AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.                                  PRESS RELEASE
National Media Office                                    AUG. 10, 1999
P.O. Box 80131
Staten, Is., NY 10308                                http://www.atheists.org
Voice/Fax (718)967-6453                       http://www.americanatheist.org


      AMERICAN ATHEISTS TO PROTEST PROMISE KEEPERS IN CHARLOTTE, NC

     American Atheists announces today that it will hold a peaceful protest
outside the Promise Keepers rally at the Charlotte Coliseum, on Saturday,
August 14, 1999.
     The demonstration will take place at the main Coliseum entrance on
Tyvola Road, and will last from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
     The purpose of this protest is to call attention to the sexist,
homophobic, and reactionary agenda of the Promise Keepers, as well as their
clandestine ties to politically active religious-right organizations.
     "Promise Keepers is exploiting legitimate concerns about problems in
today's society, particularly how these concerns affect men.  As the
'traditional' roles in our society change, it is tempting to blame many of
our social problems on this change, while ignoring the positive benefits,"
stated Wayne Aiken, North Carolina Director for American Atheists.  "Promise
Keepers capitalizes on the confusion of modern life in order to ideologically
mold these men, using manipulative cult techniques, into the next wave of
the 'Religious Right'."
     And, although Promise Keepers claims to be non-political, its member
organizations are composed of some of the most socially reactionary and
authoritarian among the Religious Right.  "This movement appears to be a
'bait and switch' which plays on all aspects of men's psyche- even down
to the sports metaphors- to funnel support into existing organizations,"
notes Aiken.  "Will these men actually become better husbands and parents,
and will society reap the rewards?  I think its far likely that these
organizations will reap the real benefits- in terms of money and power."
     Atheists and other church-state separationists from across North
Carolina will be peacefully picketing this stadium rally during its
ceremonies.


For more background, log-on to the American Atheist website at
www.atheists.org/flash.line  and  www.AmericanAtheist.org

For more information please contact:
Mr. Wayne Aiken, North Carolina Director  (919) 954-5956
Mr. Ron Barrier, National Spokesperson    (718) 967-6453