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What's New Archive2001January

January 31, 2001

Added new feature "The Evil Atheist Conspiracy" by James Still
Our opponents discovered our plot to introduce queer values via Teletubbies, teens stopped listening to our backward-masked Satanic rock music, and Alan Greenspan thwarted our attempt to control the world's money supply. What's an evil atheist to do?

January 30, 2001

After the article in the September 1999 II newsletter was published we learned that Lowder did not accuse Strobel of plagiarism but instead was making the point that in his book Strobel sometimes quoted unnamed skeptics rather than citing them by name. We deeply regret the error and apologize to Mr. Strobel for the mistake.

January 27, 2001

Updated the Events Page.
When: 04 February 2001 1:30P.M. (1st Sunday of every month)
What: Washington Area Secular Humanists: Northern Virginia Chapter Monthly Sunday Brunch
Where: Aegean Tavema, 2950 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington, Virginia
Contact: Visit https://nva.wash.org/ or email nva

When: 18 February 2001 9:00 A.M.
What: The Arizona Desert Regional Atheist Meet (RAM) hosted by American Atheists
Where: The Crowne Plaza Hotel at Metrocenter, 2532 W. Peoria Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona
Contact: Visit /old-link/?status=404&href=atheists.org/ram

When: 18 February 2001 2:00 P.M. (3rd Sunday of every month)
What: Washington Area Secular Humanists: Northern Virginia Chapter Monthly Meeting. "Joseph Smith and
the Origins of the Book of Mormon" by David Persuitte.
Where: Charles E. Beatley Jr. Central Library, 5005 Duke Street, Alexandria, Virginia
Contact: Visit https://nva.wash.org/ or email nva

When: 25 April 2001 (Evening)
What: Debate: Doug Krueger, author of "What is Atheism? A Short Introduction" (Prometheus Books, 1998),
will debate presuppositionalist Mike Butler on the existence of god
Where: Christ Presbyterian Church, 14 Woodbine Circle, Elkton, Maryland
Contact: The church office number is: (410) 398-3192

If your group or organization is having a meeting or some type of event, go to our Events Page and send us an email.

January 26, 2001

Added New Feature Essay Darwinian Dissonance by Paul A. Dernavich.
Does the seemingly inescapable use of imperfect metaphors in the explanation of concepts within evolutionary theory mean more than a simple inadequacy of human language? Or, as the author purports, could it mean that hidden within the non-intelligent, non-purposeful, and unconscious workings of natural selection lies a cosmic Gepetto tinkering with his toys? Just in time for Darwin Day, Secular Web editors thought, why not make our readers rowdy with this little gem.
Updated the Events Page.
When: 10 February 2001 (2nd Saturday of every month)
What: North East Wisconsin Humanists monthly meeting
Where: Green Bay, Wisconsin
Contact: Visit www.NewHumanists.com or email Bruce LaPlante at blaplante

If your group or organization is having a meeting or some type of event, go to our Events Page and send us an email.

January 22, 2001

Added a couple more requests for book reviews in our Call for Papers

January 21, 2001

Updated the Events Page.
When: 27 January 2001 10:00 A.M. (3rd and 4th Saturdays of every month)
What: The Humanists of North Puget Sound monthly meeting
Where: To accommodate the needs of their widespread membership the meetings alternate between
Bellingham, Mount Vernon and Everett, Washington
Contact: email Howard Pellett at cpellett or telephone Howard at (360) 293-8128 for further
information.

When: 03 February 2001 2:00 P.M. (1st Saturday of every month)
What: Washington Area Secular Humanists - Maryland-DC Chapter monthly meeting.
Where: Silver Spring Library, 8901 Colesville Road, Silver Spring, Maryland
Contact: Email email removed or phone (202) 546-7430, or (301) 474-2896 after 8 p.m.

When: 04 February 2001 1:00 P.M. (1st Sunday of every month)
What: Central Virginia Secular Humanists restaurant lunch
Where: Chili's in Seminole Square on Rt. 29 across from Litton Marine in Charlottesville, Virginia
Contact: Visit https://avenue.org/wash/ or email cvsh

When: 11 February 2001 1:00 P.M. (2nd Sunday of every month)
What: Washington Area Secular Humanists - Baltimore Chapter monthly meeting. "Soul Searching." The idea
of a supernatural soul is a key concept in many religions. How did this idea come about? What are the
implications as research shows how the brain operates in naturalistic terms?
Where: Email or phone for location in the Baltimore, Maryland area.
Contact: E-mail: bsh or phone (410) 744-5739

When: 16 February 2001 7:30 P.M.
What: Washington Area Secular Humanists - Baltimore Chapter "Humanism and Philosophy," a Special
Interest Group. Topic is "Philosophy of Science: An Overview."
Where: Email or phone for location in the Baltimore, Maryland area.
Contact: E-mail: bsh or phone (410) 521-6215

When: 25 February 2001 1:00 P.M. (3rd Sunday of every month, except for this one)
What: Central Virginia Secular Humanists monthly meeting
Where: Central Library's McIntire Room in Charlottesville, Virginia
Contact: Visit https://avenue.org/wash/ or email cvsh

When: 13 March 2001 7:30 P.M.
What: The Disproof Atheism Society presents "The Quantum Cosmological Disproof of God," a talk by Larry
Ford, Professor of Physics at Tufts University, based in part on Quentin Smith's article "Why Stephen
Hawking's Cosmology Precludes a Creator," Philo 1.1(1998):75-93
Where: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
Contact: dasociety

When: 01 May 2001 7:30 P.M.
What: The Disproof Atheism Society presents "Does Divine Hiddenness Justify Atheism?", a talk by John
Schellenberg, Prof. of Philosophy at Mount Saint Vincent University, based on his book Divine
Hiddenness and Human Reason and his contribution to M. Peterson's forthcoming Contemporary
Debates in the Philosophy of Religion
Where: Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts
Contact: dasociety

If your group or organization is having a meeting or some type of event, go to our Events Page and send us an email.

January 19, 2001

Added Review of CBS Program: Crime Scene Investigation by Dan Lewandowski
Finally a show that depicts the process of science in a good light and by doing so inspires others to consider the field as a career choice. Carl Sagan would be proud according to this review.
Added two new testimonials to the modern library

January 18, 2001

Added "A Firefighter Speaks-Out " (2000) by Bruce Monson
This article originally appeared in the September 2000 edition of Freethought Today - the publication of the Freedom From Religion Foundation. It served as the focus of Natalie Angier's recent article in the New York Times entitled The Bush Years: Confessions of a Lonely Atheist.

January 17, 2001

Added "A Moral Argument for Atheism" (1999) [ 52K ] by Raymond D. Bradley
Bradley argues that if objective moral values exist, then any god who commits, commands other to commit, or condones acts which violate objective moral values, does not exist.
Added Raymond D. Bradley author page
Raymond D. Bradley is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Simon Fraser University.

January 14, 2001

Updated the Events Page.
When: 17 January 2001 7:00 P.M. (3rd Wednesday of every month)
What: Atheists United - San Fernando Valley Monthly Discussion Group
Where: IHOP Restaurant, 6429 Van Nuys Blvd., one block N. of Victory Blvd., Van Nuys, California
Contact: Visit https://atheistsunited.org/event.html Call (818)993-1353 or email atheists united

When: 18 January 2001 Evening (call or email for exact time)
What: Informal meeting of New Orleans Secular Humanist Association
Where: Mandina's Restaurant, New Orleans, Louisiana
Contact: Visit https://community.nola.com/cc/nosha/ or email hpgreenx or call Harry Greenberger at
504 282 5459.

When: 19 January 2001 6:00P.M. (3rd Friday of every month)
What: Heartland Humanists Potluck at 6:00 P.M. followed by a Book Discussion at 7:30 P.M. Book: Douglas
Krueger's What is Atheism?: A Short Introduction
Where: Eupraxophy Center, 6301 Rockhill in Shawnee Mission, Kasas
Contact: Visit https://heartland.humanists.net/ or email heartland wm

When: 28 January 2001 12:30 P.M. (4th Sunday of every month)
What: Atheists United General Meeting
Where: Center for Inquiry West, 5519 Grosvenor Blvd (Marina Del Rey area off Jefferson between Centinella
and Lincoln), Los Angeles, California
Contact: Visit https://atheistsunited.org/event.html Call: (818)785-1743 or e-mail
atheists united for directions.

When: 28 January 2001 1:30 P.M.
What: Bi-monthly meeting of the New Orleans Secular Humanist Association features a talk by Patrick Murphy,
an ex-priest on "Church and State in Ireland."
Where: The New Orleans Public Library at Canal and Harrison in New Orleans, Louisiana
Contact: Visit https://community.nola.com/cc/nosha/ or email hpgreenx

When: 28 January 2001 2:00 P.M. (4th Sunday of every month)
What: Heartland Humanists monthly meeting. Dr. Fred Whitehead will talk on his forthcoming book,
KU Konfidential.
Where: The Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist's Saeger House, 7725 W. 87, Shawnee Mission, Kasas
Contact: Visit https://heartland.humanists.net/ or email heartland wm

When: 11 February 2001 10:30 A.M. (2nd Sunday of every month)
What: Brunch with the Atheists United Orange County
Where: Irvine Ranch House Restaurant, 1727 E.Dyer Rd., Irvine, California one block east of 55 freeway
Contact: Visit https://atheistsunited.org/event.html Call (714) 220-1777 or e-mail ocau

If your group or organization is having a meeting or some type of event, go to our Events Page and send us an email.

January 13, 2001

Added New Feature Essay The Danger of Hindutva to Secular India by S. R. Welch.
The following article demonstrates how countries throughout the world can, and are being devastated, by religious conflict. The religious revivalism currently sweeping South Asia has ambitions of political and cultural reform, opening the door to all brands of extremism. Hindu supremacists have become a powerful force in India and pose a serious danger to all opposing worldviews. This week's feature offers Secular Web readers an opportunity to learn more about this important subject.
Added "Review of David O'Connor, God and Inscrutable Evil" (2000) [ 30K ] by Dean Stretton
This is the correct version of the file. The version we posted a few days was not very different, but it was nonetheless wrong. We apologize to Dean Stretton for the error.
Updated the Events Page.
When: 13 February 2001 6:30 P.M.
What: Evolution vs. Creationism Debate sponsored by the Mobile Area Freethought Association. Dr. Brian J.
Axsmith, Assistant Professor of Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Alabama,
in a debate with Creationist Ken "Dr. Dino" Hovind
Where: Ocean Springs High School, 2320 Government St., Ocean Springs, Mississippi
Contact: Visit https://mafa.home.att.net/ or email mafa

If your group or organization is having a meeting or some type of event, go to our Events Page and send us an email.

January 12, 2001

Updated the Events Page.
When: 16 January 2001 7:00 P.M (every Tuesday that ends in "-teenth")
What: Boulder Heretics' monthly meeting
Where: Caffe Sole, 637 South Broadway, in the Table Mesa Shopping Center of South Boulder, Colorado
Contact: email danculberson

When: 21 January 2001 2:00 P.M. (3rd Sunday of every month)
What: Humanists of Orange County, California Monthly Meeting. Different speaker every time.
Where: Irvine Ranch Water District, Irvine, California
Contact: https://personal.paclink.net/~victort/humanists/ or email frankfarsad

If your group or organization is having a meeting or some type of event, go to our Events Page and send us an email.

January 11, 2001

Updated the Atheism Web: Media and Reviews page
Added some new books, and revised the reviews of some older books.

January 08, 2001

Updated the Order Page for the Lowder-Fernandes Debate
Added information on ordering audio cassettes of the debate.

January 06, 2001

Updated the Events Page.
When: 14 January 2001 6:00 P.M.
What: Humanists of Colorado monthly potluck dinner and meeting (2nd Sunday of every month). Presentation by
Ken Roberts, past president of HOC/Denver: "Power in America: Who Is Running The Show?"
Where: First Universalist Church, Colorado & Hampden in Denver, Colorado
Contact: Vance G. Reed, president at 303-452-4574 or email Darwin Rolens at drolens

When: 17 February 2001 5:00 P.M.
What: Gala dinner party in honor of Charles Darwin's birthday, sponsored by the Humanists of Colorado!! HOC
will provide all food.
Where: Denver, Colorado
Contact: Call 303-346-1049 to RSVP

If your group or organization is having a meeting or some type of event, go to our Events Page and send us an email.

Added New Feature Essay "TOE: The Holy Grail of Modern Physics" by Mohammad Gill.
There has doubtfully been a more exciting time to be a science-enthusiast. Cosmology is providing a history of our universe closely resembling the fantastical plots of science-fiction. Where is it all leading? The often criticised term theory of everything has helped to bring modern physics to the public. It's a term the media enjoys sprinkling about, often using it as a synonym for the long sought after Holy Grail. It is a term, however, that for non-physicists, appears rather vague and can often lead to confusion thus providing a breeding ground for the supernatural. Though God continues to be pushed further and further back through space and time, TOE, according to His searchers, has allowed a few more options to be posited. There now may be at least 10 dimensions to keep us busy in this never-ending game of mystical hide and seek! Though science continues to show we are in no need of that hypothesis it may very well be surfacing more often this century. The following essay provides a fascinating look at TOE and demonstrates in the conclusion what may become a common disclaimer as modern physics breeds a new kind of apologetic. It will undoubtedly become the focus of attention in the media and the public at large, distracting science, once again, from the matter at hand.
Added new essay to the Modern Library: "Base Faith" by Jane Basta.
The author explores the problems that are expected to surface with the new Bush administration's plan to award government services to faith-based organizations.

January 04, 2001

Added a James Madison directory to the Historical Library, and in that directory, added Madison's Memorial and Remonstrance (1785).
This document, which was cited by the dissenters in the case of Everson v. Board of Education, 330 U.S. 1 (Feb. 10, 1947) for support of their contention that the founding fathers would never have supported the subsidy of religious schools as allowed by said case, is probably the clearest expression of what at least the people of Virginia thought about government tax money being used to subsidize religion.

January 03, 2001

Updated the Order Page for the Lowder-Fernandes Debate
Added a rave review by Christian philosopher Wes Morriston. Also added a "button" that allows videotapes of the debate to be ordered online.
Updated the Call for Papers
Are you interested in getting published on the Secular Web? Writing one of the papers requested in our Call for Papers would be a good way (but not the only way) to accomplish that.

January 02, 2001

Updated the Events Page.
When: 11 February 2001 1:00 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.
What: 4th Darwin Day Birthday Gala Dr. Eric Meikle of the National Center for Science Education will present
"Darwin in the 21st Century: New Challenges and Old." Jointly presented by the Humanists Association
of the Greater Sacramento Area and the Atheists and Other Free Thinkers.
Where: Redwood Room of Student Union, California State University, Sacramento, California
Contact: https://ourtown.sacbee.com/254/ $12.50 for lecture and catered Lunch, $5 for lecture only, free to
students. Contact for tickets and information Anna Andrews at 916-448-9373 or Jody Craig at
452-2770

If your group or organization is having a meeting or some type of event, go to our Events Page and send us an email.


See "What's New? " for past months.