By ELISABETH CORNWELL
Added: Mon, 06 Sep 2010 13:37:01 UTC

Given the large number of people who come to this site, I would like to begin a discussion regarding how we can use our numbers to influence politicians, governments and public opinion on the issue giving religion the freedom to promote inhumanity.

While this has been prompted by the most recent public outcry against the death sentence imposed by the Iranian Government on Sakineh Mohammedie Ashtiani, this unfortunately is not an isolated case. Nor is it only a 'Muslim' problem.

Writing letters (the old fashioned sort) often have a bigger impact than emails - but commit to contacting your government representative, media outlets, and religious leaders who should be publicly opposing inhumanity dressed in clerical robes.

There are also organizations that could use your help in organizing letter writing campaigns, or simply making your neighbors aware of these issues and what they can do.

In the States, the Secular Coalition for America is a political lobbying group that is forming a strong grass-roots organization to bring about awareness of religion's special privileges and to stop their influence on policy.

If others of you have ideas, perhaps copies of letters you have written to protest the growing tolerance of inhuman acts in the name of religion - please contribute to this discussion.

We can make a difference - but it does take action on your part. Richard and a handful of others should not have to do this all on their own. Please help.

Organizations:
http://www.secular.org/
http://www.americanhumanist.org/
http://www.humanism.org.uk/home

TAGGED: ACCOMMODATIONISM, ANNOUNCEMENTS, HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS, HUMAN RIGHTS, ISLAM, LAW, MORALITY, POLITICS, REASON, RELIGION