Keynote speakers this year are:

Dr. Domke, University of Washington Communications professor and author of “The God Strategy” and “God Willing? Political Fundamentalism in the White House.” He was one of the two top-rated speakers at the 2009 conference, and will be the keynote speaker at the Saturday banquet in 2010. He’ll be sharing ideas from his most recent research.

Ophelia Benson, the opening keynote speaker, is the co-force behind several books and a superb website, butterfliesandwheels.com, the goal of which is “fighting fashionable nonsense.” She will open our conference talking about being as critical of what we agree with as what we scorn.

Anu Garg, the closing keynote speaker, is the founder of wordsmith.org, which goes to 750,000 subscribers in 200 countries, and has often included free-thought ideas in the daily quote. He’ll talk about his philosophical path from Hinduism (330,000 dieties) to where he is now (none at all). He’s a member of FFRF and AU.

There are also multiple opportunities to volunteer, as well as scholarships that are available (I have one available for a member of Tacoma Atheists!).

The success of the 2009 Northwest Freethought Alliance Conference has encouraged us to hold a 2010 conference.

This one will be at the Renton Technical College, just SE of Seattle; I’m anticipating we’ll alternate host sites annually between Portland State University and Renton Technical College.

Here is what we’re asking from you:

1. Put a link from your website to the conference site.
2. Put notices in your newsletter encouraging members to attend.
3. Announce the conference at your meetings.

Just as for the 2009 conference, it’s being planned and carried out by Humanists, Atheists, Brights, Americans United, various Meet-ups, Skeptics, etc.

And of course, we could use all the ideas that anyone wants to include. We have already tweaked parts of the conference based on feedback from the 2009 attendees.

Even after many centuries of being disappointed and miserably failed by organized religion, Black Americans continue to be extremely devout and show blind faith in self-destructive ways. Religious fundamentalism and bigotry continue to promote sectarianism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia and anti-intellectualism in Black American communities. Mental Liberation is the final frontier of the civil rights movement.

Join us as we work toward a more secular and rational Black America.

Topics for the 2009 Conference:

1. Why a secular solution to teen pregnancy in black America is needed.
2. The role of the black church in homophobia
3. Where was God during slavery and segregation?
4. Misconceptions about Charles Darwin and race
5. How Black stereotypes have become a second religion
6. Why the Black church receives too much credit for the civil rights movement
7. Why the Black church has alienated the black male
8. The imbalanced relationship between the black female and the black church

E-mail blacknontheists2009@garybooker.org for more information.

The Skeptic’s Toolbox, August 6-9 in Eugene, OR.

The CFI Western Carribbean Travel Club Adventure, aboard the Carnival Miracle [yes, the irony has not escaped us!!], Nov. 12-20

FFRF 32nd annual convention, Nov. 6-8, Seattle.

There were some fabulous talks by Jim Corbett, Roy Speckhardt, David Domke and others. We Twittered much of the conference here (of course, you have to start at the bottom and read up). #freethought, for those of you who do that.

While we were there, of course, the article in the Seattle Times ran, and there was a DoS attack on the Seattle Atheists servers, so it was fun-filled and exciting, and most of all, great to see that atheists and humanists were coming out of the woodwork. It’s a wise, compassionate, and energetic group of people, and I’m honored to have been a part of it. Jerry, Sylvia (of the Humanists of Greater Portland), and I did a panel on using Meetup to build membership, which I think people enjoyed. I particularly enjoyed Jim Corbett’s talk on debating Darwin deniers, and the CFI presentation.

The food was great, the speakers were great, the coffee was great, and it was fun doing the set-up and introductions, and running around helping. I also learned, interestingly, that some Catholics have likened Humanists to cannibals. Hey, we don’t go for that transubstantiation thing, man. I don’t know what you’re talking about.

A big, huge thank you to the HGP and all the other groups for making this event possible. Look for a bigger, better conference next year in Seattle!

Keynote speakers

• Dr. David Domke, author of “The God Strategy” and “God Willing? Political Fundamentalism in the White House” will be sharing ideas from his books and current events.
• Dr. Bob Park, author of “Superstition: Belief in the Age of Science” and “Voodoo Science: The Road from foolishness to Fraud”, will share ideas from his research.
• Roy Speckhardt is the Executive Director of the American Humanist Association, and a board member of The Humanist Institute. He’s also an advisory board member of the Secular Student Alliance and the Women’s Law & Public Policy Fellowship Program.

Some of the very interesting workshops and speakers include:

Find out more, register, and make a PayPal payment here.

About the conference

The Northwest Freethought Alliance, supported by the Humanists of Greater Portland, is coordinating the efforts of three dozen freethought and other groups in the Northwest, including member organizations of the Northwest Freethought Coalition (NWFC), in planning and hosting a regional conference.

Keynote speakers

Dr. David Domke, author of “The God Stategy” and “God Willing? Political Fundamentalism in the White House” will be sharing ideas from his books and current events.

Dr. Bob Park, author of “Superstition: Belief in the Age of Science” and “Voodoo Science: The Road from foolishness to Fraud”, will share ideas from his research.

Roy Speckhardt is the Executive Director of the American Humanist Association, and a board member of The Humanist Institute. He’s also an advisory board member of the Secular Student Alliance and the Women’s Law & Public Policy Fellowship Program.