Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
The Agnostic's Manifesto
Keyword News: [atheism]
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 11:54 PM PDT
The Agnostic's Manifesto
Arts Journal Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:58 PM PDT
Ron Rosenbaum: "Let's get one thing straight: Agnosticism is not some kind of weak-tea atheism. Agnosticism is not atheism or theism. It is radical skepticism, doubt in the possibility of certainty, opposition to the unwarranted certainties that atheism and theism offer.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010 11:54 PM PDT
The Agnostic's Manifesto
Arts Journal Tue, 29 Jun 2010 21:58 PM PDT
Ron Rosenbaum: "Let's get one thing straight: Agnosticism is not some kind of weak-tea atheism. Agnosticism is not atheism or theism. It is radical skepticism, doubt in the possibility of certainty, opposition to the unwarranted certainties that atheism and theism offer.
Friday, June 25, 2010
AANEWS for Wednesday, June 23, 2010
A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
A A N E W S
#1329 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 06/23/2010
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"All religions are equally sublime to the ignorant, useful to the
politician, and ridiculous to the philosopher."
- Lucretius, On the Nature of Things
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Issue...
* Breaking, AP: Philly Jury OKs BSA discrimination on municipal property
* Background: Philadelphia trial examines discrimination in Scouting ranks
* Worth Noting: Bachman's "Christian Counseling" took public money
* AA Letter to the Editor competition now open
* Voice of Reason Pod cast -- this week, "Touchdown Jesus"
* Check out Dave's NoGodBlog
* Follow AANEWS on Twitter
* Resources
* About this list...
Breaking
JURY: CITY CANNOT EVICT BOY SCOUTS OVER DISCRIMINATION
PHILADELPHIA - A jury says the city of Philadelphia cannot evict
a local Boy Scouts chapter from a city-owned building for refusing
to admit gays.
The city insisted that nonprofits given free use of its property
must abide by local anti-discrimination laws.
The scouts said they can legally limit their membership because of
a 2000 Supreme Court decision. They had sued in federal court to
stop the eviction.
Cradle of Liberty Council leaders have tried to walk a fine line
to retain city support without losing their national Boy Scouts
charter. The national organization bans gays.
Scouts lawyer Jason Gosselin says he hopes the two sides can work
out their differences in negotiations.
*
June 18, 2010 -- CNN coverage
Trial could settle dispute between Boy Scouts, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- A federal trial is underway that
could settle a dispute between Philadelphia Boy Scouts and the city.
The national Scout policy that prohibits the hiring of homosexuals
puts the Philadelphia Scout chapter, the Cradle of Liberty Council,
in violation of the city charter and an ordinance outlawing
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and other grounds.
The Scouts were told by the city to pay $200,000 a year to lease
the building or vacate their headquarters that have been located
on city land, rent-free since 1928.
In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts could
exclude gay youth and troop leaders because the group is categorized
as a "membership organization." The city contends Cradle of Liberty
Council's refusal to openly reject the national scout policy violates
the City Charter.
The lawsuit filed by the Cradle of Liberty Council contends the
city's ultimatum violates their First Amendment rights and that the
city's position is unconstitutional and violates the organization's
right to free speech and equal protection. The trial began Monday
with jury selection.
The Scouts also argue that city leases property to other
organizations that have membership rules, including a Catholic
church and the Colonial Dames of America, and those tenants do not
face eviction, said attorneys for the Scouts. The city said the
comparison is inaccurate.
In 2007, City Council passed an ordinance to evict the Scouts and
later went to court in June 2008 to do so, but Cradle filed the
federal civil-rights lawsuit in May 2008.
In 2009, U.S. District Judge Ronald Buckwalter issued an injunction
stopping the city from evicting the Scouts until the federal lawsuit
is resolved.
**
WORTH NOTING...
Hitchens As Atheism's Drag Queen In reading the recent comments on
this subject I've noticed that we, as atheists, are often using the
language of the gay rights movement to describe what it's like to be
an atheist in a largely theistic society--particularly the desire
to 'come out' as atheists. While sexual orientation and religious
belief are by no means equivalent, and I think it remains harder
to come out as a homosexual than as an atheist, the metaphor is
interesting and helps us understand the appeal of the 'New Atheists.'
<http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/06/a-louder-athiesm.html>
The Right's Favorite Atheist S.E. Cupp is the right wing's
current media darling who doesn't believe in God but just
penned a book attacking the liberal media and defending
Christianity. Benyamin Cohen unravels the Cupp enigma.
<http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-13/se-cupp-attacks-newsweek-defends-christianity-and-atheism/?cid=hp:topnav:book>
Bachmann's Christian Counseling Business Gets Public Funds Andy
Birkey at the Minnesota Independent reports that a Christian
counseling center owned by Michele Bachmann and her husband has
received more than $30,000 in public funds since 2007. It even
comes from one of those "socialized medicine" systems the state of
Minnesota runs for poor people.
<http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2010/06/bachmanns_christian_counseling.php>
Touchdown Jesus On Fire, Ohio Statue Destroyed By Lightning (VIDEO)
A six-story-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms raised along
a highway was struck by lightning in a thunderstorm Monday night
and burned to the ground, police said. The "King of Kings" statue,
one of southwest Ohio's most familiar landmarks, had stood since
2004 at the evangelical Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in
Monroe, just north of Cincinnati.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/15/king-of-kings-ohio-jesus_n_612360.html>
OPINION: Not knocking on heaven's door: Black atheists, urban
America Late Saturday afternoon, like clockwork, the street corner
preachers on Crenshaw and King Boulevard in South Los Angeles
take to the "stage." Decked out in flowing robes and dreadlocks,
they fulminate into their mikes about the universe, God's will
and "unnatural" homosexuals to a motley audience waiting for the
next express bus. Members of the Black Israelites, they are part
of a long tradition of performative religiosity in urban African
American communities.
<http://www.intersectionssouthla.org/index.php/story/not_knocking_on_heavens_door_black_atheists_urban_america/>
Stephen Colbert Author Interview: Stephen Prothero On The 8 Religions That
Rule The World And Why Their Differences Matter (VIDEO) Stephen
Prothero, Boston University professor and author of the new book
"God Is Not One," spoke to Stephen Colbert last night about his
book and why the eight religions that run the world have a lot of
important differences that we shouldn't overlook as much as we do. "I
wrote the book because religions are horribly misunderstood," he
said. "We have these atheists that are saying that all the religions
are the same and bad, and we have these multiculturalists that are
saying that all the religions are the same and good." Prothero sets
out to illuminate the differences in his book, because, he said,
"religions are not different paths going up the same mountain"
--they have different goals and different concerns.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/15/stephen-colbert-author-in_n_612739.html>
Haley's path to Christianity leaves some evangelicals uneasy Whispers
about Nikki Haley's Sikh heritage burst into public view in the final
days of South Carolina's Republican gubernatorial primary when state
Sen. Jake Knotts called the Indian-American legislator a "raghead."
<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/15/haleys-path-to-christianity-leaves-some-evangelicals-uneasy/>
Russian Creationism Sounds Frighteningly Familiar Religious
fundamentalists have begun promoting creationism in Russia --
and they are doing so using many of the same strategies and
buzzwords adopted by fellow extremists in the United States
.<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-zimmerman/russian-creationism-sound_b_610266.html>
Godless billionaires ask super-rich to 'give it up' Who
says atheists, agnostics and freethinkers don't give a lot to
charity? Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, two of America's wealthiest
men and greatest philanthropists, issued a call Wednesday for the
nation's billionaires to make a moral commitment to donate at least
50% of their money to charity or other philanthropic causes. They've
even launched a website, The Giving Pledge, where the super-rich can
"take the pledge":
<http://www.examiner.com/x-8947-LA-Atheism-Examiner~y2010m6d17-Godless-billionaires-ask-superrich-to-give-it-up>
God and the Political Romantic Like most English-speaking scribes,
I've spent the last few weeks dipping in and out of Christopher
Hitchens' memoir, "Hitch-22." Of all the reviews to date, David
Runciman's essay in the London Review of Books seems to me to cut
closest to the heart of Hitch
http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/
Murfreesboro mosque opponents pack commission meeting MURFREESBORO
- Hundreds of residents packed Thursday's Rutherford County
Commission meeting where dozens voiced opposition to a
planned Islamic center off Bradyville Pike in southeast
Murfreesboro.<http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100618/NEWS01/6180332/Murfreesboro>+mosque+opponents+pack+commission+meeting
Ethics Office Clears C Street House In Rent Probe The Office of
Congressional Ethics has sent letters to several residents of the
C Street Christian fellowship house informing them that there is no
"probable cause" to believe legislators are getting improper gifts
in the form of below-market rent, Roll Call reports. The house has
been the target of more than one allegation that the reported rent
of $950 for a furnished room amounts to an unreported gift or income.
Ohio's Jesus statue is latest religious statue to be struck
by lightning It appears God has sacrificed his only son. Again.
A bolt struck a 62-foot-tall statue of Jesus Christ on Monday
outside a church in Monroe, Ohio, and the statue erupted in
flames. All that remains is a charred steel skeleton, its spindly
arms stretched toward heaven, a gesture that once earned it the
nickname "Touchdown Jesus."
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/15/AR2010061505135.html?hpid=topnews>
Richard Dawkins among academics calling for compulsory evolution
teaching at primary school Evolution should be taught to all primary
school pupils, according to leading scientists and academics.
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7838020/Richard-Dawkins-among-academics-calling-for-compulsory-evolution-teaching-at-primary-school.html>
**
American Atheists Letter to the Editor Competition 2011
The Letter to the Editor Competition 2011 is open only to members
of American Atheists. To enter, send the uncut and complete
newspaper page containing your published letter. Letters must
be published between January 1 and December 31, 2010. Entries
need to be received on or before January 30, 2011. Include your
address, telephone number, and your e-mail address (should you
have one). Letters can cover any issue of importance which advances
the Atheist cause. Letters will be judged by educational content,
persuasiveness, and how well they portray Atheism in a positive
light. Members of the board, officers, and State and Regional
Directors are ineligible to enter.
The winner will be announced at the national Convention 2011, and
will receive an American Atheist award plaque and on free year
of membership in American Atheists. All entered letters will be
displayed at Convention 2011.
Send your entries to: Neal Cary (email) P. O. Box 828 Glen Allen, VA
23060-0828
VOICE OF REASON" PODCAST LAUNCHED
"The Voice of Reason" is a new Podcast service sponsored by
American Atheists featuring news and commentary of interest to the
non-believer community. Visit http://www.atheists.org/reason to
download episodes. You can also follow "The Voice of Reason" on
Twitter and receive updates when new broadcasts are available. Sign
up at http://www.twitter.com/aavoiceofreason .
**
CHECK OUT THE NOGODBLOG!
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/ .
**
FOLLOW AANEWS ON TWITTER!
You can now get regular updates on AANEWS by signing up for Twitter
alerts. Just visit http://twitter.com/AANEWSAA and sign up. You'
will receive an alert every time a new issue of AANEWS is published!
**
RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS
* For membership information about American Atheists, send
mail to. 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. 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.
**
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. The
Internet Representative for American Atheists is Larry Mundinger. The President of American Atheists is
Ed Buckner.
**
----------------------------------------------------------------------
To subscribe, send a blank message to aanews-on@atheists.org
To unsubscribe, send a blank message to aanews-off@atheists.org
To change your email address, send a message to aanews-change@atheists.org
with your old address in the Subject: line
American Atheists, PO Box 158, Cranford, NJ 07016
A A N E W S
#1329 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 06/23/2010
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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"All religions are equally sublime to the ignorant, useful to the
politician, and ridiculous to the philosopher."
- Lucretius, On the Nature of Things
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
In This Issue...
* Breaking, AP: Philly Jury OKs BSA discrimination on municipal property
* Background: Philadelphia trial examines discrimination in Scouting ranks
* Worth Noting: Bachman's "Christian Counseling" took public money
* AA Letter to the Editor competition now open
* Voice of Reason Pod cast -- this week, "Touchdown Jesus"
* Check out Dave's NoGodBlog
* Follow AANEWS on Twitter
* Resources
* About this list...
Breaking
JURY: CITY CANNOT EVICT BOY SCOUTS OVER DISCRIMINATION
PHILADELPHIA - A jury says the city of Philadelphia cannot evict
a local Boy Scouts chapter from a city-owned building for refusing
to admit gays.
The city insisted that nonprofits given free use of its property
must abide by local anti-discrimination laws.
The scouts said they can legally limit their membership because of
a 2000 Supreme Court decision. They had sued in federal court to
stop the eviction.
Cradle of Liberty Council leaders have tried to walk a fine line
to retain city support without losing their national Boy Scouts
charter. The national organization bans gays.
Scouts lawyer Jason Gosselin says he hopes the two sides can work
out their differences in negotiations.
*
June 18, 2010 -- CNN coverage
Trial could settle dispute between Boy Scouts, Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (CNN) -- A federal trial is underway that
could settle a dispute between Philadelphia Boy Scouts and the city.
The national Scout policy that prohibits the hiring of homosexuals
puts the Philadelphia Scout chapter, the Cradle of Liberty Council,
in violation of the city charter and an ordinance outlawing
discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and other grounds.
The Scouts were told by the city to pay $200,000 a year to lease
the building or vacate their headquarters that have been located
on city land, rent-free since 1928.
In 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts could
exclude gay youth and troop leaders because the group is categorized
as a "membership organization." The city contends Cradle of Liberty
Council's refusal to openly reject the national scout policy violates
the City Charter.
The lawsuit filed by the Cradle of Liberty Council contends the
city's ultimatum violates their First Amendment rights and that the
city's position is unconstitutional and violates the organization's
right to free speech and equal protection. The trial began Monday
with jury selection.
The Scouts also argue that city leases property to other
organizations that have membership rules, including a Catholic
church and the Colonial Dames of America, and those tenants do not
face eviction, said attorneys for the Scouts. The city said the
comparison is inaccurate.
In 2007, City Council passed an ordinance to evict the Scouts and
later went to court in June 2008 to do so, but Cradle filed the
federal civil-rights lawsuit in May 2008.
In 2009, U.S. District Judge Ronald Buckwalter issued an injunction
stopping the city from evicting the Scouts until the federal lawsuit
is resolved.
**
WORTH NOTING...
Hitchens As Atheism's Drag Queen In reading the recent comments on
this subject I've noticed that we, as atheists, are often using the
language of the gay rights movement to describe what it's like to be
an atheist in a largely theistic society--particularly the desire
to 'come out' as atheists. While sexual orientation and religious
belief are by no means equivalent, and I think it remains harder
to come out as a homosexual than as an atheist, the metaphor is
interesting and helps us understand the appeal of the 'New Atheists.'
<http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.com/the_daily_dish/2010/06/a-louder-athiesm.html>
The Right's Favorite Atheist S.E. Cupp is the right wing's
current media darling who doesn't believe in God but just
penned a book attacking the liberal media and defending
Christianity. Benyamin Cohen unravels the Cupp enigma.
<http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-13/se-cupp-attacks-newsweek-defends-christianity-and-atheism/?cid=hp:topnav:book>
Bachmann's Christian Counseling Business Gets Public Funds Andy
Birkey at the Minnesota Independent reports that a Christian
counseling center owned by Michele Bachmann and her husband has
received more than $30,000 in public funds since 2007. It even
comes from one of those "socialized medicine" systems the state of
Minnesota runs for poor people.
<http://scienceblogs.com/dispatches/2010/06/bachmanns_christian_counseling.php>
Touchdown Jesus On Fire, Ohio Statue Destroyed By Lightning (VIDEO)
A six-story-tall statue of Jesus Christ with his arms raised along
a highway was struck by lightning in a thunderstorm Monday night
and burned to the ground, police said. The "King of Kings" statue,
one of southwest Ohio's most familiar landmarks, had stood since
2004 at the evangelical Solid Rock Church along Interstate 75 in
Monroe, just north of Cincinnati.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/15/king-of-kings-ohio-jesus_n_612360.html>
OPINION: Not knocking on heaven's door: Black atheists, urban
America Late Saturday afternoon, like clockwork, the street corner
preachers on Crenshaw and King Boulevard in South Los Angeles
take to the "stage." Decked out in flowing robes and dreadlocks,
they fulminate into their mikes about the universe, God's will
and "unnatural" homosexuals to a motley audience waiting for the
next express bus. Members of the Black Israelites, they are part
of a long tradition of performative religiosity in urban African
American communities.
<http://www.intersectionssouthla.org/index.php/story/not_knocking_on_heavens_door_black_atheists_urban_america/>
Stephen Colbert Author Interview: Stephen Prothero On The 8 Religions That
Rule The World And Why Their Differences Matter (VIDEO) Stephen
Prothero, Boston University professor and author of the new book
"God Is Not One," spoke to Stephen Colbert last night about his
book and why the eight religions that run the world have a lot of
important differences that we shouldn't overlook as much as we do. "I
wrote the book because religions are horribly misunderstood," he
said. "We have these atheists that are saying that all the religions
are the same and bad, and we have these multiculturalists that are
saying that all the religions are the same and good." Prothero sets
out to illuminate the differences in his book, because, he said,
"religions are not different paths going up the same mountain"
--they have different goals and different concerns.
<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/15/stephen-colbert-author-in_n_612739.html>
Haley's path to Christianity leaves some evangelicals uneasy Whispers
about Nikki Haley's Sikh heritage burst into public view in the final
days of South Carolina's Republican gubernatorial primary when state
Sen. Jake Knotts called the Indian-American legislator a "raghead."
<http://religion.blogs.cnn.com/2010/06/15/haleys-path-to-christianity-leaves-some-evangelicals-uneasy/>
Russian Creationism Sounds Frighteningly Familiar Religious
fundamentalists have begun promoting creationism in Russia --
and they are doing so using many of the same strategies and
buzzwords adopted by fellow extremists in the United States
.<http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-zimmerman/russian-creationism-sound_b_610266.html>
Godless billionaires ask super-rich to 'give it up' Who
says atheists, agnostics and freethinkers don't give a lot to
charity? Warren Buffett and Bill Gates, two of America's wealthiest
men and greatest philanthropists, issued a call Wednesday for the
nation's billionaires to make a moral commitment to donate at least
50% of their money to charity or other philanthropic causes. They've
even launched a website, The Giving Pledge, where the super-rich can
"take the pledge":
<http://www.examiner.com/x-8947-LA-Atheism-Examiner~y2010m6d17-Godless-billionaires-ask-superrich-to-give-it-up>
God and the Political Romantic Like most English-speaking scribes,
I've spent the last few weeks dipping in and out of Christopher
Hitchens' memoir, "Hitch-22." Of all the reviews to date, David
Runciman's essay in the London Review of Books seems to me to cut
closest to the heart of Hitch
http://douthat.blogs.nytimes.com/
Murfreesboro mosque opponents pack commission meeting MURFREESBORO
- Hundreds of residents packed Thursday's Rutherford County
Commission meeting where dozens voiced opposition to a
planned Islamic center off Bradyville Pike in southeast
Murfreesboro.<http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100618/NEWS01/6180332/Murfreesboro>+mosque+opponents+pack+commission+meeting
Ethics Office Clears C Street House In Rent Probe The Office of
Congressional Ethics has sent letters to several residents of the
C Street Christian fellowship house informing them that there is no
"probable cause" to believe legislators are getting improper gifts
in the form of below-market rent, Roll Call reports. The house has
been the target of more than one allegation that the reported rent
of $950 for a furnished room amounts to an unreported gift or income.
Ohio's Jesus statue is latest religious statue to be struck
by lightning It appears God has sacrificed his only son. Again.
A bolt struck a 62-foot-tall statue of Jesus Christ on Monday
outside a church in Monroe, Ohio, and the statue erupted in
flames. All that remains is a charred steel skeleton, its spindly
arms stretched toward heaven, a gesture that once earned it the
nickname "Touchdown Jesus."
<http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/06/15/AR2010061505135.html?hpid=topnews>
Richard Dawkins among academics calling for compulsory evolution
teaching at primary school Evolution should be taught to all primary
school pupils, according to leading scientists and academics.
<http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/educationnews/7838020/Richard-Dawkins-among-academics-calling-for-compulsory-evolution-teaching-at-primary-school.html>
**
American Atheists Letter to the Editor Competition 2011
The Letter to the Editor Competition 2011 is open only to members
of American Atheists. To enter, send the uncut and complete
newspaper page containing your published letter. Letters must
be published between January 1 and December 31, 2010. Entries
need to be received on or before January 30, 2011. Include your
address, telephone number, and your e-mail address (should you
have one). Letters can cover any issue of importance which advances
the Atheist cause. Letters will be judged by educational content,
persuasiveness, and how well they portray Atheism in a positive
light. Members of the board, officers, and State and Regional
Directors are ineligible to enter.
The winner will be announced at the national Convention 2011, and
will receive an American Atheist award plaque and on free year
of membership in American Atheists. All entered letters will be
displayed at Convention 2011.
Send your entries to: Neal Cary (email) P. O. Box 828 Glen Allen, VA
23060-0828
VOICE OF REASON" PODCAST LAUNCHED
"The Voice of Reason" is a new Podcast service sponsored by
American Atheists featuring news and commentary of interest to the
non-believer community. Visit http://www.atheists.org/reason to
download episodes. You can also follow "The Voice of Reason" on
Twitter and receive updates when new broadcasts are available. Sign
up at http://www.twitter.com/aavoiceofreason .
**
CHECK OUT THE NOGODBLOG!
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/ .
**
FOLLOW AANEWS ON TWITTER!
You can now get regular updates on AANEWS by signing up for Twitter
alerts. Just visit http://twitter.com/AANEWSAA and sign up. You'
will receive an alert every time a new issue of AANEWS is published!
**
RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS
* For membership information about American Atheists, send
mail to. 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. 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.
**
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. The
Internet Representative for American Atheists is Larry Mundinger. The President of American Atheists is
Ed Buckner.
**
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To subscribe, send a blank message to aanews-on@atheists.org
To unsubscribe, send a blank message to aanews-off@atheists.org
To change your email address, send a message to aanews-change@atheists.org
with your old address in the Subject: line
American Atheists, PO Box 158, Cranford, NJ 07016
Monday, June 21, 2010
Dispraxis was edited
Recent changes on Dispraxis
Page My questions to Dr Robert M Price in mp3 format
edited by John F. Felix
My questions to Dr. Robert M. Price (mp3 format)
Here are links tosome .mp3 files, each containing one or more questions submitted by me to Dr. Robert M. Price, the "Biblegeek," who currently accepts Bible-related questions at: criticus@aol.com.
The official Website of Dr. Price has a page dedicated to the Biblegeek show:http://www.robertmprice.mindvendor.com/biblegeek.htm. Also, check out his latest endeavor on the Center For Inquiry's podcastPoint of Inquiry,and his CFI blog: http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/robertmprice.
The Biblegeek audio show ishosted by uStream.tv at:http://ustream.tv/channel/thebiblegeek.
Question # 1: A "Q" community?
Question # 5 & # 6: How reliable are Dr. Price's Pre-Nicene New Testament translations? and Evidence in the Septuagint Greek for reverse engineering by the MT.
Copyright (c) 2010 by John F. Felix. All rights reserved.
Here are links tosome .mp3 files, each containing one or more questions submitted by me to Dr. Robert M. Price, the "Biblegeek," who currently accepts Bible-related questions at: criticus@aol.com.
The official Website of Dr. Price has a page dedicated to the Biblegeek show:http://www.robertmprice.mindvendor.com/biblegeek.htm. Also, check out his latest endeavor on the Center For Inquiry's podcastPoint of Inquiry,and his CFI blog: http://www.centerforinquiry.net/blogs/robertmprice.
The Biblegeek audio show ishosted by uStream.tv at:http://ustream.tv/channel/thebiblegeek.
Question # 1: A "Q" community?
Question # 5 & # 6: How reliable are Dr. Price's Pre-Nicene New Testament translations? and Evidence in the Septuagint Greek for reverse engineering by the MT.
Copyright (c) 2010 by John F. Felix. All rights reserved.
Friday, June 18, 2010
Keyword News: [atheism]
Modern libertarianism is usurpation of an earlier movement, with a firm foundation in freethought, atheism and progressivist feminism.
| Yahoo! Alerts | Yahoo! News - My Alerts - Edit Alert |
| Thursday, June 17, 2010 7:54 AM PDT |
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| See more news stories that match my keyword | |
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Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Making Humanism Relevant to African Americans
|
Jamila Bey is a journalist and comedian living in Washington, DC. Born to a Southern Baptist convert to Catholicism and a non-practicing Black Muslim, Jamila has formally renounced her "confused" belief in the supernatural and is now an out and proud Atheist. Jamila began her career covering government in her hometown of Pittsburgh and moved to DC where she was an editor for four years at National Public Radio. She's been a writer for hire for the better part of the last decade and is devoted to spreading the gospel of Logic, Reason, and Science to all those who may hear. Check out her article, "
Gilbert Holmes is a long time board member and now Executive Director of ACLU of Indiana. He is a graduate of Southern Illinois University, University of Southern California, and the Indiana University School of Law. He has had a distinguished career in both government and the private sector including Commissioner, Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles (BMV) and President/CEO of Indianapolis Public Transportation Corporation (IndyGo). 
Desmond Wood was baptized as a Lutheran but drifted away from the church as he matured. He converted to Islam in 2000. During this time, he traveled to the Middle East and studied Arabic. In 2005, he began to hang out and study with an esoteric group in Indianapolois. After a year with them, he began to study diverse subjects on his own and discovered Center for Inquiry Indiana. He is a serious student of philosophy and religion as well as studying the art of classical music and jazz on the classical guitar.
Rod Ross is an accomplished painter and sculptor. He has a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Visual Communication from Indiana University/Herron School of Art & Design. He has been a graphic design instructor, art teacher at a private school, faculty member of Clark College and Ivy Tech State College, and co-owner of a graphic design studio. Presently he is a teacher in Indianapolis Public Schools. He has been a member of CFI Indiana for several years. His website is ![I Support CFI Button [Small]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uhYrDDHBCcb6jT4AKKiHBiMfM13l0M5oRqrSnb-OXPuabhUzLVeSp9jgJlwwJrZiAInx_eGU90o1_hV90kex5b_sGfB4EJj7AhwZkDo7Hr4NZN4cIdtNmt8-FaGBXHgeC9MsmGRnoMbGBuMDENqg=s0-d)
©2010 Center for Inquiry | Indiana · 350 Canal Walk, Suite A · Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 (317) 423-0710 · indy@centerforinquiry.net |
Monday, April 19, 2010
Secular Humanism Online News -- April, 2010
 | |||
Vol.6 No.4, April, 2010 In This Issue:
The Council for Secular Humanism has announced the spectacular lineup for its 30th Anniversary Conference. Long in the planning, “Setting the Agenda: Secular Humanism’s Next 30 Years” will feature some of the most impressive names in science promotion and secularism today, including Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Robert Wright, James Randi, P.Z. Myers, Christopher diCarlo, Eugenie Scott, Paul Kurtz, Lawrence Krauss, Chris Mooney, Jennifer Michael Hecht, Victor Stenger, Shadia Drury, Mark Johnson, Barry Kosmin, Ibn Warraq, and many more. | |||
| |||
| The Council for Secular Humanism is committed to free inquiry, reason, and science, the separation of Church and State, civil liberties, nontheism and humanist ethics. It does not endorse candidates or parties, nor does it take political positions as a corporate body. We open our publications to a wide range of opinions, including dissenting viewpoints; opinions expressed in columns and articles do not necessarily represent the views of the Council. | |||
 | |||
| ©2010 Council for Secular Humanism, 3965 Rensch Road, Amherst, NY 14228 | |||
Friday, March 12, 2010
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Portland Humanist Examiner: Religion: Idaho Baptists face conspiracy, kidnapping charges in Haiti
| Religion: Idaho Baptists face conspiracy and attempted kidnapping charges in Haiti. 10 Idaho Baptists who tried to smuggle 33 children out of Haiti into the neighboring Dominican Republic have been charged with conspiracy and attempted kidnapping,... Read more » Portland Humanist Examiner, Micha J. Stone  Micha is a freelance writer and truth seeker. Micha adopts an optimistic stance that entails self determination and the dignity and worth of all people. More than simply negating the supernatural, Micha will investigate the human condition where politics and religion intersect. Informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion, Micha's task is to question the world in pursuit of the good. With an eye toward human and civil rights, church and state, oppression and discrimination, life and death; Micha will explore all manner of intolerance, bigotry, and injustice. The task is to explore and expose inhumanity, while promoting the humane, the just, and the wise. | |
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
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"
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* 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@).
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American Atheists, PO Box 158, Cranford, NJ 07016
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