DOCSLIB.ORG

American Atheists a a a JOURNAL of ATHEIST NEWS and THOUGHT Coming out of the Closet: Why It’S Worth It

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
American Atheists a a a JOURNAL of ATHEIST NEWS and THOUGHT Coming out of the Closet: Why It’S Worth It MERICAN THEIST American Atheists A A A JOURNAL OF ATHEIST NEWS AND THOUGHT Coming Out of the Closet: Why It’s Worth It An Interview with Richard Dawkins Also in this issue: • The Science of Faith • How Adults Can Help Young Atheists • Gideon Bibles Make Room for Atheist Books 1ST QUARTER 2014 www.atheists.org | AMERICAN ATHEIST | 1 ATHEISTS.ORG FIRST QUARTER 2014 AMERICAN ATHEIST Subscribe to American Atheists A JOURNAL OF ATHEIST NEWS AND THOUGHT American Atheist Electronic subscriptions are free to all members. See p. 45 or go to Atheists.org Print subscriptions without membership (4 quarterly issues) - $35/year Electronic subscriptions without membership - $20/year Bullies for Jesus: The Spread of the Good News Clubs Go to Atheists.org to subscribe or complete the form below and send it to: Subscriptions ATHEISTS.ORG THIRD QUARTER 2013 American Atheist Magazine PO Box 158 Cranford, NJ 07016 Name: Address: City: State: Zip: Email:* Phone: I am paying by: Visa Mastercard Discover Amex Amount: Credit Card #: Expiration date MM/YY: *Required for electronic Questions? Call 908-276-7300 or email [email protected] 1ST QUARTER 2014 www.atheists.org | AMERICAN ATHEIST | 2 AMERICAN ATHEIST A Journal of Atheist News and Thought 1st Quarter 2014 Vol. 52, No. 1 ISSN 0516-9623 (Print) ISSN 1935-8369 (Online) Photo by Rick Wingrove Above: Chad and Lena Brown, proud to be openly Atheist. Cover: The license plates from American Atheists members across the U.S. Cover Concept by Ken Loukinen. Photo of Richard Dawkins by Lalla Ward. EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Pamela Whissel [email protected] LAYOUT and GRAPHICS EDITOR In This Issue Rick Wingrove [email protected] 5 Coming Out of the Closet as an American Atheist | J. T. Eberhard COPY EDITOR | Karen Reilly 8 An Interview with Richard Dawkins David Muscato PROOFREADERS 10 Good News Clubs - Part Three: What We Learned | Dale DeBakcsy Gil and Jeanne Gaudia Shelley Gaudia 13 Parents, Teachers, and Administrators Help Young Atheists | Hemant Mehta AMERICAN ATHEIST PRESS 16 The Godless Congregations of the Sunday Assembly | Becky Garrison MANAGING EDITOR Frank R. Zindler Secularism’s Pope: A Misleading Misunderstanding | David Orenstein, Ph.D. [email protected] 20 The Science of Faith: Part One | Ce Atkins Published by 22 American Atheists, Inc. | Mailing Address: 24 All of the Good, None of the God - Part Two: Uganda Conor Robinson P.O. Box 158 Cranford NJ 07016 28 Gideon Bibles Make Room for Atheist Books | Ed Buckner, Ph.D. Phone: 908.276.7300 FAX: 908.276.7402 32 How I Stood Up for My Right to Sit Down | Grover Helton www.atheists.org 34 DOGMA WATCH: Eat at Yahweh’s | Michael B. Paulkovich ©2014 American Atheists Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part Why I am an Atheist | Pinghui V. Liu, M.D. without written permission is prohibited. American 46 Atheist is indexed in the Alternative Press Index. American Atheist magazine is given free of cost to members of American Atheists as an incident of their membership. Annual Individual Membership with subscription for one year of American Atheist print magazine: $35. Online version only: $20. Couple/Family Membership with optional print magazine: $35. Sign up at www. atheists.org/aam. Discounts available for multiple year subscriptions: 10% for two years, 20% for three or more years. Additional postage fees for foreign addresses: Canada and Mexico: add $10/year. All other countries: add $30/year. Discounts for libraries and institutions: 50% on all magazine subscriptions and book purchases. 1ST QUARTER 2014 www.atheists.org | AMERICAN ATHEIST | 3 LETTER FROM THE EDITOR What do you call a wrong decision made in the name of religion? A clerical error. That’s what the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) called it when they were asked why they first told American Atheists President Dave Silverman that his application for the custom license plate ATHE1ST was “offensive” but then reversed the decision. The reversal came after a rash of bad publicity. As the news report from the U.K.’s Daily Mail put it, “they didn’t realize who they were rejecting.” If they had known who they were rejecting, they would have known that, as soon as his application was rejected, Silverman would share the news on his Twitter account @MrAtheistPants. They would have known that our Public Relations Director, Dave Muscato, would send out a press release. And that the press release would include a picture of Silverman holding a piece of décor that’s been in the American Atheists Center for as long as anyone can remember: a vintage New Jersey license plate that says ATHEIST. (Silverman’s has a numeral 1 because this all-letter version was already taken.) So why the red light for Silverman’s application but a green light for the earlier one? A spokesperson for the MVC told one reporter that “the clerk had exceeded her authority.” In other words, Silverman’s application was randomly assigned to an employee who happens to have a personal problem with Atheism but has no authority to decide that the MVC officially has this problem, which it clearly doesn’t. In fact, no one in the U.S. ever has the authority to decide that the laws of their god outrank the laws of the state. But it happens all the time, and, for a number of reasons, nothing’s done to remedy it. No one in the U.S. ever has the authority to decide that the laws of their god outrank the laws of the state. Sometimes nothing’s done because a person doubts their ability to fight the injustice. Sometimes they second-guess their understanding of their rights. Often, a person will assume they’re the only one who’s ever encountered such a roadblock. They assume this because they’ve never encountered another Atheist. And they’ve never encountered another Atheist because too many are still in the closet. American Atheist is a handbook for coming out of the closet. This magazine is also a handbook of how to show others the way out. This issue also features an excerpt from The Young Atheist’s Survival Guide, Hemant Mehta’s new book, which is full of ways that adults can assist students who want to stand up for their rights as non-believers. We’re also featuring the words of ten-year-old Grover Helton, who tells us how he demanded fair treatment in his school—and got it. Grover’s activist career is off to a great start, and I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he turns out to be like Ed Buckner, the former President of American Atheists, whose article is about his most recent victory: the placement of Atheist books right next to the Bibles that the State allows the Gideons to place in all the cabins of Georgia’s state parks. When Atheists refuse to be denied the rights that everyone should enjoy, it’s more than an opportunity for progress. It’s also an opportunity for closeted Atheists to take notice and realize that they are far from alone. And every time an Atheist comes out, it strengthens this country’s wall that separates church and state without separating believers from non-believers. Maintained properly, it’s the best thing that can happen to both. Pamela Whissel Editor-in-Chief [email protected] LEFT: President Dave Silverman with the vintage plate RIGHT: No offense after all: Silverman’s new plate 4 | AMERICAN ATHEIST | www.atheists.org 1ST QUARTER 2014 Coming Out of the Closet as“ an American Atheist: Why It’s Worth It by J.T. Eberhard No price is too steep for the privilege of owning one’s self. always like to start an article with a statement of the obvious, Campus Crusade for Christ? These days, they’re calling themselves to help the reader and writer begin on common ground. just “Cru.” They organize clubs on college campuses. The Secular For this article, the statement is: We live in a very religious Student Alliance (SSA) organizes similar clubs for Atheists who nation. It wasn’t hard to come up with that, because in the United aren’t interested in a crusade so much as they’re interested in eating States churches outnumber schools and libraries by several orders of pizza with other Atheists. I used to work for SSA as their high school Imagnitude. Yet Atheism is growing, which means there’s not only a organizer. All in all, it was a pretty sweet gig. As soon as I started that “decent chance that you, my lovely reader, are a non-believer yourself, job, I immediately noticed a big difference between religious students but there’s also a good chance you’re relatively new to your non-belief. and non-religious students: most of the non-religious students hadn’t You may even still attend church—while not buying into a word of told their parents about their disbelief. the preaching. I’ve never heard of a Christian student living in fear of their own If you are a believer, there are decent odds that you are questioning family discovering their Christianity, so I began to wonder about and wondering what life is like on the other side. (The “other side” what was stopping the Atheist students from being open with their being Atheism in this life, not heaven or hell in the next.) Let me help parents. It quickly became evident that the reason was fear—a most fill you in. As an “out” Atheist, I’m perhaps a little biased, but I think heartbreaking fear of the very people who loved them.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Congressman Pete Stark Acknowledges Reason Rally
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Michelle Blackley Phone: (716) 636-4869, ext. 218 E-mail: [email protected] Stark Acknowledges the Reason Rally The US Congressman will contribute to the Rally March 24, in Washington, DC Washington, DC–January 26, 2012–Today, Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) has agreed to prove a video testimonial at the Reason Rally, March 24, 2012 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. Stark is the first openly atheist member of Congress, as announced by the Secular Coalition for America (SCA). Stark acknowledged that he is an atheist in response to an SCA questionnaire sent to public officials in January 2007. During that same year he reaffirmed that he is an atheist by making a public announcement in front of the Humanist Chaplaincy at Harvard, the Harvard Law School Heathen Society, and various other atheist, agnostic, secular, humanist, and nonreligious groups. The American Humanist Association (AHA) named him their 2008 Humanist of the Year, and he now serves on the AHA Advisory Board. “Unfortunately he can’t make it personally but this endorsement from Mr. Stark is a great addition to the Reason Rally,” organizer and chair David Silverman said. The Reason Rally, a nationwide celebration sponsored by the top secular organizations in the United States, will be held from 10 AM to 5 PM. With the intent to unify, energize, and embolden secular people nationwide, the Reason Rally is a FREE event that will combat negative stereotypes about nonreligious Americans. It is slated to be the largest secular event in World history. Leaders of the secular movement, including a FREE concert by Bad Religion, will fill the rally with music, comedy and reason.
    [Show full text]
  • Case No. 16-11220 in the UNITED
    Case: 16-11220 Document: 00513719015 Page: 1 Date Filed: 10/14/2016 Case No. 16-11220 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION; ISAIAH SMITH, Plaintiffs – Appellants v. BIRDVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT; JACK MCCARTY, in his individual and official capacity; JOE D. TOLBERT, in his individual and official capacity; BRAD GREENE, in his individual and official capacity; RICHARD DAVIS, in his individual and official capacity; RALPH KUNKEL, in his individual and official capacity; CARY HANCOCK, in his individual and official capacity; DOLORES WEBB, in her individual and official capacity, Defendants – Appellees On Appeal from the United States District Court, Northern District of Texas, Fort Worth Division BRIEF OF AMICUS CURIAE FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION, CENTER FOR INQUIRY, AMERICAN ATHEISTS, RICHARD DAWKINS FOUNDATION FOR REASON & SCIENCE, AND SECULAR COALITION FOR AMERICA IN SUPPORT OF APPELLANTS Samuel T. Grover Attorney for Amicus Curiae Freedom From Religion Foundation P.O. Box 750 Madison, WI 53701 608-256-8900 [email protected] Case: 16-11220 Document: 00513719015 Page: 2 Date Filed: 10/14/2016 Case No. 16-11220 IN THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE FIFTH CIRCUIT AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION; ISAIAH SMITH, Plaintiffs – Appellants v. BIRDVILLE INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT, et al., Defendants – Appellees CERTIFICATE OF INTERESTED PERSONS The undersigned counsel of record certifies that the following listed persons and entities as described in the fourth sentence of Rule 28.2.1 have an interest in the outcome of this case. These representations are made in order that the judges of this Court may evaluate possible disqualification or recusal.
    [Show full text]
  • Freedom from Religion Foundation 2011 Year in Review
    Freedom From Religion Foundation 2011 Year in Review FFRF tops 17,000 Members — Help Recruit More! ation prayers, with FFRF’s help, at his high school in Laurens, S.C. The Freedom From Religion Foundation, which began • Jessica Ahlquist, 16, a plaintiff with 3 original members in 1976 and was incorporated na- in an ACLU federal lawsuit to remove a tionally in 1978, has grown to more than 17,000 members religious prayer from her Rhode Island nationwide. high school. • Dylan Galos, now a Ph.D. candi- Making News! Making Progress! date, for his activism as part of FFRF’s Photo: Timothy Hughes Timothy Photo: “Out of the Closet” billboard campaign in Our actions, lawsuits, PR scam- Columbus. Dylan saw his billboard, which paigns and state/church victories said “I can be good without God,” cen- generated more than 932 bonafide sored twice. news stories about FFRF in daily • A 7th award has been offered to a newspapers or on TV news ! You can military student. check out that media coverage or sign up to get coverage “We are proud to be associated with delivered to your inbox at ffrf.org/news/media/. This in- all of these students and youth activists,” cludes more than 6 hours of TV coverage from last October says Dan. “It still takes so much guts to to this October. Media highlights included FFRF Co-Presi- buck religion in schools and in society.” dent Annie Laurie Gaylor debating Cong. Dan Lundgren on National Fox TV over “In God We Trust,” Co-Prez Dan $16,600 Awarded Freethinking Students for Essays Barker debating Mathew Staver of the Liberty Counsel on the Ten Commandments, and hundreds of diverse regional In 2011, FFRF gave a total of $16,600 in news and TV coverage of FFRF state/church actions and scholarships in its three essay competitions for “Out of the Closet” campaigns.
    [Show full text]
  • April 2013 Ohio ACLU, FFRF Rebuff School’S Jesus ‘Switcheroo’
    Complimentary Copy Join FFRF Now! Vo1. 30 No. 3 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. April 2013 Ohio ACLU, FFRF rebuff school’s Jesus ‘switcheroo’ A month after the Freedom From substantially similar display.” Religion Foundation and the ACLU of The devotional painting titled “the Ohio sued the Jackson City School Dis- Head of Christ” was prominently dis- trict over a portrait of Jesus in a middle played on an entrance wall at Jackson school, the district moved it to Jackson Middle School. High School. The Jesus painting was moved The ACLU of Ohio and FFRF March 13 to the high school near its thwarted the overt attempt to elude the Fine Arts Department. The school Constitution by filing an amended le- board adopted a policy in February gal complaint in early April, adding as designating the high school space and plaintiff “Sam Doe 4,” who has a minor the middle school foyer as “limited child attending Jackson High School, public forums.” and “Sam Doe 5,” a student who at- At the portrait’s new location in a tends Jackson High School. Also filed public area at Jackson High, it’s en- is a motion for a temporary restraining countered by nearly 700 students, fac- order and memorandum in support of ulty, staff and community members. the motion. The school board meets at Jackson FFRF Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca High, and the school hosts a variety of Markert first complained Jan. 2 about other events there that are open to the the unconstitutional painting. Super- public. The Jesus portrait in Jackson, Ohio, has been moved from the middle school to intendent Phil Howard refused to re- The district also announced, a claim the high school, where it hangs in the hallway going to and from the cafeteria.
    [Show full text]
  • New Atheism As a Case of Competitive Postsecular Worldviews
    New Atheism as a Case of Competitive Postsecular Worldviews Alan G. Nixon 98061264 A dissertation submitted to the School of Social Sciences and Psychology The University of Western Sydney In part fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Social Sciences 2014 Acknowledgements I would firstly like to thank my interview participants for their time, as I would not have been able to have a well-rounded thesis without their views. Secondly, my family and friends for their support throughout this long process. I would especially like to thank my mother Kim for her tireless editing. I would also like to thank my primary supervisor Adam Possamai for his efforts in helping this project to come to completion. Last, but certainly not least, my partner Megan, who supported me through all the ups and downs that such a large project entails. I could not have done it without all of you. Statement of Authorship The work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original except as acknowledged in the text. I hereby declare that I have not submitted this material, either in full or in part for a degree at this or any other institution. Alan Nixon Date: …………………………………………. Signature: ………………………………….. Table of Contents LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................................................ V LIST OF FIGURES .............................................................................................................................................VI
    [Show full text]
  • Gthe Secular Gazette H
    gThe Secular Gazette h Supporting Science, Reason and the Separation of Church and State Issue #40 April 13, 2013 From the Editor Contents: Coming out does more than you think… Editorial After witnessing Dave Silverman’s lecture at the Streaming February Backyard Skeptics meeting, (see next page News for a free viewing) I decided to do a test at his suggestion. I have a T-shirt with the word “Atheist” in Sam Harris large letters with the caption “Come out – Reality is Science News fine”. The ‘test’ was to wear this at a very popular travel show convention at the Los Angeles Convention Church & State Center several weeks ago. Politics Dave mentioned in his lecture that a shirt similar to mine, worn by him 20 years ago, brought a Religious Right plethora of negative comments when worn in public (Dave did a lot of flying and wore the shirt in Watch airports all over the country). Now, all the comments are positive, showing anecdotal evidence about how perception of the non-believer has changed in just two decades. Skeptoid.com So how did people react in a very populated and public setting such as a travel show? As soon as Born Atheist the first person said ‘I like your shirt”, my wife said “start counting!” So I did. Comment after Evo Education comment was positive. Not one negative comment, although I did get a negative head shake by one travel company employee there which I counted as a negative ‘hit’ in my informal count. God is Imaginary Five positive comments were heard in total, some from the vendors at the show (I wonder what their basses would think if they overheard the complement - would they be punished for a positive Opinion comment against the superior’s religious views?).
    [Show full text]
  • Varieties of an Atheist Public in a Digital Age: the Politics of Recognition and the Recognition of Politics
    315 http://jrmdc.com Varieties of an Atheist Public in a Digital Age: The Politics of Recognition and the Recognition of Politics By Jack C. Laughlin University of Sudbury, Canada Contact: [email protected] Keywords: Atheism, Internet, Publics, Counterpublics, Humanism, Secularism Abstract: With the rise of atheism as a cause célèbre in the last decade or more, media and others have offered many interpretations for the apparent growth of nonbelief, ranging from the apocalyptic to the utopian. Many cite the Internet as a major contributing factor to this growth; undoubtedly new media have provided atheism with greater visibility. In this article it is argued that atheism as an Internet phenomenon ought to be understood less as the manifestation of a social fact and more as the discursive constitution of one or more publics in Michael Warner’s sense of the term. To this end, the article draws attention to a body of data that has received limited attention in scholarship to date, namely the blogs of some notable atheists. These are limited to blogs originating in the United States, and especially those by authors who identify as ‘progressive’. Thus, the conclusions drawn are not imagined to apply outside that context, nor are the sources employed considered to be representative of American atheism. But these limitations present no bar to the analysis of the particular discursive practices of the authors in question. Following Warner, virtual atheism as a public or publics has little capacity for agency: even if its growth as a social fact is true, and even as it develops agendas for social change, it is neither discursively or substantively robust enough to challenge any aspect of the contemporary neo-liberal order.
    [Show full text]
  • Rhode Islanders Go Ape Over Prayer; Freethinkers Show Floral Support
    Complimentary Copy Join FFRF Now! Vol. 29 No. 1 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. January/February 2012 Judge rules in favor of Jessica Ahlquist Rhode Islanders go ape over prayer; freethinkers show floral support The stream of hate and profan- was “closed on the requested delivery ity previously aimed at Rhode Island day” (which was Wednesday, Jan. 18) teen Jessica Ahlquist increased by and said “ I am not able to fill this.” multitudes in the wake of a federal • The Madison florist was contacted judge’s order to permanently remove by Twins Florist in Cranston on Jan. 18 a Christian prayer banner at Cranston via Dove Network: “I will not deliver to West High School. She received death this person.” threats and numerous obscene com- • Flowers by Santilli in Cranston was ments directed at her online after the contacted by phone. The owner, upon Jan. 11 decision was released. hearing the name of the recipient, said The 8-foot-tall banner, currently he would rather not get involved and covered with a tarp while the School arship award last year and spoke at refused to fill the order. “We chose Committee of the city of Cranston and FFRF’s 34th national convention in not to make the delivery because first the city of Cranston decided whether October in Hartford, Conn., five days of all, most important, it’s our belief to appeal the judge’s ruling, is titled before Lagueux heard arguments in system,” Claudia Colardo-Santilli told “School Prayer,” addresses “Our Heav- the case in which she was the plaintiff WPRI News.
    [Show full text]
  • March April 2012 FS Newsletter
    March/April 2012 Volume 3, Number 2 Last Call for the 2012 Reason Rally The Freethought News by Margaret Downey is delivered as an ezine The 2012 Reason Rally is taking place on Saturday , March 24 , 2012 from 10:00 AM newsletter only and is until dusk . This will be the last Freethought Society (FS) newsletter to highlight the complimentary to supporters, event. There are exciting last minute details to convey and there are many additions to donors and like-minded the program. More speakers and entertainers were recently added to the roster. The individuals. additional celebrities are Adam Savage , Tim Minchin , Eddie Izzard , Paul Provenza and Shelley Segal . You can still view the promotional video I filmed in October 2011 at: To subscribe email to: [email protected] www.youtube.com/watch?v=SrBbFZVUOLo A limited number of hard copies The Reason Rally Board (of which I am a member representing FS) has worked very are produced for meetings hard to bring together entertainers and speakers for a spectacular event, scheduled to take and special events. place on the Mall in Washington, DC. The Washington Mall is a big place, but you will th th The newsletter is published by the not miss the stage and Reason Rally tents located between 11 and 14 Streets, between Madison Drive North West and Jefferson Drive South West. If using the Metro, take the Freethought Society (FS) and th offers information written Smithsonian stop and exit towards the Washington Mall (12 Street at Jefferson Drive). specifically for the To prepare for the festivities, attendees are encouraged to visit the Reason Rally nontheist community.
    [Show full text]
  • The Supreme Court's Facilitation of White
    10 CORBIN 833–866.DOCX (DO NOT DELETE) 5/21/20 12:49 PM THE SUPREME COURT’S FACILITATION OF WHITE CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM Caroline Mala Corbin INTRODUCTION ...................................................................................................... 835 I. JAGER V. DOUGLAS COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT ..................................... 837 II. THE PROMOTION OF CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM .................................... 840 A. Christian Nationalism Explained ............................................................ 841 B. Government-Sponsored Christianity and Christian Nationalism ............... 846 III. END GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED CHRISTIANITY ................................... 858 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................................... 865 833 10 CORBIN 833–866.DOCX (DO NOT DELETE) 5/21/20 12:49 PM THE SUPREME COURT’S FACILITATION OF WHITE CHRISTIAN NATIONALISM Caroline Mala Corbin* Doug Jager, a band student of Native-American ancestry, complained about the Christian prayers at his Georgia public school’s football games. Rather than address his concerns, the school lectured him on Christianity and proposed an alternative that appeared neutral yet would result in the continuation of the Christian prayers. In striking down the school’s proposal, Judge Frank M. Johnson Jr. understood some of the ramifications of state-sponsored Christianity. Despite Supreme Court rulings limiting Christian invocations at public-school events, government-spon- sored Christian prayers and
    [Show full text]
  • The Successful 2012 Reason Rally
    May/June 2012 Volume 3, Number 3 The Successful 2012 Reason Rally by Margaret Downey The Freethought News is delivered as an ezine Advertising for the 2012 Reason Rally officially began in September 2011. The pages newsletter only and is of the Freethought Society (FS) newsletter were filled with Reason Rally information complimentary to supporters, for four consecutive publications. FS was proud to be the first of seventeen Reason donors and like-minded Rally sponsors. FS changed its status from a chapter of the Freedom From Religion individuals. Foundation to an independent national freethought group on January 1, 2012. The Reason Rally sponsorship status provided FS with the opportunity to formally present Subscribe at: itself, and as such, FS was provided a large space in the exhibitors‟ tent. [email protected] Opportunities such as the Reason Rally rarely present themselves, so the FS officers, A limited number of hard copies board members and volunteers worked to design an attractive table. The space given are produced for meetings was only eight feet by five feet, but FS was also given the use of a banner bar. An and special events. impressive eight-foot banner was created through Goshen Signs in West Chester and we thank FS‟s Vice-President, Carol Everhart Roper for the lovely font and format The newsletter is published by the used. FS also thanks volunteer Patti Butcheck for creating the QR codes used on the Freethought Society (FS) and banner. offers information written In February, the National Parks Service announced that they had been monitoring specifically for the Internet “buzz” referencing the Reason Rally and they estimated that the event would nontheist community.
    [Show full text]
  • Ahlquist V. City of Cranston and the Constitutionality of Religious Displays Under the Establishment Clause Daniel W
    Roger Williams University Law Review Volume 18 Article 2 Issue 2 Vol. 18: No. 2 (Summer 2013) Summer 2013 Seeing Isn't Believing: Ahlquist v. City of Cranston and the Constitutionality of Religious Displays Under the Establishment Clause Daniel W. Morton-Bentley Boies Schiller & Flexner LLP Follow this and additional works at: http://docs.rwu.edu/rwu_LR Recommended Citation Morton-Bentley, Daniel W. (2013) "Seeing Isn't Believing: Ahlquist v. City of Cranston and the Constitutionality of Religious Displays Under the Establishment Clause," Roger Williams University Law Review: Vol. 18: Iss. 2, Article 2. Available at: http://docs.rwu.edu/rwu_LR/vol18/iss2/2 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals at DOCS@RWU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Roger Williams University Law Review by an authorized administrator of DOCS@RWU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. MORTON BENTLEY DESKTOPPED WORD.DOCX (DO NOT DELETE) 5/22/2013 9:35 AM Seeing Isn’t Believing: Ahlquist v. City of Cranston and the Constitutionality of Religious Displays Under the Establishment Clause Daniel W. Morton-Bentley* I. INTRODUCTION The latest casualty in the battle over religion in public schools is a banner that formerly adorned the halls of Cranston West High School. The banner was donated to the school by an alumnus in 1963 and contains the phrases: “Our Heavenly Father” and “Amen.”1 The banner was painted onto the walls of Cranston West and remained there without incident for over four decades.2 The ACLU began a concerted effort to remove the banner in 2010, and a Cranston West High School student, Jessica Ahlquist, sued the City of Cranston in 2011 (with the assistance of the ACLU) for creating an unconstitutional establishment of religion.3 The U.S.
    [Show full text]