What we’re about
Serious Learning for Serious Atheists
Atheist Scholars Meetup is a monthly book club for Atheists who are serious about learning from a free-thinking, post-religious, and atheistic perspective, while building long-term friendships.
We don't admit people who don't self-identify as Atheists. Our group is for those who have already completed their journey to atheism and are building upon it as an intellectual foundation.
If you self-identify as an Atheist, you are invited to apply for membership by clicking on the link below. Meetings are now held online on the 4th Tuesday of every month, from 7:00 to 9:30 pm. The required membership dues are $20 every six months to cover Meetup costs.
Our meeting format consists of a review and discussion of a selected book that has a strong appeal to Atheists in a rich context of science, philosophy, sociology, history, and/or psychology. All books will have a distinct atheistic or free-thinking perspective, i.e., they were written by and for Atheists or “Nones”. This is not a science or philosophy book club. A book based solely on a scientific or philosophical topic might be very interesting but does not serve the purpose of our Atheist Scholar Meetup.
In fairness to everyone attending who expects to have a meaningful discussion and productive learning experience, you must have read the chosen book prior to attending each meeting. We want active participants who can add to our discussion. Most books chosen are also available as audiobooks.
The next book we read is chosen by consensus among those members attending the prior meeting.
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Calling oneself an Atheist is just the beginning, not the end, of a life-long journey of learning, dialog, and discovery. The Atheist Scholars Meetup group raises the standard among local Atheist groups by building a private membership focused on serious learning in a harmonious environment. By “Scholars”, we mean serious students of Atheism. Maybe you have been reluctant to join an Atheist group in the past or maybe you are just not interested in what the other groups in our area have to offer.
Atheist Scholars is for those who appreciate the value of exchanging ideas with a like-minded group and who enjoy asking “why” more than claiming to know “because.” It’s for committed lifelong learners looking for an impressive group of smart friends to share in intellectual discussions in a supportive atmosphere.
If you call yourself an Atheist, are a lifelong learner who is not gullible enough to believe in conspiracy theories, and you see the benefits of a Meetup group that offers serious book discussions with order and civility, please apply for membership in Atheist Scholars.
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If you wish to apply to join the Atheist Scholars Meetup group, click on the button below or click here. If you have questions about our group, please visit our FAQ page.
Norm Cohen
Founder and Organizer
If you are interested in learning more about the many topics related to Atheism, www.AtheistScholar.org is an excellent resource for you!
Upcoming events (1)
See all- Review and Discuss: "American Crusade"Link visible for attendees
YOU MUST RSVP TO ACCESS THE LINK that is required to join our video meeting.
American Crusade: How the Supreme Court Is Weaponizing Religious Freedom
by Andrew L. Seidel
2022
258 pages plus endnotes
publisher: Union Square & Co."Andrew L. Seidel, a constitutional attorney and author of the critically acclaimed book The Founding Myth: Why Christian Nationalism Is Un-American, dives into the debate on religious liberty, the modern attempt to weaponize religious freedom, and the Supreme Court's role in that 'crusade.'
Seidel examines some of the key Supreme Court cases of the last thirty years—including Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission (a bakery that refused to make a wedding cake for a gay couple), Trump v. Hawaii (the anti-Muslim travel ban case), American Legion v. American Humanist Association (related to a group maintaining a 40-foot Christian cross on government-owned land), and Tandon v. Newsom (a Santa Clara Bible group exempted from Covid health restrictions), as well as the recent overturning of Roe v. Wade—and how a hallowed legal protection, freedom of religion, has been turned into a tool to advance privilege and impose religion on others.
This is a meticulously researched and deeply insightful account of our political landscape with a foreword provided by noted constitutional scholar Erwin Chemerinsky, author of The Case Against the Supreme Court.
The issue of church versus state is more relevant than ever in today’s political climate and with the conservative majority status of the current Supreme Court. This book is a standout on the shelf for fans of Michelle Alexander, Bob Woodward, and Christopher Hitchens. Readers looking for critiques of the rise of Christian nationalism, like Jesus and John Wayne, and examinations like How Democracies Die will devour Seidel's analysis."
Source: Publisher
Hardcover: https://a.co/d/iyLn85w
Audiobook: https://a.co/d/4nWls6a***
NOTE:
In fairness to everyone attending who expects to have a meaningful discussion and a productive learning experience, you must have read (or listened to) this entire book in order to attend this meeting.NOTE:
For this video conference meeting, you must have a computer with a camera, microphone, and speakers or headset. We are using Microsoft Skype to host this meeting, but you don't need a Microsoft account to join the meeting.YOU MUST RSVP TO RECEIVE A LINK that is required to join our video meeting.
You can run Skype in your browser here:
https://www.skype.com/en/free-conference-call/
OR, you can download and install Skype here: https://www.skype.com/en/get-skype/***
About the Author
Andrew L. Seidel is an author and attorney who's defended the First Amendment for more than a decade, both in and out of court. Andrew dedicated his career to challenging religious privilege and battling Christian Nationalism. He is the author of the critically acclaimed book The Founding Myth; has appeared on Fox and Friends, MSNBC, The O'Reilly Factor, and numerous radio shows; speaks and writes extensively about religious freedom; and has been profiled by BBC News, Buzzfeed, International Business Times, and more.
After a decade as a constitutional attorney and director with the Freedom From Religion Foundation, he joined Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
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Book Reviews
“Andrew Seidel provides an insightful, deeply researched, and well-written account. . . . Anyone who cares about the First Amendment—which should be everyone—must read this book.”
—Windsor Mann, editor of The Quotable Hitchens“A brilliantly argued analysis.”
—Ann Druyan, author of Cosmos: Possible Worlds“A must read for anyone hoping to understand our new political and cultural landscape.”
—Jessica Mason Pieklo, coauthor of The End of Roe v Wade
