Once upon a time we enjoyed regular writing from members of our community. That has dropped off, but we'd like to keep their work available for future readers. Enjoy.
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The director of Camp Quest participates in the public broadcasting show by the Atheist Community of Austin.
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We'll meet at the the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Hall Monday, May 17 for our monthly meeting. This will be our last meeting until September, though we will probably continue our coffee socials through the summer.
Hope to see you there!
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Our Summer Solstice Potluck will be at The Sauk Rapids Municipal Park Shelter June 18th at 6:00 pm. Families and guests are welcome. Please bring a dish to share. Brats, veggie dogs, lemonade, plates and utensils will be provided. Bring your own favorite beverage (wine and beer in glass or can containers permitted). If you'll be having a brat or veggie dog please RSVP before the 18th so we'll know how many to prepare.
The new shelter has kitchen facilities and bathrooms and the park modern playground equipment. You are welcome to bring other games and activities.
Directions: Sauk Rapids Municpal park is on the east bank of the Mississippi River at 1001 River Ave North. Enter the park from North Benton Drive on 10th Street N. It is the first right turn south of the Bridge of Hope (Highway 15 bridge) if you're heading south from the highway 15 exit to Sauk Rapids or the last left turn before the Bridge of Hope if you're heading north out of Sauk Rapids.
Click for map
RSVP or questions to Bill Haider: wrhaider@hotmail.com or 320-492-9423.
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More than 60 percent of Americans consider the United States a “Christian nation.”
In a literal sense, the label is inaccurate. The Constitution clearly separates church and state. Still, there is no doubt Christianity has played a major role in our nation’s history and, as exemplified by the above survey, remains a dominant force in American culture.
Despite the benevolent connotation of “Christian nation,” compassion is not a consistent characteristic of the United States and its citizenry. In addition, passive acceptance of the Christian-nation brand ignores the negative influence of this faith on our country.
Well said, Dr. Shuster. I applaud your insight and the courage it took to expose yourself to those mean-spirited individuals who are attacking you in the comments thread.
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Dear Mr. President and Governors of the 50 States:
We, the undersigned, applaud the federal court ruling by Judge Barbara Crabb declaring the National Day of Prayer unconstitutional.
Our secular nation was founded in part by refugees seeking freedom of conscience and freedom from religious tyranny. They wanted a land where government could not tell them which church to support, what religious rituals to engage in or what to believe or disbelieve. They knew there can be no true religious liberty without the freedom to dissent. Whether to pray, or believe in a god who answers prayer, is an intensely precious and personal decision protected under our First Amendment as a paramount matter of conscience.
Congress, in 1952, abridged that freedom of conscience when it designated a National Day of Prayer: "The President shall set aside and proclaim a suitable day each year, other than a Sunday, as a National Day of Prayer, on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.” (Public Law 82-324)
Rev. Billy Graham asked Congress to declare an annual National Day of Prayer so “the Lord Jesus Christ” would be recognized across the land. Sen. Absalom Robertson, father of Rev. Pat Robertson, introduced the bill to instill "faith in an Almighty God." Influential evangelicals lobbied Congress in 1988 to designate the first Thursday in May as the annual National Day of Prayer so they could better organize prayer events uniting religion and government.
Our founders did not pray when they adopted our Constitution, which shows their intent to separate religion from government. The Constitution's only references to religion are exclusionary. The U.S. President and elected officials have neither the moral nor the constitutional authority to dictate to Americans to pray, much less to tell citizens what to pray about, to set aside an entire day for prayer every year, and to gather with others “to turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals.”
As Judge Crabb ruled, "In this instance, the government has taken sides on a matter that must be left to individual conscience.”
Don't let Christian evangelicals hijack our secular Constitution.
http://ffrf.org/legal/national-day-of-prayer-victory/stop-the-national-day-of-prayer-petition/
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Fight back against Focus on the Family and the American Family Association by signing our letter
The American Family Association and Focus on the Family think that LGBT people should be disqualified from being nominated to the Supreme Court because "homosexual behavior is a sin and does not reflect God's created intent and desire for humanity."
It's outrageous. As they fire up their massive lobbying machines, it's time for us to make our voices heard.
Sign our letter to President Obama opposing employment discrimination, especially at the Supreme Court.
Dear President Obama--
With the retirement of venerable liberal Justice John Paul Stevens, your decision to select his replacement will be one of the most important choices of your administration.
Focus on the Family and others on the far-right believe that you should discriminate against any potential nominee because they happen to be gay or lesbian. Employment discrimination is never acceptable, especially for one of our nation's most important jobs.
As a strong supporter of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, we urge you to reject the notion that an individual's sexual orientation should be a disqualifying factor in the nomination selection process for vacancies on the Supreme Court.