Atheists and Other Freethinkers

Description:
Protocol for Atheism Today: Possibilities and Practicalities
Sunday, Nov 11, 1:30-4PM
This past year has seen the rise of a phenomenon labeled in media as "The New Atheism." Is this all well and good? At the November AOF meeting, invited panelists (Paul Geisert, Hank Kocol, Cleo Kocol, and Paul Storey) will tackle questions of strategy to bring to light pros and cons of various approaches. How can atheists and freethinkers most effectively garner influence for their messages of reason and science and the necessity for secular government?
As stimulus material beforehand, panelists and audience will view a half-hour video medley excerpted from the recent "Crystal Clear Atheism" conference in Northern Virginia that garnered considerable press attention. Featured in the video segments will be the quartet of prominent atheist luminaries so often mentioned as central to the emergence of this new form of atheism. Subsequently, each invited panelist will provide 8 to 10 minutes of personal assessments and recommendations of strategy, before opening the floor to general Q&A.
The "New Atheism" This phenomenon directly confronts cultural views that have heretofore privileged mainstream religion. Even liberal religionists are no longer exempted from investigation or open criticism. The four (Oxford professor Richard Dawkins, author Sam Harris, and journalist Christopher Hitchens, and to a somewhat lesser extent, philosopher Daniel Dennett) have written books containing outright attacks on "faith" that are tough on mainstream religious people for their failure to confront the irrationality in their own belief systems. These books have sold very well, and through the rash of book tours and media appearances in which these authors have failed to give religion its "due respect," these men have brought "atheism" to the forefront as never before in recent years. Their messages have stirred much Internet discussion and controversy within freethought, religious and also scientific communities.
The "Crystal Clear Atheism" conference: This late September convention was organized by Atheist Alliance International, of which AOF is a member society. "Science must ultimately destroy organized religion; "God is a myth;" and "Children must not be schooled in any faith" is how one journalist described the shared points the major presenters offered at the September convention. Yet these celebrities do not think alike on matters of strategy. At the extremes, one calls for wearing of a red letter "A" on T-shirts to "Come Out as Atheists!," while another cautions not to rally around the word atheism, or actually, any term at all!
--Mynga Futrell

Location/Address:
Sierra 2 Center for the Arts and Community, Room 10
2791 24th Street
Sacramento, CA 95818-3255

Parking instructions:
Street parking and the Sierra 2 parking lot off of 4th Avenue and 24th Street.

E-mail contact:

Phone contact:
916.447.3589

General Meeting Information:
AOF meetings are open to the public and are generally held on the second Sunday of the month, from 1:30 - 4 PM at the Sierra 2 Community Center, Room 10. Note: The months of February and October are exceptions, since AOF co-produces two public education events: (1) an outdoor faire in October - "Sacramento's Freethought Day" (2007-10-07), and (2) a science and humanity celebration - Sacramento's "Darwin Day Educational Gala" (2008-02-10). Watch the newsletter for details.