THE SECULAR CIRCULAR Newsletter of the Humanist Society of Santa Barbara www.SBHumanists.org OCTOBER 2012 October Program: Professor Phil Zuckerman "What is Secular Studies?" Professor Phil Zuckerman spoke to us in 2010 and was invited to return to report on recent developments at Pitzer College (in Claremont, CA) where last year he spear-headed the establishment of the first academic program in Secular Studies in the United States. He will explain what Secular Studies is all about, its academic domain, its vision, and its potential to illuminate an under-studied but growing segment of the population— those who live without religion. Professor Zuckerman received his Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Oregon. He now teaches classes in Classical and Contemporary Sociological Theories; Sociology of Religion; Sociology of Secularity; Atheism, Secularism and Society; and Sociology Through Film. He has published and edited many books and articles, on such topics as: Atheism, Secularity, Morality, Well-Being Why Are Danes And Swedes So Irreligious? Who Would Jesus Torture? The Virtues of Godlessness - The Least Religious Nations Are Also The Most Healthy And Successful Society Without God Sex and Religion Jews and the Christian Right Professor Zuckerman's appearance is sponsored by Merle Betz. Date: October 20, 2012 Location: Patio Room at Vista del Monte. (Park ONLY in spaces marked "VDM".) Time: Doors open at 2:30pm. Program begins at 3:00 pm Cost: $2 members/$5 non-members Dinner: Vista del Monte. $22. RSVP [email protected] or 967-7911. For more details, see Judy Fontana's article below. For More Info: [email protected] or call 769-HSSB 2 The HSSB Secular Circular -- October 2012 President's Column: Atheism+ Under such a banner, atheism is hard to distinguish Roger Schlueter from humanism as defined by the American Humanist Association: [Roger is acting President in Dick Cousineau's temporary absence.] "Humanism is a progressive life stance that, without supernaturalism, affirms our ability Atheism per se seems to be a straightforward and responsibility to lead meaningful, matter. According to Wikipedia: ethical lives capable of adding to the greater good of humanity." "Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a Lately a new term has entered the atheist lexicon: narrower sense, atheism is specifically the "Atheism+". What is that and how does it differ position that there are no deities. Most from atheism and humanism? inclusively, atheism is simply the absence of From my perspective it is just another word that belief that any deities exist." completely overlaps with atheism and humanism as That last sentence can be disputed. Ever since currently practiced in the USA. Our April speaker, Madelyn Murray O’Hair filed her first lawsuit in 1960 Greta Christina, asserts that it is “atheism plus to force bible reading out of Baltimore’s public social justice” (that’s where the “+” sign comes schools, atheism—at least in the United States— from). There is an atheism+ web page that gives has become increasingly broad in practice if not by one definition: definition. In 1963 she founded American Atheists (AA), a currently thriving non-profit organization "Atheism Plus is a term used to designate that our Society is affiliated with. spaces, persons, and groups dedicated to promoting social justice and countering AA is an excellent example of atheist activism. Their misogyny, racism, homo/bi/transphobia, “aims-and-principles” state their more inclusive ableism and other such bigotry inside and perspective: outside of the atheist community." "Atheism may be defined as the mental Under this definition, it is clear where the “plus” attitude which unreservedly accepts the comes from. The concept began with women who supremacy of reason and aims at found the existing atheist community far too establishing a life-style and ethical outlook misogynistic and wanted more focus on social verifiable by experience and scientific justice. method, independent of all arbitrary assumptions of authority and creeds." This is not an organized effort and brings little to nothing to the humanist/atheist/freethought The Atheist Alliance of America pushes the concept community. Some objections to the idea as leading even further: to a schism have been raised but I don’t see much substance there either. My own view is that "AAA's vision is to transform society into atheism+ is a short-lived phenomenon that will one that supports and respects a world view soon be reabsorbed into the overall freethought based on the values of reason, empiricism community. and naturalism, and respects and protects the separation of religion and government." Welcome Back! Former president Charlotte Carver of Goleta has rejoined us. The HSSB Secular Circular -- October 2012 3 for its entry into the WTO, and encouraging Control the Border: Invest in Mexico investment in Vietnam. Likewise, the United States Bill Ong Hing needs to consider an investment model -- with close monitoring of that investment -- in Mexico as Professor of Law, University of San part of comprehensive immigration reform. Francisco Reducing undocumented migration is in Mexico's interest as well; the persistent loss of able-bodied [In place of the usual report on Professor Hing's workers needed to build its infrastructure and talk at the September meeting, we are pleased to economy cannot be good for Mexico. print this article he kindly wrote for us.] If you believe that undocumented Mexican migration is a problem, and you believe that the reason most undocumented migrants come to the United States is to work, then it really does not take a brain surgeon to understand that the way to address the challenge is to help Mexico with its economy and its own unemployment problem. This is especially so if you realize that Mexico has lost countless jobs since NAFTA went into effect in 1994. The effect that bailing out the Mexican economy would have was illustrated in a long-term survey of emigration patterns done by Douglas Massey of Princeton showing that interest in heading to the United States had fallen to its lowest level since at least the 1950s. "No one wants to hear it, but the John Coppejans, Bill Hing, Pat Coppejans flow has already stopped," Massey told the New York Times. "For the first time in 60 years, the net Before the international financial crisis, the traffic has gone to zero and is probably a little bit European Union -- through its European Social negative." The primary reasons: the Mexican birth Fund -- invested huge sums in roads and education rate has fallen to about two children per woman in new, poorer member states and narrowed their from nearly seven in 1970; Mexico's education income gap with the rest of Europe, and workers system and economy have improved to a point stayed home because jobs were created. Similarly, more young people choose to stay (per family the three NAFTA countries should establish a fund income is up 45 percent this decade); and drug to invest in roads, telecommunications, and violence along Mexico's border is likely deterring postsecondary education in Mexico. Mexico lacks those who do think of crossing. It seems that the capital to build the infrastructure that is stepped-up border enforcement and Arizona necessary to narrow the gap with Canada and the SB1070-type laws have little to do with the decline. United States. If its northern neighbors contributed 10 percent of what the EU spends on aid, with wise Whether or not you believe that "net traffic has investments in infrastructure and education, Mexico gone to zero," for those who advocate control of could experience growth at a rate twice that of the borders there is everything to gain by pushing Canada and the United States. Building up the for greater investment in Mexico. On a recent visit central part of the country could relieve congestion to Vietnam, I was struck by the serious efforts that at the border, and the whole system could be better the United States has engaged in over the past managed. Former Mexican President Vicente Fox decade to help Vietnam with its economy, by has urged the United States to invest two percent of entering into a bilateral trade agreement, pushing 4 The HSSB Secular Circular -- October 2012 its GDP in Mexico to narrow the wage gap while “Bible study.” But Stewart soon discovered that the helping the economies of both countries to Club’s real mission is to convert children to compete with China. fundamentalist Christianity and encourage them to proselytize to their “unchurched” peers". Last Focusing on the educational system in Mexico is January Katherine Stewart published her findings in also key. Mexican students fall near the bottom in The Good News Club: The Christian Right's cross-country comparisons on basic literacy, math, Stealth Assault on America's Children, an exposé and science. While the education level of adults in of the clubs' nefarious operations, and things the U.S. is almost thirteen years, in Mexico, the haven't been the same since. On Wednesday, level is about seven. This low level has severe October 17, our Book Club will enthusiastically implications for competitiveness and the standard discuss Katherine's bestseller, as well as its of living of Mexicans. repercussions for Education and American society as we know it. Investments in Mexico also have to be targeted. Mexico's domestic industries need help, for When: Wednesday, October 17,1:30 p.m. example, by using domestic parts and supplies in Where: Judy Fontana's, 259 Moreton Bay Lane #2 production imports. Businesses need financing; (near Fairview and Calle Real in Goleta) 967-7911 many are facing international competition from places like China.