To: D**
From: Darwin Bedford <Darwin@atheists.net>
Subject: Re: Atheism - I've a question/need help

Atheism is not (legally) classified as a religion (yet) otherwise there would tax free places for atheists to meet.  So you might be in trouble or loose marks because of it.  I can offer you my 2 cents on these topics and I think most humanists (atheists that care) would agree with me.

Capital Punishment

I'm with Amnesty International all the way on this one--that is an absolute no, it should never occur.

Embryonic Stem Cell research

Research is the only way to the truth.  If we can be sure not to create harm to humans then lets give it a green light.

Adoption rights for gay couples

Of course -- two care givers are 4 times as good as one.  It's no more a hardship for a child to be raised by a couple of the same sex than it is for a child to be a king's son or a president's daughter.

Sex education in elementary school

Of course -- sex is not a sin -- need I say more?

Economic growth vs. environmental conservationism

Economic growth is not growth in our standard of living unless we hold the environment as our most sacred possession.

International trade in Humans

Absolutely not.  Humans are not commodities (if/when we can do anything about it).

Animal rights

Hey, what about children's rights?  Children should have a lot more rights then they do.  We should be as humane to animals as practically possible.  We must keep in mind that life feeds on life, feeds on life, feeds on life...


Darwin Bedford
www.atheists.net



At 06:47 PM 8/13/01 -0400, you wrote:

I am currently taking a college class on world religions, and am doing a project where I need to chose a religion of my choice and "debate" topics from the viewpoint of that faith.  I have chosen Atheism as my "faith" to debate.  Atheism has always interested me as I've always been Agnostic myself but am coming more and more to believe that their truly is no God.  And now is the perfect time to find out more about
the faith.
Here are the topics I need to debate:
Capital Punishment
Embryonic Stem Cell research
Adoption rights for gay couples
Sex education in elementary school
Economic growth vs. environmental conservationism
International trade in Humans
Animal rights

Your help is greatly appreciated and I am doing my own exploring into Athiesm.
But I haven't found anything in actual print; only things on the web.
Thanks.
D**