I’m toying around with the idea of starting a atheist/agnositc/freethinkers group here at Michigan State next semester, or next school year. I’m fairly certain I could get such a group off the ground (my roommate started an environmental group last year and she’d help me out with the mechanics), and that there’d be plenty of people willing to join, and we’d have no problem finding an advisor.
The thing is, what would we DO at the meetings and to raise community awareness? My ideas so far are:
first meeting: introduce ourselves and say how we came to be here
other meetings: discuss our atheist “epiphanies”, hold a debate with religious groups
community action: pass out freethought pamphlets on the sidewalk, support church/state separation however we can (sign petitions, bug lawmakers, etc.), support members going to freethought conferences
Any more ideas? I’d especially like to hear from people who have started or are members of such a group.
I got my first degree from Michigan State.
I’m also a born an current atheist.
I wish you well.
A personal perspective: One of the nice things about atheism for me is that there aren’t groups, meetings, and weekly speeches (sermans) to attend.
I do like politics, though (was a city councilman once), so I guess if that was the emphasis I might have joined a club such as yours.
well, debating the fundies sounds like a cool plan. But passing out pamphlets on sidewalks? All you’re doing is turning around and harrassing innocents. How is this any better than the zealots on a soap box telling you you’re going to hell.
People have the right to believe whatever the hell they want to as long as it doesn’t interfere with your life. I’ve never seen one person convert to religion because of a fundies rant. What will you do differently so they will convert to your way of thinking?
well, pamphlets ARE just an idea I have. I was thinking of doing it when there’s a nutcase preacher on campus, to provide a refreshing alternative. It would also be a good way to get out information about our group. I would be pretty adamant about not being a nuisance (not standing around and screaming “you’re NOT going to hell!”, even though I think that’s pretty funny).
so, tshirts, what kind of political issues do you think are worth attending meetings for?
I once knew a couple who were atheists, and they belonged to a group much like the one you want to start. They mentioned something about having special alternative atheist “holidays”…I’m sorry, but my mind is blank right now on any specific examples. They didn’t always parallel Christian or other religious holidays, either, from what I can remember.
I wouldn’t pass out flyers, if I were you. Makes you seem like you are trying to “convert”, like the fundies are. Posting flyers with thought-provoking statements would be cool, though. Then people who are intrigued would hopefully come to you. The debates sound like fun, too.
(I’m just curious about this)–Do you need an advisor to start a student group at Michigan State? At the University of Minnesota, all you needed were “three people and $15” to start a registered student group. You also needed to come up with a constitution for your group. That’s how things like the “Pizza Club for Studs” got started.
