THE   FOCUS
centerforatheism.org

December 14, 2007 Volume 3, Issue 50
Published by the Center For Atheism (CFA)

Editor: Kenneth Bronstein

The Focus provides links to articles collected from major newspapers and magazines, and is emailed weekly.

This Week in Atheism is a cable show that discusses the articles featured below, every Wednesday at 6:30 PM (EST), Manhattan Cable station 57.
Live streaming is available at: http://www.mnn.org.

Comments, suggestions and subscription: focus@centerforatheism.org.


 
         
      Featured Articles
    Biologist fired for beliefs, suit says - Boston Globe
      "Woods Hole believes they have the right to insist on a belief in evolution,"
 
   The Right and Religion - Atlantic Online
     Many, many atheists and agnostics have been heroes in the long history of outlawing 
     torture. The two most influential on me, over the years, have been Camus ...
 
     So help me god in presidential oaths 
 
    Atheists Have Hope - New York Times
    Tens of millions of atheists around the world lead lives filled with hope. We hope for
    many of the same things that Christians hope for: peace in our time, ... 

 

    ATHEISM
  
 
  god Effect, The - New York Times
  When news of these findings made headlines, some atheists were appalled by the 
  implication that altruism depends heavily on religion. ...
 
  It's Time for an Atheist President of the USA! - Gather.com
  We will be much closer to these democratic and American ideals when we
  have our next atheist president. With thinking unoccluded by
  preconceived notions, ...
 
   BOOKS / FILM / TV /
 
   Youth are mature enough to determine own belief system -Jamestown Sun 
   Also, the fact that Philip Pullman is an atheist has nothing to do with anything. Kids can
   go online and read books and essays written by atheists, ...
 
   'The Golden Compass' Spurs Controversy - ABC News
   The film, now open nationwide, is based on "His Dark Materials," a trilogy of books by
   English author Philip Pullman, a self-proclaimed atheist. ...
 
   Cards to make a big impression - National Secular Society
   There is also The Atheist Bible – a fabulous collection of quotes from non-believers
   ancient and modern. It would make the perfect stocking filler. ...
 
   Atheists Outraged by Film Trailer - Inside Pulse
   "I just can't believe this," said Leah Jones, mother of three and proud atheist. "I can't
   believe that they would allow children to be exposed to this kind ...
 
   EVOLUTION / CREATIONISM / I.D
 
   Fossils of ancient tank-like mammal found in Andes - Yahoo! News
    Scientists searching for fossils high in the Andes mountains in Chile have unearthed the 
    remains of a tank-like mammal related to armadillos that grazed 18 ...
 
    When Removing One Predator Harms the Prey - New York Times
    Elimination of the top predator can actually be worse for the prey.
 
   
   SCIENCE
   
   Human Evolution Speeding Up, Study Says - National Geographic
   Explosive population growth is driving human evolution to speed up around the world,
    according to a new study. The pace of change accelerated about 40000 ...
 
   Stem-cell patch may fix damaged hearts | Health | Reuters
   Scientists have made two significant advances in developing a stem-cell patch to repair
   the damage caused to the heart after an attack.
 
 
   SEPARATION OF CHURCH / STATE
 
    A church-state separation group has asked schools in Aiken and Edgefield counties to 
    stop a church-run program that gives needy students new shoes and socks because the
    youths engage in ritual foot-washing.
 
    Department of Natural Resources sided with the visitor based on the principle of
    separation of church and state by banning the creches. ...
 
   The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), which is famous for filing lawsuits
   contesting religious symbols on public property, has decided to add a ...
 
   Atheist Asks Court to Rule Against Pledge - 13wmaz
   Atheist Michael Newdow is asking a federal appeals court to rule again that the words
   "under god" should be removed from the Pledge of Allegiance. daughter ...
   MISC.
    
    Secular Europe’s Merits - New York Times
    Mitt Romney’s speech and the emergence of the anti-Darwin Baptist minister Mike
    Huckabee suggest how estranged the American zeitgeist is from the European.
 
    Holier Than They - New York Times
    Few of the presidential candidates are asking what it means to be truly Christian in
    spirit, writes Judith Warner.
 
 
CONVENTIONS / MEETINGS / EVENTS
 
Darwin Day (200th Birthday) Feb. 12, 2008  
American Atheists
Mar 21- 23, 2008
 Minneapolis, MN
Madalyn Murray O'Hair (Birthday) April 13, 2008  
Gift for Life Day May 1, 2008  
Atheists  Alliance International Sept. 2008 Long Beach, Ca.
Freedom From Religion Oct. 10-12, 2008 Chicago
Gift for Life Day Nov. 4, 2008  
     
             

 

        CFA Program
 

The Center for Atheism (CFA) was established by the New York City Atheists as a separate and independent national organization to propose, develop, and be a catalyst for new national activities supporting the objectives of atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, skeptics, secularists and separation-of-church-and-state advocates.

CFA will accept and review suggestions from individuals and other secular organizations that will foster our goals.

 

 

          Special Notices

          There are no special notices this week.

 

 

          Legislation Alerts

        
        

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Comments, suggestions, and subscriptions: focus@centerforatheism.org