Time to Pull the Plug on Catholic Charities? CELEBRATING REASON AND HUMANITY February/March 2010 Vol. 30 No. 2 James A. Haught FADING FAITH New trends show secularism is booming, even in the seemingly pious United States. Paul Kurtz Taner Edis Wendy Kaminer Arthur Caplan Christopher Hitchens Introductory Price $4.95 U.S. / $4.95 Can. Nat Hentoff Katrina Voss Ibn Warraq Published by the Council for Secular Humanism We are committed to the application of reason and it for future generations, and to avoid inflicting need- science to the understanding of the universe and to the less solving suffering on other species. of human problems. We believe in enjoying life here and now and in We deplore efforts to denigrate human intelligence, developing our creative talents to their fullest. to seek to explain the world in supernatural terms, We believe in the cultivation of moral excellence. and to look outside nature for salvation. We respect the right to privacy. Mature adults should We believe that scientific discovery and technology be allowed to fulfill their aspirations, to express their can contribute to the betterment of human life. sexual We believe in an open and pluralistic society and that preferences, to exercise reproductive freedom, to have democracy is the best guarantee of protecting human access to comprehensive and informed health care, rights from authoritarian elites and repressive majori- and to die with dignity. ties. We believe in the common moral decencies: altruism, We are committed to the principle of the integrity, honesty, truthfulness, responsibility. Humanist separation of church and state. ethics is amenable to critical, rational guidance. There are normative standards that we discover together. We cultivate the arts of negotiation and compromise Moral principles are as a means of resolving differences and achieving tested by their consequences. mutual understanding. We are deeply concerned with the moral education with securing justice and fairness We are concerned of our children. We want to nourish reason and com- in society and with eliminating discrimination passion. and intolerance. We are engaged by the arts no less than by the sci- We believe in supporting the disadvantaged and the ences. handicapped so that they will be able to help them- selves. We are citizens of the universe and are excited by discoveries still to be made in the cosmos. We attempt to transcend divisive parochial loyalties based We are skeptical of untested claims to knowledge, on race, religion, gender, nationality, creed, class, sexual and we are open to novel ideas and seek new orientation, or ethnicity and strive to work together for departures in our thinking. the common good of humanity. We affirm humanism as a realistic alternative to We want to protect and enhance the earth, to pre- theologies of despair and ideologies of violence and as serve a source of rich per sonal significance *by Paul For a parchment copy of this page, suitable for framing, please send $4.95 to FREE INQUIRY, P.O. Box 664, Amherst, New York 14226-0664 February March 2010 Vol. 30 No. 2 19 Fading Faith James A. Haught 27 Is the Universe Rational? Taner Edis 30 Subjection and Escape An American woman’s Muslim journey, part 3 Lisa Bauer 37 The Grinch Who Stole Valentine’s Day Luis Granados EDITORIAL 16 Senseless ‘Security’ 53 ‘FI and Me’ Contest 4 The Eupraxsophy of Hope Christopher Hitchens Winners Announced Paul Kurtz 17 Real Education Reform LETTERS Nat Hentoff REVIEWS 9 55 Bright-sided: How the Relentless 18 Inglourious Basters Promotion of Positive Thinking LEADING QUESTIONS Katrina Voss Has Undermined America 7 Do the New Atheists Make by Barbara Ehrenreich DEPARTMENTS America More Unscientific? Reviewed by Matt Marshall A conversation with Chris Mooney 44 Church-State Update Edd Doerr 56 Good without God: What a Billion REFLECTIONS Nonreligious People Do Believe 45 Great Minds by Greg M. Epstein 11 Twenty Years of African Americans Stephen Crane: The Black Reviewed by Tom Flynn for Humanism Badge of Unbelief Norm R. Allen Jr. Gary Sloan 58 The Family—The Secret NEWS BEAT Fundamentalism at the Heart 47 Faith and Reason of American Power 12 Council Wins Interim Victory Descansos: Religion by Jeff Sharlet in Church-State Suit and Roadside Memorials Reviewed by Stuart Jordan Nathan Bupp Benjamin Radford 60 36 Arguments for the Existence 13 Witch Hunter Sues Humanist Activist 48 It’s Only Natural of God: A Work of Fiction in Attempt to Quell Criticism What Science Says about by Rebecca Newberger Goldstein Nathan Bupp Our Place in Nature Reviewed by Austin Dacey John Shook OP-EDs POETRY 8 Pull the Plug—on Catholic Charities 50 Living Without Religion by Philip Appleman The Regrettable Return Tom Flynn of ‘Nonsectarianism’ 36 The Animals, All the Animals 14 Science and Public Opinion Stuart Whatley Wendy Kaminer 40 Hymn of Praise to the 51 Islam Watch Intelligent Designer 15 Walking the Talk Probing the Roots of Islam, Part 2 Arthur Caplan Ibn Warraq FI Editorial Staff Paul Kurtz Editorial Editor in Chief Paul Kurtz Editor Thomas W. Flynn Associate Editors Norm R. Allen Jr. Nathan Bupp D.J. Grothe The Eupraxsophy of Hope John R. Shook Managing Editor Andrea Szalanski Columnists Arthur Caplan, Richard oes humanist eupraxsophy* offer our dreams of a better tomorrow. Dawkins, Shadia B. Drury, any hope for humankind? For many The salient point is that human hope Nat Hentoff, Christopher people this is the ultimate test of the for the individual person should be viewed Hitchens, Wendy D Kaminer, secular outlook. pluralistically. There are so many! A living, Tibor R. Machan, Peter For theists, the single most important Singer, Katrina vibrant person’s desires, wishes, aspira- Voss hope is theism’s promise of eternal salva- tions, and purposes depend on having the Senior Editors Bill Cooke, Richard tion. The term religion in its original etymo- courage to become what he or she may Dawkins, Martin Gardner, James A. Haught, Jim logical sense meant religäre or “to bind.” This wish. Living is always future-oriented. Yet Herrick, Gerald A. Larue, referred to a state of life bound by monastic there are so many diverse interests that Ronald A. Lindsay, Taslima Nasrin values. Those in monastic orders had the Contributing Editors Jo Ann Boydston, Roy the opportunities for a good life are truly P. hope of receiving salvation in the next life, multifarious. This is especially true within Fairfield, Charles Faulkner, presumably as a reward bestowed by God Levi Fragell, Adolf open, relatively affluent modern societies Grünbaum, Marvin Kohl, on deserving believers. Unfort unately, the that encourage freedom of choice. In deed, Thelma Lavine, Lee evidence for immortality of the soul is totally Nisbet, J.J.C. Smart, people—at least, those who have finan- Svetozar insufficient. The belief is based on wishful cial means—find that there are so many Stojanoviç, Thomas Szasz thinking. Human consciousness (“soul”) is a interesting things to choose from in mod- Ethics Editor Elliot D. Cohen function of the body, and as the body dies, Literary Editor David Park Musella ern culture that choosing itself comes to Assistant Editors Julia Lavarnway, Gingle consciousness, too, disappears. seem a burden. Eupraxsophy can help us C. Lee The belief in immortality should be ex- to make sound choices in the face of virtu- Permissions Editor Julia Lavarnway posed as a false hope. Death is final for ally unlimited horizons for enjoyment and Art Director Christopher S. Fix everyone—the believer and nonbeliever, the Production Paul E. Loynes Sr. satisfaction. commander of armies and the lowly soldier, Despite the current downturn, the the dedicated teacher and the beginning Council for Secular Humanism modern global economy is still productive student, the moral idealist and the profligate beyond the wildest dreams of earlier civi- Chair Emeritus Paul Kurtz hedonist. Would life be truly hopeless, as lizations, offering consumers a staggering Chair Richard K. Schroeder many theists expect, if everyone accepted Board of Directors Kendrick Frazier, David range of products and services. So many the reality that each of us will die some day? Henehan, Dan conveniences and inventions are available Kelleher, What is the response of secular human- Paul Kurtz, Richard to make life a source of comfort and enjoy- ists? What form of consolation can we offer Schroeder, Edward Tabash ment! Consider washing machines, refriger- Leonard Tramiel to those who bemoan life’s brevity and ators, central heating and air-conditioning, Chief Executive Officer Ronald A. Lindsay uncertainty, suffering and tragedy? Is it the Executive Director Thomas W. Flynn cell phones and computers, automobiles case that without God life would be futile? Director, Campus and and airplanes. There are so many excit- Community Programs (CFI) Lauren Becker Should we all become nihilists? ing activities and hobbies to captivate our Director, Secular Organization Secular humanists are dismayed by the for Sobriety Jim Christopher interests: we can view dramas, comedies, or tenacity with which believers cling to their Director, African Americans spirited debates. We can go to concerts to for Humanism Norm R. Allen Jr. hopes for life eternal. Why are so many hear Bruce Spring steen or Liza Minnelli and Vice President of Planning people deluded by a false promise of an and Development (CFI) Sherry Rook watch football or baseball games (we hope afterlife? Such individuals lack the courage Vice President of our team wins). We can get involved in pol- Communications (CFI) Nathan Bupp to become what they wish. They lack the Assistant Communications itics and hope that our candidate or party audacity to create their own world of hopes. Director (CFI) Henry Huber prevails. We can read books by philosopher Director of Libraries (CFI) Timothy Binga They overlook the fact that life can be intrin- Charles Peirce, French novelist Honoré de Database Manager (CFI) Jacalyn Mohr sically worthwhile for its own sake; it can Staff Pat Beauchamp, Cheryl overflow with exciting expectations and Balzac, or poet Emily Dickinson to increase Catania, Eric our knowledge and appreciation.