Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Blocked.
Saving Free Speech in Today’s Public Square
www.atheists.org/support
SEPTEMBER/October 2018
VOL. 56 – NO. 3
In This Issue
4 Editor’s Letter: We Put the Election
in God’s Hands
6 Quick Hits
8
Religious Refusals in Healthcare
20 No More Debating
25 Notable Books
12
28 Affiliates Spotlight
Editor-in-Chief
Pamela Whissel
Copy Editor
Karen Reilly
Research Editor
Anthony J. Crincoli
Proofreaders
Gill Gaudia
Shelley Gaudia
Den Jackson
16
Managing Editor
Frank R. Zindler
T
he 884-page report pledge and “In God We Trust” be-
released in July by a came the official national motto to
Pennsylvania grand be printed on our currency.
jury barely scratch- The cabinet of the current ad-
es the surface of ministration is full of religious zeal-
the amount of tor- ots, and we have two new Supreme
ture and devastation inflicted on Court justices with downright
children at the hands of Catholic contempt for secular government.
priests. Several more states have Because they were in their forties
initiated their own investigations when they were appointed lifetime
as the Catholic Church continues tenures to the highest court in the
to make it abundantly clear that it land, they’ll have decades to con-
has no intention of ever partnering tinue swinging the wrecking ball
with law enforcement to prosecute, into the wall of church/state sepa-
or even prevent, these crimes. ration, unhampered by any checks
Nonetheless, Church officials on their power.
will be forced to cooperate, thanks We weren’t the only Election
to our secular government. It is— Day deserters. The percentage of
pardon the expression—our savior the American populace who were
here. eligible voters but chose to stay
The constant threat, in one way home was 29.9%, a far larger of per-
or another, to the government re- centage than voted for either Clin-
maining secular is the reason why ton (19.8%) or Trump (19.5%). But it
American Atheists exists; the gen- turns out that non-believers led the
erosity of our members and sup- way.
porters is how we exist. Thanks Four months before the election,
to you, we’re in no danger of going the Pew Research Center released
under. a survey that shows non-believers
The same cannot be said about to be the nation’s largest potential
the wall of church/state separation, religious voting bloc at 21% of the
and atheists are partly to blame for population. White Evangelicals
one simple reason: On November are a close second at 20%. When it
8, 2016, we stayed home in droves came to voting, however, the gap
instead of participating in the pres- was anything but neck-and-neck.
idential election. On Election Day, White Evangel-
The results of that election have icals made up 26% of the elec-
launched an assault on church/ torate. For Catholics, it was 23%,
state separation not seen since the and for us, just 15%. So millions
Eisenhower Administration, when of non-religious Americans who
“under God” was inserted into the were eligible to vote essentially put
the election of the president of the not just at election time. The new- and its current status. You can
United States in God’s hands. How? est is our State of the Secular States also enroll in email updates and
Trump’s strongest supporters are report, a comprehensive evalua- action alerts to let you know when
Evangelicals. Evangelicals believe tion of the current laws and policies you should contact your elect-
God talks to them directly and tells affecting the separation of religion ed official to make your voice
them what to do. Evangelicals vot- and government in all 50 states and heard. Learn more at atheists.org/
ed for Trump. the District of Columbia. The clear, state-legislation.
Democracy is a lot like atheism. simple presentation allows you to Just like it was the only hope for
Both are grounded in the belief that understand at a glance how well Catholic Church victims to see any
there is no sovereign, no ultimate or how poorly your state keeps re- kind of real justice, secular gov-
arbiter of right and wrong who will ligion out of its government. The ernment is our only hope for the
steer us in the proper direction if report is available at atheists.org/ countless protections we all rely on
we just listen closely enough and, states. every day. The only hope for secu-
most importantly, obey. Staying This issue’s cover story is about lar government is our commitment
home on Election Day, therefore, is atheists who were denied their to get and stay involved.
the very antithesis of atheism, yet constitutional right to communi-
that’s what most atheists did. cate with their state senator on so-
Our secular government has no cial media. Facebook and Twitter
hope of surviving the coming years are two of the best ways to interact
if we all don’t acquire a slew of new with your government, which is Pamela Whissel
habits, starting with participating why we’ve launched Atheists EN- Editor-in-Chief
pwhissel@atheists.org
in every election, every year, at ev- GAGE, a campaign to encourage
ery level—from president to school atheists to speak out about their be-
board. But just voting is not near- liefs on social media—and to chal-
ly enough. Staying informed and lenge the government officials who
engaged must become part of our silence those voices. You can learn
everyday lives. If the supporters of more at atheistsengage.org.
the people currently in power can We also offer an online tool that
find at least a minute or two for closely monitors both state and
daily prayer, then we can certain- federal legislation affecting our
ly find a minute or two for daily constitutional right to a secular
action. government. A map shows where
American Atheists has launched current legislation has been filed,
several initiatives to empower citi- and you can click on each state to
zens to stay informed all year long, read more about a bill’s sponsors
LITIGATION
Blocked.
Protecting free speech in the public
square of the social media age
S
ocial media, according to the United States Supreme Court, is “per-
haps the most powerful mechanism for citizens to make their voic-
es heard. It allows a person with an internet connection to become
a town crier with a voice that resonates farther than it could from
any soapbox.”
The idea of giving citizens the right to make their voices heard
was far-fetched when it was enshrined in the First Amendment of the Consti-
tution. But because they were some of the most imaginative minds of the 18th
century, the framers of the Constitution were bound to come up with ideas con-
sidered wild and unrealistic at the time.
As visionary as they were, the Founders couldn’t have imagined anything like
the internet or the colossal megaphones of Facebook and Twitter. Likewise, it’s
difficult today to imagine a world without social media, let alone the internet.
Pennsylvania Legislature’s
Anti-Atheist Invocation Policy Ruled
Unconstitutional
A
federal district religious exercise, likewise offends
court judge in the the Establishment Clause.” “The U.S.
Middle
of
District
Pennsylvania
The court’s decision comes af-
ter the 2014 U.S. Supreme Court
Constitution
ruled on August 29 ruling in Greece v. Galloway that re- guarantees
that the Pennsylva- affirmed that government bodies
nia House of Representatives acted may open meetings with prayers that the rights
unconstitutionally when it barred
atheists from offering invocations
and invocations, as long as they
do not discriminate against athe- of citizens to
at the start of its legislative ses-
sions.
ists and other minority religious
groups wishing to offer their own
participate in
American Atheists joined Amer- invocations and prayers. their government
icans United for Separation of
Church and State in filing Fields v.
Shortly after the Supreme
Court’s ruling, the plaintiffs made will never be
Speaker of the Pennsylvania House of
Representatives in 2016, after five in-
repeated requests to participate in
the longstanding tradition in the
tied to belief in a
dividual plaintiffs were repeatedly Pennsylvania House of allowing deity.”
denied requests to offer secular in- community members to give the
vocations in the House. invocation. Each of their requests
In his opinion, U.S. District was denied.
Court Judge Christopher C. Con- “The U.S. Constitution guaran-
nor said, “The policy purposefully tees that the rights of citizens to
discriminates among invocation participate in their government
presenters on the basis of religion will never be tied to belief in a dei-
and thus exceeds the constitution- ty,” said Alison Gill, Legal and Poli-
al boundaries of legislative prayer. cy Director for American Atheists.
The House’s pre-2017 opening invo- “The Supreme Court has made this
cation practices, which coerces vis- clear many times, and this decision
itors to stand during the opening protected that guarantee for the
prayer and thereby participate in a people of Pennsylvania.” 🅐
T
here’s a movement
in state legislatures
a Christian nation, which allows
legislators to sponsor more danger-
“The strategy of
around the country ous bills, including measures that Project Blitz is
to undermine the
separation of reli-
use religious exemptions to open
the door to legal discrimination to overwhelm
gion and govern-
ment, LGBTQ equality, and access
in areas like foster care, adoption,
and reproductive rights.
us and wear us
to reproductive health services. Project Blitz has enjoyed great down by flooding
The movement is also pushing
the false narrative that the United
success. Five states now have a law
that requires public schools to dis- the states with
States was founded as a Christian
nation. Its name is Project Blitz and
play “In God We Trust,” and three
states now allow religious discrim-
terrible bills.”
it’s already taken hold in more than ination in foster care and adoption.
thirty states. Founded by the Na- American Atheists is leading
tional Prayer Caucus Foundation, the opposition to Project Blitz by The strategy of Project Blitz is to
Project Blitz operates by establish- partnering with several organiza- overwhelm us and wear us down
ing prayer caucuses in state legis- tions, including Americans Unit- by flooding the states with terrible
latures in order to introduce bills ed for Separation of Church and bills. But the good news is that, in
aimed at undermining religious State, Public Research Associates, coordination with state and nation-
liberty. and the Family Equality Council to al partners, we managed to defeat
The bills are crafted for the leg- raise awareness among lawmak- the vast majority of their efforts in
islators by Project Blitz, which has ers, advocates, and the general 2018.
published a 116-page legislative public. For example, although the “In
guide that includes twenty model We’re now preparing to fight God We Trust” bills were passed in
bills. Project Blitz in 2019, and we need five states, they failed in 26 other
In 2018, over 70 Project Blitz-re- your help. We rely on the eyes and states.
lated bills were introduced in state ears of our members and support- And in the eight states where Re-
legislatures around the country, ers across the nation to help us ligious Freedom Restoration Acts
and a greater number are expected monitor the hundreds of bills filed were introduced, none of them
in 2019. every year that attack religious passed. And now lawmakers, ad-
These bills first target “low-hang- neutrality and give special treat- vocates, and our partner organiza-
ing fruit” like requiring public ment to religion. tions are more aware of the cam-
schools to display the national mot- If this kind of bill is introduced paign and more prepared for 2019,
to “In God We Trust” in every class- in your state, please tell us. Go to when we will fight these bills wher-
room. This promotes the false nar- Atheists.org/activism/state-legisla- ever they show up. 🅐
rative that America was founded as tion and click LET US KNOW.
Project Blitz in
Arkansas
How We’re Fighting Back
by Pamela Whissel
Fish addressed the school board. phrase “E Pluribus Unum,” was proposed
in 1776 by Thomas Jefferson as part of
On behalf of American Atheists, I am a design for the first seal of the United
pleased to make another donation to the States of America. The origins of the
school district. But we think students de- phrase itself can be traced as far back as
serve all the facts, not just a poster of an Cicero’s 44 BCE De Officiis: “When each
exclusionary and divisive motto devoid person loves the other as much as him-
of any additional context or information. self, it makes one out of many.”
So here are those facts: The motto “In
God We Trust” had nothing to do with In today’s divided political climate, and
our nation’s founding.” in a pluralistic community like Ben-
tonville, people of all religious beliefs
According to the U.S. Department of the should feel welcome as full members of
Treasury, “In God We Trust” was first their community. This is the message we
added to coins in 1864, nearly a centu- should be sending to our students: that
ry after the revolution, at the urging of no matter how different we are and how
Rev. Mark Watkinson of Pennsylvania, strongly we disagree about politics, reli-
largely “because of the increased reli- gion, or any issue, we are united as one
gious sentiment existing during the Civil community and as one nation, indivisi-
War.” In a letter to Treasury Secretary ble, because we love each other as much
Salmon P. Chase, Watkinson requested a as we love ourselves.
statement be put on the nation’s coinage
acknowledging “Almighty God in some
form” in order to “relieve us from the ig- The school district declined our donation, but thanks
nominy of heathenism.” It was, from the to local news coverage of the school board meeting,
start, a religious sentiment, not a histori- some Arkansas classrooms in the district do have our
cal or cultural one. poster hanging in them, because several teachers in
Benton County have since contacted American Atheists
During the Cold War, in an attempt to directly to request a poster.
differentiate the United States from the If you know a teacher in Arkansas who would like
Soviet Union, Congress passed a joint a poster for their classroom, please have them email
resolution in 1956 “declaring ‘In God We contact@atheists.org or write to us at 225 Cristiani St.,
Trust’ the national motto of the United Cranford, NJ, 07016. 🅐
States,” creating an official national mot-
to for the first time. In contrast, our na- Pamela Whissel is American Atheists’ membership
tion’s original motto, the 13-letter latin director and editor-in-chief of this magazine.
A New Chapter
INTRODUCING
THE
NEXTPRESIDENT
OF AMERICAN ATHEISTS
NICK
FISH
F
or more than a decade, American Atheists’ new president, Nick
Fish, has been working on the front lines of the fight to advance
equality under the law for all Americans. That dedication to equali-
ty and his demonstrated commitment to American Atheists is what
led the Board of Directors to name him the organization’s sixth
president as of September 1.
Nick is a seasoned activist who has worked across the spectrum of political,
social, and non-profit advocacy. He has been at American Atheists since 2012,
first as development director and, until his appointment as president, as national
program director and primary spokesperson.
He has represented American Atheists many times in the media, including
appearances on the Fox News programs Spirited Debate, Hannity, and Fox and
Friends. He has created innovative advocacy and visibility campaigns, including
AtheistVoter, and has developed messaging and strategy around American Athe-
ists’ legal, public policy, and outreach campaigns.
Board Chairman Neal Cary praised the Board of Directors’ decision. “In my
time working with Nick, it’s become clear that he is a tireless advocate who is
creative, passionate, and committed to creating a broad coalition in the fight to
protect real religious freedom in America,” he said. “He knows the issues our
community faces inside and out. I’ve been especially impressed by his commit-
ment to building a team of activists who share his vision and dedication to the
mission of American Atheists. I am confident Nick will be a great leader of this
organization and a champion for our community’s values of equality, inclusion,
and reason as we move forward.”
Born and raised in rural Michigan, Nick was adopted by his parents, a pub-
lic-school teacher and a mechanic, as an infant. Religion was never more than
an afterthought in his early life, even during his years as an active member of
PRESIDENT
OF AMERICAN ATHEISTS
I
mmediately after his se- the majority of Americans, and un- claimed a monopoly on these ser-
lection as president of der Attorney General Jeff Sessions, vices in much of the U.S. for de-
American Atheists, Nick the Department of Justice is clear- cades. It’s time for us to step into
Fish sat down with Amer- ing the way to allow religion to be this space and own our part of
ican Atheist magazine to used as a license to discriminate. it. Many Americans stay in their
discuss his plans for the This climate is dangerous for any- churches because of the commu-
future of the organization, the role one who values religious equality nity support structure that exists
of religion and theism in Ameri- in America. within them.
can public life and politics, and his People across the country are We must do more to provide an
background. looking for ways to get involved and alternative for the people who want
fight back against this corruption this, but we must be thoughtful and
What’s first on your to-do list? of American values. That’s why it’s purposeful about building the sort
so important for us to invest heavi- of community that not only meets
My number-one priority is to ly in giving local activists the tools the needs of those who are already
double down on activism at the lo- and resources they need. members of American Atheists,
cal level because our nation is at a but also the needs of those who
crossroads. It is impossible to over- Are there any major have yet to become members.
state the damage currently being changes in the near future That means being inclusive and
done to the foundation of religious for American Atheists? accessible with our programming
freedom and the separation of reli- and building community groups
gion from government. The most significant change that are safe and supportive for all.
The Trump Administration is our members will notice is our
brazenly packing the courts from increased investment at the local Looking at the bigger
top to bottom with judges whose level in activism, charity work, picture, what is your vision
extreme views on religious liberty education, and social opportuni- for American Atheists?
are fundamentally out of step with ties. Religious organizations have
At its core, our fight is about
equality. This organization elevates
“The political climate being created and empowers atheists in America,
which means working tirelessly to
by the Trump Administration is shape a society where religion no
longer occupies a place of privilege
dangerous for anyone who values and where atheists are treated as
religious equality in America.” equals in society and politics.
We can do this by telling the
No More Debating
by Tyson Gill
A
s has every succes- Further debate only distracts
sful movement be-
fore it, the atheist
us, helps to normalize ridicu-
lous claims, and stokes unfound-
“There’s no
movement must ed doubts about objective reality Bigfoot wing of
now move past the
debate stage be-
itself.
In order to break the cycle, we a political party
cause there are no new argumen-
ts to make and no new evidence
atheists must simply refuse to en-
gage in nonsensical diversions,
pushing through
to present. We have raised aware- even with each other. We must re- legislation based
on the teachings
ness, we have made our argumen- ject assertions of religious belief,
ts, we have pointed out the eviden- now matter how heartfelt, with no
tiary and logical flaws in religious
claims, we have tried to educate,
more compunction than we would
claims of perpetual motion, psy-
of Bigfoot.”
and we have even gotten angry. chic readings, or leprechauns.
We must quit disputing creation-
ists and no longer treat faith-heal- when we denounce statements of
“If religious ing as a mere cultural difference. Holocaust denial. We no longer
citizens wish Let’s forget about conducting ex-
periments to disprove the power of
treat sincere beliefs about white
supremacy as legitimate. We re-
to create social prayer, and stop deliberating over
the Bible’s inconsistencies as if
fuse to be open-minded about a
flat Earth. We no longer debate the
policy they must they matter. pros and cons of slavery or racism
do so by sticking Instead, we must quietly assert,
through our refusal to engage with
or women’s rights.
Of course, we cannot eliminate
to objectivity and these ideas, that the reality-based
world has moved on.
delusional beliefs altogether, but
we are able to marginalize them
sound logic.” This stance is already standard so that their influence is kept to a
for any number of groups who hold minimum.
bizarre beliefs. We’re not conflicted Many people believe in ghosts,
Religion as
Social Reality
by Peter Kassan
T
he claims of the world’s major anthropocentric religions
(Christianity, Judaism, and Islam) are inconsistent with
what we know of the physics of the universe: its great
age, its enormous size, and our insignificant place in it.
And yet the vast majority of people around the world say
they’re adherents of one or another of those religions.
How can this be possible? Can science and religion even be reconciled?
Science can make a legitimate claim to have a monopoly on the truth,
but only in the domain of physical reality, which includes physics,
chemistry, biology, and all other natural sciences. We live not simply
in physical reality but also—and primarily—in social reality.
[This letter was emailed on July 14. It is without answer as of July 25 when I had to submit this.
Of course, he may never have seen it. If so, maybe he will see it here. In any case, I hope you
will make up your mind on this almighty issue.]
With thanks and respect for the wonderful work you are doing in educating the public about reality, I suggest
your stand on free will—valid as it may be as you define it—will do far more harm than any likely good. I
hope you will consider the following and perhaps find something you may not have considered.
“The concept of baseball is emergent rather than fundamental, but it’s no less real for all of that.
Likewise for free will…
“…We can be perfectly orthodox materialists and yet believe in free will, if what we mean by
that is that there is a level of description that is useful in certain contexts and that includes
“autonomous agents with free will” as crucial ingredients. That’s the “variety of free will worth
having,” as Daniel Dennett would put it.”
But we cannot be perfectly orthodox materialists and yet believe in free will, if what we mean is what libertarian
free-willers mean, that people make choices free of all antecedents. This is what the overwhelming majority
of people are quite sure of.
The views which have concerned thinkers for centuries is not some version that Daniel Dennett would think
is worthwhile, but the libertarian version and Christian versions.
Nearly everyone believes in one or the other with huge assistance from the fact that we choose and then do
what we chose, everyday. For the Christians, belief in free will is mandatory doctrine.
The Christian version asserts that everyone (with certain exceptions) is not only free to choose, but in moral
matters seriously deliberated, one knows which course is right and has full ability to choose it. This false and
pernicious doctrine is an absolute necessity to have guilt, which is absolutely necessary in order to have the
need of Jesus and salvation.
The evil that flows from these beliefs is beyond estimation, though the fate of the Jews, branded falsely as
Christ-killers, is surely instructive. It yielded 2000 years of tragedy, prepared the ground for the Holocaust
and is still very active all over the world.
It is the very idea of deserved retributive punishment which legitimates the malignant hatred that poisons our
country today—women hating men; blacks hating whites and vice versa; everyone hating the politicians and
advocates of views to their distaste; and now, haters in entertainment and sports holding nothing back!
Is it not our certainty that those we most detest are some combination of selfish, depraved, immoral, racist,
elitist, chauvinistic, unprincipled and incorrigibly wicked? Even worse, they choose to be so when, if only they
were not rotten they could and would do otherwise. This is surely the view which Christianity introduced,
nourished and cultivated to justify hell for all those God damns in the final judgment.
What a paradox! The Prince of Peace, the very realization on earth of love, justice, mercy and forgiveness,
provides divine sanction for this malignancy. He legitimated hatred so sovereign that his wrath cannot be
slaked short of an eternity of continuous conscious suffering.
Surely the best chance we have to end this debilitating hatred is to line up with science, and
kill dead the false doctrine of libertarian free will. Nothing new in philosophy has a chance to
do it, but this is not at all the case with science.
Dr. Robert Sapolsky, with most of his fellow neuroscientists, is already convinced that the weight
of the evidence now on hand demands a verdict of determinism. But unlike in philosophy, he
says new developments in neuro-biology are proceeding at such a furious clip there is good
reason to think science will do much more soon.
We have good reason to think it will yet do to libertarian free will what it did for that other
illusion, the flat earth.
If people truly understood that libertarian free will is false, it would force an honest and no doubt, agonizing
reassessment of our always-understanding regard for ourselves, our motives, intelligence, accomplishments,
and just overall goodness. Who would not benefit?
It would force us to give far more attention to finding ways to subject miscreants to experiences—education,
praise, admonishment, reproof, embarrassment, punishment, whatever seems most likely to work to cause
them to see the light (unfortunately, there is no way to know the right dose of experience).
But where is any such value in sight for an esoteric validation of some ”level” of description that is useful in
certain contexts and that includes “autonomous agents with free will” as crucial ingredients”, especially when
you are firm in the conviction that we and the world is matter, behaving in accord with natural laws?
It is not needed to assure we don’t lose incentives to do better. Exhortation, education, and hard work are all
experiences which cause change, often as desired. Nor do we need to worry about insufficient appreciation
of our self-worth; surely, our human nature assures that it will never die.
And we most certainly don’t need it to justify the need to hold people to account for their actions. Determinists
as much as libertarians recognize the imperative need to do that. The only difference is in our attitude toward
the miscreant.
Is not the good flowing from a true understanding of the forces which makes us who we are the single greatest
chance we have within prospect to advance the cause of humanitarianism, toleration, truth, reason and
science?
Your powerful voice in full-throated support of strict determinism is needed, undiminished by a distracting
and highly qualified good word for any sort of compatibilism.
Sincerely,
Why I Am An Atheist
The True Christians™ insisted I get with the
program or get out. So I got out.
I
am an atheist because of was always satisfied with the reli-
my skepticism that de- gious answers offered to me. But
veloped at an early age that was just for show. I was going
in spite of—or maybe be- along with everyone else instead
cause of—my fundamen- of saying what I really thought be-
talist Christian upbring- cause at that age, I wasn’t ready to
ing. be thrown out of the club.
The stories read to me from When I entered the University
fairytale books were presented as of Florida in 1971, society was in a
fiction, while the stories read to me state of spiritual upheaval and ex-
Chuck Miller from the children’s Bible were ab- ploration, and in my college town
Huntsville, Alabama solute fact. But as a child, I didn’t lived fundamentalist Christians,
know that I wasn’t supposed to Eckankar cultists, and everything
question absolutely everything, in between.
and by the time I started first After attending the Sunday
grade, I set up a war between sci- night campus supper at the church
ence and religion in my young, cu- of my youth, I would drop by the
rious mind. Hillel house and hang with Jewish
It was 1958, the dawn of the friends before going back to the
great era of science education re- dorm where I had a Sunni Muslim
sulting from the Cold War and the roommate. For a time, I ate lunch
Space Race. All week long in school with the International Society
we learned about space travel, but of Krishna Consciousness in the
then in Sunday school, my teacher historic Plaza of the Americas on
predicted that it would never hap- campus.
pen because of the firmament God I called myself alternately a
had placed over the Earth to pre- Christian and a pantheist, mainly
vent rockets from invading Heav- because the latter sounded sexier
en. We all know how that turned than “atheist”.
Chuck Miller is American out. Some might have called me a
Atheists’ Alabama State So I kept asking questions and gadfly, a religious dilettante, or a
Director. To find out how bringing up facts, which gave me spiritual chameleon. But my Chris-
you can also be an activist
in Alabama, email Chuck at the reputation of a “curious child” tian identity was, at most, just so-
CMiller@atheists.org. To get who wanted answers, but when my cial—until the True Christians™
involved in another state,
Sunday school teachers referred insisted that I either get with the
go to our interactive map
at atheists.org/affiliates. to me as the devil’s advocate, they program or get out. So I got out.
may not have been speaking I found my line in the sand: it
figuratively. was the requirement to make a
Some predicted that one day I public declaration of a belief in
would be a great apologist since I things that just aren’t so. 🅐
JOIN US IN
CINCINNATI!
APRIL 19-21
HILTON NETHERLAND PLAZA HOTEL
atheists.org/convention2019