About us
Minnesota Atheists is Minnesota's oldest and largest atheist organization. We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, educational organization that seeks to promote the positive contributions of atheism to society, provides a community for nonbelievers, educates the public about atheism, and promotes separation of state and church. We help make atheism part of mainstream society. We look forward to meeting you!
We are a member-supported organization. Everyone who works for Minnesota Atheists is a volunteer, but getting our word out does cost money. This site, our website, mailing newsletters, filming a cable TV show and participating in public events like festivals and parades all add up. We can do all of this thanks to you!
To make a tax deductible donation, go here:
http://mnatheists.org/join-and-donate/gener...
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Upcoming events
104
“Atheism Today” by Jennifer Michael Hecht
·OnlineOnline“Atheism Today” by Jennifer Michael Hecht
Sunday, May 17, 2026
Minnesota Atheists - Hybrid Meeting
Free and Open to the PublicIn person and via Zoom
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85698937389?pwd=eafVTIn9hYaxL3Tb3XOB8JcNTdatAn.1
Zoom Meeting ID: 856 9893 7389; Passcode: 166449Merriam Park Library
1831 Marshall Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
(There is a small library parking lot, but there is also free parking in the neighborhood.)1:00-1:30 pm - Library opens. Social Time. Zoom starts.
1:30-1:50 pm - Business Meeting. (Open to the public.)
1:50-2:00 pm - Break
2:00-3:30 pm - Public Meeting: “Atheism Today” by Jennifer Michael Hecht
3:30 pm - Leave for Dinner ** Longfellow Grill
2990 W. River Pkwy.
Minneapolis, MN 55406
(1.4 miles west of the library, just over the Mississippi River, where Marshall Ave. in St. Paul turns into E. Lake St. in Minneapolis.)
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Our speaker will appear live via Zoom. She will be projected on the library screen or you may watch from home.
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“Atheism Today” by Jennifer Michael HechtBefore the rise and popularity of the “Four Horsemen” of atheism (Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris, Christopher Hitchens, and Daniel Dennett), Jennifer Michael Hecht published Doubt*: A History: The Great Doubters and Their Legacy of Innovation from Socrates and Jesus to Thomas Jefferson and Emily Dickinson – An Intellectual History of Western Skepticism* (October 2003). It became a bestseller and helped give rise to the (so-called) “New Atheist” movement.
Another book she wrote that caught the attention of many atheists was Stay*: A History of Suicide and the Philosophies Against It.* (2013)
Some of her other books include The End of the Soul: Scientific Modernity, Atheism, and Anthropology in France (2003), The Happiness Myth: Why What We Think Is Right Is Wrong (2007), and her latest book: The Wonder Paradox: Poetry, Awe, and the Meaningful Life (2023)
Jennifer Michael Hecht is a poet, historian, and commentator. Her poetry and prose appear in The New Yorker, The New York Times, The New Republic, Poetry, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, Politico, The American Scholar, and Vox.
She has a Ph.D. in The History of Science and European Cultural History, from Columbia University and has taught history and poetry widely including in the graduate programs at the New School and Columbia.
She has been a featured guest of many NPR shows, including multiple appearances on the Brian Lehrer Show and On Being, and some television, such as Hardball MSNBC and Huffington Post Live.
She lectures widely, including at atheist conventions. We are very lucky to get as a speaker someone who embodies the history of the modern atheist movement. From her unique perspective, she will give us her view of “Atheism Today”. She will also take questions on any of her works.
Please help support Minnesota Atheists by becoming a member or by making a donation
14 attendees
Freethought Toastmasters HYBRID
Larpenteur Estates Party Room, 1260 Larpenteur Ave W, St Paul, MN, USYou’re invited to attend Freethought Toastmasters (http://freethought.toastmastersclubs.org/), a club of Toastmasters International (http://www.toastmasters.org/). Build your leadership and communication skills in a supportive, freethinking environment; a place where you will find familiar faces you know from Minnesota Atheists.
Most club members do not RSVP on Meetup since they attend most meetings and coordinate through the 'Toastmaster' of the evening if they cannot attend, so don't let the low RSVP numbers dissuade you from attending.
Join us IN-PERSON or join us ONLINE! This meeting will be HYBRID, but we expect most participants to be there in person. For those wishing to join us on zoom, send an email to George.Francis.Kane_AT_gmail.com to receive the new URL.
We open the party room at 6:00 PM for socializing before the meeting. We encourage zoom participants to join the meeting between 6:15 and 6:25 to socialize and iron out any technical issues. Use the meeting url to access the meeting, this will allow you to join via your computer or smartphone zoom app and will use your devices built in speakers/microphone/video. Message us or comment below if you need the call-in alternative.
Schedule:
• 6:00pm - The party room opens for in-person attendees, a meal is provided
• 6:15pm - Join the Zoom meeting for a pre-social
• 6:30pm - Freethought Toastmasters Business Meeting
~6:40pm - Toastmaster calls the meeting to order
~6:50pm - Scheduled Speeches
~7:25pm - Table Topics: impromptu speaking opportunity
~7:40pm - Evaluations
~7:55pm - Closing
• 8:00pm - Meeting Ends, optional post-socialToastmasters International is a world leader in communication and leadership development. While in many other Toastmaster Clubs the culture deters any mention of religion, so atheists feel guarded and often stay "in the closet," this club provides not only training in public speaking, but also continuous education in topics of interest to atheists.
This club offers the opportunity to talk about a wide range of topics. We welcome people of all worldviews, but of course our members tend to be non-religious. We take current events seriously, but our politics range from capitalist to socialist, from liberal to conservative. Our ages run from the 20s to the 60s (and beyond).
If you decide to join, you can learn to be a better, more confident speaker. No matter what our worldviews, we are committed to mutual respect, tolerance, honesty, encouragement and constructive criticism. If you become a member, you will have the opportunity to prepare and deliver speeches regularly, and receive constructive evaluations of your speeches. It’s a great place to become comfortable as a speaker. With the help of other members, we learn to prepare and present effective speeches on a wide range of topics from humorous to serious. We also learn to think fast during our "Table Topics" sessions (impromptu speeches). We never know quite what to expect from our speakers, but we can always count on an interesting evening together.
As a club of Toastmasters International, we charge the standard rate with no additional club dues. To join Toastmasters, it costs $60 per six months (prorated depending on when you join) plus a $20 new member fee. The new member fee pays for the educational program and the general membership fee pays for district events (local educational sessions for the greater Toastmasters community), general overhead, and a Toastmasters magazine members can opt to receive in the mail.
2 attendees
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