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Read the latest announcements about The Gulf Coast Humanist Association and news tidbits we find on the web and elsewhere..
Information about our meetings and activities will be found on the calendar.
Johns Hopkins has completed another estimate of the number of Iraqi civilians killed during our occupation. It now tops 600,000. Click on the name for the full story.
Secular Holidays - a new web site that lists our alternatives.
Ben Stein "Expelled" by Humanists
For Immediate Release - Contact Fred Edwords at (202) 238-9088
fedwords@americanhumanist.org - www.americanhumanist.org
"Anti-atheist propaganda for pseudoscience" is what the American Humanist
Association today called Ben Stein's new movie, "Expelled: No Intelligence
Allowed." Former Nixon speechwriter Ben Stein is most widely recognized for
his role in the 1986 film "Ferris Bueller’s Day Off."
Released nationwide in select theaters on April 18, "Expelled" is self-described
as a "satirical documentary." In response to this, Fred Edwords, director of
communications for the American Humanist Association and former board
member of the National Center for Science Education, said today: "It's unclear
what is being satirized. It seems more a satire of bad documentaries than of the
scientific community, which is the target of its invective. Every criticism of modern
science is punctuated by black and white footage from strident mid-twentieth
century documentaries and propaganda films as well as old Hollywood movies.
Can Ben Stein be serious? Sadly, he is!"
The film's essential claim is that the scientific community has erected a
"Berlin Wall" of sorts between Charles Darwin's theory of evolution and a
supposedly scientific rival notion of "Intelligent Design." Scientists are
doing this, the film contends, because there is secret disagreement in the
scientific community over the validity of evolution--and because an
atheistic elite wants to suppress that disagreement and rule out
any alternatives to evolutionary theory. The film also claims that
scientists and journalists who deviate from the party line are ostracized or
lose their jobs. And it concludes that the theory of evolution is
responsible for the Holocaust and leads to a devaluation of human life.
"The claim that a conspiracy of atheists has highjacked science, education,
and the media is not only ludicrous, it is offensive," declared American
Humanist Association executive director Roy Speckhardt. "Scapegoating
atheists is as bad as scapegoating any other group. Racial and religious
minorities have suffered this in the past. It's about time we learned to
stop repeating the formula."
Edwords added, "This film not only makes false claims against atheists, it
does so using a bag of dirty tricks. For example, in one scene Richard
Dawkins is shown being made up for his interview with Ben Stein. But Stein
is presented as suddenly showing up for the interview fresh off the street
and without pretense. In the credits, however, we learn that Stein had a
personal makeup artist. This is just one of the subtle techniques the film
uses, combined with a plethora of out-of-context interview footage, to put
those who Stein opposes in the worst light and those he favors in the best."
The American Humanist Association named Dawkins its 1996 Humanist of the
Year. Earlier, in 1977, the AHA issued a special document on
evolution and the teaching of creationism in public school science classes.
(See http://www.americanhumanist.org/about/affirming-evolution.html .) In
doing so it became one of the first national organizations to go public in
challenging creationism. Today's "Intelligent Design" is often recognized as
a sanitized version of that same creationism. This latter point was
understood by Judge John E. Jones III of Pennsylvania who ruled the teaching
of "intelligent design" unconstitutional in public schools in the case
called Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District. Jones will receive the
Humanist Religious Liberty Award from the American Humanist Association
at its national conference in early June.
Edwords concluded: "Rather than being a critique of either the scientific
community or the public schools, the statement 'No Intelligence Allowed' in
the film's title seems a better description of what Ben Stein demands of his
audience. But I don't think he can find many people willing to leave
their brains at the door. So I'm skeptical that this film could persuade
anyone not already convinced--and it probably insults the intelligence of
most of those."
The Rockridge Institute is a progressive think tank run by George Lakoff and a staff of eminent progressives. The book “Thinking Points” is a progressives handbook on how to frame the arguments being discussed today. Their blog, The Rockridge Nation , is a repository of good progressive writing. Two articles I recently read I will pass on to you. Do visit the above links for more enlightening information.
First: A look at taxation and how it should work.
http://www.rockridgeinstitute.org/research/lakoff/progressive-taxation-some-hidden-truths
And next, a look at economic stimulation.
http://www.rockridgenation.org/blog/archive/2008/01/28/ask-rockridge-fixated-on-stimulation
Below is an article from the Sunday, 9/18/07 Sun Herald.
Nonbelievers growing more vocal since 9/11
By Mary Jordan
BURGESS HILL, England – Every morning on his walk school teacher Graham Wright recited a favorite Anglican prayer and asked God for strength in the day Ahead. Then two years, ago he just stopped.
Wright, 59, said he was over whelmed by a feeling that religion had become a negative influence in his life and the world. Although he once considered becoming an Anglican vicar, he suddenly found that religion represented nothing he believed in, from Muslim extremists blowing themselves up in God's name to Christians condemning gays, contraception and stem cell research.
"I stopped praying because I lost my faith," said Wright, 59, a thoughtful man with graying hair and clear blue eyes. "Now I truly loathe any sight or sound of religion. I blush at what I used to believe."
Wright is now an avowed atheist and part of a growing number of vocal nonbelievers in Europe and the United States. On both sides of the Atlantic, membership in once quiet groups of nonbelievers is rising, and books attempting to debunk religion have been surprise best sellers, including "The God Delusion," by Oxford University professor Richard Dawkins.
New groups of nonbelievers are sprouting on college campuses, anti-religious blogs are expanding across the Internet and in general, more people are publicly saying they have no religious faith
More than three out of four people in the world consider themselves religious, and those with no faith are a distinct minority. But, especially in richer nations, and nowhere more than in Europe, growing numbers of people are saying they do not believe is a heaven or a hell or anything other than this life.
Many analysts trace the rise of what some are calling the “Nonreligious Movement” to the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. The sight of re3lligious fanatics killing 3,000 people caused many to begin questioning - and rejecting - all religion.
"This is overwhelmingly the topic of the moment," said Terry Sanderson, president of the National Secular Society of Britain. "Religion in this country was very quiet until September 11, and now it is at the center of everything."
Many Europeans are angry at demands to use taxpayer money to accommodate Islam, Europe's fastest-growing religion, which now has as many as 20 million followers on the continent. Along with calls for prayer rooms in police stations, foot baths in public places and funding for Islamic schools and mosques, expensive legal battles have broken out over the niqab, the Muslim veil that covers all but the eyes, which some devout women seek to wear in classrooms and court.
Christian fundamentalist groups who want to halt certain science research, reverse abortion and gay rights, and teach creationism rather than evolution in schools are also angering people; according Sanderson and others.
"There is a feeling that religion is being forced on an un-willing public, and now people are beginning to speak out against what they see as rising Islamic and Christian militancy," Sanderson said.
One group of nonbelievers in particular is attracting attention in Europe: the Council of Ex-Muslims founded this year in Germany, the group now has a few hundred members and expanding number of chapters across the continent. “You can’t tell us religion is peaceful – look around at the misery it is causing,” said Maryam Namazie, leader of the group’s British chapter.
Below is a link to “A Brief History of Disbelief” that was broadcast by the BBC and has appeared on some US Public TV stations. You will find all 3 parts in the lower right hand side of the page.
The God Debate also from Newsweek
At the Summit: On a cloudy California day, the atheist Sam Harris sat down with the Christian pastor Rick Warren to hash out Life's Biggest Question—Is God real? A NEWSWEEK exclusive.
Is God Real - an article from Newsweek
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17889147/site/newsweek/
Are Apes in Spain to be given limited HUMAN rights? Check this out.
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=292&article=5
The future of Humanism - a talk delivered by Jennifer Hancock of the HFA at the UU church in Miami in January.
http://floridahumanist.org/Mambo/content/view/351/1/
The power of prayer is put to the test with predictable results.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12082681/from/ET/
The article below was sent to us by Bill Stroop, one of our members, and is from ABC News
Atheists Battle Against Religion
Atheists Are Finding Their Voice and Finding an Audience, but Some Call it Another Form of Extremism
By DAN HARRIS and PAUL BEBAN
March 4, 2007 — - This week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case brought by a group of atheists who claim the Bush administration's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives violates the separation of church and state.
It's just one example of how atheists are becoming increasingly assertive -- arguing not only that religion is false, but also a threat to civilization.
Outside the court, atheists and people of faith squared off. Inside, the Freedom From Religion Foundation made its case against the president's pet program.
The foundation's co-president, Dan Barker, was a fundamentalist preacher for 19 years. Now, he's preaching from a different text -- specifically, "separation of church and state, and reason and kindness in place of superstition and ideologies."
But Barker and his wife, Annie Laurie Gaylor, who is also the foundation's co-president, said the problem is bigger than the Bush administration and its faith-based initiatives. They see a world being torn apart by religious fundamentalists of all stripes.
"[Religion is] the source of the greatest violence in the world," Gaylor said. "More people have been killed in the world for religion over any other reason."
That atheist argument seems to resonating. There's an atheist Internet recruiting campaign, atheist summer camps and several bestselling books -- including "Letter to a Christian Nation" by Sam Harris.
Harris claims religion is nothing less than a global threat.
"We have a world that has been shattered, quite unnecessarily, by competing religious beliefs," Harris said. "We have Christians against Muslims against Jews. They're making incompatible claims on real estate in the Middle East as though God were some kind of omniscient real estate broker parsing out parcels of land to his chosen flock. People are literally dying over ancient literature."
Perhaps not surprisingly, people of faith don't agree with the argument that faith is wrong or dangerous.
"I understand that people who claim certain religious beliefs have done terrible things throughout history," said Randall Baumer, professor of American religious history at Columbia University. "I think the challenge is for people of faith to be true to the principles of the faith. I think the challenge is coming back and reclaiming the real principles of the faith, so that we act decently toward one another."
While Ballmer agrees atheists have every right to their own beliefs -- or lack thereof -- he feels these new atheists have something in common with the fundamentalists they oppose.
"We talk about Islamic fundamentalists; we talk about Christian fundamentalists," Ballmer said. "I happen to think there are also secular fundamentalists out there, people who have no tolerance whatsoever for religion or faith, and in some ways their tactics and their arguments are just, to me, just as offensive as religious fundamentalists."
Atheists who envision a world without religion may have a while to wait. While polls show that the percentage of Americans who say they're not part of an organized religion has grown from 8 to 14 percent, only two percent of Americans identify themselves as atheist or agnostic.
One Evangelical minister called the atheist movement, "a firecracker going off in the forest."
Barker clearly thinks that firecracker has potential.
"If it's a dry forest, it can cause quite a conflagration there, can't it? There can be a tipping point in any society where people say enough is enough," he said. "And if enough atheists and agnostics speak out and that firecracker goes off, it can cause quite a sensation."
Copyright © 2007 ABC News Internet Ventures
Tornado victims in Central Florida need our help.
Donations of money can be sent to Red Cross, Coast to Coast Chapter, 341 White Street Daytona Beach, Florida. This is the chapter handling the affected counties.
BILL TO RESTORE HABEAS CORPUS
Today, Sen Chris Dodd/CT and Sen Bob Menendez/NJ plan to introduce a bill "Effective Terrorists Prosecution Act". This bill would attempt to reinstate habeas corpus and prevent the military from using any information they "coerced" from a detainee.
Please call Sen Nelson and request that this time he vote with his fellow democrats and support Sen Dodd's bill...."Effective Terrorists Prosecution Act". 202-224-5274 or his FLORIDA TOLL FREE LINE 1-888-671-4091 (Orlando office)
Here is a little tidbit I thought you would all like to see: This comes from The Dependable Renegade blog. You should follow the link below to get the whole story.
Little fundies blowing away people who don't believe in their faith. Sound familiar?
Left Behind: The Video Game.
Imagine: you are a foot soldier in a paramilitary group whose purpose is to remake America as a Christian theocracy, and establish its worldly vision of the dominion of Christ over all aspects of life. You are issued high-tech military weaponry, and instructed to engage the infidel on the streets of New York City. You are on a mission - both a religious mission and a military mission -- to convert or kill Catholics, Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, gays, and anyone who advocates the separation of church and state - especially moderate, mainstream Christians. Your mission is "to conduct physical and spiritual warfare"; all who resist must be taken out with extreme prejudice. You have never felt so powerful, so driven by a purpose: you are 13 years old. You are playing a real-time strategy video game whose creators are linked to the empire of mega-church pastor Rick Warren, best selling author of The Purpose Driven Life.
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These pieces come from the IHS newsletter, thought I’d pass them on
Atheism is a Liberating World View
It is therefore time for atheists to "come out of the closet" and shout out loud the famous line, "I'm mad as hell and I'm not going to take it any longer!"
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=243&article=9
Sorry, the Pews are Filled!
You'll be happy to hear that one church doesn't want you or your money!
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=243&article=10
Attorney General Alberto Gonzales Given Malarkey Award
Attorney General Gonzales is awarded a dubious honor.
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=245&article=9
Good News in the US, Bad News in Europe
The influence of religion varies geographically this week.
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=247&article=5
Agnostic Mom: The End, As We Know It
How humanists can gently explain life and death to their children
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=247&article=10
This one is excellent and you should visit www.agnosticmom.com for more.
A Little Humor
Pun With Monks
Lost on a rainy night, a nun stumbles across a monastery and requests shelter there. Fortunately, she's just in time for dinner and was treated to the best fish and chips she's ever had. After dinner, she goes into the kitchen to thank the chefs.
She is met by two brothers, "Hello, I'm Brother Michael, and this is Brother Charles."
"I'm very pleased to meet you. I just wanted to thank you for a wonderful dinner. The fish and chips were the best I've ever tasted. Out of curiosity, who cooked what?"
Brother Charles replied, "Well, I'm the fish friar."
She turns the other brother and says, "Then you must be...?"
"Yes, I'm the chip monk."
Here are the results of a poll done in the UK concerning religion - note the number of people, especially in Scotland, that profess no religion. I’m told the same is true throughout Europe. Thanks to Hugh Hill for the information.
http://yougov.com/archives/pdf/STI040101003_2.pdf
Here is another article from IHS you might find interesting
Australian Youth Follow the Secular Trend
http.://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=258&article=9
Beliefwatch: Foxholes
Newsweek
Aug. 21-28, 2006 issue - There are no atheists in foxholes," the old saw goes. The line, attributed to a WWII chaplain, has since been uttered countless times by grunts, chaplains and news anchors. But an increasingly vocal group of activists and soldiers—atheist soldiers—disagrees. "It's a denial of our contributions," says Master Sgt. Kathleen Johnson, who founded the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers and who will be deployed to Iraq this fall. "A lot of people manage to serve without having to call on a higher power."
It's an ongoing battle. Just last month Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said, "Agnostics, atheists and bigots suddenly lose all that when their life is on the line." Atheist groups reacted swiftly, releasing a statement that "Nonbelievers are serving, and have served, in our nation's military with distinction!" The National Guard said it received about 20 letters objecting to Blum's statement, and said his comments were "intended to clearly illustrate the positive spirit of camaraderie, human understanding and inclusion of our fine men and women in the National Guard."
In the past several years, atheists have organized letter-writing campaigns against Katie Couric, Tom Brokaw, Bob Schieffer (who issued a public apology) and other news anchors for repeating the "no atheists in foxholes" line on TV. And on Veterans Day 2005, several dozen atheist veterans paraded down the National Mall bearing American flags and signs reading ATHEIST VETERAN—WE SHARED YOUR FOXHOLES! Johnson says atheists in the military face prejudice. "Before I got to be the rank I am I had to keep my head down and my mouth shut. I had commanding officers who made it clear that they wouldn't tolerate atheism in their ranks." Military leaders deny any discrimination. "Service in the military is open to people of all creeds and religions," says Michael Milord, a lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard. Officially, the Department of Defense considers atheism a creed like other faiths. New recruits can choose ATHEIST, AGNOSTIC, or NO RELIGIOUS PREFERENCE for their dog-tag identifications. And an atheist symbol, which resembles an atom, is among the dozens of "approved emblems of belief" that can appear on the headstones of fallen soldiers in military cemeteries. Would a soldier really die without faith? Bowling Green State University's Ken Pargament, a professor specializing in the psychology of religion and coping, says: "If someone is a committed atheist, they're likely to stay a committed atheist."
Here is another piece from IHS about the Hasidic Jewish community. We should try to understand the communities around us so that we may better understand each other.
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=258&article=0
This is from the IHS Newsletter of 9/13. It is entitled “America: What Went Wrong”
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=262&article=2
THE JESUS CAMP
A controversial new documentary about indoctrinating youth as Christian soldiers
http://www.rawstory.com/showoutarticle.php?src=http%3A%2F%2Fabcnews.go.com%2FWNT%2Fprint%3Fid%3D2455343
Here is an article on the Torture Bill that just passed the Senate.
http://www.commondreams.org/views06/1003-31.htm
The web site of “Granny D” the 96 year old activist who is still going strong. This is recommended reading.
http://www.grannyd.com/
The links below will take you to the British Channel 4 documentary done by Dr. Richard Dawkins of Oxford University. It concerns the danger of religion and religious indoctrination to our present world. It is highly recommended.
Richard Dawkins - The Root of All Evil - Part 1.avi
Richard Dawkins: The Root of All Evil Part 2
'Left Behind' game's violence is upsetting
Letter to the Times Union
First published: Thursday, January 4, 2007
Kristina Kelm (letters to the editor, Dec. 25) says people are upset with the video game "Left Behind: Eternal Forces" because it is Christian-based. Personally, I am upset with the game because it glorifies killing non-Christian people, especially atheists like me.
The game, distributed to more than 10,000 retail locations just in time for Christmas, is based on the best-selling novels by religious right leader Tim LaHaye. Set in New York, it features a Christian militia fighting the bad guys who refuse to accept Jesus as their lord. Not only do players score points for blowing away their godless opponents, but points lost for "unnecessary killing" can be redeemed by prayer.
Ms. Kelm says the "Left Behind" game controversy is "just another way that Christians are not heard." I can assure her that I'm hearing the message in "Left Behind" loud and clear.
I would encourage tolerant Christians to speak up to ensure their message of peace is heard by more people than the violent hatred of their "Left Behind" colleagues.
MATT CHERRY
Executive Director
Institute for Humanist Studies
Albany, NY
Here is an article from IHS about the religious decline in the US
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=281&article=0
And another one concerning the documentary about the Jesus Camp
http://www.humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=281&article=8
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