Thursday, August 20, 2009

Animal Shelter Volunteering Event

Over 20 volunteers participated in the SECULAR Center's August 15th event at a local no-kill animal shelter.

We took care of their cats by giving them some needed love and attention and cleaning their living spaces. After doing some touch-up painting, office work, yard work, storeroom reorganizing, and completing some special projects, we got to visit with the cats and kittens! The animal shelter provided us with drinks and snacks and were grateful to have the extra help.

There was something for everyone to do, including kids! Overall we got a lot accomplished and felt really good to help some animals in need. Check out our website for pictures!

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Over 1/3 of Volunteers Are Associated With Religious Groups

This is one reason why it's important for the godless to volunteer! Check out this article from the Houston Chronicle which says that over 1/3 of nonprofits get their support from religious groups. The Houston Chronicle has started an online community called HoustonBelief.com. HoustonBelief.com aims to facilitate a dialog about beliefs, values, faith and religion.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/6563306.html

Statistics like those quoted in this article further the perception that only religious folks do good in their community. To get involved with the SECULAR Center and volunteer in your community, please visit www.secularcenterusa.org and sign up for our e-mailing list.

Thanks!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Freidenkers - Anniversary of the Nueces Massacre

On August 10th, 1862 in Kinney County, TX a violent massacre of German Freethinkers (Freidenkers) occurred. Freethinking German Texans immigrated to Central Texas and some settled in Comfort, TX. The community was organized "along cooperative lines" and no church was built there until 1892.

These early Freethinkers sided with the Union and objected to the Confederacy's draft. They were fleeing to Mexico when they were overtaken by the Texas Confederate cavalrymen on the Nueces River. To read more about this historical event, and to find out who is the oldest autonomous Freethinking Society in the United States, go to http://www.exulanten.com/ansdrag.html.


Please take a moment today to remember the German Freidenkers who lost their lives 147 years ago.