Margaret Downey Fan Site

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This show was recorded a few years ago, it features Margaret Downey when she was the President of Atheists Alliance International.

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See the website, Friggatriskaidekaphobia.com:

The Freethought Society’s (FS) next Anti-Superstition Bash will be held on Friday, May 13, 2011 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM in the beautiful Corinthian Yacht Club. The Club is located at 300 West 2nd Street, Essington, PA 19029. FS will host a “Friggatriskaidekaphobia Treatment Center,” which will be equipped to assist party attendees in getting over all their superstitions and start the process of ending magical thinking. The general admission (includes light fare) is $10 with $5 discounts available for students and seniors. Cash bar only. No BYOB. There is no charge for children under the age of 13.

Connect with other Philadelphia Atheists on this page: http://www.meetup.com/atheists-215/events/16570661/

Special Guests:

PZ Myers will be in attendance. See his announement, "Friggatriskaidekaphobia time" on Pharyngula

Tom Flynn, Executive Director for the Council for Secular Humanism. See announcement on Center for Inquiry website.

David Silverman, President of American Atheists

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CLICK HERE FOR OFFICIAL PAGE

The Chester County Commissioners have chosen to reject the offer to donate the Freethought TREE of KNOWLEDGE Courthouse Winter Holiday Display

The Freethought Society is going to gather on Saturday, December 4, 2010 to create

*
The FS
HUMAN TREE
of KNOWLEDGE
PLEASE JOIN US Saturday, December 4th
** at 4:00 pm **
~~~
by the Veterans’ Statue at the Chester County Courthouse
Corner of Market and High Streets, West Chester, PA

Be sure to bring a flashlight. Everything else will be provided, including all signs.

Each participant will hold one of the Ornaments from the Tree of Knowledge,
as we join together to create the

***Human Tree of Knowledge***
*Apple Cider*
*Freethought Holiday Songs*
*Member Statements* READ MORE »

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Carol Everhart Roper has all the details on the Tree of Knowledge this year, here is a snip:

West Chester, PA is a lovely, historically important town. Some years back, Newsweek voted it as one of the top ten small towns to live in. I live here, and I understand, and agree. It's really a wonderful place, most of the time.

You might recall that this is the courthouse building which proudly displays a bronze Ten Commandments plaque by the front door - and won a legal challenge by closing that door to traffic and calling the plaque 'historic' not 'religious'.

It's also the birthplace of the Tree of Knowledge winter holiday display. The ToK has been a symbol of non-theist participation in the holidays, and as such, has given non-theists and other believers who treasure learning and knowledge a public representation of their own. READ MORE »

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The public is invited to hear Freethought Society president Margaret Downey on Monday, November 15, 2010 at 7:00 PM in the Community Room of the Norristown Library (1001 Powell Street, Norristown, Pennsylvania).

Downey’s presentation “The Story Behind the Story” will highlight her journey from being baptized Catholic to becoming an outspoken and proud leader in the nontheist community. The presentation is a continuation of the essay “My ‘Bye Bull’ Story” which was originally published in 50 Voices of Disbelief: Why We Are Atheists.

This presentation will include a PowerPoint slide show and essay creation literature.

Downey is a national atheist speaker. Her presentations receive rave reviews. Below is commentary from people who have attended this presentation:

“You delivered a great presentation to the Freethinkers of Colorado Springs last week! I am still getting phone calls and emails from members and "drop-ins" complimenting me on your presentation and thanking me for bringing you to town. Thanks again for your tireless devotion to freethought and for sharing your time with us.”

Becky Hale, Freethinkers of Colorado Springs READ MORE »

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The Tree of Knowledge was discussed on several blogs in the last few weeks. Here are some of the places it's been discussed:

Freethought Radio discussion with Margaret Downey about the Tree of Knowledge.

Richard Haynes talks about a hate filled Christian who blogged the Tree of Knowledge

America.gov blog on The Tree of Knowledge

Hemant Mehta blogs Tree of Knowledge

sidenote: Margaret will be at Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County on January 24th.

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For several years Margaret Downey has been suggesting an Atheist Unity Convention in which many atheist groups unite to form a single convention in that year. Groups such as CFI, American Atheists, FFRF, AHA, AAI and others would get together for one big convention.

This weekend Margaret will try to get enough support from the host organizations to go ahead with this goal. If you would like to see such an event, you should contact the President of the organization you belong to and express interest.

Here are two articles about The Unity Convention:
Friendly Atheist on Unity Convention.
PZ Myers on Unity Convention
Staks on Unity Convention

Hemant on Unity Convention from 2008

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http://video.rationalresponders.com/video/Tree-of-Knowledge-2009

Thoughts from yesterday when we put the tree up:

"The TREE OF KNOWLEDGE is up, installed on the south lawn of the Chester County Courthouse in the heart of West Chester - right next to the creche display. Margaret Downey, Brian Sapient, two brothers, Nicholas and Ian Stark, another young man named Andrew and I worked some five hours in the steady rain and mud but we were successful!" - Carol Everhart Roper on Facebook

[Margaret Downey was] "cold, wet and tired after a full day at the Chester County Courthouse installing the Tree of Knowledge. Time for some hot tea and warm bath. The tree looks great and I am so grateful to the volunteers who helped today. The rain did not deter us." - Margaret Downey on Facebook

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http://video.rationalresponders.com/video/Tree-of-Knowledge

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