Pennsylvania Nonbelievers » Photos 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 Photos from the PAN Riverboat Service http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/07/18/photos-from-the-pan-riverboat-service/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=photos-from-the-pan-riverboat-service http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/07/18/photos-from-the-pan-riverboat-service/#comments Mon, 19 Jul 2010 02:36:32 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1892 Here you go everyone, Photos from the 2010 First Annual PAN Riverboat Service. Thanks to everyone who came out, and thanks to the Riverboat committee and everyone else who made this day happen!

The Pride of the Susquehanna View from the front of the boat Some nonbelievers start queing for the ride... Jane Kelly and Brian Fields start setting up and getting the lay of the land - The Captain comes up to let Carl Silverman on the boat. Eric Wolfe waits patiently for the Boat to load. Brian Fields and Carl Silverman test the sound system. PAN members and guests start filing into their seats A few at a time, at first... Brian Fields takes a program back from a Christian who decided not to join us. He looks unfazed as she condemns him to Hell. View of the Walnut Street Bridge from the boat. Brian welcomes more guests on board and hands out programs. George Zerba also hands out programs and helps to explain who we are to potential guests. George and Brian greet a smiling stranger, who decides not to join us. Another couple decide to join us for the boat ride and see what our service is like. George and Brian talk to some last minute arrivals, who for the most part, also decide not to join us. The lady with the blond hair decides to stay. Mikki Wideman gives the camera a big smile. Rev. Ernest Perce is amongst the last to arrive. Ernest talks with the Captain and George Ernest and Brian pose for a picture just before we are to get under way. The last of the nonbelievers take their seats. 190 - DSC06868 200 - DSC06869 Brian, who played Master of Ceremonies for the day, welcomes everyone and gives some last minute announcements. And then introduces our own "Dastardly" Doug Diggens for the first talk. Doug takes the podium Doug tells us all about his recent hospital trip, and how, like Atheists in Foxholes, he didn't need to rely on a God to get through it. 241 - IMG_5048 Picture of Lori Marrinar and her guest From the top of the boat, things got a little windy and Doug needed to hold onto his notes for dear life. Finally he decided to just wing it and not worry about his notes. :) Rev. Ernest tells us about his background in the Christian Ministry. And continues with a sermon on the importance of activism. 270 - DSC06893 From left to Right, the PAN "choir": Paul Haggard, Jane Kelly (Who wrote the song), Mikki Wideman, Ernest Perce, Doug Diggens, Brian Fields 291 - IMG_5074 Several people sang along with us, as best as you can when the choir has trouble carrying a tune. :) Ernest invited everyone up who wanted to declare their nonbelief to get a certificate. 295 - IMG_5078 The responding line was quite long, as Ernest pronounced as apostate all comers 297 - IMG_5082 300 - DSC06908 301 - IMG_5083 302 - IMG_5084 303 - IMG_5085v 310 - DSC06911 311 - IMG_5086 Sarah Silverman really gets into the spirit of things! 321 - IMG_5089 322 - IMG_5090 330 - DSC06914 Carl takes the shot as Ernest lays hands on him. Paul gets ready to be.. Touched... 333 - IMG_5094 And last, Doug, Jane and Brian rededicate themselves to the cause. 350 - DSC06916 Godless heathens wait for their certificates to get signed. After the ceremonies, we all retreated downstairs to the air conditioning for drinks and conversation. We helped out by carrying chairs down for the riverboat crew. 390 - DSC06921 Ernest signs more certificates for anyone who wants them. 410 - DSC06923 We finally arrive back at the dock. 412 - IMG_5097 Sarah poses for a photo. Brian hunts for people to join us for drinks and lunch after the boat trip. Many of us head over to Flinchey's, a local watering hole. Here's the shot from the other end of the table. A panoramic view towards the rear of the boat. A panoramic view towards the front of the boat.

]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/07/18/photos-from-the-pan-riverboat-service/feed/ 0 Photos from the 2010 PAN Lancaster Pride Day Booth http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/06/23/photos-from-the-2010-pan-lancaster-pride-day-booth/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=photos-from-the-2010-pan-lancaster-pride-day-booth http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/06/23/photos-from-the-2010-pan-lancaster-pride-day-booth/#comments Wed, 23 Jun 2010 14:12:12 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1839 Here’s some of our pictures from the 2010 Pride Day Event in Lancaster. Thanks to Katie Haas for taking these photos!

Doug and Jane sorting through our materials Wandering crowd starts coming by to check us out Our 2010 Booth Crew: Left to right - Matt Juba, Li, Jane Kelly, Don Zook, Not Shown - Katie Haas, Doug Diggens Li and Jane "de-god" the money Don stands with the crowd looking at our stickers Jane peeks through the gathering of people to give us a smile Don and Matt pose for the camera ]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/06/23/photos-from-the-2010-pan-lancaster-pride-day-booth/feed/ 0 Photos from the 2010 PAN Jubilee Day Booth http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/06/18/photos-from-the-2010-pan-jubilee-day-booth/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=photos-from-the-2010-pan-jubilee-day-booth http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/06/18/photos-from-the-2010-pan-jubilee-day-booth/#comments Sat, 19 Jun 2010 02:49:41 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1814 Here’s some of our pictures from the 2010 Jubilee Day in Mechanicsburg. We all had a fantastic time, thanks to everyone who stopped by to show their support, and especially those who stayed to work at the booth.

Morning Setup Crew - Left to right: Bob Young, Paul Duryea Afternoon crew - Left to right: Carl Silverman, Shannon Fields (rear), Brian Fields, Doug Diggens, Li Waiting for Jubilee Day to start! Li just showed up, welcoming him to the booth. Taking advantage of a break in the crowd to get a full booth shot. A shot of our lovely bumperstickers - Correction: Bumper Magnets! Closeup Around 1pm or so, the crowd was still gathering. A few Christians drop by to "discuss" our bumperstickers. Former Charismatic Minister Ernest Perce drops by our booth to chat with believers. Crowds started to gather. We ran out of stock of our magnets by the end of the day. Christian lays hands on Rev. Perce Crowds REALLY start getting thick Starts getting hard to see through the gathered bystanders... Shannon Fields uses a megaphone to draw in people. Her brother Ian helps with finding stickers for people. More bystanders - We had quite a few supporters drop by. If I recall correctly, this gentleman wasn't too happy with us. Nor was this one, but didn't have much to contribute other than condeming us to hell. All in a day's work! However, he was outnumbered by our supporters. This is the guy who covered his face, finally allowing us to take his picture. We feel sorry for these children, who apparently were taught to minister to nonbelievers with scripted lines. We took some time to chat with them and countered all of their arguments, however, our arguments fell on deaf ears.

]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/06/18/photos-from-the-2010-pan-jubilee-day-booth/feed/ 1 Photos from the 2010 Memorial Day Parade in Annville http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/31/photos-from-the-2010-memorial-day-parade-in-annville/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=photos-from-the-2010-memorial-day-parade-in-annville http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/31/photos-from-the-2010-memorial-day-parade-in-annville/#comments Mon, 31 May 2010 16:19:03 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1754 Photos from the Parade. Enjoy! Be sure to click on the thumbnails to see the full photos.

Waiting for our Division to be called. (L-R) Matt Juba, Carl Silverman, Laurie Stephenson, Jane Kelly, Mikki Weidman, Doug Diggens, Eric Wolfe Christian kids watch another Christian float go by. Notice that all of the dead soldiers were Christian. Then again, maybe not. After all the Supreme Court says crosses aren't religious symbols. Two banners on bamboo poles. Photographer Katie (left) gets into the picture for one shot. Some of the loving glances we received. Former Mennonite Jane Kelly proudly passes the unofficial judges' curb. Looking east on Rt. 422 as we proceed into town. The Annville parade is reportedly the largest Memorial Day parade in PA, at least according to Honorary PA Nonbelievers member, Gov. Ed Rendell, who walked at the head of the parade. The dog was frantically searching for a porta-john, when suddenly... ...Ernest, Praise & Dog, and Jane, are subjected to a harangue by a Christian. We are going to meet our maker! The dog was so scared by that threat that he promptly took a big crap along the centerline of the parade route shortly after this photo was taken. One minute we are hated, the next we are cheered. Guess which group here are the Christians. Quick, snap a photo! There are ATHEISTS in Annville! The Annville and Palmyra fire departments had better relations than the Christians and the Atheists, that's for sure. It was an honor to have two veterans, Matt Juba (left) and Eric Wolfe carry our main banner. Eric wore his Disabled American Veterans hat. Notice that immediately behind PAN is a group of school kids from the Bible Release Time program at Annville-Cleona public schools. Kids in that (unfortunately legal) program leave classes once a week for an hour, to be brainwashed at a local church. But at least that group didn't heckle us---we got along fairly well. Another veteran, Doug Diggens helped carry the PA Nonbelievers organization banner, with help from Laurie Stephenson. Someone on the Parade Committee must have tipped off this group of Christians about our presence. They were ready to threaten us with eternal torture, or at least the torture of listening to their Bible babble and reading their tracts. Former Former Charismatic Minister Rev. Ernest Perce approaches the Bible bangers. Rev. Ernest Perce approaches the Bible bangers. Throughout the parade, Ernest responded to hecklers with the most appropriate Bible verses. Notice the children, amazed that atheist Ernest knew the Bible better than the Christians did. Carl Silverman (left) and Matt Juba just ignored the hecklers here. Rounding the bend in downtown Annville. Several groups of nasty Christians yelled "Go home!" or "You don't belong here"....to which we replied "We're Americans, too!" They didn't like that. But one Marine gave us a thumbs up near the reviewing stand. Another group that was obviously tipped off by either the Parade Committee or by spectators earlier in the route. Good for you, lady. Feel free. Just keep it out of government. A friendly Unitarian on an antique bike, as we approached the end of the parade route... ...but not before we encountered one more group of insecure Christians.

]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/31/photos-from-the-2010-memorial-day-parade-in-annville/feed/ 2 Photos from the York Street Fair http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/15/photos-from-the-york-street-fair/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=photos-from-the-york-street-fair http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/15/photos-from-the-york-street-fair/#comments Sat, 15 May 2010 14:59:33 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1708 Here are some photos from the York Street Fair.

UPDATE: I added some more photos to show our booth as well. -Brian


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]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/05/15/photos-from-the-york-street-fair/feed/ 0 Photos from the Harrisburg Meeting with Senator Pat Vance http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/09/photos-from-the-harrisburg-meeting-senator-pat-vance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=photos-from-the-harrisburg-meeting-senator-pat-vance http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/09/photos-from-the-harrisburg-meeting-senator-pat-vance/#comments Fri, 09 Apr 2010 10:23:34 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1635 We all had a fantastic time, and want to thank Sen. Pat Vance for coming to visit with us and talk to us and answer our sometimes frank questions, with equally frank and straightforward answers. It’s unfortunately rare to find a politician that will directly answer a direct question, and she is definitely a rare politician!

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]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/09/photos-from-the-harrisburg-meeting-senator-pat-vance/feed/ 0 American Atheists 2010 Conference Photo http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/05/american-atheists-2010-conference-photo/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=american-atheists-2010-conference-photo http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/05/american-atheists-2010-conference-photo/#comments Mon, 05 Apr 2010 19:32:47 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1620 We sent a delegation to the conference this year. Not only did Carl, Brian, Jane, Chris and Paulina go, but Justin Vacula and Ronald DePasquale joined us from the NEPA Freethought Society.

From Left to Right, Top to Bottom: Paulina Magdych, Justin Vacula, Brian Fields, Carl Silverman, Jane Kelly, Chris Feaster, Ronald DePasquale

]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/04/05/american-atheists-2010-conference-photo/feed/ 0 PAN welcomes PA State Sen. Pat Vance to our April Harrisburg Meeting. http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/03/30/pan-welcomes-pa-state-sen-pat-vance-to-our-harrisburg-meeting-for-april/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=pan-welcomes-pa-state-sen-pat-vance-to-our-harrisburg-meeting-for-april http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/03/30/pan-welcomes-pa-state-sen-pat-vance-to-our-harrisburg-meeting-for-april/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 17:42:01 +0000 Brian http://www.panonbelievers.org/?p=1584 Here’s a reminder that on Thursday, April 8th, PA Nonbelievers’ guest speaker at our Harrisburg meeting, will be State Senator Patricia Vance (R- Cumberland County).

The meeting is open to all members and friends of PA Nonbelievers, regardless of your county of residence.

We ask that you make an effort to arrive by 6:45pm so that we can complete meal ordering by 7pm when we hope to promptly start the meeting. As usual, dress is casual. Seating is limited, but overflow seating, if needed, may be offered.

Sen. Vance will speak about current issues in state government. Her special area of interest is health care, having been a registered nurse prior to entering politics. She serves as chair of the Senate Public Health and Welfare Committee, and is also a member of the Appropriations, Banking and Insurance, Communications and Technology, and Finance committees. [It should be noted that Sen. Vance is not up for re-election until 2012. PA Nonbelievers does not involve itself in elections or partisan politics.]

We encourage you to prepare some questions to ask Sen. Vance at the meeting. If you care to submit any questions in advance (and in anonymity), please send them to us and we will forward them to Sen. Vance’s office this Thursday. It would be very helpful (but not absolutely necessary) if you would let us know if you will definitely be attending, so that we can set up sufficient seating.

For directions, please contact us here.

]]> http://www.panonbelievers.org/2010/03/30/pan-welcomes-pa-state-sen-pat-vance-to-our-harrisburg-meeting-for-april/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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