RDF-US is doing all we can to increase the dangers and bring this sort of madness to an end.

It is worthy to note that only men are involved in this protest. Orthodox Judaism is an extraordinarily oppressive institution, and its contempt for women is appalling and glaring (http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/15/world/middleeast/israel-faces-crisis-over-role-of-ultra-orthodox-in-society.html?pagewanted=all). We focus so much on Islam, we neglect the issues surrounding the ultra-orthodox version of Judaism.

So are US taxpayers now expected to subsidize the Church suing the government in addition to subsidizing the protection of pedophiles and the oppression of women? Oh Joy!

In response to jez999:

While Christopher and I might have disagreed about some aspects of abortion (not all if you read his writings), we still agreed on the majority of the issues regarding the War on the Womb. The denial of contraceptives and scientifically proven methods of family planning to women (and their partners), and that a woman's life is not less valuable than that of a foetus are all relevant issues to the War on the Womb - and on these Christopher did agree were immoral.

Christopher's views on abortion, while I would disagree, were not 'stupid' or 'unjustified'. This is not a cut and dry issue - but it is not an issue that I believe should be left up to the state or to religious leaders. However, the religious right and people like Ben Stein tried to latch on to Christopher's statements about defining a foetus as an indication that he was agreeing with the position of The Church and other fundamentalist religious institutions. And that, indeed, was not what he was saying,

I hope this does not derail the thread. The War on the Womb is much more than the issue of abortion. State after State is attempting to thwart the most basic abilities for a woman (and their partners) to prevent pregnancy. I would also like to refer you to this article, http://richarddawkins.net/articles/645948-just-say-yes-to-sexist-stereotyping, on our website to begin to understand the full implications of the War on the Womb. Unfortunately, if you pay US taxes - you are paying for this movement to put women to the back of the bus.

The tour is being planned, and we will be announcing soon all of Richard's whistle stops. Unfortunately, there is just one Richard and the US is a big country. We wish we could go to every State of the Union. We can state that Richard will be in Portland Oregon for the Freedom From Religion Foundation Conference.

I would like to mention something about Barbara Bradley Hagarty's comment about younger clergy members have an easier time finding a new career path, therefore are much likely to leave - while older clergy tend to stay put. That finding was made by Linda LaScola who headed the research on unbelieving clergy. Linda has been a vital part of The Clergy Project and has worked with RDF-US along with many others to bring the idea of The Clergy Project to life. RDF-US has provided the primary financial support for the project, and it has been a great success. Teresa and Jerry are two extraordinary people who represent a growing number of clergy who have come to realize that belief in the supernatural is untenable. Dan Barker of the Freedom From Religion Foundation has also played a key role in making this project a success. And the members of the project, many who cannot come out, have worked extraordinarily hard to create a support structure within The Clergy Projects.

Regarding the comment by CEVA34.

Perhaps thinking of it in other terms, children role play and often imitate those people who influence them. I can remember wanting to be a doctor when I was about 6 years old, my brother wanted to be in pro-football. We don't use the term 'a calling', but psychologically it is no different. Eventually I did become a doctor (can't say my brother went into the pros). It would be unfair to say that I stayed at the same mental age for the rest of my life. Teresa is an incredibly intelligent, kind, generous and extraordinarily brave person. Can you imagine going on national television to discuss something so very personal?

RDF-US has been the primary financial supporter for The Clergy Project. Those individuals I have met, either personally or via email, have been an inspiration. I have seen nothing by kindness and support among them. All of them expressed that the reason they went into the clergy was to help people, to be a support person in the community. Our society tends to suggest that only 'religious' people can fulfill that role - so they followed down that path. They now are aware that one does not need the supernatural to help our fellow humans. I think they deserve our support rather than unkind remarks about their struggles. They bring to our movement a unique view and experience that many of us cannot understand. We should welcome them rather than ridicule.

Another cogent and powerful article by Katherine Stewart. Her point that religious fundamentalism rises as the poverty levels rise with the distance between the have and the have-nots increasing, is one that dare not be ignored. As governments pull back on social services, deny family planning, and divert funds from public (state-sponsored) education, religious fundamentalists see this as 'god's gift' to evangelizing children. Unfortunately, secularists too often stand-by mute and uninvolved.

This is a battle of perceptions, and too many people cannot see the danger of allowing clergy into schools - either as part of the school program or as after-school program. They fight dirty, we need to become more clever in our strategies and better at marketing for our cause. As Sean Faircloth has said in so many of his talks, we need to learn to tell stories on an emotional level - then we can start discussing the facts.

Katherine Stewart does lecture around the US, as does Sean Faircloth and me on these types of issues. RDFRS-US is ready to help you develop a grassroots movement to stop the intrusion of religion into our public schools and other public institutions. If you are interested, write to us at contact@richarddawkins.net

Pitchstone Publishing published Andy Thomson's book 'Why We Believe in Gods', followed by 'Attack of the Theocrats' and 'Candidate Without a Prayer'. It is great they have now published Greta's book.

In response to Hurzonfurst:

I would like to clarify the meaning of the word atheist - which is simply that "a person who does not believe in the existence of God or gods". It is not an opinion, rather it is living one's life without the belief in any supernatural being. An agnostic is "a person who believes that nothing is known or can be known of the existence or nature of God or of anything beyond material phenomena"

These are not mutually exclusive, and they are not degrees of a position of belief. I submit that most people live their life as atheists, they pay their bills, wear seat belts, go to great lengths to protect their children, and strive at their careers.

The definitions are important because many people confuse the word 'atheism' as meaning that one absolutely knows and can prove the non-existence of a god. Agnosticism, on the other hand, does not take into consideration that if there is a god who acts upon the natural world (answering prayers, saving a house from a natural disaster etc), then it is possible to test god's action upon the natural world. If 'god' cannot be tested, then god has no effect on the natural world and thus the questions of whether or not god exists is not important.

However, once the claim has been made that gods continue to have a causal influence on the natural world, then it steps into the realm of science and must be subject to observation.

The meaning of these words do become important. The word 'atheism' is an uncomplicated statement of one's belief - not of proof. Agnosticism is a declaration that proof cannot be obtained and therefore no one can make an absolute statement of god's existence.

We should get the topic back onto the subject of Richard's discussion with Archbishop Pell. It was an interesting insight into the typical use of tactics by religionists.

The film is disturbing, but eye-opening. I believe it can be used to help open the eyes of many - especially young people who have the opportunity to escape. It is critically important to understand the sort of mindset we are up against, because once we understand it (not just be repelled and/or appalled by it) we can devise a way of combating it.

Breaking the generational transmission is extremely important, but to do that we need to push for educational opportunities - especially for women. We need to become active in our local school boards, even if it means sitting in on meetings to let them know that there are secularists who will not ignore the radical Christians who are trying to destroy the US public school system.

The most dangerous thing we can do is throw up our hands and do nothing. To so readily give in by hiding away in our own world. Commit to becoming active with local or national secular organizations. Donate so that RDF can continue its mission, but please do not walk away from this issue - no matter how disturbing. We can make a difference. http://donate.richarddawkins.net/donations/new?cause=rdfrs&country_code=US

Please keep this on topic - this is about children's activities at the Reason Rally and childcare at the American Atheist Conference in Bethesda.

We were hoping to hear from people who are interested in childcare opportunities at Secular conferences here in North America. Perhaps conversations about European conferences could be started in the discussion section. Thank you.

In response to Starcrash's comment: Katherine does offer some solutions in her book, this is just a brief article to raise awareness of an issue. To find solutions takes bringing people together to plan and to implement. But until a large enough number of people are aware that this is an issue, then solutions cannot be found. It isn't fair to ask one person, who has spent an incredible amount of time exposing the issues to then be the only one who is working on putting together the solution. It will take communities, it will take organizing, and it will take money to stop this sort of invasion of the childhood snatchers.

Interesting that Santorum is ignorant about the role of the Catholic Church with Nazism in Germany, Austria, Italy and Spain.

Thanks Pawtucket- not sure if that was a Freudian slip or auto-spell check bedeviling me.

If anyone can stomach it - here is Limbaugh's response: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/73176.html

For the entire speech by Mr. Santorum, go to http://mrctv.org/audio/full-santorum-speech-ave-maria-university-august-2008

It is - well - interesting.

Anne Atkins seems to have a lot of difficulty forming an argument, but what I found rather astounding was her comment that the US is intolerant of religion. Huh? Is that due to the US separation of Church and State or because Americans don't have silly libel laws as does Britain? Was it the Dover decision that made her throw us in with Turkey?

Copson did an excellent job, and compared to Atkins, was well spoken, calm, and reasoned. If he represents 'militant secularism' then we should see a significant rise in recruits.

It is interesting that the UK as well as the European Court of Human Rights did far more to protect Jens Soering - obtaining a guarantee from the US government that he would not face the death penalty - than they have to protect Hamza Kashgari from likely execution. But I suppose it is because it is 'their culture' to execute people for freedom of speech, thus we have no right to interfere.

This is a very serious issue and indicative of the power Muslims are gaining in Europe and the UK. It harks back to the problem of 'liberal-multiculturalism' insisting that we all bow down to Muslim ideology because it is their 'culture' (see Richard's article about this).

What will be interesting is how even the multiculturallists react to this - given the British affinity for canines.There has not been much of a reasonable outcry about blind people being refused bus rides. From the article regarding the man in Reading: "Reading Buses accepted the driver was wrong but had been placed in an “impossible situation”.

Drivers have been re-instructed to convey the blind and the bus company has sought advice from the Royal National Institute for the Blind and hopes to speak with Muslim leaders.

The bus driver was not put in a bad situation, he refused to do his job and should have been severely reprimanded and/or fired. Instead, we must consult Muslim leaders in how to deal with this clash of cultures. Where are the wonderful British sensibilities?

These problems will not go away, and until we, as secularists, start demanding that religion does not deserve special rights.

Please don't be silent on this issue. Planned Parenthood has done more for women's health than all the pink ribbons combined.

A simple email, via their contact (http://ww5.komen.org/Contact.aspx) to let them know you disapprove might not change their mind, but our voices will be heard.

Interestingly enough, it is usually whites who bring up the issue that 'race shouldn't be an issue'. Well, the fact of the matter is that race is an issue and pretending it isn't is akin to denying global warming. We cannot wish away this fact. It is also relevant that Black atheists voice - without condemnation - the issues that are specific to them, such as the role of church in the civil rights movement, as well as the political decision to 'forget' the role of atheists within the civil rights movement. This is a 200 year old issue, and most people, especially whites, are rather ignorant of the issues that black atheists face.

We have not reached a point in our culture where we can pretend that racism does not exist or that the life of a black American is no different from the life of a white American. Maybe instead of going on how race isn't a issue, we all step back and listen to those people who live it every day. So many of the comments on this thread make me realize just how much more work we have to do.

The Richard Dawkins Foundation is proud to support this effort, and we will continue to support such efforts. And to do so, we need to listen and learn about what it is to be Black and atheist in this country. The work of CFI, and their commitment to this effort should be applauded.

The irony of this is that all the Congressional aids made use of Wiki to ferret out information. I wonder if they all just took a really long lunch yesterday.

I always find it comforting when atheists are attacked by the theists. The arguments are poorly constructed, perhaps due to a sense of panic. Well done Sean for poking another hole in their logic.

The tribalism angle has been a topic for years when discussing religion, and Richard along with most of the other prominent atheists, has noted it. Most recent has been J. Anderson Thomson's book 'Why We Believe in Gods' - which explains the phenomenon from an evolutionary perspective. Ridelo is right, the author is not up on his readings.

In fact, here is a quote from Christopher Hitchens' God is Not Great:

“Violent, irrational, intolerant, allied to racism and tribalism and bigotry, invested in ignorance and hostile to free inquiry, contemptuous of women and coercive toward children: organized religion ought to have a great deal on its conscience.”

(my bold)

To Cupiat-Timet: Yes, Mexico, US and Canada qualify.

The Clergy Project has already benefited a number of people and will continue to do so. It is perhaps one of the most moving and satisfactory projects in which RDFRS has been involved. Working with Dan Barker and others (many others whom I cannot name) has been personally rewarding. The stories of both ex-clergy as well as active clergy who have lost their faith are laced with humor, warmth, self-reflection as well as tragedy. The Richard Dawkins Foundation has been extraordinarily fortunate to have helped to fund and implement this site. Our web-team has worked countless hours on creating a live site - however, it has been the men and women, both ex- and active clergy, who have created a safe haven and community. And to everyone of the people who have donated to RDFRS - thank you for helping us make the Clergy Project a reality. You have all helped tremendously.

What I find most interesting is that the human brain is still locked into its evolutionary past. We evolved in small groups - where we knew everyone within our tribe - some better than others - but we knew who they were and their relationship to us genetically. The internet has hijacked the local tribalism of information in an interesting way. And like so many things it offers both positive and negative results. For anthropologists, psychologists, and sociologists - the new medium offers a petri-dish extraordinaire for studying human behavior and rationality. It is exciting to study, but impossible not to be a part of this phenomenon. We have so much to learn.

Dear Catomancer

You are not a lemon, there was a typo and it was corrected rather quickly. No worries! The entire staff was trying to update from iPhones and iPads as we were traveling - mistakes happen. We appreciate your tolerance.

Neither Richard nor the Richard Dawkins Foundation are taking legal action against the Wyndgate or its management. The Center for Inquiry was the organization that had contracted the Wyndgate, and they are examining their legal options. For more information regarding CFI, please go to their website: http://www.centerforinquiry.net/news/richard_dawkins_event_banned_in_MI/