The Freethought Society (FS) is pleased to host author Katherine Stewart on Saturday, January 23, 2021 via Zoom. The event starts with a pre-event chat session at 11:45 AM PST/2:45 PM EST. The formal presentation begins at Noon PST/3:00 PM EST.
Stewart’s presentation is entitled “The Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism.”
For too long the religious right has masqueraded as a social movement preoccupied with cultural issues such as abortion and anti-LGBT equality. Stewart reveals a disturbing truth: this is a political movement that seeks to gain power and impose its vision on all of society. America’s religious nationalists aren’t just fighting a culture war, they are waging a political war on the norms and institutions of American democracy. By pulling back the curtain on the movement’s inner workings and leading personalities, Stewart explains how Religious Nationalism works — and how to fight back.
After a break, plan to stay for a post-event happy hour/social.
Stewart is an American journalist and author who often writes about issues related to the separation of church and state. Her books include The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children and The Power Worshippers: Inside the Dangerous Rise of Religious Nationalism.
Please RSVP at the below Meetup link to participate in this event:
All FS meetings will implement the latest available security features and will be recorded for replay on social media. By joining the meeting, you consent to be recorded and agree to abide by the FS Anti-Harassment and Code of Conduct Policy.
Report on the First Online International Secular Day of the Dead / Día de los Muertos Secular
2020 International Secular Day of the Dead Event Photos
Hate Speech and the Religious Right to be a Bigot by Herb Silverman
Facts About the Amish by Margaret Downey
Honoring the Life and Work of James “The Amazing” Randi by Various Contributors
Freethought Society Four-Month Zoom Calendar
Donation and Information Page
James Randi
We hope that you will remain or become an active supporter of the great work FS is doing. Please donate to the general fund or select a project you want to help sponsor. All donations to FS are tax-deductible!
If the Ezine inspires you to become more actively involved with FS, please provide us with your contact information, including your phone number and mailing address.
Special events are being planned in your area so don’t miss an opportunity to participate further. All personal information is confidential and will not be shared with other organizations.
We want supporters to stay informed at all times. To keep updated about events, meetings and issues, please sign up to participate in the FS Discussion List.
On Saturday, December 12, 2020 The Freethought Society (FS) and the Philadelphia Ethical Society (PES) will co-host a Winter Holiday Zoom event during which a Tree of Knowledge will be decorated in the FS office located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. The event starts at 11:45 AM (PST)/2:45 PM (EST) with a 15-minute Pre-Event Social piano concert featuring Rollin Wilber. Wilber’s musical presentation was filmed at the PES building located at 1906 Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Authors of books that are always included on our Tree of Knowledge will be in attendance. Margaret Downey, president of FS, and Hugh Taft-Morales, leader of PES, will introduce special guests with technical assistance from Michael Steven Martin. Invited authors and titles of their book that each chose to discuss include:
Dan Barker God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction
Rob Boston Why the Religious Right Is Wrong About Separation of Church & State
Christopher Cameron Black Freethinkers
Tom Flynn The Trouble with Christmas
Annie Laurie Gaylor Women Without Superstition
Karen Garst Women Beyond Belief
Abby Hafer The Not-So-Intelligent Designer
Bailey Harris My Name is Stardust
Elle Harris Elle the Humanist
Hemant Mehta I Sold My Soul on eBay
Julien Musolino The Soul Fallacy: What Science Shows We Gain From Letting Go of Our Soul Beliefs
David Orenstein Darwin’s Apostles: The Men Who Fought to Have Evolution Accepted, Their Times, and How the Battle Continues
Ben Radford The Martians Have Landed!
Herb Silverman Candidate Without a Prayer
Katherine Stewart The Good News Club: The Christian Right’s Stealth Assault on America’s Children
Tom Krattenmaker Onward Christian Athletes
Marlene Winell Leaving the Fold
As each author speaks (5-10 minutes each), a laminated copy of the book cover they are discussing will be placed on the Tree of Knowledge at the FS Chester County office.
After the formal presentations conclude there will be a 10-minute break with entertainment from Abraham Steve Mackey and Taft-Morales. Get yourself a holiday drink and rejoin us for a Post-Event Social. Attendees can help select additional laminated book cover ornaments that will adorn the 2020 Tree of Knowledge during this time. The list of available book cover ornaments can be found at this link:
As each book cover ornament is placed on the Tree of Knowledge, the person who made the selection will be invited to talk for 3-5 minutes about why the book is of significance and should be included.
Please sign up at the Freethought Society Meetup page to learn how to participate in this event:
2020 Virtual Tree of Knowledge Winter Holiday Event
Saturday, Dec 12, 2020, 2:45 PM
Online event ,
21 Freethinkers Attending
On Saturday, December 12, 2020 The Freethought Society (FS) and the Philadelphia Ethical Society (PES) will co-host a Winter Holiday Zoom event during which a Tree of Knowledge will be decorated in the FS office located in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Here is the Zoom link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89298159428 The event starts at 11:45 AM (PST)/2…
This meeting will implement the latest available security features to help keep our conversation secure and will be recorded for replay on social media. By joining the meeting, you consent to be recorded and agree to abide by the Freethought Society’s Anti-Harassment and Code of Conduct Policy.
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: The People’s Justice by Jonathan L. Friedmann, Ph.D.
Faith and Why I Reject It by Abraham Steve Mackey
Angels Among Us? by Bernie J. Taylor
Welcome New Board Members
White Evangelicals Create Atheists by Herb Silverman
Message From Margaret Downey
My Religion Rejection Story by Donald B. Ardell
The Last Remaining Freie Gemeindein in the United States by Nick Schweiter
Freethought Society Two-Month Zoom Calendar
Donation and Information Page
Ruth Bader Ginsburg
We hope that you will remain or become an active supporter of the great work FS is doing. Please donate to the general fund or select a project you want to help sponsor. All donations to FS are tax-deductible!
If the Ezine inspires you to become more actively involved with FS, please provide us with your contact information, including your phone number and mailing address.
Special events are being planned in your area so don’t miss an opportunity to participate further. All personal information is confidential and will not be shared with other organizations.
We want supporters to stay informed at all times. To keep updated about events, meetings and issues, please sign up to participate in the FS Discussion List.
Sunday November 1, 2020 Noon (PDT) / 3:00 PM (EDT)
A Secular Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos Secular event is a celebration of life. Nontheist Hispanics and others view the Secular Day of the Dead as a perfect way to remember the legacy of dead loved ones that does not require prayer, church, or religious dogma. To nontheists, our legacies are our afterlife.
The Secular Day of the Dead event will include many redesigned and religion-free Hispanic traditions and rituals that celebrate our one and only life, legacies and cultural heritage.
More and more people are abandoning their religious upbringing but still want to celebrate the beauty of the Hispanic culture. This is why a Secular Day of the Dead was created. The 2020 Secular Day of the Dead/Día de los Muertos Secular will be presented as a Zoom event on Sunday, November 1, 2020 with special attention to Spanish speaking participants. The 2020 Secular Day of the Dead is co-sponsored by The Freethought Society, Hispanic American Freethinkers, American Atheists, Center for Inquiry, and the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Register at:
Entertainment and chatting opportunities with like-minded individuals will take place during this 15-minute time slot, featuring musical presentations by Gary Stockdale, Christina Jones, and Juan Carlos.
Noon (PST)/3:00 PM (EST) Welcome
Bilingual welcome by actor Jon Huertas, organizers, and co-sponsors Robyn Blumner, Victoria de la Torre, Margaret Downey, Nick Fish, Annie Laurie Gaylor, and David Tamayo. Co-sponsors and organizers will each light a candle to honor a “Secular Saint” of historic significance. A Spanish Speakers Zoom Room and an English Speakers Zoom Room will be offered to participants at this time. Music at this time will be provided by Gary Stockdale and Abraham Steve Mackey.
12:30 PM (PST)/3:30 PM (EST) Guest Speaker
Dan Barker: “Adios a Dios” (a journey story presentation)
1:00 PM (PST)/4:00 PM (EST) Honoring Ceremony
Reservations are being taken for speakers who want to celebrate the life of a dead loved one. Reserve a 3-5-minute time slot through the following email address: SecularDayoftheDead@FtSociety.org
The Honoring Ceremony will open with dedications from actor Jon Huertas, writer Sasha Sagan, sculptor Zenos Frudakis, author Fernando Alcántar, and John Davidson – a Hollywood legend and musical stage star.
After the reserved speaking spots conclude, the Zoom spotlighting function will be available for anyone who would like to participate. The screen share function will be enabled so that speakers can display photos of the person or pet being honored.
Zoom logon information is only available to those who pre-register. Register for the Zoom link here:
Prizes will be awarded and mailed to participants whom the co-sponsors determine to have the best Secular Day of the Dead themed clothing, Zoom setting, face painting, face mask, and hair adornment. See photos of the prizes and find additional information at:
The end time of this event is unknown. Anyone who would like to honor a dead loved one will have an opportunity before we conclude with a mini concert by John Davidson and closing song by Abraham Steve Mackey.
