About us
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 $25 every six months to cover the Meetup.com subscription cost.
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 ](http://www.atheistscholar.org/)***is an excellent resource for you!
Upcoming events
1
Read & Discuss Part 1 "Religion, Power, and Illusion"
·OnlineOnlinepart 1, through chapter five (to page 181) of:
Religion, Power, and Illusion: A Genealogy of Religious Belief
2022
by Patrick J Hurley
Prometheus Press
326 pages plus endnotes
https://a.co/d/0f6Fo3ffAI Overview: https://share.google/aimode/NP5YVVcm26vEwwq0p
Google Books: https://www.google.com/books/edition/Religion_Power_and_Illusion/WE2BEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0https://www.google.com/books/edition/Religion_Power_and_Illusion/WE2BEAAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0
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Book OverviewAuthor: Patrick J. Hurley (Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of San Diego, widely known for authoring the market-leading textbook A Concise Introduction to Logic)
Core Thesis: The "Priest-God" Bargain
Hurley argues that religious beliefs are structured illusions intentionally developed across history as tools for socio-political power. He outlines a cycle where:- Self-appointed priests invent gods or spirits.
- They convince the public that they possess the unique ability to bargain or intercede with these deities to secure favorable outcomes (like good weather, health, or salvation).
- In return, the community rewards the priestly class with wealth, systemic control, and elevated social status.
Historical Scope & Genealogy
The text applies a genealogical method to trace how early transactional rituals evolved into modern monotheism:- The Neolithic Period & Ancient Egypt: He analyzes how early agricultural communities shifted from animism to complex, state-backed pantheons requiring temples, continuous offerings, and elite priestly management.
- The Evolution of the Abrahamic God: Hurley explores the shifting historical realities of Moses, Yahweh, the Exodus, and the creation of early Judaism.
- The Engineering of Orthodoxy: The book places a heavy focus on the first few centuries of Christianity. Hurley asserts that the final theological formulation of the Christian God (such as the Trinity) was engineered by early bishops wrestling for structural control. He argues that theological positions were designated as "orthodox" if they expanded the power of the church hierarchy, while positions that undermined authority were branded as "heretical".
Philosophical Framework
As a philosopher of science and logic, Hurley employs the social and critical theories of thinkers like Thomas Hobbes, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Michel Foucault to map out how institutions manipulate collective memory and systemic rituals.The book ultimately concludes that because priestly power and the human psychological craving for bargaining with the universe are deeply entrenched, religion is highly unlikely to disappear any time soon—even if its logical foundations are fundamentally defective.
AI source: https://share.google/aimode/NP5YVVcm26vEwwq0p
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NOTE:
In fairness to everyone attending who expects a meaningful discussion and a productive learning experience, you must have read through Chapter Five (to page 181) in order to attend this meeting.NOTE:
For this video conference, you must have a computer with a camera, microphone, and speakers, or a headset. We are using Microsoft Teams to host this meeting.Download and install Microsoft Teams here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-teams/download-app
A free Microsoft account is required if you don't already have one:
https://signup.live.com/signupYOU MUST RSVP TO SEE THE LINK that is required to join our online meeting.
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About the Author
Patrick Hurley is Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at the University of San Diego. Among other works he is the author of A Concise Introduction to Logic which, for the past 25 years, has been the number one best seller in the field. His Ph.D. is in the philosophy of science (physics) with a concentration in the history of philosophy. He did graduate work in mathematics and extensive undergraduate work in theology.
Book Reviews
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/60610437-religion-power-and-illusion#CommunityReviews
2 attendees
Past events
169
