The Freedom From Religion Foundation hosted its largest-ever convention last week, meeting for the first time on the West Coast. More than 400 freethinkers from more than 36 states convened at the twenty-fifth annual FFRF convention at the Westin Horton Plaza Hotel, San Diego, on Nov. 22-24, 2002.
Two sets of “slideshows” of the convention are available for viewing online.
The gathering, including freethought celebrities and newsmakers, featured speeches, music, birthday cake, comedy, and even an unannounced “mystery guest”: Darrell Lambert, whose Eagle Scout badge was just revoked by Boy Scouts of America because Darrell is an atheist.
Michael Newdow, M.D., who won the historic Pledge decision this summer, was honored as “Freethinker of the Year,” with the audience erupting into several spontaneous standing ovations. “Saturday Night Live” alum Julia Sweeney was a crowd favorite, talking about how she “let go of God” as a former Catholic. Foundation musician Dan Barker teamed up with editorial cartoonist Steve Benson for a freethought look at religion in the news. Steve, the grandson of Mormon president Ezra Taft Benson, also received an “Emperor Has No Clothes” statuette, which honors public figures for “plain speaking on religion.”
Chemistry Nobel Laureate Paul D. Boyer, 84, appeared and shared some of his views as a “devout atheist” about religion and science. Two student activist awards of $1,000 each were given to: Maryland litigant and first-year college student Blake Trettien, 18, who initiated a current lawsuit against a Ten Commandments monument, in a public park; and Darrell Lambert, 19, of Washington State.
Stanford Prof. Robert Sapolsky, a bestselling science writer, also received an “Emperor” award as a writer willing to identify himself publicly as an atheist. Sapolsky spoke in part on his intriguing theories of the origins of religion and religious ritual. Atheist author Taslima Nasrin, who has been in exile since “holy men” declared a fatwa against her, received the “Freethought Heroine” award, and spoke movingly about her life as a young girl under fundamentalist Muslim sway. The convention concluded with a talk by foremost Darwin scholar Philip Appleman, “Dancing with Darwin.” By audience demand, Philip, accompanied by his playwright wife Marjorie Appleman, recited his classic poem, “Noah.”
More convention coverage, photographs and transcribed speeches will be published in the December issue of Freethought Today and future issues.
