Metroplex Atheists
 

Metroplex Atheists
"If you're interested in us, we're interested in you!"


Winter Infidels' Bash!

We're trying out a new location this year. New club-member Randy Word has a big ranch down near Granbury, and he's graciously allowed us to hold our shindig there. There's plenty of back-to-nature stuff to do there (hiking, fishing, etc) and lots of great activities for kids. Randy has also offered to smoke a batch of ribs for us, so we'll have plenty to eat and do.

We'll likely be having a gift-exchange, so bring along a wrapped gift worth under $10 if you'd like to participate.

It also looks like we're going to have a bigger-than-average group of young kids there, so if you bring along a wrapped toy (please keep it in the under-$5 range), we'll try to do a gift exchange for the kiddos. If your kid is older than about 8, the grownup exchange would probably be better.

What: Metroplex Atheists Infidels Bash

When: Sunday, December 17, noon until whenever (Randy has a fire-pit and cabins if we spend too much time partying)

Who: YOU! Okay, anyone who's ever been faced annoyance or condemnation for not following majority-owned holidays. We'll celebrate any winter holiday you'd like.

What To Bring: Randy will be smoking ribs and sausages, but we'll need any further fixins. If you'd like to bring some chips or soda or dessert or such, email director@metroplexatheists.org and I'll help coordinate snacks so we don't end up with twenty bowls of dip and no chips.

BYOB

Where:

Take 377 SW from I20 in SW Fort Worth towards Granbury (Benbrook exit).

Stay on 377 thru Cresson and on to Granbury, take 377 Business to downtown Granbury (the square with large rock courthouse).

Go to the end of the square (1 block) and turn right on Hwy 4.

Go thru town and then Hwy 4 angles/turns to the left immediately upon crossing the RR tracks.

Continue on Hwy 4 to Thorp Spring. Stay on Hwy 4 to far end of town and look for FM 2580. Stay straight on Hwy 4 but immediately check your odometer. Go exactly 4.5mi from 2580 intersection to the turn into the ranch. There will be a street sign there that says "Ruff Country". You can only turn right so turn right onto Ruff Country (gravel road)

Again check you odometer and go exactly 0.9mi There will be an open steel gate on your right. There is a green street sign attached to the gate that says "Randy Rd". Turn right and you are now in the ranch.

Continue another 3/4mi on gravel/dirt road that will twist and turn and go down a steep hill and eventually across a creek. Don't give up, if you take a wrong turn inside the ranch just keep driving and you will find it.

Phone numbers: 254 646 2226 (ranch house) or my cell 972 342 7958 (may or may not work)

Map:

Printable Map: Here is a PDF of the above map and directions.


New Venue!

Following the closing of the old Humanist Hall in Grapevine, we'll be holding our November meeting at the NEW Humanist Hall in North Richland Hills. It's a good location with plenty of local eateries in reach.

So come see us on the third Sunday at 11 AM (but not in December, because that's the party-day).

Humanist Hall
7100 Boulevard 26 (AKA Grapevine Highway), Suite 304
Richland Hills TX

Yahoo Map (click for point-to-point directions)

Directions: Take the Grapevine Highway exit (highway 26) from loop 820. Head south about six blocks. The building is just south of Glenview Drive on the left.

If you need further directions, email director@metroplexatheists.org.


The Atheist Voice issue 20 now available!

Issue number 20 (May/June 2006) of Metroplex Atheists' newsletter, The Atheist Voice is now available here. Enjoy!


Metroplex Atheists is an organization for atheists in the Fort Worth and Dallas metropolitan area to meet, socialize, discuss issues of importance to atheists, and plan activism. Metroplex Atheists meet every 3rd Sunday of each month. Please join us and meet your neighborhood atheists.

Cute little fish!Meeting Time and Place:

Business Meetings:

Metroplex Atheists meets at 11:00 AM on the 3rd Sunday of every month at Humanist Hall, 7100 Boulevard 26, Suite 304, Richland Hills TX. We're in Suite 304 (third floor).

It's easy to reach. From Dallas or Fort Worth, get on highway 114. When you reach the Northwest Highway exit in Grapevine, head north 1.4 miles. Turn left on Main for about a block, and the building is on the right.

If you want door-to-door directions, click on the map link above, then click "get directions".

Social Meetings:

Several members of Metroplex Atheists also meet socially at J. Gilligan's bar in Arlington on Wednesday nights. It's on Abrams Street just east of the municipal complex. We usually meet around 6-7 pm. They close at 10 pm, but we're usually out before then. Hope to see you there!

If you've got a free Tuesday, check out the D/FW Atheist Meetup. We meet at 7 pm in various locations around Dallas and Plano. Keep an eye on the web page for announcements!

Cute little fish!Meeting Schedule:

Date

Time

Meeting Location

November 19, 2006 11:00 AM Humanist Hall

December 17, 2006

noon-whenever

Winter Infidels' Bash (check the top of the page)

Cute little fish!Items of interest at our meetings:

  • The Atheist Voice. We've got a terrific bimonthly newsletter of atheist thought, new, and opinions. Paper copies of the newsletter are available at the Metroplex Atheists meetings. If you're unable to attend the meeting, we've got downloadable versions of the newsletter available here.

    If you're interested in a paper subscription snail-mailed to you, contact editor@metroplexatheists.org. Newsletter proceeds support Metroplex Atheists.

     

  • Atheist Library. We have a good library of interesting atheism-related books and other reading material available for checking-out. Feel free to browse our titles here.

  • Book Study Group. We've got a formal book-study that meets after the meetings. Check out our Book-Study Group Page for more about the group.

  • Fishy Fashions!

    We now have Chucky D the Darwin Fish, Godless America, and What Would Jefferson Do? available on T-shirts, mouse pads, and coffee mugs. If you want to order one and have it shipped right to your door, check out our Web Store!

    View the Metroplex Atheists Shop!

    Note that we may have items for sale at the meetings from time to time, but the best way to get fish-stuff is through the online store.

  • Darwin Fish!

    Handsome fish, suitable for bumpers or cubicles

    Darwin "fish" items are $5.00 each. We have Auto emblems, refrigerator magnets, lapel pins in gold or silver finish. Atheist bumper stickers are $1 and $1.50.

  • Bank of Wisdom CD-ROM's

    The works of Robert Ingersoll. The first CD in the set.

    Metroplex Atheists is an outlet for the Emmett Fields Bank of Wisdom CD-ROM collection. These are collections of obscure atheist literature available on CD-ROM for low prices. Many of these works are very obscure and are only available publicly in these collections. The pictured Robert Ingersoll CD, for example, contains the entire 12-volume Dresden Edition collection of his speeches and writings. This collection would cost over $1000 if purchased on paper, but you can get it on CD-ROM for around $25.

  • Book Covers And, of course, we sell the infamous book covers that caused Pat Robertson to blow a gasket on the set of The 700 Club. We also ship covers out if you live outside of D/FW. You can order them here.

Cute little fish!Old News, Protest Reports, and Pictures

  • October 18, 2005, Metroplex Atheists called on Trinity Church officials to restrict minors from viewing or working at its fundraiser, because the content is not suitable for anyone under the age of 18, yet many young children were in attendance.

  • June 6, 2005, after protesting the appearance, Metroplex Atheists is calling for a public apology from Governor Rick Perry after an appearance in Fort Worth where the Governor insulted and mischaracterized Americans devoted to the separation of church and state.

  • May 2005, Metroplex Atheists was honored with opportunity to speak at the Scouting For All press conference.

  • May 2005, Metroplex Atheists members survived a showing of the IMAX science film Volcanoes Of The Deep, which was described as "blasphemous" for its statements that the universe is over 6,000 years old.

  • April 19, 2005, Metroplex Atheists officially gave their kudos to the Dallas National Day of Prayer committee for finally putting together a NDOP event that wasn't a thinly-veiled political rally.

  • May 1, 2003 was once again the day that Evangelical Protestants all over the nation browbeat lawmakers into endorsing their religion and give them bad press if they refuse. We were there to voice our opinion on the matter.

  • August 17, 2002 was the date of the biannual Promise Keepers event in Dallas. We were there.

  • On June 12-14, 2002, the National Catholic Bishops' Conference was held in Dallas to try to put together a "policy" regarding pedophile priests. While we weren't aware that violent crime required a policy other than "imprison the perpetrators", we still showed up to voice our opinion on the debacle.

  • May 2, 2002 was the yearly National Day Of Browbeating Lawmakers Into Endorsing Evangelical Protestantism And Giving Them Bad Press If They Don't (AKA, the National Day of Prayer). Of course, we were there to let 'em know what we thought.

  • Metroplex Atheists was the host club for the 8th Annual AAI convention over Easter weekend 2002.

  • Following all kinds of theocratic nonsense in Palestine TX, including a mandatory prayer rally in the public school and the Texas governor's statements that schools should allow coerced prayer, December 17 2001 was the date for a "get prayer back in school" rally at a local church. Needless to say, we were there to protest and several locals joined us to let everyone know Palestine is not in lock-step on this issue. Check it out here.

  • Yes, December 16, 2001 was the date for the annual Infidels' Bash Holiday Party. See the fun and the latest in the Weatherford sign drama.

  • For the second year in a row, several Metroplex Atheists decided to get the wits scared out of 'em. And what a better place to lose ones wits than at a fundamentalist Hell House!

  • August 19-25 was the second annual Scouting For All protest of the Boy Scout headquarters in Dallas. We've got pics.

  • On August 5, 2001, the Birdville TX school district decided to waive fees and bend the rules a bit for a group that wanted to hold a prayer-rally in the newly-built athletic complex. Needless to say, we were there. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram recently posted an article on the controversy.

  • May 3, 2001 was the annual Metroplex Atheists protest of the National Day Of Browbeating Lawmakers Into Endorsing Evangelical Protestantism And Giving Them Bad Press If They Don't (AKA the National Day of Prayer).

  • Easter weekend 2001 was the date of the American Atheists national convention, and a few members of MA were in attendance.

  • December 17, 2000 was the date for our Infidels Bash Holiday Party. A great time was had by all. Hope to see you at the next one!

  • On December 6, 2000 our co-chair Shelly Hattan was interviewed by The Infidel Guy. Listen to the interview with your RealPlayer here.

  • On October 27,2000, several Metroplex Atheists members visited a Christian answer to haunted houses, the Hell House. Cringe with us in gut-wrenching terror here.

  • September 10 was the date of the Cowtown RAM in Fort Worth Texas, and Metroplex Atheists helped sponsor the event. Learn more about the event here.

  • August 21, 2000 was the national Scouting for All protest. Members of Metroplex Atheists were there to protest BSA's discriminatory policy against atheists. Our co-chair has an open letter to United Way that you can use to voice your support for the movement.

  • George W. Bush did a quick appearance in Dallas on August 19, 2000. Metroplex Atheists was there to protest Bush's intention to institute "faith-based" welfare programs.

  • July 8, 2000 was the Metroplex Atheists protest of Promise Keepers. We've got commentary and pictures here.

  • June 18, 2000 was the Metroplex Atheists summer solstice party. We've got pictures here.

  • May 5, 2000 was the annual "Browbeat our legislators into praying with us and give 'em bad press if they don't" celebration. Of course, we voiced our opinion on the matter.

  • Several MA members attended the American Atheists national convention over Easter weekend, 2000.

  • Metroplex Atheists made a showing at the Respect Our Constitution rally in Austin.

  • Check out some pictures from Our 2000 Spring Equinox Party here.

  • You don't need a savior to have fun in December!

  • We were there at the Santa Fe, TX game-day prayer protest.

  • Here is our first Day of Prayer protest in 1999.

  • On behalf of American Atheists, several MA members demonstrated at the 1998 Karla Faye Tucker execution.

  • American Atheists picketed Promise Keepers national convention in 1997, and some Metroplex Atheists members were there!

  • And, finally, follow the adventures of our poor little Weatherford Solstice Sign.

Cute little fish!Articles of interest written by our members

Cute little fish!Other atheist groups in Texas:

Cute little fish!National and club organization:

Cute little fish!Contact Info:

Cute little fish!Our Discussion Lists:

Subscribe to the Metroplex Atheists announcement list
This is the low-volume group for meeting and activism-related announcements.

Sample the metroplexatheists announcement archive

Subscribe to the Metroplex Atheists discussion list
This is an unmoderated discussion group for MA-related topics.

Sample the DFWAtheistTalk discussion list archive

Subscribe to the Metroplex Atheists Textbook Committee list
This is an unmoderated discussion group for MA textbook committee-related topics.

Sample the Metroplexatheists-text discussion list archive



Why do we fight?

"Because we must. Because we have the call. Because it is nobler to fight for rationality without winning than to give up in the face of continued defeats. Because whatever true progress humanity makes is through the rationality of the occasional individual and because any one individual we may win for the cause may do more for humanity than a hundred thousand who hug superstition to their breasts."

-- Isaac Asimov, when asked why he fights religion with no hope for victory