American Atheists Flash LineNews of Interest to AtheistsChristians Divide Over Controversial Jesus Camp Expose- September 30, 2006 As momentum builds for the nationwide opening of the Jesus Camp documentary, Christians are dividing over the disturbing video content. Rev. Ted Haggard of the National Association of Evangelicals is attacking the film, calling it propaganda. Others are asking, “Are you raising up Christian terrorists or another Hitler Youth movement”(09-30-2006)http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060930/NEWS/609300308/1326 Tennessee School District Reviewing Unconstitutional Policy To Allow Bible Distribution In Public Schools- September 30, 2006 Should public schools be distribution centers for sectarian religious propaganda Under threat of lawsuit, the Lebanon, Tennessee School District is reconsidering its policy of allowing The Gideons to give the Judeo-Christian bible to fifth-grade students. One outraged parent told reporters, “My son has access to whatever religious text he wants to read. It’s not about that. They’ve taken it out of my hands, and it needs to stay in my hands.”(09-30-2006)http://www.rctimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060930/COUNTY10/609300347/1006/MTCN030... Creationism Becomes Issue In Michigan Gubernatorial Race- September 29, 2006 “Creationism emerged as a burning issue in Michigan’s gubernatorial race, after Republican candidate Dick DeVos told a questioner at a September 8, 2006 campaign stop that he supported teaching ‘intelligent design’ alongside evolution in the public schools.”(09-29-2006)http://www.ncseweb.org/resources/news/2006/MI/553_creationism_in_michigan_gubern_9_22_2006... House Passes Bill To Muzzle First Amendment Litigation, Discourage Establishment Clause Cases- September 27, 2006 In a 242-173 vote, the U.S. House of Representatives has passed a controversial measure to deny compensatory legal fees in First Amendment court cases. The misnamed “Public Expression of Religion Act” is meant to discourage litigation over government endorsement or promotion of faith. Critics warn if approved by the Senate, this dangerous policy would close the courthouse door to many groups and individuals seeking to protect our freedom from majority-rule...http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/pera3.htm Fears Of Muslim Violence Force Opera To Cancel Production- September 27, 2006 A stage production based on Mozart’s “Idomeneo” that featured a scene showing the severed heads of a Greek god, Muhammad, Jesus and Buddha is canceled over fears of violence. Security officials warned of “incalculable risk” if the play continued. Islamic leaders hailed the decision, but Berlin mayor Klaus Wowereit said, “I consider the decision to be wrong. Our ideas about openness, tolerance and freedom must be lived on the offensive. Voluntary...http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15013716/ House To Debate, Vote On First Amendment Muzzling Bill: Johnson Warns Of Threat To Separation, Civil Liberties- September 25, 2006 The U.S. House of Representatives will debate a measure on Tuesday that would make it more difficult and expensive for citizens to challenge unconstitutional government practices in respect to religion. American Atheists President Ellen Johnson warns that that “Public Expression of Religion Act” is a threat to our First Amendment separation of church and state.(09-25-2006)http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/pera2.htm Holy Land, The Epitome of Christian Kitsch, Cancels Mock Crucifixion Due To Lightning- September 25, 2006 It’s 15 acres and $16 million of bible themed kitsch for the faithful trekking to Orlando, Florida. Visitors can buy Holy Land T-shirts, biblical cookbooks and see a Moses look-alike roaming the grounds. You can also gawk at the daily crucifixion re-enactment; but Jesus impersonators hesitated to hang from the cross when a lightning storm hit the area. Read and believe…(09-25-2006)http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/breaking_news/15525794.htm Black Churches Slow To Accept Faith-Based Funding Lure- September 24, 2006 A new report indicates that black churches have been hesitant to accept government funding through President Bush’s much-touted federal faith-based initiative. “The results seem to tamp down any great claims for the program’s reach, so far, in the black community while also allaying critics’ fears that the program could be a cudgel or lure to gather influential black pastors into the Republican fold.”(09-24-2006)http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/4208161.html Islamic Terrorist: Nude Women More Dangerous Than Faith-Based Bombing, Murder- September 23, 2006 A Muslim cleric just released from jail for involvement in the 2002 terror bombings in Bali declares that erotica and the sight of exposed female flesh is “more dangerous” than mass killing. Abu Ba-asyir, who chairs the Indonesian Mujahid Council demands that the country adopt sharia law. “If you ask me which one is more dangerous, nude women or the Bali bombs, then my answer would be the women showing off their skin,” he told reporters.(09-23-2006)http://www.thejakartapost.com/yesterdaydetail.asp?fileid=20060921.H08 Dawkins Religious faith discourages independent thought, it's divisive and its dangerous- September 22, 2006 Evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins warns of the perils of religious belief and champions the need for skepticism and the scientific method as tools in solving human problems. A new film takes a critical look at the man dubbed “Darwin’s rottweiler.”(09-22-2006)http://www.cbc.ca/bigpicture/evil.html |