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 "Nietzsche and the Death of God: Selected Writings"
·OnlineOnlineRead and discuss:
Nietzsche and the Death of God: Selected Writings
2013
by Peter Fritzsche
Waveland Press, Inc.
160 pages plus endnotes
https://a.co/d/01bof5iopreview:
https://www.google.com/books/edition/Nietzsche_and_the_Death_of_God/MoBIAgAAQBAJ"A compact introduction to Nietzsche's writings about God, language, truth, and myth, this collection will engage and appeal to both veteran and novice readers. Fritzsche's insightful introduction presents valuable historical, biographical, and cultural guidelines for exploring Nietzsche's ideas and influence, without ignoring his literary acumen. The samples of Nietzsche's writing were carefully chosen to represent Nietzsche's enduring relevance for contemporary life.
With "the death of God" as his starting point, Fritzsche selected and translated documents from the full range of Nietzsche's explosive writings to expose readers to key ideas he developed. His bold concepts ignited reactions in his time and continue to energize and shape worldviews. Selections include Nietzsche's thoughts on such topics as how humans have fallen into a subordinate relationship with systems of morality of their own making, and the importance of recognizing new possibilities; how different cultures and languages enable unique interpretations—that is, there is no common or real world; and how the "slave mentality" of the West inclines people to see each other as victims instead of masters of their own lives.
All of the documents feature notations about publication history and context for the readings that follow; gloss notes explain literary allusions, historical references, and unfamiliar terms; appendixes include a chronology of Nietzsche's life, questions for consideration, and a bibliography of selected works by and about Nietzsche.
Table of Contents:
Part One: INTRODUCTION: Nietzsche's Life and Works
Nietzsche's Importance / Nietzsche's Ideas / Nietzsche's Legacy
Part Two: THE DOCUMENTS
1. Aphorisms, 1875-1889
2. On Truths and Lies in an Extramoral Sense, 1873
3. On the Uses and Disadvantages of History for Life, 1874
4. Human, All Too Human, 1878
5. The Gay Science, 1882
6. Thus Spoke Zarathustra, 1883-1884
7. Beyond Good and Evil, 1886
8. On the Genealogy of Morals, 1887-- from the Publisher
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NOTE:
In fairness to everyone attending who expects a meaningful discussion and a productive learning experience, you must have read or listened to this entire book (382 pages) 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.
Find answers about Microsoft Teams here:
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/introducing-microsoft-teams-free-bba89850-d946-43f8-a9ea-e742cdc0128c***
About the Author
Peter Fritzsche is a historian and professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Book Review
"An impressive and, in many ways, original reading of Nietzsche as a prophet of freedom, experimentation, and self-invention. Peter Fritzsche has provided an excellent selection of texts and a compelling introduction, which highlight Nietzsche's continuing relevance for contemporary life and thought."
--George S. Williamson, University of Alabama"A tour de force of Nietzsche interpretation and explanation.... Professor Fritzsche has done the field a great service, setting forth the incomparable range of Nietzsche's ideas while giving students and instructors clear historical, biographical, and cultural guidelines for exploring it."
--David B. Dennis, Loyola University, Chicago"A useful collection for undergraduate teaching that brings together Nietzsche's most critical works with an excellent introduction that is helpful to nonspecialists and students alike."
--Michele Strong, George Mason University3 attendees
Past events
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