Past list view

FLASH!

How Do You Deal With Family and Friends
Who Celebrate Christmas Rites?

NYC Atheists’ ‘LIVING WITHOUT RELIGION’ Group to Consider
How to Get Through Religious Holidays Without Going Crazy

‘Tis the season to be jolly? Not for everybody.

There are those of us who get classically depressed around Christmas time. We hate the forced cheeriness, we resent being obliged to buy gifts for people we don’t like, we avoid the touchy family get-togethers, we hope to steer clear of all the palms held out for holiday tips.

We find the Christmas lights on houses in the suburbs bizarre, the greediness of children opening their Christmas and Hannukah gifts offensive, and the nativity scenes in parks distasteful. We deem holiday movies maudlin; holiday tinsel and decorations tacky; Christmas carols are nauseatingly redundant--and we loathe eggnog.

Moreover, a growing number of us feel we should save the forests by not cutting down evergreens to decorate a house for one week. And, oh yes, we don’t like being made to feel like Scrooge just because we aren’t joining in the ho-ho-ho.

Too Much Jollity

If you’ve got your own story of holiday disaffection, your own angst about the forced merriment, come and share them with us at New York City Atheists’ Living Without Religion discussion and support group on Wednesday, December 9th at 7 p.m.

You’ll experience the camaraderie and goodwill of like-minded atheists who will understand your feelings and feel your pain, under the leadership of psychotherapist and atheist Linda Blaikie, L.C.S.W.—who admits that she herself isn’t keen on holiday hilarity.

Follows Nationwide Concept

The Living Without Religion workshop was recently started by NYCA following the concepts of Dr. Darrel Ray of Kansas City, who has started Recovering from Religion groups all over the country. Dr. Ray recognized that people who have separated from their religion need the support of others who have gone through it or are in the process of going through it.

Dr. Ray’s idea is to meet in small groups of six to 10 people, follow simple guidelines that ensure meetings are productive and provide support for those who attend. “Nobody has all the answers, but we think there are answers to be found in openly sharing and discussing,” Dr. Ray advised.

Solutions Through Reason

NYCA’s discussion leader, Linda Blaikie, a practicing licensed psychotherapist since 1974, worked for three years in a mental health clinic before she went into private practice, which she continues to this day. She has dealt with problems of depression, anxiety, relationship issues, work issues and phobias. Her approach to the Living Without Religion workshop is, however, one of an open group of peers who offer friendship, wisdom, commonsense and logic to their fellow atheists.

Join us, you are not alone! Come on Wednesday to take part in, examine and enjoy the atheist point of view in solving life’s problems!

Learn how common-sense, logic and down-to-earth solutions can be shared with friendly, like-minded people! Share your feelings and questions with caring atheists.

EVENT SUMMARY

WHAT: “How to Deal with Families and Friends Who Celebrate Christmas Rites,” a problem-solving workshop led by Linda Blaikie, L.C.S.W.

WHEN: Wednesday, December 9, 2009 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Address of meetup (private home) will be provided to those who RSVP

PHONE 212-879-2687 to RSVP.

COST: Free to members. If you are not a member, you may become a member at the workshop.

New York City Atheists is a 501C not-for-profit association dedicated to the separation of church and state and to promoting the atheist life style and values. All are welcome, including agnostics, humanists, secularists, freethinkers, skeptics and those who are questioning and seeking.

Spanish-Speaking Atheists Reaching Out To Latino Community
Come Out, Come Out, Says New Group to Hidden Nonbelievers

The Spanish-speaking community in New York City and environs has long been known to be predominantly religious; it is thought that some 90 percent of Latinos are devout catholics.

That is not really accurate, says Juan Castro, leader of New York City Atheists’ (NYCA) first Spanish-speaking division. Castro believes that the oft-quoted figure overlooks up to 15 percent of the Latin community who are hidden atheists but have not come out as such.

Spanish-speaking atheists do not “come out” freely or easily because (1) they do not wish to offend the majority and (2) religion in the Latin neighborhoods is as much about community, festivals and family events as it is about faith, according to Castro.

But all that may be changing. Castro and a group of avant-garde Spanish community members from the New York area have organized a small but vital group of atheist leaders who are planning to make new inroads into Spanish communities here and in the Boroughs.

Meet Tuesday, Nov. 24

The group, sponsored by NYCA, is having its second meeting on Tuesday, November 24 to plan ways of reaching out to the nonreligious in Latin communities.

On the agenda for the Tuesday meeting is: planning ways to convince Latino atheists to “come out”; how to publicize the group; how to educate young Latinos that there are alternatives to religion; how to form close atheist units that will provide some of the unity that religion now offers to the Spanish community.

If you are a Spanish-speaking atheist, come to this second meeting of the first, historic Latino atheist group in the Metropolitan area! Give your support to the brave iconoclasts--the teachers, scientists, businessmen and professionals—who are pioneers in organizing Spanish nonbelievers!

EVENT SUMMARY

WHAT: “REACHING OUT TO ATHEISTS IN THE LATINO COMMUNITY” – A discussion led by
Juan Castro, leader of the first Spanish-speaking atheist group in the New York Metropolitan area.
WHEN: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: Conference Room, East Side 70s, private residence.
CALL JANE EVERHART, 212-879-2687 to get exact address

COST: Free. But you must RSVP to the above phone number with your name.
Your name will be given to the building concierge and checked off when
you arrive.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

Juan Castro
New York Region Spanish-Speaking Atheists (NYRSSA)
Phone: 646-387-2796

Jane Everhart
Director of Communications
New York City Atheists
212-879-2687
=======================

Ateos Hispanoparlantes Alargan la Mano a la Comunidad Latina/Hispana

“Declárense”, “Declárense”, Dice un Grupo Nuevo a los No Creyentes Ocultos

Se ha sabido por mucho tiempo que la comunidad hispanoparlante de la Ciudad de Nueva York y sus alrededores es predominantemente religiosa; se piensa que el 90 por ciento de los Latinos son católicos devotos.

Esto no es realmente exacto, dice Juan Castro, líder de la primera sección de hispanoparlantes de New York City Atheists (NYCA). Castro piensa que esa cifra, tantas veces citada, ignora hasta un 15 por ciento de la comunidad hispana que se compone de ateos ocultos que no se han declarado aún.

Los ateos hispanoparlantes no “se declaran” libre y fácilmente porque (1) no desean ofender a la mayoría y (2) la religión en las comunidades latinas forma parte tanto de la comunidad, sus festivales y sus acontecimientos familiares como de lo que es la fe en sí, según Castro.

Pero todo esto puede estar cambiando. Castro y un grupo de vanguardia de miembros de la comunidad hispanoparlante del área de Nueva York han organizado a un grupo de líderes ateos pequeño pero enérgico que está planeando abrir caminos en las comunidades hispanoparlantes y en los “Condados” (“Boroughs”).

Reunión el martes, 24 de noviembre

El grupo, auspiciado por NYCA, celebrará su segunda reunión el martes, 24 de noviembre, para planificar los modos de alargar la mano a los no religiosos de las comunidades latinas.

Se incluyen los siguientes en la agenda de la reunión del martes: planear cómo convencer a los ateos latinos de que “alarguen la mano”; cómo dar a conocer al grupo mediante publicidad; cómo dejar saber a los latinos jóvenes que hay alternativas a las religiones; cómo crear unidades estrechas de ateos que se proporcionen a sí mismas una parte de la unidad que la religión le ofrece actualmente a la comunidad hispana.

¡Si usted es un ateo hispanoparlante, venga a esta segunda reunión del primer, histórico, grupo de latinos ateos del Área Metropolitana! ¡Dé su apoyo a estos valientes iconoclastas—maestros, científicos, comerciantes y profesionales—que son los pioneros de la organización de hispanoparlantes no creyentes!

RESUMEN DEL ACONTECIMIENTO

QUÉ: “Ateos Hispanoparlantes Alargan la Mano a la Comunidad Latina/Hispana” – discusión dirigida por Juan Castro, líder del primer grupo de ateos hispanoparlantes del ÁreaMetropolitana de Nueva York

CUÁNDO: Martes, 24 de noviembre de 2009, a las 7:00 p.m.

DÓNDE: Sala de Reuniones (“Conference Room”), East Side 70s, una residencia privada. LLAMEN A JANE EVERHART, 212-879-2687 para obtener la dirección precisa.

COSTO: Gratis. Pero debe confirmar su asistencia (“RSVP”), dando su nombre, al número de teléfono arriba indicado. Se dará su nombre al conserje del edificio y se tachará su nombre de la lista cuando llegue.

PARA MÁS INFORMACIÓN:

Juan Castro

New York Region Spanish-Speaking Atheists (NYRSSA)

Teléfono: 646-387-2796

Jane Everhart

Directora de Comunicaciones

New York City Atheists (Ateos de Nueva York)

212-879-2687

FLASH!

Hot Topic: Atheist Activism…

How Far Should Atheists Go to Fight for Our Rights?

Should We Be Suing to Get Chaplains Out of the Police Dept?

NYCA’s daring-duo discussion leaders, Michael and Alexandra, want to know: How far should atheists go to fight for our rights?

On Tuesday evening, November 17, the two join together once more at the Stone Creek Bar & Pub to lead a sizzling discussion, this time on atheist activism: What should we atheists be doing? When do we take a stand? When should we put our actions where our mouths are?

The issue that the two are throwing out to the Meetup group for discussion will center on the legal action New York City Atheists Inc. (NYCA) has proposed: a suit to get religious chaplains out of New York City’s police and fire departments.

The facts are: New York City maintains, and pays the salaries of, a corps of religious chaplains to minister to the psychological and spiritual needs of our policemen, our firefighters and their families. These chaplains are supported with the tax money paid to the City by you and me.

For atheists, this means that we are financially supporting religious representatives to minister to our citizenry—a situation that clearly violates every precept in our Constitution and Bill of Rights that calls for separation of church and state.

With the encouragement of an NYCA member who was himself a former police officer and who suffered departmental pressure to associate himself with some religion, NYCA decided nearly a year ago to institute a suit to remove the chaplains from government agencies. The suit is now in the discovery phase. It will no doubt create a citywide—perhaps a nationwide—ruckus when it gains momentum. Should we proceed posthaste?

Co-Hosts Share Stage

Discussion leaders Michael Dorian and Alexandra Sidiropoulos have the unique ability to co-host in tandem, like Kelly Ripa and Regis Philbin—only smarter and more feisty.

Charming, compassionate Alex, atheism’s female George Stephanopoulos, is originally from Missouri, though her ancestors came from Greece, the land of Socrates. She became an atheist after a childhood experience at a church summer camp that was very much like the oppressive one depicted in the notorious “Jesus Camp” movie. Today, she works as an administrative assistant in a law firm that specializes in intellectual property and in her spare time is also co-host of one of NYCA’s Cable TV shows.

No Holds Barred

Witty and wise Michael Dorian is known for his no-holds-barred telling-it-like-it-is attitude. Expect a few choice words from him if the mood strikes him; no prude, he.

Michael, film director, playwright and educator, is the director and producer of the award-winning documentary film, “Pizza, The Movie,” which was recently chosen to be shown on Channel 31 in New York. This fascinating, funny film is about the highly competitive rivalry in pizza-dough throwing contests here and in Italy.

Come on Tuesday to hear our dynamic twosome lead the discussion of a fascinating and important topic. Give us your input, your ideas and the benefit of your experience, among like-minded people.
Enjoy meeting vibrant, thinking atheists from all over the city! Stay afterwards to mingle and chat with hosts Michael and Alex.

EVENT SUMMARY

WHAT: “Atheist Activism—Should We Be Fighting Harder for Our Rights?”
—a discussion led by Alexandra Sidiropoulos and Michael Dorian.

WHEN: Tuesday, November 17 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: The Stone Creek Bar and Pub
140 East 27th St. (Bet. Lex & 3rd), Back room.

COST: Free. But we hope you will purchase a drink or food to
compensate Stone Creek for letting us use their space.
The food is good and reasonably priced, and they have
an excellent selection of beers.

------------------------------------------------------------------

New York City Atheists Inc. is a 501C not-for-profit organization dedicated to the separation of church and state and to promotion the atheist lifestyle and values. All are welcome, including agnostics, freethinkers, humanists, skeptics and those who are simply questioning and seeking.

How Religion Exploits Human Emotional Needs To Lure Us Into the Church

Psychiatrist Explains Mankind’s Vulnerability to Supernatural Beliefs

Have you ever wondered why catholic priests are called “Father,” nuns are “sister” or “mother” and the Pope is allegedly the “Holy Father” of us all?

It’s called “kin psychology,” says psychiatrist J. Anderson Thomson Jr. of the University of Virginia, and it’s one way the church implicitly (or explicitly) generates the emotional attachment of its flock.

Since time immemorial, humankind has favored kin over strangers. In fact, kin psychology may represent one of our deepest, most primordial survival mechanisms. It begins with the attachment of the newborn to its mother and harks back to primitive folk living in caves where the kinship attachment was the difference between survival and being killed by a warring tribe.

So is it an accident that the church represents itself as kinfolk? Dr. Thomson thinks not. It is one of the many ways that religion has appealed to deep human emotional needs to lure people into the church.

Analyzed Suicide Terrorism

Dr. Thomson has a private practice of general psychiatry and forensic psychiatry in Charlottesville VA, as well as serving as a staff psychiatrist at the University of Virginia’s Institute of Law, Psychiatry and Public Policy and the Counseling and Psychological Services of the University of Virginia Student Health Services.

Dr. Thomson is also known for his dynamic speech on suicide terrorism at the 2007 Atheist Alliance International convention in Washington, DC—now dubbed “the Woodstock of Atheism”—where he gave a cutting-edge talk on how religion convinces people to become suicide bombers.

At the NYC Atheists brunch on Sunday, November 8, Dr. Thomson will discuss why human minds generate and accept religious beliefs.

Church Exploits Emotional Needs

Humans, he notes, are vulnerable to the generation of religious beliefs “because these beliefs arise from normal cognitive mechanisms that are in our brain but which were originally designed for other purposes.” The kinship mechanism, for example, which originally evolved for survival purposes, has been hijacked by religion to enhance the church’s appeal and control its flock.

Come on Sunday and hear Dr. Thomson’s fascinating dissection of what draws people into the influence and protection of the church. Find out how to avoid the emotional traps that religion uses to pull in its needy and vulnerable followers. With knowledge, analysis and inner strength, humans can resist the pull of the promises and seductions of religion, says Dr Thomson.

EVENT SUMMARY

WHAT: “The Psychology of Religion: Why We Believe
IN GOD" BY Dr. J. Anderson Thomson, well- known psychiatrist and analyst
on how religion creates suicide terrorists.

WHEN: Sunday, November 8, at 12 noon.

WHERE: Press Box Restaurant and Pub
932 Second Ave. (bet. 49th & 50th Streets)

COST: Brunch, $20.( Includes selection of Buffett entrees and salad,
one soft drink, coffee, tax, and tip. We
highly recommend going
back for seconds of the delicious Eggs
Benedict.

An Historic Event:

First Spanish-Speaking Atheist Meetup Group To Debut

In response to popular requests from atheists in New York’s Spanish community, New York City Atheists, Inc. (NYCA) is organizing the first Spanish-speaking Atheist Meetup in the city, perhaps the first in the country.

The new Spanish Atheist Division of NYCA will hold its first Meetup on Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at the Stone Creek Bar and Restaurant on 140 East 27th St. at 7 p.m.

Most Active Atheist Group

NYCA has been on the cutting edge of the atheist movement since 2003 and has been the City’s leading innovator in organizing for the Atheist cause. NYCA is the ground-breaking organization that recently sponsored the bus poster advertisements which sped through the city on buses with the message, “You don’t have to believe in god to be a moral or ethical person.”

NYCA also puts on four Atheist cable TV shows a week, has two Atheist educational or scientific lectures a month, sponsors a Philosophy Club and a Singles Meetup, does street tabling at Columbus Circle every Saturday (weather permitting), demonstrates for Atheist causes, and organizes Atheist cruises and other atheist social events.

NYCA Lobbies, Marches

NYCA, whose main goals are the separation of church and state and the advancement of the atheist lifestyle and values, also lobbies in Washington and Albany for atheist causes. NYCA members have marched in demonstrations here and in Washington to demand the removal of the words “Under god” from the Pledge of Allegiance, to back military atheists (“Atheists in Foxholes”), to demonstrate, during the Pope’s visit to New York, against child abuse by priests and to press for removal of government funding for church charities.

Spanish Delegates Appear

A delegation of Spanish-speaking atheists came to an NYCA meeting on October 11 to propose a Spanish-speaking division of the group. Its goal, they projected, would be to open the overwhelmingly religious Spanish community to freethought ideas and to provide support to those who are already sympathetic to the freethought and atheist movement.

The Spanish division of NYCA will be led by, and managed by, Spanish-speaking Atheists, many of whom have said they are scientific and medical workers who wish to open their Spanish communities to the reasonableness of scientific and nonreligious thinking.

Spanish Cable TV Show Planned

An initial public-relations drive will contact Spanish-speaking publications and newspapers and enlist prominent Latino speakers and artists to support and educate the nonbelievers and freethinkers already within the Spanish community. Eventually, a Spanish-speaking Cable TV show is planned to help reach the Latino community.

If you speak Spanish and are sympathetic to the Atheist cause, come October 27 (Tuesday) to the Stone Creek to become a part of this history-making organizing group! Meet like-minded Latinos, join in their camaraderie, open up your world to the new age of freethought and scientific advancement!

EVENT SUMMARY

WHAT: Historical First Meetup of the new Spanish division of New York City Atheists Inc.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 27, 2009 at 7 p.m.

WHERE: The Stone Creek Bar and Restaurant (Back Room)

140 East 27th St. (bet. 3rd & Lex.)

COST: Free. But as usual, we hope you will order a drink or food to compensate Stone Creek for letting us use their space. The food is good and moderately priced, and there is an excellent selection of beers.

===========================
For Immediate Release

Ciudad de Nueva York ateos Inc.

Contacto de Prensa: 212 879-2687

Un acontecimiento histórico:

En primer lugar habla española Ateo Meetup Group Para Debut

Oct.15, Nueva York-En respuesta a las peticiones populares de los ateos en la comunidad española de Nueva York, Nueva York ateos, Inc. (NYCA) está organizando la primera de habla española Ateo Meetup de la ciudad, tal vez la primera en el país.

La nueva División de español ateo NYCA celebrará su Meetup por primera vez en Martes, 27 de octubre 2009 en el Bar y Restaurante Arroyo de Piedra en 140 East 27th St. a las 7 pm

Más activos Ateo Grupo

NYCA ha estado en la vanguardia del movimiento ateo desde 2003 y ha sido líder innovador de la ciudad en la organización de la causa Ateo. NYCA es la innovadora organización que patrocinó recientemente los anuncios de autobuses cartel que atravesó la ciudad en los autobuses con el mensaje "Usted no tiene que creer en Dios para ser una persona moral o ética."

NYCA también pone en cuatro de televisión por cable Ateo muestra una semana, tiene dos Ateo educativos o conferencias científicas de un mes, patrocina un Club de Filosofía y Meetup individuales, se calle la presentación en Columbus Circle, todos los sábados (si el tiempo lo permite), demuestra por causas ateo, y ateo organiza cruceros y eventos ateo social.

NYCA grupos de presión, marchas

NYCA, cuyos objetivos principales son la separación de iglesia y estado y el adelanto de la forma de vida ateo y valores, también los grupos de presión en Washington y de Albany para las causas ateo. NYCA miembros se han manifestado en las manifestaciones aquí y en Washington para exigir la supresión de las palabras "bajo Dios" en el Juramento de Lealtad, para respaldar los ateos militar ( "ateos en trincheras"), para demostrar, durante la visita del Papa a Nueva York, contra el maltrato infantil por los sacerdotes y para presionar por la eliminación de la financiación del gobierno para obras de caridad de la iglesia.

Los delegados españoles aparecen

Una delegación de ateos de habla española-llegó a una reunión de NYCA el 11 de octubre para proponer una división de habla española del grupo. Su objetivo, se prevé, sería abrir la comunidad española mayoritariamente a las ideas religiosas librepensamiento y para prestar apoyo a los que ya son simpatizantes del librepensamiento y el movimiento ateo.

La división española de NYCA estará encabezada por, y administradas por los ateos de habla española-, muchos de los cuales han dicho que están científica y médica de los trabajadores que desean abrir sus comunidades españolas a la racionalidad del pensamiento científico y no religioso.

Español Cable TV Show de Planificación

Una opinión pública inicial de las relaciones de la unidad se pondrá en contacto de habla española de publicaciones y periódicos y obtener prominentes oradores y artistas latinos para apoyar y educar a los no creyentes y librepensadores ya dentro de la comunidad española. Finalmente, un espectáculo de habla española de televisión por cable está prevista para ayudar a alcanzar la comunidad latina.

Si usted habla español y son solidarios con la causa Ateo, vienen 27 de octubre (martes) a la Quebrada de Piedra a formar parte de esta historia de adopción de la organización de grupos! Conoce a los latinos con ideas afines, participar en su camaradería, abre tu mundo a la nueva era de progreso científico y librepensamiento!

RESUMEN DE EVENTOS

QUÉ: En primer lugar Meetup Histórico de la nueva división española de Nueva York Ciudad ateos Inc.

CUÁNDO: Martes, 27 de octubre 2009 a las 7 p.m.

DÓNDE: El Bar y Restaurante Arroyo de Piedra (Back Room)
140 East 27th St. (entre calles 3 & Lex.)

COSTO: Gratis. Pero, como siempre, esperamos que para una bebida o comida para compensar Stone Creek por permitirnos usar su espacio. El la comida es buena y de precio moderado, y es un excelent selección de cervezas.