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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 2021 Freethought Society (FS) Ezine

Click here to see the May/June 2021 Freethought Society (FS) Ezine
.

In the Ezine you will find the following:

  • Freethought Society President Speaks at Freedom of Religion or Belief Committee Conference
  • Thomas Paine-Themed “Ask an Atheist” Show
  • Atheist or Agnostic? Does it Matter?
    by Herb Silverman
  • Learning About Baháʼí Religious Beliefs
    by Margaret Downey
  • The Journey Story of Representative Donald Sternoff Beyer, Jr.
    by Donald Sternoff Beyer
  • Defending Yourself from Misinformation via Neuroscience
    By Dr. Gleb Tsipursky
  • Dr. Robert E. Kay: His Life Remembered
    Obituary and Susan O’Connell’s Reflections
  • Freethought Society Four-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

March/April 2020 Freethought Society Ezine

Click here to see the Freethought Society (FS) Ezine.

In the Ezine you will find the following:
  • The 2019 Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Ohio Tree of Knowledge Displays
    by Margaret Downey
  • The Hidden Joy of Serving: Appreciating Their Story
    by Hugh Taft-Morales
  • Secular Week of Action Volunteer Opportunities
  • 2020: The 100-Year Celebration of Women Voting
    by Herb Silverman
  • “Let the far and the near all unite, with a cheer…”
  • Freethought Society Two-Month Calendar
  • Volunteer Opportunities Through the Freethought Society
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
 
The Freethought Society News Editorial Staff

January/February 2020 Freethought Society (FS) Ezine

Click here to see the Freethought Society (FS) Ezine.

In the Ezine you will find the following:

  • The Secular Day of the Dead 2019 Event by Margaret Downey
  • Photos of the 2019 Secular Day of the Dead
  • Should Atheists Debate Theists? by Herb Silverman
  • Freethought Society President’s Ohio Speaking Tour
  • Religiously Traumatized: The Negative Impact of Modern Religion by Alberta Parish
  • Freethought Society Introduces Reason University at Center For Inquiry Conference
  • Attending the 2019 SCA Lobby Day Event by Alan Gold
  • Honoring Thomas Paine’s Date of Birth
  • Donation and Information Page

Truth Fairy DragonCon

Truth Fairy DragonCon

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.

Check for upcoming events at the FS Meet Up page

Like FS on Facebook!

Follow FS on Twitter

The Freethought Society News Editorial Staff