This is the weekly summary of the Humanist Network News (HNN). The Humanist Network News (HNN) is published every Wednesday via e-mail and on the Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS) Web site. This diary is a slightly reformatted copy of the weekly email they send me, which I post here every Thursday.
September 1, 2005
Humanist Network News
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- First humanist charter school opens in U.S…in a church
- Is atheism a religion?
- Submit your humanist grant application now!
- Bioethics Event: Beyond Cloning
- IHS in the News
- Artist responds to hard Knox on his painting
- Bright Beginnings: Ask an Atheist
- How to influence enemies and alienate friends
- Sweet Reason, my coworkers think I’m the anti-Christ
- Film Review: The Brothers Grimm
- Letters to the Editor
- 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. First humanist charter school opens in U.S…in a church
School is now in session at the first humanist charter school in the United States. MORE
2. Is atheism a religion?
What might otherwise have been regarded as an insignificant decision by the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals has recently reignited an old debate within (and without) the freethought community about what constitutes “a religion.” Column by Tim Gordinier, public policy director of the Institute for Humanist Studies. MORE
3. Submit your humanist grant application now!
The deadline for applications to the Institute for Humanist Studies Grant Fund is Friday, Sept. 9 at 5 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time. MORE
4. Bioethics Event: Beyond Cloning
The IHEU-Appignani Center for Bioethics invites HNN readers to attend its first panel discussion. The topic is “Beyond Cloning: Bioethicists reconsider the terms of the Debate.” MORE
5. IHS in the News
Lori Lipman Brown doesn’t officially start her post as director/lobbyist of the Secular Coalition for America until Sept. 19. But the Institute for Humanist Studies is already helping to keep her busy by referring press queries to her. MORE
6. Artist responds to hard Knox on his painting
Joel Pelletier responds to recent criticism of his “American Fundamentalists” painting. MORE
7. Bright Beginnings: Ask an Atheist
In her bi-monthly column covering the secular student movement, Amanda K. Metskas reports on a “Ask an Atheist or Agnostic” program of the Students for Freethought at the Ohio State University. MORE
8. How to influence enemies and alienate friends
In this “How to” essay, Canadian columnist Doug Thomas teaches readers how powerful countries can alienate their allies. (You don’t suppose he means the United States and Canada, do you?)MORE
9. Sweet Reason, my coworkers think I’m the anti-Christ
A reader, who has been ‘outed’ as an atheist at the office, asks Sweet Reason how to deal with coworkers treating an atheist coworker like the anti-Christ. MORE
10. Film Review: The Brothers Grimm
Film critic Carolyn Braunius reviews The Brothers Grimm as a humanist and a feminist. MORE
11. Letters to the Editor
We have our first piece of HNN hate mail this week. Plus, lots of letters on the “American Fundamentalists” painting, astrology, Klingons and MORE
12. Media Roundup
A roundup of news items of interest to humanists and freethinkers. MORE
13. Strange Times
A roundup of strange news items of interest to humanists and freethinkers. MORE
14. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. MORE
15. Humanist Humor
What’s so funny about the Mark of the Beast? MORE
16. Poll of the Week
Do you plan to donate money to the Secular Coalition for America? CAST YOUR VOTE
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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.
If anything here interests you, you may also be interested in my diary on what it is like to be a secular humanist in today’s political climate: I Am The Boogeyman.
CP @ DKos, MLW, BT
