Stockton Area Atheists and Freethinkers

Step into the 1980s with an event that merged hysteria and paranoia: the Satanic Panic. Fueled by conservative anxieties and sensationalist media, society grappled with imagined 'Satanic cabals' lurking in pop culture, schools, and in every shadow.

Enter Chris Holland, a self-professed armchair researcher with a passion for promoting critical thinking. In our October colloquium, he'll navigate this murky terrain, sharing insights about the era's wild theories. As an 80's teenager subjected to the delirium, his perspective adds a unique twist to understanding the enigmatic Satanic Panic.

🎟 About the Free Event

Our colloquiums are free events, open to the public, at the Manteca Library. Those of all worldviews and faiths are welcome.

Doors open at 6:45 PM and our featured talk starts at 7:00 PM sharp. We expect most Colloquiums to last until about 8:30 PM followed by mingling and cleanup.

Please use the library entrance on Center Street.

Parking is free. Some desserts may be provided. A suggested donations of $10 supports this and future events.

🍜 Dinner Before

For those interested in having dinner first, head to the GK Mongolian BBQ (1039 S Main St) prior to the event.

People typically arrive around 5:30 and leave at 6:30 to start setting up at the Manteca Library.

This Months book is:
The Terraformers
by: Annalee Newitz

Destry's life is dedicated to terraforming Sask-E. As part of the Environmental Rescue Team, she cares for the planet and its burgeoning eco-systems as her parents and their parents did before her.

But the bright, clean future they're building comes under threat when Destry discovers a city full of people that shouldn’t exist, hidden inside a massive volcano.

As she uncovers more about their past, Destry begins to question the mission she's devoted her life to, and must make a choice that will reverberate through Sask-E's future for generations to come.

A science fiction epic for our times and a love letter to our future, The Terraformers will take you on a journey spanning thousands of years and exploring the triumphs, strife, and hope that find us wherever we make our home.

"Brilliantly thoughtful, prescient, and gripping.”―Martha Wells, author of The Murderbot Diaries

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tor Books (January 31, 2023)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 352 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250228018
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250228017

This meeting takes place over Zoom. You'll find the link to join the meeting appears in the event details after you RSVP.

🤔 Hold My Beer... It's Time for Trivia

On the second Wednesday of each month, we'll meet at Highwater Brewing in Lodi (near 99, south of Pine Street) for trivia, beer, and a bite to eat.

There's no set plan for teams... just look for the SAAF table and join us or form your own team. Trivia may be inside or outside depending on the weather.

🍺 Food and Drink

Highwater has 36 taps and a full kitchen with plenty of appetizers, pizza, sandwiches, salads, and desserts for everyone.