Iron Curtain Falls—Into the Lap of Religion - December 1989 - Vol.5, No.2

Sep 28, 2026

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December 1989 Vol.5 No.2 examines how post–Iron Curtain liberalizations in Eastern Europe and the Soviet Union have strengthened organized religion. It describes Poland’s Catholic revival through parliamentary recognition, property restitution, and renewed ties to the Vatican, and it notes Soviet-era religious returns, new church construction, and international religious activity. The bulletin also includes reader responses debating whether the Secular Humanist Bulletin should adopt a “kinder, gentler” tone or remain sharply critical.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Iron Curtain Falls—Into the Lap of Religion

Readers Reject a Kinder,Gentler Bulletin

Where next for the Secular Humanist Bulletin?

Readers Reject a Kinder,Gentler Bulletin In the last issue we asked for readers'opinions on the tone and content of theSecular Humanist Bulletin.Should SHB goon reporting the foibles of religion and thereligious in its sometimes-caustic way,orshould the focus shift to "internal"humanistnews and the positive side of the secularmessage? We expected to trigger a debate.Instead—to no one's surprise more than our own—we got a mandate. The“Kinder,Gentler Bulletin?”pollattracted more reader mail than any othersingle item in SHB's five-year publishinghistory.By roughly four to one,readersurged us to keep the Bulletin on its presentcourse. Among the comments: “Regarding‘A Kinder,Gentler Bulletin?”let's not."(Leland M.Helms,RochesterHills,Minn.) “For God's sake,don't do it.”(Dr.DuanePierson,Hillsboro,N.H.) "Ask what Robert Ingersoll would wantdone.There's your answer.”(Craig Phillips,Dalls,Pa.) "Stay as tart as you are."(Mark Dalton,Seattle,Wash.) "SHB...is kind and gentle enoughalready.If possible,I would like to see moreand stronger criticism of religion."(Stephen H.Frey,York,Pa.) "Reporting foolishness in the name ofreligion...gives us something to laugh at,something to grieve over,and something towork against,all at the same time."(RobHardy,R.A.F.Lakenheath,G.B.) "If anything...be even more hard-hitting.After all,the religious certainly don't softpedal their attacks and criticisms of us.”(T. M.Hennig,El Paso,Tex.) "I suspect...that readers who dislikepuncturing religious pretensions are suffer-ing from what I privately call 'Liberals' TheSecular Humanist Bulletin Disease':a reluctance to come to grips withnasty situations and enter the arenas wherethey're being fought out."(Lee Burwasser,Landover,Md.) “One article about the cruelties orabsurdities of religions does more to shakepeople from religious certainty thanhundred philosophical arguments."(Dr.Steven Morris,Torrance,Calif.) “Sweet reason will never calm the fanatic;history amply proves that.Laughter,however,might make them duck their heads....Keep those cads and foibles coming."(Brian F.Wood,Arcade,N.Y.) "The worst mistake youcould makewouldbe to deal with religion by giving is a respectit doesn't deserve.To deal with the religiousin a respectol manner is a concession thatundercuts uic superiority of a life of reasonby granting a sort of moral equivalencebetwesn the rational and the mystical."(J.David Pittman,Fullerton,Calif.) “We are literally fighting for our lives.Don't deprive us of news from the front,and don't try to negotiate with the enemy.”(Robert J.ODonnell,San Rafael,Calif.) Voices were raised on the other side,too,some of them quite eloquently: “A strident,polemic tone may make thenonbeliever feel smug and powerful,but itprovides little help as we try to persuadeour associates to develop open-mindedness toward humanism.”(John W.Gwinn,Cuyahoga Falls Ohio) "Let us not debase our own image by wayof sarensm and ridicule....Let us representourselves and our beliefs as respectful of thedignity and humanness of our readers."(John W.Cook,Jr.,Tucson,Ariz.) “Of what possibie benefit is it to secularhumanism to belittle the beliefs of others?"(Bradford Smith,Berkeley,Calif.) “A kinder,gentler Bulletin would make(Continued on p.2) | The Seeular Humanist Bulletin is edited by Tom Flyn,Tom Frnezyk,and Andre Szalnakl supplement to FREEINOUTRY magzine and is published by the Council for
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Tim Malipu,ecwweliron,FRE INOUIRY,Lettersf editorial inguiries shoold r addressed to:The Editors,Secular Humaninr Bulkeni.Buffalo.NY 14215-0005 | | --- | December 1989 Vol.5,No.2 # Iron Curtain Falls—Into theLap of Religion Recent liberalizations behind the IronCurtain have not only been boons to thestruggle for democracy,they have also beenwindfalls for organized religion,which isrushing

FAQs

What changes behind the Iron Curtain influenced organized religion after liberalizations?

Liberalizations strengthened organized religion, enabling it to reclaim a privileged position across Eastern Europe.

How does the bulletin describe developments in Poland regarding Catholicism?

It reports Catholicism’s re-recognition by parliament, returned properties, restitution payments, restored diplomatic relations with the Vatican, and government ties that aim to “reform” liberal abortion laws.

What debate does the bulletin present about tone in the Secular Humanist Bulletin?

Readers respond to a proposed “Kinder,Gentler Bulletin,” with most urging the bulletin to keep its existing course and maintain sharp, sometimes caustic, criticism of religion.

Sep 28, 2026

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