Comment by Joan Denoo on January 13, 2013 at 10:50pm

James, the symbolism you describe does not put me into a positive frame of mind and I doubt it does anyone else. If I meditated in this environment or used these scenes as a contemplation focus I would not respond positively. 

For me, I need to put myself in an environment to focus on healthy, positive thoughts and couple them with proactive behaviors. First, I want to be discerning, able to separate the wheat from chaff; second, I want to take positive, thoughtful action that causes no harm; third, I want to behave in such a way that I belong to family or community or nation that focuses on compassion and participation, not on punishment or sacrifice; and fourth, I want to think so clearly that I can express myself to others and hopefully build coalitions of like-minded people who want to empower individuals and families and nations to flourish.  

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 14, 2013 at 9:22pm

Neil deGrasse Tyson: Atheist or Agnostic?

To the author of this video, I urge you to email or Twitter Tyson with this information. I agree with you that Tyson should explain the definitions of theist, atheist, agnostic more accurately.

When I have a question that comes up on his videos, I send him an email expressing my question and why I need more information and he responds, usually within a day or two.

Big Think: Neil deGrasse Tyson: Atheist or Agnostic?

He is a gentle and compassionate man. 

 

Comment by Brian Magee on January 17, 2013 at 10:05am

Mary Anne Farah, author of the Humanist Press ebook Pepper's Special Wings - A Story About Natural Selection, was a recent guest on Canada's Rogers TV program "Daytime" to talk about the book, which was written to teach evolution to kids.

To find out more about the book, and read a sample, visit www.humanistpress.com. You can also get it from all the major online ebook retailers.

Click here to watch the interview!

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 20, 2013 at 12:15pm

"The global population is more than 7 billion now and headed to 9 billion by 2050. If world population continues its exponential growth, when we will hit planetary carrying capacity limits with our key resources? (or are we already exceeding them?) What are the just, humane, and rights-respecting options that are on the table for balancing the world's population with the ability of the earth to sustain it?"

Bill Ryerson: The Challenges Presented By Global Population Growth

Comment by James M. Martin on January 20, 2013 at 6:00pm

Joan, I hate to sound so pessimistic, but I think we crossed the line of no return a while back.  It is just going to get worse.  Did you see the movie of P. D. James's Children of Men?  That futurist film envisions a dystopia where nations that are under water, suffering drought and climate-related famine, &c., are on the move, and the migrations are accompanied by a strange malady striking women, making them unable to conceive.  It is brilliantly done. And frightening.

Comment by Joan Denoo on January 20, 2013 at 7:11pm

Alas, James, you state correctly that we already crossed the line and things are going to get worse. That said, what, then, are you I to do? 

Well, first I want to enjoy every moment of life I have, surrounded by people I love and who love me. I want to leave behind a legacy of peace coupled with justice. If our 21st century thoughts and behaviors mean the end of our great civilization, I want to leave behind a testimony of the ways greed and hubris worked together to bring down a society based on scientific achievement, that there is no god to pull us out of our own foolishness, and that those who worship gods are part of the fear and anger and jealousy that created the wars by those who desire to impose their beliefs on others. 

No, I didn't see the movie by P.D. James's Children of Men.  I will watch it. Thanks for the lead.

Comment by Brian Magee on January 23, 2013 at 11:53am

Support the Darwin Day Resolution: Contact Your Representative

The American Humanist Association proudly worked with Representative Rush Holt (NJ) to introduce House Resolution 41 “expressing support for designation of February 12, 2013, as Darwin Day and recognizing the importance of science in the betterment of humanity.” We are asking you to help win approval for the resolution by using this form to contact your Congressional representative asking for their co-sponsorship and support.

Visit www.darwinday.org to learn more about the Darwin Day resolution and join a Darwin Day event in your community. Thank you for standing up for science.

Comment by Paula W on January 24, 2013 at 10:36am

There is a petition on whitehouse.gov regarding bans on atheists in public office. Please sign! https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/look-state-constitutions-...

Comment by Brian Magee on January 28, 2013 at 2:47pm

AHA Legal Center Demands Summerville, SC YMCA Include Humanist Group

The following is a statement from the AHA's Appignani Humanist Legal Center and can be found on their website here.

January 28, 2013 – The YMCA Flowertown Festival recently refused to allow a local humanist group (Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry, “SHL”) a booth at its annual event in Summerville, SC. The Festival, which will be held in April, is open to the general public and expects to attract over 200,000 visitors this year.

The Festival’s policy permits all types of community groups, including non-profits and civic organizations, to apply for a booth, so long as the group has “inclusive membership” and supports “community building.” Although SHL meets both of these requirements, the YMCA Festival Coordinator told the SHL president not to apply, stating, “We are a Christian organization.”

The Festival’s refusal to do business with an atheist organization amounts to unlawful discrimination on the basis of religion in violation of Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as well as South Carolina’s public accommodations statute.

The Legal Center demanded that the Festival allow SHL to participate in order to avoid litigation as well as criminal penalties under the nondiscrimination statues.

The letter sent to the Summerville Family YMCA can be found here.

Special thanks to the Louis J. Appignani Foundation and The Herb Block Foundation for their support of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.

Comment by James M. Martin on January 28, 2013 at 6:13pm

The Center's letter to the Festival is masterful.  Good luck!

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