Home > Newsletter > February 2002

ATHEISTS GO TO SALEM

Salem "Witch" Museum

Actually the next American Atheists Convention is in Boston, Massachusetts, but the organization plans a side trip to the top spot for witchcraft in America. The American Atheists promotional material tells members to "jump start" their atheist convention experience with a trip to Salem, Massachusetts and the Salem Witch Museum. Although the actual atheist convention does not begin until Good Friday, they have set aside Thursday, March 28th to visit Salem.

Actually Salem, which once energetically discouraged witchcraft, now sells the Black Art as a tourist attraction. The city of Salem now has a three week Haunted Happening leading up to Halloween. The official event literature says the event opens with a "...mile-long concourse of events, museums, attractions, shops, haunted houses and fantastic dining that are the center of Salem Haunted Happenings."

JOE BOB THE ATHEIST

TNT Publicity photo of Joe Bob Briggs

The "big star" at this year's atheist convention will be Joe Bob Briggs. Joe Bob is a late night movie host for TNT (Turner Network Television). His show, MonsterVision, is a big hit with teens who stay up late at night on weekends. He has two columns syndicated by UPI including his "Drive-in" satirical movie reviews. Joe Bob is the "biggest" star ever to come out of the closet to perform at an atheist convention although most of those in Hollywood live godless lives whether or not they go to church.

The atheists want to claim "normality". Indeed much of their writings claim that morality can be found in one's self rather than in God. Yet, the star of their convention in 2002 will be a man who makes his living writing about horror shows and who was the host of a TV show that cannot be shown on TV before midnight because of its content. Hmmm!