On Saturday, January 29, 2022, at 1:00 PM (PST)/4:00 PM (EST), hundreds of people willgather 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:
The 2021 National Day of Reason Mayday for Humanity Event a Huge Success!
National Day of Reason Mayday for Humanity Photos
Mayday for Humanity Co-Sponsor Photos
Mayday for Humanity Celebrity and Performer Photos
Mayday for Humanity Benefiting Organizations
An African Journey Story by Amaka Oguguo
Mormons or Christians – Who Are Better? by Herb Silverman
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Freethought Society Multi-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.
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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.
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.
BALA CYNWYD, PENNSYLVANIA — The Freethought Society is hosting world-famous sculptor Zenos Frudakis on Thursday, May 23, 2019 as an honored speaker. The event will be held at the Bala Cynwyd Library, located at 131 Old Lancaster Road, Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. The meeting starts at 7:00 PM in the 2nd floor community room. Elevators are available. The meeting is free and open to the public.
Frudakis created a 10-foot-high statue of attorney Clarence Darrow in 2016. Darrow defended teacher John T. Scopes in the Scopes “Monkey” Trial in1925. William Jennings Bryan, three-time presidential candidate, argued for the prosecution, contending that Scopes violated Tennessee’s Butler Act, which had made it unlawful to teach human evolution in any state-funded school.
Clarence Darrow
Today, evolution is a branch of science that is taught in most schools. There was a time, however, when even suggesting that there was such a thing as evolution was controversial and resulted in conflict between the Judeo-Christian religious communities and teachers.
The Clarence Darrow statue was placed on the lawn of Rhea County Courthouse in Dayton, Tennessee on July 14, 2017, the very location of the infamous trial!
The story behind the project has many compelling components, including death threats and a celebrity appearance for the unveiling ceremony.
Frudakis will not only tell the story behind the commission, his PowerPoint presentation will also show how the statue was made from clay to bronze.
For more information contact:
Margaret Downey Event Coordinator Cell: 610-357-9432 Office: 610-793-2737
