FEATURED ARTICLES
Published by the Center For Atheism (CFA)Editor: David Birnkrant
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.
===================================
Atheist activist accused of misrepresenting herself as a lawyer
Tbo.com
LAKELAND - - An Atheists of Florida activist was arrested Thursday for representing herself as an attorney, even though she doesn't have a license to practice, the Polk County State Attorney's Office said…
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2011/mar/03/032222/atheist-activist-accused-of-misrepresenting-hersel/
Atheists official charged with practicing law without license
News Chief
The lawsuit claims praying at the beginning of the meetings infringes on the separation of church and state. Eric O. Husby, a Tampa lawyer representing Wachs and the atheist group in that federal case, did not wish to comment on her arrest. ...
http://www.newschief.com/article/20110304/NEWS/103045145/1003/NEWS?p=1&tc=pg
Lakeland atheist says her arrest is retaliation
10 Connects
Lakeland, Florida - An outspoken Lakeland atheist has been arrested. EllenBeth Wachs was arrested Thursday for allegedly pretending to be a licensed attorney. But she says her arrest is just retaliation for demanding that God be removed from government ...
http://www.wtsp.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=178882&catid=250
ATHEISM
Atheist add campaign hits Indianapolis
Muncie Star Press
INDIANAPOLIS -- A monthlong billboard campaign set to begin in Indianapolis on Monday will tell motorists they "don't need God" to live fulfilling lives…
http://www.thestarpress.com/article/20110304/NEWS01/103040346/Atheist-ad-campaign-hits-Indianapolis
Christian symbols at odds with modern society, group argues
The Copenhagen Post
The Danish Atheist Society is calling for all religious symbols be removed from public institutions as well as the establishment of a cemetery for atheists. “We find it offensive that when parliament opens there is an official, Christian prayer service ...
http://www.cphpost.dk/news/national/51117-with-membership-growing-atheist-society-making-new-demands.html
National census: Atheists call on non-believers to speak out
Politics.co.uk
By Ian Dunt Non-believers are being told to highlight their lack of faith in the national census, as atheist campaigners try to highlight the extent of their support. Two posters are being put up in central London from today in an effort to convince ...
http://www.politics.co.uk/news/legal-and-constitutional/national-census-atheists-call-on-non-believers-to-speak-out-$21387638.htm#
No religion census campaign
Sydney Star Observer
The Atheist Foundation of Australia (AFA) has launched an online campaign to encourage people whose faith has lapsed to make it official by marking ‘No Religion’ in the 2011 census. CensusNoReligion.org gives people information about how incorrect ...
http://www.starobserver.com.au/news/2011/03/09/no-religion-census-campaign/46659
BOOKS, FILM, THEATRE, TV, YOU TUBE
Richard Herring, Christ On A Bike! The Second Coming, Hyena Lounge Comedy Club ...
The Press, York
“I originally came to do the show because I was an atheist obsessed with religion and Christ. Was I scared I might be wrong to be so dismissive, or did I secretly hope, in my heart, that I might be Jesus, back at last?” he says. “In my atheism I want ...
http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/leisure/comedy/8890305.Richard_Herring__Christ_On_A_Bike__The_Second_Coming__Hyena_Lounge_Comedy_Club__City_Screen__York__March_6/
Nora's Will: Death and dinner served up in Mexican tragicomedy
Globe and Mail
But back to José, an elderly fellow who, in the 20 years since his divorce, has seen his beard turn white and his atheism grow entrenched. By contrast, the late Nora hadn't lost her Jewish faith. Quite calculatedly, she killed herself on the eve of ...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/arts/movies/noras-will-death-and-dinner-served-up-in-mexican-tragicomedy/article1928958/
Theater Review: 'Freud's Last Session'
The Epoch Times
The encounter pits Freud's atheism against Lewis's theism. Set in Freud's London studio in September of 1939, Lewis, who has arranged to visit Freud for a psychoanalytic session, arrives late. Freud, piqued by the younger man's tardiness, ...
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/arts-entertainment/theater-review-freuds-last-session-52648.html
Guest list: Christopher Hitchens on CBS' '60 Minutes'; John McCain and Tina ...
Orlando Sentinel (blog)
CBS News bills Hitchens as “America's most famous atheist,” and he discusses his bracing criticism of Mother Teresa and Princess Diana. You can see “60 Minutes” at 7 pm Sunday on WKMG-Channel 6. The program also features a haunting story about homeless ...
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment_tv_tvblog/2011/03/guest-list-christopher-hitchens-on-cbs-60-minutes-john-mccain-and-tina-brown-on-abcs-this-week.html
Next Fall at BUA
Artvoice
Luke (Daniel Beason) is a devout Christian; Adam (Darryl Hart) is a confirmed atheist. Adam is a middle-aged hypochondriac; Luke is a young hottie. And yet they fall in love. Luke promises that he will tell his family about the relationship—next fall. ...
http://artvoice.com/issues/v10n10/theaterweek/next_fall
EVOLUTION, CREATIONISM, I.D.
Bill calls for method to correct errors in textbooks
Louisville Courier-Journal
She said it recalled earlier debates over such things as the presentation of an alternative to evolution called intelligent design — which a federal judge ruled in 2005 was not science but a religious teaching that advanced Christianity. ...
http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110304/NEWS01/303040094/1011/SCENE/Bill-calls-method-correct-errors-textbooks?odyssey=nav%7Chead
Antievolution legislation in Florida
National Center for Science Education
Before Wise introduced SB 2396, he announced his intention to introduce a bill requiring "intelligent design" to be taught in Florida's public schools. "If you're going to teach evolution, then you have to teach the other side so you can have critical ...
http://ncse.com/news/2011/03/antievolution-legislation-florida-006524
Florida bill may rekindle debate over evolution
Tampabay.com
Evolution supporters say the language is another attempt by Florida lawmakers to undermine the teaching of evolution, introduce the faith-based concepts of creationism and intelligent design, and water down state science standards that were narrowly ...
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article1155932.ece
"Intelligent design" legislation in Texas
National Center for Science Education
Describing the bill as following "the strategy by creationist/'intelligent design' proponents to portray themselves as martyrs," TFN noted that the strategy was exemplified by the creationist propaganda film Expelled Evolution Exposed. ...
http://ncse.com/news/2011/03/intelligent-design-legislation-texas-006531
Libertyville High School science teacher cited creationism, officials confirm
Chicago Tribune
The student had complained that a biology and human genetics teacher, Beau Schaefer, had been promoting creationist beliefs and attempting to discredit evolution, Sherman said. "A teacher is teaching that creationism and intelligent design is more ...
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/ct-met-libertyville-creatonism-teache20110308,0,1944343.story
SCIENCE
Has Earth's Sixth Mass Extinction Already Arrived?
ScienceDaily (Mar. 5, 2011) — With the steep decline in populations of many animal species, from frogs and fish to tigers, some scientists have warned that Earth is on the brink of a mass extinction like those that occurred only five times before during the past 540 million years...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110302131844.htm
Mean Girls and Queen Bees: Females Threatened by Social Exclusion Will Reject Others First
ScienceDaily (Mar. 5, 2011) — Many studies have suggested that males tend to be more physically and verbally aggressive than females. According to a new study, to be published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science, it may not be the case that women are less competitive than men -- they may just be using a different strategy to come out ahead. Specifically, women may rely more on indirect forms of aggression, such as social exclusion...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110224121907.htm
New Non-Surgical Autopsy Technique Set to Revolutionize Post-Mortem Practice
ScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2011) — A new non-surgical post-mortem technique that has the potential to revolutionise the way autopsies are conducted around the world has been pioneered by forensic pathologists and radiologists at the University of Leicester in collaboration with the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301111253.htm
Can You Predict Your Mate Will Cheat by Their Voice?
ScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2011) — When choosing a partner, women believe the lower the man's voice, the more likely he's going to cheat. Conversely, men think a woman with a higher voice is more likely to be unfaithful, researchers have found...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110304115358.htm
Nanotechnology: New 'Frozen Smoke' May Improve Robotic Surgery, Energy Storage
ScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2011) — A spongy substance that could be mistaken for packing material has the nanotechnology world buzzing. University of Central Florida Associate Professor Lei Zhai and postdoctoral associate Jianhua Zou have engineered the world's lightest carbon material in such a way that it could be used to detect pollutants and toxic substances, improve robotic surgery techniques and store energy more efficiently...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110301111457.htm
The Dusty Disc of NGC 247
ScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2011) — The spiral galaxy NGC 247 is one of the closest spiral galaxies of the southern sky. In this new view from the Wide Field Imager on the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope in Chile large numbers of the galaxy's component stars are clearly resolved and many glowing pink clouds of hydrogen, marking regions of active star formation, can be made out in the loose and ragged spiral arms...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110302075813.htm
NASA's Glory Satellite Fails to Reach Orbit
ScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2011) — NASA's Glory spacecraft launched aboard a Taurus XL rocket from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California Friday, March 4, 2011 at 5:09:45 a.m. EST failed to reach orbit...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110304090238.htm
Method Developed to Match Police Sketch, Mug Shot: Algorithms and Software Will Match Sketches With Mugshots in Police Databases
ScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2011) — The long-time practice of using police facial sketches to nab criminals has been, at best, an inexact art. But the process may soon be a little more exact thanks to the work of some Michigan State University researchers...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110303184115.htm
Sex Differences in Male and Female Learning Revealed by Gibbons
ScienceDaily (Mar. 4, 2011) — Differences in the way male and female learning has evolved have been revealed by new research into gibbons, conducted by the University of Abertay Dundee...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/02/110228105310.htm
SEPARATION CHURCH / STATE
Buffalo will use 'In God We Trust' logo on building, letters
Buffalo Reflex
... to be controversial, and a target for the American Civil Liberties Union, which has challenged many cities and counties for posting the Ten Commandments or other material that might violate the ACLU's goal to have separation of church and state. ...
http://buffaloreflex.com/news/article_0ba64916-44f5-11e0-a82f-001cc4c002e0.html
House panel OKs bill creating subsidy for private-school tuition
Denver Post
Dan Pabon, D-Denver, who sent his daughter to Catholic schools before she entered a public high school, said it would breach the wall of separation of church and state. And Rep. Dan Kagan, D-Cherry Hills Village, said that measures such as Swalm's bill ...
http://www.denverpost.com/legislature/ci_17535855
Cranston school board to decide prayer's fate
Boston Globe
The board meets Monday to decide the future of the banner at Cranston West that has been on display for decades, but which some say violates the constitutional principle of separation of church and state. The banner that starts "Our Heavenly Father . ...
http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2011/03/07/cranston_school_board_to_decide_prayers_fate/
Supreme Court rejects appeal in student fee case
USA Today
... higher education groups backed Madison in the case and urged the Supreme Court to take the case, arguing without success that the lower court's decision intruded on reasonable university rules designed to protect the separation of church and state. ...
http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2011-03-08-student-fees_N.htm
Kentucky 'Ark Park' Seeks Tourists Two-By-Two
NPR
But giving it tax breaks violates the constitutional separation of church and state. "The Supreme Court has said that the government can't act with the purpose or effect of advancing religion," he says. "This project is all about advancing religion ...
http://www.npr.org/2011/03/08/134196237/governor-hopes-tourists-come-two-by-two-to-ark-park
Sarkozy's party divided over debate on Islam
Irish Times
One of the most contentious questions is whether the UMP plans to revisit the landmark 1905 law – the cornerstone of French laïcité – on the separation of church and state. One minister has suggested reform is needed to allow the state to fund places ...
http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/world/2011/0309/1224291667271.html
Did federal judge overstep in ruling on FLDS trust?
Salt Lake Tribune
Members of the sect did not protest the takeover until 2008, when they challenged the takeover as an illegal violation of the separation between church and state. Last year, the case came before the Utah Supreme Court, which dismissed it by saying the ...
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home/51387982-76/court-utah-supreme-law.html.csp#
Daily Debriefing
The Dartmouth
Several national higher education groups, including the American Council on Education, supported the university by arguing that the lower court's decision violates the separation of church and state. The majority opinion of the Court of Appeals ...
http://thedartmouth.com/2011/03/09/news/briefs
Prayer motion re-ignites debate
Markdale Standard
Winter, who heard Lemon on the radio in Midland, said the councillor is missing the point — there should be a "separation of church and state. "The point is council meetings shouldn't include any prayer," he said. Thomas Perry, spokesman for the ...
http://www.markdalestandard.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3013542
Why Does 'Broke' Nation Still Have Money For D.C. Religious Schools?
eNews Park Forest
Added Lynn, “This voucher scheme undermines public education and church-state separation, and I am disappointed that the House committee voted to fund it.” Lynn also noted that the DC voucher experiment hasn't lived up to proponents' claims. ...
http://www.enewspf.com/opinion/22433-why-does-broke-nation-still-have-money-for-dc-religious-schools.html
High court rejects suit over 'In God We Trust'
San Francisco Chronicle
Michael Newdow, an atheist, has filed numerous lawsuits against government-sponsored religious invocations, including the words "under God" that were added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954. The Ninth US Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco ...
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F03%2F07%2FBAFV1I5O19.DTL
Court won't hear challenge to 'In God We Trust'
AZFamily
(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file) Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court won't hear an atheist's latest challenge to the US government's references to God. The court on Monday refused to hear an appeal from Michael Newdow, ...
http://www.azfamily.com/news/national/117519318.html
Mayor of Saguenay defies tribunal, recites prayer before council meeting
CTV.ca
I am glad this mayor is sticking by his guns & not backing down to the atheist mob and the political correctness police. as if atheists ever contribute anything positive to society. I personally could care less about any prayer anywhere but this is ...
http://montreal.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20110307/mtl_saguenay_110307/20110307/?hub=MontrealHome
Cranston High School West will keep its prayer
Providence Journal
It endorses a specific religion,” said Ahlquist, who is an atheist. The prayer, she says, “is discriminating against us.” For “a majority to say that you can take away a minority right, it's wrong,” Ahlquist said. “It's also un-American.”...
http://www.projo.com/education/content/cranston_prayer_vote_03-08-11_62MSQ0S_v11.1cb4662.html
Supreme Court Declines 'In God We Trust' Protest
Courthouse News Service
Litigious atheist Michael Newdow had appealed the 9th Circuit's March 2010 decision, which found that the slogan represents patriotism - not government endorsement of religion. In a separate ruling the same day, the 9th Circuit had also ruled against ...
http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/03/09/34778.htm
Fort Bragg says atheist concert was treated the same as Christian group
FayObserver.com
By John Ramsey Fort Bragg's garrison commander said Tuesday he supports an atheist concert on post, but the concert's organizer said the colonel's refusal to allow it on the Main Post Parade Field or to provide funding effectively canceled it. ...
http://www.fayobserver.com/articles/2011/03/09/1076742?sac=Home
Atheist Suit Depositions Against Lakeland Are Delayed
The Ledger
By John Chambliss LAKELAND | Depositions that had been scheduled to begin today in the atheist lawsuit against the city have been delayed for a couple of months. EllenBeth Wachs, the legal coordinator for the atheist group, was to be questioned today ...
http://www.theledger.com/article/20110308/NEWS/103085036/1134?Title=Atheist-Suit-Depositions-Against-Lakeland-Are-Delayed
MISCELLANEOUS
None
===============================================