RONALD A. LINDSAY: What Makes Meaning?

CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY April/May 2013 Vol. 33 No.3

Jason Torpy, Guest Feature Editor

TOM FLYNN When Women Led Atheism GRETA CHRISTINA What Does Religion Provide? ARTHUR CAPLAN | RUSSELL BLACKFORD SHADIA DRURY | NAT HENTOFF | OPHELIA BENSON

Introductory Price $4.95 U.S. / $4.95 Can.

Published by the Council for Secular Humanism April/May 2013 Vol. 33 No. 3

CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY

20 ARMY OF GOD: America’s Armed 31 Seeking Reform from Within Forces vs. Their Nontheists Major Raymond Bradley Introduction Jason Torpy, Guest Feature Editor 33 Freethought Enjoys Smoother Sailing at the Naval Academy Note from the Editor Tom Flynn Clifford G. Andrew

22 The State of Our Christian Military 35 Why Chaplains Should Be Contracted, (and What to Do About It) Not Commissioned Jason Torpy Carlos Bertha

28 The Ravages of 37 Apocalypse Nation Wartime Moral Injuries Steven Doloff Gretchen Brendel Mann

EDITORIAL 16 Existentialism: A Philosophy 57 Beyond the Quest for the Historical 4 The Argument from Death and for Secular Humanists Jesus: Memoir of a Discovery Meaninglessness—Again James A. Haught by Thomas L. Brodie Ronald A. Lindsay Reviewed by George A. Wells 17 Tracing ‘Secular Humanism’ Edd Doerr REQUEST FOR ESSAYS 59 The Bible, the School, and the 6 On ‘Why I Am Not a . . .’ LETTERS Constitution: The Clash That Shaped 18 Modern Church-State Doctrine OP-EDS by Steven K. Green Reviewed by Wayne L. Trotta 7 Yes, Virginia, There Was DEPARTMENTS a Twentieth Century 48 Church-State Update Tom Flynn 61 A Provocative People: A Secular PBS’s First Freedom History of the Jews Edd Doerr 8 What Does Religion Provide? by Sherwin T. Wine Greta Christina Reviewed by Edd Doerr 49 Humanism at Large Answer to Stalin 9 Should We Abolish Morality? 62 In Freedom We Trust Michael Paulkovich Russell Blackford by Edward M. Buckner and Michael E. Buckner 52 Faith and Reason 11 The Decay of American Reviewed by Becky Garrison Twenty Christian Questions Democracy, Part 2 Mark Rubinstein Shadia B. Drury 63 Realising Secularism: Austraila and New Zealand 53 Response 12 The Brain of Ariel Sharon edited by Max Wallace A Response to Michael Shermer Arthur Caplan Reviewed by Edd Doerr Ophelia Benson POEM 13 Domestic Drone Danger Deepens by W. F. Lantry Nat Hentoff REVIEWS 55 The Unintended Reformation: 61 Hinges 14 Here Come the ‘Evatheists’ How a Religious Revolution John Shook Secularized Society by Brad S. Gregory 15 Greece Grapples with Blasphemy Reviewed by Brooke Horvath Simon Davis Editorial Staff Editor Thomas W. Flynn Ronald A. Lindsay Associate Editors John R. Shook, Lauren Becker Editorial Managing Editor Andrea Szalanski Columnists Ophelia Benson, Russell Blackford, Arthur Caplan, Greta Christina, Edd Doerr, Shadia B. Drury, Nat Hentoff, Tibor R. Machan Senior Editors Bill Cooke, Richard Dawkins, Edd Doerr, James A. Haught, The Argument from Death and Jim Herrick, Gerald A. Larue, Ronald A. Lindsay, Taslima Nasrin Meaninglessness—Again Contributing Editors Roy P. Fairfield, Charles Faulkner, Levi Fragell, Adolf Grünbaum, Marvin Kohl, Lee Nisbet, J.J.C. Smart ithout God, our lives have no belief in God can provide us with con- Literary Editor Austin MacRae meaning. The faithful can take solation” to the conclusion that there is Assistant Editors Julia Lavarnway comfort in eternal life, in know- a God. Instead, let us assess the truth of Sean Lachut W ing that they and their loved ones will the premises on which this fallacy rests. Permissions Editor Julia Lavarnway survive death. The atheist can have no First, let’s address the claim that religion Art Director Christopher S. Fix Production Paul E. Loynes Sr. hope, no solace, because for the atheist provides consolation. only the grave awaits. One can actually believe in God with- Council for Secular Humanism How often have we heard these out believing in personal immortality, of claims? Too often, but recently we’ve course. That said, most theists, at least Edward Tabash Chair been exposed to another barrage of Board of Directors R. Elisabeth Cornwell in the Christian and Muslim traditions, Kendrick Frazier these bromides, as tiresome as they are have regarded God as the guarantor Barry Kosmin false. of personal immortality. Because death Edward Tabash Jonathan Tobert In the wake of the Sandy Hook trag- ends our lives and, at least at an instinc- Leonard Tramiel edy, a number of religious writers and tive level, most of us want to continue Lawrence Krauss (Honorary) clergy have emphasized the importance living (provided we are not suffering), Chief Executive Officer Ronald A. Lindsay of religious faith as a source of consola- it is a natural human reaction both to Executive Director Thomas W. Flynn tion. Moreover, some have gone further fear death and to hope that somehow Associate Director Lauren Becker and suggested that because religious we can survive death. Similarly, it is a Director, Campus and belief provides hope of eternal life, this natural human reaction to mourn the Community Programs (CFI) Debbie Goddard somehow counts as evidence in favor of death of a loved one and to long for Director, Secular Organizations for Sobriety Jim Christopher the existence of God. An example of this an opportunity to spend time with that Director, African Americans last claim can be found in the essay writ- loved one again. This fear of death for Humanism Debbie Goddard Director of ten by Dennis Prager for the National and the grief we experience provide Development (CFI) Alan Kinniburgh Review titled, “The Atheist Response to powerful incentives for some people to Director of Libraries (CFI) Timothy Binga Sandy Hook.” Prager asserts that in the believe in God. Communications Director Paul Fidalgo Legal Director (CFI) Steven Fox face of death, atheism cannot provide However, the promise of immortal- Database Manager (CFI) Jacalyn Mohr a source of consolation and that the ity, when carefully considered, provides Webmaster Matthew Licata inability of atheism to offer solace to only false hopes. Immortality seems like Staff Pat Beauchamp, Ed Beck, those who have lost loved ones demon- a good thing only if we do not examine Melissa Braun, Shirley strates why “wisdom begins with rever- it too closely. Brown, Cheryl Catania, Eric Chinchón, Matt ence for God.” Huh? When the believer thinks about life Cravatta, Roe Giambrone, Of course, even if it were true that after death, delightful scenes are usu- Jason Gross, Adam Isaak, Lisa Nolan, Paul Paulin, atheism cannot provide consolation, ally conjured up, with the heavenly life Anthony Santa Lucia, this would not prove there is a God. It often pictured as similar to his one, only John Sullivan, Diane Tobin, Vance Vigrass would only show there is no consola- with all the pleasant stuff included and Executive Director Emerita Jean Millholland tion. all the disagreeable stuff excluded. We But let us not spend any more time don’t have too many descriptions of on the illogical inference from “only farting or flossing in heaven. Moreover,

4 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org FREE INQUIRY (ISSN 0272-0701) is published bimonthly by one has the assurance that this pleasant cially desirable or consoling. You can be the Council for Secular Humanism, a nonprofit educational corporation, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664. Phone life will go on . . . and on . . . and on. one with the universe by commingling (716) 636-7571. Fax (716) 636-1733. Copyright ©2013 by That’s the rub, isn’t it? The problem your body or ashes with the good earth, the Council for Secular Humanism. All rights reserved. No part of this periodical may be reproduced without permission of with eternity is precisely that it never and this form of union at least has the the publisher. Periodicals postage paid at Buffalo, N.Y., and ends. Were there a heaven, the tedium virtue of being intelligible. at additional mailing offices. National distribution by Disticor. FREE INQUIRY is indexed in Philosophers’ Index. Printed in would be maddening. It’s no answer to So here’s the dilemma for the be­­ the United States. Postmaster: Send address changes to FREE say that heaven will give you an oppor- INQUIRY, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664. Opinions liever in personal immortality: either im­­ expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the editors or tunity to follow all those dreams you mortality is something that condemns publisher. No one speaks on behalf of the Council for Secular Humanism unless expressly stated. couldn’t pursue on Earth and therefore a person to endure an endless stretch you would not become bored. Eternity, of time or it is a timeless existence that TO SUBSCRIBE OR RENEW conceived as a never-ending stretch of Call toll-free 800-458-1366 (have credit card handy). entails the annihilation of the self— time, would allow us to repeat an infinite Internet: www.secularhumanism.org. and, of course, annihilation of the self Mail: FREE INQUIRY, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664. number of activities an infinite number is what we hoped to avoid through Subscription rates: $35.00 for one year, $58.00 for two of times—and there still would be no end years, $84.00 for three years. Foreign orders add $12 per year for surface mail. Foreign orders send U.S. funds drawn on a in sight, because there is no end. U.S. bank; American Express, Discover, MasterCard, or Visa And those loved ones one misses? If are preferred. they are to maintain their identity and Single issues: $5.95 each. Shipping is by surface mail in U.S. not be some simulacrum, they’ll come (included). For single issues outside U.S.: Canada 1–$3.05; 2–3 $5.25; 4–6 $8.00. Other foreign: 1–$6.30; 2–3 $11.40; with all the baggage they had here on 4–6 $17.00. Earth, including all those relatives you CHANGE OF ADDRESS couldn’t stand. You’ll be reunited with Mail changes to FREE INQUIRY, ATTN: Change of Address, P.O. your love and her Uncle Joe’s puns too. “If heavenly life is so utterly Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664. Call Customer Service: 716-636-7571, ext. 200. Forever. absorbing that it would E-mail: [email protected]. Of course, the theologian and the obliterate any awareness sophisticated believer will protest that BACK ISSUES Back issues through Vol. 23, No. 3 are $6.95 each. Back issues this is a naïve view of immortality. It of time, it would obliterate Vol. 23, No. 4 and later are $5.95 each. 20% discount on will not be an insufferable, interminable orders of 10 or more. Call 800-458-1366 to order or to ask for ‘me’ as well.” a complete listing of back issues. expanse of time but rather “timeless- REPRINTS/PERMISSIONS ness.” One will not notice the passage To request permission to use any part of FREE INQUIRY, write to of time because there is no succession of FREE INQUIRY, ATTN: Julia Lavarnway, Permissions Editor, P.O. time in eternity; there is only an endless Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664. “now.” WHERE TO BUY FREE INQUIRY FREE INQUIRY is available from selected book and magazine But this is a dodge. If one gives this sellers nationwide. notion any thought, it is apparent that ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS it provides only a semantic solution Complete submission guidelines can be found on the web at to the problem of eternal boredom. immortality. (If you want to call this www.secularhumanism.org/fi/details.html. Among other things, this argument pre- Requests for mailed guidelines and article submissions should “Lindsay’s Dilemma,” I will not object.) be addressed to: Article Submissions, ATTN: Tom Flynn, FREE supposes such a radical transformation Upon analysis, then, religious belief INQUIRY, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664. of our nature after death that it would provides consolation only to those who LETTERS TO THE EDITOR make preservation of our personal iden- Send submissions to Letters Editor, FREE INQUIRY, P.O. Box don’t think too hard about its promises. tity problematic. We are time-bound 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664 or e-mail aszalanski@center If they did, they would realize one can- forinquiry.net. animals. Further, our self-consciousness not provide a coherent description of For letters intended for publication, please include name, address depends on the passage of time. If (including city and state), and daytime telephone number (for immortality that makes it desirable. verification purposes only). Letters should be 300 words or fewer heavenly life is so utterly absorbing that and pertain to previous FREE INQUIRY articles. But isn’t it also true that atheism pro- it would obliterate any awareness of vides no consolation, because atheists The mission of the Council for Secular Humanism is to advocate time, it would obliterate “me” as well. and defend a nonreligious life stance rooted in science, natural- Self-awareness requires time, even if it accept the finality of death? Moreover, istic philosophy, and humanist ethics and to serve and support adherents of that life stance. is only a few nanoseconds. If immortal- or so some religious maintain, with ity means nothing more than a timeless, atheism there is no meaning to our mystical union with God or the uni- lives. At least if there’s a God, we have verse—a union that entails the obliter- the satisfaction of being part of some ation of the self—it doesn’t seem espe- cosmic plan; our lives have a purpose,

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 5 even if death ends our existence. like the way to have one’s life acquire life has no meaning without God. If Here we must challenge two claims meaning; it seems more like exploita- anything, the existence of a deity would often made but seldom defended by tion by some more powerful being—a actually be an impediment to our efforts the religious. One is that something being that doesn’t even deign to share to give our lives meaning. must last forever to have real value; the the details of his plan with us. (“You’re But we need now to return to the ini- other is that only God can invest our human; you wouldn’t understand.”) The tial question that inspired this essay, lives with meaning. Baltimore Catechism states that the pur- namely, how can atheism offer consola- In answering the former claim, one pose God imposed on all of us is “to tion, especially in the context of the death cannot do better than to quote Bertrand know him, to love him, to serve him in of a child? To begin, recognize it for the Russell, who observed, “Happiness is this world and to be happy with him tragedy it is. Losing a child is tragic, and nonetheless true happiness because it forever in the next.” If one omits the that tragic loss should be acknowledged must come to an end, nor do thought reference to an afterlife, this assertion and not obscured. Pre­tending it hasn’t and love lose their value because they could easily be made about any totali- happened only de­­means that child’s life. are not everlasting.” Life is good. It’s tarian dictator. In recognizing the depth of this loss we good even though it is transitory. Indeed, Meaning and purpose aren’t things also recognize the inestimable worth and one can argue it is precisely because our that can be forced on you. If a person value of the child, his or her uniqueness as lives are finite that we properly regard is to find meaning, it must be forged an individual—not as a small part of some them as valuable. That smile, that kiss, by that person. One can give one’s life vast, cosmic, incomprehensible plan. Our our child’s first words—all the moments meaning by asserting one’s autonomy, con­solation for the loss of a child, or for we treasure have value because they are making use of one’s time, and giving anyone close to us, is that we have shared irreplaceable, not part of some endless shape and direction to one’s life. Each our life and our love with them. There is chain of fungible events. decision we make does matter, does no need to look for something beyond As far as meaning goes, I’m not have significance, because we will not that because, if we truly loved them, persuaded that only God can give our have a second chance and because it is there is nothing greater than that. lives meaning. (And it troubles me that our decision, not the implementation some atheists accept this perspective, of a plan imposed by an conceding the high ground to theists. overlord. Sheep may need a Why?) How exactly does being a small master; humans do not. Ronald A. Lindsay is the president and CEO of the Center for Inquiry and cog in some vast cosmic plan give one’s It’s time we finally rid the Council for Secular Humanism. He is the author of Future Bioethics: life meaning? To me that doesn’t seem ourselves of the canard that Overcoming Taboos, Myths, and Dogmas (Prometheus Books, 2008).

Request for Essays on ‘Why I am Not a . . .’

During its first decade, Free Inquiry was Essays must be 1,300 words or less .docx, or .rtf format. All submissions will known for its series of essays titled “Why and must be titled “Why I Am Not a become the property of the Council for I Am Not a . . . .” Inspired by Bertrand [religion or life-stance descriptor].” Any Secular Humanism. Any author desiring Russell’s short book Why I Am Not a writer who now holds a nontheistic re­­turn of a physical submission in the Christian, each article detailed a writer’s worldview and held a significantly dif- event of nonacceptance must enclose intellectual and moral odyssey from a ferent theistic or nontheistic viewpoint a self-addressed stamped envelope childhood religious belief to his or her earlier in life is invited to recount the bearing sufficient postage to return current humanist or atheist convictions. circumstances of his or her former life the manuscript and any digital media In a future issue of Free Inquiry, we will stance and the process by which he or accompanying it. Submissions may be devote a cover feature to a new set she moved to a nontheistic perspective. published in the magazine, online, or of essays by contemporary humanists, Submitted articles must be new and both, at the editors’ discretion. Each atheists, seculars, and freethinkers, shar- exclusive to Free Inquiry—that is, they author whose submission is published ing how and why they left their former must not have been previously pub- in the magazine will receive two com- faiths. We hope to include entries such lished, either in print or electronically, as “Why I Am Not a Presbyterian,” “Why and must not be under consideration plimentary physical copies of that issue. I Am Not a Christian Scientist,” “Why I for publication elsewhere. For this fea- No further compensation will be paid to Am Not a Mormon,” “Why I Am Not a ture only, submissions will be accepted authors. The last day for submissions is Muslim” (with apologies to Ibn Warraq), as a physical manuscript, a physical April 30, 2013. and many more. Also fair game: “Why I manuscript accompanied by digital file Please send either a proposal or a Am Not a Humanist” (if the author has (on a thumb drive or cd-rom), a digital finished essay to Essays, Free Inquiry, abandoned humanism for atheism) or file attached to an e-mail, or as text P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226- “Why I Am Not an Atheist” (if the author included in the body of an e-mail. Digital 0664 or via e-mail to editor@secular has abandoned atheism for humanism). files must be in Windows-readable .doc, humanism.org.—The Editors

6 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Tom Flynn OP-ED

Yes, Virginia, There Was a Twentieth Century

eader alert: the sentence that that they identified with no religious later). With the rise of a new generation, follows will include more slashes denomination first exceeded 10 per- that phenomenon has repeated. This Rthan I have ever penned—oops, cent. Multiple factors underlie the feroc- time, though, historical myopia may add I’m showing my age, keyboarded—in ity of online disputes over misogyny in venom to a clash that threatens to cor- my life. our movement and its correction—and rode the movement. If any topic in our movement has one of them seems to be a lack of histor- With that in mind, let’s rediscover liberated more virtual ink than the cur- ical perspective. atheism’s “feminist golden age.” rent debate/flame war over feminism/ Both the number of Americans who The mists of ancient epochs creep misogyny in atheism/secular humanism/ reject denominational labels and the back to reveal—well, the early 1960s. secularism/freethought, I don’t know smaller number who self-identify as Most Americans thought organized un­ what it is/might be. atheists have swelled abruptly since the belief did not exist, and they weren’t far Phalanxes of words have been spewed­ millennium’s turn. Moreover, younger wrong. A U.S. freethought movement in the blogosphere and on social media Americans identify as “Nones” or athe- that had been prominent in the nine- about gender imbalance in the movement ists at rates sharply higher than their teenth century and still active into the generally and at conferences; shabby elders. The result has been a tsunami of 1930s had largely disappeared. Joseph treatment of women, nowhere more so youthful activists in whose experience than in online discussions of that very organized unbelief didn’t exist until the subject; and the movement’s supposed 2000s. Of course these younger activists long-standing paucity of women lead- are most strongly represented online. In “It wasn’t that long ago that the ers. In all of this, of course, there is much my review of Susan Jacoby’s excellent atheist side of the movement truth. Attendees at movement events book The Great Agnostic (FI, February/ was—hang onto your seats— remain far more male (and white and March 2013), I regretted that this youth- old) than the general population. ful cohort is “too likely to imagine that led exclusively by women.” Sexual harassment is a real problem atheism began ex nihilo with Harris, at some events; gender-based harass- Dennett, Dawkins, and Hitchens.” ment is more like a cancer, afflicting Old-timers—by whom I mean anyone way too much online dialogue. who was involved with organized unbe- McCabe, the most prolific atheist writer But the claim that our movement has lief before the so-called New Atheism*— of the late nineteenth and early twenti- a long-standing paucity of female lead- may recall a similar phenomenon. How eth centuries, had died in 1955. (McCabe ership is more questionable. Undeniably, many atheists and humanists­­ active was British, but his works were ubiqui- leadership today is top-heavy with older in the seventies, eighties, and nineties tous among American freethinkers after white males, and that’s as sadly true in recognized the names of Joseph Lewis being republished stateside by Emanuel the Council for Secular Humanism and or Emanuel Haldeman-Julius or Joseph Haldeman-Julius. A socialist-turned en­­ the Center for Inquiry as it is elsewhere. McCabe, much less Frances Wright? For tre­preneur, Haldeman-Julius largely Still, it wasn’t that long ago that the most, the world of atheism began with invented­ direct-mail book marketing atheist side of the movement was— Madalyn Murray O’Hair (more on her and the paperback book. Starting in the hang onto your seats—led exclusively twenties, he had sold tens of millions by women. *The embarrassing fact about the New Athe­ of his “Little Blue Books,” mostly free- Of course, to appreciate that fact, ism is that almost nothing about it is new. See thought and sex-education titles. He one must recognize that the movement my “Why I Don’t Believe in the New Atheism” (FI, April/May 2010). For information on the died in 1951.) Joseph Lewis, essentially has a history stretching back further movement’s history, from the ancient Indians the sole public face of American atheism than 2006 (The God Delusion by Richard and Greeks to, yes, Frances Wright until just in the forties and fifties, was in his dot- Dawkins)—or 2004 (The End of Faith by before the supposed New Atheism emerged, consult biographical historical entries in my age and would die in 1968. By the early Sam Harris)—or even 2000, when the The New Encyclopedia of Unbelief (Pro- (Continued on page 40) number of Americans telling pollsters metheus Books, 2007).

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 7 Greta Christina OP-ED

What Does Religion Provide?

his is a question a lot of atheists belief in a supernatural afterlife. Period. dominating a force religion is in their and humanists have been asking Everything else that religion happens area and what religions are or are not Tthemselves: What does religion to provide—social support, rituals and currently doing for them. provide to people? What do people rites of passage, a sense of tradition, a In San Francisco, where I live, there’s get out of it? Why do they like it? Why sense of purpose and meaning, safety lots and lots and lots of stuff avail- do they stay with it even when they nets, day care, counseling, networking, able for people who aren’t religious. don’t like it? And how can atheists and activities for families, avenues for char- There are secular social events, political humanists provide some or all of what itable and social justice work, events organizing, charitable work, social jus- religion provides . . . so that people who that are inspiring and fun, ongoing tice work, activities, and entertainment are questioning their faith will know companionship and continuity—none having nothing whatsoever to do with that atheism is a viable option and so of that is particular to religion. All of it religion. So if people aren’t religious, that people who do leave religion will can be gotten elsewhere. they don’t have to turn to the atheist have a safe place to land? I do think it’s interesting to ask why community to meet their various needs. I think this is a hugely important these human needs have traditionally And if people aren’t religious here, they question, and I’m delighted that our been met by religion. Is it a histori- won’t be treated as pariahs. There’s community is working so hard to re­ cal accident? Is it because religion has sometimes conflict between atheists spond to it. But recently, I’ve started been so relentlessly dominating and and believers, but coming out as an controlling? Is there something about atheist here isn’t a social death knell. Instead of asking “What does belief in the supernatural that makes it In the Bible Belt, that’s a lot less true. religion provide?,” let’s ask easier for people to organize around it? There, a huge amount of socializing, When we look at more secular societies charity work, safety-net support, eco- ourselves “What do and the ways that they’re flourishing nomic and political networking, family people need?” though, it becomes clear that, what- activities, and so on takes place through ever the reasons are that these human churches. You can’t turn around with- needs have traditionally been met by out someone asking you, “What church thinking that, as vital as this question religion, they certainly don’t have to do you go to?” Religion there is a hugely is, perhaps we should be reframing it. I be. And when we ask ourselves, “What dominant force in people’s everyday think the question “What does religion does religion provide?,” I think we’re lives, and coming out as an atheist can provide?” may not be all that useful. I buying into the idea that religion does mean becoming a pariah. It can mean think that instead we should be asking something special. I’d rather see us ask, losing jobs, homes, and custody of kids, ourselves, “What do people need?” “What do people need that religion as well as the love and support of family I’d like to reframe it this way for currently provides?” and friends. a couple of reasons. For one thing, I But mostly, I’d like to reframe this So atheists in San Francisco are, on don’t want to give religion any credit question because I think it will help us the whole, going to need something that it doesn’t deserve. I don’t think be better organizers. I think it will help very different from their atheist com- religion actually provides all that much us be more nimble and more flexible. munities than atheists in the Bible Belt. that people can’t get in other ways. In What people need varies tremendously: When we started organizing the fact, I would argue that there’s exactly it depends on their region, their cul- Godless Perverts Story Hour in San Fran­ one thing, and only one thing, that ture, their subculture, their upbringing, cisco, these questions were very much religion uniquely provides: a belief in their economic status, and just on the on our minds. Here’s the genesis of the supernatural. Religion gives people individual person. And what people the Godless Perverts Story Hour: David a belief in a supernatural creator or need from atheist communities varies Fitzgerald and I, who were traveling to creators, and/or a belief in a supernat- tremendously, depending on all those (Continued on page 40) ural caretaker or caretakers, and/or a things . . . and also depending on how

8 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Russell Blackford OP-ED

Should We Abolish Morality?

rominent philosopher Joel Marks “torturing babies is morally wrong” just criteria, because what we want from a has published a new book on the means “torturing babies causes pain car ultimately depends on our desires Ptopic of moral skepticism: Ethics and suffering,” then someone who is (say, for reliable transport). If I point without Morals: In Defense of Amorality indifferent to others’ pain and suffer- out that there is eventually a subjective (Routledge, 2013). Marks was formerly ing has not been given a reason not to element in judgments about the beauty a moral realist with essentially Kantian torture babies. In that case, the claim of a sunset, the merits of a novel, or the intuitions, but in recent times he has that “torturing babies is morally wrong” engineering of a motor vehicle, no one had something of a (de)conversion ex­­ does not provide the person with ines- seems to worry. But when this simple perience, coming to the view that there capable guidance as to how he or she point is made about moral judgments, it is no intellectual justification for belief should act. It only guides someone who often produces consternation and con- in an objective morality. actually cares about pain and suffering. trived forms of intellectual resistance. Ethics without Morals is published in In that sense—the sense that matters in an expensive hardback edition, though metaethical debates—it is not an objec- perhaps a paperback version will follow. tive claim after all. “Why do so many people who I doubt that it will attract more than a Doubtless, beings like us who (in have been prepared to reject niche audience of academics interested most cases) do care about such things in metaethical issues, but it deserves a as pain and suffering have good reasons claims about the existence of a wide readership. As the success of The not to torture babies, but those reasons god . . . hold on to the idea of an Moral Landscape by Sam Harris shows, are grounded in our subjectivity—in objective morality, a notion that such books can find an audience in what we actually do care about. There seems scarcely coherent?” the general market, though it helps to are, admittedly, plenty of objectively have a large trade publisher and name true claims in the vicinity (“torturing recognition with the public. Ethics with- babies causes suffering”), but claims At this point, Marks has some- out Morals is not written in academic about moral wrongness are not objec- thing much more radical to say. Not jargon and is quite accessible—indeed, tive in the sense that worries metaethi- only does he deny that “metaphysical it is a pleasure to read. Furthermore, it cists and seems to be taken for granted morality” exists (I agree), but he goes raises an important issue: Why do so by most ordinary people. You can try further and argues that we’d be better many people who have been prepared to defend the objectivity of morality by off (according to his values, which he to reject claims about the existence of a equivocating between different senses expects most of his readers to share) if god, or such metaphysical claims such as of “objective,” but no one has ever we stopped making moral judgments that we have libertarian free will, hold shown that moral claims are, in the rel- altogether. He has a long discussion of on to the idea of an objective morality, evant sense, inescapably action-guiding how the practice of making moral judg- a notion that seems scarcely coherent? or “objectively prescriptive.” ments does little good and much harm. Academic and popular attempts to All of this is rather technical, and Though he doesn’t use the example, defend objective morality are manifestly you might think it ultimately makes no he’d think it better (according to his/ weak. One approach is to argue that difference. After all, we make many our humane values) simply to express moral claims are really just naturalistic other important value judgments that our disapproval of torturing babies, claims in disguise; so “torturing babies are ultimately grounded in the subjec- and to draw vivid attention to the pain is morally wrong” means (perhaps) tivities of human beings—judgments and suffering it causes, rather than “torturing babies causes pain and suf- about beauty, for example, literary to say that it is “wrong” and suggest fering.” A statement that some action merit, or ordinary nonmoral goodness (falsely) that a person who still wants causes pain and suffering can, of course, and badness—and no one seems to to do it is just mistaken. Again, Marks be objectively true. But that is not the care. We won’t stop saying “This is a tends to avoid technical language, but sense of “objective” that is needed. If good car” if the vehicle meets certain (Continued on page 41)

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 9 Take action with us.

You can help promote science, reason, and secular values. Imagine a world where religion and pseudoscience do not influence public policy—a world where religion no longer enjoys a privileged position. The Center for Inquiry is working toward these goals and educating the public to use reason, science, and secular values rather than religion and pseudoscience to establish public policy. The Center for Inquiry advances its mission through advocacy, education, and outreach programs. No other organizations advance science and secularism on as many fronts as CFI and its affiliates, the Council for Secular Humanism and the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry.

Donate today. When you make a donation to CFI, you become a member of a worldwide movement of humanists, skeptics, atheists, and freethinkers—all working together to promote the secular worldview and give voice to your values. Our major goals include: n Protecting the rights of nonbelievers n Advocating for science-based medicine n Sustaining and expanding the secular movement Make your most generous gift today, or request information on planned giving or making a bequest. To receive a brochure elaborating on what we are doing to achieve our important goals and how you can help, please complete and return the attached card or contact us at: Center for Inquiry Development Office PO Box 741 Amherst, NY 14226 1.800.818.7071 [email protected] www.centerforinquiry.net/donate Shadia B. Drury OP-ED

The Decay of American Democracy, Part 2

n the first part of this essay (FI, middle class with enough disposable the courage of his convictions and was October/November 2012), I argued income to buy the goods. Obama could willing to defend them and explain why Iagainst the American inclination have criticized the fanciful, macho, he thought they were the best policies. to think that democracy is the best and self-congratulatory concept of the If Obama were as committed to form of government and that all good self-made entrepreneur as no part of veracity as Pericles, he might have laid things come with democracy. Instead, the American dream properly under- before the American people the diffi- I maintained that like any other form stood. But he did not. Veracity would cult reality of their predicament in the of government, democracy needs at have required him to reject the whim- following speech: least four virtues, especially among the sical myth of the self-made man (isn’t The deep problems of the coun- ruling classes, if it is to be a good or it almost always a man?) who emerges try did not start on my watch, or decent form of government. I discussed out of the womb fully grown, with all even under the watch of George W. two of these virtues in the last essay: his potentialities fully cultivated. This Bush. We both inherited a situation that is ultimately unsustainable. courage and moderation. I argued that mythical American can pull himself up their decline among the ruling classes by his bootstraps, even when he has is reason for thinking that American no boots! Social justice would require democracy is in a condition of decay Obama to acknowledge that those who and is therefore in no position to serve succeed cannot do so without the help “Most of the lies in American as an example to the world. In this of their fellow citizens, to whom they essay, I will focus on two more virtues owe a debt that the graduated income politics are intended to that are in a state of disarray: veracity tax is partly intended to address. conceal the severe erosion and social justice. These two virtues Obama’s inspiring rhetoric not- of social justice....” are intimately related because most of withstanding, his inspiring rhetoric has the lies told in American politics are led people to compare him to Pericles, intended to conceal the severe erosion the consummate Athenian leader who of social justice, which is the equitable made democratic Athens legendary, distribution of benefits and burdens in despite its gross shortcomings. Pericles any given society. had a clear appreciation of the impor- Since World War II, American pros- perity has relied heavily on cheap American politics has such an aver- tance of veracity in a democracy. He oil. Until 1972, American oil com- sion to truth that it is widely described was a bona fide democrat who believed panies controlled the price of oil as a “gaffe” when a politician acciden- that the people need to know the truth world-wide. But that ended with tally speaks truthfully, as Barack Obama if they are to make the best decisions. the creation of the Organization of Oil Exporting Countries (OPEC) and did when he declared during the pres- After all, it is unreasonable to expect the oil embargo of 1973. The price idential election of 2012 that “If you people to exercise good judgment if of oil jumped. America’s balance of have a successful business, you haven’t they are not well informed or cogni- trade went from being in the black built it yourself.” Obama was swiftly zant of the facts. Unlike modern politi- to being in the red. This is why lambasted by his opponents for reject- cians, Pericles did not waste his energy the American way of life is unsus- tainable and unwise. In the elec- ing the American dream. He should massaging the facts and manipulating tion of 1980, Jimmy Carter made have defended his statement. A success- the people. He made a point of tell- his famous “malaise speech,” in ful business requires infrastructure pro- ing them the truth, even when it was which he told Americans that in the vided by the state—roads and railways not pleasant. He presented them with absence of cheap oil, the American way of life cannot be sustained; the to bring its goods to markets, education tough choices, where every choice was country is living beyond its means to develop creative skills, and a thriving fraught with dangers. Pericles also had (Continued on page 42)

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 11 Arthur L. Caplan OP-ED

The Brain of Ariel Sharon

riel Sharon has been in the news Since the second stroke, he has shown similar patterns of brain activity to those over the past few months even no reliable signs of awareness or con- found in scans of healthy tennis-players. Athough he has not moved a mus- sciousness. So what are we to make of this? cle, uttered a word, or showed any sign Some of his family, members of Can doctors say with certainty that Ariel of consciousness since 2006. The fact which it is reported visit him regularly, Sharon won’t recover? Is Sharon really that he is able to make headlines while feel that the diagnosis is wrong. They “in there,” unable to move but alert in a persistent vegetative state (PVS) say that he is able to move a finger and and awake? Should we ever remove life shows both the impact the “Lion of shows some signs of responsiveness. His support from someone who has been Israel” had on the world and how far doctors have said that the strokes have severely brain injured by a stroke, trau- hope can push logic when the subject is so damaged his brain that no functional matic injury, or asphyxiation? Should the artificial maintenance of life. mental activity is possible. every person in a permanent coma be Sharon was the eleventh prime min- The family has not given up hope subjected to the same tests as Sharon ister of Israel, serving from 2001 to for his recovery. Last January, a team of before the removal of life support is 2006. Many believe him to have been doctors and neuroscientists from Israel’s permitted or continued? These ques- Israel’s greatest general. Others see him Soroka University Medical Center was tions are hardly trivial; families and as a war criminal. Still others view him hired to subject the now eighty-four- health-care teams all over the world year-old Sharon to a series of sophisti- face them every day. cated brain scans. They were surprised Can Sharon come back? His family, at what they saw. many Israelis, and other political admir- “I do not know of a single case The team showed the former prime ers fervently hope so. But older patients, minister pictures of random houses, especially eighty-four-year-olds who in which any adult has fully which he would not be expected to be have been incapacitated by two strokes recovered . . . from a persistent familiar with. Then they flashed a pic- and remained unresponsive for seven vegetative state.” ture of his own house before his eyes. years, do not come back. In fact, I do not When the images of his own home know of a single case in which any adult were shown, areas of his brain “lit up” has fully recovered or come anywhere with activity. Similarly, his brain “fired close to a full recovery from a PVS. up” in response to hearing family voices Is Sharon “in there”? Let’s hope not. but not when nonsensical gibberish Being trapped in your own body as a brilliant politician; some despise sounds were played for him. year after year unable to move anything him as a turncoat who compromised Sharon is not the first person to or communicate in any way would be the best interests of the State of Israel surprise doctors who doubted that any- horrific. Few people could endure such late in his political career when he was thing could be going on in a brain a fate. Few would want to. While the willing to negotiate the return of land housed in a body that had been oth- temptation is to see hope in brain pat- for peace with the Palestinians. erwise unresponsive for years. Other terns, there is every reason instead to What has not been in dispute until patients with massive brain injuries associate them with misery. recently is that Sharon is massively dis- have shown some brain activity when What about the brain activity? The abled, both physically and mentally. He tested using high-powered scanners, data that the doctors and scientists see has been diagnosed as being in a PVS including one notorious case in which is very hard to interpret. Something is since suffering first a minor stroke and a twenty-three-year-old woman who going on in Sharon’s brain when he then another massive one on January 4, enjoyed playing tennis before becom- sees or hears familiar things. That said, 2006. A respirator and a feeding tube ing severely brain-injured was asked to is he really aware of what he sees, or are have kept him alive for seven years at imagine different scenarios, including well-worn neural pathways just firing Sheba Hospital in Tel Hashomer, Israel. playing tennis, and showed strikingly (Continued on page 39)

12 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Nat Hentoff OP-ED

Domestic Drone Danger Deepens

ews you may have missed: in of videotaping the facial expressions of threat to privacy and civil liberties or July 2012, Congress passed—and people on the ground from hundreds of providing law enforcement officials NPresident Barack Obama went on to feet in the air, will usher in a new age of with greater leeway to use drones con- sign—the Federal Aviation Administration surveillance in American society.” ditioned on their first acquiring court-is- Reauthorization Act, which authorized And dig this: “Not even those in­ sued warrants.” Warrants alone will not the domestic use of pilotless drones by doors, in the privacy of their homes, will protect us. units of government, including intelli- be safe from these aerial spies, which gence agencies and local police. can be equipped with technology capa- A number of police agencies had ble of peering through walls.” “However intently we search the already been using drones for surveillance “In addition to their surveillance (that is, without Hellfire missiles), but when capabilities,” Whitehead added, police skies right above us, we’ll know the Obama administration legalized this may be interested to hear that “drone very little of how and when we are evermore-powerful technology for use on manufacturers have confirmed that being drone-tracked.” the home front, Jay Stanley of the American drones can also be equipped with auto- Civil Liberties Union told Forbes that stricter matic weapons, grenade launchers, tear rules were needed because “We don’t want gas and tasers.” to wonder, every time we step out the front A careful researcher, Whitehead has Accordingly, Whitehead provided door, whether some eye in the sky is watch- also found certain drone vulnerabilities a model resolution to the General ing our every move.” that can unintentionally make them Assembly of Virginia “for limitations on Alas, however intently we search the dangerous. He explained that “There the use of evidence obtained from the skies right above us, we’ll know very little are also a number of safety issues domestic use of drones and to preclude of how and when we are being drone- involved with drone technology, with the domestic use of drones equipped tracked. That’s why various privacy orga- the paramount concern being that with anti-personnel devices.” It reads: nizations—and certain uneasy members drones have a history of malfunctioning WHEREAS the rapid implementa- of Congress—continue to demand rules in mid-air. Drones are also vulnerable tion of drone technology through- to ensure that domestic drone use meets to hackers, allowing unauthorized per- out the United States poses a serious threat to the privacy and constitu- Fourth Amendment standards. sons to access information gathered via tional rights of the American people As usual, the most insistent consti- drone or to take control of the drone’s . . . and WHEREAS the federal gov- tutionalist demanding that local, state, flight path.” ernment and the Commonwealth and federal governments safeguard our Are you nervous yet? Ponder this: of Virginia have thus far failed to provide reasonable legal restric- privacy rights in this new era of surveil- “Many local police departments through- tions on the use of drones within lance is John Whitehead, head of the out the country, including in Florida and the United States, and whereas Rutherford Institute, whose attorneys California, have already begun utilizing police departments throughout the country have begun implementing provide free representation to anyone drones in police procedures without any drone technology absent any guid- being stripped of a range of constitu- real regulations in place,” Whitehead ance or guidelines from law makers: tional liberties. But making a case in court reported. How convenient for them. NOW, THEREFORE, LET IT BE RE­­­­ against what these drones are actually In a further warning on the care SOLVED, THAT THE City Council of Charlottesville, Virginia, calls doing would challenge George Orwell, needed to avoid summary, danger- on the United States Congress were he still among us. As Whitehead ously inadequate restrictions on drones, and the General Assembly of the wrote in an illuminating January 21, 2013, Whitehead warned against adopting Commonwealth of Virginia, to adopt press release: “These drones, some of “legislation too narrow in scope to have legislation prohibiting information which are deceptively small and capable any serious impact on the widespread (Continued on page 43)

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 13 John Shook OP-ED

Here Come the ‘Evatheists’

ewly elected Arizona Congress­ atheology phi­losophers or ideology-driven ago was just the start. Recent decades woman Kyrsten Sinema isn’t atheist organizations. For whatever personal have seen the rise of the igtheist, the Na believer in God, which is not reasons—a mat­ter of private choice, public nontheist, the faitheist, and the apatheist. news. But now it seems that she’s not politics, etc.—there’s no way to assume Those alternatives had mostly to do with a nonbeliever either. Intellectuals prick that a preferred label for their lack of figuring out one’s stance with regard to up their ears when informed that a belief will be automatically and gratefully religion. Now we are dealing with a novel logical dichotomy, such as “believer or ac­cepted. People should be allowed to yet inevitable development: discontent nonbeliever,” is in fact a false dichotomy. speak up about labels put on them. The with accepting religion’s God has evolved Let philosophers rethink where logic Nones are growing up right before our toward discontent with accepting­ secular fails. We need to rethink how labels eyes. labels. I suspect that Sinema has plenty of work in the secular world of the “Nones.” Congresswoman Sinema has no prob­ company among the Nones. Unlike the lem—as far as anyone can tell—with apatheists, who can’t care enough about her placement among the Nones, since God or religion to even utter a word she’s been open about her nonaffiliated of choice either way, she represents a status. And she hasn’t refused the label different attitude—of caring just enough of “secular,” because she is obviously a to re­nounce any label. Congresswoman secular person by choice and defends Sinema has already positioned herself “Labels about one’s self-identity, secular values in politics. Those are just with respect to belief. Now she has every how one is perceived, and how demographic classifications that are right to position herself with re­spect to nonbelief. one perceives oneself, are, shared by a large and growing percentage of Americans. But any labels that enter To conclude with a tone of irony, let’s in a word, personal.” the territory of self-identification, such as call these nouveau Nones the “evatheists,” “atheist,” are an entirely different matter. because they prefer to evade the whole Labels about one’s self-identity, how issue. They are the Nones of the Nones, and they are here to stay. But don’t you one is perceived, and how one perceives dare call one of them an “evatheist” to oneself, are, in a word, personal. And his or her face—although a quick denial when it gets personal, people demand would only prove how well this label fits. and expect control. We can only hope for a future where As researched by blogger Hemant Demographers and sociologists who more secular people can control their Mehta, Sinema denies being any sort of study the secular world have long under- identities as they wish, without worry­ing atheist. According to her spokesperson, stood how this works. That’s how the Nones about religious or nonreligious labels. “Kyrsten believes the terms non-theist, were detected in the religious survey data— atheist, or non-believer are not befitting more and more people weren’t choosing of her life’s work or personal character. the offered labels of Catholic, Protestant, She does not identify as any of those.” Jew, and so on. The Nones were rejecting Since she isn’t announcing that she the offered identities and picking out where does believe in God either, what are we to they “belonged” in the religious world. Now make of this development? One obvious there are Nones clearly re­ conclusion is that the rise of the Nones, that jecting the labels offered John Shook is director of education and a senior research explosive growth of people unaffiliated them from the secular world. fellow at the Center for Inquiry. He has authored and edited with any religion, has brought with it an This phenomenon is more than a dozen books, is a coeditor of three philosophy independence of mind. No longer will those nothing new. The rise of journals, and lectures and debates across the United States among the Nones complacently accept the agnostics against the and around the world. categorizations or labels from egghead atheists over a century

14 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Simon Davis OP-ED

Greece Grapples with Blasphemy

owhere is the European crisis that That brings us to blasphemy. The Golden Dawn’s position is not followed the Wall Street crash of Greek penal code contains two pro- straightforward. Party members have N2008—and especially the subse- visions making blasphemy a criminal been accused in numerous beatings quent effort to combat it—felt more offense, with a penalty of imprisonment of immigrants and gays. Golden Dawn sharply than in Greece. The country is for up to two years. Although the provi- expresses open hostility toward both suffering an economic depression after sions have rarely been invoked in recent groups, primarily immigrants, in its rhet- five years of rapidly declining output years, under the law all that is required oric. Leadership within the Orthodox with no end in sight as it fails to meet for prosecution is for a complaint to Church of Greece is not generally sup- the demands of the European Union be filed, after which a district attor- portive of Golden Dawn, though there (EU) and the International Monetary ney may act. Legal experts and human- are high-profile exceptions. But the Fund (IMF), who are since a 2010 bail- rights advocates have long protested church’s highest body, the Holy Synod, out its largest creditors. Greece is also these anachronisms, but the Orthodox has not condemned the party either. one of the largest entry points for Church of Greece has exercised enough Both the party’s founding documents immigrants into the EU—many of them influence that the laws are still on the and various speeches by its current asylum seekers—with the result that an books. During their years in power, nei- leader, MP Nikos Michaloliakos, con- estimated 10 percent of the population ther PASOK nor the New Democracy tain passages sympathetic to paganism are not citizens and are widely por- party was willing to take a stand that trayed in the local media as dangerous would be seen as opposing the church. criminals. And neither wanted to publicly chal- This toxic combination of economic lenge the commonly held notion that depression and a marginalized and being Orthodox is a de facto require- Greece suffers from the toxic scapegoated minority population has ment for being Greek. combination of economic depression created fertile ground for the growth However, as a result of the current of the neo-Nazi Golden Dawn party. political crisis, the long-standing ten- and a marginalized and scapegoated Golden Dawn currently polls upward sions between Greece’s secular and reli- minority population. of 10 percent and was able to win eigh- gious factions are becoming more pub- teen seats in the most recent parlia- lic—and their voices more strident—as mentary elections this past June. At the both SYRIZA and Golden Dawn seek to same time, the two formerly dominant stake new ground and position them- political parties, New Democracy (cen- selves accordingly. Complete church- ter Right) and the Panhellenic Socialist state separation is a long-standing part and hostile toward Orthodoxy. Another Movement (PASOK, center Left), have of SYRIZA’s platform. In the past, the Golden Dawn MP, Giorgos Germenis, is dramatically declined. The main social party’s MPs have walked out in pro- the bassist for Naer Mataron, a black- democratic political force (polling test during the customary swearing in metal band whose songs often fea- closely at first or second place with led by the Orthodox archbishop at the ture Satanist lyrics. On the other hand, the ruling New Democracy) is SYRIZA, start of each new parliamentary ses- Golden Dawn MP Christos Pappas is an which until recently was a coalition sion. In recent months, however, and enthusiastic supporter of the Orthodox of radical Left parties and has now for no discernible political gain, several Church. His father was a close advisor emerged as the main opposition party. leading Members of Parliament (MPs), to George Papadopoulos, the Far-Right As any student of European history including leader Alexis Tsipras, have nationalistic dictator of Greece whose knows, a fractured political environment occasionally made comments that vary regime was steeped in Orthordox that includes organized fascists, a large from or in some cases even contradict imagery. outsider population, and widespread official policy—to the consternation of hopelessness does not augur well. longtime party activists. (Continued on page 44)

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 15 James A. Haught OP-ED

Existentialism: A Philosophy for Secular Humanists

hen I came of age in the 1950s yet billions of people do it. doomed to age, sicken, and die. That’s and slowly began to think about I saw breast cancer killing women, our only equality. Wlife, I developed a strange feel- leukemia killing children, hawks ripping Our lives are just brief blips in the ing that the world is senseless, irratio- shrieking rabbits, sharks slashing baby enormous span of human history. Pre­ nal, and chaotic. seals, and pythons crushing pigs—and historic primates, medieval serfs, and Forty million people had just been everyone said that these things hap- slaves in Dixie all served short stays on killed in World War II, and everyone said pened according to the divine plan Earth and then were gone. Sometimes it how noble and heroic it was. The “Big of the all-loving, all-merciful Father boggles my mind to realize that people One” was only the latest in thousands Creator. Good grief! during the Crusades, the Black Death, or of gory wars stretching back before I saw the cruel unfairness of life: the American Civil War also had to cope the earliest written records began. The how some people are developmentally with the problems of daily life just as we number is impossible to know, and the disabled, blind, abruptly ravaged by do today. Then death erased them. cancer, slowly dragged down by wast- reasons for many are poorly under- And when a life is over, a question ing diseases, paralyzed by strokes, or stood. But some are dubious, at best. lingers: Was there any point, really? killed by drunken drivers, while others Honduras and El Salvador fought a war Was it all meaningless? What was are not. What an incomprehensible lot- achieved by the lifelong hassle of earn- tery—spin the wheel to see whether ing money, raising children, fending off you’ll have a long, healthy life or die illness, and then finally succumbing? “The universe doesn’t care early and perhaps in agony. I decided that the answer is that each whether we live or die or I considered more irrationalities. person’s life is intensely real and vital to Thousands of people pickled their whether we’re virtuous or sinful. him or her while it’s in progress. Does brains with dope, staggered from alco- it matter what happens afterward? (I Nature simply doesn’t hol, or sucked tobacco smoke into their recall a tombstone epitaph: “Where he give a damn.” lungs. For what purpose? Willfully dam- goes and how he fares, nobody knows aging yourself made no sense. and nobody cares.”) Most people seemed logical, friendly, and honest at a personal level. Yet col- hat was my confused and bemused lectively, many were eager to plunge in 1969 over a soccer match. England Tcondition in the 1950s, when existen- into war, ostracize blacks, shoot harm- fought with Spain in the 1700s because tialism burst onto the world scene like a less deer, send gays to prison, or get a British ship captain’s ear was cut off tidal wave of new thinking. It said, yes, “saved” at revivals. Sometimes I felt like by some Spaniards. I wondered: Is this life is absurd and ultimately pointless. a visitor in a vast asylum, baffled as I what people do—send their patriotic We find ourselves living lives, but we watched unusual behavior. don’t know why we are here. We are young men to kill other young men I decided that the universe doesn’t doomed to die without ever knowing who feel just as patriotic for the oppo- care whether we live or die or whether why we were thrown into the world. site side, no matter what the cause? we’re virtuous or sinful. Nature simply The only thing we have is our own indi- Also in the 1950s, I saw three-fourths doesn’t give a damn. Our very existence vidual lives, which are temporary. We of humanity praying to invisible spirits is hit-and-miss. Some people are born exist, period, which provides the name and hoping to go to magical heavens. with high IQs into privileged families “existentialism.” We are condemned to All politicians invoked the gods. But in rich modern societies, while others live inside our own minds and skulls, there was no evidence that any of it struggle against disadvantage and separated from others. was real. I thought: it’s crazy to worship hardship from birth. Regardless of the (Continued on page 45) something that probably doesn’t exist, circumstances of our births, we’re all

16 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Edd Doerr OP-ED

Tracing ‘Secular Humanism’

ince the mid-1970s, “secular rationalism of late eighteenth century print of the term secular humanism. humanism” has been the bête America (more often referred to in this Pfeffer’s book, though very much Snoire, scapegoat, and whipping book by the more modern term, secu- on point in 1958 for its criticism of boy of the religious Right. Francis lar humanism) has had a tremendous Catholic Church officialdom, was pub- Schaeffer, Jerry Falwell, Tim LaHaye, and influence in American history. Out of its lished before the election of a Catholic their legions of followers and imitators alliance with Protestant dissent evolved president in 1960 who was strongly blamed the world’s troubles on “secular the major patterns of American politi- committed to church-state separation; humanists,” whom they claimed control cal, social and intellectual (though not before the 1962–1965 Second Vatican the government, courts, media, public Council, which liberalized much in the schools and universities, and the enter- Catholic world; before the 1962 and tainment industry. 1963 Supreme Court school-prayer How did this paranoid view come rulings that ended the pan-Protestant about? The notion is usually traced to hegemony in public schools; before the a footnote in the 1961 Supreme Court 1968 papal encyclical Humanae Vitae ruling in Torcaso v. Watkins written by against contraception that alienated Justice Hugo Black: “Among religions in most Catholics; and before the start of this country which do not teach what the slide of Catholic school enrollment would generally be considered a belief A 1958 book by church-state lion from 5.5 million students in 1965 to two in the existence of God are Buddhism, Leo Pfeffer may be the earliest million today. Only about 16 percent of Catholic K–12 students attend Catholic Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Human­ prominent appearance in print of ism, and others.” Looking further, we schools today, even though Republican find that Roy Torcaso’s attorney in the term secular humanism. politicians have been straining to divert the case was Leo Pfeffer (1910–1993), public funds to private church schools. probably the most prominent attorney, In the world of 2013, we see an scholar, and author in the church-state aligning in one direction of mainstream field. Pfeffer, in turn, was the author of Protestants, Catholics, Jews, humanists, the book Creeds in Competition, pub- and “unaffiliateds” and in the other, a lished in 1958 by Harper & Brothers. cluster of very conservative evangeli- (Disclosure: Torcaso and I were friends cals, Catholics, Orthodox Jews, and a and neighbors, and I delivered a eulogy few “unaffiliateds” who disdain wom- at his memorial service; Leo Pfeffer and en’s rights, science, church-state sepa- I were friends and colleagues for a moral) culture.” Importantly, a footnote ration, and democratic values. quarter century.) on the previous page stated: “The term Note at this point that the well-publi- ‘secular humanism’ is used cized 1973 Humanist Manifesto II did not in this book not to mean Edd Doerr is president of Americans for Religious Liberty and mention the term secular humanism, and a consciously non-theistic a longtime contributor to Free Inquiry, for which he currently that the Council for Secular Humanism movement, but merely the serves as a columnist and senior editor. His position paper was not founded until 1980. influence of those unaffil- on “The School Voucher Crisis” is available at http://www. In Creeds in Competition, Pfeffer iated with organized reli- centerforinquiry.net/advocacy/the_school_voucher_crisis/. He repeatedly refered to “secular human- gion and concerned with has also served as editor of Church & State and The American ism” as a major player in American human values.” Rationalist. history. He wrote, for example, that This may be the earliest “What is certain . . . is that the deistic prominent appearance in

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 17 OUR ANTHROPOCENELetters FUTURE

for all beliefs? We could file an ing the national motto of “In God election. Individual state elections action seeking an affirmative We Trust” with America’s original demonstrate a very different real- injunction requiring the teaching motto, “E Pluribus Unum.” We ity. While Flynn and I are similar of all the major religions, should point out to Christians: in age, we come to very different philosophies, and worldviews . . . (a) that if the tables were turned conclusions. I cannot see this especially the scientific worldview. how ostracized they’d feel if the country flowering with a renewed How about instead of seek- national motto were “In No Gods renaissance of intellectualism. ing the removal of “In God We Do We Believe” and (b) that they Quite the contrary, I see a bleak Trust” from our currency and themselves break the Golden future where religion obfuscates official seals, we demand that Rule, which Jesus advocated, the discoveries of science, and the our government speak the truth when they impose “In God We religion of greed obfuscates the and proclaim that “In God Some Trust” on all Americans, no matter fabric of our culture. of Us Trust”? Such a revised their beliefs. Oh well, he did conclude his The February/March FI motto would be a constant Kent Munzer editorial with “I look forward to reminder to all citizens that not Topeka, Kansas hearing from readers.” And so attracted an unprecedented all Americans trust in a god and he has. number of letters. In order that our Constitution supports Harold Geller to accommodate as many the existence of such nonbelief. I must admit that Tom Flynn’s Fairfax, Virginia as possible smaller type was How about we demand that if editorial made me laugh. Does used–Eds. Congress hears a Judeo-Christian he really believe that the election prayer before getting down to “altered the drift of American I think it’s curious that European Beyond Current Law work, then there must also be political discourse”? Perhaps now countries don’t have a separation heard a Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, he has already reconsidered.­ of church and state, yet they’re Thanks for Tom Flynn’s article and pagan prayer, followed by a I also found myself ques- not very religious (and getting “When ‘Current Law’ Is Not lecture on some aspect of human- tioning his statement that “the even less religious over time), Enough” (FI, February/ ism equal to the combined length nation’s religious composition is yet the United States has a clear March 2013). As an escaped of the invocations of all the afore- vastly different today than it was separation of church and state, Catholic, I am sensitive to mentioned gods’ greatness? in, say 1995.” Perhaps it’s a differ- and it’s very religious. Is it possible the smothering affect that James Luce ence of what exactly vastly means. that if we let religious people Christianity has had on the Peralada, Girona, Spain Perhaps the near doubling of intertwine church and state in the development of our country in Americans (from 8 to 15 percent) United States, we may become my lifetime. I hope that someday choosing to classify their religion more like European countries and this nation, and maybe the world, We atheists should hope for an as “none” may be considered in the process lose a lot of our will find a cure for this disease. issue, one significant issue, that a vast difference, especially for religiosity? Is there any evidence Yes, I believe religion is a mental will: FI’s readers; however, other to support this idea? If so, it might disorder brought on by the fear 1. Trigger a sustained civil rights statistics might show less so save us a lot of effort! of death. Perhaps a cure will be campaign for atheists in America. much a vastness. Mike Steiner found before our species renders 2. Enable us atheists to define Flynn also mentioned a Phoenix, Arizona itself extinct through war and ourselves and counter others who “future America . . . where public overpopulation. define us negatively. schools . . . would be closed to Tom Flynn replies: Pat Luppens 3. Galvanize support from and in­ the vocabulary of faith.” Maybe Potsdam, New York volve us atheists in a prolonged, it is just a matter of geography. Robert Benz suggests that the grassroots,­­ public relations Here I am in Virginia, and I don’t Office of Faith-based Initiatives initiative in all parts of the United see this in our future at all. In represents conservatives’ success Tom Flynn wrote, “Vast efforts by States. fact, I am very pessimistic about in turning back the clock. In a conservatives to turn back the clock 4. Be capable of winning the the future of public schools and narrow sense it does, and I’ve were successfully thwarted.” No, hearts and minds of Christians religion. I am involved in a gov- been quite critical of the Obama the faith-based initiatives of George and other nonatheists.­ ernment-funded effort to provide administration for preserving W. Bush were worse encroachment 5. Drive a wedge between in-service teacher training in the faith-based office, albeit in than ever existed previously in the the Christian­­ Right and other science. Last summer, I had an slightly changed form. Still, I’m U.S.A., and Obama’s reign has only Christians. opportunity to get to know about more relieved that during four expanded them. That is because 6. Cast us atheists in a good light, three dozen elementary school decades of religious/conservative the Left seldom was interested in i.e., as reasonable yet firm, not as teachers from different counties resurgence, we didn’t lose the rights at all, just increasing its power intolerant, arrogant, nihilistic. in the state. Some of the stories school-prayer decisions of 1962 to “take from Peter to pay Paul,” 7. Offer multiple rationales (admittedly anecdotal data only) and 1963. We didn’t lose Roe. We while taking most of the money to that are difficult/impossible for that they told me about their didn’t lose the public schools. It’s expand government, especially exec- opponents to refute; avoid a schools and the view of science not for lack of trying on the Right; utive power. significant issue that has good made me want to cry. The trouble no, looking back I remain gratified Robert Benz arguments on the other side. that some of them encountered at how many conservative initia- Montgomery Village, Maryland 8. Enable us atheists to continue just mentioning evolution was tives were thwarted. to score points in the public beyond the pale. James Luce urges us, instead square, even if we do not “win” So I hope Flynn can under- of seeking to exile religion from [Instead of removing religious on the issue for years or decades. stand that I do not share his opti- the public square, to seek parity expression from the public What signature issue best mism, especially because it seems for all beliefs instead. Why not square] how about we seek parity meets these criteria? It is replac- founded merely on the national teach all faiths and have invoca-

18 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org tions from all of them before pub- American unbelievers could bring must therefore be repressed. But Markets and Generosity lic meetings? My objection is two- religion to its knees if they’d “just re­pressing sexuality doesn’t mean fold. First, the First Amendment step back and let government that it goes away. It just recedes Tibor Machan (“Markets and prohibits entanglement of screw it up.” I suspect it’s not quite and lurks in the back of one’s Generosity,” FI, February/March government and religion. For gov- that simple. The New World (and mind where the individual learns 2013) thinks that getting his ernment to entangle itself with later the United States) underwent to see every opportunity for sexual eyeglasses tightened (a trivial, many religions may be fairer than wave after wave of settlement pleasure as “forbidden fruit.” This thirty-second task) for free (it entangling itself with just one, but by religious enthusiasts willing to makes one acutely conscious of would cost more to create an it’s still entanglement. brave an ocean crossing sexuality but only in a negatively invoice than could be collected as My second objection is prag- in order to worship as they reinforced sense. This results­ in a fee, and a fee could drive him matic: with so many faiths, it’s chose. Presumably the religiously guilt, lowered self-esteem, and to a competitor) is an example not possible for government to apathetic stayed behind in Europe, fear of “divine wrath.” Even in of “how those in the markets engage equally with them all. forming a growing fraction of marriage, the sexuality of such are often the farthest thing from What teacher or curriculum could the population there. America’s people is still not accepted as a greedy”? That’s the best example teach every faith equally, not anomalously high piety may be normal and natural fact of life. a college professor and Hoover shortchanging a single one? If a a cultural echo of that phenom- It becomes only a “special indul- Institution fellow could come up prayer from every religion and a enon. gence” in “worldliness” that must with? Why not the example of humanist homily must precede be pursued with due apprehen­ - how the generous banks held off each town council meeting, when sion lest one become “obsessed” on foreclosures while they were will the people’s business get Atheism and Sensuality with sexuality and lose one’s being bailed out by the taxpayers? done? On both constitutional consciousness of God and other- (Oh, wait . . .) Why does Free Inquiry and pragmatic grounds, I remain Greta Christina in “Atheism and worldly things. publish such one-sided Randian confident that the only way gov- Sensuality”­ (FI, February/March Despite what the Christian pabulum? And for Zeus’s sake, ernment can treat all religions 2013) implies that atheists are fundamentalists say, a thinking what mode of travel loosens the equally—and legally—is to show generally more “cerebral”­ than woman such as Christina is no screws in Machan’s glasses? them all the same benign neglect. “physical,” and I would tend more “obsessed” with sexuality Paul Sellnow Kent Munzer’s proposal is to agree. The reason is quite than the fundamentalists are Naperville, Illinois interesting because­ he thinks simple, and I’m surprised it eludes “obsessed” with the fear of it. overturning “In God We Trust” is her. Physical indulgence—or John L. Indo a project all unbelievers can rally “celebration” (as she might put Houston, Texas I enjoyed Machan’s rant, but I around. In fact it’s rather divisive; it)—has been shown by medical was disappointed in his use of some in our movement applaud science to be bad for us; I don’t the “no true Scotsman” logical such efforts while others think have to tell you how atheists Greta Christina writes, “When fallacy to argue that free markets “symbolic” suits focusing on the typically feel about science. Having be­lievers accuse us of being syb- don’t commodify people. His national motto or “God” in the “hundreds of sexual partners” aritic hedonists, we hotly deny experience of altruism “face to Pledge of Allegiance are the very (does this include hookers?) in­ it rather than saying, ‘Hell yes, face” is well known in the social definition of futility. creases your risk of STDs (not just ‘we’re hedonists—why shouldn’t sciences, but the “out of sight, Harold Geller doesn’t believe HIV) even if you use a condom we be?’” She then goes on to out of mind” behavior is equally that a doubling in the number of every time. defend her hedonism: “Actually, well proven. Just because a Americans who self-disclose as Don’t even get me started some of us are promiscuous, some middle-aged, middle-class white not religiously affiliated qualifies on what science has to say about of us do have hundreds of sex American­ is “often” shown kind- as “vast.” It seems vast to me, but our eating habits. So in summary, partners—what on Earth is wrong ness by business people doesn’t that is a judgment call. Geller atheists are rather constrained with that?” So Dostoyevsky was make it true for the rest of us also questions whether a single “physically” precisely because they right again: “If there is no God laboring in the marketplace. presidential election can lastingly tend to be cerebral and “know everything is permissible.” And John Moorman change the national agenda. I better.” C. S. Lewis was spot-on in his work Kerrville, Texas think it surely has on immigra- Azlan Iqbal Abolition of Man. Some of your tion reform. Whether it will have Kajang, Selangor, Malaysia readers would do well to read it the same effect in other areas, before engaging in “hundreds of Our Anthropocene Future including religion in public life, sex partners.” By the way, would Paul Grogan’s article on the remains to be seen. And yes, I do As always, Greta Christina’s wit your wife put up with one extra demographic dangers posed recognize how grim the near- and wisdom is right on the mark. partner, much less hundreds? by irresponsible human activity term prospects appear in many Fundamentalist Christians are inca- I think Free Inquiry has made a (“What Biology Can Tell Us,” communities. Then again, fifteen pable of understanding sexuality serious wrong turn. Instead of FI, February/March 2013) and years ago no one on the Left Coast as a normal and natural fact of keeping us Christians on our toes, what needs to be done to save or in the heartland had seen an life. The reason for this is simple. I don’t believe you can survive the ourselves and the rest of the atheist best-seller in an airport Christianity is an “otherworldly” diseases and heartaches you’ll planet was indeed illuminating. bookstore, or seen a same-sex ideology, and nothing is more experience with one hundred However, I take issue with his couple kiss on network television. “this worldly” than sexual plea- partners! You might wish to check assertion that humans, having Let’s not despair of the possibility sure. The dissonance and conflict that last observation with Yale’s originated as nomadic hunt- of change! this must wreak in the lives of Larry Kramer. er-gatherers, “carry a genetic Mike Steiner makes a point many Chris­tians—especially teen- David A. Noebel heritage favoring traits promot- that has also been advanced by age Chris­tians—is simply terrible. Former Director, Summit Ministries ing competitive abilities, expan- British atheist activist Barbara Fundamentalist preachers say that Manitou Springs, Smoker, who once suggested that sexuality cannot be controlled and Colorado (Continued on page 65)

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 19 ARMY OF GOD: America’s Armed Forces vs. Their Nontheists Introduction Jason Torpy

he U.S. military is a stronghold for Christian-nation evan- team, failing to resolve issues of post-traumatic stress, isolating gelism. That statement may sound inflammatory, but it many servicemembers, and violating our Constitution. Taccurately represents the convictions of many in the chain In growing numbers, advocates of secular government are of command that, among other things, the United States is a standing up to fight back against religious discrimination and Christian nation founded on Christian principles and that it is not only legal but required to utilize personal rank and military resources to spread the message of Christianity. Military ministries like the Officers’ Christian Fellowship and “The U.S. military is a stronghold for the Campus Crusade Military Ministry operate with budgets in the hundreds of millions of dollars. The military chaplaincy is Christian-nation evangelism.” nearly 98 percent Christian, and nearly two-thirds of its mem- bers hail from denominations that prioritize proselytization of their beliefs. So-called spiritual fitness programs, which flourish throughout the military, are developed and overseen advocate for the rights of those who have suffered from the by those same chaplains, so no one should be surprised that improper intrusion of religion into government. The Forum on servicemembers are being pushed toward religious worship the Military Chaplaincy is an organization of current and for- and prayer. But this trend carries many costs. Across the armed mer chaplains who are helping to steward the military through forces, compulsory religion is driving a wedge into the military its implementation of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

more secular approach: accept that the chaplaincy is irremediably religious and, therefore, that chaplains can never offer meaningful A Note from the Editor support to nonreligious/nontheistic servicemembers. Reform efforts Tom Flynn should then focus on exempting the nontheistic/nonreligious from current requirements that compel them to seek a wide range of ser- vices (from mentoring and uncredentialed psychological counseling to first-line, also uncredentialed, mental-health evaluation) from ome Free Inquiry readers may find the articles in this special chaplains. This could improve military life for all, for, as Gretchen section controversial. Most of these articles share the view that Brendel Mann notes in her article, the chaplain corps is currently Sthe best solution to tensions posed by a growing nontheistic/ being tasked with human-resources and mental-health responsibil- nonreligious contingent within a U.S. military steeped in “Christian ities for which individual chaplains’ pastoral educations may or may nation” ideology is to expand the scope of military chaplaincy to not properly prepare them. If a significant minority of servicemem- encompass nontheistic/nonreligious servicemembers. Some secular- bers become exempt from reliance on chaplains, military command ists find this objectionable: I summarized opposing arguments in an might be forced to find ways to deliver essential human-resources editorial, “Humanist Chaplains in the Military: A Bridge Too Far?” (FI, and mental-health functions using personnel specifically creden- October/November 2011). tialed for that work. I also noted secularist concerns that the suc- Rather than expecting military chaplains to support nonreligious cessful incorporation of humanist chaplaincy into existing, explicitly servicemembers as they do believers, I argued for what I consider a religious military chaplaincy structures might create a precedent for

20 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org The Forum is also paving the way for increasing diversity in the Academy Freethinkers and Atheists. I lead off with a grim state- military, including transitioning and queer servicemembers. of-the-military report and propose a daunting way forward for The Military Religious Freedom Foundation engages in media accommodation of atheists and humanists in the military. and legal activism to fight against Christian evangelism in the Whatever we do, it is important that atheists and humanists military. My organization, the Military Association of Atheists learn a few lessons that Christians already know well. First, mili- & Freethinkers (MAAF), builds community for atheists and tary personnel are arguably the most respected group in America, humanists in the military. By and large, these organizations and it is important to be seen as represented in that community. didn’t exist or were in their infancy just ten years ago. Now, Second, military personnel are in vulnerable and impressionable they and others are building strength to turn the tide against a situations. We need to protect them from evangelism while also well-entrenched and powerful Christian military establishment. reaching out and providing support not just with mental health The articles in this special section focus on how the military and secular services but with connections to communities of atheists, humanists, and other nontheists. The nontheist commu- needs to continue its progress toward achieving equality for nity and the secular humanist community together have dis- all servicemembers. Gretchen Mann, MD, draws from over tinctly different contributions to make in reengineering the mili- twenty years’ experience in addressing “moral injury,” which tary to accept diversity of belief within its ranks. results from tragedies that challenge people to their very core. Resolving such trauma requires health-care workers to reach out in terms of religious and nontheistic worldviews. Major Jason Torpy has been active in the nontheist community since joining Ray Bradley writes about his personal experiences with making the military in 1994. He has addressed issues of separation of church changes from the inside. A certified lay leader, he has been and state and equal opportunity for nontheistic servicemembers in Army denied the opportunity even to identify himself as a humanist. basic training, Army parachutist training, military academy programs, Carlos Bertha, PhD, a military officer and MAAF board member, and while deployed to Iraq with the Army’s 1st Armored Division where comments on the implications of a contracted, rather than he served as a captain. His education includes a Bachelor of Science active-duty, chaplaincy that would provide for the religious in Engineering Management from West Point and a Master’s Degree in needs of servicemembers without the concerns associated Business Administration from The Ohio State University. Torpy also serves with a government-paid (missionary) clergy. Dr. Cliff Andrew, on the boards of the Secular Coalition of America and the American who leads the Annapolis Unitarian Universalist Humanists, Humanist Association. describes the ongoing success of one military group, the Naval

the view (in the opinion of the Council for Secular Humanism, a dan- humanism is inherently nonreligious, but such a reform does nothing gerously false view) that all forms of humanism are religious. to solve the problems faced by servicemembers who are explicitly It is worth noting that opposition to the chaplaincy as a nonsec- nonreligious, including atheists and secular humanists. ular institution has a long history in our movement. As early as 1870, The latter problem will not be solved until the inherently reli- Octavius B. Frontingham and Francis E. Abbott published a manifesto gious character of military chaplaincy is altered (as special section called “The Nine Demands of Liberalism” in their free-religious news- editor Jason Torpy advocates)—or until the monopolistic scope of paper The Index. The second of its nine items read as follows: “We military chaplaincy has been reduced. That is what I and others have demand that the employment of chaplains in Congress, and in the called for: because the military chaplaincy confines itself to serving legislatures, in the navy and militia, and in prisons, asylums, and all the religious, new, secular support structures outside the chaplaincy other institutions supported by the public money, shall be discontin- will be required to meet the needs of nonreligious servicemembers. ued.” The Nine Demands received wide endorsement by freethought Interestingly, Carlos Bertha, a contributor to this special section, offers and atheist organizations, for example being adopted by the National a different approach to scope reduction with his recommendation Liberal League at its founding meeting during the national centen- that chaplaincy functions be discharged not by commissioned officers nial in July of 1876, and served the movement as a widely accepted but by contractors. agenda for decades to come. In any case, the articles in this special section should go far to Some writers urge the chaplain corps to accept religious Humanism limn the scale of the dilemma now facing the armed forces—and the alongside other minority faiths such as Buddhism or Wicca. This can growing numbers of nontheists and nonreligious who serve within be an acceptable outcome so long as it is borne in mind that secular them.

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 21 The State of Our Christian Military (and What to Do About It)

Jason Torpy

n this article, I will spotlight several of the many examples chaplaincy included only Christian and Jewish chaplains until of the overt, light-of-day Christian promotion and proselytiz- the first Muslim chaplain entered the military in 1992. The first Iing going on even at the highest levels of our military. Each Buddhist chaplain entered less than ten years ago. The first is individually outrageous. Every nontheist and even every Hindu chaplain entered in 2011. The military chaplain pop- non-Christian serving in the military is presented immediately ulation is currently 66 percent “evangelistic” and 98 percent and frequently with the clear message that Christianity is pre- Christian. Chaplains are trusted to be honest brokers operat- ferred, religion is essentially required, and atheistic beliefs are ing in a pluralistic community. However, the general military at best tolerated. population is less than 70 percent Christian and not even 18 percent evangelistic. Expanding cultural toler- ance of diversity should begin with addressing the great disparity in belief between religious “Every nontheist and even every non-Christian serving in the service providers and the servicemembers they support. military is presented immediately and frequently with the clear It is also important to note that the recent message that Christianity is preferred, religion is essentially repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” has put great required, and that atheistic beliefs are tolerated at best.” strain on many chaplains whose churches or denominations oppose equal rights for gays and lesbians. This effort to reform the military’s treatment of gays and lesbians—while offi- cially welcomed and encouraged by (as far as This situation is hardly surprising. General George Wash­ I am aware) every nontheist organization—has in some ways ington (see “Demographics of Military Unbelief,” pp. 26 and overshadowed efforts to secure better accommodation for 27) issued an order creating the military chaplaincy with the nontheistic servicemembers. explicit mission to promote Christian values and practices But these environmental concerns provide no excuse for among his soldiers. This order was issued before there was condoning ongoing violations. The diversity of the military has a First Amendment or even a Constitution. Washington had increased, and the culture of the United States has changed. full authority to issue any order he liked. Many military lead- Survey after survey shows that secular and nontheistic beliefs ers and chaplains still operate today under a Christian-nation now permeate society. This growth is most apparent among philosophy in many ways unchanged­­ since Washington’s day. the young, the population from which the military recruits. From this philosophy flow Special Forces Bibles, crosses on gov- That is why it is so important that the nontheist community ernment property, mandatory prayers, command-sponsored oppose the rampant religiosity within the military while reach- evangelistic retreats, special privileges for religious personnel, ing out to directly support our fellow atheists and humanists and Jesus rifles. in uniform. An additional reality is that the United States military has been nominally Christian for much of its existence. Abraham Which Agencies Work for or against Military Nontheist Rights Lincoln first allowed Jewish chaplains during the Civil War. This The Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers (MAAF, of was a progressive act, but even to this day, the Jewish popu- which I serve as president) is a nontheistic organization that lation and chaplaincy is just a tiny fraction of the military. The has built communities among military serving throughout the

22 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org ARMY OF GOD: America’s Armed Forces vs. Their Nontheists

world. These groups provide a home for nontheists who need support in order to meet the stresses of military life, especially during deployments. MAAF-affiliated groups are limited in The Marines Allow Christian resources and are not found at every installation, but numbers are growing. Shrines and Prayers The Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF) is a secular organization that has been fighting in the media and On a summer day in 2003, several Christians walked up a courts for years to expose and resolve church-state violations. hill on the northern side of Camp Pendleton in California This group’s take-no-prisoners approach has commanded and planted a cross. It burned down in a fire four years attention from major media and the nontheist community. By later. A commander then ordered his unit to carry a fire- raising consciousness and, without exaggeration, scaring mili- proof thirteen-foot cross up that hill and conducted a tary leaders, it has given notice that the time of evangelism in Christian prayer for the unit to celebrate their pilgrimage the military is coming to a close. and new shrine. The response from the Marine Corps to The chaplaincy establishment within the military has been an MAAF complaint: “We’re working on it.” stolidly unhelpful. The Chiefs of Chaplains of each service gather under the auspices of the Armed Forces Chaplains Board to set policy for religious activities and chaplain opera- tions. These are three two-star generals (Army, Air Force, Navy/ Marines) with staffs of full colonels. During the first partof 2011, I personally met with each office and received a polite “not no but not yes,” followed by lots of continued communi- cation but no helpful assistance. MAAF also sent letters and e-mails and/or telephoned all available military chaplain endorsers, including churches and religious denominations. These endorsers are represented in place to meet with others of like mind is beneficial to personal the military by the National Conference on Ministry to the well-being and resiliency. It is often assumed that religious Armed Forces (NCMAF). NCMAF includes endorsers who have involvement brings about such well-being, but existing stud- the power to remove endorsements and thereby end the ies are often misinterpreted to attribute the benefits that careers of chaplains, including those generals and colonels flow from enjoying the acceptance and support of a religious who set policy. I have reached out to and in many cases spoken community to the benefits of religion itself. When available directly with the NCMAF board about our concerns. Again, no studies are properly interpreted, it seems clear that nontheistic helpful assistance has been forthcoming. Judging by the deafening silence on nontheistic issues after communities could offer the same positive results as religious two years of consistent, patient outreach, it is clear that the communities, should such communities be available. military chaplaincy leadership in its current form is unable to Unfortunately, chaplains have been unresponsive. Despite accept that it holds any responsibilities toward nontheists. (This the availability of certified “lay leaders”—personnel desig- does not include individual chaplains who have been occasion- nated to assist the chaplains in supporting underserved belief ally helpful or at least sympathetic.) Therefore we must account communities—the chaplaincy has refused to recognize those for the attitudes of the chaplaincy leadership in our approach. who have applied to serve as lay leaders for the nontheistic. Some U.S. Air Force personnel, including those stationed at Supporting and Growing Our Own Community MacDill Air Force Base, Travis Air Force Base, and Royal Air There is an ongoing debate within the nontheistic community Force Lakenheath (a base in the U.K. at which many U.S. per- as to whether the stick or the carrot yields the best results. It sonnel serve), have received valuable but informal support depends, in certain cases, on what one intends. In the case of due to permissive regulations. However, the Navy and Army the military, we must ensure that atheists and humanists have require higher-level approvals. At Fort Bragg, Fort Meade, the support they need to serve their country in peacetime and and aboard the USS Boxer and USS Green Bay, among others, war—the same sort of support routinely provided to service- applications to recognize lay leaders have been blocked or lost members who are religious. This can only be done by assuring in the bureaucracy. equal rights within the military. This first section focuses on Chaplains often respond that the Armed Forces Chaplains building community. Board (AFCB) is “reviewing the paperwork.” This has been In reaching out to the military, MAAF has focused on the the continual response since mid-2011. MAAF submitted a chaplains. They have the resources to provide services tailored Freedom of Information Act Request in July 2012, requesting to an individual’s core values, beliefs, and identity. To have a all minutes of meetings of the Chaplains Board from January

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 23 disavowed any involvement with or support of nontheists. This interpretation of the Chief’s letter was appealed imme- Prayers Broadcast Nightly on diately, but the associated paperwork was never forwarded. Navy Vessels Cadets continue to operate as a club but do so knowing that senior officers are authorized to officially discriminate. At each Academy, to some degree, clubs still seek—but have not yet Tonight, as on many nights in the past and presumably obtained—funding, off-post trips, and advertising equal to many nights in the future, the 1MC (the audio announce- what other clubs receive. ment system on naval vessels) will broadcast a prayer by Following the non-chaplain club model, MAAF has worked the chaplain. All work will cease, televisions will be shut around chaplains to form groups on other military instal- off, and the entire ship will be reminded that religion, lations. Of the military communities currently listed on the primarily Christianity, has a special privilege and status MAAF Network, only at a few Air Force installations and at within the naval command. Those who disagree can sit quietly and listen as every word reminds them that the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego have chaplain command-approved option is to believe in God. The leaders expressed any support whatever. The other communi- Navy approves this practice. ties operate independently, supported only by MAAF and by individual military personnel when they are not deployed or on duty. Several local civilian groups, such as local humanist or 2011 through July 2012. There was no indication in any of the documents received that any issue pertaining to nontheists had ever been discussed. MAAF is appealing for information regarding some redacted portions, but what we have seen suggests a level of inaction that betrays the lack of any desire to support nontheist servicemembers. “Military leaders and chaplains still operate today After years of focus on the military academies, and thanks to the courage of individual cadets and midshipmen, MAAF under a Christian-nation philosophy in many ways was able for the first time in 2012 to secure official recog- unchanged since Washington’s day.” nition for cadet clubs, enabling nontheistic cadets to orga- nize activities and events. This official recognition had to be obtained outside of chaplaincy channels. In the case of the Air Force Academy, Academy chaplains, reportedly under direction from the Air Force Chief of Chaplains Office, have officially

atheist groups, have assisted as well. These local communities are growing in number and quality, despite the general lack of The Army Overlooks Admitted official support. Humanists don’t ask for much: a location to meet for two Conversions by Senior Leaders hours a week, the ability to advertise those meetings alongside other chaplain/worship services, referrals to supportive groups, Chaplain Michael Milton returned from a visit to the and announcements to the unit are enough to facilitate the Army War College in 2011. He was invited there to run group. Wiccans looking for a Circle to join know they can con- a retreat because he was chancellor of his seminary, a tact the chaplain, and the chaplain will put them in touch with colonel in the Army Reserves, and a prior instructor at the the local or national Wiccan organization and provide them Army Chaplain Corps College. He wrote on his blog that with a local space to meet. We are asking for nothing different. he was excited to see that Jesus was present throughout Purely secular support is available from various non-chap- the war college and being taught in the classroom. He lain post facilities, including the officer/noncommissioned had written in an earlier post about his successful conver- officer club, MWR (Morale, Welfare, and Recreation programs), sion of vulnerable service members on deployment. The and other community services. They support hobbies, social- Army’s response? Denial and acceptance. The blog post izing, and fraternal activities. However, such secular support was not even removed. programs are fundamentally different than values-based fel- lowship. For those espousing humanist, ethical culture, positive atheist, or other nontheistic expressions of core identity and

24 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org ARMY OF GOD: America’s Armed Forces vs. Their Nontheists

beliefs, meeting with others of like mind provides an additional way to build character and handle the stress of military life. Major Lawsuits Have Increased There is also a need to encourage open and explicit expres- sion of nontheistic identity. Too many in the nontheistic com- Visibility munity are lost in the larger group identified by “No Religious Preference” (see “Demographics”). The only legitimate cate- After harassment by a superior officer at a MAAF meet- gory in which we can be found is “Atheist,” and that includes ing in 2003, Jeremy Hall (center) agreed to be a plaintiff our secular Jewish friends who would otherwise be lumped in a lawsuit. The Military Religious Freedom Foundation in with theistic Jews. All personnel who do not believe in a (MRFF) litigated with Hall and then Dustin Chalker (left), god should have “Atheist” on their official records. Many fear spotlighting Christian bias throughout the military. Justin harassment or discrimination, and that is understandable given Griffith (right) has worked with MRFF and American the state of the military described in the introductory section. Atheists to fight for equal support for atheist concerts at In addition, when discrimination occurs in the form of a lost Fort Bragg and Camp Pendleton. promotion or bad assignment, it is nearly impossible to prove. That said, the nontheistic community and our interfaith and secular legal allies stand ready to provide support. Now is the time to speak up. Many may be looking to designate themselves as “Hu­­ manist,” “Ethical Culture” member, “Freethinker,” or “Secular Jew.” The military provides over one hundred different options but not these. Ray Bradley, a major at Fort Bragg, submitted a request in 2012 to have “Humanist” added as a religious pref- erence. This may indicate that Humanism is a “religion”; how- committed nontheists. Increased efforts will be needed to cre- ever, with options like “Atheist,” “None,” and “No Religious ate a safe place for nontheists in military life. Preference” already on the list, there is no need to label as In many cases, taking legal action and resorting to appeals “religious” any other new addition. Personnel wishing to for media coverage is unfortunate but necessary. It is unfor- self-identify on their records as “Humanist” should first change tunate because it exposes­­ the plaintiff to ostracism, creates to “Atheist” and then contact MAAF for support in submitting huge amounts of paperwork, burns bridges, and costs signif- a formal Equal Opportunity complaint for discrimination on icant money and time. It is necessary because it gets results. the basis of belief. Fortunately, many options are available, ranging from press There are actions that both civilians and members of the releases, Freedom of Information requests, and sternly writ- military can take in order to support our own. Reaching out to ten letters all the way up to multiyear lawsuits. Whatever our the chaplains, seeking lay leader certification, forming a local personal disposition may be, the military and its chaplaincy group, and changing official records are all actions that mili- tary personnel can take. Civilian groups located near military installations can reach out to the military community with mili- tary-focused events and to foster any groups that may form on The Department of Defense the installation. In addition, groups can prepare care packages Promotes Evangelistic Leaders to be sent to servicemembers overseas. As we support our own, it will be harder and harder to In 2007, several senior leaders were shown in an evan- ignore our growing numbers. In addition, these growing gelical organization video promoting Christianity in their groups will be in a better position to stand up as plaintiffs to uniforms during the work day in their offices at the fight for equal rights and against discrimination and the privi- Pentagon. An official Inspector General report found leging of religion when necessary. fault with six individuals. Three retired directly to com- Fighting for Equal Rights and Protection from Discrimination fortable private sector jobs without demotion after thirty-plus-year careers. A civilian, Pete Geren, was imme- As mentioned in the previous section, there is an ongoing diately appointed to be secretary of the Army. Two one- debate in the nontheistic community about whether the stick star generals have since been promoted to three-star or the carrot yields the best results. Community building con- generals and continue to rise through the ranks. tinues, but it is continually stifled by the overt privileging of Christianity and entrenched unwillingness to provide equal opportunities, not just for secular servicemembers but also for

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 25 groups may provide up-front legal advice and support and lead to change. Certified Leaders Provide Authentic I have already mentioned the need for “Humanist” self-identification. This change would go far to secure greater Humanist Support recognition of the humanity of atheists. It is critical that athe- ists be recognized and accepted, but the term Humanist does MAAF has provided certification to local humanist and not inspire the negative emotion in our ideological opposition atheist leaders in accordance with military regulations. that atheism does, and it also speaks to the positive beliefs The military requires chaplain volunteers to have cer- that we do hold. tification from an outside agency similar to chaplain In order for nontheists to be equal members of the military endorsement. These certifications, along with actual team, they must have a military free from privileging and pros- chaplain endorsement, provide an avenue for MAAF to elytizing of religion. There are too many to list them all, but it help garner some of the chaplaincy resources already is critical to recognize some of the biggest violations that are available to Mormons, Muslims, Wiccans, and others. occurring. The most obvious examples are the prayers offered Unfortunately, their applications have not been pro- at nearly every military ceremony. These are defended as “tra- cessed; our leaders are still being excluded. dition” or as necessary for “solemnity.” In 2008, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed an apparently still unresolved have shown themselves to be unresponsive to polite outreach. suit against lunchtime prayers at the Naval Academy. Each Escalation and legal activism should be the last resort, but after December, military installations erect Nativity scenes to the years of outreach, legal avenues may be all that are left. exclusion of other displays. While MAAF and others have on Military personnel should be submitting Equal Opportunity several occasions secured equal participation (a secular display and Inspector General complaints when they believe they have alongside the crèche) or were successful in getting the dis- suffered harassment. They should be reaching out to organiza- plays removed, firm opposition is required. American Atheists tions like MAAF, MRFF, American Atheists, and the American recently forced the removal of an illegal permanent cross from Humanist Association for support with these actions. These a military chapel in Afghanistan. MRFF has exposed outra-

Demographics of Military Unbelief Unknown A Christian-dominated military with a significant secular core 6.71% Atheist 0.67% Less than 70% of the US military identifies as Christian. There are 103 total options and 83 are Christian/Evangelistic/Catholic. The largest single selection is “No Religious Preference.”

No Real Preference Evangelsitc 22.50% 17.39% Other 1.29% 0.6%

0.5% Catholic Other 19.50% Christian 0.4% 31.93%

0.3%

0.2%

0.1% Of all specific, non-Christian selections, “Atheist” 0.0% is the largest. The military currently does not allow A UU Bahai Wicca Hindu Islam “Humanist” as an option. Native Jewish Eastern Atheist New Age Agnostic Orthodox

Full details, important annotations, and source files are at www.militaryatheists.org/demographics/

26 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org ARMY OF GOD: America’s Armed Forces vs. Their Nontheists

geous cases of military leaders using their positions to promote Christianity, such as the Christian Embassy Pentagon video and the engraving of evangelical Bible verses on rifles. MRFF Military Communities for Nontheists has also led the ongoing campaign to fight entrenched pros- elytism at the Air Force Academy. MAAF secured the removal are Growing Worldwide of an Opus Dei motto from an Air Force logo, but many other examples of religious-military heraldry remain. MAAF forced From Japan to Djibouti, California to Connecticut, and the removal of a requirement for Bibles in Air Force lodging, in Hawaii and Afghanistan, the Military Association of but lodging facilities continue to place Bibles. Again, this is but Atheists & Freethinkers (MAAF) has not just members but a sampling of issues facing nontheistic servicemembers in the also leaders and groups. Military personnel will travel, military; all require continued action to compel reform. but they should have a supportive community to go to We must defend against religious abuses while also pro- and from. However, nearly all of these groups are strug- tecting the free exercise of religion. While we try to restore the gling due to lack of equal support from chaplains and secular character of the military in order to be compliant with other military leaders. the establishment clause, we must be sure not to infringe upon the free exercise of religion. Similarly, religious persons should oppose those who would exercise their particular religion to our support. Efforts to reach out and build local groups have discriminate against others. The right to worship and to have succeeded and have succeeded best when done in conjunc- religious materials should not be infringed, but the govern- tion with local and national support. MacDill Air Force Base ment has neither the right nor the obligation to worship on flourished with Atheists of Florida. Fort Bragg flourished with one’s behalf. the attention garnered by the event Rock Beyond Belief. The Charting a Path Forward military community in Hawaii has service projects and meetings with the support of the Hawaii Secular Society. Excitement The best way to push for reform may be simply to support our own. Military personnel are serving the nation and need is high at Joint Base San Antonio and Fort Hood due to the

A Christian-dominated chaplaincy with a significant evangelistic core 64 Orthodox Nearly 98% of the chaplaincy comes from 3.0% Christian endorsers.There are 216 total endorsers, Other 52 Jewish and 191 are in a Christian category. Christian 2.5% 27% Only 35 chaplains are non-Jewish/Christian 16 unknown of nearly 5,000 total. 2.0% Catholic 7% 14 Muslim 1.5% Evangelistic 4 Buddhist 63% Evangelistic 1.0% 63% 1 Hindu

0.5% Many Christian chaplains are proud of the origin 0 Humanist of the chaplaincy as a personal Christian ministry instituted by George Washington for the Continental 0.0% 0 Secular Army with the following direct order in 1776: While we rightfully revere George Washington, we must “[C]ommanding officers of each regiment are directed to recognize that his sentiments on chaplaincy have no place procure Chaplains … to see that all inferior officers and in our pluralistic society. The chaplaincy must be a symbol soldiers … attend carefully upon religious exercises … and of diversity of thought, not simply of Christianity. To stay relevant in the modern military, the chaplaincy must come act as becomes a Christian soldier. …” to terms with the modern military, diversity of belief, and responsible separation of religion and government.

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 27 American Atheists convention in Austin. The same is true in the ACLU have all joined in briefs against church-state violations, San Diego military community, with a new billboard campaign sent letters, and helped to add legitimacy and professionalism conducted through the San Diego Coalition of Reason and the to the complaints and lawsuits filed by nontheistic individuals American Humanist Association Convention. And it only makes and groups. These collaborations should continue, hopefully sense to support our own. with more strategic coordination among the groups to target The obvious option to request support from outside the more systematic and higher-level violations. movement has met with limited success. The military chap- However, it is clear that reforms and assistance will not be laincy has been essentially unresponsive to outreach, especially given freely. After more than two years of positive outreach at the highest levels. Outreach to minority religious groups, from MAAF, chaplains have not been forthcoming with sup- including Jewish, Buddhist, and Muslim organizations, has also port. While this outreach will continue, we need no longer feel met with limited responsiveness. The Forum on the Military obligated to wait patiently for long-delayed consideration of Chaplaincy supports reform related to “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” requests. Notice has been properly given in the past, and going and larger diversity issues. They have accepted me as a member forward, we can move firmly ahead for what is right through and assisted with messaging and outreach to the chaplaincy nonmilitary chaplains and non-chaplain senior military leaders, but have not joined in any specific efforts to advocate for equal secretaries of the services, and Congress. With stronger com- opportunity for nontheists. munities of our own and, we hope, growing support outside Reforms that have been successful are due in large part our community, we can better prevent abuse of military power to assistance from secular and interfaith legal groups. MRFF, to privilege religion and thereby create a safe space for nonthe- Americans United for Separation for Church and State, and the ists in the military.

The Ravages of Wartime Moral Injuries Gretchen Brendel Mann

s chief medical officer at the Denver Military Entrance PTSD. Moral injury is not recognized by the current version of Processing Station, my duties involve determining the the DSM, but it is characterized by the Department of Veterans Aphysical and psychological fitness of men and women Affairs as “an act of transgression, which shatters moral and who wish to join the armed forces. Sadly, some applicants ethical expectations that are rooted in religious or spiritual who have previously served and wish to reenlist suffer from beliefs, or culture-based, organizational, and group-based rules combat-related illnesses, injuries, and experiences that have about fairness, the value of life, and so forth.” Increasing num- led to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is recognized bers of mental health workers recognize it as one antecedent of as a mental illness by the American Psychiatric Association’s PTSD, especially in military combat environments. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) Moral injuries are examples of profound trauma not to and is defined by the Department of Veterans Affairs as an anx- the dead but to the survivors. Paraphrasing Dr. Shay, they iety disorder characterized by a spectrum of symptoms, includ- are caused by betrayals of what is considered ethical in our ing reliving the traumatic event, avoiding places or things culture, ordered by someone who holds legitimate authority that remind one of the event, feeling numb, having persistent in our societal system, and occur in life-or-death situations. frightening thoughts, and hyperarousability. Unlike PTSD, a moral injury is a dimensional problem that dam- More recently, Dr. Jonathan Shay, clinical psychiatrist at the ages those personal values that undergird a servicemember’s Veterans Administration Boston Health Care System, introduced humanity. NBC recently joined other news outlets in featuring the concept of “moral injury.” Moral injuries often co-occur with this growing and troubling trend of injury to our veterans

28 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org ARMY OF GOD: America’s Armed Forces vs. Their Nontheists

(“Veterans Suffer ‘Moral Injury’ From Warfare,” Pauline Jelinek, tion of soldiers’ capacities to trust others. A panel led by for- February 22, 2013, nbcnews.com). mer defense secretary James R. Schlesinger investigated the Camilio E. Mejia wrote a poignant description of his atrocities at Abu Ghraib and made the searing criticism that own moral injury that was published by the Fellowship of this resulted from failed leadership “all the way up the ranks.” Reconciliation, a nonviolent organization. Camilio joined the Although the brutalizing effects of combat are inevitable, min- Army at age nineteen. Under orders, he fired his gun at a imization of leadership malpractice is a powerful tool in the young man who was about to throw a grenade at Ramadi’s field of preventive psychiatry. Poor leadership can inflict moral main government building in central Iraq. Even before pulling injuries upon our troops that are worse than what the enemy the trigger, he knew that the youth was too far away to hurt can do to us. Ethical behavior at all levels of the military is very any of his group. After the shooting, Mejia repeatedly counted sensitive to policy, practice, and culture. the bullets he’d fired and was horrified that he’d shot eleven The military relies heavily on chaplains for ethics training, rounds into the man. He said that for weeks after the incident but this training often references the Bible and religious imag- his mind could not shake off the images of the young man ery. Though this has been recognized by some military leaders walking and breathing, then down on the ground bloody and as problematic, few opportunities are provided for participa- dead. He describes his moral injury as “the pain I inflicted upon tion by secular ethicists who may be more inclusive in their the very core of my being when I took something I could never instruction. give back. It is a pain that redefined my life, and that not only The physiological evidence is clear that sleep deprivation is transformed who I was, but continues to transform me.” He a recipe for moral injuries. Sleep is the fuel for the frontal lobes continued, “When I opened fire that day, I violated that law of the brain that control social judgment, ethical restraint, and and desecrated the most sacred sanctuary of my being. As I emotional self-restraint. Dr. Shay notes that many of the ugly observed that young man through the sight of my rifle, I was things that our troops have done to others or even to them- staring at a point of no return, the very Rubicon of my life, and I crossed it.” The rising rate of suicides among service- members and veterans has led to investigation “It means that at least in military combat, into moral injury, now thought by many to be more psychological harm stems from what one of war’s worst ravages. Dr. Bill Nash, combat psychiatrist during the Battle of Fallujah in 2004, servicemembers do to others—or in some cases has said that fear did not seem to be a precipitat- fail to do for one another—than what is done to them.” ing factor. “Survivor’s guilt, moral injury, feeling betrayed by leaders. . . . That’s what I saw every day.” If this is the case, then it is a radical para- digm shift from prior psychiatric theories. It means that at least selves have occurred during periods of inadequate sleep. Col. in military combat, more psychological harm stems from what Greg Belenky (Ret.), director of the Sleep and Performance servicemembers do to others—or in some cases fail to do for Research Center at Washington State University, has suggested one another—than what is done to them. that troops wear actographs, small devices worn on the wrist Most psychologists and psychiatrists who treat moral injury that record weekly sleep hours. He says that “this could be a agree that early identification and treatment of PTSD is import- good way for commanders to know who is fresh enough for ant, but there is some concern that the concept of moral duty, who is pulling too many shifts and who is staying up late injury may not yet be commonly explored in the military. Post- playing video games. Commanders should manage sleep just deployment debriefing does not specifically address feelings of as they do fuel.” Adequate sleep can sharpen cognitive and guilt or shame, the first warning signs of moral injury, and ran- moral skills. domized clinical trials have found little efficacy in psychological Although scientific discourse about moral injuries asa debriefing for the prevention of PTSD. Journalist Seth Robson subset of PTSD is nascent, certain medications and psycho- reported, “Soldiers in an all-volunteer force want to be selected therapies have been shown to be effective. Unfortunately, few for combat missions and they are afraid that psychological test- military psychologists and psychiatrists who can competently ing will prevent them from deploying.” diagnose and administer treatment are on the front lines. As one of my military colleagues told me, “Everyone lies on Often chaplains become proxies for mental health profes- those debriefing forms, everyone.” sionals. Veterans sometimes wait months to see a psychiatrist. Leadership malpractice causes moral injuries and destruc- Theologians cannot provide adequate mental health care for

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 29 those who need it most. Often, a commander refers troubled Moral injuries are serious traumas that can lead to PTSD soldiers to a chaplain, but chaplains do not necessarily have any and all of its terrible consequences. Simply referring the trau- professional counseling credentials and have shown very little matized to chaplains in order to “get religion” will not heal a interest in reaching out to support the nonreligious. We must moral injury—neither for secularists nor for those who are also recognize that religious evangelizing and proselytizing are devout believers. We must remember that this injury is self-in- not mental health therapies. According to recent polls, over flicted. Acts done with brutality or acts of omission with brutal one-quarter of military members do not identify with a spe- consequences often contradict everything we hold to be true cific religion. Going to a chaplain and discussing serious moral and good at the core of our beings. These acts betray gods for injuries in the context of supernatural beings could increase the religious, and they betray humanity for the secular. Both feelings of isolation and hopelessness for the atheist or agnos- groups betray themselves. In John Knowles’s World War I–era tic. The frequent refrain among military chaplains is “chaplain novel A Separate Peace (1959), the character Gene Forrester to all, pastor to some,” but for certain groups and individuals, acts in a moment of semi-reality. Vacillating between two sharing their faith with others is a religious command. worlds, he almost unconsciously shakes the branch from which Ironically, even the nonreligious sometimes prefer to see his friend Finny falls, ultimately leading to his death. In much chaplains for mental health issues including moral injuries—at the same way, war really does cause many of us to cross the least at first. The reason for this is that unlike professional Rubicon in a nebulous split second. We’ll not be the same, ever; but then, none of us really remain so. Just as Gene finally came to terms with himself and learned how to live after his moral injury, so can “The military relies heavily on chaplains for ethics training, our troops heal. We recognize a real problem with but this training often references the Bible and religious PTSD and suicides. It becomes clearer every day that moral injury is an important contributing fac- imagery. Though this has been recognized by some tor and must be addressed from both the theistic military leaders as problematic, few opportunities are and nontheistic perspectives. provided for participation by secular ethicists who Further Reading may be more inclusive in their instruction.” Dokoupil, Tony. “A New Theory of PTSD and Veterans: Moral Injury.” The Daily Beast. December 3, 2012. Kennedy, Kelly. “Too Little Sleep Could Be More Dangerous than You May Think.” Army Times, May 20, 2009. Lange, Jennifer Travis, CAPT, MC, USA, Christopher L. Lange, MC, USA, counselors, psychiatrists, and psychologists, chaplains are not and Rex B. G. Cabaltica, MD. “Primary Care Treatment of Post- required to keep records that could damage a servicemember’s traumatic Stress Disorder.” American Family Physician 62, no. 5 career. Jason Torpy, president of the Military Association of (2000): 1035–1040. Maguen, Shira, PhD, and Brett Litz, PhD. “Moral Injury in Veterans of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF), has made a strong case for War.” PTSD Research Quarterly 23, no. 1 (2012): 1–6. the inclusion of secular humanists in the military family of chap- Robson, Seth. “Soldiers Fail to Seek PTSD Treatment or Drop Out of lains. Although this proposal is controversial in both the reli- Therapy Early, Research Finds.” Stars and Stripes, May 15, 2012. gious and secular communities, humanist chaplains could be an Shay, Jonathan, MD. “Moral Injury.” Lecture at Colombia Medical Center. Video produced by Scott Alderman available at http:// effective rational alternative for those with moral injuries and www.youtube.com/watch?v=XBkCg6_ISpQ. Accessed December other questions about mental health. In the absence of human- 27, 2012. ist chaplains, religious chaplains must be trained to understand Torpy, Jason. “Humanist Chaplains: A Litmus Test for Equal Protection.” Free Inquiry 31, no. 6 (2011). and accommodate nontheistic beliefs and practices. Certain Warner, Christopher H., MD, George N. Appenzeller, MD, Thomas standards could be set for counseling competence and training Grieger, MD, Slava Belenkiy, MD, Jill Breitbach, PsyD, Jessica Parker, as secular ethicists, and confidentiality could be preserved, as PsyD, Carolynn M. Warner, MD, and Charles Hoge, MD. “Original Article | Oct 2011 Importance of Anonymity to Encourage Honest well as it could for chaplains with supernatural beliefs. Reporting in Mental Health Screening After Combat Deployment.” Modern warfare produces abundant instances in which there Archives of General Psychiatry 68, no. 10 (October 2011): 1065– are no good choices. Desensitization, conditioning, and denial 1071. training of our troops have produced a powerful fighting force, but this has come at a high cost—moral injuries with profound Gretchen Brendel Mann is a civilian physician (graduate of Dartmouth repercussions. Lt. Col. Dave Grossman, chair of the Department Medical School) who has worked for the Department­ of Army for twenty of Military Science at Arkansas State University, points out that years, first at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado, then as if our society is willing to prepare our military members to over- chief medical officer for Military En­trance Processing stations in Louisville, come resistance to killing, then we are obligated to deal with the Kentucky, and Denver, Colorado. psychological wreckage caused by moral injuries.

30 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org ARMY OF GOD: America’s Armed Forces vs. Their Nontheists

Seeking Reform from Within Major Raymond Bradley

Bigotry (big-ot-ry) noun—stubborn and complete intoler- ance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one’s own. —Dictionary.com

Question: What does it take to be recognized as a humanist in the military? Answer: Can’t happen. The chaplaincy dictates to the military personnel offices what religious preferences can be claimed in official military records. No humanists are allowed.

f course, the chaplaincy doesn’t actually deny anyone his or her religious freedom. Its leaders find it much eas- Oier and safer just to ignore requests they don’t want to support. Case in point: over a year ago, I requested that my military records be changed from “No Religious Preference” to “Humanist.” I filled out the appropriate form and submitted it to my personnel office. It was a simple request for a routine change to a single data field in the Personal Section of my official military record. This is the section where promotion boards, academic selections boards, supervisors, and commanders “Over a year ago, I requested that my can see where I was born, my marital status, and military records be changed from other personal data. Also, upon a servicemem- ber’s arrival at a new duty station, this data pro- ‘No Religious Preference’ to ‘Humanist.’” vides key information for determining the best sponsor to assist the incoming servicemember and his or her family with settling into their new surroundings. ter to a higher authority, the Armed Forces Chaplains Board. Currently, my record (above right) is inaccurate. It says that This board normally meets each month to discuss current issues I have no religious preference, meaning that any chaplain of and policy changes. any religious denomination can serve my religious needs. This Conveniently, when my issue had been added to the is simply not the case. I do have a preference. I am a humanist, agenda, the board stopped holding monthly meetings. “Sorry,” and I prefer the services and support provided by a creden- I was told, “but we cancelled every meeting for the last six tialed Humanist Celebrant or a humanist chaplain who under- months. We will keep you updated as the situation progresses.” stands my worldview.­ The Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) Weeks went by after my request with no change to my filed a Freedom of Information Act request for board minutes records. When I inquired about the delay, I learned that from the previous twelve months. The materials released in in order to meet my request, the Army Human Resources response showed meeting dates only up through May 2012, Command would need to add a new entry for “Humanist” into with most agenda items and minutes redacted—and no sign the “Religion” field of its personnel database. Those in charge that my request had been discussed. would not do this without consent from the Department of the Military chaplains may not be allowed to carry weapons, but Army’s Office of the Chaplain, which had quickly sent the mat- they sure know how to wield the arms of passive aggression.

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 31 Apparently such passive-aggressive behavior is not limited recognize nontheistic religious preferences such as humanism. to the chaplaincy. I then appealed to one of my elected repre- Some may think that adding “Humanist” to the list of sentatives. Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska) sits on the Armed approved religious preferences will be a capitulation relegat- Services Subcommittee on Personnel, which has jurisdiction ing humanism to the status of just another religion. This risk is over all matters relating to active and reserve military per- unavoidable if we are to gain equal treatment for humanists in sonnel. An initial courteous reply from his aide was followed the military. However, such precedence only affects individual by several excuses for inaction before the proverbial line ulti- records and statistical data used by the chaplaincy to allocate mately went dead. I have never known a congressional inquiry support. It would have little bearing outside the military except to go unanswered. Apparently, Senator Begich decided either to empirically expose the rising tide of secularism among those that his personal beliefs prevented him from assisting me or serving their nation. that it was politically too risky for him to do so. MAAF and the So far, fewer than 1 percent of nontheistic servicemembers Secular Coalition for America have inquired to other members have been brave enough to change their religious preference of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees about to “Atheist.” There is good reason for this. I have spoken to this and similar issues, and they have received similar inaction many atheists in foxholes; several have expressed concern in response. for their careers should their nonreligious worldview become known to superiors and board members. It is absolutely appalling to think that, out of fear for their careers, servicemembers must forfeit “Currently, my record is inaccurate. It says that I have no one of the fundamental freedoms that they religious preference, meaning that any chaplain of any fight to preserve. And, of course, the chaplaincy is doing nothing to combat this cultural intol- religious denomination can serve my religious needs. . . . erance within the military. On the contrary, I do have a preference. I am a humanist.” it perpetuates this bigotry by preventing ser- vicemembers from identifying with nontheistic belief systems such as humanism. Secular members in the military can learn a Ironically, were I to die today, the Department of Veterans cogent lesson from the gay rights movement: determination, Affairs would provide a headstone engraved with the official even in the face of overwhelming odds, leads to success. And humanist emblem, even though my Army record does not we have an advantage in numbers. By all accounts except one, reflect my wish that a Humanist Celebrant perform my funeral. there are tens of thousands of atheists in the military—the one In fact, because my records currently indicate “No Religious exception being that most of those atheists do not appear in official military records. And that’s where we need to focus our Preference,” a chaplain of any religion at all could conduct my efforts. We must encourage every secular servicemember to funeral service, reciting whatever prayers or incantations are change his or her religious preference to read “Atheist” until used by his or her particular denomination. And my grieving such time as the chaplaincy acknowledges the full range of family would be forced to endure the same aggravation suf- nontheistic belief systems. If you are a member of our nation’s fered by Pat Tillman’s family when the religiosity of others was military, reserve or active, and your records indicate “No imposed at his very public memorial service. Religious Preference” or a religious preference that is no longer I no longer have any expectation that the Armed Forces yours, go straight to your personnel office and request a Chaplains Board will decide on this matter. Instead, I expect change. Don’t let a bigoted few in positions of power prevent to receive nothing but polite apathy from an unsupportive you from being counted. clergy who likely view my request to identify as a humanist as an intrusion upon their intolerant sectarian views. This leaves me with but one recourse—to change my religious preference to “Atheist,” which is an available option. I will continue to pressure the Armed Forces Chaplains Board to decide on my request if for no other reason than to remind them that when Major Raymond Bradley is a lifelong atheist from rural Virginia who joined the Army Reserve soon after high school. After graduating from Virginia they stonewall servicemembers who do not identify with any Tech, he reported to active duty in 1996 at Fort Benjamin Harrison. He established church, they are fighting against the fastest-grow- lives with his wife and three children in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and ing segment within the military community. Ultimately, I sus- works as a medical plans officer in the Office of the Command Surgeon, pect that MAAF’s Jason Torpy was right when he declared that U.S. Army Reserve Command. atheists in the military must first be counted separately from all other religious groups before the official chaplaincy will

32 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org ARMY OF GOD: America’s Armed Forces vs. Their Nontheists

Freethought Enjoys Smoother Sailing at the Naval Academy Clifford G. Andrew

n April 19, 2011, Rev. Fredric Muir, senior minister at ers.” We were first shocked, then overwhelmed, when more the Unitarian Universalist Church of Annapolis (UUCA) than forty enthusiastic nonbelievers mobbed our table. Oreceived an e-mail from Military Association of Atheists Two days later, the first of seven sessions for nontheists and Freethinkers (MAAF) head Jason Torpy, asking whether was facilitated by Thornberry, Torpy, and me. Eleven plebes a humanist contingent within the congregation might be attended. During the meeting, they were able to decompress, interested in supporting humanist midshipmen at the U.S. relaxing with doughnuts and coffee. We watched Monty Naval Academy (USNA). Rev. Muir contacted me because I was Python’s “Galaxy Song” from The Meaning of Life and a por- founder and facilitator of the fledgling UUCA group Skeptics, tion of David Attenborough’s Charles Darwin and the Tree of Freethinkers, Agnostics, and Atheists (SFAA), then in its second Life, but the midshipmen were most interested in simply con- year. necting with others like themselves. A meeting was arranged at UUCA that was attended by The sessions that followed were facilitated by Vanessa Cameron Thornberry, Midshipman Second Class (a junior), Curtis, a UUCA member and Department of Defense employee a Unitarian Universalist (UU) and humanist from California; who had volunteered to assist with the summer program, William Frazier, Midshipman Third Class (a sophomore); Rev. and me. Curtis and I were struck by the heartbreaking stories Muir; Irene Norton from SFAA (an enthusiastic sponsor of several midshipmen told about negative parental attitudes midshipmen over the past two decades); and me. The two toward their nonbelief. Our participants all displayed impres- midshipmen were in the process of trying to set up a yet-to- sive inner strength, yet they were strongly gratified to discover be-named nontheist group at USNA. They had identified three support from a band of unbelieving brothers and sisters. others interested in the group from their own company of 140; In the summer of 2012, the program was offered again. an e-mail sent out to the entire brigade of thirty companies That time, sixty-seven plebes signed up at the chaplain intro- attending the Academy had located sixty midshipmen who duction. Curtis brought fresh, homemade baked goods. expressed an interest in forming a group for those not defin- Weekly attendance averaged more than fifty at each session ing themselves as religious. They wished to set up an initial over seven summer sessions. We watched Monty Python’s Life summer program for first-year students that would begin in of Brian, Julia Sweeney’s Letting Go of God, Stephen Hawking’s July of 2011 and run for seven weeks as an alternative to the Into the Universe, Richard Dawkins’s Root of All Evil (the com- traditional theistic worship programs offered during the sum- panion BBC television program to his book The God Delusion), mer training that precedes the start of formal classes. As there Alejandro Amenabar’s Agora, and various clips from the March was no humanist or UU chaplain at USNA, the Jewish chaplain, 2012 Reason Rally. Again, some of the most relevant sessions Lieutenant Commander Seth Phillips, was kind enough to help involved group discussions during which the plebes expressed foster the group. their personal principles, beliefs, and struggles and told how On July 1, 2011, Midshipman Thornberry, Torpy, and I at­ this impacted their relationships both at home and “on the tended the chaplains’ introductions to new arrivals, the yearly yard” (at USNA). assembly of all incoming midshipmen. After an announcement of the various religious groups represented, members were asked to stand as their religious group was called then go to a separate part of the large hall where tables had been set up for Glossary Catholics, Protestants, Mormons, Hindus, Muslims, and so on. In Midshipman: officer cadet; a student at the U.S. Naval the past, nonbelievers had no place to go. Academy; male or female. At this assembly, we expected that a mere handful of Plebe: first-year student at the Academy; equivalent to a plebes might be brave enough to stand and—for the first time freshman. in USNA’s history—self-identify as “atheists” and “freethink-

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 33 we prefer to define ourselves by what we do believe: First and foremost, we believe in a naturalistic worldview free of mystical and supernatural elements. We believe in science and in the use of human logic and in reason as the basis for our understanding of what this universe is all about, who we are, and our place in it. We believe in compassion and respect for our fellow human beings, for life on our planet, and for the web of existence. We believe in community and cooperation in working toward social justice. We share a sense of wonder and awe for the entire cosmos. We believe in having the courage to share our worldview with those with whom we disagree. We feel this should be done with a sense of mutual tolerance and respect. Many incoming midshipmen are humanists, freethinkers, and athe- ists. At NAFA, we hope to help them find their own set of well- founded beliefs and positive principles that they can share without fear of reprisal—a recognition of the importance of Midshipman Cameron Thornberry (left, behind table) and Dr. Clifford science and reason, wonder and respect, and compassion and Andrew man the Naval Academy Freethinkers and Atheists sign-up table. community. Some people ask how my Unitarian Universalist principles fit with my atheism, naturalism, and humanism. Some won- der why I decided to take such an active role in helping get Clifford Andrew, MD, PhD, is a neurologist practicing in Severn Park, the Naval Academy Freethinkers and Atheists (NAFA) off the Maryland, and an adjunct assistant professor of neurology at Johns ground. At UUCA, our UU Humanist group does not agree on Hopkins University. He leads the Unitarian Universalist Humanists at the what to call ourselves, for we are a mixed group of agnostics, UU Church of Annapolis and has been a civilian advisor for the Naval atheists, brights, freethinkers, naturalists, nonbelievers, secular Academy Freethinkers and Atheists since its inception in 2011. His only humanists, and skeptics. But we do share a set of common and prior connection to the Navy was running in the Marine Corps Marathon strongly held principles and, yes, beliefs. in 1996 and 2002. Rather than defining ourselves by what we don’t believe,

Advertise in

On a trial basis, Free Inquiry will accept selected display advertising (minimum one-quarter page) from individuals, organizations, and publishers.

For rates and other information, please write Tom Flynn, Editor, Free Inquiry, P.O. Box 664 Amherst NY 14226-0664 or e-mail [email protected].

34 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org ARMY OF GOD: America’s Armed Forces vs. Their Nontheists

Why Chaplains Should Be Contracted, Not Commissioned Carlos Bertha

The Air Force Chaplain Corps provides spiritual care and the might be called “life-stance orientations,” only nontheists are opportunity . . . [for Air Force members] to exercise their excluded from chaplain support. Constitutional right to the free exercise of religion. Military chaplaincy faced legal challenge in the early 1980s, —From the U.S. Air Force Chaplain Corps History and narrowly escaping abolition in Katcoff v. Marsh (decided 1986). Mission (airforce.com) Chaplaincy was determined to be constitutional because it assisted in providing for the free exercise of religion by ser- have always questioned the presence of, say, a dharma vicemembers within the restrictive context of military service wheel or Jewish tablets adorning a chaplain’s military uni- and combat. This justification is well known, but it is less clear Iform. How can these displays not be seen as government that the traditional commissioned-officer chaplaincy satisfies endorsement of religion? In addition, chaplains have the it optimally. Under the current system, chaplains are govern- explicit mission to serve the “religious” and “spiritual” needs ment-paid, senior military officers assigned to command staff, of servicemembers. Yet at the same time, they have broad and they have unrestricted access to essentially all military responsibilities to advise the command and to give mari- personnel. tal and emotional counseling to servicemembers—while also In practice, modern chaplains deliver a wide array of secular authentically representing a specific religious denomination. A services, including coordination of religious services, informal chaplain’s religious qualifications and obligations may give rise (uncredentialed) coaching and counseling, providing ethical to conflicts of interest, especially in secular situations or when advice to the command, and various types of mental-health attempting to support a servicemember who is nontheistic. and family training. However, Katcoff v. Marsh upheld chap- In my opinion, the current chaplaincy structure, in which laincy for one and only one need: meeting the free exercise chaplains serve as commissioned officers, should be replaced by of religion needs of servicemembers. All those secular services a system in which chaplains are civilian contractors. The argu- can be handled separately, but only free exercise distinguishes ments for a civilian-contractor chaplaincy are both principled chaplains specifically, and so the constitutional free exercise of and pragmatic. On the one hand, I note the apparent conflict religion shall be the focus of this article. between the establishment clause and a commissioned-officer Faith-based religious services, according to current policy, clergy. On the other hand, I point out the fiscal, logistical, and can be provided only within the bounds set by the endorsing practical benefits of a contracted civilian chaplaincy.* agency of the chaplain, that is, the chaplain’s church or denom- In my position as the faculty advisor for the U.S. Air Force ination. Any request falling outside the chaplain’s endorse- Academy cadet freethinkers, I have seen how chaplaincy issues ment must be referred to another chaplain or to civilian clergy. play out. The Academy’s chaplains, under direction from high- For example, Methodist chaplains should not provide any er-level Air Force chaplains, denied funding to the freethinkers faith-based services to Lutherans, Mormons, Catholics, Jews, group and quickly excluded it from chaplain programming. religious humanists, or the nontheistic. In these cases chaplains This was done because the freethinkers did not self-identify should provide only a referral to a specialist (and secular ser- as “spiritual” or “religious.” At the same time, no definitions vices). These referrals sometimes go to other chaplains but may of these terms were provided, denying us the tools to explore also go to civilian clergy. other ways our group might fit into the existing structure. By this logic, an obvious alternative to commissioned officer While every servicemember has access to clubs, among what chaplaincy presents itself: a corps of contracted civilian chap- lains. By transitioning active-duty senior officers to a contracted *This argument is intended for expansion in a more formal journal arti- civilian chaplain corps, many of the issues of command bias- cle. To maintain the brevity of this article, I have opted not to elaborate on the constitutional precedent or various comparative examples of ing, government endorsement of religion, special privileges, commissioned versus contracted chaplaincy situations. and “ministry of presence” proselytizing would disappear.

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 35 Currently, contractors perform garrison security, combat secu- in secular ethics, mental health, counseling, program man- rity, secret weapon maintenance, strategic advice, and other agement, and world religions, as appropriate, would greatly presumably sensitive roles. Certainly civilian contracting has improve the quality of services received. In this connection, it is proven itself to be a combat-ready business practice. worth noting that many of today’s commissioned chaplains are The restructured chaplain corps would also be more flexible. not credentialed in these areas. Some more pacifist religions or denominations that currently There are obvious and daunting objections to my proposal. do not provide commissioned officers may be willing to provide The most daunting objection is simply tradition: chaplains contractors. Presumably a reduced-responsibility contract posi- always have been and always will be, so the objection goes. tion would also be more accessible (in terms of qualifications) The second-most-daunting objection is that all of the secu- than the current full-time/officer role, helping to mitigate some lar services that chaplains provide cannot be easily replaced. of the shortages the chaplaincy currently suffers. The position While I have suggested new ways to provide these services, the should also be a less daunting career choice, making possible practical implementation of such a realignment of job respon- more rotation among a larger pool of civilian pastors. sibilities would fundamentally change military operations. There is a concern that civilian pastors may not be prepared Chaplains are simply too well-entrenched and well-integrated to serve in a pluralistic environment, either in terms of training into the fabric of military life. In addition, the Lemon test and or personal theology. This should be no great obstacle because other legal tests of church-state entanglement have been diluted over the years; the current chap- laincy is probably significantly less vulnera- ble to constitutional challenge than was the case with Katcoff in 1986. But a reckoning is coming. The pres- “Finding alternative ways to deliver the secular services ent chaplaincy continues to ignore the rise previously provided by commissioned chaplains will pose of those with nontheistic beliefs and non- religious life-stances and persists in carry- an obstacle for the military command, but responsibilities ing out its duties within an exclusive focus might be reassigned to personnel officers, commanders, upon theistic, supernatural religious beliefs. or mental-health professionals.” Meanwhile, the military continues to heap upon today’s chaplains counseling, men- tal-health and relationship counseling, and administrative duties outside their areas of expertise. At the same time, the lack of diversity among chaplains is crashing vio- they will not serve on command staff, do command briefings, lently into the expanding diversity of military culture and or operate without restriction. They would be available in an indeed American culture generally. For example, some chap- installation/area support role, serving personnel in the area but lains fight same-sex relationships, and that losing battle will not engaging in command planning or advice. The command come into stark relief as same-sex couples appear at marriage would be responsible for morale and referrals, but the con- retreats and counseling activities. tractors would be available to provide the proper faith-based On its current course, the chaplaincy will work itself into (or equivalent nonreligious) support for those who request obsolescence. Contracted clergy might offer a practical alterna- such assistance.* Finding alternative ways to deliver the secular tive to provide for the free exercise of religion while doing services previously provided by commissioned chaplains will away with what has always been a constitutionally problematic pose an obstacle for the military command, but responsibilities chaplaincy institution. might be reassigned to personnel officers, commanders, or mental-health professionals. Proper credentialing and training Dr. Carlos Bertha is an associate professor in the Philosophy Department at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he teaches ethics, applied rea- *In this section, I will not have room to expand on professional certifications for chaplaincy and chaplaincy supervision. These sorts of soning, symbolic logic, and philosophy of science. He also serves as the qualifications are not currently required for military chaplains but may faculty advisor to the Cadet Secular Student Alliance Freethinkers Group. provide another avenue for chaplaincy reform and for ensuring the Dr. Bertha is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves and in that professionalism of civilian chaplains and clergy. But the full discussion capacity teaches intermediate level education. must be addressed outside this essay.

36 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Apocalypse Nation Steven Doloff

n his 1871 essay titled “Democratic Vistas,” Walt Whitman currency in the victorious and undamaged United States in warned a post–Civil War America that it was still being mor- the relatively prosperous decades after the Second World Ially tested. He predicted that unless the nation matched its War—and has carried over into the twenty-first century as tremendous materialistic progress with a comparable spiritual well—prompts us to reexamine the fascination that annihila- advancement, it was bound for a fate “equivalent . . . to that tion seems to hold for the American psyche. of the fabled damned.” But first, a little history. The Western apocalyptic narrative Here we are 141 years later, and besides the extra hydro- arose in the century before Christ, out of the Judaic prophetic carbons, there seems to be a lot of (at least) metaphorical tradition. As the seeming omnipotence of the Roman Empire sulfur in the air over America. What kind of cultural climate magnified the helplessness of tiny, occupied Judea, out of the change is this? Let’s take a few readings from America’s psy- Hebrew tradition that promised local relief through Jewish chic weather patterns. atonement sprang a more desperate belief that only a uni- In the late 1950s, a century of Anglo-American critical versal judgment day could end the otherwise insurmountable opinion that Hamlet was Shakespeare’s greatest play gave way to a new consensus favoring King Lear. Scholars stopped seeing Lear as portraying one man’s pilgrimage to redemption and started seeing it as being about universal nihilism. If Hamlet “That this apocalyptic theme achieved even had given the nineteenth century its poster boy for greater currency in the victorious and undamaged the Romantic idealist roughed up by a harsh world, Lear (as scholar Frank Kermode observed) gave the United States in the relatively prosperous decades twentieth its defining image of the Apocalypse— after the Second World War—and has carried over with the play’s repeating keynote refrain of “noth- into the twenty-first century as well—prompts us ing” ringing out of the existential abyss famously surveyed by postwar writers like Sartre and Camus. to reexamine the fascination that annihilation In 1968, the Science Fiction Writers of America seems to hold for the American psyche.” voted on the best short stories of the genre’s “golden age,” roughly 1929 to 1964. The hands- down winner was Isaac Asimov’s 1941 “Nightfall.” Penned during the Second World War, “Nightfall” concerned an Earthlike planet that apocalyptically plunges into barbarism every two thousand years. Roman tyranny. Following these Hebrew antecedents, early Finally, during the 2012 Super Bowl, the audience for the persecuted Christians similarly found this kind of world-break- most-watched television broadcast in America was treated ing, Christ-returning narrative a comforting way to envision to a car commercial for “the apocalypse-proof Chevrolet their own deliverance. Silverado.” And so, in this, its original sense, the biblical Apocalypse— These are just three high- and low-atmospheric indicators despite all the attendant natural and civil upheavals described of the apocalyptic storm system already well established over in the Book of Revelation—is supposed to be an upbeat and America by the mid-twentieth century. reassuring thing. It is reassuring in that to believe in the William Butler Yeats famously forecast this age’s apoca- Apocalypse is to believe that all of human history, all of time lypse in 1919 with his poem “The Second Coming,” predicting itself, is a vehicle of divine purpose. And that on that “Great that an even scarier “blood-dimmed tide” would follow World Come and Get It Day,” as lyricist Yip Harburg termed it in War I. That this message was echoed by other writers, espe- his musical Finian’s Rainbow, everybody gets what he or she cially in Europe, may not be surprising given the precipitous deserves. What’s not to like, as long as you’re among the global conditions in the twenties and thirties. righteous? But that this apocalyptic theme achieved even greater But what happens to an apocalypse deferred?

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 37 A little more history: because an actual Apocalypse failed Great Awakening”; at the dawn of the twenty-first century, to occur during the early Christian era, its meaning changed. President George W. Bush suggested that America was in the Prominent third-century theologian Origen declared that the throes of yet a third great religious awakening. true Apocalypse was not an historical event at all but a met- The sixty million-plus members of today’s vibrant Baptist, aphor for divine revelation as internally experienced by indi- Evangelical, and Pentecostal Christian churches emerged from vidual Christian souls. By the fifth century, St. Augustine had these recurring American revivalist movements sharing the reinterpreted the biblical Apocalypse as merely an allegory belief in the literal Second Coming. But that belief is not of the Catholic Church’s own early struggle and emergence. restricted to these groups. A 2011 Pew Center poll found that Finally, in 431, the year after St. Augustine’s death, the third 41 percent of all Americans (that’s over 120 million people) ecumenical council of the Christian church, also known as expect a literal Apocalypse to begin before 2050. the First Council of Ephesus, declared the literal Apocalypse a If that seems far-fetched, perhaps you’ve never heard of superstitious heresy. the Left Behind book series. Between 1995 and 2007, authors A millennium later, along came the Reformation—and Tim LaHaye and Jerry B. Jenkins published sixteen novels the New World. The discovery of the Americas rebooted describing the initial Rapture and a serialized Apocalypse in detail far more sensational than Wigglesworth. And they’re not finished; additional volumes are in the works. To date, the series has sold over sixty-five million copies, with seven of the titles reaching number-one on the best-seller lists of “The discovery of the Americas rebooted The New York Times, USA Today, and Publisher’s widespread, even church-supported, Weekly. LaHaye, Jenkins, and a third collaborator, anticipation of a real Apocalypse once more.” Chris Farby, have also penned, so far, forty titles in their own juvenile spin-off series: Left Behind: The Kids. Does former President Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” program now start to cha-cha with new meaning? Modern secular American literature has widespread, even church-supported, anticipation of a real responded no less avidly to the aforementioned sulfur in Apocalypse once more. Sightings of the New World had the national ether. Except that serious literature, along with prompted Columbus to scribble sections of Revelations in almost all other secular popular disaster entertainment (unlike his journals. And in the eyes of many of its first Protestant the Left Behind books), has abandoned the prospect of any European immigrants, before them literally lay kingdom come. upside to Armageddon. The fiction of such academically So America’s literature was bound to be apocalyptic. esteemed twentieth-century authors as William Faulkner, Increase Mather’s 1687 Puritan tract “New Jerusalem” detailed Nathanael West, Flannery O’Connor, Norman Mailer, Kurt how events in Revelations supposedly correlated with early Vonnegut, Robert Coover, Joseph Heller, William Burroughs, New England history. And the first “fictional” best seller in the Thomas Pynchon, David Foster Wallace, Don DeLillo, and Americas was a 224-stanza poem called “The Day of Doom.” Cormac McCarthy treats us to unrelenting vistas of literal or Published in 1662 by Massachusetts Puritan minister Thomas symbolic American calamity. Wigglesworth, it luridly detailed the many punishments await- Now in IMAX and 3D, this same theme of doom shimmers ing sinners on Judgment Day. “The Day of Doom” remained on the broader cultural main-street of the movie screen in a the most popular piece of fiction in the colonies for one hun- kaleidoscopic loop of microcosmic, macrocosmic, economic, dred years. It was once estimated that half the households in cybernetic, pathogenic, geologic, nuclear, biochemical, eco- New England possessed a copy. Of the first printing not one logical, astronomical, and extraterrestrial menace. (In case exists today; it has been argued that this is because they were you didn’t know it, all those zombies—when not serving as all thumbed to shreds. a subliminal argument against gun control—satirize us, the This modern return to apocalyptic thinking has remained, lumpen, soulless citizenry of the entropic void, lurching across in one form or another, a part of American culture as it has Matthew Arnold’s beach.) nowhere else in the Western world. While eighteenth-century Moreover, not only are these images of doom absolute, Europe experienced the Enlightenment, America underwent they don’t even smack of eschatological comeuppance. In fact, what became known as the “First Great Awakening,” a mas- there’s nary a whiff of any purpose at all, divine or otherwise. sive expansion of Christian fundamentalism. In the nine- They just display the meaningless suffering of haphazard nat- teenth century there followed a similarly popular “Second ural upheaval and/or social decay.

38 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Perhaps one way to hear this big cultural raspberry directed of our death elicits, however irrationally, some autonomic at America is as the sound of aesthetic disappointment. These throb of . . . something like affirmation. (Why else would any- dystopian visions might burn with their creators’ chagrin over body want to watch King Lear twice?) America’s failure to live up to its bright millennial expecta- So the apocalyptic entertainment we so abundantly con- tions, for failing Whitman’s test—for being, as Jeannette sume may just be the paradoxical artifice by which even sec- Winterson called it, the “newfound land that spoiled itself and ular America subconsciously continues to sift the rubble of its a once-in-a species opportunity to really begin again.” own apprehended decline for intimations of its once promised Perhaps we can stretch a bit farther and look at America’s “New Jerusalem.” cultural love affair with catastrophe as some form of Dionysian There used to be a Greenwich Village performance artist “Tropic of Cancer,” as Henry Miller called it, some convulsive back in the ‘70s and ‘80s called Brother Theodore who would rejection of the forever deferred Apollonian promises hyped stand on a bare, darkened stage dressed in a brown monk’s by material modernity, the thing the Enlightenment envi- habit and deliver sepulchral lectures on bizarre subjects in a sioned in place of kingdom come. thick German accent. And he always ended these sermons the Or shall we go all the way to the sublime and say that same way. He would say: “Vhere zhere is no crucifixion, zhere America’s apocalyptic reveries are a form of mythopoeic mag- can be no resurrection . . . unt . . . vhere zhere is no death, ical thinking—confused prayers, if you will, of our collective zhere is no hope . . . Good night.” unconscious—for there again to be meaning in human history, Looking back now, I can see that his act was as American for there again to be purpose in the whirlwind, for there to be as apple pie. a specifically providential cracking of the world so that it may be reborn? Maybe we’re not afraid the end is near. Maybe we’re Steven Doloff is a professor in the Department of Humanities and Media afraid it isn’t. Studies at Pratt Institute. His essays on culture and education have As many a philosopher has argued, we come more fully to appeared in numerous publications, including The New York Times, The value, or at least more poignantly to feel, our own existence by Washington Post, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. contemplating our ends. The aesthetically mediated prospect

Arthur L. Caplan The Brain of Ariel Sharon continued from p.12 up when exposed to familiar stimuli, brain activity. Still, he may be suffer- nursing home, not in the intensive care without anyone “home” to appreciate ing if he has any awareness of being unit or in a hospital at all. Keeping them? No one really knows. It seems trapped inside his body. Some others Sharon or others like him alive in a very fair to say that a very damaged brain is in similar straits due to conditions such damaged, extremely limited state with not “thinking,” aware, or self-conscious as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) no hope of recovery is not something that in a manner similar to a healthy human do ask for death. Others strive to live. the government should pay for without brain. Even the doctors who did the But prolonging Sharon’s life at eighty- some support from those who want the tests urged extreme caution in inter- four in the hope of recovery is futile. life to go on. The choice to keep Ariel preting them to mean that Sharon is Prolonging his life so he can remain the Sharon alive—and to keep others in his alert and mentally active. Not enough is way he is may be causing him incredible circumstances alive—is one that deserves known about brain scans to reach such misery. respect, but it also demands involvement, a conclusion. The best course of action in cases emotional and fiscal. The choice to let Should everyone in a suspected PVS like this is to let families decide how someone go also deserves respect. In the undergo this kind of testing? Not yet, to proceed so long as they understand case of Ariel Sharon and others who are because it is still highly experimental the facts and the uncertainties. Spouses severely brain damaged, uncertain medi- in terms of interpreting the findings. and longtime partners should have the cal science must and can give way only to Furthermore, most hospitals and nursing last word. well-intentioned ethics. homes currently lack the staff and equip- The decision to prolong care may ment to conduct the testing—and most also be contingent on the Arthur L. Caplan is the Drs. Willliam F. and Virginia Connolly families lack the ability to pay for it. acceptance of the least Mitty Professor and head of the Division of Bioethics at New So what is the case for keeping expensive care location— York University Langone Medical Center in New York City. Sharon alive? He is not dead—he has in the family home or in a

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 39 Tom Flynn Yes, Virginia, There Was a Twentieth Century continued from p. 7 sixties, then, there was a vacuum where From a legal perspective, Abingdon as pushy and intolerant. Still, for more an American freethought movement v. Schempp was the more important than three decades the most prominent should have been. case. But where the Schempp fam- atheist leader in America—quite liter- In 1963, that vacuum would be filled. ily sought to avoid media attention, ally, the only atheist most Americans of The stage had been set the year Madalyn Murray lusted after it. In short the time could name—was O’Hair. No before, when the U.S. Supreme Court order, most Americans came to think atheist played a more prominent role struck down compulsory recitation of that Murray had torn Bible reading out for a longer period than she did. an educator-composed prayer in public of public schools single-handedly. In During many of those years, Amer­ schools. The plaintiffs in Engel v. Vitale 1963, the nation had no active national ica’s next-most prominent atheist leader were New York parents of mixed reli- atheist organization; Murray founded was also a woman. In the late sixties, gious backgrounds. In 1963, the high what would become American Atheists. Madison, Wisconsin, atheist Anne Nicol court dropped the other shoe and ruled In 1964, Life magazine dubbed her Gaylor began to campaign for abortion that public schools could not conduct “the most hated woman in America.” rights. In the seventies, she launched teacher-led Bible readings either. That In 1965, she married Richard O’Hair. first a referral service, then an organized decision resolved two cases, one from Madalyn Murray O’Hair became a charity that helped thousands of women Pennsylvania and one from Maryland. household name—the new face of obtain abortions. She was O’Hair’s right In the Pennsylvania case, Abingdon American­ atheism. hand until they had a falling-out (the School District v. Schempp, the plaintiff For the cause of unbelief, this was usual fate of O’Hair lieutenants). In 1976, was a young Unitarian Universalist. In a decidedly mixed blessing. O’Hair had Gaylor founded the Freedom From the Maryland case, Murray­ v. Curlett, wrestled atheism back into the national Religion Foundation (FFRF). In marked the plaintiff was a young atheist. consciousness, but she was mercurial, contrast to O’Hair, Gaylor was calm and That young atheist’s mother was a vulgar, and abrasive. She helped to professional in demeanor, though her gruff woman named Madalyn Murray. cement popular stereotypes of atheists views were little less radical than O’Hair’s.

Greta Christina What Does Religion Provide? continued from p. 8 the same conference, happened to be blasphemous views of sex and religion. in San Francisco is different from what on the same flight and started talking in The program brought in a nearly sold- they’ll need in Tulsa. It’ll be different in the airport about atheist organizing in out crowd, and we’re turning it into a Austin and Manhattan, Min­­­­neapolis San Francisco and what we could do to regular event. and Dallas, Montreal and Tokyo, Sas­ bring more people into the mix. We were Now, if we’d been exploring the katoon and Seattle, and Sydney and thinking out loud: “What will get San question, “What does religion pro- Johannesburg. If we keep asking our- Franciscans to come to an event? What vide?,” we would have never thought selves, “What does religion provide?,” I do San Franciscans like?” The answer of this idea. We would have come up think we may focus too much on what popped into both of our heads at once: with picnics and coming-of-age cere- religion already provides and overlook San Franciscans like sex. (Obviously, peo- monies—something like that. There are creative ideas that religion is generally ple outside San Francisco like sex, too, lots of things that religion tradition- missing out on. If instead we ask our- but in San Francisco, people are gener- ally provides, but explicit sexual enter- selves, “What do people need?,” I think ally more willing to be public about it.) tainment is not generally among them. we’ll be better able to, well, to meet So we thought: What if we organized But because we were thinking “What people’s needs—the ones religion is cur- an event where atheist writers do read- do people need and want?”—and rently filling, as well as the ones religion ings about godless views of sex? We because we were specifically thinking doesn’t have a clue about. And we touched base with Chris Hall, who’d “What do people in the San Francisco won’t be giving religion credit that it already launched the Godless Perverts Bay Area need and want?”—we were hasn’t earned. with a well-attended and well-received able to think outside the panel discussion . . . and the three of us box and come up with an Greta Christina is a prominent atheist speaker and writer who put together the Godless Perverts Story idea that Bay Area atheists blogs at Greta Christina’s Blog. She is the author of Why Are Hour, an evening of depictions, explora- responded to. You So Angry? 99 Things that Piss Off the Godless (Pitchstone tions, and celebrations of godless sexu- What people need Publishing, 2012). alities, along with critical, mocking, and from an atheist community

40 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Until 1991, when a coalition of for- Gaylor, now runs FFRF with her hus- It’s hard to say. Madalyn Murray O’Hair, mer American Atheists local groups band, evangelist-turned-atheist Dan in particular, was such an idiosyncratic organized as the Atheist Alliance, Barker. Space does not permit me to figure that it’s unclear what lesson con- American Atheists and FFRF were the name a score of female activists who temporary feminists might draw from only national organizations devoted played significant volunteer roles in the her example. Nonetheless, as younger explicitly to atheism, and both were work of American Atheists and FFRF voices in our movement decry it for woman-led. To put it another way, for during these years. falling short of its obligations to half of more than a quarter of that far-off, That said, neither group should be the human race—with sound reason, in misty twentieth century, all the top held up as an exemplar of gender parity. my view—let’s not lose track of history. atheist leadership in the United States American Atheists and FFRF conventions Yes, Virginia, there was a twentieth was female. looked like any other movement gather- century, and during most of its latter Nor is our roster of women athe- ing of the time, overwhelmingly domi- third, organized American atheism was ist leaders complete. For several years, nated by older white males. It’s probably a woman-led phenomenon. Whatever Atheist Alliance was led by Marie fair to say that late-twentieth-century that may signify, it is unfair to charac- Castle. From O’Hair’s 1995 disappear- organized atheism displayed a “reverse terize our movement as one unreliev- ance until 2008, American Atheists was glass ceiling”—female at the top, mostly edly tainted by misogyny. led by Ellen Johnson, principal architect male below—a structure seen in few of the 2002 Godless Americans March other organizations of the time. It’s an on Washington (which the Council for anomaly that, to the best of my knowl- Secular Humanism cosponsored), the edge, feminist scholarship largest physical gathering of American has yet to explore. Tom Flynn is the editor of Free Inquiry and the executive director nonbelievers until 2012’s Reason Rally. What larger message of the Council for Secular Humanism. Anne Gaylor’s daughter, Annie Laurie should we draw from that?

Russell Blackford Should We Abolish Morality? continued from p. 9 we can say, slightly technically, that sets are beautiful, that novels are mer- ably binding or metaphysically endorsed. objectively prescriptive properties such itorious (or otherwise), or that motor Once again, no one thinks that judg- as a property of “objective wrongness” vehicles are good or bad ones, with- ments such as “This is a good car” or make no sense. No one can be mistaken out imagining that these judgments are “This is a poor-quality knife” have that in failing to recognize these properties endorsed by the universe or are some- kind of strictly objective status—and yet, out there in the world, because they how binding on other rational beings these are still perfectly useful judgments don’t exist—and can’t exist. whose ultimate desires and values may to make and express. I’m with Marks on much of this, but be different from our own. The same I’d like to see Marks give more atten- I wonder whether moral language is as may well apply to our judgments of tion to this line of criticism. Nonetheless, pernicious as he makes it out to be. Do each other’s characters. Even so, why his book is a significant and useful contri- read chapter 4 of the book, in partic- would we not go on judging some peo- bution to a very important debate. If we ular, where he puts arguments about ple (perhaps violent, dishonest, cowardly accept that morality is not what it is the harm done by speaking in moral ones) as “bad” and other people (per- widely regarded to be—strictly, even language (“wrong,” “morally bad,” etc.) haps peaceful, honest, courageous ones) metaphysically, objective—what are the rather than nonmoral language (“causes as “good”? Surely there is widespread consequences for how we ought to live pain,” “I disapprove,” etc.). I wonder consensus about what qualities we want our own lives, make judgments about whether we really would abandon all from other people—and hence, what others, and try to influence other peo- of our moral language if we came to makes someone a “good” workmate, ple’s actions? believe that judgments about people’s friend, lover, or fellow citizen. I feel con- characters and actions were no more fident that many of these Russell Blackford is a conjoint lecturer in the School of (but no less) binding on others than sorts of judgments would Humanities and Social Science, Uni­versity of Newcastle, value judgments about the quality of continue to be made even Australia. His most recent book is Freedom of Religion and the sunsets, novels, and motor vehicles. if we all became convinced Secular State (Wiley-Blackwell, 2012). We make many judgments that sun- that they are not inescap-

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 41 Shadia B. Drury The Decay of American Democracy, Part 2 continued from p.11

and is in the process of racking up As a result, he maintains that at the heart The rich are now the “job creators” and enormous debt. He said that we of America’s troubles is a “crisis of profli- by implication, the greatest benefac- had to scale back our expenditures gacy.” tors of society. The Republican Party at home and abroad—at least until we figure out how to be self-suffi- Bacevich’s cynicism about the peo- is not solely to blame for this state of cient in energy. ple betrays his debt to the Christian affairs. In truth, both political parties Then, Ronald Reagan came mean-spiritedness of his mentor, Rein­ are beholden to the corporate oligarchs along and declared “Morning in hold Niebuhr. Christians are inclined to who fund their campaigns, own the America.” Don’t you worry about a thing; there is no problem; this attribute all political ills to the evils of media, and use the power of their lob- is an exceptional nation. Reagan human nature. But it is unfair (that is, it bies in Congress to avert any efforts to posed as a conservative. Whatever flies in the face of social justice) to blame regulate their activities or set limits to else they are, true conservatives are the American people for their profli- their greed. cautious realists, wary of magical cures. But Reagan was a magician, a gacy when there is no leader willing to It is no wonder that the American trickster, a peddler of stardust, and tell them the truth or give them a clear political system has been compared to a snake-oil salesman. So, be wary and realistic choice—preferably without the one-party system in China, albeit of these fake conservatives who Jimmy Carter’s preachy tone. It is unfair to with two wings characterized by vis- humor you, treat you like gullible children, and tell you that you can put the whole blame of the debacle that ceral hatred over minute differences. have excellence without effort, like is American foreign policy on the poorest If Obama’s party wished to distinguish the commercials telling you that people in America (the people who need itself from its opponent, if it wished you can be fit and trim without to shop at Walmart), while the ultrarich, to be the custodian of public good diet or exercise. The truth is more complex. whose investments in the war industry against private interests, then Obama The truth is, we have a choice. has yielded them obscene profits, get should have promised to reduce the If we want to have cheap consumer away scot-free. In every society, virtue size of the banks so that those that goods and cheap gas, then we will must start at the top because the leaders were too big to fail would be too big to have to continue the wars abroad; set the tone, and their vices poison the exist. He should have promised to resur- we will have to continue to install puppet regimes in countries such as society to a greater degree than the vices rect the Glass-Steagall Act, which once Afghanistan and Iraq; we will have of the powerless. I would be willing to separated commercial from invest- to continue supporting friendly dic- wager that given a clear choice, the poor ment banking. He should have prom- tators in oil-rich countries such as people of America would give up their ised to strengthen the Dodd-Frank bill Saudi Arabia and Bahrain; and we will have to keep up the sweat cheap consumer goods in a heartbeat in so it could actually prevent the worst shops in India, China, Mexico, and exchange for not having their children excesses of Wall Street. He should have elsewhere. If we don’t want to keep die in distant lands fighting wars they promised to revisit the public option in up this foreign policy, then we’ll can hardly understand. When the poor health care to provide some competi- have to settle for higher oil prices, no cheap consumer goods, and a pay the heaviest price for wars that are tion for the insurance companies, who lower standard of living; we’ll have falsely presented as patriotic necessities stand to gain most from “Obamacare.” to make our own stuff, pay our to defend the freedom of the nation, He should have promised to close a workers a living wage according to then a grave offense has been committed few hundred American military bases law, and give them health care and pensions. against both veracity and social justice. around the world in order to reduce the Those who carry the greatest bur- stranglehold of the military-industrial But Obama is no Pericles. den (such as military service) often find complex on the nation. When it comes to the grave issues themselves homeless, jobless, and desti- It may be argued that it is impos- facing the nation, neither political party tute when their fighting days are over. sible for a modern-day Pericles to suc- has provided the people with clear, truth- Instead, America worships wealth with ceed, because there will always be ful, and realistic choices. So, it is quite little concern for how it was acquired. someone (such as Ronald Reagan or unfair for Andrew Bacevich to say that The Republican Party has emerged as Mitt Romney) who comes along and the American “security state” cannot be particularly extreme in this regard. For promises a magical cure. In that case, dismantled because the American peo- them, the wealthy are the most val- Plato would be right in saying that ple are too much in love with their con- ued members of society. Any sugges- democracy is a system in which the phy- sumer goods to give them up (The Limits tion that the wealthy should pay a sician and the candy maker compete in of Power). According to Bacevich, the higher rate of tax than working people a popularity contest among children. real problem is that the American people is denounced as “class warfare,” which Democracy is not a simple form of gov- understand freedom as shopping, con- is supposedly rooted in the envy and ernment, but it is not impossible in the sumption, pleasure, and self-gratification. resentment of the good-for-nothings. context of a political culture that makes

42 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org blatant lies and artful propaganda a those who must work for a living. Of hundred times as smart or work two disgrace—a culture antithetical to the course, American democracy has never hundred times as hard as the average one promoted by the Supreme Court been based on a principle of simple person. decision in Citizens United. equality; it has always been a liberal So, let’s be truthful about what In the absence of veracity, democ- democracy, which is to say a meritoc- America is spreading with its military racy becomes nothing more than the racy, where inequality is based on merit. might around the world. It is not rule of the most artful liars. This is why But as Linda McQuaig and Neil Brooks spreading democracy. Nor is it spread- America’s truth-telling authors are its point out in The Trouble with Billionaires, ing a plethora of small oligarchies but greatest benefactors. Bill Moyers of PBS CEOs earned twenty or thirty times as one giant global oligarchy. Is it any has defined America as a “plutocracy.” much as the average worker in their wonder that America has come to rep- Chris Hedges has described it as a “new companies in the 1950s and ‘60s; today, resent mendacity and social injustice on feudalism” (Death of the Liberal Class they earn 200 or 250 times as much as a global scale? and Empire of Illusion). Jacob Hacker the average worker. It is and Paul Pierson have called it the new conceivable that a person Shadia Drury is Canada Research Chair at the University of Gilded Age (in Winner-Take-All Politics). who is ten times smarter Regina in Canada. Her most recent book is Aquinas and What all these astute observers describe or works ten times harder Modernity (Rowman & Littlefield, 2008). She is currently is the opposite of democracy—namely, should earn ten times as working on two books, Chauvinism of the West and Socratic oligarchy or rule of the rich in the inter- much, but it is inconceiv- Mischief. est of the rich and the exploitation of able for anyone to be two

Nat Hentoff Domestic Drone Danger Deepens continued from p.13

obtained from the use of drones may be awarded punitive damages around the world, terrorists could use equipped with anti-personnel de­­ up to the statutory maximum for the unmanned, missile-firing aircraft vices designed to harm, incapaci- each infraction, as well as the costs tate, or otherwise negatively impact of bringing the action and reason- to attack the president and other U.S. a human being. able attorney’s fees. leaders.” Blair added: “I do fear if al Herewith, “A bill to be enacted Qaeda can develop a drone, its first by the state legislature: the ‘Free- I’d like to see Virginia’s legislature thought will be to use it to kill our pres- dom From Drone Surveillance Act.’” adopt this bill and to see Congress ident and senior officers.” study it carefully. Thomas Jefferson, To get to the nitty gritty: Calls are intensifying for Obama to Patrick Henry, and James Madison release the legal justifications for his No information obtained by the would strongly approve this legislation. domestic use of Unmanned Aircraft drone killings overseas, especially of . . . shall be introduced as evidence Finally, there is another danger American citizens. According to Blair, in courts of this state for any pur- associated with the use of unmanned would-be drone copiers worldwide will poses, regardless of what entity, drones. It was described by Ret. Admiral disregard any such concerns. “If a ter- public or private, obtained the Dennis Blair, Obama’s first director of information or for what purpose. rorist group gets drone technology,” he national intelligence, who was fired declared, “it will use it against us every To put more teeth into this: for reasons that may soon become way they [sic] can.” Any persons suffering personal apparent. Blair now charges that the Do you think the United Nations injury or property damage as a Obama administration has only “partly would stop them? result of the prohibited use of an thought through” the repercussions of Unmanned Aircraft (aka drone) its expanded drone attack shall have a cause of action for bat- tery and for the value of property campaign. “Already doz- Nat Hentoff is a Universal (UClick) syndicated columnist, a senior lost or damaged. ens of countries from Iran fellow at the Cato Institute, and the author of numerous books, The cause of the action may be to China are using surveil- asserted against all persons who including Living the Bill of Rights (University of California Press, used or authorized (from on high) lance drones, and experts 1999) and The War on the Bill of Rights and the Gathering the use of such Unmanned Aircraft. believe it will not be long Resistance (Seven Stories Press, 2004). His latest book is At Whether or not compensatory dam­ before swarms of armed the Jazz Band Ball: Sixty Years on the Jazz Scene (University ages are awarded a person suf- drones take to the sky. . fering personal injury or property of California Press, 2010). He is currently working on his next damage, a person suffering per- . . As the technology for book, Is This Still America? sonal injury or property damage arming drones spreads

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 43 Simon Davis Greece Grapples with Blasphemy continued from p.15

Any effort to repeal Greece’s blas- Performances of Corpus Christi were ‘Elder Pastitsios’ phemy laws would require an act of postponed until October 11. That eve- On Friday, September 21, 2012, in the the Greek parliament. A 2010 opinion ning, protesters blockaded the entrance, village of Psahna in the Evia Prefecture poll showed that 84 percent of Greeks threw stones into the open-air court- of Greece, the Police Electronic Crimes would support higher taxes being paid yard, and assaulted a journalist. The Unit arrested twenty-seven-year-old by the church while 60 percent (and opening performance was delayed by atheist Philippos Loizos on charges even 47 percent of church-goers) are several hours for the few dozen people of malicious blasphemy and offense in favor of church-state separation, ac­ who had managed to get inside the against religion. The arrest came about cording to a 2008 poll. In the current theater. The approximately equal con- after Facebook told Greek authorities environment, it is unclear where the tingent of counterprotesters included that Loizos was the administrator of political will to undertake such a reform members of the Greek Atheist Union, a satirical Facebook page for “Elder might come from. But in recent months, artists, and MPs from SYRIZA and its Pastitsios.” The page was said to have there have been two high-profile pros- offshoot and ruling-coalition junior attracted over one hundred thousand ecutions for blasphemy. How they partner, Democratic Left. The counter- complaints, including some death play out may shape not only Greece’s protestors were unable to enter the threats. The news of Loizos’s arrest cre- church-state separation debate but the theater because protesters had glued ated worldwide interest in the case and broader political and cultural landscape the lock shut. Vasiliou de­­scribed the became the second major Greek blas- for years to come. scene to the BBC’s Paul Mason as “the phemy controversy of 2012. Greek Kristallnacht.” The government The Facebook page features a fic- condemned the violent protests, as tional character named Elder Pastitsios, “For the first time it appears to did every political party except Golden who is based on a well-known deceased Dawn. be the case that a progressive Greek Orthodox monk. Elder Paisios is The protests were organized by believed by many Orthodox Greeks to political party that is a contender two groups that voiced objection to have performed miracles and delivered for national power in the near both the content of the play and the prophecies, both during his life and director’s Albanian heritage. The most future has taken public positions after his death in 1994. His place of persistent complaints came from reac- burial in Northern Greece is a frequent against the blasphemy laws.” tionary autonomous Orthodox sects. destination for believers seeking mir- They are often referred to as “Old acles, and devotional books with sto- Calendarists” because of their refusal to ries about his teachings and prophecies abandon the Julian calendar, and they Corpus Christi are quite popular. On the controversial are not always accepted by the official Facebook page, Paisios’s name and face The first case involves Corpus Christi, a church. Many of these groups are also have been replaced with “Pastitsios,” a play that depicts Jesus and the apostles intensely nationalistic, believing in the Greek pasta-and-bechamel dish. as modern-day gay men living in Corpus prophesied return to grandeur of the Bypassing the charge of malicious Christi, Texas. The play has always Byzantine Empire, among other highly blasphemy, the district attorney has an­ been controversial; its 1998 premiere unlikely events. The other group behind nounced that he will prosecute Loizos in New York City was delayed after the protests was Golden Dawn. only on the charge of offense against weeks of protests, bomb threats, and On October 12, several Golden Dawn religion, which carries a maximum death threats against the playwright. MPs escorted Metropolitan Serafeim, penalty of two years imprisonment. Bill Donohue’s Catholic League referred the Orthodox bishop of Piraeus, to a Prosecutions­­ under the statute have to it at the time as “Gay Hate Speech.” police station, where he pressed new been very rare in recent years, and it A Greek version of the play, directed blasphemy charges against the play’s is not expected that Loizos will receive by the Greek-Albanian Laertis Vasiliou, actors and director. On November 1, any jail time. A trial date has not yet was scheduled to premiere in June the play’s director and producer issued been set. 2012. But on the first Saturday of its a joint announcement that they were On September 17, four days before planned run, police abruptly arrested cancelling future performances due to Loizos was arrested, Golden Dawn MP the play’s three main actors on charges the continued protests by the reaction- Christos Pappas had brought the Elder of blasphemy, causing a delay in the ary Orthodox. On November 16, the Pastitsios page to the attention of the start of the performance. The Greek Athens District Attorney announced justice minister, demanding in an official Orthodox Holy Synod denied involve- that a blasphemy prosecution in this query into why the issue was not being ment in the legal action but reiterated matter was proceeding. A court date is addressed. The police claimed that they its earlier call to protest the production. not yet set. had already concluded their investiga-

44 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org tion before the question was raised in then revealed the hoax, after which his Greece’s blasphemy laws, even as he Parliament. Following the announce- Facebook page grew greatly in popu- continues to publish new hoaxes. ment of Loizos’s arrest, SYRIZA strongly larity and in the number of hostile com- denounced the arrest. The Democratic ments received—in marked contrast iven that these two cases have yet to Left and the Greek Communist parties to the year before, when Loizos had Gsee a courtroom, there will certainly did the same. PASOK issued a more posted similar satirical content without be future legal developments. With tepid response, opposing Loizos’s arrest incident. regard to the political ramifications, but affirming the need to “protect reli- In an interview after his arrest, Golden Dawn does not seem credibly gious and national identity.” For its Loizos stated that he had acted in poised to court the reactionary and part, Golden Dawn lauded his arrest, part to expose the gullibility of the conservative Orthodox communities boasting that their MP’s question had faithful but primarily to show the poor that have traditionally been on the “mobilized the government into taking fact-checking done by conservative front lines of maintaining the incestu- action.” news sites. Asked whether he thought ous state-church status quo. On the According to Loizos, he had pre- his Facebook page was blasphemous, other hand, for the first time it appears viously angered many in the Greek he said he didn’t believe it was, because to be the case that a progressive politi- Orthodox­ leadership when he created the target of his satire was a deceased cal party that is a contender for national a false story of a posthumous miracle monk who has not been canonized power in the near future has taken by Elder Paisios, which he submitted to by the official church. (Indeed, much public positions against the blasphemy various Orthodox and Far-Right blogs skepticism about Paisios’s alleged mir- laws and seems to be openly siding with the previous July. The false story told of acles has been expressed by Orthodox the defendants. It is to be hoped that a teenage drug addict in a coma after a faithful wary of the Elder’s commercial- SYRIZA will continue to be supportive car accident who experienced a mirac- ization.) Loizos reiterated that even if as the party’s popularity increases and it ulous recovery after his mother placed his content was blasphemous, it should potentially assumes power. dirt from Elder Paisios’s grave in a tal- be his right to publish it. In his first inter- isman under her son’s pillow. The tale view following his arrest, Simon Davis is the online marketing director for a health-care was widely and uncritically reproduced, Loizos stated that he publications company and event coordinator for the Center for appearing on many online sites and planned to focus his future Inquiry–Washington, D.C. He grew up in Greece. even in a Far-Right newspaper. Loizos activism on the repeal of

James Haught Existentialism: A Philosophy for Secular Humanists continued from p.16

No matter how much chaos and makes sense, nothing is quite under- them. It’s for misfit thinkers who see cruelty are around us, each of us has stood, everything is confused and uncer- the world as half loony, so they each no choice but to formulate values and tain—with patriotic-sounding political seek a private, personal path, outside decide how we will behave, personally. dialogue that actually is gibberish—I the mainstream, trying to be honest We must craft an “authentic” life for thought the play was a brilliant reflec- and devoted to values that seem right ourselves, regardless of what the sur- tion of daily reality. When I was a kid to them. rounding society does. (Actually, I’m in the 1930s, there was a Gene Ahern During the 1950s, existentialism not sure I swallow existentialism’s asser- comic strip in which a bearded little cap­tivated me. But maybe I devised my tion that we must determine our own man repeatedly said, “Nov shmoz ka own personal concept of it—my own values, because I don’t know whether pop.” I latched onto the nonsense phrase concoction—one that did not fully people really choose their beliefs. Could as a marvelous expression of meaning- mesh with the views of experts. Actually, I choose to be a racist Klansman in a lessness. come to think of it, that’s probably the lynch mob if I wanted? Could I choose Somehow, existentialism seems a way most secular humanists form their to be an armed robber? Could I choose perfect philosophy for secular human- worldviews. to be a Pentecostal speaking “the ists, for nonconformists who can’t unknown tongue”? Those values are em­­brace the majority’s James A. Haught is the editor of the Charleston (West Virginia) alien to my psyche, so it isn’t quite a free god-chanting, war-fever, Gazette and a senior editor of Free Inquiry. His most recent choice for me to reject them.) and chest-thumping and book is Fading Faith: The Rise of the Secular Age (Gustav When I saw the absurdist play Wait­­ the entrenched unfairnesses Broukal Press, 2010). ing for Godot in which nothing really of the society all around

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 45 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Church-State Update

PBS’s First Freedom Edd Doerr

n December 18, 2012, PBS broad- dent. Some wag is sure to say that this is GOP governor Rick Snyder wants his cast a ninety-minute documentary an odd case of refuse recycling. state to emulate Ohio, even though Otitled First Freedom: The Fight for Michigan voters defeated tax aid to Religious Liberty. An excellent introduc- The Voucher Wars church schools in three referenda, in tion to the subject, it traced the evolu- Despite the fact that tens of millions of 1970, 1978, and 2000. tion of religious freedom in the United voters in twenty-seven statewide ref- States from early colonial times to shortly erendum elections have by huge mar- Rhee-gurgitation after 1800, coming down nicely on the gins defeated all proposals to divert Michelle Rhee, the self-promoting in­­ side of church-state separation and using public funds to religious and other génue school pseudo-reformer and for- a great many period visuals. Washington, private schools through vouchers, tax mer chancellor of the District of Columbia John and Samuel Adams, Jefferson, credits, and other gimmicks, conser- public schools, has become one of the Madison, Franklin, and others come off vatives are ramping up their war on “celebrities” famous for being famous. well, but John Winthrop and the Puritans public education, religious liberty, and With few actual accomplishments, she appear as narrow zealots unfriendly to now heads StudentsFirst, a multimillion-­ religious freedom and diversity. A DVD of dollar nonprofit that has funneled the program is available. “Conservatives are ramping up money mainly to Republican candidates The documentary’s “companion their war on public education, and is funded largely by foundations that book,” First Freedom: The Fight for Reli­ religious liberty, and favor diverting public funds to church- gious Liberty by eminent historian Randall run and other private schools, some- Balmer, is a handsome, lavishly illustrated church-state separation.” thing that Rhee herself has advocated. 9” x 12” coffee-table volume for the gen- In January StudentsFirst gave its highest eral reader, also useful as supplemental ratings to the Florida and Louisiana pub- reading for high-school history classes. church-state separation. Here is the lat- lic schools, while at about the same time Balmer touches almost all the bases; the est: Congress: Senator Marco Rubio the serious Education Week survey gave only thing missing is the 1797 Treaty of (R-Fla.) is proposing a federal corpo- the top ratings to the public schools Tripoli—negotiated under Washington, rate tax-credit for donations to vouch- of Maryland, Massachusetts, and New ratified by the Senate, and signed osten- er-granting nonprofit groups. Texas: York. Interestingly, those three states tatiously by John Adams—which stated Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Senate have had a total of five referenda in that “the government of the United Education Committee chair Dan Patrick, which diversion of public funds to reli- States of America is not in any sense both Republicans, are pushing a busi- gious and other private schools was founded on the Christian religion.” ness tax-credit plan for voucher-grant- voted down by greater-than-landslide ing nonprofits, which would further margins. No Bad Deed Goes Unrewarded drain the state treasury even after a Rhee, keen on charter schools and In my last column, I noted that on $4.5 billion cut in public school fund- vouchers while taking a dim view of Novem­ber 6, Indiana voters ousted ing in 2012. Arizona wants to increase teacher unions, pushes over-testing Re­­pub­lican state school superinten- its existing tax-credit plan. Arkansas of students. (Charter schools are 88 dent Tony Bennett. Bennett disdained and North Carolina are considering­ percent nonunion.) A noted Stanford teachers and teacher unions while tax credits. Tennessee is seeing a push study has shown that 83 percent of supporting the diversion of public for vouchers, rebranded Opportunity charters are no better than local public funds to church-run private schools Scholarships. Wisconsin may expand its schools. through vouchers. Voters instead chose voucher program, even though a 2012 Democrat and teacher Glenda Ritz by a state study showed that 6 percent margin. One month after the Milwaukee public school Edd Doerr is president of Americans for Religious Liberty. election, Florida’s state school board students outperformed He is the former editor of Church & State and The American announced that it was hiring Bennett students in voucher-aided Rationalist and currently a senior editor at Free Inquiry. to be the state’s new school superinten- religious schools. Michigan

48 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Humanism at Large

Answer to Stalin Michael Paulkovich

recently encountered a YouTube com- should be considered U.S. citizens. “This or atheist is a good thing: as the say- menter who posted: “I would never rely is one nation under God,” he squawked, ing goes, we are good without God. Ion the words of an atheist, no matter seemingly oblivious to the Bill of Rights. In contrast, most religions represent how much of an expert he is.” Even Sam Harris never used the artless attempts at philosophy and bad Of course, I had to reply. “Why?” I word atheist in the first edition of his science wrapped up in superstitions: wrote, “Is it simple religious bigotry, The End of Faith. Later printings include ancient guesswork bonded together by or your own ignorance about what it the word, but only in Harris’s Afterword, the Crazy Glue of faith. Yet religions are means to be an atheist? I suspect it is where he addresses antagonists who beloved, while atheist carries an illegiti- equal parts of both.” read his first printing then maligned mate negative stigma. It is a stigma we Yes, I fight the righteous and ratio- him as a heretic who bows to no deity. should strive to annul. But how? nal fight, even on YouTube. I am not Harris generally does not speak the ashamed of hovering on such sites and word in debates or presentations be- contributing my opinions. In this case, cause he considers it meaningless. “We I feel that I exhibited just the correct don’t need a word like atheist, in the amount of insolence; it was deserved, same way we don’t need a word for “Most religions represent even at the risk of perpetuating the ste- somebody who is not an astrologer,” he artless attempts at philosophy reotype that atheists are “mean.” declared. The word “invites a variety of That YouTube commenter confirms misunderstandings. . . . All we need are and bad science wrapped up in what we already know: there is a strange words such as reason and evidence and superstitions: ancient guess- stigma attached to the word atheist. common sense—and bullshit to put as- work bonded together by the Most people seem to equate it with evil. trologers in their place. And so it could In the popular mind, the atheist is not be with religion.” Dr. Harris believes that Crazy Glue of faith.” merely godless (also an anathema to the label “atheist” suggests we are a most) but lost, perhaps pitiable, perhaps “maligned and marginal and cranky in- allied with forces originating from hell (a terest group” and that it is a “bad strat- mythical place, after all). egy” to rally people under a banner of atheism. One of the most common—and Why Are Atheists Hated? About a decade ago, others at­ power­ful—negative characterizations of The majority of religious people consid- tempted to tackle this problem by label- athe­­ism argues from the examples of er believers “better” than nonbelievers. ing us “Brights.” Richard Dawkins and Stalin, Pol Pot, and Mao Zedong. Those Much better. A 2011 poll by the Univer- Dan Dennett embraced the idea. Many evil men were atheists, and therefore sity of British Columbia discovered that other freethinkers rejected it; I know atheism is evil—or so the logic goes. atheists are the least-trusted group in that Christopher Hitchens disliked it. This is juvenile pattern-seeking, of society. According to one press report, How about “Pastafarian”? That la- course—as dismal as noticing that Sta- “the study found that the only group re- bel, attached to members of the Church lin, Hitler, and Saddam Hussein all had ligious people distrust as much as athe- of the Flying Spaghetti Monster, who black mustaches and therefore black ists are rapists.” (On the other hand, the take a lighthearted approach to reli- mustaches are the cause of their wick- report continued, atheists are not sim- gion, benefits by being cloaked in hu- edness (an analogy memorably put ilarly prejudiced: “Atheists don’t neces- mor. It truly conjures the concept of forth by Richard Dawkins). sarily favour other atheists over Chris- “atheist,” or “anti-theist,” or at a mini- Let us examine Stalinism in partic- tians or anyone else. They seem to think mum, “nonbeliever.” Strangely, I would ular; the same analysis can then be ap- that religion is not an important signal rather be called a Pasta­farian than an plied to both Chairman Mao and (may for who you can trust.”) atheist. I pondered that as I embarked I call him this?) Mister Pot. One obvious Why all this hate? I am reminded upon writing this article, hoping to dis- rejoinder is that Stalin never committed of former U.S. President George H. W. cover why I think this way. his atrocities in the name of atheism. No Bush, who said he doubted that atheists Freethinkers think being agnostic doubt, the reader can name countless

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 49 examples wherein atrocious acts of vi- the reason they abandoned the faith. and the contradictory were kept secret, olence and murder were committed Who could blame Stalin for rejecting his often by ruthless means. by believers solely in the name of some Christian upbringing? Yet he seems to After a fair reading of the Bible, it’s god. This is known as the “Hitchens have learned mind-control techniques difficult to blame the hierarchs. Much Challenge” and is indeed valid reason- from the Bible and analogous sinister that the Bible contains is an embarrass- ing, but there is much more to consider. methods from Christendom itself. ment to any wise pastor or priest and The system Stalin instituted was to- Compare Stalinism to the old Cath- also, one would think, an embarrass- talitarian in nature, mirroring the struc- olic sociopolitical apparatus. The dicta- ment to God—if he existed. ture that Christian dogma perfectly tor Stalin considered himself faultless, What Sunday Bible-study class would defines. Stalin’s secret police conjured much like the infallible pope. Moreover, teach that Jesus harbored racism and both the dystopia that Orwell imagined the mustachioed Man of Steel was for other patently immoral beliefs? Yet he and the omniscient godhead and eter- all intents and purposes omnipotent; refused­ to heal non-Hebrews (Matt. 10 nal prison at the heart of Christian doc- within his political system, Stalin was and 15) and accused others of thought- trine. Jesus defined thoughtcrime when not just pope but God. Stalinism was crimes (Matt. 5). Most Christians think he proclaimed that “whosoever looketh patterned after theocracy, in truth Sta- that only the Old Testament condones on a woman to lust after her hath com- lin’s own religion. the killing of disobedient children, un- mitted adultery with her already in his Stalin’s feared secret police resem- aware that Jesus does so also (Mark 7, heart. And if thy right eye offend thee, bled Orwell’s Thought Police; both are Matt. 15). The New Testament praises exactly analogous to the astral monar- genocide in Acts 13.* chy imposed­ by the god of Moses, later Even today, the majority of Christian reinterpreted by Christianity. One hall- believers are simply unaware that they mark affirming that Stalin’s regime was are unaware; they can read the Bible “Stalin’s biography shows in fact both totalitarian and theocratic anytime they want but seldom bother. was its imposition of laws that cannot It was far worse for lay Christians in past how he learned to wield the possibly be obeyed. Stalin may have centuries. The 1229 Council of Toulouse tools of dictatorship . . . young learned this classic mind-control trick prohibited reading of the Bible by laity. Ioseb Dzhugashvili attended from reading his Bible. Deuteronomy In 1270, James I passed a law that re- 18:13 claims humans must be “perfect” quired all people to turn in their Bibles Russian orthodox seminary and “without spot before the Lord”; the to the bishop to be burned. The penalty for five years.” New Testa­ment agrees. “Be ye therefore for disobedience was to be declared a perfect, even as your Father which is in heretic, in those days not much different heaven is perfect,” declared Jesus (Matt. from a sentence of death. 5:48). Then there is the very notion of Consider if you will the papal bull Do- “sin,” consisting of nothing more than minici gregis custodiae, imposed upon pluck it out” (Matt. 5:28–29). Your local curiosity and knowledge-seeking. Our the common laity on March 24, 1564: Christian apologist will argue that Jesus loving creator is said to have instilled “translations of the New Testament . . . spoke in metaphor, but the Jesus of the these characteristics in us, then com- are allowed to no one, since little advan- Gospels seems truly to have believed manded us to restrain our natural urges. tage, but much danger, generally arises that the world would end very soon Impossible to obey, and thus totalitarian. from reading them. . . . But regulars shall and that merely lusting after a woman What, dear God, is sinful about seeking neither read nor purchase such [Latin would bar you from heaven, guaran- knowledge? As Orwell might have said, vulgate] Bibles without a special license teeing your relegation to, um, the sec- this is a doubleplusgood Catch-22. Sta- from their superiors.” ond-best afterlife. (As George Carlin lin’s regime was born of just such deistic In the sixteenth century, the church pointed out, “he still loves you.”) and theocratic antecedents, which the allowed a Latin “Vatablus’s Bible” to be Stalin’s biography shows how he dictator drew from his ancestral religion. read only by “pious and learned men.” learned to wield the tools of dicta- Who could blame the snake-oil purvey- torship. Having been inculcated from Lies and Censorship ors? Reading the Bible has always been childhood with the Christian myths and Stalin’s regime is infamous for its pro- dangerous for the Christian infrastruc- belief system, young Ioseb Dzhugashvi- paganda and censorship. Much of this ture. The daffy dogmas of the cult—its li attended Russian orthodox seminary was prefigured by the church, which (as falseness, violent legacy, its absurdi- for five years. This surely informed his Stalin would surely have learned in his ties—all must remain undiscovered by world­view and probably seeded his seminary) spent centuries hiding the Bi- the flock. egotistical psyche with nefarious ex- ble from Christians. Until recent centu- amples of how one may gain control ries, church leaders typically spoon-fed *I covered much of this in “Bible Bunk and over weaker minds. Innumer­ ­able athe- their followers the few scattered “good” Holy Horrors,” American Atheist, 1st Quar- ists cite just this type of inculcation as parts of the Bible. The absurd, the evil, ter 2012.

50 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org

PB Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Stalin learned well the benefits of a Christian, and later became an atheist, may have been, but their reigns of total- policy of obscurantism enforced by bru- but not a Pastafarian. Thus, an athe- itarian terror and subjugation were tal power. The practices of propaganda, ist—and not a Pastafarian—was this fashioned from the theocratic and not censorship, and forgery that originated mass-murderer. the secular. over centuries within the church were And, if you will notice, Stalin sported Further Reading duplicated exactly by Stalin. a black mustache. Cumming, John. Apocalyptic Sketches. Lon- In sum, Stalin had learned from don: Arthur Hall, Virtue & Co., 1850. Christendom precisely how to control What’s In a Name? Gavazzi, Alessandro. The Lectures Complete the masses. While he personally was So, is atheism bad because Stalin was an of Father Gavazzi, as Delivered in New York (Reported by Giovanni Battista an atheist, his reign was a religious and atheist? Stalin may have been an athe- Nicolini). New York: Dodd, 1854. theocratic one. Its structure mirrored ist, but Stalinism was a fascist church, Harris, Sam. The End of Faith. New York: Nor- the supposed heavenly hierarchy; its a religious regime, and a theocracy— ton, 2004. Hitchens, Christopher. God Is Not Great. New practice mirrored the worst of the histo- modeled explicitly on Christendom with York: Twelve, 2007. ry of earthly Christendom.­ Stalin was the Mr. Mustache as God. Stalin learned McClintock, John. Cyclopaedia of Biblical, pope and more: he suffered from what from religion and anticipated Orwell Theological, and Ecclesiastical Literature. New York: Harper & Brothers, 1891. Ernest Jones termed the “God Complex,” and his nightmarish state ministry. Williams, Henry Smith. Historians’ History of and he assembled his political machine These are points worth raising when­ the World, Vol. VIII. London: Hooper and according to the prototype he had ­ever an unctuous antagonist betrays his Jackson, 1909. learned from his youth. or her ignorance regard- Stalin’s regime killed millions, and ing the real meaning and Michael Paulkovich’s last article, “A Tale of Two Tomes,” Stalin was purportedly an atheist. But beliefs (or lack thereof, by was published in the August/September 2012 issue of FREE it was Christianity, not atheism, that definition) of atheism by INQUIRY. An engineer at the National Aeronautics and Space lent his terrible regime its form and its drawing the hackneyed Administration, he is also frequently published in American methods. Perhaps this is why I prefer the parallels with Stalin, Pol Atheist. He is at work on a new book titled No Meek Messiah. moniker Pastafarian: Stalin was raised Pot, or Mao. Atheists they

August 4-10 Holland, NY Reality, unpl13ugged

This is an age of unparalleled innovations in technology: identity is stored in clouds, socializing is now a solitary experience, and information can be found instantaneously. Sounds like a fantasy novel, but it’s our modern reality — and an extremely exciting one, especially for our youth: tech-literate and plugged into an increasingly accessible universe of ideas in a way that no generation has been before.

So if that’s what we now consider reality, what do you call a place where you can sky-gaze or chemically construct clouds? Where face time is literal and searches are about walks in the woods or deconstructions of logical fallacies? A world that’s Wi-Fi free instead of free Wi-Fi?

We call that an intriguing and unique opportunity. We call that reality “unplugged.” We call that Camp Inquiry.

Fees: $520 for the first camper in a family and $470 for each additional sibling if you register by April 30. ($600 per camper and $470 for each additional sibling afterward.)

Camp Inquiry, now in its eighth year, takes place in Holland, New York. for children ages seven to sixteen. To register, please visit www.campinquiry.org; for more information, please e-mail CFI Education Coordinator Ed Beck at [email protected] or call (202) 629-2403 ext. 200; e-mails can also be sent to Camp Director Karen Strachan at [email protected].

Camp Inquiry is a program of the Center for Inquiry. Develop lifelong skills. Make lifelong friends.

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 51 Faith and Reason

Twenty Christian Questions Mark Rubinstein

o you think you know your 8. Was Jesus divine from the moment 16. What were the last words of Jesus Gospels? Test your mettle with of his first appearance in the world? on the cross? Sthis multiple-choice quiz (answers A. Yes A. “My God, my God, why hast thou appear on page 54): B. No (or don’t know or not forsaken me?” (from Psalm 22) important) B. “Father, into thy hands I com- 1. What year was Jesus born? 9. Which best characterizes the nature mend my spirit.” (from Psalm 31) A. 4 BCE, when Herod the Great of the disciples? C. “It is finished.” ruled over Judea A. Naïve, slow-witted bunglers 17. At the moment Jesus died, did B. 6 CE, when Cyrenius (or B. Perceptive, quick-study interns graves open and their buried Quirinius) was governor of the bodies arise and appear to many 10. When did Jesus overturn the tables province of Syria then living in Jerusalem? of the money changers? A. Yes 2. Was Jesus born of a virgin? A. As the first public act of his B. No (or don’t know or not A. Yes ministry important) B. No (or don’t know or not B. As the last public act of his important) ministry 18. Who, along with Mary Magdalene, first discovered the empty tomb? 3. When Jesus was born, how did he 11. Just before Jesus is arrested, he A. Mary (the mother of James) end up in Nazareth? prayed to God. Did he ask the and Salome A. His family initially lived in “Father” to take away his “cup” of B. The “other Mary” Nazareth; they traveled to crucifixion? C. Joanna, Mary (the mother of Bethlehem for the census, and A. Yes after Jesus was born, returned to James), and other women B. No (rather, he looks forward to D. No one else Nazareth. his glorification through death) B. His family was not initially from 19. What did the women see when 12. When the soldiers come to arrest Nazareth; they traveled from they arrived at the tomb? Jesus, what did they do? Bethlehem, where Jesus was A. The stone blocking the entrance A. Stand their ground and take him born, to Egypt to escape Herod, already rolled away, they enter into custody and then finally settled in the tomb and see a young man B. Fall at his feet Nazareth. sitting inside. 4. Did Jesus preach that the Law of 13. Was Jesus tried before the Jewish B. A great earthquake occurs as the Moses must not be altered in any Sanhedrin council? angel of the Lord descends from way? A. Yes, during the night heaven, who then rolls back the stone and sits on it. A. Yes B. Yes, during the day C. The women enter the tomb and B. No C. No see two men standing inside. 5. Was Jesus secretive or open about 14. Did Jesus carry his own cross to the D. Just the open tomb (Mary his divine (or semidivine) identity? place of his crucifixion? Magdalene leaves without look- A. Secretive A. Yes ing inside). B. No, Simon carried it for him B. Open 20. Did Jesus actually return to talk 15. During the last three hours of 6. According to Jesus, are good deeds with his disciples after his death? Jesus’s life, did darkness envelop necessary to earn salvation? A. Yes the “whole land” in the middle of A. Yes B. No (or don’t know or not the day? B. No (belief is sufficient) important) A. Yes 7. Who was Jesus trying to save? B. No (or don’t know or not A. Jews only important) (Answers on page 54) B. Both Jews and gentiles

52 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Response

A Response to Michael Shermer Ophelia Benson

ichael Shermer is very indignant been turned on me.” He declares that thinky, they don’t speak up, they about being criticized: he wrote he won’t be “allowing my inquisitors to don’t talk at conferences, they don’t get involved—it’s “a guy thing,” like a two-and-a-half-page article force me into the position of defending M football and porn and washing the (“A Guy Thing? Secularism, Feminism, myself (I still believe in the judicial prin- car. and a Response to Ophelia Benson,” FI, ciple of innocence until proven guilty).” It’s incredibly discouraging, that February/March 2013) for Free Inquiry in To sum all that up: Shermer char- kind of thing. I thought (naïvely) that stereotypes of women as stu- reaction to four paragraphs in an article acterizes a brief criticism of something pid and passive and bashful had of mine (“Nontheism and Feminism: Why he said as a McCarthy-like witch hunt, been exposed as, precisely, sexist the Disconnect?” FI, December 2012/ a purge, the Nazi party, an inquisi- stereotypes decades ago, at least January 2013) that criticized something tion, and a criminal trial. As he men- among intellectual and political and progressive types. I thought he said on an Internet talk show. That’s tions (apparently without realizing everybody knew they were not just a lot of response to a small and not ter- how prickly it makes him look), he had wrong but also retrograde. Would ribly ferocious criticism. already written a long piece on the sub- Shermer have said that if the ques- ject in his online newsletter eSkeptic, tion had been about race instead of gender? Would he have said “it’s much of which he simply repeated in his more of a white thing”? It seems Free Inquiry response. very unlikely. This is a lot of angry bluster to The rest of the article—the bulk of it— “Shermer characterizes a respond to a criticism that takes up says nothing about Shermer at all. brief criticism of something four paragraphs in a piece that’s not The criticism is sharp, but I don’t think about Shermer. My article, written for he said as a McCarthy-like it’s unfair. A certain amount of sharp- the “Women in Secularism” section of ness is needed to address a thoughtless witch hunt, a purge, the Nazi the December 2012/January 2013 issue banality of that kind. (I’ve heard from party, an inquisition, of Free Inquiry, is about stereotypes that several fathers of daughters who were may contribute to the underrepresen- and a criminal trial.” particularly annoyed by Shermer’s com- tation of women in the atheist/secular ment, not when they read my article movement. Here is the part that is criti- but when they heard Shermer say it in cal of something Shermer said: the video. I’m far from the only person The main stereotype in play, let’s on Earth who flinched when hearing it.) It’s also a very heated response. He face it, is that women are too stu- Thoughtless banalities are what keep claims there is “a McCarthy-like witch pid to do nontheism. Unbelieving stereotypes doing their work, and a hunt within secular communities to in God is thinky work, and women don’t do thinky, because “that’s a wake-up call is no bad thing. root out the last vestiges of sexism, rac- guy thing.” So why is Michael Shermer so angry? ism, and bigotry” that is “purging from Don’t laugh: Michael Shermer He did after all say what I quoted him its ranks the likes of such prominent said exactly that during a panel dis- as saying. (He twice says I “redacted” it advocates as Richard Dawkins and Sam cussion on the online talk-show The Point. The host, Cara Santa Maria, but that’s offensively incorrect—I did no Harris.” He worries that he should have presented a question: Why isn’t such thing.) spoken up about this sooner, adding, the gender split in atheism closer He seems to be furious simply be­ “As Martin Niemöller famously warned to 50-50? Shermer explained, “It’s cause some underling had the gall to about the inactivity of German intellec- who wants to stand up and talk about it, go on shows about it, go criticize him—as if he were beyond or tuals during the rise of the Nazi party, to conferences and speak about it, ‘first they came for . . .’ but ‘I didn’t who’s intellectually active about it; (Continued on page 55) speak out because I wasn’t a. . . .’” you know, it’s more of a guy thing.” It’s all there—women don’t do He adds that “now the inquisition has

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 53 Rubinstein: Twenty Christian Questions continued from p. 52 Answers How could that be? Perhaps Jesus cumulative effectof resolving each incon- 1. A. Matthew 2:1 was born of a virgin, but for some reason sistency. Like a house of cards, as one B. Luke 2:1–2 Mark and John did not know or want to improbable explanation is heaped on top 2. A. Matthew 1–2; Luke 1–2 B. Mark, John mention it? Perhaps none of the Gospel of another, the less trustworthy the accu- 3. A. Matthew 2 evangelists recorded Jesus’s last words mulated structure of strained exegesis B. Luke 2:1–39 on the cross but just some of the words becomes. 4. A. Matthew 5:17–18; Luke 16:17 that he spoke? Perhaps we are missing These are not all inconsistencies of B. Mark 2:18–20, 21–22; 5:32; 7:15; Matthew 5:21–22, 27–28, 33–37; the full end of Mark’s original Gospel, minor fact, like Luke’s and Matthew’s dat- 15:17; Luke 5:36–39; 6:90; 11:37– in which he does record Jesus’s return ing of the birth of Jesus. At stake are the 38; John 8:4–11 from the dead? Perhaps Jesus was trying resolution of at least three issues critical to 5. A. Mark, especially 1:44; 5:43; 7:24, to save both Jews and gentiles, but his Christian theology: 36; 8:26, 30; 9:9 followers became confused about this? B. John 1. The salvific significance of works ver- Although there was a great earthquake 6. A. Mark 10:17–31; Matthew, espe- sus faith (question 6) cially 19:16–30 but also 5:3–10, when the tomb was discovered, perhaps 2. The inclusion or exclusion of gentiles 21–22, 27–28, 43–48; 7:1–5; Mark, Luke, and John didn’t think it was from salvation (question 7) 25:31–46; Luke, especially 18:18– worth mentioning? 30 but also 6:20–21, 27–42 3. The humanity or divinity of Jesus Similarly, apparently Mark, Luke, B. John, especially 3:16, 36; 6:35, 40, (question 8) 47, 51; 8:12, 24; 10:9; 11:25–26; and John did not find the multiple res- 12:46; 14:12 urrections of dead saints surprising or Of course, even if such evidence were 7. A. Mark 4:10–12, 34; 7:25–29; noteworthy. Perhaps, as has been des- magnified ten thousand times, it would Matthew 1:21; 7:6; 10:5–8; perately suggested, I am wrong in sup- still not convince the Catholic Church, 13:10–13; 15:21–28; Luke 8:9–10 B. Mark 16:15; Matthew 28:19; posing that Luke thinks Jesus was born which avers: “Faith is certain. It is more Luke 7:1–10; 10:25–37; 17:11–19; in 6 CE when, as Luke says, Cyrenius was certain than all human knowledge, 24:27; John, throughout, espe- first governor of Syria, because Cyrenius because it is founded on the very word of cially 3:16 had also been governor of Syria earlier God, who cannot lie. To be sure, revealed 8. A. John, especially 1:1–18; 6:51; 8:23, 58; 10:30, 39; 14:10 in about 4 BCE, even though all our truths can seem to obscure human rea- B. Mark, Matthew, Luke ample historical evidence apart from son and experience, but the certainty 9. A. Mark Luke says otherwise. What is more, these that the divine light gives is greater than B. John are just a small sampling of hundreds that which the light of natural reason 10. A. John 2:13–16 of potential inconsistencies within the gives. Ten thousand difficulties do not B. Mark 11:15–17; Matthew 21:12–13; Luke 19:45–46 Gospels. For an enumeration running make one doubt” (1997 Catechism of the 11. A. Mark 14:35–36; Matthew about five hundred pages, consult C. Catholic Church [1:1:157]). 26:39; Luke 22:41–42 Dennis McKinsey’s The Encyclopedia of The “certainty that the divine light B. John 17:1 Biblical Errancy (Amherst, N.Y.: Prome­ gives,” as the Catechism calls it, took cen- 12. A. Mark 14:45–46; Matthew 26:49–50; Luke 22:47–54 theus Books, 1995). turies in coming, even among committed B. John 18:3–12 Christians; as witnessed by the numerous 13. A. Mark 14:53–65; Matthew 26:57–68 hat is the lesson of this quiz? We forms Christianity takes today,­­ it has yet to B. Luke 22:66–71 Whave nothing written by Jesus; all arrive. As our little quiz reveals, this should C. John we know is what certain documents not come as no surprise given the confusing 14. A. John 19:17 B. Mark 15:21; Matthew 27:32; written by Jesus say he said—a distinc- nature of the Gospels. The “divine light” Luke 23:26 tion more honored in the breach than was so bright that Western European 15. A. Mark 15:33; Luke 23:44; in the observance. Commentators and Christendom­ broke apart during the Matthew 27:45 preachers smoothly slip into the parlance, Protestant Reformation, as new vernac- B. John 16. A. Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46 “Jesus said . . .,” when there is in fact con- ular translations meant that Christians B. Luke 23:46 siderable disagreement about everything could read the Bible for themselves and, C. John 19:30 Jesus said. for the first time, discover its confound- 17. A. Matthew 27:52–53 Although each explanation is con- ing passages. Hundreds of thousands of B. Mark, Luke, John ceivable, each is improbable. Moreover, Christians were killed trying to force their 18. A. Mark 16:1 B. Matthew 28:1 Christian apologists seldom see each indi- irreconcilable but deeply held convictions C. Luke 24:10 vidual inconsistency in the context of the on one another. D. John 20:1 totality of all of them. They successively As a result of this confusion, we can- 19. A. Mark 16:5 dismiss each apparent inconsistency on not know what Jesus said. We can only B. Matthew 28:2 C. Luke 24:4 the grounds that it can be conceivably know what different evangelists said D. John 20:1–2 reconciled, as if it were the only one. As Jesus said. 20. A. Matthew, Luke, John long as they can find a way to harmonize B. Mark—original Gospel ends at each difficulty with their Mark Rubinstein is professor of finance at the University of verse 16:8 prior beliefs, they emerge California at Berkeley. He is a past president of the American Congratulations on a 100 percent from the endeavor unfazed. Finance Association. score! All choices are correct. This illogically neglects the

54 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Benson A Response to Michael Shermer continued from p. 53

above criticism. Why would that be? A “I have stayed out of this witch hunt honcho dudes are influential, so it’s all cat can look at a king, after all. Shermer against our most prominent leaders.” the more unfortunate if they’re recy- seems to see it as some sort of lèse Our what? Whose “leaders”? I don’t cling dopy sexist stereotypes. majesté, as if we were in Thailand, recall joining any army, or even a party. As a lot of people have pointed out, where it’s an actual crime to criticize I don’t consider Dawkins and Harris my Shermer could have just said he mis- the royal family. But Shermer’s elevated “leaders”; I don’t consider anyone that. spoke, as happens in live conversations, status is—ironically—as a prominent No, I’m sorry, that won’t do. I’m not and moved on. Instead he chose an skeptic. A skeptic. If there’s anything going to bend the knee to “our most explosion of outraged vanity. So much skeptics don’t subscribe to, it’s the idea prominent leaders,” and I’m not going for skepticism. of infallibility. to refrain from criticizing Shermer, however, genuinely does them and go looking for Ophelia Benson is a columnist for Free Inquiry and the editor of seem to think that “prominence” less prominent people to the website Butterflies and Wheels. With Jeremy Stangroom, should confer immunity to challenge. dispute. On the contrary: she is the coauthor of Does God Hate Women? and Why Truth After he mentions the putative purge of their prominence itself is a Matters (both from Continuum, 2009 and 2006, respectively) “such prominent advocates as Richard reason to dispute a bit of and The Dictionary of Fashionable Nonsense (Souvenir, 2004). Dawkins and Sam Harris,” he says that thoughtless sexism. These

Reviews

Secular Humanism: Protestantism’s Gift to Us All Brooke Horvath

n the November 2012 issue of The Progressive, editor Matthew Roths­ Ichild opened his editorial by notic- ing what he took to be Paul Ryan’s “weird conception of rights,” quoting The Unintended Reformation: How a Religious Revolution Secularized the then-Republican vice-presidential Society, by Brad S. Gregory (Cambridge, Mass.: Belnap Press of Harvard candidate’s insistence that “our rights University Press, 2012, ISBN 978-0-04563-7) 574 pp. Hardcover, come from nature and God, not from $39.95. government.” A self-described atheist, Rothschild quickly dismissed both God and nature, the latter so self-evidently “predatory” that he insisted it could offer scant moral guidance, before champi- oning “a commonly held sense of right of such talk in favor of a secular ethics This smorgasbord of choices explains and wrong . . . enacted into law by— yes—government.” What is interesting guaranteed by the modern liberal state. why one is likely to find either Ryan or here is not that Ryan and Rothschild In The Unintended Reformation, Rothschild talking nonsense or to see disagree; rather, it is Rothschild’s inability Brad S. Gregory, the Dorothy G. Griffin both rejected in favor of any number of to see that Ryan was speaking not about Associate Professor of Early Modern other answers to “the Life Questions”— Tennyson’s nature “red in tooth and European History at the University of those fundamental concerns regarding claw” but about what Thomas Jefferson Notre Dame, is keen on showing us how “the sort of person one should become had in mind (whether he believed it or changes set in motion by the Protestant and the sort of life one should lead . . . not) when he referred to “the natural Reformation have led to “a hyperplu- what one should value and what one rights of mankind”—“natural” because ralism of religious and secular commit- should prioritize.” The astounding diver- bestowed by mankind’s creator. Also ments,” including ideologies as divergent sity of “truth claims” on offer today com- worth noting is Rothschild’s rejection as those of The Progressive and the GOP. plicates not only our ability to reach con-

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 55 sensus on issues ranging from abortion ingly assimilated, as neo-Platonism had In the process, to view nature as devoid and stem-cell research to climate change been in early medieval monasteries or of divinity would set the stage for the and gun control but also any explana- Aristotelianism in thirteenth-century uni- exploitation of the natural world that tion of how history led us to where we versities.” has culminated in our several interrelated find ourselves. Any such story, Gregory environmental crises, while technological observes, must be able to account for regory’s argument considers six princi- advances made possible by a “definition- “followers of Insane Clown Posse and Gpal consequences of the Reformation. ally amoral” science have been pouring members of the John Birch Society, They are (1) the rise of science and its no end of often morally ambiguous stuff Internet pornographers and members of apparent incompatibility with notions of into “an increasingly rancorous culture of Morality in Media, Donald Trump and the natural world as the work of divine moral disagreement and political contes- Bill Gates, MoMA devotees and NASCAR creation; (2) a “renaissance of ancient tation.” enthusiasts, Pope Benedict XVI and Hugh epistemological skepticism,” which bred As Protestantism turned from what Hefner” while recognizing that “things sundry philosophical answers to the Life was perceived as “the errors of a stub- did not have to turn out this way.” Questions from Hobbes and Spinoza to bornly self-interested papist church” to today’s New Agers and transhuman- sola scriptura—“scripture alone”—as ists; (3) the consequent subjectivizing of the foundation for right belief, doctri- “Brad S. Gregory . . . is morality and its transformation into a nal disputes—between Catholics and keen on showing us how liberal ethics of rights and enforced toler- Protestants and among Protestants ance of others’ choices (“whatever makes themselves—worsened despite appeals changes set in motion by the you happy, so long as you’re not hurting to divine exegetical inspiration or new Protestant Reformation have anyone else”); (4) secular political control revelation. The result was “socio-moral led to ‘a hyperpluralism of religious institutions; (5) the demise of division,” persecution, execution, expul- the erstwhile sin of avarice and eventual sion, and war with political entities (and of religious and secular triumph of “wall-to-Walmart capitalism their universities) allying themselves with commitments,’ including and consumerism”; and (6) the seculariz- one or another particular creed (this is ideologies as divergent as ing of knowledge in the modern univer- the most familiar part of Gregory’s story). sity. His story, Gregory hastens to add, is Eventually, exhausted by war and no those of The Progressive not one “of decline from a lost Golden closer to a unified Christian vision, power and the GOP.” Age nor a narrative of progress toward was ceded to secular governments to an ever brighter future, but rather an oversee, subordinate, and eventually analysis of unintended historical conse- control ecclesiastical institutions. As quences that derived from transformative secular power gained traction, “a radi- Rejecting the prevailing superses- responses to perceived human problems.” cally untraditional notion of freedom,” sionist view of history that sees the dis- The troubling issue of God’s con- worldly reason, science, and the technol- tant past as “left behind” and explana- nection to the natural world predated ogies that added pleasures and comforts torily unimportant to an understanding the Reformation, the result, in Gregory’s to life soon ruled the roost. Centuries of of the present, Gregory is also critical of account, of John Duns Scotus’s and multiplying truth claims, Gregory con- the professional study of history today, William of Occam’s slide into univocity cludes, led finally to ultimately indefen- faulting its “narrowness, specialization, (that is, understanding God and the cre- sible assertions about “human rights” fragmentation, and loss of any ‘big pic- ated universe as sharing the same sort of and the secular polysemy inculcated by ture.’” Against so much compartmen- being). This univocity led to a “new meta- our universities, wherein small effort is talized historiography, Gregory argues physics” that severed “the relationship expended on fitting incompatible truth that in myriad ways we are the products between natural causality and alleged claims together or adjudicating among of instrumental lines of thought and divine presence,” slowly erasing God as a them. changing sociopolitical arrangements necessary explanatory concept. This was set in motion by the disagreements, dis- not, Gregory argues, an inevitable con- here are, of course, points made ruptions, and distractions that began in clusion and might have been redressed, Tthroughout Gregory’s consequential the 1520s as Martin Luther, John Calvin, for philosophy possessed the means of argument with which to disagree (I grew and many others broke with Catholicism “show[ing] the coherence of Christian impatient with the equation of Soviet only to become mired in proliferating truth claims and their compatibility with totalitarianism with Marxism, and I am doctrinal controversies. These contro- what is known and knowable by rational not ready to concede that “given the versies, the reader is shown, “obliter- means.” That this is not what happened findings of science plus the assumptions ated the existing, shared framework of can be attributed to Reformation-era of naturalism, any intellectual justifiabil- beliefs within which new intellectual doctrinal disputes, which distracted theo- ity for an ethics of rights vanishes”). Still, challenges and influences might be con- logians while others commandeered rea- disagreeing is difficult if only because this fronted, appropriated, and discriminat- son and science for their own purposes. complex, nuanced argument has been

56 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org so carefully assembled, so clearly articu- of the babies thrown out with so much among rival truth claims. . . .” lated, and so meticulously documented. murky, albeit sacred, bathwater. Here, Gregory is not, however, some Developing the idea of sola scriptura, for instance, is Gregory on Americans’ evangelist manqué but a scholar will- for example, Gregory takes us on one obsession with the “goods life”: “In ing—unlike Richard Dawkins and oth- page through the positions of Martin the United States, the subjectivization ers—to confront religious thinking at Luther, Philipp Melanchthon, Andreas of morality within a formal ethics of its best and to take it seriously (though Bodenstein von Karlstadt, Huldrych rights permits individuals to construct the book makes almost no room for Zwingli, Balthasar Hubmaier, Argula von themselves through acquisitiveness, important twentieth-century or contem- Grumbach, and Katharina Schütz Zell of obsess over their identities, indulge their porary theological thought). If I sound Strasbourg (not to be confused with all desires, and follow their fantasies as they more sympathetic to The Unintended those other Katharina Schütz Zells who please without—if it pleases them—so Reformation than readers of FI might hail from elsewhere). Whereas some reli- much as a thought, much less an action, expect, it is because I agree with Gregory gious readers might balk at an argument for millions who are homeless, hungry, that the past half-millennium was not a succession of worlds we have lost but of over five hundred pages that in toto persecuted, or otherwise marginalized.” the wellspring of ideas and practices troubles naïve notions of Christianity This national group portrait he calls the with which we are still deeply entangled, by locating its beliefs so firmly within antithesis of Christianity as “a discipline and Gregory’s efforts to untie some of a history of competing ideas, secular of selflessness in charitable service to the knottier snarls can only be welcome. readers may initially savor—it is a bit- others”—at least as an ideal, for Gregory Just as Gregory does well to remind tersweet dish—Gregory’s explanation of harbors no romantic delusions about us that the present is embedded in the how much that dismays us about the how saintly Christians ever were in actu- past and bears the stains of five hundred contemporary scene can be traced back ality (nor, by the way, any illusions about years of never-entirely relinquished to religious disagreements while at the the influence on current social prob- ideas and hopes, so too does he usefully lems a book like his is likely to have). same time perhaps regretting that the remind us that a less-than-univocal secu- Regarding secular humanism more spe- secularization of the West didn’t play larism is the great-grandchild of a reli- cifically, Gregory insists that, “deliber- out differently. gious revolution. On the other hand, secular readers ately constructed so as to accommodate a wide range of individual quick to react dismissively to any serious Brooke Horvath teaches at Kent State University. He is the answers to questions about talk about religion may eventually grow author, most recently, of The Lecture on Dust (poems, Bottom human morality, meaning, impatient with some of Gregory’s con- Dog Press, 2007) and Understanding Nelson Algren (University value, and purpose,” sec- clusions, because beneath the author’s of South Carolina, 2005). Three of his poems appeared in the ular humanism lacks “any generally evenhanded scholarship can December 2012/January 2013 issue of Free Inquiry. be heard a thrumming regret for some shared criteria for deciding

How the New Testament Came to Be Written George A. Wells

eyond the Quest for the Histor­ ical Jesus: Memoir of a Discovery Bdeserves attention because it is an honest and courageous statement of Beyond the Quest for the Historical Jesus: Memoir of a Discovery, how the author has come, over a period by Thomas L. Brodie (Sheffield, England: Sheffield Phoenix Press, of many years, to reach views that were 2012, ISBN 978-1-907534-58-4) 256 pp. Paperback, $29.95. bound to cause someone in his former position a good deal of inconvenience and worse. Father Thomas Brodie is a Dominican priest who, until his recent­ res- ignation, was director of the Dominican Biblical Centre in Limerick, Ireland, which Brodie claims that the historical Jesus large extent on the Old Testament has he helped to found. He is an established never existed and that the Bible ac­­counts long been known. In 1835, David Strauss biblical scholar and teacher, and it is quite of him are “stories rather than history” argued that the authors of the Gospels extraordinary that the total rejection of and are fundamentally rewritings of Old and of the traditions on which they traditional and established Christian doc- Testament narratives, with particular reli- drew lived so entirely in the sacred trine, which forms the substance of this ance on the Elijah-Elisha stories. books of the Jewish people that they book, should come from such a scholar. That the New Testament relies to a found everywhere in them prophecies

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 57 and prefigurations of what was to come. In the case of the New Testament, As for modern literary criticism, its Moreover, Jesus had to be shown to be Brodie finds that such “creative adap- practitioners naturally cannot rest con- equal to, or even to outdo, important tation” was immensely subtle. Mark’s tent with repeating the insights of their Old Testament figures. Hence, he had to Gospel is not unliterary or clumsy but predecessors, and so, as Douglas Hewitt supply food miraculously and even raise rather an interwoven tapestry modelled noted in the Times Literary Supplement the dead, otherwise he would have been on the Elijah-Elisha narrative (110). In (March 27, 1969), they claim that any inferior to Elijah and Elisha. Later, Ernest the fourth Gospel, “every word from work that they discuss is “radically dif- Renan likewise declared that Jesus had beginning to end has been chiselled by ferent in kind from what readers have to be made to repeat and exemplify a single authoritative author into shape always thought it to be” and “achieves numerous sayings of the prophets; he with a specific artistic and theological its proper dignity” only as a result of had to preach on mountains because all purpose.” There are no contradictions their “critical meditation,” which oper- the ancient theophanies took place on but “a literary unity that is tightly woven” ates with considerable “stylistic com- heights—these are among many other (84). Brodie finds, for instance, that Mark plexity,” invoking symbols and hidden parallels between the two Testaments. 8:11–9:8 and John 9 each consist of six meanings at every turn. Brodie goes to It was clear to Strauss and Renan scenes, but John, “instead of using each work in the same way on both the Old that, in consequence, it is difficult to tell Markan episode to colour just one scene and New Testaments. Thus he finds that whether any particular Gospel incident concerning the man born blind, divided the “notorious” variations of style in the was based on an actual historical event each Markan episode into three distinct prologue of the fourth Gospel, “from or was no more than a pious fiction. aspects and . . . systematically dispersed soaring poetry to mundane prose,” these aspects among three scenes” (85). make “complete sense in the light of This is the “key pattern” that “emerged the prologue’s central message, the almost effortlessly” to Brodie’s mind. change from Word to flesh” (“the Word Again, the fourth Gospel records a jour- became flesh,” 1:14). The conclusion of “Brodie’s observation that ney by Jesus from Jerusalem and Judea the Gospel’s (appended) final chapter— much in the New Testament to Samaria and Galilee (2:23–4:54)—a that if all Jesus’s words and deeds were depends on the Old journey quite unlike any recorded in recorded, the entire world could not the other three Gospels. But it “corre- contain them (21:25)—“fits perfectly as Testament, although sponds in outline to the journey of the a well-crafted variation on the Gospel’s not new, is important and Word of God in Acts,” where, after the opening, concerning the Word who had significant; however, the Resurrection, Christianity is preached made all things from the beginning. first in Jerusalem and Judea and subse- The world-surpassing Word (1:1–3) has way he argues it leads him quently in Samaria (8:1, 40). Hence, the generated the equivalent of world-sur- into strange fantasies.” author of John knew and used Acts. passing writings” (84). “Such adaptations, such creative rewrit- This kind of commentary will seem ings were not unusual. They were central to many of us to be more like dream- to ancient literary composition” (124). ing than criticism—dreaming in which Many of us will find the “key pat- the slightest supposed resemblance Brodie has radicalized their views; for terns” Brodie discerns in the texts to be between things suffices to link them. His him, there was no historical Jesus, hence no more than chimeras prompted by his discussion of the Old Testament is simi- no eyewitnesses of what he said and over-rich imagination and also by cer- lar. Its “drama surrounding Jericho—suc- did and no subsequent oral tradition tain aspects of modern literary criticism. cess at Jericho and failure at Ai (Joshua about him. The whole New Testament He himself confesses that he owes his 5:13–8:29)”—is “part of a larger pattern is no more than a studied rewriting insights to “recent literary studies” (xiii). of texts concerning success-and-failure, of Old Testament material and of ear- As to his imaginative tendencies, he him- texts that ultimately reflect the Bible’s lier parts of the New Testament itself, self tells (85) that when he underwent fundamental drama of success-and-fail- effected by “a school of writers” (185) what is known as “the Myers Briggs psy- ure, namely the creation-and-fall.” The and to be understood as a purely literary chological test,” it showed that his mind “operating principle” that guided the phenomenon. “Rule One of historical is over-endowed with “intuition” and construction of this narrative was to investigation” is “the priority of the lit- that this explained to him “why what demonstrate that “the dynamics at work erary aspect” (156). By this Brodie means seemed clear to me—for instance in in creation and the fall are still at work that one must always ask whether a comparing texts—was not at all clear to in history” (121f.). The narrator was not given account is really no more than lit- those whose primary strength was in . . . concerned to give an account of a his- erature composed “to look like history”; other qualities, especially in gathering torical event—the capture of Jericho by one must recognize the characteristics sense data such as measurable facts and the Israelites—but to write what looked of literary art, “including literary form” details.” His standpoint is: “Reason alone like history to bring out one of his fun- and “the strange ancient method of cre- is insufficient. It does not catch some damental religious convictions. Brodie is atively adapting sources” (123f.). essential truths” (220). well aware that there was in any case no

58 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org such historical event. Kathleen Kenyon’s To envisage the New Testament as the ness and lies. People love darkness be­ excavations showed that “the Jericho writings of a “school” of scribes sitting at cause their deeds are evil (3:19). Only one site contains no remains from the cen- their desks, slowly and meticulously craft- deed can qualify as not being evil, namely turies when the conquest is said to have ing reworkings of ancient stories, com- a believing response to the claims of happened” (21, 121). pletely fails to do justice to the fact that John’s community. Sin consists in not Likewise, the Gospel accounts are the New Testament is essentially a com- believing in the Johannine Jesus, signifi- “essentially symbolic, not factual.” For pilation of factional strife and polemics cantly different from the Jesus of the Brodie this does not mean that Jesus is among diverse late first-century and early other Gospels: “You will die in your sins eliminated but only that he is to be seen second-century religious groups. In 1978, unless you believe that I am he” (8:24). in a new way (xiv), as “a symbol of God Canon John Fenton observed that twen- This is the stuff of factional polemics, among us and God within us” (201), a ty-four of its twenty-seven books are “to not a study-desk rewriting of ancient “fresh scripture-based expression of suf- varying degrees the result of controversy texts, weaving intricate and compli- fering humanity’s deepest strength and among Christians” that was sometimes cated patterns into a carefully crafted hopes” (231). Brodie’s list goes on, ever “extremely­ bitter.” The remaining three product. more incoherent: “Jesus as a symbol of books are concerned with controverting (1) the heart of reality; (2) the measure the Jews (1 Thessalonians), with conflict of reality; and (3) the enigmatic form of with pagans, resulting in reality-shadowed beauty” (203). mutual vilification (1 Peter), George A. Wells is emeritus professor of German at the or with a matter between University of London and a former chairman of the Rationalist n sum, Brodie’s observation that much in author and recipient (Phile­ Press Association. An authority on the origins of Christianity, the New Testament depends on the Old mon). I his most recent book is Cutting Jesus Down to Size: What Testament, although not new, is import- According to the fourth Higher Criticism Has Achieved and Where It Leaves Christianity ant and significant; however, the way he Gospel, the whole cosmos is (Open Court, 2009). argues it leads him into strange fantasies. under the power of dark-

The Story of a Landmark Church-State Case Wayne L. Trotta

teven K. Green is the Frank H. Paulus Professor of Law and an Sadjunct professor­ of history at Willamette University­ and director of The Bible, the School, and the Consitution: The Clash That the interdisciplinary Center for Religion,­ Shaped Modern Church-State Doctrine, by Steven K. Green (New Law, and Democracy. In his first book, York: Oxford University Press, 2012, ISBN 978-0-19-982790-9) The Second Disestablishment, he charted 304 pp. Hardcover, $29.95. the development of church-state rela- tions in the post-founding period to the end of the nineteenth century. While today we tend to view the original disestablishment as a once-and-done proposition, it is likely that even James Madison and Thomas Jefferson real- for crucial twentieth-century church- responsible for upholding and maintain- ized that the separation of religion and state cases such as Everson, McCollum, ing the country’s religious traditions, and government was to be a work in per- Schempp, and Engle. should public funding ever be used in petual progress. Much of that progress Now we have Green’s second book, support of religious education? It had occurred during the nineteenth century, The Bible, the School, and the Con­­ long been the general opinion that reli- a period that perhaps our reverence for stitution, in which he zeroes in on the gious exercises in the “common schools” the Founding Fathers has caused us to post-Civil War period and the critical were acceptable as long as they remained overlook, despite the fact that during debates over what was known as the nonsectarian. The Bible, it was argued, this time, the groundwork was laid “School Question”: Are the public schools was the holy book not only of Protestants

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 59 but of Jews and Catholics as well, and Bible ban might have been expected. . . . precepts. No one seriously contends Bible reading in the public schools, when More interesting, however, was the for any such doctrine in this country, conducted without teacher comment, dissenting opinion written by Justice or, I might almost say, in this age of the would therefore promote universal prin- Alphonso Taft, father of the future pres- world.” ciples of morality necessary and accept- ident and chief justice. Putting his pro- Welch went further still. He used the able to every American. While religious fessional and political career at great no-funding principle to affirm that the dissenters, nonbelievers, and members risk, Taft refuted any notion that cere- state had no right to tax its citizens to of minority religions might take offense monial readings from the King James “support religious instruction” and that at this, their small numbers made them Bible were nonsectarian and, therefore, to do so was the “first step in the direc- easy to ignore. permissible in the schools. “Between tion of an “‘establishment of religion.’” Nonsectarianism, however, was about all forms of religious belief the State Following Minor, evangelical Protes­ to be exposed for the myth it had always knows no difference,” wrote Taft. “All tants began to fear that the nation’s been. The centerpiece of The Bible, the forms of sectarian worship . . . are clearly moral and religious values were up School, and the Constitution is Green’s excluded from the public schools, which for grabs. Led by the National Reform thorough and engaging treatment of the are maintained at the expense of all, Association (NRA), they renewed their “Cincinnati Bible Wars.” On November 1, and for the equal benefit of all.” To this efforts to amend the Constitution to 1869, the Cincinnati school board voted Taft added his judgment that the idea of include an affirmation of the ultimate to exclude Bible reading from the city’s Christianity as the basis for the nation’s sovereignty of almighty God. Liberal public schools. When Judge Bellamy legal system was simply overridden by leagues across the country went head- Storer issued an injunction against the constitutional principles. to-head with the NRA and demanded board’s action, the stage was set for a The Bible War drama continued as the “immediate and absolute secular- trial before the three judges of the Ohio the Cincinnati school board appealed ization of the state.” The battle reached Superior Court, one of whom was, natu- the Superior Court’s decision to the Ohio an apex in 1876 during the Centennial rally, Judge Bellamy Storer. Supreme Court. There, the Superior Exposition in Philadelphia, where both The Superior Court’s decision in Court’s decision was reversed, and the groups held national conventions. Minor v. Board of Education to uphold school board’s ban on religious exer- The year 1876 also saw the debate Judge Storer’s injunction against the cises in Cincinnati’s public schools was over, and ultimate demise of, the Blaine reinstated. Amendment, which sought to apply the Minor v. Board of Education, accord- First Amendment to the states and to What Your Preacher ing to Green, contains the “century’s prohibit public funds from coming under Didn’t Tell You most comprehensive legal debate over the control of religious sects. Religious conservatives, then and now, like to sum Some preachers like to debate the existence of the role of religion in public education up the Blaine Amendment as just one God — because God’s existence can neither be and, more generally, over the relation- proven nor disproven. What they don’t want to more sign of anti-Catholicism. Green’s ship between church and state.” With debate is whether Jesus believed that he was careful and extensive analysis reveals God’s son. John Windsor’s book demonstrates the Minor case, the School Question that, whatever merit such a judgment that, according to the Gospels, Jesus expected was bringing constitutional principles may have, it remains far too simplistic. to rule a new “Kingdom of Heaven” that Yahweh to the very center of the church-state would establish right here “on earth as it is in Steven K. Green is acknowledged as debate. Some ninety years later, U.S. heaven.” He and his disciples expected the king- one of the country’s leading historians of dom come during their lifetimes. Supreme Court Justices Tom Clark and nineteenth-century church-state rela- William Brennan would reach back to The evidence is “hiding in plain sight” tions, so it is not surprising that The Bible, the Ohio Supreme Court’s finding as in the Gospels. the School, and the Constitution is a work they wrote their opinions in a similar of admirable scholarship. However,­ the case regarding religious exercises in the book is also a fascinating story about the public schools—Abington School District people and events that made up a chap- v. Schempp. In doing so, they must have ter in the life history of an idea, the idea come across the words of Justice John that Madison referred to as the “perfect Welch writing in response to the argu- separation” of religion and government. ment that, because Christianity is a part It is an idea that came of age in the twen- of the common law, America must be tieth century, but it could not have done considered a Christian nation: “Those so without its nineteenth century rite of who make this assertion can hardly be passage. Available Now in Bookstores serious. . . . If Christianity is the law of the and Online State, . . . adequate penal- Wayne L. Trotta is a freelance writer in Mechanicsburg, Penn­syl­ ties must be provided to www.no-gods.com vania, and an advocate for science education. enforce obedience to all its

60 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org Poem Sherwin Wine’s Last Book Edd Doerr Hinges

W. F. Lantry

A Provocative People: A Secular History of the Jews, by Sherwin T. Wine (Farmington, Mich.: International Institute for Secular Good mortises are difficult. The grain Humanistic Judaism, 2012, ISBN 978-0-9851516-0-7) 508 pp. must be respected. Marking gauges trace Paperback, $24.95. a better line than you can draw by hand, and outlining will always leave a space. Only sound templates stay repeatable but must be stored with care. Before we met

I never once installed a metal hinge herwin Wine (1928–2007) was para una vida racional. My own back- the founder of the Humanistic ground is not Jewish but rather Irish correctly. I would hold the finished gate SJudaism­­ movement (the fifth strain German Catholic turned Humanist/Uni­ in place with jams or wedges, and then drill of organized Judaism in addition to tarian at age nineteen. I have addressed­­ with any handy bit, three pilot holes Reform, Conservative, Reconstructionist,­ Humanistic Jewish congregations in sev- and Orthodox) and the International­ eral states and have been an occasional or simply drive the screws without regard Institute for Secular Humanistic Judaism.­ cantor at Humanistic Jewish services. for any complications. Barreled pins He was also cofounder, with Edward A Provocative People defies facile Ericson­ of the Ethical Culture­­ move- summary. It takes in the long sweep would hold a year or two. It seemed enough. ment, of Americans for Religious Liberty, from prehistory to today the extraordi- But now I build for permanence. Her eyes which I have headed since 1982. Wine narily complex evolution and history of ranks with such figures as Spinoza, John the Jewish people and all the peoples are watching, even when they’re not. The depth Dewey, Bertrand Russell, and Paul Kurtz. and cultures that influenced them or is tested for perfection, well before He was honored as Humanist of the Year were influenced by them—the diverse I set a chisel to the finished wood. by the American Humanist Association peoples and cultures of the Middle East, in 2003 at my recommendation. Wine the Persians and Greeks and Romans, the These templates are preserved for future use could give an hour-long lecture without Germanic tribes that overran the Roman notes on just about any subject. world, the Christians and Muslims, the and not just by my hands. This workshop shelf When he died in a car accident Poles and Russians, and the Anglo- secures what any carpenter would need in Morocco in 2007, Wine left unfin- Saxons and Americans. Wine traces the to reproduce the fair curve of a door ished the manuscript of his magnum factors that shaped the many and shift- opus, A Provocative People: A Secular ing subcultures among the Jews and the that passed inspection of her eyes and hands History of the Jews. The drafts and notes complexities of various anti-Semitisms or went unnoticed as she lightly used were assembled by editor, friend, and over more than twenty centuries, from the products of my careful laboring. colleague Rabbi Adam Chalom and early Christianity to the Inquisition to the other associates into what can only be Nazi Holocaust/Shoah. described as a work comparable to H. G. Wine’s book shows an incredible Wells’s Outline of History. command of history, anthropology, But first, some disclosures. Sherwin archeology, linguistics, theology, psy- W. F. Lantry, a native of San Diego, has and I were friends and colleagues for chology, and sociology. His prose is emi- two poetry collections: The Structure of over three decades, and I contributed a nently readable, and his sense of humor Desire (Little Red Tree, 2012) and a chap- chapter to the festschrift honoring him, sparkles through. book, The Language of Birds (Finishing A Life of Courage: Sherwin Wine and This is probably the most complete Line, 2011). His recent honors include the Humanistic Judaism. In 2000, my wife, and compact history of the Jewish peo- National Hackney Literary Award in Poetry, Herenia, and I translated into Spanish ple ever published. A must read. the Lindberg Foundation International Poetry and published his 1995 book Staying for Peace Prize (in Israel), and in 2012 the Sane in a Crazy World as LaNelle Daniel and Potomac Review prizes. Como mantaner la cordura Edd Doerr is a regular columnist and a senior editor for Free He is an associate fiction editor at JMWW in en un mundo loco: Guia Inquiry. Washington, D.C.

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 61 Religious Liberty for Me and Thee? Becky Garrison

n researching my e-book Roger Williams’ Little Book of Virtues, I came across a rather telling quote from I In Freedom We Trust, by Edward M. Buckner and Michael E. Professor Romeo Elton that he penned Buckner (Amherst, N.Y.: Prometheus Books, 2012, ISBN 978-1- during the Reconstruction Era: “At a cri- 61614-644-3) 250 pp. Paperback, $18.00. sis when the public mind, in this and other countries, is so strongly excited on questions of civil and religious liberty, the great principle advocated by Williams— that civil rulers have no authority to prescribe, enjoin, or regulate religious beliefs—demands the most serious con- a compact and to-the-point commentary Those who do not adhere to the sideration of every church and of every that can be used to counter the Christian dominant faith in a given munincipality government” (Life of Roger Williams, view set forth by right-wing pundits and are forced to subsidize these ministries 1862). politicians. Instead of debunking the anyway. Meanwhile, these churches avail In a post–9/11 world rattled by existence of God or seeking to demolish themselves of public services ranging the biggest recession since the Great religion altogether, the Buckners argue from fire and police protection to the Depression, a fear-based faith once again that advocating for secularism in fact use of the streets. Furthermore, often dominates this land from sea to shining strengthens religious liberty. (And others the government funds organizations sea. The ongoing questioning by the Fox may note the irony of a given religion such as Catholic Charities, which receives Faithful about whether Barack Obama requiring governmental intervention in over half (62 percent) of its income as is qualified to serve as commander in order to thrive.) “Government Revenue” (by contrast chief clearly illuminates how American This question leads to the sacred “Community­­ Support”­­ accounted for 9 society is by no means color-blind, not to cow in the church and state debate— percent and “Diocesan Church Support” mention the rise of religiously inspired the tax-exempt status afforded to reli- for 3 percent). While acknowledging attacks against women, LGBT people, gious institutions. This issue has been the good that charity may provide, the undocumented workers, and anyone brought to the forefront by the recent Buckners cite the hypocrisy of religious else seen as not conforming to an evan- lawsuit filed by AA against the Internal leaders’ cries that by forcing them to gelical depiction of God. Revenue Service. In the space of two provide contraceptive services, the gov- Into this mix comes In Freedom We pages (139–140), the Buckners offer a ernment is violating their “religious lib- Trust: An Atheist Guide to Religious succinct overview of the issue that can erties.” Liberty, written by Edward M. Buckner, serve as a starting point for the con- In exchange for this money they former president of American Atheists versation. After detailing the benefits no doubt provide useful services, (AA) and former executive director of afforded to churches, they conclude with with secular purposes, helping peo- the Council for Secular Humanism, and the key provision granted only to reli- ple who genuinely need help. But it is also taxpayer money, from taxes his son, Michael E. Buckner. While the gious institutions. paid by Catholics and non-Catholics Buckners take an unabashedly atheistic Only churches do not even have to alike—including citizens of no reli- point of view, this book will prove to be account for their income. Organ­­ gion at all—and it raises the ques- a godsend to anyone seeking to debunk izations as disparate as Amer­ican tion of how an organization can call itself a “Catholic” charity, and insist the current myth that the United States Atheists and the American Red Cross can achieve 501(c)(3) status as non- that it be allowed to maintain its was founded as a Christian nation—a profits—and thus gain tax advan- identity as a Catholic Christian reli- shining “City upon a Hill,” the new tages for supporters who donate giously-based institution, when well Jerusalem, and other biblically inspired to them. But, except for churches, over half of its budget comes from tax dollars paid by everyone, not just metaphors. these 501(c)(3) nonprofits do have to file forms describing where the Catholic Christians. (59–60) Throughout this guidebook, one can money came from and how it is find intelligent counterpoints to religious spent. This total lack of account- As the Buckners remind us, religious Right blather espoused as verifiable fact ability for churches is, we argue, institutions need to defend their policies dangerous, unnecessary to protect in our 24/7 sound-bite culture. Pick a in other ways than saying “God told me religious liberty, and imposes a so.” In fact, those religious institutions topic ranging from prayer in school to strong disadvantage on those of us marriage equality, and the Buckners have without religion. who feel they are doing “good” and

62 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org conducting themselves in an ethical and School on gay marriage, I declared that media accountable by forcing them to responsible manner should welcome U.S. evangelicalism lost its soul (“Is Right counter right-wing misstatements with the opportunity to open their books to Wing Evangelicalism Dead?,” Religion factual analysis. With enough pressure, the public. Full transparency will allow Dispatches, December 21, 2012). What­ perhaps the media might stop booking donors to decide which secular nonprof- ever benefits may have been afforded Christian clowns for interviews and start its or places of worship do the type of by U.S. evangelicalism have been oblit- to feature a range of voices who can dis- work they wish to support. erated by its inability to confront the cuss religious history instead of unholy I doubt that any book can sway those hatemongers in its midst. hyperbole. who have bought into the persecution But with the growing number of Maybe then we can engage in an myth perpetuated by Far-Right Christian “nones,” a group that does not pledge actual dialogue that truly puts into prac- conservatives. Those whose faith mor- allegiance to a god of a given dogma, tice the notion advanced by Roger phed into a form of fanaticism find them- the opportunity has risen to create space Williams whereby we can all practice selves fortified by the works of David for atheists, freethinkers, and liberal- “liberty of conscience.” For as the late Barton, Eric Metaxas, Newt Gingrich, and minded people of faith to coalesce and comedian George Carlin reminds us all, other revisionist pseudo-scholars. No combat the current round of religious the number one commandment should amount of reasoning will convince them tyranny. If enough freethinking individ- be to “keep thy religion to thyself.” of the errors of an illusionary history pred- uals read In Freedom We Trust, could icated on the misguided notion that the a collective body emerge religious liberties supposedly guaranteed equipped with the knowl- Becky Garrison’s books include Red and Blue God, Black and to them by the Founding Fathers are edge to counter religious Blue Church (John Wiley and Sons, 2006) and Roger Williams’ under attack. Right propaganda? Armed Little Book of Virtues (E-book, 2013). She also contributes to Following the hypocrisy of evangeli- with this information, indi- The Washington Post “On Faith” column and The Guardian, The cals who blamed Superstorm Sandy and viduals could begin to hold Revealer, Believe Out Loud, and American Atheist. the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary at least the mainstream

Comparing Continents Edd Doerr

ustralia, New Zealand, and the United States have much in com- Amon. All three are English-speaking, Realising Secularism: Australia and New Zealand, edited by Max more-or-less democratic former British Wallace (Milsons Point, NSW, Australia: Australia New Zealand colonies that largely displaced indige- Secular Association, 2010, ISBN 978-0-646-52720-8A) 161 pp. nous peoples. They have similar histories Paperback, NZD $25.00. and religious demography. The devel- opment of public education in all three was similar. Australia has seen a decline in religious affiliation to around 20 per- cent, while New Zealand has changed to about 51 percent nominal Christian and an establishment clause, Section 116, 32 percent nonreligious, according to “Just as we have seen patterned after our First Amendment, census figures. All three have seen over strengthening drives to which was not invoked until the state the past forty years or so the rise of the aid for church schools case was brought religious Right. divert public funds to in the 1970s (American church-state The three diverge, however, in church-run private schools authority Leo Pfeffer and I were involved one very important way. The United in the United States, in the case) and resulted in a disastrous States originated church-state separa- 6-to-1 ruling in favor of tax aid for tion with the Constitution and the First so too have these campaigns church-run private schools. (The six jus- Amendment, made applicable to state been active in Australia tices who erroneously preferred a British and local government by the Fourteenth and New Zealand.” to an American interpretation of S.116 Amendment. Australia’s constitution has were knighted by the British crown; the

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 63 lone dissenter, the distinguished civil lib- and religious freedom in both coun- ertarian Lionel Murphy, was not.) New tries have taken severe beatings. While Zealand has a very secular history but we in the United States have clob- no solid guarantee of separation. The bered the taxes-for-church-schools Statement of Ownership, United States, of course, suffered a set- movement in twenty-seven of twenty- Management, and Circulation back with the Supreme Court’s mistaken eight statewide referenda, our cousins approval of Ohio’s school voucher plan in Australia and New Zealand have been in Zelman v. Simmons-Harris a decade denied the opportunity to do so. They Date of fi ling: September 17, 2012 Title: FREE INQUIRY ago. (Let us note at this point that the would surely follow our example if given Frequency of issue: Bimonthly Complete mailing address of known offi ce of publication: word secular means “religiously neutral,” the chance. FREE INQUIRY, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664 not “irreligious” or “antireligious,” as the All this is given a thorough airing in Complete mailing address of headquarters or general business offi ce of publisher: same as above religious Right would have it.) Realising Secularism, mostly a collection Complete mailing address of headquarters of publisher: Council for Secular Humanism, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, Just as we have seen strengthening of papers presented at conferences in NY 14226-0664 drives to divert public funds to church- 2008 in Sydney and Wellington spon- Editor: Thomas Flynn, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, NY 14226-0664 Managing Editor: Andrea Szalanski, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, run private schools in the United States, sored by green and humanist organiza- NY 14226-0664 so too have these campaigns been tions. It is a superb addition to the litera- Owner: Council for Secular Humanism Known bondholders, mortgagees, and other security holders: None active in Australia and New Zealand. ture of church-state separation and reli- Aver. no. No. of Lacking our constitutional protections, gious freedom. Five stars! copies copies each issue single issue the advocates of tax aid for nonpublic during August/Sept. preceding 2012 schools have been suc- 12 months Edd Doerr is a regular columnist and a senior editor for Free InquIry. a. Total no. copies printed ceeding down under. As (net press run) 27,323 27,553 a result, public schools b. Paid circulation by mail and outside the mail 1. Paid Outside County 19,619 19,561 2. Paid In-County Subscriptions 0 0 3. Paid distribution outside the mails including sales through dealers and carriers, street vendors, and other paid distribution outside USPS 2,584 2,605 4. Paid distribution by other classes of mail For just $22/year you can enjoy four through the USPS 17 68 issues of lively, daring, thought-provoking, c. Total paid distribution 22,220 22,234 d. Free or nominal rate distribution by mail and non-theistic reading. We tackle topics and outside the mail Sorry, meerkat! that the mainstream media won’t touch. And 1. Outside County 324 324 we do it with reason and compassion. 2. In-County 0 0 Only humans can read. 3. Other classes mailed through the USPS 425 425 www.HumanistPerspectives.org 4. Free distribution outside the mail 6 6 (Formerly Humanist in Canada magazine) e. Total free or nominal rate distribution 755 755 f. Total distribution 22,975 22,989 g. Copies not distributed 4,348 4,564 TOTAL (Sum of f and g) 27,323 27,553

Percent paid 96.71% 96.72%

PO Box 3769, Station C Ottawa, ON, Canada K1Y 4J8 Try again in a few million years. Assuming natural selection favors meerkats that read. Which it probably doesn’t. QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

64 Free InquIry AprIl/MAy 2013 secularhumanism.org Letters continued from p.19 sionism, material acquisition, and in the biological sense that evo- surprising ignorance of psy­chol­ literature for decades. individualism.” Such traits have lution drives the selection of our ogy in general and cognitive As a CBT therapist myself, I of far more in common with the traits. Evolution acts primarily on be­­havioral therapy (CBT) in course agree that rational think- Objectivist philosophy of Ayn the genotypes of individuals to par­ticular. In that article, he ing can effect not only emotional Rand than with the examples of promote their growth, survival, attacks Chris Mooney for mak­ change but cognitive change too. indigenous hunter-gatherer tribes and reproduction. Most examples ing “extraordinary claims” However, when it comes to those in the Americas and elsewhere, of traits associated with group about modern psychology, beliefs that people have a huge where communalism and coop- benefit can be explained as also for example, that it has mostly emotional investment in, such as eration are the norm and where having individual benefit (includ- discredited the idea that peo­ one’s religious beliefs, it’s not so private ownership of property is ing group-based activities such as ple make rational decisions un­ easy. If it were, surely the world quite limited or nonexistent. mammoth hunting identifed in influenced by emotion or that would have become atheistic long Indeed, it is difficult to imag- the first letter). The fundamental emotion precedes cognition. ago. For instance, the “persever- ine our forebears dominated consequence of individual-based Gaudia assumes that Mooney ance effect” is where people cling by predecessors displaying the evolution is that it tends to favor cannot possibly be right, given to their beliefs even after the evi- traits Grogan presents. After individualism (as exemplified in the evidence base for the efficacy dence supporting their beliefs has all, gathering food, hunting the the second letter). My thesis is that of CBT. been discredited. Even worse, the wooly mammoth, defending we need to subsume these aspects First, Gaudia should appreci- “backfire effect” is where people against the saber-toothed tiger of our genetic heritage if we are ate that the broad science that is hold on to their beliefs even more and other large predators, and to achieve sustainable living in a psychology extends beyond the strongly in the face of disconfirm- surviving various brutal ice ages world of limited and depleting particular field of psychological ing evidence. Humans are much certainly required collective group resources. therapy. Perhaps he might learn less rational and much more ratio- efforts. I think it likely that in from the distinguished psycholo- nalizing than Gaudia appears to these primitive societies, budding gist Jonathan Haidt whose work, appreciate. Howard Roarks and John Galts The Unholy Trinity far from being “obscure,” shows Gaudia goes on to make who rocked the boat would have I was enjoying “The Unholy Trin­ convincingly that moral deci- the bizarre claim that because found themselves expelled from ity” by R. Georges Delamontagne­ sion-making, for example, is often Mooney doesn’t favor a confron- the group to fend for themselves, (FI, February/March 2013) until I based on an emotional response tational approach when discussing quickly exiting the gene pool. got to figures 1, 2, and 3. In figure for which rational justifications religion with believers, this is Dennis Middlebrooks 1 R = .262 and statistically signifi- are made after. But one needn’t equivalent to saying that creation- Brooklyn, New York cant p = .06. Really? When I took consult the annals of academic ist and bona fide natural history statistics, p had to be less than psychology to know that, some- museums are “equally accurate 0.05 to be considered significant. times at least, emotion precedes exhibits of the origins of humans.” I compliment Paul Grogan for Wait: it gets worse. In both cognition. Hasn’t Professor His questionable logic aside, it boldly detailing what his world figures 2 and 3, p is statistically Gaudia ever had a fright? should be clear that the extent to ought to look like, though the significant at 0.001 for Rs of .453 Second, research in neuro- which the devout are emotionally whole shebang doesn’t much and .527. Did Delamontagne science is consistent with the invested in their beliefs will vary. tickle my taste buds. His core take a look at the spread of the claim that emotion can precede Consequently, those most invested theme resembles what so many points? I would imagine R should cognition. Those brain structures emotionally are likely to feel most no-progress progressive advo- be in the 0.999 range to reach responsible for emotional pro- anxious in the face of a hostile cates push: that the group is more that level of significance. Figure cessing are evolutionarily more confrontation and thus less likely important than the individual. I 3 is the best of the group; it defi- ancient and quicker to react to be persuaded by the rational choose to keep my reasonably nitely shows a trend, but it is not than the slower, cortical areas arguments of atheism. productive and secular indepen- that significant. I can understand responsible for the brain’s “higher In any case, Mooney has done dence over joining a gray, low-en- why the author uses a pseud- functions.” Nothing extraordinary nothing at all to “announce the ergy contemplative community onym. about that. end of CBT.” He has, however, where everyone acts frightened Being a subscriber to Free Third—and most import- done us a great service in empha- about overusing their resources Inquiry and Skeptical Inquirer I am ant—the question of whether sizing that rational confrontation and their own voices. If the com- willing to change my opinion in cognition must always­ precede does have its limits. Given the evi- munity wishes to take away my the face of new evidence. emotion is spectacularly irrelevant dence, this is what reason would various independences, then Nick Gagliardi to the question of how and why suggest. (as that Spartan guy supposedly Tonawanda, New York CBT works. The important point Martyn Frame said) “Come and get them.” From is that how we think can affect Psychological Therapist in Primary a community full of semi-inert how we feel. But Gaudia fails to Care contemplatives waiting for their acknowledge that how we feel Chichester, West Sussex, England meds, I needn’t worry much. Accommodationism and can affect how we think. Yet George Stelzenmuller Cognitive Behavioral research shows that our emo- Rochester, New York Therapy tional state will influence how we Gil Gaudia is apparently unfamil- interpret ambiguous social situa- iar with decades of research in Paul Grogan replies: Gil Gaudia’s article, “Accommo­ tions, for instance. That the rela- social psychology demonstrat- One of the most fundamental da­­­tionism: The End of Cognitive tionship between cognition and ing that human reason is shot points in my article is that we Behavioral Therapy?” (FI, Febru­ emotion is bidirectional has been through with an infinite variety are a species just like any other ary/March 2013) revealed a well established in the research of emotionally driven biases, all

secularhumanism.org April/May 2013 Free Inquiry 65 seemingly designed to satisfy a will leave most believers unmoved. included the phrase, “The End of assumption that cognition usually host of self-serving and ego-pro- This is a sensible, cautionary, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy” precedes emotion, and if this is to tective human needs, such as the empirically well-supported posi- and not “The End of Psychology”; be falsified by the type of research need to feel safe, to feel compe- tion. Perhaps emotion does pre- I also offer my seven-year asso- that Mooney refers to, it would be tent, worthwhile, and so forth. cede reason, but that should only ciation with the late Albert Ellis premature, and unjustified, to say Gaudia might also have men- underscore, not undermine, the at the Institute for Rational the least. tioned research by psychologist importance of reason, and, if true, Psychotherapy in Manhattan from Jonathan Haidt revealing that our is certainly no more a threat to 1977 to 1984, where (given Dr. moral judgments are apparently cognitive therapy than the threats Ellis’s well-known pedantic skills) On Altruism made first by our emotions and enumerated above from the field it was virtually impossible to fail to that reason functions merely to of psychology itself. absorb something of the craft. In response to my op-ed “Atheism justify these judgments after the Wayne L. Trotta As for his puerile adoration of Isn’t Generosity” (FI, December fact. Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania “research in neuroscience,” Frame 2012/January 2013), M. Ross Antonio D’Amasio’s stud- should spend some time reading Adams (Letters, FI, February/ ies of individuals whose social/ the criticism of “neuroporn” and March 2013) writes that I believe emotional brain apparatus has It strikes me that Gil Gaudia’s “neuromania” before leaping to that “Altruism is a dirty word.” I been damaged also need to be counterargument in favor of conclusions based upon images don’t think words are ever “dirty.” taken into account. These per- reason over emotion makes for from fMRI and PET procedures, Certain ideas are objectionable sons remain intellectually sound, a bit of a false dichotomy: each which have been known to some- because they lead to bad con- sophisticated thinkers and yet are has influence over the other. times yield as many as six different duct. The ethical doctrine of altru- unable to make basic life decisions Cognitive therapy is hardly an interpretations of a single event, ism qualifies as such. Without for the very reason that their intel- instantaneous process, after all, depending upon the idiosyncratic revisiting the topic, let me just ligence has become disconnected or psychologists would rapidly analytical algorithms of the vari- relay a quote attributed to W. H. from their emotional guidance be out of a job. A perhaps more ous computers. Auden: “We are here on earth system. sympathetic interpretation of Chris Mooney’s article and to do good for others. What the Even economists have gotten Chris Mooney’s position would be mine had as their main points the others are here for, I don’t know” (The Week, November 16, 2002, the message and have long since that the previous opinion of the question of “accommodationism” p. 19). Such is just one incoherent given up building their models listener, and the rhetorical capa- (to the religious community) versus feature of this doctrine. around the “rational man” in the bilities of the speaker, do more to “confrontation” with regard to marketplace. affect the listener’s future opinion effecting change. Accommodation Gaudia’s notion that Chris than the content of the speaker’s is what most liberal Christians Tibor R. Machan Mooney’s­ brand of accommoda- arguments. This is not to say that have practiced when they have Silverado, California tionism—the idea that atheists logic is irrelevant, but rather that ignored the lunacy of their fanatic should be less confrontational it is (sadly) not the strongest force fundamentalist fellow “Christians.” toward believers—represents at work in the human psyche. For It is obvious that they are not suc- an indirect threat to cognitive that matter, it may well turn out ceeding in bringing about much therapy seems to be a failure to that cognitive behavior therapy change. The alternative—the WRITE TO distinguish apples and oranges. It harnesses more than just logic to approach of the “four horsemen” is one thing to persuade a client effect its changes—a typical recipi- of the “new atheism” has been of the irrationality of his belief ent might well trust his or her psy- accompanied by a spectacular rise that “If I am not thoroughly chologist already and in addition in the percentage of “Nones”— Send submissions to competent, I must be a worthless desires the treatment to succeed; atheists, agnostics, freethinkers, Andrea Szalanski, Letters Editor, nerd,” but it is something else it seems reasonable that these and other secular groups. Readers FREE INQUIRY, again to expect someone who are better conditions for a logical can judge for themselves whether P.O. Box 664, Amherst, believes he or she feels God’s love argument to convince the patient they want to support “enabling” NY 14226-0664. every day to ever be convinced than their inverse. or “tough love” as a means to the Fax: (716) 636-1733. that God is a logically incoherent Stephen Voris hearts and minds of believers in E-mail: concept. In the first case, you are Elkridge, Maryland religion. [email protected]. merely influencing another to As for the more well-thought- give up self-defeating patterns of out and rational comments of In letters intended for publication, Gil Gaudia Replies: thought. In the second, you are Wayne L. Trotta, he seemed to please include name, address,­ asking an individual to part with I will ignore most of Martyn feel the need to inform me that city and state, zip code, views he or she considers to be Frame’s ad hominem comments emotion can, in some cases, pre- and daytime phone number foundational, and, quite literally, about my experiential and intel- cede cognition. Nowhere in my (for verification purposes only). life-sustaining. lectual inadequacies—e.g., my article did I deny this, although I Letters should be It does not seem to me that “surprising ignorance of psy- admit I may have failed to make 300 words or fewer Mooney is saying, as Gaudia chology in general and cognitive my awareness of this truism and pertain to previous implies, that reason is futile; only behavioral therapy (CBT) in par- apparent. My main point was Free Inquiry articles. that rational arguments against ticular.” I will merely point out that the underpinnings of CBT religion, no matter how sound, to him that the title of my article are unquestionably based on the

66 Free Inquiry April/May 2013 secularhumanism.org