!"#$%&''#()*+$,*"#&(*$ %&''#()*+$,*"#&(*($$$$$$-(*+./&("#0$1221$$$ $$$$3)(&*&4#$,*"#&(5$&'$,6*&)'$SM% Volume 18 Number 10 November-December 2008 !"#$%&'()($'*+&&,-*! November meeting Taking the “Fun” Out of Fundamentalism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eeting on Sunday November 16, Roseville Library Hamline Ave. and County Road B 1:00-1:15 p.m. – Social time. 1:15-1:45 p.m. – Business Meeting. 1:45-2:00 p.m. – Break. 2:00-3:00 p.m. – Presentation. 3:00-3:30 p.m. – Social Time. 4:00 p.m. -- Panda Garden Buffet YT9\%%?% D>\%]G[[\:^DT%TD>\G:D% S^Z_]\%@N%[_]W\X%@L% Minnesota Atheists !"#$%&''#()*+$,*"#&(*$$ In this issue… % Board of Directors Y.E34)"'1%EA%]4((')0$#%T$"'4)$)B% Regular Columnists: E0#71`2(#$"'4)$)807<% Y8^8%W0e%P?P@B%]4(('#&034)B%][%aaMLP% % President's Column 3 Y7')41'($U%T.<.)$%W'7+)"47'% P@?CaNNCbLO@B%4(-0`2(#$"'4)$)807<% ***8]4((')0$#T$"'4)$)807<% &7')`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%P@?COONCMaMN% % The Sunny Skeptic 10 % T))0=4#$'%Y7')41'($U%FA($"4#%\<34% \14$074#3%W0#71U%'14$07`2(#$"'4)$)807<% From the Whip 12 #&7')`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%Qa?CQM@C?QQP% V'4$"%Z01'72'4'7B%\14$07%bPOCNMOCLbNN%% % V'4$";0++'(`92#438=02% November meeting 1 F"#47%0-%W0#71U%:$';'%Y'$'7)'(% J#2')%f422'72#(B%\14$07B%bPOC?aNCPLLLB% ="#47`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%Pa@CMNMCQ?bb% f<0#$''`92#438=02% Atheist Gives Thanks 3 % 9'07<'%V#('B%Pa@CMNNCN??a% T))0=4#$'%F"#47U%97#($%:$';')% 97#($%:$';')B%Pa@CbbMC@QQ?% #="#47`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%Pa@CbbMC@QQ?% D02%X411'74(<B%6')4<(%g%Z#A0.$B% Members Bios 4 % D7'#).7'7U%T(1A%c3#22% ;03+-03+)`=02=#)$8('$B%Pa@Cb@MC?P@b% Newsletter contributions 4 % $7'#)`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%P@?C?a@COQLM% F"4'-%Y"0$0<7#&"'7U%X4="#71%D702E3'A% % Your Atheist Legacy 4 % :'=7'$#7AU%9'07<'%V#('% ]'2E'7)"4&K="#(<'%0-%#117'))U% )'=`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%Pa@CMNNCN??a% :"473'A%]033B%#117'))`2(#$"'4)$)807<B% AAI seeks volunteers 4 % 647'=$07C#$CZ#7<'U%V74)$4('%>#73'A% Pa@CMNMCQ?bb% % October Meeting 5 147@`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%P@?CONMCN?bO% % Y.E34=%X'3#$40()U%9'07<'%V#('% "Atheists Talk" Report 6 647'=$07C#$CZ#7<'U%J'#(('$$'%:07'()'(% &7`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%Pa@CMNNCN??a% % 147?`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%P@?CbLQCPb@Q% T$"'4)$)%!''+3A%\C2#43%IT!\RU% Cable Report 6 % 647'=$07C#$CZ#7<'U%Wd07(%!#$3#(1% 9'07<'%V#('B%#*'`2(#$"'4)$)807<% Adopt-A-Highway 7 % 147O`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%P@?CbLNCaL?Q% ]''$4(<%;41'0$#&4(<U%\74=%>#720(% Spaghetti Dinner 7 % F#E3'U%:$';'%Y'$'7)'(% Science & Theology 8 Building Fund: =#E3'`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%Pa@CMNMCQ?bb% % Religious Fraud 9 !'E2#)$'7U%Wd07(%!#$3#(1% $108,658.16 *'E`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%P@?CbLNCaL?Q% Pope walks into a bar... 9 % Y01=#)$)U%97#($%>'72#()0(% News & Notes 11 Honorary &01=#)$`2(#$"'4)$)807<B%% % Crossword Puzzle 13 Members F0&A74<"$%?LLN%]4((')0$#%T$"'4)$)8% ]4((')0$#%T$"'4)$)%4)%#(%#--434#$'%0-%T$"'4)$% Lee Salisbury 14 T334#(='% G($'7(#$40(#3B% T2'74=#(% T$"'4)$)B% Dan Barker T2'74=#(% >.2#(4)$% T))0=4#$40(B% F0.(=43% Twin Cities Book Fair 15 Gerald Erickson, PhD -07% :'=.3#7% >.2#(4)2B% #(1% G($'7(#$40(#3% Religulous Review 16 Annie Laurie Gaylor >.2#(4)$%#(1%\$"4=#3%_(40(8% % Atheism Advanced 17 Dick Hewetson :.E24$% 2#$'74#3% -07% $"'% ('*)3'$$'7% $0% '14C Robert M. Price, PhD $07`2(#$"'4)$)807<8% :.E24))40()% 2#A% E'% Cryptogram 17 '14$'18%Y.E34=#$40(%4)%(0$%<.#7#($''18% Placeb-X ® 18 MNA Meetup members: 332 Things to do 19 Life memberships: 31 Minnesota Atheists practices positive, inclusive, active, friendly neighborhood atheism in order to: Minnesota Atheists Mission Statement ! " Provide!a community for Minnesota Atheists is dedicated to building a positive atheists; atheist community that actively promotes secular val- "!!Educate the public about ues through educational programs, social activities, atheism; and "!!Promote separation of and participation in public affairs. state and church. S^Z_]\%@N%[_]W\X%@L% D>\%]G[[\:^DT%TD>\G:D% YT9\%%O% President’s Column by August Berkshire% Meetups% ]''$.&)%#7'%0(C34('%*'E%=022.C =02&#))')% MN% <70.&)8%%T<(0)$4=)% #$% ]4((')0$#% :$#$'% _(4;'7C (4$4')%')$#E34)"'1%$0%-#=434$#$'%<'$C ^(3A% #% "#(1-.3% 0-% )4$A% 4(% ]#(+#$08% % [';'7$"'3'))B% $"'7'% $0<'$"'7)%#20(<%&'0&3'%*"0%"#;'% $"0)'% <70.&)j#33% 4(% #7'%2#(A%#$"'4)$)%*"0%34;'%4(%$"#$%#7'#8%% #%=0220(%4($'7')$%#(1%*"0%34;'%4(% 2.="% 3#7<'7% 2'$70C c07% $"#$% 7'#)0(B% 0(% ^=$0E'7% ?a$"% *'% #%)&'=4-4'1%<'0<7#&"4=%#7'#8%%D"'A% &034$#(%#7'#)j#7'%E4<C )$#7$'1% #%Southern Minnesota Athe- #7'% .)'1% $0% #((0.(='% 2''$4(<)% <'7%$"#(%0.7)8% ists Meetup% I2''$.&8=02K:0.$"'7(C #(1%)034=4$%7')&0()')%)0%';'($%07<#(4hC %%%%%!'% .)'% 0.7% Minnesota Atheists ]4((')0$#CT$"'4)$)C]''$.&C970.&R% $0% '7)%=#(%)&7'#1%$"'%*071%#(1%<'$%#(%41'#% Meetup%$0%&7020$'%0.7%20($"3A%2''$C "'3&% $"')'% #$"'4)$)% 2''$% '#="% 0$"'7% 0-% "0*% 2#(A% &'0&3'% *433% )"0*% .&8%%4(<)B%&4=(4=)B%]'#3%#(1%#%X''3)B%E3001% *4$"0.$% "#;4(<% $0%174;'% 4($0% $"'% D*4(% ]''$.&8=02%="#7<')%ib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outhern Minnesota #(1% 4)% (0$% #))0=4#$'1% *4$"% ')$#E34)"'1% 20)$%=0)$C'--'=$4;'%-072%0-%#1;'7$4)4(<% Atheists Meetup.% % k0.% 2#A% #3)0% E'% <70.&)8% D"'% )'=0(1% $A&'% 4)% #% ]''$.&% *'%"#;'%';'7%$74'18% 4($'7')$'1%4(%)4<(4(<%.&%-07%0$"'7%]''$C )&0()07'1%EA%')$#E34)"'1%<70.&)%$0%#1C %%%%%D"'% Humanists of Minnesota% .&)%2'($40('1%#E0;'8% ;'7$4)'% $"'47% ';'($)% I*"4="% #7'% <'('7C I".2#(4)282''$.&8=02K@PPRB% $"'% %%%%%c4(#33AB%*'%"#;'%07<#(4h'1%#%Min- #33A% 0&'(% $0% $"'% &.E34=R8% % D"'% ]4(('C Rochester Area Freethinkers% nesota Atheist Humanist Free- )0$#%T$"'4)$)%]''$.&%-#33)%4($0%$"4)%3#$C I2''$.&8=02K7#-$2(RB% #(1% $"'% Min- thought Meetup Alliance% $'7%=#$'<07A8% neapolis Skeptics% I2''$.&8=02K I2''$.&#334#(='8=02K][T>c]TR% $0% %%%%%D"'% Minnesota Atheists Meetup% ]4(('#&034)C:+'&$4=)R% #7'% 0$"'7% 34+'C E74(<% $0<'$"'7% #33% ).="% 34+'C24(1'1% I#$"'4)$)82''$.&8=02KMQOR% *#)% )$#7$'1% 24(1'1% <70.&)% 4(% ]4((')0$#% $"#$% #3)0% ]''$.&%<70.&)%4(%]4((')0$#8%%!'%#7'% 0(% J.3A% PB% ?LLP8% % !'% =.77'($3A% "#;'% "#;'%]''$.&)8% "#&&A%$0%).&&07$%#(1%&7020$'%#33%]4(C OO?%&'0&3'%)4<('1%.&8%%^.7%]''$.&%4)% %%%%%:0.$"'7(% ]4((')0$#% I$"'% ]#(+#$0% (')0$#% <70.&)% $"#$% )"#7'% 0.7% <0#3% 0-% &#7$%0-%#%3#7<'7%Atheist Alliance Inter- #(1% ['*% _32% #7'#R% 10')% (0$% "#;'% #(% &0)4$4;'B% -74'(13A% ('4<"E07"001% #$"'C national Meetup Alliance% 07<#(4h'1%#$"'4)$%<70.&%#&#7$%-702%$"'% 4)28% I2''$.&#334#(='8=02K#$"'4)$R% $"#$% '(C )$.1'($% <70.&% F#2&.)% T$"'4)$)% #(1% An Atheist Gives Thanks D"#(+)B%V4110m%%k0.H7'%$"'%E')$m% d.)$%<'$%#30(<5% %%%%%GH2%#3)0%$"#(+-.3B%$0%(0%0('%4(%&#7C %%%%%T(1% G% &0(1'7% 2A% 'en.4)4$'% <001% By Tom Riddering % $4=.3#7B% $"#$% G% "#;'% 2A% "'#3$"B% $"#$% G% -07$.('% $0%34;'%4(%#(%#<'% *"'7'% )=4'(C 60')%D"#(+)<4;4(<%"031%#(A% 2'#(4(<% 34;'%4(%#%&70)&'70.)%1'20=7#=AB%$"#$%G% $4)$)%"#;'%'e&0)'1B%-07%$"'%-47)$%$42'%4(% -07%#$"'4)$)5%%T)%#%-74'(1%0-%24('%0(='% 34;'% 4(% #(% #<'% *"'7'% G% "#;'% 4()$#($% $"'%=0)20)%)0%-#7%#)%*'%+(0*B%$"'%E#C =022'($'1B% l!"#$% #% )"#2'% $0% E'% <30E#3% =022.(4=#$40(B% $"'% 4($'7('$% $0% )4=% 0&'7#$40(% #(1% "4)$07A% 0-% $"'% .(4C $"#(+-.3%#(1%"#;'%(0%0('%$0%$"#(+8l% 4(-072%2'B%#(1% ;#)$%="04=')%$0%'($'7C ;'7)'%#(1%34-'%4$)'3-%-07%#33%*"0%=#7'%$0% %%%%%!'33% G% "#;'% #% 30$% 0-% % &'0&3'% $0% $#4(% 2'B% 2.="% 0-% 4$% E70.<"$% 4($0% 2A% 3'#7(%0-%4$8%%G%-4(1%2A)'3-%)4$$4(<%"'7'%#$% $"#(+B% )$#7$4(<% *4$"% 2A% &#7'($)% *"0B% *#72B%=0hA%"02'%EA%#33%$"'%=3';'7%(#C 2A% =02&.$'7B% 300+4(<% #$% &4=$.7')% 0-% *"43'%&70E#E3A%)42&3A%'(d0A4(<%$"'2C +'1% #&')% *"0% 7'-.)'1% $0% E'% 7')$74=$'1% <#3#e4')% E43340()% 0-% 34<"$% A'#7)% #*#AB% )'3;')B% '(#E3'1% 2'% $0% *4(% $"'% <#h43C EA% $"'% 1'#1B% )$.3$4-A4(<% $'#="4(<)% 0-% =0($'2&3#$4(<%n.#7+)%#(1%E3#=+%"03')B% 340(C$0C0('%=0)24=%30$$'7A%0-%'e4)$'(='8%%&40.)% -003)8% % D"#(+)% :"#+')&'#7'm%%34)$'(4(<% $0%