A warm, fast-growing, and frank community group for rationalists/ atheists. Non believers of any description welcome.
- We're UK meetup's LIVELIEST webforum. So no matter where you live, you can participate in the daily discussions (both serious & humorous!). Many non-London & overseas members.
- Frequent meetups and events of all types in Central London; debates & talks ranging from social issues to science, lectures, friendly pub meetups, exhibitions, picnics ...
- We explore serious issues (but embrace an unashamedly playful side, too) Our maxim: Humour often reaches where lectures don’t!.
- Open debate - no censoring here! We're against censoring in any form for adults. Our platform is civil, friendly but also frank.
- A peaceful activist platform for those who want it (no pressure). To promote and celebrate reason, equity (not blind 'equality') & freedom from religion.
All these elements together in one place make us unique, but we encourage collaboration & support of (almost!) every other secular group/ organisation; most also have something uniquely positive to offer & we support working together to progress reason. In particular we collaborate with CLHG, and also support the remits of AtheismUK, Atheist Assembly, BHA, CEMB, CFI, GALHA, LBA, LE-MMG, LSS, NSS, SMF. However we do not support censorship & there is one Meetup.com atheists' group that has routinely censored opinion differing from the sole organiser's own views - anathema for anyone who values open debate, and bizarre for atheists!
What does 'activist' mean? Don't be alarmed! :-) We're about positive peaceful messages, & humour. We try to facilitate, support and encourage (not impose!) doing *something* - whatever is right for YOU, personally...even that is 'just' silent membership. Whilst some of our members like to face religions/religionists directly e.g at Speakers' corner, most are somewhere in between. e.g. exchanging views on discussion boards/ meetups, signing petitions or lobbying MPs. All are worthy in their own way, and we appreciate that each persons circumstances are different.
On our busy forums - Share news, views, or have a laugh, have a rant, criticise/challenge religion all you want, encourage benevolent memes of rationalistic & atheistic wisdom and ethics - or even have a 'brain-dump' about anything that's on your mind - it feels good when you're with people who understand!
At our frequent and affable events - a warm welcome awaits you! No pressure to participate or talk unless you want to, just come along and try it out, you'll probbaly learn something, teach something and maybe make friends, too!
To sum up: This group is about challenging passive acceptance of religion as a 'norm', to stop religious indoctrination, manipulation and political interference. We don't advocate 'forcing' atheism on others but we do want people to be ALLOWED to think for themselves. No violence/aggression, obviously, but no need for timidity either - let's be confident, since reason is something to be celebrated! For the sake of those that are not given a choice, we can't let religions continue to bully & enforce. If you don't agree that the world would be better off without religion, then this group probably isn't right for you. Qualify it by all means, and oppose religion's ills in whatever way is right for YOU personally - even if only tacitly, by silent membership. It all helps!
Anyone globally can join in the lively and varied discussions, and you're welcome at the meetups if you're visiting London.
We have many active campaigns, trying to make a difference in amongst other things - Apostasy, Religion re Equality & Human rights, Religion in Education, politics and tV broadcasting - things that our members tell us they feel strongly about...feel free to suggest other issues for the group to get behind!
Founders: Adrian, Anton, Ginny, Hamid, Kieron, Martyn, MyTime ThisTime, PJ, Steve Lawlor, Steve Lee, Kanwar!