VOLUME 22, NUMBER 6 JUNE 2012 The Minnesota Atheist Speaking for Reason The Day of Reason rom noon to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, F May third, Minnesota Atheists hosted the annual Day of Reason rally inside the Minnesota State Capitol Rotunda. This is the seventh year that we have held this celebration of the separation of state and church to protest the Day of Prayer event held at the same time outside on the Capitol steps. There are many ways in which the separation of state and church is violated, and this year we focused on the denial of equal rights to gays and lesbians, especially when it comes to civil marriage. Speakers included: -Phyllis Kahn, Minnesota State Representative, -Eric Jayne, Minnesota Atheists Associate President, -Doug Benson, Lead plaintiff of Marry Me Minnesota, -Scott Lohman, President of Humanists of Minnesota, -Charles Samuelson, Executive Director of ACLU Minnesota, -Robin Raianiemi, Minnesota Atheists Associate Chair, -James Zimmerman, Editor for The Minnesota Atheist, -David Pacheco, Representative from Minnesota United for Separation of Church and State, -Grant Steves, Former Minnesota Atheists board member. Steve Petersen hosted the event, and George Kane served as Master of Ceremony. More Day of Reason photos, courtesy of Steve Petersen and Richard Trombley, are on page six. INSIDE: • Inventing Jesus Book Review................................see page 7 • May Day Parade..................................................see page 8 • Candidate Without a Prayer Review......................see page 9 • Get Your Story Published.................................see page 13 PAGE 1 VOLUME 22, NUMBER 6 JUNE 2012 IN THIS ISSUE... MINNESOTA ATHEISTS BOARD OF DIRECTORS The Day of Reason 1 [email protected] Published by Minnesota Atheists, Assoc. President’s Column 3 President: August Berkshire P.O. Box 120304 [email protected] New Brighton, MN 55112 News and Notes 4 612-338-4548 612-588-7031, [email protected] www.MinnesotaAtheists.org May Meeting Review 5 Associate President: Eric Jayne [email protected] Editorial Board, [email protected] Freethought Cryptogram 6 Chair: Heather Hegi James Zimmerman, editor Review: Inventing Jesus 7 [email protected] [email protected] May Day Parade 7 Associate Chair: Robin Raianiemi Chief Photographer: Richard Trombley [email protected] Candidate Without a Prayer 9 612-872-0574 Membership/change of address: Steve Petersen, [email protected], Adopt-a-Highway 10 Treasurer: Chris Matthews 651-484-9277 [email protected] Membership Report 10 763-476-3989 Public Relations: Emily Matejcek, [email protected] April/May Radio Report 11 Secretary: Rick Rohrer [email protected] Atheists Weekly Email (AWE): George ND Amendment 12 Kane, [email protected] Director-at-Large: Caroline Writing Opportunity 13 Brunner, [email protected] Cable: Steve Petersen, [email protected], 651-484-9277 May Treasury Report 13 Director-at-Large: George Kane [email protected] Webmaster: Grant Hermanson May TV Show Report 14 [email protected] 651-488-8225 Things To Do.... 15 Podcasts: Grant Hermanson, Director-at-Large: Steve [email protected] Goals Setting Meeting 16 Petersen, [email protected] 651-484-9277 Copyright 2012 Minnesota Atheists. Minnesota Atheists A production of MNA Meetup members: 1,148 Minnesota Atheists Press. practices positive, Life memberships: 30 inclusive, active, friendly Minnesota Atheists is an affiliate of neighborhood atheism in Atheist Alliance of America, Atheist order to: Honorary Members Alliance International, American Atheists, Provide a community for American Humanist Association, Council • Hector Avalos, PhD for Secular Humanism, and International atheists; Dan Barker Humanist and Ethical Union. • Educate the public about Gerald Erickson, PhD atheism; and Annie Laurie Gaylor Submit material for the newsletter to • Promote separation of state Dick Hewetson [email protected]. Submissions and church. Robert M. Price, PhD may be edited. Publication is not guaranteed. Minnesota Atheists Mission Statement Minnesota Atheists is dedicated to building a positive atheist community that actively promotes secular values through educational programs, social activities, and participation in public affairs. PAGE 2 VOLUME 22, NUMBER 6 JUNE 2012 ASSOCIATE PRESIDENT’S COLUMN f you are thumbing through this members. In a room Imonth’s newsletter looking for the where pastors and President’s Column, you’re parishioners outnumber not going to find it. Since secular-based social August was busy with other workers 10 to 1, I have adventures, including a Help! to hear about how we’re debate with theists in “doing God’s work” and Canada, I agreed to fill in that we’re “modeling the with an “Associate President’s Column.” by Eric Jayne work of Jesus.” I’m going to use this platform to make a Listening to comments public confession followed by a plea for that compare my hard work help. to the fictitious actions of a capricious, First, the confession: I’ve been regularly infanticidal, maniac is bad enough, but then attending church lately and I’ve been to begin and end meetings with a prayer to joining others in prayer. That’s right; the said maniac leaves me wanting to run for associate president of the Minnesota the nearest door. Instead, I silently protest Atheists has been going to church…a lot! by keeping my head up and leaving my eyes It’s a little bit of a personal existential open. I know it’s not much of a protest, but crisis but before you demand a recall for now I’ll be keeping my atheist identity in election, please allow me to explain. the closet while working with people that I As a full time licensed community don’t want to rock the proverbial boat with social worker, I work with many agencies— for the sake of my job. both public and private. I feel fortunate to All right, now that I’ve disclosed and be employed at a secular nonprofit but I explained my confession it’s time for my don’t enjoy the fact that I have to plea: If you would like to organize a collaborate with churches and faith volunteer event, please let me know so I can organizations due to their vast influence in help you promote it. I can be reached via the social service industry. Two significant email at [email protected]. Examples of reasons for their influence are because recent volunteer events include gift faith organizations get oodles of money collections and donations to Children’s from government grants and because Hospital, highway clean-ups, and food there are often many thousands of church donations to a local food bank. Please congregants in one single neighborhood remember that we will want to volunteer and church that volunteer their time and donate to secular, non-faith organizations. donate their money to social service It truly is a good feeling to help causes in the name of their church or faith. community organizations and Since church congregants include neighborhoods. Since we’re a partner of lawyers, social workers, doctors, IT Volunteers Beyond Belief, our good deeds professionals, and accountants, churches are featured on their blog, website, and can relatively easily build a large network Facebook page! Help me show our of money and resources. In fact, an communities that the Minnesota Atheists do argument could be made that it’s shocking humanity’s (not God’s) work and that we that there aren’t more churches directly model the work of human kindness (not giving back to their community. Jesus). Unfortunately, because churches and faith organizations hold so much power I often have to meet on their turf with their PAGE 3 VOLUME 22, NUMBER 6 JUNE 2012 instead eager to show their News and Notes support for religion to appeal to the “religious he Secular Coalition for America ignited a middle-ground.” That is Tmajor controversy when it announced that it had why bills like last year’s H. hired Edwina Rogers as its new Executive Director. Con. Res. 13, reaffirming “In Without question, Rogers brings to the job an God We Trust” as the national impressive inside-the-beltway résumé; the problem is motto, passed the House by that her work has been entirely for the Republican 396 – 9 with two Party. That party is firmly established in the minds of c o n g r e s s m e n v o t i n g most organized atheists as the wholly-owned property ‘present.’ The only time we George Kane of the religious right and the champion of undoing the can expect Democrats to separation of church and state. Rogers was an support us is when we are economic advisor for both Presidents Bush, and arguing in support of a key Democratic constituency – General Counsel to the National Republican for equal rights for gays, or women, for example. We Senatorial Committee. can piggy-back a ride on the support of Democrats for So, is Rogers switching sides? Not at all, she told their issues. They are willing to provide no more support Hermant Mehta: for separation of church and state than lip service. I think it’s a misconception that the Legislators of both parties are driven by the political majority of Republicans are lined up realities of their next election. against the secular movement. As One could look at these same facts and conclude that someone who has been an insider the job of a lobbyist for separation of church and state is within the Republican Party, I’m hopeless no matter who has the job. Our lobbyists can be certain it’s not the consensus of the majority of Republicans to have an successful only when atheists have grown and matured [overt] influence of religion on our as a political movement, to the point that we are laws. Having said that, no one agrees recognized as a voting bloc that can decide — or at least with everyone they work with on influence — elections.