Blasphemous Blogging: The Blog of Edwin Kagin

Blasphemy is the crime of making fun of ridiculous beliefs others hold sacred. This blog is about satire, truth, inquiry, and critical thinking. It is about enjoying life before death. It is about how some try to control many through their notions about a make believe supernatural world and imaginary rewards and punishments after death. This blog says that blasphemy is a good thing, a healthy thing, and a good antidote to harmful superstition. This blog is about freedom. Edwin.

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Location: Union, Kentucky, United States

Kentucky State Director for American Atheists. Originator of Camp Quest. Co-Author of "The Fundamentals of Extremism; the Christian Right in America." Author of "Baubles of Blasphemy."

Thursday, January 21, 2010

Is Your Religious Discrimination Workshop Discriminating Against Atheists?

Mr. Sexton,

Unless you and your religious panelists would be comfortable with an
Atheist "representing" Christian viewpoints, I respectfully request that
you have an Atheist on your panel to represent the views of non-theists,
who together comprise the largest single block of citizens of our
country.

We understand that, although at least two highly qualified Atheists have
offered to participate, no real live Atheist has been favored with a
seat at your table.

If, in your "Religious Discrimination Workshop" to be held in Lexington,
Kentucky on February 25, 2010, it is your intent to show how religious
persons can continue to suppress Atheists and get away with it, be
assured that American Atheists will let this be known to funding and
regulatory authorities who still respect separation of state and church
in our country.

This message to you will be widely published.

In the sincere hope that there is actually an attempt being made in
Lexington, Kentucky to end religious discrimination, and not to further
it, I am

Sincerely,

Edwin Kagin
National Legal Director
American Atheists, Inc.
Phone: (859) 384-7000
Fax: (859) 384-7324

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

Lexington Human Rights Commission
Religious Discrimination Workshop:

Thursday, February 25, 2010
Hilton Lexington/Downtown
369 West Vine Street
Lexington, Kentucky
$45.00 per person
Registration: 8:30 am
Continental Breakfast served
Workshop 9:00 am - 12:00 pm

*Registration and fee due February 12th (per brochure form or via
contact with the HRC, attention Tami Reed, at < lfuchrc.org > or (859)
252-4931. Further questions can be directed to Ray Sexton,
rsexton@lfuchrc.org )

Workshop description:

Employers are generally familiar with the protocol for handling sex or
racial discrimination and harassment claims. But what happens when an
employee complains that the employee in the next cubicle is
proselytizing to other employees? Or when an employee demands
accommodation for prayer time, the Sabbath, or ...an objection to
handling pork or alcohol? And what if an employee objects to your
appearance code because she is a member of the Church of Body
Modification?

Although the wide range of possible religious discrimination and
accommodation claims may seem overwhelming, the protocol for handling
each doesn't have to be. Our presentation will walk you through Title
VII's basic requirements, the elements of a religious discrimination
claim - including specifically what constitutes a "bona fide" religious
belief - and how to determine whether, and what, accommodations are
required.

Speaker - Kenneth Brown, Senior Trial Lawyer, EEOC Louisville Area
Office

Kenneth W. Brown is the Senior Trial Attorney with the Louisville Area
Office of the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.
His practice concentrates on litigating claims under Title VII of the
Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act
and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act. Mr. Brown is also an
Adjunct Professor of Law at the University of Louisville's Trial
Practice. From 1996 to 2001, mr. Brown was a member of the Tort and
Insurance Group for the law firm of Wyattt, Tarrant and Combs in
Louisville. He is a member of the Louisville and American Bar
Associations and he is the immediate past President of the Louisville
Black Lawyers Association. Mr. Brown received his B.S.B.A Degree (high
honors) from the University of Louisville School of Business in 1993
where he was named a WallStreet Journal Outstanding Student, and his
J.D. Degree from the University of Louisville School of Law in 1996.

Moderator/Faciliator - Tracey Dennis

Panelists:

Rabbi Marc Kline
Jenny Sutton-Amr
Larry Johnson

Commissioners:

Biby Tinajero, Chair
Tracey Dennis, Vice Chair
Eli Mertens, Secretary
Beth Hartmann, Treasurer

J. Scott Benton
Chris Ford
Rabbi Marc Kline
Lindsay Mattingly
Dr. Nadia Rasheed
Melanie Tyner-Wilson

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

NOTICE NOT TO USE RELIGIOUS TALK WITH HELEN KAGIN

To: Medical, Administrative, and Support Staff of Christ Hospital.
From: Edwin Kagin, husband of Helen Kagin.

Please consider this FORMAL NOTICE that Helen Kagin is an Atheist.

I am an Atheist and National Legal Director for American Atheists.

It has come to my attention that Helen has been subjected (or may be so subjected) to unrequested and unwanted gratuitous religious “god talk” by certain personnel of Christ Hospital.

It is my belief that Helen has been receiving the finest medical care available since her surgery on January 7, 2010, and for that we are extremely grateful.

However, the intrusion of anyone's religious beliefs into her treatment at Christ Hospital is offensive, unacceptable, and will not be tolerated, no matter how much those offending persons may think such behavior is necessary, proper, and well motivated.

Demand is hereby made that all such officious intermeddling stop immediately.

I will aggressively pursue all available lawful actions against the employment and licensing of anyone who violates this request.

Thank you again for the wonderful medical care being provided to Helen.

Edwin Kagin
Husband of Helen Kagin

National Legal Director
American Atheists, Inc.

Monday, January 18, 2010

MILITARY SHOULD SCRAP "JESUS CODE" RIFLE SIGHTS: "PROPAGANDA COUP FOR TALIBAN, OSAMA" SAY ATHEISTS

AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org

For more information, please contact:
Ed Buckner, President 908-499-9200 (cell) or 770-803-5353 (office/fax)
Dave Silverman, Communications Director 732-648-9333
Kathleen Johnson, Vice President and Military Director 318-542-1019

MILITARY SHOULD SCRAP "JESUS CODE" RIFLE SIGHTS: "PROPAGANDA COUP FOR
TALIBAN, OSAMA" SAY ATHEISTS

An Atheist public policy group said today that rifle sights marked with
a secret "Jesus Bible Code" may provide Islamic extremists with a
powerful propaganda tool and egregiously and dangerously violate the
separation of church and state.

According to a report on ABC News, a Michigan-based company, Trijicon,
has a $600 million contract to provide U.S. forces with 800,000 of the
rifle sights which are being used in Afghanistan and Iraq. The sights
are marked with citations from the Bible, including one that declares
that Jesus is "the light of the world."

Dr. Ed Buckner, President of American Atheists, said that he fears
Islamic terrorists may take full advantage of "a major blunder that
seriously risks efforts to reach out to people in Muslim countries
threatened by groups like the Taliban and al-Qaeda."

"Part of the U.S. message abroad should emphasize the core American
value of secular government and respect for individual religious liberty
-- and instead the U.S. military is promoting Christianity, literally
with the barrel of a gun. We call on President Barack Obama to repudiate
this effort immediately."

Kathleen Johnson, Vice President and Military Director for American
Atheists, said that the religious inscriptions "clearly violate the
First Amendment and the U.S. Constitution, as well as armed forces
regulations against promoting sectarian religion."

"We are not going to enjoy much success in trying to achieve 'nation
building' and self-sufficiency for democratic governments in countries
like Iraq and Afghanistan if our troops are seen as modern-day
'Crusaders' out to impose Christian fundamentalism," said Johnson. She
urged the Pentagon and Congress to open an immediate inquiry into how
Trijicon won the lucrative contract and if military brass were aware of
the Biblical citations on the gun sights.

"These rifle sights should be phased out of use as quickly as possible,"
added Johnson. "The mission of the U.S. military cannot include
proselytizing for Christianity or any other religion."

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for
Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and
addresses issues of First
Amendment public policy.

American Atheists, Inc.
PO BOX 158
Cranford, NJ 07016
Tel.: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402