Monday, May 13, 2013, 7 pm
St. Cloud Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (map)

Long-time Minnesota activist and atheist Marie Alena Castle will be introducing her newly released book, "Culture Wars: The Threat to Your Family and Your Freedom", at a special program sponsored by the Central Minnesota Freethinkers on Monday, May 13th. The program will be held at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall, 3226 Maine Prairie Rd., St. Cloud at 7:00 pm and is free and open to everyone who wishes to attend.

Her new book looks at the Constitutional ideal of the Separation of Church and State and the reality of the many laws in our Country that are based on clearly religious concepts. These include things like laws prohibiting both contraception and abortions, limits on reality-based sex education in schools and bans against stem-cell research. Suicides are prohibited no matter how horribly a person may be suffering. There are Bible readings and prayers sessions held in public schools and Creationism is taught in many places as a legitimate alternative to Evolution. There are laws against same-sex marriage and laws actually criminalizing homosexuality. Books are banned, religious organizations are given special tax preferences and in some places atheists are not allowed to run for political office. There are even still laws on the books prohibiting liquor sales on Sundays.

Central Minnesota Freethinkers hosted Grant Steves, who gave a talk entitled "How Religion Influences Worldviews". Grant is a former Board member of Minnesota Atheists and a past chairperson. He served as host for the Minnesota Atheists television show Atheists Talk and has been interviewed on the Minnesota Atheists radio show. He has contributed articles and reviewed books for the Minnesota Atheists newsletter.

In the past, he has lectured on cults and fundamentalism. Grant has also delivered speeches at the Day of Reason. Grant holds a Doctorate in Theology, is a retired public school educator, debate coach.

After the great success of our coffee socials, we've decided to bring a new event into the mix. The second Tuesday evening after each coffee social is Freethinkers Night Out!

The April event will be held at La Casita in Waite Park on Tuesday the 23rd from 6-7:30. Of course, you're free to come earlier or stay later. We expect the same fun, invigorating conversation and laughter we always have. Plus beer.

See you then!

Beth Ann Erickson interviews Doug Petersen of the Central Minnesota Freethinkers for Incongruent Elements.