Date:         Mon, 15 Nov 93 12:14:57 CST
From: Chris Carlisle <C24884CC@WUVMD.Wustl.Edu>

WHAT IS AMER?
The Alliance for Magical and Earth Religions (AMER) is a St.
Louis-based organization made up of representatives of several
distinct magical and/or Earth-centered religious traditions.  Our
members include witches, neo-pagans, Satanists, and Christians,
working together for freedom of religion for all Americans.

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE
1.  AMER will defend the right of every American to practice his
or her own religion, insofar as that religion's practices do not
directly harm anyone.  In particular, AMER will actively campaign
for tolerance for magical and Earth-Centered religions.
2.  AMER will work to promote a positive image for magical and
Earth-centered religions, and to counter negative propaganda
about such groups.
3.  AMER will promote cooperation among the various magical and
Earth-centered religious groups.
4.  AMER will serve as a source of accurate information on
magical and Earth-centered religions and practices.

DEFINITIONS
Magical Religion:  any religious belief or practice which
includes, as an aspect of its faith or an element in its ritual,
the practice of what they call magic or the use of psychic
powers.
Earth Religion:  any religious belief or practice which holds as
a tenet a reverence for the Earth.

HOW DOES AMER WORK?
AMER will provide speakers to schools, police groups, churches,
and anyone else who is interested about learning about magical
and earth religions.

AMER'S members work together to combat negative attitudes about
the occult by writing letters to individuals and organizations
who have disseminated incorrect information about the occult.  We
also help victims of religious discrimination through letters,
phone calls and personal contact.

AMER AND THE MEDIA
AMER monitors media coverage of topics which affect the magical
community. When one of our members sees an article or television
story which gives unfairor slanted coverage to an event which
involves "the occult", we contact the news organization in
question to express our disapproval.  We also write to commend
news organizations which provide what we see as "good coverage".
We hope that our efforts will promote fair media treatment of
members of magical and earth religions.


AMER AND THE POLICE
AMER's members are also available to work with police departments
to provide expert advice on crimes and rumors of crimes which
involve or appear to involve members of the magical community.

AMER AND THE CLERGY
AMER works to contact clergy of all faiths and let them know
about our concerns, in the hopes that they will come to
understand, and even to tolerate, magical and earth religions.

COMMUNITY SERVICE
AMER encourages all of its members to participate in community
service projects such as food drives, disaster relief, or
environmental projects.  AMER's St. Louis members meet every six
weeks to clean up a stretch of highway.  We feel that this highly
visible form of service helps promote a positive image for
occultists.

WILL AMER TELL EVERYONE ABOUT MY RELIGION?
The only members of AMER who are required to appear or speak in
public are the members of the Board of Directors.  If you wish,
your membership can be kept totally confidential.  In addition,
AMER does not promote or endorse the activities of any specific
religion, so you will not be asked to participate in any
religious activities.

AMER NEEDS YOU
None of AMER's goals can be accomplished without a large and
enthusiastic membership.  We need volunteers for a variety of
projects, from letter-writing to highway cleanup.  Money?  Of
course we need it, but we need you even more.

To help with an AMER project, send your name and phone number to
AMER Volunteers at the address below.  If address only, a small
donation for postage would help.

TO JOIN
You can obtain the necessary membership application forms and
other membership information by writing to AMER at the address
below.

TO CONTRIBUTE
Make checks or money orders out to Alliance for Magical and Earth
Religions and send them to AMER Treasurer at the address below.

FOR PUBLICATIONS
To obtain copies of AMER's "The Truth About Human Sacrifice",
"Dream No Small Dreams", "The Truth About Ritualized Child
Abuse", "Exercising Your Writes", "The Truth About Police
Harassment" or our newsletter, The AMER Intelligence,
send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to AMER Public
Information Officer at the address below.

ANY QUESTIONS?
Send your questions and (if possible) a stamped, self-addressed
envelope to AMER at this address.

Alliance for Magical and Earth Religions
P.O. Box 16551
Clayton, MO 63105
(314)994-1026

                         **************************
                         *     Chris Carlisle     *
                         *     Email Liaison      *
                         *           and          *
                         *     Vice-President     *
                         *  C24884CC@WUVMD.BITNET *
                         *            or          *
                         *  C24884CC@WUVMD.WUSTL. *
                         *           EDU          *
                         **************************