Pat Robertson has predicted that by the year 2000, the Christian Coalition will be the most powerful political organization in America with an annual budget of $250 million, and that the Christian American—the organization's main propaganda sheet—will reach 10 million households every month.

Diametrically opposed to the Christian Coalition is the People for the American Way, a liberal lobbying group founded by TV producer Norman Lear in 1981.

"The religious right has declared a holy war on the United States - but before they take it over, they have to deal with us," said Lear.

Currently the People for American Way has about 300,000 members. The group works to promote a vision of a "vibrantly pluralistic, democratic and tolerant society."

As their mission states:

Our purpose is to meet the challenges of discord and fragmentation with an affirmation of 'the American Way.' By this we mean pluralism, individuality, freedom of thought, expression and religion, a sense of community, and tolerance and compassion for others.

People For the American Way will reach out to all Americans and affirm that in our society, the individual still matters; that there is reason to believe in the future—not to despair of it—and that we must strengthen the common cords that connect us as humans and as citizens.

Contact:
The People for the American Way
2000 M Street, N.W. Ste. 400
Washington, D.C. 20036
(202) 467-4999

Counter Christian Coalition Resources
There are several organizations working actively to counter the Christian Coalition. Perhaps the most interesting is the Interfaith Alliance. These are folks of mostly mainstream denominations working to counter the Christian Coalition agenda. In Vancouver, B.C., they're being hosted by the First Christian Church. They can be reached for more information at tialliance@intr.net

Americans United for Separation of Church and State needs little introduction, I suspect, here. Their address is amer-united@aol.com.

Ditto for the Institute for First Amendment Studies (ifas@crocker.com).

Center for Democratic Renewal focuses primarily on explicit hate groups—the National Alliance, Klans, Skinheads—it's interesting that they should be including the Christian Coalition on their agenda (CDR@igc.apc.org).

National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, of course, always does good work (ngltf@ngltf.com).

From Chris Faatz (cfaatz@teleport.com) we share the above resources gathered from Mother Jones

Recommended Groups & Organizations
Americans United for Separation of Church and State
1816 Jefferson Place, N.W.,
Washington, DC 20036;
(202) 466-3234

People for the American Way
13323 Washington Blvd., #301,
Los Angeles, CA 90066
(310) 823-2860; Fax (310) 823-3947

Unitarian Universalist Association, Office of Lesbian, Bisexual, Gay Concerns
25 Beacon St., Boston, MA 02108;
(617) 742-2100

Unitarian Universalist Freedom of Religion Project
Phina Borgeson, 616 W. Wilson Ave.
#N, Glendale, CA 91203:;
(818) 549-0450

Freedom From Religion Foundation
P. O. Box 750, Madison, WI 53701;
(608) 256-8900.
Contact: Dan Barker, Annie Laurie Gaylor

Independent Humanist Ministries
518 S. Bayfront Dr., Balboa Island
CA 92662;
(714) 675-3964
Contact: Dr. Alan A. Snow

The Jesus Seminar
P. O. Box 6144, Santa Rosa, CA 95406;
(707) 523-1323

Coloradoans For Fair Property Taxation
John Patrick Michael Murphy, Chairman
431 South Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903;
Tel: (719) 633-5521
Fax: (719) 633-4283

Recommended Publications
The Freedom Writer, bimonthly with $25 membership from Institute for First Amendment Studies.
P.O. Box 589, Great Barrington MA 01230;
(413) 274-3786

Church and State, monthly for $18 per year from Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
1816 Jefferson Place, N.W., Washington, DC 20036;
(202) 466-3234

Skeptic Magazine, Michael Shermer, Published quarterly.
P. O. Box 338, Altadena, CA 91001;
(818) 794-3119

Voice of Reason pro-choice, pro public education, pro-church-state separation. Published quarterly.
Contact: Edd Doerr,
P. O. Box 6656, Silver Springs, MD 20916;
(301) 598-2447

"The practical work of Free Religion is to humanize the world-to make the individual nobler here
and now and to convert the human race into a vast Co operative Union devoted to universal ends. "

—Free Religious Association, 1867