American Atheists - Illinois
American
Atheists national conference, Minneapolis MN, Mar 21-23 2008
NEWS
Dawn Sherman challenges “Silent Reflection and
Student Prayer Act”
Self-proclaimed religious pharmacists still refusing
to dispense emergency contraception
COMMENTARY
White Noise in the White House: Religion and the
2008 Presidential Candidates *** new ***
OF INTEREST
CONTACT
updated 03-Mar-2008
EVENTS
American
Atheists national conference, Minneapolis MN, Mar 21 - 23 2008
The 34th annual
American Atheists National Conference will be held Mar 21-23 in Minneapolis MN
! There’s a great line-up of speakers
and performers, including:
v
Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists
v
Richard Dawkins
v
David Eller - Religion Is Not What You Believe: How
Religion Works Without Belief or Meaning to Colonize Experience
v
Robert Lanham - The Sinner’s Guide to the Evangelical
Right
v
Rene Salm - The Myth of Nazareth: The Invented Town of
Jesus
v
Mary Stanton - Return to Sender (Atheist Bill Moore’s 1963
Freedom Walk)
v
Eddie Tabash - The Threat of the Religious Right to Our
Modern Liberties
v
Lois Utley - Medicine and Morality: How Religious
Restrictions Can Affect Your Health Care
v
a debate between talk show host Dennis Prager and Atheist
activist and author Frank Zindler
v
a performance by hip-hop artist Greydon Square
The conference will be held in
the new Marriott City Center hotel in the heart of downtown Minneapolis,
offering stunning views and walking distance to many attractions. Conference attendees are eligible for special
room rates.
For detailed info, please visit the official conference
web page: www.atheists.org/conference
NEWS
Dawn
Sherman challenges “Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act”
On October 11, 2007, the Illinois Legislature amended 105 ILCS 20/1, changing the wording of the “Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act” so that start-of-the-school-day “period of silence” was changed from optional to mandatory. (105 ILCS 20/1)Sec. 1. In each public school classroom the teacher in charge shall observe a brief period of silence with the participation of all the pupils therein assembled at the opening of every school day. This period shall not be conducted as a religious exercise but shall be an opportunity for silent prayer or for silent reflection on the anticipated activities of the day. (Source: P.A. 95-680, eff. 10-11-07.)
First, a little history. In 1969 the Illinois Legislature implemented an optional “period of silence” statute. In 1990 it was renamed “The Silent Reflection Act”. In 2003 it was renamed “The Silent Reflection and Student Prayer Act”, and a special “Student Prayer” section was added. How much more obvious can this be ? Anyone who claims that this statute does not promote prayer in public schools need only review the 2003 alterations. Making the statute mandatory was simply the final step.
On October 26, 2007, Atheist Dawn Sherman together with her well-known Atheist activist father Rob Sherman and attorney Gregory Kulis filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court seeking to have the newly updated statute struck down on the grounds that it violates the First Amendment.
On November 14, 2007, after several hearings, Federal Judge Robert W. Gettleman issued a preliminary injunction prohibiting Dawn’s school district (214) from implementing the new law. Read Judge Gettleman’s ruling here. Judge Gettleman will hold more hearings and eventually issue a general ruling.
See Rob Sherman’s detailed timeline (and other fun info) here and here.
It’s interesting to note that Governor Rod Blagojevich vetoed the bill, SB1463, which caused the change to 105 ILCS 20/1. In his official statement he wrote “our founding fathers wisely recognized the personal nature of faith and prayer, and that is why the separation of church and state is a centerpiece of our constitution, our democracy and our freedoms.” Even though the Illinois House and Senate voted to override his veto, we thank Governor Blagojevich for his action ! We also thank Judge Gettleman for protecting our First Amendment rights ! And most of all we thank Dawn Sherman, Rob Sherman, and Gregory Kulis for taking action !
Self-proclaimed
religious pharmacists still refusing to dispense emergency contraception
In April 2005, responding to the selfish and misogynist practices of self-proclaimed religious pharmacists who refused to dispense contraception to women who had legitimate prescriptions, Governor Rod Blagojevich signed an emergency order stating that any pharmacy selling FDA-approved contraception, including emergency contraception, must “without delay” fill all prescriptions. In the event that the pharmacy does not have a particular contraception in stock, the pharmacy must offer other contraception or transfer the prescription to another pharmacy The order became permanent on August 17, 2005.
Four self-proclaimed religious pharmacists sued the State of Illinois because they didn’t want to be forced to dispense emergency contraception. On October 11, 2007, the plaintiffs and the State of Illinois reached a settlement. As a result, Illinois pharmacists who object to dispensing emergency birth control are now allowed to shirk their medical duties and allow another person to dispense the drugs. This other person is not even required to be a pharmacist ! And if they aren’t, they will have to contact a pharmacist at another location and follow directions for dispensing the drugs, thus wasting the customer’s time and possibly endangering her health. Note: emergency contraceptive is technically “over the counter” for women 18 and older, but it is still necessary to procure it from a pharmacist. Women under 18 still need a prescription for emergency contraception.
If you have been the victim
of a self-proclaimed religious pharmacist, you should immediately file a
complaint with the Illinois State Department of Professional Regulation, by
phone at 312-814-6910, or online at www.idfpr.com.
COMMENTARY
White Noise
in the White House: Religion and the 2008 Presidential Candidates
by Mark
Szczuka
“I believe in America,” begins The Godfather.
For some Americans, this is all we ask of a presidential candidate, that he or
she only believe in the principles of the United States. Religion is
superfluous at best. What follows is a look at the 2008 presidential candidates
and the relationship religion has with all of them—Senators Barack Obama,
Hillary Clinton, and John McCain.
In many
ways, Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) ought to be the most appealing candidate for
nonbelievers. For most of his life, from his birth in 1961 till his days as a
social worker in Chicago in the late-1980s, he had no religious affiliation.
His mother was a professed secularist—likely an unbeliever—and his father was a
lightweight Muslim who, according to Obama, took more stock in Johnnie Walker
Black than the Prophet Muhammad. By now, the resume of Obama is well-known:
political theory at Columbia, editor of the Harvard Law Review, and a professor
of constitutional law at the University of Chicago. Considering all of the
above, there is no foreseeable threat of Obama turning into a theocrat, much
less kowtowing to those who wish to slowly morph the United States into a
theocracy.
But the
second half of his life, from the budding scholar to the politician, has seen
an unpredictable emergence of faith. I do mean unpredictable, especially given
the first half of his life and his following statements:
“I
believe in evolution, scientific inquiry, and global warming; I believe in free
speech, whether politically correct or politically incorrect, and I am
suspicious of using government to impose anybody’s religious beliefs—including
my own—on nonbelievers.”
Although
he should have used a stronger word than “suspicious,” this statement is all
well and good for an educated man who appreciates science and knows his
Constitution. But this same man declared himself a Christian, dipped himself in
a tub of water, and became the newest member of Chicago’s Trinity United Church
of Christ, an Afro-centrist congregation headed by Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Obama
writes, “kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side of Chicago, I felt God’s
spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His Will, and dedicated myself to discovering
His truth.” Much like reading Augustine’s Confessions or Thomas Merton’s Seven
Story Mountain, as soon as the proclamations of faith emerge, the
intelligibility of the narration begins to fade into utter nonsense. But unlike
Augustine, who gave up sex for chastity, or Merton, who repudiated D.H.
Lawrence for Paul of Ephesus, Obama has not really changed his behavior. If
anything, he has made new allies among the faithful.
Herein
lies the political effect of Obama’s faith and that of all politicians: it is
simply convenient. I do not mean that he is insincere in his faith—there is
really no way to tell—but he recognizes the advantages. First, the language of
religion is likely to resonate with all audiences. Any American with a bit of
biblical literacy will understand a linguistic appeal to religion. Obama
writes: “Scrub language of all religious content and we forfeit the imagery and
terminology through which millions of Americans understand both their personal
morality and social justice.” Thus, even if he were an unbeliever, he would
still appeal to the language of religion. Second, religion provides a popular
reinforcement of otherwise basic human virtues. When pressed about the impact
of his faith on his political service, he makes one concession: He is not
“unanchored in (his) faith. There are some things that I’m absolutely sure
about—the Golden rule, the need to battle cruelty in all its forms, the value
of love and charity, humility and grace.” Well, we ought to hope he’s sure
about these matters, but to say that only religion can establish such
certainties is ludicrous. Yet, even Obama admits that religion does not have a
“monopoly on virtue.” It is, once again, simply convenient.
What to
expect from a President Obama regarding religion and the state? On abortion and
stem-cell research, Obama would likely drop any religious objections. Yet, he
is no secular absolutist: “Not every mention of God in public is a breach in
the wall of separation.” His compromises extend to President Bush’s faith-based
initiatives; Obama supports faith-based groups working to cure “social
problems.”
The
religiosity of Senator Hillary Clinton (D-NY) is the other side of the same
liberal coin. That is to say, she’s religious, but it’s not obvious. Only with
investigation does one discover her religious upbringing, her youthful
faith-based activism, and her subtle reliance on faith as a political
magnet—perfectly convenient as a presidential candidate. Much like Obama (and
McCain), Senator Clinton is a Christian, but not in any way that would set off
alarms and provoke the ire of the most ardent secularist.
Raised
in a Methodist home in Chicago, she grew up as a believer, and became involved
in her church beyond Sunday mornings. At age fifteen, she and her Reverend
organized a babysitting ring for migrant workers and provided copious amounts
of Kool-Aid and crafty knick-knacks for the children. Prior to her rise as a
senator, barring a brief career as a Sunday-school teacher in Arkansas, this
was the extent of her faith-based initiatives. No serious person could find
such activities remotely alarming. Even atheists need babysitters. And I know
some who enjoy an occasional glass of Kool-Aid.
Nevertheless,
Senator Clinton is a sophisticated believer who attempts to synergize faith
with action, which is perplexing. For example, she cites Dietrich Bonhoeffer
and Reinhold Niebuhr as religious heroes: “Bonhoeffer stressed that the role of
a Christian was a moral one of total engagement in the world with the promotion
of human development. Niebuhr struck a persuasive balance between a clear-eyed
realism about human nature and an unrelenting passion for justice and social
reform.” The perplexity and superfluity of such statements lies in the
following: Why would someone need faith and the unreadable treatises (namely
Bonhoeffer’s Ethics) in order to promote “human development” and commit oneself
to justice? Religion is not necessary for justice, and Senator Clinton probably
knows it.
Ultimately,
her faith is only an issue insofar as it becomes part of her policy-making. She
sees no contradiction in supporting faith-based initiatives and upholding the
Constitution. There is room for compromise. She has supported, vocally and
legislatively, President Bush’s faith-based initiatives and worked with Senator
Brownback on a program that fights human trafficking. And, as far as can be
told, she supports further faith-based initiatives that fight social ills.
Her
vocalization of religiosity and support for faith-based initiatives is, much
like Obama and McCain, seemingly convenient in getting votes from the faithful.
At a speech at Tufts University, she spoke of the need for Democrats to appeal
to “evangelical Christians on their own turf.” The failure to do so, in her
view, is what led to the reelection of President Bush in 2004. For this reason,
she has hired a southern evangelical Christian, Burns Strider, to function as
her religious PR man. An otherwise privately religious first
lady-turned-Senator has become more outspoken about faith, not because she
really intends to overwrite the Constitution, but because she simply needs
votes. It’s a familiar story.
It has
become fashionable, especially among the young and half-educated, to deny
religiosity but proclaim spirituality: “I’m not religious, but I am spiritual.”
(I suspect this might be one reason why the polls indicate America to be an
extraordinarily religious nation.) From his record, this same statement could
very well have been uttered by Senator John McCain (R-AZ), perhaps the most
un-pious candidate of the lot. Speaking of his wonderment, he says, “there is
no logical reason for me to be on earth, if you look at my life, so I should
spend this time trying to serve a cause greater than myself.” Despite his
church-going and harmless daily prayers (to give him strength, he says), there
ought to be no confusion about his greater cause. It’s America.
Senator
McCain is a religiously lukewarm candidate. Like heroes who shun attention, he
reluctantly says that he’s “just a Christian.” One feels that, if he had things
his way, religion would not even enter the political arena. Six years after
calling the late Rev. Falwell one of the “agents of intolerance,” McCain had to
make amends with the religious right, leading to a 2006 commencement speech at
Liberty University. Groveling to the religious right is at best an
inconvenience, but it is something that not even John McCain is above doing.
Born
into a military family, Senator McCain had no choice but to grow up in the
Episcopalian tradition. He attended an Episcopalian boarding school, which saw
him in chapel every morning and church every Sunday. Passing up the attractions
of the Ivy League, he attended the Naval Academy, which also required daily
church attendance. From here the story is pretty well-known: a pilot in the
Vietnam War, a tortuous five-year stay at a Vietnamese prison camp, and then
the beginning of a long career as a United States senator from Arizona.
Senator
McCain supports Israel, faith-based initiatives, and a government proposal to
address climate change. The only significant religious issue that separates him
from Senators Clinton and Obama is his opposition to abortion rights, something
for which the religious conservatives in America have found an ally in McCain.
On the issue of same-sex marriages, one can see how McCain has become the most
popular living politician in the United States. He has, like a good republican,
left it to the states to decide, thereby attracting both conservatives and
neutralizing any legitimate defamation from the gay community.
Although
he grew up in an Episcopalian tradition, he now attends Baptist services in
Phoenix, partly for feelings of comfort. Add to this that his wife is a
Baptist, and we have a sufficient explanation for his conversion. If George
Costanza will convert to Latvian Orthodox for a woman, perhaps we can forgive
John McCain for swinging over to the Baptist services. McCain speaks of this conversion:
“I got the message of redemption and love and forgiveness, and it resonated
with me. I found going to that church was beneficial to me in my life.” In
short, going to church makes him (and his wife) feel good. And—what all the
candidates hope for—it gets votes.
The most
alarming statement from Senator McCain, regarding the separation of church and
state, is that he wants it both ways. He acknowledges that the “Founding
Fathers believed in separation of church and state” and that “they stated it unequivocally.”
But then McCain adds that “they also continued to emphasize the Christian
principle.” Though he never specifies what exactly is meant by “Christian”
principles, we can only assume that he doesn’t mean the books of Leviticus and
the New Testament notion of taking no thought for the morrow. What he means,
and what all chat about “a nation of Christian principles” means, is the
commitment to justice, which is something that any decent nonbeliever can do.
Nevertheless—and this is the common denominator across the political
candidates—such sincere statements are perfectly convenient ways of getting
what all politicians want: votes. And insofar as this is the case, the presence
of religion in the 2008 presidential election is sure to be, at best, wholly
annoying.
OF INTEREST
Illinois Atheists Yahoo Group
If you're an Atheist living in
Illinois or a neighboring state and you would like to communicate with other
Atheists, you are invited to join the Illinois Atheists Yahoo Group ! There are currently more than 160 members
from all over the Chicago metro area, central and southern Illinois, and even
Wisconsin and Indiana.
groups.yahoo.com/group/illinois-atheists
You don’t need to be a member of
American Atheists to join. The group is
private though, so you’ll need to go to the group page (click on the link
above) and select "Join This Group!". Once approved (this might take a few days), you'll receive an
e-mail informing you that you've been accepted into the group.
See you there !
Local Atheist Groups
Connect with other Atheists
! If you are looking for other Atheists
in your area or if you are interested in starting a local Atheist group and you
would like assistance setting it up and affiliating with American Atheists,
please write to svanmaren@atheists.org.
Gallery
This is our full-page Atheist ad
which appeared in the April 2003 issue of UR Magazine (many thanks to
the cool people at UR for being so open-minded):
Here is our protest of the
Faith-based Community Initiative Regional Conference, 14-Mar-2003, in front of
the Chicago Hilton on Michigan Ave.
Photo courtesy of Michigan State Director George Shiffer. From left to right: anonymous Atheist #1,
anonymous Atheist #2, Naureen Steadman, Jennifer Johnson, Michigan State
Director Arlene-Marie, anonymous Atheist #3, and Illinois State Director Sandra
Van Maren.
Naureen Steadman at the Godless
Americans March on Washington (GAMOW), 11-Nov-2002, exercising her right to
speak - and think ! – freely. This was
an absolutely fabulous event, several thousand Atheists attended, and we all
had a great time.
“Why I Don’t need a god”
When several Illinois Atheists
were asked to explain why they don't require the crutch of an omnipresent omnipotent
and omniscient imaginary being, they supplied the following reasons:
- I value freedom
- science is far more
interesting and exciting than simplistic god-based explanations
- I'm comfortable being finite
and unimportant
- fairy tales and fantasies
should be for entertainment purposes only
- I have accepted that I alone
am responsible for my actions and their consequences
- it's more fun to seek out the
REAL reasons why things happen rather than make up fictional stories
- I am secure in my mortality
- I was born with a brain
capable of discerning reality from fantasy, and I know how to use it
- I'm an adult
Have anything to add ? Send your submissions to svanmaren@atheists.org.
CONTACT
Illinois State Director
Sandra Van Maren
PO Box 1770
Chicago IL
60690-1770
Hi, I'm Sandra Van Maren. I'm a lifelong Atheist, and I've been the Illinois
State Director for American Atheists since March 2003. I'm a computer programmer (but not a web
page designer !) living and working in downtown Chicago. I have advanced degrees in math and computer
science as well as 3.5 years of electrical engineering schooling. I love science !
I joined American Atheists and
became Illinois State Director to help preserve the secular government our
founding fathers established. I have zero
tolerance for government-subsidized proselytizing or pushy religious groups
that attempt to turn our government into a theocracy.
I am so grateful to my wonderful parents for raising me and my siblings in a home free of religious propaganda. It wasn’t an Atheist household per se, and in fact we all went to Presbyterian church each Sunday. Fortunately, the few hours of fairytale babble we heard on Sundays couldn’t compete with the many hours of reality-based education we received in school and from public TV programming. We also spent countless happy hours in our local public library, where fairytale books are properly located in the fiction section. Suffice it to say I’m not the only one in my family who is an Atheist. J