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                THE TEXAS ATHEIST

             February 3, 1999                                   # 38
               Copyright  2000 by Howard Thompson

=========[   An independent, free e-mail newsletter   ]=========

    IN THIS ISSUE

1.  Texas events
2.  Getting out of the atheist "closet" - 2
3.  FACT member zaps Randolph AFB Xmas display
4.  Houston Church of Freethought's first "service"
5.  News/Science Briefs
    A wedding, a baby and $28,626.13 for NTCOF
    Historical Commission to decide Freethinker marker
    Incompetent people think they are competent
    Geophysicists blast creationism
    More godless Texas music
    TAMU Atheists & Agnostics plan spring activities
    Religious harassment in Plano schools
    Defending the Constitution in Leander schools
    Pat Robertson's attorney defends Leander ISD
    FACT has new internet message board
    Texas Christian Coalition leadership seminar
6.  Groups, TV, Internet Discussion << NEW >>
    [[ Media items from Kristine Danowski's news service. ]]

====================================

TEXAS EVENTS

    FEB 14:  Last voter registration day for Democratic & Republican 
Primaries.
    FEB 7 - 7:00PM:  Texas A&M Atheist & Agnostic Student Group President 
Jason Romero debates Professor Stadelmann on "God Exists".  MSC room 292B.  
Contact Jason Romero, BlankX@tamu.edu, http://atheist.tamu.edu/~aasg/
    FEB 23 - 8:30 PM: Texas A&M Atheist & Agnostic Student Group sponsors 
School Prayer Debate.  Howard Thompson will join AASG member Nathan Bosdet 
for the debate.  Contact Chris Langford, clt6962@labs.tamu.edu, 
http://atheist.tamu.edu/~aasg/
    FEB 27 - 2:30 PM:  Houstonians for Secular Humanism hosts your TTA editor 
speaking on school prayer issues and the Respect Our Constitution effort for 
party precinct conventions. Comfort Inn at 6221 Richmond. Contact Daniel 
Strain dts2000@pop.flash.net.
    MAR 12 - 10:30AM:  Houston Church of Freethought first service.  Ramada 
Plaza Hotel, 7611 Katy freeway. << NEW TEXAS GROUP >>
    MAR 14:  Democratic & Republican primaries.  Non-theists will present 
Respect Our Constitution resolutions at precinct convention voting sites 
after the polls close.
====================================


GETTING OUT OF THE ATHEIST "CLOSET" - 2

    Talking about the atheist  "closet" deeply touches many unbelievers. We 
often become the first and only one in our families to reject god and 
religion.  Giving up the family religion can be difficult and it often 
changes family relationships.

    Below are more out of the "closet" stories.  Each is a personal triumph 
of reason and courage.  Each is a tiny personal step towards the day when 
unbelievers no longer feel they must hide their unbelief in fear.

    ** [From Mark]   Last month you and I corresponded briefly about the 
dangers to oneself of not revealing one's atheism to theists, and I related 
how very involved in Christianity my family is.
    I traveled to Michigan with my wife and two young boys, all three of whom 
attend church regularly, and we spent an enjoyable week with my parents, my 
sister, and her family.  As discussed, I decided not to out myself at this 
time.  
    Unfortunately, because church life is such a part of my family, I was 
forced to choose between attending Sunday morning services and sunday School 
with them, feigning an illness, or revealing my atheism.  I chose the former, 
and I now understand what you meant in your newsletter.
    To be honest, the time I was most uncomfortable was during the singing.  
It took on a cult-like atmosphere, with people singing to an invisible 
entity.  It was really rather creepy, and I turned to my wife and said, "I 
can't do this again.  This is the last time."  The sermon was thankfully 
forgettable, primarily because their pastor chooses to rely on stories, jokes 
and anecdotes, rather than the Bible, to make his points.
    Sunday School was another matter entirely.  I continually bit my tongue 
as my brother-in-law expounded on God's omnipotence, omnipresence, and 
omniscience, and "what that means in our daily lives."  I couldn't help 
thinking that we have attributed many of these facets to modern-day Santa 
Claus.  My mother was on my right, and my wife and sister on my left, so I 
made only one comment, and even that could have been interpreted ambiguously.
    Interestingly enough, one of the class members claimed to have been an 
agnostic up until six years ago, but never revealed why he changed.
    I've decided to tell my parents and family the truth--my wife already 
knows, of course--but I'm not certain when that will be.  I only know it will 
be before we visit them again, because I will not step foot in another church 
unless it's for a wedding or funeral of a very close family member, and even 
then I'll have to take it on a case-by-case basis.  

    **  My name is Jesse Wallace.  Since the age of five I had doubts about 
"god" and always wondered why I was forced to go to church every Sunday and 
Wednesday.  At the age of 11, I decided that I didn't buy into what was being 
crammed down my throat, but I told no one until I was nineteen.
    The reason for my silence is this....My father is a Southern Baptist 
preacher and has been one since 1990.  Before that he was minister of music 
in Lubbock.  My uncle on my mother's side has been an evangelist or a music 
minister since I can remember and is now a preacher.  My sister is DEEPLY 
religious and married to a music minister at one of the only Southern Baptist 
churches in Boston. My grand parents on both sides are hardcore Christians 
that I love dearly but cannot agree with on anything.
    I am twenty and have been "out of the closet" for a year and a half.  The 
cause of me revealing my atheism was a Christmas celebration in combination 
with meeting a man named Will who is now one of my best friends.  Will made 
several things very clear, one being that I'm NOT a bad person for being an 
atheist.  He never said this, just lived it.  I met Will at a bachelor party 
and then a month later I was at my parent's house for Xmas.
    They have a long held tradition of singing then reading the bible the 
praying in a circle taking turns.  The prayer goes at LEAST an hour sometimes 
twice that.  Anyway, they had sung and read and they were praying and all the 
while I'm sitting there thinking, "I'M NOT A BAD PERSON DAMN IT, SO WHY DO 
YOU TRY TO MAKE PEOPLE LIKE ME THINK THEY ARE."  When it came my turn I said 
simply "I'm Not going to pray to your god, I'm an atheist."
    Since that day I have been pushed so far back from most of my family that 
it brings me to tears anytime I sit down and think about it.  But I now have 
self respect.  Every day when I see myself in the mirror I no longer see 
myself as a fake, a liar, or bad person that is out to ruin people's way of 
life.  I simply see myself as .....me, and I find that wonderful beyond 
expression.

    **  [Vic Farrow]  When I was about ten, some of the neighborhood kids 
were talking about god and creation.  I remember thinking that they were 
jerking my chain, surly the punch line was coming.  I ask the question, if 
god made us, then who made god?  The other kids, who were already 
indoctrinated, were stunned that I didn't believe unquestioningly in god and 
reported this to my father.
    My father's response was to tell me that I did believe and that we were 
to drop the subject (Dad didn't like us kids to engage in anything that might 
lead to fighting, including keeping score at basketball).  My father never 
went to church, probably due more to his disliking crowds and ties.  Mother 
took my brother and I to a Methodist church for a short while, but became 
discouraged at the stuffiness of the more well-to-do's that she saw as 
looking down at us po-folks.
    In the 9th grade I was fond of this gal who's name I can no longer 
remember.  She invited me to a "private" skating party that turned out to be 
a revival meeting (she forgot to mention that part).  I was caught off guard 
by this but attempted to stay and remain quiet, but the whole thing was just 
too weird.  I got up and began to walk toward the door.  She followed trying 
to convince me to stay, but I left anyway.
    The next school day I told her I didn't believe in god (I was not yet 
using the word atheist).  Soon after, her older cousin and two of his friends 
cornered me in the hallway outside of the music room and were intent on 
preaching to me, as a captive, until I saw the light.  So I ran.  I learned 
well how to hide my nonbelief.
    For many years now I have professed myself as an atheist only to those 
who knew me well enough that I could trust that they would not go berserk.  
It still, however, changes the way they think about me and the relationship 
is undoubtedly altered.
    In the last couple of years I have been wearing atheism as a badge of 
honor.  I have chosen not to hide it any longer in the hope that others who 
may be struggling with this will see that it is nothing to hide.  After all, 
we are in good company.

FACT MEMBER ZAPS RANDOLPH AFB XMAS DISPLAYS

    Freethinker's Association of Central Texas member Mary [not her real 
name] got Xmas displays removed at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio.  
She describes what happened.

    "On 3 Dec 99, I noticed an open bible displayed in the hallway (a public 
area), as well as a couple nativity scenes.  I did not know who to approach 
on this, so I sent an inquiry (e-mail) to the Air Force Personnel Center 
newletter's ActionLine.  The first reply that I received was that action 
would be taken ASAP, and that my inquiry was forwarded to the chaplain.  
(Discouraging, huh!)"

    "After not hearing anything, I sent an e-mail to FFRF [Freedom From 
Religion Foundation] explaining the problem, and received a response from 
Annie Laurie Gaylor within the hour.  I then forwarded her letter to the 
Public Affairs folks."

    Annie Laurie Gaylor's letter in part mentioned, "...  a blatant 
endorsement of the Christian faith over other faiths and religion over 
nonreligion, which is impermissible."  And that, "when complaints were made, 
there has been stonewalling and in fact that the complaint was referred to 
the Chaplain!  Please get back to us immediately about what steps you are 
taking to remedy these violations of state/church separation."

    Major General Donald A. Lamontagne sent an apology letter to Mary.  
Another Air Force letter reads: "After full review from our Judge Advocate 
Staff, we removed the bible as well as other religious decorations from  
public areas.  The  removal was based on the Establishment Clause of the 
Constitution to  maintain a policy of neutrality on religious matters in 
government  buildings."

    Mary said no explanation was given to employees when the Christian 
displays were removed.  They will never understand how the Constitution 
prohibits government religion.

HOUSTON CHURCH OF FREETHOUGHT'S FIRST "SERVICE"

    The Houston Church of Freethought [HCOF] will have its first service 
10:30AM, March 12th in the Congressional Room of the Ramada Plaza Hotel, 7611 
Katy Freeway.  Houston now becomes the second Texas city with a Freethought 
church for unbelievers.  This new group is authorized by the Sullivan and 
Gorski families who founded the North Texas Church of Freethought in the D/FW 
area.  

    The room will open at 10:00AM for coffee and conversation.  Introducing 
the Church of Freethought concept will be the theme of the first service, 
followed by a luncheon.  All five founders of the HCOF and some NTCOF 
founders will attend this inaugural service.

    The Church of Freethought concept is a church model organization for 
unbelievers.  It differs from unbeliever clubs with an organized service, 
family orientation, and Sunday school for children.  The Church of 
Freethought movement's founders adapted successful aspects of churches to 
provide for unbelievers the same kinds of social and cultural functions that 
theistic churches provide for theists.

    NTCOF regularly has over 100 at meetings with a building fund for a 
permanent location.  So much for Paul Kurtz, founder of the Council for 
Secular Humanism, telling Tim Gorski that a Freethought church was a bad 
idea.  [Contact Arthur Fay, afay@worldnet.att.net]

NEWS/SCIENCE BRIEFS [Send items of interest to gofreemind@aol.com.]

    A WEDDING A BABY AND $28,626.13 FOR NTCOF

    Jason Rudder and Allison Black were married January 5th by NTCOF pastoral 
Director Dr. Tim Gorski.  The entirely secular ceremony was enjoyed by bride, 
groom, family and friends.
    Joy and Larry Marcano, who were married by NTCOF co-founder Deborah Boak 
last year, are also expecting a baby.
    The North Texas Church of Freethought in D/FW raised $28,626.13 during 
1999, with $7,845.90 going to the building fund.  Expenses during 1999 
totaled $19,640.43, leaving an operating surplus for the year of $783.71.

    HISTORICAL COMMISSION TO DECIDE FREETHINKER MARKER

    The Freethinker Historical Marker for Comfort, Texas will be decided at a 
Texas Historical Commission [THC] meeting in Dallas on February 25th.  The 
plaque wording now has nearly erased any recognition of the irreligiousness 
of the German Hill Country Freethinkers.  The phrase, "built no churches" 
been dropped.
    Your editor has reviewed the letters of advice from Texas history 
professors that the THC consulted about the plaque.  The plaque wording the 
professor's reviewed already had the "build no churches" phrase deleted.  One 
professor clearly lacked knowledge of freethinkers.  Two other professors 
made strong statements against censoring historical markers for religious 
reasons and acknowledged Freethinker irreligiousness and atheistic 
tendencies.  Your editor will attend the THC meeting and present to the 
Commission the evidence of the irreligiousness of the German Hill Country 
Freethinkers.

    INCOMPETENT PEOPLE THINK THEY ARE COMPETENT

    Dr. David Dunning of Cornell University and Dr. Justin Kruger of the 
University of Illinois report in the Journal of Personality and Social 
Psychology experiments that show incompetent people don't know how badly they 
perform.  Incompetent people perform both badly and don't know they perform 
badly, which hinders chances for improvement.
    In logic tests, those with performance in the lowest eighth thought they 
performed in the top third.  Those in the lowest tenth on grammar also 
thought they performed in the top third.  Those who really were in the top 
third underestimated their performance.
    Competent people accurately revised opinions of their performance when 
shown how their results compared to others.  Lower performing incompetent 
people, however, did not lower estimates of their own performance when shown 
the performance of others, with some even further inflating their own 
performance.
    This explains people who insist they are doing well when their poor work 
is pointed out.  It also explains why they keep doing things wrong.  The good 
news is that the researchers also reported the performance of incompetent 
people improved when they were given some training in logic and other tested 
tasks.
    Incompetent performance may not be an inability to learn, but an 
inability to recognize errors that are part of the feedback information 
process by which we learn how to perform well.  People who are reasonably 
self-critical probably have a learning advantage.

    GEOPHYSICISTS BLAST CREATIONISM 

    The American Geophysical Union (AGU) has denounced the teaching of 
creationism and is calling for scientists to become politically active in 
defense of evolution education.  A December 1999 AGU statement said, 
"Creationism is not science and does not have a legitimate place in any 
science curriculum."
    This is good news for science education and nontheists.  Supernatural 
beliefs flourish in ignorance.  Conservative Christians don't want their 
children to learn anything that contradicts the bible.  There is hope that 
the battle to give all children a good science education may be won against 
angry bible-thumpers.  If scientists begin to venture from their ivory towers 
into the political fray for something more than additional funding for 
science research, the Freethinking enquiry into all areas of knowledge may 
remain available for all children. 
    [From Science Week, 1/14/00, Vol. 4 #2]

    MORE GODLESS TEXAS MUSIC

    Last issue's mention of godless Texas musicians got responses from other 
godless musicians.  Scattergun Reflex, another D/FW area band, "is an 
instrumental trio that is 100 percent god free. Scattergun Reflex has always 
been proud and open about our disbelief. " You may contact Scattergun Reflex 
by writing to Jeff Williams, scattergunreflex@hotmail.com.
    Jan King of San Antonio also writes and produces freethinking godless 
music.  She has recorded a tape of songs, "Let's All Have Fun Tonight," with 
six singers and musicians.  One of Jan's happy Winter Solstice songs was 
played at the Freethinkers Association of Central Texas Winter Solstice party 
and was much enjoyed by the group.  You may contact Jan King at 
WonderGrey@aol.com.

    TAMU ATHEISTS & AGNOSTICS PLAN SPRING ACTIVITIES

    The Atheist & Agnostic Student Group (AASG) at Texas A&M has hit the 
ground running for the spring semester.  Their e-mail discussion list 
<AASG-L@listserv.tamu.edu> has blossomed with lively to disgusting topics.
    On February 7th, group President Jason Romero will debate Prof. 
Stadelmann, MSC room 292B, 7:00PM.  On February 23rd, they will sponsor a 
debate on school prayer with a campus Christian group.  Your editor will join 
AASG member Nathan Bosdet for the debate.

    RELIGIOUS HARASSMENT IN PLANO SCHOOLS

    I have received a student report of religious harassment in Plano 
schools.  Events described happened in both Middle school and High School.  
Plano's conservative Christian mega-churches apparently use their students in 
public schools to conduct numerous on-campus religious activities.
    While student private religious activity is Constitutional, students may 
not disrupt education nor bother other students.  Other students are harassed 
in Plano when they do not join in religious activities,, such as prayers 
around the flag-pole.
    Anyone with other information about religious harassment in Texas public 
schools, please contact me.  Howard Thompson, gofreemind@aol.com.

    DEFENDING THE CONSTITUTION IN LEANDER SCHOOLS

    A Jewish parent in Leander ISD near Austin has threatened to sue the 
school board if they continue opening meetings with prayers.  The school 
board has a "moment of silent reflection," pending legal advice.    They also 
have before meetings the Pledge of Allegiance with the "one nation under God" 
phrase.
    The school board previously issued a statement in support of prayers at 
school football games.  The board will likely continue prayers if their 
lawyer so advises.  
    I am conducting a public information campaign on the issue.  Mailings to 
area residents have included the articles, "Our Founding Fathers' Prayers," 
"Our Founders' Amazing Constitution," and "Pat Robertson's Attorney Aids 
Leander ISD."  I have spoken to the school board about Constitutional 
separation of religion from government.  HT

    PAT ROBERTSON'S ATTORNEY REPRESENTS SANTA FE ISD

    Jay Sekulow, attorney for Pat Robertson's American Center for Law and 
Justice (ACLJ), is representing the Santa Fe ISD in their Supreme Court 
appeal on prayers at football games.
    In a speech at Texas Southern University, ACLU Galveston attorney Anthony 
Griffin, who represents complainants, said the Supreme Court will decide if, 
"student-led, student-initiated prayers at football games violate the 
Establishment Clause of the First and 14th Amendments."  Earlier news reports 
had said student-led prayer would not be addressed.
    "If you can use majority votes of students to take away the First 
Amendment right to freedom from having the government impose majority 
religions on people, the First Amendment doesn't mean anything," Griffin 
said.  [From Houston Chronicle article by Jo Ann Zuiga, 1/28/00]

    FACT HAS NEW INTERNET MESSAGE BOARD

    Janye Denham has finished the new Freethinkers Association of Central 
Texas internet message board.  This message posting function is available on 
the FACT website at <http://atheistalliance.org/fact> by clicking on 
discussion.  You first see a screen of instructions.  Click on the "Message 
Board" button on that screen to see the message list and post you own message.
    A good way to get begin this kind of message board is for people to tell 
how they came to reject god and religion.  Activities of local groups should 
also be posted regularly.

    TEXAS CHRISTIAN COALITION LEADERSHIP SEMINAR

    The Texas Christian Coalition's Leadership Institute is holding a 
"Grassroots Activism School" in Dallas February 5th-6th.  While such seminars 
are described as conservative political events, they are part of Robertson's 
effort to bring government under the control of his version of fundamentalist 
Christianity.
    The Christian Coalition was the primary force in capturing the Texas 
Republican party for the religious right.  The former head of the Texas 
Christian Coalition is now head of the Texas Republican Party.  Training 
conservative Christian candidates and activists is a primary tool for 
mobilizing local support for religious right political goals.

GROUPS

    Agnostic & Atheist Student Group-Texas A&M.  
http://atheist.tamu.edu/~aasg/
    American Humanist Association.  Houston, Dallas. frankprahl@earthlink.net.
    Atheist Community of Austin.  www.atheist-community.org.
    Corpus Christi Atheists & Agnostics. Contact Brian Meyer, 
bmmagic@swbell.net. 
    Ethical Society of Austin.  http://www.esoa.org
    Freethinkers Assoc. of Central Texas.  http://atheistalliance.org/fact
    Freethinkers Union - U of Houston.  http://get.to/freethinkers
    Houston Church of Freethought.  Arthur Fay, afay@worldnet.att.net
    Houstonians for Secular Humanism.  Daniel Strain, dts2000@flash.net
    Humanist of Ft. Worth.  http://webalias.com/humanism
    North Texas Church of Freethought.  http://church.freethought.org
    Oklahoma Atheists.  http://clubs.yahoo.com/clubs/oklahomaatheists
    San Antonio College Freethinkers.  Don Lawrence, lawdon99@earthlink.net
    San Marcos area.  Contact David Morris, camerare@itouch.net , group may 
form.
    Texas Hill Country Freethinkers.  Julie Fisher, 
txfreethinker@oocities.com.

TELEVISION
    The Atheist Experience:  9:00 AM call-in show.  Sunday on Austin public 
access TV.
    Freethought Forum:   6:30 PM Thursday on San Antonio public access TV.

INTERNET DISCUSSION FOR TEXAS ATHEISTS

    Atheist Community of Austin:  E-mail to:  
ask-list-request@atheist-community.org
    Atheist & Agnostic Student Group TAMU:  E-mail to:  
AASG-L@listserv.tamu.edu
    Freethinkers Assoc of Central Texas: A message board posting function 
from their website.  Go to http://atheistalliance.org/fact and click on 
"Discussion".
    North Texas Church of Freethought.  E-mail to:  
ntcof_talk-subscribe@e-groups.com

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