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Activities Overview (Detailed Listings Below)
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September 2008
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October 2008
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Sun Sept 14
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11:00am
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Board Meeting
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Sun Sept 14
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12:00pm
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Snacks & Discussions
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Sun Sept 14
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1:00pm
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Monthly Meeting
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Sun Sept 14
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2:30pm
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Lunch
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Fri Sept 19
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7:00pm
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Monthly Social
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Sat Sept 20
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10:00am
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Yard Sale
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Thu Sept 25
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7:30pm
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Reading Group
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Sun Oct
12
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11:00am
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Board Meeting
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Sun Oct 12
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12:00pm
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Snacks & Discussions
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Sun Oct 12
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1:00pm
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Monthly Meeting
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Sun Oct 12
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2:30pm
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Lunch
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Fri Oct 17
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7:00pm
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Monthly Social
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Thu Oct 23
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7:30pm
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Reading Group
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Monthly Meetings
Our
monthly meetings are held on the second Sunday each month at 1:00 pm unless
otherwise noted. Program topics are listed
below. A Social Hour begins before meetings at 12:00 noon. Visitors
are always welcome. See "Monthly Program Topics" below for a
description of upcoming programs and location.
Important News about meeting locations: AFS has recently
purchased a building in Smyrna to become the Atlanta Freethought Hall. We
are currently in the process of fixing up this facility so check individual
program details listed below for location of the meeting.
The
Atlanta Freethought Center is located in the Grimes Bridge Office
Park at 1170 Grimes Bridge Rd Ste 500, Roswell GA 30075-3965. Maps & Directions.
The
Atlanta Freethought Hall is located at 4775 N Church Ln SE,
Smyrna GA 30080.
Monthly Sunday Social Luncheon: We have a Quarterly
Potluck Luncheon before the meeting 4 times a year. Other months the
group goes to a nearby restaurant after the meeting.
Reading Group (Book Club)
The
AFS Reading Group meets monthly to
read and discuss interesting books covering a variety of topics – including
arguments in favor of freethought, the political and social impact of
fundamentalism, alternative religions, philosophy, evolution, early church
histories, personal spiritual journeys, and other topics of interest to
participants.
The
group meets the fourth Thursday of every month. They are currently meeting
at Wordsmiths Books, 141E. Trinity Place, in downtown Decatur, GA
(404-378-7166).
Please
sign up for the AFS eNews list (use the contact
form) to receive updates on this and other AFS activities. [AFS Reading Group webpage]
Friday Evening Social Dinner
The
Friday Evening Social Dinner is held each month at Panahar Bangladeshi
Restaurant on the Friday after the monthly program. Visitors are always
welcome!
Panahar
is located in the Northeast Plaza shopping center at 3375 Buford Hwy NE Ste
1060, Atlanta 30329. Come enjoy the good Bangladeshi food and the
great company. Directions: 404-633-6655 or Google Maps
- Yahoo! Maps
- MapQuest
Secular Organizations for Sobriety
 The Secular
Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) meets at the Atlanta Freethought Center every
Tuesday evening at 8:00pm. SOS is the secular alternative for AA
(Alcoholics Anonymous). Send an email
for more info. This SOS group is sponsored by AFS.
September 14, 2008
12:00 noon: Social Hour
1:00 pm: Fall Potluck
Before
the meeting, we will have our Quarterly Potluck Dinner. Join AFS
members and guest for some good eats and great socializing. Please bring
food according to the first letter of your last name as follows: A-G:
Bring a side dish; H-P: Bring a main dish; Q-Z: Bring a
dessert. AFS will provide drinks, plates and silverware.
 2:00 pm:
Monthly Program:
Chris Wilson will speak on his new book Healing The Unhappy
Caveman: Why the Human Mind was not Designed for
Happiness and What You can Do About It. It is the first book founded on the
idea that the human mind was not designed for happiness, and to suggest
that finding happiness entails learning how to use the mind in an entirely
new way. Never before has the evolutionary history of the human mind been
applied to finding happiness in a modern world. When left unchecked, our
ancient minds work against us in our quest for peace, contentment, and
happiness in life. On its face, this seems like reason to lament. However,
it is actually somewhat comforting that the problem is shared among all of
us grappling with life in a supremely prosperous world. As individuals, we
need no longer feel inadequate because we are unable to marshal the
optimism and positive outlook that are demanded by modern happiness gurus.
Their solutions address the symptoms, not the disease, which is why they
sound great, but rarely work over the long haul.
For more details on Chris and his book, go to http://www.enlightenedcaveman.com/.
October 12, 2008
12:00 noon: Social Hour
1:00 pm: Monthly Program: Dr.
Niall Shanks
will speak about his book, "God, the Devil, and
Darwin: A Critique of Intelligent Design Theory."
2:30 pm: Lunch
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Prior Program Topics & Special
Events
2007-08
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August 10, 2008
Location: Atlanta Freethought Hall,
Smyrna
Monthly Program: Dr. Dennis Martin will speak on "What
Does 'Free' in 'Free-thinking' Mean?"
When
you first hear the terms "freethought" or
"free-thinking" you might think it means "free association
of thoughts" or "creative thought." After meeting
freethinkers at the Atlanta Freethought Society, you realize that they are
very rational and thoughtful, well-versed in the rules of logic. The rules
of logic, however, are firm and rigid. Isn't this contrary to
"free"? Does "free-thinking" just mean "freedom to
think in a rigid manner according to the rules of logic?" Although
freethought's connection with atheism is no coincidence in my opinion,
atheism is not the core of freethought. The term "freethought"
doesn't even imply a subject-matter! It's more of a description of a way of
thinking. Free. So, what does the "free" in
"free-thinking" mean?
July 13, 2008
Location: Atlanta Freethought Hall,
Smyrna
Monthly Program: Lori Lipman Brown, a lobbyist for the
Secular Coalition of America, will speak.
Lori
Lipman Brown served as Nevada State Senator from 1992 to 1994. Her
legislative efforts focused on public education, mental health care and the
repeal of consensual sex crimes, which resulted in her being named Civil
Libertarian of the Year by the Southern Nevada chapter of the American
Civil Liberties Union and Legislator of the Year by the Nevada chapter of
the National Association of Social Workers.
Brown
has been a frequent political commentator on television and radio and a
regular columnist in a variety of print media. A former private practice
lawyer, she taught constitutional law, American history, and education law
for the University of Phoenix, and women's studies for the University of
Nevada, Las Vegas. Brown was also a high school English, speech and drama
teacher in the Clark County school district.
She
obtained her J.D. from Southwestern University School of Law in 1983, and
her B.A. in communications from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in
1981.
She
has facilitated or presented at numerous events and served as a National
Education Association diversity trainer from 1996 to 2000.
Brown
was hired by the Secular Coalition for America in September, 2005. She
directs the coalition's activities and lobbies members of Congress on
issues arising out of the inappropriate incursion of religion into civil
law. She also addresses the interests and concerns of America's atheists,
freethinkers, humanists, and other nontheists through media appearances and
speaking engagements.
June 8, 2008
Location: Atlanta Freethought Hall,
Smyrna
Summer Potluck Luncheon (Cookout/Picnic on the Grounds)
Before
the meeting, we will have our Quarterly Potluck Dinner which will be
a cookout/picnic on the ground of the Freethought Hall. Join AFS members
and guest for some good eats and great socializing. Please bring food
according to the first letter of your last name as follows: A-G:
Bring a main dish; H-P: Bring a dessert; Q-Z: Bring a side
dish. AFS will provide drinks, plates and silverware.
Monthly Program: Tony King will speak about Sumerian
influence on religion and Western culture
May 11, 2008
Location: Atlanta Freethought Center,
Roswell
Dr. Austin Dacey, author of the new book The Secular
Conscience: Why Belief Belongs in Public Life, will speak about Secular
Conscience
Dr.
Austin Dacey is a representative to the United Nations for the Center for
Inquiry. Dr. Dacey is also on the editorial staff of Skeptical Inquirer
and Free Inquiry magazines. His writings have appeared in numerous
publications including the New York Times. For more on Dacey and his
book, visit his website.
A
Q&A session and book signing will follow the presentation.
Praise
for The Secular Conscience
Dacey
seeks nothing less than to interrupt a suicide, and he has written a
beautiful primer on how our secular tradition can be rescued from
self-defeat. The Secular Conscience reveals how simplistic notions
of privacy, tolerance, and freedom keep dangerous ideas sheltered from
public debate. This is an extraordinarily useful and lucid book.
–- Sam Harris, author of the New York Times
best sellers,
The End of Faith and Letter to a Christian Nation
Austin
Dacey is a secularist philosopher spoiling for a fight.
–- New York Post
April 13, 2008
Location: Atlanta Freethought Hall, Smyrna
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Robert Boston
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Robert Boston will speak on “A
Defense of the Secular State.” Boston will explain why the Religious Right
is wrong in portraying the secular state as an enemy of religious liberty.
He will further explain how secular government helps foster freedom for
believers and non-believers and outline why alternatives to secularism are
unsatisfying.
Robert Boston is the Assistant Director of Communications
for Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the Assistant
Editor of AU's monthly magazine Church & State.
Boston,
who joined the Americans United staff in 1987, frequently writes about the
political goals of the Religious Right and other church-state issues. He
covers the U.S. Supreme Court for Church & State and has attended oral
arguments in every church-state case at the high court since 1988.
Boston
is the author of three books: Close Encounters with the Religious Right:
Journeys into the Twilight Zone of Religion and Politics (Prometheus
Books, 2000); The Most Dangerous Man in America? Pat Robertson and the
Rise of the Christian Coalition (Prometheus Books, 1996) and Why the
Religious Right Is Wrong About Separation of Church and State
(Prometheus Books, 1993; second edition, 2003).
In
addition, Boston often serves as a spokesman for Americans United and has
appeared on NBC's "Nightly News," CNN's "Anderson
Cooper," Fox News Channel's "O’Reilly Factor" and other
programs.
March 9, 2008
Spring Potluck Luncheon: Before the meeting, we will
have our Quarterly Potluck Dinner. Join AFS members and guest for some good
eats and great socializing. Please bring food according to the first letter
of your last name as follows: A-G: Bring a dessert; H-P:
Bring a side dish; Q-Z: Bring a main dish. AFS will provide
drinks, plates and silverware.
Monthly Program: Ed Buckner and Jack
McKinney will
speak on "Opinions."
McKinney
is a board member and Buckner is treasurer of AFS and are both longtime
leaders and members. They will present a lively and contradictory program
of advice on expressing freethought opinions, mostly via letters to the
editor (LTEs) and “vents.”
McKinney
and Buckner will, among other things, introduce their new book, Opinions
are Like Rear Ends . . . (Freethought Press, 2008) and will urge
freethinkers to defend our ideas. The two authors like to think of AFS
members and friends as farmers and letters to the editor and vents as farm
equipment: they urge all to use LTEs and vents not only to defend our
positions but to plant seeds of doubt as well. Choice of fertilizer may
vary.
Jack
and Ed will cheerfully dispense advice, whether sought or not, such as:
Be
timely.
What counts as “recent” varies some, but the sooner after a “hook” is
printed that you get your LTE composed and submitted, the better. A
mediocre LTE that arrives at the paper that night or the next day is much
more likely to get printed than an eloquent one that shows up ten days
later.
Don’t
be rash.
Never mind that previous rule—don’t fire off an LTE before you reread and
reflect on what you’re saying. Even if you only take time to have a meal or
watch the news between writing and submitting, let your LTE breathe a bit
before you let it loose on the world. This is especially true of LTEs sent
in response to something that really pissed you off.
February 10, 2008
Bruce
Herr will
speak.
January 13, 2008
Dr. Hos Lotfi, a neurologist
originally from Iran talk is entitled, “Living Under
Theocracy.”
December 9, 2007
Winter Potluck Luncheon: Before the meeting, we will
have our Quarterly Potluck Dinner. Join AFS members and guest for some good
eats and great socializing. Please bring food according to the first letter
of your last name as follows: A-G: Bring a side dish; H-P:
Bring a main dish; Q-Z: Bring a dessert. AFS will provide drinks,
plates and silverware.
Dr. John Henderson will speak on his new book, Judging
God.
Dr.
Henderson is a retired Air Force Flight Surgeon and General Surgeon. He and
his wife Ruth live in Asheville, NC. During his Air Force career, he served
in England, Spain, Japan, and in various states across the USA.
Regarding
his latest book, Henderson says, “Religions and their gods have been
judging man since man created his first god thousands of years ago. It is
now our turn to judge gods. We cannot afford a god who does not live up to
our standards of justice and morality. No longer can we afford a god who
incites and condones intolerance, hatred, and killing. If there is to be
peace on earth, we and we alone must define morality and strive to enforce
justice among human societies. Gods have failed to do so. This book dares
to criticize the god in common usage today.”
November 15, 2007
Peaceful Protest of Governors Illegal State Sponsored Prayer
Service at State Capital
November 11, 2007
Camille Ann Brewer will speak on “Taking
a Look at Contemporary Art produced by Freethinkers.” We will view the
work of several freethinking contemporary artists who use both religious
and non-religious iconography in their work. We will discuss if
freethinking is a direct or indirect influence in their work. All of the
work presented will be from the late 20th century.
Camille
is the principal of CAB Fine Art Services, a consulting and appraisal firm.
Prior to being with CAB, she served at the Detroit Institute of Arts in
Michigan as the Assistant Art Curator for the Department of African,
Oceanic, and Indigenous Cultures and the Assistant Exhibition Coordinator
for the Department of Exhibition Coordination. She also has served at the
Public Arts Commissioner of the Arts and Culture Commission for the City of
Richmond, California.
Camille
has taught as an adjunct professor at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg,
Florida, Hillsborough Community College in Tampa, Florida, Wayne State
University and Marygrove College College of Education in Detroit, Michigan,
and the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Michigan.
October 14, 2007
Ice Cream Social
AFS Plans for the Future. This program will
feature presentations by AFS Officers and informative, interactive
discussions with members on the direction of AFS, our programs, activities,
the Atlanta Freethought Center, and other aspects of our future.
Board Nominations: We will also be taking member nominations
for AFS board and officer positions at the October meeting. Elections will
be held in December.
September 9, 2007
Doug Hattersley, a retired
geologist, will speak on "A Geological Perspective
of Current Events." Doug will focus on how the geological
sciences support evolution along with discussing climate change in
perspective of geologic time.
Hattersley
is a graduate of the University of Dayton in Ohio where he had the good
fortune of studying under a very well known glacial geologist (which makes
climate change especially interesting to him). After graduation he went to
work for the US Department of Agriculture (Soil Conservation Service and
Forest Service) in DC, NC, ID, and Puerto Rico. He has been in Atlanta
since 1980 and retired here after 31 years of Federal service. He presently
keeps busy running around with his eight grandkids.
August 30, 2007
Special Program featuring world-renowned skeptical author
and editor, Benjamin Radford. Radford will offer Normal?
No Way! Paranormal? No Way!: "Reflections on a Decade
of Paranormal Investigation," discussing his varied experience as a
writer and scientific paranormal investigator. Radford, managing editor of Skeptical
Inquirer,
will tell tales of "unexplained mysteries" such as ghosts,
Bigfoot, dowsing, crop circles, and psychic powers. He’ll comment on what
science says about the evidence for these topics, drawing from case studies
over a decade of personal investigations into these and dozens of other
topics. Skeptics and believers alike will enjoy this entertaining and
informative talk. There will be plenty of time for audience questions.
Radford’s
hilarious satirical short film, "Clicker Clatter," will be
featured at Dragon*Com in Atlanta during the weekend following his talk.
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Radford
is managing editor of the science magazine Skeptical Inquirer and
editor-in-chief of the Spanish-language magazine Pensar published in Buenos
Aires, Argentina. He has written hundreds of articles on a wide variety of
topics, including urban legends, the paranormal, critical thinking, film,
and media literacy. He is author of three books: Hoaxes, Myths, and
Manias: Why We Need Critical Thinking (with sociologist Robert E.
Bartholomew); Media Mythmakers: How Journalists, Activists, and
Advertisers Mislead Us, examining the ways in which deception is used
in various media to influence decision making and public policy; and Lake
Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World's Most Elusive Creatures
(with Joe Nickell), a scientific examination of lake monsters around the
world. Radford is also a columnist for Skeptical Inquirer magazine and the
Skeptical Briefs newsletter, as well as online at LiveScience.com and MediaMythmakers.com.
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In
his work with the Committee for Skeptical Inquiry (formerly CSICOP-the
Committee for the Scientific Investigation of Claims of the Paranormal),
Radford is one of the world's few science-based paranormal investigators,
and has done first-hand research into psychics, ghosts and haunted houses;
exorcisms, miracles, Bigfoot, stigmata, lake monsters, UFO sightings,
reincarnation, crop circles, and other topics. Radford also writes on many
other topics, including world travel, science literacy, jungle hiking, sex
offender panics, and popular fallacies. Radford has appeared on CNN, The
History Channel, the National Geographic Channel, the Learning Channel,
CBC, BBC, and others. He also served as a consultant for the MTV series "The
Big Urban Myth Show."
Most
recently, he solved the mystery of the Santa Fe courthouse "ghost
video" in June 2007. He is also the writer and director of the
animated short film "Clicker Clatter," now in festivals.
August 12, 2007
Quarterly Potluck Dinner: Before the
meeting, we will have our Quarterly Potluck Dinner. Join AFS members and
guest for some good eats and great socializing. Please bring food according
to the first letter of your last name as follows: A-G: Bring a main
dish; H-P: Bring a dessert; Q-Z: Bring a side dish. AFS will
provide drinks, plates and silverware.
Ed Buckner, who holds a doctorate
in Educational Foundations, will discuss "Secular
Schooling,"
the topic addressed in his chapter in the recently-published book, Parenting
Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion (Dale McGowan,
editor, 2007). The purpose of the book is as a handbook for raising
ethical, caring kids without religion. Among Buckner's long list of
co-authors are such impressive writers as Julia Sweeney, Dan Barker, Penn
Jillette, David Koepsell, Mark Twain (yes that Twain), and Richard Dawkins.
Editor
Dale McGowan will also be in attendance at this program
and participating in the Q&A session.
What
others are saying about Parenting Beyond Belief...
"Highly
recommended" --Library Journal
"Irresistible...a
compelling read." --Newsweek
"Engaging
and down-to-earth" --Library Journal
"A
wonderful new resource" --WoodMoor Village
"An
invaluable sourcebook" --Robert M. Price, PhD
"A
wonderful array of essays" --Mother Talk Network
#1
Parenting Reference on Amazon.com (26 May 2007)
"Accessible,
funny, and still substantial" --Esperanza Review
"Almost
impossible to put down!" --A Gaggle of Book Reviews
"Touching...succinct...a
must-read guide." --Life in the Hundred-Acre Wood
"Makes
those of us struggling with these issues fee not so alone" --PunditMom
Reviews
July 8, 2007
Bob Collins, an ex-fundamentalist, will speak on “More
Bible Contradictions.”
Collins,
a member of the Alabama Freethought Association, is a longtime freethinker
and experienced activist. He saw the light of reason while he was in
seminary studying to become a Reformed Presbyterian minister. Bob is the
author of hundreds of letters published in Alabama newspapers, and has
helped effectively oppose Creationist bills in the Alabama legislature even
though they were actively promoted by national far-right groups.
Bob’s
education includes a Bachelor of Science from the University of Alabama at
Birmingham, and a Master’s degree from Washington University in St Louis
School of Medicine. He manages a team of mainframe computer programmers at
a major insurance company. He is also a single parent to two freethinking
children.
Bob
has made an extensive study of the Bible and has found that many of the
clearest and most persuasive arguments against the Bible are found in the
Bible itself. Practical knowledge of the Bible’s errors and contradictions
can help freethinkers effectively oppose the religious right, and can help
religious people make better informed decisions about their own beliefs.
June 30 - July 2, 2007
Lake Hypatia July 4th Celebration. AFS members will
Celebrate Freethought and Independence Day with the Alabama Freethought
Association at its annual "Glorious Fourth" weekend at Lake
Hypatia, near Taladega, AL. The June 30 - July 2 event will include these
speakers:
Annie
Laurie Gaylor, on "FFRF vs. Faith-based Initiative"
Dan Barker, Concert and Talk
Ed Buckner, on "Atheists, We Hardly Know Ye"
John Henderson, on "Fear, Faith, Fact, Fantasy."
Michael Chandler, State/church litigant
Also Eric Pepke, Bob Collins, Pat and Alice Cleveland
Speeches
take place in the spacious, air-conditioned Lake Hypatia Freethought Hall.
Inexpensive catered meals are held at a beautiful lakeside pavilion.
Swimming, paddling, boating, hiking, poetry-reading, relaxing and
socializing are all on the agenda. See registra-tion details at www.ffrf.org/lakehypatia.
June 10, 2007
Dr. Steve Burnett will speak on the topic, "Evolution:
What it Really Is." Burnett is an Associate Professor
of Biology at Clayton State University and holds a doctorate
in Evolution, Ecology, & Organismal Biology, and a
masters in Zoology.
May 13, 2007
Dr. David E. Giannasi, Associate Professor, emeritus,
Department of Plant Biology, University of Georgia, will present “Comments
on Religion and the Bible.”
April 8, 2007
Bruce Herr will present a talk on "Beyond
the Myth of God."
Quarterly Potluck Luncheon: Following the
meeting, we will have our Quarterly Potluck Dinner. Join AFS members and
guest for some good eats and great socializing. Please bring food according
to the first letter of your last name as follows: A-G: Bring a desert;
H-P: Bring a side dish; Q-Z: Bring a main dish. AFS will
provide drinks, plates and silverware.
March 11, 2007
Keith Nalumango, former head of
programming for the Zambia National Broadcasting Corp (ZNBC) will present a
talk entitled: “A Bone in the Throat: Threats to a Free Press, in Africa
and America.”
February 12, 2007
Darwin Day Celebration at the Georgia Capitol Building: The Atlanta
Freethought Society will have a table at the Georgia Capitol Building on
Monday, February 12, to celebrate Charles Darwin's birthday! We will hand
out birthday cupcakes and coffee, as well as a flyer on Darwin and his
contribution to modern science. If you can help with setup or in talking
with people about Darwin, please plan to attend this event! Our table will
be right outside the main entrance on Washington Street from 9:00 AM to
2:00 PM. February 12 is also Georgia Day at the Capitol (as well as Abraham
Lin-coln's birthday), so it will probably be very busy. The exact address
is 100 Washington St. SW, Atlanta, GA.
February 11, 2007
Jeff Sellman, President of the Georgia Chapter of
Americans United for Separation of Church and State, will talk about AU's
First Freedoms First project.
January 14, 2007
Thomas Nisley, Ph.D., will present a talk
entitled: “God has a Foreign Policy? Israel and U.S. Foreign
Policy.”
Dr.
Nisley is an Assistant Professor of International Studies at Southern
Polytechnic State University. His doctorate dissertation, given in 2002,
was on Democracy Promotion and U.S. Foreign Policy.
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