Minnesota Atheists Public Policy Paper on GLBT Rights
Minnesota Atheists Public Policy Position Paper
(Written for Minnesota Atheists by August Berkshire)
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender (GLBT) Rights
Minnesota Atheists supports equal rights for all citizens regardless of sexual orientation. This support is based on two rules of law:
1. The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.
Section One of the Fourteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution states “…nor shall any State… deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.”
Thus the Equal Protection Clause demands that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) citizens be treated the same under the law as heterosexual citizens. We are particularly concerned with countering religious groups that wish to limit equal protection under the law due to their religious dogma.
2. The Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
The Establishment Clause has been interpreted in Supreme Court decisions to place the following restrictions on government:
a) Secular laws must have a secular basis.
Any law that would reduce the rights of any class of citizens must have a secular justification. There is no secular reason to deny equal rights and equal protection under the law due to a person’s sexual orientation.
b) Religious tenets for which the only basis is belief in the supernatural should not become civil law. To turn such religious tenets into civil law is to create a theocracy.
Religious arguments against equal rights and equal protection under the law for GLBT people are based solely on belief in a particular type of god who advocates limiting such rights and protections. As we cannot demonstrate that this god exists, much less confirm its instructions to humanity, we cannot base any secular laws on this supernatural belief.
The Principle of Equality in Practice
Minnesota Atheists’ support for equal rights for all citizens regardless of sexual orientation includes, but is not limited to, the equal right to a civil marriage, with all the accompanying benefits and responsibilities; equal rights to fertility treatments and adoption; the right to openly identify one’s sexual orientation and serve in the military; and the equal right not to be discriminated against in employment and housing. Minnesota Atheists takes no position on what the state chooses to call its civil marriage contracts (e.g. “marriage,” “civil union,” “domestic partnership,” etc.) so long as the same term is used equally for both straight and gay people.
Creationists Announce New Theory of Gravity !
Creationists Announce New Theory of Gravity !
By August Berkshire [PDF]
This essay is available as a tri-pane pamphlet for easy printing.
Today a spokesman for the Institute for Creative Research (I.C.R.), located in Fault Line, California, announced a new theory of gravity that contradicts traditional scientific explanations.
Dwayne Wish, head of the I.C.R., stated, “This is one of the most glorious days in the 6,000 year history of our universe. Finally, we have a theory of gravity that is just as sound as our theory of creation.”
Wish went on to explain, “Most scientists think all forces – such as gravity, electricity and magnetism – originally came from a single, common force. They’re currently searching in vain for a Grand Unification Theory. But there is no evidence of a common origin! They have never discovered any transitional forces! Where are the missing links?!
“Many scientists also believe gravity is caused by warped space or gravitons,” Wish continued. “Has any scientist actually seen this? Was any scientist there when gravity first occurred? And yet they have the gall to claim gravity is part of nature! It is intellectually arrogant to assume gravity is a naturally occurring, rather than a supernaturally occurring, phenomenon.”
Asked what alternative the I.C.R. proposed, Wish smiled and said, “We’re offering a much more plausible explanation for gravity: the Theory of Angelic Pressure. It should be obvious to any rational person that the universe is filled with invisible, undetectable angels who constantly push objects towards the Earth – objects that would otherwise drift away!
“There is plenty of evidence for our theory,” Wish continued. “For example, in spaceships objects float about randomly. They don’t go towards each other unless at least one of them is pushed by an astronaut. This demonstrates that gravity works by design, not ‘random chance’.”
Asked what research the I.C.R. had done, Wish stated, “In Revelation 8:10 of the Holy Bible it says, ‘And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven…’ This is a clear reference to the fact that angels are responsible for gravity! In addition, many pagan books, such as the Qur’an and the Book of Mormon, are also filled with references to angels.”
Wish went on to explain that although the Theory of Angelic Pressure is supported by the Bible, it is in no way based on it. “That’s just a coincidence,” he declared.
“Our theory of gravity cannot be disproven, so it should be taught in public schools,” Wish continued. “Not to teach it is tantamount to censorship! Moreover, forcing students to believe a secular model of gravity is a violation of academic freedom and freedom of religion! Traditional scientists blithely ignore the axiom that all theories are equally valid.”
When it was suggested there might be other equally valid theories, perhaps from other religions, that would explain gravity, Wish vehemently responded, “We have already discredited the ‘other model’ of gravity. It’s obvious our Theory of Angelic Pressure is the only possible alternative.
“In fairness, students should be allowed equal time to hear our theory. Both models of gravity should be presented, then students can make up their own minds. At the very least, someone should take a public opinion poll to see if our theory is popular.”
Wish explained that the I.C.R. was establishing a special division to further investigate their theory of gravity. “It’s going to be called the Center for Research on Angelic Pressure,” he said. “C.R.A.P.”
© 1999 August Berkshire