SEPTEMBER 15, 2010
Volume 6, Issue 37
Published by the Center For Atheism (CFA)
Editor: David Birnkrant
The Focus provides links to articles collected from major newspapers and magazines, and is emailed weekly.
This Week in Atheism is a cable show that discusses the articles
featured below, every Wednesday at 6:30 PM (EST), Manhattan Cable
station 57.
Live streaming is available at: http://www.mnn.org .
Comments, suggestions and subscription:
info@centerforatheism.org .
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FEATURED ARTICLES
A Chaplain and an Atheist Go to War
Wall Street Journal
By
MICHAEL M. PHILLIPS SANGIN, Afghanistan—They say there are no atheists
in foxholes. There's one on the front lines here, though, and the
chaplain isn't ...
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703467004575463833265055248.html
ATHEISM
Complaint: Teachers Recruited Student For Ritual
The South Florida Times
The
accusations are contained in complaints filed by an atheist teacher who
also alleged that her Christian colleagues tried to douse her with
anointed oil ...
http://www.sfltimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5122&Itemid=199
Pakistan's youth giving up Islam?
Deccan Herald
"I vacillate
between atheism and agnosticism. I'm currently an atheist but I feel
like it is more reasonable for one to be agnostic after all there is no
...
http://www.deccanherald.com/content/94137/pakistans-youth-giving-up-islam.html
Christopher Hitchens asks fans not to pray for him
The Guardian
After
advocating atheism in his 2007 book God is not Great: The Case Against
Religion, Hitchens also pointed out that if he abandoned the principles
he has ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2010/sep/06/christopher-hitchens-asks-fans-not-pray
Soldiers allege punishment over Christian show
ArmyTimes.com
...
were violated when he was compelled to attend military events at Fort
Riley, Kan., where prayers were made without regard to his status as an
atheist. ..
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2010/09/MONDAY1army-concert-090610w/
The passion of Nate Phelps
Troy Media Corporation
In the
atheism-monotheism divide, says Phelps, both sides are heard,
equanimous, and, perhaps more often than not, agreeable to disagreement.
...
http://www.troymedia.com/?p=14176
Anti-Religious Billboards to Appear in Metro Atlanta
WXIA-TV
Soon,
50 billboards will go up all over town, pushing a decidedly atheist
message. "It lets people know that we're here," said Perry Mitchell, ...
http://www.11alive.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=153216&catid=3
Billboards shun religion, promote separation of church and state
Atlanta Journal Constitution
...
on 50 billboards in metro Atlanta this week as part of a blitz through
the Bible Belt shunning religion and advocating separation of church and
state. ...
http://www.ajc.com/news/cobb/billboards-shun-religion-promote-608792.html
BOOKS, FILM, THEATRE, TV, YOU TUBE
'Tillman Story' shows how death was whitewashed
HeraldNet
...
image might suggest; he was intellectually curious, widely read and had
developed a very thoughtful approach to his belief system, which was
atheism. ...
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100903/ENT/709039828
'Tillman Story' tackles true meaning of heroism
Boston Herald
A
handsome media celebrity with many fans, Tillman was also an
intellectual and atheist who never talked publicly about his motives for
enlisting. ...
http://www.bostonherald.com/entertainment/movies/reviews/view.bg?articleid=1278781&srvc=rss
'The Tillman Story' tackles story of soldier lost to far more than friendly fire
Washington Post
There's
no doubt that the propaganda campaign was cynical; at one point a
military official criticizes Dannie's efforts as those of an obsessed
atheist. ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/02/AR2010090205090.html?hpid=topnews
'The Tillman Story': a director and a family question a nation's portrait of a man
OregonLive.com (blog)
...
yes, but he read widely in philosophy and radical politics (Noam
Chomsky was a favorite); he was a determined atheist; and he expressly
requested that ...
http://blog.oregonlive.com/madaboutmovies/2010/09/the_tillman_story_a_director_a.html
Hawking book explains creation of universe minus God
USA Today
7,
Hawking and his co-author, Caltech physicist Leonard Mlodinow, also lay
down their views on intelligent design (bad), string theory (good) and
philosophy ...
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/2010-09-06-hawking-book_N.htm?csp=34news
Anti Religion Billboards Outside Atlanta Prompt Free Speech Debate
WNCT
John
Carver is a life member of the organization that promotes atheism and
non-belief. The organization will soon put up 50 billboards around metro
Atlanta, ...
http://www2.wnct.com/news/2010/sep/09/anti-religion-billboards-outside-atlanta-prompt-fr-ar-373013/
EVOLUTION, CREATIONISM, I.D.
None
SCIENCE
Novel Nanotechnology Collaboration Leads to Breakthrough in Cancer Research
ScienceDaily
(Sep. 4, 2010)— One of the most difficult aspects of working at the
nanoscale is actually seeing the object being worked on. Biological
structures like viruses, which are smaller than the wavelength of
light, are invisible to standard optical microscopes and difficult to
capture in their native form with other imaging techniques...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100901091949.htm
Functional Motor Neuron Subtypes Generated from Embryonic Stem Cells
ScienceDaily
(Sep. 4, 2010)— Scientists have devised a method for coaxing mouse
embryonic stem cells into forming a highly specific motor neuron
subtype. The research, published by Cell Press in the September 3rd
issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell, provides new insight into motor
neuron differentiation and may prove useful for devising and testing
future therapies for motor neuron diseases...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100902121041.htm
Helping Corn-Based Plastics Take More Heat
ScienceDaily (Sep. 4,
2010)— Your favorite catsup or fruit juice might be "hot-filled" at the
food-processing plant -- that is, poured into its waiting container
while the catsup or juice is still hot from pasteurization. Current
containers made from corn-based plastics literally can't take the heat
of hot-filling, according to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)
chemist William J. Orts...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100901111630.htm
Next Step in Evolution? A Technical Life Form That Passes on Knowledge and Experience
ScienceDaily
(Sep. 4, 2010)— Dutch biologist Gerard Jagers op Akkerhuis has
developed the ‘operator hierarchy’ -- a system based on the complexity
of particles and of organisms, which can predict the next step in
evolution: a technical life form, that can pass on its knowledge and
experience to the next generation...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100903072649.htm
Chemists Develop Simple Technique to Visualize Atomic-Scale Structures
ScienceDaily
(Sep. 3, 2010)— Researchers at the California Institute of Technology
(Caltech) have devised a new technique -- using a sheet of carbon just
one atom thick -- to visualize the structure of molecules. The
technique, which was used to obtain the first direct images of how
water coats surfaces at room temperature, can also be used to image a
potentially unlimited number of other molecules, including antibodies
and other biomolecules...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100902151122.htm
Problem of Fake Medicines in Developing Countries Could Be Solved, Experts Say
ScienceDaily
(Sep. 3, 2010)— Counterfeiting of drugs is a huge industry with an
annual turnover of more than SEK 500 billion. In Africa the situation
is extremely serious. Half of the malaria medication sold there could be
ineffective or even harmful. There is currently no good way to
identify counterfeit drugs. However, researchers from Lund and the UK
have now developed a technique that could resolve the situation...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100901073356.htm
Britain Leads World for Environmentally Friendly Burials
ScienceDaily
(Sep. 3, 2010)— Britain is leading the world in green burials as more
and more people decide to be laid to rest in woodlands, meadows,
farmlands and other habitats which are rich in wildlife -- and there
are no laws preventing it as there are in many other countries...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100903092729.htm
Hubble Observations of Supernova Reveal Composition of 'Star Guts' Pouring out
ScienceDaily
(Sep. 2, 2010)— Observations made with NASA's newly refurbished Hubble
Space Telescope of a nearby supernova are allowing astronomers to
measure the velocity and composition of "star guts" being ejected into
space following the explosion, according to a new study led by the
University of Colorado at Boulder...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100902141612.htm
SEPARATION CHURCH / STATE
County cancels grant to group with religious ties
San Diego Union Tribune
...
Imperial Counties, applauded the county's move, saying the grant had
raised questions about religious freedom and separation of church and
state. ...
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/sep/02/county-cancels-grant-to-local-nonprofit/
Legal sparring over prayer still unsettled
UPI.com
... say
having a special day implies the government wants Americans to get down
on their knees and pray in violation of the separation of church and
state. ...
http://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2010/09/05/Legal-sparring-over-prayer-still-unsettled/UPI-43031283708715/
Christmas Will Return To Leesburg
W*USA 9
And in recent
years, there's been a menorah, Sikh prayers, and even a sign celebrating
atheism and the separation of church and state. ...
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=110339&catid=188
County votes to keep holiday courthouse displays
WTOP
It has
already received applications for five displays, including one by an
atheist group and one to the Temple of the Jedi, a reference to the
religion in ...
http://www.wtop.com/?nid=25&sid=2047850
Court rules on UW-Madison conflict
UWEC Spectator
... 2006-07
and 2007-08 academic years, arguing that these activities violate the
separation of church and state and shouldn't be funded by segregated
fees. ...
http://media.www.spectatornews.com/media/storage/paper218/news/2010/09/09/CampusNews/Court.Rules.On.UwMadison.Conflict-3929181.shtml
MISCELLANEOUS
None
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