Humanity's quest for knowledge has been marred by conflict between those who would follow edicts from imposed authority, and those who use logic and examination in the search for truth. Historically, the two long-time combatants in the war for the mind of man have been religion and science.
      Perhaps the best example of religion's attitude toward scientific discovery is its resistance to the changing view of the universe. As long ago as the sixth century  B.C.E., astronomers like Pythagoras, and later Aristarchus, and still later Martianus Capella suggested, quite correctly, that the popular belief that the sun and planets revolve about the earth, called the geocentric doctrine, was wrong. "Not until the fifth century of our era did it* timidly appear in the thoughts of Martianus Capella; then it was again lost to sight for a thousand years.", said Andrew D. White in his book, A History of The Warfare of Science With Theology. 
     From behind the shadow of the holy Inquisition, history tells us of Nicolaus Copernicus (silenced, then vilified after his death in 1543), Giordano Bruno (imprisoned for six years, burned alive), and Galileo Galilei, around whom this war of ideas came to be concentrated (imprisoned, tormented and forced to recant at the age of seventy). Each of these seekers had challenged the prevailing geocentric theory, and suffered for it. An impartial reading of history illustrates again and again that religion has waged war upon science and persecuted its practitioners.
      As I read of the Pope viewing the Shroud of Turin on Sunday, May 24, that lengthy, hostile relationship came to mind. In his comments, the Pope encouraged scientists to continue testing the linen believed by many to have once held the body of Christ. 
      But in his book, Inquest On The Shroud Of Turin, Joe Nickell, Ph.D., examines the history of the shroud, and the results of the testing that has already been performed.  The single cloth, one of forty shrouds asserted over time to have been used as Jesus' burial shroud, is of a weave not known to exist at that time, and does not fit the description from the Bible (John 20:5-7) of multiple cloths with a separate one covering the face. Also, prior to the middle of the 14th century, there is no historical record of this particular shroud; at that time, evidence of fraud was uncovered by a bishop in France, and an
artist's confession was obtained, eventually leading to a report to Pope Clement VII, who officially declared the shroud to be a painted "representation" in 1389.
     It should also be noted that the hair of the image on the shroud appears as it would if its subject was standing, rather than lying down, and there are no wraparound distortions of the image as there would likely be if it had encompassed a body.  Tests on a stain, still suspiciously red despite the passage of time, have consistently failed to support the claim that it is blood. 
     Finally, the Shroud of Turin has been subjected to numerous other scientific tests, including Carbon-14 dating by three laboratories in 1988, resulting in close agreement of a period circa 1260-1390 C.E.  Scientific investigation deems it likely that the shroud is the work of a medieval artist. And, on this too, the church stands in opposition to the conclusions of
science.
     But, ah, how the tenor of the times has changed. The Pope asks that scientists respect both the "scientific methodology and the sensibility of the faithful". This demonstrates the change in the church's once merciless tactics. Science can no longer be bullied into acquiescence by religion.
     Still, despite his overture towards coexistence, the Pope demonstrates a misunderstanding of the nature of scientific inquiry. While the church teaches that unchallenged, unquestioned faith must guide the believer (and history certainly proves theists are willing to do whatever is necessary to ensure that goal), science is the pursuit of knowledge through supposition, experimentation and substantiation,  no matter where the conclusions may lead.
     Science is not, and must never again be, concerned with assuaging the sensibilities of the faithful. . . nor the powerful.

     Vouchers Hurt Children!  Private schools may accept or reject whomever they wish and for whatever reason.  Those children rejected, whether minorities, learning disabled, handicapped, dangerous or whatever, will still be the responsibility of public schools.  And with vast sums of education dollars funneled out of public hands, quality and services to public school children including those children rejected by private schools, will stress to the breaking point an already over-stressed and handicapped system. 
    Vouchers hurt teachers! Without government policies to guide them, private schools may hire whomever they

Dennis Coyier 
AAW Spokesman

How often do we ordinary mortals have a chance to ensure that our names live on as long as the human race survives? Each one of us now has that chance -- and not once but twice! 

The Atheist Alliance member societies are holding a contest to find the one perfect, universal, symbol that will 
represent all atheists throughout the world forever after. It will never -- unlike the American Atheists' atom orbital -- be trademarked or restricted in any way. 

The winner of the contest will receive a cash prize of $100 and have a star named after him or her by the International Star Registry, thereby assuring that his or her name will live on, both in human history and in the universe. 

When it ¡s chosen, the winning symbol will be publicized by all AAI member societies to their local media, so our 
new atheist symbol will get nationwide attention. The winner's name will also be publicized, with his or her permission. 

Some tips: The winning symbol will be easy to draw and easy to recognize and will lend itself to being made into 
jewelry, bookends, etc. 

Rules: Draw your symbol on a sheet of paper no larger than 8 1/2 x 11, using a separate sheet for each symbol you 
submit. You can draw it by hand or on a computer, but it must be drawn, however roughly, not just described verbally. 
Write a statement on the page about why you think the design is appropriate and why it should be chosen. Also write your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address on the same page, or staple that information to the drawing. 

Send all entries to Marie Castle, President, AAI, 5146 Newton Avenue North, Minneapolis, MN 55430. 

Deadline: All entries must be received by May 1, 1999. The Atheist Alliance board (made up of representatives of 
all Alliance member societies) will vote to select several top-ranking symbols. 

These will be voted on by all members of all AAI member societies. Votes will be tallied by June 30 and the winner will be announced in member societies' newsletters.