_________________________________________________
Michigan Atheists Newsletter
September 25, 2006
Greg Reich, Editor
________________________________________________________
Spike Tyson testifies against the teaching of intelligent design at the Michigan School Board
Tom Shellberg speaks on "unintelligent design" at Michigan Atheists Fall Equinox dinner
Legislative Alert: House adopts resolution favoring Christmas and Hanukah display on Capitol Grounds
Atheists Speak Up can now be found on Google Video
Greg Reich to debate Bob Dutko of WMUZ on the air
Long-time Michigan Atheist Lois Brooks hospitalized
October gathering at Westland Denny's
Michigan Atheists movie outing: Jesus Camp
About the newsletter
Spike Tyson testifies at the Michigan School Board
Tyson reports that Intelligent Design is being pushed in more subjects than science
Long time Atheist activist Spike Tyson gave a report on his testimony before the Michigan School Board during the Michigan Atheists Fall Equinox dinner at the China Star Palace last Sunday, September 17. Spike, who has long been active at both the state and national levels for separation of state and church, gave the following speech before the Board:
Creationism in School
First, let's get some definitions from Webster:
science n. Abbr. sc., sci. 1.a. The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena. b. Such activities restricted to a class of natural phenomena. c. Such activities applied to an object of inquiry or study. 2. Methodological activity, discipline, or study.
theory n., pl. theories. 1.a. Systematically organized knowledge applicable in a relatively wide variety of circumstances, especially a system of assumptions, accepted principles, and rules of procedure devised to analyze , predict, or otherwise explain the nature or behavior of a specified set of phenomena. b. Such knowledge or such a system.
fact n. 1. Information presented as objectively real. 2. A real occurrence; an event. 3.a. Something having real, demonstrable existence. b. The quality of being real or actual.
proof n. Abbr. prf. 1. The evidence or argument that compels the mind to accept an assertion as true. 2.a. The validation of a proposition by application of specified rules, as of induction or deduction, to assumptions, axioms, and sequentially derived conclusions. b. A statement or an argument used in such a validation. 3.a. Convincing or persuasive demonstration. b. The state of being convinced or persuaded by consideration of evidence. 4. Determination of the quality of something by testin; trial.
myth n. 1.a. A traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the world view of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society. b. Such stories considered as a group. 2. A story, a theme, an object, or a character regarded as embodying an aspect of a culure.
Now on to the argument. What is Creationism?
It cannot be science because it fails the test: "The observation, identification, description, experimental investigation, and theoretical explanation of phenomena."
It cannot be a theory because it fails as "Systematically organized knowledge applicable in a relatively wide variety of circumstances, especially a system of assumptions, accepted principles, and rules of procedure devised to analyze, predict, or otherwise explain the nature or behavior of a specified set of phenomena." This is because it does not "explain the nature or behavior of a specified set of phenomena" using a "system of assumptions, accepted principles, and rules of procedure."
It cannot be a fact; it fails completely on that one.
It cannot be any form of proof because it fails to follow "the validation of a proposition by application of specified rules, as of induction or deduction, to assumptions, axioms, and sequentially derived conclusions."
So we are left with creationism being a myth--because it is "a traditional, typically ancient story dealing with supernatural beings, ancestors, or heroes that serves as a fundamental type in the world view of a people, as by explaining aspects of the natural world or delineating the psychology, customs, or ideals of society."
Oh yes, to be sure, theories have changed; but, as they say, "A fact is a fact" and the fact, "something having real, demonstrable existence," is that we, as a species, have evolved and that evolution is real. The theories change--from Jean Baptiste Lemarck, to Erasmus Darwin, to Charles Darwin, to Stephen Gould, the reasons behind the theories and the theories themselves change--but the fact that evolution is real remains.
I agree that we must "expose the children to ALL 'theories' [as defined by Webster], and let them make their own decisions." And as I have shown, creationism is NOT a theory. It is a myth and does not belong in the schools' science program and it is not science.
When people learn no tools or skills of judgment and merely follow their beliefs, the seeds of political manipulation are sown.
Without religion, creationists would be the prime laughingstock anywhere in the world.
Creationism is wrong; totally utterly and absolutely wrong; it is nonsense and non-science. There are many degrees of being wrong. Creationists are at the very bottom of the scale.
At the China Star, Spike went through his speech, then gave the following news: the main reason that the wording that would put intelligent design into the curriculum didn't pass through the School Board had to do with it not going far enough, rather than any objection to the teaching of intelligent design as a "competing theory" to evolution. According to Spike, the people on the School Board in Michigan want intelligent design to be incorporated into every subject, not just science.
There is no date set for the final vote on the curriculum, but Spike suspected it would be after the elections in November. In the meantime, readers are encouraged to contact the Michigan State Board of Education members, their local science teachers, legislators, and science advocacy groups. Information on the Michigan State Board of Education can be found at http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,1607,7-140-5373---,00.html.
Tom Shellberg shares "unintelligent design" display at the Michigan Atheists Equinox Dinner
Delightfully irreverent display received attention at international meeting of scientists
On September 17 at the China Star Palace, Tom Shellberg presented a poster he had displayed at the International Society of Human Ethology in August. He explained that his main presentation before the American and European scientists concerned the debunking of a fifty-year old theory on aging, but in spite of the importance of this subject matter, the poster display, entitled "Unintelligent Design," drew more attention. The following is the test from the display (look for the complete display at http://www.michiganatheists.org/whats_new.htm):
Unintelligent Design
(The most important reason why ID is a dumb idea)
First of all, there are no major problems with evolutionary theory. Sure, there are some minor disagreements about some mechanisms and lineages, but there are no gaps in the fabric of the main construct. Evolutionary theory for a century and a half has proved to be the most powerfully explanatory and predictive theory in the history of science.
Even if there were serious problems with evolutionary science, ID could not resolve any of them. It is not a theory in any scientific sense. There is no scientific evidence to support it. It is not falsifiable. It can't make scientific predictions. It's religion, not science, and doesn't belong in science classrooms any more than astrology does. It's no wonder that ID is opposed by all of the most distinguished biological scientists in the world.
Science aside, ID does not qualify as a tenable philosophic position. It fails to follow through to its logical conclusion. If the complexity we observe requires the premise that there was an intelligent designer, then who or what designed the designer? ID answers nothing scientifically or philosophically.
The most important reason, though, why Intelligent Design is a very dumb idea is because its most basic premise is false. ID assumes that the 'designs' we observe in the natural world are so superb, that they could not have been produced by a natural process, but must ahve been created by an intelligent supernatural agent.
But anyone who knows much about biology knows that nothing could be further from the truth. Everywhere we look, we find many examples of very bad design, often so miserably poor it's not conceivable that they could have been produced by anyone with the intelligence of a human, much less a god. The only reasonable conclusion is if they were designed by a Designer, he must be stupid or incompetent or perversely evil.
Consider vestiges for example. The arrector muscles which raise our hairs when we are cold or frightened today neither create an insulating air space which makes us warmer nor make us appear larger (like a cornered cat) and more intimidating.
Or consider the vestigial hip and leg bones of whales and boa constrictors.
Or embryonic vestiges like gill slits and gill bars, tails, and fish-type kidneys in humans and other air-breathing vertebrates.
All animals and plants appear to have vestiges; excess baggage, useless except as evidence of evolution and powerful testaments against intelligent design.
There are many examples everywhere of terrible design: our human backbone, just like that of other mammals but turned vertical in us, causes bad back problems in about half of all people: pinched nerves, slipped discs, hernias, debilitating pain, etc. You'd think an intelligent creator would creat a special design appropriate for his upright crown of creation.
The openings to the windpipe and the esophagus are uniquely next to one another in humans because of the evolution of speech, causing thousands of people (mostly children) to die each year because of this poor design.
About half of all animals are parasites, and there are thousands of species of viruses, bacteria, and fungi clearly "designed" to cause suffering and death.
What sort of an intelligent designers would create parasites to torment and often kill their hosts? Some parasites, like the pork tapeworm, were "designed" only for humans.
Hundreds of millions suffer terribly from schistosomiasis and sleeping sickness. Hookworms cruelly kill 100,000 each year. Billions of people suffer from parasites. What was the designer thinking?
In conclusion, the many examples of terrible design, vestiges, parasites, etc., demonstrate that it is not logically possible that the biological world was designed by anyone with the intelligence of a human, much less a god. If there is (or was) a designer, the only reasonable conclusion is that he (or she, or it) is stupid or incompetent or perversely evil (or all of these).
House adopts resolutions
On September 13, the Michigan House of Representatives adopted two resolutions written by Rep. Robert Gosselin and co-sponsored by thirty-three other representatives that favor Christmas and Hanukkah over other winter holidays. HR 279 changes the name of the Winter Holiday Tree Display:
Reps. Gosselin, Hummel, Shaffer, Taub, Vander Veen, Kooiman, Steil, Stahl, Sheen, Robertson, Moolenaar, Garfield,Casperson, Pastor, Emmons, Jones, Stakoe, David Law, Ward, Palmer, Marleau, Baxter, Nitz, LaJoy, Pearce, Hildenbrand, Palsrok, Schuitmaker, Mortimer, Kahn, Brandenburg, Cushingberry, Green and Nofs offered the following resolution:
House Resolution No. 279.
A resolution to urge the Michigan Capitol Committee to rename the 2006 Winter Holiday Tree display as the "Christmas Tree and Hanukkah Menorah Holidays Display".
Whereas, The holidays of Christmas and Hanukkah, which are celebrated late in the year, have special importance to the lives of many citizens of Michigan; and
Whereas, In observance of these holidays, a prominent display is erected on the Capitol grounds; and
Whereas, The Michigan Capitol Committee was created by 1987 PA 123 to make recommendations to the leadership of the House, the Senate, and the Governor on the maintenance of the Capitol and its grounds. This committee, which is comprised of four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, four members of the Senate appointed by the Majority Leader, and four members from the Executive Branch appointed by the Governor, may make recommendations to the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and the Governor regarding the implementation of all permanent physical changes to be made in or on the Capitol. Under the provisions of MCL § 4.1702, "Such recommendations shalltake effect 15 days after the submission to the governor, senate majority leader and speaker of the house of representatives unless rejected in writing by the governor, senate majority leader or speaker of the house of representatives"; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Michigan Capitol Committee to recommend to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Governor that the Winter Holiday Tree display be re-named the "Christmas Tree and Hanukkah Menorah Holidays Display"; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the members of the Michigan Capitol Committee.
The resolution was referred to the Committee on House Oversight, Elections, and Ethics.
HR 280 allows for the display of the Jewish Menorah:
A resolution to urge the Michigan Capitol Committee to recommend that a display of the Hanukkah Menorah be placed on the Capitol grounds.
Whereas, From the arrival of the first Jewish settlers in 1761 to the present day in Michigan, the Jewish community has made many positive cultural and civic contributions to the Great Lakes State; and
Whereas, The presence of this community is evident across the state of Michigan and written in its history; and
Whereas, The lives and work of Michigan Jewish citizens can be seen in architecture, the old Jewish neighborhoods of Detroit, the historic Temple Beth El, the Jewish soldiers who fought in the Civil War, and those who contribute to enhance this state with a unique cultural character; and
Whereas, The Jewish holiday of Hanukkah is an important celebration of the human spirit that is a noted contributor to Michigan civic life; and
Whereas, The Michigan Capitol Committee was created by 1987 PA 123 to make recommendations to the leadership of the House, the Senate, and the Governor on the maintenance of the Capitol and its grounds. This committee, which is comprised of four members of the House of Representatives appointed by the Speaker, four members of the Senate appointed by the Majority Leader, and four members from the Executive Branch appointed by the Governor, may make recommendations to the Speaker, the Majority Leader, and the Governor regarding the implementation of all permanent physical changes to be made in or on the Capitol. Under the provisions of MCL § 4.1702, "Such recommendations shalltake effect 15 days after the submission to the governor, senate majority leader and speaker of the house of representatives unless rejected in writing by the governor, senate majority leader or speaker of the house of representatives"; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Michigan Capitol Committee to recommend to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate Majority Leader, and the Governor that a display of a Hanukkah Menorah be placed on the Capitol grounds; and be it further
Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the members of the Michigan Capitol Committee.
The resolution was referred to the Committee on House Oversight, Elections, and Ethics.
Apparently, the rest of the groups who celebrate winter holidays do not count. A growing number of Atheists and other nonreligious people celebrate Winter Solstice, and nonreligious people outnumber Jewish people by a wide margin--Jewish people represent one percent of the population of Michigan, whereas fifteen percent of Michiganders do not have a religion, according to the American Religious Identification Survey of 2001. In addition, there are several other groups who celebrate holidays significant to their cultures and/or religions during December, especially around Winter Solstice. For a list of them, reference http://www.religioustolerance.org/winter_solstice.htm.
Several Christian sects do not even celebrate December 25th because they believe that it has pagan origins. Several sources back up this particular belief, although there is no general agreement on exactly why December 25th is the day Christians chose to observe the (alleged) birth of Jesus. Some say that it was the feast of the "Birth of the Unconquered Sun"; others say it was the traditional birthday of Mithras, and many pagans who adhered to Mithras simply changed names of their holidays and religious figures and symbols to reflect the will of Emperor Constantine to make Christianity the official religion of Rome. Winter Solstice had significance for many ancient cultures, and many people still observe the day for various reasons. For the Michigan House to favor certain Christian sects and Jewish people over all other groups who observe holidays during December is a testament to their ignorance of the current profile of the citizens of Michigan.
It seems obvious that we should do something about these resolutions, but should the direction be getting rid of the notion of holiday displays on public property altogether, or representation of all groups who have winter holidays? Since some groups and individuals do not celebrate winter holidays at all, should their tax dollars support such displays? Let your legislators know your thoughts. To find your Representatives, click on the following link: http://house.michigan.gov/find_a_rep.asp.
Atheists Speak Up now available on Google Video
Episode 1 is pending; Episodes 2-4 uploaded
Atheists Speak Up, a production currently appearing on public access channels in the central and southeast regions of Michigan, is now available on Google Video.
Episodes two through four are uploaded already. To view them, click on the following links:
Episode Two: Interview with Camp Quest founder, Leonard Zanger, and speech by Greg Reich at the Michigan Atheists State Convention 2005
Episode Three: David Kong's speech at the Michigan Atheists State Convention of 2005
Episode Four: Interview with Norm Cohen of NOCIRC of Michigan, Dee Crowe's speech at the Michigan Atheists State Convention of 2005, interview with Lee Helms on Intelligent Design
Episode One, which included Frank Zindler's speech at the Michigan Atheists State Convention of 2005 on the historicity of Jesus, will be available soon.
The Atheists Speak Up production crew is currently working on Episode Five, which will include an interview with Spike Tyson, a decorated, disabled Vietnam Veteran who is most certainly a foxhole Atheist (well, he was in a tank, but that counts!).
Greg Reich to debate Bob Dutko of WMUZ on October 4
Informal debate on evolution versus creationism to be held during afternoon talk show
Since my very brief appearance on ABC's Wife Swap, I have been approached by several people about my role in the episode. Very few people have discussed what I actually said on national television, which was "the Bible is not my cup of tea", and my question to the minister's nephew: "Could a man survive in the belly of a fish?" It was fairly clear from the episode that I am an Atheist, but only two people have actually asked me why I identify myself in this way, and only one of them engaged me in a discussion about religion. It was this discussion that resulted in the scheduling of a debate between Bob Dutko and me.
The discussion we had concerned young-Earth creationism and evolution. I objected to the notion of a group of people thinking that they had a protected set of facts that were very different from the ones the rest of us possessed, and the co-worker with whom I was speaking kept insisting that evolution was faith-based. I suggested a book on evolution--the one based on the PBS series, which I consider a good overview of the subject, if not the most comprehensive (Stephen Gould's The Structure of Evolutionary Theory covers evolution more completely, though it is a very difficult read for most people; Richard Dawkins seems to be more accessible to a greater number of people). He agreed that he would read the book if I agreed to debate Bob Dutko, a local Christian talk show host, on the air about this material.
I emailed Bob Dutko, and he agreed to debate me not only on evolution, but also on separation of state and church. The debate on evolution will be held on Wednesday, October 4, at 1:00 p.m. on WMUZ, 103.5 FM. The debate on separation of state and church will be determined after October 4.
Lois Brooks, Michigan Atheists Historian, hospitalized
Lois Brooks, an Atheist and separation of state and church activist for several decades, has been hospitalized recently to remove a cancerous tumor. She has been moved to a convalescent home and will be there for the next couple of months, during which she will receive chemotherapy treatments.
Get well cards should be sent to:
Lois Brooks c/o Henry Morgan
33635 Somerset St
Westland MI 48186-4531
Michigan Atheists State Convention 2006, November 17-19
The annual Michigan Atheists State Convention will take place on November 18 this year, with events held on November 17 and November 19, as well.
On November 17, there will be a reception dinner for the event's speakers beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Shanahan's Restaurant in the Holiday Inn Livonia West, located at 17123 Laurel Park Dr. in Livonia, Michigan. You may order from the menu and self-pay. Please join us in welcoming our distinguished guests.
On November 18, from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. the convention will take place in one of the Holiday Inn ballrooms. The speakers include:
Dr. Michael Newdow, Atheist activist, medical doctor, lawyer, and entertainer
Dr. Gregory Forbes, Professor of Biological Sciences
Rick Wingrove, American Atheists Capitol Hill representative
Ellen Birch, documented relative of Thomas Jefferson and Atheist activist
Arlene-Marie, American Atheists State Director for Michigan
At lunchtime, we will have a gathering in a private dining room, where Michael Newdow will entertain us with his separation of state and church message set to song.
On November 19, we will travel to The Henry Ford to see their outstanding "Liberty and Justice for All" display. Please make your own travel arrangements.
If you would like to stay at the Holiday Inn Livonia West for the convention, please make your reservations by October 18 to take advantage of the special convention rate, which is $89 plus tax per night. Please contact the hotel directly to make reservations at 734-464-1300.
If you register for the convention prior to November 6, the convention and luncheon cost will be $42.50, or $25 for the convention. If you pay at the door, it will be $47.50 for both November 18 events, or $30 for the convention. The luncheon will be $17.50 regardless of when you pay. The entrée will be a baked half chicken, roasted and seasoned with fresh herbs, house salad, chef's choice of starch and vegetables, coffee, and tea. Note: A vegetarian meal will be available.
To register, please send the following information to Michigan Atheists, PO Box 0025, Allen Park, MI 48101:
Enclosed is a check in the amount of $___________payable to
George Shiffer, Treasurer
(Please do not make checks payable to Michigan Atheists or American Atheists)
Name(s)___________________________________________________________________________
Address___________________________________________________________________________
Phone:______________________________E-Mail
Address_________________________________
Number attending Convention:___Number attending Luncheon:___Vegetarian?
Number____
Number attending Welcome Reception_____(on your own for dinner tab) Number
attending Henry
Ford Museum:____( Group rates available for adults, seniors and children.
Additional information will be given at Convention
Michigan Atheists will have their monthly Sunday afternoon gathering at Denny's on Wayne Rd. in Westland on October 1. The gathering takes place from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Denny's is located at 7725 N. Wayne Rd, between Warren Rd. and Joy Rd., near the Westland Mall. Their phone number is 734-427-2711.
Michigan Atheists At The Movies: Jesus Camp
On Sunday, October 8, Michigan Atheists will have a movie outing at the Maple Art Theatre on West Maple Rd. in Bloomfield Hills, near Telegraph Rd. We will be seeing Jesus Camp:
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Camp_Documentary :
Jesus Camp is a documentary about an evangelical Christian summer camp for
children in Devils Lake, North Dakota. According to the distributor, it
"doesn't come with any prepackaged point of view", and it tries to be "an
honest and impartial depiction of one faction of the evangelical Christian
community”.
Jesus Camp was screened at Michael Moore's Traverse City Film Festival
against the wishes of the distribution company, Magnolia Pictures. Magnolia
had pulled Jesus Camp from the festival earlier in the summer after it
purchased rights to the film, with Magnolia president Eamonn Bowles saying,
"I don't want the perception out in the public that this is an agenda-laden
film."
The documentary goes beyond their experiences at camp and paints a vivid
image of the evangelical subculture in middle America. From scenes with a
mother home schooling her son on the lunacy of evolution to kids at camp
praying fervently [to] a cardboard cutout of George W. Bush, the tenacious
beliefs of the subjects and their utter lack of doubt is striking. The
infusion of politics into religion is also notable, as the children are told
of the evils of homosexuality, that prayer in school is necessary for
schools to teach effectively, and that America is responsible for the deaths
of fifty million innocent children since 1973.
— IMDB Review
The documentary plays with equal strength to both sides of the aisle,
however, as the families' stories unfold, there's no apparent agenda from
the filmmakers. The camp becomes almost a side issue here, as a much larger
picture is painted in 'Jesus Camp' - one about the role of religion in
American politics, specifically the fight of the Christian conservatives to
win the hearts and minds of the next generation as they prepare to be the
governors and senators of tomorrow. It begs the question: what, if anything,
are the liberals doing to pass on their values to children in an organized
and effective way?
— Jonny Leahan from indieWIRE
Norm Cohen, the organizer of the Michigan Atheists At The Movies outings, says: "Jesus Camp is a horror film for American Atheists. Be prepared to be scared out of your apathy!"
The movie opens at the Maple Art Theatre on October 6, so movie times are not yet available for the October 8 showing. Look for updates at http://www.michiganatheists.org/whats_new.htm, or an announcement in email.
The Michigan Atheists Newsletter is an electronic publication containing news about separation of state and church, the events of Michigan Atheists, and the civil rights of Michigan's godless citizens. All content of the newsletter is the intellectual property of Greg Reich and Michigan Atheists, unless otherwise credited.
If you would like to subscribe to the newsletter, please send e-mail to michiganatheistsnewsletter@comcast.net with "Subscribe" in the subject line.
If you have received this newsletter in error, please send e-mail to michiganatheistsnewsletter@comcast.net with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line.
If you have any news ideas, opinions, or articles to submit, please send them to michiganatheistsnewsletter@comcast.net. Please remember that all content must be relevant to separation of state and church issues or the civil rights of Atheists and other godless citizens in Michigan.