Something to Ponder When Dealing With Xians
Hugh Fogelman

Abraham Lincoln used to ask this question: "How many legs does a horse have if you call its tail a leg?"

What do you think the answer is? Some people say 5, or 4 or 3, or 1 or trying to outsmart the person who asks the question, zero.

But the answer Lincoln gave is "4." Calling "a tail" a leg does not make it a leg. A leg has definite properties. A leg is very different from an arm, or hip, face, or back.

When I first heard this I thought it was just a joke. But Lincoln had serious reasons for asking the question.

The American Secular Union, a nineteenth century freethought association, tried to spread the "secular message" by sponsoring lectures across the country. Since most halls would not rent to "blasphemers," the Union purchased tents in which to hold these lectures. One traveling educator representing the group was C. B. Reynolds, a former Seventh-Day Adventist.

Reynolds pitched his "Liberal Tent" in Boonton, New Jersey, on July 26, 1886. Soon after, he was arrested for blasphemy.

The Truth Seeker was at that time associated with the American Secular Union, and it followed the developments of Reynolds's arrest closely. In a three-part series, the American Atheist is reproducing the news of the Reynolds case as it appeared in The Truth Seeker.

During the 1880s, the American Secular Union, one of the leading freethought organizations of its day, sponsored several traveling freethought speakers and raised funds to purchase tents in which they could speak, since most halls would not rent to "blasphemers." One of these traveling educators, or "missionaries" as they called themselves, was C. B. Reynolds.

It was on such a tour that C. B. Reynolds pitched his "Liberal Tent" in Boonton, New Jersey, on July 26,1886, intending to lecture there for several nights. Two days later, on July 28, he was arrested for the crime of blasphemy.

The Truth Seeker acted at that time as the organ of the American Secular Union and followed the Reynolds trial with particular interest and sympathy. In a three-part series, the American Atheist is reproducing the news of the trial as it appeared in The Truth Seeker.

In 1886, C. B. Reynolds was tried in Morristown, New Jersey, for blasphemy; Robert G. Ingersoll, the "Great Agnostic," spoke on his behalf at his trial. Ingersoll's address to that jury has long been considered by Atheists to be a most poignant plea for freedom of speech and liberty of thought. Rightly so, for who having read them can forget Ingersoll's last words to the jury:

I sincerely hope that it will never be necessary again, under the flag of the United States - that flag for which has been shed the bravest and best blood of the world - under that flag maintained by Washington, by Jefferson, by Franklin and by Lincoln - under that flag in defence of which New Jersey poured out her best and bravest blood - I hope it will never be necessary again for a man to stand before a jury and plead for the Liberty of Speech.

I'm happy to find this site. Anything that Dr. Dawkins supports is good enough for me as a starter. There is so much to say, and yet, I would like to lurk a bit and think about the best way to contribute. Thanks for creating the site.

How it feels to free yourself of religion

Hey Baby, Can You Bleed Like Me?*

by Kat S.

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Blood.
Bleeding.
Normally it's a bad thing. When humans bleed we're in pain, we're injured, things are not right.
Except for 49-51% of the population. For almost a week out of every month.
We're women, and we bleed. It's a natural thing. Hell, as you read this there's a very good chance that a woman is near you or in the same house or apartment, and she's bleeding RIGHT NOW. Bleeding from her vagina. *gasp*
So many men reel in horror from this. We're not allowed to talk about our periods. It's "gross" and "dirty".