About FSGP

The Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia (FSGP) was founded in 1993 by Margaret Downey. Today, FSGP's community outreach efforts have changed the hearts and minds of many citizens who never met or talked to an atheist. FSGP sponsors activities, events and speakers to educate the public about the nontheist life stance. FSGP's efforts to keep religion out of government and government out of religion ensure Constitutional protection for theist and nontheist citizens alike.

What does FSGP advocate?

We advocate reason, rationalism, freethought and humanism. To this end, FSGP provides forums in which freethinkers can gather for informational and educational meetings, and for fun events and social networking with like-minded individuals.

Why Join?

A membership with FSGP is an investment in the nontheist movement. We look forward to continuing to providing educational programs, social events, outreach and advocacy for freethinkers in the Delaware Valley region, but we can't do it without support from individuals like you.

Monthly Program Meetings

To better meet the needs of our members, FSGP has recently begun to vary meeting days, times and locations. Check our web site for the most up-to-date information on monthly program meeting speakers and topics.

Monthly meetings are a great way to introduce yourself and make new friends. After the meeting a group often goes to a local restaurant to socialize and discuss ideas raised by the speaker.

 

Past Events

Combating Superstitions
- a speech by Margaret Downey
The Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County
687 Larch Avenue
Teaneck, NJ 07666
201-836-5187
Start Time:  Sunday, January 24, 2010 at 11:00am
End Time:    Monday, January 25, 2010 at 12:30pm
Location:     Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County, Teaneck, NJ
.For more information see:

Ethical Culture Calendar description: http://tinyurl.com/yawojdb

Bergen Record Calendar: http://calendar.northjersey.com/venue.aspx?venue_id=51013

Meetup: http://www.meetup.com/EthicalFocus/calendar/12123264/

Craig's List: http://newjersey.craigslist.org/eve/1524830094.html
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EVENT CANCELLED- due to bad weather.
February Protest Against the Boy Scouts
Event: Candlelight Vigil to protest discrimination on the Boy Scouts of America's 100th Anniversary

What:  Protest Against Discrimination

Start Time: CANCELLED - will reschedule when appropriate.

End Time:  CANCELLED

Where: Cradle of Liberty Council BSA Headquarters at 2130 Winter Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-1027
 
Details: Eagle Scouts are encourage to turn in their badges in protest. People harmed by the discriminatory policies are welcome to speak.
For more information and/or to register for this event, please visit the FSGP Facebook Page.


A letter from Margaret Downey

    Dear members,
     
    I write to ask your support in protesting the Boy Scouts of America's (BSA) bigoted membership policy by attending the candlelight vigil scheduled for Saturday, February 6, 2010.
     
    This event is schedule to coincide with vigils being held across the country. This event is endorsed by Scouting For All. Please see the Scouting For All website to find out why protesting at the Philadelphia BSA office is important:
     
    http://www.scoutingforall.org/data/archives/articles/2007111301.html
     
    Nineteen years ago, my complaint against BSA was brought to the attention of the local media and the publicity for that case brought many freethinkers together. It was from those contacts that the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia started. While nontheists are still banned from BSA, we can object to the prejudice. We can object to BSA having free use of the building on Winter and 22nd Streets as they boldly violate Philadelphia anti-discrimination statutes.
     
    We can acknowledge that while discrimination against nontheists is a vile and unethical policy, the consequences of prejudices against the gay community is a situation of highest concern. There are many recorded suicides in the gay community that are a direct result of being discriminated against. The horrendous results of BSA prejudices goes even further. Few people know that Matthew Shepard was killed by an Eagle Scout. See:
     
    http://www.scoutingforall.org/data/layer02/aaic/shouldisign.html
     
    Please also see:
     
    http://atheism.about.com/b/2007/01/19/murdered-for-being-an-atheist.htm
     
    It is surprising to learn that some people involved in the nontheist community have not heard about BSA's discriminatory membership policy. It appears that this issue must continue to be exposed and written about least we forget that BSA is not an organization of honor. It is now, instead, a private organization determined to separate themselves from atheists and gays -- all the while getting public assistance, gratuities, free use of buildings, access to public schools and city officials turning a blind eye to violations of anti-discrimination laws.
     
    You can learn more by attending the February event listed above.
    Margaret Downey
    Founder and President
    The Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia
    Phone: (610) 793-2737
    Fax:     (610) 793-2569
    Cell:     (610) 357-9432  
    Email:  Downey1@Downey1.cnc.net

 


Unfortunately, the Humanlight event was cancelled due to a huge snowstorm.    

December 20, 2009 will be the fourth straight year that nontheistic Pennsylvanians have their own gala holiday celebration of HumanLight!

Where: This year's festivities are co-hosted by the HAGP and the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia, and take place at the Williamson Restaurant, 500 Blair Mill Road, Horsham, PA. (map and directions)

When: Sunday, December 20, 2009. 12:30 is pre-party socializing and program/lunch goes from 1:00pm-4:00pm.

Entertainment: Wondergy 

Keynote Speaker: Jennifer Michael Hecht is a historian, philosopher, and award winning poet. Her best selling books include Doubt: A History and The Happiness Myth. Hecht earned her Ph.D. in the History of Science and European Cultural History from Columbia University in 1995 and teaches at The New School University. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband John, and their two children.

Join us in celebrating humanity, reason, and hope! 


Saturday, November 21, 2009 7:00PM

Barnes & Noble 102 Park Ave.
Willow Grove, PA 19090

Book: Good Without God: What A Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe.

 Special Meeting with the Author! Greg Epstein, the Humanist Chaplain at Harvard University, will lead a discussion of his newly published book Good Without God: What A Billion Nonreligious People Do Believe. The book will be released by Harper Collins at the end of October. Copies of it will be for sale at this event.  

 

Editorial Review from Amazon.com

  An inspiring and provocative exploration of an alternative to traditional religion by the Humanist chaplain at Harvard University.

With the current state of the economy, the ongoing wars that rage across the globe, and the unsettling changes to the earth's climate, questions about the role of God and religion in world affairs have never been more relevant or felt more powerfully. Many of us are searching for a place where we can find not only facts and scientific reason but also hope and the moral courage needed to overcome such challenges. For some, answers to the most challenging questions are found in the divine. For others, including the New Atheists, religion has no place in the world and is, in fact, an "enemy."

But in Good Without God, Greg Epstein presents another, more balanced and inclusive response: Humanism. With a focus on the positive, he highlights humanity's potential for goodness and the ways in which Humanists lead lives of purpose and compassion. Humanism can offer the sense of community we want and often need in good times and bad, as we celebrate marriages and the birth of our children, and as we care for those who are elderly or sick. In short, Humanism teaches us that we can lead good and moral lives without supernaturalism, without higher powers . . . without God.

In this constructive response not only to his fellow atheists Richard Dawkins, Christopher Hitchens, and Sam Harris but also to contemporary religious leaders such as Rick Warren and Jim Wallis, Epstein makes a bold claim for what nonbelievers do share and believe. At a time when the debate about morality rages more fiercely than ever—and when millions are searching for something they can put their faith in—Humanism offers a comfort and hope that affirms our ability to live ethical lives of personal fulfillment, aspiring together for the greater good of all.

About the Author

Greg M. Epstein holds a B.A. in religion and Chinese, as well as an M.A. in Judaic studies from the University of Michigan and an M.A. in theological studies from the Harvard Divinity School. In addition to serving as the Humanist chaplain at Harvard University, he is a regular contributor to "On Faith," an online forum on religion produced by Newsweek and the Washington Post, and his work has been featured on National Public Radio and in several national publications.


Humanist LGBT Author Marc Adams

Marc Adams is the author of nine books including his autobiography, The Preacher's Son. Since 1997, he has traversed the United States speaking to nearly 100 Unitarian Universalist congregations, major universities, political organizations, GLBT community centers, pride festivals, atheist/humanist groups and others.

The Preacher’s Son is his story of growing up gay, the son of a fundamentalist Baptist minister, his time as an ex-gay, his life as a student and employee of Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, coming out and becoming a Unitarian Universalist/Humanist. Adams’ most recent book, (lost)Found is a follow-up to The Preacher's Son. It continues his story after coming out to his family and reflects ten years of his life being out in a corporate workplace, building a family of choice, dealing with the baggage from his fundamentalist upbringing and the patient, unwavering love of his grandmother.  It is truly an homage to the real love that only real family can exhibit.

Join us on October 2, when Marc Adams will share his story and journey; serious and important, yet filled with humor and interaction.

Friday, October 2, 2009 at 7:00 PM

Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia Building

1906 S. Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia PA 19103

Free and open to the public.

 

Thursday, September 10, 2009:

Barry Vacker, Media Theorist

 

7:00 PM


Robin’s Books/Moonstone Arts Center: 110 A S. 13th St., Phila. 19107


Join us for a reading by Barry Vacker from his recently published Starry Skies Moving Away (2009), which explores how humanity’s view of utopia and destiny has evolved (and devolved) with cosmological discoveries, from Galileo to the space age to the big bang. The reading will include a most original interpretation of the long-term meaning of Apollo 8 and 11, the meaning never provided by NASA or the media, and certain to stimulate atheists and freethinkers!

 

Barry Vacker teaches media and cultural studies at Temple Univeristy. Most recently, Barry wrote the text for Peter Granser's photography book about America, Signs (Hatje Cantz and the Chicago Museum for Contemporary Photography, 2008), which has been featured in museums and galleries around the world. Barry wrote and directed the documentary film, Space Times Square (2007), which has screened in New York, Paris, Hamburg, Beijing, and cyberspace. He is also founder of Theory Vortex, an experimental media firm that produced his film and the "Theory Zero" book series: ZeroConditions (2008), Crashing into the Vanishing Points (2009), and Starry Skies Moving Away (2009). He is also the author of Slugging Nothing: Fighting the Future in Fight Club (2009).

 

Check out Vacker’s websites and blogs: http://www.barryvacker.net/

http://theoryvortex.blogspot.com/

 

Tuesday, August 4th: AHA Atty. Bob Ritter Presents “The Supreme Scandal”

 

 Basement Meeting Room at Ludington Library: 5 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr PA 19010 7:00-8:30 PM

Bob Ritter is the legal coordinator of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center of the American Humanist Association. He is a member of the D.C. and Virginia bar, the Supreme Court bar, thebars of the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 4th, 10th and D.C. Circuits and of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

Ritter’s involvement in civil liberties movement go back five decades – starting with his Mother taking him to picket a segregated movie theater in the 1950’s. He converted from Catholicism to atheism in his mid-to-late teens and thinks of himself as a Humanist and freethinker.He is co-counsel with Mike Newdow in Newdow v. Roberts, a case challenging the infusion of religion into the presidential inaugural ceremonies. That case is currently before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Presentation details are online and will be included in the next newsletter.

Join us to hear Ritter’s take on the complete abdication of reason by the Supreme Court majority in Van Orden v. Perry – the 2005 Supreme Court decision that held that the Fraternal Order of Eagles’ Ten Commandments tombstone displayed on the Texas state capitol grounds does not violate the Establishment Clause. An early draft version appears on his website www.jmcenter.org).

Other brief topics include his current work at AHA: (1) Newdow v. Roberts (challenging the infusion of religion into the presidential inaugural ceremonies); (2) the upcoming Supreme Court case of Salazar v. Buono involving the Sunrise Rock cross in the Mojave National Preserve in California; (3) the Fire Tower cross in Reading, PA; and (4) his personal campaign to get Little League Baseball (headquartered in PA) to discontinue its religious practices including “I trust in God” in the Little League Pledge.


PhillyCOR Annual Unity Picnic

Sunday, July 26, 2009 from 1:00-5:00pm

Please join FSGP and the Greater Philadelphia Coalition of Reason (PhillyCOR) organizations at Fort Washington State Park on Sunday, July 26th from 1:00-5:00 PM. Admission is $10 for adults who partake in food and/or beverage. This family-friendly picnic is a great social event. Please bring a friend who may be interested in joining our community!

 

Fort Washington State Park

Flourtown Pavilion on West Mill Rd. just west of Bethlehem Pike

driving directions on Google

Fort Washington, PA 19034

Flourtown Pavilion ~ RAIN OR SHINE

 

 

Please bring a dish for 7-10 people, according to your last name:

 

A-G: Salad or vegetable

H-P: Fruit or dessert

Q-Z: Bread, potato or rice dish

 

 

There will be games and activities for children. If you need a ride from the city, or are willing to be a driver, please call PhillyCOR Coordinator, Barry Greenstein, at 215-475-2573. Additionally, please call if you will be taking the R5 train and will need a ride from the Fort Washington Station.

Directions to Pavilion: From the park office turn right onto Bethlehem Pike. Follow Bethlehem Pike through five traffic lights. Turn right at the sixth traffic light onto West Mill Road. Follow W. Mill Rd for ¼ mile. Park entrance is on right just past sharp curve.

Please RSVP! That way we can estimate how much food and beverages to purchase. You can RSVP by calling Martha Knox at 215-475-2573 or emailing Joe Fox at admin@hagp.org.


Camp Linden Volunteer Work Day

 

Saturday, July 18, 2009 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Join the Ethical Humanist Society of Philadelphia and groundskeeper Sally (FSGP pres.) for a fun-filled day in the great outdoors! Tasks include: filling in gravel on the driveway, cleaning and other maintenance tasks arond the pool, as well as some small jobs in the garden (weeding, harvesting, etc.). There is sure to be a task that will suit everyone. Bug spray and sun screen will be available. Make sure to bring your swim suit if you want to go swimming after the work is completed.

A delicious lunch will be provided. Please RSVP to Sally by Friday, July 17 by emailing sally.cramer@gmail.com. Let us know if you are vegetarian or vegan. Sally will be happy to pick you up from the Malvern train station or West Chester bus stop with notice (please note when you RSVP).

Camp Linden is located in West Chester, PA (about an hour from the city) and serves as a day camp for inner-city children for 7 weeks during the summer. The camp is also available for group rentals.

To learn more about Camp Linden, visit the website.

 


 

FSGP Reaches Out at Street Festival

On Sunday, May 3, FSGP volunteers set up and staffed a table/booth at the Equality Forum's 2009 SundayOUT! Street Festival. Despite a rainy day, FSGP received a great reception from festival-goers (aside from Repent America protesters)!

Thanks to Shaun, Scotty, Glen, Brian, Greg and Janice for assisting with the table. Some pictures from the event are below.

FSGP's raffle was a big success. We collected over 56 names & emails. The winners of the raffle are:
Rob H.--$50 gift certificate to restaurant of his choice
Kayla S.--Autographed Penn & Teller photo
Rob A.--"Smile, there is no Hell" t-shirt

Congratulations to the winners!


This is a new page to our web site. More past events will be added as time permits.