The weekly report on the SPI Coalition
by Julie Esris

Secular activist, author, and SPI Fellow Taslima Nasrin has just received death threats from Islamic radicals linked to al-Qaida. Due to the death threats, Nasrin has left India and is currently in the United States for an indefinite period of time. SPI Coalition Member Center for Inquiry is trying to help Nasrin, as she has no job and no home in the United States. Find out how you, too, can donate and help Nasrin secure a place to live.

Taslima Nasrin

Speaking of ex-Muslim women, are you also an ex-Muslim woman? Are you interested in participating in creating a film about ex-Muslim women? If so, SPI Coalition member Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain would like to hear from you. Learn about the film and how you can participate.

Are you an American atheist currently enrolled in college or graduate school? If so, you could win a scholarship from SPI Coalition member, Atheist Alliance of America. Find out how you can win. But hurry! The application is due on July 15th.

SPI Coalition member Australian Skeptics is doing a lot to encourage schoolchildren who are passionate about science. Learn about the wonderful science programs for children that they are supporting financially.

It is taboo to draw Mohammed, and this taboo needs to be challenged, argues ex-Muslim A. R. Mirza of SPI Coalition member Ex-Muslims of North America. But are there more constructive ways to challenge this taboo than with drawings that are usually inflammatory? 

Remember last week when┬áSPI Coalition member Atheist Community of San Jose┬áposted Part 1┬áof their panel discussion, “Did Jesus Exist?”┬áPart 2 (Q&A) is now available on YouTube!

David Silverman, president of SPI Coalition member American Atheists recently appeared on Fox News, where he debated with one of the hosts and two Christian pastors about religious freedom and what it means. Watch the segment and listen to the single voice of reason as you wonder if Fox is a news station or a Christian ministry.

By now, just about everybody knows about the victory for marriage equality in Ireland. But it did not happen overnight, and there are a lot of lessons to be learned about social progress, argues Michael Nugent of SPI Coalition Member┬áAtheist Ireland.┬áCheck out Nugent’s┬ágreat speech about this topic.

SPI Coalition member United Church of Bacon recently got out the message of skepticism and secularism in a segment on Fox News. Good show and praise Bacon!

SPI Coalition member British Humanist Association (BHA) helped support an assisted suicide bill in Scotland. Unfortunately, the bill did not become law. However, BHA is not done helping fight for this human right!

 

 

 

 

The Weekly SPI Fellows Update
by Julie Esris

Culture will never progress unless people learn to constructively deal with their hurt feelings, even if those hurt feelings involve deeply religious beliefs, argues author and SPI Fellow Taslima Nasrin. Read more of her insightful blog post about this important issue at Dhaka Tribune, especially important in light of recent death threats made against her.

Taslima Nasreen

Recently, physicist┬áand SPI Fellow┬áLawrence Krauss┬áwon the Humanist of the Year Award! Krauss wrote an excellent speech for his acceptance of the award at the American Humanist Association’s annual conference in Denver, Colorado. Now you, too, can read his acceptance speech.

Can’t make the upcoming Boston event featuring philosopher and SPI Fellow,┬áDaniel Dennett┬á(with Richard Dawkins)? Well, you can at least get a┬ádose of Dennett online: recently, he gave a presentation on information, evolution, and intelligent design, now available for you to watch on YouTube!

Daniel Dennett

Columnist Nicholas Kristof has a few questions about how the world has gotten better, not worse, over the years. So to whom does he ask these questions? Evolutionary psychologist and SPI Fellow┬áSteven Pinker, of course!┬áLearn how society has improved over the years, and don’t forget to buy a copy of Pinker’s book on this subject,┬áThe Better Angels of Our Nature: Why Violence has Declined.

Evolutionary biologist and SPI Fellow┬áRichard Dawkins has been touring the world for┬áover a week now. Most recently, he toured Brazil. You can read his blog posts about his adventures– including one about… getting into a fight with a creationist?– on his official website. Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3

 

 

The weekly report on US and International policy
by Edwina Rogers

Secular Policy Institute Supports Real Education For Healthy Youth Act (REHYA)

Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-31) has once again introduced the Real Education for Healthy Youth Act of 2015, HR 1706 (REHYA), a bill that would provide comprehensive sex education for youth and young adults, and includes funding for teacher training in this area.  Secular Policy Institute staff will work with other like-minded advocacy groups to get this important legislation passed.

The weekly report on research and demographics of the secular movement
by Julie Esris

Same-sex couples and their allies in Ireland had reason to celebrate last week. In a national referendum, 62.1% of the voting population said ÔÇ£yesÔÇØ for the legalization of same-sex marriage. This means that IrelandÔÇÖs constitution will now be amended to define marriage as the union between two people, regardless of sex. It may seem a bit surprising that same-sex marriage is now legal in Ireland. After all, divorce was illegal until 1996, and abortion is still illegal under most circumstances. But after examining some polls, it may not be as surprising as one might think.

Oddly enough, studies have indicated that, despite the Catholic ChurchÔÇÖs official stance on issues such as stem-cell research, contraceptives and, yes, same-sex marriage, individual Catholics are among the most liberal Christians. Unfortunately, the most comprehensive polls around these issues were conducted with Americans, but the information may still prove valuable. A 2009 Gallup poll revealed that 62% of American Catholics are slightly more likely than non-Catholics to support stem-cell research. 71% of Catholics find divorce morally acceptable, as opposed to 66% of non-Catholics. 67% of Catholics versus 57% of non-Catholics believe that sex between an unmarried man and unmarried woman is moral. 61% of Catholics versus 52% of non-Catholics believe that having a baby outside of wedlock is okay. 54% of Catholics find homosexual relations morally acceptable, versus 45% of non-Catholics. Another issue, the death penalty, is often positively correlated with religious adherence. However, only 61% of Catholics support the death penalty, whereas 68% do not. The only issue examined that Catholics were less likely to support than non-Catholics was abortion, but only slightly so: 40% versus 41%.

Of course, when comparing regular churchgoing Catholics to non-churchgoing Catholics, the numbers are quite different: the acceptability of the aforementioned issues is much lower for regular churchgoing Catholics, even, strangely enough, in regards to the death penalty. However, non-churchgoing American Catholics are still more liberal on these issues than churchgoing non-Catholics. Abortion is morally acceptable for 52% of non-churchgoing Catholics versus 19% of churchgoing non-Catholics, 77% versus 30% on the moral acceptability of sex between an unmarried man and woman, 77% versus 46 % on the question of divorce, 70% versus 45% on stem-cell research, 70% versus 29% on having a baby outside of wedlock, and 61% versus 29% on homosexual relations. Moral acceptability of the death penalty is very similar between churchgoing Catholics and non-churchgoing non-Catholics, at 67% versus 66%.

A 2014 Pew study closely corroborates the Gallup data on CatholicsÔÇÖ stance on homosexuality, revealing that American Catholics are among the least likely group of Christians to think that homosexuality is sinful, at only 44%. Unfortunately, a major issue with this poll and the Gallup poll is that they only surveyed American Catholics, and there was no comprehensive report to be found about Irish CatholicsÔÇÖ stance on homosexuality. However, a study released in 2011 indicates that almost half (47%) of Irish Catholics have an unfavorable view of the Irish Catholic church, possibly because of the recent sex-abuse scandals that have occurred in Ireland and elsewhere. 24% held a favorable view, and another quarter had no view either way (It is tempting to consider whether similar disillusionment of the Catholic church is also largely responsible for American CatholicsÔÇÖ more liberal stances on moral issues). Additionally, research has shown that the degree of religiosity has significantly dropped in Ireland, and that it is among the least religious nations. In fact, a study released in 2012 revealed that 78% of self-identified Irish Catholics do not actually adhere to Catholic teachings, and only 34% even go to church at all. Only 18% of churchgoers go to church regularly.

Ireland is clearly becoming less and less religious, despite the illegality of abortion and divorce only having been legalized recently. While some archaic laws remain, the outcome of the referendum on same-sex marriage strongly suggests that lawmakers and the general population hold very different views. It is likely that same-sex marriage was legalized in Ireland, not because of decisions of lawmakers but because of decisions of the liberal, irreligious, only-nominally-Catholic people. Perhaps same-sex marriage would not have been legalized had the decision been made by politicians and not in a national vote.

Eight other suspects received 16-year sentences. Eighteen others were found not guilty.

On March 19, a mob of male attackers beat and kicked 27-year-old Farkhunda before tossing her off a Kabul bridge, setting her body on fire and throwing it in the river. Like many Afghans, Farkhunda used only one name.

The horrific scene was recorded in a video that resonated around the globe.

Learn more on CNN.com

The Satanic TempleÔÇÖs bid to allow a Missouri follower to circumvent state laws restricting abortion may soon become a class-action lawsuit, the womanÔÇÖs legal counsel said Wednesday.

Court documents filed Monday and obtained by Al Jazeera argue that, as a Satanist, a woman referred to as ÔÇ£Mary DoeÔÇØ should not have to undergo the stateÔÇÖs mandatory 72-hour wait period, be offered an ultrasound to listen to a potential heartbeat and receive requisite informational materials that her attorneys say are designed to dissuade her from the procedure.

Read more about this lawsuit on AlJazeera America

The weekly report on the SPI Coalition
by Julie Esris

Three┬áSPI Coalition members–┬áFoundation for Critical Thinking,┬áAtheist Alliance International,┬áFoundation Beyond Belief— are teaming up with SPI’s Johnny Monsarrat for an exciting variety of projects. How does a Critical Thinking Research Library sound? Or assisting teachers who want┬áto attend the annual International Conference on Critical Thinking and Education Reform but don’t have sufficient funds? Or helping financially or as a volunteer with a project that assists people in disaster recovery?

SPI Coalition Member Rationalist Society of Australia is excited to announce its upcoming “How do You Know?” tour, featuring SPI Fellow┬áPeter Boghossian! Go to the Rationalist Society of Australia’s homepage to find┬áout about tour dates and how to get tickets.

American parents: Has┬áyour child come home from school one day with a Bible in hand? If┬áyour child goes to a public school, Bible distribution violates the separation of church and state, unless materials representing all religions are distributed as well. If you are concerned┬áthat your child’s school might be attempting indoctrination, contact SPI Coalition member┬áAmerican Atheists for help.

Have you ever heard of┬áPhilip Pullman? If you’ve ever read┬áHis Dark Materials trilogy, you have. If you are a fan of his work, you will be pleased┬áto know that he gave an exciting speech about imagination, writing, and the responsibility of the writer at the World Humanist Congress in 2014. A video of his talk is now on the YouTube page of SPI Coalition member British Humanist Association!

Did Jesus exist? That’s the topic of discussion with authors Dr. Robert M. Price (Deconstructing Jesus), Dr. Richard Carrier (Sense and Goodness Without God: A Defense of Metaphysical Naturalism), and David Fitzgerald (Nailed: 10 Christian Myths That Show Jesus Never Existed at All)┬áhosted by SPI Coalition member┬áAtheist Community of San Jose. Find out what these authors have to say about this interesting question. Part 1┬áis been posted, and Atheist Community of San Jose promises┬áPart 2 (Q&A) will be up soon.

Some topics are so sensitive that when discussed online they often come with a “trigger warning”. But what topics, if any, should have trigger warnings? That’s the latest topic of SPI Coalition member┬áFilipino Freethinkers podcast!

We could always use a good laugh, right? Thomas Gray, board member of SPI Coalition member Omaha Atheists, has started a twelve-part blog in which he posts his reactions to watching young-Earth creationist videos with believers. In the first part of this series, Gray highlights the way these videos misrepresent scientific information.

More and more people than ever are leaving religion. But why? What tools have helped people embrace secularism? Blogger Jon Lindgren, of SPI Coalition member┬áRed River Freethinkers, has an idea.┬áHint: you’re using it right now!

Secular Policy Institute is proud to introduce its two new coalition members:

National Secular Society in the UK- This wonderful organization is always campaigning for secularism and humanism in the UK. Check out their page detailing their ongoing campaigns, including challenging prayer at council meetings, advocating for humane slaughter of animals without religious exemptions, advocating for freedom of expression, and more.

and

India Humanist Union

The Weekly SPI Fellows Update
by Julie Esris

Planetary scientist, expert on Saturn, astrophysicist and SPI Fellow┬áCarolyn Porco┬árecently┬ámet with Neil deGrasse Tyson on his StarTalk podcast. They had a great discussion about Porco’s┬ácareer and how she first became interested in planetary science.┬á ┬áPart 1┬áPart 2┬á

Theoretical physicist and SPI Fellow┬áLawrence Krauss recently appeared on PBS Eight (Arizona) to discuss the latest science news. Join Krauss as he talks┬áabout the Large Hadron Collider and the universes’s quarks and quirks.

Laurence Krauss

Can’t wait for philosopher and┬áSPI Fellow┬áPeter Boghossion‘s upcoming tour in Australia? Recently, Boghossion spoke on┬áThe Herd Mentality podcast. Get a sneak preview of the kinds of exciting things he will┬ádiscuss at his upcoming events. Maybe he’ll even try to answer the age-old questions, “What is knowledge?”.

Many religious people adhere to certain moral principles┬áwithout question. The great thing about humanism and secularism is that we think for ourselves and never fall into that trap, right? Wrong, says author, philosopher, lawyer, and SPI Fellow┬áRonald Lindsay. In fact, there are many times we are just as guilty as the religious of accepting certain positions as “right” unquestioningly. Read more of what Lindsay thinks about this┬áin his┬áblogpost on Center for Inquiry.

Neil deGrasse Tyson has a few questions for evolutionary biologist and SPI Fellow Richard Dawkins about how he combats illogical thinking. In just under three minutes, Dawkins and Tyson have a great discussion about how we can help make humanity more logical!

The weekly report on US and International policy
by Edwina Rogers

U.S. Congress Considering Repealing The Religious Freedom Restoration Act

Secular Policy Institute staff have been invited by Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member on the Senate HELP Committee, to attend a briefing for Senate staff on Thursday, May 21, from 2:30-4pm in SVC 210 to explore the legal landscape and the impact that the federal and state Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (RFRAs) have had on civil rights and public accommodations. The original legislation was championed by Senator Schumer and signed by President Clinton. RFRA is now used to limit women’s access to reproductive healthcare due to the beliefs of her employer, and it also enables discrimination against the LGBTQ community.

Presidential Hopeful Jeb Bush Supports Allowing Discrimination Against Gays

Christian business owners should not have to provide services for same-sex weddings, said probable presidential hopeful Jeb Bush in a new interview with the Christian Broadcasting Network (CBN). Bush told CBN he doesn’t view this action as discrimination, but draws a distinction between selling products and services to gay and lesbian people and participating in an activity that goes against one’s moral beliefs. Americans are deeply divided about religious liberty in general — roughly half (46 percent) say that they are more worried about the government interfering with the ability of people to freely practice their religion, while another 46 percent say they’re more concerned about religious groups trying to pass laws that enable religious people to discriminate against or otherwise harm others.

Secular Policy Institute CEO Edwina Rogers To Address James Randi Foundation TAM July Conference On Anti-Science Legislation

Edwina Rogers┬áwill address The Amazing Meeting in Las Vegas in July. Her talk topic is “Science Has Left The House (And The Senate).”

Anti-science sentiment is sweeping the state and federal legislatures, elbowing┬áevolution aside in favor of “Intelligent Design,” and stops critical curricular updates in science courses dead in their tracks. Even the US House Science and Technology Committee is calling into question many federal grants for research in the STEM sciences, while legislative bodies throughout the country are making advances towards anti-science positions such as abstinence-only sex education.

The Amaz!ng Meeting website: www.amazingmeeting.com
#TAM13

Location: The Tropicana Las Vegas
Dates: July 16-19, 2015

Join me this year for The Amaz!ng Meeting (TAM)! This July 16-19 TAM! will convene in Las Vegas for this annual gathering of critical thinkers and provide unparalleled opportunities to enjoy some of the brightest minds on issues important to skeptics. This year weÔÇÖll celebrate the life and career of one of the skeptical movementÔÇÖs founding pillars, Mr. James Randi. Join us as we pay tribute to his lifeÔÇÖs work, and for the chance to make like-minded friends.
Why Google And Other Tech Giants Are Creating Tools For Political Dissidents, Including Atheists
Saudi Arabia announced plans to flog dissident blogger Raif Badawi earlier this year. BadawiÔÇÖs wife, Ensaf Haidar, and Badawi’s┬ásister, Samar, went to Movements.org. This website is an┬áonline platform set up to crowdsource human rights support from around the world.┬áIronically, it┬áis the product of a company that has drawn a great deal of criticism for its fraught relationship with free speech: Google.

On Movements.org, Haidar and Badawi found a host of resources. Volunteers translated their call for help into English, and contacts at The Daily Beast published it. Through the network, Haidar and Badawi met Canadian legislator Irwin Cotler, who agreed to serve as Raif BadawiÔÇÖs international counsel. With CotlerÔÇÖs help, and with the increased worldwide attention that the site has helped them generate, they have successfully pressured the Saudi government to suspend further punishment for ÔÇô at this point ÔÇô 16 consecutive weeks.

The weekly report on research and demographics of the secular movement
by Julie Esris

It is very tempting to assume that all Arabs are Muslim, and that most of these Muslims are extremists. However, this is simply not true. Recently, New Republic published an article about the so-called ÔÇ£invisibleÔÇØ atheists, Arab non-believers who have renounced Islam. It is not easy to leave Islam in the Middle East. First of all, the punishment for apostasy is death. Although the death penalty for apostates is rarely enforced, punishment can still be quite severe, in the form of imprisonment and lashes. Then, of course, are the fatwas issued, in which Muslim leaders call for the death of apostates. Some atheists in the Middle East have been open about their non-belief on Facebook, Twitter, and blogsÔÇöat great risk to themselves. Why is it so difficult to be an atheist in so many Middle Eastern countries? Are there really fewer atheists in Arab countries than elsewhere, or do these atheists just lie in order to protect themselves from harm? Or is it a combination of the two? And as for Arabs who do practice Islam, just how religious are they?

A 2013 Pew poll helps answer these questions. The study surveyed 38,000 Muslims in 39 countries in six regions: Southern and Eastern Europe, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and sub-Saharan Africa. Those surveyed were asked about whether or not they support sharia (Islamic) law. As one would expect, significant percentages of Muslims in many countries want sharia law to be the law of the land. Support for sharia is the highest in South Asia with a median of 84%, followed by Southeast Asia at 77%. Middle East and North Africa follow at 74%, Sub-Saharan Africa at 64%, Southern-Eastern Europe at 18%, and Central Asia at 12%. These are averages for an entire region, however, and when broken down by individual countries, the top three supporters of sharia law are in the Middle East. Afghanistan ranks with the highest support of sharia law (99%), followed by Iraq (91%), and then the Palestinian territories at (89%). In most of the countries surveyed, support for sharia law varies little by age, gender, or education.

With these numbers, it is unsurprising that very few Arabs will admit to their atheism. The New Republic article cited a poll that suggests that there are only 2,293 Arab atheists out of a population of 300 million. The poll is likely a reflection on how dangerous it is for Arabs to be openly atheistic. The poll claimed that Egypt is home to 866 atheists, Morocco to 325, Tunisia to 320, Iraq to 242, Saudi Arabia to 178, Jordan to 170, Sudan to 70, Syria to 56, Libya to 34, and Yemen to 32. As previously noted, sharia law calls for death as the punishment for apostasy, with imprisonment being the most common sentence enacted.

However, it is interesting to note is that while apostasy is taboo in much of the Arab world, many Arabs are also not as religious as weÔÇöor even theyÔÇöthink they are. There are some secular lifestyles and attitudes that are, surprisingly, tolerated in the Arab world. Drinking alcohol is common despite being forbidden in Islam. Islam requires that adherents pray five times a day at fixed times, including twice during work hours, but many people skip these two prayers and do them later at home. In Saudi Arabia, a country that is very extreme in its implementation of religious protocol, shops close for fifteen minutes during each prayer call. However, instead of praying, many people gather outside the shops to smoke cigarettes or just to await the shopsÔÇÖ reopening. Even sex outside of marriage is common in Arab countries, particularly in urban areas. In short, people are not necessarily required to be religious but are expected to define themselves as Muslims, which covers a variety of levels of observance.

While it is still very difficult to be an atheist in the Arab world, the good news is that some secularism, albeit very little, is finding its way into everyday life. Additionally, with the advent of the Internet, many young Arabs are becoming exposed to other ideas that make them begin to question the theology with which they were brought up. Although risky, they are able to meet other Arabs online who have similar doubts and who have rejected religion altogether. Perhaps these are signs of an impending cultural revolution.