What’s different about today’s student atheists?
Psychology Today published an article today on the difference between present non-religious students and those of just a few years ago. The article cites the growth of the affiliates of the Secular Student Alliance from 50 groups in 2007 to greater than 250 in 2011 as evidence that non-religious college and high school students are self-identifying more readily than ever before.
The article can be found on Psychology Today's website here.
UW Atheists Featured in the Daily
By Lael Telles
November 3, 2009
Chris Busby, a UW junior, was raised in a Southern Baptist community in Alabama but now identifies himself as an atheist.
When Michael Amini walked out of a Mormon endowment ceremony in May 2006, his parents asked him if it was the most amazing experience of his life. The UW senior was about to embark on his mission trip to Singapore, but he emerged from the temple questioning the entire foundation of his faith.
“I found the ceremony disturbing,” Amini said. “I was immediately convinced the whole church was false.”
But instead of turning his back on the first 18 years of his life, Amini opted to leave for mission training in Utah. After several days, he phoned his parents to explain that he had confessed a sin to the bishop and he would not be permitted to continue on the mission.
Religion and science in the news…
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081215121559.htm
Neuropsych and religious experiences:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081217124156.htm
Religion and child sexual abuse:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/12/081215121559.htm
and for fun, one of my favorite science columnists:
http://judson.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/23/the-ten-days-of-newton/?scp=5&sq=religion&st=cse
oh, and how could I forget this?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/20/us/politics/20warren.html?scp=8&sq=religion&st=cse
A few articles worth reading
In case anyone has not gotten the word, a certain McCain insider doesn't actually exist. The New York Times tells the story about the hoaxer who spread the word that Sarah Palin didn't know that Africa was a continent.
Only days after California voters overturn a court ruling allowing same-sex marriage, a Connecticut court makes a similar ruling.
Dan Savage, the editorial director of The Stranger, writes in The New York Times that while the success of Prop 8 is disappointing, the Arkansas ballot measure that banned adoption by same-sex couples is terrifying.
Lisa Miller reminds us in Newsweek that while the U.S. is a highly religious country, the white born-again evangelicals who make up the Republican base are only a minority.
Mark Oppenheimer at Slate talks about the probability of the country electing Presidents of other minority groups in the near future. As expected, of the groups considered, atheists come in dead last. He says: "When the lion lies down with the lamb, when the President is a Republican Muslim and the Democratic speaker of the house is a vegan Mormon lesbian, when the Secretary of State is a Jain pacifist from the Green Party, they will all agree on one thing: atheists need not apply." I appreciate his optimism, but I'm not so sure I like his concluding line: "If [an atheist] ever ran for president, he would need God's help just as surely as he wouldn't ask for it." Excuse me, but haven't we had about enough of God's help in the last 8 years?
Religion in the public sphere
Another interesting article. How many 10 commandment statues are floating around in public spaces in the US?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/washington/11sect.html?em
Apathetic atheists, the naturalistic fallacy, and our budding theocracy
For Atheists, Politics Proves to Be a Lonely Endeavor
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/18/us/18religion.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=religion&st=cse&oref=slogin
Using Biology, Not Religion, to Argue Against Same-Sex Marriage
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/nyregion/12marriage.html?scp=3&sq=religion&st=cse
Bush Aides Say Religious Hiring Doesn’t Bar Aid
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/18/washington/18discrimination.html?scp=2&sq=religion&st=cse
Lawsuit against God thrown out because defendant has no legal address
Some of you might have already seen this, but I think this is really interesting. Nebraska State Senator Ernie Chambers filed a lawsuit against God. Chambers "seeks a permanent injunction ordering God to cease certain harmful activities and the making of terroristic threats." Here is an article discussing the lawsuit.
Now the lawsuit has been thrown out, on the grounds that "because the defendant has no address, legal papers cannot be served." Here is the article discussing the judge's ruling.
This is the kind of story that would seem more at home at The Onion, but it's always interesting to read this stuff from real news organizations.
Salman Rushdie in Seattle
Salman Rushdie, author of the Satanic Verses, will be making a stop in Seattle to sign copies of his newest book. Don't miss it!
Thursday • June 12 • 7:30pm
Salman Rushdie
The Enchantress of Florence (RANDOM HOUSE)
Reading & Book Signing
Town Hall Seattle, 1119 8th Avenue
"Salman Rushdie's sumptuous mixture of history and fable in The Enchantress of Florence is magnificent," says Ursula K. LeGuin. In telling the story of a woman attempting to command her own destiny in a man's world, Rushdie plumbs themes of East and West, love and betrayal, religion and unbelief, and sex. Rushdie's previous award-winning novels include Midnight's Children, Satanic Verses, and Shalimar the Clown. Tickets are free with the purchase of The Enchantress of Florence from University Book Store; otherwise tickets are $5 at the door. Books and tickets available May 27.
Signing Guidelines
- A signing line will form following the event.
- Salman will personalize pre-signed copies of The Enchantress of Florence.
- Salman will sign backlist titles.
- No memorabilia will be signed.
- Photos are permitted during the signing only.
- Signing guidelines are subject to change.
SSU Joins IHEYO
The Secular Student Union of the University of Washington in Seattle, WA is proud to make the following announcement:
Effective today, June 8, 2007, the International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organization (IHEYO) voted unanimously to grant the SSU consultative member status.
This makes the SSU the first and only IHEYO member organization in North America.
This historic event marks the beginning of the American Working Group and the beginning of an extensive effort on the part of IHEYO to expand in North America.
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What is IHEYO?
IHEYO is the youth umbrella organisation for humanist youth (up to 35 years of age) around the world. As youth group related to IHEU, IHEYO has had a long and interrupted history of existence, dating back to the sixties.
In 2000, IHEYO was reactivated. Since then international conferences have been organised and several projects like a yearly internship programme and a worldwide youth humanist database have been executed. Last year, youth representatives coming from 17 humanist organisations constituted IHEYO with By Laws at the international conference in Berlin, September 2003, Germany. They elected an official IHEYO Executive Committee.
IHEYO remains linked to IHEU, the umbrella organisation for more than 90 humanist, skeptic, rationalist, etc. organisations around the world and having formal representation at international bodies like the UN.
IHEYO has developed many contacts and concrete collaborations with humanist (youth) groups and individuals around the world. For more about humanist groups in the world, please go to our worldwide humanist database. It will show you that in many places youth humanism is vibrant and growing!
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What does this mean for SSU members?
Being a member organization for IHEYO grants us a direct connection to the international world of Humanism. We will be able to collaborate with our friends from around the world to advance Humanism and Humanist values, including fighting for church/state separation, providing disaster relief effort, fighting dangerous superstition in 3rd world areas, and any other cause to further humanity.
We are still affiliated with the Secular Student Alliance and CFI On-Campus, and will continue to work with these groups extensively in the future. Our membership with IHEYO will not affect these relationships.
We are now in the planning stages for student Humanist exchange programs, including full student exchange, and a Humanist Sofa network for anyone who would like to travel abroad. We will be included at IHEYO meetings around the world, and will have the opportunity to host leaders from Humanist groups in the United States.
