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 By Bjorn
Watland
Minnesota
Atheists is the state's largest and most active atheist
organization. How did we get to be that way? Through the
efforts of founding members, such as Shirley Moll, Steve Petersen and
August Berkshire, our organization is continually fulfilling its
mission to provide a welcoming community for atheists, educate the
public about atheism, and support the separation of state and
church. We are strong promoters of ‘Positive Atheism,'
which means different things to different people. To me, I see
Positive Atheism as advocating several things.
The
first is honesty and openness. Since we do not believe in any
gods, we must rely on ourselves to resolve issues great and small.
We cannot appeal to the heavens to feed the hungry, or to ease the
mind of someone we have wronged. We must do so ourselves.
With Minnesota Atheists, I have found members having a good sense of
integrity. With people like that, it is easy to disagree
respectfully and know where someone stands.
The
second is that atheism, as a unique worldview, should be respected.
While atheists differ on social issues, a person's lack of
belief in a god or gods should not affect how others consider his or
her opinions. Lately, there has been more effort to include
atheists in interfaith dialog panel discussions and atheists'
opinions are being heard regarding social and ethical issues.
Minnesota Atheists has been proud to participate in these efforts.
The
third is to stand our ground and let people know we are atheists.
This does not mean being indiscriminately anti-religious, but rather,
voicing our opinions on specific issues. Through respectful
dialog, we can challenge any organization which seeks to limit the
separation of state and church or seeks to harm others simply because
they are atheists. We focus on protecting our rights and
building a community, rather than seeking fights about the existence
of God, because we have found we can make a larger difference this
way. If an organization seeks a friendly theological debate, we
won't object; we think that our arguments based on truth and evidence
stand strong, but our energy is better spent in other ways.
We
should not be ashamed or be afraid to admit we are atheists. As
president of Minnesota Atheists, I will continue to work to make our
organization unnecessary in society. That may never happen, but
it is my goal. When atheists don't feel like a minority, when
their opinions are respected, and when religious intrusions into our
government and society are no longer problems, Minnesota Atheists
will have no purpose. Until that day, I will stand with you.
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Special Thanks All AroundI would like to thank
everyone who helped make Richard Dawkins' lecture, "The Purpose of Purpose," a
success for Minnesota Atheists. Campus
Atheists, Skeptics, and Humanists could not have arranged or promoted an
event as large as this lecture was without the support of Minnesota Atheists,
and I'd like to thank people who helped in ways great and small. I'd like to
thank people who took their time and paper to flyer for the event in coffee
shops and libraries around the state, including George Kane, Crystal Dervetski,
Vic Tanner, and Jeannette Watland. It'd like to thank the crew of the Atheists
Talk Radio Show for putting out the good word, including Mike Haubrich,
Stephanie Zvan and the entire Radio Show Committee. I'd like to thank Grant
Steves and Jack Caravela for organizing interesting events to tell people about
at the table, including Newbie
Nights, the Watchmen
Meal and Reel, and How
to Debate. I'd also like to thank Scott Lohman and the Humanists
of Minnesota for providing our next big event, the Humanism
of Star Trek on March 15 at 2 p.m. at the Southdale Public Library. I'd
like to thank Mike Haubrich, Jeannette Watland, August Berkshire and Jack
Caravela for talking to curious people at the table. If I am forgetting anyone,
I apologize, but your help is appreciated.
I'd also like to thank
everyone who took the time and money required to be present at the event,
including members from groups far away, like the Iowa
Secularists, Rochester
Area Freethinkers, Central
Minnesota Friends Free of Theism, Campus Atheists and Agnostics at Minnesota
State University, and Lake
Superior Freethinkers. If you are not part of a local freethought
organization, consider participating or becoming a member. The more people come
out in support together, the faster our collective goals will be
reached.
About Minnesota AtheistsMinnesota Atheists is the
state's largest and most active atheist organization. We are a 501(c)3
Not-For-Profit Educational Organization. We can't do what we do without
dedicated, generous support from many people. Because of volunteers, we can
produce a weekly radio show, monthly cable show, monthly newsletter, make
presentations to schools about atheism, and offer monthly meetings to the
public. Our mission is simple, provide a welcoming community for atheists,
educate the public about atheism, and support the separation of state and
church. If you like what we're doing, consider the many ways you can be a part
of this exciting group!
How to Get Involved
Join MeetupMeetup.com
is the best way to stay in touch with other Minnesota Atheists. It's free to
sign up and you can RSVP for events, get notified when new events are announced,
see pictures of who is going to be at which events, and talk about what ever
interests you on our discussion
board. The best way to participate is to actually show up at events. Feel
free to jump into any event, even if you don't know anyone. We're a pretty
friendly group.
"If you are interested in us, we are
interested in you," is a slogan we use on our radio show and cable TV show. The
more we know about you, the better we can make the organization. If you update
your profile with your address, we can choose locations for events closer to
where you live. We can also send you special announcements from Minnesota
Atheists. If you are interested in volunteering, you can let us know through
your profile as well. If you have a website, we want to know that too! Please sign up for our emails here.
Write an ArticleMinnesota Atheists publish a
newsletter once a month. If you'd like to try your hand at atheist journalism,
contact our editor, James Zimmerman, at
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.
Work With Our MediaMinnesota Atheists produce a weekly
radio show on AM950 KTNF as well as a monthly
cable TV show. We are also working on improving our website. If you have
any experience working with a Joomla, or Drupal framework, your help would be
most appreciated. If you'd like to get involved in any program, send an email to
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, and you'll be put in contact with either producer.
Offer SuggestionsWhile Minnesota Atheists can't do
everything our members suggest, we wouldn't be so innovative without input from
people like you. Send me an email at
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with your
thoughts.
Membership in Minnesota Atheists includes voting
rights and if you elect, a mailed paper newsletter. It isn't much, but we make
every dollar of your membership count!
Wear a T-ShirtFor any general
donation over $12, you can receive a t-shirt as a gift. Wear it out in
public, wear it proudly!
Final ThanksWhether you attended the lecture by
Richard Dawkins, or not. Whether you are a member of a freethought
organization, or not. Thank you for being interested in Minnesota
Atheists.
Dr.
Richard Dawkins, Campus
Atheists, Skeptics and Humanists, SSA,
CFI,
Hillel,
PZ
Myers, the Department
of Anthropology at the U of MN and Minnesota
Atheists, including the leadership, both past a present, deserve many thanks
for pulling off one very interesting evening.
Also, thanks to
people who just signed up to receive email at the event. This is your first
step toward becoming part of a dynamic freethought organization. As members
past and present will tell you, Minnesota Atheists
works!
Thanks,
Bjorn Watland
President, Minnesota Atheists
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All promotional tickets have been given away. Thank you for your support! Thursday afternoon, Minnesota Atheists sent out an email to people who had signed up for our email list, offering a VIP ticket for new memberships of at least $35 or donations of at least $35. There were five tickets available and all have been claimed, for a seat in the first four rows of Northrop Auditorium on March 4 at 7 p.m. to see Dr. Richard Dawkins present "The Purpose of Purpose." To be included in special emails, including event updates and newsletters, sign up here.
To join Minnesota Atheists visit this link:
To make a General Donation visit this link:
To make a Radio Show Fund Donation visit this link:
To make a Building Fund Donation visit this link: |
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Minnesota Atheists president August Berkshire will be the guest on "KKMS Live! with Jeff & Lee" on Tuesday, February 24, 5:00-6:00 p.m. Download the show here.
PROGRAM NOTES
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By
Steve Petersen
In
January James Zimmerman led a panel discussion with members Crystal
Dervetski, Keith Lodermeier, and Ryan Sutter on Arguments for
Believing In God. In the first program they discussed The Universe
and Logic and on the second program they reviewed the Holy Books. If
you would like to help on the cable program or sponsor the show on
your cable access station or have ideas for a future program please
contact me at
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.
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By Mike
Haubrich, Director, Atheist Talk Radio Show
I
appreciate that August has shown the confidence in me to turn over
the directing and scheduling duties to me. I wish to salute August
for the hard work he has done in building this project. I think our
shows are getting stronger by the month.
Stephanie Zvan is now the
regular host, and I will remain as the backup host. In recent shows
we have had science discussions with Perry Hackett and PZ Myers over
the top life science stories of 2008; we have had Michael Newdow on
to explain the suit to enjoin Chief Justice Roberts from appending
"so help you god" from the inaugural oath and we had Dan
Barker on the show to talk about his new book Godless. It was
a pleasure for me to meet Dan and Perry in person and that is one of
the benefits I take from being on the show.
Todd
Allen Gates, finally, got his full show as we had two previous
appearances cut short or cut out because of technical difficulties.
Please listen to upcoming shows, as we will have shows on living
morally as atheists, the humanism of Star Trek and a special show
discussing Darwin and the Bell Museum. We are trying to schedule
Richard Dawkins for the March 1 show.
For
the remainder of this contract with KTNF, all of our sponsors renewed
their contracts, but we appreciate further donations as sponsors
don't cover all of the costs. I have proposed an incentive for
donations, and I think it is very special.
If
you would like to dedicate an entire show to a special person, all
you need to do is donate $175.00 to the radio fund. We will
announce the dedication during the show, and it is similar to a
fundraising technique used for Minnesota Public Radio. It's a great
way to tell someone you really think highly of them.
Planning
is still in the works for where we will take the show when the
current six month contract ends. More details as we start to
solidify our blueprint.
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By Eric Jayne
In
the last decade of the 19th century, when the Golden Age of
Freethought was at its peak, Francis Bellamy wrote the Pledge of
Allegiance shortly after his tenure as a Baptist minister. It was
published in the popular periodical The Youth's Companion as
part of an 1892 celebration of the 400th anniversary of Columbus
discovering America. The pledge went like this: "I pledge allegiance
to my Flag and the Republic for which it stands, one nation,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
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Founding
and Life member David Irwin died on January 13, 2009. He
was 89. David lived a long life highlighted with many
accomplishments. David was born on January 1, 1920 in Des
Moines, Iowa; he served in the air corps during WWll, went to
divinity school for two years and eventually realized he was an
atheist. From 1976 to 1984 he shared his life
with his lover Dick Hewetson (a fellow Minnesota Atheist
member). Together they co-founded the Quatrefoil Library,
dedicated to the collection and preservation of information about
gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and other sexual minorities
(GLBT). They started the library with their own collection
of 1,500 books relating to homosexuality. In 1986 Matt
Stark, also a Minnesota Atheists member and director of the Minnesota
Civil Liberties Union (MCLU), rented them space in the MCLU building
to display their books. The library never looked back. This
is only one of three such lending libraries in the country
dedicated to GLBT issues. It is open to the public daily
and has educated the public and saved many GLBT lives over the years.
The first part of David's life was that of a gay man trying to live
as a straight man. He married his high school sweetheart,
a woman, and had two children. This was in the 1940s and
after a few years they divorced. David lived as a closeted gay
man until the start of the Quatrefoil library. When the
public announcement of the library was made, he used this as an
opportunity to let his family know about his sexuality. The
reaction was mixed. His two children rejected him. Others
reacted with love and understanding. For two of his family members,
who David cared for deeply, it was a non event. After that
David and Dick came out to the GLBT community as atheists. But they
still had more educating to do. They both have won awards
for their work founding the Quatrefoil where they always
mentioned their association with Minnesota Atheists. David
and Dick separated, but worked together on the library and remanded
good friends. David was an avid book reader. He
played Bridge as often as possible and was a regular at the
Quatrefoil. His legacy is he lived his life to its fullest
and he eventually freed himself from the shackles of society
conformity and used his experience to make a difference for the lives
of others. The world is a better place because of
David. We were honored to have him as a member. Memorials
are requested for the Quatrefoil Library, 1619 Dayton Ave.,
Suite 105, St. Paul, MN 55104 (651)
641-0969. www.quatrefoillibrary.org.
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By
George Kane
Supreme
Court Chief Justice John Roberts stumbled over the words of the
presidential oath, momentarily confusing Barack Obama, but he
predictably tagged "so help me god" onto the end.
Reverend Rick Warren provided for an invocation a prayer in Jesus'
name. Reverend Joe Lowery implored the audience to shout "Amen!"
to close his benediction. It all made the inauguration of our 44th
president a tediously religious affair, like every other presidential
inauguration that I can remember. But, had a District Court judge
exercised a little judicial courage the week before, it need not have
been so.
Michael Newdow, the Sacramento
emergency room doctor who has gained fame for his suits to ban group
recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools, brought an
Establishment Clause challenge to the Obama administration before it
even took office. Along with 30 other plaintiffs, he filed suit to
prohibit appending the words "so help me god" to the
presidential oath, and to prevent sectarian prayers at the
inauguration ceremony.
Joining Newdow in the suit are
many of the nation's leading atheist organizations and
church/state separation watchdog groups, including Minnesota
Atheists, the American Humanist Association, the Atheist Alliance
International, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation. Notable
individually named plaintiffs are the top officers of the plaintiff
organizations, including Minnesota Atheists president August
Berkshire. Another is Ellery Schempp, the named plaintiff in the 1963
case Abbington County School District v. Schempp, in which the
Supreme Court outlawed classroom prayer in public schools. The list
of plaintiffs also included "unnamed children," as their
parents have a right to take them to view their government in action
without being forced to confront the official endorsement of
religious dogma with which they disagree.
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Dan
Barker had a busy day on January 18. He began the day at the KTNF
studio for an interview on Atheists Talk Radio, filled the
afternoon with an appearance at the Roseville Library as the speaker
at our monthly public meeting, and after dinner with some meeting
attendees, presented a reading of excerpts from his new book at the
Midway Borders Book Store.
The
public meeting was by far our largest ever, with attendance estimated
at 140. Barker began by informing us of some recent activities of the
Freedom from Religion Foundation, the nation's largest
church/state separation watchdog organization. Barker and his wife,
Annie Laurie Gaylor, are co-presidents. They ran a quarter-page ad in
the Washington Post on Inauguration Day, headlined "Mr.
President, Rebuild that Wall!"
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By Steve Petersen
The
members of Minnesota Atheists should be excited about the incoming
board of directors. This marks an historic moment in the
organization's history. For the first time, no founding member
will serve on the board. Minnesota Atheists was incorporated on
September 21, 1991, and I filed the papers myself. The gauge
that some of us founders set was that the organization will be
successful when the founders are succeeded by other volunteers.
It has taken eighteen years of planning and working by so many, but
the goal of passing the torch to the next generation of atheist
leaders will happen. This is not a change based on agreement of
how things should be done, but agreement in the principle of keeping
us moving forward in our founding purpose of creating an atmosphere
of respectability for atheists. Our objective has a long way to
go before it will be met, but today each member can feel proud
because we stand a better chance of reaching our goal of society's
knowledge of atheists today than yesterday.
The
members nominated this January and to be elected this February are a
good mix of long-time members and newer members who each bring a set
of experiences to the board that will enable Minnesota Atheists to be
on the cutting edge of tomorrow's communication needs. This is
a board I look forward to supporting and assisting in their efforts
to move us into years of future growth and thus enhancing our outlook
for years to come.
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