INQUIRER Editor: Gerald Dantone
Thumbs Up InquirerPrint Publication Design: John Wilmarth
Long Island Secular Humanists Box 119, Greenlawn, NY 11740, 516 742 1662, Email: InfidelsRe@aol.com

Volume 2, Issue 2, February, 1999 A month in the life of god (and his followers)
1 The first meeting is an unqualified success!
2 Religion in the News
   2a India
   2b Pakistan
   2c Iran
   2d Israel
   2e Florida
   2f New York
   2g Alabama
   2h World
   2i Indonesia
   2j North America
   2k Miami
   2l Virginia
3 District attorney does it again
4 Letters to the Editor

THE FIRST MEETING IS AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS! Gcrry Dantone
1/29/99 Over twenty persons attended the very first meeting of Long Island Secular Humanists, a terrific turnout considering only approximately 30 persons were aware of the meeting at all. Agreeing to help write Newsletter features are Paul L., Colleen H., and Laura S. besides your Editor, and John W. has agreed to be the artistic designer. In addition a number of members agreed to assist in distributing the newsletter at local bookstores, libraries, other local group meetings in an effort to reach the general public. Hugh Rance volunteered to be the group's Internet archivist and Laura L. will be the official greeter of new members or inquirers at meetings. Final thanks go to Shirley S., Dorothy B., Bill M., and Paul L., for their willingness to help plan meetings and other events for the group.

As I mentioned at the meeting, there will be no group unless it is a group effort. Besides being a local force to resist the influence of religious extremists, we have a positive purpose in serving the needs of the humanist community. Many of those present expressed a desire to meet other humanists, since we live amidst a non-humanist society. Further, we have much to offer the community if only we had an organized presence. Ultimately the goal is our own "Center for Inquiry, Long Island." Until then, the immediate objectives of newsletter, meetings and incorporation are the prizes we have our eyes on for now. TOC

RELIGION IN THE NEWS By Gerry Dantone
Non-believers are often criticized for their very lack of belief in the orthodox religious systems that prevail in the surrounding society. Secular humanists, it can be assumed, do not believe that this is fair. While a secular humanist may claim that religious belief does not lead to a superior ethical character in a person or a society, this certainly is not, at the same time, a claim that lack of religious belief necessarily leads to superior ethical character. Ethical character, in other words the tendency of a person to be ethical, is far more influenced by that person's upbringing and their innate concern for the welfare of others than their belief or non-belief in a deity.

Since many religions stress the necessity of faith, and obedience to the sacred word of a God, it is instructive to demonstrate the dangerous effect of adherence to dogma in spite of the serious negative consequences to humanity. This can also serve as a reminder to the non-religious that it is mindless obedience itself that is the danger and that the secular are not necessarily immune from this type of behavior either. A secular humanist, however, is expected to always question even cherished beliefs and test them based on results in the real world.

Therefore, the question is, does religious faith and dogma harm humanity? What would be the evidence for such a claim? What follows are news items involving God and his followers in the month of January 1999, gleaned from the Internet, Newsday, and news reporting agencies. I have tried to be faithful to the original published reports in their abbreviated retelling.

The reader can determine the role of religion in the headlines: TOC

INDIA: According to many news reports, the election of a Hindu nal tionalist party to the controlling position in India, replacing a secular political party has led to an increase in religious violence. Hindu radicals have burned 12 churches, while 24 Hindu temples were burned in Christian areas, and worst of all, a Christian missionary and his two sons were burned alive by a mob for the crime of religious conversions. The violence has led to an unlikely alliance of Muslims and Christians, both minorities in India. The government's ability to continue to lead India has come under attack. TOC

PAKISTAN: Last year, Pakistan endured the self-immolation l of a Christian cleric protesting the persecution of Christian worshippers based on anti-blasphemy laws. In many religions, some Christian beliefs concerning the deity are considered blasphemous. This year, particularly in the Punjab province, Shiite and Sunni Muslims have clashed, culminating in the murder of 17 Shiites in a Mosque. A radical Muslim group called the "Guardians of the Friends of the Prophet" have been accused of the murders. The fundamentalist Muslim political party now in power has lost the confidence of many citizens who now prefer the rule of the largely secular military. Prime Minister Sharif survived an assassination attempt earlier in the month. TOC

IRAN: A number of the government's secret police agents have been arrested on suspicion of being involved in the recent murder of dissident secular intellectuals calling for a moderation of religious rule in Iran. The move pits the more moderate Iranian President Khatami (cont.) against the Ayatollah, with the Ayatollah holding a strict advantage. A recent proclamation of the parliament demanded "death to America," and budgeted money to be used to combat plots against Iran by the United States. The Ayatollah must approve this bill, which is expected. In Iran, a theocracy, the religious leader has more authority than the elected head of state. TOC

ISRAEL: By a vote of parliament, Reform and Conservative movement members represented on local religious councils must pledge allegiance to the Orthodox Chief Rabbinate. The Rabbinate dominates religious and personal status matters in Israel, including divorce, conversion and burials. This move has angered non-Orthodox Jews worldwide.

Later in the month, Orthodox Jews shouted "Nazis" and "Jew-haters" at 33 American male and female rabbis who held a mixed prayer service at the Western Wall. One Orthodox woman became so upset at seeing men and women praying together that she began crying. Reform and Conservative leaders in Israel have asked their U.S. counterparts to withhold support from Israeli politicians who have supported laws diminishing the status of non-Orthodox Jews.

Compounding Israel's problems, Christian cultists expecting the end of the world or some other conflagration are making Israel the center of their attention with the coming of the millennium. Eight members of Concerned Christians were arrested and deported for allegedly plotting to commit a violent act that would lead to the apocalypse. Most members are from the Denver, Colorado, area. The group leader was not among those arrested. A cult member stated that her mother said if leader "Kim Miller told her to kill me, she would." TOC

FLORIDA: On trial for conspiring to defraud is the Rev. Henry Lyons, president of the National Baptist Convention, and one of his mistresses, Bernice Edwards. They are accused of taking $300,000 in a charitable donation from the Anti-Defamation League and keeping most of it. The money was originally donated to help churches in dire economic condition. When the ADL learned of other financial improprieties at the National Baptist Convention they decided to look into the distribution of their donation. The result is this trial. TOC

NEW YORK: New York's Sikh community was to be visited by its high priest, Bhai Ranjit Singh. "I feel very good about the visit because he's just like the Pope" said a Queens temple member. Other members downplayed any divisions in the group due to an edict the priest issued saying that community meals should be eaten while sitting cross-legged on the floor. More moderate followers prefer tables and chairs.

Bhai Ranjit Singh came to power after he murdered a leader from a rival Sikh sect in 1980. He was convicted and pardoned. Sikh leaders honored him with Sikhism's highest seat, despite his lack of experience as a religious leader. TOC

ALABAMA: Accused Olympic, gay bar and abortion clinic bomber, Eric Rudolph, "is not a folk hero. He is a cold-blooded murderer," says Birmingham Police Chief Mike Coppage. Rudolph continues to elude authorities with the suspected aid of ordinary citizens who sympathize with his hatred of gays, abortions and the government. Rudolph is a self-styled "Phinehas Priest" who considers himself authorized by God to kill on his behalf as per the Old Testament passage pertaining to Phinehas. TOC

WORLD: According to the Alan Guttmacher Institute, 22% of all pregnancies worldwide end in abortion. The rate in developed and developing countries were similar, although laws are far more restrictive in the poorer nations. This "indicates to us how motivated women are" to get abortions says the institute's director. Death rates from abortion where it is rare or illegal were about 330 per 100,000 abortions compared to .2 to 1.2 per 100,000 in other countries, with about 43% being illegal abortions of the estimated total of 46,000,000. This would lead to the calculation that approximately 65,000 women die annually from abortions being illegal rather than legal and presumably safer. The primary force against legalization of abortion has been organized religion. TOC

INDONESIA: In Ambon, a seaside town in Indonesia, an argument between a Christian and Muslim quickly escalated to a fully blown religious war. In the next three days, gangs, formed along religious lines, killed 100 persons with guns and machetes. Churches and mosques were burned. Ironically, in the aftermath of the Suharto dictatorship, in which he ruled with an iron fist, the easing of that grip has led to a resurfacing of religious tensions anti violence. TOC

NORTH AMERICA: The Pope paid a visit to Mexico and the United States and had a different primary message in the two countries. In Mexico his emphasis was a call to ignore "fallacious and novel ideologies" and to spread the word of the Church. Typically, in Latin America where the Catholic Church has long been dominant, the Pope has tended to issue messages combating the rise of Protestant Evangelicalism.

In the U.S. however, where the Catholic Church is not dominant, the message was more toter ant of other beliefs. Representatives of numerous other ideologies were invited to attend his mass in St. Louis. The Pope also gave this advice while in America, just a few months after his official Papal "endorsement" of reason and science: "If you want life, embrace the truth - the truth revealed by God." TOC

MIAMI: Yes, the Super Bowl is not theoretically a religious event, but in recent years we have heard often from the victorious how God has blessed the winning team with success. Reggie White, a Green Bay Packer defensive end and a minister, in particular has consistently given credit to his God for his successes but no player, to my knowledge, has ever blamed the Lord for their failures. In addition to thanking Jesus, Rev. White has also told us about the God-given talents of members of various ethnic groups and about the "gay agenda," which he opposes, most notably in a speech before the Wisconsin state legislature.

This year's most openly religious football player was Atlanta Falcon Eugene Robinson, who, on the day before the Super Bowl was given the Bar Starr award by the Christian group "Athletes in Ac lion," for high moral character. Hours later, while his wife and children were at the team hotel, he was arrested in a seamy section of Miami, for soliciting, on tape, oral sex from an undercover policewoman.

Robinson, an openly religious person, credited with converting some teammates into a more religious lifestyle, constantly talking about his family life to the media, nicknamed "the Prophet" for his proselytizing, critical of his former teammates' pre-game behavior, and author of a book "lt Takes Endurance" where he touts his faith, at least has been able to admit that he might be viewed as another "Christian hypocrite." He has since promised to return his award. TOC

VIRGINIA: The Rev. Jerry Falwell says the Anti-Christ is probably alive today and is a male Jew. He also claimed the statements he made to an evangelical conference were not anti-Semitic. "The Second Coming of Christ will probably be within 10 years," he added. An American Rabbi, James Rudin, called the remarks "millennial madness." Since that time, Falwell has apologized, in his own way. "I apologize not for what I believe, but for my lack of tact and judgement that served no purpose whatsoever."

Ultimately believers must confront the examples of religion seemingly dividing humanity against itself. This also must serve as a warning to nonbelievers who religiously attach themselves to secular systems that stop asking questions. Consider that the above events took place in only one month, January 1999, affected billions of persons, and that only stories of prominence were included.

If we accept something as the Final Authority, the Word of God or a Holy Bible, all moral inquiry must end in favor of obedience to that authority. Why would this not be true? For us to be fully moral and responsible for our actions, we must always be willing to ask the question "how do we know?" We must always be sure to inquire "is it working?" We must also be humble in the knowledge that our beliefs are only opinions and insure that such beliefs are supported by the evidence to the best of our ability. The effect on the human condition is the measure of our actions, and we should never sacrifice humanity's well being on behalf of mindless obedience to principles, sacred or otherwise. TOC

DISTRICT ATTORNEY DOES IT AGAIN Gerry Dantone
In a letter to the editor of Newsday a writer mentioned how she was horrified to read that Nassau D. A. Denis Dillon stated "I believe people are morally justified in blocking abortion clinics." She concludes that he should resign. In the January L1SH newsletter it was stated that it is troubling when a public official, and in particular Mr. Dillon, bases their non-enforcement of the law (the death penalty in the previous case) on religious grounds. It effectively makes religious policy public policy, believers. I can understand believing, as the D. A. does, that certain laws are wrong. What we must make clear is that the reasons for this belief are not solely religious, but serve a reasonable and secular purpose for the good of all society. If he fails to enforce such laws for religious reasons alone, he should indeed resign. TOC

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
1/30/99 We just wanted to know what a pleasure it was to be in a room with like-minded people last night. It was a new experience for us, and we are tremendously grateful for your initiative and hard work in organizing everything. Thanks, Gerry. C. & D.H. Believe me I was grateful for all that attended this meeting knowing it was designed to be more of a chore than a laugh riot. We did get much accomplished and a good attitude was fostered. I'm excited too! G.D.

1/26/99 I hope all is well, I enjoyed your take on the end of the world. You left out the real ending however. One where the true Satan of capitalistic fast food consuming American devil worshipers eat too many Big-Macs, Whoppers, Taco Bell yuckies, and Dominoes Pizza...God hurls a comet at us in disgust, meaning only to destroy the evil USA. However we have consumed so much fermentable fatty acids and "loop that we rectally ignite, taking the entire planet with us. Were any left to hear, the only sound would be God saying "cops." All the best in the New Year. S.M. Perhaps "End Timers" should not be heading to Jerusalem for a front row view of the end of the world, but instead should conveniently go to their neighborhood McDonald's. G.D. TOC