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May / June / July / August 2022 Freethought Society (FS) Ezine

Click here to see the May/June/July/August 2022 Freethought Society (FS) Ezine.

In the Ezine you will find the following: 

  • The Thomas Paine Birthdate Celebration Brings Great Progress for the Statue Project!
    • Photos from the 2022 Thomas Paine Birthdate Celebration
  • House Bill 6720
  • Tracking House Bill 6720
  • Talking to Christian Fundamentalists
    • by Herb Silverman
  • Secular Student Alliance/Freethought Society Secular Student Scholarship Announcement
  • Well, Perhaps Chaplains Are for Atheists, Too
    • by Art Karloff
  • Truth or Consequences 
    • by Vic Losick
  • How I Went from Advertising God to Leaving God
    • by John Follis
  • Freethought Society Two-Month Zoom Calendar
  • Donation and Information Page

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. 


Check for upcoming events at the FS Meet Up page

Like FS on Facebook!

Follow FS on Twitter

The Freethought Society News Editorial Staff

Thomas Paine Themed Tour document

If you are planning a visit to Paris, France and you have interest is visiting the places of significance to Thomas Paine’s work and life, please use this document:  Thomas Paine-Themed Tour for Visitors to Paris, France

The document indicates addresses for each location that was visited during September 2017 Paris, France Thomas Paine-themed tour conducted by Margaret Downey, Julien Musolino, and Gary Berton.

Downey portrayed Marguerite Brazier Bonneville. She was a French citizen and was very helpful to Thomas when he lived in Paris.

Musolino portrayed Thomas Paine during the tour. In the following script, Julien quoted the words Thomas Paine uttered in Paris and conveyed some of the most famous statements made in Paine’s writings.

Thomas Paine expert, Gary Berton was also a host of the tour.

The document includes all the information about Thomas Paine that was conveyed by Downey, Musolino, and Berton. We hope you enjoy your time in Paris and will support the efforts of the Freethought Society.

To learn more about our Thomas Paine memorial efforts and related events, please visit our Thomas Paine Memorial Committee Page

Join us to celebrate Paine’s Birthday. More information is available here: online birthday celebration!

Thomas Paine Birthday Event

Thomas Paine Birthday Celebration

Zoom Event

  • Saturday: January 29, 2022
    1 pm (PST) / 4 pm (EST)
    Zoom event

On Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 1:00 PM (PST)/4:00 PM (EST), hundreds of people will gather on Zoom to celebrate the birthdate of an often-forgotten Founding Father, Thomas Paine. Hailed as “Freethought Hero,” and great patriot, the January 29th event will be, as far as we know, the very first Zoom celebration of his birth. Zoom connections will be made from all over the world and everyone will be invited to deliver a toast in celebration of the life and work of this amazing champion of reason, independent thought, and revolutionary ideas. 

The event is presented by the newly-formed Thomas Paine Memorial Association (TPMA), a 501(c)3 organization, with the purpose of educating the public and installing statues of Thomas Paine in Washington, DC and other places of significance to the life of Thomas Paine. 

The American Humanist Association, Center for Inquiry, Freedom From Religion Foundation, Freethought Society, the Stiefel Freethought Foundation, and the Thomas Paine National Historical Association are cosponsors.  

During the Thomas Paine Birthdate Celebration, the Stiefel Freethought Foundation (SFF) is pleased to offer an opportunity to TRIPLE any donation that is received. A $17.76 donation will be matched to become $53.28, and a $1,776 donation becomes $5,328! An opportunity such as this should not be missed. To triple your money, donate at: https://thomaspainememorial.org/donation/

Todd Stiefel will open the program with a few words about his triple-match offer and why the statue project is important.

TPMA board members, including John de Lancie, Julia Sweeney, Gary Berton, Ann Druyan, Marnie Mosiman de Lancie, Christopher Cameron, Annie Laurie Gaylor, Tom Legg, and Robyn Blumner will welcome everyone to the event.

Actor Ian Ruskin will speak about his experiences portraying Thomas Paine. He will share photos of appearances and will include an overview of his “Walk in the Footsteps of Thomas Paine” tour that took place in England. 

TPMA president Margaret Downey will be talking about the many Thomas Paine-themed activities she has sponsored, including her “Walk in the Footsteps of Thomas Paine” that took place in Paris, France. 

Sculptor Zenos Frudakis will join the festivities from his studio in Glenside, Pennsylvania. 

Closing remarks will be delivered by Congressman Jamie Raskin.      

Educator, songwriter, and recording artist James Klueh will perform two Thomas Paine-themed songs prior to the interactive social hour. 

Please visit the link below to register for this exciting international event:

 https://bit.ly/ThomasPaineBirthdayCelebration

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ThomasPaineMA/

                 https://www.facebook.com/events/388572166363307/?active_tab=discussion

Thomas Paine Birthday Event

 

2021 Thomas Paine Day Event

Please join the Freethought Society (FS), the Thomas Paine National Historical Association (TPNHA), the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), the Center for Inquiry (CFI), and the American Humanist Association (AHA) as we celebrate the 2021 Thomas Paine Day via Zoom on Tuesday, June 8, 2021.

Register at the below link
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_OAX2WWk3S0CpEVO_i4n5yw

The program begins at 3:45 PM PST/6:45 PM EST with a 15-minute Thomas Paine-themed concert by songwriter and recording artist James Klueh. BYOB to participate in toasts throughout the event. Melissa Myers (representing CFI) and Margaret Downey (representing FS) are the event co-hosts.

After an introductory statement from Congressman Jamie Raskin, co-sponsor organizations will welcome everyone to the event (Annie Laurie Gaylor, Robyn Blumner, Mandisa Thomas, Gary Berton and Margaret Downey). A summary of the life and work of Thomas Paine will be presented in sections by co-sponsor representatives:

Mandisa Thomas (AHA)
Tom Flynn (CFI)
Andrew Seidel (FFRF)
Margaret Downey (FS)
Gary Berton (TPNHA)

Sculptor Zenos Frudakis will show the progress of the Thomas Paine statue project and Dan Barker, co-president of FFRF, will perform his original song The World is My Country. After a short break a question-and-answer portion of the event will begin. Toasts and favorite Paine quotations are welcome

May-June 2019 Freethought Society eZine Newsletter

Click here to see the May-June 2019 eZine Newsletter.

In the Ezine you will find the following articles:

  • The 2019 Secular Leadership Summit by Margaret Downey
  • The 2019 Secular Leadership Summit Photos
  • The Southern California Secular Leadership Summit by Margaret Downey
  • 2019 California Secular Leadership Summit Photos
  • The 2019 West Chester University Voter Registration
  • The 2019 Haverford College Voter Registration
  • The Freethought Society and Haverford Freethinkers Celebrate Women’s History Month
  • United Nations Committee for Freedom of Religion or Belief Report by Alan Gold
  • Vive le Thomas Paine! by Buck Bowen
  • Freethought Society eScrip Information
  • Announcement of the Grand Reopening of the Thomas Paine Cottage in New Rochelle, New York
  • Donation and Information Page

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.

Join Us

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.

Check for upcoming events at the FS Meet Up page.

Like FS on Facebook!

Follow FS on Twitter.