Secular Movement Builds Momentum, Canadian Atheist Convention Sells Out

Written by Administrator | 11 May 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

The global movement toward a secular world, governed by reason and evidence, continues to gather momentum. Imagine No Religion 2, which has sold out weeks in advance, will bring together world-class speakers, thinkers and activists at an atheist convention to be held 18 - 20 May 2012 in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Hosted by the Kamloops Centre for Rational Thought (KCFRT) and supported by Atheist Alliance International (AAI) and the Centre for Inquiry Canada (CFI Canada), speakers at the convention include Lawrence Krauss, theoretical physicist and bestselling author of A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing, Maryam Namazie, an activist and commentator who founded Iran Solidarity and is Spokesperson for One Law For All and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, PZ Myers, biologist and author of the Pharyngula blog, Desiree Schell, host of the Skeptically Speaking radio show, Christopher diCarlo, activist and author of How To Be A Really Good Pain in the Ass: A Critical Thinker's Guide to Asking the Right Questions, and many others. Further information on the convention speakers can be found in the Appendix.

Bill Ligertwood, Director of the Kamloops Centre for Rational Thought, said "KCFRT is excited to be hosting Imagine No Religion 2. We have doubled attendance from last year's convention, with people attending from as far away as Amsterdam and from all over western Canada and the US. This year's convention marks the largest of its kind in Canadian history and for a relatively small organization in a small city, it's an accomplishment that KCFRT is very proud of. KCFRT continues to put the secular worldview out front in British Columbia and Canada - this is especially important right now with an avowed right-wing Christian federal government in power."

“Imagine No Religion 2 is part of a growing international movement. There was record attendance for the 2012 Global Atheist Convention in Australia last month, the first Southeast Asian atheist convention was held in the Philippines recently and Imagine No Religion 2 is a fantastic part of this series,” said AAI President Tanya Smith. “Globally, atheists and freethinkers are demonstrating that we will no longer remain silent and we demand that public policy is based on reason and evidence, not religious interpretations. Atheism is no longer taboo, nor is it something to hide; instead it is a point of pride.”

Michael Payton, National Director of CFI Canada said "It is truly a pleasure to work with such esteemed collegues as AAI and KCFRT to present this convention to the public. Imagine No Religion 2 is easily set to be the most successful, educational and enlightening event to take place for atheists and skeptics in Canada and we are happy to welcome our guests, speakers and fellow leaders to take part in moulding a more inclusive and cooperative environment for all freethinking people in Canada and across the world."

Moving Forward

Written by Josh M, News Team | 11 May 2012

(Image: Benjamin Wheelock, Salon.com)

On May 9, 2012, President Obama, who has for years said that his view of marriage equality is still “evolving,” told ABC news in an unanticipated move, “At a certain point, I’ve just concluded that, for me, personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that I think same-sex couples should be able to get married” (video may not stream for a few days, due to server-overload on their end).

Reactions, of course, vary.

Republicans and the religious right have taken a predictable stance on the issue. Romney’s senior advisor, Ed Gillespie, spoke on MSNBC, detailing the position of the Romney campaign. In short, they are still of the opinion that marriage is between “one man and one woman,” and Romney has gone so far as to threaten a Constitutional amendment banning gay marriage for all states (which, it should be said, goes against their stated “states'-rights” agenda, wherein the government is supposed to not make decisions for individual states…see the short video linked at the end of this article). Their conservative base is naturally behind their stance.

What Would You Substitute For the Bible as a Moral Guide?

Written by Administrator | 09 May 2012

Oh, we can think of a few things! AAI Members can now listen to Robert Ingersoll's What Would You Substitute For the Bible as a Moral Guide? through the Freethought Audio Library, thanks to a recording by David Brocker.

AAI Members can access this recording by logging into the Members Only section of the AAI website, then finding the Freethought Audio Library under the Resources menu.

Alexander Aan update

Written by Tanya Smith | 03 May 2012

The trial of Alexander Aan - the Indonesian man attacked and charged with blasphemy after posting 'God does not exist' on Facebook - is underway. As noted by in an article in the Guardian his prospects may be grim.

Freedom of expression is a critical issue for atheists. We are in the minority and it's all too common for religious people to claim they are offended by the statement of our conclusion that there are no gods. Religious people should not be offended by this simple statement, but even if they are, physical assault and imprisonment is a not a reasonable response.

If you would like to state your support for freedom of expression and help Alexander you can contact the Indonesian authorities to call for his release and register your concern about Indonesia's blasphemy laws.

Atheist Alliance International is collecting donations to help pay for Aan's legal costs and to support the Aan family's living expenses while he is in jail, at www.atheistalliance.org/support-aai/donate (Legal/Support Fund for Alex Aan).

My Words in Esperanto

Written by Tanya Smith | 09 May 2012

Last year I met the Vice-President of ATEO (Atheist Esperantists of the World) and she asked me to write a greeting for their Journal. Seeing my words in Esperanto is quite a novelty for me so I thought I'd share it:

What Is The Soul

Written by Administrator | 04 May 2012

There is a new addition to AAI's Freethought Audio Library! Thank you to Richard Ponce for his recording of Bertrand Russell's What is the soul. AAI Members can access this recording by logging into the Members Only section of the AAI website, then finding the Freethought Audio Library under the Resources menu.

Witchcraft in Malawi - new report released

30 April 2012

The Association for Secular Humanism in Malawi (an AAI Member) has released a report on the extent of witchcraft in Malawi - and it is depressing reading. Belief in witchcraft is widespread, the number of cases is rising and people suspected of witchcraft are often subject to violence. The report recommends ten initiatives to combat the violence against those accused of witchcraft.

Atheist Alliance International congratulates the Association for Secular Humanism for its work to document the extent of the problems in Malawi and its ongoing campaign against superstitious and dangerous practices.

Read the full report

Brazil deems abortion of anencephalic fetuses legal

Written by Alexandre F. Shimono, News Team | 27 April 2012

Women celebrate when the results were announced.
“Crime is having no rights!” reads the banner. (Picture: AgBR/ CFêmea)

Anencephaly, according to Wikipedia, is a cephalic disorder that results from a neural tube defect that occurs when the cephalic (head) end of the neural tube fails to close, usually between the 23rd and 26th day of pregnancy, resulting in the absence of a major portion of the brain, skull, and scalp.

On 12 April Brazil took a true secular action by decriminalizing the abortion of anencephalic fetuses and assuring the rights of pregnant women in such cases. With eight votes for and two against, the result of the judgment may not have been as significant as the signaled Brazilian position regarding religion and State separation: minister Marco Aurélio Mello of the Supreme Court of Brazil (“Superior Tribunal Federal”), the highest judicial court, rapporteur of this process and first to vote pro-decriminalization, included a whole section in his speech to reinforce the fact that the constitution is laic, and no religious belief should interfere in the law.

Some interesting parts are transcripted below[1] (free translation):

“Gods and Caesars have separated places. The State is not religious, nor is atheist. The State is simply neutral.”

Am I an Atheist or an Agnostic

Written by Administrator | 28 April 2012

Thank you to Richard Ponce for his recording of Bertrand Russell's Am I an Atheist or Agnostic for AAI's Freethought Audio Library. AAI Members can access this recording by logging into the Members Only section of the AAI website, then finding the Freethought Audio Library under the Resources menu.

PATAS, A Spark of Reason in the Philippines

Written by Richard Ponce, News Team | 25 April 2012

The First Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Convention was held in Manila on Saturday April 21^st by the Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society (PATAS). This event is notable in that it came into being from a grassroots organization started on Facebook only just over a year ago. The ambitious work of its members, its chairperson Marissa Torres Langseth and president John Paraiso, drew a crowd of around 150 supporters and speakers from many organizations around the world. Don’t be fooled by the size of the turnout; this is truly a spark in a tinderbox.

The vast majority of people in the Philippines are fervently religious, the country being predominantly Roman Catholic with an Islamic population in the south, and it is also highly superstitious. At the convention we learned of the power of the Catholic Church in the Philippines, where voters are outright coerced into election choices under the threat of excommunication. Even more alarming is the church’s stance on birth control, abortion rights and, women’s rights. The church’s influence has led to overpopulation with a majority of Filipinos living in poverty, where AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases are on the increase. Lack of basic education and the threat of damnation for rational family planning plague the population. Undue meddling in the government by the church has allowed it to maintain control since it was forced onto the Filipino population by the Spaniards. But times are changing. As Marissa Torres Langseth wrote in the preamble to the convention, “No more hiding, no more lying—we are coming out…Our tools are logic, critical thinking, reason, science.”

Rabbi's little helper

Written by Zach, News Team | 23 April 2012

Just when sequestering, shunning and sheltering seemed to be enough to keep the minds of ultra-Orthodox Jewish followers from exploring anything reasonable or scientific outside themselves, it seems the leaders have learned to embrace modern psychology, well sort of. In a new effort to help "problematic" members fall in line and control their tayvos - desires - leading rabbis in various Hasidic communities in Israel have linked up with morally questionable psychiatrists in order to prescribe drugs intended to kill sex drive and aid in the "struggle against homosexuality."

http://www.haaretz.com/weekend/week-s-end/rabbi-s-little-helper-1.422985
http://www.haaretz.com/news/features/psychiatric-drugs-become-talk-of-the-ultra-orthodox-community-1.425727

Some definitions of terms that appear in the articles: Yeshiva- a religious college for boys where only religious scriptures are learned; Rebbe- the head of a Hasidic community, higher ranking than a "rabbi" and seen as an intermediary between the faithful and God; Hasidic Jews- continuation of an 18th century spiritual revival movement in Eastern Europe which is known for stringent observance of Jewish law and isolating themselves from the secular world in regards to media, education and actual contact. The first article is the initial report uncovered by the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, which is one of the most widespread and internationally recognized Israeli newspapers.

Godless Philippines - bring it on!

Written by Tanya Smith | 23 April 2012

(With the other speakers and the PATAS team in Manila)

It was an honour and a pleasure to be at the first atheist convention in South East Asia on 21 April. Hosted by the Philippine Atheists and Agnostics Society (PATAS) in Manila, the convention - titled Filipino non-belief - are you ready for this? - was a lot of fun and a significant step for non-believers in the region. Dan Barker from FFRF headed the program - it's always great to hear him talk - and it was wonderful to meet and listen to other speakers including Jeremiah Camara, David Orenstein and Norm Allen. In addition, we heard about about the projects done by PATAS (and it's only been in existence since Feb 2011 - a very busy first year!) and it was very interesting to listen to Red Tani's talk about secular activism by the Filipino Freethinkers. A lot of work is going into supporting the Reproductive Health bill, which would make contraception more widely accessible. PATAS' tour of Manila on the following day really showed why this is needed - in slum areas we saw a very high proportion of children and were told that the average family size is 8 - 10.

A big congratulations to PATAS and the organising committee for all their hard work in hosting this seminal event. It was a great statement in support of atheism and secularism in the Philippines and may there be many more!