1. Who are these people?
Throw out stereotypes, ideas, connotations – who are these people and what do you think about them?

2. We’re Humanists!

3. Humanism = Good without God+
Like everyone else, but believing in one less god than you.
What does this tell us about other aspects of someone who doesn’t believe in God? Not much. =

4. Humanist Community of Central Ohio
Local community for humanists & nontheists
Atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, skeptics, etc.
Promotes ethical and reasonable secular worldviews
Social events, service projects, education, outreach and activism

5. WHY? The Numbers 15% of Americans have no religion
Among year-olds, 22% have no religion
Numbers are rising: up from 8.2% in 1990
Third Largest population in the world: 16%
(after Christianity, 33%, and Islam, 21%)
WHY?

6. We Don’t Believe in God. Why Not?
There are many reasons; everyone is different
Combination of intellectual and emotional factors
Lack of evidence for supernatural
Inconsistencies within religions and between them
Religion is emotionally unfulfilling or unnecessary
Difficult experiences in life
Religious people do bad stuff, too.
And A Bunch of Other Stuff
Sometimes these reasons lead people to be more religious. Sometimes they lead people away from religion.
And that’s ok.
Like everyone else, but believing in one less god than you.
What does this tell us about other aspects of someone who doesn’t believe in God? Not much.

7. What’s it Like to be a Nonbeliever?
…in a Largely Religious Society?
Mostly, it’s still pretty normal.
Feel ignored or invisible
Very common questions and accusations
Subject to misconceptions and snap judgments
(like everyone else)
Potential alienation from friends/family
Lead with “What’s it like”? It’s perfectly normal.
Add “in religious society”

8. Common Misconceptions
That we don’t have morals, or can’t be good people
That we just haven’t heard about [religion of choice]
That we hate religion or religious people
That we are unhappy without religion or god
And a lot of ridiculous things
We worship Satan/the Devil
We eat babies
We just want to sin
We’re angry at god
We’re close-minded
We think we’re god (that’s news to me)
Lead with “What’s it like”? It’s perfectly normal.
Add “in religious society”

9. What Do We Do? Community Service Educate ourselves and others
Political Activism
Build Community

10. Local Organizations for Nonbelievers
Humanist Community of Central Ohio (HCCO)
Central Ohioans for Rational Inquiry (CORI)
Humanistic Jewish Chavurah of Columbus (HJCC)
Students for Freethought at Ohio State
Omnipresent Atheists
Lead with “What’s it like”? It’s perfectly normal.
Add “in religious society”

11. ASK QUESTIONS!
- Morals: Concept of the golden rule, societal expectations, lessons from history, lessons from our parents, constitution
Do we worship science? Science is a process, not a thing. Worship – what do you mean?