Saturday, October 17, 2009

AANEWS for Monday, October 5, 2009

A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
A A N E W S
#1281 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 10/05/09
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org
http://www.atheistviewpoint.tv
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS, a nationwide movement that defends
civil rights for non-believers; works for the total separation of
Church and State; and addresses issues of First Amendment public
policy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"ATHEIST is really a thoroughly honest, unambiguous term, it admits
of no paltering and no evasion, and the need of the world, now as
ever, is for clear-cut issues and unambiguous speech."
-- Chapman Cohen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Issue...
* The Other Side of Blasphemy
* Worth Noting -- An Atheist Christmas, Travolta done with
Scientology?
* Dave's blog
* Resources
* About this list...
THE OTHER SIDE OF "BLASPHEMY" -- WHY ATHEISTS NEED TO DEFEND
FREE SPEECH FOR THE RELIGIOUS, THE IDIOTIC, THE EXTREME --
AND OURSELVES
Regular readers of AANEWS will likely recognize the names of Ray
Comfort and Benny Hinn.
Mr. Comfort is a professional evangelist and minister with a
penchant for debating Atheists and other non-believers. He was
ostensibly raised without religious beliefs, and once declared, "I
went through life without any Christian instruction at all. I went
to church about three times in about twenty years. I hated it.
I found it was an insult top my,your intellect."
Not for long, however. After "finding Jesus," he became a preacher
in his hometown of Christchurch, New Zealand, and embraced an
aggressive proselytizing style he describes as "Biblical Evangelism."
He teamed up former child actor and adolescent heart throb Kirk
Cameron -- a self-proclaimed former Atheist -- to launch and
international ministry which since 2002 has increasingly focused
on proselytizing and converting Atheists, Freethinkers and other
religious skeptics. Indeed, Mr. Comfort was a guest speaker at
the 2001 National Convention of American Atheists in Orlando,
Florida where he debated then-National Spokesperson Ron Barrier.
Comfort and Cameron are also regular headline grabbers for their
latest project which involves distribution of anti-evolution
materials on select college campuses next month during the 150th
anniversary of Charles Darwin's opus, "The Origin of Species."
Mr. Hinn is an even more colorful character, a swashbuckling
televangelist, faith-healer and showman who operates a number of
international outreach programs under the banner of "World Healing
Center Church, Inc." and Benny Hinn Ministries. His daily half-hour
television program, "This is Your Day" reaches over 100 countries,
According to an investigation by the NBC program "Dateline," Mr. Hinn
has not provided credible information attesting to the efficacy
of his faith-healing performances; but reporters did confirm that
Hinn resides in a $10 million "parsonage," and has a disposition
for staying in $10,000-per-night hotel suites during "layover" in
his ministry travels. Hinn's labyrinth of international companies
and the protection afforded to religious corporate entities make it
difficult if not impossible to accurately ascertain just how much
money he is taking in from credulous followers -- but it must be
substantial in order to support his high-profile lifestyle.
We mention Ray Comfort and Benny Hinn because they are not only
regular newsmakers but are also part of the contentious and growing
debate over "blasphemy" and freedom of speech.
With Atheist and other nonbeliever organizations prospering,
Mr. Comfort's bombastic claims about the evils of questioning
the existence of God and the doctrines of religion seem be having
little impact. Secularism is on the rise, and the percentage of
Americans who identify themselves has having no religious beliefs
is growing. Even so, some of our comrades in the struggle for
Reason and secularism are succumbing to the temptation to use
the legal system to circumscribe religious speech, insisting that
criticism -- or outright insult directed at Atheists -- is a form of
"hate speech." One recent example is the threat by a Texas-based
Atheist to sue Mr. Comfort and his ministry for distributing an
unflattering bumper sticker. (The full background can be found in
the links listed below).
As for the flamboyant Mr. Hinn, he is back in the headlines after
being refused entry into Great Britain under laws designed to contain
religious extremism. Thousands of Mr. Hinn's contributors --eh,
make that supporters -- who had flocked to London to take in Hinn's
colorful performance were disappointed according to the Telegraph
newspaper. Hinn was reportedly turned away by border officials
because he failed to produce documents of "sponsorship" by his
church. That explanation, however, ignores the fact that Hinn and his
traveling miracle fest have stumped the British countryside before.
"He's been coming here for years and years," groused one follower.
"I think it is very unfair that they have blocked him now."
Indeed, the action taken against Mr. Hinn is unfair. British
authorities have little to say about the matter; but this incident
suggests that the government remains nervous about the possibility
of religious tensions in a nation where the "official" Church of
England has lost its privileged position, and Islam -- thanks to
mass immigration -- is on the rise. If separationists take the
position that church, mosque and temple must not mingle in the
affairs in the state, the state must not mingle in theirs.
And why exclude Benny Hinn? His sideshow and outrageous claims
pale in comparison to that presented by the Pope Benedict and his
predecessors. Were a mainstream Protestant or Mullah from outside
the country, or the Dali Lama, to seek entry they would likely
be welcomed with open arms. Why pick on Hinn? Are his effusive
claims any less reasonable than those made by mainstream faiths?
Critics of religion, in fact, should welcome Hinn. He is a
useful foil in pointing to the "dark side" of religious passions.
Incursions by American and other evangelicals have failed to reverse
the growing secularization in Britain and throughout most of Europe.
Finally, banning Hinn or other controversial religious figures
simply fuels the credence of fundamentalist groups who might point
to the action of the government and claim that the state has become
"hostile" to religious freedoms and sensibilities.
A similar situation arises when Atheist and other nonbelievers
turn to the government to squelch religious claims and opinions.
In the Texas case, an Atheist argued that materials from Ray
Comfort's ministry were "hateful." They may be; but the First
Amendment protects such remarks, and courts place limit on speech
only under very specific cases such as "fighting words," libel and
slander. Religious groups continue their shrill clamor insisting
that governments enforce or create blasphemy statutes, such as
the recent Durban II international conference where Islamists
backed a wide range of restriction on remarks that criticized or
mocked their beliefs. Should the Freethought movement mimic these
intolerant demands?
Resorting to courts in the hope that anti-Atheist remarks can
be punished and banned makes us look as if we are defending
"just another religion." It undermines our claim that Reason and
free expression are the most efficacious antidotes to religious
dogmatism. Heading to court or hoping that, we too, can hide
behind restrictions on civil liberties makes us look as intolerant
as religious authoritarians.
Traditionally, Atheists have been in the forefront in the struggle to
defend freedom of thought and freedom of express. Charles Bradlaugh,
for instance, was founder of Britain's National Secular Society,
and led the fight to abolish the religious test for newly-elected
lawmakers in Parliament. In America, Freethinkers like C.B. Reynolds
spearheaded the effort to abolish arcane blasphemy laws which had
lingered on the law books for decades. That effort was part of a
legacy on behalf of freedom of expression which, in 1952, saw the
Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) strike down restrictions
on movies which purportedly had "sacrilegious content." These same
battles continue today in a different forms as nation states flirt
with new versions of blasphemy and censorship statues, or the UN
takes up the matter of giving religious beliefs special protections.
Atheists need to be in this fight. We also need to stake out and
defend a principled position which opposes government restrictions
on legitimate free speech. We have, too often, been the victims
of such legislative experiments, along with minority religions and
theological dissidents. The true alternative to "hate speech" and
"hurtful" remarks clearly remains more (not less) spirited discourse.
-- Conrad Goeringer
Editor, AANEWS
Web links used in this article:
<http://raycomfortfood.blogspot.com/2009/09/we-may-have-to-shut-down-atheist.html>
"We may have to shut down Atheist Central"
Details about threatened legal action against Ray Comfort
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ucHIPag-m40
Atheist threatens to sue Ray Comfort over bumper sticker An
articulate response on a proposal to sue on account of alleged
religious "hate speech"
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/6257116/Christian-preacher-refused-entry-to-Britain-under-rules-intended-to-fight-extremism.html>
Christian preacher refused entry to Britain under rules intended
to fight extremism Christian evangelist Benny Hinn, from Texas,
has been refused entry to Britain after falling foul of new rules
drawn up to combat hate crimes and extremism.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Benny_Hinn
Wikipedia background on Benny Hinn
**
WORTH NOTING --
<http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-09-27/travoltas-scientology-turning-point/?cid=hp:beastoriginalsL3>
Travolta's Scientology Turning Point? The actor's public
acknowledgement that his son, who died in January, was autistic has
former Scientologists convinced that he will leave the church-which
they say has little tolerance for chronic conditions.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/sep/29/atheist-guide-christmas-religionAtheism>s open-door policy On Friday, Cif belief editor Andrew
Brown wrote, "It is entirely possible that Ariane Sherine's book
on enjoying an atheist Christmas will sell this Christmas; but come
the new year, it won't be found on the bookshelf in the toilet but
in lavatories nicely warmed by Agas." His assertion is that atheists
(or "new atheists", as he confusingly calls us - are we the ones who
refuse to stay quiet?) are "educated and professional" snobs, and
that we use our lack of belief as an excuse to look down on people
who are working class: "Obviously, it is no longer done to sneer at
the working classes for being idle, brutish, smelly, and breeding too
much. But it's perfectly OK to sneer at 'faith heads' for all these
things: that shows you're enlightened. It's pure coincidence that
the despicable believers are for the most part lower class as well."
<http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/09/28/four-winged-dino-clinches-the-case-for-bird-evolution/>
Four-Winged Dino Clinches the Case for Bird Evolution A feathered
dinosaur unearthed in a Chinese quarry has added another solid piece
of evidence to the theory that birds descended from dinosaurs. The
newly uncovered fossil of the species Anchiornis huxleyi dates from
the Late Jurassic period, 151-161 million years ago, and therefore
predates the earliest known bird, the Archaeopteryx. Paleontologists
say this represents the final proof that dinosaurs were ancestral
to birds. "Drawing the tree of life, it's fairly obvious that
feathers arose before Archaeopteryx appears in the fossil record"
[BBC News], says paleontologist Michael Benton.
<http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2009/09/jesus-new-testament-atheist-atheism-bart-ehrman-cs-lewis/1>
Atheist reviewer takes on scholar's look at Jesus, Bible minusRusty
is a Faith & Reason regular who likes to stick a pin in conventional
views fairly often. So he's picked an author for the Book Club
who's well matched to his inquisitive ways.
http://wvgazette.com/News/200909290601
Coalition of atheists puts out call on billboard MORGANTOWN, W.Va. --
Members of Morgantown's recently formed Coalition of Reason have
a simple message: If you don't believe in God, you aren't alone.
<http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/09/30/oh-damn-blasphemy-day-looks-for-a-target/>
Oh, Damn! Blasphemy Day Looks for a Target Today, September 30,
is Blasphemy Day, and if that makes you want to curse, then the
Center for Inquiry may be the place to register your epithet -- or
send a donation. It all depends on your point of view, and whether
you want to complain about an atheist whose beliefs you can't stand
or denounce a divinity you don't believe in.
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/6247329/International-blasphemy-day-from-Danish-cartoons-to-Jerry-Springer---The-Opera.html>
International Blasphemy Day: from Danish cartoons to Jerry Springer
-The Opera International Blasphemy Day, 30 September, is intended
"to remind the world that religion should never again be beyond
open and honest discussion". It marks the anniversary of the 2005
publication of the 12 Danish cartoons that depicted Mohammed and
led to worldwide riots. Its founders want to "dismantle the wall
which exists between religion and criticism
<http://blogs.indystar.com/thoushalt/2009/09/a_struggle_for.html>
A struggle for the hearts and minds of "fundamentalist atheists"
Who knew there were "fundamentalist atheists?" In a rebuke of the
group he founded, Center for Inquiry Transnational creator Paul
Kurtz says in an essay that a blasphemy contest sponsored by CFI
"is not dissimilar to the anti-semitic cartoons of the Nazi era."
<http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/10/091001-oldest-human-skeleton-ardi-missing-link-chimps-ardipithecus-ramidus.html>
Oldest "Human" Skeleton Found--Disproves "Missing Link" Scientists
today announced the discovery of the oldest fossil skeleton of a
human ancestor. The find reveals that our forebears underwent a
previously unknown stage of evolution more than a million years
before Lucy, the iconic early human ancestor specimen that walked
the Earth 3.2 million years ago.
<http://www.newschannel9.com/news/says-985149-football-field.html>
Bible Verse Banner Banned From Football Games FORT OGLETHORPE, GA -
A Christian sign is banned from the football field and now hundreds
rally to voice their disapproval. For years Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe
cheerleaders have held a sign with a bible verse up before football
games. But now that has changed and fans, families, and people
of faith are not happy. "It's kind of angered all of us but it's
also upset us just because we work really hard, and we're trying
to encourage the football team, and the community and that's just
been taking away from us," Taylor Guinn, a L.F.O. cheerleader, says.
<http://www.freep.com/article/20091001/NEWS04/91001066/1001/NEWS/School-district-says-it-erred-in-allowing-church-permission-slips>
School district says it erred in allowing church permission slips
After complaints raised by a Muslim group, the school district in
Roseville said today it made a mistake when permission slips were
distributed to elementary school students that would allow them to
attend Bible classes in a Baptist church.
<http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/10/02/what-christians-and-muslims-can-learn-from-the-the-saint-and-th/>
What Christians and Muslims Can Learn From the 'The Saint and the
Sultan' Forget the St. Francis of folklore - or Giotto, for that
matter -- and make way for a chapter of history that longtime Newsday
religion writer Paul Moses says, "in the language of the newsroom
. . . was covered up.'' His new book, "The Saint and the Sultan,''
reveals a Francis so opposed to the Fifth Crusade that he crossed
enemy lines on a peace mission in 1219 - and walked unarmed into
the camp of the sultan of Egypt, Malik al-Kamil.
http://www.secularism.org.uk/114186.html
Is Ricky Gervais' new film really atheist propaganda? The new film
from NSS honorary associate Ricky Gervais, The Invention of Lying,
has been accused of being little more than atheist propaganda. The
film is set in a world where there is no lying, until the character
played by Ricky Gervais tells his dying mother that she will go to
heaven and be with the angels, thereby inventing religion. Before
that, because everyone told the total truth, religion could not
exist.
<http://www.newuniversity.org/2009/05/opinion/good_fences_make_good190/>
Good Fences Make Good Neighbors In an attempt to blur the lines
between church and state, 33 churches participated in a nationwide
event called "Pulpit Freedom Sunday" in September 2008, prior to the
historic November election. The goal of this event was to trigger a
legal fight and ultimately overturn regulations that prevent places
of worship from supporting or opposing candidates for office.
<http://www.ncregister.com/daily/president_obama_finds_greatest_support_among_atheists_and_jews>
President Obama Finds Greatest Support Among Atheists and Jews
Gallup's Daily Tracking for the month of September found that 65%
of American atheists, agnostics and non-religious approve of the
job Barack Obama is doing as president. The president finds his
greatest support from non-religious and American Jews.
<http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1217925/The-end-world-Watch-new-trailer-disaster-movie-2012.html>
2012, the end-of-the-world feature film that critics say is a
disaster all by itself. See the hilariously OTT trailer here The
world ravaged by fires, earthquakes, meteor showers and floods and
a heroic struggle for survivors. t sounds like something straight
out of Hollywood - and it is. This is the first glimpse of the
latest U.S. blockbuster, 2012. John Cusack leads an all-star cast,
featuring Danny Glover, Thandie Newton, Woody Harrelson, Chiwetel
Ejiofor and Amanda Peet struggling to stay alive when the Earth is
threatened with the biggest disaster man has ever known.
**
SILVERMAN BLOG SHAKING UP CYBERSPACE!
It is one of the fastest growing blogs in the
Atheist/Freethought/Secular Humanist community, and you can get in
on the discussion!
Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists is in
the Blogosphere at http://nogodblog.com. It's filled with insight,
wit, hot news, controversial opinion -- and polite, thoughtful
commentary. So join the conversation! Sign up (it's free) by
visiting http://www.atheists.org and click on the blog navigation
button, or go directly to http://nogodblog.com .
**
RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS
* For membership information about American Atheists, send
mail to info@. Kindly include your name and postal
mailing address. Ask for a free membership info packet. You may
also visit http://www.atheists.org and click on the "Membership"
navigation button.
* For a free catalogue of American Atheist Press books, videos and
other products, send mail to catalogue@. Kindly include
your name and postal mailing address, and request a copy of the
AAP catalogue. You may also shop directly at http://www.atheists.org
--click on the "Shopping" navigation button.
* Current members in good standing of American Atheists may sign up
for our free E-mail Discussion Group list, aachat. We have over 150
participants who discuss topics such as Atheism, religion, First
Amendment issues, creationism and much, much more. Contact the
Moderator, Ed Gauci through egauci@.
**
ABOUT THIS LIST...
AANEWS is a free service from American Atheists, a nationwide
movement founded by Madalyn Murray O'Hair that defends the civil
rights of nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church
and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.
You may forward, post or quote from this dispatch provided
that appropriate credit is given to both AANEWS and American
Atheists. Please do not post complete editions of this
newsletter indiscriminately to news groups, boards or other
outlets. Edited by Conrad F. Goeringer (cg@). The
Internet Representative for American Atheists is Larry Mundinger
(lmundinger@). The President of American Atheists is
Ed Buckner (ebuckner@).
----------------------------------------------------------------------

American Atheists, PO Box 158, Cranford, NJ 07016

CFI Indiana October 2009 Schedule

 PROGRAM SCHEDULE
October  2009
Join us for CFI Indiana activities and other interesting
events around Indianapolis!
(To view or print these events in a calendar format, please visit our website.)







Job Board—In these times of recession, we have many people out of work.  We now have a “Job Board” at CFI Indiana.  If you are looking for a job, check the board.  If you know of jobs, please bring information about them them to the center or send them to me to post.  You may also post your qualifications and the description of the job you are looking for.
Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) is an alternative to Alcholics Anonymous (AA)   If you are interested in being a part of a local SOS group, email indysos@

Special Events – Mark your Calendar!



National Coming Out DaySunday, October 11, 6:00 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana.  Topic:   PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays). CFI Indiana Friend of the Center.  Jeff Jones is the speaker.
Richard Dawkins at IU BloomingtonMonday, October 12,  IU Auditorium, 7:00 pm.  Admission is free.  There are no tickets.  Just go and stand in line for general seating.  Secular Alliance of Indiana University (SAIU) is one of the organizers.
Debate: You Can Be Good Without God—Monday, October 19th, 7:00 p.m. in Woodburn 100 on the Indiana University Bloomington campus.   Debate on the slogan currently on Bloomington Transit buses "You can be good without God" between Dan Waugh, Pastor of Adult Ministries at the Evangelical Community Church in Bloomington and Dan Barker, Co-President of the Freedom from Religion Foundation. Secular Alliance of Indiana University (SAIU) is one of the sponsors.
Sunday, November 8Spirit and Place event, "Inspiring Places--Magnificent Victory Monument for Rational Outlook on Life--Das Deutsches House/Athenaeum,"   2:00 pm, Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan, Indianapolis.


Regular Events 

Science Movie—Sunday, October 4, 6:00 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis.  Movie: Planet Earth: Fresh Water
CFI Kids—Sunday,  Oct. 11, 3:00 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis.  CFI Kids is for children and their parents.  Topic: Decomposition. At least one parent must participate in the meeting with the child.  Please contact Joe Oliver at joe.jr317@  or call 000-000-0000 for more information.   
Mommymoon—Wednesday, October 14, 11:00 am. Meet us in the kid's area of the downtown Central Library, 40 East St. Clair St., Indianapolis.  Don't forget the kids and a light snack! More information.
Secular Family Network Pitch-In Lunch—Saturday, October 17 at 12:00 noon at Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk Suite A.   Bring your family and food to share.
CFI Friends and Family Party @ Michele's in Fishers (Hamilton County)—Saturday, October 17, 7:00 pm.  You must RSVP to shaw.michele1@ by Wednesday, October 14 directions and so that she can have enough food for dinner.  Bring your own beverage and a lawn chair. 
Scientific Examination of Religion—Sunday, October 18, 6:00 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis. Topic:  Science, Islam and the Qu'ran.  Sean O'Brien is the leader of this group.
Indy Atheist Meetup—Monday, October  19, 7:00 pm. at Moe and Johnny’s, 5380 North College, Indianapolis.  Open discussion. Anyone is welcome.  www.indyatheists.org
Café Inquiry—Thursday, October 22, 6:30 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis.  Dr. May Khanna, Visiting Assistant Research Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at the IU School of Medicine, will be leading a discussion about the origin of life--“RNA: Darwin's favorite molecule (had he known about it!)”  Andrew Olson is the coordinator of this group.
Film and Discussion on Education—Friday, October 23, 7:00 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis.  Film: Two Million Minutes.  Michele Shaw is the discussion leader.
CFI Kids—Sunday, October 25, 3:00 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis.  Topic: Worms. CFI Kids is for children and their parents.  At least one parent must participate in the meeting with the child.  Please contact Joe Oliver at joe.jr317@  or call 000-000-0000 for more information.
Tom Flynn, "Robert Ingersoll: The Most Remarkable American Most People Never Heard Of,"  Sunday, October 24, 4:00 pm, Hamilton 16 Theatre, 13825 Norell Road, Noblesville, IN (near I-69/Olio Road/141st Street).  Read Reba's blog.
Humanist Speakers—Tuesday, October 27, 7:00 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk,  Suite A, Indianapolis.  Practice your public speaking skills in a relaxed environment.   Mike Middleton is the leader of this group.
Mommymoon—Wednesday, October 28, 6 pm for a Harvest Party!  Meet us in the kid's area of the downtown Central Library 40 East St. Clair St., Indianapolis. More information.
Book Discussion—Thursday, October 29, 7:00 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis.  The Age of Empathy – Nature’s Lessons For a Kinder Society, by Frans de Waal.   Steve Duerr is the discussion leader.
Film and Discussion on Health Care—Friday, October 30, 7:00 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis.  Film: Sick Around America: Investigating the National Debate on Healthcare Reform. 


Weekly Events

Coffee and Conversation—every Sunday, 10:00 am to noon at Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis, IN.  Unstructured conversation and socializing.
English as a New Languageevery Saturday at Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis, IN.  This is for anyone from any language background who wants to learn and improve their English speaking skills.  No charge.
Secular Family Network Playgroup—will not meet in October due to many conflicts with preschools, etc.  Please contact Andi Pierce at apierce@  (Please note new email address.) and let her know what days/times would work best for you in the future.  

Other Progrms of Interest

Butler University: Woods LectureMonday, October 5, 7:30 pm, Atherton Union Reilly Room, 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis.  The Philosophical Baby: What Children's Minds Tell Us About Truth, Love and the Meaning of Life.
The International Interfaith Initiative Fall ConferenceOctober 8-9, Indiana War Memorial, 431 North Meridian St. Indianapolis.  The theme of the conference is “The Confluence of Religion and Politics” and features a keynote conversation by Honorable Lee Hamilton and Reverend Richard Hamilton.  
Butler Religion Seminar— Tuesday, October 20, 7:00 pm, Clowes Hall, Butler University, 4600 Sunset Avenue, Indianapolis. The Piety and Poetry of Jerusalem.


Freethought Discussion Groups in Other Indiana Cities

CFI Indiana Hamilton County Meetupmeets every other Sunday at 10:00 am. Check webste for location.  For more information call Ryan at 000-000-0000.
Bloomington Atheist Happy Hour—first Friday of every month 5:30-6:30 pm at The Dunn Inn, 208 South Dunn (between 3rd and 4th), Bloomington, IN. 

Freethinkers of Montgomery County (Sponsored by CFI Indiana)—Meet every first and third Thursday, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, Crawfordsville Public Library Basement. 
Lafayette Freethinkers (Sponsored by CFI Indiana)—Meet every second Thursday of the month from 6:30-8:00 pm at the UU Church, Room 106 in West Lafayette and on the fourth Thursday at the PRIDE Community Center in Lafayette.  
Freethought Muncie-New Castle (A CFI Indiana Discussion Group)—For information about this group and also the Ball State student group email Robert Pinger at pinger@.
Freethought Fort Wayne (A CFI Indiana Discussion Group)Check out the latest Enlightenment Show which is produced by local Fort Wayne Freethinkers.  Contact Andy Diekroger at freethoughtfw@ for more information.
Richmond Area Free Thinkers Society.  Contact: Aaron Hill at contact@ for more information. 
Michiana Skeptics—contact Elizabeth Brown, indimenticabile1@ 
CUFREE (Champaign Urbana Freethinkers)
Louisville Atheist Meetup

Freethought Groups on Indiana College Campuses

IUPUI FreethinkersEmail free@ for information and meeting times. 
IU/Bloomington-- For more information, email secular@.
Earlham College, RichmondFor more information, email free@ 
Ball State UniversityFor information email Robert Pinger at pinger@.
Purdue University/Lafayette-- Purdue NonTheists

For more information about these programs and more and to sign up to receive a full CFI Indiana newsletter, email indy@ or call 000-000-0000.
 

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Thursday, October 15, 2009

Keyword News: [atheism]

Yahoo! Alerts
Thursday, October 01, 2009 2:21 PM PDT

Review | The Invention of Lying (PG-13) ***
Miami Herald Thu, 01 Oct 2009 10:36 AM PDT
The new film from Ricky The Office Gervais may well be the most subtle subversive comedy of the year. It's not disturbingly crude like, say, Sacha Baron Cohen's over-the-top Brüno. But it may well be the first mainstream atheism-based feature film, and its amusing premise -- that lying is not always a bad thing because falsehoods provide hope -- is a new twist on the familiar I-can-only-tell-the ...




Sunday, October 04, 2009

Keyword News: [atheism]

Yahoo! Alerts
Sunday, October 04, 2009 2:21 PM PDT

Local News
u.tv Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:02 PM PDT
Ariane Sherine: I was due to go on the radio to discuss atheism when the spasms hit. Could it â€" hic â€" be Him?






See more news stories that match my keyword





Saturday, October 03, 2009

Urge Your Senators: Stop Obstructing Judicial and Executive Nominations!


Our Constitutional Values

Dear John
The Center for Inquiry asks you to contact your senators to eliminate the troubling backlog of judicial and executive branch nominees that exists to date in the 111th Congress and to end obstruction of Judicial and Executive confirmations including those of Dawn Johnsen and Thomas Perez as Assistant Attorney Generals in the Department of Justice.



Send a letter to the following decision maker(s):
Your Senators

Below is the sample letter:

Subject: Confirm Key Judicial and Executive Nominees Now!
Dear [decision maker name automatically inserted here],
As a Friend of the Center for Inquiry, I urge you to support a prompt vote for the confirmation of Dawn Johnsen as Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Counsel (OLC) and Thomas Perez as Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division in the Department of Justice. The Center for Inquiry is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization devoted to the separation of church and state, civil rights, and the rule of law.
We seek your cooperation in eliminating the troubling backlog of judicial and executive branch nominees that exists to date in the 111th Congress. The obstruction of many of President Obama's nominees through filibuster threats and anonymous 'holds' is hindering the important work of our judicial and executive branches of government, bringing into question the Senate's constitutional role of 'Advice and Consent', and threatening any prospect of bipartisan cooperation on many pressing national issues important to all Americans.
The OLC f requently advises the White House and the federal agencies about the limits of law in important matters ranging from voting rights to religious discrimination. The Center for Inquiry is concerned that the Justice Department adhere strictly to the rule of law rather than adding the appearance of legality to ideological decisions, as was the case during the previous administration. The OLC will soon become significant to the Center for Inquiry in its commitment to the separation of church and state, because the OLC will play an important role in deciding the constitutionality of policy in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
Both of the nominees are extremely well qualified. Professor Johnsen is a distinguished legal scholar who served in the OLC during the 1990's. She showed her concern for the OLC when the integrity of the office was suspect by helping to craft legislation to bring greater transparency to the office. In 2004, she organized a group of former OLC attorneys to write a statement of principles for the office that received bipartisan praise. Mr. Perez has an outstanding record of public service both inside and outside the CRD, including significant management responsibilities. Because the CRD currently faces severe challenges, including the need to remedy the loss of a significant number of career staff, to correct for troubling past hiring practices, and to correct for past failures to fully enforce federal civil rights laws, Mr. Perez's prompt confirmation is essential.
The DOJ needs new direction and Dawn Johnsen and Thomas Perez are ideally placed to provide it. Their experience and passion for the law give them the wisdom and courage to tell the President what is legal and constitutional, regardless of whether or not it is politically expedient.
We believe that the confirmation of each of these nominees will contribute significantly to re-establishing the reputation of the U.S. as a nati on governed by laws not ideology. Please confirm their nominations as quickly as possible.

Sincerely,

John Felix



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What's At Stake:
Nothing less than upholding the law and the U.S. Constitution. The Office of Legal Counsel OLC) in the Department of Justice acts like an in-house Supreme Court deciding on the legality of issues ranging from voting rights to religious discrimination. It tells the President and the executive branch agencies whether proposed executive orders or regulations are within the law and the Constitution. In the previous administration, the OLC betrayed its commitment to law by bending its opinions to the political and ideological requests of the White House. Most notoriously, the OLC issued memoranda that permitted the administration to authorize harsh interrogation methods, and to authorize wiretapping without warrants. The OLC will soon become significant to the Center for Inquiry in its commitment to the separation of church and state, because the OLC will play an important role in deciding the constitutionality of policy in the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Instead of a general principle prohibiting religious discrimination in hiring for social services provided by religious institutions, the Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships will refer hiring issues to the OLC on a 'case-by-case' basis. The recommendations of the OLC on each case will go directly to President Barack Obama for his decision. Under the leadership of Professor Johnsen, we can be assured that the recommendations will be based on a sound and objective consideration of the laws upholding separation of church and state. Thomas Perez's appointment to the Division of Civil Rights is also very important to our nation. The previous administration shifted this important office's focus away from enforcing civil rights laws. Now, the Obama administration has vowed to revitalize this office by hiring a greater number of lawyers and by returning the focus to issues such as voting rights, employment fairness, and equitable housing. This work cannot truly begin, however, without a leader. Thus, it is vital that Perez be swiftly appointed. There is a troubling backlog of judicial and executive branch nominees that exists to date in the 111th Congress. The obstruction of many of President Obama's nominees through filibuster threats and anonymous 'holds' is hindering the important work of our judicial and executive branches of government, bringing into question the Senate's constitutional role of providing 'Advice and Consent', and threatening any prospect of bipartisan cooperation on many pressing national issues important to all Americans. Both of the nominees have been approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, but their nominations are threatened by a minority of Senators. They are threatening a filibuster, although many senators declared that they would never filibuster a President's nominee. Instead of further delay, the Senate should schedule a vote and move on to other issues such as health care, energy, and education. Dawn Johnsen and Thomas Perez are extremely qualified for their essential role in restoring integrity to the Department of Justice. We need them to be working in the office now, not waiting for Senators to vote, so please send your email or make than phone call NOW.

Campaign Expiration Date:
October 30, 2009




Friday, October 02, 2009

How to set up a Google video search using an RSS feed | eHow.com

How to set up a Google video search using an RSS feed | eHow.com

Dispraxis writes:

When you search for keyword terms on Google search, you may have noticed that there is no RSS feed icon. The missing ability to repeat a particular search on your blog or Website from the most popular and used search engine seems to be a serious drawback when using it. However, the capability is not AWOL, it is purposely buried by them probably so that the feature is not abused. In this article, getting as many video feeds as you want through Google Alerts shows you step by step how to set them up for your favorite Web search terms.

Thursday, October 01, 2009

PaleoBabble


PaleoBabble


Posted: 30 Sep 2009 10:35 AM PDT
Anyone who has seen the internet video Zeitgeist likely recalls this assertion about New Testament theology. Those in academia know that Zeitgeist’s content is deeply flawed, but that hardly matters, since most of the people who but into its ideas aren’t scholars or anyone else working in the fields of New Testament Studies or Egyptology.
Toward exposing this truckload of paleobabble, I submit this article by Nicholas Perrin entitled, “On Raising Osiris in 1 Corinthians 15.” It’s a scholarly piece, but I think it’s readable for the non-specialist. It exposes the problems with this popular correlation.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Joe Burke replied to a discussion on Atheist Nexus

Joe Burke replied to the discussion "How to make theists watch a video" on Atheist Nexus
To view the new reply, visit:
http://www.atheistnexus.org/xn/detail/2182797:Comment:525575

Dispraxis writes: Joe's videos are often very funny, but apparently it was NOT the one he was referencing in his post to YouTube Atheists on atheistnexus.org that he was writing about. My mistake. :(
--

PaleoBabble


PaleoBabble


Posted: 28 Sep 2009 09:49 AM PDT
I discovered this morning that there is a new blog online that takes on the “King James Only” nonsense). For those of you who don’t know what that is, the KJV-only idea is that the KJV itself is the result of a 17th century act of divine inspiration–it is God’s own translation of the original manuscripts of the Bible for English readers. All other English translations are either inferior or products of satanic activity (since they are based on “Alexandrian” manuscripts from that pagan hell-hole, Egypt). Many who hold to KJV-only also believe that the manuscript traditions upon which the English KJV is based are complete and inerrant representations of the original documents of the Bible. PaleoBabble readers got a little taste of this silliness with the “666 in the NIV” post I did a little while back.
This is paleobabble, of course, to anyone who knows anything about the transmission of the biblical texts or who cares about logic. It’s an interesting idea to devote a whole blog to this subject, and the contirbutors are apparently former KJV-only adherents.
Technorati Tags: , , ,

AANEWS for Monday, September 28, 2009

A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
A A N E W S
#1280 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 09/28/09
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org
http://www.atheistviewpoint.tv
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS, a nationwide movement that defends
civil rights for non-believers; works for the total separation of
Church and State; and addresses issues of First Amendment public
policy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"ATHEIST is really a thoroughly honest, unambiguous term, it admits
of no paltering and no evasion, and the need of the world, now as
ever, is for clear-cut issues and unambiguous speech."
-- Chapman Cohen
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Issue...
* Religious test for insurance coverage?
* Blasphemy Day events
* Worth Noting: Latest on Darwin film
* Dave's blog
* Resources
* About this list...
"THE MOST MISTRUSTED GROUP" AND NO, WE WON'T SELL YOU INSURANCE!
A recent piece in Psychology Today reports on yet another study
that finds Atheists to be "the most mistrusted group" in the
United States.
When asked in a national survey to identify segments of the
population which did "not all agree with my vision of American
society," ten groups were listed. Some were religious -- Christians,
Muslims and Jews -- while others covered ethnic categories (Asians,
blacks). Still others were traditional targets of popular animus,
such as homosexuals and immigrants. The category which elicited the
most opprobrium, however, was Atheists. When it came to marriage
and other indicators of social acceptance, the godless were the
most despised, marginalized and excluded.
Psychology Today contributor Gad Saad observed, "This might be one
of the saddest scientific findings I have ever read." He cited a
roll-call of famous luminaries including Albert Einstein, Francis
Crick, Linus Pauling, Bertrand Russell and others who fall into
the Atheist or non-believer category. There have been Atheist men
and women who have made astounding contributions to the welfare of
humanity, who have fought for civil liberties and individual rights,
who have struggled against considerable odds to make the world a
more peaceful, tolerant and nourishing space -- and to no avail,
at least, it appears, to the average American.
Dr. Saad's trenchant commentary can be found at
<http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/homo-consumericus/200908/atheists-are-the-most-mistrusted-group-they-are-evil-and-immoral>
We also call your attention to a little-publicized case from Ohio
involving clear discrimination directed at Atheists. A national
insurance firm, GuideOne Mutual, has been found guilty of violating
the Federal Fair Housing Act in its marketing campaign to provide
premium discounts to "church goers."
Led by the National Fair Housing Alliance and the Fair Housing
Advocates Association, plaintiffs challenged the practice in
federal court. A spokesperson for the FHA described the case,
filed in November, 2007, saying: "If I went to the grocery store to
buy some bread, they couldn't have a section for Christian bread.
It's about a level playing field and equal access to a product.
You can't put a corporate bias into the sale of a product."
The Ohio decision involves a narrow and clear-cut area of
anti-discrimination law. Christians were given preferential
treatment through a "FaithGuard" program operated by the company.
The US District Court ordered GuideOne Mutual to pay$74,000 to
settle the plaintiffs' claims; the case affects home owners and
renters in 19 states where the company does business. Visit
<http://www.allgov.com/ViewNews/Insurance_Company_Settles_Claim_for_Discriminating_against_Atheists_90927>
for more on this case.
**
FEELING BLASPHEMOUS?
Join us as we celebrate International Blasphemy Day! It's a 3 day
celebration of not being afraid to think as you please and speak
your mind without dogma
Sept. 28-Open House 2-5pm Taping of the Atheist Viewpoint 7:00pm
Sept. 29-Meet and Greet Your Fellow Atheists 2pm-?
Sept. 30-Blasphemy Day! De-Baptisms performed 10am-2pm Movie-7pm
What better movie to watch on this day? "Blasphemy"
All events are at the American Atheist Center 225 Christiani
St. Cranford
000-000-0000
All events are FREE
**
WORTH NOTING...
<http://www.alternet.org/world/142839/10_ways_the_u.s._military_has_shoved_christianity_down_muslims%27_throats_>
10 Ways the U.S. Military Has Shoved Christianity Down Muslims'
Throats The Military Religious Freedom Foundation was founded in
2005 by Mikey Weinstein, a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and
Reagan administration White House counsel, after the harassment his
own sons faced as Jewish cadets at the academy led him to discover
that the fundamentalist Christian takeover of the Air Force Academy
was far from an isolated problem.
<http://www.alternet.org/politics/142787/overshadowed_by_tea_party_movement%2C_the_christian_right_scrambles_to_claim_it_isn%27t_racist>
Overshadowed by Tea Party Movement, the Christian Right Scrambles to
Claim It Isn't Racist At the religious right's Values Voter
Summit this weekend, some of the air seemed to have gone out of
the balloon. Gathering at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, 1,800
activists and their leaders seemed resigned to being subsumed by
the broader Tea Party movement, or rendered irrelevant by it. This
year's conference, sponsored by the political affiliate of the
Family Research Council, emphasized matters important to Tea Party
leaders: freedom was linked with free enterprise; ominous were
warnings offered about a march to socialism; global warming was
said to be a good thing; and taxes were deemed to be too high and
largely misappropriated.
<http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/09/24/canadian-creationism-just-22-percent/>
Canadian Creationism: Just 22 Percent I've been doing some research
and just found this figure: only 22 percent of Canadians think
God created human beings within the last 10,000 years or so. In
the U.S. the number is roughly double that. Similarly, I recently
learned from appearing on the Australian Broadcasting Corporation's
"Lateline" program that just 20 percent of Australians are global
warming deniers. They're very worried about this fact down there,
and they should be-but again, the percentage is much higher in the
U.S. Pew puts it at 49 percent.
<http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFsB1Jk1OQ0&feature=related>
Check out thi pre-election video where Mr. Obama emphasizes the
role of science in our nation's history, and cites Chgarles Darwin's
anniversary.
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/belief/2009/sep/23/darwin-creation-film>
Creation is a fitting tribute to Darwin: A new film about the great
scientist is upsetting Darwinologists as much as creationists. Their
suspicion is misplaced It's the double celebration year, and for
this amateur Darwinologist, the best is yet to come. The release
this week of the film Creation is a unique occasion when my two
biggest obsessions, movies and evolution finally converge. Creation
is a fictionalised account of Charles Darwin's middle age, it spans
the time between the death of his daughter and the publication of
the Origin of Species. It's based on Annie's Box, a book by his
great-great-grandson Randal Keynes, and thus has the absolute seal
of approval of the guardians of Darwin's estate. That the chronology
is not entirely accurate, and that it features Annie's ghost as a
device appears to have troubled some hardy Darwinologists.
<http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blog/the_importance_of_blasphemy/>
There are many historical myths with which we like to comfort
ourselves. One myth that appeals to Americans is that ever since the
founding of our country we have been strong supporters of individual
rights and fundamental freedoms. After all, shortly after we adopted
the Constitution we also adopted the Bill of Rights, which prohibits
government interference with speech and government establishment
of religion.
http://www.jumpinmagonline.com/page33.aspx
Jump In Magazine interview with Blair Scott, American Atheists
Affiliation Director.
<http://www.politicsdaily.com/2009/09/24/50-000-muslims-to-pray-on-capitol-hill-guess-whos-not-happy/>
50,000 Muslims to Pray on Capitol Hill: Guess Who's Not Happy? The
event sounds like yet another Tea Party protest, or perhaps an
encore of last weekend's Values Voter Summit: Devout believers
joining together this Friday to pray on Capitol Hill for the soul
of America. Who could argue with that? Well, when the believers
happen to be Muslims, and there could be as many as 50,000 of them
kneeling to pray in Arabic, yes, you could see how there might be
some blowback from the usual suspects.
<http://www.usnews.com/blogs/god-and-country/2009/09/25/darwin-defenders-lash-out-at-creationist-origin-of-species.html>
Darwin Defenders Lash Out at Creationist Origin of Species Lots
of Darwin defenders responded to my post about the new Creationist
edition of Origin of Species. Needless to say, they're not pleased.
<http://www.popeater.com/2009/09/25/kirk-cameron-defends-attack-on-darwin/>
Kirk Cameron Defends Attack on 'Species' Former teen idol Kirk
Cameron has it out for Charles Darwin, and is making no apologies
for his controversial (and mocked, see below) plan to distribute
thousands of altered copies of 'The Origin of Species' to college
students. The 'Growing Pains' alum released a video last week
announcing that on Nov. 19, he and other Creationist activists
will distribute a special 'Species' with a 50-page intro that
slams evolution and paints Darwin as both racist and misogynistic
and explicitly highlights "Adolph Hitler's undeniable connection
to the theory." Nov. 21 is the 150th anniversary of the book's
original publication.
http://www.sltrib.com/faith/ci_13411157
College makes or breaks faith for many students The four University
of Utah students were sharing one of those sublime moments. Piled in
the back of Alec Gehrke's Malibu -- a refurbished car bought from the
LDS Church -- they were parked above the Salt Lake City Cemetery in
the Avenues late on a warm Saturday night. Stars lit the sky and
the city lights twinkled from the valley floor below. Even their
breathing seemed connected, as if they were links on the same chain.
"It was existential," Gehrke says.
<http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/254062/>
Atheist advocates evidence-based belief on Fargo's Freethought Day
PZ Myers, an outspoken atheist and evolutionary biologist, had some
nice things to say about Fargo on Thursday. Specifically, he liked
a proclamation signed by Fargo Mayor Dennis Walaker establishing
Sept. 24 as Freethought Day. "I'm very pleased to see that Fargo
now has a Freethought Day, which is pretty impressive," said Myers.
<http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/homo-consumericus/200908/atheists-are-the-most-mistrusted-group-they-are-evil-and-immoral>
Atheists Are the Most Mistrusted Group: They Are Evil and
Immoral! Some of you might remember Mr. Obama's inauguration speech
wherein he made an explicit reference to non-believers. Apparently,
this was the first instance where an incoming American president
has formally recognized the existence of this group of Americans
(which incidentally includes the great majority of intellectuals,
scientists, and philosophers). Does this imply that atheists are
now largely accepted within the greater American society? Are they
respected for their non-belief in imaginary narratives of invisible
deities? Regrettably, the answer is an emphatic no!
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/sep/27/atheist-christmas-book>
Atheists examine Christmas from angel-free angle It is a book
about Christmas but there's not a manger, virgin birth or angel in
sight. Buoyed by the success of their campaign which proclaimed
There's Probably No God, Now Stop Worrying on the side of London
buses, some of Britain's most prominent atheists have come together
to publish a book for the festive season.

<http://www.allgov.com/ViewNews/Insurance_Company_Settles_Claim_for_Discriminating_against_Atheists_90927>
Insurance Company Settles Claim for Discriminating against Atheists
GuideOne Mutual Insurance didn't see any problem with offering
special benefits to god-fearing consumers, but atheists and
agnostics, not to mention the federal government, sure did. The
Department of Justice sued GuideOne in federal court in Kentucky
after receiving complaints about the insurer's "FaithGuard" policy
that offered homebuyers, owners and renters in 19 states special
benefits and discounts if they were churchgoers
<http://trueslant.com/laurieessig/2009/09/28/us-soldiers-urged-to-pray-for-muslims-to-become-christians/>
US soldiers urged to pray for Muslims to become Christians On Friday,
several thousand Muslims gathered in DC for a very peaceful National
Day of Prayer. At the same time, several Evangelical Christian
groups gathered to protest the event. According to a Fox News
story, At a separate event, held simultaneously in a conference
room at the Rayburn House Office Building, a group calling itself
Stop Islamization of America warned about the supposedly hateful,
violent, and anti-Western teachings of the Koran.
**
SILVERMAN BLOG SHAKING UP CYBERSPACE!
It is one of the fastest growing blogs in the
Atheist/Freethought/Secular Humanist community, and you can get in
on the discussion!
Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists is in
the Blogosphere at http://nogodblog.com. It's filled with insight,
wit, hot news, controversial opinion -- and polite, thoughtful
commentary. So join the conversation! Sign up (it's free) by
visiting http://www.atheists.org and click on the blog navigation
button, or go directly to http://nogodblog.com .
**
RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS
* For membership information about American Atheists, send
mail to info@atheists.org. Kindly include your name and postal
mailing address. Ask for a free membership info packet. You may
also visit http://www.atheists.org and click on the "Membership"
navigation button.
* For a free catalogue of American Atheist Press books, videos and
other products, send mail to catalogue@atheists.org. Kindly include
your name and postal mailing address, and request a copy of the
AAP catalogue. You may also shop directly at http://www.atheists.org
--click on the "Shopping" navigation button.
* Current members in good standing of American Atheists may sign up
for our free E-mail Discussion Group list, aachat. We have over 150
participants who discuss topics such as Atheism, religion, First
Amendment issues, creationism and much, much more. Contact the
Moderator, Ed Gauci through egauci@atheists.org .
----------------------------------------------------------------------

American Atheists, PO Box 158, Cranford, NJ 07016

Keyword News: [atheism]

Yahoo! Alerts
Monday, September 28, 2009 2:21 PM PDT

Few 'No Religion' Americans Are Atheists
US News & World Report Mon, 28 Sep 2009 12:28 PM PDT
Even among Americans who claim no religion, atheism is unpopular






See more news stories that match my keyword





CFI Indiana Schedule--September 28-30, 2009


 PROGRAM SCHEDULE
SEPTEMBER 28-30, 2009

Join us for CFI Indiana activities and other interesting
events around Indianapolis!
(To view or print these events in a calendar format, please visit our website.)









Check out these links:
Ibn Warraq praises Religion Under Examination, CFI Indiana and our volunteers.
Recent local press coverage.
Reba's tribute to Paul Kurtz and the "Exuberant Life."
Number of "nones" moving up on number in religion denominations.
Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) is an alternative to Alcholics Anonymous (AA)   If you are interested in being a part of a local SOS group, email indysos@. 
Special Events – Mark your Calendar!


Monday, October 12—Richard Dawkins at IU Bloomington, Auditorium, 7:00 pm.  We have his newest book, The Greatest Show on Earth--Evidence for Evolution on sale at CFI Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis for $25.00.  Profit goes to CFI Indiana.
Sunday, October 25Tom Flynn, "Robert Ingersoll: The Most Remarkable American Most People Never Heard Of," 4:00 pm, Hamilton 16 Theatre, 13825 Norell Road, Noblesville, IN (near I-69/Olio Road/141st Street).
Sunday, November 8Spirit and Place event, "Inspiring Places--Magnificent Victory Monument for Rational Outlook on Life--Das Deutsches House/Athenaeum,"   2:00 pm, Athenaeum, 401 East Michigan, Indianapolis. 
Indiana Atheist Bus CampaignKeep up with the new developments for this campaign.
Regular Events 

Café Inquiry—Tuesday, September 29, 6:30 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis.  Topic:  Indiana’s Natural History:  Excavating Ice-Age Mastodons in Indiana. Dr. Arthur Mirsky will describe exhuming mastodons from a peaty deposit of one of the last ice sheets to cover part of Indiana. Dr. Mirsky is Professor Emeritus in the Dept. of Earth Sciences at IUPUI.
Mommymoon—Wednesday, September 30, 11:00 am, the 61st & Broadway neighborhood park. Don't forget the kids, swimsuits, sunscreen, towels and a snack!  For more information: info@
International Blasphemy Day—Wednesday, September 30, 6:30 pm, Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis. Discussion.  What is blasphemy?   What laws are there now and have been in the past concerning blasphemy?   Should blasphemy be a crime?  Should religion be immune from criticism?  Reba Boyd Wooden will be the discussion leader.  Check out CFI's contest.
Weekly Events
Coffee and Conversation—every Sunday, 10:00 am to noon at Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis, IN.  Unstructured conversation and socializing.
Conversations in Spanishevery Sunday(except September 13), 10:00 am to noon at Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis, IN.  This is for people who want to learn Spanish or practice their Spanish.


Secular Family Network Playgroup—every Monday, 10:00 am to noon at Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis.  A good time for the kids to get acquainted, play, and socialize while their moms/dads get together for good conversation and support.  Anyone is welcome.  If you have questions, contact Andi Pierce at apierce@.  Call Andi at 000-000-0000 to check for possible location change.
English as a New Language—every Saturday, (except September 12) 10:00-11:30 am at Center for Inquiry Indiana, 350 Canal Walk, Suite A, Indianapolis, IN.  This is for anyone from any language background who wants to learn and improve their English speaking skills.  No charge.
Freethought Discussion Groups in Other Indiana Cities
CFI Indiana Hamilton County Meetupmeets every other Sunday at 10:00 am. Check webste for location.  For more information call Ryan at 000-000-0000.
Bloomington Atheist Happy Hour—first Friday of every month 5:30-6:30 pm at The Dunn Inn, 208 South Dunn (between 3rd and 4th), Bloomington, IN. 

Freethinkers of Montgomery County (Sponsored by CFI Indiana)—Meet every first and third Thursday, 6:30 to 8:00 pm, Crawfordsville Public Library Basement. 
Lafayette Freethinkers (Sponsored by CFI Indiana)—Meet every second Thursday of the month from 6:30-8:00 pm at the UU Church, Room 106 in West Lafayette and on the fourth Thursday at the PRIDE Community Center in Lafayette.  
Freethought Muncie-New Castle (A CFI Indiana Discussion Group)—For information about this group and also the Ball State student group email Robert Pinger at pinger@.
Freethought Fort Wayne (A CFI Indiana Discussion Group)Check out the latest Enlightenment Show which is produced by local Fort Wayne Freethinkers.  Contact Andy Diekroger at freethoughtfw@ for more information.
Richmond Area Free Thinkers Society.  Contact: Aaron Hill at contact@ for more information. 
Michiana Skeptics—contact Elizabeth Brown, indimenticabile1@ 
CUFREE (Champaign Urbana Freethinkers)

Louisville Atheist Meetup


Freethought Groups on Indiana College Campuses

IUPUI FreethinkersEmail free@ for information and meeting times. 
IU/Bloomington-- For more information, email secular@.
Earlham College, RichmondFor more information, email free@ 
Ball State UniversityFor information email Robert Pinger at pinger@.
Purdue University/Lafayette-- Purdue NonTheists

For more information about these programs and more and to sign up to receive a full CFI Indiana newsletter, email indy@ or call 000-000-0000.
 

Visit the web address below to tell your friends about this.
 Tell-a-friend!