This is the weekly summary of the Humanist Network News (HNN). The Humanist Network News (HNN) is published every Wednesday via e-mail and the Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS) Web site. This diary is a slightly reformatted copy of the weekly email, posted every Thursday.
If these items interest you, you may also be interested in the recent diary I wrote: I am the Boogeyman on what it is like to be a Secular Humanist in today’s political climate.
June 20, 2005
Humanist Network News
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- Times whiffs. No atheists allowed in British Scouts
- Scots legalize humanist weddings
- Frist just pandering to the religious right after all
- Ralph Reed’s Trifecta: Casinos paying Christians to fight gambling
- Are atheists still barred from public office?
- Sweet Reason, how can an atheist talk to religious family about death?
- Film Review: Howl’s Moving Castle
- Letters to the Editor
- Media Roundup
- Strange Times
- Cathartic Comics
- Humanist Humor
- Poll of the Week
Summaries and links across the fold. As always, if any of these stories light your fire, feel free to do a more in depth diary of your own.
1. Times whiffs. No atheists allowed in British Scouts
You may have read recently in The Sunday Times – Britain that atheists are allowed in the British boy scouts. Humanist Network News called the Scout Association today. Guess what? No atheists are allowed. MORE
2. Scots legalize humanist weddings
Britain’s first legally-binding humanist wedding took place on Saturday, June 18. MORE
3. Frist just pandering to the religious right after all
An autopsy revealed recently what most of us already believed about Terri Schaivo: she was in an irreversible vegetative state. So what does this say about Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, who prostituted his Harvard medical degree to ram through blitzkrieg legislation to give Terri another chance in the activist federal courts? Dr. Tim Gordinier tackles the topic. MORE
4. Ralph Reed’s Trifecta: Casinos paying Christians to fight gambling
The religious right likes to say it’s all about values. Now we know the value of their opposition to legalizing gambling in Alabama: $1.1million, paid for by casino owners in neighboring Mississippi. MORE
5. Are atheists still barred from public office?
Are you planning to run for office? You’d better read this column first. Dr Tim Gordinier examines the issue of state constitutions that bar atheists from holding public office. MORE
6. Sweet Reason, how can an atheist talk to religious family about death?
An advice column by Molleen Matsumura, “Sweet Reason” deals with life-concerns and problems involving humanism, secularism and the nonreligious individual. MORE
7. Film Review: Howl’s Moving Castle
Film reviewer Carolyn Braunius writes: Howl’s Moving Castle is a beautiful and fantastic journey of self discovery. MORE
8. Letters to the Editor
Letters on the posting of the Ten Commandments, state constitutions that bar atheists from holding office, and a humanist book. MORE
9. Media Roundup
A roundup of news stories of interest to humanists and freethinkers. MORE
10. Strange Times
The Telegraph (U.K.) reports: A Romanian Orthodox priest who faces a murder charge after ordering the crucifixion of a young nun because she was “possessed by the devil” was unrepentant as he conducted a funeral mass for his alleged victim. MORE
11. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. MORE
12. Humanist Humor
Here’s a joke about a heavenly father and child reunion. MORE
13. Poll of the Week
The religious right generally opposes legalizing gambling. So do some secular people who feel that the social costs are unacceptable. This week’s poll asks, “What are your views on legalized gambling?” CAST YOUR VOTE
About the IHS:
The IHS promotes nonreligious perspectives on social, political, and ethical issues and serves as a resource for and about the humanist community. Questions, comments, concerns, got a better joke or a story? Send a letter to the editor.