Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia monthly meetings are held on the first Tuesday of every month at 7:00 pm, and are free and open to the public. Please join us!

Meetings are held at:

Ludington Library Basement (map & directions)
5 South Bryn Mawr Avenue
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010

Upcoming Events

Past Events

April 3, 2007:  Art Caplan, noted bio-ethicist, writer and commentator, is the next speaker in the lecture series presented by the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia (FSGP).  Dr. Caplan’s topic is “What have we learned (if anything) from the death of Terri Schiavo?”, a subject that touched everyone. But what is its greater meaning?

March 6, 2007:  Guest speaker Stephen G. Harvey is one of the lawyers for the plaintiffs in the recent case of Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District.  His presentation Intelligent Design on Trial will cover the background of the Kitzmiller case and how it was proved that Intelligent Design is a religious concept, not a scientific concept, and that the Dover School Board acted for the purpose of promoting religion.

Harvey will also cover the history of the evolution verses creationism controversy in the United States and the legal issues raised by religiously motivated attacks on evolution.

February 11, 2006: 1:00 - 5:00 PM

Darwin Day Family Field Trip!

Charles Robert Darwin was born on February 12, 1809, in Shrewsbury, England.  Darwin Day is an international celebration of science and humanity as exemplified in the life, work and influence of this great scientist.  It is celebrated by people around the world who value the adventurous spirit and natural curiosity that scientists and explorers of all kinds share.

We will visit the University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology for its Darwin Day and Evolution Teach-In.

The day will feature short teach-in talks, a Science Cafe discussion forum and a physical anthropologist's corner with plaster casts of hominid skulls and other bones.  "Darwin" will be on hand, reading excerpts from his writings.  There will be a film, an ongoing children's workshop, a birthday cake and badminton, reputedly a favorite game of Darwin's.

More information, including directions.  This is a free event at the museum.

Bring the kids and join us!

February 6, 2007, 7:00 PM: Black History Month Celebration
In celebration of Black History Month, Mike Estes will present The Civil Rights Movement in the First Half of the Twentieth Century.

Estes will present an examination of the African-American civil rights movement from 1901 to 1950.  Contrary to the later, more well-known incarnation of the movement, which had strong ties to the black church, there were many Atheists, Freethinkers and religious skeptics who were prominent in this earlier period.

January 2, 2007 - 7:00 PM: Richard Dawkins documentary: The Root of All Evil?

Friday, October 13, 2006: Anti-Superstition Party!

July 16, 2006, 12:00 PM:  Lunch and a movie!

As the first Tuesday of the month happens to fall on a holiday (July 4th), there is no monthly meeting scheduled in July. A special event, however is planned for Sunday, July 16, 2006.

Please join fellow Freethinkers at the following restaurant to enjoy a lovely Indian buffet lunch and a showing of the Dr. Richard Dawkins television show, The Root of all Evil?:

Desi Village
145 South Gulph Road
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania 19406

To make a reservation, please call the restaurant directly at (610) 265-8500, indicating that you are joining the Dawkins Party. Reservations for this event will be taken until Friday, July 14, 2006.

The luncheon cost is $20 per person. This price includes tax and gratuity. You are welcome to bring your own wine and beer. The event starts at noon. Please be prompt so that everyone will finish eating around the same time. The Dr. Dawkins DVD will begin at 1:00 PM. The event will end at 3:30 PM.

Please plan to pay for your lunch with cash or check. Please make your check payable to the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia. Charge cards will not be accepted.

May 2, 2006: 7:00 pm Program Meeting

Guest speaker Rob Boston

Boston's speech, "In Praise of the Secular State," will defend the secular state as the best mechanism for protecting the religious community and philosophical beliefs of all Americans, and will debunk attacks from the Religious Right on the principle.

Boston is Assistant Director of Communications for Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the assistant editor of AU's monthly magazine, Church & State.

May 3rd, 2006: 7:00pm-8:30pm

The Academy of Natural Sciences Town Square Presents:

A Giant Step in Evolution: Discovering the Link Between Fish and Limbed Animals

Special exhibit and lecture
Featuring: Dr. Ted Daeschler, Assistant Curator and Chair, Department of Vertebrate Zoology at The Academy of Natural Sciences

The Academy of Natural Sciences Auditorium (map & directions)
1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Philadelphia, PA 19101

June 1, 2006: Chester County Swinging Summer Thursdays

June 6, 2006: Program Meeting

Cults and Deprogramming

Fred Edwords, the editor of the Humanist Magazine, and his wife
Mary Murchison-Edwords, are the invited speakers.

The duo will cover the question of the appropriateness of the word "cult" and the civil liberties issues surrounding deprogramming.  Their focus will be the
dramatic story of how, back in 1980, right after they were wed, Mary became a victim of deprogramming by her parents, who disapproved of their interracial marriage.  The 'deprogrammer' even tried to convince the young bride-to-be that Humanism is a "cult."  The Edwords' story gets more interesting from there.

Guest speakers: Fred Edwords and Mary Murchison-Edwords

FSGP on Bullshit!

April 3, 2006 - 10:00 PM: The Freethought Society's activism against discrimination will be highlighted on the Season Premiere of Penn and Teller's Bullshit!

The mischievous magicians return for a fourth season of exposing the hypocrisy of society with this episode that focuses on the Boy Scouts of America and its policy of intolerance toward homosexuals and atheists.

The Boy Scouts of America restricts scout membership and leadership opportunities to homosexuals and straight males who DON'T believe in God. According to the BSA, atheists and gays don't make good scouts or good role models. If the Boy Scouts of America were a privately funded group, it could discriminate against and hate anyone it damn well wanted to. But the Boy Scouts of America is dependent upon Federal, State and local government handouts. So, the BSA and their intolerance… are BULLSHIT!

Bullshit! airs on the subscription station Showtime.   But you will be able to see this program even if you don't subscribe, because March 31 through April 3 is a free preview weekend! 

Watch a preview video of this episode.    Watch the Season Four preview

Bonus Preview!  Listen to Penn Jillette interviewing Margaret Downey.
Windows Media Player (smaller file, recommended for dialup users)
MP3