Atheist Alliance International: Top Religious Influence Stories of 2013

AAI (Atheist Alliance International)
Top Religious Influence Stories of 2013
E-mail received on Dec 31st, 2014

Religion continued to wield undue influence in world culture and politics, with a number of seismic shifts felt throughout 2013. Here are the top stories of 2013 as noted by Atheist Alliance International:



Pope Benedict XVI Resigns

On February 11, Pope Benedict announced to a shocked world that he was resigning as Pope as of February 28 - the first Pope to do so in over 600 years. Although he claimed that his decision was based on his declining health, he also stepped down from a papacy mired in sexual and financial scandals, from the rampant child molestations being uncovered in countries around the world (and the efforts by the church to keep them secret) to the trial of Pope Benedict's whistle-blowing butler to the scandals of the Vatican bank leading to the bank chief's ouster. More than one Vatican-watcher openly wondered whether these scandals weighed as much as, if not more than, the Pope's decision.



Pope Francis Takes to the Stage

Benedict's successor, elected on March 13, began making his own news in short order on the world stage. Beginning with his spurning of the use of the papal condo and limosine, the first Jesuit and non-European elected to the papacy soon began sounding very different from his predecessors. From his "Who Am I To Judge?" comments at World Youth Day in Rio de Janiero regarding gays and atheists to his formation of a panel to examine and make recommendations to address the church's sexual scandals to his criticism of the shortcomings of capitalism, Pope Francis seemed to be indicating a new direction and focus for the Catholic Church. His disarmingly open and humble persona have successfully pushed many of the church scandals to the "back burner" as the world has elevated him to something of a celebrity "rock star" status, even as he has taken pains to assure church leaders that he is not advocating any changes in church doctrine, such as priest celibacy, women in the priesthood, or the assertion that the Catholic church is the "one, true church" in its worldview.


Jews Step Away From Their Religion

A Pew survey released in late 2013 on American Jews brought sharp debate to the surface over the disclosures that more than one in five US Jews are non-reliigous, with fully 32% of Jewish Millenials being so, and that fully 58% of American Jews have non-Jewish spouses, bringing into question the definition of Who Is A Jew and, indeed, the future of American Jewry.


"Arab Spring" Leads to Increase In Religious Restrictions in Middle East

A movement started primarily by secular youth who were tired of high unemployment and the lack of political freedoms in their respective countries, the chaos that has followed the challenge and overthrow of longstanding Arab leaders has allowed better-organized Islamist groups to move to the forefront in dictating the type of change being brought about. In 2012, both Tunisia and Egypt put Islamist parties in power. In Libya, Islamist militias have become the 'de-facto' local government in many communities, several of which have been leading a secession of the oil-rich eastern third of the country from Tripoli. In Syria, the opposition to the Bashar government has splintered between the secularists and the Islamists, with better-trained and better-equipped Islamist units pushing out secularist units from opposition strongholds and imposing Sharia law. The biggest losers have been the women, many of which enthusiastically participated and even led parts of the Arab Spring but who are now seeing what few rights they had being dialed back even further, being told how to dress, being fired from and denied holding jobs, and being shut out of the new political institutions arising. Christian and other groups are also being subjected to increasing persecution and violence in all of the countries involved in the Arab Spring.


LGBT Community Under Assault by Religious Interests

It’s been a mixed year for the LGBT community. The targeting of the community by religious groups was especially prominent over the past couple of decades in the US as religious groups frantically put up barriers to legalizing same-sex marriage, but this wave now appears to be quickly diminishing as a majority of Americans are now approving of same-sex marriage and states have voted or legislated to remove same-sex marriage restrictions in 18 US states plus the federal district. In June, the US Supreme Court struck down the federal law banning recognition of same-sex marriage. As of the end of 2013, over 40% of the US population now lives in states that allow same-sex marriage, and at least two more states will recognize it in 2014.

Elsewhere in the world, however, the legal attacks against the LGBT community seem to be on a steep rise as of the end of 2013:


- Uganda (Finally) Passes "Anti-Homosexuality" Bill

In mid-December, the Speaker of the Ugandan legislature announced that the legislature had finally passed the notorious "Anti-Homosexuality" bill that had been bottled up in legislative committees for years. Extending existing Ugandan laws criminalizing homosexual acts, the new law not only provided life in prison for repeat offenders but also criminalized the "promotion of homosexual agendas" and failure to report knowledge of homosexuals to government authorities. The bill had been promoted not just by Ugandan Pentecostals but also by their American counterparts who have been identified as being part of a Christian Dominionist "New Apostolic Reform" movement that seeks to bring all governments under an aggressively conservative Christian worldview.


- Australian Supreme Court Invalidates Same-Sex Marrage Legislation

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) in October became the first state in Australia to legalize same-sex marriage. But in early December, based on an appeal mounted by several conservative religious groups, the Australian Supreme Court unanimously ruled against the the new law, declaring it to be in violation of federal statute.


- India’s Supreme Court Reinstates Colonial Criminalization of Homosexuality

Also in early December, the Indian Supreme Court overturned a lower-court ruling and reinstated a law imposed by British colonial powers in the 19th century criminalizing same-sex relationships. The Court was pressured by several Hindu, Muslim, and Christian groups to reinstate the ban, even though opponents say the colonial law had been used primarily to harrass and stigmatize the LGBT community.


- Indonesian Government Shuts Down National Condom Week

Also in early December, the Indonesian government cancelled National Condom Week, an annual program designed to raise awareness of HIV/AIDs in the country. The program was attacked and condemned by Islamic religious groups, claiming that the program “encouraged homosexuality” and legitimized pre-marital sex.


Collection & Reporting of Discrimination & Persecution of Atheists

On December 10, 2012, at the suggestion made at a meeting with the US State Department Office for International Religious Freedom, the American Humanist Association, in collaboration with the International and Humanist Union, the Center for Inquiry International, the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science, and the Secular Coalition for America (US) released a report outlining a review of the state of religious freedom for nonbelievers in some 60 countries around the world. The report identified systematic discrimination against nontheists by social groups as well as governments. In 2013, a new website, www.FreethoughtReport.com, was launched to provide a reporting portal for additional cases of nontheist discrimination. This website has opened up discussion of persecution of nontheists in the mainstream media and has provided important statistics on the threat against nontheists around the world such as the discovery that atheists can be put to death for being open with their atheism in 13 countries around the world.


Malala Versus the Islamists

In 2012, a young Pakistani girl named Malala Yousafzai dared to stand up for the rights of women to receive an education and who then barely survived an assassination attempt by the Taliban for her "offense to Islam." Since recuperating from her life-threatening injuries, Malala has become a prominent spokesperson for women's rights in the Muslim world, speaking at the United Nations, on a number of western news and talk shows, and through the release of a book on her experience. While she continues to embrace and promote Islam, she has become an important voice in promoting the moderation and humanization of Islam for the modern age.


Pakistani & Afghani Islamists Hunt & Murder Polio Vaccine Workers

In a story that appeared repeatedly throughout 2013, Islamists killed more than three dozen polio vaccine workers over the course of the year as part of an anti-vaccination campaign. Portrayed as a conspiracy by the West to sterilize and reduce the world Muslim population, Islamists have successfullly shut down vaccination programs in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Nigeria, the three remaining countries in the world where polio is still active. The World Health Organization has said that the ongoing threats have caused over a million children to miss being vaccinated in these countries in 2013, slowing down and perhaps even reversing the eradication of polio in these countries and in the world.


African Pentecostals Expanding Into Worldwide Enterprises

For the past several years, Nigerian pastors have been vying with American pastors for the notorious honor of being listed on Forbes' Top 10 Richest Pastors list. Among the American pastors of Bishop T.D. Jakes ($150 million), Benny Hinn ($42 million), Creflo Dollar ($27 million), Kenneth Copeland ($35 million) and Billy Graham ($25 million), the list includes Nigerian plutocrat-pastors Bishop David Oyedepo ($150 million), E.A. Adeboye ($100 million), "Pastor Chris" Oyakhilome ($30-50 million), Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo ($30 million), and Temitope Joshua ($10-15 million). All of these pastors, both American and Nigerian, are known for having multiple opulent homes in multiple countries and their own private jets while relying heavily on nepotism to manage their empires. Less-known is that they also have sizable international operations: All of the Nigerian pastors listed above have missions in the US, the UK, and even Australia and Canada, all contributing significant contributions to their bottom line - and, of course, all tax-free. This past year, Pastor E.A. Adeboye made headlines in announcing a tour through Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea to plant new missions for his evangelical empire; in doing so, he raised the ire of human-rights and secularist groups who sought to have his visa application rejected for the demonization of LGBT people and the victimization of individuals accused of witchcraft. The visa was granted anyway, but the incident exposed just how lucrative evangelical preaching has become in some parts of the world.

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I Secularist Humanist Congress of Brazil

Medical Doctors Association of Rio Grande Sul (AMIRGS)

Av. Ipiranga, 5311 - Porto Alegre

Text by Sergio Viula

September 8th - morning

I arrived to the building of the Medical Doctors Association of Rio Grande do Sul, revenue to the I Secular Humanist Congress of Brazil (CHS2012) and it felt like home. It was great meeting up some many beloved people with whom, until then, I had been in touch by the Internet alone!

Ema Shirley, our charming master of ceremony

Eli Vieira and Åsa Heuser (president and vice-president, respectively)

Eli Vieira and Åsa Heuser opened the event, speaking about their experience with humanistic atheism. Eli focused on the achievements by LiHS (Secular Humanist League of Brazil). He also presented the surprisingly increasing rate of new members.

LiHS is an associate member of AAI and IHEU.

Åsa delivered a touching speech about her path from Astrology to Atheism, including her grandparents and great-grandparents' atheist thinking and attitude, with special attention to Finland, her family's homeland. It was exciting to learn that a friend of the grandparents' and his wife were responsible for the celebration of the first civil marriage in Finland, it is, without the presence of a pastor or priest. 

Dr. Maria Berenice Dias

Later, Dr. Maria Berenice Dias, a retired judge who has promoted human rights, with special attention to LGBT people in Brazil, delivered a brilliant speech, combining technique and heart. She spoke principally about the Sexual Diversity Statute and civil rights in general.

First moments early in the morning

Dr. Maria Berenice also addressed participants' questions and was enthusiastically applauded. She also joined LiHS, being immediately a declared member emeritus.



September 8th - afternoon

The afternoon activities were started by a panel composed by Alex Castro and Marcia Cristina Barbosa, being moderated by our dearest Natasha Avital. Focusing on "gender," Marcia Cristina presented figures and facts about women's rare presence in the field of Physics and demonstrated how, gradually, they have been occupying that space usually dominated by men.

Alex focused on the difficulty that people, who do not see themselves as part of any minority, usually gave so as to noticing prejudice and, as usual, the lack of rights for those minorities as far as the situation remains stable for them. He used his own experience in the USA as an example, since he had never faced racism in Rio, due to the fact that people used to see him as a white man. However, as soon as he arrived to the USA, he was discriminated as if he were "Hispanic."

Alex also mentioned sexual minorities, but gave special attention to issues related to male and female genders, though. He also highlighted the relativity of race.

Prof. Renato Zamora Flores

After lunch in the companion of beautiful and intelligent people, we had the privilege to hear Professor Renato Zamora Flores, who spoke on the problem of domestic violence against children. His speech "Beating does not educate: The science of dis-education by violence" was highly informative and challenging.

Professor Flores briefly traced the genealogy of that mistaken idea that beating children is effective in education, emphasizing Jewish-Christian traditions about physical punishment, highlighting the fact that "mammal's typical behavior which protects and strokes the offspring came to be seen as the cause to child infirmities." One of his best quotes to summarize his thinking is: "If pain is not a good pedagogical instrument at school, why should it be one at home?"

The researcher and lecturer made his work freely available under request at: rzflores@ufrgs.br

Coffee break

Dr. Marcos Rolim

After Professor Renato Zamora Flores' speech, Dr. Marcos Rolim assumed to the pulpit and spoke on public security and criminology. His lecture was called "Violence, fear and media." Dr. Rolim also has a site of his own: www.rolim.com.br. He worked on the numbers of violence, with special attention to the surprising fall in the number of homicides in Brazil, principally due to the decrease of violence in the state of Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Minas Gerais, although it has been growing in other regions of the country. His book about guns and their influence on the increase of violence can be downloaded, totally free of charge, on: www.rolim.com.br.

Philosopher Desidério Murcho

Later, PortuguesePhilosopher Desidério Murcho, Professor of the Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, approached "The meaning of life under a rationalist perspective." He also has a site (www.dmurcho.com), on which loads of material on Philosophy can be found. He approached Thomaz Nagel, Tolstoy, and Aristotle and quoted Fernando Pessoa. The thought that may summarize his lecture might be put like this:

If it is conceptually impossible that value exists apart from the organism that values what it needs for its own functioning, then there is no point considering the value of life as being apart from life itself.

Pr. Marcio Retamero (right) and Sergio Viula

Just after that long, but productive day, we left for the Skeptics in the Pub. Topic: Ufology.

Daniel Oliveira (right) coordinated the event whose issue was "Ufology"

The PowerPoint presentation was rich and great fun!

Kentaro Mori (left) and Jorge Quillefeldt (right)

An audience literally abducted by the lecturers (lol)

September 9th - morning

Sergio Viula, Marcio Retamero and Sílvia Mara

The first panel of the day was about Secularism and Religious Tolerance. The three guests were: Sílvia Mara, from an Afro-Brazilian tradition called Umbanda;Marcio Retamero, a pastor with an inclusive church, member of the Metropolitan Community Church, named Comunidade Betel in Rio de Janeiro; and Sergio Viula, ex-pastor, administrator of the blog Fora do Armário and president of the LGBT Council of LiHS.

The panel revolved around the idea that secularist humanism is a space of pluralistic aquaintance in contrast to the very many totalitarisms. That was the core of Sergio Viula's discourse.

Marcio Retamero highlighted the risks of a theocracy in 20 years' time if Brazilian politicians keep prostituting themselves with fundamentalist sectors, ignoring the very laicist principles that should guide our republic. He also spotlighted the fundamental role of liberal Christians, Atheists, Agnostics and Humanist Skepticals.

Silvia Mara spoke about Umbanda as a multicultural space that combines influences from Catholics, Spiritists and African religions, being able to integrate people of different 'races' and sexualities.

Jorge Quillefeldt

After the panel, Professor Jorge Quillefeldt spoke about Science and Humanism. His speech, rich in historical and scientific information, inspired the audience, spotlighting that Humanism is often in opposition to the non-secular power represented by the clergy, who will resort to the sword and the spear whenever they cannot afford to impose their dogmas through preaching, as we have witnessed historically.

Among the several thinkers he talked about, Brazilian Anísio Teixeira was highly recommended. To learn more about Anísio Teixeira and his contributions to Science and other fields, check: Anísio Teixeira.

Another thinker was highlighted is Bertrand Russell. I take the liberty to suggest an excellent text by Russell: Why I am not a Christian.

Among several online initiatives, Professor Jorge Quillefeldt keeps a blog that is great fun to read, but also rich in scientific and skeptical content (in Portuguese). It is called Ácido Cético and it is worth visiting.

Professor Quillefeldt closed his lecture with two brilliant quotes. One of them by Bertrand Russell:

"Three passions have governed my life: The longings for love, the search for knowledge, and unbearable pity for the suffering of [humankind]."


September 9th - afternoon


Carlos Diaz, president of the Atheist Alliance International (AAI), organization which sponsored up to 100 students' enrollment fees to the CHS2012 (LiHS), gave us a touching report on AAI's actions against prejudice and persecution launched against atheists worldwide, with special attention to Alexander Aan's case, after he simply said on his Facebook profile that God does not exist. Diaz also spoke about the case involving two cartoonists who are being persecuted in Tunisia.

Carlos Diaz emphasized that AAI has been providing lawyers' support and fighting for the rights of those persecuted for being atheists, secularists, free-thinkers, also seeking political asylum when necessary.

All in all, AAI seeks to mobilize atheists and free-thinkers all over the world to press on governments of other countries in which legislation allows or orders punishment and persecution against those who do not adopt a religion or belief in the existence of one or more gods. Among the projects sponsored by AAI, there is the development of a worldwide census of atheists, as well as accurate figures of persecution and discrimination based on prejudice against atheism, including those related to death.

Contact with Carlos Diaz can be made at: president@atheistalliance.org.

Carlos Diaz

After that, Professor Francisco Mauro Salzano, a geneticist with a Doctor's degree by USP and a PHD from Michigan University, currently working with UFRGS (Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul), spoke on "Where did we come from and where are we going to? What does genetics and human evolution can say about human nature?" The lecture approached anatomic-functional differences, as well as social organization, cognition and culture. Professor Salzano also considered the optimistic and the pessimistic views of the future of mankind.

Professor Francisco Mauro Salzano

The afternoon panel was brilliantly composed by Daniel Oliveira, moderator; Horácio Dottori, Carlos Orsi and Kentaro Mori. The teasing question was "Is skepticism arrogant?"

From the left to the right: Kentaro Mori, Carlos Orsi, 

Daniel Oliveira and Horácio Dattori

Astrophysicist Horácio Dottori said that skepticals take what people say so seriously that they go for confirmation of what is said. Dr. Dottori approached problems created by man himself, spotlighting that problems we create can often be managed or solved by ourselves. Differently from an asteroid in route of collision with the Earth, in which case we would not be able to avoid its destruction.

Journalist Carlos Orsi, was one of the pioneers in the journalistic use of the Internet in Brazil. He used to work with Agência Estado and highlighted that "reason does not exist in the vacuum, but operates based on pre-existing beliefs." That's why, he considers that person beliefs play a central role and, therefore, deserve a skeptical approach.

Kentaro Mori, skeptical who is extremely engaged, responsible for the site www.ceticismoaberto.com.br, launched in 2001, said that, with more than 61 million page visits, the site has attracted more people than the mystic ones, which are usually seen as the most popular ones.

Kentaro made it clear that modern skepticism deals with rational skepticism and the enquiring doubt, adopting the scientific method. He spoke of several occasions when ufologists, parapsychologists and spiritualists were challenged to offer what they would consider the most emblematic cases from the point of view of the supernatural so that they could be seriously examined and, if confirmed, demonstrate that their assertions were true. All of the people contacted declined the offer. So far, no acceptable proof of the veracity of the supernatural phenomena has ever been given, although ufology is 50 years old and parapsychology is 100.


Kentaro closed his participation by saying that open skepticism aims at two goals:

1. Educating people about the need of skepticism and critical thinking in our society;

2. Investigating pseudo-scientific and paranormal allegations in general.

It is worth visiting the site (in Portuguese): www.ceticismoaberto.com.br

Teacher Marina Reidel

Marina Reidel, transsexual teacher about to get a Master's degree in education and working with the Secretary of Education of Rio Grande do Sul State, spoke about here experience with the replacement of religion with ethics in a public school of Porto Alegre (capital of Rio Grande do Sul - RS), when she took the job eight years ago.

Marina also spoke about the work of the Secretary of Human Rights and of the Transvestites and Transsexuals Associaion of RS in the Central Penitentiary of Porto Alegre, where transgender prisoners used to be beaten by other prisoners, having recently achieved the right to abide in a wing specially created for them, which has proved to work very well as it became the most effectively administrated one. Currently, there are 40 transvestites under detention among more than 5,000 men in the Central Penitentiary of Porto Alegre.

According to Marina Reidel, there are more de 1,400,000 transvestites and transsexuals in Brazil. However, most of them have not managed to graduate from fundamental school, due to sexual and gender discrimination. That is a serious problem which has to be fought by inclusive policies and training of teachers so as to empower them to deal with sexual and gender diversity - office which Marina has currently dedicated herself to.

Thiago Neves (Kronus, the Magician)

Thiago Neves, who works as a professional magician and with James Randi Foundation, well-known organization which offers a one-million prize to anyone who effectively demonstrates any paranormal or supernatural powers, gave us an exciting speech. 

Thiago Neves spoke about skepticism, especially applied to denouncing religious or paranormal charlatanism. He would have taken part in the panel about skepticism in the afternoon, but his flight from Maranhão, where he was at work, delayed and he couldn't make it on time, but it was really great hearing his speech.

Dr. Francisco Marshall

The last lecture of the Congress was delivered by Dr. Francisco Marshall, professor at UFRGS, who presented historical atheism, showing a panorama with the development of atheist thinking. He approached religious, ethical, philosophical, moral, social, cultural and other aspects of human thinking, with special attention to the Greek thinking based on heteronomy, which means attributing the origin of norms to someone else, usually a divinity, in contrast with the concept of autonomy, which regards man as responsible for his own knowledge - idea adopted by the Greek philosophers.

He also approached the concept of isonomy, which means equality among all autonomous individuals - which came to be the genesis of classical democracy.

The autonomous thought is, therefore, fundamental, as it disposes of importation of heteronomous norms and moralities.

It would be impossible to register everything here, but all the panels and speeches will be made available on video very soon. LiHS is working on that in order to make the CHS2012 go beyond the conference center. So, wait and see. ;)

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The I Secularist Humanist Congress of Brazil was organized by LiHS with the sponsorship of HIVOS, IHEU, AAI and the suport of O Bule Voador, Studio Clio, Sociedade Racionalista and Coletivo Ácido Cético.