The Wake

At tabling events last year, amongst the Christians and conservatives, the Deltas and the Democrats, one group’s slogan stood out. “Sell your soul for an Oreo,” read CASH’s tabling signs. The group’s display of characteristic wit and a certain appreciation for shock value did indeed draw in many prospective souls.

However, despite their collection of students’ souls (stored for eternity in beads, or “soul vessels”) the Campus Atheists and Secular Humanists are more concerned with students’ minds. CASH is a 14-year-old, non-profit educational and social group that emphasizes learning and debate in order to cater to the University’s community of “freethinkers” (a term which includes atheists, agnostics, humanists, skeptics, deists, Buddhists, rationalists, naturalist Quakers, philosophers, and any other like-minded individuals, regardless of religious or political ascriptions). According to the group’s website (www.cashumn.org), their mission is “to educate college students and the surrounding community on secular, naturalistic, and scientific thought by holding educational meetings and seminars, bringing in speakers, and attending events as a group.” They address issues including religious and civil rights, origins and developments of religions, and “positive, secular alternatives to religious systems and worldviews.”

In addition to the educational slant, CASH also serves as a social community for its members. Casual discussion at meetings and social events is an important part of the group’s activities. The topic for the night at this year’s new members meeting was “How did you become an atheist?” Conversation ranged from tales of pious upbringings, awkward religious encounters, the creation of an atheist hymn, and attending The Passion of the Christ with well-meaning Christians. “It was really confusing for someone who didn’t know all the mythology. I’m still waiting for Jesus 2; that’ll be good,” says Adam Birkholz, publicity coordinator.

While humor and a general lightheartedness are crucial to the group’s character, CASH does have a few more serious items on the agenda, including the promotion of a more positive image of atheism. One of the ideas brought up at the first meeting was make T-shirts that identified group members as atheists (those who don’t believe in a god) and humanists (those who ascribe to a philosophy of life inspired by humanity and guided by reason). “It’s important to get across the message that atheists are just like everyone else. One of our goals is to clear up misconceptions and facilitate understanding,” says Jenny Werness, welcoming chair.

CASH hopes to do this by drawing in more members and increasing its role on campus, which it describes on its website as striving to represent rational thought, advocate freedom of speech and freedom of religion, separation of church and state, and to be a “voice of reason and skepticism in a sea of supernaturalist dogma on college campuses around the United States.” Although the University has numerous religious groups, “CASH is the only group on campus that caters to the free-thought, secular community and it’s important to represent a big part of this campus,” says Werness.

So as the year begins, it’s time to be on the lookout for new and creative publicity techniques from CASH. This year’s plan? “Get Out of Hell Free” cards!