West Coast Regional Atheist Meet (RAM)

June 24, 2006

On June 24, 2006, an American Atheists-sponsored mini-convention was held in the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Foster City, California, just south of San Francisco.  This one-day event exceeded attendance expectations with 142 total seats filled.   After a short delay caused by the overflow crowd, American Atheists President Ellen Johnson spoke of the need for political action on national issues, and how the Godless Americans Political Action Committee (GAMPAC, http://www.godlessamericans.org) is endorsing candidates who overtly support the Establishment Clause and all godless Americans.  Johnson also revealed some details of the next American Atheists National Convention.  Among the confirmed speakers so far is Luigi Cascioli, who earlier this year sued a priest and the Vatican for libel, and the claim that the Holy See was promoting fraud by proclaiming the historicity and divinity of Jesus Christ.   Other morning speakers were Beverly Hills attorney Eddie Tabash, who presented “Ten Reasons Why There Really is no God.”  Internet Infidels President Clark Adams played several audio and video clips showing an increase in and greater acceptance of atheism and religious satire in popular media.   After a lunch break, several freethought activists shared microphone time to impart their stories and techniques.Then the microphone returned to one person, Dr. David Eller, author of Natural Atheism. Dr. Eller, a cultural anthropologist, spoke about language and how our words can influence our perceptions – and our ability be persuasive and clear in debates.A booksigning for Natural Atheism was held after his speech.   The event wrapped up with “Jesus Jam 2006” – an often humorous panel discussion on “strange new wrinkles and weird old theories on Jesus.”  Don Havis, David Fitzgerald, and Richard Carrier each presented their own takes on the historicity of Jesus, from each of their own body of extensive research.   Several attendees regrouped in San Francisco for a night of fun, visiting several hotspots until Saturday became Sunday morning.  Everybody is anticipating the next big American Atheists event, the American Atheists National Convention, which will be held in Seattle April 6-8, 2007. (http://www.atheists.org/convention ).