Who’s Speaking to Atheists at 50th Annual Convention?
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Shirlaine Forrest/WireImage(AUSTIN, Texas) — This time “celebrating 50 years of reason,” American Atheists Inc. on Thursday kicks off its annual national convention in Texas.
Founded in 1963 by the late atheist-activist Madalyn Murray O’Hair, the Cranford, N.J.-based non-profit defines atheism “as the mental attitude which unreservedly accepts the supremacy of reason and aims at establishing a life-style and ethical outlook verifiable by experience and scientific method, independent of all arbitrary assumptions of authority and creeds.”
The list of scheduled speakers for the four-day event in Austin is an interesting mix of supporters who include a heavy-metal guitarist, the first openly atheist congressman, a founder of Black Nonbelievers Inc. and a preacher-turned-atheist.
Here is a list of a few expected speakers:
- Former California Rep. Pete Stark
- Mandisa Thomas of Black Nonbelievers
- Jay Jay French of Twisted Sister
- Former Minister Teresa MacBain
- Hispanic Freethinker David Tamayo
- Blogger Greta Christina
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