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 (Yes, I have permission from the IHS). (CP @ MLW, BT, SP)
November 16, 2005
Humanist Network News
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- Darby quits post at Atheist Law Center; New president says “No Hard Feelings”
- Atheists, out of their foxholes and on the national mall
- IHS in the News: Atheists in Foxholes
- Religious holidays and school closings
- Another political bombshell in Canada
- Film Review: Pride & Prejudice
- Sweet Reason, Christian students trying to convert me
- Letters to the Editor
- Cathartic Comics
- Humanist Humor
- Poll of the Week
Summaries and links across the break.
Unfortunately, I was too busy this week to include “My Take”. I’ll try to stop by later to make some comments.
1. Darby quits post at Atheist Law Center; New president says “No Hard Feelings”
Larry Darby has resigned as president of the Atheist Law Center, the small but controversial activist group he founded in Montgomery, Ala. Now he’s running for public office. MORE
2. Atheists, out of their foxholes and on the national mall
On Veterans Day, a small group of atheist veterans assembled on the national mall to march and rally. But some say the attendance and the media coverage for the event were dismal. MORE
3. IHS in the News: Atheists in Foxholes
New York News Connection interviewed IHS Executive Director Matt Cherry and occasional HNN contributor Warren Allen Smith about the Atheist in Foxholes event. MORE
4. Religious holidays and school closings
Dr. Tim Gordinier, public policy director of the Institute for Humanist Studies, asks: “Closing public schools to ‘observe’ a religious holiday would seem, on first impression, to violate the principle of separation of church and state. Wouldn’t any reasonable person see that as government endorsement of a particular religious viewpoint?” MORE
5. Another political bombshell in Canada
Canadian columnist Doug Thomas reports: “A New Democratic Party MP, Joe Comartin, has put a motion on the table to have his party start a ‘faith-based’ caucus within that federal party.” MORE
6. Film Review: Pride & Prejudice
HNN film critic Carolyn Braunius writes: “Pride & Prejudice is a fresh look at an old favorite.” MORE
7. Sweet Reason, Christian students trying to convert me
A college student feels overrun by proselytizing Christian students. CHECK OUT SWEET REASON’S ADVICE
8. Letters to the Editor
Letters about Atheists in Foxholes, abstinence until ‘later’, and atheist clubs in public schools. MORE
9. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. READ THEM
10. Humanist Humor
A future humanist grows restless in church. GET THE JOKE
11. Poll of the Week
We have last week’s poll results on how many HNN readers claim to be veterans. But we’re taking a break from the poll this week. MORE
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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.