THE SECULAR CIRCULAR Newsletter of the Humanist Society of Santa Barbara www.SBHumanists.org OCTOBER 2010 OCTOBER Program An Ingersoll Lecture Robert Green Ingersoll (1833 -1899) was one of the greatest of American orators and social activists. His many lectures, delivered to thousands of rapt listeners all over the country, are as relevant today as they were 150 years ago. The Humanist Society of Santa Barbara presents “ An Ingersoll Lecture ” to bring Ingersoll’s ideas to our community in his own words. The lecture, open for attendance to the public at no cost, will be delivered by two community members chosen by audition, Meredith McMinn and Richard McNally . Cash prizes were awarded to the two winners. When: October 16, 2010 Where : Faulkner Gallery, Santa Barbara Public Library Time : 2:30pm: Doors open. 3pm: Meeting starts. Dinner following : At Sizzlers. Please send reservations to [email protected] . Please note this meeting is at FAULKNER GALLERY 2 The HSSB Secular Circular -- Octo ber 2010 Welcome New Members! Our current members are : Patricia Hiles , 687- 5321; Pat Coppejans , 967-0929; Claudia Solé Jan Kettler, Santa Barbara 682-8292 or e-mail [email protected]. (Claudia Ken Moore, Santa Barbara will respond to e-mail, while the other two promise to respond to telephonic communications and Our new "SALON" messages left on answering machines.) This is new and if you have suggestions, let us know. We will October's Salon (discussion group) will take place see how this works and go from there. on Wednesday, October 13, from 2-4:30 pm at the home of Jean Gilbert , 5254 Calle Morelia, zip Our New Letter Writers Group 93111. This is a couple of blocks from the Magnolia Shopping Center. Nearest cross street is The Humanist Board has established a news alert San Ricardo. Phone: 683-4661. RSVP if coming hotline to get our point of view into the would be helpful but not absolutely necessary. The newspapers. When an issue of interest comes up in topic of the discussion: Politics and media the news, Jim Balter will alert, by e-mail, personalities. Beck, Stewart, Colbert, Shultz rallies, interested members. When several of us respond Colbert and Congress, etc. The participation of with letters to the editor, we can expect to have our media personalities in the political scene in new point of view published. Several letters on the same and more activist ways and implications of this issue should get the attention of the editors. Please possible trend. Bring any show-and-tell articles, contact Jim at [email protected] to be included in emails you have found on the topic. At this meeting the alert list. we'll also choose topics for the next two Salons and choose the best and most convenient times for How much do you know about religion? regular Salon gatherings. Atheists and agnostics are among the highest- Our New "CARING COMMITTEE" scoring groups on a new Pew Forum survey of by Patricia Hiles religious knowledge, outperforming evangelical Protestants, mainline Protestants and Catholics on questions about world religions. The HSSB Board has created a new committee to respond to members' requests for aid and To find out how you rate, take the Pew Forum quiz fellowship in times of crisis and need. The "Caring at: http://features.pewforum.org/quiz/us-religious- Committee" is designed to extend help and knowledge/index.php fellowship whenever there may be a need due to illness, death, hospitalization, family problems, etc. More about Single-Payer Health You can request assistance for yourself, your family, or for another member and we will try to provide On Thursday evening, September 30th, HSSB whatever may be needed: running errands, members Neal Rosenthal, Andrew Hankin, Bea consolation, visiting someone in the hospital, Novobilski, Je Goolsby, Louise and Ray checking in from time to time to see whether all is Stone and over 100 people enjoyed a lively OK with a homebound person, or just talking, if evening of songs, cartoon videos and stories about that is what is needed. (Unfortunately, the three the ongoing fight for universal healthcare, by the members of the committee at the present time do "Mad As Hell Doctors" visiting Santa Barbara. not feel adequately strong to provide rides for those in need, but perhaps someone may want to The next event for this cause is "Outside The Box volunteer to provide this service in the future.) 2010", a fundraiser to benefit the Healthcare For All California Education Fund at 7pm Thursday, The HSSB Secular Circular -- Octo ber 2010 3 October 14th in the Cabrillo Pavilion Arts Center, report motivated the following letter to the Times . 1118 East Cabrillo Blvd. There will be live music, Editor. ] wine and appetizers during a silent auction, bidding on decorated boxes created and donated by local So the Pope thinks that atheism brought the Nazis artists. HSSB is a supporter of this event. For to power in Germany. This is absurd and he lacks a information phone 805-636-5011 or see web page knowledge of history. Hitler and his goons had a http://www.outsidetheboxes.org close contact with the Catholic Church and after the war the Vatican helped many Nazi criminals Letter to the Editor: escape to South America. Atheism is not a radical More on the "Ground ZeroMosque" or violent movement but it is a view of life that is based on reason and science and not on blind The letter by Roger Schlueter to the President faith. The Church always opposed freedom of and CEO of the Center for Inquiry prompted me to thought and through the ages many people have state my feelings on this matter. I consider Roger a been tortured and killed for not accepting their friend and have the highest admiration for his work dogma. in the HSSB, but I have to disagree with him on his standing in the dispute that is going on about an John Coppejans Islamic Center in Lower Manhattan. Santa Barbara Having read books written by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, "The Thank You! Nomad" and "The Infidel" about her upbringing in Lou and Josette Barsky an Islamic society in Africa, Western Europe and USA, I cannot accept any reason for giving Islam a Lou and Josette Barsky have been members of free hand in any society. Western Europe has a HSSB for nearly ten years. They are reliable large influx of Islam followers who refuse to accept attendees at pretty much every Humanist Society the laws of the land that accepted them. There is a event, including Sunday Brunches, Solstice Parties real danger that most people do not realize. The and members-only gatherings. They always help in Quoran states clearly that every human should some unsung role like setting-up chairs, ticket- accept the teachings in this so-called holy book or taking, money collection or party games; they well- be killed. A woman in this religion is like chattel, deserve recognition and a Big Thank You for the without any rights and must accept her husband as quiet volunteering they've been doing for many her master. An outcry is going on in the Western years. Thanks Lou and Josette! World about the possible stoning of a promiscuous woman in Iran. But this is Islam as is stated in the Quoran. Islam is not just another innocent belief, it is a danger to a free thinking world. John Coppejans , HSSB member The Pope's Visit to Great Britain [An LA Times report on the Pope's recent visit to England http://articles.latimes.com/2010/sep/17/world/la- fg-britain-pope-20100917 stated: "The German- born pope cited the evils of Nazism as an example of the consequences of 'atheist extremism." This 4 The HSSB Secular Circular -- Octo ber 2010 From the President William Lobdell on "Losing my by Ron Kronenberg Religion" by Robert Bernstein, Ray Stone I am a values voter and I intend to vote in these midterm elections. I hope you will too. Our Humanist Our September meeting featuring speaker William values are under serious attack in this election cycle. Lobdell, was delayed nearly two hours because of a The electorate is deeply divided by radically opposing misunderstanding about our regular starting time. views concerning the right course for our country. Are Unfortunately, many in the audience left early and you in favor of a perfect (god inspired) agenda? No abortion rights, no gay rights, no big government didn't hear Mr. Lobdell's talk: "Losing my Religion: imposing secular values or high taxes. Do you want How I lost my Faith Reporting on Religion in an American value system, under god, with a large America". But fortunately, the meeting can be interventionist military to keep us number one in this heard at hostile world? To achieve this goal it is vital to kick out http://santabarbarahumanists.org/Calendar/Audio% the secularists and socialists that pervert the American 20of%20meetings/Sep10Lobdell.mp3 way of life and control Washington. Political problems are solved by miracles not programs. This idealistic At age 27, Mr. Lobdell claims his life was "a wreck". platform inspires too many and will get out the vote He was unhappily married to his high school this mid-term election. The alternative is a sweetheart, but didn't seek a divorce. He had government run by imperfect people, not god gotten another girl pregnant. However when asked inspired. Which “g” do you want solving our problems how his life was going, he would answer "everything god or government? Imperfect people, running an was fantastic". When he finally told a friend of his imperfect government, shouldn’t promise utopia.