NEWS RELEASE

Was Dr. George Tiller just the latest victim of America's Christian Taliban? Atheists For Human Rights (AFHR), a nationally oriented organization headquartered in Minneapolis, has no doubt about this.

"These people who kill abortion doctors, bomb their clinics, kill and maim their staff, and terrorize women who seek their services are no different from the women-hating Taliban of Islamic countries," said Marie Alena Castle, communications director for AFHR. However, she said, the blame does not rest entirely on those who pull the trigger.

"Anti-abortion terrorists do not become murderous on their own. They are incited to violence by the churches that rant against abortion, the equivalent of Islam's madrassas," she said. "They are driven by dogma that cares nothing for the wellbeing of women and considers them reproductive vessels at best, and disposable ones at that. There are hundreds of thousands of maternal deaths every year worldwide because women have no access to birth control and abortion, thanks to the political power of anti-abortion, anti-contraceptive churches. Dr. Tiller's church, the site of his murder, is to be commended for not being a party to such misogyny."

In memory of Dr. George Tiller, AFHR will increase its Moral High Ground budget, which provides assistance to victims of religion-based laws. Among other things, the Moral High Ground project helps fund abortions for poor women. Those grants will now be expanded, Castle said.

The May-June issue of The Moral Atheist has been mailed/emailed. Here is a PDF of the cover. To get the complete 20-page publication mailed to you, just ask. We send 3 introductory issues free.

Beginning with the July-August issue, The Moral Atheist will increase from 20 pages to 24 and move to bimonthly publication. This will allow for more articles and better presentation while easing the editorial work and even saving some printing and mailing costs. In the month between each issue, we will put news updates on this web site. Our goal is to give you as large a publication as possible while staying within the 3.5 ounce limit beyond which postal rates rise to a costlier level and our PDF version has readers suffering page-overload.

No Fireside Chats at the Hub of Atheism until 18 September. During the summer, we will replace them with picnics. In the Twin Cities metro area, all-freethought potluck picnics are scheduled for Sundays, 14 June, 19 July, and 16 August, from noon to 3 PM at Columbia Park in Columbia Heights. It's off Central Ave. NE behind the golf course between St. Anthony Parkway and 37th Ave. NE. Besides Atheists For Human Rights, participating groups are Humanists of Minnesota, Minnesota Atheists, and Campus Atheists & Secular Humanists. Others are welcome too, as this is open to all nonreligious groups. Call or email us if you need more information. There will be music and maybe some other interesting stuff going on.

Our 17 May public forum with Dr. Ed Buckner went very well, with a large turnout and some fascinating hostile feedback from insecure Christians. Watch for a full report in the July-August issue of The Moral Atheist.

The attack on Final Exit Network continues with new raids on Network chapters in Arizona. A full report on this is also coming in July-August issue of The Moral Atheist.

We are beginning to be listed as a national atheist organization. Corridor A - Team, a web site that organizes freethought meetups, is the first (so far as we know) to do so.

We will be more structurally national as soon as we update our bylaws to reflect that orientation. We hope to accomplish that for the July-August issue of The Moral Atheist.

Meanwhile, we welcome your comments, questions and good advice. More =>

The late actor/comedian Steve Allen said atheists have the job of civilizing the Christians. So far, so good, but there are some Christians in Georgia still badly in need of civilizing.

JUSTICE IN ISLAMIC IRAN. At this writing, diplomatic efforts are still being made to free Iranian-American journalist Roxanne Saberi, convicted of espionage and sentenced to eight years in prison after a secret less-than-one-hour trial. She was originally arrested for buying wine, contrary to Islamic beliefs about what Allah wants or does not want one to drink. That charge apparently not being public-relations-worthy of stiff punishment, it was changed to spying for the United States -- an accusation so ludicrous it could be dealt with only by a quick and secret pretense of a trial.

JUSTICE IN CHRISTIAN GEORGIA. In our last issue we reported on the raid on Final Exit Network in Marietta, Georgia, and the arrest of four members by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. At this writing the four (president Ted Goodwin, medical director Dr. Larry Egbert, and volunteers Nick Sheridan and Claire Blehr) are out on bail. More =>

Calendar

Articles

Secularist, humanist, freethinking nontheists, and atheists
are coalescing into a movement with a real agenda. More =>

The god idea has no foundation in reality. Reality is the stuff that doesn't go away when you stop believing in it. All gods, without exception, go away when you stop believing in them. Humans have believed in thousands of gods over the centuries. Whenever belief in them went away, so did the gods. More =>

"It is ironic that several of these individuals, who so staunchly and proudly touted their religious convictions in public, would time and again lie to cover their tracks and disguise the real purpose behind the ID Policy." -- Judge John E. Jones More =>

Respect for religious beliefs is such that protecting the "deeply held beliefs" of parents takes precedence over protecting their children from injury, illness and death as a result of those beliefs. More =>

Amicus curiae brief submitted by Michael Newdow to the US Supreme Court, arguing that it should strike the words "under God" from the Pledge of Allegiance. [PDF file] More =>

In late June [2003] a three-judge panel from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the phrase "under God" was "an impermissible government endorsement of religion." More =>

Surveys consistently show nonbelievers to be the least popular demographic group (with the possible exception of neoNazis and the Ku Klux Klan). About 49% of Americans would not vote for an atheist for President even if the candidate was of their own party. More =>

This pamphlet summarizes what religion costs YOU in terms of your money, your personal freedom, your health, and sometimes even your very life. You may escape some of these costs, but no one escapes them all. More =>

Is This the Face of Jesus? Of course not, and the Pope knows it, and so do the media. But every year as Easter approaches, the "Shroud of Turin" is trotted out in news stories speculating about whether the Shroud is the burial cloth of Jesus. More =>

Religion is a powerful force. When human consciousness arose into awareness of the grim realities of life, it brought solace. It produced a magical world of created realities full of powerful gods that could protect, avenge, reward and comfort. It was a unifying force against outsiders, a rallying point for collective action ... and vulnerable to only one thing -- doubt. More =>

Links to other sites

Atheists For Human Rights has a geodesic dome as its headquarters. More =>

Our Philosophy

Atheists For Human Rights advocates for religion-free governments that support rational moral standards uninfluenced by sectarian dogma. We are motivated by our evolution-driven compassion and reality-based worldview. We define ourselves as valiant atheists. As such, we take an adversarial but morally positive stand against religious doctrines that harm innocent people. We join with liberal religionists who share this moral sense. We seek a peaceful world where life for all can be good.

Traditional religious morality is notorious for the astounding number of ways it hurts people. On a short list are: human sacrifice, slavery, subjugation and reproductive control of women, persecution of homosexuals, religious wars, cruelty to children, torture and execution of heretics, denial of end-of-life self-determination, and opposing every advance in science and medicine. It has truthfully been said that religion has inflicted more misery on humanity than any other idea.

Atheistic morality, being human centered, focuses on reducing misery. his rational basis produces moral standards that support the common good, individual rights and liberties, critical thinking, intellectual freedom, and scientific progress. Liberal religions now support such standards, but do so (to their credit) by denying 2,000 years of inhumane theology.

Godless ethical systems generally uphold rational moral standards, as do democratic nations where religion is weak. Any nation that adopts rational moral standards requires a democracy that keeps religion out of government. No dictatorship, religious or atheist, can maintain rational moral standards. It inevitably tyrannizes its citizens because autocratic power -- always and everywhere -- corrupts those who wield it.

One's personal morality has never depended on religion, regardless of claims that it does. As Nobel laureate and physicist Steven Weinberg said, "Religion is an insult to human dignity. With or without it, you would have good people doing good things and evil people doing evil things. But for good people to do evil things, that takes religion."

Join Us!

Atheists For Human Rights is proud to be among those people identified by 2008 Nobel Prize winner in Economic Science, Leonid Hurwicz, as "interveners" in society -- those who behave ethically simply because it is the right thing to do. Our unique Moral High Ground project stands uncompromisingly in support of the victims of inhumane religious doctrines. We find no "gray area" that justifies the harm done to women, gays, children, the hopelessly ill, and human progress by dogma-based laws and policies.

Atheists For Human Rights welcomes you to join us! Membership is open to all who reject supernatural beliefs and support the principles and policies of this organization. We thrive on new ideas and welcome everyone who shares our goals. We have a long history of atheist activism, both as founders and charter members of freethought groups. We are a member society of American Atheists.

We publish a regular newsletter, The Moral Atheist, with informative articles and information about our meetings and activities.

LETTERS AND ARTICLES WELCOME!
Send them to the email or postal address below.

Call or email today for the current printed version or PDF file. You get three introductory issues free to give you a good idea of what we are all about. Send membership coupon to the following address:

AFHR
5146 Newton Ave. N.
Minneapolis MN 55430-3459

Email: Communications Director

Phone: 612-529-1200 (Twin Cities area) or 1-866-ATHEIST (toll-free long dist.)

Our dues are minimal to enable as many as possible to become involved; however, they cover only basic operating expenses. Because our outreach projects are sometimes quite expensive, but extremely important, we must rely on additional donations from those who can afford it. We have no paid staff, so all income goes to office expenses and visibility projects. It's a pay-as-you-go system. We can do only what our supporters enable us to do. Please be generous. You can make payments here with PayPal. It's fast, free, and secure! THANK YOU!

Our gift to you

Donate at least $50 to AFHR and you may choose UP TO FOUR of the following DVDs and/or booklets -- check the item(s) on the membership coupon, and mail it to the address above.

DVDs

"Evolution Made Easy" explains evolution in an entertaining and easy-to-understand way. A great DVD to show anyone who is unclear on the concept, including hard core religionists, "cafeteria" religionists, and atheists new to the controversy.

"The Truth about Religion" totally demolishes any credibility religion is thought to have historically or philosophically or even applying a little common sense.

Biologist PZ Myers' illustrated presentation on evolution at our July 2006 Public Forum.

Michael Newdow's entertaining, informative presentation about his challenge to "under God" in the pledge of allegiance at our November 2006 Public Forum.

Andy Dawkins' (former Minnesota State Rep.) speech about civic projects legislation and the necessity of atheism at our March 2007 Public Forum.

Cong. Keith Ellison's (first Muslim elected to Congress) forceful speech in defense of state-church separation at our July 2007 Public Forum.

Dan Barker's speech, "Beyond Iraq: The Threat to Freedom of an Imperial Presidency," at our November 2007 Public Forum.

Arvonne Fraser's (civic leader and internationally known feminist) speech on "The Common Good: Human Rights for All" at our March 2008 public forum.

Dr. Goparaju Vijayam's (executive director of one of India's leading social reform organizations, Atheist Centre) three-part series of talks, taped while Dr. Vijayam was here for a June 2008 public forum.

Richard Dawkins' BBC film, The Root of All Evil?

Sam Harris' discussion of his best seller, The End of Faith.

Booklets:

"India's Atheist Centre: Where Atheism Works", an 8" x 11" full color account of "the crown jewel of atheism," honored by the Indian government for its extensive social reform projects and educational work in science and critical thinking.

"May the Farce Be With You", April Pedersen's 20-page booklet, a humorous look at religious claims, with many illustrations and cartoons.

"All About Gods", our own illustrated, full color, 36-page booklet, a concise, entertaining presentation of facts to challenge religious mythologies. Includes bibliography.

About Us:
Visible Atheism in Action

We are committed to making atheism visible in the community as a rational, responsible voice for secular morality:

• We sponsor well-advertised public forums regularly with well known speakers on topics related to the common good and maintaining a secular government.
  
  
• We run high-visibility "bold & proud" ads for our activities in mainstream newspapers and on radio.
  
  
• We produce atheist videos for our website video outreach project and also make them available on CDs.
  
  
• We submit letters and commentary articles to the media that are frequently accepted.
  
  
• We meet with media people to discuss our concerns and encourage fair and balanced coverage of atheism.
  
  
• We meet with public officials to make them aware of the secular community and express our concerns about the intrusion of religion into legislative action and to stress the importance of state-church separation.
  
  
• We wrote a proclamation declaring 4 July 2002, "Indivisible Day," which was signed by Gov. Ventura on our behalf, causing an uproar by "Christian nation" fundamentalists that was front-page news in the St. Paul and Minneapolis papers.
  
  
• Our visibility generates invitations to debate religious-right radio talk show hosts on their political/social agenda and state-church separation.

We are unique among atheist organizations in that, as a matter of official policy, we oppose the religious right's assaults on our freedoms and come to the aid of its victims. We do this with reason, civility, pride, and a passion for truth and justice.

We provide a strong and effective voice for human rights within the atheist community and are developing a national network of citizens who seek the social and political right to be religion-free. We walk the talk. Our board consists of activists willing to help with the tasks of our organization. Our bylaws impose a high level of ethical standards. We operate openly and honestly at all times.

Membership is open to all who reject supernatural beliefs and support the principles and policies of this organization. We thrive on new ideas and welcome everyone who shares our goals.

Moral High Ground Project

The Moral High Ground project has chosen the following funds to provide support and protection for these groups and to counter the efforts of religious zealots to impose their religious doctrines through law (other funding mechanisms may be added as resources increase):

Philanthrofund scholarship

Like the other Moral High Ground funding projects, it is unique in the freethought community. Each year since 2002 AFHR has donated $500 to be awarded to a GLBT openly atheist student at Pfund's major awards ceremony. This has created visibility and respect for AFHR within the GLBT community.

Grants to poor women to help pay for abortions

At least $200 each is given annually to funds such as the Women's Medical Fund, administered by Anne Nicol Gaylor from Freedom From Religion Foundation in Madison, Wisconsin, and through the North Dakota WIN (Women In Need) Abortion Access Fund, administered by the Red River Women's Clinic in Fargo. These funds serve poor women in areas where religion-generated abortion laws are irrationally restrictive and punitive.

Support for physician aid in dying

As opportunities arise, we support efforts by physician-aid-in-dying organizations so the terminally ill who want to die with dignity on their own terms have the legal right to do so.

Protection for children harmed by faith healing

As opportunities arise, we support the efforts of CHILD (Children's Healthcare Is a Legal Duty) to protect children from harm where state laws define faith healing as healthcare and exempt parents from prosecution when they allow children to die by substituting prayer for medical care.

The Hub of Atheism

Atheists For Human Rights has a geodesic dome as its headquarters. This unique architecture was developed by Buckminster ("Bucky") Fuller (1895-1983), an atheist, architect, environmentalist and inventor. His ambition was to use science to help solve human problems and to find ways to do more with less. The tragic death of his young daughter inspired him to find "what a single individual can contribute to changing the world and benefiting all humanity." The epitaph on his tombstone says, "Call me trimtab," referring to a small but critical aircraft part that holds a stabilizing component in position. Much of Fuller's philosophy is expressed in the goals and strivings of Atheists For Human Rights.

Location of the Hub of Atheism:
5146 Newton Ave. N.
Minneapolis MN 55430-3459
Take I-94 to the 53rd Ave exit on the north edge of Minneapolis and go west through the alphabet streets to Newton Ave, then go left (south) 1 & 1/2 blocks to the dome home on the dead-end street. (The 53rd exit is more direct than 49th.) Call 612-588-1597 if you need directions.

New/occasional visitors:
To verify schedule has not changed:
Contact:
612-529-1200 or
1-866-ATHEIST
Or e-mail: Communications Director.

Meeting room (View 1)

Meeting Room (View 2)

For video questions, comments, suggestions, or special requests for video CDs, contact our Video Manager.

For corrections or problems with our web pages, contact our Webmaster.

Religion in the news, as viewed from the moral high ground of atheism

Gov. Pawlenty's budget cuts affecting local government are certain to require property tax increases to maintain essential services. If this burden is to be shared equitably, perhaps religious institutions, which are exempt from taxes, should be asked to contribute by paying a fee for the city services they receive at no cost. Some clergy have been expressing support for increased taxes in general, so might be agreeable to a service fee. There are churches that have at times voluntarily paid a service fee as a community obligation. Others might do likewise and may only need to be asked. If this were done it might greatly reduce the harmful effects of the Pawlenty budget. As one clergyman wrote in the June 18 Letters column, "Many of us would prefer to have our pocketbooks taxed -- not our basic values." A tax burden shared equitably would uphold those values.

On April 28, 1998, at a Minneapolis symposium on religion in public life that I attended, Lutheran theologian Martin Marty said in his keynote speech, "It is the role of unbelievers to force religions to be benign."

That's what we atheists try to do. The liberal Marty would probably be at odds with Katherine Kersten's uninformed opinion of atheists in her June 7 op-ed column. Traditional religious morality, which Kersten, at least for the most part, supports, is notorious for the astounding number of ways it hurts people. Benign it is not. On a short list are: slavery, subjugation and reproductive control of women, persecution of homosexuals, religious wars, cruelty to children, torture and execution of heretics, denial of end-of-life self-determination, and opposition to every advance in science and medicine that has not conformed to dogma.

There are always individuals, both religious and atheist, who will, if given the power, do evil. We've had the fascist-Christian Hitler (who opposed atheism) preaching Christianity's historic hatred of Jews. There was the atheistic political-economic ideologue Stalin, determined to stamp out all remnants of the czarist-Orthodox feudal system. There have been, and are, and will be, many more such people. The evil they do is made possible by having absolute power, which never fails to corrupt. Only a constitutional democracy can prevent that. There is no support for such a freedom-enabling system in Kersten's Bible, only for the tyranny enabling divine right of kings and unquestioning obedience to religious authority.

Given our job description and reason for existing, how well do we fit Kersten's description of us as morally compromised and purposeless hedonists, indifferent to social values? Unlike religious zealots, we don't cause trouble. We have no rituals or beliefs that require others to accommodate us. We have no unverifiable beliefs to impose on the political system or educational curricula. Of all groups, we are the most committed to secular government, the Bill of Rights, and especially freedom of conscience. We have been in the forefront of every movement to repeal oppressive, unconstitutional, religion-based laws. This includes support for the civil and human rights of women, sexual and racial minorities, workers, children, and the hopelessly ill, as well as support for scientific research to advance human wellbeing. We seek a peaceful world where life for all can be good.

Our humanistic philosophy goes back at least to the ancient Greeks. Since the Enlightenment, religious liberals have developed human-centered views that are essentially the same as atheistic views. We now share with them a common concern for human welfare. However much Kersten wants to, it is impossible to base moral standards on the shifting sands of unverifiable and mutually contradictory religious beliefs. There can only be secular standards set by open discussion and evaluated for their social impact, protection of individual rights, and contribution to the common good.

Regarding the murder of Dr. George Tiller, the anti-abortion zealots would like everyone to think late-term abortions are performed in the last couple of months of pregnancy, and never for a good reason. More =>

For cities (such as Coon Rapids, as reported on May 2) to consider charging fees to those who call for police or fire protection is outrageous. Property taxes already cover those services. If extra fees are needed, why not simply extend the service fee to property that pays no taxes at all, such as churches? This would bring in all the money needed and be more fair than increasing the burden on those who already pay more because the tax-exempt pay nothing.

David Lebedoff's April 5 Opinion Exchange piece was strikingly uninformed in its assumption that those who do not believe in a heaven and hell necessarily have no moral constraints and live only for pleasure and to accumulate material things. More =>

So now the Catholic hierarchy is upset because Pres. Obama is removing restrictions placed on abortion, same-sex marriage and stem cell research by the Bush Administration. They accuse Obama of being "anti-Catholic" for not wanting to make Catholic doctrine the law of the land. More =>

Ever wondered why atheists rank at rock bottom in public acceptance? Even below Muslims right after 9/11? Blame the media and their religious reporting. A fine example is the Minneapolis Star Tribune, whose weekly Faith & Values pages consistently promote faith only, never secular values. More =>

Michael Gerson's March 12 column is a fine example of human imagination running amok. His opposition to Pres. Obama's reversal of the Bush administrations abortion-related restrictions on funding for family planning and stem cell research is based on the bizarre premise that there are such things as single-celled persons and that to destroy a microscopic cluster of 150 undifferentiated cells (blastocysts) containing human DNA is tantamount to murder. More =>

The debate over whether climate change is happening, and whether nature or people are causing it, is beside the point. Either way, the climate always has and always will change. We are in trouble today because of overpopulation. More =>

The Star Tribune's January 26 article on bioethics, "Let's talk about science," would have been more useful if Susan Wolf had identified the opposing viewpoints accurately. The issue is not Republicans vs Democrats but religion vs science. More =>

No field of intellectual endeavor is as riddled with as much egregious error as theology. Produced and promulgated in the complete absence of any science or objectivity of any kind, theology has been, and still is, a kind of intellectual masturbation that has infected and retarded the growth and development of Western Civilization for over 3000 years.

It is absolutely despicable that these anti-abortion letter writers (the latest being Hale Meserow on Jan. 2) get so misty eyed over the abortion loss of an unfeeling, unthinking, partially formed fetus, yet dismiss the fully sentient woman as a self-centered airhead acting only out of "convenience." More =>

Public Forums

This major outreach project was begun in June 2006 and continues. The purpose is to show the public how atheists support our constitutional freedoms, seek rational solutions to issues of civic concern, and promote the common good. These events are heavily advertised in local newspapers and on Air America radio. Speakers through June 2008 have included:

• Rev. Barry Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State
  
  
• Dr. PZ Myers, biologist from the University of Minnesota-Morris
  
  
• Susan Sackett, personal assistant to the late Gene Roddenberry, creator of the humanist-oriented "Star Trek"
  
  
• Michael Newdow, who took his challenge to "under God" in the pledge of allegiance to the Supreme Court
  
  
• Andy Dawkins, former state representative who works to strengthen families and create livable communities
  
  
• Dr. Robert Price, the noted biblical scholar who lectures on the non-biblical roots of democracy
  
  
• Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim to be elected to Congress, and strong advocate of state-church separation
  
  
• Dan Barker, co-president of Freedom From Religion Foundation, which litigates against government funding of religious organizations
  
  
• Arvonne Fraser, noted civic leader and international advocate for women's rights and human rights
  
  
• Dr. Goparaju Vijayam, executive director of India's Atheist Centre, whose social reform work has been honored by the Indian government with a commemorative stamp

Outreach Activities

Atheists for Human Rights is focused primarily on reaching out to the public in morally active ways to advance the atheistic worldview. Our projects include:

Philanthrofund Scholarship

This is part of our Moral High Ground project. Like the other MGH funding projects, it is unique in the freethought community. Each year since 2002 AFHR has donated $500 to be awarded to a GLBT openly atheist student at Pfund's major awards ceremony. This has created visibility and respect for AFHR within the GLBT community.

Charitable Outreach

Every December, as part of our winter solstice celebration, we collect gifts and money for the at-risk teenagers being cared for by secular non-profit Katahdin Program for Youths and Families. Cash donations have increased from $130 in 2003 to $610 in 2007. This has been due to enclosing colorful gift tags in the newsletter and inviting distant members to send them back signed and with a check for warm clothing. The project was started in 1998 by Marie Castle for the freethought community, with Paul Craven providing the slogan, "You Don't Need a God to Have a Heart."

Highway Cleanup

In 2005 we took on an Adopt-A-Highway cleanup project. The work is done three times a year in spring, summer and fall. Large highway signs identify AFHR as the cleanup crew for a 4-mile stretch of highway in Lakeville that passes many churches.

May Day Festival

AFHR member Joe Watercott represents us every year at this popular Minneapolis festival. Dressed in a colorful jester costume, he goes along the parade route with his equally colorful cart, collecting litter and telling little jokes to the kids, giving a cheerful image of atheism.

Minnesota Alliance Of Peacemakers

We joined MAP and have participated in several of their events urging peaceful solutions to world conflicts. MAP is a coalition of churches and secular organizations working together in the cause of peace.

Interfaith Dialogue

AFHR is represented by invitation at regular interfaith gatherings hosted by Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, to find common ground in our common humanity to address the causes of social conflict and stress.

Speakers Bureau

Since 2004, about three times a year, we have been invited to give presentations on atheism to educational and social service agencies for their diversity training programs.

Fireside Chats

These monthly discussions about atheist issues are occasions for socializing as well as developing ideas for further activism.