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From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sunday, January 31, 1999 8:20 AM
Subject: The Texas Atheist # 22
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THE TEXAS ATHEIST
January 31, 1999 # 22
Copyright � 1999 by Howard Thompson
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IN THIS ISSUE
1. Texas Events
2. News/Science Briefs
O'Hairs, Ex-Cons and a Headless Body
�Atheist Invasion' T-Shirts for Comfort Visit
Darwin's Birthday & Houston Party
Nurses Gotta Pray for Catholic Employer
God Don't Know Much About Geometry
Atheist Alliance Austin Convention Activities
Correction: Atheists United Claims �Biggest' Title
Atheist Retirement Communities??
ACA newsletter Recommended
Freethinkers Quiz Senator on �Religious Freedom' Bill
Court Upholds Legalized Religious Discrimination
IRS Auctions O'Hair Possessions - Not Diaries
American Atheists Chat Exclusive and Secret
California �Freethought Church' Forming
3. Groups & Television
4. Letters
"trashed the first few issues ... brought my atheism towards the forefront"
"I am one of those �get up in your face atheists.'"
5. Commentary: Successful Arlington Conference
-------------------------
TEXAS EVENTS
HOUSTON - DARWIN DAY CELEBRATION: The Secular Humanists of Houston will
have a �Darwin Day Celebration' February 20th, 12:00 - 6:00 PM at the
BORDER's Books & Music, 9633A Westheimer, Houston, TX 77063. See article
for more info. Contact Keith Irish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.
�ATHEIST INVASION' OF COMFORT, TEXAS: Freethinker shopping expedition,
visit to Freethinker Cenotaph & �True to the Union' Monument. Date to be
announced, see article for more details. Contact Julie Fisher
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
AUSTIN - ATHEIST ALLIANCE 1999 NATIONAL CONVENTION: April 2-4.
Sponsored by the Atheist Community of Austin. Contact: Don Rhoades
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or Mary Sue Osborne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. [See
longer description below.]
SAN ANTONIO - FREEDOM FROM RELIGION FOUNDATION 1999 CONVENTION: Contact:
Catherine Fahringer (210) 824-5061, FAX: (210) 820-3239.
-------------------------
NEWS/SCIENCE BRIEFS [Send items of interest to [EMAIL PROTECTED]]
O'HAIRS, EX-CONS AND A HEADLESS BODY
The January 31st edition of the San Antonio News-Express has three articles
by John MacCormack about the O'Hairs' disappearance. The main article is
at: http://www.expressnews.com/pantheon/news-bus/metro/101arp1.shtml
Two or three ex-convicts were possibly acting with or against the O'Hairs
during September 1995 in San Antonio. The headless, handless body of
wannabe con man Danny Fry has now been identified. Fry's body was found in
Dallas county October 2nd, 1995, three days after the Jon Murray-O'Hair's
last known phone call. This was also two days after Fry's last phone call
from the Austin apartment of ex-con David Waters. Convicted murderer Waters
was the O'Hair's former office manager who pleaded guilty to stealing
$54,000, and who purchased a Cadillac with $13,000 cash in San Antonio
during September 1995.
A third ex-con, from the same Illinois prison as Waters, was tentatively
identified by the San Antonio buyer of Jon Murray's Mercedes as the person
claiming to be Murray who sold him the car.
Waters is apparently still living in his Austin apartment and denies
knowledge of some events and any wrong-doing. At this point, the story's
details can depict the O'Hairs as victims or accomplices of � well,
something.
There has been no mention of what may have been more than $ 8 million
squirreled away by Madalyn from atheist donations over the years, lest we
forget the IRS criminal investigation into money laundering. Clearly, the
creativity of rumors and speculations will have to improve to compete with
reality.
'ATHEIST INVASION' T-SHIRTS FOR COMFORT VISIT
[From Julie Fisher] It won't be long until area atheists will be �invading'
Comfort as foretold by local Episcopal prophet Roy Perkins. Perkins led a
petition drive against a �Monument to Atheism' in Comfort, located about 50
miles west of San Antonio on IH 10. Petitioners characterized the now
canceled �Freethought Celebration 1998' dedication of the Freethinker
Cenotaph in the town's park as an �atheist invasion'.
D-Day for the �invasion' to be announce later. The �invasion' will include
antiquing, shopping, dining and a visit to the still bare Freethinker
Cenotaph. Come as part of the �invasion force' wearing �Atheist Invasion'
T-shirts or as a Friend of Atheists (FOA) in plain clothes. Contact Julie
Fisher of the Hill Country Freethinkers <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> to order your
�Atheist Invasion' T-shirt.
DARWIN'S BIRTHDAY & HOUSTON �PARTY'
Charles Darwin was born on February 12, 1809. The Secular Humanists of
Houston will have a �Darwin Day Celebration' February 20th, 12:00 - 6:00 PM
at the BORDER's Books & Music (9633A Westheimer, Houston, TX 77063). Likely
speakers include Pflugerville science teacher John Koonz; Gregory Brown,
Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Philosophy, University of
Houston; Robert Dennison, Houston biology teacher; and Keith Parsons,
Professor of Philosophy at University of Houston, Clear Lake. Contact
Keith Irish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.
Atheists owe Darwin much. Descent of life with modification through a
process of natural selection explains how living things came to be as they
are. Evolution was a more accurate theory for the fossil evidence than
religious mythology. So, go get that Darwin Fish for your car or tell the
most irritating fundie you know that you're observing Darwin's birthday. Be
glad you live in an age when scientific discovery continues to free us from
supernatural mythology.
NURSES GOTTA PRAY FOR CATHOLIC EMPLOYER
Reported by an Austin nurse. "I work for the Catholic church. Very strange
set of circumstances, but I'm a nurse in the public schools in Austin.
Seton [a Catholic owned hospital] has taken over school health in AISD
[Austin Independent School District]. School nurses in the public schools
work for the Catholic church. We have business meeting which begin with a
prayer by a nun."
This nurse endures prayers as part of providing tax-funded services the
Austin public schools buy from a Catholic hospital. Since the nurses are
employees, they risk their jobs if they complain about the intimidation of
what amounts to forced prayer. While this is probably illegal now, Federal
�Charitable Choice' legislation has been proposed to exempt religious
charities from civil rights laws so that they can impose religious standards
and doctrines on employees.
GOD DON'T KNOW MUCH ABOUT GEOMETRY
[From [EMAIL PROTECTED]] God's claim to all-knowing perfection doesn't
extend to basic geometry, according to his �divinely' inspired bible. "Then
he made the molten sea; it was round, ten cubits from rim to rim, and five
cubits high. A line of thirty cubits would encircle it completely." [NRSV 2
Chronicles 4:2] God infallibly �knew' that a circle of ten units diameter
had a circumference of 30 units, not the correct 31.456... humanity learned
to compute as Pi.
Isn't it curious that God �knew' no more about geometry than the his people
�knew' at the time that story would have developed? Of course,
fundamentalists could always insist that God is in fact capable of making a
circle with a circumference equal to three diameters. It's another
logically impossible divine mystery.
ATHEIST ALLIANCE AUSTIN CONVENTION ACTIVITIES
The Atheist Community of Austin (ACA) has announced some of activities for
1999 Freethought Roundup, April 2-4 in Austin.
Speakers include Dan Barker from the Freedom From Religion Foundation,
journalist and atheist author James A. Haught, prolific writer Dr. Arthur F.
Ide, and Douglas E. Kreuger, author of �What is Atheism'. Ray Romano's
dramatic �Judas' from last year's convention in St. Louis will be repeated.
Workshops and panel discussions include Positive Atheism, Parliamentary
Procedure, Teaching Science and Evolution in a Conservative Texas Middle
School, and a dramatic reading of a work by atheist author Harlan Ellison.
The folks from OABITAR (Objectivity and Balance in Teaching About Religion)
will give a presentation on teaching about atheism in those public schools
where overview classes �about religion' are taught.
For hotel reservations: OMNI at (512) 476-3700, www.omnihotels.com. Tell
them you are with the 1999 Freethought Roundup!/ Atheist Alliance Convention
for the $ 73 room rate.
Registration: $ 50 per person, $ 25 Student (photocopy of student ID
required). Include the names of all persons for name tags. Saturday
luncheon $ 25. Saturday banquet $ 35 (vegetarian available). Friday night
at Esther's Follies $ 16. Make checks to �Freethought Roundup Committee'
and to: Roundup Registration, P.O. Box 3798, Austin, TX 78764. Contact: Don
Rhoades <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> or Mary Sue Osborne <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.
Correction: ATHEISTS UNITED CLAIMS �BIGGEST' TITLE
Atheists United of Los Angeles Co-President Bobbie Kirkhart
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> offers this �good news' correction to last issue's story
about the North Texas Church of Freethought (NTCOF) being the largest local
atheistic group in the nation. "Successful, Howard, I'll give you that.
And if we have any kind of competition, it should be the kind that helps us
both, but Atheists United, at just under 400 members, is, I'm pretty sure,
the largest local atheist group in the country." An article describing the
group's success tactics will appear in a future issue.
ATHEIST RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES??
One reader (Brenda) asked about areas where non-theists might be retiring.
She is looking for a friendly non-theistic community where like-minded
people could relocate.
Could it be that the atheist movement is moving towards local communities
that ATTRACT non-theists? This happened with the homosexual movement. Thei
r cultural development, plus hostility against them, resulted in local
communities that support gay culture and social life. This also happens
with some smaller religious groups that tend to live near their only church
in a town.
I had to tell Brenda I knew of no such place, and gave her information about
some local groups. But, this is an idea that we may see happen as local
group membership and funding grows. After all, if you're the only atheist
in God Grunt, Alabama, wouldn't you be tempted to move to a larger town with
an active non-theistic community that had parties, a singles group,
discussion groups and day care for kids? [HT]
�THE ATHEIST' ACA NEWSLETTER RECOMMENDED
The Atheist Community of Austin (ACA) newsletter �The Atheist' (John Koonz,
Editor) is publishing one or two items about atheist issues and ideas with
each issue. For example, the current issue had �The Glorification of
Ignorance' by Jeff Dee and a book review of �The Arrogance Of Faith' by John
Rush, both of interest to atheists and freethinkers.
The ACA will send the e-mail newsletter to those who want it. Send an �The
Atheist - Subscribe' notice to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. More info at
<www.atheist-community.org>.
FREETHINKERS QUIZ SENATOR ON �RELIGIOUS FREEDOM' BILL
[By Julie Fisher] State Senator Jeff Wentworth spoke at a December meeting
of San Antonio Planned Parenthood. Wentworth updated the group on abortion
rights, which he supports. Afterwards, Sally Chizek, Catherine Fahringer
and I asked how his proposed Religious Freedom Restoration Act would affect
unbelievers [Wentworth co-sponsors �Religious Freedom' Senate Bill No. 138].
Wentworth said that people used to have more religious freedom, but gave no
details. Although he called the Religious Right �zealots' whom he fights on
the abortion issue, what he said about this legislation sounded like it was
right out the mouths of the theocrats. I mentioned Comptroller Sharp
rejecting 42 requests from religious groups for tax exemption this year.
Wentworth knew nothing about that. We pointed out how someone in the
government would have to define religion and non-theistic religions at least
were in jeopardy. At that point, Rev. Art Severance, sitting on the other
side of the room, chimed in. Wentworth saw that there were at least 4
people in this group with concerns. Sally raised the question of the
�charitable choice' legislation at the national level, but Wentworth was
unfamiliar with it.
COURT UPHOLDS LEGALIZED RELIGIOUS DISCRIMINATION
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court has upheld a landlord's religious right to
refuse rentals to unmarried couples. The majority opinion said that an
Anchorage city ordinance interfered with property owner's free exercise of
religion, property rights, and freedom of speech.
[COMMENTARY: This case demonstrates what �religious freedom' means to many
Christians. They don't mean only the freedom to practice religious rituals
and worship. They are talking about the power to ostracize and punish those
who violate their religious beliefs.
A key civil right is every citizen's equal right to buy products and
services in the ordinary commerce of a society's market place. When
government gives religionists the power to pick and choose whom they will
treat equally, then civil rights and equality cease to exist. The fact that
religious beliefs and property rights are used as an excuse to discriminate
makes it no less a destruction of equal rights.
This is why the Religious Freedoms bill (House Bill No. 601 & Senate Bill
No. 138) before the Texas Legislature is so dangerous. The bills' clever
language seems innocuous � after all, who could be against freedom of
conscience in your beliefs. The reality is that this bill empowers
religious citizens and organizations to impose their religious beliefs on
others and to avoid governmental actions to which all others must submit.
They would end equal treatment under the law in favor of personal
discrimination based on religious beliefs. HT]
IRS AUCTIONS O'HAIR POSSESSIONS - NOT DIARIES
The Internal Revenue Service auctioned items from the O'Hair's Austin house
on January 23rd. Sales included $2,000 for a bible given to Madalyn by
Oklahoma school girls and $2,800 for grand daughter Robin's Porsche 944.
Over $25,000 resulted from the sale of items described as "from WalMart to
Ethan Allen".
Madalyn O'Hair's recently publicized diaries will be auctioned later by an
Austin attorney who represents the estate. Some diary entries were
described to your editor by Austin religion reporter Kim Sue Lia-Perkes.
Those entries concerned money needs, lifestyle, anger at opponents and
boasting. Diaries were missing for the school prayer case period and the
four years prior to the O'Hairs disappearance, with the exception of about
ten days describing an August 1995 vacation. [HT]
AMERICAN ATHEISTS CHAT EXCLUSIVE AND SECRET
American Atheists, Inc. (AA) member Steven Lewis, a member of the Civil Air
Patrol (CAP), was reprimanded by AA for posting a message on the AACHAT
newsgroup and another discussion list. The post described how CAP, a
congressionally chartered organization like the Boy Scouts of America,
promotes religion.
AACHAT has guidelines against cross-posting messages to other discussion
lists. The post about CAP's pro-religious activities was removed. In an e-
mail, the AACHAT moderator complained that the rule violation caused an AA
non-member to post on AACHAT. Members were reminded that, "it is VERY
IMPORTANT that you NOT SHARE messages dealing with the organization and/or
business of American Atheists with individuals or discussion lists outside
of American Atheists." Lewis complained that the CAP information was
pertinent to atheists, tried to un-subscribe from AACHAT and eventually
quit AA.
Organizations need exclusive communications vehicle for members. However,
this incident emphasizes the undemocratic, secretive nature of American
Atheists, Inc. Members not only can't vote for AA leaders, they can only
discuss approved topics and must keep AA secrets.
CALIFORNIA �FREETHOUGHT CHURCH' FORMING
"The dumbest idea I ever heard of," was the reaction of Paul Kurtz, a
leading humanist, when he heard about plans to start the North Texas Church
of Freethought (NTCOF). The Sullivan and Gorski families' �dumb idea' has
grown into a 150 member �church model' atheistic group that has hopes for
getting their own building.
Mike and Jean Rice are now planning for the Northern California Church of
Freethought with hopes of having a first �service' on the Spring Equinox,
April 21, 1999. You can get more information at
http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/churchoffreethoughtofnorcal. This marks the
�church of freethought' group model as a successful meme that is spreading.
�Church model' atheism is controversial among traditional atheists. NTCOF
has demonstrated that a family, singles, social effort structured like a
church is an effective outreach for non-theists and the unreligious. We
wish our California �brethren' and �sistern' good luck with their new
community of unbelievers. [From NTCOF Bulletin, 1/3/99]
-------------------------
GROUPS & TELEVISION
Atheist Community of Austin. Weekly meetings, monthly speaker.
[EMAIL PROTECTED], www.atheist-community.org.
American Humanist Association. Houston, Dallas. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.
Corpus Christi area. Brian Meyer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> and Kathy Risinger
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]> want to meet for social gatherings.
http://home.earthlink.net/~bmmagic/
Ethical Culture Fellowship of Austin. 10:00 AM, 1st & 3rd Sunday, Austin
Senior Activity Center near 28th and Lamar. 512-306-1111 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
http://www.main.org/ec.
Freethinkers Association of Central Texas. 4th Tuesday, 6:30 PM, Bailey's
Bridge Studio-North Star Square, San Antonio. Blake Olson
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.
Houstonians for Secular Humanism. Contact Daniel Strain
<[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.
Metroplex Atheists (D/FW). Meets 3rd Sunday. Contact Colin Sewards
817-473-8213.
Lufkin Area. Contact Lou Cable <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> <www.inu.net/skeptic>.
North Texas Church of Freethought. First Sunday, 10:30 AM at Wilson World
Hotel, Irving. Singles group & social events. <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
http://church.freethought.org
Texas A&M Atheists & Agnostics. Wednesdays 8:00 PM in 128D Zachary.
http://atheist.tamu.edu/~aasg/.
Texas Hill Country Freethinkers. Monthly luncheons and dinners. Julie
Fisher at 210-354-3311 <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>.
University Skeptics Society. UT Austin. <www.utexas.edu/students/skeptics>.
The Atheist Experience: 9:00 AM call-in show. Sunday on Austin public
access TV.
Freethought Forum: 11:00 AM every Tuesday on San Antonio public access TV.
-------------------------
LETTERS
[From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]] First off, just let me say that I never
asked to subscribe to this newsletter, and in fact was irritated enough by
it that I trashed the first few issues I received without even opening
them. However, eventually I got around to looking at one of the issues, and
found it interesting enough that I never got around to unsubscribing. The
point here is that you should be more careful about pissing off untold
numbers of atheists who would otherwise be avid readers of this newsletter
by adding their names to your mailing list without asking them first.
On a brighter note, I do want to give you encouragement to keep the
newsletter going, as I find it to be my sole source of atheist news and
views.
Although it has not completely altered my life, it has brought my atheism,
which has been with me for many years now, more towards the forefront of my
thoughts. During this past holiday season, I had a discussion with some of
my relatives about my beliefs, which did not exactly go over well (my
*entire* family is Baptist), but at least it paved the way for future
conversations, and made them aware that my atheism is not a passing fancy in
my life.
However, I still refuse to let religion of any kind (even the religion of
non-religion) dominate my life. It is a part of who I am, but I will not
let it lock me into an unalterable mindset. If confronted, I will hold my
own, but I certainly don't go looking for fights.
That said, I want to re-emphasize that I really do think you are doing an
excellent job, so keep up the good work!
[From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]/Stockbridge, Ga.] I am one of those "get up in your
face atheists." Have been and plan to continue. Something that helps me as
a community activist in this area whenever I am asked in mixed company or
otherwise; "Mr. Schrader, what church do you attend," the speaker knowing
full well I am a flaming atheist but asked only to intimidate me in front of
his or her peers. My stock answer is; "Well Ms. Snurd I will answer your
question if you will first answer mine. When you and your husband, main
squeeze or one night stand last had sex were you able to have an orgasm, and
if you were fortunate enough to have one was in singular or multiple?"
Gasps! Gags! Stammerings! Crimson Faces and outrage. I particularly like
it when his or her betrothed is present. When they come down off the
ceiling I explain to them; "My faith or lack of is personal. I don't run
around cramming it down others throats like some here now. If you'll answer
my question I will be very happy to inform you I am proud to be an atheist."
That usually brings the issue to closure.
Some, including the media, have gotten off the atheist issue and I rarely
hear atheism mentioned in my presence or the papers. In fact I read in the
paper day before yesterday when a citizen before the board of commissioners
asked why the board stopped Christian prayers in their called meetings and I
quote; "Our attorneys advised us that it was wise or face the wrath of Mr.
Charles Schrader."
-------------------------
COMMENTARY: Successful Arlington Conference
Fifty humanists, freethinkers and atheists gathered Saturday, January 23rd
at the Arlington La Quinta. The successful conference was coordinated by
Houstonian Frank Prahl, Regional Coordinator for the American Humanist
Association. Dallas humanist Dick Nelson was the local coordinator with
help from Mike and Marylyn Sullivan of the North Texas Church of
Freethought.
It was fun meeting the real people behind e-mail addresses. Personal
contact is vital for building the a statewide community. It's also just
plain fun to gossip, joke and drink with fellow unbelievers, even when my
aging ears can't quite follow conversations.
I particularly enjoyed Emmett Fields' presentation on the �Survival and
Progress of Freethought Literature'. Emmett is a freethought author,
researcher and archivist who is collecting freethought books from what he
calls the �golden age of freethought'. He has computer scanned a hundred
plus books and published five computer searchable Computer CD collections of
freethought literature. For info check out
http://www.thepoint.net/~effields/.
My talk on �Conducting an Atheist Anti-Defamation' campaign went well. Ed
Doerr, president of the American Humanist Association, asked why atheists
would want to present themselves as what they don't believe in? This led
to a lively discussion about the broader meaning of atheism held and the
nature of religious hostility towards unbelief. The idea that atheism is a
beginning for freethinking that develops into a broad philosophic
materialism is unappreciated by many non-theists. Many also don't
understand the problems that arise from using words other than �atheism' to
describe a lack of belief in gods. HT
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