Hemant Mehta

[[File:Hemant Mehta at Skepticon 7.jpg|thumb|right|165px|Hemant Mehta in 2014]]{{atheism|1}}
{{cquote|Ridiculing the Bible is not my life's mission. It's just something I do when I'm awake.|||Mehta<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AA_UWvus8QY This preacher delivered a sermon all about how horrible I am]</ref>}}
'''Hemant Mehta''' is an [[American]] [[atheist]] activist, blogger, and [[author]]. He's known for selling his soul on eBay, eating babies,<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/category/babies/ Mmmm, tasty babies...] (A running joke, based on the claim that atheists are prone to over-the-top villainy, such as eating babies.)</ref> and not being an asshole to believers. Mehta was a math teacher but is now a full-time atheist activist. If you are looking for a popular atheist [[YouTube]]r, his channels "The Atheist Voice"<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/user/TheAtheistVoice The Atheist Voice] on YouTube</ref> and "Friendly Atheist"<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/@FriendlyAtheist1 Friendly Atheist] on YouTube</ref> may be far better alternatives to [[TheAmazingAtheist|that other guy]].
 
==The ''Friendly Atheist''==
Hemant Mehta's blog, ''Friendly Atheist'', is currently hosted on [[Patheos]].  Mehta features issues like [[separation of church and state]],<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/11/30/senator-orrin-hatch-the-wall-of-separation-between-church-and-state-must-come-down/ Senator Orrin Hatch: The Wall of Separation Between Church and State Must Come Down] [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/02/05/colorado-school-says-no-to-personalized-messages-on-nameplates-after-donor-requests-bible-verses/ Colorado School Says No to Personalized Messages on Nameplates After Donor Requests Bible Verses] [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/11/12/catholic-militant-says-churchstate-separation-is-a-bad-idea/ Catholic “Militant” Says Church/State Separation is a Bad Idea]</ref> [[LGBT rights|gay rights]],<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/02/08/christians-protest-tennessee-high-schools-gay-straight-alliance-group-comparing-it-to-isis/ Christians Protest Tennessee High School’s Gay-Straight Alliance Group, Comparing It to ISIS]</ref> <ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/02/08/this-valentines-day-ad-will-drive-christian-conservatives-crazy/ This Valentine’s Day Ad Will Drive Christian Conservatives Crazy]</ref> the use of religion to explain the origin of the [[universe]],<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/02/07/what-caused-the-big-bang/ What Caused the Big Bang?]</ref> the non-existence of the [[soul]],<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/01/06/its-time-to-abandon-the-irrational-concept-of-a-soul/ It’s Time to Abandon the Irrational Concept of a Soul]</ref> [[Santa Claus]],<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/01/14/heres-how-my-5-year-old-daughter-discovered-the-truth-about-santa/ Here’s How My 5-Year-Old Daughter Discovered the Truth About Santa] [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/12/27/this-kid-stumped-santa-with-a-question-about-immortality/ This Kid Stumped Santa with a Question About Immortality]</ref> and the many problems [[Christianity]] has.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2014/08/26/40-problems-with-christianity/ 40 Problems with Christianity]</ref>

While the ''Friendly Atheist'' is primarily Mehta's blog, he has a number of [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/about-the-contributors/ co-bloggers], and he also accepts [http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/submissions/ submissions].

==Women's issues==
Mehta took up the case of a pastor's wife who was treated unsympathetically by a group of Christians after she filed for separation from her husband citing physical, spiritual and emotional abuse.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/02/03/after-detained-pastors-release-from-iran-his-wife-is-under-fire-for-alleging-domestic-violence/ After Detained Pastor’s Release from Iran, His Wife is Under Fire for Alleging Domestic Violence]</ref> Mehta also criticised Christians who oppose [[abortion]] rights,<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2015/11/02/christian-pastor-a-woman-doesnt-have-a-right-over-her-own-body-because-god-owns-it/ Christian Pastor: A Woman Doesn’t Have a “Right Over Her Own Body” Because God Owns It]</ref> described how anti-abortion activists who tried to undermine [[Planned Parenthood]] broke the law,<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/02/04/christian-leader-anti-abortion-activists-should-be-cleared-of-crimes-as-prosecution-is-persecution/ Christian Leader: Anti-Abortion Activists Should Be Cleared of Crimes as Prosecution is Persecution]</ref> and has opposed proposed [[Illinois]] legislation that would deny financial support for mothers of children who cannot name the father in a birth certificate.<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/02/23/proposed-illinois-law-would-deny-support-from-mothers-who-dont-list-father-on-birth-certificate/ Proposed Illinois Law Would Deny Support from Mothers Who Don’t List Father on Birth Certificate]</ref>

Mehta acknowledges that many Christians recognize the [[Biblical sexism|sexism]] inherent in biblical stories about [[God]].<ref>[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/2016/02/06/as-long-as-we-all-agree-about-that-aspect-of-god/ As Long As We All Agree About That Aspect of God]</ref>

==Books==
Mehta has written several books. He gained a degree of prominence following the events described in ''I Sold My Soul on eBay'' (2007, ISBN 978-1400073474). 

''The Young Atheist's Survival Guide: Helping Secular Students Thrive'' (2012, ISBN 978-1939221070) is intended to help students cope with the social consequences of coming out as atheists and stand up to teachers and administrators trying to inject religion in public schools.

==External links==
*[http://www.patheos.com/blogs/friendlyatheist/ The Friendly Atheist].
*[https://onlysky.media/hemant-mehta/ Mehta's OnlySky where he posts nowadays]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mehta, Hemant}}

[[Category:Apologists and counter-apologists]]
[[Category:Atheists]]
[[Category:Authors]]
[[Category:Bloggers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:YouTube]]

Categories: Apologists and counter-apologists, Atheists, Authors, Bloggers, Living people, YouTube