THE

AMERICAN
ATHEIST
POOR

RICHARD'S REPORTS

Volume]
January

!'lumber 1
1971

ATWEIST

Cl-lALLENGES
FOR

THE

NEW

YEAR

In This Issue:
Page

Greetings
by Madalyn Murray O'Hair .................
Letter s to the Editor .............................
Comments ........................................
1971-Atheist Challenge for the New Year ..............
This month's write-a-letter-campaign
.............
As Seen from Here ...........................
"Nut Mail'l ..............

22

Anonymous

23

Letters

Transcript
of Radio Tape ........................
Poems ..........................................

1
2
5
7

19
21

24
2,8

The Staff:
Editor - in - Chief..............................
A880CiateEditors
, .....................

Contributing

" ........................

Richard F. O'Hair
Madalyn O'Hair
Lynn Thompson

C P. Me.l'I'it t

Publisher:

American Atheists, Inc.

Printer:

The Gustav Broukal American Atheist Press, 4102 Sinclair Ave., Austin Texas 78756

THE AMERICAN ATHEIST, Richard's Reports, is published by American Atheists,

Inc., a non-profit, non-political, educational organization. Mailing address: P. O. Box
2117, Austin, Texas 78767
No subscription rate: distributed to those who contribute to the cause of separation
of state and church or to the cause of Atheism.
Ten copies of any single issue: $2.50 (Bulk rate only).

THE AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

This decade, of the 1970's, is a crucial one for

Atheism. It can be the beginning of a transition of our
national philosophy away from the Judeo-Christian religion
and toward the humanistic and positive philosophy of Atheism,
or it can be a time of a mystical national religion solidifying and crushing all other viewpoints. Only too many
events in our nation point to both possibilities.
As the gathering at a wedding is often told, we
need to admonish you that you must speak up NOW or forever
hold your peace.
The government of the United States is on a determined course to change this, our nation, into a believing
and prayerful one - at the same time that religion has never
been in so many difficulties. The dichotomy is a peculiar
one: the churches lose members, teachers, priests/nuns,
seminarians and income from contributions at the same time
that they gather extraordinary economic wealth and influence
through the
multiplication of business profits and tax
free income, as well as government tax-fund aid.
If left unchallenged religion can trammel individual rights and freedom of speech in this decade. Under the
superstructure of our culture lies the basic philosophy of
living which supports it. An open-ended humanitarian life
view can do much to repair the deficits of the human spirit
which have been engendered by the anti-natural, anti-human,
and intolerant strictures of religion.
Religion will not cure itself, nor will it voluntarily give up its power or wealth. Not alone your freedoms,
but those of our total American culture, are in your hands.
We plan to stand up and fight and ~ prop~
that you should
join us.
Page

THE

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

LETTERSTO THE EDITOR

To:

Madalyn Murray
Box. 2117
Austin, Texas

O'~air

P.O.

from:

James

78767

Franklin
96
Maui, Hawaii

This letter is not so speciel or

urgent but with the volume of
mail you get I wanted to do
something
to get it to your
attention
in a hurry even after
the delay of a couple of months
before finishing
it. Maybe that's
all the more reason to rush it.

RR 1 80x

Kula

96790

When I was a child we were taught in public school about the

principle
of separation
of church and state. Then they marched
us into assembly
and read the bible and such prayerful
things.
And I knew this was wrong that this was not separation
of
church and state.
My body and my courage were yet child-size
and I sat silently
said nothing did nothing.
But my non-child
mind learned by this
and many more, that ignorance
and hypocracy
rule the world.
Years later I heard the news that some woman,whose
name I soon
forgot, had taken this issue to the bigrnBt court of our land
and won!
And whether won or lost with this and few more, I
learned the joy of not being alone with an idea the hope for
rationality
born of knowing that some do think and try.
More years later, as America aimed a vessel at the moon, it
seemed to me a modern day pyramid another structure
of the
tyrant rulers paid for by the stolen labor of others. Different
than pyramids
tho, I thought not a monument
to the worship of
death, not a housing for a vessel to bear a Pharaoh to the
land of death but this time a use of man's intellect
as an
expression
of man's life a vessel to carry men seeking into
the reality of what is.
Then came the voice across a quarter million miles of space,-"In the beginning " The government
was reading the bible
again . still putting forth the prayerful
words to the assembly;
this time to probably
the biggest "assembly"
of listeners
the
world had ever known. The death worshippers
were still at the
helm.
And in the next days headlines
there was news of this woman
again. I noted the name this time and wrote to let you know
of my joy at learning
that at least one person who would be
heard had spoken out.

It is my nature

that

I would

rather

have

the concurrence

and
Page 2

THE

respect of one intelligent

of a million bungle-brained

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

and rational person than the cheers

jack-asses
who make up the masses.

I mention these things above, so you may know in small part

how much it meant to me to receive your July 1 letter to me.
And, feeling the companionship
and common spirit it reveals,
I am pressed with a great desire to talk with you at least by
letter (and the thought out words of a letter are undoubtedly
better tho I sure have been long in putting them together)
to convey my concern for the giant and lonely intellect ..
battered and bruised it seemed to me, but still going on ..
whose struggle is revealed (at least to me) more than you may
have realized in your July Newsletter.
Have

you set yourself

Individuality
can not make

an impossible

task?

can not be mobilized

and organized!
a mass movement of reason and truth!

you

Individuality".reason
truth these are a way of
living a method and not a goal. They lack tberigidity
~nd fiaality of a doctrine.
And there must be a final
authoritarian'truth\or
allegience
to a leader-master
in
order to have an organization
or movement
or any form
of 'groupism'.
If you succeed
have failed.

at what

you are

trying

Don't give a second thought to those

a "one man bandfl
You are a "one man
sweet to the ear of reason you are
proud of itl No individualist
can be
but an individualist
can think clear
great goals.

to do,

you will

who "accuse"
you of being
band" . and your music is
a "one man band" . be
otherwise and no one
thoughts and achieve

I wonder if you would not accomplish

more of what you want, if
you spent no effort on trying to form and hold together an
organization "loose" tho it may be a nd dassi.pa t ed none of
your earnings
for appearances
on the maintenence
of an
organization
anda "center".
A newsletter
or magazine
to
earn money, ~
to maintain
contact with those who support
your views and want to know what you and others are doing.
Sell your books thru your newsletter and those of others too ..
and tapes of your programs
for those who would try to get them
on their local stations.
And ask those who "cheer" a given court
battle to chip in on the cost of that specific one.
I think anything worth doing is worth doing at a profit. For
if you do not survive economically if you don't eat .. you
aren't going to stay alive to accomplish
anything.
It hurts me to see you pleading for support. Perhdps I judge
too much by my own nature but it seems to mo that this must
grate on you and tear at you inside.

Page 3

THE

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

Would not a great number of the 30,DOD who have c on t a c t eo Y"~;;;

pay $12 a year or at least $6 to "keep in touch" . to learn
what is going on . to read what you write about what you think771
Perhaps I am the dreamer now, but it still seems to me that
would likely have more success than contributio~
and an
organization.
Or am I judging tromuch by myself what others
might do?
Those who have been the creators
and spreaders
of new or
dif~erent
concepts have always been ostracized
and condemned
by the mass of people. So, individuals
like you and I have to
expect that to expect the hostility
of the authoritarians
in
power. If we point the way to something
better the rejection
of the idea just beacuse its different
and the condemnation
of
the person who propagates
it can be viewed as prsdicatable
and
necessary.
(necessary
in the sense that that is always the way
of "authority"
and the obedient
followers.)
But what bothers me is whether we are forerunners
or among the
last handful of persons fighting
off the death of freedom and
individuality.
Pe~haps we are both a connecting
link between
yesterday and tomorrow keeping alive the idea of seeking
truth of beinq rational.
You will note that this letter has no date. That's because I
started it two months ago with parts typed out in rough and
more parts and pieces scratched
on scraps of paper.
I had planned to continue
the first part of this letter with
reference
to my additional
pleasure
at discovering
(thank you
so much ~or sending me a copy of your appeal to Fifth Circuit)
your attack on the basic matter of stacking courts with ~udges
who declare their allegience
to God by "So help me God" oaths
well taken well taken.
The constitutional
breach caused by religion
in our courts
been another of my long held lonesome
views and here was
Madalyn again perceiving
and fighting.

has

I roared with laughing approval

at your complaints
opening
line . in the heading,that
is--"Complaint
and Prayer "(excuse
the expression) " Such slashing
irreverance so pointedly
laying open to the court its own historical
ties to church and
authoritarianism.
And so I was spurred to start this letter, first by your July
Newsletter
and then again when I saw a story in the paper
that your appeal had been thrown out and the court had described
your raising of the question of religious
oaths for judges as
approaching
absurdity.
The absurdity
is that it has gone
questioning
and op~osing
it.

on so long

with

no one

So~ I typed and scribbled . and made notes of my thoughts.

But the busyness
of many things has kept them sitting on
my desk waiting for when I would have time to put together
and expand into this letter some of what I wanted to say to
you madalyn one of the rarest persons who walks today on
this earth.
Nov.

29, 1970
James

II

franklin

Page 4

_THE

AMERICAN ATHEIST

-Open Letter to James Franklin and the Atheists

Austin, Texas 78767

of America-

My deci~ion to publish the letter of Mr. Franklin is based on the sensitivity and insight he conveys.
He is talking about a philosophy
which
out of necessity must have some framework of organization in order to inform the public and our associates of our activities and to raise money so
that we can continue our fight for separation of state and church. He knows,
as we do, that to organize individuals such as Atheists is highly unfeasible. The very move to organize is to plant the seed of death.
Religion is highly organized but should be a private matter between an
individual and.his god and therefore
no government,
government
agency,
court, politican or evangalist has the right to infringe upon that privacy
by making laws, regulations, or demands upon the public by the gross assumption that America
is 100% Christian.
The religious leaders
of America
have no business
exerting their fantastic
power upon the elected and nonelected government officials to pass rules that govern us all.
The First
Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees its people
that freedom and
forbids the government to pass laws establishing or supporting
a religion.
Since this basic right has been violat~d from the Supreme Court, the President and on down to some local school boards' ,decision to re-establish
prayer in schools, Americans have become increasingly blase about these infringements.
The SOS has dissipated itself and its' funds out of necessity to stay
alive and keep functioning day to day.
Were that our magazine
was self
supporting it would help our expenses.
We maintain
an office here
in
Austin and a staff of two girls working part time because there is not the
money for full time employees.
Apart from the basic expenses of maintaining a working
office we have
not the means to hire a lawyer and fight the government in the courts
and
the politicans where
all the decisions for religion are being made.
This
means parachoid, oaths to get a passport, the Roman Catholics' present attempts to reinstate
prayer in schools,
and our attempts to get the government to tax churches, plus many others.
We have tried to get grants but as yet to no avail. We must rely upon
our associates and other people sympathetic to our cause.
So we continue as best we can with what we have and this largely means
the unrentless
efforts of Madalyn,
her personal appearances, her intelligence and wit.
She is like a self-winding watch
that perpetuates itself
by continous motion.
I end by quoting the final sentence of your letter ... "Madalyn ...one of
the rarest persons who walks today on this earth".

--_

...

_ _
...

...

Page 5

THE

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

ATI-lE 1ST

CWALLENGES
FOR
TI-IE

NEW

YEAR

Page 7

THE

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 7876.7

IFCC

Page 8

THE

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

One of our many projects for the New Year was begun last
December.
We composed the two page letter, printed on the next
pages, and with a listing of 128 tapes available from the "American Atheist Radio Series", (one of which you will find printed on
page 24), we began to send them out to some 6,000 radio stations
in America. Currently we have mailed more than 1,500 and received approximately 200 answers.
The results have been favorable as compared to four years
ago when the answers were negative.
Ranging from willingness to
donate free time, invitations to appear on talk shows, reasonable
$10 per program rates, $110 per program and hostile no's.
Some stations show a reluctance to agree and wish to audit
the tapes for questionable material or flatly state that they are
not aware of any interest in their area for such a program.
Susprisingly enough, it is the small town that is more liberal and willing to sell, while the larger more urban areas show
a conservative attitude.
As we expected, heavy religious areas
are less friendly and the western United States is showing the
greatest interest in airing our program.
As we compIle this information with the monitoring our associates have done of religion on tv and radio, we find certain
facts that bespeak the influence of organized religion. Very few
answers back from California and a big lack of interest from Maryland.
Networks also emerge into a pattern.
CBS schedules more
religion than any other and their affiliates have in turn sent
in more refusals.
Second with religious programing is NBC which
has also sent in many refusals. ABC, with the least religion,
has been more accepting of our program. MBS, independent networks and stations with no affiliation most often say 'yes'.
A recent ruling of January 1971 by the FCC says that all
radio stations must devote 30 minutes each evening of prime time
to controversial issues.
Since the FCC and most radio stations
have declared that religion is not a controversial issue, we hope
this will open new inroads for us.
We believe that 1971 will be a good year for us and we will
achieve important breakthroughs in America

Page 9

THE AMERICAN

SOCIETY OF SEPIIRIITION/ST!

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

INC.

Pit O. ION 2117

lillstilll re~J(rtI$11l761

Dear Sir:
The Society of Separationists, Inc., founded by ~ladalyn
Murray O'Hair, represents the Atheistic point of view in America.
As representatives of this minority, but nevertheless controversial, point of view, we are requesting sufficient time on your station to express our opinions in contrast to religious programming.
In the 'Scott Decision' (F.C.C. 3 P & F - Radio. Reg.
259, 1946) it is noted "...freedom of speech means freedom to express disbeliefs as well as beliefs. If freedom of speech is to
have any meaning, it can not be predicated on the mere popularity
of public acceptance of the idea sought to be advanced. It must
be extended as readily to ideas which we disapprove or abhor as
to ideas which we approve. 11 The Scott Decision dealt with Atheism.
The communications media is becoming more aware and
appreciative of the striving for ethnic ide~tity by members of
minority groups. The need for complete assimilation into the dominant culture is no longer recognized as being absolutely essential
to being a 'Good American', (Buddhist-Japanese-American Citizens
League)
The practice of glvlng complete dominance of the airways to the Judeo-Christian religion threatens the religious liberty of 74,037,000 who have disdained to affiliate with any religious group. This practice is particularly repugnant to the
American concept of fair play and to the Constitutionally protect-

Page 10

THE

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

ed freedom of expression in that it places a premium on belief as

against non-belief and sub.jec t s freedom of conscience to the rule
of the majority,
Under the F.C,C, 'Fairness Doctrine' as incorporated into the Communications Act of 1934 At~~ism ,as a 'oontroversial issue'
of public
importance deserves to have equal
.
---- time to counter the
saturation of the media with religion ever~vhere practiced.

The National Association of Broadcasters' Creed clearly

points out that "radio broadcasting in the United States of America
is a living symbol of democracy~ a significant and necessary instrument for maintaining freedom of expression? as established by the
First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States." This
same creed provides for the fair discussion of matter of general
public concern,
On the basis of these promulgations we demand sufficient
time to present Atheist views? many of which were conceived by the
worlds' greatest minds.
Our material titled flAmericanAtheist Radio Series" consists of fifteen minute once-a-week programs, First aired over
KTBC radio in Austin? Texas? the series? now in its third year, has
been widely accepted in the community as a stock feature of that
station? which is owned by the family of former President Lyndo~ B.
Johnson, A selection of programming may be had and the attached
list gives over a hundred titles, Quality tapes will be timely
furnished without cost,
We are also prepared to purchase time if this becomes mandatory to present our philosophy and if the religious programs which
you carry also pay.

b,'.l ,/.:h
n.

SOCIETY OF SEPARATIONISTS, Inc.

'I tl.
I,
.::;;

FO'H:memo
enclosures

.il
/ L~

(\''/0'

cJ:

'IlLt..
0 t..
j

i"

(;

.Richard F. O'Hair

C,I'.-""

-- President
Page 11

IPAR 0 C WIA I D

T_HE_A_ME_R_ICA_N_A_TH_EI_ST_A_us_tin_,

T_T

78767

Page 12

THE AMERICAN ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767
'The National Education AssoOpponents
to
parochiaid
ciation, spokesman for nearly 2 one-half and three/ourths of all
maintain that it is impossible to
Catholic
children
now
attend
million teachers, and the Amenseparate religion and the secu-'
flow of public funds to churchcan Federation
of reachers
.public schools.
related schools is accelerating
have historically opposed use of
The second largest parochial
-and bringing a vigorous legal
lar subjects in the parochial
school system is operated by the school.
counterattack
from groups that
public money in private schools.
contend America's historic wall
These groups insist that pub- Lutherans with an enrollment of
Edd Doerr, education director
about 200,000. The third largest,
between church and state has lie schools are not adequately
for Americans United, contends
the Seventh Day Adventists with
been breached.
funded now and the situation
that "religious knowledge is deThirty-six of the 50 states pro- would 'Worsen if tax money is about 65,000 students, opposes
veloped in Catholic schools not
any type of government assistvide some sort of aid to private
made
available',
to
private
only by means of formal reliance.
schools. Federal assistance, al- schools.
gion classes at every grade levJewish,
Baptists
and other
most
nil before
1965, has
For '23 'years, Americans Unitel but also through the permeaprotestant schools are divided in
amounted to an estimated $250 ed for Separation of Church and
tion of the entire school promillion in the last five years.
State, a Silver Spring, Md., non-: their positions on government
gram with a sectarian point of
And now, supported by such profit organization, has been a aid.
view."
There is even division within
powerful
allies as President
national watchdog on legislation
There
are
other
questions
Catholic ranks. Monsignor'Ray,
Nixon, a drive is surfacing to that would give public assistbeing raised in the debate.
give even greater public aid to ance to church related schools.
mond A. Lucker:'chief~pokesFor
example,
if parochial
private
schools, which enroll
Parochiaid-the
use of public
man for the Roman Catholic
schools were' reimbursed
the
more than six million children funds
for parochial
schools
Bishops in the United States on full of amount of secular suband which, like their public -"destroys
religious liberty and
the subject of Catholic educajects-such
as math and science
counterparts,
are feeling a Ii- violates freedom of worship"
tion, concedes that there is a' -which they taught would they
nancial pinch.
Americans United contend.
minority that feels too much 'of be obligated to admit anyone
Meanwhile,
the
Supreme
One of the group's leaders,
the
church's
resources
are
who applied, regardless of their
Court is preparing to hear argu~ }aston D. Cogdell, adds:
being diverted to' the elementareligion?
ments this fall on a Pennsylva"Since tax funds are extractry-secondary
scnools . and that
"They
should not,"
Msgr.
nia case which could provide a ed by compulsion by govern- more could be rrccomplished in
Lucker said. "Parochial schools
landmark ruling on the church- ment ... tax aid for a parochial
other areas of Catholic .educahave to have the right to deterstate question.
school is coerced public support,
tlon.
mine the children who would be
Principal
beneficiary
of the of a church, of a church activi-'
He added, however, that "We enrolled." He added tlrat a Cathpublic aid is the Roman Catho- ty. of a church institution and
are still committed
in policy
olic student would be given
Iic school system, with nearly 'violates the religious freedom of ann, in fact to the Catholic
preference over a non-Catholic'
five million students enrolled in all citizens."
Schools."
in the event only one vacancy
more than 10,000 elementary
Catholic leaders,
of course,
An argument
often used in existed.
schools and 2,200 high schools.
Dr.
Edward
R.
support of parochiaid is that if
disagree.
The questions aside, one of
Major .,breakthrough
for pri- D' Alessio coordinator
of gov- Catholic schools were shut down
the
major roadblocks for state
vate schools came with passage 'err.mentai
progra~s',
for the it would cost the public school
aid
to
private schools are state
of the Elementary-Second~ry
U,S. Catholic conference's
ele- system $4 billion more annually
Education ~~t of 1965, W~lCh, mentary and secondary educaconstitutions
prohibiting the use
to operate.
funnelled millions of dollars into. 1 tion division, states:
of
tax
money
in non- public
1'\0 responsible Catholic offi
parochial schools through feder"Quite apart from its spiritual
eial wOti,W predict a wholesale
schools.
al programs.
'
dimension the Catholic or non- closing of. Catholic schools:
California's
constitution,
for
Wherever
state-level
assist- puQIic' s~~ool performs a fiveHo~~~er, Rep. Roman C. Puinstance,
states:
ance goes beyond transportafold function in our pluralistic
cinski, Dvlll., chairman of the
"No public money shall ever
tion, milk and school lunch pro society; exercise of a parental
House education subcommittee,
be appropriated for the support
grams, such legislation usually right of option; public service;
said private schools "are caught
of any sectarian or denominais attacked in the courts. About substantial savings to the pubin a wage- price squeeze and
tional school, or any school not
30 cases are on file throughout :lie: diversity, and competition."
faced with mass shutdowns.
under the exclusive control of
the country involving churchIn his education message last,
"We can't ignore the plight of
the
officers
of the
public
state separation.
" Maron,
Nixon
said
private,
these schools," he added in an
The Pennsylvania
case now schools were closing atthe rate
schools ... "
interview.
before theSupremeCourt
is
'of one a day. He added: "This
}ly WILLIAM J. WAUGH
WASHINGTON (AP) - The

II

an

appeal from a three-judge fe~-! government cannot be indiffereral court's decision upholding a ent to the potential collapse of
state law that permits" assist- s u c h
(private-parochial)
ante
to, non-public
schools- 'schools."
'through purchase of services. '.,
In, April, the President
ap: Another
federal
.co~rt
J.II pointed four educators
from the
iRhode ~sla?d held a similar law private
sector
to study the
i unconstitutional.
"
plight of non-public elementary
; Opposition to use ~f public tax and secondary schools and de:money in non-public or para- termine
how the government
:chial schools s~ems from many might help
:.sources and IS generated
by
r. n roll men t in Catholic
[many
different
reasons-ou~I
ne'
ti-C tholicism to gen. SChools has dropped near y 0
116;"~ an I a
sistartoe million from the peak years of,
luine fear that such as
11 the mid.1960s and is expected
t eventually
would wreck, the pu
to declineeve~ further. Between
tlic school system"
.
,"

I ,.......

What do Catholic schools want.

in the way of public aid?
Msgr. Lucker answered that
question this way:
"The Catholic schools want to
be regarded as a partner in the
total American educational enterprise ... We do not want any
aid for religious instruction ...
We believe that we have a title
in justice to state and federal
aid for school hinches, buses,'
secular textbooks and the pur'chase of secular services.
II

Page 13

THE

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin. Texas 78767

I~GO~R~A
Gora has been the head of the Atheist movement in India for
the last thirty years. He was a confident of Mahatma Gandhi,
and will soon publish his book about his relationship with him.
Gora was on a round-the-world trip of about six months duration
to contact Atheists everywhere. In 1971 he is hosting a World
Atheist Meet (W. A. M.) in India. Currently he is publishing
a magazine "The Atheist" in which he writes a column "I Learn"o
The following excerpt is taken from the November, 1969, issue.

ILEARN
An experience with a friend provided
me with a test for atheism.
Tirupati (Balaji)
Hindu pilgrimage.
lies at the foot of a
the temple is situated

is a famous place of
The municipal town
range of hills while
at the top of a hill.

Thousands of pilgrims from far and

near visit the temple everyday and the
devotees are known for two religious
practices.
First, they make all-out donations of cash and gold to the god and
second, they donate to the god their hair
too. Therefore clean shaven heads of men,
women and children symbolize visit to the
temple at Tirupati.
I attended a three-day political conference at the municipal town of Tirupati.
A friend who called himself an atheist was
also a delegate to the conference.
He sat
by me on the first day at the conference.
He was absent on the forenoon of the
second day. The afternoon he came again;
but, to my surprise, with his head shaved
in the manner of donating hair to the god
of Tirupati.
There were quite a few delegates who
took the opportunity of the conference for
a visit to the temple and for donating their
hair. That this "atheist"
also should do
the same was an astonishment.

...
His explanation
revealed his mind.
lie visited the temple in the company of
his friends. He followed the crowd in
donating his hair. He tried to please me
by saying that his hair would grow up in a
few weeks.
The essence of atheism is the fight
against this softness of the mind, a slavish
obedience to a custom or to the crowd.
Millions of devotees donate hair .o god
of Tirupati, out of religious
Iaith or
theistic convention.
An'
'.st, tn be
worth the name, ough t f
dist both the
faith and the convention and take up a
firm, rational stand. But to fall in line
with the crowd is as bad as putting forth
the plea of divine will or fate's decree for
acts of omission or of commission.
It is
worse when the culprit is an " atheist ".
v.:

Evidently,
my friend was not an
atheist; he was an opportunist who desired
to combine advantages
by soft compromises.
8 Oct., '69.

-GORA

THE AMERICAN ATHEIST

NASAl
The U.S. Supreme Court in a
unanimous decision on March 12,
1971, refused to review the
NASA case which the Society of
Separationists had begun to
stop Bible reading and prayer
recitation in space.

Thursday, Dec. 17, 1970

O'Hair Files
Prayer Suit

With Court
Madalyn Murray O'Hair is
taking. her case against prayers
in space. to the United States
Supreme Court, she reported,
The petition'. requesting .'..the
Supreme Court to review the
decision of the Fifth Circuit
Court of Appeals which
dismissed her original suit :....,..
was filed Wednesday.
The petition for review
contends that U.S. District
Judge Jack Roberts dismissed
the original complaint without
having a trial on the facts.
The petition also contends
that Fifth Court of Appeals
Judges Walter P. Gewin, Irving
L. Goldberg and David W. Dyer
upheld the decision of Judge
Roberts without proper review
of the case.
"The single-judge District
Court held in dismissing the
complaint that plaintiffs had not
stated a claim upon which relief
could be granted. This hoiding
presupposes
a thorough
examination of the complaint;
accepting 'all well pleaded
allegations of fact as true and
in the light most favorable to
the plaintiffs," the petition
reads.

Austin, Texas 78767

. petitioners
(Mrs. Richard
O'Hair and the Society of
Separationists, Inc.) claim that
such thorough examination 'was
not given.
In his opinion, .Judge Roberts
said: "The plaintiffs have
alleged .' .their right of
freedom of religion' has- been
abridged. . This Court has
searched the pleadings in vain
to find any , allegation . of
coercion. The plaintiffs have
neither been forced to, do
.anything nor prohibited from
doing anything."
The petition contends that, in
its legal response to the District
Court the National Aeronautics
and
Space
Administration
admitted such contentions of the
plaintiffs
as:
the
U.S.
Government attempted by the
Apollo 8 flight to establish the
Christian religion as the official
religion of the United States'
that it violated a 1967 Uiiited
Nations treaty, signed by the
United States, governing the
activities of states in the
exploration .and use of outer
space; and that a religious
(Roman Catholic) flag .was
planted on the moon.
The government's contention
that
the
actions
of the
astronauts were personal was
not accepted by Judge. Roberts,
the petition cites.

It also, unanimously, refused to review as an

allied
issue the request of SOS to
prohibit mandatory affirmation
of belief in God for all federal employees & office holders.
The U. S. Supreme Court,
therefore, affirmed the decision of the 5Th
U. S. Circuit
Court of Appeals of Louisiana.

Page 15

THE

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

IPRAYERS IN SCbjOQL

Austin, Texas 78767

Religion l\lakes Comeback

Quietly in Many U.S. Schools
School Prayer Ban
May be Tested

New Jersey School Latest

Arena for Prayer Battle

Prayer and Bible reading in public schools is once again a problem.

Contrary to the 1962 Supreme Court 8-1 ruling on Murray v. Baltimore School
Board, school boards and groups of citizens have found questionable methods
of circumventing the law.
The most expedient method so far has been reading from the Congressional Record which Qontains prayers offered by the
Chaplain of the U. S. Senate or House of Representativeso

..

Opponent says Sen. Gore

against prayer in school
.L

Page 16

'mE

AMERICAN ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

Netcong takes prayer case to

u.s.
By NANCY JAFFER
The Netcong Board of Education asked the U.S. Supreme Court yesterday to
hear arguments for allowing
the district 1 to reinstitute a
voluntary school prayer program that was banned last
year by NeW Jersey courts.
Board attorney
Stephen
Carton explained the State
of New Jersey has 30 days
to file an answer to the Netcong briefs and within two
weeks after that the court
should render a decision on
whether it will hear the case.
Carton said that in his opinion the earlier high court

course is "favoring agnosticism," and therefore in violation of the court's ruling that
there can be no preference
for any group.
Ironically,
because
the
school system is complying
with the injunction, it faces
another suit from a group of
residents who want students
to be allowed to conduct a 15
minute preschool service in
a classroom.
Stracchio will not grant the
request because he thinks it
violates the court order.
Jersey City attorney Eugene Kenny, who is handling
the matter for the citizens,
explained he believes his

~ecisions left the prayer matter "unsettled," since many

sides issues brought up were
not clarified.
In 1969,the board approved
a resolution allowing preclass
prayer sessions in the school
gym, where attendance of
both teachers and students
was on a purely voluntary
basis.
However, Superior Court
Judge Joseph Stamler ordered the board to halt the
practice, and since last February the district has been
under an injunction to that
effect, according to Joseph
Stracchio, superintendent of
schools.

clients' request WIll not violate the law, since the sessions would be unsupervised
by school administrators.
He said the prayers read
t the originial sessions were
read over by administrators
to make sure they' did not
violate the spirit of the school
board resolution but that, in
effect, was official sanction
of the program.
However, Carton said he
requested Kenny to hold the
suit until the Supreme court
has decided whether it will
take the Netcong case. Kenny
said "hemight very well" do
that, and will discuss the
matter with Carton.

Supreme Court
The case was appealed to
the State .Supreme Court,
which in November upheld
Stamler's decision; based on
the U.S. Supreme Court rulings on school prayer.
The latest appeal is based
Carton's, belief the original
decision was intended only
to ban officially sanctioned
prayer during school hours,
and that preschool sessions
should not be in violation.
He - also argues that" "the
school prayer decision in effect produced results contrary
to the expression of the court
- excising God from school
and in large measure from
public life." Carton said this

Bible reading and prayer

has become a political issue for campaign speeches
and a moral question. Some
irate citizens claim lack
of spiritual training in
schools has been the major
contributor to crime, pornography, drugs, and promiscuity.
So many people get
wound up in causes they
fail to see the principle
of an issue.
The principle here is
very simple-first, it is a
violation
of state
and
church. Second, it is an infringement of the First Amendment, not to
mention
that since 1962 it has been
illegal.
Page 17

THE

AMERICAN

l-i'l N-G-O-D-W-E~-T=-RU~ST~JlI

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

Court rejects 'In God We Trust' challenge

SAN FRANCISCO-The
9th U.
S. Circuit Court of Appeals turned down a challenge to rule
against the constitutionality of
the national motto, "In God We
Trust," and its use on the nation's coins and currency.
Stefan Ray Aranow of Woodland, Calif., was told by the appellate court it would uphold a
1968 ruling by U.S. District
Court Judge Lloyd Burke.
The decision stated that "it
is quite obvious that the national

motto and slogan, 'In God We

Trust,' on coinage and currency
has nothing whatsoever to do
with the establishment of religion. Its use is of a patriotic or
ceremonial character and bears
no true resemblance to a governmental sponsorship of a religious
exercise."
The court did not rnle on
Aranow's right to sue. It limited
its ruling to the constitutionality of
the motto, and whether it violates
separation of church and state.

---...- .-...
In a bulletin released on August 15, 1935 by the Department
of the Treasury in Washington, D.C., it
announce s production
of a new one dollar Silver Certificate.
Among the important changes dealing with printing and design
was the decision to use the Great Seal of the United States for
the first time on any money issued by the United States.
"The reverse side of the'Great Seal~ used for the first time
on money, shows an unfinished pyramid, surmounted by an eye in a
triangular glory.
The pyramid bears in Roman numerals the year
of the Declaration of Independence, 1776.
Above the eye is the
Latin motto,
'Annuit Coeptis,' rendered as 'He (God) favored our
undertakings. '
'I'lH"} motto at the bottom is 'Nevus Ordo Seclorum'
and is translated as
~ew order of the ages.' The eye and triangular glory symbolize an all-seeing Deity.
The pyramid is the
symbol.of strength and it~." unfinished condition denotes the belief of the designers of the Great Seal that there was still work
to be done."
The first committee on the Great Seal was formed on July 4,
1776, with such illustrious people as Franklin and Jefferson. A
private citizen William Barton largely responsible for the adoption of the Great Seal on June 20, 1782 explained: "The pyramid
on the reverse signifies strength and duration. The eye over it,
wi th the motto I Annui t Coeptis' (Prosper our Endeavors,
alludes
to the many signal interpositions of Providence in favor of the
American Cause.
The date underneath is that of the Declaration
of Independence and the words under it signify the beginning of
the new American Era, which commenced from that date."
The intention of this first committee was not to put God or
reference to a Deity on the Great Seal as insinuated by the 1935
interpetation.
t~

Page 18

THE

~:s

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

.....

.....
Page

19

THE

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

The importance of this article, apart from its clear and

concise definition, is that John Sarvas writes these articles
and-buys the space in the paper. This is important for reaching
other Atheists and also establishing some communication with the
"believers". Mr. Sarvas reports that he has received many favorable comments on his column that runs every two weeks.
Our
hearty congratulations to Mr. & Mrs. Sarvas for their idea and
its success.

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 6, 1971

THE

INDEPENDENT,

BIGGAR,

SASK.

An Atheist says ...

What is a Atheist ?
By John M Sarvas
First, he is not an agnostic,
realist, deist, rationalist, secularist, humanist, heretic, iconoclast, infidel, objectivist, ethical
culturist, unitarian nor anyother
fancy name behind which many
non-believers feel they must hide
to function successfully and be
accepted in our society.
An Atheist does not believe
there is a Godor any God, personal or in nature or manifesting itself in any way; that there
is such places as heaven, hell,
perdition, purgatory or any of
the stages inbetween;or life after
death, miracles, angels, or prophets and he does not accept any
holy book of any kind, any saviors, the popes or uy oracles,
self appointed or appointed by
other persons, the efficacy of
prayer said either by himself,
a priest, rabbi or minister.
As adults we must face that
this is silly. Weno longer need
to cling to these ancient fables
and ideas borne of man's ignorance. It is an insult to our
intelligence, common sense and
experience whichwe have gained
from living.

An Atheist loves his fellow

man instead of god,believingthat
heaven is something for which
we should work for now, hete on
earth, for all men to enjoy together; that he can get no help
through prayer. only finding in
himself the strength and inner
conviction to meet life, grapple
with it, subdue it and enjoy it.
That only in a knowledge,Qfhimself and his fellow man can he
find the understanding' that will
help to a life of -fulfillment. He
seeks to- know himself and his
fellow man rather than to know
a god. He believes that a hospital
should be built instead of a
church, a deed done instead of a
prayer said,' striving for involvement in life and not escape into
death; he wants disease conquered, poverty vanished, war
eliminated, man to understand
and 'love man, and an ethical way
of life. Hebelieves that wecannot
rely on a god or channel action
into prayer, nor hope for an end
of troubles in a hereafter. He
believes that weare our brothers'
keepers. But more important
keepers of our own lives; that we
are responsible persons, the job
is here and the time is now.
Page 20

THE

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

The Cleveland Press, W.ednesday, January

Austin, Texas 78767

20, 1971

Youth who wanted name

of Christ is confined
Press State Service
COLUMBUS - Johnnie Ray Dupler, who had
enrolled as a freshman at Ohio State University
and petitioned to change his name to Jesus Christ,
has been committed to Columbus State' Hospital for
90 days.
He was committed yesterday after 'a hearing 111
Franklin County Probate Court in action brought
by Dupler's father who last week asked his son be
committed for treatment,
A court spokesman, said the! hearing for the
name change which had been scheduled after Feb.
8, would be delayed until after Dupler is released
from the state institution.

".

Pa~e 21

THE

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

"

NUT MAIL

Page 22

THE

AMERICAN

ATHE I ST

Austin,
.

Texas 78767

anonymoul

J5~

~/

~)

_ ~~~~lyr~
J~~~-~"V
~I"""

~
~

/~
u-

~,~

Jf[,O
~~

G~
/t-t;/""trrYV

~r
~1.--

.0...--

,Page

23

THE AMERICAN ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

AD/O
'I'he following is a transcript from a tape of "The American Atheist
Radio Series" broadcast over KTBC in Austin on the 19th of January
1970. It is the second of two talks on Charles Bradlaugh this one is
intitled Charles Bradlaugh's "Plea for Atheism".
'

Good Evening,
This is Madalyn Murray O'Hair,
American Atheist, back to talk to
you again.
This month we are discussing
Charles Bradlaugh, that extraordinary English Atheist who ran for
Parliament - openly, as an Atheistwho made that office for many successive years - and who, put
his
stamp on Western Atheism for
good
and all times.
He lived from 1833
to near the end of that century before ours, and you learned a little
about his life last week in our
broadcast.
Tonight I would like to read to
you from his booklet, a "Plea for
Atheism."
In describing this, his
daughter had this to say:
"The work Atheist has
alway'S
been used as a term of obloquy by
Christians, even by educated Christians who have not the excuse of
ignorance.
Misapprehension
and
deliberate misrepresentation
of
Atheism have been constant, and Lndeed are not unknown at the present
day. In the late seventies of last
century my father wrote 'A Plea for
Atheism', a brief but careful examination of what Atheism really is
and what it is not. He wrote this,
he said, in the hope of removing
some of the many prejudices against
Atheists.
"---and indeed, that is
how the booklet starts: I read now
from Bradlaugh's writings.
Quote: "This essay is issued in
that hope that it may
succeed in

removing some of the many prejudices prevalent, not only against

the actual holders of Atheistic
oplnlons, but also against those
wrongly suspected of Atheism.
Men
who have been famous for depth of
thought, for excellent wit,
or
great genius, have been recklessly
assailed as Atheists by those who
lack the high qualifications against which the malice of the calumniators was directed. Thus, not only
have Voltaire and Paine been, without ground, accused of Atheism, but
Bacon, Locke, and Bishop Berkeley
himself, have, amongst others, been
denounced by thoughtless or unscrupulous pietists as inclined
to
Atheism, the ground for the accusation being that they manifested an
inclination to push human thought a
little in advance of the age in
which they lived.
It is too often the fashion with
persons of pious reputation
to
speak in unmeasured language of
Atheism as favouring
immorality,
and of Atheists as men whose conduct is necessarily vicious, immoral and profligate companions, licentious living, and the like.
An English Doctor of Divinity
writing in a book Instructions on
Christian Theology, goes so far as
to declare that "nearly all the
Athesits upon record have been men
of extremely debauched and vile
conduct."
Such language from the
Christian advocate is not surprisPage 24

_.,---

THE

ing, but there are others who while

professing great desire for the
spread of "Freethought" and having
pretensions to rank amongst acute
and liberal thinkers, declare Atheism inpracticable,and its teachings
cold, barren and negative. Excepting to each of these allegations, I
maintain that thoughtful Atheism
affords greater possibility
for
human happiness than any system yet
based on, or possible to be founded
on Thesim,
and that the lives of
true Atheists must be more virtuous
--because more human--than those of
the believers in Deits, the humanity of the devout believers often
finding itself neutralized by a
faith with which that humanity is
necessarily in constant collision.
The devotee piling faggots at the
auto da fe;of a heretic, and that
heretic his son, might not withstanding be a good father in every
other respect. Heresy, in the eyes
of the believer, is highest criminality, and outweighs all claims of
family or affection.
Atheism, properly understood, is
no mere disbelief:is no wise cold,
barren negative; it is, on the contrary, a hearty, fruitful affirmation of all truth, and involves the
poditive assertion of action of
highest humanity.
'Let Atheism be fairly examined,
and neither condemned---its defence
unheard---on the ex parte slanders
of some of the professional preachers of fashionable orthodoxy, whose
courage is bold enough while the
pulpit protects the sermon, but
whose valour becomes tempered with
discretion when a free platform is
afforded and discussion
claimed;
nor misjudged because it has been
the custom to regard Atheism is so
unpopular as to render its advocacy
impolitic. The best policy against
all prejudice is to firmly advocate
the truth.The Atheist does not say,

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

"There is no God," but he says: "I

do not know what you mean by God; I
am without idea of God; the word
'God' is to me a sound conveying no
clear or distinct affirmation. I do
not deny God, because I cannot deny
that of which I have no conception,
and the conception of which, by its
affirmer,is so imperfect that he is
unable to define it for me.
If,
however, 'God' can be defined to
mean an existence other than the
existence of which I am a mode,then
I deny 'God' and affirm that it is
impossible such 'God' can be. That
is, I affirm one existence,and deny
that there can be more than one."
The pantheist also affirms one exi~
stence,and'denies that there can be
more than one; but the distinction
between the pantheist and the Atheist is, that the pantheist affirms
infinite attributes for existence,
while the Atheist maintains tbat
attributes are the characteristics
of mode---i.e. the diversities enabling the conditioning in thought.
When the theist affirms that his
God is an existence other than, and
separate from, the so-called material universe, and when he invests
this separate, hypothetical existence with the several attributes
of personality, omniscience, omnipresence, omnipotence, eternity, in
finity, immutability and
perfect
goodness, then the Atheist in reply
says: "I deny the existence of such
a being"; and he is entitled to say
this because this theistic definition is self contradictory, as well
as contradictory of every-day experience.
"...The existence of evil is a
terrible stumbling - block to the
theist.
Pain, misery, crime, poverty confront the advocate of eternal goodness, and challenge with un
answerable potency his declaration
of Deity as all-good, all-wise and
all-powerful .... Evil is either
Page

25

THE

caused by God, or exists independently; but it cannot be caused by

God, as in that case he would not
be all-good; nor can it exist hostilely, as in that case he would
not be all-powerful.
If all-good
he would desire to annihilate evil,
and continued evil
contradicts
either God's desire, or God's abliity, to prevent it.
Evil
must
either have had a beginning or it
must have been eternal; but, according to the theist, it cannot be
eternal, because God alone is eternal. Nor can it have had a beginning, for if it had it must either
have orginiated in God, or outside
of God;but according to the theist,
it cannot have originated in God
for he is all-good, and out of allgoodness evil cannot originate; nor
can evil have originated outside God
for, according to the theist, God
is infinite, and it is impossible
to go outside of or beyond infinity.
To the Atheist this question of
evil assumes an entirely different
aspect. He declared that each evil
is a result, but not a result from
God or Devil. He affirms that conduct founded on knowledge of the
laws of existence may ameliorate
each present form of evil, and, as
our knowledge increases, present
its future recurrence.
Some declare that the belief in
God is necessary as a check to
crime.They allege that the Athei~t
may commit murder, lie, or steal
without fear of any consequences.
To try the actual value of this
argument, it is not unfair to ask:
Do theists ever steal? If yes,then
in each such theft the belief in
God and his power to punish has
been insufficient as a preventive
of the crime.
Do theists ever lie
or murder? If yes, the same remark
has again force---Theism failing
against the lesser as against the
greater crime.
Those who use such

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

an argument overlook that all men

seek happiness, though in very diverse fashions.
Ignorant and miseducated men often mistake the true
path to happiness, and commit crime
in the endeavour to obtain
it.
Atheists hold that by teaching mankind the real road to human happiness it is possible to keep them
from the by-ways of criminality and
error. Atheists would teach men to
be moral now,not because God offers
as an inducement reward by and by,
but because in the virtuous act itself immediate good is insured to
the doer and the circle surrounding
him.
Atheism would preserve man
from lying, stealing, murdering,not
from fear of an eternal agony after
death, but because these crimes
make this life itself a course of
misery.
While Theism, asserting God as
creator and governor of the universe,hinders and checks man's efforts
by declaring God's will to be the
sole directing and
controlling
power, Atheism, by declaring all
events to be in accordance with
natural laws--that is, happening in
certain ascertainable sequences---stimulates man to discover the best
conditions of life, and offers him
the most powerful inducements to
morality. While the theist provides
future happiness for a scoundrel
repentant on his death-bed, Atheism
affirms present and certa.inhappiness for the man who does his best
to live here so well as to have
little cause for repenting hereafter.
Theism declares that God dispenses health and inflicts disease,and
sickness and illness are regarded
be the theist as vistations from an
angered Deity,
to be borne with
meekness and content.
Atheism declares that physiOlogical knowledge
may preserve us from disease by
preventing us from infringing the
Page

26

THE

law of health, and that sickness

results not as the ordinance of
offended Deity, but from ill-ventilated dwellings and workshops,bad
and insufficient food, excessive
toil, mental suffering, exposure to
inclement weather, and the like,--that prayers and piety afford no
protection against fever, and that
if the human being be kept without
food he will starve as quickly whether he be theist or Atheist, theology being no substitute for bread.
And if the universe owes its
existence to God's reason and will,
God must, prior. to creation, have
thought upon the matter until he
ultimately determed to create; but,
if the creation were wise and good,
it would never have been delayed
while the infinitely wise and good
reasoned about it, and if the creation were not wise and good,the infinitely wise and good would never
have commenced it.
.It is hard to understand how
whole nations have been left by
their infinitely wise, powerful,and
good governor, how many men have
been left by their infinitely wise,
powerful,and good governor, without
any knowledge of himself.

AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin, Texas 78767

Every theist must admit that if

a God exists, he could have so convinced all men of the fact of his
existence that doubt, disagreement
or disbelief would be impossible:
If he could not do this he would
not be God. Every theist must also
agree that,if a God exists,he would
wish all men to have such a clear
consciousness of his existence and
attributes that doubt,disagreement,
or disbelief on this subject would
be impossible. And, this if for'no
other reason, because that our of
doubts and disagreements- on religion have too often resulted centuries of persecution, strife,
and
misery, which a good God would desire to prevent.
But as many men have doubts,
as a large majority of mar~ind have
disagreements, and as some men have
disbeliefs as to God's existence
and attributes, it must follow that
God does not exist, or that he is
not all-wise,or that he is not allpowerful, or that he is not allgood. "

Page

27

THE AMERICAN

ATHEIST

Austin. Texas 78767

Poetry ...

FRIENDSHIP

The glittering

sheen of silver

That dazzels

bright

human eyes

Will dull while Time goes on and on

As it is oxidized.

Our feathered

Friends

in robes

so gay

Sing out with ecstasy,

Ah! soon to corne,

their

'I'h ey are no more

fate is sad, -

to be.

The flower s that bloom with brilliant

Tomorrow
What, then,

hues

fade and die.

indures

the test of Time;

On what may we rely?

Friendship

- alone,

endures

Friendship-though
Let Friendship's
Throughout

luster

the test:

ba th ed in tear s !
brighter

glow

the corning years!

by Glen Marsh
Page 28

An Atheist

Epic:

Bill Murray,

The Baltimore

by Madalyn Murray

BILL MURRA1~
.TIlE 8lIJLE
ANI)
11IE JJAI.TIJIORE
BOAR/)
OF EDl'CA110N.

Board of Education

0 'Hair

Who is she?
Where did she come from?
What
does she stand for and against?
. How far has the
Christian religion really become an accepted part
of American education? Many people want answers
to these and other questions about America's most
famous Atheist.
Her most r e c en t boo k "An
Atheist' E pic:
Bill Murray,
The Bible and The
Baltimore
Board of Educatdon!",
explains how she
came t:o challange prayer
and Bible reading in
public s c h 001 sin
Amez-Ic'ar Madalyn Murray
O'Hair speaks frankly in this 316 page book about
her persecution
by neighbors
and
the
general
public.
This is her personal story of how she took
her arguments
to the Supreme Court and won a
victory for separation
of church and state.
American

What on Earth

The Bible and

Atheist

Press-1970

$2.95

is An Atheist

by Madalyn Murray

uvr

O''Ha ir

ON b'ARl'Il

IS
AN A 11lEIST!
For the fir st time in print the complete texts
of fifty-two
radio
programs
presenting
the
Atheist point of view by Madalyn Murray 0 'Hair.
The programs
reveal the wealth held by organized r e 1i g ion
the
historical
background
0f
Atheism, the history
of Bible scholar ship-all
frequently misunderstood.
This is a book for
all Atheists wishing confirmation
of their views,
as well as for all church members
who will have
a better understanding
after reading it of "What
on Earth is an Atheist".

American

Atheist

Press-19,69

$10.00

ISOCIETY

OF .6EPARATION16TS

THE AIMS OF THE SOCIETY

1. To stimu late and promote freedom of thoug~t
an.d inquiry concerning religious beliefs, creeds,
dogmas, tenets, rituals and practices.

6. To promote the study of the arts and sciences

and of all problems affecting the maintenance, perpetuation and enrichment of human life.

2. To collect

and disseminate information, data,

and literature on all religions and. promote a more
thorough understanding of them, their origins and
histories.

7. To engage in such social, educational, legal,

and cultural activity as will be useful and beneficial
to the members of this Society, and t.o society as
a whole.

3. To advocate, labor for, and promote in. all lawful

ways, the complete separation of Church and State;
the establishment and maintenance of a thoroughly
secular system of education available t~ 0.11.

The Atheist-materialist
philosophy declares that
the cosmos is devoid of immanent conscious purpose;
that it is governed by its own inherent, immutable
and impersonal law; that there is no supernatural
interference
in human life; that man finding his
resources within himself, can and must create his
own destiny;
and that his potential for good and
higher development is for all practical purposes
unlimited.

4. To encourage

the development and public acceptance of a humane ethical system, stressing the
mutual sympathy, understanding and interdependence
of all peaple and the corresponding responsibility
of each individually in relation to society ..

5. To develop and propagate a social philosophy in

which man is the central figure, who alone must be
the source of strength, progress, and idealism for
the well being and happiness of humanity.

THE~TRADITIONAL

Freethought may be defined as the mental attitude which unreservedly accepts the suprfHnacy of
reason, and aims at establishing a system of philosophy and ethics verifiable by experience, independent of all arbitrary assumptions of authority or
creeds.

SYMBOL OF ATHEISM

IS A PANSYl

'1'

}<'RENCH...
penseez thought

penser: to think
LATIN .
pensare:
Plant

to weigh, or ponder

some in your

But. OUR NEW SYMBOL Represents AMERICAN ATHEISM in the NUCLEAR AGE.

yard ..