Many who value the separation of religion and government have sought an appropriate response to the federally-supported National Day of Prayer, an annual abuse of the constitution. Nontheistic Americans (including freethinkers, humanists, atheists, agnostics, and deists), along with many traditionally religious allies, view such government-sanctioned sectarianism as unduly exclusionary. A consortium of leaders from within the community of reason endorsed the idea of a National Day of Reason. This observance is held in parallel with the National Day of Prayer, on the first Thursday in May (1 May 2008). The goal of this effort is to celebrate reason – a concept all Americans can support – and to raise public awareness about the persistent threat to religious liberty posed by government intrusion into the private sphere of worship.

videos of all three of Jeremy and Mikey Weinstein’s TV appearances (CBS, ABC, and Fox News) from the last few days are now available on MRFF’s website: www.militaryreligiousfreedom.org

I’m so glad they are giving some attention to this. Curious how no politicians are saying a single word about it. Even Bush is quiet!

SAN MARCOS, Texas (AP) ? One of the hundreds of young polygamist-sect members taken into state custody gave birth Tuesday to a healthy boy while child welfare officials, state troopers and fellow sect members stood watch outside the maternity ward.”The boy is healthy and the mother is doing well,” Patrick Crimmins, spokesman for the state Child Protective Services, said of the noontime birth at Central Texas Medical Center.The mother is “younger than 18,” Crimmins said, and will remain with her new son in a nearby foster-care facility until a formal custody hearing will determine the pair’s fate sometime before June 5. Crimmins declined to give any other details about the girl or where she and the baby would stay….On Monday, CPS announced that almost 60 percent of the underage girls living on the Eldorado ranch either have children or are pregnant.Of the 53 girls between the ages of 14 and 17 who are in state custody, 31 either have given birth or are expecting, Azar said.Under Texas law, children under the age of 17 generally cannot consent to sex with an adult. A girl can get married with parental permission at 16, but none of these girls is believed to have a legal marriage under state law.Church officials have denied that any children were abused at the ranch and say the state’s actions are a form of religious persecution.

Folks, some issues are tougher than others. This one is easy. Religious freedom is fine, until a child is endangered. You can raise your kids to be uneducated and brainwashed, but you can’t subject them to rape or withhold medicine from them until they die. This is when the line is crossed.Yes, brainwashing kids is DEFINITELY hurtful, but it’s a judgmental hurtful (anyone can use the same argument against anyone else). We have to allow people to raise their kids as they see fit — within REASON!Forcefully impregnating teenagers is physical abuse, and anyone involved with this has to be punished severely. There should be no leniency just because religion is involved. All these wretched adults need to go to prison, and all the other wretched people in the country need to see it happen (as a deterrent).Anything less is religious discrimination.

Army Spc. Jeremy Hall sued the government, alleging he has been harassed in the military because he doesn’t believe in God. He is known among fellow soldiers as “the atheist guy,” and he has been called a devil worshipper and gay — both of which are untrue, Hall said.Though Hall doesn’t believe in God, he said he drove colleagues to church while serving in Iraq and paused when they would pray before meals. “Personally, I don’t want [religion] or need it. But I’m not going to get down on anybody else for it,” he said.Hall said his atheism became known after a firefight in Iraq in 2007. His commander asked whether he believed in God. “I said, ‘No, but I believe in Plexiglas,’” Hall recalled. Later, a superior threatened to file charges when he tried to organize a meeting of atheists, he said. Officials wouldn’t comment on the suit, but said discrimination wasn’t tolerated.

This is an update on the Atheist activist (and member of MAAF) who was harassed in Iraq for holding an Atheist meeting. OK the truth is I have a lot to say here, but it’s late and I’ve already taken an Ambien. Bloggers please jump in and do this one for me. Mention the reason we’re fighting, the definition of religious freedom, why it’s good, and why intolerance seems to come from the same two groups of people. I’ll be back tomorrow night.Click here for an uppate

For Immediate ReleaseWeb: nyc-atheists.orgPress Contact 212-879-2687 What Are You Doing on the ?National Day of Prayer?? We Have a Better Idea: Donate Blood! ———————– NEW YORK, April 27, 2008?It comes around every May, the so-called ?National Day of Prayer,? to the consternation of many nonbelievers, secularists, atheists, agnostics and others. What do we do on this day when we?re supposed to be on our knees exalting a deity we don?t believe in? New York City Atheists (NYCA) says, don?t get on your knees, friends. Get on your feet, get down to the Blood Bank and donate a pint of blood to humanity. While the faithheads are praying for a miracle, you will be giving the ?miracle? of life to someone who needs it. What better way to show the contrast between their way and our way? While they are mumbling words to a nonexistent deity, perhaps beseeching ?Him? to help a loved one, we will be on our feet, taking an action that will positively help someone?s loved one. They beg, we act! ?We know that prayer does not work, but medical science does,? says Kenneth Bronstein, president of NYCA. It has become an Atheist custom in New York City, and around the nation, to donate blood on the so-called National Day of Prayer, which we have renamed The National Gift-of-Life Day. For four years now, a group of Atheists have arrived together to donate their life-giving blood to a Blood Bank on the National Gift-of-Life Day and then celebrated together in a small anteroom with coffee, juice and light refreshment supplied by the Blood Bank. ?We have found that the Blood Bank was delighted to have us, cooperated with us in every way and allowed us to post our Atheist banner for the occasion,? notes Bronstein. This year, we are going to the New York Blood Bank on the Lower Level of theCitigroup Center on East 54th Street, from 4 to 7 P.M. No reservations are needed, come any time during that period and join your fellow Atheists in donating blood and celebrating the Atheists? Gift-of-Life day! We will be there waiting for you. EVENT SUMMARY WHAT: Individual blood donations by Atheists to celebrate the National Gift of Life Day and illustrate to the world that our actions speak louder than prayers. WHEN: Thursday, May 1th, 2008, from 4 to 7 P.M. WHERE: New York Blood Bank Citigroup Center Lower Level Entrance is on 54th St., 100 feet west of 3rd Ave. Go straight to Down escalator New York Blood Bank straight ahead RSVP? Reservations not needed but Ken Bronstein would appreciate knowing how many are coming. Email him at firebell1@aol.com or phone 212-535-7425 or Jane Everhart at 212-879-2687.