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American Atheist
Volume
43 Number
Summer 2005
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editor@atheists.org
Summer 2005
Pagel
American Atheist
A Journal
of Atheist
Summer 2005
EDITOR'S DESK
A World Without Religion
Frank R. Zindler
Art:
"Inside
the
2005 National Convention of
American Atheists," by Keith
McCaffety. Clockwise from one
o'clock: Christian Science child
abuse expert Dr. Seth Asser;
Alton J. Lemon of Lemon v
Kurtzman fame; screen writer
Larry Beinhart; Chris Harper
a.k.a.
Landover
Baptist's
Pastor Deacon Fred; American
Atheists' own David Silverman;
Military
Atheists
director
Kathleen
Johnson;
journalist-author Jack Germond; and
American
Atheists
President
Ellen Johnson.
Keynote Address
Ellen Johnson
Page 2
American Atheist
Summer 2005
Page 3
Editor's Desk
Frank R. Zindler
Page 4
Philadelphia Convention
Highlights
American Atheists 31 st Annual Convention
Thursday, March 24 -
he
City
of Brotherly
Love welcomed American
Atheists for our 31st annual,
national convention. As the winter weather finally began to thaw
and spring had officially begun,
over 250 Atheists from around
the country met at the Hyatt
Regency Hotel at Penn's Landing
in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The hotel sits at the water's edge
along the Delaware River, and
hotel guests were treated to relaxing sights of the river from almost
every room.
The day began with an amusing
and warm welcome from our
Pennsylvania State Director Lorie
Polansky. She regaled us with tales
of her interesting experiences as an
Atheist activist, and she left us with
the thought, "Idle hands are the
devil's workshop." Punxutawney Phil,
the famous groundhog, assisted Lorie
in her presentation.
Page 6
Summer 2005
American Atheist
Summer 2005
Page 7
Panelists unpack and demonstrate the use ofuarious items from 'The Atheist's Toolkit.'
ernment entities at the local, state,
and federal levels continue to engage
in sweetheart deals, give grants, and
charter units. Worse yet, our lawmakers, who are sworn to uphold the
constitution and all that it stands for,
continue to pass legislation or resolutions that call the BSA a national
treasure and allow them to recruit in
our schools and use school facilities."
Chris Harper,
a.k.a. Pastor
Deacon Fred, gave a rousing 'sermon':
"Friends, I want to share some scripture with you and give you a flavor
of what our loving lord has in store
for folks like you who think they can
go around thinking for themselves.
Friends, it isn't my job here today to
question how the lord gets his kicks.
Page 8
The man after whom the "threepronged Lemon test" was named.
This is the most important concept of
state-church separation law today.
Summer 2005
American Atheist
by
similar to the 2004 presidential election. The title of Larry's talk was "God
is To Spirituality What Pornography
is To Sex." He posed the questions, "If
we're so smart why aren't we rich? If
we're so right, why doesn't everyone
agree with us?" His talk was punctuated with funny comments like these
but his talk was a serious examination of how a psychotic belief system
such can have such a strong grip on
people and what we can do about it.
American Atheists has always
brought a speaker from an international Atheist organization to its
conventions. This year we invited Mr.
Albert i Riva of Ateus de Catalunya
(Atheists of Catalonia, the Barcelona
while stim-
LEFT: Jill and Adrian Palmer receiving the Valor Award for their courage in withstanding withering persecution at
the hands of 'good Christians.' CENTER: Atheists of the Year laureates Helen and Edwin Kagin, founders of Camp
Quest, receive their laurels from Ellen Johnson. RIGHT: A surprised Frank Zindler receives the Lifetime Of Service
Award from Ellen.
Parsippany, New Jersey
Summer 2005
Page 9
Arlo Pignotti, collector of religious products and paraphernalia (and they say we're
materialistic?) brought his latest collection of
the bizarre stuff that religion has to offer.
On Friday night members and invited
guests attended the banquet and awards
dinner. This provided us an opportunity to
thank the many people who helped make
the convention possible. Warm welcomes
were extended to the following people: Ann
and Frank Zindler, Neal Cary, Noel F.Ambry,
Bart Meltzer, George Schiffer, Arlene Marie,
Joe Zamecki, Marla Repka, Wayne Aiken,
Dick Hogan, Blair Scott, Cindy Sabourin,
Larry Mundinger, Timothy Dicks, Ed Gauci,
Lorie Polansky, Dave. Kong, Edwin Kagin,
Ron Stauffer, Henry Morgan, Dennis Horvitz,
and Chad Hetman and Conrad Goeringer.
This occasion also provided an opportunity to honor and award those individuals who
have distinguished themselves in our cause.
Those so honored were:
Atheists Of The Year Helen and Edwin Kagin
Humanitarian
Summer 2005
American Atheist
Keynot~L(\dd ress
President Ellen Johnson
at the
Summer 2005
American Atheist
it at the
local and national levels. Then and only then will the politicians begin to
court our votes just as they do with every other voting bloc.
umbilical cord between government
and religious organizations.
Voting as a block is important,
and I am going to continue speaking
to Atheist groups around the country to promote the idea of political
involvement at the local level. We
need to get more of you involved in
politics, either in working on campaigns or preferably running for
office yourselves.
We need to establish ourselves as
a 'voting bloc' and demonstrate it at
the local and national levels. Then
and only then will the politicians
begin to court our votes just as they
do with every other voting bloc.
We also need to focus on our
issues first and vote those issues at
the ballot box. The politicians will
begin to court our vote, and give us
what we want, when and only when
we decide to give them our votes in
return for what we want. We can't
simply demand to be heard. We have
to earn it with our voting strength.
When it comes to the National
Rifle Association, their supporters look at candidates' stands on
gun issues - and that is how they
vote. They are single-issue voters.
And like it or not, we have to start
doing the same thing. Most of the
issues we fight, struggle with, and
agonize over can be solved with our
voting strength; and the GAMPAC
is ready to lead the way. The March
on Washington has now become our
march into the voting booth.
Sometimes It's Personal
Our organization has to be here
to help each other. Sometimes the
issues that come to our attention are
not about legislation, but more personal issues like this one. I received
an e-mail signed "a very worried
mom." She wrote: "Please can you
help me find an attorney? It has to
do with the principal walking into an
ongoing class with two men from the
Gideons distributing Bibles. My son
would not take one and had walked
Parsippany, New Jersey
Summer 2005
Page 13
When Ralph Reed was building the Christian Coalition, he didn't pick up
one damn scrap of paper along some highway. He and his people picked
up votes and voters instead.
have paid for press conferences at the
National Press Club in Washington,
DC, and invited representatives of
the various groups to join us. We
have organized rallies in front of the
United States Supreme Court and
invited the same folks to come and
join us there. And of course, we spent
a lot of money putting on the largest
show of unity and cooperation in our
history with the Godless Americans
March On Washington' - and again
gave as many groups as we could
time on the stage and on C-SPAN.
We never told anyone what he or
she could or could not say. It works
this way. Please note that it was the
representatives of some other groups
who balked at joining us.
Another thing that we at American
Atheists have emphasized is mutual
cooperation. Voluntary Cooperation.
Cooperation based on respect, and
most important of all, respect for
our differences and for each other.
American Atheists has never - and
will never - use its Web-site or publications to make personal attacks
on any other representatives of any
other Atheist groups. We can disagree
on policy but the personal stuff is off
limits. American Atheists has led
the way in raising our movement's
awareness of the importance of not
only working together, but doing so
on the basis of mutual respect.
Second, we can talk and argue and
debate issues, like what we should
call ourselves, and how we should
define ourselves, until doomsday
- and it won't amount to anything
politically.
I prefer that we spend our time
and resources on addressing specific issues of public policy like
the faith-based initiative, legislation like the Religious Land Use
and Institutionalized Persons Act
(RLUIPA), vouchers, and having
more input in the discussion over
public policy - because that's where
the real change comes from. And I
have to tell you that as I go across
the country there is a hunger for
Page 14
we consider constitutional - and American Humanist Association in your support. We take on plenty of
Washington, DC. It was for the lead- different issues, including the tough
not just vis-a-vis the Establishment
Clause. Groups like the ACLU and ers of all the national Atheist groups ones that are not the fashion of the
Americans United don't primarily
across the country. Representatives
moment. And as this movement conserve the Atheist community like we from about two dozen organizations tinues to grow and gain influence,
do. so they don't have any allegiance attended and some of them, to our and I think that is going to happen,
to Atheists' concerns. So, when it surprise, were religious. American someone has to be the watch dog.
comes to Establishment
Clause Atheists was there, and we had some Someone has to make sure that we
issues, they sometimes support the interesting discussions and it was don't get sold down the political drain
religious side over the Atheist side. important that all of these people of expediency.
This past week for instance, the US including myself interact and meet
Finally, I want to briefly talk
Supreme Court heard arguments in each other and talk. But at every about our legacy.We trace our organithe Cutter v Wilkinson case, which meeting like this, you hear Atheists zational roots back over four decades
involves a suit by Ohio prison inmates saying, "Well, we have to do more to the 1963 Murray v Curlett case,
to claim special religious privileges to work with religious groups ... which was not the first state-church
under the so-called Religious Land so that we gain respectability and separation case, but it was the first
Use and Institutionalized Persons acceptance and that we can't succeed time in American jurisprudence
Act, or RLUIPA. This act requires without them."
where the petitioners honestly and
After sitting there listening to proudly declared: "We Are Atheists."
the government to use an elevated
test when dealing with religious this for about a couple of hours I Thereafter, Madalyn O'Hair began a
groups and practices. It
systematic collection effort
was passed by Congress I am tired of being told by non-Atheist,
to gather and preserve
as a compromise on
our history, and today
earlier
legislation state-church separation advocates that
the Charles E. Stephens
which went under dif- we are not wanted in the fight.
American Atheist Library
ferent names like the
and Archives is the largest
Religious Freedom Restoration Act finally said to them that we don't private gathering of such material in
and the Religious Liberty Protection want that. American Atheists exists the United States. We are restoring
Act. There were various amicus briefs in dissent to religion. If their orga- this collection in New Jersey and it
filed, and the American Civil Liberties nizations don't, well fine. But to me has taken a great deal of time and
Union and Americans United for the theology was and is the problem and effort, but this assemblage of Atheist
Separation of Church and State were the root source of so many difficulties and related
books, documents,
on the side of defending the RLUIPA. our culture faces today. I want to see ephemera, and video-film material
Again, no disrespect because this it gone from our culture. I don't want continues to grow.
is an honest disagreement of how to play footsie with groups that work
A movement without a past, a
the First Amendment works, and to promote it.
movement that does not know its
we know that not everyone in the
Additionally, I am tired of being legacy and does not know its heroes
ACLU supported this. But both of told by non-Atheist, state-church
and heroines, is a movement without
these groups supported the original separation advocates that we are a future. This extraordinary colReligious Freedom Restoration Act, not wanted in the fight. I am tired lection is yet another reason why
which was declared unconstitutional.
of being asked not to attend a press American Atheists needs to thrive,
From the mid 1990s, American conference or not to get involved in and why it is worthy of your support.
Atheists was one of the few national
an issue because they don't want It is unique. It is worth preserving. It
Atheist groups, and it was the only this issue to look like a fight between is a reminder of who we are, where
Atheist organization that opposed religion and Atheism - when that is we came from, and it will document
this sort of legislation. Our state what it damned well is. I am tired of that future we intend to make.
directors like Dave Kong testified in Atheists being told that it would be
Thank-you all for your support
front of legislative committees, we better for a lawsuit if a member of over the years. It's a privilege worksubmitted written testimony at the the clergy were the plaintiff than an ing with you. I hope you enjoy the
federal level; we have fought this Atheist. Well it's about time that peo- convention.
legislation across the country tooth ple got used to us and they will never
and nail!
.get used to us if we take a backseat
Here is another example of where to everyone else. If we work with any
we differ with other groups. You'll other group it must be as equals, not
be reading in the American Atheist subordinates.
Newsletter about an event that took
Those are some of the important
place earlier this year, and this was an reasons why American Atheists is
"Inauguration Summit" hosted by the needed, and why, I think, it deserves
Parsippany, New Jersey
Summer 2005
Page 15
Page 16
Summer 2005
American Atheist
and volunteered more than 1,000 do not believe in a deity can and do the ground, he would pick it up, take
hours of community service. He was reflect good morals, just like those of the money, and throw the wallet
a member of search and rescue and you reading this letter. Teaching boys back on the ground. Schmitt went
to mistrust and reject non-believers on to say that if a Christian were
fought forest fires over the summer.
But, because Darrell had no belief makes a mockery of the true moral to find a wallet, he would return it
in a god he is considered unfit to be values of Scouts. I, personally, have intact. Darrell also said that he once
an assistant Scoutmaster. I once vis- not imposed my beliefs on other got an e-mail from a Scout who said
ited the campus of the college he was Scouts and ask only to be given the Humanists were evil.
In his appeal letter, Darrell had
attending in Tacoma, Washington. same consideration in return."
(Now, Darrell is studying forestry
Later, I would work with a four- this to say: "Youhave taught them by
your own example
somewhere in the
''You have taught them by your own example to look down on
South.) While we
were talking, some- to look down on non-believers, to see them non-believers, to see
one came up to him
them as immoral
as immoral and unworthy and deserving
and unworthy and
and asked if he was
going to make it to hatred ... "
deserving ofhat red.
Bible study that
You have taught
day. I was dumbfounded.
I later teen-year-old Atheist Scout who them to make this judgment without
asked him about it and he told me would be kicked out of his troop for any knowledge of the other person's
that he attended Bible study regu- his non-theistic beliefs. He had a character, without any knowledge of
larly. In fact, he said he had nothing hard time seeing how learning life them at all beyond their religious
against religion. He studied religions skills, orienteering, and first aid beliefs. But a judgment based on one
from around the world and pondered required a belief in a god. After all, aspect of a person's character can
their teachings. In fact, he read the he argued, weren't the Scouts about never be just."
Bible to his nephew virtually every teaching self-reliance, not faith in
I imagine several of you here
Supernatural?
today know the sting of discriminanight.
It is time we stop this madness. tion - either because of your nonWhat I realized was that he was
Instead of claiming discrimination
more spiritual than some who attend
theist beliefs or for other reasons.
church regularly. He had a clear sense and bigotry as part of its "traditional
You all know that diversity is what
of what he believed and he was not standards of membership," the Boy makes this country great. An organiScouts of America should be about zation that purports to represent the
conflicted about it. However, that's
not good enough if you want to par- the business of building strong very best about our society should
ticipate in the Boy Scouts of America. youth. You can't do that without
understand that. That is what the
They don't consider a belief in ethi- teaching tolerance and a respect for Boy Scouts of America or supposed to
differences. While we recognize that
cal decision making, Mother Nature
stand for. The Boy Scout Handbook
or humanistic understanding to be the organization has the legal right says Scouts should "respect and
defend the right of all people." I
enough. You have to believe in a god. to ban both gays and non-theists,
Scouts are required to be "reverent" morally and ethically the Boy Scouts think it is safe to say the Boy Scouts
and adults must sign a "Declaration of America is acting with reckless of America leadership is a bunch of
disregard. Society must hold them hypocrites.
of Religious Principles."
I think Darrell said it best in accountable for the consequences of
In recent months, the Boy Scouts
his appeal letter, after he had been their bigotry.
of America have been rocked by scanFor gay youth, the message is that
kicked out of the Boy Scouts of
dal after scandal related to inflated
America: "As a Scout, I always held "you are not of value." For non-the- membership rolls. Apparently, sevthe twelve points of the Scout Law to ist youth, the message is that "your eral councils have been reporting
be equal. Today, I realize that there beliefs are wrong because they run membership numbers in a manner
is one point that stands above all the counter to those of the Boy Scouts similar to the way Enron reported
others. A Scout is loyal. On November of America's leadership." For other its financial earnings. Apparently,
5th, I received a letter that says I Scouts, the message is that "it is they forgot that Scouts are supposed
must completely disassociate myself okay to pick-on or lash-out against to be honest and trustworthy. Many
those that are somehow different
from the Boy Scouts. The letter hurts
councils have moved all unit charter
me more than anything ever has from you."
renewals to December, so that they
Darrell repeated a couple of can quickly process all unit charter
before in my life. It tells me that I
am no longer considered worthy of examples of discrimination he faced applications, but hold all applications
my fellow Scouts' loyalty.
as a non-theist. He said that his dis- showing loses until January. Some
"My place in the Boy Scouts has trict commissioner in the Boy Scouts councils even have a "no-droppedbeen denied because I do not believe of America, Glenn Schmitt, once said unit" policy and continue to report
in God. Yet, millions of people who that if an Atheist found a wallet on units which have ceased to exist, or
of
Page 18
Summer 2005
American Atheist
An hysterical sermon of repentance delivered (deposited?) by 'Pastor Deacon Fred' of Landover Baptist
Church at (onto?) the American Atheists 31st National
Convention on Friday, March 25, 2005.
REETINGS! My name is
Pastor Deacon Fred, from
Landover Baptist Church in
Freehold, Iowa - home to the largest
Harry Potter Book Burning in North
America.
Some of you might wonder why
I always show up at these conventions. Well, as you know, I'm a True
Christian. I'm not a yellow-bellied
sissy. I've got the Godly balls to stand
in front of this dangerous crowd
and speak the Truth! Besides, as an
American Preacher, as long as there's
twenty-four-hour room service and
they pick up my first-class airfare,
I'll give my 18.4-minute inspirational
presentation to Lucifer himself!
I stand before you today as one
of the world's foremost Christian
experts on the disease called athe-
Page 19
Page 20
Summer 2005
:..
but He is
ment teaches us that we are not supposed to have any other gods besides
the God in the Holy Bible. See there?
The 10 Commandments are mostly
concerned with punishing people
who picked the wrong God. So friends
here today - if you haven't picked a
God yet, you've got nothing to worry
about.
See, a lot of folks don't
believe there are other gods, but
OUR GOD OBVIOUSLY DOES
- OR HE WOULDN'T FEEL SO
THREATENED BY THEM!
FRIENDS, I DON'T KNOW WHY
WE ARE JUST STUCK ON THE
TEN COMMANDMENTS! I can't
stand THESE SISSY Christians who
pick and choose what sort of laws
they think that God wants them to
Page 21
tvt:
TO YOUR S~ON~
1. 71-\ IN I<.-
In this I pray,
Your humble servant,
Oh, and while I have you, Jesus,
I really want me one of them new
Lexus two-door automobiles with the
hands-free Blue-Tooth installed.
AMEN!
Friends, remember - Salvation is
nothing to be joked about! God's free
gift to those who accept it, is eternal
life AND - this month only - a
free 52-Inch Plasma Wide-Screen TV
with Home Theatre, compliments of
me and the baby Jesus if you convert before the year 2006. Please be
sure to visit our church website at
landoverbaptist.com for more details
and wonderful holiday gift ideas for
unsaved trash.
THANK YOU!
ANb
By Frank R. Zindler
Stock # 7026
Page 22
Summer 2005
$20.00
American Atheist
Summer 2005
Godless Americans Political Action their religion so long as this does not "offend" religious believers by quesCommittee. In terms of becoming violate 'neutral' civil laws. But reli- tioning the truth, the value, and the
more effective, we have to become gious belief must not be elevated to historicity of the foundations of these
more politically savvy, we have to do the status of a 'special right' with beliefs.
One of the biggest offenders
with our ideas what Pat Robertson special privileges - which is what is
and Dobson have done for theirs. We happening now in the United States. here, of course, is Islam, and let me
have to become 'players' in the politi- We have a growing list of laws, which remind you of just one example of
empower religious groups and indi- this, which is all but forgotten. It is
cal process.
I can't stand here and tell you to viduals with these 'special rights,' the case of author Salman Rushdie.
do the same. That has to be your deci- and American Atheists has been You may recall that Mr. Rushdie is
fighting this legislation at the state a fiction writer, and it was his 1988
sion. I can tell you that throughout
the world, we would be foolish not to and federal level for over a decade.
novel The Satanic Verses that landed
take advantage of the opportunities
The flip side of this coin is also him squarely in the middle of the
that democracy offers. If you want true. Just as the religious must be international culture wars raging
to change the culture, if you want to free to express their opinions, no at that time. The book was said to
depict Mohammed in an
influence the course of poliunfavorable light. While
tics, some of it you have to do "Mocking religion, either in passing
Prime
Minister
it as an insider. This doesn't jest or with hostile intent, becomes Indian
Rajiv Gandhi supported a
mean that we neglect the
both a thought crime and an act of move by two Moslems in
other things we're organized
the Parliament to ban the
for. And if we're realists, we aggression. "
novel, demonstrations by
have to accept the idea that
matter
how
odious
or
erroneous
they
Islamic groups broke out and spread
for the immediate future, at least, we
will remain - in part - as 'outsiders,' may be, Atheists must also be free to throughout the sub-Continent and
criticize religion. We must be free to into Southern Asia, and even to
as a minority.
We like to talk about how secular- express our opinions in the public Great Britain. In London, the direcism is spreading, how Atheists are square, no matter how 'offensive,' tor general of the Islamic Cultural
'coming out of the closet' - and all or provocative, or 'blasphemous' the Center branded The Satanic Verses
as "the most offensive, filthy, and
of this is true - but there are coun- religious may consider them to be.
And there's the word I'm looking abusive book ever written by a hostervailing forces at work here that
tile enemy of Islam."
we have to acknowledge. The point for - blasphemy!
In his historic Commentary on the
In Iran, the Ayatollah Khomeini
is that despite globalization and the
cadre
of authoritarfact that especially in the West we Law, the 18th century jurist William and his
think of ourselves as modernists and Blackstone declared that blasphemy ian Clerical Fascists saw blood and
cosmopolitans - citizens of the world was "denying the providence of God, opportunity, and issued a fatwa
advancing an Enlightenment agenda contumelious reproaches of our or death sentence. Muslim groups
- religious fundamentalism is on the Savior Christ, profane scoffing at the throughout the world demanded not
rise. There are many reasons for this. Holy Scriptures, or exposing it to con- only the ultimate penalty for Mr.
Rushdie, but declared that the novel
But the point remains that spread- tempt or ridicule."
You notice that this definition should be banned as "blasphemous."
ing the 'good news,' the positive and
This was bad enough. But the real
humane and enlightened messages is phrased to protect the Christian
faith;
and
certainly
in
the
West,
blasthreat to civil liberties was coming,
of Atheism and secularism is going
to remain in our lifetimes a hard- phemy statutes have been invoked to not just from the frenzied crowds of
do just that. Mention blasphemy to mostly young bearded men in distant
fought, uphill struggle.
So that brings me back to the orig- the typical American, many of whom Muslim lands, but from the timidity
inal question: How do we defend and have a poor understanding of the of western governments and other
advance the cause ofAtheism and the First Amendment to the Constitution institutions, and even the connivance
total, absolute separation of govern- of the United States, and you are of Western religious figures.
Canadian officials found a way to
ment and religion? Secularism and likely to be told that it is an obsolete
this separation remain the expres- practice. That it no longer exists. But comply with Khomeini's bullying by
sion of Atheism in the public square. in the rest of world, blasphemy stat- simply impounding printed copies of
Rushdie's novel at ports of entry. In
Religious belief should remain a utes are alive and well.
With the surge of fundamentalist
France, Cardinal Decourtray buried
matter of personal choice, and religious people - as members of a free religions across the globe, there is a the sectarian hatchet and emerged
society - must be free to believe in growing chorus of voices demanding as an ecumenical sympathizer and
whatever deity or deities they choose limits on free expression, and penal- charged that, "once again, believers
to worship. They must be free to con- ties for those who "insult" or "defame" have been offended in their faith."
gregate. They must be free to practice some religion, and on those who may The Soviet Ambassador to Great
Page 24
Summer 2005
American Atheist
Britain seemed to agree. So much for continued to grow. The Archbishop They circled the wagons, to use an
of Canterbury declared his condi- American old-western phrase. Can't
"official Atheism" or the belief that
tional
sympathies for the riotous we learn from that? Had Rushdie
the USSR was, somehow, a paragon
fanatics
demonstrating
written a story making fun of a politiin guaranteeing
non-believers a Muslim
robust, substantive, and meaning- across Britain, condemning the book, cal figure, you would not find oppoful right to criticism of religion. but urging restraint on behalf of the nents of that same politician insisting that the book be banned, and
Ambassador Leonid Zamyatin chose offended Islamists.
To be fair, some groups did cou- the author be vilified. Rushdie had
not to attack the clerical Fascists but
instead to criticize Mr. Rushdie and rageously step forth to defend Mr. attacked religion. The lesson is clear.
those defending him, saying that
Rushdie and condemn the fatwa. But In the age of encroaching secularism,
the publication of the book "clearly yet, the Rushdie incidence brought religionists will set aside their doctrishows the need for respect for reli- forth the emergence of a new ratio- nal differences, and demand protecgious feelings and traditions ..." In nale for resurrecting what were tions from the state under the rubric
of 'hate laws' and 'related statutes.
Rome, the official Vatican newspaper once considered obsolete statutes
Now, lest you think
declared in bold type: "The
that the Rushdie case is
very attachment to our own
somehow irrelevant
in
faith induces us to deplore ... a more serious bill was introduced
the new millennium, conthat which is irreverent and in the New York State Legislature
sider that as we meet here
blasphemous in the book's
that
"Creates
the
crime
ridicule
today,
Italian journalist
content."
religious
belief
or
practices
which
Oriana
Fallaci is actually
And then there was the
on trial in Italy for makAmerican reaction. We have is a Class B misdemeanor; provides
ing remarks in a new
a Conservative columnist
the crime book that were supposedly
and former political opera- that a person is guilty
tive named Pat Buchanan when in a public place he/she holds "unequivocally offensive
to Islam and Muslims,"
who aggressively defends
up the deity or the religious beliefs
something prohibited in
the religious right. He
people to ridi- the state criminal code.
accused Rushdie of "writ- any religious class
ing a defamatory novel, a cule or hatred or presents
religious Ms. Fallaci was also sued
in 2004 by the head of the
blasphemous assault on the
Italian Muslim Union prefaith of hundreds of millions beliefs in an obscene, lewd, profane
- an act of moral vandalism or lascivious manner."
sumably for - and this is
a quote - "lying, offending,
by an artistic delinquent."
and defaming Muslims around the
Despite Rushdie's credentials as against blasphemy. And it is one that
a progressive intellectual, who is an threatens Atheists today, one that world." And this is all made possible
Atheist, who spoke out on behalf of woos public sensibilities and political by Italian law forbidding "outrages
the emancipation of women, freedom elites under the seemingly innocent against religion."
of expression, and the virtues of secu- notion of 'tolerance.' The rationale is
Fortunately, there are voices
lar culture, Mr. Rushdie soon found that the state must intervene to 'pro- speaking out, if not in defense ofwhat
himself wanting for sympathy and tect' religious and other groups from Ms. Fallaci has written about Islam,
'insulting' or demeaning remarks. It at least in defense of her right to
support, even within many quarters
the American and European liberal has gone from a "crime against the voice her opinions. The International
almighty" into a politically correct Herald Tribune editorialized on June
elite. The silence was deafening.
If you go back and look at the notion aimed at preventing so-called 9 of this year: "Far from everyone will
newspaper coverage, one ofthe things "hate speech." Mocking religion, agree with Fallaci or with the way
that stands out is how quiet college either in passing jest or with hos- she expresses her opinions. But the
campuses were. Also revealing were tile intent, becomes both a thought right to make unpopular or intemperdecisions by major bookstore chains crime and an act of aggression. The ate statements is a hallmark of a free
not to display or sell copies of the fact that believers may be insulted society." The editors added that the
or offended is cause to condemn the issues at stake in the Fallaci case "go
Rushdie novel. One bookstore that
did openly and defiantly sell the book perpetrator or critic, while ignor- beyond the fate of one writer." "Even
was firebombed, as were the officesof ing deeper truths about the falsity, in these volatile times," said the
a small weekly newspaper that had absurdity, or even harm caused by Tribune, ''Western judges and politivocally spoken out on behalf of the the religion in question.
cians must do all they can to make
Christian and Jewish leaders it clear that freedom of expression is
embattled author. But the chorus of
westerners, including many religious didn't defend Mr. Rushdie, because nonnegotiable."
leaders who condemned Rushdie defending any religion is preferable
You don't have to go very far in
or urged that the book be censored to allowing criticism of any religion. news archives or on the Internet
of
of
of
of
of
Summer 2005
Page 25
Summer 2005
American Atheist
Summer 2005
An Atheist Epic
Madalyn Murray O'Hair
AANEWS
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Page 28
Summer 2005
American Atheist
atheistcentre@yahoo.com
atheistcentre@rediffinail.com
Phone:
Fax:
+918662472330
+91 866 2484850
The Inauguration
Dr. Demos Gora presented a
welcome dance, followed by an
international
song sung by delegates, which was written by Mr.
Kumaraswami. Following this, Mr.
Roy Brown, President of the IHED
and Mr. Levi Fragell, President of
the Conference from Norway, flagged
off the Conference by way of swinging the flags of the countries whose
representatives were present for the
Conference.
Dr. Vijayam of the Atheist Centre,
highlighted the historical significance
of the five World Atheist Conferences
from 1972 to 2005. He stated that
Atheism and Social Progress are
intricately interconnected and that
Atheism is a way of life and a philosophy based upon reality and social
outlook. It aims at the development
of an individual's personality in
every sphere of life. Atheism is not
negative, but positive; it is construeSummer 2005
Summer 2005
A special ballet, Atheism, Peace, and Progress, was composed and choreographed specially for the 5th World Atheist
Conference. Dr. Demos Gora danced as prima ballerina, accompanied by a fairly large corps de ballet.
Theology, which is the teachings
Citing examples of different the discoveries of science differ from
secular democracies, he said Atheists religious 'knowledge' that is sterile, or the doctrines about gods, is based
could no longer keep themselves aloof unchanging, and all too frequently, on so-called holy-scriptures. These
from the political fray. The "battles wrong. And finally, we need to teach doctrines claim to be the absolute
for the future of humankind were them science, not as the wisdom of a truth about scientific matters, for
being fought out in the arena of world new, white-coated priesthood, but as instance the origin of the Universe.
politics and the key word for every a continuing process of observation They explain the meaning of life for
all and everybody and give the final
humanist must be engagement. Four and discovery.
laws and rules for moral behavior. As
hundred years after Copernicus, relisecular knowledge and human expeA Legitimate Alternative
gious belief has finally been exposed
rience accumulate, the religious docMr. Levi Fragell's Presidential
as no more than wishful thinking. We
trines often become more and more
address:
won. Reason really has triumphed
over the supernatural. The result
Presiding over the inaugural, Mr. dysfunctional - inhuman and suphas been social progress unprec- Levi Fragell, former President of the pressive. The conditions for women
in many theology-based cultures are
edented in human history. History IHEU, from Norway, underlined
will probably show that it was dur- the need to promote Atheism as a one example. Social development
ing the 20th century that belief in a legitimate alternative to theism. He is obstructed and natural human
Supreme Being, both personal god pointed out that it was the belief in a needs are neglected. For more than
and creator of the Universe, finally god that most often was an obstacle two thousand years humanists and
became untenable. Untenable, that for ethical, social, human, and artis- philosophers in India, Greece, and
is, for anyone reasonably well-versed tic development as well as scientific Rome - and later on all over the
world - have attacked the notion of
in the discoveries of science."
creativity.
He brought to the fore that
scientific progress would be impossible without the Rationalist, Atheist
world view. We must work to ensure
that our world view becomes dominant not just in the sense of being
right, but in the sense of becoming
the most widely accepted.
He stressed that children should
first and foremost be taught the
tools of discovery, otherwise known
as literacy and numeracy. The greatest gift we can give our children
is the ability to discover the world
for themselves. But we must also
teach them critical thinking. And
more than that, we must justify
critical thinking to them by giving
examples of how it has led to social
progress. We need to teach our children scientific literacy, not so they A corner of the exhibition hall in which each of the visiting foreign delegations
can become scientists, but so they mounted displays amongst the exhibits of Indian Atheists, Humanists, and
can see for themselves how totally Freethinkers.
Parsippany, New Jersey
Summer 2005
Page 31
Together
these
three fruits of theism are an obstacle
for human progress
and a possible
danger for our civilization. Examples are
the role of religion in
nationalism, imperialism, the biblical fundamentalism in the
Middle East, the "Gott
..
Page 32
Summer 2005
Summer 2005
One of the many buildings comprising the Indian Atheist Centre, a cluster of buildings covering several acres of land in the heart ofVijayawada.
The Atheist Centre hosted the 5th World Atheist Conference at nearby
Siddhartha College.
theme, "Atheism and Humanism
As a Way of Life." In this session a
number of resource persons participated. They included Mr. Lavanam,
Atheist Centre; Mrs. Mythri, Editor,
Nasthika Margam, Atheist Telugu
Monthly; Mrs. Rashmi Samaram,
Secretary, Vasavya Mahila Mandali;
Ramachandra CST Voltaire and Prof.
Dhaneswar Sahu from Orissa; Ms.
Tina Hoffman, Ms. Esther and Ms.
Silvana from Germany; Ms. Dina
Rookledge, Former Chair, British
Humanist
Association, UK and
Mr. Ramachandra
Raju, District
Superintendent of Police gave a presentation with slides on the problem
of witchcraft and sorcery and on the
collective effort of Atheist Centre
and the Government in Rangareddy
District.
The Valedictory Function
The Valedictory function was presided by Mr. Levi Fragell. Mr. Jim
Herrick, Editor of The Humanist,
UK, was the Chief Guest. He spoke
on art, literature, and Atheism and
Humanism.
Mr.Volker Mueller from Germany;
Mr. Rene Hartman, IBKA, Germany;
Mr. Dick Clifford, President, South
Australian Humanist Association;
Mr. Lars Gule, Secretary General,
Norwegian Humanist Association,
Summer 2005
Oslo; Mr.
Gunnarson,
Editor,
Humanistin,
Sweden; Ms. Azam
Kamguian, Iran; Ms. Bobbie Kirkhart,
President Atheist International, USA;
Ms. Jartan SeInes, Ms. Karen Anne
Okstad and Ms. Norunn Koseberg,
Kristin Bryhni and Ms. Hanada Gule
from Norway; Dr. Harvey Tippitt,
President, Atheists United, USA; Mr.
Diana Rookledge and Mr. Oakasha
from UK and a number of Indian and
foreign dignitaries shared their valuable thoughts in the Conference.
Mr. Jim Herrick, UK, presented
the Conference Declaration. Mr. Roy
Brown and Mr. Levi Fragell gave
their concluding remarks to the
Conference
Mrs. Saraswathi Gora, co-founder
of Atheist Centre, honored all the
foreign delegates with a khadi
(hand-spun and hand-woven) shawl
and also presented a memento. Mrs.
Saraswathi Gora thanked all the
Indian and foreign delegates for their
active participation in the conference
and expressed the view that Atheism
is bound to grow the world over as an
alternate way of life. She reiterated
that the march towards the postreligious society has begun and the
future is bright.
American Atheist
IHEU Contribution
To Tsunami Relief
The President of the IRED, Mr.
Roy Brown, handed over a cheque of
5000 Pounds towards the Tsunami
Relief Work, which is being carried
out by Arthik Samata Mandal of
Atheist Centre. Mrs. Nau Gora and
Mr. Rari Subramanyam received
the cheque and thanked IRED and
its member organizations for their
initial contributions.
Dr. Vijayam, Dr. Samaram, and
Dr. Maru - the convenors of the
Conference - expressed their joy at
the success of the conference. They
also thanked more than 200 volunteers who were at the helm of affairs
for the success of the Conference and
helped in the smooth functioning of
Summer 2005
Page 35
Page 36
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Page 37
American Atheist
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WIN
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Is
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Professor Pape answers
these questions with analysis
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and recommends
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Military options may disrupt
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For both policy makers and
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making it one of the most
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In my opinion, all the claims in
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cover every suicide bombing in the
Page 40
Kiss
My Left
Behind
Earl Lee
A parody of the
popular
genre
of "End Times"
novels written by
many
Christian
authors,
including Tim LaHaye,
the characters in this book struggle with
their own problems and don't have much
time to fight the Antichrist (Nickelay
Dubyah, ruler of the former Soviet
Republic ofTexrectumstan).
Aventine
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Page 41
President George Bush, in an ABC television interview on a 20120broadcast 14 January 2005, stated that we should not attribute things to God,
but how can the honest Christian not?
Another
common suggestion
is that there is a malevolent and
destructive being or force in creation
that causes such devastation. In
Christianity there is a Satan or devil.
In Zoroastrianism there is Angra
Mainyu. In many of the world's other
religions, however, there is no such
single being. Most theisms, we must
remember, have been polytheisms,
with good gods, bad gods, and inbetween gods. The Norse might say
that Loki did it, not Thor or Odin.
Even worse, most religions in human
history have not been theisms at all
but other kinds, with other conceptions of supernaturalism. In some,
there are ancestor spirits who cause
trouble. In others, there are witches
and sorcerers who intentionally
or unintentionally make mischief.
In still others, there are animistic
spirits - spirits in plants, animals,
or natural objects and phenomena that bring bad along with good. Such
beings do not always act maliciously
as punishment: sometimes their
actions are arbitrary, sometimes
accidental, sometimes unrelated to
us at all.
A third notion is that the universe
itself contains a 'force' or 'principle' of
suffering or destruction. One classic
manifestation of this approach is
Buddhism, which posits that existence is simply 'broken' or 'painful'
(dukkha), and there is nothing we or
any gods could do about it. Even the
gods, if they exist, suffer and die. We
cannot eliminate pain and suffering;
we can only detach ourselves from it
and not allow it to phase us. I actually saw an Asian Buddhist monk on
television saying that the tsunami
was just one of those dukkha natural events that plague human life,
so what can you do? Other traditions, not always 'religious' proper,
like Stoicism, have noticed the same
problem - that life is painful - and
have proposed a path of steely indifference to it. But they cannot 'fix' the
world, only adjust humans' responses
to it.
Page 42
or allow it ifit is evil and immoral, so of us to interfere and provide succor. gion, overlook the inconsistencies
therefore it must be good and moral. If, as the anti-chloroform set believed and contradictions in that religion,
And ultimately and most problemati- (and some fundamentalist types still or do some very free interpretation of
cally, as an all-just being, he cannot struggle with), childbirth pain was it. Is this particular event a merely
wreak it upon individual humans or their god's justice on women, then natural one, as opposed to another
humanity collectively unless there is it is unjust of us to spare them that Job or Flood? Who knows? The theist
somehow justice in it (and the latter pain. And, if as many religionists cannot know, and so theism provides
would require 'collective guilt' such believe today, the tsunami was a no more knowledge than mere guessthat it does not really matter which god'sjustice on the inhabitants of the ing and no more guide to action than
individuals pay the price - a concept region - or indirectly on all human- blind stumbling.
The key to the solution of disasforeign to human justice).
ity - then it is unjust of us to comfort
If their god is a god ofjustice and and assist them! It amounts to little ter and relief is the fact that it is
monotheists
who
responsibility, then his actions must more than aiding and abetting the 'humanitarian'
feel the empathy and compassion.
be just, and he is responsible for all of convict in his escape from prison.
the outcomes. Ifhe is not responsible,
We can come to only one destina- After all, did not Supreme Court
then he is not an all-knowing and tion: that a radical totalistic 'morality Justice Antonin Scalia say in a 2002
speech that "For the believall-powerful being. If the
ing Christian, death is no big
outcomes are not just, then
he is not an all-good and Ifwe take a naturalist stance instead deal"? (He is hardly the jurist
all-just being. These are of a supernaturalist
one, then our I would want presiding over
my trial.) It is possible, if not
not my conclusions; these
explanations for catastrophe and likely,
if not in the end immiare the conclusions that
nent, that humanitarianism
the serious believer must pain are natural, not 'intentional.'
- or rather, humanism - is
arrive at.
Again, my main point here is not and justice' religion (1) must attri- the source of compassion rather than
to examine how theists explain evil bute misery as well as happiness to religion.
One way, perhaps the only way, to
but how they justify it and so respond its god and (2) must see justice in the
to it or not. If the bad things that misery as well as in the happiness. If arrive at a different conclusion is to
happen to people are not just, then they are to be consistent, they must start from a different premise. If we
it seems that we have the freedom, conclude that the individual victims take a naturalist stance instead of a
even the obligation, to intervene and - or humanity collectively - deserve supernaturalist one, then our explato relieve; this would include both their fate. The suffering must be nations for catastrophe and pain are
cases of true 'injustice' and cases of moral and just, therefore any human natural, not 'intentional.' Women
what we might call 'a-justice,' where action that goes against this suffer- have pain in childbirth because
justice is not involved at all. When a ing goes against morality and justice. babies are bigger than birth canals.
lion kills a zebra, we would not speak Relief, as Massey and others have People get sick because there are
pathogens and malignant life-forms
of injustice to the zebra but of a situ- suggested, is immoral.
(bacteria and viruses) in our environation in which justice simply does
Naturalism and the
not apply. However, if the bad things
ment. And natural disasters occur,
Morality of Relief
that happen to people are just, then
well, because of nature.
Of course, ethical monotheisms,
a response of relief is a highly conThe tsunami, whatever else anyChristian and otherwise, are not one may add to the description, was
flicted and contradictory thing.
Imagine that a man was put entirely consistent on this point, the effect of an underwater earthin prison. If he had been unjustly but on what point are they? Parts quake caused by shifts in the earth's
accused or unjustly tried or unjustly of their teachings emphasize love tectonic plates. One may ask why the
convicted, we might feel some right and compassion, while other parts plates shifted then and there, but it
and duty to help him get out. We stress vengeance and punishment.
may be ultimately a nonsense quesIt
does
not
help
to
insist
on
an
alltion;
there is no 'why,' in the sense of
would be achieving justice. However,
good,
all-loving
god,
unless
you
are
'will'
or 'intelligence' or 'plan.' There
if he had been justly accused, tried,
going
to
accept
that
pain
and
sufand convicted, we would have no
is nothing but natural substance and
right or duty to free him or even to fering are good and loving. Most force. The earthquake and resultant
lighten his sentence; to do so would humanitarian Christians simply do surge was not 'out to get us,' since it
be unjust, an obstruction of justice. not accept that, and they reach out had no knowledge of or interest in us
The analogy is a perfect one from a in empathy to their fellow human at all. We are a very small fleck on
theistic point of view. If, as Massey beings generously and relatively
a large planet, which is a very small
believed and Christian doctrine non-judgmentally. However, in order fleck in a large cosmos. It is not
teaches, disease is God's justice on to do so, they must either disregard always, if ever, 'about us'; we are just
individuals, then it really is unjust the 'justice' component of their reli- in the way of nature's contortions.
Parsippany, New Jersey
Sununer 2005
Page 43
For Cybor-Slcopticsl
American Atheist Press is proud to carry the CD-ROMs being produced by "Bank of Wisdom," the "labor of love" of
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History of Sacerdotal Celibacy in the Christian Church
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Autobiography of Andrew D. White (2 volumes)
The Future Prospects of Christianity, by Francis William
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Page 44
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American Atheist
Examination of the
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