Ten years ago, I had knowingly met only three atheists my whole life, and two of those were before I was one myself. Now I don't even know how many I know. I looked for an atheist Meetup in Columbia SC, there wasn't one, so I organized it. The first four or five monthly meetings, I was the only one to show up. Now the Freethought Society of the Midlands (FSM) has meetings nearly every week and over 50 currently active members (more than 400 signed up on Meetup, many of them former active members who have moved elsewhere). It's a great community and although I'm pretty much a figurehead with a policy of benign neglect, I feel like establishing it and keeping it together over the years is one of my greatest accomplishments.

If you're ever near Columbia, look us up. I'm aware I can be identified with the above information, but I don't mind.

(July 12, 2013 at 3:47 pm)Faith No More Wrote: Decided to do some googling to see about my area and found this link...
http://atheists.meetup.com

The closest active ones are between fourteen and sixteen miles away from me.

(July 12, 2013 at 3:51 pm)Mister Agenda Wrote: If you're ever near Columbia, look us up. I'm aware I can be identified with the above information, but I don't mind.

Sometimes we do things with other Carolina organizations. I think the next big secular meeting for the Carolinas is being held in Charlotte. Would any of you be going to that? I don't think it's quite within walking distance of me, but maybe by light rail...

Doubting Thomas -


I think meetup.com was the way our founding members found each other. That and Craigslist might be worth mining, as well as other social sites.

(July 12, 2013 at 3:47 pm)Faith No More Wrote: Decided to do some googling to see about my area and found this link...
http://atheists.meetup.com

It says the one nearest to me is 60+ miles from me.

I checked it out and there actually is a freethinker group in Joplin, MO, which isn't too far from me. Might have to check it out.

Normally I do not smile, but You definitely put 1 on my face.

So I did a search in my area and found 8 groups within a half hour's drive, 2 in my city and about 20 more within two hours. I found this one, Bay Area Blasphemers (118 members), had a catchy intro: "Meet like-minded blasphemers around the Bay. More than just an atheist meetup, we eschew intellectualization for a more laid back approach involving less use of the word "eschew"."

In town there is a secular jewish group (18 members) called Kol Hadash as well as a group called Living Skeptically In Berkeley (67 members) whose blurb begins: "Living Skeptically started as Drinking Skeptically in Berkeley, but since the creator of the group doesn't drink, it needed to expand. Living Skeptically in Berkeley is for hosting gatherings of skeptics, atheists, freethinkers, and doubters in and around Berkeley, CA." Sounds like a nice group even for someone who doesn't drink that often.

What a great resource this Meet Up website. Thanks.

I'll do this.

(July 13, 2013 at 1:36 pm)Ivy Wrote: I'll do this.

Many of us talk about causing religion and the religious to lose its grasp on society. This will only happen if we band together and come out in a positive way and show people we are all human - good neighbors, good people, productive members of society.

I'm creating a group right now, since there is a waiting list of people wanting one in my area.