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Forced Marriage
Young girls are victims when U.S. laws defer to dogma
www.atheists.org/support
JANUARY / February 2019
VOL. 57 – NO. 1
In This Issue
4 Editor’s Letter
More Sacred Than Prayer
6 Quick Hits
7 Announcement
Our 2019 Convention Speakers
8 Litigation
10
Taking Their Ball and Going Home
9 Public Policy
Ending Conversion Therapy
10 Activism
Arizona Specialty Plates Fund Hate
11 Government
Religious Profile of Our Congress
12 Cover Story
Child Marriage in the U.S.
16 Perspective
Grounding Your Atheism
18 Report
Hollywood’s Atheism Taboo
20 Commentary
The “Fundamentalist” Label
22 Interview
Women v. Religion
25 Notable Books
12
28 State Director Spotlight
Up in Flames in Iowa
30 Why I Am an Atheist
An Ex-Mormon’s Story
Editor-in-Chief
Pamela Whissel
Copy Editor
Karen Reilly
Research Editor
Anthony J. Crincoli
Proofreaders
Gill Gaudia
Shelley Gaudia
Den Jackson
20
Managing Editor
Frank R. Zindler
A
mericans across the February summit in Rome,
the religious spec- where an international gathering
trum are joining of bishops convened for an event
us in denounc- that, according to a Vatican press
ing “thoughts and release, consisted of “plenary ses-
prayers” as the sions, working groups, moments
empty rhetoric that it often is. For of common prayer and listening to
example, in the growing movement testimonies, a penitential liturgy,
for stricter gun control, activists and a final Eucharistic celebra-
who also happen to be religious tion.” In other words, hardcore
are now calling out politicians who thinking and praying.
evoke the phrase while doing abso- Listening to the testimonies of
lutely nothing to reform weak legis- victims—or at least giving the ap-
lation. It remains to be seen wheth- pearance of doing so—is a relative-
er that movement will succeed in ly new deflection strategy for the
changing laws around gun owner- Church, historically speaking. It’s
ship in this country, but it has been also been the only visible response
successful in chipping away at the since 2002, when The Boston Globe
unwritten law that shields the plat- broke the story about the systemic
itude of “thoughts and prayers” cover-up of child rape and torture.
from criticism. That was seventeen years ago,
Meanwhile, over at the Vatican, enough time for yet another gener-
the hierarchy of the Catholic ation of Catholic children to grow
Church is doubling down on up connected to an institution that
thoughts and prayers. While secu- refuses to give so much as lip ser-
lar governments around the world vice to rethinking its dangerous,
are circling in on the global crime dysfunctional structure.
syndicate within the Church, the Atheists should care about this
U.S. Council of Catholic Bishops issue for several reasons, the first
was holding a week-long prayer being that child welfare is every-
retreat outside Chicago in early one’s concern. Another reason is
January. It was a precursor to that the First Amendment of the
“Here is a government from a Pennsylvania grand jury for shedding the first light.
and another by the Illinois attorney It’s a sublime example of what’s
report accusing a general that provide a mere glimpse possible only because of our First
religious institution into the scope of the horror. If you Amendment, which says, in part,
of crimes and crediting a read the Illinois report, prepare “Congress shall make no law
to cry. If you read Pennsylvania’s, respecting an establishment of
newspaper for shedding prepare to vomit. And then thank religion, or prohibiting the free
the first light. It’s a the First Amendment again, this exercise thereof or abridging the
sublime example of what time for shielding our judicial freedom of speech or of the press.”
the First Amendment branch of government well enough These words grant us rights that
so that the Church was unable to are inconceivable to most people
makes possible.” wield its formidable influence and living today, and to nearly every-
make this inconvenient truth go one who was alive in the past. And
U.S. Constitution deserves as much away, which it has been trying to for that reason, they need to be as
recognition as the Globe’s world- do ever since the criminalization sacred to us as words of worship
class journalism. of rape and child abuse. are to people who offer their neigh-
Besides protecting Americans I say “well enough” because the bors little more than thoughts and
from coerced religious affiliation, shield was, as it often is, flimsy at prayers.
better known as church/state times. On page 300 (out of 884), the
separation, the First Amendment Pennsylvania report says “there
also allows a free press to exist. It’s were numerous instances where
what empowered the Globe report- law enforcement gave deference to
ers not only to access information the religious institution. Whatever
freely, but also to publish what they the motives for that deference, it Pamela Whissel
Editor-in-Chief
learned. A free press is the only in- left children without their rightful pwhissel@atheists.org
stitution in this country equipped civic watchdogs. It wasn’t really
with the structure necessary to until the press exposed the story,
accomplish what they did. in Boston, that things began to
The Globe’s exposé set in motion change.”
a spate of events around the world Here is a government report
that are still unfolding. Two recent accusing a religious institution of
ones in this country are a report crimes and crediting a newspaper
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW U.S. Clergy’s Ethical Rating Continues to Decline
Although the overall average positive rating is 54%,
only 37% of Americans rate the honesty and ethical
standards of clergy as “very high” or “high,” according to
a recent Gallup survey. Gallup has measured Americans’
views of the clergy’s honesty and ethics 34 times since
1977, and this rating is the lowest to date.
The historical high of 67% occurred in 1985. Ratings
first dropped in 2002 amid a sexual-abuse scandal in the
Roman Catholic Church. They rebounded somewhat in
the following years and then fell to 50% in 2009. They
have been steadily declining since 2012.
Source: gallup.com news story by Megan Brenan (December 20, 2018) American Atheists Files
Amicus Brief in Supreme
Canada Repeals Blasphemy Law Court Case
It’s no longer a crime to make fun of someone’s deeply In an amicus brief filed with the
held religious beliefs in Canada. “Blasphemous libel” had United States Supreme Court in the
been punishable by a prison term of up to two years, but case of The American Legion v. American
was recently removed from the Canadian Criminal Code. Humanist Association, American
The repeal followed an e-petition by humanist Atheists argues that a 40-foot Latin
groups across Canada which called for an end to the law. cross on government property is
Although the last conviction for blasphemy in Canada unconstitutional.
was in 1927, the law has been used to bring many private The so-called “Peace Cross” is a
prosecution cases seeking to silence free expression, World War I memorial sitting at a
including the film Monty Python’s Life of Brian in 1979. three-road junction in Bladensburg,
The law, however, did specifically exempt anyone Maryland. The brief argues that Latin
“expressing in good faith and in decent language, or at- crosses are inappropriate as collective
tempting to establish by argument used in good faith and war memorials, dishonor nonreligious
conveyed in decent language, an opinion on a religious servicemembers, and marginalize
subject.” atheists.
Source: humanism.org.uk news story (December 13, 2018) “Claiming that the universal sym-
bol for one religious denomination
somehow represents all the veterans
Greece to Remove Clergy from State Payroll who gave their lives to protect our
nation is an insult to their sacrifice,”
The government of Greece and its powerful Orthodox said American Atheists President Nick
Church have tentatively agreed to remove 10,000 priests Fish.
and auxiliary staff from the state payroll. The agreement “These religious monuments erase
also foresees a settlement to a decades-old dispute over atheist veterans from our nation’s
property between the government and the Church, collective memory,” said Kathleen
which is one of the country’s largest real estate owners. Johnson, immediate past vice pres-
Greece’s creditors have long urged the government to ident of American Atheists and a
sell assets and reduce the number of public sector em- retired U.S. Army first sergeant.
ployees. The agreement coincides with parliamentary “I hope the Supreme Court will
discussions on a revision of Greece’s constitution. Prime allow us to recognize and celebrate
Minister Alexis Tsipras has been calling for clarity in the the contributions of all veterans, not
country’s constitution on the religious neutrality of the just those who are members of one
state. particular religion.”
Source: aljazeera.com story by Chika Oduah (September 18, 2018) The brief was filed jointly with the
Freedom from Religion Foundation,
the Center for Inquiry, the Military
Association of Atheists & Freethinkers,
and the Secular Coalition for America.
American Atheists offers some community, but for everyone. in PTSD in combat veterans. He
of the most diverse speaker lineups In his moving story of love, loss, has published extensively on evo-
of any atheist, freethought, or sec- dedication, and commitment, Jim lutionary psychology, stress and
ular conference and is committed brings audiences along on his emo- politics in organizations, and the
to presenting new, compelling, and tional and empowering journey interplay between war and mascu-
diverse perspectives at our nation- and his continued efforts fighting line identity.
al conventions. for human rights.
Come and learn from the every- Lorelei
day activists who are bringing their Gayle Jordan Activist Lorelei is a member of
communities and our nation closer Gayle is a former Southern The Satanic Temple and co-founder
to equality. Some of the announced Baptist who left the faith 12 years of the Western New York Satanists.
speakers are: ago when her four kids, then teen- Her current activism involves
agers, began asking questions she resurrecting the Detroit chapter of
Jim Obergefell, Keynote Speaker could not answer. She is the exec- The Satanic Temple.
Jim once described himself as utive director of Recovering from
an accidental activist after he took Religion, and co-founder of both Candace Gorham
on the role of caregiver for John, his NaNoCon and the Murfreesboro Candace, a former ordained
partner of more than 20 years who Freethinkers. She ran for the minister, is now a licensed profes-
suffered from ALS and was nearing Tennessee State Senate in 2016 and sional mental health counselor,
the end of his life. An unexpected 2018 as an open atheist and faced a humanist activist, researcher, and
series of events led to their deci- profoundly unconstitutional attack book author on issues related to
sion to marry, eventually taking on religious liberty. race and religion. She is a member
Jim to the Supreme Court and the of The Black Humanist Alliance,
landmark decision in Obergefell v. Hector Garcia the Secular Therapy Project, and
Hodges that resulted in victory for Hector is an assistant professor The Clergy Project.
marriage equality. in the Department of Psychiatry
Now a self-described purposeful at the University of Texas Health See more announced speakers,
activist, Jim is dedicated to the fight Science Center at San Antonio and check out the schedule, and
for equality not just for the LGBTQ a clinical psychologist specializing register at www.aacon2019.org.
A
merican Athe- space on public buses after allow- Christian organizations without
ists has joined the ing Christians to do so for decades. issue. But when atheists and
Center for Inquiry COLTS had been permitting ‘controversial’ religious groups re-
(CFI) in submitting all faith-related subject matter in quested the same treatment, they
an amicus brief in advertisements until 2011. Shortly were denied,” explained Nick Fish,
connection with a thereafter, NEPA attempted to President of American Atheists.
lawsuit involving the Northeastern purchase ad space for a sign that “The Supreme Court has been crys-
PA Freethought Society (NEPA) and included the word “atheists.” The tal clear that it is unconstitutional
the County of Lackawanna Transit transportation agency, however, to discriminate on the basis of reli-
System (COLTS). NEPA is an Ameri- rejected the request, pointing to its gion, and that appears to be exactly
can Atheists affiliate. new policy. After unsuccessfully what COLTS did in this case.”
The brief argues that COLTS, submitting several revised ads in The brief urges the appeals
a Pennsylvania county agency, an attempt to comply with COLTS’ court to overturn the previous
unconstitutionally discriminated requirements, NEPA sued. In July ruling and direct the district court
against atheists and minority 2018, the district court for the to examine whether COLTS acted
religious groups by banning all Eastern District of Pennsylvania with discriminatory intent.
religious content from advertising ruled in favor of COLTS, holding “Government agencies have the
that the transit sys- ability to limit religious speech
tem has the right to in limited public forums,” said
STAND WITH US! restrict the content Geoffrey T. Blackwell, litigation
of advertisements. counsel for American Atheists.
American Atheists relies on the support of NEPA then appealed “What they can’t do is allow one
our members to fight for equality in the courts
and in state capitals across the nation. the ruling to the type of religious speech for decades
Third Circuit Court and then shut everything down
Make a tax-deductible of Appeals. when confronted with views they
“For eight years, find ‘controversial.’ This take-my-
contribution today! and perhaps as ball-and-go-home attitude is reject-
many as 19, COLTS ed by children on the playground
www.atheists.org/donate allowed religious and should fare no better in a court
advertisements from of law.” 🅐
C
onversion therapy, of Columbia’s Committee on times more likely to report having
sometimes known Health, where she urged passage attempted suicide and 5.9 times
as “sexual orien- of a bill that would ban the practice more likely to report high levels of
tation change ef- of conversion therapy on adults depression.
forts,” is the use who are under guardianship or When the District of Columbia
of pseudo-science conservatorship. outlawed conversion therapy for
and prayer to attempt to change In her testimony, Gill pointed minors in 2014, it was only the
an LGBTQ person’s sexual orien- out that these adults depend on third jurisdiction in the country to
tation, gender identity, or gender others for medical and financial do so. And even though this bill did
expression. Because of its harmful decisions, legal protections, and pass, none of the laws apply to un-
effects, it has been condemned by more—just as minors do. They licensed practitioners or religions
every major mental health associ- must rely on someone else because organizations.
ation. of their impaired ability to evaluate “While the law can never fully
Mental health providers that information or communicate deci- prohibit conversion therapy, our
offer conversion therapy are sions effectively. This makes them work in this area also helps parents
not all faith-based, but concepts vulnerable to conversion therapy if and providers to understand its
behind conversion therapy are the person or institution charged dangers,” said Gill. “We oppose
deeply rooted in religious ide- with their care considers it a sin to any effort to subordinate medical
ology. Therapy should be based spend one’s life as anything but a decisions to the religious beliefs of
on scientific understanding and cisgender heterosexual. healthcare providers, and we will
evidence-based treatment, and re- While quantitative studies on take every opportunity to advocate
ligious beliefs should never justify vulnerable adults have yet to be for laws that protect patients from
harmful medical protocols. This conducted, the harm from con- conversion therapy or any medical
is why American Atheists strongly version therapy on youth has been procedure or policy governed by
opposes conversion therapy and well documented. They are 8.4 faith instead of facts.” 🅐
works to limit this dangerous and
discredited practice.
In 2012, California became the
first state to outlaw the practice
of conversion therapy on minors.
Since then, thirteen more states
and the District of Columbia
have legislated similar bans. The
District of Columbia recently
expanded its ban to protect vulner-
able adults as well, thanks in part
Testifying at the hearing were Alison Gill,
to American Atheists’ advocacy. American Atheists vice president for legal and
In October, Alison Gill, American policy (left) and Casey Pick from The Trevor
Atheists’ Vice President for Legal Project, the leading national organization
providing intervention and suicide prevention
and Policy, testified at a hearing services to LGBTQ people under age 25.
before the Council of the District
T
he revenue from people realize that the license plate funding of ADF and the lack of
Arizona’s “In God law funding ADF fits into a larger, transparency surrounding these
We Trust” license dangerous Christian nationalist plates.
plates has generat- legislative campaign called Project The first, SB 1462, would ensure
ed $1 million for the Blitz,” said Nick Fish, president of transparency by requiring the
anti-LGBTQ hate American Atheists. Department of Transportation to
group Alliance Defending Free- “Project Blitz pushes seemingly maintain a database with the name
dom (ADF) since 2012. In response, innocuous bills similar to Arizona’s and mission of each entity receiv-
American Atheists and the Secular ‘In God We Trust’ license plate law ing funds from specialty plates.
Coalition for Arizona (Secular AZ) in the hopes of building enough Any driver selecting a specialty
launched a billboard campaign to momentum to pass anti-equality plate would receive information
raise awareness about ADF and legislation. However, Arizona’s law, on their registration receipt about
how Arizona is funneling money to which predates Project Blitz, is the the entity funded by their selected
fund this hate group. first we’ve seen that directly funds plate.
The billboard, paid for by a hate group like ADF,” added Fish. The second bill, SB 1463, would
American Atheists, appeared in “What’s even worse about the no longer allow the “In God We
three locations in the Phoenix met- Arizona license plates is that there Trust” specialty plate to be in-
ro area through mid-March. is absolutely no disclosure about cluded on the list of those that can
Designated by the Southern where the money goes when drivers generate funds for an organization,
Poverty Law Center as a hate purchase these specialty plates,” thereby cutting off donations to
group, ADF is a leading voice in de- said Tory Roberg, the director of ADF.
veloping and advocating legislation government affairs for Secular AZ. “We need some reasonable crite-
that denies LGBTQ people access The Arizona laws establishing ria for which organizations receive
to public accommodations. It has the “In God We Trust” license state money, and I think a pretty
defended LGBTQ discrimination plates do not inform Arizonans legitimate starting point is that we
at the Supreme Court and its influ- that the $17 specialty plate fee is shouldn’t include hate groups. It’s
ence extends beyond the U.S. donated to ADF. inexcusable that we’ve already sent
“Public awareness about ADF’s On February 4, Arizona State a million dollars to an organization
hate-inspired schemes is thank- Senator Juan Mendez introduced that’s stripping rights from LGBTQ
fully on the rise. However, few two bills to address the state’s people,” said Mendez. 🅐
T
he religious make- adults identify as Christian. members, all Democrats, rose by
up of the new, 116th The number of Muslims in eight from the previous Congress.
United States Con- Congress rose from two to three, Their reasons for not answering
gress is very dif- thanks to the first Muslim woman aren’t known, but one member,
ferent from that to be elected as a representative. Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), an-
of the citizenry it The number of Mormons dropped nounced in 2017 that he identifies
represents, according to a Pew from 13 to ten, the number of Jews as a Humanist and is not sure God
Research Center study. While the rose from 30 to 34, and the number exists. Huffman is categorized
number of self-identified Chris- of Unitarian Universalists rose as “don’t know/refused” in this
tians in Congress is declining, from one to two. The number of analysis because he declined to
Christians as a whole—especially Buddhists dropped from three to state his religious identity in the
Protestants and Catholics—are still two while the number of Hindus is questionnaire the Pew Research
overrepresented in proportion to unchanged at three. Center used to collect data for this
the general public. When asked about their reli- report. The questionnaire asked
The largest difference be- gious affiliation, a growing number members what religious group,
tween the general public and of members of Congress declined if any, they belong to. The survey
Congressional representation is to specify (categorized as “don’t did not attempt to quantify their
in the percentage who are unaf- know/refused”). This category of 18 religious beliefs or practices. 🅐
filiated with a religious group.
While twenty-three percent of the
general public identify as atheist,
agnostic, or nothing in particular,
just one member of Congress does.
She is Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ),
who was just elected to the Senate
after three terms in the House
of Representatives. In keeping
with her non-affiliation, she took
the Oath of Office while holding
an Arizona law book containing
both the U.S. Constitution and the
Arizona Constitution in lieu of a
bible.
There has been a three-percent-
age-point decline in the share of
members of Congress who identify
as Christian. In the 115th Congress,
91% of members were Christian,
while 88% of the 116th Congress
are Christian. Only 71% of U.S.
Forced Marriage
in the U.S.
The religious tradition that ruins
the lives of young girls
Fundamentalist Christians. In a just world for women and girls. winning full custody of her two
2018, leaders of the Family Action They hold governments responsi- children.
Council of Tennessee success- ble for ending legal inequality, sex Now she works to ensure that
fully killed a bill that would have trafficking, sexual violence, and women and girls who unwillingly
banned child marriage in that inhumane practices like female endure an arranged marriage have
state. The group’s objection to the genital mutilation. the resources they need to escape.
law? It would have interfered with a Unchained At Last is the only Since joining the coalition,
lawsuit they planned in order to at- organization in the U.S. dedicated American Atheists has worked
tack same-sex marriage rights. But to ending forced and child mar- with advocates at Unchained At
it isn’t just ultra-orthodox religious riage across the country through Last and Equality Now to pass child
groups opposing these laws. direct services and advocacy. It marriage bans in states with no re-
“There was a concern that we provides crucial and often life-sav- ligious loopholes and exemptions.
would be offending certain cul- ing legal and social services to help In February, American Atheists
tures within our society,” said New individuals resist or escape forced submitted testimony in support of
York Assemblywoman Amy Paulin, marriages. They lead in pushing a bill that would end child marriage
who, in 2016, introduced an unsuc- for social, policy, and legal changes in New Hampshire. The law in that
cessful bill to end child marriage at both the state and federal levels. state currently sets the marriage
in her state. “So instead of seeing Unchained At Last was founded age at 18 but allows a dangerous
this as an abuse of young women, by Fraidy Reiss, who was forced exemption for children as young as
[legislators] were seeing this as into an arranged marriage at 19. 16 to marry if a parent petitions the
something we needed to protect for Lacking any formal education and court for the marriage and a judge
certain cultures.” trapped in a community where approves.
The coalition aims to remove only men could grant a divorce, Since 2000, more than 200 mar-
statutory rape exceptions so that Reiss defied the wishes of her fam- riage licenses were granted in New
perpetrators cannot escape pun- ily and became the first person in Hampshire for children as young
ishment by marrying the child. The her family to go to college at the age as 14.
coalition also aims to have a feder- of 27. After her graduation at the All organizations, decision-mak-
al law passed—or at least to have an top of her class from Rutgers at the ers, activists, advocates, survivors,
official standard—which defines age of 32, her family shunned her and allies who are committed to
marriage under the age of 18 as a and declared her dead. ending child marriage in the United
human-rights abuse and to ensure She was hired as a reporter with States, and who are in agreement
that no other federal laws, policies, the Asbury Park Press in New Jersey with this mission, are invited to
or regulations permit, encourage, and rose to become an investigative join the coalition.
or facilitate child marriage. journalist and later an investigator Go to EndChildMarriageUS.org
The coalition was co-founded at Kroll, Inc., one of the world’s to learn more. 🅐
by the non-profit organizations foremost corporate investigation
Equality Now and Unchained At risk consulting firms.
Last. Reiss escaped the trap of her
Equality Now works through forced marriage by successfully
public policy channels to create divorcing her abusive husband and
Grounding
Your Atheism by Michael Werner
M
y deconversion began at age ten or elev-
en. I was sitting alone in the back of a
church, praying to a supposedly caring
God to relieve my sufferings, but I re-
ceived no response. It suddenly occurred
to me that I didn’t know what I was talking
about—and neither did anyone else. I saw fault lines in all my
beliefs, from the concept of faith grounded in nothing to the
problem of evil in the world. I made a vow then to learn the
truth about life, no matter what. If that led me to hell, so be it.
Instinctively, I expected my We don’t need certainty to gain while tentative, is firmer than
quest to take years, and I was right. knowledge. The world is indeed blind faith; that focusing on the
It wasn’t until I was almost forty that relative, but it is not arbitrary. here-and-now is more meaningful
I became confident in my beliefs. Also, we don’t need absolute ethi- than a focus on otherworldliness;
For too many though, atheism is cal paths and goals to make good, that compassion and responsibility
an end to their quest, when letting confident decisions. We just need can be balanced with self-interest
go is just the beginning. Atheism to do the best we can in a messy and freedom. Ambiguity doesn’t
is what we don’t believe. But what, situation. have to paralyze us, but it does
then, do we believe? Well, I believe For me, being a humanist make it crucial that we reflectively
Socrates was correct when he said means to search for and commit to consider all our choices.
there are only two main questions the highest ideals, our noblest sen- Now is our time because there
in life: What is true, and how shall timents, our greatest values, and are more of us than ever, and our
we live? what civilization and science say population is continually growing.
Atheists use expressions like matters most. Humanism is a blend Now is our chance to move society
“good without God,” “just be good,” of the best of the Enlightenment toward reason and the good life.
and “no gods, no masters.” While and the Romantic movements say- Now is the time to rid our society of
their simplicity is nice, these terms ing this world is all and enough. Dark-Age theocratic and ideologi-
are very misleading. They say Most of us, consciously or un- cal controls. We cannot falter in the
nothing about how difficult it actu- consciously, need a higher vision face of certain hostility or our own
ally is to find your own definition to lift our hearts, move our society, inherent ambivalence; neither can
of morality—and then make your and push us to higher meanings. we stand idly by hoping for a sec-
own decisions according to that Some may find that integrated sto- ular society to automatically shape
definition. It is distressing to many ry is already with us. itself. We must show that a secular
people that the majority of philos- Humanism is based on values, worldview need not be nihilistic,
ophers today, after a deep search, not beliefs. To name just a few, these and that we can build communities
have found there is no certainty, no values encompass open-minded that embrace a progressive, ethical
absolute moral goal, no absolute critical thinking, science, justice, worldview of human and global
meaning in life. freedom, tolerance, democracy, good. 🅐
All scientific knowledge is ten- reason, compassion, human rights,
tative, fallible, and probabilistic. the inherent worth and dignity of
Like the search for truth, secular each person, and the importance
morality requires a garage full of human flourishing. We can’t
of tools, none complete and none afford the luxury of merely cri- Michael Werner is president
without problems. Every value we tiquing religion. We must share of the Humanist Foundation,
past president of the American
hold has downsides and tradeoffs. our own stories so that others who Humanist Association, and a co-
There is no one-size-fits-all ethical are contemplating a change will founder of SMART recovery, a
goal for everyone. Humanity has see that a non-religious worldview secular program for addictions.
His book, What Can You Believe In
multiple goals, multiple founda- can support, inspire, and comfort If You Don’t Believe in God?, is
tions, multiple moral tools. them; that knowledge of science, published by Humanist Press.
REPORT
by Pamela Whissel
by Justin Scott, American Atheists’ Iowa State Director Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
I
think of Britain and Europe, by and large, is not.” out of the tunnel on game day.
America differing by To put it in more concrete terms, Arizona Cardinal quarterback Josh
about five percent in most he offered England’s former prime Rosen is currently the lone openly
things,” said Hugh Lau- minister Tony Blair as an example. atheist player in the NFL.
rie to Larry King when As a practicing Catholic campaign- House, M.D. is on the very short
asked his opinion on the ing for public office, Blair had to list of examples of an atheist motif
biggest difference between the two downplay his religious affiliation in a Hollywood production. Others
countries. The year was 2013, and to the point of virtually concealing include The Big Bang Theory, which
the British actor and musician had it. stars Jim Parsons as Sheldon
recently completed an eight-season “Over here, that’s a plus,” King Cooper, a physicist and atheist.
run of House, M.D., the critically responded, referring to America’s In the prequel spin-off series,
acclaimed television series about attitude toward politicians. That Young Sheldon, Iain Armitage plays
a surly physician with a genius for was an understatement in 2013, Sheldon as a boy who is not afraid
solving medical mysteries, a lack of and is even more so now. To run to stand up in church to debate his
empathy for his fellow human be- for president in the United States as pastor on the existence of God.
ings, and absolute disdain for any- an open atheist would be political Ricky Gervais is also on this
one who believed in God. suicide. short list. Besides speaking and
Laurie joked that “we have Overt atheism is not a smart ca- writing frequently about being an
five percent less melted cheese reer choice in American show busi- atheist, Gervais wrote, directed,
on our food” to illustrate just how ness, either. In fact, thanking the and starred in the feature film The
small our differences are. “Our Lord for winning an Oscar, Emmy, Invention of Lying, an allegory for
lapels are five percent narrower, or Golden Globe is common, just as religious belief.
maybe. We’re incredibly alike,” he it is for professional athletes who Comedian Kathy Griffin is
reiterated. win the big game. And even if they another example. In her 2007
Except when it comes to reli- don’t praise their divine maker as Emmy Award acceptance speech,
gion. The difference there? “Ten they receive the trophy, athletes she said, “A lot of people come up
thousand percent. This is a very, who are atheists aren’t pouring out here, and they thank Jesus for this
very, devout religious country. of the closet they way they barrel award. I want you to know that no
one had less to do with this award, who, when asked in interviews, much worth mentioning here. The
so suck it, Jesus! This award is my have professed to be atheists or debate topic was “The Catholic
god now!” agnostic. A recent example is Church is a Force for Good in the
Saturday Night Live alum Julia Daniel Radcliffe. In an interview World” and even though their op-
Sweeney is on the list for writing with the New York Post, he said, “I ponents were an archbishop and a
and performing her one-woman don’t expect there to be a God and member of the British Parliament,
autobiographical play Letting Go of an afterlife—I would be pleasantly the audience poll taken afterwards
God, which was eventually made surprised if there was.” declared Hitchens and Fry the
into a film. In his book The God Every time a quote like this winners.
Delusion, Richard Dawkins gives appears, atheism moves a little When a magazine in the U.S.
high praise to the work: “Part of bit closer to being normalized in mentions Stephen Fry and Hugh
Julia Sweeney’s gift is to make you American show business. The re- Laurie in the same article, some
cry and laugh at the same time.” sults are even better when an athe- due diligence is in order. It would
Other examples exist, but not ist character’s storyline is integral be downright negligent for the
many, and it’s not because there to a production without it being a writer not to digress and tell
aren’t atheists in Hollywood. character flaw. But the strongest American fans of House, M.D.
“There are more than we influence comes when a celebrity about their early collaborations,
realize,” said reporter Natasha lends their considerable clout to which includes Jeeves and Wooster,
Stoynoff, who interviewed hun- an organization. Hugh Laurie did a four-season British television
dreds of celebrities over the course just that for American Atheists at adaptation of the novels of P.G.
of a seventeen-year career with our 2018 National Convention in Wodehouse. Watching just a few
People magazine. “They’re not Oklahoma City where he, in his minutes of a Jeeves and Wooster
open about it for the same reason words, stood with us as a proud episode is all that’s necessary to
other people aren’t. It’s a stigma, atheist. understand that there is no actor
and coming out of the closet could The actor, writer, and filmmak- with a range more vast than Hugh
mean losing your community.” er Stephen Fry is another stellar Laurie’s. The difference between
For celebrities, the loss extends example of a performance artist his playing Gregory House and his
beyond community. “They may who can eloquently dismantle playing Bertie Wooster is about the
worry that if they call themselves atheism’s stigma. In 2009, he part- same as the difference between the
an atheist, their fan base will nered with Christopher Hitchens U.S. and Britain when it comes to
shrink, making them less market- in a televised debate sponsored religion: ten thousand percent. 🅐
able and therefore less employ- by the Intelligence Squared media
Pamela Whissel is American
able,” she added. company. Although it wasn’t a Atheists’ membership director and
To be fair, there are actors Hollywood production, it is very editor-in-chief of this magazine.
“Fundamentalist” is
the Correct Label
by Brian Bolton and Pamela Whissel
J
ournalists and writers use a variety of terms as blanket descrip-
tions of the Christian faith’s hard-core zealots. They are re-
ferred to as fundamentalists, evangelicals, the Religious Right,
Christian conservatives, Christian extremists, and Christian
supremacists, with the most accurate term being “fundamen-
talist.” The least accurate is “evangelical” for the simple reason
that all Christians are, by definition, evangelicals.
W
hen determining the causes of the infe-
rior status of women around the world,
it’s hard to find a bigger culprit than re-
ligion, particularly monotheism and the
Abrahamic traditions that form the bas-
es for Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
This is what Karen Garst discovered in 2014 after the U.S. Su-
preme Court’s ruling in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby Stores.
As a woman who came of age before Roe v. Wade, she
couldn’t ignore the rage she felt at the Hobby Lobby ruling,
which gives for-profit, closely held corporations (those with
a small number of shareholders) the right to object to a
government regulation if the objection arises from religious
belief.
Mere Morality
“Dan Barker’s Mere Morality is a potent a real-world view of morality grounded
riposte to C.S. Lewis’ Mere Christianity, a in behavioral biology, reason, and law.”
book much beloved by Christian apologists. —Hector Avalos, author of Fighting Words:
Barker exposes the myriad of biblical The Origins of Religious Violence
practices that could be deemed immoral
today, especially because so much of the
Mere Morality by Dan Barker, 167 pages (including notes
Bible was written within a master-slave and references), Pitchstone Publishing
view of the world. Mere Morality offers
Eternal White
What awaits us at the end of our lives? comes after death, he must come to peace
This frightening question drives many with his tragedy through logic and reason
people to religion, often because stories and avoid the temptation of believing in
resonate in a way that facts and logic eternal life.
alone cannot. Eternal White is the story of
a math teacher whose life is about to be Eternal White by T. Furuyama, fiction, 297 pages,
TFuruyamaBooks.com
cut short. Facing the uncertainty of what
Christian free will is not by a long shot the free “free” in any sense that matters. And because I am
will of philosophers. They ask: “Can we make the cause I can still be praised or blamed for them.
choices entirely free of all antecedents?”
4. If nobody is responsible, not really, then not
only should the prisons be emptied, but no contract
Christian free will insists on three elements: (1) that
is valid, mortgages should be abolished, and we can
all persons everywhere (except children, incompetents,
never hold anybody to account for anything they
and those acting under force) are born with the equal
do. Preserving “law and order” without a concept
ability to make seriously deliberated moral choices en-
of real responsibility is a daunting task.
tirely free of the interactions of biological inheritance
and experience; (2) they also know which course is It is ironic that these eminences aggressively teach
right; (3) and they can freely make it. and are champions of iron determinism which says that
all choices are caused by all the conditions in the uni-
Christianity must have guilt for one to need salva- verse, down to the last molecule, as they existed just be-
tion, and guilt requires that moral choices must not be fore the decision. If time could be rewound, and all
affected in any way by forces not within your control. conditions in the universe were exactly the same as be-
Thus, those who make wrong choices are evil and de- fore, the decision would always be the same—with no
serve punishment up to and including eternal suffering freedom for it to have been otherwise.
in Hell!
Meanwhile, as they confuse us with their fine
If Christian free will is wrong, that indispensable distinctions, in the world of people, the Roman Catholic
foundation of Christianity collapses—as St. Paul said of Church and Protestant denominations with the over-
the resurrection: “And if Christ has not been raised, our whelming number of adherents, teach and are believed,
preaching is useless and so is your faith.” that unless everyone uses their God-given free will
correctly before they die, “many,” as Jesus promised,
So, how sad it is to see some of our great atheist- will go to a “lake of fire to suffer forever,” while only a
heroes dancing on pin-heads trying to find ways to “har- “few” will be saved! And that is so good, right and jus-
monize” what they know and proclaim: “We will as we tified, that the believer in heavenly ecstasy will be
do for reasons beyond our control” with its polar op- wholly content knowing a beloved wife, child or parent
posite: “yet there are ways of stating the case which val- is suffering in hell!
idates free will.”
These harmonizers fail to consider the real-world
Here are depressing quotations from four of those implications of their foolish compatibilism. It only serves
brilliant atheists: to deceive, obfuscate, and divert fellow atheists from
the supreme moral issue—eternal suffering for anyone—
1. Yes, the brain tumor (or whatever) is one of and gives aid and comfort to the religionist free-willers.
the causes of the action, but the individual human
being is the actual perpetrator. It is irrelevant to ask They should heed the harrowing testimony of
whether the person was ultimately free or not. We recovered Christians. Many have written in this maga-
only assume the person was immediately free. zine how the fear of hell terrorized them, especially as
young children. It did the same to Martin Luther. He
2. We can be perfectly orthodox materialists and
was upbraided by his confessor for imagining non-exis-
yet believe in free will, if what we mean by that is
tent sins and constant confessing.
that there is a level of description that is useful in
certain contexts and that includes “autonomous
With hell believed, is it any wonder that those
agents with free will” as crucial ingredients.
adjured to imitate Christ might conclude—if only un-
3. Even if my choices are entirely determined in consciously—that if God so hates his own creatures be-
advance, I still make decisions, and my decisions are cause they are utterly evil, then they would also find
still caused by who I am—my thoughts and desires those they detest to be evil as well?
and personality—just as they must be if I am to be
Does this divine example not incubate, legitimize • It provides the real reason we should not hate:
and foster the rampant hate—racism, sexism, homopho- truly understanding that there, but for LUCK, go I.
bia, xenophobia and more, which afflicts society today?
• The common sense case is almost irresistible
and is easily stated; beautifully so by the English
The issue is of overriding moral significance. If
author, Raoul Martinez, in his highly acclaimed
Christian free will is true, then hate, retributive punish-
2017 book, CREATING FREEDOM. You can listen
ment, and ultimately, an eternity of suffering for the evil
to a 21 minute précis in a TED Talk at:
is right and just.
http://www.creatingfreedom.info/
It is incumbent on us to fight and kill that horrid A great libel on determinism is that if there is no
doctrine undistracted by sophistry from our best. A new responsibility there can be no accountability, thus, any-
way to do just that, rarely tried if ever, is to attack and thing goes. This is quite wrong. It is in the definition of
kill free will. If we don’t have it, mainstream Christianity determinism that experience causes change. In fact it is
must wither. probably the only thing which can cause real internal
change. Otherwise, all education would be in vain.
The case against any kind of free will is already
devastating: We are—and must be—held accountable for what
we do, even while not ultimately responsible for what
• With the evidence we already have, the we will. This means being subjected to experiences—un-
majority of neuroscientists say it is merely an illu- derstanding, reproof, education, praise, love, embarrass-
sion. So do Drs. Sam Harris, Jerry Coyne, Robert ment, penalty, various jail options, whatever might
Sapolsky, Sean Carroll, and many others in psychol- work—as the only way to bring about real change.
ogy and the social sciences. Much in our criminal system is wholly counter-produc-
tive because we are animated by retributive punishment
• Dr. Sapolsky cautions those not yet convinced
rather than rehabilitation. It hardens those most in need
to wait, new evidence is coming in every month at
of softening.
an increasing rate.
• Some of the greatest scientists and philosophers Another libel is that it removes all incentive for
of all time wrote against it: Darwin, Einstein, Feyn- self-improvement and self-esteem since, if all is foreor-
man, Crick, Hawking, Planck and more; Spinoza, dained, our efforts are in vain. But that is not true.
Voltaire, Russell, Schopenhauer, and more. “Foreordained” implies the future is planned. It is not
planned. The instant we call “now” was inevitable given
• It has crucial elements which are self verifiable
the state of everything, everywhere, as it was in what
—everyone knows he/she had no choice about
we call the “past”. The “past” always determines what
being, brain, body, time and place, ad infinitum. They
we and nature do next. All will be as before, our human
know the power of these influences on themselves.
nature will not change. It will often require that our
• Eternal punishment, enabled by free will, is re- emotional reactions will require the disciplining of our
pugnant to the human instinct for sympathy. Steven intellect to remember that we are all equally
Pinker, public teacher extraordinaire, Harvard Pro- brothers/sisters-in-luck—good or bad.
fessor of Psychology, says in his new book,
ENLIGHTENMENT NOW, “You have been en- About 80 years ago I saw a wise sign in a Washing-
dowed with a sense of sympathy—the ability to ton, DC, donut shop: As you ramble on through life
like, love, respect and show kindness…and because brother, Whatever be your goal, Keep your eye upon
your reason tells you none of this is particular to the donut, And not upon the hole!
you, you have the responsibility to provide to oth-
ers what you expect from them.”
The idea of hell was born of ignorance, brutality, fear cowardice, and revenge. This idea testifies that
our remote ancestors were the lowest beasts. Only from dens, lairs, and caves, only from mouths filled
with cruel fangs, only from hearts of fear and hatred, only from the conscience of hunger and lust,
only from the lowest and most debased could come this cruel, heartless, and bestial of all dogmas.
Robert Ingersoll (1833-1899)
Up In Flames
How a religious zealot’s attempt to cause a
scene in Iowa backfired
by Justin Scott, American Atheists Iowa State Director
I
t all started in October. I was scrolling through Face-
book when I came across a story about by Paul Dorr, a
fundamentalist Christian activist in Orange City, Iowa,
who staged an online book-burning. Dorr is the found-
er of Rescue the Perishing, a group that is, according
to their Facebook page, “contending against moral evil
to advance the Kingdom of Christ, by the grace of God and by
the power of His Law/Word. Started in 1988, RTP stands against
abortion, the sexual revolution in general, corruption in the
churches and colleges.”
The books that fueled Dorr’s fi- the library gratefully declined my
ery rage all came from the Orange contribution because the books
City Public Library. Each of these had already been replaced sev-
four terrible titles were found in … eral times over by donations that
the children’s section! And because poured in as soon as the video went
the books educate young readers viral. Because my fundraiser also
about LGBTQ equality, removing went viral, it caught the attention
them from the library was not of Mike Goll, a founding member
enough for him. of Orange City Pride, and I was able
In his view, they needed to be to donate the money to them. They
gone, period. plan to use the funds to encourage
He timed his protest to coincide even more representation and liter-
with an annual pride event orga- acy for LGBTQ youth and adults in
nized by Orange City Pride, an the community. Book clubs, read-
LGBTQ advocacy group. ing corners, and recommendations
Earlier in the year, Orange are in the works.
City, located in one of Iowa’s most Also in the works is Dorr’s
conservative Republican counties, appearance at the Sioux County
made national headlines when 340 Courthouse. Because his
residents signed a petition calling book-burning stunt was unlawful,
for the library to ban, or at least la- he’s been charged with fifth-degree
bel, materials with LGBTQ subject criminal mischief, a misdemeanor
matter. that carries a maximum penalty
I was unable to sit through of 30 days in jail and a fine of $625.
Dorr’s entire 30-minute diatribe, Here’s hoping that if he’s sentenced
and before he was done with the de- he’ll find at least a few books in the
struction, I had created a Facebook prison library to his liking in case
campaign to raise $750 to replace he wants to pass the time reading.
the books and purchase additional As for me, I plan on spending
LGBTQ-related material for the some time reading to my kids, and
library. World Religion News ran I think I’ll start with the four books
a story about my fundraiser, as did that Dorr failed to eliminate: Morris
The Des Moines Register and other Mickelwhite and the Tangerine Dress
media outlets in Iowa. Thanks by Christine Baldacchino, This Day
to the generosity of people from in June by Gayle E. Pitman, Two Justin Scott is a father of three
around the world, I ended up rais- Boys Kissing by David Levithan, and a professional photographer
who runs JScott Images out of
ing more than twice that amount. and Families, Families, Families! by Denver, Iowa. He serves as American
I was pleasantly surprised when Suzanne and Max Lang. 🅐 Atheists’ State Director for Iowa.
Why I Am an Atheist
The wiles of knowledge and reason proved more
than this weak mortal could resist.
I
shall be brief: I’m an couples. A woman can still go if her
atheist because there is husband apostatizes, but she’ll be
no god. assigned to a husband not of her
As to why I wasn’t an choosing, most likely someone she
atheist before, I shall be has never met. Chances are she’ll
briefer: hormones. have to share him with other wom-
I was a blissfully religion-free en whose husbands apostatized.
teen when I found myself smitten Mainstream Mormons stopped
by the new flautist. A noisy high practicing polygamy on Earth, but
school band class is not conducive in heaven they keep it up. So to
Steve Cuno to flirting, but with a bit of help from speak.
Salt Lake City, Utah me, serendipity began depositing Breast cancer claimed my wife
us at the same lunch table. Aware a few years after I quit the church.
that the flautist was Mormon, I Had I known that she would relapse
chose “tell me about Mormonism” after a five-year remission, I would
for a conversation-starter. Which, have kept my damn mouth shut
I later learned, is like inviting a during her life. She died lamenting
highly contagious virus into your my apostasy, frightened for our
mouth for a look around. children’s spiritual future, and
I fell for the The Church of Jesus feeling not terribly keen on that
Christ of Latter-day Saints harder heavenly polygamy thing.
than I fell for the flautist. I joined When you leave the Mormon
at 19, embarked upon two years of Church, you find yourself alone.
door-knocking in the province of Conversation waxes superficial
Quebec at 21, and returned home with Mormons who choose to
at 23. As any Mormon knows, the remain friends. Some choose not
Steve Cuno writes for Free next step in my destiny was to to, for fear you’ll taint them. It took
Inquiry magazine and is convince someone to marry me. years to build up a new circle.
the “as-told-to” author of
the book It’s Not About the Remarkably, I succeeded. It was for me a short step from
Sex My Ass: Confessions of Then I did something naughty: tossing out Mormonism to tossing
an Ex-Mormon Ex-polygamist I began to dabble in thinking. out religion altogether. After briefly
Ex-wife by Joanne Hanks.
A recovering advertising Church leaders repeatedly warn holding onto and then discarding
writer, Steve lives in Salt against thinking, but the wiles an intervening Something Out
Lake City. Why no one has
shown up at his door with
of knowledge and reason proved There, I re-became an atheist. I’ve
tar and feathers remains more than this weak mortal could never been happier.
a mystery. Contact him resist. Atheism matters. It is human-
at steve@stevecuno.com.
My wife was distraught. kind’s best hope. God knows reli-
Mormons go to heaven as married gion isn’t.
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