Dear Humanists, Atheists and Freethinkers:
The Humanists of North Puget Sound (HNPS), a chapter of The American Humanists Association and an affiliate of the Alliance of Secular Humanist Societies, voted at a membership meeting on January 22, 2000, to send the following draft resolution in the spirit of CART (Coalition For the Advancement of Rational Thinking). It is being sent to every freethought organization in the country that we could find with an Email address.
It is our hope that humanists, atheists and freethinkers will consider taking the resolution to their party caucus and request that their political party vote on including the resolution as a part of the partys county and state platform. By taking action it is thought that we, together, can begin to counter the religious rights efforts to introduce the teaching of creationism in public school science classes. There have been successes in getting similar resolutions accepted as part of party platforms.
CART was organized by Marie Castle, mac@mtn.org, of the Atheist Alliance as a means to alert freethought organizations to issues of concern and to give them the opportunity to respond. Your organization and its membership are absolutely free to take action on this matter or, if you disagree with the purpose of the resolution, disregard this letter. Its entirely up to you.
We would appreciate your feedback on this matter. If you wish to receive future items like this by Email, please send us your Email address and we will place it on our list for future alerts.
Sincerely,
Howard A. Pellett
President
SAMPLE RESOLUTION
ON AVOIDING CONFUSION IN SCIENCE EDUCATION
WHEREAS: evolution by natural selection is the scientifically established basis for present species and several science-based theories explain the universes origin with natural phenomena; and
WHEREAS: many religions have beliefs about species and universe origins, but religion-based beliefs and science-based theories are fundamentally different; and
WHEREAS: presentation in science classes and textbooks of religion-based beliefs on natural phenomena undermines science education;
NOW, THEREFORE, insert state name STATE insert party name RESOLVE:
Science-based theories of evolution and universe beginnings be presented in science classes and text books in insert state name public schools without reference to religion-based beliefs.