-Caveat Lector-
Dear Caveat Lector:
Was Thomas Jefferson right when he said that "Christianity is an engine for
enslaving manking?" Are you interested in looking deeper into theology and
philosophy in the context of the relationship between the trinity and the
theory of relativity? There are considerable socio-economic implications
that emerge out of a proper understanding of what Karl Marx called
"dialectical materialism", not the least of which is what Karl Marx and
Louis Kelso (co-author of "The Capitalist Manifesto", etc) called "the
universal private property society".
Lee
-----Original Message-----
From: CobolMage <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Date: Sunday, June 13, 1999 5:39 PM
Subject: [CTRL] Fw: AANEWS for Sunday, June 13, 1999
> -Caveat Lector-
>
>from: AMERICAN ATHEISTS
>subject: AANEWS for June 13, 1999
>
> A M E R I C A N A T H E I S T S
> AANEWS
> #588 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 6/13/99
> http://www.atheists.org
> ftp.atheists.org/pub/atheists/
> http://www.americanatheist.org
>
>---------------------------------------------
> A Service of AMERICAN ATHEISTS
> "Leading The Way For Atheist Civil Rights
> And The Separation Of State and Church"
>----------------------------------------------
>
> In This Issue...
> * Christians want boycott of military over witchcraft
> * American Atheists to demonstrate in Detroit
> * Move to remove "god" reference stirs controversy in Canada
> * Resources
> * About this list...
>
>
>
> RELIGIOUS GROUPS URGING BOYCOTT OF ARMY OVER WICCANS
>
>A coalition of religious conservative has called upon Christians to
>boycott the U.S. Army until the Pentagon bans Wiccans and Satanists
>from all installations. Paul Weyrich of the Free Congress Association
>charged that tolerating meetings of witches at military bases was "a
>direct assault on the Christian faith that generations of American
>soldiers have fought and died for."
>
>"Until the Army withdraws all official support and approval from
>witchcraft, no Christian should enlist or reenlist in the Army, and
>Christian parents should not allow their children to join the Army,"
>Weyrich said. "An Army that sponsors satanic rituals is unworthy of
>representing the United States of America."
>
>Weyrich and others were reacting to news reports that witches, or
>Wiccan groups, have been permitted to hold religious rituals at Fort
>Hood, Texas, the nation's largest military base. A story last month
>in the Austin American-Statesman included photographs of members of a
>local congregation jumping through fire and calling upon the "Great
>goddess Freya." There are reportedly more than 40 male and female
>witches of the Ft. Hood Open Circle on active duty at the
>installation; three years ago, base officials recognized Wicca as a
>legitimate religion, and provided space for the pagan rituals.
>
>Col. Jerome Haberek, head chaplain at Ft. Hood and a Roman Catholic
>priest, told the paper that the base "worked hard to understand and
>accommodate the Wiccans."
>
>News about the Wiccan activities reached Rep. Bob Barr, a staunch
>Christian conservative, who sent a letter to Ft. Hood commander Lt.
>Gen. Leon LaPorte insisting that he "stop this nonsense now" and
>close down the Open Circle. "What's next?" asked Barr. "Will
>Rastafarians demand the inclusion of ritualistic marijuana cigarettes
>in their rations?" The congressman added that the presence of witches
>at a military base would affect national security and combat
>readiness, and referred to unspecified "detrimental effects on our
>society." Rep. Chet Edwards (D-Waco), a Christian who represents the
>area of Ft. Hood, countered by saying that he had "serious
>differences with the philosophy and practice of Wicca," but warned
>that it would be a "terrible policy to require each installation
>commander to define what is a religion and decide which religions can
>be practiced by American citizens."
>
> Christian Coalition, Others Balk At Boycott
>
>Early reports identified 13 Christian conservative groups organizing
>the boycott, including Christian Coalition, Traditional Values
>Coalition, Christian Action Network, Religious Freedom Coalition, Home
>School Legal Defense Association, American Association of Christian
>Schools, I Love Jesus Worldwide Ministries, the Madison Project, 60
>Plus, American Council for Immigration Reform, along with Tradition,
>Family, Property, Inc. and the American Family Association. But on
>Wednesday, as Mr. Weyrich and his group was encouraging support for
>the move, some groups were having second thoughts, and even took issue
>with the tactic of urging the Army to bar the Wiccans. Marc Levin of
>the American Freedom Institute warned, "This brings back the specter
>of the Salem witch trials. In addition to being wrongheaded,
>conservative calls for a boycott of the military are politically
>suicidal." He added that "Support for the military is a bedrock
>conservative principle."
>
>The American Family Association then withdrew its support for the
>boycott. Pat Trueman of AFA told the Austin American-Stateman, "We
>were totally blindsided by this." Other groups began lining up on the
>issue. William S. Lind of the Center for Cultural Conservatism
>opined that while his group opposes government intervention in
>religious practices, "Some things should be discriminated against.
>All religions are not equal. Satan should be discriminated
>against..."
>
>While Wiccans deny that they worship the devil, the U.S. military
>chaplain's handbook includes details on memorial services for
>personnel in the Church of Satan.
>
>Yesterday, news reports announced that Christian Coalition would not
>be urging its 2.1 million members to participate in the boycott.
>Spokeswoman Molly Clatworthy told the Statesman that the group
>"doesn't tell its members what to do on personal issues of faith," but
>added that, "As individuals, Christian Coalition members may support
>this boycott." Paul Weyrich responded to the defections by saying,
>"We held a coalition meeting, laid out our game plan and asked people
>to sign on. A couple of these groups either misunderstood what was
>being advocated or got cold feet."
>
> The "Problem" And The RLPA Solution?
>
>John Machate of the Military Pagan Network told the Dallas Morning
>News that the boycott was "a direct attack on the Constitution of the
>United States," and violated freedom of religion. Ironically, many of
>the organizations involved in the boycott -- or others which may be
>sympathetic toward it -- have advocated so-called "religious liberty"
>legislation, including the Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA)
>and the federal Religious Liberty Protection Act (RLPA). Those
>measures would require that governments adhere to a "compelling
>interest/least restrictive means" test when dealing with faith-based
>practices or organizations; critics charge, though, that RLPA and
>similar laws give preferential treatment to organized religion.
>
>One problem RLPA supporters, including Christian conservatives like
>Rep. Barr, encounter, though, is when the issue of "religious
>liberty" applies to sects or religious philosophies frowned upon by
>fundamentalists and evangelicals. RLPA and RFRA could make it even
>more difficult to discriminate against a Wiccan group, or some other
>non-mainstream religious organization.
>
>But Wiccans may have sufficient legal protection without RLPA and the
>dangerous precedents that legislation -- now under consideration on
>capitol hill -- might generate. By allowing Christians, Jews and
>Moslems on military bases, the government must tolerate all religious
>(and non-religious) groups, including ones which do not meet with
>approval from Rep. Barr or Paul Weyrich's coalition. Mr. Machate
>noted, "All religions are protected, not just those that Congress, the
>president or Supreme Court determine... All religions are and should
>be permitted free practice on military bases, within reasonable
>limits."
>
>So far, says Machate, six U.S. military installations sanction the
>peaceful rituals and meetings of Wiccan groups.
>
> **
>
> AMERICAN ATHEISTS TO PROTEST PROMISE KEEPERS "SOLEMN
> ASSEMBLY," SATURDAY, JUNE 26 IN DETROIT
>
>American Atheists will hold a peaceful protest at the Promise Keepers
>rally in Detroit, Michigan on Saturday, June 26, 1999. The
>demonstration will take place outside the Joe Louis Arena, from 10:00
>a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Appropriate signs and banners will be provided in
>keeping with the theme of this demonstration, and members and
>supporters of American Atheists are cordially invited.
>
>We'll meet on the ground level sidewalk across the street from the
>main entrance ticket office, ground level. This is a peaceful
>demonstration, which emphasizes the American Atheist opposition to the
>Promise Keepers agenda, and a defense of atheist civil rights and
>First Amendment separation of church and state.
>
>Parking is available at the Joe Louis Parking Garage, or the nearby
>Cobo Hall parking facility. Expect to pay an hourly rate. After the
>picket, we will gather at a nearby restaurant -- details at the
>picketing.
>
>Visit the Michigan Atheists web site at
>http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/affilmic.htm for more information,
>or contact AA State Director Henry Morgan through [EMAIL PROTECTED],
>or (734)-326-5794. We look forward to seeing you on Saturday, June
>26th in Detroit!
>
> **
>
> PETITION TO REMOVE "GOD' REFERENCE SPARKS FUROR IN
> CANADIAN CHURCH-STATE DEBATE
>
>A petition with over 1,000 names urging the Canadian government to
>remove references in the constitution to a deity sparked everything
>from debate to catcalls last week when it was presented in Parliament
>by New Democratic Party MP Svend Robinson. Drafted by the Humanist
>Association of Canada, it calls upon the state to amend a section of
>the Charter of Rights and Freedoms which declares that the country "is
>founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God and the
>rule of law." The petition reads:
>
>TO THE HOUSE OF COMMONS
>
>"We, the undersigned citizens (or residents) of Canada, draw the
>attention of the House to the following:
>
>THAT the section of the Preamble to Canada's Charter of Rights and
>Freedoms (Constitution Act, 1982) that reads: Whereas Canada is
>founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of God ... is a
>discriminatory reference and offensive to millions of Canadians who
>are non-Christians or non-religious.
>
>THAT each incident that discriminates against non-Christian or
>non-religious Canadians due to government-endorsed religious reference
>or exercise, harms the public in general, in that such preferential
>endorsement by the government belies the whole intent and purpose of
>the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.
>
> THAT this basis for discrimination against all non-Christian and
>non-religious Canadians would be greatly alleviated if the following
>legislative measures were taken.
>
>THEREFORE, your petitioners call upon Parliament to enact legislation
>to change the Preamble to Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedoms
>from: "Whereas Canada is founded upon principles that recognize the
>supremacy of God and the rule of law" to read: Whereas Canada is
>founded upon principles that recognize the supremacy of intellectual
>freedom and the rule of law, AND that Section 2(a) of the Fundamental
>Freedoms be changed from: "freedom f conscience and religion" to read:
>freedom of conscience, and both freedom of and freedom from religion."
>
>The groups notes that originally, there was no mention of "god" in the
>preamble until a Member of Parliament, responding to pressure from
>evangelical organizations, pushed for its inclusion. Prime Minister
>Pierre Trudeau (ca. 1982) observed, "God couldn't care less if it was
>in or not..."
>
>MP Robinson said that he did not personally support the petition's
>amendment, but added that he submitted it as a courtesy to his
>constituents.
>
> Religious Groups Retaliate
>
>Robinson submitted or "tabled" the petition before the House of
>Commons last Tuesday, and was immediately criticized. Reform Party
>House Leader Randy White told the Canadian National Post newspaper
>that he had tried unsuccessfully to extract a promise from the Liberal
>government that it would not remove any references to god from the
>Charter. Echoing American culture warriors, White asked, "What do we
>stand for any more? Where are the morals? Where are the values?" He
>added, "Every time you turn around, you see this Liberal government
>slipping lower and lower into the gutters of the country..."
>
>White also attacked other Liberal policies such as ending the
>recitation of the Lord's Prayer from official proceedings, lowering
>the age of sexual consent, and ordering that a memorial service for
>victims of an airline tragedy in Canada not include any references
>from the Bible. "You have to take this seriously," White told
>reporters. "We cannot just sit back and allow these guys to lower the
>morality levels of this country without saying something..."
>
>Editorials in Canadian newspapers also denounced MP Robinson and the
>petition. After noting the disintegration of the old British empire
>and how the country's "martial history" has been replaced "with
>peacekeeping revisionism," the unidentified writer for the National
>Post added: "Considering such changes, is it really surprising the
>last bulwark of Western tradition -- a deferential not to God in our
>Constitution -- is now being assaulted by fashionable politicians?"
>The paper also blasted "atheist fundamentalists," and noted that the
>god-reference "is sufficiently broad to include Christians, Jews and
>Muslims alike ... the particular denomination is the basic
>acknowledgment that there is some being supreme to Man, and some
>lawmaker more authoritative than any politician or judge." The Post
>also claimed, "Attacking God flouts the sensibilities of Canadians and
>the history of the NDP -- Reverend Tommy Douglas built his socialist
>party on Jesus' example..."
>
>Some newsgroups and internet postings inaccurately reported that MP
>Robinson was an "atheist politician," which is he is not. Calling
>himself "only the messenger," Robinson told media, "When I am
>approached by constituents to present a petition that raises a serious
>issue, I certainly do so... I was not involved in drafting the
>petition and it's not wording that I particularly support." He added
>that he has already been approached by other members of his district
>who are launching petitions to keep the "god" reference in the
>Charter. "I have said I would be pleased to present that petition,"
>declared Robinson.
>
>Also speaking out against any change were groups like Chinese
>Christians in Action and the British Columbia Moslem Association; both
>organizations are circulating keep-god petitions to their respective
>religious followers. Bill Chu of CCA told the Canadian Broadcasting
>Service on Monday that those seeking to change the Charter wording
>were "trying to make everything so relative that nobody can argue
>what's right and wrong anymore." MP Robinson responded, "Canada is a
>secular country. That's not to deny the deep importance of
>spirituality and religious faith to many folks in Canada, but when
>Bill Chu says for example, and he said 'we are a Christian country,'
>Canada is a country of many different religious faiths, and a country
>in which there are folks who have the right to express no religious
>beliefs, and that's what this petition would seek to ensure."
>
>Even the New Democrats distanced themselves from Mr. Robinson and the
>petition. On Wednesday, Alexsia McDonough, senior NDP leader,
>reprimanded Robinson for introducing a measure "which was not the
>position of the party."
>
>"He (Robinson) was advancing a position that was immensely
>controversial and rejected by the party," said McDonough, "and we felt
>that it was very important to both make clear that this is not the
>position of the party... He has been reprimanded and it is very much
>our desire to move on." Party officials also criticized Robinson for
>presenting the petition in conjunction with a television appearance,
>which generated a tidal wave of media curiosity. Nelson Riis, also an
>NDP Member, described the petition as "absolutely stupid," and
>characterized Robinson's move as "disgusting" and reflecting "poor
>political judgment."
>
>Ms.McDonough rose before the news cameras and House to declare,
>"Today, together with my NDP caucus, I reaffirm our party's continuing
>support for the inclusion in Canada's Constitution of the preamble
>referring to the supremacy of God."
>
>Others rose in support of McDonough, including Progressive
>Conservative MP Elsie Wayne who insisted, "This country has been going
>in the wrong direction for a long time, and for the first time in 132
>years you can't say the Lord's Prayer in the House of Commons. This
>country was built on good moral, Christian values." Wayne ominously
>warned, "You open the door to all the different cultures, you ask them
>to come in, you welcome them here. But when you go to someone else's
>country, you don't ask them to change their believe because you've
>come to their country."
>
> News reports say that no action is expected on the petition.
>
> **
>
>RESOURCES FROM AMERICAN ATHEISTS...
>
>* For information about American Atheists, send mail to
>[EMAIL PROTECTED] Please include your name and postal mailing
>address.
>
>* For a free catalogue of American Atheist Press books, videos and
>other products, send mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Kindly include
>your postal mailing address.
>
>* The American Atheist Magazine is now on the web! Check out select
>articles from the current or back issues, as well as special web-only
>features. Visit us at http://www.americanatheist.org
>
>* If you are a current member of American Atheists, sign up for our
>e-mail discussion group, aachat. We have over 120 participants who
>discuss topics such as Atheism, religion, First Amendment issues and
>lots more! Contact Margie Wait, the Moderator, through
>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> ABOUT THIS LIST...
>
>AANEWS is a free service from American Atheists, a nationwide movement
>founded by Madalyn Murray O'Hair for the advancement of Atheism, and
>the total, absolute separation of government and religion.
>
>You may forward, post or quote from this dispatch, provided that
>appropriate credit is given to AANEWS and American Atheists. Edited
>by Conrad Goeringer, [EMAIL PROTECTED] Internet Representative for
>American Atheists is Margie Wait, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
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DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic
screeds are not allowed. Substance�not soapboxing! These are sordid matters
and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright
frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects
spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL
gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers;
be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and
nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
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http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
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