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.

 

FSGP's own Margaret Downey is a recognized Secular Humanist Officiant. After attending Humanist leadership classes at The Humanist Institute and training sessions through the Council for Secular Humanism (CSH), Council Chairman Paul Kurtz certified her to conduct marriages and other secular ceremonies.

More information is on her professional website, Secular Celebrations.

 

Here is a video of Margaret discussing Naming Ceremonies.

A birth, a marriage, a death -- these events are often surrounded by religious ritual and tradition. But how are those passages in life observed by those who do not believe in a god? We went to a baby-naming ceremony sponsored by the Atheist Alliance International. Its president, Margaret Downey, explains:

MARGARET DOWNEY (Secular Officiant and President, Atheist Alliance International): Our ceremonies are based on real things such as love and honesty and commitment and the beauty of nature.

We conduct "Welcome to the World" ceremonies, and they focus on appreciation of the birth of a child. In our case, we had two children to appreciate.

We officially announce their names to friends and family.

Ms. DOWNEY: We also give our promises to be mentors and "guideparents." We don't have godparents, so we use the terminology "guideparents."

Some people bring gifts. Gifts can range from anything from a thought to a scholarship. Sometimes we do readings. We typically research so that we make sure the poems and the prose do not contain religious jargon. We have libraries filled with beautiful works.

RICHARD DAWKINS (Biologist and Author of "The God Delusion," reading): Of all the experiences of our lives, though, surely no event is more inspiring than the birth of a child.

Ms. DOWNEY: Some parents try to find people that serve as good role models for the child. I mean, Richard Dawkins -- what better role model could you have than him?

Today the naming ceremony's theme is "Stardust," and what we did was we put stars around the tables. We put stars on the stage.

We like ceremonies because it reinforces the fact that we have family and friends. It reinforces a date, a time, a marking in someone's life, a special event, and atheists need that, too.

Appeared: August 15, 2008 on PBS
Links: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandet...
http://humaniststudies.org/enews/?id=...