Event Description:

Fellow freethinkers:

The NEPA Freethought Society has been recently informed of an event happening right here in NEPA that should be of great interest to many of our members. This event, The Gathering, is a literary conference for readers, writers, thinkers, and speakers held annually at Keystone College. This year's theme for the event is "BELIEVING, UNBELIEVING, AND THE MORAL COMPASS." Susan Jacoby, the author of Freethinkers: "A History of American Secularism," will be giving a presentation, a Q&A, and book signing. See the presentation description and bio for Ms. Jacoby below:

                                                      The Conscience of an Atheist.

The question most frequently directed at atheists--and it is really intended as an insult--is,
"Where do you get your morals if you believe in nothing?" This question/insult is based on two misconceptions. The first is that religion is the basis of all desirable moral behavior. The second is that atheists believe in nothing. The author intends to challenge both of these misconceptions and
explore the commonalities as well as the differences between an ethical system based on belief in the supernatural and an ethical system based essentially on reason and evidence adduced from the natural world.

                                                
                                                            Susan Jacoby's Bio

Susan Jacoby is an independent scholar who focuses on American cultural history. Her book,
Freethinkers:A History of American Secularism was named a notable nonfiction book by The Washington Post and The Los Angeles Times. In England, The Times Literary Supplement and The Guardian called the book one of the outstanding international books of the year. She began her career with The Washington Post and is a frequent contributor to national magazines and newspapers. Her 1984 book Wild Justice:The Evolution of Revenge was a Pulitzer Prize finalist. In 2001 she was appointed a fellow of the New York Public Library's Center for Scholars and Writers. She is a panelist for "On Faith," a blog published by The Washington Post and Newsweek. Jacoby is also program director of the Center for Inquiry-New York City, a rational think tank.

As a group of five or more, we are being offered a 20% discount on tickets which brings the fee to $20 per person. This includes Susan's presentation as well as the Q&A and book signing afterwards. A lunch buffet is also being offered to attendees right before Susan's presentation at $10 per person which will include cooked entrees, a salad bar, pizza, beverages, desserts, and a variety of vegetarian choices. Keystone College has a culinary arts program on campus which I am told sees to it that the food served there is good. The fee for the buffet is to be paid at the buffet and not in advance. We will also need to know which of our members will be attending the buffet. This information is important and must be sent in to Keystone early.

When RSVPing please specify in the below comment section if you'll be dining as well. Lunch begins at 12:15PM, Susan's presentation begins at 1:30PM, and the Q&A and book signing begins at 2:30PM. For a grand total of $30, this sounds like one very interesting, educational, and fun-filled afternoon close to home. We also think that Susan wouldn't mind one bit if a local secular group attended in support of her views and intentions. On June 1st, ticket prices to this event are slated to increase by $50 which makes purchases somewhat time-sensitive which is a good thing for us because we have advanced notification.

For full details  you can view the website of The Gathering here: http://www.gathering.keystone.edu.

I will have possession of our group's tickets for the event very soon and will notify the group by e-mail the day I receive them with full details on how they can be purchased. To be eligible for the 20% discount, you must purchase your ticket(s) from our group as opposed to going on The Gathering's site and paying as an individual through PayPal. Please, DO NOT attempt to pay for your tickets through use of our group's donate button. So if you'd like to take advantage of this great summertime opportunity, please RSVP at your earliest convenience, get your tickets when made available, and then we can all look forward to yet another great group activity!

Take care, keep thinking freely, and I hope to see you there in July.

***

Any questions concerning the event? Please contact me at rodneyc@nepafreethought.org.

***

Rodney Collins

Founder, Board Chairman, Group Organizer

Event Recap:

Event Comments

Who Was There:

	Rodney Collins
	Yes
	JustinVacula
	Yes
	acollierdc
	Yes   + 1
	JasonG
	Yes