Secular Coalition for America: The Beat Goes On

The labors of the Secular Coalition for America (SCA), which advocates in Washington for non-theistic issues, continue to bear fruit. Consider the following:

• The Nation: Rediscovering Secular America (including an early connection made by the SCA with then Senator Obama)
  
• Freethought Radio interviews new SCA Executive Director Sean Faircloth (click on the archive for June 27, 2009, and fast forward to 18min 17sec)
• Nevada Public Radio interviews SCA Founding Director Emeritus Lori Lipman Brown (look for Lori's name and click on Listen or Download MP3; Lori spoke at the Bergen Society in September, 2008)

The American Ethical Union (AEU), which is among the coalition's ten non-theistic organizations, hosted the SCA board at the recent AEU Assembly in St. Louis.

Freethinkers sense nation near cultural shift

Ethical Culture continues to reap the benefits of rising national and local interest in humanism. This is evidenced most recently by The Bergen Record article of Thursday (3/12/08), in which staff writer John Chadwick reports Freethinkers Sense Nation Near Cultural Shift (click for article).

As if to tie the local and national scenes together, EC Sunday school teacher Lisa Repasky is prominently mentioned, as is the Secular Coalition for America (SCA), the DC-based organization that lobbies exclusively on behalf of nontheists. The Bergen Society's national umbrella organization, the American Ethical Union (AEU) is a member of the SCA.

Such press exposure underscores the need for local and national organizations to work together in common cause. The Bergen Society focuses on local issues, and its Sunday school is youth and family-focused. The SCA, on the other hand, concentrates on national issues of fairness, and leaves local action to its coalition members. But the two groups benefit from each others' efforts. Verily, this is common cause in action.

UPDATED: The Godless Rise As A Political Force

"Secularist, humanist, freethinking nontheists and atheists are coalescing into a movement with a real agenda"

The title and subtitle of this blog entry are borrowed from the cover story of the March 7 issue of the National Journal (see The Godless Rise As A Political Force (PDF)). In it, Paul Starobin reports on the growing number of religiously unaffiliated Americans and the political movement that grows with them. Center stage is the Secular Coalition for America, of which the American Ethical Union (Ethical Culture's national organization) is a member. Regulars will recall that the SCA's former Director, Lori Lipman Brown, who is prominently mentioned, addressed the Bergen Society last September.

There is an opportunity for religious humanism, the Ethical Culture movement in particular, to rise with this political tide. Ours is perhaps the largest family-friendly organization of nontheists in America today. As adult "questioners" hear more about the larger national movement, it seems inevitable that some will seek a sympathetic setting for their children. Who they gonna call?

If they are lucky enough to live near one, they'll call the Ethical Culture Society (see local Societies). Here their children will be taught critical thinking and ethical behavior without the burden of dogmatic belief. We better be ready!

THIS JUST IN: See Paul Starobin discuss his article (click) with callers on C-Span (was broadcast on Sunday, March 8, 2009, at 9:30am ET). Fast forward to 1:31:30.

Lori Lipman Brown steps down as SCA Director

See this article. Best of luck to Lori Lipman Brown, who has gotten America's first lobby for nontheists off to a flying start.

Can't wait to see the new Executive Director!

SCA on NPR

Lori Lipman Brown, Director of the Secular Coalition for America and past speaker at ECS/Bergen, was interviewed on NPR radio on (of all days) December 25, 2008. Check it out here (Lori is at 9 min, 20 sec).

Lori Lipman Brown Addresses Bergen Society

Lori Lipman Brown, Director of the Secular Coalition for America, addressed the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday. Ms. Brown described three years of ups and downs since the 2005 activation of the SCA, the national lobby representing the interests of atheists, humanists, agnostics, freethinkers and other nontheistic Americans. During this time the SCA's staff has grown from one to five (including two part-timers). By and large, according to Ms. Brown, her efforts have been respectfully received by members of congress, their staffers and the general public.

In light of the presidential election, the SCA has published an online resource for where the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates stand on issues important to secular voters and their allies. The website, Secular Values Voter (tm) Resources is a potent source of information that can be used to compare the positions of the major party candidates.

Also touted during her address is the SCA's Action Alert page, which can notify interested citizens of opportunities to influence elected officials on federal legislation affecting the rights and values of nontheistic Americans. This reporter can attest to the ease and discretion surrounding this service. If you want to have an impact, sign up for the Action Alert page.

The Platform was attended by an estimated 70 people.

Lori Lipman Brown on Colbert Report

Lori Lipman Brown, Director and chief lobbyist of the Secular Coalition for America, is hot! In addition to her earlier appearance on the O'Reilly Factor, she recently appeared on the Colbert Report's Better Know a Lobby segment (6:56):


and (1:22):


Stephen Colbert's first order of business is to develop (often absurd) comic situations for the benefit of his audience. Unlike mainstream "serious" interviewers he frequently uses the interviewee as a foil for his gags. This irreverent approach lets America laugh at itself, often at the direct expense of a prominent and serious minded public personality.

Lori is in very good company insofar as Colbert has done this with senators, congresspersons, governors and the like. In the 5 1/2 minute aired portion of Lori's interview for example, he quickly steered the topic to Lori's lobbying efforts on behalf of sex education so he could then sidle his way to sex. He followed that with a rendition of God Bless America, which framed nicely, one must agree, with his earlier attempt to swear in Lori on a bible. Very funny stuff.

Lori held up well, exhibiting the patience and professionalism that has been so effective in her nascent role as America's chief nontheist lobbyist. With their logo displayed repeatedly on this highly popular late night television show, the Secular Coalition for America's mission statement was excerpted in an on-screen graphic: "...to protect and strengthen the secular character of our government".

Lori was able to tell America that the SCA was created "because nontheists felt they needed a voice in Congress [as] they ... watch[ed] their tax dollars ... spent on faith-based schemes", including "children learn[ing] bible stories in science class". All the gags and silliness aside, this is the kind of publicity the doctor ordered. Well done, Lori!

Lori Lipman Brown is scheduled to address the Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on Sunday, September 21, 2008, at 11:00AM.

Lori Lipman Brown: Coming to Teaneck

Lori Lipman Brown, Director/Lobbyist for the Secular Coalition for America, has agreed to address the Ethical Culture Society on Sunday, September 21, 2008. The SCA is the first and only organization that lobbies Congress on behalf of nontheists. See their mission statement here.

A former Nevada state senator, Lori has frequently appeared on television, radio and print media, including this appearance on The O'Reilly Factor (Lori appears at about minute 1:20):

and this interview by Gregory Walsh:


The American Ethical Union (AEU), national organization of Ethical Culture, is a member of the SCA.

Meet SCA's Lori Lipman Brown on July 26

As of the recent AEU Assembly, the American Ethical Union is now a member of the Secular Coalition for America, the Washington, DC, based lobbying organization whose mission includes "increas[ing] the visibility and respectability of nontheistic viewpoints in the United States". (The AEU is the national umbrella organization for all Ethical Culture Societies.) As reported earlier in this blog, the SCA counts among its Directors some of the most prominent "new atheists", including Richard Dawkins and Sam Harris, as well as author Salman Rushdie.

Lori Lipman Brown, the SCA's fulltime lobbyist, is coming to New York City for a meet-and-greet titled “A Skeptic Goes to Washington”, hosted by the NYC Skeptics. The event is free and open to the public. Show your support for the importance of nontheist issues on the national scene by attending. Then report your impressions as comments to this blog post. Your freedom is important!