Seattle Atheists

(This event is not sponsored by Seattle Atheists, but may be of interest to members and affiliates)

Presentation by Secular Coalition for America
Our Secular Decade: How Secularists Will Take Over America
When: Thursday, Sept. 9, 2010, 6-7 p.m.
Where: North Room at Eastshore Unitarian Church, 12700 SE 32nd St, Bellevue

Humanists of Washington, the University Unitarian Humanists, and other freethought groups are sponsoring a talk by Sean Faircloth, the new Executive Director of the Secular Coalition for America. SCA is the lobbying organization for non-believers in Wash., DC. Sean was one of the most dynamic speakers at the American Humanist Association’s annual conference this past June in San Jose. He is extremely knowledgeable on issues of separation of church/state, founding fathers and American history and, having been in the state legislature of Maine, knows how governmental bodies operate. The room holds 50, so come early.

Please RSVP here.

Secretary Events, Upcoming events Education, Humanists of Washington, Secular Coalition for America, State/Church Separation, Upcoming events

The Flying Spaghetti Monster and His pirate legions will make a repeat appearance at Seattle Pride Parade this Sunday, June 27 in downtown Seattle.

All faithful Pastafarians are welcome to join Seattle Atheists in the parade! Keep an eye out for direction from Becky and Kyle.

DETAILS

9:00 a.m.
FSM moving assembly begins at the staging area on 4th Ave between Columbia and Cherry streets.  We will need help with assembly.

10:30 a.m.
Pirates should arrive at 4th and Cherry St. and be ready by 10:30. Leave lots of time for crowds. Come on foot via James or Columbia. If being dropped off from the north or west, approach via University; if from the south, approach via Cherry/6th Ave; if from the east, approach via Madison. If you can, take the bus. King Country Metro is giving out free all-day passes to downtown. Prepare for tough traffic, detours, and impossible parking. The KOMO4 News garage near the Seattle Center is reasonably cheap.

11:00 a.m.
Parade start at 4th and Union, to 4th and Denny. Pirates should be ready and present. Becky will tell you what to do!

2:00 p.m.
We need people to help break down the FSM at 4th & Denny.

Bring
Water, sunscreen, comfortable shoes. Wagons for supplies and baby pirates are welcome.

Pirate Escorts: Becky F., Kyle H., Matt B., Naomi C., Taylor H., Jennifer L., Susan R., Laurie B., Amanda B., Ranjan B., Michael L., Jordan W., Casey G., Michele G., Tyson J., Beth L., DebbieAnn A., etc.

Secretary Events, Priority, Upcoming events Community, Festivals, Flying Spaghetti Monster, Parades, Past Events, Pirates, PrideFest, Science and Religion, State/Church Separation, Volunteer

Saturday, April 17, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paul Case
President of Seattle Atheists
P.O. Box 283, Seattle, WA 98111-0283
(206) 826-0770
president@seattleatheists.org
www.seattleatheists.org

SEATTLE ATHEISTS WINS 2010 AMERICAN ATHEISTS AFFILIATE OF THE YEAR AWARD

Seattle — Seattle Atheists is deeply honored to be the recipient of the 2010 American Atheists Affiliate of the Year Award.

Blair Scott, the National Affiliate Director of American Atheists said, “Over the past year Seattle Atheists have shown outstanding dedication to activism, community support, and the advancement of a positive view of atheism.

“The personal drive of the leadership and members of Seattle Atheists, their dedication to activism, community support, and a positive view of atheism, their unselfish application of time and talent, are a great credit to themselves, atheist groups across the United States, and atheists everywhere.

“Each year, American Atheists gives away the Affiliate of the Year award at the American Atheists Convention. Affiliate of the Year is not a random award: it actually means something. It means the Affiliate earned the award through hard work and dedication. The criteria looked at for consideration of Affiliate of the Year is:

• Activism for the separation of church and state and civil rights of non-theists (protests, demonstrations, letter-writing, action alerts, etc.).
• Events, activism, or programs that promote a positive image of atheists and atheism (public events, parades, editorials, etc.)
• Events, activism, or programs that advance science and reason (Darwin Day, etc.).
• Provides a social outlet for local atheists (in addition to regular monthly meetings – unless they are exclusively social).
• Charitable works, community outreach, or some other social programs or events (such as blood drives, feeding the homeless, donations, etc.). Please note that as a policy, American Atheists does not participate in charitable works or social programs. While American Atheists certainly does not discourage affiliates group from participating in charitable works and engaging in social programs, such activities are by no means required or expected of Affiliates.

“It is our hope that their activism and community outreach promotes the same in Affiliates across the nation and American Atheists encourage all Affiliates to increase activism and outreach!”

Seattle Atheists extends its congratulations and thanks to our volunteers, members, and board, whose tireless work in the community, and unflagging enthusiasm for charity, education, and outreach have made this award possible.

Seattle Atheists is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to serving the atheist community in the Seattle area. We strive to promote understanding and respect toward all freethinkers by providing information, creating a sense of fellowship, actively opposing discrimination, and above all, emphasizing reason, critical thinking over supernaturalism, and for the separation of church and state.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Paul Case, President of Seattle Atheists, (206) 826-0770, president@seattleatheists.org

Amanda News Media, Press releases, Science and Religion, State/Church Separation

Saturday, April 17, 2010

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Paul Case
President of Seattle Atheists
P.O. Box 283, Seattle, WA 98111-0283
(206) 826-0770
president@seattleatheists.org
www.seattleatheists.org

PRESIDENT IS NOT OUR PASTOR-IN-CHIEF — SEATTLE ATHEISTS LAUDS FEDERAL COURT DECISION

SEATTLE — Seattle Atheists would like state our support for the ruling made by U.S. District judge Barbara Crabb’s ruling that the National Day of Prayer violated the Establishment clause of the First Amendment and was therefore unconstitutional.

The National Day of Prayer was first introduced in 1952 at the height of the Cold War, and officially set as the first Thursday in May by President Ronald Reagan in 1988. It is a day when the President of the United States calls upon the nation’s citizens to pray, which Judge Barbara Crabb ruled, “is an inherently religious exercise that serves no secular function.”

“I have heard the argument that the National Day of Prayer doesn’t promote a particular religion,” says Paul Case, president of Seattle Atheists, “but go to the official website and click on the ‘Why Pray’ link, and it is immediately obvious that this is promoting a wholly Christian endeavor. And that should be offensive to people, and not just atheists — but to all of us. How can that be seen as anything but respecting an establishment of religion?”

The law reads, “The President shall issue each year a proclamation designating the first Thursday in May 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.” This clearly demonstrates the sectarian and exclusionary nature of the law.

“Our President is the leader of a nation with a secular constitution,” says Case. “He isn’t our pastor, minister or priest. It isn’t just that he shouldn’t compel us to pray, it’s that he’s constitutionally barred from using his public office as a church pulpit.”

Seattle Atheists would like to express its appreciation to the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (ffrf.org), who initiated the lawsuit, and give our moral support for the inevitable appeals still to come. We stand firm in the assertion that people of all religious denominations, or none, are best served by the secular government laid out by the Founding Fathers — a government that neither encourages nor discourages religious belief or practice. We feel that President Thomas Jefferson summed it up best when he said, “The President of the United States has no authority to direct the religious exercises of his constituents.

Seattle Atheists is a 501(c)3 organization dedicated to serving the atheist community in the Seattle area. We strive to promote understanding and respect toward all freethinkers by providing information, creating a sense of fellowship, actively opposing discrimination, and above all, emphasizing reason, critical thinking over supernaturalism, and for the separation of church and state.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Paul Case, President of Seattle Atheists, (206) 826-0770, president@seattleatheists.org

Amanda News political action, Press releases, Religion, State/Church Separation