====================================================================== MITAAH News -- Volume #2 / Issue #8 -- March 31, 1998 (sent sporadically to mitaah@mit.edu mailing list) Pseudo-random samplings of information that may relate to atheism, agnosticism, humanism, freethought, or church-state separation issues. Please send any promising material to reagan@mit.edu. http://www.mit.edu/~mitaah/ ====================================================================== Open Lunch Hour: this Thursday, April 4, Noon-2, W20-PDR#3 ====================================================================== In this issue: * Recent AAH activities * Coming Attractions * News and views * Mailing lists: a reminder ====================================================================== Recent Events ------------- The group discussion on the Humanist Manifestos finally came together on March 17. This inquiry into the origins of organized Humanism was interesting and educational for those of us who came into AAH from the atheism side of things. Thanks to Matthew Gray for leading the discussion and thanks to everyone who participated. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Coming Attractions ------------------ Here's what's in store for the upcoming month. Watch the mitaah mailing list for dates and times. Care to help out? Have an idea of your own? Contact us at mitaah-planning@mit.edu. * Our parent organization, the Campus Freethought Alliance, will be having its Spring Meeting this weekend over at Harvard. This conference will include the opening of the new New England CFA regional office in Porter Square, Cambridge. Location? Harvard University Science Center April 4, 1998 12:00 - 4:00 pm -- Auditorium A All AAHers are invited! Program: 12:30 Welcome to Harvard The Urgent Need for the Campus Freethought Alliance Derek Araujo, Campus Freethought Alliance President. (Harvard) 12:45 The Founding and History of the CFA Tim Madigan, Editor, FREE INQUIRY Magazine 1:00 Organizing Student Groups Using the Internet David J. Schummer, CFA Coordinator (University of Buffalo) 1:15 Using the Internet as the Preferred Media for Getting the Message Out Robert M. Frankston, computer industry critic-at-large and co- developer of VisiCalc, the first electronic spreadsheet. Break 2:00 Paranormal Themes in the Media Matt Nisbet, SKEPTICAL INQUIRER Magazine Public Relations Director 2:15 Investigating Miracles Joe Nickell, Senior Research Fellow, Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal 3:00 Humanism, the Family and the Internet Deirdre Conn, RUSH / Marshall University Plus: Local Campus News and Updates From Russia with Humanism Dr. H. James Birx, Canisius College * Ask the Chaplains: a public forum where the MIT community will have a chance to get real answers from representatives of the major religious organizations at MIT. Mark your calendar--this will be the biggest MITAAH event yet! Date: Tuesday April 14 Time: 7pm Room: 1-390 * A new drop poster! We have space #1 reserved for April 5-12. Come help us put up something eye-catching! We'll post a notice to the mailing list when we're ready to start painting. * Secular charity: volunteer work is not only for the religious. Take an afternoon off and help out at a local Cambridge soup kitchen. Time and date TBA. * Lunch with AAH: We've reserved a private dining room over the lunch hours (12-2) in W20 for several dates this semester. Come out and dine with AAH members in an informal setting. Next lunch date: this Thursday, April 2 at noon! * Spring Retreat! It's official--we have MITOC's Intervale Cabin for Patriot's Day weekend (Sat/Sun)! We can hang out in the warm, cozy, snowbound (maybe not, if this weather continues!) hut, cook another nice dinner, and get to know each other better. Weather permitting, we can take an afternoon walk up into Tuckerman Ravine to enjoy high alpine splendor or tour the many snow-fed waterfalls in Crawford and Pinkham Notches. The best part--there is *no class* Monday or Tuesday, so you don't have to feel bad about taking a weekend off! ----------------------------------------------------------------------- News and Views Excerpts from mailing lists and news sources -------------------------------------------- ----- (AANews #399) SENATE PANEL APPROVES BANKRUPTCY EXEMPTION FOR CHURCHES The Senate Judiciary Committee has approved a bill which exempts churches and other religious organizations from bankruptcy proceedings which involve creditors who have made tithes, pledges or other contributions. Cosponsored by Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa), the measure "is one of the first attempts to resurrect protections under the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act," according to an Associated Press dispatch. Without the protection of RFRA, a number of courts that churches should be subject to the bankruptcy regulations. Several decisions have ordered churches to surrender to creditors funds from donors who have declared bankruptcy. Hatch denounced that policy, though, saying that "Such judicial action seriously threatens the ability of religious institutions not only to function to to survive." The proposal would prevent federal bankruptcy judges and referees from compelling religious and other tax-exempt organizations to return donations of up to 15% of a debtor's gross income. It also allows post-bankruptcy tithing. In the House of Representatives, similar legislation is being spear headed by Rep. Ron Packard (R-Calif) and over 100 cosponsors. ----- (AANews #402) RFRA -- INTRODUCED IN MARYLAND, HEARINGS IN NEW JERSEY "Special Rights" Legislation For Religious Groups Continues To Spread... Versions of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act have been proposed in Maryland, and will be argued starting later this week in committees. Meanwhile, in New Jersey a RFRA bill won backing from Catholic and Jewish groups, but created what Associated Press described as a "potential quagmire of biblical proportions." * The Jersey RFRA was the subject of a State Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Monday, where representatives of the Catholic Conference and the American Jewish Committee pressed for passage of the bill. The only witness speaking out against RFRA was New York University law professor Christopher Eisgruber, who warned that the proposal was overly broad and might prompt lawsuits. "I believe there are times when government is insensitive to the needs of religious persons," Eisgruber told the senators, "but potentially you will see religious discrimination in all sorts of claims (because) the scope of the statute is extremely broad." Ironically, many of the potential problems with RFRA were raised by Sen. Robert Singer (R-Ocean) one of the sponsors of the measure. They included hypothetical situations such as police arresting religious minors for drinking wine, zoning regulations which affect church building, even Catholic hospitals losing accreditation for refusing to perform abortions although they receive federal funding. AP noted, however, that neither Singer nor any of the groups supporting the measure could provide any specific examples "suggesting that such protection is needed for religious people here." * In Maryland, the Coalition for the Free Exercise of Religion -- the group which crafted and introduced the federal RFRA bill -- is supporting a state amendment that requires the government to demonstrate "compelling interest" before it takes any action to "burden" religious groups. Marci Hamilton, the attorney who successfully defended the city of Boerne, Texas in the BOERNE v. FLORES decision striking down RFRA, told the First Amendment Center that bills like this "are breathtaking in scope." "They apply to every conceivable law, regulation, and official action by every government entity in Maryland, past, present and future." ----- (AANews #403) RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AMENDMENT CLEARS COMMITTEE 16-11 Prayer-In-Government Scheme Heads For Congressional Vote As Christian Coalition Pledges $2,000,000 War Chest The House Judiciary Committee approved the controversial Religious Freedom Amendment this afternoon, splitting along party lines after repeated revisions and numerous rounds of public hearings. Proposed by Rep. Ernest Istook (R- OK), the measure would permit a wide range of religious expression and ritual in secular public institutions including schools. Istook and supporters of the proposed amendment defended the measure, saying that it was necessary in order to guarantee religious freedom in the United States against government hostility. But critics charge that those freedoms are already protected adequately under the First Amendment, and that the RFA constitutes a dangerous violation of state-church separation. The amendment reads: "To secure the people's right to acknowledge God according to the dictates of conscience: The people's right to pray and to recognize their religious beliefs, heritage or traditions on public property, including schools, shall not be infringed. The government shall not require any person to join in prayer or other religious activity, prescribe school prayers, discriminate against religion, or deny equal access to a benefit on account of religion." Today's action marks the first time that the controversial prayer-in- government measure has moved beyond the House Judiciary Committee. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a supporter of RFA, can most probably be expected to put the measure into the legislative hopper for a full House vote, unless some Republicans can convince the leadership that the amendment is too controversial and a potential political liability. . . . But not everyone on the committee supported the RFA. "A lot of Representatives expressed concern over issues like the vague and unspecific language in the measure, and the fact that a constitutional amendment really is not required to solve any legitimate problems," said Mr. Prokop. Rep. Boucher of Virginia even quoted Thomas Jefferson's view on government and religion, pointing out that they are the primary pillars of the First Amendment. Prokop noted that Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) briefly mentioned the civil rights of atheists and agnostics. ----- (AANews #406) ILLINOIS SENATE COMMITTEE PASSES RFRA A version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act has cleared an Illinois Senate committee, making that state the latest target for the "special rights" legislation. Senate Bill 1591, along with its House counterpart -- HB 2370 -- both seek to reimpose the use of stricter standards when government takes any action to "substantially burden" a religious group or practice. The measures are modeled on the discredited Religious Freedom Restoration Act which last year was declared unconstitutional in the historic case of BOERNE v. FLORES. . . . The Illinois measure will now head to the full state Senate, where a vote is expected in April. Other states with RFRA legislation in the hopper include California, Tennessee, Georgia, Virginia, Florida, New Jersey, Ohio and Maryland. Action is expected in Arizona and Texas on RFRA proposals, and a version is expected to be signed shortly in New York by Governor Pataki. ----- (AANews #406) THE RFA WATCH... There is still no word on any action slated for the Religious Freedom Amendment. However, we have been asked by some readers to provide a breakdown of the 16-11 vote last week in the House Judiciary Committee which approved the RFA and moved it on to the full House for a possible vote. Voting for the amendment were: Rep. Henry Hyde (R-Ill), Rep. F. James Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), Rep. Bill McCollum (R-Fla.), Rep. Howard Coble (R- N.C.), Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.), Rep. Elton Gallegly (R-Calif.), Rep. Charles Canady (R-Fla.), Rep. Bob Inglis (R-S.C.), Rep. Robert Goodlatte (R.Va.), Rep. Steve Buyer (R.Ind.), Rep. Ed Bryant (R-Tenn.), Rep. Bill Jenkins (R-Tenn.), Rep. Asa Hutchinson (R-Ark.), Rep. Ed Pease (R-Ind.), Rep. James Rogan (R- Calif.) and Rep. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Against the Religious Freedom Amendment were Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.), Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), Rep. Jerold Nadler (D-N.Y.), Rep.Robert Scott (D- Va.), Rep. Melvin Watt (D-N.C.), Rep. Shelia Jackson-Lee (D-Texas), Rept. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), Rep. Martin Meehan (D-Mass.), Rep. Bill Delahunt (D- Mass.), Rep. Robert Wexler (D-Fla.) and Rep. Steve Rothman (D-N.J.). . . . California legislator using e-mail for proselytizing Should a taxpayer funded computer system be used to circulate announcements for a weekly Bible study session? Critics in California say "no way" to the practice started by the office of Assembly Republican leader Bill Leonard of San Bernardino. Legislators and staff members have been receiving e-mail "spam" which included notices of a Bible study meeting on how to obtain peace with god "through Christ on the cross" and "knowing your position and possessions in Christ," according to a story in the San Francisco Chronicle. Assemblywoman Carole Migden of San Francisco criticized the use of a public computer data system, though, for such unconstitutional pursuits. "We were mortified," she noted. "There is a separation of church and state. The Capitol e-mail is not the proper venue for unsolicited proselytizing." According to the Chronicle, thanks to action by the vice chairman of the committee governing Assembly operations, no more e-mails of this type will be sent. ----- (AANews #409) COURT: BOY SCOUTS CAN BAR GAYS, ATHEISTS, OTHERS The California State Supreme Court ruled yesterday that the Boy Scouts of America did not fall under the purview of anti-discrimination laws, and thus may bar gays and applicants who do not believe in a deity. In two unanimous decisions, the justices examined cases filed by a twin brothers, Michael and William Randall, who would not swear a religious oath as required by the Scouts for membership, and the case of an 18-year old Eagle Scout who was turned down for a position as a Scout Leader because he was identified as a homosexual. Both decisions drew gushing praise from attorney Jay Sekulow, head of the American Center for Law and Justice founded by Rev. Pat Robertson. He applauded the court's decision, saying that "the Boy Scouts can and should set the moral tone of their organization." A Scouting spokesperson agreed. Greg Shields told Newsday, "For 88 years we've taught the moral values of the Scout oath and law to American boys. Those who meet the standards of this membership organization are welcome to belong." But Terry Flynn, ACLU attorney who represented the Randalls, said that government and civic entities should withdraw financial and other support for the Scouts, as groups such as Levi Strauss, United Way of San Francisco and the City of Chicago have already done. Michael and Terry Randall had joined the Cub Scouts at age 7; they noted that their pack leader had permitted them to admit any religious references in their oath. The twins were rejected from membership later, though, when they tried to participate in a new Scouting group after moving. Court intervention, though, kept them in the program and they advanced up the Scouting ranks; recently, they were accepted as Eagle Scouts by their local troop, subject to the approval of the national BSA organization. The core issue was whether or not the Scouts were a private membership group not covered by anti-discrimination laws, or a business enterprise and "public accommodation" which cannot exclude members on criteria such as sexual orientation. Observers from ACLU and other groups noted that the decision was probably "the end of the line" although challenges to the BSA ban against homosexuals are pending in Chicago and District of Columbia. In Chicago, the Human Relations Commission ruled that Scout prohibitions against gay members violated municipal anti-discrimination laws. Chief Justice Ronald George, writing in the court's lead opinion, maintained that "Scouts meet regularly in small groups (often in private homes) that are intended to foster close friendship, trust and loyalty... The Boy Scouts is an expressive social organization whose primary function is the inculcation of values in its youth members." That picture described a different category than public accommodation, which the California Supreme Court has previously used to include private country clubs and Boys Clubs which operate buildings and programs for use by the general public. . . . Another on-going case has involved Nancy Powell of Portland, Oregon. She has objected to the use of local public schools as recruiting grounds by the Boy Scouts, insisting that it violates state-church separation. Powell's son wanted to join Scout activities, but she told the Portland Oregonian newspaper last year that he couldn't since the family accepts "science, not supernatural beings." ----- (AANews #410) JESUS, UFO ARE NO-SHOW FOR TEXAS CULT "My Predictions...Can Be Considered Nonsense," Declares Leader God just didn't make it -- again. At 12:01 a.m. this morning, members of God's Salvation Church huddled in front of television screens tuned to channel 18 waiting for an announcement from Jesus Christ that he was on his way, and would be landing in person in Garland, Texas in a flying saucer. That and other bizarre prophecies had been made by Chen Heng-Ming, known to his followers as "Teacher Chen." Mr. Chen, a former social sciences professor from Taiwan, claims that he fathered Jesus Christ two millennia ago, and communicates with the deity through a special ring which he wears. He predicted that today, March 25, Jesus would appear on Channel 18 on television sets all over the world, to announce his arrival. Other colorful predictions involved evacuations from an apocalyptic holocaust next year, natural catastrophe and calamitous events. Sociologists have noted that these sorts of doomsday predictions proliferate at the end of a century, and may be heightened by the onset of a new millennium. Chen told an army of curious reporters, "Because we did not see God's message on television tonight, my predictions of March 31 (the arrival of Jesus in a UFO) can be considered nonsense." He added, "I hope that everybody can still have a true belief in God, in the existence of God. Even though the image doesn't show on the television, I don't have any reason to doubt the existence of a supreme being, God." . . . Despite the statement that Chen's claims could now be considered "nonsense," members of the Taiwan-based cult reaffirmed their belief in his powers as a leader and prophet -- a common phenomenon when predictions made by doomsday groups fail to come true. "I know God will show his great powers very soon," one Church member told Reuter news agency. Others repeat Chen's warnings about an immanent "Great Tribulation" involving economic collapse and natural catastrophes. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Mailing Lists ------------- Remember to be careful--the mitaah list is an annoucement list only. Discussion needs to stay on the discussion lists, and specific requests should go to the officers or planning lists. Once again, we have the following lists for your reading pleasure: mitaah Official announcements mitaah-discussion Free-form discussion mitaah-gcf-forum AAH-Graduate Christian Fellowship discussion forum To add/remove yourself from any of the lists, use the following command from your athena% prompt: 'blanche $USER' Switches are '-a' to add, '-d' to remove. Your request will not be processed until 2am the next morning, so there may be up to a 26 hour wait for changes to take effect. *Please do not send requests to the list itself*, and remember that you are responsible for your own list maintenance. Other AAH lists include: mitaah-officers Feedback to the officers mitaah-planning Feedback to the planning board --------------------------------------------------------------------------