Come on by if you want to, let's have a drink! I really like being around like minded people, and listening to the speakers. The workshops are pretty cool too!

@godlessinal Will do if I go. Been holding off now with the virus and thinking I may not go after all.

@itsmedammit I'm going to keep an eye on the virus also. But t I still have my hotel room reserved, just in case.

I've been to the FFRF conference and loved being in a room with 1500 fellow atheists! It wasn't about meeting a ''match,''...it was about hearing interesting lectures/presentations and just feeling comfortable in a group of like-minded people.

@LucyLoohoo What are the lecture topics...are they on general topics or atheism?

@Marionville I don't know about this one. FFRF had discussions with Salman Rushdie, Cecile Richards, some amazing young people who had won contests to be there, ... there's an FFRF group here on the site. Looks like these are the speakers in Ariz. [convention.atheists.org]

FFRF presented talks on their efforts to sue/overturn laws which violate the Constituion/Sep. Church/State. Well worth the time/expense for me to get there.

@LucyLoohoo Thanks for the info....enjoy the convention.

@Marionville I can't go--but I'm supportive of anyone who's able to do so. Arizona's nice, too.

It's really hard to understand unless you've been to one. At the convention in San Francisco Salmon Rushdie was the main speaker. There were other high hitters as well including the former president of Planned Parenthood (and the daughter of the first woman governor of Texass) and it was a lot of fun. One thing we did was, at breakfast, we spent a minute banging on glasses, tables or generally making noise. This was in response of the usual bowing our heads and being quiet (bedlam breakfast). It was fun to watch the wait staff during this performance.

@LucyLoohoo Will you be going to the convention in Texass?

I live in an area where I am surrounded by believers. My family, except for two nephews I rarely see, are believers. I am currently reading The Founding Myth, by Andrew Seidel and he will be there. I want to meet and enjoy the company of non-believers. I am not going there to meet a mate. I will likely be going with a male friend.

It's a great way to meet like minded people, learn new things, get to know the people we see on YouTube, etc. There is usually a rally that is held in the community we participate in...great way to get the positive word of atheism out there. It always gets news coverage. We also pack food for the needy in the community. Thousands of meals!

Good question. Thanks for asking it.
Since I’m quite convinced I’m atheistic, I wasn’t sure just what I could “learn” - unless this conference is all about pointing out all the fallacies of theism...

I can understand the “after parties”, meeting like-minded people, for sure. But that’s not it’s main purpose. As I understand it.

@JackPedigo I've thought about it, Jack. At this point, I just don't know. Lots of things happening this year and my house really needs work. $$$$$$ Maybe I should pray for a financial windfall? SURE!

@LucyLoohoo NO don't pray. I have, as usual a double room (with 2 beds) I would be willing to share with someone at whatever they can afford (or even nothing). You know me and besides I have to pay for the whole room anyway.

@JackPedigo To anyone reading his post--I'll say Jack's fun, casual and certainly trustworthy, so sharing a room would save $$$. (Not to mention ... you'd already know at least one person there.)

@LucyLoohoo Thanks for the recommendation. Just hope I can meet those expectations.

@JackPedigo you’ve a lot to live up to!

@Marionville Tell me about it!!! But, I can because I do care.

Maybe more motivational, make friends at?

I have never been to one, so I don't know. But, the author of The Founding Myth, a book I am currently reading, will be there and I hope to listen to him speak about his book.

I plan for the conventions almost all year!!

My top three are Matt Dillahunty, Seth Andrews and Andrew Seidel (he wrote The Founding Myth, that I am currently reading.)

@Joanne did you know that when Andrew Seidel first started with FFRF, he was assigned to Alabama.

@godlessinal I didn't. I actually just learned about him recently when someone posted his You Tube interview with God. From that, I ordered his book. I am a member of FFRF, but that is recent as well.

@Joanne yeah, he's a badass. I haven't read his book yet, but I figure it's great because of his attitude and personality.

@godlessinal I am enjoying the book, but I have to take breaks from it because I get so riled up. Growing up, I was taught all that "we were established as a Christian nation" and "our founders were dedicated Christians" crap, so it is very personal with me.

@Joanne yeah I understand completely. Once you start learning the laws, and find out everybody lied to you growing up, it'll piss you off for sure. The"this country was founded as a christian nation", is probably the biggest lie like that i can think of. IDK if the people who told me knew it was a lie or not, by still. Research things before you tell someone else, so you facts are straight.

@godlessinal One of the hardest things about becoming an atheist was realizing that my parents were/are wrong about so many things.

I suspect lots of over-priced merchandising, over-priced refreshments, workshops to help you be a better atheist and lectures telling you things you know already.

...and lots of confirmation bias for the attendee.

Cynical? The word ‘convention’ in a commercial context means how can we prise money from these suckers!

There's a pre convention game night that's really fun. Then once it actually starts, it's preachers of different types of genres. Then comes the after party, which is awesome!! In my opinion, it's well worth the time, effort, and money. This will be my fourth one, and I plan on going to them from now on. I hope you come, i think you'll like it like I do. Just call Ms. Pamela or Fish at American Atheists, and ask them more of the details. They also do a feeding the needy charity food packing which is great. If you decide to come, find me and say hi!! Maybe we could have a drink. Cheers

@Geoffrey51 Wow, I am not a sucker. I don't fall for buying a bunch of unwanted "stuff." I want to meet other atheists, which is also why I come to this site. I also want to see the author of a book I am currently reading as the topic is of great interest to me.

I haven't. I have wanted to check one out; and the fact that the author of The Founding Myth, Andrew Seidel, will be a speaker, is a strong motivating factor for me to go--as well as just meeting other non-believers. I am surrounded by believers all the time--it will be nice to be able to be myself.

@Joanne I would love to go. Not sure I could make that happen with work.

I guess I will fit in because I am as anti Trump as they come. And, I simply cannot wrap my mind around an atheist who supports someone who is helping/catering to Evangelicals who are working hard to use the government to force their archaic religious beliefs onto the rest of us.

@Joanne The Evangelicals are a damn sight better than the left wing socialist idiots who are wanting the government to run everything.

@Trajan61 I don't know any left wing Socialists who want the government to run everything. Wanting the government to do its job and "support the general welfare" and not just cater to the rich and powerful is NOT Communist Socialism. If anyone wants to be an authoritarian ruler it is Trump, and if anyone wants to have such a ruler it is the Evangelicals--they don't give a rat's ass about democracy. All they care about is forcing us to live under their rules until Jesus comes back.

@Joanne I suppose your one of those who thinks Obama was a better president than Trump and thinks we need to ban the use of oil and gas ASAP.

I live in Oregon, so I doubt it will be a tornado or earthquake--although, these days, one never knows for sure . It would be more business related or getting ill that might throw a kink in the works. So far it looks good, but I don't want to get my hopes up too high--just in case.

Visiting the convention site seems to be so, although I do see a few social activities....but if you go to American Atheists main website there's a lot of informative & political separation of church and state stuff. I'm actually quite surprised that my infamously liberal home state doesn't score well in this arena.
I posted that covention link quite a while ago & I'm Still digging & surfing around ... I may even become a paid, card-carrying member someday, who knows?