THE   FOCUS
centerforatheism.org

March 14, 2008
Volume 4, Issue 11
Published by the Center For Atheism (CFA)
Editor: David Birnkrant
 
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
It's time to take a stand against Islam and Sharia
Times Online - UK
“So I told him that what I am doing benefits Muslims, too, because if you live in a secular society, you can be a Muslim, a Sikh, a Christian or an atheist ...
http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article3530256.ece

Theocracy Rejected: Former Christian Right Leaders 'Fess up
AlterNet - San Francisco,CA,USA
Hoping to give the movement an intellectual grounding, Whitehead penned a series of books attacking the separation of church and state and demanding a ...


No atheists allowed in foxholes
World Magazine - Asheville,NC,USA
Hall, formerly Baptist, says his troubles began when he tried to convene a meeting of the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers. ...

 
                                                               News Articles
  (Some publications may require that you sign up for membership to view their article.)

ATHEISM
Claim: 'God' license plates are unfair
United Press International - USA
SPRINGFIELD, Ill., March 10 (UPI) -- An Illinois atheist claims the state's approval of a bill for "In God We Trust" license plates is biased. ...
http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Quirks/2008/03/10/claim_god_license_plates_are_unfair/6131/

Full house captivated by atheist Dawkins' take on religion
The Capital Times - Madison,WI,USA
The British biologist and atheist wrote the best-selling book "The God Delusion" in 2006 and is on a university tour speaking out against organized religion ...

Secular activists say nonbelievers forming groups
Worcester Telegram - Worcester,MA,USA
“If I’m in a hurry, I say I’m an atheist,” Byung Min, founder of the Secular Student Alliance at Bentley College told the Greater Worcester Humanists. ...
http://www.telegram.com/article/20080312/NEWS/803120689/1008/NEWS02

Faith+Values: Godless masses?
Minneapolis Star Tribune (subscription) - Minneapolis,MN,USA
For much the same reason, another local atheist organization, Atheists for Human Rights, is sponsoring a public forum featuring Arvonne Fraser on Easter ...
http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/faith/16676936.html

BOOKS, FILM, THEATRE, TV, YOU TUBE
Michael Dirda
Washington Post - United States
The answers to these questions carry implications for our lives today, since at stake is the flash-point principle of the separation of church and state ...
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/06/AR2008030602793.html

Every second is a near eternity
Toronto Star - Ontario, Canada
This is a book through which the likes of Einstein, Stephen Hawking, wormhole theory, Norse mythology and nanotechnology may flit like the insects buzzing ...
http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/Books/article/326554

Review: God is Not Great by Christopher Hitchens
The Observer - UK
Leading the charge is Richard Dawkins's The God Delusion which - says The Bookseller - has now sold 50000 copies in hardback and 300000 in paperback in ...
http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/roundupstory/0,,2263652,00.html

Disinvited to a Screening, a Critic Ends Up in a Faith-Based Crossfire
New York Times - United States
In a film, Ben Stein interviews believers in intelligent design. “Well, you already invited me,” he recalled thinking at the time. “I’m going to go. ...
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/10/business/media/10stein.html?ref=business


The Bush Tragedy
Slate - USA
.. that when he was marooned in a lifeboat after being shot down over the Pacific, he thought of his family, God, and "the separation of church and state. ...
http://www.slate.com/id/2186343/entry/2186348/

EVOLUTION, CREATIONISM, I.D.
Intelligent Design could slip into science class
MiamiHerald.com - Miami,FL,USA
Backers of Intelligent Design said the evolution-challenging theory could be taught in science class under a new 'academic freedom' bill. ...
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/454417.html

Intelligent design politics, not science, professor says
Norman Transcript - Norman,OK,USA
Victor H. Hutchinson, a former George Lynn Cross professor of zoology at OU, told members of the Cleveland County Democratic Party the intelligent design ...
http://www.normantranscript.com/localnews/local_story_068002339

Intelligent Design is nonsense, say scientists
National Secular Society - London,UK
The International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR) says that “intelligent design” is neither sound science nor good theology. ...
http://www.secularism.org.uk/92192.html

Want to Teach Intelligent Design? Put It In a History Class
American Chronicle - Beverly Hills,CA,USA
Back then, the alternative theory was called creationism or scientific creationism; today it´s called intelligent design. I am no scientist, ...
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/54855

SCIENCE
The evolution of hiccups
Excalibur Online - Toronto,Canada
A group of French scientists, led by Christian Straus at the Pitié-Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris, believe the reason humans hiccup is because of evolution. ...
http://www.excal.on.ca/cms2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=5876


Calls to expand birth study
ABC Online - Australia
Now a long term study in Darwin is determined to find out - by tracking more than 600 Aboriginal people from the cradle to the grave. ...
http://www.abc.net.au/worldtoday/content/2008/s2186569.htm

SEPARATION CHURCH / STATE 
Speaker believes in true separation
Frederick News Post (subscription) - Frederick,MD,USA
When it comes to the separation of church and state, Doerr said he considers Maryland one of the weakest states in the union. Also on the agenda was the ...
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=72247

Atheist objects to $1 million for burned-out church
WQAD - Moline,IL,USA
AP - March 11, 2008 12:54 PM ET CHICAGO (AP) - Atheist activist Rob Sherman says it's unconstitutional for Governor Rod Blagojevich to give $1 million to a ...
http://www.wqad.com/Global/story.asp?S=7998484

MISCELLANEOUS
Online 'Darwin Dating' Stresses Natural Selection
CBS 5 - San Francisco,CA,USA
Now natural selection has lent itself to an online dating website called Darwin Dating. Founded by three Australians as a joke, the site says it is ...
http://cbs5.com/seenon/Darwin.online.dating.2.672638.html
 
  CONVENTIONS / MEETINGS / EVENTS
 
American Atheists
 
                                       
 Mar 21- 23, 2008
 
 Minneapolis, MN
 
 Madalyn Murray O'Hair                                 April 13, 2008
 (Birthday)
 

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