FFRF Requests 'Bible-Free' Hotel Rooms

Vol. 32 No. 10 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. December 2015 FFRF sues to stop New Jersey church grants The Freedom From Religion Foun- grants. Freeholder Hank Lyon has also dation and its member David Steketee objected to the practice. filed a lawsuit Nov. 30 in New Jersey The grants violate plaintiffs’ rights state court suing the Morris County under Article I, Paragraph 3 of the Board of Chosen Freeholders and oth- New Jersey Constitution, guaranteeing: er officials. The suit challenges public “nor shall any person be obliged to pay grants of tax dollars to churches to re- tithes, taxes, or other rates for building pair or maintain places of worship. or repairing any church or churches, Steketee, a taxpayer in Morris Coun- place or places of worship, or for the ty, is contesting grants to churches by maintenance of any minister or minis- the board’s Historic Preservation Trust try, contrary to what he believes to be Fund. Since 2012, the board has award- right.” ed more than 55% of its total Trust These grants deprive Steketee of Fund assets to churches — more than his constitutional rights, also in viola- $5.5 million. It’s believed that 2014 tion of the New Jersey Civil Rights Act, and 2015 grants haven’t yet been fully N.J.S.A. 10:6-2(c). disbursed. “Although preserving historic Mor- FFRF and Steketee are specifically ris County buildings is an appropriate challenging: use of taxpayer funds, the New Jersey • Allotments to the Presbyterian Constitution must trump any other Church in Morristown, which has been considerations regarding the distribu- Andrew Seidel photo allocated more than $1.04 million in tion of public funds to churches, plac- public funds since 2012. The church’s es of worship, or ministries,” FFRF’s Reason’s greetings 2013 construction grant application legal complaint alleges. FFRF staffers make merry at Freethought Hall with the new Bill of Rights “na- specifically notes that funding would The plaintiffs seek a declaration tivity” featuring the nation’s founders. It will be displayed along with a solstice allow “continued use by our congrega- from the Superior Court of New Jersey, banner in Franklin County, Ind., to counter a crèche that had stood alone on tion for worship services.” chancery division of Morris County, public property in December for 50 years. The Bill of Rights was “born” (rati- • Allotments to the St. Peter’s Epis- that grants of taxpayer funds to church- fied) Dec. 15, 1791. See page 6 for more FFRF solstice activism. copal Church. Its 2014 grant applica- es, places of worship and ministries dis- tion states that a distribution from the bursed within the past two years violate fund would ensure continued safe pub- the New Jersey Constitution. They seek republic was founded that no citizen The lawsuit is being handled by at- lic access to the church for worship, a preliminary injunction, later to be ‘shall be compelled to frequent or sup- torney Paul S. Grosswald. FFRF Staff [and] periods of solitude and medita- made permanent, requiring the defen- port any religious worship, place, or Attorney Andrew L. Seidel and Di- tion during the week.” dants to rescind the challenged grants ministry whatsoever,’ to use the histor- ane Uhl Legal Fellow Ryan Jayne are The board didn’t respond to FFRF’s and enjoin them from offering such ic words of Thomas Jefferson,” noted co-counsel. February 2015 complaint letter about grants to churches in the future. Nom- FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gay- FFRF also thanks its former Legal the grants. Steketee testified June 24 inal and actual damages are sought for lor. “Tax dollars should not be subsi- Fellow Katherine Paige for her work before the board and again on July Steketee, and the plaintiffs seek attor- dizing religious worship. That’s what on the case. 8 asking it to follow the federal and neys’ fees. many immigrants to this land came state constitutions and discontinue the “It was an axiom when our secular here to escape.” FFRF requests ‘bible-free’ hotel rooms Inside This Issue An invasive species is defined as Group (Radisson, Carlson, Country “not native to a specific location and Inn) and Starwood Hotels and Resorts which has a tendency to spread to a (Sheraton). 2015 Winter degree which causes damage in some All told, the 15 companies contacted Solstice displays respect upon exposure.” You could say are responsible for more than 33,000 page 6 that sounds a lot like Gideon bibles in hotels in the U.S. and more than 4.1 a bedstand drawer. million rooms internationally. The Freedom From Religion Foun- “Those who must read the bible ev- dation thinks so, and is making a major ery day will surely take precautions to consumer request to the hospitality in- travel with their own copies. The rest dustry, asking it to be more hospitable of us deserve a break from mindless Fighting to non-Christian and nonreligious cli- evangelizing when we are on vaca- oppression in entele by offering “bible-free” rooms. tion,” wrote Co-Presidents Dan Barker Muslim world Gideons International is “exploiting and Annie Laurie Gaylor on behalf of page 14 hotels and motels to proselytize a cap- FFRF’s 23,000 nonreligious members. tive audience,” FFRF has informed the “Many of your guests are freethink- American Hotel and Motel Association. ers — atheists, agnostics, skeptics or In early December, FFRF sent a let- ‘nones’ — who are deeply offended to ter to a number of companies, includ- be charged high fees only to be prose- $9,250 awarded ing Wyndham Worldwide, Intercon- lytized in the privacy of their own bed- to college tinental Hotel Groups (Holiday Inn), rooms. Not only that, the bible calls for essayists Choice Hotels International (Quality killing nonbelievers, apostates, gays, page 16 Inn), Hilton Worldwide, G6 Hospital- ‘stubborn sons’ and women who trans- ity (Motel 6), Marriott International, FFRF has bible warning stickers at gress biblical double standards,” FFRF Best Western, Carlson Rezidor Hotel ffrf.org/shop. Continued on page 21 Page 2 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015

husband. The customer base included them telling me that I am going to hell. Meet an FFRF staffer Home Depot, Eddie Bauer and Blain’s I spend a lot of time thinking about: Farm and Fleet. The world that I brought my daughters We closed the doors to Northwoods into and what they have to face in the in 2000, when I went back to WIBA. future. I also did print, voice-over and televi- I spend little if any time thinking sion ads in the Madison area with com- about: What’s on TV. panies such as Lands’ End, Hilldale My religious upbringing was: Shopping Center, East Towne and West Catholic. Towne Malls, Fox’s Jewelers, Rocky Ro- My doubts about religion started: coco, American Family Insurance and In first grade when Sister Andrienne more. yelled at me in front of the whole class How I came to work for FFRF: I for turning around in church. I told met Dan and Annie Laurie in 2009 as her that the little boy sitting behind me the Director of First Impressions for was pulling my hair. She said that was iHeartMedia in Madison, where they no excuse, that Jesus suffered for our record their weekly radio show, and we sins and to be respectful of the altar in became fast friends! It was such a joy the front of the church. The little boy to see them each week, and they always was not punished. It was my first taste of stopped to visit with me. Then Dan in- religious hypocrisy. cluded me in his book Life Driven Pur- Things I like: Music (most of all), pose and gave me an autographed copy. books and caring for my cats, Jasmin After reading it, I knew that my life had and Shadow, who also answer to Jazz, a new purpose and that was to be more Shads or Tuna! involved with FFRF. Things I smite: The Beltline High- What I do here: Director of First way and drivers who cut you off or don’t Impressions and whatever I can do to wait their turn to merge into traffic. help the Foundation get the message In my golden years: I hope to share out. my days with my husband and daugh- What I like best about it: All the ters, gardening, reading and staying knowledge that I’ve gained and all the healthy. people that I work with. I wish you had asked: Who are the What gets old: What I call the “Bub- people that inspire me? My husband, ba calls.” They usually start with “Can my daughters, John Lennon, Peter Ga- Annie Laurie Gaylor photo I ask y’all somethin’?” and end with briel, Yoko Ono, Annie Laurie and Dan. Lisa Treu’s smiling face greets visitors in the Freethought Hall lobby.

Name: Lisa Miller Treu. daughters Karinthia and Katrina, 18. When and where I was born: Plym- My work background: I started on- outh, Wis., June 24, 1964. the-air broadcasting in 1983 at WRKR- Education: Random Lake High FM in Racine. In 1986 I moved to Madi- School, 1982; Trans-American Broad- son, where I was on the air at WIBA-FM casting School (now the Madison Me- for 15 years on and off. I also started a dia Institute), 1982-83. woodworking manufacturing company Family: Husband Harry and twin called Northwoods Mfg. Inc. with my FFRF welcomes 16 Lifetime Members The Freedom From Religion Foun- nia, Washington and Wisconsin. dation is delighted to report 16 new Individual Lifetime Memberships Lifetime Members. They are: are $1,000 designated for member- Donald D. Edds, Timothy J. Gul- ship or membership renewal, mean licksen, Raymond A. Hellkamp, Katy never another renewal notice and go Kaufman, Dr. David J. Lasalvia, Ste- into “rainy day” reserves. Dues and do- ven Molenaar, Mark Monninger, Kent nations are deductible for income-tax Nelson, Paul Reilly, Douglas Ross, Bill purposes. “Lifers” receive a Lifetime Schneider, Greg Stuart, Carolyn Stuart, FFRF lapel pin and Lifetime Member- Robert E. Tucker, Paul Uebelher and ship card. Frank Wojcik. Warmest thanks to Frank, Paul, Rob- States represented are California, ert, Carolyn and Greg, Bill, Douglas, Florida, Iowa, Indiana, Minnesota, Paul, Kent, Mark, David, Katy, Steven, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylva- Raymond, Timothy and Donald! Announcing a new ‘Immortal’ FFRF’s newest “Immortal” is long- FFRF bequest brochure in early fall. If time member Will Hunn. you would like a copy or more infor- Above us lullaby “Immortals” is a slightly tongue-in- mation about estate planning, contact Cosima Skye Hensley was born Nov. 5 to FFRF Kentucky Co-Organizers Mikel cheek category designating those who Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president, or and Ed Hensley. She weighed a healthy 8 pounds, 4 ounces and measured 20 have made provisions for FFRF in their Lisa Strand, director of operations, at inches. Cosima is the Italian feminine for Cosmos, writes Ed, and Skye is a ref- estate planning and have given permis- (608)256-8900 or [email protected]. erence to the sky and the Scottish island of Skye. Mikel and Ed are fans of both sion to announce such plans. “FFRF Forever!” the Carl Sagan and Neil DeGrasse Tyson “Cosmos” TV series. Parents and child Members were mailed an updated are doing well.

Freethought Today A Note to Members Notify Us of Your published by Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. Your address label shows the expiration ADDRESS CHANGE [email protected] • FFRF.org date of your membership in FFRF, P.O. Box 750 • Madison WI 53701 which includes your subscription to Promptly! Freethought Today and “Private Line.” (608)256-8900 • FAX (608)204-0422 EMAIL [email protected] Editor: Bill Dunn, [email protected] If it says December or earlier please renew! Your prompt renewal ($40-single Assistant Editor: PJ Slinger Don’t miss a single issue! If you membership; $50-household; $100 gung- move, notify us directly and Production Editor: Jake Swenson ho; $250-sustaining) saves us time and promptly. The Post O ce does Executive Editor: Annie Laurie Gaylor postage, and is tax-deductible. Freethought not forward third-class mail. Contributors: Today is published 10 times a year, with FFRF cannot be responsible for combined issues in January/February and Philip Appleman, Holly Baer, Dan Barker, Casira Copes, Tim Earl, replacing back issues if we have Emma Follmer, George Gold, James Lambert, Taslima Nasrin, June/July. not been notifi ed prior to your Benjamin Oyakawa, Sara Schwabe, Lauryn Seering, Andrew Seidel, Send membership or renewal to: move. Back issues, while they last, Paul Soglin, Julia Upchurch, Barbara G. Walker, Erika Walsh, Maddy Ziegler FFRF • P.O. Box 750 • Madison, WI 53701 may be ordered for $2 each. December 2015 | The only freethought newspaper in the United States ff rf.org/donate December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 3 FFRF’s request to remove religious displays from Mississippi park upsets residents mural cut-out of Jesus hanging from a Another Collins resident said the tree, a small chapel with a cross atop it city welcomes everyone, except appar- (with angels next to it) and a nativity ently those who are offended by reli- scene. gious displays. “Everybody is welcome The displays, many of which are here,” said Vickie Mooney. “We love lighted, are up all year. The nativity everybody, but if you are offended by scene is unveiled in December. The the way that we do things, then you can sheer number of religious displays in just leave.” the park is the most FFRF has ever en- FFRF is awaiting word from the city countered in one case. on what it plans to do about the displays. FFRF Staff Attorney Elizabeth Cavell Collins Mayor V.O. Smith said he has no sent the city (pop. 2,500) a letter on plans to take them down but said he’s behalf of a local complainant: “Citi- speaking with attorneys in case FFRF The public park in Collins, Miss., contains numerous religious displays, includ- zens of all faiths and no faith have an would pursue a lawsuit. Stay tuned. ing a globe reading “City of Collins” above a picture of Jesus and a bible verse, equal right to use city parks without be- a statue of Jesus carrying a cross and a light-up display of Jesus preparing to ing surrounded by symbols promoting walk on water. any one religion. A city cannot have a ‘Christian’ park.” Singing hymns and chanting, hun- 4 story. “Hundreds of people crowded Dozens of Collins residents spoke at dreds of residents of a small Mississip- the street to speak out against a com- the city meeting in favor of keeping the pi town gathered on the street before plaint the city received from the Free- displays up, apparently not realizing a council meeting in early November dom from Religion Foundation.” that the Constitution’s Establishment to defend the city’s pervasive religious Bettie D. Robertson Memorial Park Clause is not based on majority rule. park decorations. FFRF sent a com- is filled with life-size or larger religious One woman told WHLT that plaint letter Oct. 19 about the uncon- displays. Included are three large Lat- non-Christians should more or less just stitutional displays. in crosses, a statue of Jesus carrying a ignore the decorations. “All they have “Before Tuesday night’s board of cross next to a lighted New Testament to do is go through the park, not no- aldermen meeting, downtown Collins verse, a large globe with the “City of tice those figures and say, ‘Well, that’s quickly began to feel like a church,” Collins” on a banner above a picture of a silly old man standing in water or a A cut-out of Jesus is nailed to a tree said television reporter Candace Cole- Jesus, a display depicting Jesus walking man carrying a cross on his shoulder,’ ” with the words “is born” in a lighted man of WHLT in Hattiesburg in a Nov. on water suspended above the lake, a said Dot Donovan of Collins. display beneath. Study shows public becoming less religious The numbers seem to be moving in 92 in 2007 to 89 in 2014. And those the right direction for nonbelievers. who responded that they are “absolute- A survey recently found that the ly certain” God exists dropped from number of U.S. adults who believe 71% to 63% over the course of the two in God, pray daily, or regularly go to studies. church all have declined in the past The religiously unaffiliated several years. (“nones,” not to be confused with The Pew Research Center surveyed “nuns”!) now make up 23% of the adult more than 35,000 people in its 2014 population, up significantly from the Religious Landscape Study, a follow-up 16% in 2007. One-third of the “nones” to a similar one done in 2007. say they do not believe in God, which According to the study, the decrease is up 11 percentage points since 2007. in religious beliefs is due in large While the “nones” have grown since part to the increase in “nones,” those the last study, they have also become who say they do not belong to any or- less religious. The share of “nones” ganized religion. The biggest jump who say religion is “very important” to among the “nones” was among those them has fallen 3%, and those who say in the millennial generation, which is religion is “somewhat” important has roughly described as those who were fallen 4%. born between the early 1980s and the Nearly two-thirds of the “nones” rat- early 2000s. ed religion as “not too important” or The percentage of U.S. adults who “not at all important,” which is up from say they believe in God dropped from 57% in the 2007 study. City of Light, and life Joann Sfar, a cartoonist for the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo, posted this on Instagram in response to the “Pray for Paris” social media hashtag. Study: Kids from nonreligious Sfar, 44, is the son of Jewish parents. The death toll from the Nov. 13 terrorist families more altruistic attacks in Paris was 130 with more than 350 injured. In what amounts to good news for more likely to share with their class- Cross, star to be moved secular parents and nonbelievers, chil- mates and less likely to endorse harsh dren who grow up in nonreligious punishments for those who pushed or off city property environments appear to be more gen- bumped into others. erous than those who are raised with The generosity scores for Christians The La Crescent (Minn.) City Coun- will sponsor and maintain the display religion, according to a new study. and Muslims were basically the same, cil unanimously voted Nov. 23 to move in the future on private property. More than half of all Americans but the scores for the nonreligious a cross and star off city property that “Most wars are fought over religion think that belief in God is required to children were 23% to 28% higher. It have been lit every season to celebrate and we didn’t want to have a war with be moral, but the results of the study was also found that the more religious Easter and Christmas, after FFRF con- this situation,” La Crescent Mayor published Nov. 5 in the journal Current (any religion) the family, the less altru- tacted them about the constitutional Mike Poellinger said. The Lions Club Biology “contradict the common-sense istic the child. violation. will apparently relinquish control due and popular assumption that children An analysis by Phys.org says “the Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert sent to association rules prohibiting sup- from religious households are more results might be explained in part by a complaint letter last July after get- port of sectarian matters. altruistic and kind toward others,” the ‘moral licensing,’ a phenomenon in ting a complaint from a La Crescent FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie authors wrote. which doing something ‘good’ — in resident. The Lions Club owned and Gaylor hailed the city’s thoughtful ac- The study, which surveyed 1,170 this case practicing a religion — can maintained the display, but it sat on tion. “We are very pleased to hear the children between ages 5 and 12 from leave people less concerned about the city land. city of La Crescent will abide by the several religious backgrounds in the consequences of immoral behavior, According to WXOW, the plan ap- constitution and divest itself of this U.S., Canada, Jordan, Turkey, South the researchers say. They also come proved was to light the display through unconstitutional endorsement of reli- Africa and China, found that the kids as a timely reminder that religion and Jan. 10 and then move it off city prop- gion,” she said. “It’s nice to see reason, from nonbelieving households were morality are not one and the same.” erty. A yet-to-be-formed private group and the Constitution, prevailing.” Page 4 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015 Heads Up Overheard A Poetry Column by Philip Appleman Educated people are more likely to see as the norm only helps contribute to science as being incompatible with reli- prejudice and hatred towards other re- gion, while people who are less educat- ligions. ed might not see that conflict because College student Sean Connolly ARISE, TAKE UP THY BED, AND WALK they don’t understand the terms that Huntington News (Northeastern Universi- science uses, or the claims that religion ty), 11-11-15 Mark, 2:9 makes. Motel boozy-woozy you William Poire, Oklahoma state direc- Every time you see us sit in our seats hardly hear the jangle or tor for American Atheists, saying that a during the Pledge of Allegiance, that meta-analysis of 63 peer-reviewed stud- we are in fact honoring and respecting the robot voice: time / ies suggests an inverse correlation be- our soldiers and those who have fought temperature / the brassy command, tween religiosity and intelligence and/ before them. We are also honoring the or education not so recognized soldiers like NFL Have a Nice Day—and the old routine Tulsa World, 11-2-15 player-turned-soldier Pat Tillman, an revs up again: the kegel- atheist who died for this country in the squeezing rush to the john / I didn’t want my daughter to choose mountains of Afghanistan. We are sit- the Church. ting and showing our respect for every bleary wash / dry / comb / Actress Leah Remini on leaving the atheist in the foxhole, humanist, and pants / shirt / socks / Church of Scientology, which she freethinker veteran who served and is called an “extremist religion.” Rem- currently serving for this great country. and then, ini told ABC’s Amy Robach that she Al Holguin, speaking to the Mission bag crammed, jammed, and zipped, did not want her 11-year-old daughter Viejo (Calif.) City Council after coun- Sofia to have to choose between her cil member Frank Ury said everyone you tug and curse, and with a piggy grunt, family and the Church, a decision she needed to stand during the pledge be- roll the mattress up believes that actress Katie Holmes also cause it was the respectful thing to do. and squeeze it under your arm, made for her daughter Suri. 11-10-15 Daily Mail, 11-2-15 scrunch through the door, We live in a great nation, where each down the hall, past For me, spiritu- of us is free to believe as we wish. Gov- ality is a sense ernment employees, including police, the frog-eyed desk clerk, of connection. need to remember that their salaries and out to the parking lot, where When I pray, I’m are paid by citizens of multiple faiths you huff and puff and stuff it all not praying to — and none — and they can’t play fa- God, I’m pray- vorites. If the use of “In God We Trust” into the trunk. ing to the peo- decals was really about patriotism and Sweating behind the wheel ple I’m looking not honoring a deity, you’d likely see at. My prayer is bumper stickers with an earlier na- as the car burps into life, a naturalistic hu- tional motto, a Latin phrase for unity, you think: manist prayer. translated as “out of many, one.” In Zachary Moore, who has given three these divisive times, E Pluribus Unum but He made it sound so easy invocations at the beginning of City has a particularly nice ring to it. in the book. Council meetings in Keller, Texas, Ken Paulson, dean of the College of which have all been followed by a Media and Entertainment at Middle © Philip Appleman. Christian prayer because a pastor, who Tennessee State University and presi- From the book Karma, Dharma, Pudding & Pie. schedules the invocation speakers, says dent of the Newseum Institute’s First Moore’s invocations are not prayers Amendment Center Philip Appleman is a Dis­tinguished Professor­ Emeri­tus at In­dia­na since he is praying to no one. FFRF USA Today, 10-21-15 Univer­ ­si­ty. His published volumes of poetry in­clude Perfidious Prov- sent a letter to the council requesting erbs and Other Poems: A Satirical Look at the Bible (2012), Dar- the city adopt a “fully constitutional As a Jew, I have found solace in prayer win’s Ark (new 2009 edition) and Karma, Dharma, Pudding & Pie policy” so that it doesn’t appear to fa- privately or in community in my house (2009). His nonfiction work in­cludes the widely used Norton Critical vor Christian messages over others. of worship. There is no place, though, Edition, Darwin, and the Nor­ton Critical Edition of Malthus’ Essay Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 11-4-15 for public prayer led by coaches, school on Pop­ulation. His newest book is The Labyrinth: God, Darwin and officials or cheerleading squads. And a the Meaning of Life. His poetry and fiction have won many awards, Although [Ben] Carson is a celebrat- public school’s football field is certain- including a fellowship in poetry from the Na­tional En­dow­ment for ed physician, he has expressed several ly not the place for a mass baptism for the Arts, the Castagnola Award from the Poetry Society of America, opinions that are contrary to scientific a coach and his players, a ritual a Geor- the Humanist Arts Award from the American Humanist Association and the Friend of evidence and therefore call into ques- gia church performed recently. Those Darwin Award from the National Center for Science Education. His work has appeared­ in tion his logic … His claim that sexual displays show a “majority rules” kind Harper’s­ Magazine, The Nation, The New Republic, The New York Times, The Paris orientation is a choice is remarkably of attitude rather than a respect for all Review, Partisan Review, Poetry, and The Yale Review. unscientific … For a physician to ig- Americans and a respect for the First nore the preponderance of scientific Amendment’s call for government not He and his playwright wife, Marjorie Appleman, are both “After-Life” Members of the proof in favor of his own religious be- to establish religion. Freedom From Religion Foundation. Phil’s books: ffrf.org/shop. liefs is dangerous. Journalist Linda Wertheimer, open let- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, former NBA ter to Sen. James Lankford and Rep. player J. Randy Forbes, “Why you shouldn’t The Daily Caller, 11-5-15 defend a high school coach praying on his football field” Our government values science and The Washington Post, 10-29-15 will treat scientists with respect. This is why government scientists and experts Those societies will be able to speak freely about their today that are work to the media and the public. the most reli- Navdeep Bains, Canada’s new minister gious — where of innovation, science and economic faith in God is development, after years of criticism strong and re- that Stephen Harper and the former ligious partici- governing Conservatives “muzzled” pation is high scientists, barring them from speaking — tend to have to the media the highest vio- 11-6-15, in a statement lent crime rates, while those societies in which faith and A non-Christian has the right to not church attendance are the weakest — be assumed to be celebrating a Chris- the most secular societies — tend to tian holiday. Having store greeters have the lowest. say “Happy Holidays” isn’t an erasure Phil Zuckerman, professor of sociobi- Freethought of the Day is a daily calendar highlighting birthdates, quotes and of Christian culture, it’s an acknowl- ology and secular studies at Pitzer Col- historic tidbits. To get on the email list, edit your email settings online (My Mem- edgement that people have the right lege, Claremont, Calif. bership) or email [email protected] and include your name for verification purposes. to hold other religious beliefs. The Los Angeles Times, 11-2-15 The service is limited to FFRF members or Freethought Today subscribers. constant reinforcement of Christianity December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 5 County clerk, sheriff war on reason

FFRF took the Seidel also took issue with the poster thing that will change the downward Elbert County bearing a verse from 1 Corinthians. “Mr. spiral our country is in.” clerk and sheriff Schroeder is displaying words from his Schroeder told the group this story: to task in Kiowa, religion’s holy book to issue a religious “I talked with a local artist, who is also Colo., for con- warning to all citizens in a government a Christian, and he created a beautiful stitutional viola- building. This is unconstitutional.” poster which I have had hanging for tions. Respond- Elbert County Sheriff Shayne Heap about a year. There is no way to miss it ing to a public contributed this to the discussion: if you are in for a marriage license. It is officials’ group “These conversations are initiated to a picture of a bride standing on a hill email about how pervert the truth and do whatever is with the groom walking up the hill to clerks opposed necessary to get the results you want,” meet her. . .” to same-sex mar- Heap wrote. “I’m going to get back to Schroeder wrote that he bought riage should deal Dallas Schroeder work and I’m going leave the cross in the poster with his own money, so in with license issu- my office, the Bible on my desk and his mind it’s legal. “I am not denying ance, Clerk Dal- I support the clerk’s constitutional anyone service. My thought process is las Schroeder wrote how he had hung rights.” that they have to see the poster and if a religious poster where “There is no Cheyenne County Clerk Patricia they choose to violate God’s written way to miss it if you are in for a mar- Daugherty sent out the first inflam- Word, then that is on their head. I have riage license.” matory email Aug. 7: “I have a delilma warned them.” Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel called [sic] in my office that I wish to get a Seidel said who paid for the poster out Schroeder in a Nov. 20 letter to little feedback on. In my office, every- is irrelevant. “If anything, it proves the members of the email group, which one has personal objections to issuing point that Mr. Schroeder is abusing a The poster in Clerk Dallas Schroeder’s consisted of several county clerks, a same sex marriage licenses. . . . Am I public office to further his personal government office. On a non-county state senator and state representative. the only office with this delima [sic]? religion.” website, he lists his favorite quote, at- “According to the email chain, some What is your plan?” Several other clerks have respond- tributed to President Ronald Reagan: clerks or employees are uncomfortable Schroeder answered Aug. 9: “I pray ed to FFRF that they either refused to “If we ever forget we’re one nation issuing marriage licenses to gay cou- for all the clerks across this country hang the poster or have since removed under God, then we will be a nation ples,” Seidel wrote. “Hopefully you all who have been made to make a terri- it from government property. gone under.” know by now that you must issue licens- ble decision. I pray for our state legis- es to gay couples whatever your person- lators for them to use God’s Holy Bible al religion.” as a guide to govern. Prayer is the only FFRF asks to have cross in public park removed Many residents in and around Port from many people angry with FFRF, ac- Neches, Texas, have come together to cording to a report by KFDM in Port defend and support a cross that sits in Arthur, Texas. a public park after FFRF requested that A prayer vigil was held in the park the city remove the Christian symbol. by cross supporters, but nonbelievers The white 10-foot-tall cross, located tried to diffuse the situation. “A letter in the city’s Riverfront Park, has been signed by ‘your friendly Port Neches there for 45 years. But tradition and atheists, agnostics and other non-Chris- length of time don’t matter when it tians’ was left at the cross along with comes to the Establishment Clause of cookies, asking to find an amicable the Constitution. solution,” KFDM reported. “Members “We ask you to remove the cross of Midcounty’s Atheist and Agnostic from Port Neches Riverfront Park im- Group say they found the letter torn mediately or direct the display to be up after the vigil.” moved to a more appropriate private Port Neches resident Sheila Ackley location,” FFRF Staff Attorney Rebecca told a reporter, “We stand united to Markert wrote in her letter to Mayor fight for what our beliefs are. They’re Glen Johnson on Nov. 5. our beliefs. It’s our constitutional right “The government’s permanent dis- to do so. If we don’t stand for it, it’s play of a Latin cross on public land no more. It won’t be long and they’re is unconstitutional,” the letter states. gonna take our churches away. It won’t “The inherent religious significance of be long and they’re not gonna allow us the Latin cross is undeniable and is not to have our bibles. I was placed on this disguisable. No secular purpose, no Earth by God to fight for Him and over matter how sincere, will detract from my dead body.” the overall message that the Latin cross There is also a group making and stands for Christianity and that the dis- distributing small crosses for residents play promotes Christianity.” to place on their lawns. Johnson said he’s received calls Nativity scene out of public park The City Council in Wadena, Minn., concern about a potential lawsuit. voted unanimously Nov. 10 to no lon- The council meeting was packed ger place a nativity scene in a public with backers of the religious display. park after getting FFRF letters of com- The city will turn it over to a ministeri- plaint. Wadena, a city of about 4,000 al association. residents 160 miles northwest of Min- neapolis, annually placed the nativity in Burlington Northern Park. “The city’s display of a Christian ‘Inflammatory and proselytizing’ message in the city’s premier park un- REMINDER FFRF Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott sent a Nov. 20 complaint letter to Itasca mistakably sends the message that the The January / Febru- County (Minn.) Sheriff Victor Williams in response to Chaplain Dale Kaiser’s city endorses the religious beliefs em- prayer promotion letter above, which was written in early November and appar- bodied in the display,” wrote Staff At- ary issue is combined ently references the recent shooting of Deputy Steven Sandberg in St. Cloud torney Patrick Elliott in the first letter and general anti-law enforcement sentiment. Elliott called for abolishment of to the city last January. and will be received the chaplaincy position and wrote, “Not only is the county’s endorsement of Mayor George Diess told KARE this religious ritual and sectarian event unconstitutional, the inflammatory and News that “when something is put up in February. proselytizing content in the letter is grossly inappropriate communication to be that many years, it becomes a tradition coming from a government office.” to the city.” Board members expressed Page 6 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015

FFRF counters religious displays Texas Capitol latest to get solstice message

FFRF acquired a five-day permit to son. As Americans, let us also honor place its Bill of Rights “nativity” display the birth of our Bill of Rights, which inside the Texas Capitol in Austin start- reminds us there can be no freedom ing Dec. 18. OF religion without having freedom After a Christian nativity scene was FROM religion in government.” placed in the Capitol last December, Below are the places where FFRF Staff Attorney Sam Grover worked signs or banners are up this year or are to ensure that this year FFRF’s free- expected to be displayed (in addition thought message would receive equal to ones mentioned in photo captions treatment. on this page): The metal cut-out display of the Florida Capitol: Bill of Rights “na- Bill of Rights “nativity” features imag- tivity” banner. Placed by FFRF mem- es of John Adams, Thomas Jefferson bers Gary Whittenberger and Warren and Benjamin Franklin standing or Brackmann. kneeling around the Bill of Rights. Franklin County Courthouse, Ind.: Area freethinkers are invited to attend “Bill of Rights nativity” metal cut-out. placement of the display on Friday, Placed by FFRF member Greg Stuart Dec. 18, at 9 a.m. on Nov. 29. This display is the victo- “We’re very appreciative of state rious outcome of FFRF’s lawsuit, with Rep. Donna Howard, who showed a lot the ACLU of Indiana, against the of courage and integrity in agreeing to county for a five-decades-long policy of sponsor our display,” said Co-President placing a nativity scene by itself on the Dan Barker. Rules require a legislative lawn. The settled lawsuit opened the sponsor for displays. lawn up as a “public forum” this year. FFRF is also working with a number Manassas, Va.: “Let Reason Prevail” of members and groups around the banner. Placed by FFRF member Steve country to place freethought signs or King. displays in so-called public forums on Warren, Mich.: “Keep Saturn in Sat- government property to balance reli- urnalia.” To be placed by FFRF mem- gious displays. ber Douglas Marshall. FFRF offers several displays and ban- Michigan Capitol lawn: “Let Reason ners, including “Keep Saturn in Satur- Prevail” banner. nalia” (a riff on “Keep Christ in Christ- Milwaukee County, Wis., Court- mas”) and its classic equal-time protest house: “Let Reason Prevail” dis- of religion in governmental buildings, play. Placed by FFRF member Kurt composed by FFRF principal found- Bocksenbaum. er Anne Nicol Gaylor. Her statement Rhode Island Capitol: “Let Reason reads: Prevail” sign. Placed by FFRF member “At this Season of the Winter Sol- Debbie Flitman as part of several secu- stice, Let Reason Prevail. There are lar displays countering a nativity scene. no gods, no devils, no angels, no heav- Springfield, Ill.:“Let Reason Pre- en or hell. There is only our natural vail” sign, to be placed by a local FFRF world. Religion is but myth and super- member. stition that hardens heart and enslaves Washington Capitol lawn: “Let Rea- minds.” son Prevail” banner, to be placed by Additionally, the Bill of Rights “na- FFRF member Darrell Barker, in the tivity” is pictured on a banner, which event a nativity scene is erected there reads: “Happy Winter Solstice. As this by a private religious group. A previous season of the Winter Solstice, we cel- FFRF equal-time challenge chased the ebrate the Birth of the Unconquered nativity scene (and all such displays) Sun — the true reason for the sea- from inside the Capitol.

Brent Nicastro photo ‘No gods’ returns to Wisconsin Capitol FFRF’s gilt winter solstice message returned for its 20th appearance in the first-floor rotunda of the Wisconsin Capitol in Madison through December. The ’Tis the season message was composed by Anne Nicol Gaylor, FFRF’s principal founder. It’s the FFRF Metropolitan Chicago Chapter members Mike Weeda (left), Rich Pope, first appearance of FFRF’s Bill of Rights “nativity” scene to counter a display Jose Alvarado, Rick Schuch and Bob Hunter with the solstice banner (and lighted placed by a Religious Right group. “Religion in the Capitol is divisive, and the Dawkins “A” for atheist/agnostic) in Daley Plaza on Nov. 23. It’s the fourth year rotunda is getting very cluttered. But if a devotional nativity display is allowed, for the display in the plaza’s public forum, placed to balance the traditional and then there must be ‘room at the inn’ for all points of view, including irreveren- divisive life-sized nativity scene and 20-foot-high menorah. Chapter President cy and freethought,” said FFRF Co-President Dan Barker. “In celebrating the (and photographer) Tom Cara and his jolly elves also placed a smaller Dawkins solstice, we celebrate reality.” “A” and Coalition of Reason “Good Without God” banner in Arlington Heights. December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 7 Reason for the season predates Jesus

By Barbara G. Walker crown of thorns. Some early Christians nate them.” The pious Christians, ap- referred to Jesus’s mother as Myrrh of parently, didn’t abominate them at all. the Sea; other versions of her name Customs arising from the worship of were Marina, Mara, Maya or Mari-an- many virgin-born pagan saviors around We are approaching a date that na, possibly all derived from Maia, the the beginning of the Common Era and ancient people often regarded as the Virgin Mother of Buddha, five centu- continued to be practiced even after most significant, perilous time of the ries earlier said to have been derived their original intent was long forgotten. year: the winter solstice. Two thousand from the sound of a baby’s cry. years ago, it occurred around Dec. 25, All over the world, the syllable Ma Here comes Santa Claus but the change in the calendar now is ubiquitous in the names of Mother America’s most popular symbol of places it closer to Dec. 21 or Dec. 22. Goddess figures. Shepherds attended the season, Santa Claus, also had a The problem was that the sunlight the birth of Adonis, who was the god somewhat questionable background. seemed to weaken and retreat further of both crops and flocks. He too was He was described as a fourth-century into night as the solstice loomed, and known as the Good Shepherd. bishop of Myra in Asia Minor. An offi- the ancients feared that a time might Another contributor to Christian cial Christian version of his legend said come when it would keep going and symbolism was the Phrygian god At- that he gave three bags of gold to three fail to return—an unthinkable disas- Barbara G. Walker tis, whose cult became very popular in women to “save” them from prostitu- ter that would destroy all life on Earth. Rome. Born of the usual virgin mother tion. But Christian Gnostics, some of Early in human history, rituals were de- the reaped and replanted grain, Osiris to bring back the light and the grow- whom still practiced sexual rites, may vised to make sure of the sun’s solstitial died every year and was reborn as Sir- ing season, Attis was called “Most Holy have been continuing the use of sacred rebirth and renewal. ius rose. God, Who Holds the Universe Togeth- priestess-prostitutes who perpetuated Rituals are invented according to His worshipers chanted, “The Vir- er,” and greeted with the phrase, “Hail, the traditional worship of Aphrodite the principle of sympathetic magic. gin has brought forth! The Savior is Bridegroom, Hail, New Light.” He was and Adonis in the city dedicated to That is, to make something happen, born!” They believed that by eating crucified on a pine tree, which was said Adonis’ mother Myrrha. you symbolically imitate it. If rain is the flesh and blood of Osiris, in the to be green all year round due to the Later, Nicholas became identified needed, you pour water. If you want to form of consecrated bread and wine, infusion of his holy blood. Celebrants with the Italian city of Bari, where hurt an enemy, you mutilate his image. they would take his essence into their carried pine boughs in his rites. bones said to be his were installed to For success in hunting, you do dances own bodies and thus become immortal Europeans continued to adore the serve as a focus of pilgrimage in the imitating the kill. If you want the divine like him. Egyptians described Osiris as winter greenery of the pine all the way 11th century. Many adherents of St. sun to be reborn, you light lamps and the savior “to whom men and women up to Victorian times, when the Christ- Nicholas had taken over the old tem- stage birth rituals. turned for assurance of immortality.” mas tree was officially adopted in En- ples of the sea god Poseidon, popularly When Christians adopted the sol- During Osiris’s death phase, his gland, thanks to Queen Victoria’s Ger- known as “the Sailor,” a title inherited stitial birthday, they gave it the same star-spirit Sirius was in the keeping of man consort, Prince Albert. by Nicholas, who became patron saint hopeful title that Persian worshipers the jackal god of death, Anubis, the In northern Europe, an evergreen of sailors. of Mithra had used centuries before: “Great Dog,” whose constellation was widely revered as a symbol of ongoing His Bari temple was also dedicated Birthday of the Unconquered Sun. and still is called Canis Major, the Great life was the holly, sacred to the under- to a female consort known as Befa- Throughout the Roman Empire, Dog, of which Sirius is the alpha star. world Goddess Helle, or Hohle or Hel. na, “the Grandmother,” who annually the worship of Mithra was more widely The crucial rising of Sirius was herald- Her name gave us the English the word filled children’s stockings with presents popular than Christianity for the first ed by the row of three stars in the belt hell, though her underworld was not a and who was worshiped with gift-giving four centuries of the so-called Chris- of Orion, called the Three Wise Men, place of torture but simply a place of ceremonies. It was a common habit to tian era. In 307 C.E., the emperor of- the same as the Persian Magi. the dead, prior to any rebirth. give children gifts and treats on holy ficially declared Mithra “Protector of A line drawn through these three The red berries of the holly repre- days so they would always remember the Empire.” His birth was witnessed stars points directly at Sirius, so they sented drops of the Goddess’s life-giv- the importance of such occasions. by shepherds and by the “wise men” or became the annunciators who could ing blood, an idea dating all the way St. Nicholas “the Sailor” was revered priests known as Magi: magicians. say, “We have seen his star in the east,” back to the primitive perception of by the maritime Dutch, who called him Mithra performed the usual assort- meaning that it rose, like all heavenly female blood as the source of all life. Sinter Klaas, later Latinized as Santa ment of miracles: healing the sick, rais- bodies, in the east. Later, Christians Holly and other evergreens were com- Claus. Dutch immigrants brought him ing the dead, casting out devils, mak- forgot the star lore and insisted on hu- mon in wreaths and other solstitial dec- to America, where he was transformed ing the blind see and the lame walk. man Magi coming from Persia, but had orations. The Christmas hymn “The into today’s jolly symbol of the winter He celebrated a Last Supper with his trouble explaining how the Magi could Holly and the Ivy” commemorates a solstice, fat with feasting and over- 12 disciples (the 12 signs of the zodi- travel so far westward to Bethlehem by very old tradition, as does the Yule log, flowing with gifts, especially gifts for ac), died and rose again at the spring following a star in the east. lighted like other sacred fires to assist children. equinox, and originated a sacramental In the Near East, it was said that the rebirth of sunlight. All religious ceremonies that were meal known as “mizd” (Latin missa, Bethlehem was where the god Adonis In the nineteenth century, however, perceived as important evolved into English mass) at which his worshipers was born of the virgin Myrrha. Her some Christian ministers denounced “Feast” days, so that even if people ate bread marked with a cross. They sacred plant, myrrh, was used as an the Yule “disorders . . . derived from went hungry at other times, they were looked forward to salvation in the Last aphrodisiac in the rites of Adonis in these Roman Saturnalian and Baccha- obligated to provide as much as they Days, when the apocalyptic battle will his later role as consort of Aphrodite, nalian festivals, which should cause all could on these occasions. On some result in conquest of the devil of dark- and thorny twigs of myrrh made up his pious Christians eternally to abomi- level, always in the past million years ness (Ahriman) by the solar god or so, the life-essential function of light, the Sun of Righteousness, of eating had to be demonstrated Ahura Mazda. to the deities on their special days The temple of Mithra on Vati- so that food would continue to be can Hill was seized by Christians in provided. 376 C.E., but the bishops of Rome Sympathetic magic is still with adopted even the Mithraic high us, and at the time of the winter priest’s title of Pater Patrum, later solstice, we still delight in it. Papa or Pope. Recently discovered Today we are fairly sure that vases from a Roman Mithraeum, the sunlight will return in a dated in the third century A.D., few months’ time to its former bore the words “You saved us by strength, and that eating a god’s having shed the eternal blood.” symbolic flesh will not necessarily make us immortal. And that San- Plagiarizing pagans ta Claus is not real, even though In fact, virtually all the details we teach our children to think of the Christian solstitial legend so while they are young. But the came from much older pagan magical fantasies of the equinox sources. In Egypt, 3,000 or 4,000 continue, and probably will con- years ago, people knew that the tinue to be celebrated for centu- all-important annual flooding of ries to come. the Nile, on which their crops de- Merry Christmas. pended, coincided with the rising of the star Sirius, the brightest star Florida Life Member Barbara G. in the heavens. They said this star Walker is the author of Belief and represented the soul of the savior Unbelief, Man Made God, The Osiris, god of both earthly crops Woman’s Encyclopedia of Myths and and the after-life paradise. Like Secrets, Feminist Fairy Tales, et al. Page 8 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015 Mississippian fights for secular rights Holly Baer is the first recipient of FFRF’s of Mississippi to pursue a degree in $1,000 Yip Harburg Youth Activist Award, religious studies, I intended to be a generously endowed by the Yip Harburg missionary and live abroad spreading Foundation and FFRF members Ernie and the gospel. Three years later, I am an Margie Harburg, the children of the famous outspoken writer, columnist and blog- lyricist of “Somewhere Over the Rainbow.” ger chronicling my own struggles and Holly’s op-ed (below, under her byline) head- frustrations as an ex-Christian in the lined “This misrepresentation of church and Deep South. state” first appeared Nov. 3 in The Daily When my hometown of Collins re- Mississippian (the University of Mississip- ceived a complaint from FFRF for il- pi at Oxford student newspaper) and is re- legal Christian decorations, I watched printed with permission. and listened to family and acquain- tances make combative statements to- By Holly Baer ward the person who informed FFRF of the legal violations. Many called for the “complainer” to be run out of town and said they deserved to have their On Thursday, Oct. 29, the city house burned down. of Collins received a letter of com- Almost the entirety of my family, in- plaint from the Freedom From Reli- cluding those who no longer lived in gion Foundation in regard to Christian Collins, went to the “Rally For Christ- statues in a publicly maintained and mas” at a town hall meeting to discuss operated park. Holly Baer how to handle the letter of complaint. I spent the first 12 years of my life Instead, it became a religious revival, living in Collins, and the vast majority and my former school district received lieve. Many Christians take complaints with Mayor V.O. Smith pledging to of my maternal family still lives in the a cease and desist letter regarding about legal violations as personal at- keep the decorations up. town. marching band music. Each of these tacks on Jesus. Some Christians believe As an opinion columnist for The A quick view into the dreaded com- things were met with loud angry pro- an angry mob will solve any problems Daily Mississippian, I wrote a response ment section of the local news chan- tests from Christians, saying that this by eliminating those complaining. condemning the behavior I had seen nel’s website shows horrendous vitriol was clearly discrimination. The reality Unfortunately, these people are just as well as the superiority complex of from the mouths of those who love Je- is much simpler. as Christian as the good people. Some- Christians in the state. Despite claim- sus and say they are his warriors. For the first time, Christians are be- times, the good Christians will say that ing to be one of the best, most Chris- They say: “Those nonbelievers need ing required to follow the law, and they these cruel people aren’t really Chris- tian states, Mississippi mostly excels at a city of their own to move to. Far far are no longer allowed to show prefer- tians, but that isn’t fair. teen pregnancy, obesity, lack of educa- away from us.” With a rousing agree- ential treatment to Christianity. We don’t get to label them tion and a slew of other negative things. ment: “They will have their own city, Being a nonbeliever in Mississippi “non-Christians” just because they’re Mississippi has a history of explosive re- it’s called HELL.” is rough. We’re constantly being told mean. Even if good people could write sponses to being required to follow the They say: “I think the city should take that Christianity is under attack while them off as non-Christians, that con- law. The persecution complex is fueled the complainer down . . . So no, leave simultaneously being treated as bro- tinues the cycle that bad people can’t by the idea that Christianity deserves a it up . . . And GOD Bless AMERICA.” ken people by some members of the be Christian, and that all nonbelievers special place in society. They say: “how disgusting whoev- church. We’re told that Christianity is have to be corrupt and bad. After graduation, I plan to continue er filed this complaint should be run the single most important thing, while As a nonbeliever, I’m not convinced. writing and speaking out as a nonbe- out of wherever they normally stay go one of the most Christian states has If Mississippi is a hotbed of religious liever. I am pursing a master of fine arts to some country where there are oth- some of the highest rates of teen preg- beauty, then it makes religion look in poetry, where nonbelief, subversion er like-minded people and leave our nancy, new HIV infections and gonor- even less appealing. of religious themes and the conflict of country and our faith alone.” rhea and chlamydia infections. my identity versus my upbringing have From the hellish comment section, This isn’t meant to bash Christianity Holly’s blog “Sex, Religion, Politics and become central in my poems. I hope you’d think that Mississippi is the or Christians in general. Many Chris- other topics to avoid at the dinner table” is to continue to be involved with FFRF center of a God-filled theocracy. In tians are good, kind people who work at hollybaer.com. and to advocate for true separation of the past few months, my former high very hard to make the world a better • • • church and state. school received complaints because of place. But many Christians say awful Holly also writes: an anti-atheist rant by a history teacher, things about anyone who doesn’t be- When I enrolled in the University Texas 15-year-old wouldn’t back down FFRF has named Benjamin as a recipi- at this point my family was trying to get house had been TP’d, with a Portals ent of the $1,000 Thomas Jefferson Student Mr. Wright fired and then organized a of Prayer flier stuck to my door and a Activist Award endowed by Len and Karen prayer vigil against my family! typed note saying “ ‘YOU NEED THIS Eisenberg, generous Oregon FFRF members. I went inside the school and noticed MORE THAN WE DO.’ GOD” was Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel’s September that over half the student body was chalked on the driveway. My mother complaint letter on Benjamin’s behalf result- gone. I went to the library and looked did multiple interviews for the news, ed in the school district reining in a prose- out the front window and saw a swarm but I was surprised when one reporter lytizing principal, committing to enforce its of people. At this point, I texted my asked me. I agreed and answered his anti-bullying policy and barring display of mom to come pick me up, but she was questions. religious items. out of town, so a family friend took Finally, the whole thing came to a me home. I actually felt scared, but I somewhat of a close when the school By Benjamin Oyakawa still kept my cool and kept my house agreed to the Freedom from Religion locked down. Foundation’s terms. I am also trying to The following weekend I was home start a secular student club with a close alone with my sister. Everything was friend of mine. I want people at school It all started when I heard Mr. fine until Saturday night, when my to know there are freethinkers here Wright, the principal, announce on sister started to read some of the hate and we deserve to be treated fairly. the intercom that next week our school posts on Facebook and saw one per- would have a See You at the Pole event son talking about how someone knew Benjamin writes: “I am a 15-year-old and that the school was starting a new Benjamin Oyakawa where we lived. This made my sister sophomore at Prosper High School in Pros- First Priority club. As much as this burst into tears because she was scared. per, Texas. I am heavily interested in math- annoyed me, I never realized there gered me, but I still did not think this I stayed up almost the whole night ematics, science and engineering. I am an was anything illegal about these two would blow up the way it did. At this making sure it was safe. atheist and have no interest in joining a re- things. Why would I when I was in a point my mom brought the problem Nothing eventful happened until ligion. I go to a summer camp yearly called public school that kept focusing on up, commenting on a Facebook post the next weekend. I had stayed home Camp Quest where fellow atheists, agnos- Christianity? that practically worshiped Mr. Wright to take the SAT while my family went tics and freethinkers meet other atheists in a The day of the See You at the Pole and how he spoke the “word of God.” on a camping trip. I was up the night friendly environment. I am in the process of [Sept. 25], Mr. Wright prayed, preached The post my mom made was per- before the test looking for a calcula- starting a Secular Student Alliance club in and promoted the new Christian club. fectly reasonable and civilized, so how tor when I felt like I heard noises in my school with a close friend. My mom had called him to talk about does the community of Prosper react? the house. This terrified me so I went the topic and he stated that he would They get enraged and threaten my straight to my grandmother’s house. not stop what he was doing. This an- family. The community started to claim The next morning I found that my December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 9 We agree: Tim is ‘a great American atheist’

By Tim Earl invocations by this point, beginning in (for reasons unrelated to the cross is- 2012, and had won FFRF’s “Nothing sue), to confirm my statement, and he Fails Like Prayer” award in 2014). We did. The Park Board chair stated that it prepared for it, just in case, but my op- had never been brought to the board In September 2014, as I finished ponents had supported my invocations and she did not see it as an issue. I was a bike ride on one of our city trails, I in the past, so we thought that might reappointed to the board, but I was dis- stopped by our veterans memorial. help. In fact, our mayor pro-tem (one turbed by this attack. Like many other such memorials, it of my main opponents) had compli- There was one more attempt to included a wooden silhouette of a sol- mented my invocations in a Wall Street make my atheism an issue, but it wasn’t dier kneeling at the grave of a fallen Journal article in July 2014. very sophisticated. Someone created a comrade. What caught my eye was the My Park Board term was due to fake Facebook account and posted a fact that the grave was not marked by expire Oct. 1, just over a month be- video which combined Ron Reagan’s a cross. Instead, it was a “battlefield fore the election, so in order to be FFRF commercial with one of my sec- cross,” a rifle in a pair of boots, topped reappointed to another term, I had ular invocations. He shared it on our by a helmet. to attend a meeting where board and local newspaper’s Facebook page with At the next meeting of our city Park commission candidates would be inter- comments that included “Tim Earl is Board, of which I was a member, I used viewed. (I would have to step down if not afraid to tell it like it is to adults my closing remarks to say that I was I won the election.) It was here that a who believe in fairy tales” and “Tim proud to live in a city where our me- strange incident occurred. Earl is a great American atheist.” It morial was inclusive of all veterans, and When it came time to discuss the didn’t appear to gain much attention. that I was especially touched by it as a Tim Earl Park Board, the mayor stated that two Other than that, the incumbents non-Christian veteran. current members had asked to be re- didn’t bring up my atheism during the The following June, on a similar appointed, which is automatic if their campaign, at least not publicly. I’m bike ride, I again stopped at the me- up the noncross version (again), but attendance and performance is con- not sure why, but three reasons come morial and noticed that the silhouette the cross had to go.” sidered acceptable. The city clerk con- to mind: (1) their prior support for had been replaced. The new silhou- He told me there was a little push- firmed my attendance and the Park my invocations; (2) my ability to clear- ette featured a Latin cross where the back, but he reminded the memorial Board chair said I contributed quite a ly articulate my position and explain battlefield cross had been. I immedi- builder that it was a veteran who com- bit to the board. Then, the mayor pro- how I support tolerance of all reli- ately drove across the street to the city plained, and that he himself, also a vet- tem said he had an issue he wanted to gions (which they had seen firsthand manager’s office at City Hall. When I eran, agreed that it had to go. The city discuss. on more than one occasion); and (3) explained the issue to the deputy city manager agreed to allow the cross sil- He produced several large pho- my status as a war veteran, which might manager, he agreed and said he would houette to remain while a new silhou- tos of the silhouette with the cross, make personal attacks backfire. look into it. He also asked if I had a ette was built but gave him a deadline which had been relocated to a local On Election Day, the three incum- picture of the old memorial, which I of about four weeks. VFW post, and said he had “received bents easily defeated me and the other provided. So it seemed to be fairly noncontro- complaints from veterans” about the challenger. Sadly, the state of affairs on While city business never moves at a versial. I later learned from the parks removal. He asked if I had used my po- our council is unlikely to improve, and very rapid pace, the city manager and director (who did not know I was the sition as a Park Board member to have I’ve now made enemies of two council his deputy handled this in what I con- source of the complaint) that the build- it removed. He made this statement members who previously supported sidered a fairly expeditious manner. er was actually a bit more upset than I in a tone laced with vitriol, getting a me. But I did have some support, and Over the next few weeks, I received had been led to believe, but they han- surprised reaction from many people I’ve been encouraged by many people updates from them as they investigated dled it. As it turned out, he chose not present. to run again. who was responsible for the memorial to provide a new, noncross silhouette. I calmly explained that I had In the meantime, I won’t back down and why it had changed. It turned out brought the issue to city administra- on advocating for the separation of that a group of veterans organizations ‘A strange incident’ tion as a private citizen, and it had church and state. had funded it, and one veteran built In July, I was asked by some con- nothing to do with the Park Board. I the silhouettes. cerned citizens to run for City Coun- said that our public memorial must FFRF member Tim Earl lives in Portage, As the city manager told me the cil. Given the factionalism that had honor all veterans, even nonbelievers Mich., with his wife and two daughters. next time I saw him, “We Googled it recently divided our council, I agreed. such as myself. I was pleased to see After leaving the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant and found two versions of this silhou- From the beginning, we wondered if nods of approval around the room as I commander in 2004, he started work as a ette, one with a cross and one without. my atheism would be used as a cam- spoke. I asked the city manager, whom fire safety consultant. So we told him he was welcome to put paign issue. (I had given four secular I had criticized during my campaign

Secular invocations Nothing Fails Like Prayer contest The U.S. Supreme Court unwisely ernment prayers are unnecessary, in- “blessed” sectarian prayers at local gov- effective, embarrassing, exclusionary, On Aug. 26 [2014], we received the ernment meeting in its Town of Greece divisive or just plain silly. official invocation schedule for 2015, v. Galloway decision. If the Supreme The “best” secular invocation will and we were invited to deliver an invo- Court won’t uphold our godless and be invited to open FFRF’s annual con- cation on three occasions throughout entirely secular Constitution — adopt- vention, receiving an all-expenses-paid the year.” ed at a prayerless constitutional con- trip (next year in Pittsburgh on the George delivered Chico’s first-ever vention — it’s up to us. weekend of Oct. 7–9, 2016), a plaque secular invocation in January and gave It’s up to you! and an honorarium of $500. another in April. We’d like to see secular citizens Learn more at: flood government meetings with secu- ffrf.org/outreach/nothing-fails-like-prayer Mr. Mayor, members of the City lar invocations that illustrate why gov- Council and the Chico Community:

In January 2015, I was honored to deliver the first-ever secular invocation right here at a City Council meeting. Soon after that invocation, the council adopted a new rule that all invocations must be 60 seconds or less. A 60-second rule? Here is another first, a secular invocation haiku: George Gold maybe no god talk time for reason and logic Chico City Council let’s go for ice cream. Chico, Calif. FFRF member George Gold, president Nov. 3, 2015 of Atheists of Butte County, was born and raised in Sydney, Australia, and is a com- “Over the past two years,” writes puter systems engineer. George Gold, “we had been petition- ing the mayor of Chico, Calif., to be One is the looniest number included in the invocation rotation. David Whitsett, Texas, called the grammar police upon seeing this in Kerrville. Page 10 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015

oli, 1797) membership in organizations that ad- Meet a foxhole atheist These are a few of my favorite vocate for separation. things: America’s active-duty troops I wish you had asked me: Are there and veterans, long-distance bicycle rid- really atheists in foxholes? Yes, they’re sity; M.S. in international relations, ing, caffeine-free Diet Mountain Dew, in foxholes, in aircraft cockpits, on Troy State University; M.S. in nation- classic rock music. ships, inside tanks and working in every al resource strategy, National Defense These are not: Writers who confuse military career field with the exception University. plural/possessive punctuation, politi- of the Chaplain Corps. However, we’re Professional military education: cians who use elected office to advance working on getting the first secular hu- Marine Corps Command and Staff Col- their personal religious beliefs, squash manist chaplain in the Navy right now, lege, U.S. Air Force Squadron Officer and beets. although it’s requiring a lawsuit. Athe- School, USAF Air Command and Staff My doubts about religion started: ists have honorably served in the U.S. College, USAF Air War College. Very early. When I was a kid, my den- military since the Continental Army. Occupation: Online adjunct instruc- tist had a children’s bible in the waiting tor with the USAF Air University’s Air room. Once I read the story of Abra- Command and Staff College gradu- ham binding his son Isaac for sacrifice, ate program. Areas of expertise are I developed serious doubts about reli- airpower studies, warfare studies and gion. I knew my dad would never do leadership and command. that to me, and it was my first real criti- Military service: 26 years in the cal thinking experience. USAF (1981–2007), retiring at the Before I die: I’d like for Bojangles’ rank of colonel. restaurants, headquartered in Char- How I got where I am today: Great lotte, N.C., to respond to my many parents, hard work and a commitment letters asking about the proselytizing Col. Ken Lynn in 2007. to public service. that’s occurring in some franchised Where I’m headed: Many will say restaurants. Can’t I get my “Bo-to-Go” Name: Ken Lynn. I’m headed for hell, but I know it without religion being involved? Where I live: Fleetwood, N.C. doesn’t exist. Ways I promote freethought: Rath- Where and when I was born: Jack- Person in history I admire: Benja- er than promote freethought directly, sonville, Fla., in 1959, reared in Greer, min Franklin for his wit, intellect and I focus on church/state separation. In S.C. many contributions to humankind. the military, I led and followed people Family: Monica, my wife (also an Quotations I like: “The hands that of all beliefs, and I respect a person’s FFRF member), and Tank, our English help are better far than lips that pray.” right to believe whatever they choose. bulldog. (Robert Green Ingersoll) “The United I promote church/state separation Education: B.S. in recreation and States is not in any sense founded on through opinion and other types of park administration, Clemson Univer- the Christian religion.” (Treaty of Trip- writing, modest philanthropy and with Ken Lynn today. Meet a Florida member

Name: Michael Kaye. Carlin, Penn and Teller, Greydon Where I live: Safety Harbor, Fla. Square, Robert Ingersoll, Elizabeth Where and when I was born: Rock- Cady Stanton and Thomas Paine. ville Centre, Long Island, N.Y., March How I got where I am today: Philo- 4, 1951. sophically, I was an atheist, freethinker Family: Virginia, my wife of 33 years, and humanist since birth. It was con- a retired accountant; son, JJ, a civil en- stantly confirmed throughout my life gineer and guitar/keyboard player in by my encounters with the numerous an Orlando rock band named Under- worldviews that made no sense to me. cover Bandits. Where I’m headed: Besides trying to Education: Great Neck South Senior self-improve through ongoing learning High School, Great Neck, Long Island, and staying physically active, I’m just N.Y.; B.S. in education, State University trying to do my small share to halt the of New York at Cortland State; M.S. in imposition of religious dogma into our education, Queens College, Flushing, educational, political, social and eco- N.Y. nomic systems by promoting reason in Occupation: Retired physical edu- any way one average citizen is able to. cation teacher. I owned various small A quotation I like: “To explain the businesses before that. I’ve written two unknown by the known is a logical pro- books, a few magazine articles (jazz- cedure. To explain the known by the and business-related) and a lot of news- unknown is a form of theological luna- paper letters to the editor on human- cy.” (journalist David Brooks) ism, freethought, athletics and politics. These are a few of my favorite Person in history I admire: Some things: Family, promoting freethought, of my well-known favorites would in- competing in sports/activities (partic- clude the “four horsemen” (Dawkins, ularly bowling, 215 tournament aver- Dennett, Harris and Hitchens), Neil age), playing my trumpet daily, travel, deGrasse Tyson, Bill Maher, George birding and cheering for our almost Michael Kaye in Rapid City, S.D., at a statue by sculptor John Lopez of Pres- 2014-15 Stanley Cup champions, the ident John F. Kennedy and John Jr., whose father was assassinated three days Tampa Bay Lightning. before “John-John” turned 3. These are not: The abundant use of “Godspeak” (I try to never use phras- “you gotta be kidding!” was followed by autobiography Brief Candle in the Dark es such as “god bless you, oh my god, my parents’ laughter, probably amazed for me when he visited Clearwater on act of god,” etc.); people assuming you I had an opinion on such matters at Oct. 10). I also came out on “Openly are a believer just like them or who that age. Secular Day” in April before an audi- misrepresent atheists due to their lack Before I die: I would like atheists to ence of 50 or so mostly strangers as I of obtaining sufficient knowledge to be at or near the top of the list of the read one of my freethought poems understand what atheists are about; most liked and admired group of peo- at an open-mic celebration of poetry indoctrinating children with supersti- ple in the United States instead of at month. tious religious beliefs (threats of hell, the top of the most hated or mistrusted I wish you’d have asked me: About being born sinners); mingling state list. People would finally understand my new book, Thoughts of a Freethink- and religion; and right-wing politics. how much that freethinkers and athe- er: A Late Sunday Morning Sleeper’s Rev- My doubts about religion started: ists have contributed positively to soci- elations, and how to get it (Amazon, At age 4 when passing a large church ety and because the scientific method Barnes and Noble, IUniverse Publish- in a car and asking what do people do would be recognized as the most ratio- ers, etc. The e-book/Kindle version is in that building? My parents explained nal means of obtaining knowledge and only $3.99). My earlier book, Summer it’s where people go that believe in solving problems. Camp Race of Horror (2002), is a sci- their god. After I asked what was a god, Ways I promote freethought: By writ- ence fiction/horror story for ages 8-15 my parents said that some people be- ing and keeping up with issues through approximately. lieve it’s a being in the sky that can’t organizations like FFRF and local free- You also could have asked if I’ve be seen, knows everything and can do thought and humanist groups. (I met ever bowled a perfect 300 game, and anything. My immediate response of Richard Dawkins when he signed his I’d have answered: “Yes, twice!” December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 11

Soglin welcomes conventioneers to Madison Mayor: Nonbelief deserves equal treatment

FFRF Co-President maim and we inflict enormous trauma Annie Laurie Gaylor: in regards to the spreading of religious fervor. We’ve been holding the Nonprayer Break- It seems to me, as one who’s held fast for 30-some years, and guess what? We elected office over the years, that if have never had a mayor attend one until we’re going to change this country today. It’s my pleasure to introduce “Hizzon- there has to be an understanding that er” the Mayor, Paul Soglin. the imposition of one’s views about I remember campaigning for you, Paul, morality is a very private matter. And when I was a high schooler before I could while there will be debates over issues vote. Paul Soglin was a very famous an- such as reproductive choice and free ti-war activist. If you have never seen the speech, which I think is critical to this documentary “The War at Home” about the discussion, to do it in the name of some Vietnam protests at the University Wiscon- supreme being is contradictory to the sin-Madison, it is super. Paul then went on fundamental premise upon which this to get his law degree. nation was founded. The first time that he ran for mayor, the When we look at our history, we incumbent was Mayor Dyke. I was at the know that there were some very, very public forum at West High School where grave mistakes and political compro- Dyke said, “The decent people would only mises that were made. Some of those vote for Mayor Dyke.” That was a turning Ingrid Laas photo compromises had to deal with the role point in Paul’s first campaign. He’s also the Paul Soglin welcomes the audience to Madison at Monona Terrace Oct. 10. of government for people who had person who oversaw construction of Mono- property and for those who didn’t, for na Terrace Convention Center, and boy, was I want your support. war in Vietnam, continued into the those who were men and those who that a fight! Aren’t we glad we’re here? I grew up in the 1950s during the 1980s and ’90s, and now. were women. And certainly for those And I’m very pleased that the mayor is height of the Cold War. There were You can’t go to a baseball game with- who were slaves and those who were here. He’s going to add a little bit of wel- a number of us in the classroom who out seeing tens of thousands of people not. coming. would say, “I pledge allegiance to the rise [for the seventh-inning stretch, Another of those compromises was flag of the United States of America, when after 9/11 the song “God Bless made in the name of religion and Mayor Soglin: and to the republic for which it stands, America” replaced “Take Me Out to the belief or lack of belief in a su- Thank you very much and for that one nation” —­ and then there’d be si- the Ball Game”]. To again, feel com- preme being. It’s time that we recog- reminder. Bill Dyke did include in his lence —­­ “indivisible, with liberty and pelled to abide by a standard, which is nize that those compromises have to opening comments at West High that justice for all.” clearly and historically not in the best end in modern-day America as well as evening that he hoped there were There were those in this country interests of this country. throughout the world. enough decent people left in Madison who felt quite strongly that we could I don’t have to share with you the So with that, I welcome you to what to reelect him. I followed and started only survive if they imposed their mor- horrors of what goes on today through- many of us fondly refer to as 77 square my introduction, which I guess is suit- al and their religious standards on the out the world, and has for centuries. miles surrounded by reality. Thank you able for this audience, saying that I rest of us. And of course it was to con- Where in the name of religious fervor, for having selected Madison for your don’t care if you’re decent or indecent, tinue during our lifetimes, during the we don’t just kill but we brutalize, we annual convention. Have a good time. They said what?

The secular school system is a puppet On an eHarmony profile reportedly of atheists even though they claim to be belonging to Harpham, he described neutral. Christian free speech is being himself as a Christian, insurance sales- attacked as most educators are trained man and recovered alcoholic. He at universities that have put God on listed his family as the first thing he’s the shelf and have accepted different “passionate about.” The second thing: forms of Marxism without God. How- “the incessant and endless task of ego ever, many Christian teachers have not destruction and working to seek, un- bought into the system. derstand, submit to, and apply God’s 4 WINDS President Steve McConkey will in my life.” Christian NewsWire, 11-2-15 Noah Jacob Harpham, who killed three people in Colorado Springs before be- The Bible means a lot to me, but I don’t ing killed by police on Oct. 31 want to get into specifics. … I wouldn’t New York Daily News, 11-2-15 want to get into it because to me that’s very personal. You know, when I talk I refuse. I flat refuse, in America, to be about the Bible, it’s very personal, so I forced into hiding as a Christian! don’t want to get into verses. Pastor Mike Welch of Bistineau Baptist No new Ten Commandments dis- “For tens of millions of parents it Republican presidential candidate Church, who was upset because on Sept. plays — or even Christmas or Ha- would be better that a millstone be Donald Trump, when asked by a 24, the American Civil Liberties Union nukkah displays — unless carefully hung around their children’s neck and Bloomberg Television reporter about sent a warning to the Bossier Parish secularized; they be drowned at the bottom of the his favorite passages in what he has School Board stating that Airline High A widespread prejudice in many sea” than reading JK Rowling’s Harry said is his favorite book, the bible. School principal Jason Rowland had en- quarters against public officials talking Potter books. The Daily Beast, 10-30-15 gaged in a “pattern of religious prosely- about God or about their beliefs in Pastor Kevin Swanson, speaking at the tization.” Among other things, Rowland public; National Religious Liberties Conference We recognize the shortness of the hour, had sent out newsletters with religious And even the crusade every Decem- 11-7-15 and that’s why we as a remnant want to messages and, over the school’s inter- ber to replace the phrase Merry Christ- be faithful in these days and do what com, urged students to “pray to the al- mas with Happy Holidays. People of faith make better leaders. it is that the Holy Spirit is speaking to mighty God.” Airline High is a public Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah Faith gives us humility. each one of us, to be faithful in the school in Bossier Parish, La. A speech given on 11-4-15 Presidential aspirant Carly Fiorina, Kingdom and to help bring in as many Slate.com, 11-2-15 speaking at the Presidential Family Fo- as we can — even among the Jews — Any president who doesn’t begin every rum, Des Moines, Iowa share Jesus Christ with everyone that The Court’s flawed wall-of-separation day on his knees isn’t fit to be com- 11-20-15 we possibly can because, again, He’s jurisprudence has kept religion out mander-in-chief of this nation. coming soon. of the public square and fed the idea Presidential candidate Ted Cruz, when There is no meaningful risk of Chris- Michele Bachmann, the former pres- that religion is a private matter to be asked if religion was an important tians committing acts of terror. idential candidate and former con- practiced within the confines of one’s quality for a president Ted Cruz, on possibly allowing Syrian gresswoman from Minnesota, trying church or home. Legal and social pres- 11-9-15 from “Freedom 2015: National Re- refugees into the U.S. as long as they to get Jews to convert to Christianity sure have taken their toll, and the re- ligious Liberties Conference” are Christian and not Muslim during a trip to Israel sults are stark: 11-15-15 New York Daily News, 11-8-15 No prayer in school; Page 12 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015 FFRF Legals sweep Bible Belters, 2-0 Northern Illinois University in religious fray,” said FFRF Co-President FFRF. precedent. I have listened to the diver- DeKalb promptly removed all Gide- Annie Laurie Gaylor. She and her hus- (You can purchase bible warning la- gent viewpoints of others. Taking all on bibles from the Holmes Student band, Co-President Dan Barker, were bels online at ffrf.org/shop.) that into consideration, the bible give- Center Hotel after getting an Oct. 20 staying at the hotel while in town to • • • away at the pinning ceremony will be complaint letter from FFRF Legal Fel- speak to a Secular Student Alliance Colorado Mesa University in Grand discontinued.” low Ryan Jayne, who wrote, “Certain- chapter when they discovered the bi- Junction will no longer distribute bi- Nursing students had apparently ly, if guests want to read this religious bles in the room. bles to nursing school graduates as been told the bible distribution was a text during their stay, they can bring “The bible calls for killing nonbe- part of their “pinning” ceremony after “non-negotiable” part of the ceremony. their own copy or access any of the nu- lievers, apostates, gays, ‘stubborn sons,’ the Freedom From Religion Founda- “Thrusting bibles at students — who merous churches or libraries near the and women who transgress biblical tion and the Western Colorado Athe- may be of varying faiths or no faith — university.” double standards. What’s obnoxious in ists and Freethinkers sent complaint at graduation is coercive, embarrassing The next day, Gregory Brady, depu- a private hotel, however, becomes inap- letters. FFRF learned of the Gideon and beyond the scope of our public ty general counsel, responded that the propriate and unconstitutional in state- bible distribution in November from higher education system,” wrote Staff university “will be removing any such run lodgings,” commented Gaylor. several CMU students and community Attorney Andrew Seidel in his com- bibles from their hotel guest rooms.” State universities in Wisconsin, members. plaint letter to Foster. “This matter is “We’re grateful to NIU for so Pennsylvania, Oregon and Iowa have College President Tim Foster an- especially troublesome in light of the promptly making a decision to respect also recently removed bibles from nounced on Nov. 18: “I have sought wide range of cultures and faiths that all of its hotel guests and stay above the guest rooms after being contacted by legal counsel and researched legal were represented at graduation.”

Miss., following an FFRF complaint. FFRF secularizes A note reading “Whatever you do, school’s pep rallies More legal victories work at it with all your heart, as work- ing for the Lord, not for human mas- On Aug. 26, 2015, Little Elm High Praying teacher tutional prayers on Nov. 6. “While it is ters. Colossians 3:23” and signed “Your School in Texas began a pep rally with laudable for Belle Chasse High to or- assistant principals Syl Burrell & Nason a prayer from the pastor of a local learns lesson ganize an assembly to honor veterans, Lollar” was posted on the high school church, but it won’t happen again after A kindergarten teacher at Arab it is unconstitutional to allow any reli- gym doors. FFRF got involved. Primary School in Arab, Ala., will no gious message or prayer to be part of a “This is an egregious violation of the An Aug. 27 letter from Staff Attor- longer lead students in prayer after school-sponsored event,” he said. Establishment Clause and of students’ ney Sam Grover reminded the Little FFRF sent the superintendent a letter Rousselle responded by email on rights,” wrote Staff Attorney Sam Gro- Elm Independent School District that of complaint. Nov. 9, telling Grover that the district ver. The school district “must ensure its it is unconstitutional for a school to in- The teacher lined up the students would no longer include prayers at employees are not unlawfully promot- vite a preacher, or anyone else, to lead before lunch and made them recite, school events. ing their personal religious beliefs to a prayer at a school event. “God is great, God is good, let us thank students by using its schools as a plat- Superintendent Lowell Strike told Him for this food. By his hands, we all Coordinated signups form to proselytize.” Grover on Oct. 16 that he had dis- are fed, give us Lord our daily bread. In a letter of response on Sept. 29, cussed the matter with the planners of Amen.” Staff Attorney Sam Grover for religious club ended an attorney for the school district de- the pep rally and “ha[d] been assured wrote to Arab City Schools Superin- Audubon Park Elementary School nied that a constitutional violation had this will not be repeated in the future.” tendent John Mullins on Sept. 25 ob- in Florida will no longer coordinate occurred, but noted that the message jecting to this practice. “Public school signups for the Good News Club, an had been removed and said the district Religious sign teachers may not lead their students evangelical Christian children’s group, would “monitor any messages left in in prayer, encourage students to pray, after FFRF filed complaints with the the school and remove any message removed from class participate in student-initiated prayer, Orange County Public Schools, one that is proselytizing for any particular After receiving a letter from FFRF, or otherwise endorse religion to of the largest school districts in the religion.” a teacher at Indian Springs Elementa- students.” country. ry in Blountville, Tenn., has removed On Oct. 1, Mullins informed FFRF FFRF has lodged many complaints Texas principal won’t a sign from her classroom that read, that “a brief investigation into this mat- and even filed a lawsuit against OCPS “I can do all things through God who ter confirmed the validity of the com- over the past several years. Staff At- attend prayer event strengthens me.” plaint. We have corrected the situation torney Andrew Seidel sent the latest Prosper (Texas) High School Princi- The Sullivan County Schools Dis- and educated our kindergarten teach- letter on Sept. 23 to the district’s two pal Greg Wright will no longer partici- trict “violates the Constitution when ers to assure future compliance with attorneys objecting to a permission slip pate in See You At The Pole, an annual it allows its schools or public school the Establishment Clause.” from the Good News Club, which di- Christian student prayer event, after employees to display religious symbols rected students to return the form to hearing about the issue from FFRF. or messages,” said Staff Attorney Re- Standing for pledge an assistant principal at the school. Wright’s involvement in a religious stu- becca Markert on Oct. 6. “This display “When school employees collect dent club is also ending, and a cross alienates those nonreligious students, no longer required registration forms for a religious club, and plaque about God displayed by an families, teachers, and members of Teachers within Plaquemines Par- that teacher appears to endorse that assistant principal have been removed. the public whose religious beliefs are ish Schools in Louisiana will no longer club,” Seidel said. FFRF notified Prosper Indepen- inconsistent with the message being force students to stand for the Pledge Attorney John C. Palmerini in- dent School District Superintendent promoted by the school.” of Allegiance after FFRF wrote two formed Seidel on Oct. 12 that the prin- Drew Watkins of these constitutional Director Evelyn Rafalowski in- complaints on behalf of a Belle Chasse cipal would no longer facilitate regis- violations in a letter on Sept. 28. “It is formed FFRF by email on Oct. 19 that High School student. trations for the Good News Club. important that PISD staff members un- the bible verse had been removed. Previously, students who refused to derstand that, as government officers stand had been informed they were Religious messages and state actors, their personal rights Students spared more required to stand, taken out of class, of free exercise and free speech are and punished. In addition, prayers at removed from school not unlimited,” said Staff Attorney An- bible distributions football games, Veterans Day events, drew Seidel. He pointed out that even The Bienville Parish Schools in Ar- and other school events will not occur See You At The Pole’s official website cadia, La., will ensure that schools do in the future. acknowledges that it is illegal for adults not allow Gideons to distribute bibles “Students must not be singled out to lead the gatherings. to students after FFRF alerted the dis- or punished in any way for choosing In addition, damning admissions on trict to the constitutional violation. not to participate in the Pledge of Alle- Facebook that Wright was founding a Members of the evangelical Gideons giance,” wrote Staff Attorney Sam Gro- First Priority Club for students meant group passed out bibles to Crawford ver in a letter on Oct. 1. “The Supreme any claim that the club was student-led Elementary School students on Sept. Court ruled over seventy years ago as required by law was “disingenuous,” 22, physically placing a bible on each that compelling a student to recite the said Seidel. Also, “Public schools may student’s desk. Pledge and salute the flag infringed not display religious messages or ico- “When a school distributes religious upon a student’s First Amendment nography,” the letter stated. literature to its students, or permits rights.” On Oct. 14, an attorney for the evangelists to distribute religious lit- Superintendent Denis Rousselle school district informed FFRF that all erature to its students, it entangles it- called Grover on Oct. 7 and said that complaints had been resolved. Princi- self with that religious message,” wrote he “took care of the situation” imme- pal Wright will not speak at future See Staff Attorney Sam Grover in a letter to diately after receiving FFRF’s letter. You At The Pole events or form the Superintendent William Britt. Rousselle said he would not tolerate First Priority Club, and school officials Britt assured FFRF on Oct. 19 that students being punished for exercising will no longer display religious materi- he would “meet with school principals/ their free speech rights, even though Bible verses posted by school offi- als in the school. (See student activist administrators to insure compliance he doesn’t agree with the decision. cials have been removed from Ger- on page 8.) with court decisions regarding the dis- Grover wrote about the unconsti- mantown High School in Madison, tribution of Bibles in public schools.” December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 13

Gideons no longer FFRF on Nov. 6 that the school board Kansas school district courts struck down prayers in school, would not include prayer at its next but one court even specifically struck allowed in district meeting, and said that although the ends bible distribution down “Thank You for the World So The McConnellsburg, Pa., school board had not yet discussed the topic Geary County Schools in Kansas will Sweet” even after the school removed district has banned the Gideons from at a meeting, he anticipates the board no longer allow Gideons to distribute the words “God” and “Amen” from the repeating the unconstitutional dis- would permanently cease the practice. bibles following an FFRF complaint. prayer. tributions of bibles in the future af- FFRF first dealt with this issue in 2012, William E. Shinn, Jr., attorney for the ter FFRF alerted the Central Fulton Religious posts from but it resurfaced this year. school district, admitted that FFRF’s School District of the illegal act. FFRF Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott account of the prayer was “substantially Staff Attorney Elizabeth Cavell wrote school come down sent a request for records on distri- correct.” Shinn said the district would a letter on Oct. 15 objecting to Gideons bution policies on Nov. 6. Prompted “start by providing principals addition- roaming the halls at McConnellsburg by the records request, parent action, al education on constitutional restric- Elementary with a cart of bibles and and an additional complaint from the tions relating to school prayer,” and Principal Alicia Mellott’s statement to American Humanist Association, the that the principals would be directed students that anyone interested could school district’s attorney sent written to make a similar presentation to staff take a bible. assurance on Nov. 13 that the district members. Superintendent Dixie M. Paruch would “no longer facilitate the Gide- wrote to Cavell on Oct. 21 saying that ons in distributing bibles in our school the Gideons would not be distribut- district.” ing bibles in the school district in the It paid to complain future. Alabama district School prayer stopped updates prayer policy Dallas County Schools in Selma, in Alabama school again Ala., took action to end prayers over A third Prattville Primary School the loudspeaker before football games teacher has been stopped from praying after hearing from FFRF. with students after FFRF Staff Attorney FFRF sent the district a letter on Sam Grover ensured that two praying Sept. 30. “The Supreme Court has teachers at the school were educat- specifically struck down invocations ed on the Constitution in February. given over the loudspeaker at public FFRF’s local complainant reported in school athletic events, even when stu- September that a third teacher was also dent-led,” wrote Staff Attorney Sam praying with students before lunch. Grover, citing the 2000 case, Santa Fe “Needless to say, we are concerned Independent School District v. Doe. “Like about how quickly Prattville Prima- the prayer practices in Santa Fe, the ry has had this same issue resurface,” prayers at Dallas County High School Grover wrote to the Autauga County After getting a letter from Staff Attor- football games are also inappropriate Carole Beaton School District’s attorney. “Given the ney Sam Grover, Facebook posts by and unconstitutional.” district’s earlier representation that an elementary school in New Caney, Christmas Y. Green-Williams, Dal- Prattville Primary administrators had Texas, promoting the “See You at the las County Schools attorney, wrote a A long legal challenge by FFRF Life addressed this issue, we would expect Pole” event have been removed. response on Nov. 17, noting that the Member Carole Beaton paid off in No- all school employees to be aware of school had updated its policies to re- vember as the City Council in Eureka, their obligation to remain neutral on Facebook posts and pictures pro- flect the state of the law. “We appreci- Calif., voted unanimously to eliminate matters of religion.” moting a See You At The Pole event ate any individual or organization that prayers to start its meetings as of Jan. Attorney James R. Seale wrote back at Kings Manor Elementary School in makes us aware of an alleged violation” 1. Attorney Peter Martin filed a lawsuit to FFRF on Oct. 26. The principal “ad- New Caney, Texas, have been removed of the law, Green-Williams said. in January 2013 on Beaton’s behalf to dressed your concerns with the staff after FFRF complained in a letter. get the council to stop praying and to at Prattville Primary School,” wrote One post invited readers to join “us” Reciting prayers stop Mayor Frank Jager from using his Seale. “I trust that your concerns will for See You at the Pole, describing it as position and city resources to promote have been resolved and I do not an- a time to “pray with our children.” A halted at school his annual Mayor’s Prayer Breakfast. ticipate you will receive any additional photo of the event showed adults hold- Pursuant to a Freedom From Reli- City officials wouldn’t say if the complaints.” ing students’ hands in a group prayer. gion Foundation complaint, Decatur change was due to the suit. “I don’t “Any religious events in any of the City Schools in Alabama will ensure think the city wants to give us the No more mealtime district’s schools must be entirely stu- that students are not required to recite satisfaction of having been right on dent-initiated and student-run,” Staff prayers in the future. this one,” Martin told the Eureka prayer at senior center Attorney Sam Grover wrote in a letter During a grandparents’ day event on Times-Standard on Nov. 20. Seniors at the city of Chandler Se- to the New Caney Independent School Sept. 11 at Walter Jackson Elementary, The city agreed to a September nior Center in Chandler, Ariz., will no District. “When a school district pro- a kindergarten teacher led students in 2014 settlement that barred use of its longer be subjected to prayers at meals motes religious events to its students, it the prayer, “Thank You for the World resources, city seal and the title of may- after FFRF got involved. A senior cen- has unconstitutionally entangled itself So Sweet,” in front of their assembled or to promote or support prayer break- ter employee had led the prayers in the with a religious message.” guests. The students had been taught fasts and paid the plaintiff $16,500 for past, and later started selecting a mem- An attorney for the school district the prayer with hand movements to ac- attorney’s fees. ber of the audience to do so. responded on Nov. 9, informing FFRF company each line. • • • “Federal regulations prohibit senior that the posts had been removed. Staff Attorney Sam Grover wrote The Greece (N.Y.) Central School centers receiving federal funding to Superintendent Ed Nichols on Oct. District Board voted 5-4 against a pro- engage in religious activities at gov- 29, pointing out that not only have the posal Nov. 10 to consolidate polling ernment-sponsored functions such as sites from 11 elementary schools to two senior meals,” wrote Legal Fellow Ryan churches and a fire station. The pro- Jayne. “The center cannot engage ‘in posed church sites were at Our Mother inherently religious activities, such as of Sorrows Catholic Parish and Hope worship, religious instruction, or pros- Lutheran Church. elytization.’ ” Linda Stephens, FFRF Life Mem- FFRF’s complainant reported on ber and co-plaintiff in Town of Greece v. Oct. 29 that the center had replaced Galloway, alerted FFRF to the proposal the prayer with a moment of silence. Nov. 10 and spoke against it at the pub- lic hearing that night. Four residents Illinois school board to spoke against the plan. No one spoke in favor. end meeting prayers A school district release said: “Some The Windsor Board of Education in were concerned consolidation could Illinois will no longer pray at its meet- make it more difficult for voters to get ings after getting a complaint from to the polls; others feared voting at FFRF. Local clergy typically led the non-school sites could influence the Christian prayers. vote.” “It is beyond the scope of a public Freudian slip? Stephens commented to FFRF legal school board to schedule or conduct It’s rather hilarious that this screenshot of a Nov. 13 news story about an FFRF staff after the meeting: “Maybe speak- prayer as part of its meetings,” wrote legal victory was still up on Nov. 23 (and maybe still is). ABC-TV affiliate KAIT ing out at public hearings does work Legal Fellow Ryan Jayne in a Nov. 2 let- is in Jonesboro, Ark., where Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert sent a Nov. sometimes?” ter. “Federal courts have struck down 12 complaint letter on behalf of a local resident to Craighead County Assessor FFRF took no action due to late no- school board practices that include Hannah Towell about religious crosses on office walls. Towell told KAIT that tice about the proposal and because this religious ritual.” employees were told to remove crosses and video in the news clip shows none the board voted it down but will con- Superintendent Gavin Sronce told in evidence. tinue to monitor the situation. Page 14 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015

Emperor Has No Clothes acceptance speech Fighting oppression in Muslim world

This speech was delivered before the 38th anything worthwhile from Bangladesh. ment did not take any action against annual FFRF national convention in Mad- Its political parties will turn it into a the killers. Like others, he had to die ison, Wis., on Oct. 9, 2015. fundamentalist Islamic state. And for his crime of being a freethinker. the commoners will just sit and watch A few days ago Islamic State (or By Taslima Nasrin the unfolding horror. A rational mind ISIS) claimed responsibility for the might say this is strongly condemnable, fatal shooting of an Italian citizen on but for the masses, it is not such an ap- a street in the diplomatic quarter of palling place to be. They have been so Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh. I am grateful to the Freedom From blinded by religion that they wouldn’t Then a few days later, a Japanese man Religion Foundation for giving me mind being another cog in the giant was also killed there. The Emperor Has No Clothes award. wheel turning Bangladesh into “Darul Islamophobia is something coined I am also grateful to Annie Laurie Gay- Islam.” by fundamentalists. If you criticize Is- lor for having previously selected me lam, you will be called Islamophobic. for the Freethought Heroine award Resisters are punished It’s a political tactic. You won’t find in 2002 and for a grant more recently. Citizens who are resisting this an- Hindu-phobics or Christian-phobics. This organization has been standing by archy with courage will be slowly and It’s as if you can criticize all religions, me during my trials and tribulations. systematically eliminated by those who but not Islam, even if there are wide- A few days ago, the Bangladeshi ji- will never be punished because they spread killings and oppression of hadist group Ansarullah Bangla Team Ingrid Laas photo serve the vested interests of shrewd women in the name of this religion. published what it called a “global hit Taslima Nasrin speaks at FFRF’s 38th politicians. I don’t criticize Islam only—I criticize list” of bloggers who have denigrated annual national convention. Bangladesh was earlier known to and speak up against anti-women el- Islam, and vowed to take action against the world because of the annual floods ements in all religions. But I criticize such writers. I am on the list. At the bot- by the side of atheists. She does not say that devastated the population. From a Islam more because I have grown up in tom of the list, was this chilling threat: that murdering anyone is illegal. She country that suffered from natural ca- a Muslim country and I witnessed the “Enemies of Islam and madrassa edu- does not want to punish the murder- lamities, it is now emerging as a nation violation of human rights and women’s cation, atheists, anti-Islamic apostates, ers. She gave a statement against the that suffers from man-made catastro- rights under Islam. My voice cannot be Shahbagi bloggers, acting on behalf of murderers of innocent people but phes, remorselessly butchering atheists gagged. India, are trying to set obstacles in the made no statement against the mur- and bloggers. Unless politicians stop Is there any other writer in the world path of establishment of Islamic caliph- derers of atheists. the business of using religion to get whose five books are banned and who ate. We demand that the Bangladesh Bangladesh has never been a true votes from masses, many enlightened has been banned from entering her government cancel the citizenship of democracy, because a democracy does youngsters will bleed to death in the own country for more than two de- such enemies of Islam, otherwise we not have affinity to any particular reli- country. cades and also banned from entering a will liquidate them wherever we find gion, whereas Bangladesh has an offi- At one time Sheikh Mujibar Raha- place where people have the same lan- them across the world. Our jihad will cial religion. Until the time this coun- man had moved the people to reject guage and culture? It is unfortunately continue, Inshallah. Amen. — Ansarul- try gets rid of that state religion, until the Pakistani soldiers who massacred me. lah Bangla Team” the time atheists become as accepted the Bangladeshi intelligentsia. Today, There have been reports in the me- as theists, Bangladesh cannot be called his own daughter is indulging criminals dia recently that Ansarullah activists are a democratic country. whose hands are red with the blood of trying to cross over from Bangladesh to There has always been a marked bloggers. I no longer feel ashamed to My voice cannot India to kill me. Ansarullah believes in conflict between religion and science, say I feel scared to think of myself as a be gagged. the ideology of Anwar Al-Awlaki, a Ye- and every time science emerges as the Bangladeshi. men-based al-Qaeda activist, and has winner, as science bases itself on facts, Four bloggers were hacked to death. been involved in the brutal murders of not faith. It supports what is tested and Among them was Niloy Neel, the secu- at least four Bangladeshi freethinkers is true and truth cannot be hidden by lar humanist blogger who was a mem- Banished from country and bloggers. lies for a very long time. To abolish all ber of the Taslima Nasreen supporters In 1993, when my work started draw- It’s a matter of pride to be a free- kinds of hypocrisy from my country, we group. He was brutally killed by Ban- ing the ire of Islamic fundamentalists, thinker, atheist and blogger in a civ- need more atheists to speak the truth. gladeshi Islamists only because he was there were widespread protests in Ban- ilized society; as the rights of such The silence of the government on an enlightened critic of Islam. Niloy gladesh. Huge rallies were organized people are respected by the people the death of the bloggers is a strong Neel criticized all religions: Hinduism, against me, fatwas issued and a price and the government. However, in a indication that this is going to be the Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Is- was put on my head. Eventually I was country like Bangladesh, where society new norm for in Bangladesh. At times, lam, etc. But he was killed only for crit- banished from my own country. Need- is still in its primitive and brutal state, I really feel that one shouldn’t expect icizing Islam. The Bangladesh govern- less to say, the concept of freedom of such intellectuals are killed for being speech was violated in all possible ways progressive and speaking their minds at that time. Some authors stopped or writing what they wish to say. Such writing books criticizing religion issues societies silence the voices of atheists because they didn’t want to face what who try to wake people to a new dawn. was inflicted on me. Therefore, we can say that self-censorship became a norm No atheist support right from that time. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Over the years, a generation of pro- Bangladesh and her son Sajeeb Wazed, gressive youngsters, who are well-ed- who acts as her information and com- ucated and called themselves liberal, munications technology adviser as atheists and humanists, has been mak- well as political campaigner, have an- ing their presence felt in the country. nounced that they will not stand with I wouldn’t say that all youngsters are the atheists. But the point is that the progressive because some of them are atheists are not aliens, they too are cit- joining radical groups too. But there izens of the country. So, it is apparent are others who have begun to chal- that the government of the day stands lenge religious orthodoxy through with the bigots. their blogs or otherwise. Many such Atheism became such a hated word bloggers speaking up against bigotry, that everybody in Bangladesh choos- superstition and fundamentalism are es to maintain a safe distance from being targeted. In fact, it doesn’t mat- atheists even though the government ter whether a blogger is a Hindu, Mus- is bound by its own policy to not dif- lim or Christian; whoever is criticizing ferentiate between citizens on the ba- Islam is being targeted. Many of them sis of their religion, color, gender or have no option but to flee the coun- language. Sadly, in order to safeguard try. Those who are staying are scared its own interest, the government has of writing. So there is again a stifling turned its back on rationalists, secular- form of self-censorship. Those who are ists and atheists who need its support trying to start life afresh abroad would the most. find it hard to write again because in The Bangladesh government is si- Ingrid Laas photo those countries they have to earn their lent about the murder of freethinkers. Taslima holding her Emperor award, reserved for public figures who “tell it like livelihood first and fight for survival. Sheikh Hasina does not want to stand it is” about religion, like the child in the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale. So such a struggle for existence in an December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 15 alien land could kill creativity. is created secondarily for the pleasure A large section of Bangladesh is of man. Islam considers a woman as a deeply religious. If Shaikh Hasina is slave or sexual object, nothing more. seen punishing killers in order to pro- Women’s role is to stay at home and to tect atheists and rationalists, this part obey her husband. Women are consid- of the population might consider the ered weak so they should be taken care leader to be atheist herself. This per- of. Islam treats women as intellectual, ception might be detrimental to her moral and physical inferiors. In mar- electoral prospects. The politicians riage, Islam protects the rights of men need to protect their voting bloc at the and men only. Once the marriage is end of the day. consummated, women have no rights Islam is not a race. Just as Christian- whatsoever in this field. ity has spread from its source of origin, Islam considers women psycholog- Islam too has traversed a similar path. ically inferior. A woman’s testimony is Those who have hatred or fear against not allowed in cases of marriage, di- Muslims suffer from Muslim-phobia. vorce and hudud. Hudud are the pun- ishments set by Islamic law for adultery, Illegal arrests, fornication, adultery against a married imprisonment person, apostasy, theft, robbery, and so Today, hordes of innocent citizens forth. If any woman is raped, she has are being illegally arrested, handcuffed to produce four male witnesses to the and imprisoned across the world. And court. If she cannot, there is no charge while we are not making them celeb- against the rapist. In Islamic law, the rities, we have made Ahmed Moham- testimony of two women is worth that med, the Texas clock boy, a hero just of one man. In the case in which a man after he spent time in a police station. suspects his wife of adultery, or denies The real reason for that is Ahmed is the legitimacy of the offspring, his tes- a Muslim boy. If Ahmed was a Jew or timony is worth that of four witness- a Christian or a Hindu, would “good es. A woman does not have the right people” the world over have protested to charge her husband in a similar as much against racism in the U.S. as manner. they have in Ahmed’s case, and would And after all the rights and free- they have supported him in this man- doms, after obtaining all the sexual ner? Would he have been invited to the pleasure and having the pleasure of White House? I don’t think that would being the master, Allah will reward have been the case. men with wine, food, and 72 virgins in Several white-skinned racists are Paradise, including the wives they had Muslim-haters. But why do they only Portrait of Taslima Nasrin by Ingrid Laas. on Earth. Allah said, “They relax on hate Muslims and are not Hindu-hat- luxurious furnishings, and we match ers, Sikh-haters or Buddhist-bashers? In Mecca, about 1,300 people were come to kill me, for they are convinced them with beautiful virgins” (52.19- Can we really argue that they hate Mus- killed in a stampede. You saw how Sau- by their belief in their religion that an 20). “Near them, shall be blushing vir- lims just like that? Is there no reason di officials were bulldozing bodies of apostate must be killed. Some people gins with large beautiful eyes who will for their hate whatsoever? dead Hajj pilgrims like garbage and still like to believe that Islam is a reli- be like hidden pearls.” (37.48-49). Many American kids have killed dumping them into a pile. Saudi Ara- gion of peace. But since my childhood, And what is the reward for the pi- their schoolmates. Many such shoot- bia, the world’s most brutally repres- I have witnessed the opposite. ous woman? Nothing. Nothing but ing sprees are reported with regularity. sive regime, was chosen to head a U.N. Some Western-educated, veiled the same old husband, the same man Yet I suspect that if the school in Texas Human Rights Council panel! I tweet- Muslim women have started speaking who caused her suffering while the two came across a situation where an Amer- ed: “Think twice before going to hajj. up, claiming that embracing Islam were back here on Earth. ican or a white kid came to class with a You can be killed in a stampede. You is still their choice. But then why is it It was easy for me to become an toy pistol or a toy rifle, the school au- won’t be sent to heaven if you die in that I have no choice to criticize Islam, atheist. I was a student of science, so it thorities would have alerted the police Mecca, because there is no heaven.” and why can’t anybody else freely do was hard to accept that the sun moves only after assessing the nature of the Muslims believe they will go to heav- so? Without criticism of Islam, it would around the Earth, that the moon has item in question. en if they die in hajj. The families of never be possible for Islamic countries its own light, and that the purpose of When people suspect Muslims or those pilgrims are so happy that they to separate state and religion, never mountains is to support the earth so criticize Islam, they are quickly brand- died in hajj. possible to have a secular education that it will not fall down somewhere. I ed as Islamophobics. But most people Throwing stones at Satan, kissing instead of a Quranic education, never came to suspect and be sure that the are afraid of being labeled such and a black stone believing it absorbs sins! possible to stop Islam-based politics. Quran was not written by someone so they mostly keep quiet. The faster All these childish things performed by And if such did not happen, Islamic who has at all any knowledge of the this word disappears, the better. We adults? Grow up, people! states would remain in darkness forev- sciences. cannot have this word and, at the same Religion is a profitable business. er. Women would not enjoy the right to Not only did I read the Quran, I time, voice our support for freedom of You do not need to invest anything but live as human beings. read the Hadith, the words of Mu- speech. It’s extremely difficult to ascer- ignorance. hammad. I found different events of tain if talented Muslims are being col- Rituals which were OK in 7th centu- Prophet Muhammad’s life in which, lectively brainwashed into becoming ry’s Mecca are now outdated, obsolete, Religion is a when he had problems, Allah was able terrorists, as were the Tsarnaev broth- not OK for a huge crowd in the 21st to solve them right away. For example, ers of Boston bombing. century. Stop hajj. profitable business. when he was sexually aroused after see- If people carry a pressure cooker By supporting women’s rights ev- ing his daughter-in-law, Allah sent him bomb in their backpack, or a clock erywhere, I have criticized all kinds You do not need a message saying that he could marry bomb in a pencil box, then it is rea- of religions, traditions, cultures and her because his son was adopted and sonable to fear these objects in public customs. To Muslims, I am labeled as to invest anything thus not his real son, so that marriage places. I do not see anything wrong being anti-Islam. This has led to some was therefore justified. with such thinking. But please don’t people’s saying that I am a Muslim-hat- but ignorance. It became clear to me that Muham- make critical statements like “Ahmed er. But they are wrong. By no means mad had written the Quran for his was harassed only because he is a Mus- am I a Muslim-hater! I always stand be- own interest, for his own comfort, for lim” or “white people are racists” or side oppressed people. I stood beside his own fun. When I studied other re- “Americans are Muslim-haters.” If you Muslims when they were oppressed in Women without rights ligions, I found they, too, oppressed are aware of past and present circum- Gujarat in India, in Palestine and in As I grew up, I realize that, like oth- women. stances, you will easily know why suspi- Bosnia. I defended their rights to live, er religions, Islam is not compatible In my society, I have witnessed that cions against Muslims exist. just as I stood beside the Hindus who with human rights, women’s rights, women are flogged. They have been are oppressed in Bangladesh and by freedom of expression and democra- stoned to death. Women are not con- The religiously blind the Christians in Pakistan. To me, their cy. There is no way in a real democra- sidered as human beings. For a typical When people from a particular com- religious identity is not important. Hu- cy that separation of religion and state Muslim couple, the most unwanted munity use terrorism to subjugate oth- man beings either believe in religion can be neglected. There is no way we thing is a female baby. If a woman fails ers, then their religion also becomes or they do not. Nobody should be op- can have women’s rights if we have reli- to conceive a male child, either she is suspect. It’s time to understand that. pressed because of her or his belief or gious law. There is no way we can enjoy forced into a divorce for her crime of To rid themselves of such suspicion, nonbelief. I have always stood for this. human rights if we allow religious rules having given birth to girls or else she Muslims must strongly protest against The criticism I make of the religions, to regulate society. Without the right to must spend her life with disgrace. those who use Islam for jihad. We have I do by writing. I do not go to harm offend, freedom of expression cannot I am sure you have heard many to stop being religiously blind and be the believers physically with a sword. exist. And without freedom of expres- times that Islam does not support the scientific in our approach. No enemy I do not believe in violence. The fa- sion, democracy will not work. killing of innocent people. Allah of has ever inflicted the amount of dam- natics never accept the idea to have a Islam does not consider woman to the Holy Quran never advocates kill- age that Islamic terrorists have done to dialogue or debate with me, or write be a separate human being. Man is ings. The killings are the work of a few fellow Muslims. articles or books opposing me; they the original creation and womankind Continued on page 21 Page 16 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015

2015 Michael Hakeem Memorial College Essay Contest winners FFRF awards $9,250 to student essayists

FFRF congratulates the 10 college ($2,000) ($200 each): rewarding critical thinking and the use students who won this year’s essay com- • Third place: Julia Upchurch, 22, • Chan Sai (Samuel) Hay, 21, De of reason in forming an opinion about petition and thanks all of the many en- University of South Carolina ($1,000) Anza College religion.” trants. FFRF has offered essay compe- • Fourth place: Erika Walsh, 19, • Martin Cheung, 18, University of The contest is named for the late titions to college students since 1979, Ithaca College ($750) Pennsylvania Michael Hakeem, a sociology profes- high school students since 1994 and • Fifth place: Emma Follmer, 20, • Julianna Bauman, 19, University of sor who was an FFRF officer and ac- graduate students since 2010. Virginia Commonwealth University Washington tive atheist known by generations of Students were asked to write 700 to ($500) • Mariesa Robinson, 20, Mercyhurst University of Wisconsin-Madison stu- 900 words on the topic of “Proud to be • Sixth place (tie): James Lambert, University dents for fine-tuning their reasoning an atheist: challenging stigmas against 21, University of Waterloo (Ontario) “We truly consider our scholarships abilities. nonbelievers.” Recipients, scholarship ($400) for freethinking students to be among FFRF also thanks Dean and Dorea amounts and schools are: • Sixth place (tie): Sunita Kolarth, FFRF’s most important investments Schramm of Florida for providing a • First place: Sara Schwabe, 23, Indi- 18, University of Missouri–Kansas City in the future of freethought,” said $100 bonus to students who are mem- ana University ($3,000) ($400) Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. bers of a secular student club or the • Second place: Casira Copes, 20, “There are thousands of scholarships Secular Student Alliance. The total of Rochester Institute of Technology Honorable mention for religious students, and hardly any $9,250 reflects bonuses.

First place: Michael Hakeem Memorial College Essay Contest Challenge misconceptions about atheism, morality

FFRF awarded Sara $3,000. previously avoided, including several atheist families. I was shocked to find Apparently, atheism By Sara Schwabe that they were more polite, intelligent, compassionate and moral than many does not lead to the Christians I knew. ruined societies that Many believers would argue that R ecent American social move- morality only exists because of God. many believers expect. ments have increased acceptance of Without God’s commandments, how many oppressed groups. But studies are we to know right from wrong? The show that atheists are still regarded problem with this is that it ignores hu- tutions and traditions. This should be with aversion and distrust. In a 2014 man well-being and suffering; unless it encouraged, not demonized. If people survey, the Pew Research Center found is in relation to God and his apparent are willing to examine something as that atheists and Muslims were the plan for humankind, the welfare of the powerfully established as religion, then most negatively viewed groups in the individual and of society as a whole is they are certainly more willing to ques- U.S. A study by the American Psycho- irrelevant. tion practices and traditions that may logical Association found that, among This belief can be dangerous. If one be harmful to the rest of society. communities with a religious majority, believes that his or her God commands Why should children be “protected” atheists are viewed with as much dis- something that may harm another from this type of intellectual reason- trust as rapists! human being, the fact that this order ing? If religion is as infallible as believ- Are these views justified? If atheists Sara Schwabe comes from God negates the fact that ers claim, then they should not be wary are so immoral and untrustworthy, it will cause human suffering. This can of those teaching their children to ana- they should be more likely to commit the ruined societies that many believ- lead to persecution of all sorts, from lyze it themselves. crimes. But according to recent stud- ers expect. the mistreatment of women and gays Sadly, these arguments are unlikely ies, atheists make up as little as 0.07% What then leads to these stereo- to religious wars and terrorism. to change the minds of many believers, of federal prisoners. When compared types? As part of a religious family How is this perspective, which is since the belief that atheists are harm- to the estimated 2.4% of Americans that attended the Church of Christ, I based on expectations of eternal pun- ful to society is very deeply ingrained in who are atheist, nonbelievers in prison was raised assuming that atheists must ishments or rewards, more “moral” their minds. What then can be done? are very underrepresented. be selfish and immoral. But this idea than the belief that our actions should From experience, I know that the only Studies have also found that vio- changed rapidly when I began to lose be judged in accordance with how they thing that convinced me that atheists lent crime rates are lower in secular faith myself. Ironically, it happened impact others? could be compassionate and moral was nations and that life expectancy, eco- when my family tried to come closer to Religious believers argue that God’s personal observation. Until I saw non- nomic stability, health care quality, God. commandments are absolute and believers behaving benevolently toward education and standards of living are We studied the bible together dili- eternal, but nonbelievers’ “morality” me and others, such arguments would higher. Even divorce rates seem to be gently and I began to find many in- changes with the whims of society. But not have changed my preconceptions. lower among nonreligious couples. consistencies. I became more open to this argument collapses on closer in- Nonbelievers need to prove that Apparently, atheism does not lead to associating with people I would have spection. Few Christians today would they are behaving morally without a argue that slavery is moral, but many god; they can help the poor, treat oth- in the past used the bible to argue for ers with respect, demonstrate honesty slavery. Some Christian denominations and work for the betterment of society Tune in to today argue that men and women are without the promise of eternal reward equal, or that God is accepting of ho- or the threat of never-ending punish- FREETHOUGHT RADIO mosexuals, although the bible directly ment. They need to behave in a way disagrees on both points and Chris- that believers would consider “Christ- Your weekly antidote to the religious right tians historically have never approved like,” until they realize that such con- of either. duct does not require a “Christ” at all. BROADCASTS AND STREAMS In contrast, an atheist’s view of mo- rality is based on living “right” for one- Sarah Schwabe, 23, is a sophomore SATURDAYS AT 11 A.M. CENTRAL self and for others, as the consequenc- psychology major at Indiana University PROGRESSIVE TALK THE MIC 92.1 FM | MADISON, WI es they must live with are here and in Bloomington, where she’s involved AND OVER SEVERAL OTHER STATIONS now. This idea does not change with with the Secular Alliance. She’s interested the times. in research in neuropsychology involving ITUNES OR PODCASTS ARCHIVED AT autism and other learning disabilities. FFRF.ORG/NEWS/RADIO ‘Protecting’ children “During my first semester in college, I had A common accusation against athe- certainly walked away from my faith but PRODUCED BY THE FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION ists is that they are undermining the was still hesitant to use the term ‘atheist.’ HOSTED BY DAN BARKER AND ANNIE LAURIE GAYLOR morals and foundation of society, de- It had too many negative connotations due termined to destroy religious liberty to my upbringing. It was only after meeting and force secular ideas on everyone. and befriending other self-proclaimed athe- Slightly irreverent views, news, music and interviews America was built on the idea of ques- ists that I was able to use the title myself.” tioning and criticizing powerful insti- December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 17

Second place: College essay contest Agnostic ‘hearts’ aggressive atheist

FFRF awarded Casira $2,000. internal conflict. I had strayed from the beliefs of my family, most importantly I was afraid to admit By Casira Copes my grandmother. She is the most loy- al, loving and generous person I have that I couldn’t feel in my life. The bible gives her comfort when she needs it, and the thought of the Holy Spirit. I attended a high school that had a Jesus watching over her makes her feel fairly diverse student population. My safe. I would never want to take those favorite class was media publications, feelings away from her. Introducing what makes communication engaging and it was comprised of only a few stu- her to the aggressive atheist was one of and worthwhile. It gives color to what dents. Among those students were a the most stressful moments of my life. would otherwise be a very monochro- few Christians, one Mormon, some ag- But she has since welcomed him matic world. nostics and one person I often thought into our lives with as much love and re- I met the aggressive atheist five years of as the aggressive atheist. spect as she would any family member. ago. He is my very best friend in the He was known for being particularly Her treatment of him was so different world. The qualities I saw all those passionate and relentless when it came from how he was treated by other re- years ago, the honesty and open-mind- to religious debate. He was never rude, ligious people. It made me stop and edness that drew him into so many de- but he argued with a conviction I had wonder why atheists are treated like bates, have made him my most trusted never witnessed before. I grew up in a the natural enemy of religion. ally and closest confidant. Christian home, going to church with I don’t know if there is a higher pow- I came across as Christian when I Casira Copes my grandmother most Sundays. I slept er. I don’t think it is possible to know. I met him. Now I realize I could have with a bible next to my bed, and some- suppose that makes me agnostic. But I been Muslim, Buddhist, Jewish or any- where in my jewelry box, there was a The more time I spent with him, am sure that if a deity of some sort cre- thing in the world and he would not cross on a chain. the more unjust treatment I witnessed. ated this vast universe, Earth is nothing have denied me his friendship. If I had I knew what my opinions were sup- As our friendship grew, so did my fear. more than a marble that rolled under denied him friendship, based on his posed to be regarding religion. But For the first time in my life, I was really its couch. It doesn’t care what we wear, atheism, I would have made one of the rather than engaging this person in beginning to reevaluate my beliefs. He eat or do on Sunday. biggest mistakes of my life. debate, I spent a lot of time watching was the first person to ask me what I It is our responsibility to make the him debate others. thought about the universe, as opposed world we live in a good one. Regardless Casira Copes, 20, Elkton, Md., is a Watching, I realized several things. to telling me what I should think. of beliefs, every person has the free- third-year student at the Rochester (N.Y.) The first was that we had a lot in com- In church, I was afraid to ask ques- dom to choose how he or she will treat Institute of Technology, where she’s pur- mon regarding our views on the nature tions. I was afraid to admit that I others. I do not know of any religious suing majors in advertising and public of the bible and the role of religion in couldn’t feel the Holy Spirit and that text that would condemn the choice to relations and graphic design. “I have al- society. I also noticed that he had the the idea of being baptized felt dis- be kind and compassionate. It is up to ways admired the aesthetic quality of media qualities of a very good friend. He was honest to me. I was afraid to ask why us, not a god, to maintain our morality design. My ultimate goal is to graduate two honest, valued communication and, certain things that I knew to be facts for ourselves. years from now with two bachelor’s degrees most important, he was open-minded. didn’t quite line up with the chronol- I have seen firsthand that people and a master’s and then pursue a career as Yet too often he was called “heathen.” ogy of the bible. Soon I was afraid of with drastically different religious ide- a graphic designer.” Too often he was told he would “burn facing the kind of vilification I saw my ologies can love and admire each other. in hell” because he questioned what friend go through. The vast array of beliefs and opinions is many people accept blindly. Becoming his friend led to a lot of what makes humanity wonderful. It is Third place: College essay contest The atheist’s never-ending task

gious cousins told me that their friends eryday Life,” asked participants who keep trying to bring them to religious Empathy has been were religious, nonreligious, liberal services at the insistence of their par- and conservative to report moral and ents. Were we members of any other documented in at least immoral actions that they themselves religious group, such as Judaism, this committed, received, witnessed or would be seen as persecution. But be- two nonhuman species: heard about within an hour’s time. cause we are individuals without faith, The only difference between the it is considered customary. elephants and crows. reports of religious and nonreligious In a 2011 study titled “Do You Be- people was the depth of emotion re- lieve in Atheists? Distrust is Central to ligious people experienced with each Anti-Atheist Prejudice,” participants unacceptable have less to do with or- moral and immoral act: They felt were read a description of an individu- ganized religion and more to do with more pride in their moral deeds and al engaging in abhorrent behavior and this principle, which Christians have more embarrassment in their immoral asked if it was more likely that the indi- dubbed “The Golden Rule.” deeds. Clearly, a lack of religion does Julia Upchurch vidual was Christian, Muslim, a rapist Many have argued that “The Golden not denote moral depravity. or an atheist. The results were telling: Rule” is a religious construct; however, Despite all of the scorn that non- FFRF awarded Julia $1,000. People were more likely to believe empathy has been documented in at religious people are faced with every atheists would engage in immoral ac- least two nonhuman species: elephants day, they have made indelible, and oft By Julia Upchurch tions than religious individuals or even and crows. Both have been shown to celebrated, contributions to the arts rapists. mourn their dead. Elephants will car- and sciences over the years. Examples I wish I had been surprised by the ry the bones of any deceased they en- include Frank Lloyd Wright, a well- results. I have informed many acquain- counter back to their burial grounds, known architect; Samuel Clemens, an R eligion is inescapable in the tances of my personal beliefs, only for and crows will host a wake whenever author better known as Mark Twain; Southeast. Each day, as I walk from them to respond that I seemed such a they come across remains. Neither do Albert Einstein, a renowned physicist; one end of our campus to the other, I morally upstanding person. They ap- this because of religious mandate; they and Katharine Hepburn, a beloved encounter two men peddling religious pear to be incapable of understanding do it because they empathize with oth- actress. pamphlets: one Christian, the oth- what my morality is based upon, if not ers of their species. Nonbelievers base To be the source of near-universal er Islamic. Each asserts that only the religion. their morality on this same empathy, scorn, yet to still dedicate one’s life pious are redeemable, which means I am a secular humanist, which is instead of on the belief that they will be to uplifting humanity, is the atheist’s that every day I am told that I am basically a fancy way of saying that I am rewarded or punished after they die. continual task. If that is not worthy of irredeemable. an atheist who believes all living things Moreover, there have been studies respect, I fail to see how anything else My nonreligious mother does not should be treated the way that I would that have demonstrated that nonreli- could ever measure up. discuss religion with her friends out like to be treated if I was in their place, gious individuals are equally as moral I was not always a nonreligious per- of fear that they will harass her for and they in mine. I believe actions that as their religious counterparts. One son. My parents believe in informed her lack of faith. My younger nonreli- are seen as societally acceptable and such study in 2014, “Morality in Ev- Continued on the next page Page 18 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015

Continued from the previous page the bible. she told me that they had never been could place any stock in blind faith. choice, so I attended a Lutheran One day at Sunday school, I point- observed. I asked her if angels had ever church as a child. I was a voracious ed out to my teacher that the inter- been observed, and she informed me Julia Upchurch, 22, Camden, S.C., is a reader, and little appealed to me more vention of fairies and those of angels they hadn’t. When I asked her how she sophomore environmental science major at than traditional fairy tales. Many peo- were extremely similar. My teacher knew for a fact that angels existed, she the University of South Carolina. She’s in- ple are unaware, but traditional fairy cautioned me that fairies did not ex- told me that it was because angels were terested in a career in limnology and plans tales deliver morals through threats of ist, so I should be wary of putting too mentioned in the bible. to pursue an advanced degree from the magical intervention and death, and I much stock in fairy tales. When I asked That was the day that I lost all re- University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School found an odd number of parallels to her how she knew fairies weren’t real, spect for Christianity. I never again of Freshwater and Marine Sciences. Fourth place: College essay contest Nature, creativity are my religion

FFRF awarded Erika $750 say the least. The Constitution clearly that he identifies as an atheist, and calls for separation between church that science offers a “more convincing By Erika Walsh and state. explanation” for the creation of the The forward-thinking founders did universe, and the miracles of religion not see a place for religion in govern- cannot coincide in harmony with the ment, and this was a crucial aspect facts presented to us by science. There are countless examples of their intention to establish a free Hawking might never have dared to of atheists, agnostics and nonbeliev- nation. explore the science surrounding the ers who not only exhibit morally up- A personal code of moral conduct is creation of the universe if he had been standing behavior, but also have made more easily achieved when the individ- constrained by blind faith. He might crucial contributions toward the bet- ual is not being seduced by the prom- have been too consumed by fear of terment of our planet, and humani- ise of salvation, or deterred by the fear what might happen to his soul, should ty itself. Regardless of nonbelievers’ of condemnation. Albert Einstein once he dare question this idea, to explore significant influence on history, sci- stated that “a man’s ethical behavior alternative possibilities. ence and politics, atheists in the U.S. should be based effectually on sym- In my own experience, I was nev- are generally perceived as having no pathy, education, and social ties and er fully convinced by the rationaliza- morals and often suffer from blatant needs; no religious basis is necessary.” tions presented by standard religious Erika Walsh discrimination. teachings. Even as a child, the tenets Historical evidence points to the preached in Sunday school did not sit By owning my agnosticism and fact that most of our founders did not Even as a child, the well with me. I remember one incident distancing myself from organized re- follow organized religion. James Mad- where my teacher proclaimed that ligion, I have found ways to express ison stated that Christianity brought tenets preached in people who commit suicide go to hell. myself that may have been deterred or about “pride and indolence in the cler- I was only 9 or 10, but I knew injustice warped by the beliefs of Christianity, gy; ignorance and servility in the laity, Sunday school did when I came across it. I argued with which I was baptized into and expect- in both, superstition, bigotry and per- her statement, refusing to accept that a ed to practice. secution.” John Adams condemned Ju- not sit well with me. loving god would punish someone for Identifying as a nonbeliever simply daism and Christianity as being among committing an act unto their own self, means that a person is not content with the bloodiest religions ever, and Ben- born out of pain and desperation. the answers presented to them, and jamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson Einstein himself, arguably one of This altercation somewhat solidi- wishes to seek their own truths instead. expressed similar sentiments. the most brilliant individuals in the fied my feeling that Christianity wasn’t I hope that our society will be able to The irony of this, considering the realm of both scientific and social is- for me, and yet I continued to say my overcome its fear and fully accept non- lack of acceptance of atheists, is as- sues, condemned the idea of a person- prayers before bed each night for some believers into our nation, recognizing tounding. Former President George al god. His ideas concerning not just time afterward, holding on to attach- that the individual choice not to believe H.W. Bush once publicly said, “I don’t physics, but war and peace, the educa- ments born out of fear of the unknown. is just as valid as the decision to believe. know that atheists should be consid- tion system and the nature of human- I am aware of a spiritual connection ered citizens, nor should they be con- kind, were undeniably groundbreak- to myself, my surroundings and other Erika Walsh, 19, was born in Kings sidered patriots. This is one nation un- ing, regardless of, or perhaps in part sentient beings, akin to the “cosmic re- Park, N.Y., and is a sophomore writing der God.” due to, his agnosticism. ligious feeling” that Einstein describes major at Ithaca College. “I am a member of It is virtually impossible for an athe- Perhaps it can be said that distance experiencing. Feminists United at Ithaca, and I am on ist to win a public election, and to from organized religion ignites a sense I know now that my spirituality can- the executive board of IC Animal Rights. I “come out” would equate to instant of freedom and individualism, which not be expressed within the confines am a vegetarian and am very passionate political suicide for a presidential can- better equips people to explore the of a church, temple or mosque. I ex- about ethical eating and living.” didate. The reality of atheists’ mod- mysteries of the universe, and question perience this cosmic feeling primarily ern-day isolation from politics would why things are the way they are. The when I am submerged in nature or ex- be disheartening to the founders, to astrophysicist Stephen Hawking states pressing myself creatively. Fifth place: College essay contest Proud to be a heathen, where at least I know I’m free

FFRF awarded Emma $500. The idea that life experience and its lessons could be just as effective God was a fraud, and By Emma Follmer in teaching morals as a centuries-old fable was apparently a revelation to religion was the world’s these steadfast believers. After a while, my astute parents, when asked about most successful and When I was 7 years old my fam- church, answered in complete serious- most harmful con. ily moved to a city I now swear I will ness, “Our Lady of Spain Park.” Spain never return to: Birmingham, Ala. My Park was the school campus where initial excitement at a new place had the whole family would spend Sunday completely vanished by my third day mornings riding our bikes. als from a bible and preachers do not of school. In those three days everyone I am similarly baffled as a young have this skill and luxury. They have I met had a question for me: “What adult by the assumption that morals right and wrong presented to them church do you go to?” I would naively can only be learned from religion. Life with little room to deviate and their and cheerfully respond: none. experience, history, literature and in- strict adherence to an unchanging sys- This was not the correct response. teraction with peers teach us what our tem has left them outdated. So while By day three I was a confirmed hea- Emma Follmer morals should be. This process leaves nonbelievers have been stigmatized as then, the worst possibility in an Ala- us room for growth and improvement. lacking morals, it is the religious who bama elementary school. own. As to the inevitable follow-up, We can explore the gray areas, ques- are left with a set of morals that no lon- My classmates had, of course, “But where do your children get their tion the standards and norms and push ger apply to our time and culture. We picked this question up from their par- morals?” my baffled parents would say, the boundaries. We can adapt. nonbelievers have been dismissed by ents, who were quick to ask it on their “From us, of course.” Those who have learned their mor- the very people who could learn most December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 19 from our ideas. Don’t pray for me ferently until their beliefs actively and way to live. When they fight for what My early experiences with the reli- When voicing this opinion to reli- negatively affect me and those around they believe, they do it for a reward, for gious secured my dislike of their prac- gious friends, I hear back, “I’ll pray for me. I want to do what is right for those the promise of an afterlife instead of tices and a disbelief in a judgmental you.” Nothing is more infuriating. The who exist in the here and now. what it will accomplish on Earth. god. Disbelief was solidified by the act itself is harmless and laughable; Believers’ certainty in the existence I have learned to respect the beliefs works of Christopher Hitchens and the idea behind it is insulting and con- of God and an afterlife is absurd, but of others even though I may disagree Richard Dawkins and by regularly trolling. Those who do it truly believe the most dangerous aspect is their with them. I want to do what I can to watching Bill Maher. For the sake of that it will have some kind of effect on insistence in forcing the practices improve the world we live in for every- fairness, I looked into religion, read me and are in essence trying to serious- of their beliefs on me. Their beliefs one, and I expect no reward. Yet some- the literature, listened to sermons and ly interfere with my life. should have no bearing on my ability how, I am looked down on for these researched various churches. They are asking a higher power to to choose what is right for my body or qualities. I found intolerance, hypocrisy, a influence me without my knowledge or whom I choose to legally marry. It is a good thing that I enjoy irony. holier-than-thou attitude and a dis- consent. They do this with the misguid- Having to pledge allegiance to my tinct lack of logic, reason or critical ed belief that I must be saved. country while affirming the existence Emma Follmer, 19, Richmond, Va., is thinking. My lack of belief went from Can I say with absolute certainty that of God is evidence of the insidious a sophomore at Virginia Commonwealth a vague personality trait to one of my God does not exist? I can only attempt historical creep of religion. They must University. “If all goes according to plan, core values. God was a fraud, and re- to convince others through reason and spread the word and must convert all, I will graduate in the spring of 2018 with ligion was the world’s most successful arguments of my absolute pride and and do so with the misguided and self- degrees in English and political science. I and most harmful con. comfort in being a nonbeliever. I will ish belief that their god is the one true will probably throw in a minor in journal- respect the rights of others to think dif- god and that their religion is the only ism for good measure.” Sixth place: College essay contest Courage as the prime virtue of atheism

FFRF awarded James $400. or wrong? Where do we come from?” And, most importantly, “What happens At the heart of the By James Lambert after death?” One need not be concerned with confrontation between the strenuous task of answering these questions if one only surrenders his or faith and reason lies I was raised Catholic, which is to say her intellectual integrity and accepts, a single question. I was baptized and endured the Ontar- without complaint, the authority of a io Catholic school system. God was as god. At best this manifests as a small real to me in elementary school as the blind spot where rational thought is government of Canada, which is to say overlooked; at worst it constitutes the rity in the interest of preserving the it existed somewhere well beyond the complete incapacitation of one’s criti- precious illusion of immortality. We sphere of what I actually cared about at cal faculties. Rather than looking cou- now sit at a crossroad. No longer can the age of 8. rageously into the face of uncertainty, we straddle the chasm between what is A series of events, beginning with supernatural claims provide a frame- true and what is “respectful,” between my grandfather’s death, kindled a pro- work of self-deception. This constitutes what is honest and what is comforting. found doubt. This was fueled by the a pernicious and insidious threat to hu- Freethinkers appear to be the only command and authority expressed by man civilization, now more than ever. ones with the stomach for this con- the priests at the mandatory school James Lambert Consider the horrors that are ex- flict. When Danish cartoonists are Masses. Who were they to tell me how plained away by annihilating one’s own condemned for drawing, novelists for to behave? What did they know about prove God doesn’t exist?” Of course moral agency out of fear. Global warm- writing, and magazine editors for sat- my life? not, if only because whatever is meant ing? Fulfillment of biblical prophecy. irizing, it seems that the only group The mild inconvenience of Mass by “God” is so malleable as to be almost Suicide? Murder? You’ve transgressed willing to stand up and risk life and and religion class began to evolve into meaningless. So what should we be upon our prophet’s sanctity. Gay mar- reputation for intellectual integrity are a pressing discomfort. I could not, defending? Why should somebody be riage? An abomination. Evolution in atheists, agnostics and secularists in- would not, stand for a moment longer proud to be an atheist? After all, athe- science class? A preposterous fabrica- formed by scientific skepticism and hu- to be told that I was being watched and ism is so reviled by some and so lauded tion. Atheism? A dangerous ideology. manism. These together constitute the judged by some divine invigilator, espe- by others that it must entail something At the heart of the confrontation only group who have maintained their cially one who had as much evidence ideological. between faith and reason lies a single moral responsibility, rather than sell it in favor of his existence as Santa Claus. I submit that atheism is an ideolog- question. When we are faced with the for the cheap price of false comfort. (I stopped believing in both fairy tales ical corollary, and it is the principles most profound existential questions, My atheism stems from the insis- around the same time.) of logic and reason from whence it should we confront them with honest tence that no question is too terrifying, There is no substance to atheism. stems that causes this conflict. Here- doubt or blind faith? We are all inevi- no answer is too daunting, no fear is Almost by definition it is the absence in is found the most admirable quali- tably filled with doubt and fear when worth surrendering the most wonder- of substance. It is not itself an ideology, ty of the atheist position: intellectual confronted with the question of death. ful aspects of human existence. The it forces no injunction, it demands no courage. Herein lies the deepest motive of blind greatest virtue of atheism is the cour- submission. It is a term that has mean- faith. age to speak the truth. ing only in juxtaposition to the absur- Fearing god Some are willing to accept any ten- dity of its necessity. As an atheist, even as an anti-theist, et, surrender any freedom, sacrifice James Lambert, 21, was born in Otta- In a world void of theism or deism, it is not at all perplexing to me why any integrity if only the fear of death wa, Canada. He attends the University of the word “atheist” would not exist. one could or would believe in the su- can be assuaged. In this question also Waterloo (Ontario), where he’s in his final Everyone would be an atheist, but we pernatural and, in particular, a god. lies the most admirable quality of an year of an honors physics degree program. would not need a word to set ourselves The phrase “god-fearing” is a brilliant atheist. The courage of an assertion of “I intend to pursue graduate studies in apart. In this sense, atheism as a con- one. It compactly expresses the be- ignorance, and of uncertainty, is the theoretical physics. As a specialization, I’m cept is hardly worth defending, as it lief and the motive. Fear is the root key attribute that must be common to considering either relativistic quantum does not entail anything which can be of all intellectual and moral capitula- all nonbelievers. mechanics, high energy physics or plasma verified scientifically. tions. Out of the terrifying possibility We have spent most of recorded his- physics. I have the good fortune of working We have all heard the impotent and of oblivion was birthed the ancestors tory honoring the sacrifice of human in a field where literally every subject is revealing challenge, “Well, can you of today’s superstitions. “What is right moral agency and intellectual integ- fascinating!”

RECRUIT A MEMBER Include FFRF In Your Estate Planning Arrange a bequest in your will or trust, or make the Freedom From sample copies for $2 Religion Found ation the bene ciary of an insurance policy, bank account, Send $2 with the name and address of each person you or IRA. It’s easy to do. For related information (or to request a bequest wish to receive a sample copy of Freethought Today to: brochure), please phone Annie Laurie Gaylor at (608) 256-8900. FFRF • P.O. Box 750 • Madison, WI 53701 FFRF • P.O. Box 750 • Madison, WI 53701 (Please specify whether the individual is a freethinker.) Freedom Depends on Freethinkers Freedom depends upon freethinkers Page 20 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015

In the news ‘Out’ atheist seeks Amicus brief OK Texas office in Ark Encounter A federal district court refused Oct. 30 to let four Kentucky taxpayers inter- vene as defendants in a lawsuit brought by promoters of a Noah’s ark theme park who are suing the state for refus- ing to grant the park sales tax rebate in- centives designed to promote tourism. Ark Encounter promoters say the exclusion is viewpoint-based discrim- ination. The intervenors strongly op- pose use of taxes to promote a religious ministry and seek to enforce provisions of the Kentucky Constitution that bar use of funds for that purpose, reported Religion Clause. Kentucky officials in 2014 awarded the park’s developers tax incentives po- tentially worth more than $18 million over 10 years. The state later pulled the credits after developers said they would only hire Christian fundamentalists. Ark Encounter officials then sued to get the incentives reinstated. “[T]he Court is deeply concerned that too permissive a standard for in- Cristin Padgett tervention would allow any Kentucky taxpayer to intervene in nearly any One young Texas woman running suit involving the administration of the for statewide office not afraid to de- state’s tax laws,” the court ruled. “The Thy wool be done clare her religious nonbelief is Cristin proposed intervenors have not identi- “Spend the holidays under the covers with the Virgin Mary,” writes Brian Wales, Padgett of Frisco, who has a sales and fied how the Commonwealth’s inter- Wisconsin, about this find at Walmart. (Raschel is a type of fabric and a knitting marketing background and is a Dem- est in upholding the Kentucky Con- method unrelated to the Abrahamic Rachel, who married her cousin Jacob and ocrat running for the legislature in stitution differs from theirs such that gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin.) District 33, which is heavily Republican the Commonwealth cannot represent and includes a small portion of Dallas. their interests in the constitutional use Padgett told the Texas Observer on of Kentucky residents’ tax dollars.” out of SGA. Canada sets example Nov. 24 that she has “no religious af- The proposed intervenors will be al- On Nov. 9, Butts County Superin- filiation or belief in a higher being.” lowed to file an amicus brief. tendent Robert Costley announced for America Her campaign had sent out an email that Chastity would be allowed to par- “Friendly Atheist” Hemant Mehta with the subject line “Will Texas Elect Judge nixes Christian ticipate. He said the investigation into reported Nov. 5 that more than half of an Atheist?” the incident is ongoing and the teach- new Canadian Prime Minister Justin “I don’t want to make it a big deal, Science claim er has been reassigned. FFRF wrote a Trudeau’s Cabinet (16 of 31) members but I do want people to open up and The District of Columbia federal dis- complaint letter to the district. chose to exclude God from their oath think critically about it,” Padgett told trict court on Nov. 3 upheld a ruling by “She knew she had gained weight, of office. They each said: “I, (name), the Observer. She said she wanted to the Center for Medicare Services that but she knew she wasn’t pregnant, so do solemnly and sincerely promise strike preemptively: “It’s going to be a four Christian Science nursing facili- it didn’t bother her,” said Tammy Wil- and swear/declare that I will truly and concern for people. People are afraid ties were not entitled to Medicare re- liams, Chastity’s mother, of the initial faithfully, and to the best of my skill of what they don’t understand.” imbursement for furnishing “approved question. But after the adviser repeat- and knowledge, execute the powers The blatantly unconstitutional Tex- educational activities.” ed the allegation to Chastity in early and trusts reposed in me as (cabinet as Constitution says in Article I: “No The court concluded that while September, “that really hurt her. [The title).” religious test shall ever be required as the plaintiffs’ Nursing Arts Training teacher] said, ‘Your check will be re- Individuals had the choice to re- a qualification to any office, or public Programs are accredited by the Com- funded. I hope you graduate and have place “swear” with “declare” and to trust, in this State; nor shall any one be mission for Accreditation of Christian a nice life.’ ” omit “So help me God.” excluded from holding office on ac- Science Nursing Organizations/Facil- Mehta noted that Arizona U.S. Rep. count of his religious sentiments, pro- ities, the commission’s standards do Courthouse crèche Kyrsten Sinema is the sole religious- vided he acknowledge the existence of not meet those required by Medicare ly “unaffiliated” member of Congress a Supreme Being.” regulations. can’t be exclusive and chose to take her oath on the U.S. “Ethnocentric beliefs” turn peo- U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks Constitution. ple off from the democratic process, Hamtramck first with ruled Nov. 12 that the nativity scene “Stop showing off, Canada. You’re Padgett said. “We keep seeing the on the Baxter County courthouse lawn embarrassing us,” commented Mehta, wrong people put into office by de- Muslim council in Mountain Home, Ark., violates the tongue in cheek. fault. Not by choice, by default. And The Christian Science Monitor re- First Amendment. it’s sad to watch.” ported that Hamtramck, Mich., in No- The suit was brought by Dessa Black- About 25% of voters in the district vember became the first U.S. city to thorn and the American Humanists As- are millennials, “but the issue is that elect a majority Muslim city council. sociation against the county and Bax- Overheard they don’t vote,” Padgett said. Half of the six seats were open, and all ter County Judge Mickey Pendergrass. three Muslim candidates won, joining The judge awarded nominal damages Rare ‘Wicked Bible’ one other Muslim on the board. of $1 and said the county must either I see more local groups of nonbeliev- Hamtramck (pop. 22,000) was his- (1) refrain from placing any religiously ers organizing themselves. There are nets big bucks torically Polish but now has about 40% sectarian seasonal display on the court- local groups that did not exist when I Bonhams auction house in London of residents from Yemen and Bangla- house grounds or (2) create a public arrived at Iowa State in 1993. sold one of an estimated 10 extant desh. About 19% are African-Ameri- forum for a seasonal display “open to Hector Avalos, Ames, professor of re- copies of the “Wicked Bible” Nov. 11. can and 12% Polish. persons of all faiths as well as of no ligious studies (and FFRF member), Also known as the sinners’ bible, 1,000 faith at all, without discrimination on “Experts: The stigma of atheism has copies were printed in 1631. Either a Teacher made senior the basis of viewpoint.” faded in Iowa” misprint or sabotage resulted in the “The only reason the display is on Des Moines Register, 10-25-15 exhortation “Thou shalt commit adul- swear on bible the courthouse square is that’s what tery” in Exodus 20:14. School officials in Jackson, Ga., the people want,” Pendergrass told People might think it’s because the at- All copies were ordered destroyed admitted a high school teacher was Ozarks First. While Jesus’ birth is de- tendance is down, which it is, but re- upon discovery about a year later, and wrong to force Chastity Norwood, 17, picted, Pendergrass said he considers ally what’s driving the train right now Charles I fined the printers £300 and to swear on a bible in August that she the display to be secular. “There is also is there are not enough priests to go took away their royal franchise. wasn’t pregnant in order to partici- the Christmas tree, the Santa Claus, around. The undisclosed purchaser paid pate in her fourth year in the Student the sleigh, the lights.” Fr. Patrick Ratigan, on plans by the $47,131 for the rare find. Government Association. Even though Catholic Diocese of Ogdensburg, NY, Chastity complied and handed over to stop having Masses at two parishes $25 for dues, the teacher still kept her North Country Public Radio, 10-23-15 December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 21

the Paris Peace Talks in 1970 and 1971 In memoriam with other activists. FFRF requests Bob planned to be a farmer, but a car accident left him with severe inju- ‘bible-free’ Herbert H. Bushong, Sally preceded him in death in ries, so he became a private investiga- 1916–2015 2008. Survivors include his children: tor for an insurance firm, where he hotel rooms Perry, Bonnie, Cheryl, Sonya, Angela worked until 1964. He then moved to Continued from front page FFRF Life Member Herbert Harry and John, 15 grandchildren and 18 Minneapolis, where he became an in- noted. As an organization whose mem- Bushong, 98, San Antonio, died Oct. great-grandchildren. He was buried dependent investigator. bers embrace reason and science, FFRF 19, 2015. He was born in Catlettsburg, beside his wife in a family plot in the Bob was a lifelong atheist and would prefer placement of Charles Ky., to John and Laura Bushong and Appalachians of eastern Kentucky. co-founded Friends Free of Theism, Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species” to was one of 10 children. In 1940 he Herbert very generously sponsored which led to him being a co-founder of the invasive Gideons (though the letter married Sally Boggs. He joined the FFRF’s high school essay contest in Minnesota Atheists in 1991. He and his doesn’t request that). Army Air Corps at the start of World 2010, 2011 and 2012. Sincerest condo- wife Marilyn have been FFRF members FFRF does ask the hotel industry to War II and was trained as a radar-jam- lences go out to his family and friends. since 1985. follow the lead of Gansevoort Hotel ming technician, receiving numerous “I was never indoctrinated into Groups, which, to provide a friendlier service decorations, including the Air Robert H. Nienkirk, any supernatural or metaphysical reli- environment, removed religious ma- Medal and four battle stars. 1927–2015 gion,” he said. “I have a lot of respect terials from guest rooms but provides He earned a B.S. in English from for people who are able to break away such materials upon request. Many Ohio University and was certified to Robert Henry Nienkirk died June from that early indoctrination.” boutique hotels have likewise stopped teach. After earning a master’s from 20, 2015, in St. Louis Park, Minn., af- Survivors include three sons, six serving as a conduit for Protestant mis- the University of Kentucky, he con- ter an extended illness. He was born grandchildren and three great-grand- sionaries. Travelodge (UK) removed tinued to teach high school English. Dec. 18, 1927, in Woodstock, Minn. He children. Sincerest condolences to bibles from more than 500 hotels last During their 68-year marriage, he and joined the Navy as soon as he was of Marilyn, his wife of 50 years, and to all August “in order not to discriminate Sally lived throughout the U.S. and in age and was proud of his service. He who knew Bob. against any religion.” Germany. He was an avid tennis player, was against the Vietnam War and be- Thanks to Staff Attorney Andrew Se- continuing to play into his 90s. came a peace activist, twice going to idel for his research help.

When you go to a concert of death to beam messages around the world They said what? metal, somebody might get killed! You about what it means to be . . . part of a know, you’re worshiping death, and Judeo-Christian society. then, all of a sudden, people start dy- Presidential wannabee John Kasich, Starbucks removed Christmas from Writer Tom Trinko, after a study ing!… Well, you love death so much, governor of Ohio, proposing the cre- their cups because they hate Jesus. Do showed that children raised without you bought the ticket, you love wor- ation of a new governmental agency to you realize that Starbucks wanted to religion were more altruistic than chil- shiping Satan! Well, let’s have some of promote Judeo-Christian values take Christ and Christmas off of their dren of people of faith Satan’s religion come in and shoot you! NBC, 11-17-15 brand new cups? That’s why they’re American Thinker, a conservative website, Pastor Steven Anderson, in a sermon just plain red. 11-10-15 two days after the attacks in Paris, tell- WARNING: Harris County is political- Former pastor Joshua Feuerstein, in ing his congregation that the concert- ly incorrect. We say: Merry Christmas, his video about the new Starbucks cups So many in the media want to bring me goers at the Bataclan theater who were God Bless America and In God We 11-7-15 down because I represent something there to listen to the band Eagles of Trust. We salute our troops and our that they can’t stand. But the fact of the Death Metal, may have had it coming flag. If this offends you . . . LEAVE! Since science is becoming a propa- matter is, in Romans Chapter 8 it says, ‘If Raw Story, 11-15-15 Wording added to “Welcome to Harris ganda machine for liberal causes, we God be for you, who can be against you?’ County, Georgia” sign by Sheriff Mike can no longer simply trust scientific re- GOP presidential candidate Ben Carson Its job would be fundamentally to re- Jolley search on controversial subjects. Liberty University in Virgina, 11-11-15 vive what we used to do . . . . We need WLTZ NBC-TV, Atlanta, 11-24-15

pure beautiful pink-colored large-eyed Taslima Nasrin convention speech virgins (56:54). When I studied Continued from page 15 When the Prophet was in Mecca and misguided individuals at the fringe of he was still not powerful enough, he other religions, I society. Islam, the real Islam, is against called for tolerance. He said, “To you violence. Islam means peace. Islam be your religion, and to me my reli- found they, too, means tolerance. gion” (109:6). This famous quote is of- But is this true? Does Islam really ten misused to prove that the general oppressed women. preach peace, tolerance and non-vio- principle of the Quran is one of toler- lence? Those Muslims who perpetrate ance. He advised his follower to speak crimes in the name of Allah think dif- well of their enemies (2: 83), exhorted While some strive to go forward, others ferently. They believe that what they them to be patient (20:103), and said strive to go backward. This is a conflict do is a jihad or holy war. They say that “there is no compulsion in religion” between innovation and tradition, be- killing the nonbelievers is mandatory (2:256). But all that changed drastical- tween those who value freedom and for every Muslim. They do not kill be- ly when he came to power. Then killing those who do not. Continued from page 15 and slaying the nonbelievers was justi- I have been fighting every day cause they break the laws of Islam but fied in innumerable verses with harsh- against injustices and inequalities, because they think this is what a true ness and without mercy. The verses against religious terrorism and super- Muslim should do. Those who blow quoted to prove Islam’s tolerance ig- stition, against bigotry and obscuran- up their own bodies to kill the people nore many other verses that bear no tism. Fighting for human rights, wom- of different faiths do so because they trace of tolerance or forgiveness. Is it en’s rights, freedom of expression and think they will be rewarded in para- normal that a book revealed by Allah, humanism. I do not fear to tell the dise. They hope to be blessed by Allah, the supernatural god, should have so truth, come what may. When the em- eat celestial food, drink pure wine, and many serious contradictions? peror has no clothes, I do not hesitate enjoy the company of those 72 virgins. These are not stories but records to say that the emperor never had any from authentic Islamic history and the clothes. What the Quran teaches Hadiths. One can argue that these be- Taslima Nasrin received FFRF’s Emperor Are they completely misguided? haviors were not unknown or unusual Has No Clothes Award. She has been liv- Let’s see what the Quran really teaches. Andrew Seidel photo for the conquerors and leaders of the ing under a death fatwa for blasphemy by The Quran says: “Not to make Taslima signs a book at the national medieval world, but these are not the Bangladesh imams since 1993. She became friendship with Jews and Christians” convention in October. activities befitting a peaceful saint and an anesthesiologist, poet and syndicat- (5:51), “Kill the disbelievers wherever certainly not of someone who claimed ed columnist. Her novella, Shame, which you find them” (2:191), “Murder them It says that the “nonbelievers will go to be the Mercy of God for all the deals with Muslim discrimination against and treat them harshly” (9:123). to Hell and will drink boiling water” creation. Hindus, was banned, then brought boun- The Quran says that all those who (14:17). It asks the Muslims to “slay or There is a conflict in the world, the ties on her head. She fled to Sweden for asy- disbelieve in Islam will be thrown into crucify or cut the hands and feet of the conflict is between two different ideas: lum, then settled in India. After escalating Hell (5:10), they are filthy, untouch- non-believers, that they be expelled secularism and fundamentalism. I death threats and street executions of other able, impure (9:28), and Muslims are from the land with disgrace, and that don’t agree with those who think the Bangladesh atheist writers this year, she left ordered to fight the nonbelievers until they shall have great punishment in conflict is between religions or be- India, with the help of FFRF and CFI. She no other religion except Islam is left the world hereafter” (5:34). tween the East and the West. To me, received a Freethought Heroine Award from (2:193). It prohibits a Muslim to be He promises that in the fight for this conflict is basically between ra- FFRF in 2002. Other books include French a friend to a nonbeliever even if that His cause if the followers win, they will tional, logical thinking and irrational Lover, Mayebela: My Bengali Girlhood, No nonbeliever is the father or the broth- go to heaven, to the garden of para- blind faith. To me, this is a conflict be- Country for Women, All About Women. er of that very Muslim (9:23), (3:28). dise (9:111). There, they will be given tween modernity and anti-modernism. Page 22 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015

Letterbox

Why founders After hearing Hewitt’s story, per- separated church, state haps they can be further challenged by watching the film by Jeremiah Ca- Religion provides emotional com- mara, “Contradiction: A Question of fort, support and charity to billions of Faith.” Jeremiah made no judgments people around the world, so why did in his documentary. Simple and logical America’s founding fathers go out of questions were very effective and often their way to separate church and state stumped the subject. and why did they choose to challenge Ron Reagan lit up the room and is religious authority and power by doing a great person to help give voice to let- so? Our founders recognized through- ting reason and science prevail. out human history that kings, dicta- Taslima Nasrin’s story is a jaw-drop- tors, demagogues and clerics seeking ping horror. Taslima, you may not have earthly power often used an indoctri- a country to claim, but you belong to nated “divine” right to coerce, perse- and are part of our world. We’re glad Magnetic sign cute and make war on their rivals and/ to have you! This scene would be perfect if only Minnesota “Lifer” Bill van Druten could or enemies. I can’t wait to read Kevin Kruse’s have snared a 666 license plate! Bill (founder of FFRF’s Lake Superior Free- Our founders addressed the threat book One Nation Under God, How Corpo- thinkers Chapter) writes: “Two or three people a year come over and get infor- and potential for a supremacist totali- rate America Invented Christian America. mation from me when I’m parked. I carry pamphlets to give them. I’ve never tarian religious ideology in America by The title alone makes so much sense. had any adverse commentary or car damage.” brilliantly and purposefully separating And to Douglas Marshall, Dan Bark- church and state in our Constitution. er, Brooke Mulder, Rita Swan, Thom- Shortsighted activists on America’s Re- as Sheedy, Anita Weier and Senator She suggests that atheism is a choice, several decades, I have daily read read ligious Right who tirelessly work to tear Chambers: You persevered in stressful whereas race is not. I do not feel, how- two newspapers and assorted journals down or subvert Jefferson’s iconic wall situations and created change that we ever, that I could choose to believe in and magazines. My only recollection of of church/state separation would do needed. God any more than most adults could a Jew using a car bomb was a revenge well to consider the bloody sectarian To the staff attorneys and legal fel- choose to believe in Santa Claus. I won- killing of an assassin. wars raging through our world today lows: You’re incredible. I’m so glad you der if the difference is more in the fact Perhaps I missed a couple more, where church/state separation and the have actual offices to do your “ginor- that atheists can choose where, when, but certainly this was not a common religious freedom that accompanies it mous” workloads! The new headquar- and to whom they reveal their atheism, or widespread practice. I do remem- are not the order of the day. There are ters is something to be proud of. whereas color is essentially impossible ber, however, thousands of injuries some things our founding fathers just To Annie Laurie and the unforgetta- to keep secret. and deaths caused by Arabs using car got right and the separation of church ble memory of your mother, look what I realize that atheism is also a con- bombs against our troops in the Mid- and state, our most important guar- you started and accomplished! clusion of our own thinking, whereas dle East and their continued use there antor of religious freedom, is perhaps Deborah Hilpipre our race is not, but I can’t quite figure against civilian targets. foremost among them. Minnesota out why that difference would make S. Sheldon Katz Bruce Baldwin a difference. I think the main reason New York Pennsylvania Contact magazine it is offensive to equate the two is not because it is worse to discriminate on Welcome mat Jewish Kapparot ritual about ‘power of prayer’ the basis of one than on the other, but (Sigh.) Not too long ago, we had to because discrimination against people includes agnostics should be ended upbraid AARP for publishing an article of color is hugely more pervasive and I was glad to see that in our last is- I think it is horrible that Hasidic praising prayer in its magazine. Now, pernicious in this country than dis- sue you did mention agnostics being groups would have ordered 50,000 we’ve gotta do it all over again to the crimination against atheists. included. I wish you would emphasize chickens for a mass slaughter (as part Saturday Evening Post. My atheist ancestors were not slaves. that a little more. Atheists are always of Kapparot, the Jewish ritual on the The cover article of its Nov./Dec. The police haven’t been busying them- mentioned in your headlines, but I eve of Yom Kippur). It is illegal to issue is “The Power of Prayer,” by El- selves killing atheists. I have not suf- would really like to see you emphasize torture animals anywhere in the U.S. len Michaud, author of Blessed: Living fered any educational or occupational that agnostics are welcome. They should save the chickens’ lives A Grateful Life. Dig this subheading: disadvantages based on my atheism. In John Schepman and not torture them. If I could, and “Communal prayer is a joyous ex- fact, I have suffered absolutely no dis- Missouri knew how to sue, I would sue them for perience that can take us to higher crimination based on my atheism, and Editor’s note: FFRF has no litmus test the amount of money for the amount ground.”(Groan.) I doubt there is one single person of and was purposefully created to welcome of chickens they already have killed. To compound the headache, the color in our country who can say they freethinkers of all stripes. No matter what we Just because it is a religion which they article is immediately followed by “Ev- have suffered absolutely no discrimina- call ourselves, we all disbelieve in the same are practicing does not mean that they idence of Angels,” by — wait for it — tion based on being a person of color. gods! should. It is very inhumane. By the way, Billy Graham. If atheists were treated as badly as • • • I am not a vegetarian, but I disagree I just got the magazine, so I haven’t persons of color, I think it would be with their customs because I think it is read the complete articles yet. I may just as bad, but, the fact is (maybe in In “Time for agnostics to get real?” horrible what they are doing. I don’t have to nerve myself up to do that. But part because we can keep it secret), [Nov15] David Morse says, “The ‘god’ think that people who don’t like what once I’ve read them, I’ll write to the we’re not. or ‘no god’ question is an unprovable.” these Hasidim are doing are attacking Post and forward my message to you as Gail Merten He may not realize that it’s not his re- their religious freedom. They are just well. Washington, D.C. sponsibility to try to disprove the wild trying to give the chickens a longer life, Andrew C. Jones claims made by supernaturalists. It’s and, of course, to stop even more inhu- Michigan their responsibility to provide credible, mane things from happening. P.S. It was a great idea to publish all Thanks for the great objective evidence to back their claims. Also, if they do continue, they the convention coverage in a separate Madison convention There is no such thing as a burden of should at least clean up the carnage insert. As much as I enjoy the coverage I want to thank you, as well as your disproof to be foisted onto the skeptic. themselves and not have other people (and envy the people I see in the pic- staff and supporters, for the terrific Also, I applaud David Lubeck’s effort clean up their tortured dead chickens. tures), it did tend to overwhelm every- convention. It was enjoyable, enter- to raise public awareness of the num- Lilli Jacobsen, age 11 thing else in the paper. taining, and most of all, informative. ber of nonbelievers out here. I, too, Ohio Editor’s note: Thanks for the heads up, Kevin Kruse’s talk on “How Corporate ink out the religious graffiti on curren- Andrew! FFRF sent out an Action Alert last America Invented Christian Ameri- cy that passes through my hands, but month asking members to contact the Satur- ca” was a big eye-opener for me, and I’ve also found a way to remove it from Thanks to all for day Evening Post about its cover story. Go to I mean to talk that around my fellow coins: a hand-held Dremel grinder! FFRF convention ffrf.org/news/action. atheists whenever I get the chance. Lee Helms The speakers at the recent Madison Here’s looking forward to Pitts- Michigan conference contributed so much im- Digging deeper, burgh next year. All my best to the portant information to us. gang at Freethought Hall. Why we truly need Steven Hewett’s presentation was atheism is not a choice Loren Miller excellent and the visuals really added Thank you for publishing the win- Ohio the Constitution to the impact his story had on us. His ning essays in your contests for high • • • “True evil” can only survive in this understanding of law and our constitu- school students. It was edifying to world if it is well-camouflaged. There tion were clearly strengthened by his read them, especially the ones from I appreciated Julian Rauter’s illumi- are few, if any, better places to hide former position as a police officer and freethinkers of color. I’m not sure the nating essay “Blind faith” and agreed than the irrational invisible god wor- as a war veteran. When he saw that a way Joelene Kuaana characterized the with almost all of his viewpoints. I was ship of Jesus, Allah and Yahweh. Christian flag was placed at a war me- difference between discrimination at a loss to understand the statement For our country it has always been an morial, he took action to make it legal- against atheists and discrimination “Zionists detonating car bombs.” Now- issue that, while the U.S. Constitution ly right. We are so lucky to have some- against people of color is quite right adays, the term “Zionist” is usually attempts to be tolerant of all religious one stand up and win an injustice. though. meant as a code name for Jews. For beliefs, very few religions are tolerant December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 23 of the humanist, rational and, yes, lib- Example: “A long habit of not think- Better use for eral principles of the Constitution. ing a thing wrong gives it a superficial Gideon bibles seen The major religions are all tied to appearance of being right, and raises rigid dogmatic beliefs passed along by at first a formidable outcry in defense I love hearing about FFRF’s work but one of the invisible gods. It is ironic of custom. But the tumult soon sub- hate the constant need for the work to that many of these beliefs are contra- sides. Time makes more converts than be done. So, to lighten the atmosphere dictory or ambiguous, and often open reason.” (Thomas Paine, “Common of the atheist/holier-than-thou war, I to bizarre fragmented interpretation Sense”) offer the following: with no checks or balance. It’s the per- Don Ryan A few years ago, a friend of mine fect breeding ground for “true evil.” California told me about a summer he spent To put another way, one of the pri- about 20 years ago as a volunteer at a mary reasons we even need a constitu- Russian orphanage. He has a doctorate tion is because long ago these religions in psychology and had always wanted failed to offer a moral social order that to help children and visit Russia. So it works. The U.S. Constitution provides was a win-win for all involved. a process for orderly change often He was assigned to work at a small based on compromise, change that orphanage for boys in a rural area. meets the will of the majority while It was so rural there were no indoor maintaining basic rights. Imperfect, bathrooms. In fact, there were no perhaps, but that is all I need. outhouses either. To relieve oneself, a John Mathwick deep trench was dug and two logs were Wisconsin placed horizontally and parallel to each other over the trench. The trick to using this primitive privy was to walk Benefits of pot, even into the logs and squat. The desired for 98-year-old result was twofold: to not soil the logs I am about to receive my state mar- and to not fall in when the logs were ijuana card that makes me eligible to Nice job, Ben wet or icy. receive marijuana in medical form in The main reason in passing on this In this recent letter to the Cincinnati ‘Día de los Muertos’ hopes it cures my unsteadiness that has bit of trivia is this: The orphanage was Enquirer, Ohio member Ben Hart sets “Bless you Father, for you have resulted from the Percocet I’ve taken extremely low on funds and toilet pa- the record straight. Sinned” is the name of this 59-inch- for back spasms. I have been informed per was very low on the list of items high “mixed media on wood” work by that I will be the oldest (98) person on which to spend money. In place of California artist Esteban Ismael Duran who has been prescribed marijuana in toilet paper, the orphanage consumed Why don’t they pray displayed at the Chico Art Center’s Connecticut and likely the whole U.S. cases and cases of Gideon bibles that “Day of the Dead” show commemo- Of course, that’s legally. for extra nuns? were donated for the purpose of rating the Hispanic festival. It includes While I will probably take it in solid The Franciscan Sisters of Perpetu- spreading Christian values. clippings about clergy sex abuse and form, I’m already planning to have my al Adoration in La Crosse, Wis., have I feel the use of each page was fulfill- is a work that Duran considers unfin- picture taken smoking it to be used as a been continuously praying since 1878. ing its destiny. Feel free to think of this ished. FFRF member Dan Fregin, who testimonial for how I attribute my lon- The nuns take two-hour shifts and then and smile whenever you see a Gideon. is a gallery docent, visited with Duran gevity. How I can attribute my longevi- fresh “pray-ers” take their places. How you choose to use it is up to you! and shared a recent black collar crime ty to having used it such a short time? Now there are fewer Franciscan Sis- Kent Nielsen blotter with him. “He expressed some I will state that I was on the verge of ters. The nuns are dying faster than re- California hope that this would lead to further committing suicide, with Percocet be- placements come aboard. The solution exposure of this problem,” notes Dan. ing no help, but now am pain-free and has been to allow for the laity to take life is worth living again. It should be up the slack. One can only imagine in Scream reminds me worth a lot of money to one of the pot horror how war, poverty, criminality to donate to FFRF dispensaries. and dread disease would increase if the A woman’s scream reminded me, can team invites the young scholar Lex Hopefully, the first thing I do with pray-ers would stop their prayers. in a roundabout way, that I have not Thomasson to Egypt to help solve a se- that money will be to get a Life Mem- Fortunately, I have developed a made a contribution to FFRF in a quite quence of puzzles left by 5th century bership in FFRF. That’s one way of us- perfect solution to the dilemma. The a while. philosopher Hypatia in her attempt to ing a drug for beneficial purposes. nuns need to pray for more new nuns. A toad had found its way into my preserve the truth about the hidden Our primary care doctor and pot I don’t know why they didn’t think of shop area, just as a woman co-worker origins of Christianity, information the doctor were in hysterics imagining my that. walked back into the shop. This wom- Church did not want exposed.” 100-year-old wife and her 98-year-old Michael Burton an startles very easily and has a pierc- If Mythos Christos is accepted for husband pictured smoking pot. They Michigan ing scream. So on seeing the toad, she publication, all nominators will receive envisioned it being distributed world- of course screamed. a free eBook copy shortly before your wide. To add to the humor, I told the This made me wonder about the solstice celebrations! Thank you. girl taking my picture, a necessity for FFRF right about evolution behind that scream. It cer- Ed Neumann receiving the card, to try to make it Texas park cross tainly would have survival value. It is so Wisconsin look good since it will probably be used I read about the hysteria in Port loud and piercing that it would carry with my obituary. Neches, Texas, about a cross in the a long way, bringing help. It may not Hope this gives you a little humor to park. I am with you that you advise bring help in time every time, but it Cult of Christians is brighten your day. the city of First Amendment issues. It’s seems to have helped often enough overbearing, rude Alton Eliason funny how FFRF calmly and lawfully that the trait was passed along. I am proud to be a member of FFRF. Connecticut tells local governments that their PDC That somehow reminded me that I I have moved back to Arizona. Unfor- (public display of Christianity) is un- have not sent a contribution to FFRF tunately, I ran into some really aggres- lawful. Yet the hysteria continues just recently. Perhaps it was science, schools sive members of that cult called “Chris- Why not the welcoming to die off quickly. and keeping things like intelligent de- tians” again in Colorado — evangelical, hand of Plato? Keep up the hard work. sign out of schools. So I am enclosing overbearing and just plain rude. How can “Jesus welcome[s] you to Pierre Nadeau a small contribution. I wish it could be No, I don’t want them to “witness” Hawkins”? Could Plato welcome you to North Carolina more. to me. I don’t want to hear their “tes- Hawkins? Robert Harjamaki timony.” Don’t those people know that John Carley Minnesota their religion was started in 325 A.D. at Missouri It’s true: Jesus the Council of Nicaea? Why do those had four dads Hypatia would welcome people believe those lies? Offer readers Pastor Roy Herberger got it partially I think I know what it is: They are right when he stated (on a sign outside your helping hand weak. They need something to be- historical info as well his church in Buffalo): “Jesus had two Freethought fiction is pretty hard lieve in because they cannot believe in Challenging religious invocations is dads.” Thinking clearly, if that is possi- to find. Getting it published isn’t easy themselves. All this “Jesus” person is is fine. An alternative is positive. I suggest ble regarding religion, Jesus had four either. I’m trying to publish my new something to focus their energy on. Freethought Today regularly publish dads. His dads were: novel Mythos Christos using Amazon’s When they say, “I overcame cancer be- short quotes and commentaries from 1. God the Father Kindle Scout under the pen name cause Jesus performed a miracle,” what our history that are instructive and ap- 2. God the Holy Ghost Edwin Herbert. I have to get a sizable they are really saying is that they did it propriate for learning the history of 3. Joseph number of nominations by Dec. 13 themselves. But they don’t understand our nation. These could be available 4. Jesus himself, since the Catholics to be accepted for publication. (You that. They’re not evolved enough or for civic and school ceremonies and claim there is only one true god, then can nominate it at kindlescout.amazon. smart enough to realize that. replace prayers. No one could object Jesus must also be his own father if he com/p/108Q6BH7GRRQ if you have or Thank you for sticking up to those to hearing from Washington, Jeffer- is also a god. can set up an Amazon account.) people. We nonbelievers need your son, Lincoln, Paine, etc. They need It’s a dizzying thought, isn’t it? Hypatia (a name familiar to many organization. not comment on separation of church George Saunders FFRF’ers) is a strong female charac- Michael Mroz and state, but on the principles of our New York ter who plays a key role in the novel. Arizona nation and civilization. From the online description: “A Vati- Page 24 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015 Black Collar Crime Blotter the civil authorities,” said a statement from the Compiled by Bill Dunn Archdiocese of Chicago. Source: Chicago Tri- bune, 10-23-15 Maqsood Harrington, 28, Bethlehem, Arrested / Charged W.VA: Sexual abuse and sexual abuse by a Joseph Raleigh, 34, Miller, SD: Attempted person of trust. Harrington, head counselor at commercial sex trafficking of a child, attempt- Chambers YMCA in Elm Grove, is charged with ed enticement of a minor using the Internet and assaulting his 17-year-old assistant. 2 counts of soliciting a minor for sex. Raleigh, The complaint alleges he pulled down her pastor at First Baptist Church, faces state and pants in the hall while she was taking a pho- federal charges. to of a chart on the wall, exposed himself and In an affidavit, investigator Jason Jares said forced her to touch him. She declined to go into he posed online Oct. 16 “offering a 15-year-old another room with him when asked. Source: AP, female for prostitution,” quoted prices for vari- 10-23-15 ous services and shared an “age-regressed Edwin White, 39, Mobile, AL: 3 counts of photograph of an adult female portrayed as a child sex abuse. White, associate minister at juvenile.” Raleigh had $300 in cash when they First Baptist Church of Prichard, is accused of met later in Blunt and agreed to pay for “30 to 40 acts against 3 victims younger than 12. minutes,” Jares alleged. Source: Pierre Capital Court records list 12 arrests on various Journal, 11-17-15 charges for White. He was accused of child sex- Paul McLachlan, 82, Brisbane, Australia: ual abuse in 2009 but not prosecuted. Church Procuring indecent practices between males, members told Fox10 News off camera they four counts of indecently dealing with a boy don’t think White is guilty. Source: WALA, 10- under 17 and 2 counts of unlawful indecent as- 22-15 sault. McClachlan headed the Catholic Archdi- Bobby Barnhill, 59, Rye, CO: Domestic ocese of Brisbane’s media office in the 1970s, surveillance cameras. Covenant Missionary Baptist Church, told po- harassment. Barnhill, pastor of First United when the crimes allegedly occurred. He didn’t According to the Marion County Sheriff’s lice a story that started to unravel after they re- Methodist Church of Trinidad, was arrested at appear at arraignment due to medical issues. Office, the video showed Condis taking mon- sponded to a 911 call at the church. home after deputies were called. The complaint Source: 9news.com.au, 11-16-15 ey from collection baskets while parishioners’ Pena said 2 men and a woman stomped includes allegations he was drinking and verbal- Sherman R. Smith Sr., 56, Algiers, LA: Ag- heads were bowed in prayer during Spanish on bibles and ridiculed God while tying him up, ly abusive with children present. gravated rape, sexual battery, molestation of a Mass. He had $350 in cash when arrested at stuffed a rag in his mouth and taped a paper The church announced it was cutting ties juvenile or person with a mental or physical dis- church. Source: WKMG, 11-9-15 with misspelled Arabic words to his body. Police with Barnhill, who has a 2004 felony drug con- ability and 2 counts of indecent behavior with a Sean P. Aday, 38, Lake Forest, CA: Rape, suspicions were aroused by the lack of marks viction. Source: Chronicle-News, 10-22-15 juvenile. Smith, pastor at Second Highway Bap- sodomy, penetration with a foreign object and on his body. Source: Courier News, 11-2-15 David Pesci, 24, East Brady, PA: Sexual tist Church in Marrero, is charged with molest- sexual assault. Aday is accused by several fe- Lucio Angel Vallejo Balda, 54, Vatican assault and corruption of minors. Pesci, youth ing 3 female juveniles more than 10 years ago, males in their late teens to early 20s of assaults City, is charged by the Vatican with misappro- pastor at First Baptist Church, is accused of including an adult relative who alleges she was while he was youth pastor at Grace Communi- priation and disclosure of classified documents starting a relationship with a 9th-grade girl in his assaulted as a child. Source: WVUE, 11-12-15 ty Church. Assaults are alleged over a period and information. Msgr. Balda, a Spanish prelate, youth group. The complaint alleges kissing and Khaled al-Mughrabi, Jerusalem: Incite- of years inside the church, on church property, served on a commission set up by Pope Fran- fondling, including sexual touching on the out- ment to violence. Al-Mughrabi, a Palestinian in various Orange County locations and during cis to advise him on economic reform. Com- side of the girl’s clothes in August at a city park. imam who preached at Al-Aqsa Mosque, report- church-sponsored trips to Costa Rica, Moldova missioner Francesca Chaouqui, 33, dubbed a Source: KDKA, 10-22-15 edly said in a video, “We will go after the Jews and South Africa, according to the Sheriff’s Of- “sex bomb” by media, was also arrested. Vati- Shimon Amar, 36, Okafim, Israel: Sexual everywhere. They won’t escape us, they won’t fice. Source: KTLA, 11-7-15 can prosecutor Roberto Zannotti said Chaouqui assault. Amar, a Sephardic rabbi, is accused be able to escape us. The children of Israel will Dino Rustin, 35, Bradenton, FL: Willfully was released from custody because she agreed of a string of assaults, including penetration, all be wiped out.” abusing a child without great harm. Rustin, lead to cooperate and isn’t considered a flight risk. on girls who came to him for guidance over a Earlier this year, he was questioned by po- pastor at First Presbyterian Church, allegedly Source: AFP, 11-2-15 period of years. Source: Arutz Sheva, 10-21-15 lice after a video surfaced in which he told wor- grabbed a 10-year-old boy “by the back of his Richard A. Patton, 70, Mecosta, MI: 2 shipers that Jews kidnap non-Jewish children neck, lifted him off the ground and then pulled counts each of using computers to commit a Pleaded / Convicted to extract their blood and that Jews use their him from the sidewalk into the grass.” The boy crime and possessing sexually abusive material control of the pharmaceutical industry to spread broke free and called 911. The incident was involving children. Aryeh “Larry” Dudovitz, 48, Chicago, was disease. Source: Times of Israel, 11-12-15 witnessed by others, the police report said. Patton resigned as music minister at New found guilty at a bench trial of criminal sexual Neru Leuea, aka Amitaunai Neru, 49, Nar- Source: Bradenton Patch, 11-7-15 Hope United Methodist Church after allegedly assault of a minor. Dudovitz, an Orthodox rabbi randera, Australia: Aggravated sexual assault/ Camerius J. “Minister” Mills, 29, Edison, admitting to police he typed certain search en- and father of 9, was convicted of orally copulat- victim under age 16. Leuea, pastor at St. Mel’s GA: 2nd-degree sodomy and 3 counts each of tries. The investigation started after he brought ing a 15-year-old boy while he slept at his home, Catholic Parish, is charged with molesting a 2nd-degree rape and traveling to meet a child a computer to Best Buy for repairs. Source: where the rabbi had joined the family after a 10-year-old girl between September 2002 and for the purpose of having sex. Mills was pas- mlive.com, 10-29-15 Sukkot service. January 2003. Magistrate Erin Kennedy denied tor of St. Luke Baptist Church in Abbeville, AL, David Murphy, Vienna, OH: Misdemean- The victim reported the incident in 2006 bail. when he met the alleged victim, a 15-year-old or cruelty to animals. Murphy, pastor at Apos- and a state agency substantiated allegations “I acknowledge that this news will cause a female church member, in late 2014. tolic Bible Church, is charged with shooting a involving the boy and 7 other victims in 2007, great deal of shock and distress within the di- Led from the courtroom after arraignment, 15-month-old black Lab named Tucker. Kimber- but prosecutors didn’t file charges until 2013. ocese,” said Bishop Gerard Hanna of the Di- Mills told reporters he apologizes to the victim ly Ellis, Tucker’s owner, said he had to be euth- Dudovitz rejected a plea deal calling for 5 years ocese of Wagga Wagga, New South Wales. and seeks forgiveness from God. anized due to a shattered vertebrae. in prison and now faces up to 15 years. Source: Source: Bega District News, 11-12-15 “I questioned him, and he eventually ad- Murphy said he was just trying to scare dnainfo.com, 11-16-15 Anthony Waller, 39, Jonesboro, AR: 2 mitted to everything,” said investigator Keith Tucker and another dog away from his chick- Mack C. Andrews, 55, Thomasville, AL: counts of rape. Waller was youth minister at Cauthen. “He knew better, he was a pastor. He ens. “I shot at the dogs, and I did not intend to Pleaded guilty to multiple counts of rape, sexual First Assembly of God from 1999 until last May, befriended her and he took advantage of her.” hit them. I’m sorry that happened.” abuse, attempted rape, sodomy and sexual tor- when he was fired after being charged with 50 Source: Dothan Eagle, 11-6-15 The complaint said Ellis reported 4 shots ture the day his trial was to start. A plea agree- counts of video voyeurism. fired, with 3 of them striking Tucker. Source: ment calls for him to serve 15 years in prison. Police Detective Brandon King said the al- WKBN, 10-26-15 “My ex-pastor is my rapist,” alleged victim leged rape victims were 10 and 11 years old. Kevin G. Sloniker, 30, Coeur d’Alene, “Jane” told a reporter. She said she lost her vir- The rape and voyeurism charges are inter- ‘[Camerius Mills] knew ID: Rape and 2 counts of felony lewd conduct. ginity to Andrews, pastor of United Pentecostal twined. Sloniker, a long-haul trucker, allegedly admitted Church, on her father’s grave when she was 9. It was reported in May that his computer better, he was a pastor. to molesting 9 boys during the past 10 years “He told me if I didn’t say anything, he would had “thousands of images of prepubescent girls while involved with youth camps at Immaculate come back and put flowers on the grave. If I did, either completely nude or scantily clad,” court He befriended her and Conception Catholic Church, affiliated with the he said demons would come and get me from papers said. Waller’s wife found the images on conservative Society of St. Pius X. my bed.” a computer they shared. They have a 5-year-old he took advantage of Sloniker, who was arrested in Menomonie, Andrews was arrested in 2013 on charges daughter. It’s also alleged he took secret videos involving at least 4 underage girls. Jane alleged investigator Keith Cauthen WI, and extradited to Idaho, also took part in of girls in bathrooms and showers. her.’ ­— altar boy training through the Guild of St. Ste- he started grooming her for intercourse when “I was completely shocked,” his mother told phen. she was 7 with drumsticks, pens, letter open- a reporter. “I mean, he’s always been a good Investigators learned Sloniker attended St. ers, the talons of a brass eagle and a flashlight. man.” Source: Democrat-Gazette, 11-10-15 Thomas Aquinas Seminary in Winona, MN, but The church “was like a cult,” she said. “He was Roy Lovatt, 70, Redcar, England: 5 counts Terry D. Ruebush, 56, Albert, KS: Sexual was removed from the seminary in 2005 after the leader, and we were the sacrifices.”Source: of indecent assault and 7 counts of serious sex- exploitation of a child. “In June, our office had he allegedly tried to circumcise himself. Source: al.com, 11-16/9-22-15 ual offense. Lovatt, a retired Catholic priest, is received a report from the Sedgwick County cy- Spokesman-Review, 10-26-15 Willie Littleton, 63, Algiers, LA: Pleaded charged with alleged abuse at the former Thorp ber-crimes unit that there was some suspicious Yosef Y. Aronow, Tel Aviv: Fraud, fraud un- guilty to aggravated battery. Littleton, pastor Arch Grange Children’s Home in Wetherby in Internet traffic,” said Barton County Sheriff Brian der aggravating circumstances, breach of trust, of Greater Morning Star Baptist Church, was the 1970s and 1980s. Source: Yorkshire Post, Bellendir. The charge involves alleged posses- tax evasion and falsifying corporate documents. charged with firing a gun at 2 men who were try- 11-10-15 sion of child pornography. Aronow, the U.S.-born head of the Orthodox ing to steal copper from an air-conditioning unit Samuel Kee, 39, Lake Zurich, IL: 4 counts Ruebush at the time was pastor at Great Jewish group Chabad Youth, is accused of em- by the church. One was struck in the head. Both of aggravated criminal sexual abuse. Kee re- Bend Seventh-day Adventist Church, which bezzling millions from the charitable organiza- were charged with theft and criminal damage. signed as pastor of teaching and discipleship also operates a K-8 school, and at several other tion, which also gets government funding. Louisiana law says deadly force “must be at North Suburban Free Evangelical Church in Adventist churches. Source: Great Bend Tri- Allegations first surfaced in 2007, but the reasonable and apparently necessary” to stop a Deerfield after being charged. bune, 11-4-15 investigation repeatedly stalled due to intense would-be robber. Prosecutors determined Little- Kee walked into the police station and said Stephen Pohl, 57, Louisville, KY: Ac- pressure brought by Chabad and its political ton’s actions fell short of that standard. Source: he wanted to confess to a crime, said Deerfield cessing and viewing child pornography. First allies in the State Prosecutor’s Office, reports New Orleans Advocate, 11-10-15 Detective Rick Bernas. “This is not the way it charged in August by criminal complaint, Pohl said. As much as $60 million may be involved. Christopher R. Olague, 43, Buena Park, usually happens. We started with the confes- was indicted by a federal grand jury for alleged Source: Failed Messiah, 10-25-15 CA: Guilty by jury of kidnapping for child mo- sion and kind of worked backwards.” illegal computer use as pastor at St. Margaret An unidentified assistant principal, 34, lestation, lewd acts on a child, attempting to Bernas alleged Kee admitted touching a girl, Mary Catholic Church earlier this year. River Grove, IL: The suspect, an administrator dissuade a witness and possession of child who was 16 in 2014, on the genitals. “We talked A parent whose child attends the church told at Guerin Catholic High School, was arrested pornography. Olague was a pastor at Refuge to the juvenile victim to confirm the facts and the police the child was uncomfortable when Pohl for allegations of inappropriate sexual contact in Southland Church and youth soccer coach in next day he was charged.” Source: Daily North asked the child to pose for a photo. Authori- September with a 17-year-old student. He has 2011 when he allegedly molested an 8-year-old Shore, 11-9-15 ties then started investigating. Source: Couri- not yet been charged. girl in a parking lot after picking her up on the Mario Condis, 60, Ocala, FL: Grand theft er-Journal, 11-3-15 He was also musical director at St. William pretense of playing with his children. and 3 counts of petit theft. After getting a call Jairon Pena, 36, Somerville, NJ: Making a Catholic Church in Chicago, where the incident After the girl started crying, he gave her from Blessed Trinity Catholic Church about an false public alarm, false swearing and making is alleged to have occurred. “We are monitoring $40 and told her to keep quiet, court records usher suspected of stealing, deputies set up a fictitious police report. Pena, pastor of New the situation and will continue to cooperate with said. Police later discovered over 1,000 images and 16 videos of child porn in his possession. December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 25

Source: OC Register, 11-3-15 same firm was dismissed earlier this year. Michael Mensah, Legon, Ghana: Pleaded John Melvin, a Cobb County assistant D.A., guilty to 2 counts of power theft and intentional- isn’t so sure. “The Lord said feed my sheep. ly interfering with supply of electricity. Mensah, He didn’t say fleece my sheep, and what this founder of the Global Prayer Palace, agreed to looks like is some people fleecing some elderly repay the state-owned utility about 4,000 cedis adults.” ($1,000). Source: Ghana Web, 11-2-15 Melvin said that while Moody accomplishes John Thomas Matthew Lee, 50, Millsboro, some good, “that doesn’t mean that everyone DE: Pleaded guilty to production and distribution working for them is good. They may have some of child pornography. Lee, a Navy chaplain with rogue agents.” Source: WSB-TV, 11-4-15 the rank of lieutenant commander, was charged The Principia, a Christian Science orga- after the Center for Missing and Exploited Chil- nization that operates schools in Town and dren passed along a tip in 2013 showing Lee Country, MO, and Elsah, IL, is being sued for had tried to upload an image of 3 naked boys $1 million for alleged failure to supervise a for- on a bed. mer employee who is charged with sexual as- Assistant U.S. Attorney Edward McAndrew sault of the plaintiffs’ daughter. alleged in court that Lee possessed tens of The suit alleges Principia employee Zacha- thousands of child porn images, hundreds of ry Retzlaff, 33, a widower with 2 sons, met the videos and social media chats with minors. girl through the school and began assaulting her He was court-martialed in 2007 on charges while she baby-sat and cleaned house for him including forcible sodomy and failing to tell a sex in 2014-15 when she was 16. He faces criminal partner he was HIV-positive and was sentenced charges, including statutory rape. to no more than 2 years in prison. Source: News The suit also alleges Principia knew Retzlaff Journal, 10-30-15 had sex with at least 2 other students and that Vickery House, 69, Handcross, England: school officials interfered with the civil and crim- Guilty of 5 counts of indecent assault. House, a inal cases. retired Anglican priest, was first accused of mo- The suit says the girl has filed for a protec- lesting young males in 1970, when an alleged tive order against her parents, who both have victim was 14. ties to Principia, and wants to marry Retzlaff Four boys alleged they were assaulted when and raise his children. Source: Post-Dispatch, they took part in a church program called Give 10-22-15 a Year for Christ. Source: Belfast Telegraph, 10- The Institute in Basic Life Principles, at 27-15 Husein Bosnić, 43, Bosnia: 7 years in Theological College in Edmonton. He is already one time a leader in the Christian homeschool- Kong Hee, 51, Singapore: Criminal breach prison for recruiting militants to join the Islamic serving 19 years in prison for sexual abuse of ing movement, is being sued in DuPage Coun- of trust. Kong, founder of City Harvest mega- State in Syria and Iraq in 2013-14. Bosnić, an native Inuit children but won’t serve more time ty, IL, by 5 women who allege IBLP enabled church, and 5 aides were found guilty of mis- imam with 17 children who is unofficial leader because the sentence was made concurrent and covered up sexual abuse and harassment appropriating millions of dollars to promote the of the ultra-conservative Salafi movement, was with the earlier one. of interns, employees and other program par- singing career of Hee’s wife, Sun Ho, who was found guilty “from the position of religious au- The victims were a 9-year-old aboriginal boy ticipants in its programs. Defendants include not charged. thority, [of] publicly inciting, recruiting people and an 8- and 6-year-old brother and sister. David York, pastor at Crossroads Community A scheme called “round-tripping” was used and organizing a terrorist group.” Source: Re- Justice Susan Cooper noted how the victims all Church in New Berlin, WI, who’s also an IBLP to channel money from a building fund and in- uters, 11-5-15 have substance abuse problems and said it re- board member. ½ vestments into sham bonds. The trial dragged Dawid Volmer, 41, Perth, Australia: 10 mains to be seen what effect Dejaeger’s crimes The group’s founder, Bill Gothard, 81, re- on for 2 years. Source: The Guardian, 10-21-15 years in prison after pleading guilty to indecently will have on his victims’ children. Source: CBC, signed last year after more than 30 women dealing with a child, sexual penetration of a child 10-22-15 accused him of sexual harassment. Press re- and stupefying in order to commit an indictable ports earlier this year said reality TV star Josh offense. Volmer, an evangelical preacher who Civil Lawsuits Filed Duggar, who has admitted molesting 4 sisters, Investigators learned headed the Western Australia Prison Fellow- was sent to an IBLP treatment center as a teen. ship, was accused of raping and drugging with Alleged pedophile priest Linus Bastien, 89, Source: Washington Post, 10-22-15 Sloniker attended amyl nitrate a 12-year-old girl in encounters set and the Catholic Diocese of London, Ontario, The Catholic Archdiocese of St. Louis, up by her father in 2014. are being sued by 3 men who allege Bastien Archbishop Robert Carlson and former priest St. Thomas Aquinas The girl’s father responded to Volmer’s molested them in the early to mid-1970s at St. Leroy Valentine are being sued in connection Craigslist ad offering sexual massages. Vol- Paul’s Parish in LaSalle. Arrested in 2011, Bas- with alleged sexual abuse of a student at the Seminary in Winona, mer told police that as soon as he saw her, he tien faces 30 sexual assault charges. To date, Church of the Immacolata in Richmond Heights, knew “in his heart” she was underage despite he’s had 22 court appearances, with the crimi- MO, between 1977-81, starting when the boy MN, but was removed the father’s insistence she was over 16. Source: nal trial scheduled for March. Source: Windsor was 11. Perth Now, 11-5-15 Star, 11-16-15 The complaint alleges Valentine told the boy from the seminary in Gabriel Bodenheimer, 72, Monsey, NY: 3 King’s Way Baptist Church and Christian he was getting “special training” required to be- years’ probation with sex offender conditions School, Douglasville, GA, and former pastor come an altar boy and included sodomizing him 2005 after he allegedly after pleading guilty to misdemeanor endanger- William Wininger Sr. are being sued by a cou- in the rectory. ing the welfare of a child. Rabbi Bodenheimer, ple and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportuni- Valentine was removed from the ministry tried to circumcise a longtime educator at an Orthodox school, was ty Commission. Teacher Marsha Pearson and in 2002 but hasn’t been laicized or criminally also barred with working with persons under her husband allege she was fired after rebuffing charged. Source: Post-Dispatch, 10-20-15 himself. age 18. More serious charges were dropped at Wininger’s sexual advances in 2012-13. the behest of the 7-year-old victim’s family. Wininger resigned as pastor in October 2013 He was indicted for allegedly molesting the after several women, who as children attended Civil Lawsuits Settled boy at his school office in 2009-10. Boden- his former church in Michigan, alleged he mo- Sentenced The Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee heimer has 14 children and 100 grandchildren. lested them, after which he attempted suicide will pay $21 million to victims of clergy sex Roger Wakely, 73, Exeter, England: 13 Source: Journal News, 11-4-15 on his teenage daughter’s grave in Douglasville. abuse under a plan approved by U.S. Bankrupt- years in prison after being found guilty of 25 Orlando A. Caldera, 65, Charlotte, NC: Wininger pleaded no contest in October to cy Judge Susan Kelley. Most of the money will counts of indecent assault and 2 counts of at- 14 to 21 years in prison after pleading guilty 2 simple battery charges stemming from Pear- be split by 355 victims, with a separate class of tempted buggery, all involving 4 male victims to 1st-degree sex offense and 5 counts of in- son’s allegations and received a sentence of 104 victims getting about $2,000 each. under age 16. Crimes were alleged from the decent liberties with a child. Caldera, associate 4 years’ probation, $2,000 fine and 200 hours’ “Something is terribly wrong with a process 1960s to early 1980s while Wakely was a pastor pastor at Memorial United Methodist Church, community service. Source: Atlanta Daily Re- in which lawyers, especially church lawyers, and teacher at Bishop Wand Church of England was charged in incidents with 6 girls. He served port, 11-13-15 [are] going to end up taking twice the amount of School and Ealing Grammar School. the Spanish-speaking population of the church. Catholic priests Henry Slade and Philip money out of this bankruptcy than all the victims Prosecutor Jonathan Davies said Wakely Source: Charlotte Observer, 11-2-15 Dedera and the Diocese of Joliet, IL, are de- combined,” said Peter Isley of the Survivors groomed the boys and offered them money, fish Stanisław G. (full name withheld under fendants in a suit filed by “John Doe,” now 50, Network for Those Abused by Priests. and chips and model airplanes to “keep them privacy laws), Zamość, Poland: 2 years in who alleges he was molested at age 11. Doe “It is very clear to us that the bankruptcy quiet.” Source: Get Surrey, 11-12-15 prison suspended, 5 years’ probation, 3,000 alleges in 1976 he was caught skipping Mass court has been neither an instrument of heal- Brian Kandare, 30, and Precious Kan- złoty ($752) fine and a lifetime ban on oversee- at St. Pius X in Lombard and was ordered by ing or resolution, much less justice,” said a dare, 37, Wolverhampton, England: 112 ing minors. The Catholic priest was convicted of Slade to go to the rectory, where he was raped. letter from victims addressed to Pope Francis. months and 96 months, respectively, in prison fondling girls while preparing them for their first Dedera was allegedly outside Slade’s bed- Source: AP/Fox 6, 11-9-15 after being found liable for the 2014 death of communion. room but did nothing to stop it, later taking Doe A 6-person jury found the Catholic Di- their daughter Rebecca at 8 months. The Kan- Prosecutor Bartosz Wójcik called for an ap- to his room and giving him marijuana to help ocese of Duluth, MN, negligent in supervision dares belong to the Apostolistic Church of God, peal: “The sentence is too low.” Source: Radio him “forget what happened.” Doe asserts he re- and awarded “Doe 30” $8.16 million for alleged which eschews medical treatment. Poland, 10-29-15 pressed the memory until 2004, when he told abuse by pedophile priest James V. Fitzgerald Rebecca weighed 11 lbs., 11 ozs. when Heather E. Cook, 59, Baltimore: 7 years his mother. Source: Glen Ellyn Patch, 11-10-15 in 1978. Fitzgerald, now deceased, had taken she died of pneumonia and malnutrition at the in prison after pleading guilty to manslaughter The Salvation Army National Corp., Alex- Doe, now 52, on a two-week camping trip de- church. Testimony said the couple believed by automobile, drunk driving and leaving the andria, VA; the Salvation Army Northern Di- spite earlier allegations of inappropriate behav- “evil spirits” were the source of her condition. scene of an accident. Cook was bishop suffra- vision, Roseville, MN: Little League Baseball ior. Source: Express & Star, 11-11-15 gan of the Episcopal Church of Maryland when Inc., Williamsport, PA; and Lake Park Little Documents that were part of the case show Craig Tarbox, 56, Colonie, NY: 4 years in her Subaru fatally struck a bicyclist in 2014. Her League Inc., Duluth, MN, are being sued by the diocese gave at least 4 priests second prison and 10 years’ probation after pleading blood-alcohol level was 0.22 percent, almost 3 “Doe 49” in Ramsey County, MN. Doe alleges chances. A 1960 letter from Bishop Francis guilty to 1st-degree sexual abuse. times the legal limit. Source: NBC, 10-27-15 Peter Jay Olson, now 49, molested him 3 times Schenk showed the diocese was willing to ac- According to District Attorney P. David Abdurraouf Eshati, 29, Wrexham, Wales: in 2010-11 at ages 10 and 11 when Doe was on cept Charles Gormly as a priest after he spent Soares, Tarbox on May 3 “subjected a 7-year- 6 years in prison after pleading guilty to collect- teams Olson coached. time at a New Mexico treatment center. “I would old child to sexual contact during church ser- ing information for terrorist purposes. Eshati, a Olson was sentenced to 12 years in prison like to give him one more chance,” Schenk vices. While the child was sitting on his lap, Tar- native Libyan who lived and led prayers at the in 2013 for abusing Doe and another boy he wrote. box touched him sexually. The child was known Islamic Cultural Centre, was convicted for his coached. At sentencing he said, “I’ll never be Less than a year later, Schenk asked Gorm- to him through church.” part in an alleged plot to fly 1,100 tons of ammu- able to undo what I’ve done, and my reverent ly to report to a Milwaukee hospital for psychi- The church was not identified. Tarbox also nition to Tobruk, Libya. prayer for them is that over time they will find atric care for a “dual problem: one is that of al- has a 1985 sodomy conviction. Source: WYNT, Eshati was caught with 19 others in the healing.” Source: Pioneer Press, 11-5-15 coholism and the other is a sex problem which 11-9-15 back of a truck in November 2014 trying to en- The Moody Bible Institute of Chicago is prompts him to molest small girls.” Source: Pio- Corey L. Bryant, 26, Norton, OH: 7 1/2 ter France via the port of Dover. Source: BBC accused in a federal lawsuit filed in Atlanta of neer Press, 11-4-15 years in prison after pleading guilty to engaging News, 10-27-15 financially preying on an elderly woman. Lisa The Church of England settled an abuse in illicit sexual conduct with a minor in foreign Waldir Pérez Salias, Ate district, Peru: 35 Higdon, court-appointed guardian for Hazel claim for an undisclosed amount and apolo- places. The abuse took place between 2011-14 years in prison and 8,000 soles ($2,439) in rep- Turner, 89, filed the suit on behalf of Turner, who gized for child sexual assaults committed by with boys ages 9-15 in Honduras, where Bryant arations. Salias, a Redemptorist Catholic priest has dementia. Higdon alleges Turner unwitting- George Bell, the former bishop of Chichester, was a volunteer with Breaking Chains, an Okla- and chaplain, was convicted of sexual assaults ly made Moody the trustee of her estate and a who died in 1958. homa-based ministry “committed to sharing in 2010-12 at San Alfonso School of a boy who beneficiary and executor of her will. The accusations against Bell, once in the the love of Christ and reaching out to those we was 10 when the assaults started. Source: Ya- Higdon filed a proposed class action suit. running to become archbishop of Canterbury, serve spiritually.” hoo News, 10-27-15 “We know they’ve been doing this in the state were alleged to have been committed in the late Bryant turned down lodging with host fam- Eric Dejaeger, 69, a defrocked Canadi- of Georgia since at least 1997,” said Jonathan 1940s and early 1950s. The victim first com- ilies so he could live in the orphanage and be an Catholic priest, had 5 years added to his Hawkins, Higdon’s attorney plained in 1995 to Eric Kemp, then bishop of readily available, court records said. Source: sentence for sex offenses committed in the A Moody spokesperson denied the claim, Chichester, who offered “pastoral support but Talk Radio News Service, 11-9-15 mid-1970s when he was studying at Newman saying that a nearly identical suit filed by the Continued on next page Page 26 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015

Black collar crimes Continued from previous page 11-15 sexual abuse charges were added to 10 similar lia. Johns was convicted arrested in 2014 af- did not refer the matter to the police or, so far Faith Church, Lower Macungie, PA, is un- counts filed in September. ter more than 1,000 child pornography images as is known, investigate the matter further,” ac- der investigation after a 2-year-old girl walked Toehay is newly accused of improprieties were found on his computer. He was given a cording to a church statement. away in September from its preschool and with 4 other children dating back to 2001. 15-month jail sentence, which was suspended The statement said that after the victim com- wasn’t noticed by staff as missing for at least The youngest alleged victim was 5 years old. due to his age. Source: Brisbane Times, 11-6-15 plained again in 2013, Sussex police investi- 30 minutes. State police want to determine if Source: Lawton Constitution, 10-26-15 Desmond Royappen, Durban, S. Afri- gated and determined there would have been “recklessly endangering another person” ap- ca, was suspended for a year as pastor of enough evidence to arrest Bell had he been plies. The girl, who had gone out through an Allegations Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church over the alive. Source: Financial Times, 10-22-15 unsecured playground gate, was noticed along alleged mismanagement of almost 3 million a busy street near a stormwater detention pond. Eric Siroka, 48, Seattle, was quietly ex- rand ($215,720). Cardinal Wilfrid Napier, head The state Department of Human Services pelled last spring from the Central Conference of the Archdiocese of Durban, said Royappen Finances then issued a cease-and-desist order to the of American Rabbis. CCAR said then it was for was sent for “a period of reflection” to a parish The U.S. Catholic Church paid out at least church to stop operating a day care without a refusing to comply with an ethics investigation, in Mariannhill and had paid back some of the $3.99 billion in costs related to the clergy sex license. but now confirms that Siroka, a Reform rab- money after an Ernst and Young forensic audit. abuse crisis between 1950 and August 2015, Jason Troutman, the girl’s father, comment- bi and married father of 2, had several sexual “Royappen admitted his negligence and according to a National Catholic Reporter inves- ed, “Obviously, it wasn’t done intentionally or misconduct allegations made against him by wrongdoing in some very serious areas and his tigation. Separate research recently published knowingly, but it screams negligence.” Source: women in Indiana, New Jersey and Washington failure to observe correct procedures,” Napier calculates that other scandal-related conse- Morning Call, 11-7-15 state. said. Source: Sunday Tribune, 11-1-15 quences such as lost membership and diverted James P. O’Connell, 62, Troy, MI, sen- Yohanna Kinberg of Seattle’s Congregation Mark Huberty, 45, Mendota Heights, MN, a giving have cost the church more than $2.3 bil- tenced to 25-50 years in prison last year for Kol Ami said that at the time of Siroka’s arrival Catholic priest acquitted last year of sexual mis- lion annually for the past 30 years. molesting a girl between the ages of 2 and 5 as in 2014, it was assumed that he did not take conduct with a parishioner, has been removed Dividing the $3.99 billion among the nation’s a volunteer at St. Augustine Lutheran Church, a pulpit position because he was “burned out.” from ministry by the Archdiocese of St. Paul and 197 dioceses would net each about $20 million. had his sentence upheld by the state Court of Then questions started making the rounds Minneapolis while the church determines if he For a variety of reasons cited in the report, “the Appeals. about why he was teaching in Jewish schools, broke canon law. $3.99 billion figure is almost certainly a low es- O’Connell appealed on multiple grounds, given his alleged inappropriate behavior with Huberty cannot “wear a Roman collar or timate.” including ineffective counsel, all of which were women. “There is a whole underground network present himself as a priest publicly,” said a An example is efforts by the church in sev- denied. He also took issue with the way he was of women warning each other [about Siroka],” statement from Archbishop Bernard Hebda. eral states to block legislation to lengthen stat- arrested, stating he offered to turn himself in but Kinberg said. “In this world, that’s how women Hebda said “some serious allegations” have utes of limitations. “The cost of this work, done instead was boxed in by 2 police cars while on a really protect themselves.” Source: The For- come to his attention and a review board “found through bishops’ state Catholic conferences, is bike ride with his wife. ward, 11-2-15 that there was sufficient evidence to suggest not publicly reported and can’t be included in His earliest possible release date is in 2039 Edwin Figarez, 41, Puthenvelikkara, In- Rev. Huberty may have committed a serious of- cost estimates.” Source: National Catholic Re- when he would be 86. Source: Oakland Press, dia, a Catholic priest accused of molesting a fense under canon law.” porter, 11-2-15 11-6-15 14-year-old girl, is still being sought. Police While a jury found Huberty not guilty of both Michael Cheshire, former pastor of Journey have arrested his brother, Silvesto Figarez, 58, misconduct counts involving a woman who had Community Church, Conifer, CO, was ordered who allegedly helped Figarez flee to the United gone to him for counseling and entered a con- Legal Developments to appear before the Colorado Securities Board Arab Emirates about 8 months ago. sensual relationship, doubts remain. “Investiga- Bail was denied for Joseph Dhanaswami, to answer allegations of securities fraud tied to He later returned to India for a bail hearing, tors were able to identify what appeared to be 44, a priest and school principal from the Cath- church issuance in 2013 of $1.1 million in bonds then disappeared again. “We have received some repeated conduct of inappropriate rela- olic Diocese of Ambikapur, India, after prosecu- to build a recreation center. evidence showing that the accused had been tionships with women,” said Maplewood Police tors presented evidence of semen in the under- A state petition alleges the prospectus failed holed up at some of his close relatives’ houses Chief Paul Schnell. wear of a 9-year-old girl he’s accused of raping. to disclose $12,500 owed in back rent to Jeff- and they are still in constant touch with him,” a None of those cases resulted in criminal Bishop Patras Minj told a reporter the charge co Public Schools and said the church had no police statement said. Source: The Hindu, 11- charges, often because the women didn’t want was fabricated in order to defame the Catholic debts or liabilities. The church ended services 3-15 charges filed, Schnell said. Source: Pioneer Church, “which is popular among poor people in Conifer in fall 2014. Bondholders were told in Press, 10-12-15 because of its services.” Chhattisgarh state is February the church was facing foreclosure on Removed / Resigned Email: [email protected] governed by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata the bonds. Source: High Timber Times, 11-2-15 Party, which Catholics claim wants to make In- Marion Milton-Otis Toehay Sr., 82, Carne- Andrew Peter Stabback Johns, 89, aka dia a Hindu nation. Source: ucanews.com, 11- gie, OK, pastor of Washita Full Grace Church, Brother William, was deposed from Holy Orders had his bond revoked after 5 new counts of child by the Anglican Diocese of Brisbane, Austra-

EVER U R 7 OUT OUT OUT OF OREGON...U things that helped BUILD America. If you don’t FAGS! — Paul Munsell like prayer, it is your choice to NOT listen, but if Sharing the crank mail A suggestion: how obnoxious are you dis- anything is NEVER said, is there any “choice” at gusting bullies--go top yourselves and do the all ? I think you are controlled by Satan !! — Jim Christian prayers? — Jeanne Perdue, Texarka- country a favor How’s that for “freethought” — Bandfield, Shalimar, Florida Just in time for the holidays, a good help- na, Texas Jan Elder You are a bunch of fuck sticks: You people ing of Haterade from correspondents, with their Stop the Nonsense: Your group just ab- 1st Amendment: Last time I checked the are full of shit, and only looking for some bullshit comments printed as received. solutely disgusts me, with your perverted, 1st amendment says nothing about freedom to hang your hat on. Get a life. — Frank Butiste, convoluted misinterpretation of the Constitu- FROM religion, it says that we have FREDOM South Bend, Indiana Christian flag in Tennessee: Your day in tion and what is and isn’t legal. You go around OF RELGION. Also last time I checked Anerica POS: You God damn crooked goat fucking hell is coming in the future so you need to stop throwing the threats of protracted legal action was founded on CHRISTIAN values and beliefs. pieces of shit! This country was found on Chris- telling us to submit to you atheist demands. You at small towns, which many can’t afford, and As well as the recent fuss in Collins, Ms if that tianity and if you and your cronies don’t like get are a minority and th majority will rise up and you get your way. Your bully tacticts violate the person with the complaint did not won’t to deal the hell out. — Jake Winkler crush your agenda. — Paul Gaunt 1st amendment that you claim to uphold. The with religion they should not live in the Bible Belt Portland grotto choir: I cannot believe you separation of church and state has long been of America. — JM Duke, Collins, Mississippi people want to wreck a tradition that doesn’t ef- misrepresented by the atheistic, liberal agenda How offensive your organization is!: fect you in a state you don’t live in. Why don’t to further their Godless causes, and it is pitiful What you are doing is a shame, and a crime you fuck right off and leave fucking people and disgusting. — Jeff Fassett against tolerance and freedom. How do you alone. I would like to add that I am an atheist. If God sent his son for the world: JESUS IS hope other people to respect you, when you are your going to attack something go after in god THE ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN. JESUS IS THE not even respecting them? Constitution or no we trust printed on our money or the mention ONLY WAY TO HEAVEN. JESUS IS THE ONLY constitution. — Pierre Jacques of God I our pledge of allegiance. Just fuck off WAY TO HEAVEN. YOU’RE A FOOL TO SAY Shame!: You are a sad group of people, from Portland grotto its a fucking tradition. — THAT THERE IS NO GOD. WAKE UP AND especially for what you did in Wadena, MN! Stephen M. Ewald, Portland, Oregon SMELL THE COFFEE AND REPENT OF YOUR Shame on you, and I hope that you rot in hell in Wadena, Minnesota: Why do you people UNBELIEF. — Jason Hutton eternal damnation! — Carlie Morin, St. Cloud, feel that it is your business To tell Us as a peo- Antagonism: What a divisive and deceitful Minnesota ple what we can put in our Parks? I don’t tell organization you have. Yes, I’m a Christ-fol- Are you folks for real?: You fight so hard to you how to live don’t tell us. That is just wrong lower. I pray you will someday have your eyes be atheism so there must be a God that you are and don’t tell me how illegal it is. I’m not going opened before it’s too late. The bottom line is if trying so hard to strike him out of peoples mind! to tell you that you have to work on Christmas I’m wrong, I’ve lost nothing and I’ve had a blast. I figure you believe in the big bang theory and because you don’t believe. And if you do work But if YOU’RE wrong, you’ve lost everything. — so that makes your mind so small it really can’t no double or triple time for you. No presents — Nave Nitram, Indiana think clearly. Have any of you actually read the Karen Raskie, Hewitt, Minnesota Christianity: If I were violent, which I am Bible? When you folks are in trouble what are Disgrace: Yall are a disgrace to humanity. not (but you are) I would do violence to you, but the first thing that comes out of your mouth “Oh Everyone one of you should be placed on the alas, I believe in a loving God. HE WILL TAKE God please help me!” — Sam Germann same level as isis. Yall is what’s wrong with this CARE OF YOU. Again, what you are doing is Get a LIFE!: I AM SUBMITTING A RE- country and to believe you even exist is sick- no surprise to us. It has already been revealed. QUEST THAT TO BE A NON PROFIT TO HELP inging. We need God more then ever now and You are doing exactly what the enemy of God THOSE IN NEED NOT TO GAIN MONEY TO Texas vandalism you people try to stop it. You need to mind your wants. How sad. God doesn’t want you to be SUE A BUSINESS OR GOVERNMENT ENTI- The Orange County Atheists in the own business if it defends you stay away from it. throw in into the Lake of Fire...think of a volcano TY! YOU ARE COSTING TAXPAYERS MON- Beaumont-Port Arthur area joined EY JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN NOT EXCEPT You bunch of pathetic cowards. — Travis Bach, that has been activated and it rolls all over you... the Texas DOT’s Adopt a Highway New York yet, your soul will live on throughout eternity in FREEDOM OF FAITH! Stay out of schools!: I hope to see a con- unbelievable excruciating pain with no way out. I AM COMPLAINING ABOUT YOUR program in July. Members noticed this tinued kickback of stupid initiatives including How sad. — Carrie Johnston, Elkhart, Indiana GROUP AND HOW IT IS WRONG TO COLLET sign vandalism Oct. 27 along Highway school prayer . We are a nation under God.. Get Thank you, Pastor: My friend...thank you DONATIONS FOR LAW SUITES!! — Angel 1135. “Aside from being angry and it? Back off creeps... — Kevin Barnes for showing us the full face of satan’s influence Martin, Savage, Minnesota frustrated, it makes me scared, scared Isms: I have EVERY right to WANT a Gotto Xmas ban: I totally disagree w/your in the minds of depraved and self-centered (his to know that us going public could unfortonatly successful efforts to intimidate the favorite personalities) men and women. You prayer said before a meeting where important limp dicked school council to deny students to truly are sick. From your extensive pastoral decisions are made. Generals Washington, lead to this,” said OCA member Clara participate in xmas choirs at the grotto. SHAME training you would recognize a more specific Lee,Sheridan, Meade, Patton and others - all Gilley. A gofundme.com campaign to ON YOU!!! What you did is no different than diagnosis as the correct refinement, “Sin Sick.” asked for “divine” guidance before making a raise $300 to place a camera by the any other BULLY who FORCES others to their — Donald Milton, Chipley, Florida major decision. I could name many more, as sign raised $620 in one day. (On a re- well, but I think you get the point. If you don’t like idoloogy through coercion and intimidation. — hypocrisy: bunch of sick bastards! in spite lated note, a similar Atheists United/ Dianne Whitney, Oregon of your illness, you hypocrites pray to god when “prayer” in America, why not move to a country Why are you afraid of Christians??: Do nothing else helps to ease a pain of a mental or that agrees with your perspective ? You would San Luis Obispo sign along Highway you support ISIS? Why are Christians more physical nature. — Pete Smolan, California be welcomed with open arms, I’m sure and..... 101 in California was vandalized a dangerous than radical Muslims? Why is it Violation: U R A VIOLATION OF CHURCH we would be happy to see you go ! It is sad that second time Oct. 6 after first being OK to have Muslim prayers in schools and not & STATE...STAY IN WISCONSIN OR WHER- people like you are trying to tear down the very defaced three weeks earlier.) December 2015 Madison, Wisconsin Freethought Today Page 27 FFRF’s Nonbelief Relief makes year-end gifts Nonbelief Relief, a new humanitar- population has fled the ongoing civil to place permanent lockers for the several thousand additional dollars ian agency to enable nonbelievers to war. More than half of the refugees are homeless in or near downtown. from FFRF donors. The grant was ear- make charitable donations under the children.” “As FFRF has downtown residen- marked for the charity to use in Af- banner of freethought, has announced The Nonbelief Relief board felt this cy, we are acutely aware of the home- ghanistan after the Oct. 3 aerial bomb- some end-of-the-year grants. gift will help save lives jeopardized in less crisis here in Madison,” said An- ing by the U.S. military of the group’s Nonbelief Relief seeks to remediate part by a major religious conflagration. nie Laurie Gaylor, Nonbelief Relief hospital in Kunduz, killing 22 people conditions of human suffering and in- • $10,000: Camp Quest scholarships administrator. and injuring 37 others. justice, whether the result of natural to help needy students who could not • $2,500: Second Harvest Foodbank Nonbelief Relief was incorporated disasters, human actions or adherence otherwise afford to attend 2016 camps. of Southern Wisconsin. in 2015, with the Freedom From Re- to religious dogma. It also seeks to pro- Although Nonbelief Relief is not • $25,000 pledge: Women’s Medical ligion Foundation as its sole member. vide assistance for individuals target- primarily a local charity, the board Fund Inc., believed to be the longest The board is made up of Gaylor, FFRF ed for nonbelief, secular activism or agreed it’s important to contribute to continuously operating abortion rights Co-President Dan Barker as vice pres- blasphemy. one’s community and voted for these charity in the nation, helping more ident, FFRF’s Director of Operations The grants are: local or statewide grants: than 20,000 needy Wisconsin women Lisa Strand serving as secretary/trea- • $20,000: World Food Program • $12,000: OM Tiny Houses. This pay for abortion care. The board vot- surer, and Jim Zerwick and Stephen USA, designated for Syria. WFP, the will pay for a “tiny house” for a home- ed to give the money on Jan. 22, 2016, Hirtle, who also serve on FFRF’s board. largest humanitarian agency (affiliated less person who contributes “sweat in honor of FFRF’s principal founder Donations can be made via FFRF, with the United Nations) fighting hun- equity.” A community of Tiny Houses Anne Gaylor, who died in June, and either by explicitly earmarking your ger worldwide, notes, “Since fighting shelters is a project of Occupy Madison also co-founded WMF and adminis- check for Nonbelief Relief or by select- first broke out in 2011, the crisis in Syr- Inc. and is being built in Madison, Wis. tered it from 1976 to March 2015. ing “Nonbelief Relief” from the desig- ia has become WFP’s largest and most • $10,000 additional pledge to the In October, Nonbelief Relief gave nation dropdown at ffrf.org/donate/. If complex emergency worldwide. Today, city of Madison, contingent on city ap- $20,000 to Doctors Without Borders given via FFRF, the donations are de- more than a third of the country’s proval of a proposal to spend $10,000 (Medecins Sans Frontières), raising ductible for income-tax purposes. Are you missing FFRF news and views? The Freedom From Religion Foun- bility. Recent Freethought Now! blogs dation does a lot in between issues of include “Open Letter to Sheriff Jolley,” Freethought Today. If you don’t want “ ‘Christian truth’ will not solve Islamic to miss news, views and activism and terrorism: We need less religion, not you’re a member of FFRF, you can sign more,” “Je suis Paris, je t’aime Paris” up for news releases, general action (by Andrew Seidel); “Fiorina smears alerts, blog notifications and a daily nonbelievers at forum,” “Here’s to calendar highlighting famous free- more Mormons waking up,” “Good thinkers called Freethought of the Day. works instead of long prayers,” “FFRF If you’ve created a membership to Kasich: Bill of Rights, not bible, profile, simply check the boxes to grants civil rights,” “Blind spots: Reli- get various releases in your inbox. Or gion’s pervasive ‘holy terror,’ ” “I love email Jackie Douglas, membership Paris, and detest terrorism” (by Annie manager, at [email protected] to specifically Laurie Gaylor); and “Repeat after me: Whitewater, Wis. request posts. Be specific, e.g., specify The absence of religion is not atheism” Co-President Dan Barker (center) debated Tom Ross (second from left) Nov. “news releases.” Include your full name (by Madeline Ziegler). 17 at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater with about 120 people attending. and mailing address for verification Go to ffrf.org/news/ to check out The resolution was “The Old Testament Is Fiction, Not Fact.” The event was purposes. what’s new. The blog is at patheos.com/ sponsored by the Philosophy Club, the Secular Student Alliance and Set Free, a FFRF recently switched its blog to blogs/freethoughtnow/. Christian campus group. Others pictured (left) are Paul Rains, Set Free presi- the Patheos website to enhance visi- dent; Matthew Shultz, Philosophy Club president; and Scott Janis, SSA chapter president. (Guess if Dan took the affirmative or the negative.)

annual conference of the Florida Humanist Association. FFRF was a co-sponsor, FREEFLO and David Williamson, who directs its Central Florida chapter, hosted the event About 250 skeptics of religion attended Freethought Florida 2015 in Orlando with Joyce Williamson. Speakers included FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel on Nov. 6-8 and heard a stellar schedule of secular speakers. FREEFLO is the (reclining, front and center) and Co-President Dan Barker.

Freedom from Religion Foundation P.O. Box 750 • Madison, WI 53701 • (608) 256-8900 • FFRF.org What is the Freedom From Religion Foundation? Founded in 1978 as a national organization of freethinkers (atheists and agnostics), the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc., works to keep state and church separate and to educate the public about the views of nontheists. The Foundation’s email address is info@ rf.org. Please include your name and physical mailing address with all email correspondence. Blind alley Foundation members wishing to receive online news releases, “action alerts” Richard Cain, South Carolina, says he was working at an agency that shall remain and “Freethought of the Day” should contact info@ rf.org. nameless when he came across this on a road leading to a state corrections facility. Page 28 Freethought Today Madison, Wisconsin December 2015 FFRF defends besieged Texas teacher

FFRF stood up for a middle school pected the teacher to profess that God cultures, religions and views.” the great need for more, not less, in- teacher in Katy, Texas, who came un- is a fact,” FFRF Co-Presidents Annie But Frailey also said, “No student struction on critical thinking skills. It der fire for a critical thinking exercise Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker wrote should ever be forced or threatened should not be verboten or controver- that appeared to offend some people in an Oct. 30 letter to Katy ISD Super- with a failing grade for not denounc- sial to ask students to assess whether a for its questioning of whether God is intendent Alton Frailey. “Yet famous ing his or her faith. I will not tolerate claim is factual. It is this kind of ‘head real. passages from the bible as well as many that at all.” in the sand’ attitude that accounts for As part of the West Memorial Junior denominational doctrines would agree Based on the report from the dis- the deplorable state of science under- High classroom exercise, the teacher with this teacher’s categorization that trict FAQ page online, no mention of standing in our nation, including the had students respond to simple phras- God is not taken on fact or evidence. a failing grade was given to any student fact that about half of all adults reject es, asking whether they were factual ‘Faith is the substance of things hoped (because the exercise was not to be evolution, which is a fact.” claims, opinions or commonplace as- for, the evidence of things not seen.’ — graded) and no one was forced to de- Frailey also stepped close to the sertions. “The fastest land dwelling Hebrews 11:1.” nounce their faith. church/state line when he proclaimed creature is the Cheetah,” read the first Two days after the board meeting, KTRK reported that the worksheet in his statement that he’s “a life-long prompt on the exercise worksheet. the district held a press conference will not be used again in class. Christian.” “There is a God,” read the second. and confirmed that after discussing Gaylor and Barker defended the “It is unfortunate . . . that you as A 12-year-old student was apparently the situation with the teacher and 11 teacher and the exercise. “It is a pity superintendent felt incumbent to dis- so distraught that she went to a school students, it found that “the teacher did that confused thinking and thin skins close you are a ‘life-long Christian,’ board meeting and complained that not ask students at any point to deny by some believing students and their which should be entirely irrelevant in she had an “assignment that questions God. According to the teacher and stu- parents can rule the day at your junior overseeing the district’s secular public my faith and told me God was not real.” dents interviewed, she emphasized to high school. The exaggerated fallout schools,” the letter said. “It appears this young student ex- the students that there are different from this exercise clearly demonstrates FFRF has 790 members in Texas. Freethinkers of note By Paul Heffron at our solstice party. We decided not and Jerry Rauser to charge anything for the CD and to make it part of a new project of pro- moting freethought music. Dan and Annie Laurie Gaylor interviewed Paul It was 20 years ago today, Mr. Bark- on their Freethought Radio program er taught the band to play. Yes, it was in 2012 when he said he’d send the Dan’s inspiration that help start the CD free to listeners who requested it. Freethought Band almost 20 years This was the beginning of sending the ago. We played for the parties, picnics CD without charge to people all over and other atheist-humanist commu- North America. nity events in the Twin Cities area of We created a website, FreethoughtMu- Minnesota. sic.org, for the project. It has resourc- We used Dan Barker songs, oth- es for those interested in freethought er songs we’d located and sometimes music. The website for our CD, Free- modified, and some we’d written our- thoughtBand.org, makes some of our selves. To be freethought songs, they songs available. had to have a vocal with a freethought Recently, we did a national survey message. Fortunately, we had a good on the use of music by atheist and hu- From left are Jerry Rauser, Paul Heffron, Dan Barker and Don Harrer (who vocalist. manist groups. Results are posted on died in 2014). Paul writes, “We were always volunteer and never charged We played not only for the social the “Articles” page of FreethoughtMusic. for playing or for our CD. I’m still willing to send the CD to anyone without events of Minnesota Atheists and Hu- org. A significant number of groups an- charge.” (Contact information is at freethoughtband.org/comments.php.) manists of Minnesota, which were of- swered that they were using or wanted ten joint, but also for the American to use music in their meetings. As you and Freethought of the Day, coverage speak and entertain and play with the Atheists national conference when it would expect of freethinkers, there in other national atheist and humanist Freethought Band. The most recent was in Minneapolis, for Camp Quest was a variety of approaches to the use magazines, and coverage in some re- highlight was hearing Dan play the Minnesota and for the wedding recep- of music. cent freethought books. Steinway grand piano at the new FFRF tion of two local freethinkers. We al- We also noted the addition of mu- The good news is that the new sec- building open house in October. He ways performed as volunteers, without sic at most national and regional free- ular movement has acquired a note- invited Paul to play a number, and he compensation. Music clearly added a thought conferences, the continued worthy musical dimension that seems chose to play Dave Brubeck’s signa- lot to our local activities. production and performance of music likely to grow. ture song, “In Your Own Sweet Way” We eventually made a CD and gave by Dan Barker, the coverage of music Highlights for us were the times because that’s the way we freethinkers one to each of our fellow freethinkers and musicians in Freethought Today when Dan came to the Twin Cities to do it.

Spec l W nter Solst ce / New Yer’s Rec p ent #1 Rec p ent #2 ______G ft Membersh p Offer Nme Nme

G ft Membersh ps 2 for the pr ce of 1— onl $40 ______Address Address Membersh ps reulrl strt t $40 Offer ppl es onl to current FFRF members  v n new U S ft membershps to freethners—not ______renewls for ourself or others No except ons plese Offer exp res C t/Stte/ZIP C t/Stte/ZIP Jn 10, 2016 Rec p ents w ll rece ve  W nter Solst ce crd not f n them of our  ft G ft s deduct ble for ncome-tx purposes to donor Offer exp res Jn 10, 2016 G ft membersh ps  ven b K I would l e to  ve 2  ft membersh ps t onl $40 ______Donor nme ( ou must be current FFRF member—does not ppl to renewls) Return to ______FFRF, PO Box 750 Donor street ddress ______Md son, WI 53701 Donor c t/stte/ZIP ______Me pble to FFRF Donor dt me phone / Em l ddress ( n cse of quest ons)