The Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry
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SHL News

  • The Latest Separationist: Download the September 2010 issue of the newsletter of the SHL. Our newsletter is produced each month from September until May. It is always available here in PDF format and is mailed to active SHL members.
  • Action Alert!!! Help prevent Spartanburg from making a mistake...: Spartanburg is about to vote on the question of whether their council should select an official chaplain to pray before their meetings by a vote. Praying before governmental meetings is bad enough, but picking the chaplain by a vote is a HORRIBLE idea. Religion should not be determined by majority vote. Help out by following the link and writing to the council members.
  • SHL Picnic!: Our summer picnic is coming up on June 13th at the Wando Shelter at James Island County Park.
  • Charitable Causes Do Not Take a Summer Vacation: Most SHL activities are presently on "summer hiatus". This includes our regular monthly meetings as well as the "Charity of the Quarter" and "Volunteer Network" activities. But, deserving charities need our help 24/7! Of course, you can always do good deeds on your own without the SHL, but if you'd like to make a donation to a worthy cause through the SHL (which helps us both), follow this link to donate to "The Teacher's Supply Closet".
  • MAY POTLUCK PARTY -- MAY 23RD! (Note Special Time): There has been some confusion because our monthly meetings are usually on the third Sunday of the month, but note that this month's Potluck Party will be on Sunday the 23rd! See here for more information.
  • New E-mail Policy: In the hopes that it will allow us to better communicate with our members, the SHL has implemented a new e-mail policy. Our electronic announcements will now go out to topic specific mailing lists. Since you have the ability to subscribe or unsubscribe from any of these lists, this puts the power in your hands. Click here to set your preferences.
  • Herb Visits the White House!: In his Washington Post blog, Herb Silverman (SHL vice-president and president of the Secular Coalition for America) explains what went on during the recent SCA briefing.
  • March 6th Volunteer Opportunity: Help the SHL help the Children's Garden Project.
  • Feb 28: Book Group Moves Back to B&N!: After trying a few alternative locations, the Book Group returns this month to West Ashley's Barnes and Noble on Sam Rittenberg Blvd.
  • Great Day of Volunteering at Pet Helpers!: Recently the SHL sent some volunteers to Pet Helpers on James Island where we had a great time doing good deeds.
  • TIME TO RENEW!: Membership dues for 2010 are due this month. Please follow the instructions here to either pay by mail or online.
  • January Book Club: Join the SHL book club to read David Leavitt's book about mathematician Alan Turing, one of the unsung heroes of the 20th century.
  • Help Needed!: As you know if you have attended any of our regular meetings, we provide some refreshments that people can enjoy along with discussions during the break. However, we are in need of volunteers to help with purchasing and/or setting up the refreshments. (We need your time, but not your money. The SHL will pay for all of the food.) If you can help, please write to us at shl@lowcountryhumanists.org.
  • Potluck Party!: Our potluck party on Sunday December 20th is getting some national attention! It was mentioned in the Washington Post and on the HumanLight.org website. You can't miss a party like that, can you? See you there!
  • Volunteers going to the cats and dogs...: On January 30th, the SHL Volunteer Network will be working at Pet Helpers on James Island, sorting donations, walking dogs and having deep intellectual discussions with the cats (or something like that). Come on, you know you want to join us!
  • Similarities and Differences between Atheism and Agnosticism - Discussion: A currently active topic on our discussion board, started by a new member, concerns the meanings of the words atheist and agnostic. Apparently, there is some disagreement. Join in the discussion and add YOUR thoughts!
  • Book Guy's New Book: The River in Winter is a new novel by Matt Dean, coordinator of the SHL's Book Discussion Group. According to Matt, it "touches upon religious/secular issues". Check it out by clicking here.
  • Family Survey: Are you a parent raising children without religion in South Carolina? Please participate in our survey so that we can better serve your needs.
  • Parliament of the World's Religions invites Humanists to their Australia Conference: The SHL received a specific invitation to help ensure that the humanist worldview is represented at their December 2009 conference in Melbourne. Although the title may at first sound as if it would exclude us, the invitation specifically mentions religions and non-faith traditions.
  • New Option for Joining/Renewing SHL: Thanks to PayPal, it is now possible to renew an old SHL membership or start a new one without writing a check. Using either a PayPal membership or credit card information at their secure Website, you can register your membership completely electronically.
  • SHL Summer Potluck: July 19 at 5:00PM at the home of former SHL President Sam Moskow.
  • FFRF Sues Upstate School: Freedom From Religion Foundation and two District 7 parents claim that public school credits offered to Spartanburg High School students for religious education at a church are illegal.
  • What can you do?: Many SHL activities are on `summer break', but many of the items on this list of things to do to support the goals of the SHL still apply.
  • New York Times piece mentions SHL: A front page story entitled More Atheists Shout It From the Rooftops focuses largely on our organization and its members.
  • SHL Family Picnic - May 9, Wannamaker Park: The SHL is throwing its first ever family picnic on Saturday May 9th from 11-3. Join us for a fun afternoon of food, games (freeze tag, frisbee toss, tug of war, etc.) and friendship.
  • Herb's Retirement Speech: Herb Silverman, SHL's founding president and current vice-president, is retiring from the College of Charleston at the end of this semester. At his party, he gave a speech that he has literally waited 50 years to give. You can watch it here in QuickTime format. Also, here is a link to the article in The Humanist magazine that he mentions.
  • SHL Potluck Party: Join us on May 17 at 5PM for a potluck dinner party at Roger's house on Folly Beach. See the newsletter for details and directions.
  • Volunteer Opportunities for April: Looking for ways to help out the community and spend time with some fellow freethinkers? Join us at some of these events.
  • Family Picnic Planned for May!: The SHL is planning its first-ever picnic for non-religious families with kids (and those who support them). Current plan is to have it on May 9th at Wannamaker Park. See http://lowcountryhumanists.org/picnic2009.html for details and check back for updates.
  • Herb Silverman regular panelist for Washington Post's On-Faith Forum: Each week, a panel of experts answer religion related questions in the Washington Post's On Faith forum. Beginning later this month, SHL Vice-President Herb Silverman will be featured as a regular panelist alongside contributors including Deepak Chopra, Richard Dawkins, John Shelby Spong, Chuck Colson, Susan Jacoby and Rick Warren.
  • Volunteer Opportunities for March: Looking for ways to help out the community and spend time with some fellow freethinkers? Join us at some of these events.
  • March Meeting: Dr. Walter Limehouse on the Principles of Bioethics: Our meeting on March 15th will feature a lecture on bioethics from Dr. Walter Limehouse of MUSC. The meeting will begin at 4PM at Gage Hall (4 Archdale Street). It is free and open to the public and will include refreshments. Please join us.
  • Billboard Campaign: The purpose of the campaign is not to offend, but to let people know that it is OK to be openly nonreligious and to introduce people to the Secular Humanists of the Lowcountry.
  • February Meeting Features Dan Barker: Our next meeting will be held on February 15, 2009. We are proud to present a talk by Dan Barker, co-president of the FFRF. He has written two books documenting his fascinating journey, the latest being "Godless: How an Evangelical Preacher Became One of America's Leading Atheists." We will have copies of this book for sale at the meeting and a book-signing will follow his talk.
  • Lori Lipman Brown to leave Secular Coalition: Brown, who has worked for the Secular Coalition for America as director and lobbyist will be leaving soon. We wish her well and hope that the organization can find a replacement even half as good as she's been. Thanks Lori!
  • IRWT Plates Now Available Without Membership Card: Until recently, the state required an SHL membership card from people before they would give them one of the license plates we sponsor. Recently, that requirement was dropped, making it easier to get. (Note, however, that unlike the `In God We Trust' plates and the `I Believe' plate sponsored by the state, ours is sponsored by our private organization rather than the government and consequently requires the payment of an extra fee (which goes to the state and not to us).
  • AU Suit Update: Judge Blocks Christian SC Plate: A federal judge has ruled that South Carolina's plan to issue a license plate featuring a cross and the words "I Believe" would be an unconstitutional promotion of one particular religion by the government. (Of course, if it was sponsored by a church or club and cost extra like our IRWT plate, that would be a different story.)
  • December Potluck Party: Join us for a party at the home of Frank and Frances Hay on December 21st. Featuring a book sale to raise funds for the CYDC and preceded by a meeting of the Humanist Book Discussion Group. See the newsletter for more details.
  • Another Evolution Lecture at Charleston Music Hall: Bill Bancroft Productions, which brought the paleontologist who discovered a very important fish fossil to Charleston earlier this year is continuing the series with Donalt Prothero discussing his book What the Fossils Say and Why It Matters at the Charleston Music Hall on January 14th.
  • Kendyl Gibbons Quotation: Many SHL members expressed interest in the quote from UU Minister Kendyl Gibbons with which our November guest, Michael Werner, ended his presentation. For your convenience, it has been posted here online.
  • November Meeting: History of Humanism: Join us on November 16th for our monthly meeting featuring guest Michael Werner.
  • Adopt-a-Highway Pickup: Our last trash pickup for 2008 will be on November 15th. Contact Roger Prevost for more info.
  • Another Volunteer Opportunity at CYDC: We'll be helping out again at the Carolina Youth Development Center on November 22nd. Write to Nancy Worley if you can join us.
  • Charity of the Quarter: CYDC: Our Charity of the Quarter for September-October 2008 is the Carolina Youth Development Center. On September 27th, a team of 14 volunteers from the SHL went to this North Charleston home for children healing from abuse, neglect, abandonment and emotional disturbances where we spent 5 hours painting the bedrooms in one of the dormitories. Not only did we solve the problem of the old and worn paint, but prepainting the rooms in the bright colors selected by the residents made it a more personalized and cheerful environment. We are also collecting monetary donations for the CYDC. If you are an SHL member, please bring a check to the next meeting (or send it by mail) so that we can make a big donation in the name of the SHL at the end of October!
  • World Famous Paleontologist to Speak at Charleston Music Hall / Oct 18, 2008: In the first of a new series of lectures aiming to bring an appreciation of science to the Carolinas, Neil H. Shubin (University of Chicago) will be giving a talk based on his popular book Your Inner Fish.
  • Bad News: SHL Adopt-a-Highway Pickup Cancelled: Due to the threat of tropical storm/hurricane Hanna, our trash pickup for September 6th has been cancelled. The next scheduled SHL pickup is on November 15th.
  • WEBSITE MOVED!: Our previous location at lowcountry.humanists.net was the victim of repeated episodes of `hacking'. As a result of this, and the likelihood that the IHS which provided us with that webpage may not be hosting webpages much longer, we have moved to this new location. The site is still somewhat under construction. Please report any problems with the site to me a webmaster@lowcountryhumanists.org. Also, please update your bookmarks and links and help to spread the word that the SHL has a new home on the internet!
  • New SHL Officers Elected: At the meeting of the board members which took place during the potluck party in May, Jonathan Lamb was elected as the new president of the SHL and former SHL president Herb Silverman was elected as our new vice-president!
  • MySpace DISCRIMINATES AGAINST ATHEISTS!: At the urging of other users who find atheism offensive, MySpace.com has deleted an atheist group which followed all of the rules and regulations of the site. Click here for more info.
  • Darwin Week VIII: A week of interesting talks and lectures from distinguished guests at the College of Charleston.
  • Should Hate Speech be Free?: A lecture at College of Charleston on a controversial topic that may be of interest to SHL members.
  • January Meeting features talk from Bill Moore: Our first meeting of 2008 features a discussion of `Extremist Groups'.
  • December SHL Potluck Party / 5PM December 16th: As is our tradition, the December meeting of our group will not feature a guest speaker but instead will take the form of a potluck party at the home of a member. This year, the party will be at Sam Moskow's house. Follow this link or see the newsletter for details.
  • October SHL Meeting: Ed Buckner on Secular Schooling: The next meeting of the SHL will be held at 4PM on October 21st in our usual location (Gage Hall). Our guest speaker will talk about Secular Schooling.
  • Bible Studies Dorchester Public Schools: Although it is being presented as a "literature" or "history" course, the selected textbook and some quotes from officials have us concerned that the new course at Dorchester Public Schools is nothing but a thinly veiled attempt to use public resources to proselytize. When the government is used in this way, it is always un-Constitutional, but it is especially troubling when it is aimed at impressionable children. The freedom of religion of the parents is violated when public schools are used to push the teacher's religious views on the students. At least, that is my opinion! Click on the link to see what others have to say, and feel free to enter the discussion yourself. (By the way, coincidentally, our October speaker will be discussing exactly this topic in in a talk called Secular Schooling!)
  • September Meeting: Our first meeting for Fall 2007 will be held on September 16th. The meeting will feature a lecture by John Huddleston (College of Charleston), who will be speaking about "misconceptions and abuses of the bible on both sides of the aisle".
  • New Officers: The SHL has new board members and new officers for Fall 2007. Most notably, our new president is Sam Moskow and our new vice-president is Jonathan Lamb.
  • Potlucks: The SHL will be having potluck parties in May and July. Click for details.
  • Someone Else Concerned about IGWT Plates: The SHL has introduced "in reason we trust" plates to SC...but the "in God we trust" plates still have the advantage of being free. In Indiana, the ACLU is apparently suing over this discrepancy.
  • A Freethinking Congressman Comes Out of the Closet: Thanks to the Secular Coalition for America, a US Congressman has for the first time publicly admitted to being an atheist.
  • Barry Lynn Visits Charleston!: Barry Lynn, from Americans United for Church and State will speak to the SHL on 18 March and also will speak on 19 March at the Circular Church.
  • Darwin Week: Please consider attending Darwin week activities Feb.12-18. Check the website at http://www.cofc.edu/~dillonr/DarwinWeekVII.html.
  • Bright Revolution in Charleston City Paper: There is a terrific Feature Story about us by Will Mordock in the City Paper. You can read it online at charlestoncitypaper.com. There is also a place there for your comments.
  • January Meeting: The first monthly SHL meeting of 2007 will be held on January 21 at 4PM in our usual location, Gage Hall next to the UU Church in downtown Charleston. Our guest speaker will be the Reverend Vance Polly, pastor of the Sunrise Presbyterian Church on Sullivan's Island. Rev. Polley will present a talk on his view of the compatibility of faith and reason.
  • Potluck Party December 17th: Sunday 17 December at 5:00PM we'll be meeting for a party at the McCarl's Coosaw Creek house. Click for more info or check your December newsletter.
  • Charleston School Board to Open Meetings with Prayer: Arthur Ravenel Jr., recently elected to the school board with no expertise in education or school management has conclusively demonstrated that he has no place in this body by taking an intial action that will not help teachers or students but rather will waste the school board's time with legal challenges to a first amendment violation.
  • Mount Pleasant Votes to Rename Holiday Parade: The Mount Pleasant Holiday Parade was an inclusive event that invited all of the town's citizens to participate in a celebration. But, things have changed. The town council just voted to rename it the Christmas Parade. Aside from excluding those citizens who do not happen to be Christian, this new approach raises several legal questions. If it is a religious holidy, what business is it of the town government to be making any decisions about it, let alone what to call it? And, although the Christians of Mount Pleasant can certainly have a parade if they want one and handle the costs and appropriate paperwork, we have to wonder whether the town or the public schools which participate in the event are spending tax dollars on it?
  • November Speaker: Wendy Kaminer on a Sympathetic Approach to Belief for Humanists: November 19th at 4PM, Gage Hall, Downtown Charleston.
  • Speaker for October Meeting Cancels: Unfortunately, we were informed very late that Roberta Combs of the Christian Coalition will not be attending our meeting as she had promised to do. Instead, members of the SHL will present us with some of the speeches they have given elsewhere recently to popular acclaim.
  • Peace Rally in Marion Square: The SHL will be participating in a Peace Rally in Marion Square Park, 2-4PM on October 7th
  • October Meeting: Join us on October 15th at 4PM for a monthly SHL meeting and a visit from Christian Coalition of America President, Roberta Combs.
  • September Meeting: Join us on September 17th at 4PM for a monthly SHL meeting and a talk by Ted Rosengarten.
  • Beyond Mysticism: Check out this new book by SHL member Max Cohen, available from PublishAmerica. From the blurb: "The moral codes that derive from religions have engendered the terrorism that has marked the last two decades. These religions originated in the Neolithic Age when knowledge was believed to spring whole from mystic sources accessible only to a special few. The highest principle of such religions is their own preservation. Any means seem just. Now, because of the great strides in science, politics and economics, the champions of mystic religions perceive their base of power to be under assault. Their answer is terror".
  • August Potluck!: Following the successful July potluck at the home of Frank and Frances Hay, Bill and Jane Upshur has invited us to their home for a potluck at 5 PM on Sunday, August 13. Follow the link for more details
  • SHL Adopt-A-Highway Pickup: Our Adopt-A- Highway group will have their summer trash pick up this Saturday, July 15. We will meet at 8:50 AM at the parking lot of the First Federal Bank on Harbor View Road on James Island. If you need directions or have any question call Roger at 224-9360. Hope to see you there.
  • The May Meeting is a Potluck Party: Our May meeting will take the form of a Potluck Party at the home of Roger Prevost on May 14th at 5PM. See the newsletter for more details.
  • Dialogue, Debate and Disagreements at this month's SHL meeting: In what is now a tradition of the SHL, our April meeting will feature an open discussion on controversial topics hosted by ouur own Dave Brown and Roger Prevost.
  • April 14-16: Atheist Alliance Conference in Kansas City, MO: Featuring Julia Sweeney and Lori Lipman Brown.
  • April 14-16: American Atheist Convention in San Antonio, TX: Featuring Michael Shermer and a debate on the existince of God between Edwin Kagin and Bog Siegel.
  • Darwin Bowl CXLVII: The speaker at our March meeting (3/19/06 at 4PM in Gage Hall) will be Rob Dillon, speaking about evolution, Intelligent Design, and the way in which the present debate resembles a sports match of a baseball team versus a football team.
  • Dates to Remember: March 11: Litter pickup at 8:50AM on Harborview Road. March 12: Americans United meeting 5-6:30 at Fellowship Hall of first Christian Church. March 26: Book Discussion Group 3-5 at West Ashley Barnes and Noble. April 1: Movie Club.
  • Psychological Views of Governmental Prayer: Professor Benjamin Stephens gave us a very interesting and throught provoking talk at the February 2006 SHL meeting. It outlined the results of his survey of students and fans at Clemson football games about the legality and morality of institutionalized prayer at these games. Professor Stephens has provided the "slides" from his lecture in the form of a PowerPoint file. Click here to download it.
  • What ever happened to the cults?: A public lecture at the College of Charleston which may be of interest to some SHL members will look at cults in the 21st century. The talk will be given on Tuesday Feb 7 at 3:30PM at the Jewish Studies Center on the corner of Glebe and Wentworth Streets.
  • Movie Club: This Saturday February 4, 2006 a group of SHL members will go see Brokeback Mountain and talk about it over a meal at a nice restaurant. Want to be part of it? Then write to Jonathan (weatherfeller@comcast.net) for more info about when and where.
  • Movie Club: This Saturday January 7, 2006 a group of SHL members will go see a movie and talk about it over a meal at a nice restaurant. Want to be part of it? Then write to Jonathan (weatherfeller@comcast.net) for more info about when and where.
  • The Year In Review: Check out the Humanist Network News' summary of the year 2005 from a humanist perspective.
  • Interesting Editorial: Rabbi Stephen Julius Stein wrote an interesting piece in the LA Times praising the separation of church and state and outlining some of the threats it currently faces.
  • December News: This month, the SHL Meeting will take the form of a Potluck Party at the home of Warren and Pat McCarl on December 18. There will not be a meeting of the bookgroup this month. However, there will be a book SALE. Bring books you wish to sell to the party where they will be auctioned off with proceeds going to the SHL. For more information, see the December issue of the newsletter.
  • Note: Special Date for November Meeting!: Our November meeting, with special guest physicist Ellery Schempp who will speak about his law suit against prayer in public schools that reached the Supreme Court, will be held on NOVEMBER 13 (the SECOND Sunday rather than the third) to avoid conflicts with the Thanksgiving holiday.
  • October Meeting: Alex Kasman talks about Archeology of Ancient Israel: During the past hundred years, archeological discoveries have reshaped our understanding of ancient Israel. From buildings and documents of the Israelites themselves, the monuments left by their contemporary neighbors and the writings of the Canaanites who preceded them, we have developed a picture of the biblical world which is in some ways stunningly different than the preconceptions we have gained from readings of the Bible. In this talk, Alex Kasman (who is not a professional historian or archeologist, just an interested amateur) will describe six controversial theories that have grown out of these discoveries and evaluate the strength of the evidence that support them.
  • Trash Pickup Day!: Don't forget to help out with our highway cleanup of Harbor View Road on James Island. Meet at the First Federal Bank (near Piggly Wiggly) at 8:50AM on September 17.
  • Topic for September Meeting: Organ Donation: We're back [Homework assignment: write a three page essay on how you spent your summer vacation. Extra credit if it's written in Swahili.] and our first guest is TV News Anchor Vanessa Hill, who is an organ transplantation liason for MUSC.
  • Silverman Receives Prize at Ohio Meeting: SHL President Herb Silverman was awarded the second annual Freethought Backbone award
  • Upstate ACLU Guest Speaker Darla Kaye Wynne: At the May potluck party, Herb announced that the SHL had contributed money to a gift that will be presented to Darla Wynne at a meeting in Greenville on May 17th. (Ms. Wynne is a Wiccan who has challenged the Christian prayers required for participation in activities of the town government in her home of Great Falls, SC. As if to prove once and for all that they do not have the moral superiority they like to claim, the Christians of the town have responded by killing Wynne's pets, vandalizing her property and breaking her teeth with bricks.) SHL members expressed interest in the May 17th event and the possibility of contributing more towards the gift and I promised to post information here. Unfortunately, it appears that it may be too late. Click on the link to see information about the event (Time: 6:30 p.m. Place: UU Church on 1135 State Park Road in Greenville) including a note saying that reservations must be made by May 12th. Perhaps if you contact the organizers (call Ethel Piper at (864) 895-6715 or email PiperE9999@aol.com) an exception can be made. Or perhaps you can just get information on how you can help contribute more to the gift.
  • Sharon Fratepietro Elected to IHS Board: The SHL's Sharon Fratepietro has been elected to a five year term as member-at-large of the Institute for Humanist Studies. Click for more info.
  • Herb Debates at the Oxford Union: Herb Silverman will be one of two members of a team arguing that "American religion undermines American values". (We do not yet know the makeup of the team arguing the contrary.) The debate will be held on May 26th at Oxford University in England, and we are anxious to see the results as determined by a vote of the students in attendance.
  • Spring Potluck Party!: The SHL's May meeting will be at Roger Prevost's house on Folly Beach and will take the form of a party instead of our usual lecture/discussion format. Be there on May 15th at 4PM, and don't forget to bring a dish or beverage to share.
  • To keep up on the latest news...: Look at our "news forum" for the latest regional, national, and international news of particular interest to members of the SHL. (Thanks to Mickie Mcclain and Nick Wright for maintaining it!)
  • Highway Pickup / May 14th: Unfortunately, we were notified of this event too late for it to get mentioned in the newsletter, but there is an SHL Adopt-a-Highway Pickup this month. Meet at 9am in the parking lot of First Federal Bank on Ft Johnson Road, James Island.
  • DAN BARKER VISITS CHARLESTON: This April we are extremely pleased to have as our speaker Dan Barker, one of the most prominent freethinkers in America today. As the Public Relations Director of the Freedom From Religion Foundation based in Madison Wisconsin, he has appeared on dozens of talk shows, radio programs and public forums as a passionate advocate for freethought, reason and humanism. Barker will be speaking on his book Losing Faith in Faith, which tells the story of his transformation from evangelical preacher to atheist activist.
  • Herb has Op-Ed Piece in the P and C: SHL President Herb Silverman was invited to write an opinion piece on government funds for `faith based' groups as part of a series in the Post and Courier.
  • SHL Wins Award for Chapter of the Year: The SHL has been awarded the Chapter of the Year award for 2005 by the American Humanist Association!
  • Save The Date: Dan Barker of the Freedom From Religion Foundation will be the guest speaker at our April meeting (April 17th). Please mark your calendar so you don't miss this special lowcountry visit from a national figure in the atheist community.
  • March Meeting: Join us on March 20, 2005 for our regular meeting where our guest lecturer will be Howard Elgison who will be speaking on the subjects of abiogenesis and evolution.
  • ???? Atheist to appear on Wife Swap ???: Amber Finley, co-host with husband Reginald Finley of the popular atheist radio/webcast show Infidel Guy will appear on the ABC-TV show Wife Swap on March 16 at 10PM. On the show, she will trade families with the wife of Christian minister. Note: We have recently learned that ABC has "chickened out" and is now afraid to show this episode!
  • February Meeting: Join us on February 20, 2005 for our regular meeting where our guest lecturer will be Larry Jones, president of the Institute for Humanist Studies, who will be speaking on Humanism in the Developing World
  • Herb Gives UU Sermon: SHL president Herb Silverman gave a fantastic sermon entitled Positive Atheism at the Unitarian Church's service on 6 February, 2005. Click here for the text of the sermon.
  • Ten Commandments in SC Government Buildings?: On Thursday, Feb. 3, there will be a House Judiciary Constitutional Laws Subcommittee hearing on a bill allowing the display of the Ten Commandments in public buildings. Public comment will be allowed only at this hearing. See www.scstatehouse.net/sess116_2005-2006/blatmeet.htm to find the meeting location and schedule (always subject to change, so phone the Legislature before going, and also to find the full text of the bill
  • Open Discussion: Join us on January 16, 2005 for an open forum where we will discuss controversial and interesting topics selected by SHL members Roger Prevost and Dave Brown.
  • Humanist Tsunami Aid: The Institute for Humanist Studies has an affiliation with a reliable relief service in India. Click here to donate to tsunami relief in the region. (Or, if not, please consider donating to one of the many other organizations out there working to help.)
  • Sticker Shock!: You may have heard that the state of Georgia has mandated stickers warning that evolution is "just a theory" be placed on textbooks. Click here for a thought provoking (and entertaining) list of stickers from Colin Purrington, an evolutionary biologist at Swarthmore.
  • Change of Plans! Dr. John Henderson to speak at November Meeting: Since Roger and Dave will be unable to attend the next meeting, the planned "open discussion" has been postponed until the Spring. Intead, our November 21st meeting at Gage Hall will feature author John Henderson.
  • Vatican Astronomer to speak at C of C: Brother Guy Consolmagno SJ will give a lecture called "Astronomy, God and the Search for Elegance", November 18 at 7PM in Physicians Auditorium. The lecture's abstract claims that it will "dispel the myth" that there is a conflict between science and religion.
  • Herb Silverman and Darla Wynne to appear in forum: The SHL president and a Wiccan priestess from Great Falls, SC will each speak on incidents of bigotry they have experienced due to their religious beliefs The forum will take place at the College of Charleston in room 100 Maybank Hall at 4:30 on November 1, 2004
  • SC License Tags: The In Reason We Trust tags are now available from the DMV. Click for more info on how you can get one.
  • Ellen Johnson to Speak at October Meeting: American Atheists President speaks at SHLs monthly meeting about the legacy of Madalyn Murray O'Hair
  • Herb and Bill on the Radio: SHL president Herb Silverman and member Bill Dusenberry will appear on the Rocky D show, 3PM on Wednesday October 13. This call-in show is broadcast on WTMA, radio 1250 AM. Questions of callers are likely to focus on our new In Reason We Trust license plates. SHL members are encouraged to listen...and to call in!
  • Nice Editorial on CNN about Pledge: A well written editorial about the House of Representatives and their attempt to prevent courts from hearing cases regarding the constitutionality of the Pledge of Allegiance.
  • Help Write to FCC: Herb Silverman explains why you should write a letter to the FCC to help ensure that TV Evangelists are not given benefits intended for educational programming.
  • Special Guest for our 10th Anniversary: Bill Moore, who was the guest speaker at the very first SHL meeting in September 1994 will again be speaking to us in September 2004. His topic is the role of the religious right in American politics today. Please join us at the meeting on September 19, 4PM at Gage Hall.
  • Lancaster City Councilman Vows to Break Law: John Howard refuses to abide by a recent court ruling that supports the separation of church and state.
  • Wiccan who sued to end illegal prayers threatened: Since challenging the Christian prayers used to start town meetings in Great Falls, SC, Darla Wynne has been the victim of vandalism, and now her pet parrot has been beheaded.
  • State Enters Fray: After a ruling declaring that prayers at town meetings in Great Falls, SC cannot be made specifically to Jesus, state Attorney General McMaster enters an amicus brief arguing that the ruling is unreasonable.
  • New SHL E-mail Addresses: Along with this nifty new Webpage from the IHS, we've got new e-mail addresses such as president@lowcountryhumanists.org and newsletter@lowcountryhumanists.org. Can you think of any others we should have? Let me know! webmaster@lowcountryhumanists.org.

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