Texas Education Board Urges Senate to Reject Voucher Scheme

Written by Don Byrd
Texas’ State Board of Education voted 10-5 Friday urging the Senate to oppose any variety of school voucher legislation. Senate Bill 23, which passed the Senate Education Committee, would provide tax credits to businesses that provide money to low-income students to attend private or religious schools.

Is Yoga Religious Exercise? Yes and No

Written by Don Byrd
You may have heard, the yoga wars are heating up. A lawsuit filed in California is challenging a school district’s use of yoga in the physical education curriculum, arguing that it improperly promotes a religious view. Meanwhile, the White House is taking criticism for its encouragement of yoga as a means of promoting health.

Rapid City Says the Best Policy is No Policy At All

Written by Don Byrd
In February, Rapid City, South Dakota sought the advice of its attorney regarding its invocation practice, following a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation. The attorney offered a set of options that included some sound advice: craft a non-sectarian, inclusive policy, and consider moving the prayer so that it occurs before the meeting, rather than as an official part of the meeting. So how did the Council respond?

Activists in Egypt Protest Religious ID

Written by Don Byrd
Following continued violent attacks on Coptic Christians in Egypt, and the debate over religious freedom in the new constitution, many activist Egyptians have begun creative campaign of protest. In the space their national ID cards provide to indicate religion, they are inserting anything but.

Ugly Responses to Boston Tragedy Target Muslims

Written by Don Byrd
I suppose it’s too much to ask that we make it through 24 hours of national grieving over the Boston Marathon bombing before Pat Robertson couldn’t resist suggesting religion was behind the attack.