Podcast appearances and mentions of vashti mccollum

We applaud President Biden's repeal of religious discrimination. FFRF joins in an abortion appeal to the United Nations, and appreciates a State Department reward for Avijit Roy's killers. Vashti McCollum's heroic lawsuit is honored and Gov. Greg Abbott's idea of education is exposed as indoctrination. FFRF attorney Sam Grover explains our brief challenging the Ten Commandments monument in Arkansas. Then we hear five black atheists explain why they left religion and discuss the special challenges African American nonbelievers face in today's world.

In this Episode of The GRID, host Chris Kuhlmann examines humanism on the heels of our previous podcast about the Barrington Declaration and the mention that Dr. Anthony Fauci had received the Humanist of the Year award for 2021. Chris discusses what humanism is and it's impact out society and politics and how little most Christian know about this belief system.   CREDITS Host: Chris Kuhlmann Written by: Chris Kuhlmann Produced by: Chris Kuhlmann Shaun Griffin Music composed by JD Kuhlmann Art: Shaun Griffin Sound: Chris Kuhlmann and Shaun Griffin Sponsor: Sand Castles Cottages of Lake Michigan Be sure to visit www.sandcastlescottages.com   Visit us at www.kingdompatriot.us and check out our Vision Video Email: admin@KingdomPatriot.US   HUMANISM: Good without God It so good for you to join me today on the Grid. Our topic today is humanism. Now this is not what we had planned for this week, but one of our listeners contacted me and was concerned that so many Christians were truly unaware of humanism…they couldn't define it, they can't identify it, they can't discern it, and therefore can see it for what it is. So thanks to our listener. We also know that when you reach out to us on the Grid, we listen. You can email us at admin@kingdompatriot.us, again that's admin@kingdompatriot.us if you want to email us directly.   Why this is so relevant is because last week w/ the podcast “Fauci and the Great Barrington” Declaration, we noted that Dr. Anthony Fauci was awarded Humanist of the Year in 2021. This is what prompted our listener to reach out and why we are here today discussing this. So let's break this down today into three parts: The first part will be to define Humanism and examine its origins. Part II will be a discussion in how this impacts the political and social arena…and Part III will be to cite specific examples of humanist thought in our government policy.   Part I What is Humanism   www.Dictionary.com any system or mode of thought or action in which human interests, values, and dignity predominate. devotion to or study of the humanities. (sometimes initial capital letter) the studies, principles, or culture of the humanists. a variety of ethical theory and practice that emphasizes reason, scientific inquiry, and human fulfillment in the natural world and often rejects the importance of belief in God. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism Humanism is a philosophical stance that emphasizes the individual and social potential and agency of human beings. It considers human beings as the starting point for serious moral and philosophical inquiry. Humanists International - https://humanists.international/what-is-humanism/ “Humanism is a democratic and ethical life stance that affirms that human beings have the right and responsibility to give meaning and shape to their own lives. Humanism stands for the building of a more humane society through an ethics based on human and other natural values in a spirit of reason and free inquiry through human capabilities. Humanism is not theistic, and it does not accept supernatural views of reality.” — The Minimum Statement on Humanism, Humanists International A humanist bases their understanding of the world on reason and scientific method (rejecting supernatural or divine beliefs as bad explanations or ill-formed ideas). A humanist bases their ethical decisions again on reason, with the input of empathy, and aiming toward the welfare and fulfillment of living things. A humanist is someone who recognizes that we, human beings, are the most curious and the most capable curators of knowledge in the known universe. To gain knowledge, we must use our reason and experience to understand the world. And we may create or partake of the great artistic fruits of humankind to enhance our emotional palettes, deepen our empathy and enrich our understanding. But we reject any reliance on blindly received authority, or on dogma, or what others may claim is divine revelation (because we don't believe we get tip-offs about truth from a supreme being beyond time and space. That would be cheating!) A humanist is someone who recognizes that we, human beings, are by far the most sophisticated moral actors on the Earth. We can grasp ethics. This does not mean we are the only moral objects. For example other animals deserve moral consideration, too, and perhaps the environment as a whole. It is also worth noting that some other (non-human) animals exhibit patterns of behaviour that look a lot like care, empathy, in a few cases even apparently responding to what looks like ‘unfair' behaviour by seeking to redress it! These different types and stages of animals thinking about others may be taken as evidence of how ethical behavior evolved in human beings. However, humans do seem to have a unique capacity for moral choice. It would be unusual for example to say that a dog or a dolphin had behaved “immorally”! But when it comes to humans, we are able to choose to act in the interests of the welfare of living things, advancement of society, and fulfillment of our own and others personal goals… or against them! This choice and our knowledge of that choice makes us ‘moral actors'. To act well, we must take responsibility for ourselves and others. We do not do this for the sake of preferential treatment in any afterlife (even if we believed in it, that motivation wouldn't make our actions good!). We do it because the best we can do is to live this life as brilliantly as we can. That means helping others in community, advancing society, and flourishing at whatever we do best within those bounds. And humanists are people who find value in themselves and each other, respecting the personhood and dignity of fellow human beings. We respect other people not because we are made “in the image” of something else (we are a product of evolution, not the product of a divine plan), but because of what we are. We are a sentient, feeling species, with value and dignity in each individual, and that is worthy of respect. There is no reason to believe that “meaning” has to come from a supreme being. If you can write a sentence on paper which isn't nonsense, then you can create meaning! For a humanist, there is no divine plan or purpose. The humanist recognises that we make our own purposes, tell our own stories, set our own goals. This gives life meaning.   So what are the origins of humanism?   https://americanhumanist.org/about/our-history/ According to the American Humanist Association, which by the way on their website, says “Good without God”, Humanism really began to take root in the renaissance. However, its roots are in ancient Greek thought. It evolved during the Reformation, Enlightenment, and scientific revolution and began to resemble its current form in the late nineteenth century.   In 1933, a major humanism milestone was achieved with the creation of the Humanist Manifesto supported by 34 national leaders including John Dewey. The American Humanist Association was formed in 1941.   During the 1940's the association was supportive of Vashti McCollum in her fight against religious instruction in schools. She was the plaintiff in the landmark case McCollum vs Board of Education which struck down religious education in schools.   Don't tell me for an instant, that sitting on the sidelines doesn't have a devastating long-term effect. Vashti later served two terms as the president of the American Humanist Association in the 60's   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_Sanger One of the earliest recipients of the Humanist of the Year award was Margaret Sanger in 1957 for her activism for birth control and sex education. Another total winner in a God-void world-view. She popularized the term “birth control” and created organizations that evolved into the modern day planned parenthood as we know them today. It seems debatable if she promoted abortions or discouraged them, but wanted to avoid back alley abortions and the like. However, what is less arguable is her support for eugenics.   https://www.americamagazine.org/politics-society/2020/07/28/margaret-sangers-extreme-brand-eugenics?gclid=Cj0KCQiAuvOPBhDXARIsAKzLQ8HMTIR9Z6OlimN7ThGef1ExzsIFu59Im8j9KxNBPjR6-kDCwS2eqz4aAp1kEALw_wcB In fact, her name has become such a lightening rod, that Planned Parenthood removed Margaret Sanger's name from their headquarters. She is supported sterilization of those with mental and physical disabilities allegedly calling them “morons, mental defectives, epileptics”.   To sum up her beliefs, listen carefully to these next few sentences quoted directly from the American magazine “It argues that to preserve racial hygiene, the government should enact three coercive measures. First, it should sterilize those with mental and physical disabilities, including “morons, mental defectives, epileptics.” Second, it should segregate on state-run concentration farms a much broader public of impoverished and criminal citizens, including paupers, prostitutes, drug addicts, illiterates and the unemployed. If the second group reformed its behavior and accepted sterilization, it could return to mainstream society. By Sanger's own estimate, 15 million to 20 million citizens would live under this regime of segregation and sterilization. The third initiative would be obligatory birth-control training for mothers with serious diseases, such as heart disease, in an effort to persuade them to renounce any future childbearing. This program was not about “choice.”   This podcast is not about Margaret Sanger, but what I'm trying to show you is how progressive humanism is. If we believe in Christ, we could never, never support policies like this.   So back to the history https://americanhumanist.org/about/our-history/. In 1973, Humanist Manifesto II was born. In 1991, the Humanist was recognized as an alternative forum for social and political commentary. Fast forward to 2008 and 2009 and the AHA starting placing billboard adds directly appealing to those who are not of faith with slogans like “Why believe in God? Just be good for goodness sake” or “Don't believe in God? You are not alone.”   I could go on and on, but I think you get the point. This movement was just a place for those to congregate who did not believe in God, but today they are active in promoting anti-God messages that our society has lazily accepted.   Part 2 The Impact on the Social and Political Arena We want to examine how this impacts the social and political arena. So let's take a look at the principals we just talked about: Emphasizes Reason Trusts science Rejects God and religion Human beings are the author of morality The supernatural is made up of bad decisions or ill-formed ideas Human beings are the most capable of knowledge in the universe Human beings are the determiner of their own fates Humans can grasp ethics and are the most capable of any creature on earth   It's not just politics, but there are some on this list…it's that humanism has invaded every aspect of society. Here's just a few examples of humanists according to the AHA   Bestselling Authors Joyce Carol Oates Isaac Asimov Salman Rushdie   Scientists and Science Advocates Steve Wozniak Bill Nye Carl Sagan   Philosophers John Dewey   Prominent Activists Gloria Steinem Betty Friedan Jack Kevorkian   Political Leaders Barney Frank Pete Stark   Actors, Directors, Writers, and Entertainers Oliver Stone Gene Roddenberry Katharine Hepburn Kristen Bell   Media and Journalism Amy Goodman Cenk Uygur Michelle Goldberg Ira Flatow Pacifica Radio Foundation The Onion   It's no wonder that humanism is so pervasive. In fact, sometimes I struggle if politics is the cause or the result. Maybe we elect humanistic leaders because we are inundated with humanistic thought by authors, scientists, philosophers, activists, political leaders, Hollywood, and media.   So let me ask in a form of a question, the essence of part II of this podcast. If we are bombarded with humanism in every aspect of life and we have people in powerful positions of government who are dedicated humanists, how could we not believe that this would have a profound impact on government policy?   Part 3 Examples What are some examples? Well I suppose we could work backwards. Who is in control of the federal government's policies regarding the COVID19 pandemic and vaccines and vaccine mandates? Of course, Anthony Fauci. And what do we know about Anthony Fauci? That's right, a dedicated humanist who inherently believes in the goodness of man. So let's look at his recommendations and policies You should mask up everywhere You should get the vaccines and boosters We should make the vaccines compulsory You should do all of this for your fellow man We should trust the experts The science is clear We know best Do you see how the humanistic thought is pervasive in these recommendations? There's no trust in Christ, no praying about direction, it's about those who we are supposed to trust making decisions about the betterment of society and anyone disagreeing with that is to be vilified, ostracized, attacked, etc. If you didn't listen to last week's podcast on Fauci and the Great Barrington Declaration, I highly suggest you do so. Knowing about the Great Barrington, it will bring chills to your spine on what I'm about to share. It has been recently uncovered that Fauci covertly conspired with other so-called experts to discredit the Great Barrington Declaration almost from the onset? Why? Because it wasn't his science, and there ladies and gentleman is the most disturbing, the most concerning, an offense to God, is man's utter believe in himself, his science, and the belief that he can dictate, control life itself. The humanist truly believes there is no creator, so that we must trust in ourselves. Yet time and time again in history, science over-time actually confirms the existence of our God and often refutes previous science thought to be the beginning and end of all wisdom. Let's say for instance, when the earth was flat - that's what all the scientists said.   What will the scientists say in 100 years about COVID19. I feel confident it won't be “the experts got it right.”   So, I don't mean to go on a Fauci rant nor on our government, but rather to educate you on the pervasive parasitic nature of humanism - man believing in man, believing in the goodness of man, in the salvation of one's self, void of God is a stench in the eyes of Almighty God. If man was all that, Jesus would never have had to come and save us. No my friends, we know the human heart is wicked and is in desperate need of savior - whether it's my, my wife and kids, my neighbor and friends, or Fauci, Biden, and Trump. We all need Jesus and any hope in man is hope ill-placed.   I implore you to keep your eyes out on where you can always refocus on Christ. When you see man relying on man, gently remind them that the Lord is in control, even when we don't see it, we must turn to Christ or the fearful pandemic of our hearts will never end.   I hope this was helpful in better understanding what the implications of “Humanist of the Year” really means.

Recorded live, Friday, January 24, 2020, Dan McCollum: McCollum vs. Board of Education, 1948. Presentation and Fellowship, Dan McCollum.  Will this Supreme Court change its mind about school prayer? That particular separation of church and state, however incomplete today, would not have become law of the land had it not been for the instigation of a local mother, Vashti McCollum of Champaign, and a minister, Philip Schug, of the local Unitarian Church. Long ago, religion was part of the public school curriculum and informally, to some extent, remains so to the present. In the 1940s, voluntary religious instruction was provided by selected local ministers for children in Grades 4-9 during school time in public school classrooms. Keeping with the family’s values, Vashti withdrew her son James from the instruction, but found him harassed. She sued the Board of Education and it became McCollum vs. Board of Education. She was greatly assisted in pursuing the case by Rev. Schug. This singular history and the support of Philip Schug will be described in a presentation by Vashti’s son, Dan McCollum. McCollum is a distinguished local historian and a former mayor of Champaign. 

Continuing our series of discussions exploring religious freedom, Alastair Lichten spoke with secularist activist Annie Laurie Gaylor. Annie Laurie is a co-founder of – and, current co-president of – the Freedom From Religion Foundation. This is part of a series of interviews leading up to our major conference in May, Secularism 2019: Reclaiming Religious Freedom. www.secularism.org.uk/2019 Watch this episode on YouTube. | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cspncemMA9A&feature=youtu.be Links from Annie Laurie Freedom From Religion Foundation | https://ffrf.org/ One Woman's Fight, by Vashti McCollum | https://www.amazon.co.uk/One-Womans-Fight-Vashti-McCollum/dp/1877733083?ie=UTF8&tag=natisecusoci-21 The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American, by Andrew L Seidel | https://www.amazon.co.uk/Founding-Myth-Christian-Nationalism-American-ebook/dp/B07JN4K3PY?ie=UTF8&tag=natisecusoci-21 Find more reviews at www.secularism.org.uk/reviews Make a stand for freedom, fairness and human rights by adding your voice to the call for a secular democracy. Join the National Secular Society today.| www.secularism.org.uk/join Subtitles are being added to all podcasts hosted on YouTube. Transcripts are available at: www.secularism.org.uk/transcripts

Why are "acts of God" and "gifts of God" always so bad? This week we report on theocratic politicians, more football prayer, and an early "holiday" controversy in Texas. Then hear interviews of Vashti McCollum, whose historic 1948 Supreme Court victory removed religious instruction from public schools, and Roy Torcaso, whose equally historic 1962 Supreme Court decision affirmed there should be no religious test for public office, in FFRF's 1988 film "Champions of the First Amendment."

Guest: Dannel McCollum, author of The Lord Was Not on Trial: The Inside Story of the Supreme Court's Precedent-Setting McCollum ruling, will talk about his new book: about his mother Vashti McCollum's landmark lawsuit. The hosts will also talk briefly about nontheistic musicians born in June and  Ayaan Hirsi Ali's new book, Nomad.

Jim McCollum, who at age 10 became the center of a huge legal battle against religious instruction in the public schools, will talk about the 60th anniversary of the Supreme Court decision, McCollum v. Board of Education, keeping schools free of indoctrination. The show will also pay homage to several other anniversaries of significant Supreme court decisions affirming separation between church and state. Listen for cameos of famed litigants Roy Torcaso, Ed Schempp and Vashti McCollum.

Features an interview with attorney Jim McCollum, whose experiences as a 4th grader in his Champaign, Illinois, public classroom with illegal religious instruction caused his mother, Vashti Cromwell McCollum, to challenge the violation in court. The result? The landmark 1948 decision, McCollum v. Board of Education, which is prevailing precedent against religion in public schools. The show includes rare audio clips of Vashti McCollum talking about the case. Vashti died in August at age 93. The show includes a Theocracy Alert, news, a pop disbelief quiz, and music. (MP3, 54 min, 24.5 MB)