Pennsylvania Nonbelievers » Church / State Separation http://www.panonbelievers.org Atheists, agnostics, nontheists, humanists and freethinkers Sat, 24 Jul 2010 12:57:48 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 The Free Thought Forum (June 22, 2010) http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/07/06/the-free-thought-forum-june-22-2010/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-free-thought-forum-june-22-2010 http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/07/06/the-free-thought-forum-june-22-2010/#comments Tue, 06 Jul 2010 20:39:08 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1879 FTF_20100622

Pennsylvania Nonbelievers presents the June 22, 2010 episode of “The Free Thought Forum”, our monthly cable-access TV show. Featuring Steve Neubauer and Liz Burcin.


]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/07/06/the-free-thought-forum-june-22-2010/feed/ 0 The Free Thought Forum (May 25, 2010) http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/06/03/the-free-thought-forum-may-25-2010/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-free-thought-forum-may-25-2010 http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/06/03/the-free-thought-forum-may-25-2010/#comments Thu, 03 Jun 2010 19:28:05 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1784 FTF_20100525

Pennsylvania Nonbelievers presents the May 25, 2010 episode of “The Free Thought Forum”, our monthly cable-access TV show. Featuring Doug Diggens and Liz Burcin.


]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/06/03/the-free-thought-forum-may-25-2010/feed/ 0 The Free Thought Forum (April 27, 2010) http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/08/the-free-thought-forum-april-27-2010/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-free-thought-forum-april-27-2010 http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/08/the-free-thought-forum-april-27-2010/#comments Sun, 09 May 2010 03:19:12 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1694 FTF_20100427

Pennsylvania Nonbelievers presents the April 27, 2010 episode of “The Free Thought Forum”, our monthly cable-access TV show. Featuring Steve Neubauer and Pam Zerba.


]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/08/the-free-thought-forum-april-27-2010/feed/ 0 Letter from Margeret Downey [reprinted with permission] http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/08/letter-from-margeret-downey-reprinted-with-permission/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=letter-from-margeret-downey-reprinted-with-permission http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/08/letter-from-margeret-downey-reprinted-with-permission/#comments Sat, 08 May 2010 22:33:27 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1682 From Margaret Downey:

I have been in this fight with Mike from the beginning because to me it’s all about fighting discrimination. My amicus brief was submitted out of concern that nontheists in this country become instant victims of bigotry when the government endorses and promotes religion. The entanglement empowers the religious community and degrades the nonreligious community. The basic Constitutional principle of protecting the minority from the majority is corrupted with every prayer uttered in a government setting.

I’m with you, Mike in what ever challenge you might want to undertake to end the promotion of religion by any government official.

We have a good chance at ending the National Day of Prayer. Please support the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s pursuit and please continue to support Mike as he bravely works on reconstructing the Jeffersonian wall of church state separation. It is falling apart before our eyes.

Thanks for all you did, Mike. It was a gallant try and the Anti-Discrimination Support Network was proud to be a part of this legal battle.

Margaret Downey
Founder and President
The Freethought Society
Secular Officiant

Email: Margaret@ftsociety.org
fsgp@freethought.org
Online: www.Ftsociety.org
www.fsgp.org
www.secular-celebrations.com
www.friggatriskaidekaphobia.com
]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/08/letter-from-margeret-downey-reprinted-with-permission/feed/ 0 New page up on the site: FAQ http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/04/new-page-up-on-the-site-faq/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-page-up-on-the-site-faq http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/04/new-page-up-on-the-site-faq/#comments Tue, 04 May 2010 19:57:53 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1673 Our own Pam Zerba wrote up a series of FAQs for casual visitors to our site. Feel free to add your own comments, we intend this FAQ page to be a living document on our site.

Click here to see the new page…

]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/04/new-page-up-on-the-site-faq/feed/ 0 New blasphemous art exhibition opens in Dublin (video) http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/06/new-blasphemous-art-exhibition-opens-in-dublin-video/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=new-blasphemous-art-exhibition-opens-in-dublin-video http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/06/new-blasphemous-art-exhibition-opens-in-dublin-video/#comments Tue, 06 Apr 2010 14:35:14 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1626 AtheistIreland — April 05, 2010 — A new art exhibition, titled Blasphemous, opened on Good Friday in the Irish Museum of Contemporary Art (IMOCA) which is located in Lad Lane, off Baggot Street, in Dublin. It runs until 25 April 2010, and is open from 12 noon to 5 pm every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, or by appointment through contacting IMOCA.

This is the second Dublin art exhibition to highlight and challenge the new Irish blasphemy law, which became active on 1st January 2010.

SInce then, the Irish Justice Minister has responded to the campaign against the law by saying that he will propose a referendum, later this year, to remove the reference to blasphemy from the Irish Constitution, thus enabling the blasphemy law to be repealed.

This makes the new exhibition not just a challenge to the blasphemy law, but also a celebration of artistic freedom, and freedom of expression generally.

]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/06/new-blasphemous-art-exhibition-opens-in-dublin-video/feed/ 0 The Free Thought Forum (March 23, 2010) http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/05/the-free-thought-forum-march-23-2010/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-free-thought-forum-march-23-2010 http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/05/the-free-thought-forum-march-23-2010/#comments Mon, 05 Apr 2010 12:00:41 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1610 FTF_20100323

Pennsylvania Nonbelievers presents the March 23, 2010 episode of “The Free Thought Forum”, our monthly cable-access TV show. Featuring Doug Diggens and Pam Zerba.


]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/05/the-free-thought-forum-march-23-2010/feed/ 0 Latest on our Chambersburg Religious Descrimination Complaint http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/03/23/latest-on-our-chambersburg-nativity-complaint/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=latest-on-our-chambersburg-nativity-complaint http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/03/23/latest-on-our-chambersburg-nativity-complaint/#comments Tue, 23 Mar 2010 10:28:32 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1511 For background on our Chambersburg Religious Discrimination actions, please click here: http://www.panonbelievers.org/category/chambersburg-creche/.

Good news! Our PHRC complaint investigation is under way.

Our complaint has been filed, and the case has been taken up by the PHRC for now. In summary, the Chambersburg Borough Council has until April 11th to respond, although they can get a 30 day extension if they wish. After that response, we will be sitting down with the council to try and resolve this dispute amicably.

You can read up more about the current situation here: http://www.publicopiniononline.com/localnews/ci_14736754

]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/03/23/latest-on-our-chambersburg-nativity-complaint/feed/ 0 More Photos of PAN at the Harrisburg Parade http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/03/21/more-photos-of-pan-at-the-harrisburg-parade/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=more-photos-of-pan-at-the-harrisburg-parade http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/03/21/more-photos-of-pan-at-the-harrisburg-parade/#comments Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:10:59 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1471 Here’s the second batch of photos from Dennis, captioned by Carl Silverman!

Veronica Taylor's outfit was too lovely to cover up with our event t-shirt. Matt Juba's Jack Russell terrier, Jasper, rests up in preparation for the parade. Even he was Irish for a day. We allowed Jasper in our group despite the fact that the Jack Russell breed is named after a Reverend. Jasper goes for Ian Fields' jugular vein. The hood is mandatory in this traditional Atheist form of execution. Jasper checks for any signs of life. Shannon Fields enjoys a Philadelphia-style soft pretzel. She and Veronica Taylor (right) carried the PA Nonbelievers organization banner. Dennis Stanley, one of our two event photographers, substitutes for Veronica momentarily. The green pole is actually bamboo freshly cut from the property of PAN president Steve Neubauer. Veronica snapped Dennis's mug shot while we wait to get into parade formation. This is the east side of the Pennsylvania State Capitol. Known as a "Palace of Art" for its beautiful murals and sculpture, it's also known---since Lincoln's time and to present day---as a scandal ridden Capitol of Corruption. Awwwww! Shannon Fields is wearing the full costume for the event: a felt hat with the scarlet "A", and a kelly green t-shirt with a map of Ireland, captioned "Atheist Ireland - Fighting for Free Speech". Shannon's dad is PAN webmaster Brian Fields, a former evangelical Christian. Shannon attended Camp Quest - Smokey Mountains in Tennessee in 2009. In the rear, Matt Juba (left) and Carl Huber. We had 17 members (including 2 kids and 1 dog) in the PA Nonbelievers' contingent in Harrisburg's 2010 St. Patrick's Day Parade, held on Saturday, March 17. (L-R) Julianne Burke, Ian Fields with Jasper, Doug Diggens, Mikki Weidman (kneeling), Pam Zerba, Matt Juba, Veronica Taylor, Carl Huber, Shannon Fields, George Zerba, Yolanda Forry, Gail Crow, Jane Kelly, Not shown: Dennis Stanley, Brian Fields, Steve Neubauer, Carl Silverman. "St. Patrick" orders Jasper to attack PAN vice president George Zerba. Dastardly Doug Diggens, a PAN board member, displays his custom t-shirt. "General" Jane Kelly chats with Mikki Weidman on a beautiful and unusually warm March day. The parade was actually held the Saturday after the "real" St. Patrick's Day so that it would not conflict with the parade of nearby York, Pennsylvania, scheduled for the Saturday prior to March 17th. Unfortunately the York parade was cancelled due to extreme rain and winds, but the Harrisburg weather more than compensated for that. Jasper knows a real Irishwoman when he(?) sees one, PAN member Julianne Burke. Philadelphia-based freelance journalist Dan Denvir (right rear) interviews Carl Huber. Dan, who has written for Huffington Post and The Nation, is working on an article about small-town grassroots atheism and humanism. The article will be published in a smaller San Francisco-based magazine, The Believer (no, it's not a religious publication). Approaching the starting point of the parade in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Central Pennsylvania is the most conservative of the three major regions of Pennsylvania. Political commentator James Carville once said that Pennsylvania is "Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, with Alabama in between." During his presidential campaign, Barack Obama, in referring to small-town Pennsylvanians, said, "...it's not surprising then they get bitter, they cling to guns or religion or antipathy toward people who aren't like them or anti-immigrant sentiment or anti-trade sentiment as a way to explain their frustrations." Awwwww! "General" Jane Kelly, sporting her ex-Mennonite crafted "Atheist Ireland" sweater, consults with Commander-in-Chief Steve Neubauer. Ian Fields (left) and Matt Juba with his baby, as we pass an Irish pub. The rugby team, ahead of us, tossed candy to the crowd. Shannon and Ian did their civic duty by cleaning the streets of unclaimed candy.

]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/03/21/more-photos-of-pan-at-the-harrisburg-parade/feed/ 0 First round of photos of PAN at the Harrisburg Parade http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/03/21/first-round-of-photos-from-the-pan-harrisburg-parade/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=first-round-of-photos-from-the-pan-harrisburg-parade http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/03/21/first-round-of-photos-from-the-pan-harrisburg-parade/#comments Sun, 21 Mar 2010 04:11:39 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1442 Here’s the first batch of photos, with captions from Carl Silverman. I’ll be going through the second round and get them captioned and posted tomorrow.

We had 17 members (including 2 kids and 1 dog) in the PA Nonbelievers' contingent in Harrisburg's 2010 St. Patrick's Day Parade, held on Saturday, March 17. (L-R) Julianne Burke (partially out of frame), Ian Fields, Doug Diggens, Mikki Weidman (kneeling), Pam Zerba, Matt Juba, Veronica Taylor, Carl Huber, Shannon Fields, George Zerba, Yolanda Forry, Gail Crow, Jane Kelly, Dennis S. Not shown: Brian Fields, Steve Neubauer, Carl Silverman. Being a new group to the parade we were placed in the last of 4 sections of the parade. That gave us lots of time to kill until it was time to "move out" to the parade route. Notice "St. Patrick" immediately behind our event banner. The Green Pope looked sort of disenfranchised, so we told him not to fear us atheists. He said he didn't. PA Nonbelievers' Berks County Director Jane Kelly hand crocheted this sweater and beret. On the back of the sweater: "Atheist Ireland", crocheted with the scarlet A on "Atheist". Not long ago Jane was an Old Order Mennonite from rural Pennsylvania Dutch country. Now she is one of the most "militant" atheists in Pennsylvania---and here she looks the part! Veronica Taylor (left) and Shannon Fields carried our organization banner. Here, with the Pennsylvania State Capitol in the background, (L-R) Matt Juba, PAN president Steve Neubauer, PAN treasurer Yolanda Forry, former PAN secretary Carl Huber, and PAN vice president George Zerba, under the watchful eye of "St. Patrick" (in the rear [pun intended]). Longtime PAN member Gail Crow (right) is never hesitant to express her opinion. (L-R) PAN vice president George Zerba, PAN president Steve Neubauer, PAN treasurer Yolanda Forry, former PAN secretary Carl Huber. IMG_4773 IMG_4774 As we reached the starting point of the event, parade marshal Charles Shields (center) informed us that when we registered for the parade, some people weren't sure we should be allowed in the parade. But, Shields, an attorney, told them that we were the most important group in the entire parade, and that it's time for people to stand up for rational thinking. Shields told us he was the organizer of the parade for the first four years of its existence. It took about 1 1/4 hr. to reach the starting point and the first glimpse of the crowds. Our event banner emphasized the brotherhood that PA Nonbelievers (as well as other American atheist groups) have with our "kindred spirits" in Atheist Ireland. Note that the leafs of a three-leafed shamrock normally represents the Holy Trinity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We decided that the leaves really stand for more important and rational ideas. The three young people on the wall cheered loudly for us. We had many people cheering for us, or giving us the "thumbs up" along the route, and only a few hecklers yelling, "You suck." Here our group passes the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, site of the infamous Dover "intelligent design" trial of 2005. Waiting to turn onto Second St., the main section of the parade route. Numerous crowds in front of bars cheered us on--and probably a few sober people too. Finally on Second St. On the parade lineup we were sequenced between a rugby team and a fire department. Jane Kelly (wearing her crocheted Atheist Ireland sweater and beret) watches as our event banner catches up. IMG_4784 When we reached the reviewing stand, we turned to the judges for them to see our banners. The man in the black suit is Steve Reed, the past mayor of Harrisburg. Sitting to his left (obscured in this photo) is a bishop (we think) of a local church. The mayor and the bishop were stonefaced in our presence, unlike their smiling reactions to an Irish dance school and the rugby team immediately preceding us. Holding the organization banner are (L-R) Shannon Fields, and Veronica Taylor, accompanied by PAN board member Pam Zerba. Shannon's brother, Ian Fields, passes behind the banner. A cheering (and perhaps drunk?) crowd in front of the Firehouse Restaurant, near the end of the parade route.

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