AMERICAN ATHEISTS MEDIA ALERT
http://www.atheists.org
 
BLAIR SCOTT ON ANSWERS IN ATHEISM INTERNET RADIO
              THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2008 7 PM CST
 
Blair Scott, National Affiliate Outreach Director & Alabama State Director for American Atheists will be the guest on Answers in Atheism Internet radio show.
 
On Thursday, November 13, 2008 at 7 p.m. CST Mr. Scott will be the guest on Answers in Atheism Internet radio show, located online at http://answersinatheisim.net. The Answers in Atheism Internet radio show discusses issues related to Atheists and Atheism and is hosted by Edwin Kagin.
 
The show starts at 7 p.m. CST and Mr. Scott will be the guest beginning at 7:30 p.m. Mr. Scott will be discussing American Atheists and the American Atheists Affiliate Program. In addition, in honor of Veteran’s Day, Mr. Scott will be discussing Operation Foxhole Atheists. Mr. Scott is a Foxhole Atheist veteran of the United States Navy.
 
WHO & WHAT: Blair Scott appearing on Answers in Atheism Internet radio show.
 
WHEN: Thursday, November 13 2008. The show starts at 7 p.m. Blair will come on at 7:30 p.m.
 
WHERE: Answers in Atheism Internet radio show. Listen online at:
http://www.answersinatheism.net
 
MORE ON THE NET:
Answers in Atheism: http://www.answersinatheism.net
American Atheists: http://atheists.org
National Affiliate Outreach Director: http://alabamaatheist.org/naod
Alabama State Director: http://atheists.org/al
Operation Foxhole Atheists: http://thenafa.org/ofa
Blair Scott: http://alabamaatheist.org
 
American Atheists is a nationwide movement which defends the civil rights of nonbelievers, works for the separation of church and state, and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.
American Atheists, Inc.
PO Box 158
Cranford, NJ 07016
Tel: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402

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AMERICAN ATHEISTS MEDIA ALERT
http://www.atheists.org
 
KAGIN AT WORKSHOP ON ATHEIST ACTIVISM,
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 15, 2008 ; TALK ON
CAMP QUEST, SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2008
Skokie, Ill. at Ethical Humanist Society, Chicago
 
EDWIN KAGIN, National Legal Director for American Atheists will be the speaker for two days of events at the Ethical Humanist Society (Chicago), in Skokie, Ill.
 
On Saturday, November 15, 2008 Mr. Kagin will lead a workshop on “Atheist Activism: Motivating People and Events.”  A $5.00 donation is requested, and the program runs from 1:00 – 3:00 PM.  For more information including directions and contact information, visit http://www.ethicalhuman.org/ .
 
The following day, Sunday, November 16, 2008, Mr. Kagin will address the Ethical Society on the topic “Camp Quest:  — A Secular Camp Beyond Belief.”  Edwin Kagin is cofounder, along with his wife Helen Kagin, of the nation’s first residential summer camp for the children of freethinkers.  Mr. Kagin will discuss the effort to illuminate “a dark and scary world filled with magic and make-believe” and to help produce “ethical and responsible adults.”  This program begins at 10:30 AM.
 
The Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago is  located at 7574 N. Lincoln Avenue (at Howard St.) in Skokie, Ill.
 
You may also visit http://www.edwinkagin.com for further details.
 
WHO & WHAT: Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists speaking at the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago.
 
WHEN: This weekend — Saturday, November 15, 2008 (workshop on Atheist Activism, 1-3 PM, and Sunday, November 16, 2008 (10:30 AM)  “Camp Quest:  — A Secular Camp Beyond Belief.” 
 
WHERE:  The Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago is  located at 7574 N. Lincoln Avenue (at Howard St.) in Skokie, Ill.
 
MORE INFO: http://www.ethicalhuman.org/ .
 
(AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for nonbelievers; labors for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)
 
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AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org

For more information, please contact:
Ed Buckner, President (770) 432-3049
Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director (859) 384-7000

ATHEISTS Criticize Court Ruling allowing Sectarian Prayer

American Atheists today criticized a ruling by the 11th U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals allowing sectarian prayers before government meetings
in Cobb County, Ga.

The court ruled 2-1 that Cobb County’s practice of opening meetings with
prayers that include references to specific deities is constitutional.

Edwin Kagin, American Atheists Legal Director, said “This is a major
change toward establishing a theocracy. Government-sponsored prayer is
clearly unconstitutional, and this point had been established and
re-affirmed several times before this terribly misguided decision”

David Silverman, National Communications Director, explained “The whole
point of the separation of church and state is the requirement that
government treat all citizens equally. This ruling gives government the
power to do the exact opposite as of now, some people in Cobb County
have a right that others do not, simply because of their beliefs. Some
are recognized, acknowledged, and welcomed, and some are not. A
two-class system has been imposed, and it’s ludicrous that any court or
any citizen would think this is a good idea. “

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for
Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and
addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

American Atheists, Inc.
PO BOX 158
Cranford, NJ 07016
Tel.: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402

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AMERICAN ATHEISTS ACTION ALERT
http://www.atheits.org
 
LET PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA
KNOW THAT YOU SUPPORT SEPARATION OF CHURCH & STATE,  END TO FAITH-BASED INITIATIVE “BAIL OUT” FOR
RELIGIOUS GROUPS!
 
President -Elect Barack Obama and his transition team have opened a new web site, “Change.gov” to provide information and solicit input from the public on matters of national concern.  It is a great opportunity for all Americans — including Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists, and Secularists — to speak out and let our agenda be known to the incoming administration.
 
AMERICAN ATHEISTS urges you to let President-elect Obama and his transition team know that the separation of church and state is an important issue to millions of Americans who “have no religious belief.”  We are also concerned with ending the federal faith-based initiative and similar state programs which transfer billions of dollars  to churches, mosques, temples and other sectarian groups to operate social services.  This amounts to the imposition of a religion tax on the American people.  It compels millions of Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists and other nonbelievers to fund religion-based social programs that operate with minimal oversight, are of dubious efficacy, and amount to a “bail out” of houses of worship which have been losing congregants for many years.  Is this fair?
 
Mr. Obama has an opportunity to roll back the dangerous practice of funding religion under the welfare reform.  A number of religious leaders, however, are confident that the new Administration will retain the Faith-Based Initiative, or make only cosmetic reforms — such as having churches “promise” that they will segregate religious proselytizing and taxpayer-funded social services.
 
The “Change.gov” web site can be our way of politely telling President-elect Obama — “Their Religion — Our Money — No Way!” 
 
* Let your voice be heard!  Visit the “Change.gov” web site (http://www.change.gov) and post your remarks on the AMERICAN MOMENT section which solicits input from the public.  Copy your message to the CONTACT section.  Always ask for a response to the issues you are raising!
 
* Make your remarks brief, concise and polite.  Many Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and other nonbelievers supported Mr. Obama in his candidacy; we suggest that remarks not reflect a hostile or adversarial position.  Instead, point out that the faith-based initiative is a bad idea, imposes an unfair “Religion Tax,” and is bad social policy. 
 
* This issue does not concern religious belief, but rather the unconstitutional funding of religious belief and institutions by the government.
 
* Share your comments and observations on blogs and other forums include the NoGodBlog at http://www.nogodblog.com .
 
Let’s have our voices heard in Washington!
 
(AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists; labors for the total separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)

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From reader Jan:

Fresh meat on my doorstep late this afternoon.

They identified themselves as Mormons and I remarked that the white shirts, ties and backpacks gave them away, even without their bicycles. They then said they had parked their bikes up the street. 🙂

Hilarity ensues!

I asked them about the planet Kolob and the magic underwear. Brought up that they think that Jesus and Satan were brothers. Said that Mark Twain referred to the Book of Mormom as “chloroform in print”. Mentioned that there was absolutely NO archeological evidence for 1.) the bible and 2.) any of the Mormon tale of Nephites/Laminites in the U.S. Asked them how they explained away the fact that Joseph Smith was a well documented con artist. Asked them about the face in the hat trick by Smith…and the pages that the wife of the scribe managed to make disappear. Told them that their baptism of the dead was just rude and tacky.

Told them I was an atheist. Quoted scripture at them. Since they were using KJV, I showed them the Isiah 45 bit about God saying he created evil and the Numbers 5 part about the priest performing an abortion in the temple. Told them they couldn’t reconcile the entire Easter story stuff. Gave them Edwin’s business card and told them that he’d be glad to come and speak to them…or that they could come to the Atheist MeetUp or the Humanist Forum to see what we heathens were all about.

Offered them a spare copy of Dawkins’ “The God Delusion” and told them they needed to read it to see what the arguments were on the other side. No takers. But, one did take a CD I’d burned of all of Bart Ehrman’s “Historical Jesus” and “The Making of the New Testament Cannon”.

But, most of all, I scored a FREE Book ‘O Mormon!! I didn’t have a hard copy, just what was online.

If they come back, I’ll have to burn some other stuff on a CD for them. This one is at the top of my list right now . Any suggestions would be spiffy keen from you guys.

Jan