Atheists For Human Rights is a national, ethics-driven organization upholding an atheism that is confidently held, morally active, and vigorously opposes religions that are politically and socially predatory or harm innocent people.

• We are committed to making atheism visible in the community as a rational, responsible voice for secular morality.
• We sponsor well-advertised public forums regularly with well known speakers on topics related to the common good and maintaining a secular government.
• We run high-visibility "bold & proud" ads for our activities in mainstream newspapers and on radio.
• We produce atheist videos for our website video outreach project and also make them available on CDs.
• We submit letters and commentary articles to the media that are frequently accepted.
• We meet with media people to discuss our concerns and encourage fair and balanced coverage of atheism.
• We meet with public officials to make them aware of the secular community and express our concerns about the intrusion of religion into legislative action and to stress the importance of state-church separation
• We wrote a proclamation declaring 4 July 2002, "Indivisible Day," which was signed by Gov. Ventura on our behalf, causing an uproar by "Christian nation" fundamentalists that was front-page news in the St. Paul and Minneapolis papers.
• Our visibility generates invitations to debate religious-right radio talk show hosts on their political/social agenda and state-church separation.
• We are unique among atheist organizations in that, as a matter of official policy, we oppose the religious right's assaults on our freedoms and come to the aid of its victims. We do this with reason, civility, pride, and a passion for truth and justice.
• We provide a strong and effective voice for human rights within the atheist community and are developing a national network of citizens who seek the social and political right to be religion-free. We walk the talk. Our board consists of activists willing to help with the tasks of our organization. Our bylaws impose a high level of ethical standards. We operate openly and honestly at all times.
• Membership is open to all who reject supernatural beliefs and support the principles and policies of this organization. We thrive on new ideas and welcome everyone who shares our goals.

Moral High Ground Project

The Moral High Ground project has chosen the following funds to provide support and protection for these groups and to counter the efforts of religious zealots to impose their religious doctrines through law (other funding mechanisms may be added as resources increase):

Philanthrofund scholarship

Like the other Moral High Ground funding projects, it is unique in the freethought community. Each year since 2002 AFHR has donated $500 to be awarded to a GLBT openly atheist student at Pfund's major awards ceremony. This has created visibility and respect for AFHR within the GLBT community.

Grants to poor women to help pay for abortions

At least $200 each is given annually to funds such as the Women's Medical Fund, administered by Anne Nicol Gaylor from Freedom From Religion Foundation in Madison, Wisconsin, and through the North Dakota WIN (Women In Need) Abortion Access Fund, administered by the Red River Women's Clinic in Fargo. These funds serve poor women in areas where religion-generated abortion laws are irrationally restrictive and punitive.

Support for physician aid in dying

As opportunities arise, we support efforts by physician-aid-in-dying organizations so the terminally ill who want to die with dignity on their own terms have the legal right to do so.

Protection for children harmed by faith healing

As opportunities arise, we support the efforts of CHILD (Children's Healthcare Is a Legal Duty) to protect children from harm where state laws define faith healing as healthcare and exempt parents from prosecution when they allow children to die by substituting prayer for medical care.

Outreach Activities

Atheists for Human Rights is focused primarily on reaching out to the public in morally active ways to advance the atheistic worldview.

Charitable Outreach

We donate to secular charities that help young people and the homeless.

Highway Cleanup

In 2005 we took on an Adopt-A-Highway cleanup project. The work is done three times a year in spring, summer and fall. Large highway signs identify AFHR as the cleanup crew for a 4-mile stretch of highway in Lakeville that passes many churches.

Minnesota Alliance Of Peacemakers

We joined MAP and have participated in several of their events urging peaceful solutions to world conflicts. MAP is a coalition of churches and secular organizations working together in the cause of peace.

Interfaith Dialogue

AFHR is represented by invitation at regular interfaith gatherings hosted by Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, to find common ground in our common humanity to address the causes of social conflict and stress.

Speakers Bureau

Since 2004, about three times a year, we have been invited to give presentations on atheism to educational and social service agencies for their diversity training programs.

Fireside Chats

These monthly discussions about atheist issues are occasions for socializing as well as developing ideas for further activism.

Public Forums

This major outreach project was begun in June 2006 and continues. The purpose is to show the public how atheists support our constitutional freedoms, seek rational solutions to issues of civic concern, and promote the common good. These events are heavily advertised in local newspapers and on Air America radio.

Atheists For Human Rights welcomes you to join us! Membership is open to all who reject supernatural beliefs and support the principles and policies of this organization. We thrive on new ideas and welcome everyone who shares our goals. We have a long history of atheist activism, both as founders and charter members of freethought groups. We are a local partner of American Atheists.

To give you a good idea of what we are all about, call or email today to get the current newsletter and three introductory issues free. Our dues are minimal to enable as many as possible to become involved; however, they cover only basic operating expenses. Because our outreach projects are sometimes quite expensive, but extremely important, we must rely on additional donations from those who can afford it. We have no paid staff, so all income goes to office expenses and visibility projects. It's a pay-as-you-go system. We can do only what our supporters enable us to do. Please be generous.

You may join, renew, or donate with PayPal.
It's fast, free, and secure!
THANK YOU!

BENEFITS

The Moral Atheist, our regular newsletter, with informative articles and information about our meetings and activities. Sending it by email cuts our printing and mailing costs. PLEASE let us know about changes of address so we don't have to pay for returned publications. Thank you! Indicate on the support form whether you want to receive it by email, as a PDF file, or by postal mail - or both, for those who want a printed copy to pass on to others.

Running in Place:
The Cautionary Saga of a Few Fearless Atheists Pursuing a Reasonable Dream in an Unreasonable World by M.A. Castle (5.5 x 8.5, 40 pages, color cover), a history of our atheist activism from the 1980s to 2010.

You must request it on the support form.

BENEFITS continued on right =>

BOOKLETS

SPECIAL BOOK OFFER

The following books are available in limited quantities.

#9. Disbelief 101: A Young Person's Guide to Atheism
By S. C. Hitchcock
(130pp, soft cover)
Not just for young people! This cheerfully written case for atheism is a joy to read as well as informative. One of the best little atheist books we've seen. It addresses all the fears and obsessions that keep people of all ages resisting the truth and beauty of atheism.

#10. Whale Falls: An Exploration of Belief and its Consequences
By Cecil Bothwell
(224 pp, soft cover)
This is an astonishing book. The writing is superb and Bothwell's vignettes of survival and perseverance are so strange and compelling that it is hard to put the book down. The cover blurb summarizes them about as well as they can be: "Beginning with Neanderthal confrontation with a beached whale, Bothwell carries the reader across centuries and continents to listen to the ocean-spanning songs of modern-day cetaceans. Theory of mind, indigenous rights, LSD, Viking settlements, mummies, cancer, homesteading, chaos theory and terrorism all appear and recede beneath the wheels, beyond the wake of a vehicle carrying us forward to uncharted waters."

#11. The Prince of War: Billy Graham's Crusade for a Wholly Christian Empire
By Cecil Bothwell
(215 pp, soft cover)
This book does not do Billy Graham any favors. Yet it is written by an atheist who, despite that and exposing Graham's feet of clay in the midst of the Bible Belt, was elected to the city council in Asheville, North Carolina. Prince of War is an unauthorized but well researched biography of a religious manipulator who through years of talking peace and love aggrandized his power and influence with our nation's presidents by encouraging them to war - all to carry out the will of God. Graham's influence was enormous. "In every way," Bothwell writes, "Graham was the spiritual father of today's right-wing religious leaders who inject themselves into the realm of politics." Essential reading!

Location:
The Hub of Atheism
5146 Newton Ave. N.
Minneapolis MN 55430-3459

Directions: Take I-94 to the 53rd Ave exit on the north edge of Minneapolis and go west through the alphabet streets to Newton Ave, then go left (south) 1 & 1/2 blocks to the dome home on the dead-end street. (The 53rd exit is more direct than 49th.)

Letters and articles are welcome!

Phone:
612-529-1200
or
1-866-ATHEIST

Email: Communications Director.

Email: Video Manager for video questions, comments, suggestions, or special requests for video CDs.

Email:Webmaster for corrections or problems with our web pages.

Welcome to the Hub of Atheism!

Atheists For Human Rights has a geodesic dome as its headquarters. This unique architecture was developed by Buckminster ("Bucky") Fuller (1895-1983), an atheist, architect, environmentalist, and inventor. His ambition was to use science to help solve human problems and to find ways to do more with less.

The tragic death of his young daughter inspired him to find "what a single individual can contribute to changing the world and benefiting all humanity." The epitaph on Fuller's tombstone says, "Call me trimtab," referring to a small but critical aircraft part that holds a stabilizing component in position.

Much of Fuller's philosophy is expressed in the goals and strivings of Atheists For Human Rights.

Contact, location, & directions:
Hub of Atheism

EVERY MONDAY:  5-6:30 PM

Happy Hour
Location: Ol' Mexico Restaurant
On Lexington, two blocks north of Larpenteur, Roseville
Terrace level, right behind reservation desk.
Contact:
Paul Craven: 763-788-8918

1ST & 3RD MONDAYS:  6:30 PM

Toastmasters
Location: Larpenteur Estates Party Room
1276 Larpenteur Ave W, St. Paul
Contact:
George Kane: 651-488-8225

1ST TUESDAYS:  11:30 AM

Lunch Social
Location: Old Country Buffet,
County Rd B2 (east of Fairview), Roseville
Contact:
Bob/Marilyn Nienkerk: 612-866-6200

3RD WEDNESDAYS:  11:30 AM

Charley French Memorial Lunch
Atheists and Humanists get together to socialize and exchange opinions.
Location: Dragon House restaurant
3970 Central Ave NE, Columbia Heights
Private Room
Contact:
Bill Volna: 612-781-1420 or 612-781-1322

3RD FRIDAYS:  6-9+ PM

Fireside Chat
Here is our Fireside Chat schedule for January and February for those of you who are or will be in the Twin Cities area:

20 January: We'll show the DVD Margin Call on our 60" HDTV. It's a new, highly rated, timely movie about the Wall Street machinations that brought down our economy.

17 February: The DVD will be Inherit the Wind, starring Spencer Tracy as attorney Clarence Darrow, to celebrate Darwin Day. (Charles Darwin's birthday is 12 Feb.) This is the 1960 version, but with added scenes not in the original.
Darwin Day door prizes

As always, plenty of free food and drinks to go with the conversation.

Location, contact, & directions:
Hub of Atheism.

Contact: Hub of Atheism!

MEETUPS

Twin Cities Meetups
Email Scott Muir, Video Manager
Or visit Twin Cities Atheists
Southern Minnesota Meetups
Email Crystal Dervetski

MEMBERS/SUPPORTERS MEETINGS

Local: Ad hoc discussions at social events.
National: Announcements and discussions on AFHRbod Yahoo Groups, first 10 days of the month. To get on the list, just give us your email address. Significant issues discussed are covered in The Moral Atheist for reader feedback. It's all open, with decisions, if needed, formed by consensus if possible.

TWIN CITIES PUBLIC ACCESS

Our videos are played in Minneapolis and St. Paul on public access stations.
In Minneapolis, they are on MTN Ch. 17, Saturdays at 8 PM, and Fridays at 8 AM.
In St. Paul, they are on SPNN Ch 15, Tuesdays at 6 PM, and Wednesdays at 1 AM and 11 AM.
Thanks to Paul Craven and Bruce Hurtley for handling this.

American Freethought

Americans United for Separation of Church and State

Atheist Foundation of Australia Inc

Atheists of Silicon Valley

Campus Atheists & Secular Humanists (CASH)

Euthanasia World Directory (ERGO)

Final Exit Network

Freedom From Religion Foundation

Friends Free of Theism

IBKA Political Guide

Minnesota Atheists

Pharyngula