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.
July 14, 2005
Humanist Network News
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- Fundamentalists storm Institute for Humanist Studies
- Drawing the line: Freethought and Holocaust Denial
- Coming to grips with the upcoming confirmation battle
- Now hiring: Secular Coalition for America
- National student humanist conference at OSU this Aug.
- NY Bishops oppose birth control measure
- Iran goes back to mediaeval barbarity
- The Church is/isn’t the problem
- Send it to them!
- Sweet Reason, how can I keep my home prayer free?
- Film Review: Dark Water
- Media Roundup
- Strange Times
- Cathartic Comics
- Humanist Humor
- Poll of the Week
Summaries and links across the jump. As always, if one of these stories captures your interest, feel free to write a more in depth diary.
1. Fundamentalists storm Institute for Humanist Studies
When the Institute for Humanist Studies moved into its new headquarters in downtown Albany, N.Y., the staff wondered if any fundamentalists would arrive to protest the Institute’s work promoting secularism. On July 6, more than 100 of them invaded the building. MORE
2. Drawing the line: Freethought and Holocaust Denial
Lines are being drawn in the freethought community. The row is over a July 6 meeting held by the Atheist Law Center in Prattville, Ala., which featured one of the world’s most notorious Holocaust-deniers, David Irving. In his column, IHS Executive Director Matt Cherry weighs in on the issue. MORE
3. Coming to grips with the upcoming confirmation battle
IHS Public Policy Director Tim Gordinier takes a look at the battle to confirm a new U.S. Supreme Court justice. MORE
4. Now hiring: Secular Coalition for America
The Secular Coalition for America is looking to hire a Washington D.C. lobbyist and director for this fall. Think you’re right for the job? Here’s the job description. DETAILS
5. National student humanist conference at OSU this Aug.
Students for Freethought @ The Ohio State University will host the Secular Student Alliance’s 5th annual conference this Aug. 11 to 14. MORE
6. NY Bishops oppose birth control measure
The Unintended Pregnancy Prevention Act, which the Institute for Humanist Studies has supported through its lobbying efforts, could be in trouble. The leaders of the Catholic Church in New York State have written a letter to Governor George E. Pataki urging him to veto a bill that would allow women to access emergency contraception without a patient-specific prescription. MORE
7. Iran goes back to mediaeval barbarity
There are fears that the election in Iran of a “hard-line” religious president will lead to a return of the country’s widespread human rights abuses. Alarm bells were rung last week by Amnesty International as it revealed that an Iranian court had sentenced a man to have his eyes gouged out for a crime he committed 20 years ago as a teenager. The National Secular Society Newsline (U.K.) reports. MORE
8. The Church is/isn’t the problem
Sexual Intelligence publisher Dr. Marty Klein writes about the church in Bulgaria and it’s surprisingly progressive views toward sex. MORE
9. Send it to them!
Canadian columnist Doug Thomas takes on the Western attitude toward stopping hunger. MORE
10. Sweet Reason, how can I keep my home prayer free?
Sweet Reason gives advice on how to deal with religious relatives who try to force prayer into the homes of their non-religious relatives. MORE
11. Film Review: Dark Water
Carolyn Braunius writes: “Dark Water is an intriguing horror film that ends up leaving a bad taste in your mouth.” MORE
12. Media Roundup
A roundup of news of interest to humanists, atheists and freethinkers. MORE
13. Strange Times
Strange news of interest to humanists, atheists and freethinkers. MORE
14. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. MORE
15. Humanist Humor
Upon hearing that her elderly grandfather had just passed away, Katie went straight to her grandparent’s house to visit her 95-year-old grandmother and comfort her. When she asked how her grandfather had died, her grandmother replied: “He had a heart attack while we were making love on Sunday morning.” READ THE JOKE
16. Poll of the Week
I recently had lunch with an atheist who informed that many “nonbelievers” are vegetarians “for ethical reasons.” We had a very interesting conversation about religious belief, atheism and vegetarianism. So here’s this week’s question: “Which of the following best describes the reason for your eating habits?” 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.