ATHEISTS ON CHURCH BONFIRE TO BURN QU’RAN: BOOKS ARE FOR READING, NOT BURNING
AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org
For more information, please contact:
Ed Buckner, President 908-499-9200 (cell) or 770-803-5353 (office/fax)
Dave Silverman, Communications Director 732-648-9333
ATHEISTS ON CHURCH BONFIRE TO BURN QU’RAN:
BOOKS ARE FOR READING, NOT BURNING
Group Issues Short Recommended List For Readers
An Atheist advocacy group today denounced plans by a Florida Christian group to hold a mass burning of the Qu’ran to mark the 9-year anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
The Dove World Outreach Center in Gainesville, Fla. has been denied a permit or its planned “International Burn a Qu’ran Day” protest, but threatens to proceed with the event. The burning has been condemned by secular and religious groups throughout the country.
Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists, said that while everyone must have the right to free expression, burning books is a universal symbol of intolerance, ignorance, and hate. As a result, he said, American Atheists is urging Atheist, Freethought, Humanist and other secular groups to encourage reading about different religions, and hosting discussion forums, debates and other exchanges of ideas leading up to and on 9/11.
“ In addition to studying the Bible, the Qu’ran and other ‘holy books,’ we’re recommending a brief reading list people may want to delve into,” said Buckner. “And when you finish those, we can recommend many more. Read, don’t burn. Think, don’t swallow what anyone else is telling you.”
The suggested titles include:
WHY I AM NOT A CHRISTIAN by Bertrand Russell
WHY I AM NOT A MUSLIM by Ibn Warraq
WHY I AM AN ATHEIST by Madalyn Murray O’Hair
ATHEISM ADVANCED by David Eller
BAUBLES OF BLASPHEMY by Edwin Kagin
GOD IS NOT GREAT by Christopher Hitchens
THE GOD DELUSION by Richard Dawkins
“We’re also encouraging groups to have open debates and discussions between religious and secular Americans in hopes of casting light -- not heat -- on religion.
Dave Silverman, Vice President and Communications Director for American Atheists said that book burning is a “dangerous, downhill slope.”
“Today it’s burning books like the Nazis did; tomorrow it’s banning them outright, and maybe burning the people who believe in something the majority does not want to tolerate.”
AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists, Freethinkers and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church-mosque-temple and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.
American Atheists press releases are sent to published media addresses.
If you do not wish to receive them, simply reply with "unsubscribe"
in the subject line and you will be removed from distribution.
American Atheists, Inc. PO BOX 158, Cranford, NJ 07016
Tel.: (908) 276-7300 Fax: (908) 276-7402
Press Releases
American Atheists to Fly Atheist Banner At Super Bowl: An Atheist civil rights group announced today that it will be flying an airplane banner on Super Bowl Sunday around Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. The banner will read “Football beats church anytime – atheists.org.” The banner is scheduled to be in the air from 9:30-11:30 AM local time.
American Atheists: Stop Allowing Public Bigotry and Prejudice Against Atheists: (January 26th, 2012) - An Atheist civil rights group announced today its disappointment in the remarks made by an Ohio State University football player on Twitter, which called for his followers to “show some hate” to an atheist.
American Atheists & Backyard Skeptics (CA): Shared Billboard Encourages Closeted Atheists: (January 11th, 2012) - American Atheists announced today that it is working with the Backyard Skeptics located in Orange County, California, to put up a several billboards. The first billboard is already in place on Beach Boulevard. The new billboard includes pictures of Poseidon, Jesus, Santa Claus and the Devil and says, "7 million Californians see myths when they see them. What myths do you see?"
American Atheists Wishes Everyone a Happy Solstice!: (December 21st, 2011) - American Atheists is wishing everyone across the planet a Happy Solstice regardless of their non-religious or religious affiliation.
Atheists Applaud Decision by Travis AFB to Allow Atheist Display: (December 20th, 2011) - Travis AFB put up a religious holiday display, garnering the attention of American Atheists and the Military Religious Freedom Foundation. A local atheist stationed at the base contacted American Atheists to help put up an atheist display to challenge the base's claim that all sides would be represented, including a hastily added menorah to offset the clearly Christian theme.
Atheists Mourn the Death of Christopher Hitchens: (December 16th, 2011) - American Atheists announced today their most sincere sympathies to the family of Christopher Hitchens. Christopher will be missed for his intellectual commentary and especially for this enthusiastic voice for atheism, which was recognized internationally.
Ohio-Based Media Company Shows Prejudice Against Atheists: (December 12th, 2011) - An Atheist civil rights group has announced their disappointment in the Lind Media Company's decision to refuse atheist billboards in Ohio. The company waited until one business day before the billboards were scheduled to go up to inform the Mid-Ohio Atheists (Affiliate of American Atheists) that the billboards were denied.
American Atheists Launch Billboard Encouraging Atheists to Come Out to Family: (December 12th, 2011) - An Atheist civil rights group announced today a new billboard meant to encourage closeted atheists to come out to family. The new billboard states, "Tell your family you don't believe in gods. ...they just might agree." The billboard will be going up on December 12th on the New Jersey side of the Lincoln Tunnel.
American Atheists Launch New : (November 14th, 2011) - American Atheists announced today that their new billboard is going up in several locations nationwide, including the New Jersey side of the Lincoln Tunnel: the same location as last year’s famous “You KNOW it’s a MYTH” billboard. The new billboard will also be going up in Ohio and Florida.
Supreme Court Declines to Hear Utah Cross Case: VICTORY for American Atheists!: (October 31st, 2011) - An Atheist civil rights group announced today that it is applauding the United State Supreme Court’s decision to not hear the Utah cross case after the Court of Appeal for the 10th Circuit ruled against the state in the case.
Atheist Activist Group Disappointed in Kentucky Court of Appeals Ruling in Homeland Security Case: (October 28th, 2011) - American Atheists expressed disappointment today that the Kentucky Court of Appeals three judge panel ruled 2-1 against American Atheists in the case against the Kentucky Department of Homeland Security for their mandate of belief in “Almighty God” to protect the state from terrorism.
ATHEISTS FILE SUIT TO BLOCK WTC MEMORIAL CROSS: (July 25th, 2011) - An atheist group is filing a complaint on Monday in an effort to block display of the "World Trade Center Cross" which is scheduled to be part of a memorial display commemorating the 9/11 attacks.
Atheist News
Atheists: a forgotten minority: (February 6th, 2012) - The struggle for social inclusion is being fought on many fronts at the moment, and one group that tends to take a backseat is atheists.
ARKANSAS - Legislative leaders not inclined to oppose ban on religion in state-funded preschools: (February 5th, 2012) - A state lawmaker last week called on the Legislature to reject a proposed rule banning preschools from using state money for religious activities, but legislative leaders say a line between church and state has to be drawn somewhere.
NEW YORK - Schools: No place for religious services: (February 5th, 2012) - The religious congregations at the heart of a recent controversy about the separation of church and state — nearly all of them Christian — are upset that a recent federal appeals court decision is forcing them out of the New York City public schools they have long called home.
CONNECTICUT - ACLU objects to school lease on church grounds: (February 5th, 2012) - The ACLU of Connecticut Friday publicly objected to a lease between the city of Stamford and St. Clement's Parish, due to what it calls "unconstitutional restrictions on public education."
Bill Maher: Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position: (February 4th, 2012) - Bill Maher has a new rule: Atheism is not a religion. On Friday night’s edition of Real Time Maher told his audience that atheism and religion are not two sides of the same coin, joking - “Atheism is a religion like abstinence is a sex position.”
VIRGINIA - Federal Judge Orders Pittsylvania Co. Board to Halt Prayers: (February 3rd, 2012) - Federal Judge Michael Urbanski issued a preliminary injunction Friday telling the Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors to halt prayers before meetings until a final ruling in their suit with the ACLU is made.
NEW YORK - NYC Council, State Senate Rush to Keep Churches in Public Schools: (February 3rd, 2012) - The New York State Senate is fast-tracking a bill to override a law upheld by the federal courts that forbids worship services in New York City public schools.
CALIFORNIA - Atheist Billboard in Santa Ana: (February 3rd, 2012) - A billboard posted along a Santa Ana freeway is encouraging drivers to come out to their loved ones. The 48-by-14 foot sign tells passersby not to be ashamed if they don’t believe in a god.
TEXAS - Coming to a South Dallas Billboard: A Celebration of Black Atheists & Freethinkers: (February 3rd, 2012) - When we last caught up with the Dallas-Forth Worth Coalition of Reason, our local band of atheists, freethinkers and humanists, they were trying fruitlessly to get The Dallas Morning News to include a "secular perspective" in their weekly religion blog.
INDIANA - Atheist banner to fly over Superbowl: (February 3rd, 2012) - They say that America is the most religious nation of the developed world, but is football really a religion? On February 5th, Superbowl Sunday, American Atheists will be flying a banner over Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana that will read, “Football beats church anytime – atheists.org.”
ALABAMA - 'Bible Man' OK'd by Jackson County school board: (February 3rd, 2012) - A parentﾒs complaint about religious assemblies during the school day brought more than 100 people supporting the assemblies to a called meeting of the Jackson County school board Monday night (Jan. 30, 2012).
INDIANA - Creationist School Bill Looks Doomed: (February 3rd, 2012) - Legislators in Indiana appear to have fallen short of their goal of injecting creationism into U.S. public schools, at least for this year. However, they did deploy a few new tactics in the never-ending assault on evolutionary theory by religious fundamentalists.
