Minnesota Atheists News

Brother Sam Singleton Atheist Evangelist: July 5, 2009

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 22:57:24 +0000

What happens when a mean spirited snake handling evangelical becomes an atheist? Humorist Roger Scott Jackson dares to explore the possile outcome. Roger, as well as his alter ego Brother Sam Singleton Atheist Evangelist, joins Crystal Dervetski for an insightful and fun conversation about taking an atheist themed show on the road.

Brother Sam will be in Saint Paul on July 11th presenting his newest play "Patriarchs and Penises" at Sweeney's Saloon starting at 8pm. After the show, feel free to stay and have a brew with Brother Sam.

Sweeney’s Saloon and Cafe is at 96 Dale St., N. in St. Paul

Tickets are $12 at Sam's Web Page, or $15 at the door

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email us at radio@mnatheists.org.

Greg Laden: "Missionaries in Africa" on Atheists Talk #0076, Sunday, June 28, 2009

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 18:31:25 +0000

Missionaries tell us that they are saving the world, traveling to foreign lands to help the natives. Of course, "saving the world" means something a little different to those of us who don't believe there's a Satan who needs to be battled at every turn. We usually mean saving lives and bettering standards of living, actions that have meaning in the here and now. How do missionaries do in that regard?

Biological anthropologist Greg Laden joins Stephanie Zvan to talk about his experiences with missionaries in the remotest parts of Africa and answer questions about what missions really offer the indigenous populations. He'll tell us about the good and the bad and let us know where we need to step up to provide secular help uncomplicated by the religion of the missionaries.

This will be the final live Atheists Talk on the radio and the last podcast for a while, until we get the details of the ongoing podcast worked out. If you're not attending the Pride Parade with the Minnesota Atheists delegation, please consider joining us at Q.Cumbers after the show to celebrate our long and successful radio run.

Dirty poor people living in slime: Missionaries and American Idol, Greg Laden's Blog
Greg's series on his experiences with missionaries
Greg's Congo Memoirs or start at The Zodiac
Greg's Lost Congo Memoirs
Strategy for religious missions, Africa Mission Resource Guide

"Atheists Talk" is produced by Minnesota Atheists. Mike Haubrich, Director and Host.

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Listen to AM 950 KTNF on Sunday at 9 a.m. Central to hear Atheists Talk, produced by Minnesota Atheists. Stream live online. Call the studio at 952-946-6205 or email us at radio@mnatheists.org.

"Towing Jehovah:" James Morrow on Atheists Talk #0075, Sunday June 21, 2009

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 14:23:06 +0000

First, let's suppose that Jehovah God is real. Good News for the religious, right? Then, let's twist it a bit and see what happens should Jehovah die. This would cause a major problem for at least the Abrahamic religions. After all, how could we hope for eternal life if the Provider Himself is subject to mortality? The guarantee of eternal life in His Presence would at that time become null and void. Steps must be taken and a coverup must be carried out. Hiding bodies is difficult enough, but when the body of Jehovah falls from Heaven and turns out to be two miles long, complications multiply. The beauty of novels is that they allow absurdities to shed light on reality, and James Morrow uses the device of the dead god to illuminate our notions on religion and philosoophy. Scott Lohman, President of the Humanists of Minnesota, will interview Morrow on our show.

"Atheists Talk" is produced by The Minnesota Atheists Mike Haubrich is the host and director for today's show.

Weblinks for the show:

Towing Jehovah - Amazon.com, including reader reviews
"The Passionate Rationalist" James Morrow's LiveJournal Blog
James Morrow's Novels

Wikipedia page on James Morrow
Review of Another Roadside Attraction, Tom Robbins' novel on the corpse of Jesus

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Listen to AM 950 KTNF on Sunday at 9 a.m. Central to hear Atheists Talk, produced by Minnesota Atheists. Stream live online. Call in to the studio 952-946-6205, or send an e-mail to radio@mnatheists.org during the lvie show.

Atheists at the Movies: Up

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 21:28:54 +0000

By James Zimmerman

If we take the word Cinema at its root (from the Greek kinesis, meaning "movement"), then pure cinema has been dying since the advent of synchronized sound. Too many movies are simply footage of people talking, or of a camera sitting idly by recording whatever happens to be going on in front of it. In its purest form, perhaps film continued to exist only in the creations of those (such as Chaplin and Hitchcock) who first mastered their trade and came to prominence during film's silent era.

But Pixar does an admirable job of bringing audiences a delicacy for the eyes. In a style first explored in Toy Story, expanded upon in Monsters, Inc., and brought to perfection in WALL·E, the animation studio succeeds in telling a tale via visuals with its latest offering: Up.

In the first fifteen minutes of Up, we are treated to a narrative - told almost entirely without words - of love found, promises made, and decades lived in the lives of Carl and Ellie. It's a poignant story, and the promises made and dreams lost in the picture-perfect montage bring equal parts laughter and tears.

Massimo Pigliucci: "Politics, Philosophy and Atheism. ...

Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:52:08 +0000

Is there a direct correlaton between atheism and liberalism? Why do so many atheists lean towards the left of the poltical spectrum? Many of our past shows have focused on the Conservative Christian influence over American politics, but does that necessarily mean that one needs to oppose their views in all areas? Politics, philosophy and atheism are the topic for today's show. Our guest is Massimo Pigliucci, who contacted us following our interview with Sunsara Taylor, because he wanted to address a few of the points she had made in regards to socialism and atheism. As a philosopher and an evolutionary biologist, Massimo regularly addresses the intersections of politics and religion. George Kane will lead the discussion.

"Atheists Talk" is produced by The Minnesota Atheists. Mike Haubrich, Director and Stephanie Zvan , Host.

Relevant Weblinks for Today's Show:

Massiomo Pigliucci's Wikipedia Bio
The Difference Between Science and Bunk: Greg Laden and Massimo Pigliucci on Atheiists Talk, March 1, 2009
Plato's Footnote
Rationally Speaking - Massimo's Blog
Austin Cline at About.com on Athism and Political Views
Sunsara Taylor on Atheists Talk
Philip Broucom: Evolution Easily Explains Morailty
Division by 0: This Human Nature
John S. Wilkins: Evolution and Economics at Evolving Thougthts

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MN Atheists Member, PZ Myers, Wins Award

Sun, 07 Jun 2009 15:59:58 +0000

On Saturday, June 6 in Tuscon, AZ at the 68th Annual Conference of the American Humanist Association, Minnesota Atheists member, PZ Myers, author of the blog Pharyngula, and professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris, received the Humanist of the Year Award. PZ Myers has been a vocal advocate for science education in schools and a staunch critic of "Intelligent Design" Creationism. Dr. Myers should serve as motivation for anyone who wonders what they can do to make the world a better place.

Carrie Iwan: Skepchickcon/Convergence, Skeptics Track 2009 Atheists Talk #0073 Sunday June 7, 2009

Sat, 06 Jun 2009 20:43:28 +0000

Skepchick is a group of female (and one "deserving" male) bloggers dedicated to the idea that skepticism and fun can and should coexist. They turn sharp wit and sharper intellect on subjects such as religion, UFOs, medical quackery, and credulous and sensational reporting. At the same time, they dismantle the idea of skepticism as a dry, intellectual exercise at their many events and meetups, such as their Drinking Skeptically and Skeptics in the Pub events.

This July, they're combining both strengths by hosting a series of panels and other events at Convergence, the Twin Cities largest current science fiction and fantasy convention. Many of the Skepchicks will attend, and special guests include astronomer Pamela Gay and MN Atheists own PZ Myers.

In the studio, Stephanie Zvan will interview Skepchick Carrie Iwan about the Skepchick organization, Convergence and other ways to have fun while thinking skeptically.

"Atheists Talk" is produced by The Minnesota Atheists. Mike Haubrich, Director and Host.

Skepchickcon website
Convergence Con website
Convergence programming schedule
Skepchick blog
Carrie's articles at Skepchick
Skepchick podcast
Skepchick events (includes Minneapolis Drinking Skeptically event June 11)
Minnesota Society for Interest in Science Fiction and Fantasy (MISFITS) Convergence producers

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President's Column "Why Organize"

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:50:02 +0000

By Bjorn Watland

Americans who do not believe in any gods (we would call them atheists, although they may not) are a large part of the population. Some polls would say that there are more atheists in America than Mormons and Jews combined, however, we are either underrepresented, or our politicians are lying about their religious beliefs. If nearly one in five of us are atheists, as some polls suggest, why are we treated as a much smaller minority? Much of that has to do with numbers and organization.

Who Wrote the Bible?

Fri, 05 Jun 2009 20:46:44 +0000

By Vic Tanner

Believe every word it says, or dismiss it all as bunk, there is no question that the Judeo-Christian Bible is one of the most controversial and perplexing books ever compiled. Conservative Christians commonly claim that all events in it are factual, yet any attempt to study the true historicity of the text is met with suspicion and cries of persecution by the True Believer. Their position is a truly unfortunate one, because critical analysis of the Bible is when it becomes truly interesting. It allows us to unravel the mystery of who the Hebrews were and what goals they were attempting to achieve when writing their scriptures.

The Sunny Skeptic: Tiny (and not-so-tiny) Ways That YOU Can Advance Atheism

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 15:08:50 +0000

By Crystal Dervetski

When people think of activism, they can sometimes get overwhelmed. A lot of work goes into volunteering for an organization and promoting a cause, but there are many things that you can do to help promote atheism!

First, be positive! There's nothing worse than a negative atheist, mostly because that is exactly the atheist stereotype: doom and gloom, mean-spirited, angry with the world. So don't be! It is actually that easy. Being positive is a choice. Now, I can already hear it; so if there's a medical cause for your orneriness, please go see a doctor. (No hoo-doo vitamin therapy over here, unless it's used in conjunction with an MD.) But seriously, other than that, you just need to shake it off. You will have a more enriched life if you are positive, and you will also help others have a better life just by giving them a smile every once in a while. Being a positive person puts a nice perspective on exactly what an atheist is: the world doesn't fall apart without any gods, so prove that to people! (For those of you who haven't heard the story, my blood type is B+. Awesome.) If you fall into the negativity trap, be aware of it, and make a conscious effort to stop yourself and at least be neutral. Watch how much better people respond to you. A wise man once told me “You can't out-Hitchens Hitchens, so you might as well be nice.” He also said that I sound like Mary Poppins, which I totally acknowledge.