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Atheist summits aim to find community, and power, in networking nonbelievers

Any topics that are primarily about humanism or other non-religious life stances fit in here.
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coffee
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Atheist summits aim to find community, and power, in networking nonbelievers

#1 Post by coffee » March 10th, 2019, 5:14 pm

Atheist summits aim to find community, and power, in networking nonbelievers

https://religionnews.com/2019/03/08/ath ... believers/


TEMECULA, CALIF. (RNS) — In early March, more than 30 atheist, humanist and secular leaders gathered at a residence overlooking Southern Californian vineyards to discuss politics, social issues and how to draw in more people at a first-ever SoCal Secular Leadership Summit.

The event was the first of three summits planned by Secular Coalition for America, an advocacy group based in Washington, D.C. Later this month, similar gatherings will be held in Greenville, S.C., and Nashville, Tenn. Like Temecula, Greenville is outside of an urban hub, and all three cities’ event atmospheres are more seminar than corporate convention. The organizers of the summit wanted their attendees to be able to see each other.

Sarah Levin, director of grass roots and community programs at Secular Coalition for America, said that her organization recently found that nonbelievers felt well-connected to national secular organizations but disconnected from others like them locally.

“We realized we need to help strengthen these networks of local groups so that they can be mobilized for political advocacy,” Levin said.

RELATED: Atheist minister Gretta Vosper hopes to stay at Canadian church for the long haul

To that end, last weekend’s summiteers broke the day up into frequent intensive discussions about common interests, rather than asking them to sit through lectures. The Angelenos talked a lot about homelessness and climate change, while San Diegans picked up on local buzz about offering their fellow residents a public-sector alternative to the corporate monopoly that provides energy.

The planners were also careful to insert long breaks into their days to encourage networking.

“It’s not like they can’t find each other’s information online,” Levin said. “But it’s just not the same as having a personal relationship.”

When they did sit to listen to a presentation, the atheists heard about how to take action on topics such as how to create conversations about atheism in public places or how to work with interfaith groups.

Phil Calderone of Inland Empire Atheists, Agnostics and Humanists spoke to the group about how interacting with faith communities in his area makes others more comfortable with secularism.

“Being in the room normalizes atheism,” he told the group.


Phil Calderone of Inland Empire Atheists, Agnostics and Humanists speaks about his involvement with interfaith groups at the SoCal Secular Leadership Summit on Mar. 2, 2019. Photo by Heather Adams.

Calderone stressed that atheists don’t have to take a back seat to believers when meeting with them on local issues. While Calderone doesn’t attend local prayer events held by interfaith groups, he said he still suggested interfaith groups add “action points” to these events to further the causes they were asking for help with in prayer — something he said benefited the whole group.

Levin led a talk on how to build relationships with state officials to make sure that policies that are being addressed on a national level, such as addiction recovery and voter registration, and local levels included secular options.

Like many faith organizations, they also spent time talking about how to attract members, especially younger people.

Rebecca Kitchings of the Inland Empire Atheists, Agnostics and Humanists group said they have the largest membership in Southern California with more than 2,500 people on their Meetup, a site and app used to organize online groups that host in-person events or meetings. But not all are active, paying members, something she hopes to increase.

She learned that there may be many more atheists and other secular thinkers in her area than she imagined. During her search she assumed she’d find a dozen or so secular groups in Southern California. Instead she found almost 70.

Kitchings said the summit was another sign that atheists should meet, talk and generally look to their fellow non-believers to be lifted up.

“You can get burnt out. It’s a lot of work, and you’re not getting paid,” Kitchings said. “It’s gratifying but it’s a lot of work.”

Communal sharing may be one strength of faith groups the secular leaders agree bears imitation. “In religious communities, retreats, leadership development, community building and physical spaces of gathering is very common,” said Evan Clark, executive director of Atheist United Los Angeles.

“We have much more common, shared goals and values than maybe we knew,” Clark said. “When we were all in the same room, we realized we are completely on the same team.”

TagsAmerican Atheists homepage featured Secular Coalition for America secular groups

coffee
Posts: 1594
Joined: June 2nd, 2009, 4:53 pm

Re: Atheist summits aim to find community, and power, in networking nonbelievers

#2 Post by coffee » March 10th, 2019, 5:28 pm

They may need these values here to go with it.

https://www.thinkhumanism.com/phpBB3/vi ... =16&t=7406

VINDICATOR
Posts: 596
Joined: December 22nd, 2016, 11:07 am

Re: Atheist summits aim to find community, and power, in networking nonbelievers

#3 Post by VINDICATOR » March 13th, 2019, 4:09 pm

Why are entrenched religions so powerful and tenacious, even when the basis of the religion is as silly as Santa-Claus, the Tooth-Fairy, or some other character out of a fairy-tale? Why is it so difficult to wean beleavers away from belief in magic? Isaac Newton was one of the greatest human minds. He discovered many of the secrets of the universe and laid the basis for the true understanding of the universe. But he wasted the latter part of his life trying to fit religion into science. Why couldn't he escape from the religious Quagmire? I have studied this problem for years and if you are interested I welcome you to see my answer in my column in the Comedy section which I will post in a few days.

Compassionist
Posts: 3590
Joined: July 14th, 2007, 8:38 am

Re: Atheist summits aim to find community, and power, in networking nonbelievers

#4 Post by Compassionist » March 17th, 2019, 10:49 pm

VINDICATOR wrote:Why are entrenched religions so powerful and tenacious, even when the basis of the religion is as silly as Santa-Claus, the Tooth-Fairy, or some other character out of a fairy-tale? Why is it so difficult to wean beleavers away from belief in magic? Isaac Newton was one of the greatest human minds. He discovered many of the secrets of the universe and laid the basis for the true understanding of the universe. But he wasted the latter part of his life trying to fit religion into science. Why couldn't he escape from the religious Quagmire? I have studied this problem for years and if you are interested I welcome you to see my answer in my column in the Comedy section which I will post in a few days.
The problem stems from our genes, environments, nutrients and experiences. If we were omnibenevolent, omniscient and omnipotent beings we would not need religions. We invented religions because of our limitations. Religions help us to transcend our limitations through comforting beliefs. Sadly, beliefs about reality do not translate into facts about reality.

VINDICATOR
Posts: 596
Joined: December 22nd, 2016, 11:07 am

Re: Atheist summits aim to find community, and power, in networking nonbelievers

#5 Post by VINDICATOR » March 24th, 2019, 7:34 pm

If we Atheists (people who don't believe in a personal God created in the image of a human despot sitting on a throne commanding everyone to worship him or else burn in Hell for eternity) want to wean people away from religion we will have to establish "Churches" too. By "Church" I mean a Community Club House where people can get together for activities like having parties, celebrations, weddings, births, funerals and other communal activities. Presently, only a Church offers such a platform. Maybe we can take advantage and do something on Internet?

Compassionist
Posts: 3590
Joined: July 14th, 2007, 8:38 am

Re: Atheist summits aim to find community, and power, in networking nonbelievers

#6 Post by Compassionist » March 24th, 2019, 11:16 pm

VINDICATOR wrote:If we Atheists (people who don't believe in a personal God created in the image of a human despot sitting on a throne commanding everyone to worship him or else burn in Hell for eternity) want to wean people away from religion we will have to establish "Churches" too. By "Church" I mean a Community Club House where people can get together for activities like having parties, celebrations, weddings, births, funerals and other communal activities. Presently, only a Church offers such a platform. Maybe we can take advantage and do something on Internet?
Humanists UK https://humanism.org.uk has various social events for the secular. Also, they have secular baby namings, weddings and funerals.

coffee
Posts: 1594
Joined: June 2nd, 2009, 4:53 pm

Re: Atheist summits aim to find community, and power, in networking nonbelievers

#7 Post by coffee » April 6th, 2019, 8:17 am

Community Without Religion

This could be how
https://beorlando.wordpress.com/2016/06 ... -religion/

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