By Eric Jayne

 

Looking for a cult-like experience without the dangerous mind control, cyanide laced Kool-Aid,* and pungent commune?  Allow me to introduce you to Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros. Besides my childhood experience at Bible camp, their June 6 performance at First Ave. in Minneapolis was the closest I have come to encountering a cult experience.

 

By Grant Steves

 

Leadership: From the Inside Out, Kevin Cashman.
© 2008,  215 pages.

 

Perhaps the pastoral setting of Minnesota inspired Kevin Cashman to reflect on what makes a leader. His own experience has grounded him in the practical aspects of leadership. What he discovered in his reflection on leadership was that it comes from the inside. As Socrates said, “know yourself.” His conclusion is that you must first know who you are before you can lead. 

 

 

By George Kane

 

I have for many years held that it is more important to listen to media commentators who are direct ideological opponents than those with whom I am likely to agree. To that end I try to arrange my weekday schedule so that I am in my car driving off to a restaurant for lunch during the half hour following 11:00. That way I can listen on KKMS 980 to Jay Sekulow Live, a production of Pat Robertson’s American Center for Law and Justice. It is the best opportunity that I’ve found to stay up-to-the minute on events related to the separation of church and state. I’m sure that it is not good for my blood pressure, as the purpose of the program is for Jay Sekulow and his son Jordan to roil the passions of their conservative Christian audience against strict separationists. It doesn’t matter if I only catch 5 minutes of the program, as that is all that it takes to understand the events covered that day. The program is little more than two minutes of news followed by a succession of callers venting about it.

By August Berkshire

 

This year, 41 people took part in our annual participation in the Twin Cities Gay Pride Booth and Parade. We would especially like to thank Matthew Richardson for coordinating the booth volunteers; Steve Petersen, Shirley Moll, Rachel Wilson, and August Berkshire for setting up and tearing down the booth; and Richard Trombley for his photography.

 By Steve Petersen

 

"Summer Reading Suggestions"

For the first June show, host James Zimmerman interviewed MNA member Ryan Sutter on ideas for what to read while on vacation this summer. Ryan suggested an eclectic range of texts, including God, by Alexander Waugh, which consists of hundreds of vignettes on humans' depiction and beliefs in supernatural beings; and the Godhead Trilogy, by James Morrow. Morrow's work is a fictitious tale that asks the "big questions" set against a curious story. For those who don't have that much time this summer, Ryan recommended a 19th-century essay authored by William Clifford titled "The Ethics of Belief." Ryan claimed this essay was notable both for being ahead of its time and for its ability to cause even the modern reader to rethink their view of the world. Though out of print, Ryan pointed out that the essay is available online at sites including Infidels.org .

 

 

By August Berkshire

 

Most of my past President’s Columns have focused on one particular aspect of our organization.  I have done this because some of our newer members might not know our history, and as a way to publicly acknowledge and thank those members who have contributed to our success.  I will resume this approach in future columns, focusing on such things as our website, Meetups, newsletter production, and charitable works.  This month, however, I will briefly highlight a variety of activities.

by CASH

 

The new school year is fast approaching, which means student groups at the University of Minnesota are given the opportunity to paint the panels on the Washington Avenue Bridge. Student group Campus Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists are again raising funds for the promotion of secularism on campus by filling their panel with atheist, agnostic, secular, humanist, and freethought quotes sponsored by the freethought community of Minnesota. For $10 a word, you can help support CASH and have your favorite quote painted on the bridge. Small words are free, and for every nine words you buy, the tenth is free as well. To submit your quote, or if you have any questions, send an email to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

by Mike Haubrich

 

I am excited to announce that our Atheists Talk radio show is going to return to Sunday mornings beginning August first on AM 950 KTNF . This station was formerly known as “Air America Minnesota” and is now called “The Voice of Minnesota.”

By Eric Jayne

 

On Sunday, May 23, in the quiet suburban community of Eagan, the very first Minnesota Atheists Debaptism event was performed. We had a pretty good turnout of about 25 ex-Christians—mostly former Catholics and Lutherans, but also two former Jehovah’s Wit-nesses, one former Southern Baptist, and one former Mormon. The Hair Dryer of Reason (which I’ll explain shortly) was definitely put to the test!

 

 

By George Kane

 

At the end of April, a 5-4 majority on the Supreme Court once again found that a monument on government land that features a Christian symbol does not constitute endorsement of religion.  In the case Salazar v. Buono the Supremes reversed a lower court ruling that the transfer of the land under a metal cross in the Mojave Desert National Preserve to the Veterans of Foreign Wars, specifically to ensure that the cross would not be taken down, was an impermissible government preference for religion.  The ruling sent the case back to the Appeals Court with a clear message:  Keep the cross standing.

 By Eric Jayne

 

If you were at the Minnesota Twins game this past Mother’s Day you may have noticed a geeky-looking individual wearing a purple Minnesota Atheists t-shirt, standing on the main plaza holding a yellow sign that read “Minnesota Atheists” written in black marker. That "geek" was me. The purpose of the sign was to alert Minnesota Atheists members who RSVPed for the Twins group outing where I was so they could pick up their tickets for the game. The sign also attracted the attention of several passersby, Twins security, and even the Minneapolis Police Department. While the extra attention from my sign truly was unintended, it was not unexpected. My plan was to simply ignore snide remarks (which I received) and not draw additional attention by engaging in arguments. My plan worked and it turned out to be a victorious day for the Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Atheists.