real (Even Though It Isn’t)” on FFRF’s YouTube channel.

Dan and Darcie celebrate Yip Harburg

The Great American Freethought Songbook monthly series continued with a tribute to Yip Harburg, one of most  irrverent of the nonreligious songwriters who helped shape the classic American songbook.

FFRF Co-President Dan Barker on piano and vocalist Darcie Johnston on vocals perform memorable music by Harburg, the lyricist behind such classics as “Over the Rainbow,” while exploring the freethinking views that animated his work.

Watch “The Great American Freethought Songbook: Yip Harburg” on FFRF’s YouTube channel.

‘We Dissent’ tackles Rededicate 250 and the “Anti-Christian Bias” task force

On Episode 55 of “We Dissent,” FFRF Deputy Legal Director Liz Cavell, Americans United for Separation of Church and State Legal Director Rebecca Markert and National Women’s Law Center Director of Nominations & Democracy Alison Gill dig into how the Trump administration is using America’s 250th birthday to rewrite the past and the present.

The hosts discuss how the administration hijacked the nation’s planned bipartisan 250th anniversary celebration and turned it into a taxpayer-funded Christian nationalist prayer revival.

They also examine the report issued by the “Taskforce to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias,” one of several task forces created by the administration to manufacture a “Christian persecution” narrative to privilege conservative Christianity under the law.

Jack White is FFRF Action Fund’s ‘Secularist of the Week’

The FFRF Action Fund, FFRF’s advocacy affiliate, is saluting musician Jack White as its “Secularist of the Week” for standing up for artistic freedom after a satanic doo-wop duo was removed from opening gigs because of its imagery.

White’s response cut through the manufactured fear around satanic symbolism and defended the right of artists to challenge religious taboos.

Tony Perkins is FFRF Action Fund’s ‘Theocrat of the Week’

The FFRF Action Fund has named Family Research Council President Tony Perkins its “Theocrat of the Week” for promoting the idea that “God’s word” should guide government policy.

Perkins’ bible-based “God & Government” course frames civic engagement through a Christian nationalist lens, urging believers to bring “God’s truth” into politics. That is not religious liberty — it is a blueprint for theocracy.

See Percival Everett at FFRF’s national convention

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Percival Everett will speak and receive FFRF’s “Emperor Has No Clothes” Award at this year’s national convention.

Everett, an atheist, is the author of “James,” his acclaimed reimagining of “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” from Jim’s point of view.

FFRF’s 49th Annual National Convention takes place Oct. 15-18 in Milwaukee. Student tickets are available for just $25.
Register now.

Join the FFRF Summer Reading Challenge

There is still time to join FFRF’s Summer Reading Challenge.

Complete four adjacent spaces — across, down or diagonally — on the reading challenge card, then submit your card by direct message on Instagram or Facebook, or tag FFRF and use #FFRFSummerReading in a public post.

Entries are due by Friday, Sept. 18, and participants will be entered in a raffle to win one of three FFRF merchandise bundles.

Whether you are reading a banned book, a nonreligious memoir, a science-related book, a religious satire or a book by an FFRF convention speaker, it is a great way to make the most of the summer.

FFRF’s work continues because members and supporters make it possible. Thank you for helping us defend the constitutional separation between state and church — in schools, in government and in the public square.

The post Weekly Wrap: Missionaries, Christian journaling, Jack White and a Christian nationalist birthday bash appeared first on Freethought Now.