National Bible Week, an annual event organized by the National Bible Association, will run from November 18-25 this year. Atheists are encouraged to keep an eye on their communities and inform Michigan Atheists of any organized National Bible Week events that will be taking place on public property this year. The National Bible Association encourages endorsement of National Bible Week. One page on the National Bible Association's website, http://www.nationalbible.org, describes "Twenty things that you can do in your community to celebration National Bible Week".
The following excerpts are from that page:
Participants are also encouraged to contact the media, organize theater and choral groups, and get attention for the event in any way they can. For further information on National Bible Week and to inform Michigan Atheists of events held on public property in your community, contact Arlene-Marie at amarie@atheists.org.
TopHouse Bill 5059 is reportedly designed to "prohibit discrimination by this state or a political subdivision of this state against a private organization or charitable funding organization based on the organization's beliefs, expression of beliefs, or exercise of rights protected by the constitution of the United States or of this State." However, the bill favors the United Way in particular: "'Charitable funding organization' means the United Way." It includes other private organizations, as well, and provides access to public land and buildings to them, including the use public schools.
In its current form, House Bill 5059 would allow public funding of private charitable organizations, no matter what their affiliation or track record, with no provision for supervision of tax dollars given to them. The United Way, for example, has supported the Boy Scouts of America in the past, and continues to support organizations with religious affiliation.
Atheists and other state/church separationists are encouraged to write their state legislators concerning their stance on this important issue. They are also encouraged to write on House Bill 5091, which would allow "In God We Trust" to be posted in public buildings, including schools, and House Bill 4226, which would allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed, as well.
TopProponents of Michigan House Bill 4226 and other Ten Commandments display legislation throughout the country often cite the presence of "Moses the Lawgiver" in the United States Supreme Court's chambers as justification for the Ten Commandments to be posted everywhere, often adding that the Ten Commandments are part of the foundation of Western Law.
Each wall of the Supreme Court's chambers has a frieze as part of its structure. On the North and south walls, the works of art-in-architecture depict various lawgivers throughout history. However, by no stretch of the imagination are they a reflection on the evolution of Western law. Both famous and infamous lawgivers are represented. For example, Draco, an Athenian lawgiver from whose name we derive "draconian" (harsh or cruel) because of his strict (mostly death) penalties, is included among the representations of Solon (Athens), Hammurabi (Babylon), Charlemagne (France), and King John (England). For a complete listing of historical figures on the frieze, visithttp://www.supremecourtus.gov/about/north&southwalls.pdf.
As for Moses: while he is represented on the frieze, the tablets he holds only make visible a few parts of commandments six through ten--hardly a complete display of the decalogue. Also, there exists in the building an actual depiction of the evolution of Western law, and it contains no religious icons whatsoever: the bronze doors to the Supreme Court symbolically represent the history of the ideals behind the laws of the United States. For a complete explanation of the bronze doors, visit http://www.supremecourtus.gov/about/bronzedoors.pdf.
Ten Commandments display proponents clearly focus on getting attention for their decalogue, and have little interest in the other historical documents they suggest should appear in the displays. The wording of House Bill 4226--and the legislative analysis of it--clearly indicates that the other historical documents should be included in order to make the display of the decalogue pass constitutional muster. As a matter of fact, the other documents are referred to only as follows: "...other documents, public records, or objects of historical significance that have formed and influenced the legal or governmental system of the United States." Only the biblical decalogue is referred to specifically in the legislation.
For more information on this and other Michigan legislation, visit http://www.michiganlegislature.org.
TopArlene-Marie, Michigan State Director for American Atheists, will appear on WXYZ-channel 7, a Detroit ABC affiliate television station. Heather Catallo, a reporter for WXYZ, interviewed Arlene-Marie for a segment on "Freedom From Religion".
We encourage people in the WXYZ viewing area to tune in on Tuesday, October 30, at around 6:00pm to view the segment.
TopThe Michigan Atheists state convention will be held on November 3 at the Holiday Inn Livonia-West, 17123 Laurel Park Drive North, Livonia from 9:00 AM until 5:00 PM. This historic event is dedicated to Henry Morgan to honor his more than 25 years of service. Join us as we Roast Henry at a gala luncheon. Our list of speakers includes:
For registration and further information on the event, e-mail Arlene-Marie at amarie@atheists.org.
TopThe 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.
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