2013: Atheism’s 10 defining moments

[rug]

Chris Stedman | Dec 31, 2013

Atheism was in the headlines perhaps more than ever before in 2013.

To highlight some of atheism’s defining moments and trends from the last year, I worked with a panel of ten writers, scholars, and activists to come up with ten major moments or currents in American atheism from 2013. Their contributions are below.

Godless congregations become global phenomenon

2013 was a landmark year for atheists, Humanists, and nonreligious people building communities. Ex-pastors Jerry Dewitt and Mike Aus grew innovative and successful congregations in Louisiana and Texas, and the Yale Humanist Community launched in Connecticut. British comedians Sanderson Jones and Pippa Evans embarked on a massive tour, spreading their popular London-based “Sunday Assembly” around the world. December brought Harvard Square’s new “Humanist Hub,” a 3200 square-foot community center with a Sunday school, a staff of 10, and Massachusetts governor Deval Patrick’s proclamation of “Humanist Community Day.” In May, James Croft and I agreed to write about these and many other nontheist communities in The Godless Congregation, a forthcoming book for Simon and Schuster.

—Greg Epstein, author and Humanist Chaplain at Harvard | @goodwithoutgod

http://chrisstedman.religionnews.com/2013/12/31/2013-10-defining-moments-atheism/

The rest are at the link.

[cbayer]

1. Another well done article on this topic.

I think 2014 is going to be a game changer.

And his conclusion resonated with me:

As we head into a new year, I carry with me the stories of the many incredible nontheists I met and was inspired by in 2013—people who are working to improve relationships between atheists and theists, build and support communities for the nonreligious, raise the visibility of positive expressions of atheism, and better the conditions of life for others. Here’s to continuing that work, together, in the new year.