Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers
Encyclopedia
Iowa Atheists and Freethinkers, Inc. (IAF) is a non-profit
501(c)(3) organization operating in the state of Iowa
, United States
. It is a social and educational group working to provide a community of support and friendship for atheists
, freethinkers
, secular humanists
, agnostics
, and other non-religious people.
The current president is Randy Henderson. IAF is a member of Atheist Alliance International
, an affiliate of the American Humanist Association
and American Atheists
, and a partner of the United Coalition of Reason
.
(DART) buses. The message of the ads stated "Don't believe in God? You are not alone." However, four days after being installed on the buses, the ads were removed by DART, who cited numerous complaints from people offended by the ads and insisted that the ads had not been approved by the advertising commission before being installed. DART also assured IAF that a refund would be issued for the ads.
On August 6, 2009, Iowa Governor Chet Culver
commented on the ad, stating that he "was disturbed personally by the advertisement and [could] understand why other Iowans were also disturbed by the message". The governor's statement heated the controversy, with the governor himself being accused of taking sides, divisiveness, and offensiveness towards the non-theist community. In response, IAF wrote a letter to the governor, expressing regret with his remark and inviting him to one of the organization's meetings.
On the same day, the American Civil Liberties Union
questioned the legality of the ad's removal, and requested a review of DART's advertisements policies. Also on August 6, 2009, DART reported that after the incident received media coverage, they received more calls in support of the ad than against it, and proposed that IAF re-design its ad and submit it for DART's consideration.
On the afternoon of August 7, 2009, the DART officials had a meeting with the representatives of the IAF during which IAF refused to consider running an alternate bus ad, stating that the removal of the ads is a freedom of speech issue, while DART agreed to update its advertising policies to "keep pace with [the] progress". Later during the day DART announced that the ads would be restored on the buses in an unaltered form.
As a result of the controversy, IAF membership doubled from what it was before the beginning of the campaign, while DART reported increased interest in bus advertising from other groups, including a religious one.
The controversy, however, re-ignited several days later when a DART driver was suspended for refusing to drive a bus with the IAF's sign, stating that the sign goes against her faith. On August 20, the ad was protested in downtown Des Moines by a local resident, who compared it to "pornography".
In the beginning of September, DART adopted a new, "more open", advertising policy, which required formal approval of any ad's design prior to the signing of the contract.
, protesting the practice of official prayer at the beginning of each day of the 2010 legislative session. The group maintained that the practice is a violation of the separation of church and state, as well as an unnecessary burden on the Iowa taxpayers, as the clergy members conducting the prayer are reimbursed for the prayer and the mileage, costing the taxpayers over $2,500 per session. Another concern was the fact that the doors to the House and Senate are closed during the prayer, and no one, including the clerks, legislative staff members, and visitors are allowed to get out.
In March 2010, the group protested the screening of "The Truth Project"—a DVD presentation by Focus on the Family
, a conservative evangelical Christian organization—in the Iowa State Capitol
. The group organized an alternative event at the Capitol, bringing Dr. Hector Avalos
, professor of religious studies at Iowa State University
, to talk about the evolution of intelligent design
—one of the topics covered by the Focus on the Family presentation.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
501(c)(3) organization operating in the state of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is a social and educational group working to provide a community of support and friendship for atheists
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
, freethinkers
Freethought
Freethought is a philosophical viewpoint that holds that opinions should be formed on the basis of science, logic, and reason, and should not be influenced by authority, tradition, or other dogmas...
, secular humanists
Secular humanism
Secular Humanism, alternatively known as Humanism , is a secular philosophy that embraces human reason, ethics, justice, and the search for human fulfillment...
, agnostics
Agnosticism
Agnosticism is the view that the truth value of certain claims—especially claims about the existence or non-existence of any deity, but also other religious and metaphysical claims—is unknown or unknowable....
, and other non-religious people.
The current president is Randy Henderson. IAF is a member of Atheist Alliance International
Atheist Alliance International
Atheist Alliance International is a global network of atheist organisations around the world. AAI was founded in 1991.AAI's vision is "to transform society into one that understands and respects atheism; that supports and respects a worldview based on the values of reason, empiricism and...
, an affiliate of the American Humanist Association
American Humanist Association
The American Humanist Association is an educational organization in the United States that advances Humanism. "Humanism is a progressive philosophy of life that, without theism and other supernatural beliefs, affirms our ability and responsibility to lead ethical lives of personal fulfillment that...
and American Atheists
American Atheists
American Atheists is an organization in the United States dedicated to defending the civil liberties of atheists and advocating for the complete separation of church and state. It provides speakers for colleges, universities, clubs and the news media. It also publishes books and the monthly...
, and a partner of the United Coalition of Reason
United Coalition of Reason
The United Coalition of Reason, or UnitedCoR for short, is a national organization in the United States that works to raise the visibility of local groups in the community of reason. Nationally this is done by conducting campaigns which highlight the fact that nontheists live in every community...
.
Bus ad campaign controversy
In August 2009, IAF sponsored a bus ad campaign, placing advertisements on twenty Des Moines Area Regional TransitDes Moines Area Regional Transit
Des Moines Area Regional Transit Authority operates mass transit service in the Des Moines, Iowa area. Bus service is provided to the cities of Altoona, Ankeny, Des Moines, Clive, Pleasant Hill, Urbandale, West Des Moines and Windsor Heights in Polk and Warren counties, Iowa, USA...
(DART) buses. The message of the ads stated "Don't believe in God? You are not alone." However, four days after being installed on the buses, the ads were removed by DART, who cited numerous complaints from people offended by the ads and insisted that the ads had not been approved by the advertising commission before being installed. DART also assured IAF that a refund would be issued for the ads.
On August 6, 2009, Iowa Governor Chet Culver
Chet Culver
Chester John "Chet" Culver was the 41st Governor of Iowa, from 2007 to 2011. He was also elected as the Federal Liaison for the Democratic Governors Association for 2008-2009. He founded the Chet Culver Group, an energy sector consulting firm, in 2011.-Early life and education:Culver was born in...
commented on the ad, stating that he "was disturbed personally by the advertisement and [could] understand why other Iowans were also disturbed by the message". The governor's statement heated the controversy, with the governor himself being accused of taking sides, divisiveness, and offensiveness towards the non-theist community. In response, IAF wrote a letter to the governor, expressing regret with his remark and inviting him to one of the organization's meetings.
On the same day, the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
questioned the legality of the ad's removal, and requested a review of DART's advertisements policies. Also on August 6, 2009, DART reported that after the incident received media coverage, they received more calls in support of the ad than against it, and proposed that IAF re-design its ad and submit it for DART's consideration.
On the afternoon of August 7, 2009, the DART officials had a meeting with the representatives of the IAF during which IAF refused to consider running an alternate bus ad, stating that the removal of the ads is a freedom of speech issue, while DART agreed to update its advertising policies to "keep pace with [the] progress". Later during the day DART announced that the ads would be restored on the buses in an unaltered form.
As a result of the controversy, IAF membership doubled from what it was before the beginning of the campaign, while DART reported increased interest in bus advertising from other groups, including a religious one.
The controversy, however, re-ignited several days later when a DART driver was suspended for refusing to drive a bus with the IAF's sign, stating that the sign goes against her faith. On August 20, the ad was protested in downtown Des Moines by a local resident, who compared it to "pornography".
In the beginning of September, DART adopted a new, "more open", advertising policy, which required formal approval of any ad's design prior to the signing of the contract.
2009 winter bus ad campaign
During the 2009 holiday season, IAF launched another bus campaign. The message of the ad was "Being good for goodness' sake". The ad did not generate much controversy and ran without incidents.Other activities
In January 2010, IAF sent a letter to Iowa legislatorsIowa House of Representatives
The Iowa House of Representatives is the lower house of the Iowa General Assembly. There are 100 members of the House of Representatives, representing 100 single-member districts across the state with populations of approximately 29,750 for each constituency...
, protesting the practice of official prayer at the beginning of each day of the 2010 legislative session. The group maintained that the practice is a violation of the separation of church and state, as well as an unnecessary burden on the Iowa taxpayers, as the clergy members conducting the prayer are reimbursed for the prayer and the mileage, costing the taxpayers over $2,500 per session. Another concern was the fact that the doors to the House and Senate are closed during the prayer, and no one, including the clerks, legislative staff members, and visitors are allowed to get out.
In March 2010, the group protested the screening of "The Truth Project"—a DVD presentation by Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family is an American evangelical Christian tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the 1980s...
, a conservative evangelical Christian organization—in the Iowa State Capitol
Iowa State Capitol
The Iowa State Capitol is located in Iowa's capital city, Des Moines, and houses the Iowa Senate, Iowa House of Representatives, the Office of the Governor, and the Offices of the Attorney General, Auditor, Treasurer, and Secretary of State...
. The group organized an alternative event at the Capitol, bringing Dr. Hector Avalos
Hector Avalos
Hector Avalos is a professor of Religious Studies at Iowa State University and the author of several books about religion...
, professor of religious studies at Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
, to talk about the evolution of intelligent design
Intelligent design
Intelligent design is the proposition that "certain features of the universe and of living things are best explained by an intelligent cause, not an undirected process such as natural selection." It is a form of creationism and a contemporary adaptation of the traditional teleological argument for...
—one of the topics covered by the Focus on the Family presentation.
External links
- IAF official website
- IAF on Meetup.comMeetup.comMeetup is an online social networking portal that facilitates offline group meetings in various localities around the world. Meetup allows members to find and join groups unified by a common interest, such as politics, books, games, movies, health, pets, careers or hobbies...