August 1, 2008 | 2:26 pm

Atheist ‘coming out party’

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

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For years now, atheists have been building up their lobbying and PR efforts and talking about getting other non-believers to “come out of the closet.” With the popularity of The New Atheists—forget New York Times bestsellers, they’ve been featured on the cover of Wired—there clearly is a coalescing force making it socially easier to be an atheist. Tomorrow, FaithWorld reports, American Atheists will hold a “coming out party” in Westerville, Ohio. (Coincidentially, is home to the Religion Newswriters Association.) The event will include a de-baptism ceremony.

August 1, 2008 | 8:06 am

The making of Heeb’s Jewish swimsuit issue

Posted by Brad A. Greenberg

Since the latest issue of Heeb came out this month, a popular story in the Jewish blogosphere— yes, we control even the free media—has been the first ever Jewish swimsuit issue.

“Why Zionism has succeeded,” Jeffrey Goldberg quipped.

Remarkable for its humor—Donna Feldman reading “Portnoy’s Complaint,” Esti Ginsburg holding a fishing rod with lox on the end—the quality of the photos and the caliber of the models, Heeb’s swimsuit issue was much better than Sports Illustrated’s shtetl edition.

I tried to remain above the fray and had avoided blogging about the buxom ‘Brews. But that was before publisher Joshua Neuman recounted how he and guest editor Brett Ratner conceived of and completed the swimsuit issue. His recollection, and Feldman, are after the jump:

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