KENTUCKY ATHEISTS NEWS & NOTES Date: November 26, 2008.

Kentucky Atheists, P.O. Box 666, Union, KY 41091; Email: ekagin@atheists.org

Phone: 384-7000; Fax: (859) 384-7324; Web: http://www.atheists.org/ky/

Editor’s personal web site: www.edwinkagin.com

Editor’s personal blog: http://edwinkagin.blogspot.com

Edited by:

Edwin Kagin, Kentucky State Director, American Atheists, Inc.

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

What Is An ATHEIST?

“ANOTHER THINKING HUMAN ENGAGED IN SEEKING TRUTH” (Edwin Kagin, 2008)

To Unidentified Recipients:

Y’all come, y’hear.

Edwin.

———————————————————————————————–

AMERICAN ATHEISTS ~ WINTER SOLSTICE
BASH & OPEN HOUSE UPDATE…
http://www.atheists.org/wintersolstice.html
 
 
DOWNEY, KAGIN, TABASH, ZINDLER ON ROSTER FOR WINTER SOLSTICE BASH,
CENTER OPEN HOUSE!
(AND DID WE MENTION FUNNY MAN MICHAEL WEISS?)
 
AMERICAN ATHEISTS will host it annual Winter Solstice Bash and Open House Friday, Dec. 12 and Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008  Events include:
 
* Dedication of the EDDIE TABASH CONFERENCE AND MEDIA STUDIO on Friday, coincident with an Open House at the American Atheist Center, 225 Cristiani St. in Cranford, NJ.  We honor First Amendment activist Eddie Tabash with this state-of-the-art multimedia facility for meetings, social events, video taping, web casting, live press conferences and other outreach events.  The Open House runs from 1:00 PM – 8:00 PM, with the ribbon cutting ceremony at 1:30 PM.  The event is open to the public.  
 
* Tours of the newly remodeled CHARLES E. STEVENS AMERICAN ATHEISTS LIBRARY & ARCHIVES.  This collection includes approximately 25,000 volumes of rare and current books covering the history of Atheism, Freethought, religion and related topics, along with nearly one million periodicals, pamphlets, letters, documents and other items.  It is the largest private holding of such materials in the country, and perhaps the world.
 
* The WINTER SOLSTICE 2008 BASH will be held at the nearby Crowne Plaza Hotel, 20 Valley Road in Clark, NJ, beginning at 11:30 AM on Saturday, December 13, 2008.  At 4:00 PM, you’re invited back to the American Atheist Center for a live taping of The Atheist Viewpoint show.  Host David Silverman will MC the Winter Solstice bash which includes a lavish buffet-style lunch ($34/person),  Register on-line at http://www.atheists.org/wintersolstice.html.  Make reservations with the Crowne Plaza Hotel directly and take advantage of our special rate at 732-574-0100. Be sure to mention that you are with American Atheists to qualify for the rate!  Deadline for guaranteed reservations is November 27, so book now!
 
* Join us for a blockbuster lineup of speakers and distinguished guests this weekend, including:
 
* ED BUCKNER, the new President of American Atheists.
* EDWIN KAGIN, National Legal Director
* HELEN KAGIN, Cofounder with Edwin of Camp Quest
* FRED EDWORDS, American Humanist Association
* MARGARET DOWNEY, Atheist activist, founder of the Anti-Discrimination Project
* FRANK ZINDLER, author, historian, Editor of American Atheist Magazine
                                                                 and…
MICHAEL WEISS, Comic and Comic Producer looks at the Season with his unique brand of comedy! 
* DAVE SILVERMAN, National Communications Director
 
* On Sunday, December 14, 2008 get together with the New Jersey Humanist Network for their annual celebration.  Visit http://www.njhn.org .
 
WHO & WHAT: Eddie Tabash, Ed Buckner, Edwin & Helen Kagin, Fred Edwords, Margaret Downey, Frank Zindler, Michael Weiss & more at the annual Winter Solstice Bash and celebration weekend hosted by American Atheists
 
WHEN: December 12-14, 2008
 
WHERE: The American Atheists Center, 225 Cristiani St. in Cranford, NJ, and the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Clark NJ.
 
MORE INFO and to register on line: http://www.atheists.org/wintersolstice.html
 
(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.)

 

DAWKINS.
(Evolutionary Biologist, author)
ATLANTA.
APRIL 9-12, 2009
 
 
AMERICAN ATHEISTS NATIONAL CONVENTION
 
APRIL 9, 10, 11, 12, 2009
 
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
 
Emory Conference Center Hotel/Emory Inn
1615 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA 30329
 
Said to be the “Best Kept Secret” in Georgia the Emory is a hidden oasis as its’ Frank Lloyd Wright inspired architecture and serene wooded views combine diverse meeting space, beautiful gardens, walking trails, and much more to create a one of a kind experience.
*
 
The Emory is just 20 minutes from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.  The downtown business district and vibrant Buckhead are less than 12 minutes from the hotel.  Complimentary on site parking is an added bonus.
*
 
The Emory offers a two-tiered guest room rate.  Guest rooms in the hotel are $109 plus tax for single/double.  Guest rooms in the inn (directly connected to the hotel) are $89 plus tax for single/double and include breakfast.  You must make your reservations directly with the hotel/inn on or before March 10, 2009 to enjoy our special convention rate. Be sure to tell them you are with the American Atheist convention. Emory Hotel/Inn reservations: 1-800-933-6679.   Visit the Emory Conference Center Hotel/Emory Inn at www.emoryconferencecenter.com
 
*
Confirmed Speakers at this time:
Ed Buckner: President, American Atheists, Inc.
Richard Dawkins: Evolutionist/recognized author
Mike Malloy: Nationally-syndicated talk radio personality
Jim Morrow: Writer
(D)evangelical: Stand Up Comedy Troupe
 
*
Thursday, April 9th, 6:00 – 9:00 PM
 – Great Hearth Room: Registration and informal reception with cash bar.
*
Friday, April 10th,
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM  Lullwater Ballroom
7:00 – 11:00 PM Silverbell Room, Open Banquet, Award Ceremony, Members Meeting
*
 
Saturday, April 11th
10:00 AM – 6:00 PM, Lullwater Ballroom
7:00 – 11:00 PM Silverbell Room, Open Banquet, Honor Lifetime/Gift and Legacy Members
*
 
Sunday, April 12th
Dining Rm; Hosted Breakfast. Arrive anytime between 8:00 and 11:00 AM and be greeted by your board members and state directors who will be eager to chat with you, enjoy a cup of coffee together or maybe a place at you breakfast table.
*
Sunday afternoon group outing.
Destination and time to be announced 
*        *        *
 
Of course, our convention will feature a host of speakers, entertainment, books, products, various vendors, endless conversations, greeting old friends and making new friends.  
 
 Stay tuned for updates

=====================================================================================================================

American Atheists now has a presence on Facebook. See: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=51502800791

Y’all join up, y’hear.

Many thanks to Blair Scott and Dave Silverman for this.

Edwin.

———————————————————-

From time to time (well, frequently) we get letters from believers who are not content with the knowledge that they are saved and are going to heaven and that we are damned and are going to hell, but who rather feel it is their duty (perhaps under what is known as “The Great Commission”) to convert and to save us. Sometimes we answer them. Most times we (or at least I) do not.

Reproduced below is a wonderful such exchange (from the answer them category) between such a writer and Ed Buckner, our stand up President of American Atheists.

You might find Ed’s comments of use in dealing with such people.

Enjoy.

Edwin.

———————————————————

On Nov 20, 2008, at 11:10 PM, Chris Evans wrote:

> Dear Atheist,
> I am a CHRISTian and I would like to have a discussion about our
> opposing beliefs with you. I would like to know the Atheist’s basis of
> beliefs from an actual Atheist.
>
> Thank You

—————————————————

— On Thu, 11/20/08, Ed Buckner wrote:
From: Ed Buckner
Subject: Re: I would like an Intelligent discussion on our beliefs. Please Respond
To: pigdey126@yahoo.com
Date: Thursday, November 20, 2008, 10:19 PM

——————————–

Mr. Evans,

Before I invest a great deal of time responding to you,
could you please advise as to how much of our quite
extensive archives on our website you have read, how many of
the large number of good books on Atheism you have read, and
why you ask what you ask.

The short answer is that we lack religious beliefs because
we see no good evidence or reasons to harbor such beliefs.

Regards,

Ed B.
Ed Buckner
President
American Atheists
www.atheists.org
ebuckner@atheists.org

——————————-

From: Ed Buckner [mailto:ed@buckners.us]
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2008 12:10 PM
To: pigdey126@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: I would like an Intelligent discussion on our beliefs. Please Respond
 
Some answers interleaved, below.

Regards,

Ed B.
On Nov 21, 2008, at 7:31 AM, Chris Evans wrote:

I have read all the points on your website that concern me, most of them being the Bible contradictions (you take the Bible out of context) and other points you have made about the falsehood of Christianity. Honestly, I have not read any books on atheism, nor have a read any NONfiction books on Christianity besides the Bible. I have a few questions for you

My experience with Christians varies, but many take their biblical guidance out of context quite regularly. And all Christians who I’ve known accept only parts of the Bible, picking and choosing whether it’s OK to take virgin girls as trophies in war, accept human slavery (with, perhaps, some restrictions), support theocracy, oppress women, and much more.

(1) On your website you make a huge stereotype about Christians, and in your doing so it seems like you are trying to build up a lack of maturity and kindness towards us Christians. You make us sound like we are stuck up and a very large ego. I have honestly only met one or two Christians like this, yet I have met many Atheists who are like this and act above everyone else. Why is this?

My experience with Christians varies, as I said–but on average they are at least somewhat less thoughtful, witty, tolerant, mature, gracious, etc., than my Atheist friends and acquaintances. Plenty of jerks in both (all) camps, to be sure, and I have at least a few friends or loved ones who are religious but trustworthy, decent, and kind.

(2) Do you and any other atheists begin to become depressed after you {falsely} conclude that their is no God and no hope?

Not surprisingly, we don’t become depressed after we realize, accurately, that there is no reason to conclude that there are any supernatural forces at work, either to threaten us or assist us. It is liberating and uplifting, of course, to take responsibility for our own affairs and to recognize our own power–limited though it is, of course. There are good grounds to hope for much and no grounds for wasting time or effort on self-deception or false hopes.

(3) On your website why is your main focus on attacking Christians, not all of the Theistic and Pantheistic religions? It seems as though you are afraid the Christians may be right so you are throwing all you have at us. Why is this?

We don’t accept any religions or gods, though we do find that the god-based religions (a minority of all religions) tend to be the most dangerous, least rational religions. Christianity gets more attention on our web-site because we live in, and are often disadvantaged or threatened in, a society where an extraordinarily high proportion of the citizens accept some form or another of one of the Christian religions. Pointless, cowering fear is the province of religionists, not of Atheists.

Thank you

You’re welcome. Please read far more widely and please learn to think critically.

Regards,

Ed B.

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

===================================================================================================================================================================
 
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.)
 
============================================================================================================================================================

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

=================================================================================================================================================

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.)

——————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
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

Smalkowski Case Settled in Federal Court in Oklahoma

From: Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists

To: The Board of Directors and the Membership of American Atheists.

Date: October 30, 2008.

It is my distinct professional and personal pleasure to announce that the lawsuit filed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma, at Oklahoma City, by American Atheists against the Hardesty, Oklahoma public school and certain named officials has been dismissed as settled. The order was filed yesterday, October 29, 2008. It is now part of history.

I am not at liberty to make public the terms of the settlement agreement, but both the monetary considerations, and the assurances provided by the defendants, were satisfactory to American Atheists, were approved by the past and present Presidents of American Atheists, Frank Zindler and Ed Buckner, and were of such a character that I recommended that American Atheists accept the settlement.

This case arose out of what we alleged was a denial of civil rights, and a conspiracy to violate civil rights, by state actors in Oklahoma against members of the Smalkowski family and other members of American Atheists. The Smalkowski family has made its own separate settlement with the defendants. Our lawsuit was based on the denial of civil rights to Atheists in the Oklahoma school, using the treatment of the Smalkowskis as evidence for this claim, and seeking redress for Atheists.

This case was filed just over two years ago. The history of what happened is contained in the following writings, that have previously appeared nationally, regarding the events that formed the cause of action for the Federal lawsuit. The factual background is a matter of public record.

A special “thank you” goes to attorney Richard Rice of Oklahoma City who served as local counsel on this case. Rick is a Christian. He made that clear to me from the outset. And he believes in the rights secured by our Constitution. And he fought for them. Without his most competent and professional assistance, the result announced today could not have been achieved. On this issue, we are in the same line.

We thank the Smalkowski family for their praise of our efforts on their behalf and we wish them well in their future undertakings.

Edwin Kagin
National Legal Director
American Atheists, Inc.
PO Box 666
Union, KY 41091
Phone: (859) 384-7000
Fax: (859) 384-7324
E-mail: ekagin@atheists.org

===============================================================

SMALKOWSKI FOUND NOT GUILTY ON ALL COUNTS
Web Posted: June 26, 2006
American Atheists Magazine

Chester (Chuck) Smalkowski, a member of American Atheists living in
Hardesty, Oklahoma, has been found Not Guilty on all counts by a
twelve person jury in Guymon, Texas County, Oklahoma.

Chuck, together with his family, is featured on the cover of the
current issue of American Atheist Magazine. At the 2006 Annual
Convention, the Smalkowski Family was presented the American Atheists
Award for Valor, now prominently displayed on the wall of their home.

The Smalkowski case attracted national attention after Nicole
Smalkowski was kicked off of the girls’ basketball team after refusing
to stand in a circle with her teammates on the gymnasium floor of the
Hardesty public High School and recite the “Lord’s Prayer.” After
school officials learned that she and her family were Atheists, lies
were created about her as grounds to take her off of the team.

When her father Chuck discovered conclusively that public school and
law enforcement officials had lied to him about his 15 year old
daughter, he and Nicole and her mother Nadia went to the home of
principal Lloyd Buckley to attempt to discuss the matter with him.
Outside of his front fence, the principal struck Chuck, who blocked
the blow. Both men fell to the ground and Buckley sustained minor
injuries, the provable origins of which were strikingly contrary to
his under oath trial testimony. Buckley then took out misdemeanor
criminal assault charges against Chuck. After Smalkowski rejected the
offer to drop the charges if he and his Atheist family left the state,
the charges were raised to a felony. Chuck called American Atheists
for help.

On June 22, 2006, after only a little over two and a half hours of
deliberation, a span of time that included dinner, the jury found
Chuck “Not Guilty” of the felony charge of assault and of two lesser
included misdemeanor assault charges.

Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists and his
wife Helen drove from Kentucky to Guymon, Oklahoma for the five day
trial. Edwin had become registered as an attorney in Oklahoma for the
purpose of assisting Tim Gungoll, Chuck’s attorney from Enid,
Oklahoma. Mr. Kagin conducted the voir dire of the prospective jury,
gave the opening and closing statements in the case, cross examined
the Superintendent of the Hardesty public schools, David Davidson, and
conducted the direct examination of the defendant Chuck Smalkowski.
Tim cross examined the other prosecution witnesses and conducted the
direct examination of Nicole and Nadia Smalkowski.

The Atheist and Christian attorneys worked together effectively for
the cause of justice and to vindicate an Atheist falsely accused.

The true significance of this trial is that this is the first case we
know of in American jurisprudence where Atheism has been directly used
in as a defense in a criminal trial.

Edwin introduced himself to the jury as National Legal Director for
American Atheists and asked the prospective jury in the Oklahoma
panhandle if they could accept the testimony of an Atheist over that
of a professed Christian. When the jury looked at him blankly, the
judge asked the prospects if they understood the question. One woman
spoke for many in the group by asking “What is an Atheist?”
Edwin explained that an Atheist was a person who did not believe in a
god or gods or in a supernatural world, and that the defendant and his
entire family were such persons. Many of the prospects said they
could not believe such a person over a Christian and were struck for
cause. To their credit, many members of the jury panel, including two
ministers’ wives, told the judge they could not be fair to an Atheist
in such a situation and were excused.

Edwin also told the prospective jurors that his co-counsel Tim Gungoll
believed Jesus Christ to be his personal savior and that Tim was a
practicing Roman Catholic who asked if the jury might feel him a
hypocrite to his faith for defending Chuck. Ultimately a jury of
twelve was seated who had sworn that they could believe the testimony
of an Atheist over that of a Christian.

In closing argument, Edwin told the jury that it really should not be
necessary for an Atheist to tell them it is wrong to lie under oath,
as he reminded them the Christian school officials and the police had
done in their sworn trial testimony. “Thou shall not bare false
witness against thy neighbor. Ninth Commandment. Eight if you are
Roman Catholic,” Kagin said.

The jury believed the Atheists. Unanimously.

The night of the verdict, tornados of unusual violence descended on
the panhandle of Oklahoma. The home of the Principal who had brought
the false charges against Chuck Smalkowski was severely damaged.

This fact has no relationship whatsoever to the verdict.

A civil lawsuit in Federal Court, with the Smalkowski Family and
American Atheists as Plaintiffs, is contemplated.

________________________________________
JUST ANOTHER SALEM
by Chester Smalkowski
Web Posted: July 8, 2006
American Atheists Magazine
From the AANEWS Editor: Below, we are reproducing, “as is” and un-edited, the account circulating on the internet and the democraticunderground.com web site penned by Chester Smalkowski and aptly titled “Just Another Salem.”
It is his personal story about the ordeal he and has family have been swept up in after their daughter, Nadia, refused to join a prayer circle during a basketball game at their local high school. Nadia, instead, recited the “godless” Pledge of Allegiance.
From there, events went out of control. Chester Smalkowski and family members attempted to hold a conversation with the high school principal. That turned into a physical altercation, Mr. Smalkowski was arrested under a battery of charges, and the authorities offered to dismiss the case if the Atheist family fled the state.
http://www.atheists.org/catalogue/special.htmlAmerican Atheists joined in the subsequent criminal case, and Chester Smalkowski — battling incredible “Bible Belt” odds in the courtroom — was found innocent of the charges. News of that can be found on the American Atheists web site.
Edwin Kagin (ekagin@atheists.org), National Legal Director for American Atheists, is preparing a federal action which will touch on a number of issues in the Smalkowski case including violations of this Atheist family’s civil rights.
Chester Smalkowski vented his thoughts about this experience on a blog. AANEWS is reproducing this story for the benefit of our readers, unedited and in its original format. This conveys the honest, emotional, “from the heart” sentiments of Mr. Smalkowski, and constitutes one man’s recollection of an agonizing experience due to religious intolerance and fanaticism.
American Atheists welcomes support so that we may continue our efforts on behalf of Chester Smalkowski and his family.
There are lessons to be learned. Perhaps the most important, though, is that “it can happen here,” in America, in the year 2006.
— Conrad Goeringer,
AANEWS – American Atheists

JUST ANOTHER SALEM
The bailiff took the piece of paper from the foreman of the jury and handed it to the Judge. He opened the paper and while staring at it he nodded. The courtroom was silent and the jury stared straight ahead.
I have been in many situations where my life or limb were on the line but I was still in the game and had a hand to play. But not here, here I just sat waiting for the verdict.
Though I worried about being sent away for five years on bogus charges, my dread was the Christian mob. They knew I must be found guilty in order to slow or stop the civil case being filed in Federal court. Since the start of my daughter’s stand against the public schools disregard for the law of the land, it was imperative to run us out of the county to make any civil action non valid. With me in jail for five years running my family out would be a whole lot easier, or so they might have thought.
The courtroom was packed for it is the Bible belt. There was no love in this courtroom.
The loving Christians brought their children to hear the verdict. They brought the town. They brought ministers. I even saw another Judge in the back of the room. The Judge who in an earlier hearing while slapping an inch thick stack of papers on his bench saying with a list of witnesses this big you had better be a good boy. It was lies then, it was lies now and the DA knew it! (She was later forced to hand over a written statement she denied for over a year existed!) People prayed openly for a conviction. Many holding their bibles. During the trial the Prosecutions side of the courtroom was packed. Only my son and Edwin Kagin’s wife, Helen sat behind me, but now there was not enough room in the whole courtroom.
Yet now the so-called victim, the 325 lbs victim, the ex Marine, hurrahs, was nowhere to be found. Neither was the woman assistant district attorney anywhere to be found. Whose vindictive, bogus case this was from the start.
What sort of place is this?
Well this is not the place for a little debate in a coffee shop with the sweet salt air rolling up from San Francisco bay. This is a place where the children write on their schoolbooks the south will rise again. This is a place where they say that black people caused slavery! Where they burn rock CD’s. Mormons are the tools of Satan. That my daughter is gay cause only homosexuals vote for Kerry and Christians vote for Bush. Atheists worship Satan! Where religious fanaticism is fused with political rhetoric and political leaders pander to this madness. This place has a sickness, a malignant disease and it is spreading. Edwin saw it first hand.
There has not been many a trial with a Not Guilty verdict in this county for years. The head DA is good friends with the self-righteous in the courtroom and greets them all by name. You know the type.
Many old women in the courtroom are taking notes. Others have been taking notes at every hearing for the past year and a half! They strain to listen not wanting to miss one juicy word. With the pens and pads they write continuously. The pads shaking with every push of the pen. Even writing down what my children spoke amongst themselves.
Blue gray haired old Christian spinsters bitter for wasting all those fruitful years now just waiting for those pearly gates. These are truly the wicked. You have seen them before. With their bogus self-righteousness they strut and sneer. How far we have not come.
Others had walked out into the hall and warned a police witness saying that justice must be served, that justice better be served. The judge called a hearing on the threat.
He warned the crowd that if it happens one more time he would have no choice but to throw out the case. He was between a rock and a hard place. He knows my lawyers are watching and the loving Christians are out for my blood, and they are watching too. The law, elections and politics were all in play. The Judge left the court for his chambers and stayed away for a quite awhile.
The Christians, the loving Christians! Praying to a God whose wings are dripping in the blood of innocent men, woman and children down through the ages. Truly hypocrisy is one of their commandments and the blood of the innocence one of their sacraments!
Christian against Christian, Christian against Moslem, Christian against Mormon. Basically Christian against anyone or anything that challenges their pathetic little fairy tale.
Go to any Indian reservation and see the lies and broken promises by a country with “Under God” in their pledge.
I assume I need not have to explain about the loving hymns sung in church on Sunday and beatings of black slaves on Monday. But on Monday night the good old Master has a little tippy toe over to slave huts for a little brown sugar. While the queen of the manor is in the master bedroom past out on an opium tonic. Praise the Lord!
Well that was then but now the court was about to hear the verdict. There was a feeding frenzy about to begin with the dirty little atheist and his family put in their place with him in jail and the family run out of town. Like the teacher told my daughter “This is a Christian country and if you don’t like it get out!”
I could hear my heart beat in my ears and I dreaded the cheers from the righteous mob that were about to begin. The pain of having my family being in the front row to witness this swirling cesspool of hatred come to its inevitable end with my head on a pike, sucked the air right out of my lungs.
It was truly just another Salem. Different time and place. Same characters with new names. Oh, no gallows or big oak tree this time. But if they could they surely would. How far we have not come. I know, I already said that but do you really understand what a tragedy it means? The whole universe is ours if we want it but instead we must gravel in the dirt having to debate the obvious.
I have been standing against injustice most of my life. It is my nature. I am a child of the 60’s and proud of it. But what of my poor family? They stood so proud and strong. They are tougher than I will ever be. I had told them do not cry. Do not give these bastards any satisfaction. I told my wife if I see you cry I will surely loose it. I said it is in the Federal courts we will set things right and send that wall higher than it has ever been. On the wall behind us was a painting of the signing of the Declaration.
The judge handed the verdict to the clerk. The only sound was the paper. The paper in the clerk’s hands with the hand written words that spelled my doom, my family’s fate and the inevitable cheers from the Christian mob.
With my guts in my throat and no air to breathe. The court clerk read the decision of the jury.
We the jury find the defendant:
On the charge of Aggravated Assault and Battery:
Not Guilty!
On the charge of Assault and Battery:
Not Guilty!
On the charge of Assault:
Not Guilty!
On the charge of Battery:
Not Guilty!
Not a word, not a sound. The lynching had been cancelled. I took my first free breath in almost two years. I looked at the jury and mouth the words thank you. I gazed at the floor as floodgates opened, I dared not move my head that others might see. Charley don’t cry, but free air has its effects.
With all their praying, lies, crooked cops, warning that justice better be done, packing the courthouse with their followers, Even a teacher on the jury who had taught at the Hardesty School. (Our motion to take her off the jury denied.) Not guilty was still the outcome. The evidence was obvious. This was a bad case. And 12 men and women had the guts.
From the start of this legal fight my lawyers said Atheism must be kept out. That it was a no go in the Bible belt. I was just adamant that Atheism be brought in. For it is the reason. It was the motive for all the lies and hate. I felt it was about time that this dirty little secret of hate, persecution, Christian madness and hypocrisy is brought out into the light of day. When I told my lawyers this they all gave me the same bewildered stare.
So one by one, I dropped one lawyer then two. Then I had a hard time in finding another one. My third lawyer was still trying to convince me to keep my atheism out even up till the day of the trial. I still said no. Somewhere along the line I talk to the ACLU out of San Francisco. Who let me know my first civil lawyer was not telling me the whole story. I was advised by them and many others to complain to the Bar about him.
You see he never told me that the prayer in itself is illegal. That the schools in this area were not following the state and federal funding guidelines. When I asked him after finding out from the ACLU. He said yes it is against the law.
I told him I want to have it stopped. He told me he would not for he was a Christian and he believed there should be school prayer. His statement floored me for it bordered on madness. I said what you believe and what you do for a client is two different things and that you took an oath. He still refused.
It did not matter to him that I had already given him $10,000 dollars. He knows we are not rich. So I wrote a letter to him to complain about his refusing to take my daughters civil case where it should have gone from the start. And I asked for my money back. He sent me a bill for another $5000 saying it was the charge for reading my letter and wasting his time.
In my search for a civil attorney it became clear that no one would touch this case. In all of Oklahoma I could not find an attorney. My criminal attorney said he would look at it but only after I paid him his $15000 for the criminal case. He sent me a letter that the funds for the criminal were coming too slow and suggested that I seek other counsel for the civil matter. But even after he got his $15000 he would only take it if I paid him more. (Now that I have won the criminal case he wants on the civil. Suffice to say he is off the civil!)
Eventually I contacted the American Atheist, which was referred to me by Edward Tabash, who was referred to me by a Mr. Robert Tierman. I told them my problem in finding an attorney willing to take church and state case in which the people are blatantly breaking the law. Yet no one will take it. American Atheist, being out of another state, could not refer me to anyone. But they said they would try to help. The ACLU out of Oklahoma City refused. They sent me some standard letter. It really hurt that I did not even rate a return call or a reason. I felt betrayed, lost and confused.
Was this the United States? Where freedom reigns?
The whole family was under constant stress. Police trying to get search warrants to the property by having ex-employees file false statements. Other cops trying to hire ex-cons to beat me up. The whole town knows of it! The Sheriff trying to have my bond pulled by the bail bondsman when there was no legal way to do it. My kids have been out of school since November. Principal’s son saying should he get a gun when he sees my daughter and my son. DA has yet to reply to our concerns. The Department of Human Services comes to my place saying they received a complaint that I starve my kids. It was even obvious to them the charge was bogus.
We have become very good at using back roads. The police follow us around. Traffic tickets that when challenged were dropped in court. Not to mention the stares and whispers, the betrayal from employees, one of my healthy dogs dying. Brush fires starting up upwind.
An FBI agent even said, “You aren’t kidding”. When it was obvious someone followed us and was watching our meeting out in the middle of nowhere. I was told about a few things. All I can say is that some of the crooks out here now charged with crimes wore badges and guns! But he could not help my family and me. Not without witnesses willing to come forward. One scared witness left the state. The last words she spoke to me were, Chuck I don’t want to end up dead in a ditch!
Just what you would expect life to be like out here in the Bible belt!
The roller coaster of emotions we went through every minute, every day. It was truly a hell. There were days we spoke little. Other days we spoke late into the night. You get to a point you become numb, but it doesn’t last. For it is all aboard and you are on the roller coaster again.
My poor family. They were standing tall. But they would not even be in this place if it were not for me and my bright idea about centralizing our business. We all missed the desert. The free open Mojave Desert. My family did not ask for this. They deserved better. I saw them all suffering.
Many a night I would sit in the barn alone with a pint of scotch and look at the high beams and the rope on the wall.
Then out of the blue my wife received a call from Ellen Johnson who said they had a lawyer that can help us, an Edwin Kagin who is their legal director. Well I called him up, and our civil case is up and running.
Edwin Kagin also by my request came to my criminal case for the two cases are obviously interrelated. There were also other reasons.
Simply stated without Edwin Kagin, Ellen Johnson and American Atheist I would be in jail now, or worse. Without them, we would have no federal case on separation of church and state. The only group, the only lawyer that would stand with my family and me to protect the wall and not cringe at me wanting to put atheism as part of my defense.
In Edwin’s opening statement American Atheist magazine was shown. The crowd almost rioted. He explained that Atheism was not a dirty word and that it was a conclusion. That my family and I are not devil worshippers. We just have no Gods. It was the basis of the case. It was the danger. It was the truth. Yet the only lawyer to go there freely was Edwin Kagin.
In a world where superstition is the norm and those who seek another path are ridiculed or worse. Being an atheist takes guts. Freedom is never freely given. The good fight is always there.
Oh you can hide yourself in the latest sitcom or have one or two more scotch and waters but the good fight is still there. You can run to your malls and buy yourself crazy with credit card frenzy. But the good fight is still there. You can look away and deny allegiance. But the good fight is still there. These are the times that try men’s courage. You can debate till you’re blue in the face. It will not change a damn thing.
Our forefathers are on our side in this fight. Trust me. From Adams to Madison to Jefferson and Paine they all knew the dangers of a Theocracy. They wrote the Constitution to assure it. And within the federal courts we can protect this nation from a Theocracy.
The wall between the church and state must stand. But the wall is being battered and cracks now appear. The Christians are at the gate attempting to breach the wall and send us back down the road to an age of darkness, bloodshed and fear. My family and myself are willing to stand and fight the good fight. If we lose some skin, so be it. We have no more else to give. We are financially done. Thanks to American Atheist, Ellen Johnson and Edwin Kagin for the first time we do not fight alone.
Please stand together with us and fight the good fight. The fight that our forefathers began. Lets make the wall so high between Church and State that they who wish to tear it down will know better and be content with staying in their churches.
For freedom has never been free! There can be no freedom for all if the wall does not stand.
The wall must stand.
Chuck, Nadia, Nicole, Czeslaw and Bridgette Smalkowski

Copyright © 2008 American Atheists, Inc. All rights reserved.

In the election tomorrow we must do the unimaginable to prevent the unthinkable.

Edwin Kagin.

Evolution Wins Over Intelligent Design in Mock Trial in Kentucky!

Last night, October 22, 2008, in Northern Kentucky, a rather remarkable thing happened.
At Northern Kentucky University, within the shadow of the Creation Museum, in a mock trial, a jury of the entire audience overwhelmingly voted on the side of Evolution and against the teaching of Intelligent Design in the public schools.
Some had opined that it was foolish to hold such an event—that the vote would be overwhelmed by the fundangelicals, that Evolution would lose, and that this would be harmful for the future of education in Kentucky.
Well, that did not happen. The opposite happened.
The issue for the pretend trial was the case of a ninth grade teacher in the Kentucky public schools who had been fired for teaching Intelligent Design in a Kentucky classroom. She sued, alleging she had a right to teach such mythology and to get her job back. Leading trial lawyers in the Northern Kentucky area represented the parties, a real retired judge presided, and the former dean of the law school moderated a discussion.
A creation scientist testified for the teacher. Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists, and identified as such, testified as to his opinion that Intelligent Design is a religious, not a scientific, view and that the teaching of this religious view is prohibited by the Constitutions of the United States and of Kentucky.
The result from the clickers of the audience:
38% said the teacher should not be restored to her job.
28% said the teacher should get her job back, and be permitted to discuss Intelligent Design, but only if she agrees to made it clear that most scientists reject Intelligent Design.
31% said the teacher should get her job back without conditions.
The clear result was that a large majority accepted the teaching of Evolution over Intelligent Design and did not see Intelligent Design as a scientific view. The audience accepted the position of the Atheist witness over that of the expert who held the religious view that life was created by magic.
This victory should be noted by those who are afraid to challenge the forces of darkness in public dialogue.

Edwin Kagin
National Legal Director
American Atheists, Inc.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS MEDIA ALERT
http://www.atheists.org

KAGIN IN MOCK TRIAL WED. OCTOBER 22
NORTHERN KENTUCKY UNIVERSITY ~
“CREATION SCIENCE” v. EVOLUTION
“Fundies” to pack event? First 200 will serve
as “electronic jurors”

Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights, KY. will be the site of a unique “mock trial” this Wednesday, October 22, 2008 pitting defenders of so-called “creation science” against proponents of evolution. The Resolved asks whether public school teachers should be permitted to teach creation science in public school classrooms.

Among those participating will be Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists. Mr. Kagin is a nationally recognized figure in the battle over evolution versus creationism.

The debate begins at 7:00 PM at NKU’s University Center in the Otto M. Budwig Theater. This event is free and open to the public. The first 200 persons in attendance will be invited to serve as “jurors” using small remote control clickers to register their opinions both before and after the trial. A the end of the proceeding, they will decide the case.

More information can be found at http://www.nku.edu/display_news.php?ID=3197 and http://www.edwinkagin.com . For information on driving and parking, visit http://www.nku.edu/ and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

Freethinkers, Atheists, Humanists and all other supporters of science and good teaching standards are urged to attend.

WHO & WHAT: Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheist at the Northern Kentucky University “mock trial” on teaching creationism.

WHEN: This Wednesday, October 22, 2008 beginning at 7:00 PM.

WHERE: NKU’s University Center in the Otto M. Budwig Theater

MORE INFO: http://www.nku.edu/display_news.php?ID=3197 and http://www.edwinkagin.com . For information on driving and parking, visit http://www.nku.edu/ and scroll down to the bottom of the page.

(AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for nonbelievers; labors for the absolute separation of church and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.)

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Creationism goes on ‘trial’
Attendees have opportunity to serve as ‘jurors’
By Andrea Remke • Enquirer contributor • October 22, 2008
HIGHLAND HEIGHTS – One of the country’s most controversial issues will be debated here tonight.

http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20081022/NEWS0103/810220397
Northern Kentucky University will host an interactive mock trial – with local citizens as the jurors – on the issue of whether creationism should be taught in schools.
The trial is at 7 p.m. and is free to the public. It is sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Forum, the NKU Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement and Nonprofit Development and the NKU Chase College of Law.
The first 200 people will have an opportunity to serve as jurors. At the conclusion, they will decide the case.
Scripps Howard Center executive director Mark Neikirk said the center is trying to foster a dialog on public issues. Next month, the center will focus on the results of the presidential election and what impact it will have on the region.
“The trial is a structure for deciding what public policy should be,” he said. “We hope that people will listen and go away and think about the topic.”
The trial deals with the firing of a fictitious biology teacher, Susan Scott, who according to her complaint, encouraged students to “explore creation theories.” Scott, played by Simon Kenton High School teacher Heather Mastin, is suing the fictitious Chandler County School Board for wrongful termination.
The teacher will be represented by attorney Phil Taliaferro, who will argue that teaching creation theory is not only permitted in Kentucky, but legally protected. The defendant Chandler County School Board will be represented by attorney Margo Grubbs, who will argue that Scott’s termination was justified under law.
Scott’s chief witness will be Dr. Ben Scripture. He hosts weekly radio programs, “Scripture on Creation” and “That’s What Scripture Says” on radio stations in Indiana and on the Good News Network stations.
Scripture said his main approach will be to get the issue to revolve around evidence and not just “religion versus science,” he said.
“In this trial, there is no accusation here of (the teacher) bringing up God or Creation. … She brought up something that challenged evolution and she was fired.
“Now, this is a mock trial, but this kind of thing does happen,” he said.
Scripture, who is a creationist, said this isn’t a religious crusade.
“This is us wanting to have good science taught in our classrooms. … Right now it’s not.”
The school board will be represented by fictional Superintendent Bryan Boone, who will be played by retired Boone County Superintendent Bryan Blavatt. Its key witness will be real-life evolution advocate Edwin Kagin, a Union attorney.
Kagin is a founder of the Free Inquiry Group and is the originator of Camp Quest, the nation’s first residential secular summer camp. Kagin is also the national legal director for American Atheists.
Kagin said he’ll stress that intelligent design and creationism has no business being taught in a science classroom.
“It’s important that people learn critical thinking … to sort out what is valid and what is not,” Kagin said.
“I’m trying to show a method of science and why this is not science,” he said. “It’s a religion view and belongs in church.”
The trial judge will be played by retired Kenton County Circuit Court Judge Doug Stephens.
Neikirk said other upcoming forum topics tentatively planned include Northern Kentucky’s role in Frankfort, public education, energy policy and diversity in the region.

http://www.theclergyletterproject.org/

The Clergy Letter – from American Christian clergy
– An Open Letter Concerning Religion and Science
Within the community of Christian believers there are areas of dispute and disagreement, including the proper way to interpret Holy Scripture. While virtually all Christians take the Bible seriously and hold it to be authoritative in matters of faith and practice, the overwhelming majority do not read the Bible literally, as they would a science textbook. Many of the beloved stories found in the Bible – the Creation, Adam and Eve, Noah and the ark – convey timeless truths about God, human beings, and the proper relationship between Creator and creation expressed in the only form capable of transmitting these truths from generation to generation. Religious truth is of a different order from scientific truth. Its purpose is not to convey scientific information but to transform hearts.
We the undersigned, Christian clergy from many different traditions, believe that the timeless truths of the Bible and the discoveries of modern science may comfortably coexist. We believe that the theory of evolution is a foundational scientific truth, one that has stood up to rigorous scrutiny and upon which much of human knowledge and achievement rests. To reject this truth or to treat it as “one theory among others” is to deliberately embrace scientific ignorance and transmit such ignorance to our children. We believe that among God’s good gifts are human minds capable of critical thought and that the failure to fully employ this gift is a rejection of the will of our Creator. To argue that God’s loving plan of salvation for humanity precludes the full employment of the God-given faculty of reason is to attempt to limit God, an act of hubris. We urge school board members to preserve the integrity of the science curriculum by affirming the teaching of the theory of evolution as a core component of human knowledge. We ask that science remain science and that religion remain religion, two very different, but complementary, forms of truth.
• Christian Clergy Letter
• (11,714 signatures as of 10/22/08)

—————————————————————————————

http://www.theclergyletterproject.org/
Clergy Letter – from American rabbis
An Open Letter Concerning Religion and Science

As rabbis from various branches of Judaism, we the undersigned, urge public school boards to affirm their commitment to the teaching of the science of evolution. Fundamentalists of various traditions, who perceive the science of evolution to be in conflict with their personal religious beliefs, are seeking to influence public school boards to authorize the teaching of creationism. We see this as a breach in the separation of church and state. Those who believe in a literal interpretation of the Biblical account of creation are free to teach their perspective in their homes, religious institutions and parochial schools. To teach it in the public schools would be to assert a particular religious perspective in an environment which is supposed to be free of such indoctrination.
The Bible is the primary source of spiritual inspiration and of values for us and for many others, though not everyone, in our society. It is, however, open to interpretation, with some taking the creation account and other content literally and some preferring a figurative understanding. It is possible to be inspired by the religious teachings of the Bible while not taking a literalist approach and while accepting the validity of science including the foundational concept of evolution. It is not the role of public schools to indoctrinate students with specific religious beliefs but rather to educate them in the established principles of science and in other subjects of general knowledge.
• Jewish Clergy Letter
• (378 signatures as of 10/22/08)

KENTUCKY ATHEISTS NEWS & NOTES Date: October 16, 2008

Kentucky Atheists, P.O. Box 666, Union, KY 41091; Email: ekagin@atheists.org

Phone: (859) 384-7000; Fax: (859) 384-7324; Web: http://www.atheists.org/ky/

Editor’s personal web site: www.edwinkagin.com

Editor’s personal blog: http://edwinkagin.blogspot.com

Edited by:

Edwin Kagin, Kentucky State Director, American Atheists, Inc.

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

IT IS OKAY TO BE AN ATHEIST

To Unidentified Recipients:

Roy Zimmerman will do a house concert in Union, Kentucky at 8:00 pm. on Friday, October 17, 2008. The noted singer songwriter will do “funny songs about ignorance, war, and greed.”

Admission is $15 at the door. For information and reservations, email meta4records@aol.com

Edwin.

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NKU to host interactive mock trial on creation science and evolution in the classroom
News from NKU…

Thursday – October 16, 2008
For immediate release…

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, Ky. – On Oct. 22, Northern Kentucky University will host a unique interactive mock trial that will turn local citizens into jurors on the hotly-contested issue of whether public school science teachers should be allowed to teach creation science, which attempts to use scientific means to prove the Genesis account of creation.

The trial, which will take place at 7 p.m. at NKU’s University Center Otto M. Budig Theater, is free and open to the public. It is sponsored by the Northern Kentucky Forum, the NKU Scripps Howard Center for Civic Engagement and Nonprofit Development and the NKU Chase College of Law Center for Excellence in Advocacy.

The first 200 people in attendance will have an opportunity to serve as jurors, using small remote control clickers to register their opinions both before and after the trial. At the conclusion of the proceeding, they will decide the case.

“It is part of the mission of the Scripps Howard Center to conduct public forums,” said Mark Neikirk, the Centers executive director. “I’ve heard President Votruba state many times that a college campus should be a safe place for difficult conversations.” Neikirk said that while the evolution/creation science debate is a difficult conversation, he felt it could be more productive if held as a mock trial.

The Trial: Scott v. Chandler County School Board
The trial centers around the termination of fictitious biology teacher Susan Scott (a traditionally trained evolution adherent), who according to her complaint, encouraged students to “explore creation theories.” Scott, who will be played by Simon Kenton High School teacher Heather Mastin, is suing the fictitious Chandler County School Board for wrongful termination and seeks reinstatement, compensatory damages and a judicial declaration that the school board violated her First Amendment rights.

Scott will be represented by local attorney Phil Taliaferro, who will argue that teaching creation theory is not only permitted in Kentucky, but legally protected. The defendant, Chandler County School Board, will be represented by local attorney Margo Grubbs, who will argue that Scott’s termination was justified under existing law.

Scott’s chief witness will be the real-life Dr. Ben Scripture, who received his Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame in1998. Dr. Scripture has earned degrees from the University of California at Berkeley (a A.B. in zoology) and Grace Theological Seminary (M.Div.). Dr. Scripture has published articles in the Journal of Biological Chemistry and the Journal of Molecular Biology. He hosts weekly radio programs, “Scripture on Creation” and “That’s What Scripture Says” on radio stations in Fort Wayne, Ind., and Indianapolis, and on the Good News Network stations covering the southeastern region of the U.S.

The school board will be represented in court by fictional superintendent Bryan Boone, who will be played by retired Boone County Superintendent Bryan Blavatt. Its key witness will be real-life evolution advocate Ed Kagin, a Union, Ky., attorney. Kagin is a founder of the Free Inquiry Group and co-authored The Fundamentals of Extremism: The Christian Right in America. He is the originator of Camp Quest, the nation’s first residential secular summer camp. He has run unsuccessfully as “the candidate without a prayer” for the Kentucky Supreme Court and Senate. Kagin is the national legal director for American Atheists and was awarded “Atheist of the Year” by that group in 2005 and 2008.

As is so often the case, the legalities of the issue aren’t black and white. Kentucky has fairly strict guidelines that suggest evolution-only instruction, but also has a pro-Genesis statute. And, of course, the question isn’t confined to the Commonwealth. It is playing out again in the national political debate – as it so often does – and is heating up in a number of states.

The trial judge will be played by retired Kenton County Circuit Court Judge Doug Stephens.

Northern Kentucky Forum
The mock trial is the first of what Northern Kentucky Forum, a partnership between the Scripps Howard Center, Legacy and Vision 2015, hopes will become monthly events that attract diverse audiences, advocate for public dialogue but not any one position, provide for audience input and allow all sides of a given issue to be represented. “We’ll always be looking for a way to bend the format,” Neikirk said, “to look at issues in a different way.”

The next forum will be held Nov. 12 and will focus on the results of the presidential election and what impact it will have upon the region. Other upcoming forum topics tentatively planned include Northern Kentuckys role in Frankfort; public education; energy policy; and diversity in the region.
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http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080924/NEWS01/809240787/1008
Religion
More atheists are sharing their views
Increasingly vocal minority fights the influence of religious groups
By Peter Smith • psmith@courier-journal.com • September 24, 2008
When she first logged onto an atheist Web site five years ago, Mikel Childers’ hands were shaking.

Since she was a teen, she had harbored growing doubts about the conservative Christian faith, “but I was so programmed against the word atheist,” she said.
When she eventually decided she was one, a “feeling of almost euphoria” descended upon her, said Childers, now 28.
“I no longer had to justify why a good and loving God would allow (bad) things to happen,” she said.
Her experience is shared by others who are part of Louisville Atheists and Freethinkers, a loosely organized group that meets monthly in an upstairs room at Kaelin’s Restaurant for burgers, drinks, discussions and fellowship. About 35 attended a recent meeting.
“We believe in living for this life and this world and using science and reason to understand the natural world better,” said John Armstrong, one of the organizers.
They’re part of an increasingly vocal minority of atheists, and other Americans who claim no religious affiliation, who are fighting the influence of religious groups on politics, schools and scientific research.
The percentage of religiously unaffiliated Americans has doubled since 1990 — rising to 16 percent.
That growth represents one of the largest trends in American religion today, according to a poll released earlier this year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life.
About 2 percent each describe themselves as “atheist” or “agnostic.” Most of the rest say they’re nothing in particular — and half of that group actually still has religious beliefs or practices.
Twelve percent of Kentuckians and 16 percent of Hoosiers have no affiliation with any religion, according to the survey, which didn’t provide a breakdown by state of how many describe themselves as atheists.
Those trends coincide with the rise of the “new atheism” — attacks on religious dogma mounted by such best-selling authors as Richard Dawkins (“The God Delusion”) and Christopher Hitchens (“God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything”).
The Sept. 11, 2001, attacks by Muslim terrorists “brought a lot of people here,” Armstrong said. “But you really don’t even need to go to 9/11 for an example of why religious certainty about things nobody can be certain about is dangerous.”
Members of the Louisville atheists group also say they want to combat conservative Christians’ political activities in areas ranging from embryonic stem-cell research to creationism to courthouse postings of the Ten Commandments.
Martin Cothran, senior policy analyst of the Family Foundation of Kentucky — which has worked alongside religious groups endorsing conservative causes such as the 2004 constitutional ban on same-sex marriage — said he welcomed the atheists’ involvement.
“As long as they believe in the legitimacy of people of faith furthering what they believe, I don’t see any problem with groups like this furthering their agenda,” he said.
Religion and voting
In recent years, religious practice has been one of the leading indicators of voting patterns.
The more frequently people attend worship, the more likely they are to vote Republican.
And while Democrats are struggling to regain some of that voting share, they won the religiously unaffiliated vote by a 75-25 percent margin nationwide in the 2006 congressional elections, according to exit polls.
In this year’s 3rd District rematch, Republican Anne Northup leads among those who attend worship frequently, while incumbent Democrat John Yarmuth leads among all the rest, according to a SurveyUSA/WHAS-TV poll in July.
Atheist group member Alan Canon of Louisville, who often wears a pin with a scarlet-letter “A” to prompt conversations about atheism, grew up in a fundamentalist household and was a Bible camp prize winner.
But his family also valued science, and he ultimately couldn’t reconcile the two.
“For people openly to say they’re atheist is similar to gay people coming out,” Canon said. “It’s not popular at all for people to say they’re atheist, especially in these parts.”
Members of the Louisville Atheists and Freethinkers reflect the complexities presented in the Pew survey — that people with no religious affiliation often have some religious practices.
Some meditate or practice Wiccan spiritual rituals, tied to the rhythms of nature.
Several belong to Unitarian Universalist churches, which have no theological creed but proclaim values of love, justice and truth-seeking.
“We do believe in spirituality,” said David Cooper, 59, who belongs to Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church. “It may not necessarily be a type of theistic spirituality.”
Common ground
Religious groups, meanwhile, are responding to the new trends.
The Kentucky Baptist Convention — alarmed by a 2004 report showing one-third of Kentucky adults with little or no church connection — has seen many churches work to be more “culturally relevant,” said Larry Baker, director of new work and associational missions.
“We have to meet people exactly where they are, respect them as individuals and then share boldly and with clarity about what we believe about our relationship with Jesus Christ,” he said.
Others are finding common ground with atheists.
The Rev. David Emery, pastor of Middletown Christian Church, recently led a sermon series on the recent atheist best-sellers.
While he criticized them for ignoring the positive work of religious people for social justice, he applauded them for raising issues of religious violence and the problem of suffering.
“The questions that these atheists raise are questions people of faith have also, that they haven’t been given permission to ask,” he said.
Reporter Peter Smith can be reached at (502) 582-4469.
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,700265540,00.html
 
===================================================================================
Atheists seeing their numbers rise
By Peter Smith
The (Louisville, Ky.) Courier-Journal
Published: October 11, 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Alan Canon grew up in a fundamentalist household and was a Bible camp prize winner. But his family also valued science, and he ultimately couldn’t reconcile the two and became an atheist.
“For people openly to say they’re atheist is similar to gay people coming out,” said Canon, of Louisville, who often wears a pin with a scarlet-letter A to prompt conversations about atheism. “It’s not popular at all for people to say they’re atheist, especially in these parts.”
He’s part of an increasingly vocal minority of atheists and other Americans who claim no religious affiliation. The percentage of religiously unaffiliated Americans has doubled since 1990, rising to 16 percent. That growth represents one of the largest trends in American religion today, according to a poll published this year by the Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life. Some of the religiously unaffiliated say they want to combat conservative Christians’ political activities in areas such as embryonic stem-cell research, creationism and courthouse postings of the Ten Commandments. Religious groups, meanwhile, are responding by trying to make churches more culturally relevant or by finding common ground with atheists.
Among the religiously unaffiliated, about 2 percent each describe themselves as “atheist” or “agnostic,” according to the Pew survey. Most of the rest say they’re nothing in particular — and half of that group actually has religious beliefs or practices.
Members of a Louisville group, Louisville Atheists and Freethinkers, reflect the complexities presented in the Pew survey. Some meditate or practice Wiccan spiritual rituals, tied to the rhythms of nature. Several belong to Unitarian Universalist churches, which have no theological creed but proclaim values of love, justice and truth-seeking.
“We do believe in spirituality,” said David Cooper, 59, who belongs to Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Church in Louisville. “It may not necessarily be a type of theistic spirituality.”
Religious affiliation matters in this election year because religious practice has been one of the leading indicators of voting patterns in recent years. The more frequently people attend church services, the more likely they are to vote Republican. While Democrats are struggling to regain some of that voting share, they won the religiously unaffiliated vote by a 75-25 percent ratio nationwide in the 2006 congressional elections, according to exit polls.
The Kentucky Baptist Convention, alarmed by a 2004 report showing that one-third of Kentucky adults had little or no church connection, has seen many churches work to be more culturally relevant, said Larry Baker, director of new work and associational missions.
“We have to meet people exactly where they are, respect them as individuals and then share boldly and with clarity about what we believe about our relationship with Jesus Christ,” Baker said.
Other groups are finding common ground with atheists.
The Rev. David Emery, pastor of Middletown Christian Church in Louisville, recently led a sermon series on the best-selling atheist books. While he criticized them for ignoring religious people’s work to improve social justice, he applauded them for raising issues of religious violence and the problem of suffering.
“The questions that these atheists raise are questions people of faith have also, that they haven’t been given permission to ask,” Emery said.
© 2008 Deseret News Publishing Company | All rights reserved

From reader Len:

Edwin,

An addendum to News&Notes is in order, I think. Please see this article:

http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/obama/1150170,gay090708.article

Sarah Palin’s church hopes to ‘pray away the gay’ and convert homosexuals to heterosexuals

September 7, 2008

FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin’s church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

‘‘You’ll be encouraged by the power of God’s love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality,’’ according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed for about six years.

Palin’s conservative Christian views have energized that part of the GOP electorate, which was lukewarm to John McCain’s candidacy before he named her as his vice presidential choice. She is staunchly anti-abortion, opposing exceptions for rape and incest, and opposes gay marriage and spousal rights for gay couples.

Focus on the Family, a national Christian fundamentalist organization, is conducting the ‘‘Love Won Out’’ Conference in Anchorage, about 30 miles from Wasilla.

Palin, campaigning with McCain in the Midwest on Friday, has not publicly expressed a view on the so-called ‘‘pray away the gay’’ movement. Larry Kroon, senior pastor at Palin’s church, was not available to discuss the matter Friday, said a church worker who declined to give her name.

Gay activists in Alaska said Palin has not worked actively against their interests, but early in her administration she supported a bill to overrule a court decision to block state benefits for gay partners of public employees.

At the time, less than one-half of 1 percent of state employees had applied for the benefits, which were ordered by a 2005 ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court.

Palin reversed her position and vetoed the bill after the state attorney general said it was unconstitutional. But her reluctant support didn’t win fans among Alaska’s gay population, said Scott Turner, a gay activist in Anchorage.

‘‘Less than 1 percent of state employees would even apply for benefits, so why make a big deal out of such a small number?’’ he said.

‘‘I think gay Republicans are going to run away’’ if Palin supports efforts like the prayers to convert gays, said Wayne Besen, founder of the New York-based Truth Wins Out, a gay rights advocacy group. Besen called on Palin to publicly express her views now that she’s a vice presidential nominee.

‘‘People are looking at Sarah Palin as someone who might feasibly be in the White House,’’ he said.

Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Also from reader Len:

They’re still around.  They probably vote as well.
 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/7540427.stm
 
From the article:
——————————————————————–
But are there any genuine flat-earthers left? Surely in our era of space exploration – where satellites take photos of our blue and clearly globular planet from space, and robots send back info about soil and water from Mars – no one can seriously still believe that the Earth is flat?
Wrong.
Flat earth theory is still around. On the internet and in small meeting rooms in Britain and the US, flat earth believers get together to challenge the “conspiracy” that the Earth is round.
“People are definitely prejudiced against flat-earthers,” says John Davis, a flat earth theorist based in Tennessee, reacting to the new Microsoft commercial.
“Many use the term ‘flat-earther’ as a term of abuse, and with connotations that imply blind faith, ignorance or even anti-intellectualism.”
Mr Davis, a 25-year-old computer scientist originally from Canada, first became interested in flat earth theory after “coming across some literature from the Flat Earth Society a few years ago”.
“I came to realise how much we take at face value,” he says. “We humans seem to be pleased with just accepting what we are told, no matter how much it goes against our senses.”
Mr Davis now believes “the Earth is flat and horizontally infinite – it stretches horizontally forever”.
“And it is at least 9,000 kilometres deep”, he adds.
James McIntyre, a British-based moderator of a Flat Earth Society discussion website, has a slightly different take. “The Earth is, more or less, a disc,” he states. “Obviously it isn’t perfectly flat thanks to geological phenomena like hills and valleys. It is around 24,900 miles in diameter.”

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705254723,00.html
 
Palin has blurred church-state line, review finds
By Garance Burke
Associated Press
Published: October 12, 2008
WASILLA, Alaska — The camera closes in on Sarah Palin speaking to young missionaries, vowing from the pulpit to do her part to implement God’s will from the governor’s office.
What she didn’t tell worshippers gathered at the Wasilla Assembly of God church in her hometown was that her appearance that day came courtesy of Alaskan taxpayers, who picked up the $639.50 tab for her airplane tickets and per diem fees.
An Associated Press review of the Republican vice presidential candidate’s record as mayor and governor reveals her use of elected office to promote religious causes, sometimes at taxpayer expense and in ways that blur the line between church and state.
Since she took state office in late 2006, the governor and her family have spent more than $13,000 in taxpayer funds to attend at least 10 religious events and meetings with Christian pastors, including Franklin Graham, the son of evangelical preacher Billy Graham, records show.
Palin was baptized Roman Catholic as a newborn and baptized again in a Pentecostal Assemblies of God church when she was a teenager. She has worshipped at a nondenominational Bible church since 2002, opposes abortion even in cases of rape and incest, and supports classroom discussions about creationism.
Since she was named as John McCain’s running mate, Palin’s deep faith and support for traditional moral values have rallied conservative voters who initially appeared reluctant to back his campaign.
On a weekend trip from the capital in June, a minister from the Wasilla Assembly of God blessed Palin and Lt. Gov Sean Parnell before a crowd gathered for the “One Lord Sunday” event at the town’s hockey rink. Later in the day, she addressed the budding missionaries at her former church.
“As I’m doing my job, let’s strike this deal. Your job is going to be out there, reaching the people — (the) hurting people — throughout Alaska,” she told students graduating from the church’s Masters Commission program. “We can work together to make sure God’s will be done here.”
A spokeswoman for the McCain-Palin campaign, Maria Comella, said the state paid for Palin’s travel and meals on that trip, and for other meetings with Christian groups, because she and her family were invited in their official capacity as Alaska’s first family. Parnell did not charge the state a per diem or ask to be reimbursed for travel expenses that day.
“I understand the per diem policy is, I can claim it if I am away from my residence for 12 hours or more. And Anchorage is where my residence is and I’m based from. And this trip took about four hours of driving time and time at the event, so I did not claim per diem for this one,” Parnell told the AP.
Palin and her family billed the state $3,022 for the cost of attending Christian gatherings exclusively, including visits to the Assembly of God here and to the congregation they attend in Juneau, according to expense reports reviewed by the AP.
Experts say those trips fall into an ethically gray area, since Democrats and Republicans alike often visit religious venues for personal and official reasons.
J. Brent Walker, who runs a group based in Washington, D.C., that advocates for church-state separation, said based on a reporter’s account, Palin’s June excursion raised questions.
“Politicians are entitled to freely exercise their religion while in office, but ethically if not legally that part of her trip ought to not be charged to taxpayers,” said Walker, executive director of the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty. “It’s still fundamentally a religious and spiritual experience she is having.”
The Palins billed the state an additional $10,094 in expenses for other multi-day trips that included worship services or religiously themed events, but also involved substantial state business, including the governor’s inaugural ball and an oil and gas conference in New Orleans.
Palin also submitted $998 in expenses for a June trip to Anchorage that included a bill signing at Congregation Beth Shalom synagogue, the only non-Christian house of worship she has visited since taking office, according to the McCain campaign.
In response to an AP request, Comella provided a list showing that since January 2007 the governor had attended 25 “faith-based events,” including funerals and community meetings held at churches. Many did not appear on the governor’s schedule or her travel records.
Palin has said publicly her personal opinions don’t “bleed on over into policies.”
Still, after the AP reported the governor had accepted tainted donations during her 2006 campaign, she announced she would donate the $2,100 to three charities, including an Anchorage nonprofit aimed at “sharing God’s love” to dissuade young women from having abortions.
An AP review of her time as mayor, from late 1996 to 2002, also reveals a commingling of church and state.
Records of her mayoral correspondence show that Palin worked arduously to organize a day of prayer at city hall. She said that with local ministers’ help, Wasilla — a city of 7,000 an hour’s drive north of Anchorage — could become “a light, or a refuge for others in Alaska and America.”
“What a blessing that the Lord has already put into place the Christian leaders, even though I know it’s all through the grace of God,” she wrote in March 2000 to her former pastor. She thanked him for the loan of a video featuring a Kenyan preacher who later would pray for her protection from witchcraft as she sought higher office.
In that same period, she also joined a grass-roots, faith-based movement to stop the local hospital from performing abortions, a fight that ultimately lost before the Alaska Supreme Court.
Palin’s former church and other evangelical denominations were instrumental in ousting members of Valley Hospital’s board who supported abortion rights — including the governor’s mother-in-law, Faye Palin.
Alaska Right to Life Director Karen Lewis, who led the campaign, said Palin wasn’t a leader in the movement initially. But by 1997, after she had been elected mayor, Palin joined a hospital board to make sure the abortion ban held while the courts considered whether the ban was legal, Lewis said.
“We kept pro-life people like Sarah on the association board to ensure children of the womb would be protected,” Lewis said. “She’s made up of this great fiber of high morals and godly character, and yet she’s fearless. She’s someone you can depend on to carry the water.”
In November 2007, the Alaska Supreme Court ruled that because the hospital received more than $10 million in public funds it was “quasi-public” and couldn’t forbid legal abortions.
Comella said Palin joined the hospital’s broader association in the mid-1990s. Records show she was elected to the nonprofit’s board in 2000.
Ties among those active at the time still run deep: In November, Palin was a keynote speaker at Lewis’ “Proudly Pro-Life Dinner” in Anchorage, and the governor billed taxpayers a $60 per diem fee for her work that day.
Palin also is one of just two governors who channeled federal money to support religious groups through a state agency, Alaska’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. Palin has made it a priority to unite faith communities, local nonprofits and government to serve the needy, bringing her high marks — and $500,000 — from the Bush administration.
In fiscal year 2008, Alaska was one of only four states to receive $500,000 in federal grant money from the national initiative.
“The governor has a healthy appreciation for faith-based groups that serve Alaskans in need,” said Jay Hein, who until recently directed national faith-based initiatives at the White House. “The grant speaks to their organizational strength, and the dynamism of Alaska’s operation.”
Several Catholic and Christian charities received funding, including $20,000 for a Fairbanks homeless shelter that views itself as a “stable door of evangelism and Christian service” and $36,000 for a drop-in center at an Anchorage mall that seeks to demonstrate “the unconditional love of Jesus to teenagers.”
The state ensures all faith-based groups keep a strict separation between their work in the community and their prayer services to ensure recipients don’t feel coerced, said Tara Horton, a special assistant to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services. Though staffers reached out to nonprofits and religious groups of many faiths, mostly Christian organizations applied for funding, she said.
In June, when Alaska legislators decided to cut $712,000 in state support for the office, Parnell sent lawmakers an urgent letter asking them to put it back in the budget. A small portion of state funding was later restored.
“Gov. Palin is motivated by the needs out there, and faith-based and community initiatives are a great way to do that,” Parnell said. “It matters not to state government what religion people belong to, so long as they are serving the public and the money they receive is used appropriately.”
Still, a state worker who directs an Anchorage-based group that advocates for church-state separation, Lloyd Eggan, said Palin’s administration hasn’t done enough to assure voters that government money doesn’t support ministry.
“That sort of thing is exactly what courts have said is barred by the First Amendment,” Eggan said.
=======================================================================================================================================================

Our De-Baptism stun has gotten over 10,000 viewers on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAo_rEgR4xU

Edwin.

KENTUCKY ATHEISTS NEWS & NOTES Date: September 23, 2008

Kentucky Atheists, P.O. Box 666, Union, KY 41091; Email: ekagin@atheists.org

Phone: (859) 384-7000; Fax: (859) 384-7324; Web: http://www.atheists.org/ky/

Editor’s personal web site: www.edwinkagin.com

Editor’s personal blog: http://edwinkagin.blogspot.com

Edited by:

Edwin Kagin, Kentucky State Director, American Atheists, Inc.

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

IT IS OKAY TO BE AN ATHEIST

To Unidentified Recipients:

Better get busy readers. People get the kind of government they deserve.

Vote for the least undesirable candidate who can be elected.

Edwin.

=====================================================================================

Edwin Kagin is to speak to San Francisco Atheists

On Saturday, September 27, 2008 at 6:00 pm.
At Schroeder’s Restaurant, rear dining room, 240 Front Street. SF Financial District, San Francisco, California (2 blocks north of Market, between California and Sacramento Streets. Use California Street cable car, or BART/MUNI Embarcadero stop. Parking on street or at nearby garage. Restaurant and bar remain open after meeting).
Topic:
“Laugh at Them: Humor as a Weapon Against the Evils of Fundangelicalism.”
“Being a review of the origins and progress of the American Religious Civil War, together with Battlefield Reports therefrom, all punctuated with samples of Edwinian humor as employed therein as a morally acceptable, yet fearsome, weapon of personal defense, and a balm for maintaining personal sanity.”

============================================================================================================================================
It’s not too early — make plans now to
join us for a seasonal tradition!
The 2008 AMERICAN ATHEISTS Winter Solstice Gala & CESAALA Dedication
Friday, December 12,
Saturday, December 13, 2008
http://www.atheists.org/wintersolstice.html

Mark your calendar now for a weekend of exciting events hosted by American Atheists and the Charles E. Stevens American Atheist Library & Archives (CESAALA)
Join us Friday afternoon, December 12, 2008 for an Open House and Dedication ceremony at the American Atheists Center in Cranford, NJ, and a tour of the largest private archive of Atheist, Freethough and related materials in the United States. This welcoming event runs from 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM, with a special ribbon-cutting at 1:30 to dedicate the remodeled Center and CESAALA facility, along with the new Eddie Tabash Conference Room. Special guided tours will be conducted. Included in the CESAALA facility are over 25,000 bound volumes, plus over 500,000 related items – pamphlets, signed letters, historical ephemera and other items that tell the story and preserve the legacy of Atheism and Freethought in America!
On Saturday, December 13, 2008, join us (11:30 AM – 4:00 PM) at the luxurious Crown Plaza Hotel n nearby Clark, NJ for the American Atheists 2008 Winter Solstice Gala featuring entertainment, speakers, great food and company and much, much more! Following the Solstice bash, make the short drive to the American Atheist Center for a live taping of the The Atheist Viewpoint television show in our new Conference Center, and more tours of our facility including CESAALA.
AND MAKE A FULL WEEKEND OF IT! We’ve arranged for a special rate at the Crowne Plaza Hotel that includes “shoulder dates” to allow you to visit the area, including nearby New York City! Rail transportation to Manhattan and other points is available at Cranford and Iselin-Metro Park. To qualify for the special rate of $109.00 (plus tax) per night – effective Thursday 12/11 through Wednesday 12/17) – you must make your arrangements directly with the Crown Plaza Hotel. Call them at 732-574-0100, or visit their web site.
Registration for the American Atheists 2008 Winter Solstice Gala is $34.00 per person ($17 for children ten and under) and includes all taxes and gratuities. There will be a cash bar. Register on-line using our secure transaction server below. Hurray, and reserve your seat now!

=======================================================================================================================================================================

From reader Jim:

A puff piece about creationism followed by my letter to the editor.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/creationist-britain-would-you-adam-and-eve-it-935419.html

Contrary to what reporters and columnists of your paper would have us believe, creationism is not a harmless belief. Creationism / Bible literalism is a growing movement that teaches children that the Earth is young and radiometry a lie, that dinosaurs and humans were once friends, that human beings have no genetic/ancestral relationship to other life forms, that all animals came from one of 16,000 “kinds” that an 700 year old Noah put on an Ark, and that there is a cabal of evil scientists that want to keep this information hidden from God-fearing people. Adults are free to believe this mumbo-jumbo. It is however, clearly an injustice when children are taught that these superstitious myths are true and/or that they deserve the respect of science educators. If Professor/Reverend Reiss had said that creationism and Intelligent Design are religious beliefs, have no scientific basis, and should be discussed in the science class as an example of what science isn’t, he would not have been asked to resign. He said no such thing.

If creationism is allowed into the science classroom, then so should other faith-based / evidence-lacking beliefs such as astrology, ESP, humans crawled out of volcanos (scientology), flying spaghetti monsters, etc. Take it from me, a former science teacher in the highly religious state of Kentucky in America (ranked 49th out of 50 states in education), any movement that teaches young people that much of modern science is the work of evil secularists and that the Bible, Koran, etc. already give us all the answers, is not a good thing. The goal of education is to eliminate ignorance, not give it equal billing.

Jim Willmot

Kentucky Action Alert. IGWT License Plates.

Representative Jim Gooch (D)

House District 12
Daviess (part)
Hopkins (part)
McLean
Webster

Mailing Address
714 North Broadway B2
Providence KY 42450
Frankfort Address(es)
702 Capitol Ave
Annex Room 370D
Frankfort KY 40601
Phone Number(s)
Home: (270) 667-7327
Annex: (502) 564-8100 Ext. 687
Work: (270) 635-1139
Work: (270) 667-5111 (fax)
Email Address(es)
Annex: Jim.Gooch@lrc.ky.gov

*****

Representative Hubert Collins (D)

House District 97
Floyd (part)
Johnson
Martin
Pike (part)

Mailing Address
72 Collins Dr
Wittensville KY 41274
Frankfort Address(es)
702 Capitol Ave
Annex Room 329H
Frankfort KY 40601
Phone Number(s)
Home: (606) 297-3152
Annex: (502) 564-8100 Ext. 654
Uses LRC website e-mail form – http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Mailform/H097.htm

*****

Representative Rick G. Nelson (D)

House District 87
Bell
Harlan (part)

Mailing Address
Rt. 3 Box 686
Middlesboro KY 40965
Frankfort Address(es)
702 Capitol Ave
Annex Room 466D
Frankfort KY 40601
Phone Number(s)
Home: (606) 248-8828
Home: (606) 248-8828 (fax)
Annex: (502) 564-8100 Ext. 612
Email Address(es)
Annex: Rick.Nelson@lrc.ky.gov
=====

http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/09RS/HB24.htm

BR 78 – Representative Jim Gooch Jr., Representative Hubert Collins (09/05/08)

AN ACT relating to motor vehicle license plates.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 186 to establish an In God We Trust license plate as an alternate standard issue license plate; set forth design characteristics and eligibility standards; amend KRS 186.240 to conform; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2010.

(Prefiled by the sponsor(s).)

=====

AN ACT relating to motor vehicle license plates.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

âSECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 186 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

(1) The Transportation Cabinet shall design and distribute an “In God We Trust” license plate in respect and honor of the national motto of the United States. An “In God We Trust” license plate shall be available in the county clerk’s office as a regularly issued license plate in addition to the license plate issued pursuant to subsection (2) of Section 2 of this Act. The license plates shall be reflectorized and subject to the fifty cent ($0.50) fee collected and distributed pursuant to subsections (2)(c) and (3) of Section 2 of this Act. The cabinet shall prescribe a plate of practical form and size for law enforcement identification purposes and shall include the following design features:

(a) A basic design for the plate with an alpha numeric sequence displayed to properly identify the motor vehicle;

(b) A background design, emblem, or colors that include the word “Kentucky” and the words “In God We Trust” on the license plate; and

(c) Any other design features the cabinet determines to be appropriate.

(2) An “In God We Trust” license plate may be displayed on the following motor vehicles at the request of the owner:

(a) A motor vehicle registered pursuant to KRS 186.050(1) with payment of the appropriate fees; and

(b) A recreational vehicle registered pursuant to KRS 186.050(11) with payment of the appropriate fees.

(3) Any motor vehicle bearing the license plate established pursuant to this section shall be subject to all provisions of KRS 186.005 to 186.260 unless otherwise provided by this section.

âSection 2. KRS 186.240 is amended to read as follows:

(1) It shall be the duty of the cabinet to carry out the provisions of KRS 186.005 to 186.260, and:

(a) Prepare and furnish to the clerk in each county a sufficient supply of all forms and blanks provided for in KRS 186.005 to 186.260. The forms for receipts shall be designated for the writing of not less than triplicate copies, the originals of which shall be numbered consecutively for each county, the second and third copies bearing the same number as the original. Receipts to be used as duplicates for lost receipts, as provided in KRS 186.180(1), shall be in duplicate only, and shall not be numbered;

(b) Keep a numerical record of all registration numbers issued in the state, for which they may use the second copy of receipts forwarded by the clerk of each county, and also keep a record of motor or vehicle identification numbers required by KRS 186.160; and

(c) Furnish to each clerk, originally each year upon estimate, and thereafter upon requisition at all times, a sufficient supply of plates and other insignia evidencing registration for all classes of vehicles required to be registered. The cabinet shall prescribe a plate of practical form and size for police identification purposes that shall contain:

1. The registration number;

2. The word “Kentucky;” and

3. The name of the county in which the plate is issued, or in lieu thereof the words “Official,” “Transportation,” “Executive,” or “Farm.” Plates for commercial vehicles, shall contain the year the license expires and words or information the Department of Vehicle Regulation may prescribe by administrative regulation, pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A. Numerals indicating a year shall not be placed upon any license plate issued pursuant to KRS 186.060, relating to the licensing of vehicles owned exclusively by the state and KRS 186.061, relating to the licensing of vehicles owned exclusively by a nonprofit volunteer fire department, volunteer fire prevention unit, and volunteer fire protection unit. A state slogan may be placed upon the plate.

(2) License plates issued pursuant to KRS 186.050(1) shall conform to the provisions of subsection (1)(c) of this section except:

(a) The word “Kentucky” shall be centered above the county name in which the plate is issued;

(b) The words “Bluegrass State” shall be centered at the top of the plate above the registration number;[ and]

(c) The name of the county in which the plate is issued shall be centered in the lower portion of the plate below the registration number and shall be printed in letters that are the same size as those used to print the word “Kentucky.” Beginning January 1, 1993, the Transportation Cabinet shall provide for the issuance of reflectorized plates for all motor vehicles, and shall collect a fee, in addition to the fee set out in KRS Chapter 186 and KRS 281.860, of fifty cents ($0.50). The fifty cents ($0.50) fee to reflectorize license plates shall be used by the cabinet as provided in subsection (3) of this section; and

(d) The “In God We Trust” license plate shall conform with the provisions of subsection (1) of Section 1 of this Act.

(3) The reflectorized license plate program fund is established in the state road fund and appropriated on a continual basis to the cabinet to administer the moneys as provided in this subsection. The fifty cents ($0.50) fee collected by the cabinet to reflectorize license plates shall be deposited into the program fund and used to issue reflectorized license plates. If at the end of a fiscal year, money remains in the program fund, it shall be retained in the fund and shall not revert to the state road fund. The interest and income earned on money in the program fund shall also be retained in the program fund to carry out the provisions of this subsection. The Transportation Cabinet shall begin issuing the new reflectorized license plate under the provisions of this subsection on January 1, 2003, and shall continue to issue a new reflectorized license plate on a schedule to be determined at the discretion of the cabinet in the years thereafter;

(4) Except as directed under subsection (3) of this section, the Transportation Cabinet shall receive all moneys forwarded by the clerk in each county and turn it over to the State Treasurer for the benefit of the state road fund;

(5) The Transportation Cabinet shall require an accounting by the clerk in each county for any moneys received by him under the provisions of this chapter, after the deduction of his fees under this chapter, and for all receipts, forms, plates, and insignia consigned to him. The Auditor of Public Accounts, pursuant to KRS 43.071, shall annually audit each county clerk concerning his responsibilities for the collection of various fees and taxes associated with motor vehicles. The secretary of the Transportation Cabinet, with the advice, consultation, and approval of the Auditor, shall develop and implement an inventory and accounting system which shall insure that the audits mandated in KRS 43.071 are performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The Transportation Cabinet shall pay for the audits mandated by KRS 43.071; and

(6) When applied for under KRS 186.160, motor or vehicle numbers assigned shall be distinctive to show that they were designated by the cabinet.

âSection 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2010.

=====

http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/09RS/HB25.htm

BR 120 – Representative Rick G. Nelson (09/15/08)

AN ACT relating to motor vehicle license plates.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 186 to establish an “In God We Trust” license plate as an alternate standard issue license plate; set forth design characteristics and eligibility standards; amend KRS 186.240 to conform; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2010.

(Prefiled by the sponsor(s).)

AN ACT relating to motor vehicle license plates.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

âSECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 186 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

(1) The Transportation Cabinet shall design and distribute an “In God We Trust” license plate in respect and honor of the national motto of the United States. An “In God We Trust” license plate shall be available in the county clerk’s office as a regularly issued license plate in addition to the license plate issued pursuant to subsection (2) of Section 2 of this Act. The license plates shall be reflectorized and subject to the fifty cent ($0.50) fee collected and distributed pursuant to subsections (2)(c) and (3) of Section 2 of this Act. The cabinet shall prescribe a plate of practical form and size for law enforcement identification purposes and shall include the following design features:

(a) A basic design for the plate with an alpha numeric sequence displayed to properly identify the motor vehicle;

(b) A background design, emblem, or colors that include the word “Kentucky” and the words “In God We Trust” on the license plate; and

(c) Any other design features the cabinet determines to be appropriate.

(2) An “In God We Trust” license plate may be displayed on the following motor vehicles at the request of the owner:

(a) A motor vehicle registered pursuant to KRS 186.050(1) with payment of the appropriate fees; and

(b) A recreational vehicle registered pursuant to KRS 186.050(11) with payment of the appropriate fees.

(3) Any motor vehicle bearing the license plate established pursuant to this section shall be subject to all provisions of KRS 186.005 to 186.260 unless otherwise provided by this section.

âSection 2. KRS 186.240 is amended to read as follows:

(1) It shall be the duty of the cabinet to carry out the provisions of KRS 186.005 to 186.260, and:

(a) Prepare and furnish to the clerk in each county a sufficient supply of all forms and blanks provided for in KRS 186.005 to 186.260. The forms for receipts shall be designated for the writing of not less than triplicate copies, the originals of which shall be numbered consecutively for each county, the second and third copies bearing the same number as the original. Receipts to be used as duplicates for lost receipts, as provided in KRS 186.180(1), shall be in duplicate only, and shall not be numbered;

(b) Keep a numerical record of all registration numbers issued in the state, for which they may use the second copy of receipts forwarded by the clerk of each county, and also keep a record of motor or vehicle identification numbers required by KRS 186.160; and

(c) Furnish to each clerk, originally each year upon estimate, and thereafter upon requisition at all times, a sufficient supply of plates and other insignia evidencing registration for all classes of vehicles required to be registered. The cabinet shall prescribe a plate of practical form and size for police identification purposes that shall contain:

1. The registration number;

2. The word “Kentucky;” and

3. The name of the county in which the plate is issued, or in lieu thereof the words “Official,” “Transportation,” “Executive,” or “Farm.” Plates for commercial vehicles, shall contain the year the license expires and words or information the Department of Vehicle Regulation may prescribe by administrative regulation, pursuant to KRS Chapter 13A. Numerals indicating a year shall not be placed upon any license plate issued pursuant to KRS 186.060, relating to the licensing of vehicles owned exclusively by the state and KRS 186.061, relating to the licensing of vehicles owned exclusively by a nonprofit volunteer fire department, volunteer fire prevention unit, and volunteer fire protection unit. A state slogan may be placed upon the plate.

(2) License plates issued pursuant to KRS 186.050(1) shall conform to the provisions of subsection (1)(c) of this section except:

(a) The word “Kentucky” shall be centered above the county name in which the plate is issued;

(b) The words “Bluegrass State” shall be centered at the top of the plate above the registration number;[ and]

(c) The name of the county in which the plate is issued shall be centered in the lower portion of the plate below the registration number and shall be printed in letters that are the same size as those used to print the word “Kentucky.” Beginning January 1, 1993, the Transportation Cabinet shall provide for the issuance of reflectorized plates for all motor vehicles, and shall collect a fee, in addition to the fee set out in KRS Chapter 186 and KRS 281.860, of fifty cents ($0.50). The fifty cents ($0.50) fee to reflectorize license plates shall be used by the cabinet as provided in subsection (3) of this section; and

(d) The “In God We Trust” license plate shall conform with the provisions of subsection (1) of Section 1 of this Act.

(3) The reflectorized license plate program fund is established in the state road fund and appropriated on a continual basis to the cabinet to administer the moneys as provided in this subsection. The fifty cents ($0.50) fee collected by the cabinet to reflectorize license plates shall be deposited into the program fund and used to issue reflectorized license plates. If at the end of a fiscal year, money remains in the program fund, it shall be retained in the fund and shall not revert to the state road fund. The interest and income earned on money in the program fund shall also be retained in the program fund to carry out the provisions of this subsection. The Transportation Cabinet shall begin issuing the new reflectorized license plate under the provisions of this subsection on January 1, 2003, and shall continue to issue a new reflectorized license plate on a schedule to be determined at the discretion of the cabinet in the years thereafter;

(4) Except as directed under subsection (3) of this section, the Transportation Cabinet shall receive all moneys forwarded by the clerk in each county and turn it over to the State Treasurer for the benefit of the state road fund;

(5) The Transportation Cabinet shall require an accounting by the clerk in each county for any moneys received by him under the provisions of this chapter, after the deduction of his fees under this chapter, and for all receipts, forms, plates, and insignia consigned to him. The Auditor of Public Accounts, pursuant to KRS 43.071, shall annually audit each county clerk concerning his responsibilities for the collection of various fees and taxes associated with motor vehicles. The secretary of the Transportation Cabinet, with the advice, consultation, and approval of the Auditor, shall develop and implement an inventory and accounting system which shall insure that the audits mandated in KRS 43.071 are performed in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards. The Transportation Cabinet shall pay for the audits mandated by KRS 43.071; and

(6) When applied for under KRS 186.160, motor or vehicle numbers assigned shall be distinctive to show that they were designated by the cabinet.

âSection 3. This Act takes effect January 1, 2010.

And yet another attempt by the forces of darkness:

Representative Melvin B. Henley (D)

House District 5
Calloway
Trigg (part)

Mailing Address
1305 South 16th St
Murray KY 42071
Frankfort Address(es)
702 Capitol Ave
Annex Room 432C
Frankfort KY 40601
Phone Number(s)
Home: (270) 753-3855
Annex: (502) 564-8100 Ext. 611
Use LRC website form for e-mail ( http://www.lrc.ky.gov/Mailform/H005.htm )

=====

http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/09RS/HB25.htm

BR 120 – Representative Rick G. Nelson (09/15/08)

AN ACT relating to motor vehicle license plates.

Create a new section of KRS Chapter 186 to establish an “In God We Trust” license plate as an alternate standard issue license plate; set forth design characteristics and eligibility standards; amend KRS 186.240 to conform; EFFECTIVE January 1, 2010.

(Prefiled by the sponsor(s).)

=====

And, this . . . .

http://www.lrc.ky.gov/record/09RS/HB8.htm

BR 21 – Representative Melvin B. Henley (06/19/08)

AN ACT relating to voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints in public schools.

Amend KRS 158.183 to permit students to voluntarily express religious viewpoints in school assignments free from discrimination and organize prayer groups, religious clubs, or other religious gatherings before, during, and after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other noncurricular student activities and groups; create a new section of KRS Chapter 158 to require each board of education to adopt and implement a policy regarding voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints and to establish a limited public forum for student speakers at all school events at which a student is to publicly speak, including graduation; designate procedure for selection of student speakers; require subject of speech to be relevant to event; require district disclaimer indicating nonendorsement of the content of voluntary expressions by students.

(Prefiled by the sponsor(s).)
To: Interim Joint Committee on Education

=====

AN ACT relating to voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints in public schools.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky:

âSection 1. KRS 158.183 is amended to read as follows:

(1) A student shall have the right to carry out an activity described in any of paragraphs (a) to (d) of subsection (2) of this section, if the student does not:

(a) Infringe on the rights of the school to:

1. Maintain order and discipline;

2. Prevent disruption of the educational process; and

3. Determine educational curriculum and assignments;

(b) Harass other persons or coerce other persons to participate in the activity; or

(c) Otherwise infringe on the rights of other persons.

(2) Subject to the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, a student shall be permitted to voluntarily:

(a) Pray in a public school, vocally or silently, alone or with other students to the same extent and under the same circumstances as a student is permitted to vocally or silently reflect, meditate, or speak on nonreligious matters alone or with other students in the public school;

(b) Express religious viewpoints in a public school to the same extent and under the same circumstances as a student is permitted to express viewpoints on nonreligious topics or subjects in the school;

(c) Express religious viewpoints in homework, artwork, and other written and oral assignments free from discrimination based on the religious content of the submissions;

(d) Speak to and attempt to discuss religious viewpoints with other students in a public school to the same extent and under the same circumstances as a student is permitted to speak to and attempt to share nonreligious viewpoints with other students. However, any student may demand that this speech or these attempts to share religious viewpoints not be directed at him or her;

(e) Organize prayer groups, religious clubs, or other religious gatherings before, during, and after school to the same extent that students are permitted to organize other noncurricular student activities and groups;

(f)[(d)] Distribute religious literature in a public school, subject to reasonable time, place, and manner restrictions to the same extent and under the same circumstances as a student is permitted to distribute literature on nonreligious topics or subjects in the school; and

(g)[(e)] Be absent, in accordance with attendance policy, from a public school to observe religious holidays and participate in other religious practices to the same extent and under the same circumstances as a student is permitted to be absent from a public school for nonreligious purposes.

(3) No action may be maintained under KRS 158.181 to 158.187 unless the student has exhausted the following administrative remedies:[;]

(a) The student or the student’s parent or guardian shall state his or her complaint to the school’s principal. The principal shall investigate and take appropriate action to ensure the rights of the student are resolved within seven (7) days of the date of the complaint;

(b) If the concerns are not resolved, then the student or the student’s parent or guardian shall make a complaint in writing to the superintendent with the specific facts of the alleged violation;

(c) The superintendent shall investigate and take appropriate action to ensure that the rights of the student are resolved within thirty (30) days of the date of the written complaint; and

(d) Only after the superintendent’s investigation and action may a student or the student’s parent or legal guardian pursue any other legal action.

âSECTION 2. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 158 IS CREATED TO READ AS FOLLOWS:

(1) A board of education shall adopt and implement a local policy regarding voluntary student expression of religious viewpoints that includes the following provisions:

(a) A student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, if any, on an otherwise permissible subject shall be treated in the same manner as a student’s voluntary expression of a secular or other viewpoint on an otherwise permissible subject, and the district may not discriminate against the student based on a religious viewpoint expressed by the student on an otherwise permissible subject;

(b) Homework and classroom assignments must be judged by ordinary academic standards of substance and relevance. Students may not be penalized or rewarded on account of the religious content of their work;

(c) Student religious groups must be given the same access to school facilities for assembling as is given to other noncurricular student groups. If student groups that meet for nonreligious activities are permitted to advertise or announce meetings of the groups, the school district may not discriminate against groups that meet for prayer or other religious speech. This provision extends to advertising in a student newspaper, putting up posters, posting on a student activities bulletin board or Web page, making announcements on a public address system or Web cast, or handing out leaflets to the same extent provided to student groups that meet for nonreligious activities; and

(d) A disclaimer that school sponsorship of noncurricular groups and events neither favors nor disfavors groups that meet to engage in prayer or religious speech.

(2) A board of education shall adopt and implement a local policy regarding the establishment of a limited public forum for student speakers at all school events at which a student is to publicly speak. The general policy for limited public forums shall:

(a) Require that a limited public forum be provided in a manner that does not discriminate against a student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, if any, on an otherwise permissible subject;

(b) Provide a method, based on neutral criteria, for the selection of student speakers at school events and graduation ceremonies;

(c) Ensure that a student speaker does not engage in obscene, vulgar, offensively lewd, or indecent speech;

(d) State, in writing, orally, or both, that the student’s speech does not reflect the endorsement, sponsorship, position, or expression of the district; and

(e) Include a disclaimer to be provided at all graduation ceremonies or any other event at which a student speaks publicly to affirm the district’s nonsponsorship of the student’s speech.

(3) A board of education shall adopt and implement a local policy regarding the establishment of a limited public forum providing an opportunity for students to speak at graduation ceremonies. The policy may include the following criteria:

(a) 1. A student may be selected to speak to begin graduation ceremonies and another student to speak to end graduation ceremonies.

2. For each speaker, the district shall set a maximum time limit reasonable and appropriate for the occasion.

3. Only students who are graduating and who hold one (1) of the following neutral criteria positions of honor shall be eligible to use the limited public forum:

a. Student council officers;

b. Class officers of the graduating class;

c. The top three (3) academically ranked graduates; or

d. A shorter or longer list of student leaders as the school district may designate.

4. A student who will otherwise have a speaking role in the graduation ceremony is ineligible to give the opening and closing remarks.

5. The name of the eligible volunteering students will be randomly drawn with the first name drawn assigned the opening and the second name drawn assigned the closing.

6. The topic of the opening and closing remarks shall be related to the purpose of the graduation ceremony and to the purpose of marking the opening and closing of the event, honoring the occasion, the participants, and those in attendance, bringing the audience to order, and focusing the audience on the purpose of the event;

(b) 1. In addition to the students giving the opening and closing remarks, certain other students who have attained special positions of honor based on neutral criteria, including without limitation the valedictorian, may have speaking roles at graduation.

2. For each speaker, the school district shall set a maximum time limit reasonable and appropriate to the occasion and to the position held by the speaker.

3. a. The subject of the addresses shall be related to the purpose of the graduation ceremony, marking and honoring the occasion, honoring the participants and those in attendance, and the student’s perspective on purpose, achievement, life, school, graduation, and looking forward to the future.

b. The student shall not engage in obscene, vulgar, offensively lewd, or indecent speech.

c. The student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, if any, on an otherwise permissible subject, shall be viewed in the same manner as a student’s voluntary expression of a secular or other viewpoint, and the district may not discriminate against the student based on a religious viewpoint expressed by the student on an otherwise permissible subject; and

(c) A written disclaimer shall be printed in the graduation program such as: “The students who will be speaking at the graduation ceremony were selected based on neutral criteria to deliver messages representing the students’ own choices and opinions. The content of each student speaker’s message is the private expression of the individual student and does not reflect any position or expression of the board of education, the district’s administration, employees of the district, or the views of any other graduate. The content of these messages were prepared by the student volunteers, and the district refrained from any interaction with student speakers regarding the student speakers’ viewpoints on permissible subjects.”

(4) (a) A board of education shall adopt and implement a local policy regarding the establishment of a limited public forum providing an opportunity for students to speak at events other than graduation.

(b) For each speaker, the district shall set a maximum time limit reasonable and appropriate to the occasion.

(c) Student speakers may introduce:

1. Athletic events designated by the district;

2. Opening announcements and greetings for the school day; and

3. Any additional events designated by the district, which may include without limitation assemblies and pep rallies.

(d) Only those students in the highest two (2) grade levels of the school and who hold one (1) of the following positions of honor based on neutral criteria are eligible to use the limited public forum:

1. Student council officers;

2. Class officers of the highest grade level in the school;

3. Captains of sports teams; and

4. Other students holding positions of honor as the school district may designate.

(e) An eligible student shall be notified of the student’s eligibility, and a student who wishes to participate as an introducing speaker shall submit his or her name to the student council or other designated body during an announced period of not less than three (3) days.

(f) The announced period may be at the beginning of the school year, at the end of the preceding school year so that student speakers are in place for the new year, or, if the selection process will be repeated each semester, at the beginning of each semester or at the end of the preceding semester so speakers are in place for the next semester.

(g) The names of the volunteering student speakers shall be randomly drawn until all names have been selected, and the names shall be listed in the order drawn.

(h) Each selected student will be matched chronologically to the event for which the student will be giving the introduction.

(i) Each student may speak for one (1) week at a time for all introductions of events that week, or rotate after each speaking event, or otherwise as determined by the district.

(j) The list of student speakers shall be chronologically repeated as needed, in the same order. The district may repeat the selection process each semester rather than once per year.

(k) 1. The subject of the student introductions must be related to the purpose of the event and to the purpose of marking the opening of the event, honoring the occasion, the participants, and those in attendance, bringing the audience to order, and focusing the audience on the purpose of the event.

2. The student shall not engage in obscene, vulgar, offensively lewd, or indecent speech.

3. A student’s voluntary expression of a religious viewpoint, if any, on an otherwise permissible subject shall be treated in the same manner as the district treats a student’s voluntary expression on a secular or other viewpoint on an otherwise permissible subject, and the district may not discriminate against the student based on a religious viewpoint expressed by the student on an otherwise permissible subject.

(l) At each event in which a student will deliver an introduction, a disclaimer shall be stated in written or oral form, or both, such as “The student giving the introduction for this event is a volunteering student selected on neutral criteria to introduce the event. The content of the introduction is the private expression of the student and does not reflect the endorsement, sponsorship, position, or expression of the school district.”

(m) Certain students who have attained a special position of honor in the school have traditionally addressed school audiences from to time in recognition of their achieved positions of honor, such as the captains of various sports teams, student council officers, class officers, homecoming kings and queens, prom kings and queens, and the like, and have attained their positions based on neutral criteria. Nothing in the board policy shall eliminate the continuation of the practice of having these students, regardless of grade level, address school audiences in the normal course of their respective positions.

âSection 3. This Act shall be implemented beginning with the 2009-2010 school year and shall be referred to as the “Public School Student’s Religious Liberties Act.”

TWO LINES

The future waits in one of two great lines, two endless human queues
And each of us is in one line—there is no other line to choose.

Our journey as human creatures has fashioned these two lines
With very different features following very different signs.

Through kingdoms and through ages these lines unbroken run
One line snaking into darkness; one line straining for the sun.

One line holds shining visions of what humankind can be
When at last we make decisions free of myth and tyranny.

Our race, our creeds, our sex, and the religions we proclaim
In this line yield to human needs we cannot always name.

Some careless few within this line may hurt you and make you cry
But villains in the other line will kill you to watch you die.

Those marching in that other line seek to control not to achieve
By trying to deceive our minds with lies that they believe.

Prizing money over friendship, and power over human need
They do not work for kinship but only for their greed.

Anyone can leave their line, whenever they see fit
If perhaps they change their mind, from facts, or acts or wit.

No one must stay within a line where rules are learned by rote
That dictate how we all must live, and breed, and love, and vote.

In the coming great election, one line will finally decide
If our future takes direction from the bright or evil side.

Set aside all pious passion of who you are and where you have been
What now must be in fashion is “Which line are you in?”

How will you answer to the future when a new world starts to dawn
How will you tell your children which side of history you were on?

There are but two great questions to be raised when life must end,
“How did you use your roads and days?” And “Which line were you in?”

By Edwin Kagin

Copyright by Edwin Kagin, September 2008.
Permission is granted for non-profit reproduction.
If you make money on it, I want some of it. ek

September 12, 2008 – Friday

Atheist News by Edwin Kagin

KENTUCKY ATHEISTS NEWS & NOTES Date: September 12, 2008

Kentucky Atheists, P.O. Box 666, Union, KY 41091; Email: ekagin@atheists.org

Phone: (859) 384-7000; Fax: (859) 384-7324;

Editor’s personal web site: www.edwinkagin.com

Edited by:

Edwin Kagin, Kentucky State Director, American Atheists, Inc.

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

IT IS OKAY TO BE AN ATHEIST

To Unidentified Recipients:

WE HAVE WHITE SMOKE!

ED BUCKNER IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF AMERICAN ATHEISTS.

Y’all get busy and help get this organization get going again y’hear!!!

It is a rat race. And the rats are winning.

We need to change this sad fact, and our new leader is going to help us do just that.

Congratulations to our new President of American Atheists, Dr. Edward M. Buckner, aka Ed.

Quit feeling sorry for yourself, join American Atheists, get others to join, volunteer, and help him out.

Our greatest days are yet to come.

This is the first day of the rest of your life.

Edwin.

==================================================================

(by David Silverman, National Spokesperson for American Atheists)
09/12/08
American Atheists Names ED BUCKNER as President

Ladies and gentlemen,

As the National Spokesperson for American Atheists, I am proud to introduce our new President, Dr. Ed Buckner.

Many of you who are active in the movement will know of Dr. Buckner’s accomplishments, originating in the Atlanta Chapter of the Society of Separationists (then an American Atheists affiliated corporation), helping to grow the Atlanta Freethought Society through its formative years, and then most recently serving as the Executive Director of the Counsel for Secular Humanism.

A hardcore Atheist, Dr. Buckner has written, spoken, debated, and appeared often in the media, both locally and nationally. He has been on MSNBC, Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, Fox News, the Michael Medved Show, CNN, the national CBS Radio News, NPR, and on nearly every local media outlet (radio or television) in the Atlanta and Buffalo areas, most repeatedly. He’s been quoted, sometimes at length, in newspapers all over the nation and, occasionally, elsewhere in the world, been a featured guest on many Internet broadcast shows, and given the keynote address for Atheists Alliance International.

Dr Buckner has debated or spoken in Alabama, California, Connecticut, DC, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and a few times outside the U.S. He earned a doctorate (1983) and M.Ed. (1975) from Georgia State University; B.A., English, Rice University, 1967.

We had a FANTASTIC response from world-class atheist leaders for this position, and on behalf of the Board of Directors I thank every applicant.

Please help me welcome Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists!

——————————————————–

Ed’s first official statement follows:

Dear American Atheists Members, Volunteers, and Supporters,

I’m deeply honored to have been named as President of American Atheists by the Board. I’m determined to show all of you, in due course, that the Board, which had an important but difficult decision, was wise to choose me. I don’t know all the details of who else applied, but I know enough to know that the list of applicants included many Atheists of the first order, men and women of great promise, intelligence, creativity, and accomplishment, including leaders from within American Atheists and from beyond. While this makes me even prouder of being chosen, it also puts great pressure on me to work hard.

I promise—

1. I will put American Atheists and her members first.

2. The many other leaders and supporters of the group who make themselves available to help, with advice or work or financial contributions, will be welcomed and encouraged.

3. Communication will be a top priority, especially with Atheists wise and strong enough to be card-carrying members. The excellent blog that David Silverman edits will be a major part of that—I will read and take seriously what all of you choose to say there. I will at least occasionally contribute to the comments, always openly and under my own name. The American Atheist web-site will, with the help of many, be kept up to date.

4. American Atheists will remain true to its proud heritage as the vanguard of American atheism and religious liberty; we have always been the most forthright, unabashed, unapologetic, confident people in this nation who have no religion, and that will continue.

5. American Atheists will openly cooperate with and support other groups, local, national, or international, to the extent that doing so will serve the interests of our philosophy and our members. The only exceptions to this promise will come where there are conflicts with 4, above.

6. If a local group of American Atheists anywhere in this nation wants me or some other official representative of the organization to visit, to speak or to debate against some bombastic preacher or condescending media personality, we will do everything we can to fulfill that want.

7. If a newspaper, radio program, TV program, or Internet show anywhere in this nation invites me or some other official representative of the organization to speak or to debate against some religious leader, we will do everything we can to fulfill that invitation.

8. The Center in Cranford New Jersey, including our fine library, will be protected and enhanced to improve its usefulness to members and to future Atheists.

I’m not Frank Zindler or Ellen Johnson or Jon Murray or Madalyn Murray O’Hair, and I won’t pretend to be—but I hope to demonstrate that the best days of American Atheists are ahead, not historical. I’m grateful, and I think all of us should be profoundly grateful, to our previous leaders, who have stood strongly and proudly for us, helping us protect our rights, our reputations, and our freedom. All of them have demonstrated wonderful creativity, wit and humor, extraordinary intelligence, and profound courage on our behalf.

Anyone who wants to know more about me can send me an e-mail message and I’ll send you a copy of what I submitted to the board when I applied.

I invite you to hold me accountable.

Sincerely,
Ed Buckner
President,
American Atheists, Inc.

==================================================================================

Jana Reports:
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Stalking the Devil’s Advocate

There is surely a temptation to follow Christopher Hitchens around with a pen and notepad so as not to miss the gems of humor, wit and sincere passion- had I known the day would be so long, I myself might not have resisted. I’m glad I did. What follows is my chronology of a day in the life of this very public figure leading up to, during and following his debate with Frank Turek at Virginia Commonwealth University on September 9th 2008 entitled “Does God Exist?”.

My daughter Julianna and I arrived the night before to meet with Roy Roberts, president of the Secular Student Union, who had arranged the event. It was then that he informed us that we would be invited to attend a luncheon with Mr. Hitchens prior to the debate. Our pleasure was redoubled when we discovered that this would take place at an Indian restaurant. Having traveled from Cincinnati Ohio to Richmond Virginia for the event I could have scarcely imagined better news. We had come in the hopes of gleaning a few short moments in which we could ask some questions for our Answers In Atheism podcast on Thursday evenings, now we would get to observe him in a small group as friends, relaxing over a buffet.

Books in tow for signing and cameras ready, we arrived to join the group of organisers. The place was small, our group of about fifteen took up most of the restaurant. It is always a pleasure to meet the people who put their efforts toward the advancement of understanding of the issues we all face, and these were no exceptions. Christopher Hitchens appeared unceremoniously, the ward for the day of the students who had worked so hard to plan the debate. There were no formal introductions, he asked if we should help ourselves to the buffet, and we all raced to fill our plates. That was it, we were off. Having been an avid fan for some time of his debates and lectures, I was already familiar with his stances on many of the more topical issues. What I really wanted to learn about was the man behind the words. Arguably among the most well-read authors of our time, Hitchens has a reputation of being strident if not arrogant. I have often wondered if this was more a reflection of the subject material than of him as an actual person. The man I spent the day with was the very embodiment of patience, eloquence and candor. He would get no breaks from the relentless questions from myself and everyone else for the rest of the day, the requests for “just one more” picture, autograph, or answer to some burning question from both sympathisers and detractors. He would disappoint no one.

It was my sincere intention to eat and listen, however my big mouth has a mind of its own. I was sitting directly across the table from a man I admire greatly- an opportunity not likely to be repeated in the near future. I only wanted to know one thing- everything. Barring that, I’d settle for everything else. Why does he support the war? He explained that in a quieter time he would be a one-issue voter on the issue of separation of church and state, a condition that makes America unique from the rest of the world. That we stand alone as the only country to have a truly secular government is a fact to be celebrated and defended, he reminds us. He makes me proud to be an American, at a time when I’m not so sure. However, we find ourselves where we are at present, our country embroiled in a nasty war of dubious beginnings, with the dire necessity of some sort of resolution. He reminds me that people all over the world are human beings and have a right not to live under the tyranny of religious zealotry, and that they need and deserve our support. I do believe that human rights supersede American rights, although I remain in turmoil as to our responsibility to insure them. I countered that many of us who willfully take on the title of “lefties” are doubtful that such a goal as emancipation from religious tyranny is likely, and not even on the agenda of our military. He believes the downfall and scattering of the most egregious regimes will accomplish improved secularism by default. He is asked by another attendee if there was a catalyst that made him feel this was particularly important right now, and he replied that September 11th made it clear what kind of threat the parties of god offer. As a man who has spent a great deal of time both on travel to and study of these cultures, he is someone from what is often the “other side” from me politically whose opinions I seek out.

There was round two at the buffet, and I asked if he might spare some time for a brief interview for our podcast on Thursday. He invited Julianna and I without hesitation to join him immediately before his debate, a time he claims is always boring and uneventful. I looked across the sea of faces hoping to get their questions in, and doubted he’d have time to be bored. There was nice strong Indian tea. More conversation. The restaurant was closed for midday before we were ushered out, at which time the meeting convened on the sidewalk. Hitchens was whisked away to visit some local sites of interest including the Jefferson Hotel, but not before he reminded Julianna and I to find him before the debate for the interview, to my delight.

The room was huge and the crowd sparse an hour before the show. The planning was coming together- I recognised doormen, ushers, cameramen and film crews from lunch. We found our reserved seats, and were quickly summoned to interview Hitchens in the green room. As the results will be discussed on our Answers In Atheism podcast with Edwin Kagin, I won’t repeat them here, but Hitchens was as cordial and generous with his time as could be imagined. Cameras clicked, people wandered in and out interjecting throughout and he never lost his composure, or his place in our conversation. This, only moments before he would take the stage. Turek came in to introduce himself before the debate, informing Hitchens that he’s a great fan. Hitchens replied, “It’s early”.

We reclaimed our seats in the now jam-packed auditorium of five hundred, with two overflow rooms full as well. The debate was, well it was a debate between a theist and an atheist so there really isn’t anything new that can come out of it. Turek made the usual objections which amount to “I personally don’t understand science so therefore goddidit!!!” and Hitchens volleyed back with great dignity that human beings deserve more respect than to be shamed by people claiming to represent a non-existent being. Check youtube for video of the nearly two-hour debate, it was frustrating to me to have to sit silent through the litany of irrationality Turek passed off as “evidence”. Apparently evidence is now something an incredibly ignorant person manufactures in their own head- baseless assertions and postulations that the rest of us are supposed to “respect”. Ugh. Why is Hitchens mad at god? Ugh. How did something come from nothing? Ugh. Why can’t he just accept that things are too perfectly in tune not to be the intentional creation of a supreme being? Double ugh. Quotes from “important people” who proclaim supernatural necessity. Christ. You get the picture. As passionate as Hitchens clearly is on the subject, he avoids underlining the problem as it actually exists- you can’t reason with utter absurdity. That large numbers of people believe utter absurdity makes no comment on its truth content. Hitchens prefers instead to refute specific claims rather than to call the man stupid, I doubt I could have managed that myself. I’ve heard there are no such things as stupid questions, and this I now know for certain to be false.

Does the long day near a close? Hardly! After a standing ovation for what was surely among the more interesting debates I’ve seen of his, the moderator announces that Hitchens will be available afterward for pictures and book signings. The line of hopefuls spills out down the corridor and out the door- he will not leave the table for another two hours until every last request is satisfied, every picture snapped. He declines my offer for coffee, reminding one of the organisers it’s nearly 10 pm and he’d like to get a sandwich when they’re done. He grants one last filmed interview at nearly 11pm on the condition that we walk while it’s being conducted, it’s his only hope of eventual escape. Julianna and I are invited again to join the group for the “Well, how did that go?” segment of the evening at a local pub. More pictures, more questions, poor Christopher doesn’t get to even eat his sandwich while it’s hot. He doesn’t seem to notice, he certainly never gets perturbed. Every person in the room is as important as the next and I realise that he granted my interview for one reason alone- because I asked. It’s after midnight when he leaves to be driven two hours to get home, he’ll be catching a plane at 9am for another city, another day.

When Mother Teresa was being proposed for sainthood, the Vatican called in Christopher Hitchens to argue against it, thereby playing devil’s advocate. Of course, her own journals would support his claims against her, but that did not lessen the horror some felt at the fact that he argued against the presumably unassailable woman to begin with. Few who wish to believe utter nonsense actually even hear his arguments- at least not the content. We know this because they never answer the content- they only address the form. Why won’t he just concede to their baseless assertions? Why won’t he accept “testimony” as evidence? Why is he a big fat meanie? WHY? Because in this age of coddling insanity, it has become obvious that reason needs a defence among far too many Americans. I retire from what was for me a long, exciting and thoroughly exhausting day relieved that this defender of reason we have in one Christopher Hitchens is so tireless.

Jana ~ AnswersInAtheism.net =