Why are you having an atheists conference?

 Alright Hamby, I'm gonna have to go rent Revenge of the Nerds tonight because of you.  Why?  Because I believe there are some lessons we atheists can learn from it!  Be looking out for an essay...

It's a damn good question.  I asked it to Richard Dawkins twice already.  He seems to have even less of an idea then I lol 

I'm anxiously waiting.

This is a big issue for me, but I seldom write about it because I don't know the answer, either.  Clearly atheists have an image problem, and I think it's naive to blame it entirely on theists.

Fancy-Schmancy talk for "speaker."

She does lots of monologues.

Anybody willing to give me a spot on their floor Saturday night?

I am going too. But having procrastinated and lacking funds up untill now(had to save my money) getting a room is impossible at this point, unless someone attending had a freind cancel, keep me in mind.

Not only am I willing to pay for the cot or bring a sleeping blanket, I can pay you cash AND FREE copies of "God Is Not Great", "Atheism The Case Against God" and "The God Delusion". I have read them all.

Any intrested parties can PM me here at this site. Look forward to meeting you all and seing Brian(Sapient) again. Look forward to meeting Kelly and Rook for the first time. Hopefully Jake too.

All those atheists in one building, WOW!

*Reads question*

So, given that pressure groups are predominately composed of religious moderates as well as atheists, why do we need an atheist conference?

The Atheist Alliance International, which I serve as a Board member (on behalf of the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia) is holding its 13th annual convention this year, but other groups that serve nontheists, such as American Atheists and the American Humanist Association, have been hosting annual conventions for nearly 70 years.

A listing of major events for nontheists is here: http://infidels.org/events/ (see page for links to even more events).

Sapient is asking the speakers questions; AAI President Margaret Downey is probably the best qualified to state "why" the event is being held. After all, the other speakers are the guests, not the organizers, of the convention.

Organizations hold conventions for a variety of reasons: giving their members a chance to meet and socialize, bringing educational speakers out to the public to enlighten and inspire them, holding official Board meetings, and more. Conference attendees may avail themselves of informative literature and other media being distributed or sold at the events, and hard-working atheist authors can sign copies of their books. Organizations can attract new members, whose membership dollars support their work and outreach. Friendship and fun go hand-in-hand with the mind-enriching environment.

Obviously, not all atheists enjoy hearing speakers talk, or socializing with other atheists. But for those who like to broaden their horizons, meet their favorite writers and speakers, and network socially with their fellow atheists, conventions provide an exciting avenue for both socializing and being intellectually stimulated.

Also, partying in a hotel is a damn lot of fun. The evening adventures of playful atheists is my favorite part of the coference. I mean, this one time, I had the entire Secular Student Alliance in my room, and... well, I'll tell you if I meet you at a convention one day.

I look foward to meeting as many of you as I can and meeting the same faces I did at prior events. It is going to be fun.

I have a question for Hitchens.

He debated an Irish Catholic on TV who kept blasting his book about Mother Tarresa saying that it had no "bibliography". 

Hitchens didnt respond to that much and I think his attitude was, if something is widely printed and common knowlege a quote of source is not nessary.

It seems to me Hitchens may miss the point that what he considers common knowlege or WHAT IS common knowlege other people may not see it as such.

Isnt it safer to quote the source so you dont have to deal with morons constantly saying, "Why should I believe that, where is your source". 

 For Dawkins,

"You say you dont debate. But you adimatly want more of the scientific community speaking out against psudo science which is nothing more than religion playing politics. Can that stance be taken by the oposition to mean, "You Mr Dawkins, have something to hide." How do you respond to that charge, and what kind of tactic should scientists take?"  

For Julia Sweeny,

Without mentioning names. Have you ever run into big names in media that profess no belief, whom keep silent."

For Graydon,

Other than our community reaction "atheist reaction" how is the music world and theistic society reciving your music?

I think an important thing to consider is that there hasn't been a popular movement or zeitgeist to declare how we define what is truth in America.  The reason this creationist shit still gets entertained is that, in order to preserve the solidarity of the nation and cause mass protest, American culture has adapted a stance of relativism, where "anything goes" and there is no way to refute anything.  This is why you see "equal time" as a popular arguement, it fits right in with this relativistic stance.  In a way, this shows the genious of democracy, but also potential weaknesses in our system

Look forward to seeing all the faces I met before. Look forward to meeting tons of new faces.  Brian, hopefully if at all possible Saturday Night, I'd like to hang out and buy you a drink.

Ask them "if evolution is true, why do we still have monkeys?"

Seriously, ask them if the "atheist fad" is over. We had all sorts of trendiness attached to the label "atheist" for a year or so, but now it seems to have tapered off. So, did atheism lose its trendiness, and if so, what does this mean? 

I'm sure these people get a lot of "i'll pray for you" comments at the end of a conversation with a theist or probably just in their inbox in general.  How do they respond and if they ignore this isn't that in essence helping to confirm belief in a theist by not raising an objection?

Greydon Square deviates from the typical popular hip hop message of women and bling.  Who are his influences? Musicians of other genres with more a more educational message or simply a combination of Physics and seeing a need within Hip Hop?

The conference is sold out and has been for a few months.  Is this typical or is there simply more interest?

On an aside, I'm really regreting not registering for the conference.  While I live within driving distance and wouldn't need a hotel I really didn't have the money back when there were seats left - not that I have the money now.  Hopefully the DVDs will be affordably priced or have some sort of student discount. 

What are you on about? There are tons of people who come here and to other atheist sites who are CONSTANTLY active, and I dont see any signs of that slowing down. You are focused on hills and vallys on mainstreem attention span, and what is more important is long term.

It is like a stock market graph, the bar goes up and down, but the long term trend for atheists has been going up.

I myself since 2001 have had 18 opions printed in the paper where I used to live, and two printed here where I live now since last year. That is just me.

There are tons of people online who people like Rational Responders, Infidel Guy, Atheist Network, Internet Infidels and countless others do to motivate non-believers to speak out. 

Now, I dont know why you seem to have a pessimistic view just because athiests dont have a sictom on CBS. I have been on atheist boards since 2001, and I can tell you the trend is upwards, not downwards.

I remember when Atheist Network, created by Jake And Reggie only had a handfull of members. Because of their work that started in the late 90s, almost ten years later, there has been an explosion of atheist stites, and more and more people being open as a result.

I dont know what you seemed to be worried about. Our voice is strong and healthy, and when the spotlight dims it doesnt mean that it is perminate or a downward spiral and there are not those who think long term. The times are with us and if you want to call it a trend, it is a positive one. 

Because of people like George Smith, because of people like Ellen Johnson, because of people like Reggie, Jake, Brian and RRS we DO have a strong voice.

Focusing on one year does not tell the full story. Where you get the idea that being out of the spotlight is death to a movement is absurd. There is alot more to a movement than being interviewed Barbra Walters 7 days a week.

I dont know where you get this. I have never seen such an increase in the awarness of atheists. I dont see it stoping and unlike your pessimistic view, I see it growing. 

You should ask her

Does being such an outspoken Atheist prevent you from getting roles in films? Does she feel prejudice or animosity from Co workers or Casting Directors ect?