FFRFMCC

FFRFMCC Summer Social
2018-08-11 12:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant, 3471 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, IL, 60618, United States
We are pleased to announce that our next FFRFMCC meetup will be a “Summer Luncheon Social!”
Join us for brunch and sunshine as we gather in the beautiful outdoor garden of Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant. Their incredible weekend brunch buffet includes an assortment of:
Homemade Salads
Appetizers
Hot Luncheon Entrees du jour
Imported Cheese Display
House Smoked Atlantic Salmon
Peel & Eat Shrimp
Irish Eggs Benedict
“Made To Order” Omelet Station
Bacon | Sausage | Corned Beef Hash
French Toast & Waffles
Chief’s Famous Fish & Chips
Assorted Breads | Mini Pastries | Fresh Fruit
Build your own ice cream sundae and a Milk and White Chocolate Fountains
And much, much more!
Admission price includes tax and gratuity. Beverages must be purchased separately. If the weather gods choose not to cooperate with us, we will move inside the restaurant.
Date: Saturday, August 11, 2018
Time: 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Place: Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant, 3471 N. Elston Ave. Chicago, IL 60618
Cost: $25.00 per person
Note: Reservations for this event must be paid for in advance. NO tickets will be sold at the door. The reservation deadline is Friday, August 3rd, 2018.
Please click here for the link to our Eventbrite page to purchase your tickets(s):

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FFRFMCC Lecture Series: World Religions
2018-05-29 19:00 - 22:00 | Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave., Skoke, IL, 60077, United States
The FFRFMCC will be hosting its fourth lecture on “World Religions,” presented by Mr. John Camardella.
John is a Chicago-area high school teacher who teaches classes on the various religions of the world to Senior-level students as part of a public high school curriculum. He is in his 15th year of teaching at Prospect High School. For the past eight years, he has taught two stand-alone World Religion elective courses, and has worked to advance the curriculum at the national level. Currently, he is an Education Fellow working to pilot curriculum alongside Dr. Diane Moore at the Religious Literacy Project at Harvard Divinity School . Last year, John was one of two high school teachers in the country who helped develop a framework for how to teach about religion in public schools. John also teaches religion courses to adults and a graduate level course for teachers and administrators, making him a most qualified person to ensure that any public school education regarding world religions is comparative and informative, and not designed to promote any one specific religion.
During his previous lecture on May 22nd, John delivered a fascinating presentation on the spread of Christianity, beginning with the Apostle Paul and continuing through the settlers in the new World and the founding of America. He also provided great historical insight into the role of Constantine, and how he had “weaponized” Christianity to attain power.
The next lecture will focus on how the different faith traditions are handling the worldwide issue of climate change in diverse ways. Case Studies published at Harvard Divinity School will be provided as John explores Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu perspectives on the topic.
As with our previous lectures, this will conclude with an extensive Q&A session.
Admission is free!

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FFRFMCC Lecture Series: World Religions
2018-05-22 19:00 - 22:00 | Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave., Skoke, IL, 60077, United States
In October, 2017, the FFRFMCC hosted a two-week lecture series by Mr. John Camardella, a Chicago-area high school teacher who teaches classes on the various religions of the world to Senior-level students as part of a public high school curriculum.
John Camardella is in his 15th year of teaching at Prospect High School. For the past eight years, he has taught two stand-alone World Religion elective courses, and has worked to advance the curriculum at the national level. Currently, he is an Education Fellow working to pilot curriculum alongside Dr. Diane Moore at the Religious Literacy Project at Harvard Divinity School . Last year, John was one of two high school teachers in the country who helped develop a framework for how to teach about religion in public schools. John also teaches religion courses to adults and a graduate level course for teachers and administrators, making him a most qualified person to ensure that any public school education regarding world religions is comparative and informative, and not designed to promote any one specific religion.
In his spare time, he travels to improve his curriculum and understanding, having studied religion in Turkey, Cambodia, Iceland, the Czech Republic, Indonesia, China, Greece, Thailand, Austria, Israel and the West Bank, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, and Costa Rica.
During our initial lectures, John educated the audiences on the history of the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, as well as non-Abrahamic religions such as Hinduism, Sikhism, and Buddhism. Following each lecture, an extensive Q&A provided greater insight to these religious traditions.
The FFRFMCC is pleased to announce our second series of lectures from Mr. Camardella. Here is a summary of the upcoming lecture topics:
May 22nd — The spread of Christianity beginning with the Apostle Paul and continuing through the founding of America. Special emphasis will be placed on the early church in the Mediterranean region, the role of Constantine, and the early settlers in the New World. John will also discuss how Christianity divided into several denominations.
May 29th — How the different faith traditions are handling the issue of Climate Change in diverse ways. Case Studies published at Harvard Divinity School will be provided as John explores Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu perspectives on the topic.
As with the first lecture series, each evening will conclude with an extensive Q&A session.
We hope you will mark your calendars for each of these fascinating and highly educational lectures.

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FFRFMCC Discussion Workshop: "Challenging Religious Beliefs"
2018-04-21 11:00 - 14:30 | North Branch Pizza & Burger Co,, 4520 W. Lake Ave., Glenview, IL, 60025, United States
The Freedom From Religion Foundation Metropolitan Chicago Chapter will hold its 6th in a series of discussion workshops on “Challenging Religious Beliefs.” During these discussions, a moderator will pose two separate topics/questions related to common religious talking points. Participants are encouraged to offer their viewpoints regarding how non-theists should best counter unsubstantiated ideological beliefs when presented to them by those of religious faith, in order to assist non-believers with sharpening their critical thinking skills.
The discussion will run for approximately 1 1/2 hours. A luncheon social with pizza, salad and soft drinks will take place at the conclusion of the workshop, for those who would like to continue the discussion!
This event will be held in the West Wing private room of North Branch Pizza and Burger Co. 4520 W. Lake St., Glenview, IL
Admission: $10 per person suggested donation (to help cover food/drink/venue costs)
For those who would like to attend, please RSVP on our Doodle poll by clicking here.
Thanks, and hope to see you there!

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"Fighting Witch Hunters" - A Lecture by The Satanic Temple
2018-03-21 20:00 - 22:00 | Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave., Skoke, IL, 60077, United States
We are pleased to announce the FFRFMCC will act as a sponsor for a presentation to be given by Mr. Lucien Greaves, co-founder of the Satanic Temple and Ms. Sarah Pono Rivera, the director of Grey Faction, a campaign of the Satanic Temple tasked with eliminating pseudo-science in mental health care practices that are predicated on harmful conspiracist satanic delusions. Mr. Greaves and Ms. Pono Rivera will also be delivering this lecture at the 7th Annual Freethought Festival in Madison, WI on March 17th. They will be in Chicago on March 21st for a protest march against the ISSTD (International Society for the Study of Trauma and Disassociation) which works to impress satanic panic delusions into the minds of mental health consumers and the public at large.
The presentation entitled, “The Satanic Temple: Fighting Witch-Hunters,” will explain the role played by licensed mental health professionals in the creation and continuation of the “Satanic Panic” of the 1980’s through 1990’s, bringing the audience up-to-date on the problem of conspiracism and pseudoscience in mental health care today. Grey Faction advocates to disqualify distorted psychiatric therapy that impacts mental health consumers at large, calling for an end to pseudoscience, conspiracy theories, and religious superstition within the therapeutic setting.
The following provides details regarding this event:
Date: Wednesday, March 21st, 2018
Time: Lecture – 8:00 PM; Q&A – 8:45 PM; Meet & Greet – 9:00 PM
Place: The Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago (in the auditorium), 7574 Lincoln Ave., Skokie, IL 60077
Cost: $10.00 suggested donation
The Satanic Temple, like the Freedom From Religion Foundation, effectively battles state/church violations and religious intrusion into civil rights. They have been successful in removing Judeo-Christian monuments from public property, as well as being very active in the support of women’s reproductive rights.

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FFRFMCC February Meetup
2018-02-25 13:00 - 15:30 | Uncle Julio’s Mexican From Scratch, 1831 Abriter Ct., Naperville, IL, 60563, United States
We are pleased to announce our next chapter meetup.
A luncheon social will be held on Sunday, February 25th from 1:00 PM – 3:30 PM. This will take place at Uncle Julio’s Mexican From Scratch Restaurant, 1831 Abriter Ct., Naperville, IL, where we will have private space in the venue’s “Fiesta Room.”
Guests will have a choice of selecting from one of the following seven entrees:
– Steak & Enchilada Dinner served with a strip steak and two cheese & onion enchiladas

– Mesquite Grilled Salmon served with sauteed vegetables & pineapple pico de gallo

– Coronado Pollo Platter, consisting of chicken enchiladas, chicken taco & chicken tamale

– Grilled Vegetable Fajitas with portobella mushrooms, squash, zucchini, peppers & onions
– Carnitas Aztecas, braised pork with honey chipotle glaze, lime crema & fresh cilantro

– Grilled Fish Tacos, served with shredded cabbage, pico de gallo, avocado crema w/cilantro rice & black beans

– Cozumel Shrimp Tacos served with cilantro rice and spicy black beans

And of course, Uncle Julio’s famous fresh guacamole!
The cost is $25.00 per person, and includes soft drinks, coffee, tea, tax & gratuity. A separate cash bar will also be available. This will be a “pay-at-the-door” event.
Those interested in attending this event, please click here to RSVP on our Doodle poll. Or, you may reserve your spot by contacting me directly.
So, please join us for some great food and secular conversation. Complaints regarding excessive religious intrusion into our government are highly encouraged!
Thanks, and hope to see you there!

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FFRFMCC January, 2018 Meetup
2018-01-29 19:00 - 21:30 | North Branch Pizza & Burger Co,, 4520 W. Lake Ave., Glenview, IL, 60025, United States
Our next meetup will take place on Monday, January 29th at North Branch Pizza & Burger Company, from 7:00 PM – 9:30 PM. North Branch is located at 4520 W. Lake Ave. in Glenview. This event will be held in the Wabash Room.
This is a dinner social which will include a buffet of the following:
-Blackened Chicken Sandwiches
-Pulled Pork Sandwiches
-Cajun Salmon Sandwiches
-Greek Salad
-Home Cut Fries
-Hummus w/Pita & Fresh Veggies
-Cheese Curds
-Soft Drinks
The cost for this event will be $25.00 per person, payable at the door. This includes tax and gratuity. Alcoholic beverages must be purchased separately.
In addition to being a social gathering, we will also have a short discussion regarding changes to FFRFMCC policies beginning in 2018.
For those who would like to attend this event, please click on the link below to RSVP on our Doodle poll.

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FFRFMCC 5th Anniversary Party
2017-12-05 19:00 - 22:00 | Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant, 3471 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, IL, 60618, United States
Fall, 2017 marks five years since the Freedom From Religion Foundation Metropolitan Chicago Chapter was approved by the FFRF Executive Board as an official local chapter. And we feel this should be cause to celebrate!
Thanks to the activism and enthusiasm of our members, we’ve done a lot of good work in a short time, and had a lot of fun too. So we can think of no better time than the festive winter holiday season to throw a party!
The admission price of $30.00 per person includes a complete dinner buffet of the following:
— Mixed Green Salad w/ Balsamic Dressing
— Parmesan Encrusted Chicken
— Almond Encrusted Tilapia
— Winter Vegetable Risotto
— Sauteed Green Beans
— Bourbon Brown Sugar Carrots
— Roasted Red Potatoes
— Rice Pilaf
— Soft Drinks and Coffee
And no anniversary celebration would be complete without cake for dessert!
Please note the admission cost covers all food and soft drinks, tax and gratuity. A cash bar will be available.
Tickets for this event must be purchased in advance through our Eventbrite page by clicking on the following link:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ffrf-metropolitan-chicago-chapter-5th-anniversary-party-tickets-39861529909

There will be no ticket sales at the door. The RSVP deadline for this event will be Friday, December 1st.
So please join us as we celebrate our 5th anniversary, AND the Winter Solstice!!

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FFRFMCC Lecture Series: World Religions
2017-10-11 19:00 - 21:30 | Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave., Skoke, IL, 60077, United States
John Camardella
According to a recent PRRI (Public Religion Research Institute) study, the religious landscape in the U.S. continues to change dramatically. White Christians are, for the first time its history, a minority (43%) in this country. This is down from 80% just 40 years ago. Non-Christian religions are growing, and those holding no religious identity whatsoever now represent one-quarter of our population. Thanks to a more far-reaching information network, people (particularly millennials) have greater exposure to other religions, as well as secularism. But there are now other means for young people to gain more in-depth understanding of how many different religions exist, other than the one in which they may have been raised.
Therefore, We are pleased to announce the Freedom From Religion Foundation Metropolitan Chicago Chapter will be hosting a two-week lecture series focusing on the various major world religions.
It is an honor to have Mr. John Camardella present these lectures. John is in his 15th year of teaching in the Social Studies Department at Prospect High School. For the past eight years, he has taught two stand alone World Religion elective courses and has been instrumental in advancing the curriculum at the national level. Last year, he was one of two high school teachers in the country named to the national writing team to develop a framework on how to teach religion in public schools. With the assistance of professors from Georgetown, Rice, Columbia, and Harvard, these guidelines were published back in June, marking the first time in American history that a national education body (The National Council for the Social Studies) endorsed and published a framework for Religious Studies. In addition, John teaches religion courses to the parents of his students and a graduate level course for teachers and administrators. In his free time, John travels to locations such as China, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong and Japan to collaborate with both international scholars and practitioners of different traditions to improve his curriculum and understanding. Over the past few years, he has had the opportunity to study the Abrahamic faiths in Italy, Turkey, Greece, Austria, the Czech Republic and most recently in Israel and the West Bank.
John’s work was recently the subject of a Chicago Tribune article, which you can view by clicking here.
The objective of Mr. Camardella’s public high school curriculum in World Religions is to instruct students in an informative, comparative and constitutional manner to better understand the many different belief systems. Within his class, John also includes a three-week unit on “Secular Humanism, Atheism and Agnosticism.”
The Supreme Court case of Abington vs. Schempp (1963) ruled that public officials dealing with private citizens may not elevate one religion over another, or show preference to belief over non-belief and vice versa. By providing students with a strong knowledge on both religious and non-religious cultures and ideologies, John strives to create a more educated and understanding society.
For those who are non-theists, it is important as well to have a solid grasp of the various major religions, their origins, traditions, similarities and differences, in order to have more constructive and rational discussions with people of religious faith, whether they be Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, etc. While many who identify as non-believers have familiarized themselves very well with the Christian bible, less may be known about the texts and traditions of the non-Christian religions. These lectures are designed to provide a well-rounded education about the major religions and why they should be taught to students.
This lecture series will take place over two separate weeknights, and focus on the following:
Wednesday, October 4th – Hinduism, Buddhism & Sikhism
Wednesday, October 11th – Judaism, Christianity & Islam
The presentations will be followed by an extensive Q&A and discussion session.
Each lecture will begin at 7:00 PM and be held in the auditorium of the Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 Lincoln Ave. in Skokie. This is a free event and open to the public. But we ask that anyone who would like to attend please RSVP on our Doodle poll. To reserve your spot, please click here.
This is a free event and open to the public

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FFRFMCC Fall 2017 Discussion Workshop - "Challenging Religious Beliefs"
2017-09-23 11:00 - 14:30 | North Branch Pizza & Burger Co,, 4520 W. Lake Ave., Glenview, IL, 60025, United States
We are pleased to announce our next in a series of discussion workshops on “Challenging Religious Beliefs.” During these discussions, a moderator will pose two separate topics/questions related to common religious talking points. Participants are encouraged to offer their viewpoints regarding how non-theists should best counter unsubstantiated ideological beliefs when presented to them by those of religious faith, in order to assist non-believers with sharpening their critical thinking skills.
The discussion will run for approximately 1 1/2 hours. Pizza, salad and soft drinks will be served at the conclusion of the workshop.
Admission: $10 per person suggested donation (to help cover food/drink/venue costs)
For those who would like to attend, please click here to RSVP on our Doodle poll.
The RSVP deadline for this event is Friday, September 22nd.

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FFRFMCC August Meetup
2017-08-21 18:30 - 21:30 | Leona’s Restaurant, 6935 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL, 60626, United States
Please join us for the FFRFMCC August meetup. This will be a dinner social and all are welcome to gather with fellow freethinkers for good food, secular conversation, and sharing our thoughts on experiencing a total solar eclipse (as best we can from Chicago)!
The chapter will provide appetizers, but attendees will be responsible for their entrees and drinks. Monday nights are 1/2 price pizzas at Leona’s!
Free parking is available in the restaurant’s lot.
An RSVP is required by Sunday, August 20th.
To reserve your spot, please click here to RSVP on our Doodle poll.
Hope to see you there!

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FFRFMCC Discussion Workshop #4: "Challenging Religious Beliefs"
2017-06-17 11:00 - 14:00 | Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave., Skoke, IL, 60077, United States
The FFRFMCC will hold its fourth in a series of workshops designed to assist non-theists with addressing talking points posed by those of religious faith. A moderator will facilitate a group discussion among freethinkers, encouraging each individual to offer their viewpoints pertaining to two separate topics/questions relating to religious beliefs. Participants will not be made aware of the topics/questions until the start of the discussion in order to help sharpen critical thinking skills!
The discussion will run for approximately 1 1/2 hours. Pizza and salad will be served at the conclusion of the workshop.
Admission: $10 per person suggested donation (to help cover food and venue costs)
For those who would like to attend this educational event, please click here to RSVP on our Doodle poll. The RSVP deadline is Friday, June 16th.
Hope to see you there!

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The FFRFMCC Presents: "An Evening with Keith Semple"
2017-05-24 19:00 - 22:30 | Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant, 3471 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, IL, 60618, United States
The FFRFMCC will be hosting an evening with atheist musician Keith Semple. Keith is an accomplished musician who began his professional career at the age of 16 having performed throughout Europe. Born in Ireland, he moved to Chicago in 2006 when he joined the band 7th Heaven. In his six years with the band, he performed opening acts for Bon Jovi, Def Leppard, Styx, Journey and Huey Lewis, just to name a few. In 2012, he went on to form his own band, SEMPLE, with Chicago area musicians. And in 2015, advanced his way to the top 20 live rounds as a contestant on NBC’s “The Voice.”
Our event will include a presentation by Keith, where he will discuss his journey to atheism in Northern Ireland and it’s impact on his world view, including the moral, logical and existential implications of his conclusions, and how they pertain to today’s issues.
During his approximate 1 hour talk, Keith will also perform musical interludes during the opening, middle and conclusion of his presentation.
The event will begin at 7:00pm with a cash bar and complimentary appetizers. The presentation and music will take place from 7:30pm – 9:00pm, and conclude with a “meet and greet” with a cash bar from 9:00pm – 10:30pm.
Admission Fee: $10.00 suggested donation
For those who would like to attend, please click here to reserve your spot on our Doodle poll.

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FFRFMCC Spring Dinner Social
2017-04-26 18:30 - 21:30 | White Chocolate Grill, 1803 Freedom Drive, Naperville, IL, 60563, United States
We are pleased to announce details for our next chapter meetup, which will be a Spring dinner social.
This will be an “order-off-the-menu” event, with each guest responsible for their own entree and beverages. Appetizers will be provided compliments of the FFRFMCC!
Please join us for an evening of great secular conversation, food and drink with fellow freethinkers. For those would like to attend, you may click here to reserve your spot on our Doodle poll. The RSVP deadline for this event is Monday, April 24th.
Hope to see you there!

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FFRFMCC 2017 Darwin Day Celebration
2017-02-11 15:00 - 18:30 | Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave., Skoke, IL, 60077, United States
February 12th, 2017 will mark the 208th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin. His five-year voyage on the HMS Beagle in 1831 led to his work on the theory of evolution, which is now fact, and the publishing of his book, “On the Origin of Species.” Despite his Christian upbringing, his father’s desire he become a parson, and marrying devout Christian Emma Wedgwood (his cousin), Darwin bravely sought to challenge the biblical notions of creation, and forever changing our understanding of the natural world.
Darwin’s contributions to science are enormous, and although our federal government has still yet to officially recognize Darwin’s accomplishments, those of us who truly understand the importance of his work, can recognize him.
In co-sponsorship this year with the Chicago Atheist Society, the FFRFMCC will hold its 5th annual Darwin Day celebration to honor this great man. Please join us as we gather for a viewing of two segments from Richard Dawkins’ outstanding documentary, “The Genius of Charles Darwin. The film will last approximately 1 and 1 /2 hours, and will be followed by a dinner buffet and social gathering.
All who would like to attend this celebration of the life of Charles Darwin can click here to reserve their spot on our Doodle poll. The reservation deadline for this event will be Thursday, February, 9th, 2017.
Cost: $10 suggested donation

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FFRFMCC Discussion Workshop #3 - "Challenging Religious Beliefs"
2017-01-21 11:00 - 15:00 | North Branch Pizza & Burger Co,, 4520 W. Lake Ave., Glenview, IL, 60025, United States
Our third in a series of workshops designed to assist non-theists with addressing talking points posed by those of religious faith will be held on Saturday, January 21st, 2017. A moderator will facilitate a group discussion among fellow freethinkers, encouraging each participant to offer their viewpoints pertaining to two separate topics/questions relating to religious ideology. The topics/questions will be provided at the start of the discussion in order for participants to hone their critical thinking skills!
At the conclusion of the workshop, we will then hold our January meetup social, which will be a luncheon of pizza, salad and soft drinks, and of course more great secular conversation!
This event is free, but a $10.00 suggested donation will help cover food and venue costs.
For those who would like to attend this educational event, please click here to RSVP.

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FFRFMCC 2016 Winter Solstice Party
2016-12-18 12:00 - 15:00 | Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant, 3471 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, IL, 60618, United States
Please join other freethinkers as we “eat, drink and be merry” in celebration of the TRUE reason for the season — the astronomical New Year known as the Winter Solstice.
As last year, our event will again take place at Chief O’Neill’s Pub & Restaurant, where we will feast on an incredible “all-you-can-eat” Sunday brunch buffet, including a wide variety of both breakfast and lunch entrees, as well as salads, side dishes, appetizers, and desserts galore!
In addition to our celebration, we will also be assisting those in need this holiday season by collecting holiday “wish list” items for Connections for Abused Women and their Children. The mission of CAWC is to end domestic violence through an empowerment approach, and to provide shelter for abused women and their children. For this, we would like to ask our guests to please bring any of the following items if they so desire and are able:
– Board games, Lego or craft sets, educational workbooks (math, reading, writing)
– Toiletries (body wash, shampoo/conditioner, hand sanitizer, toothpaste and brushes, deodorant, make-up kits, laundry detergent)
– Infant Care (diapers up to size 6, baby wipes and baby wash)
Reservations are required and seating is limited, so order your tickets now by clicking here for our Eventbrite page.

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"Religious Freedom or Discrimination?: Examining Religious Freedom Restoration Acts."
2016-11-03 19:00 - 20:00 | Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie, IL, 60077, United States
The FFRFMCC is pleased to announce it will be hosting a speaking engagement by FFRF Staff Attorney and Constitutional Counsel Andrew Seidel.
The title of his presentation will be: “Religious Freedom or Discrimination?: Examining Religious Freedom Restoration Acts.” Andrew will focus on the recent wave of Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA) bills that have been passed or are currently being introduced by state governments, which are designed to expand the Constitutional right to freedom of religious exercise by allowing exemptions from legislative bans to individuals on the basis of their religious beliefs.
As those of the religious majority seek special privilege to ignore laws they feel are in conflict with their beliefs, it is important now more than ever to understand the nature of RFRA legislation and whether they serve only to clarify the “Free Exercise” clause, or are just an attempt to circumvent anti-discrimination laws.
Dark brown states have constitutional or statutory religious exemption law (RFRA) (21 states). Data current as of 10/10/2016 from http://www.lgbtmap.org/equality_maps/profile_state/44
The presentation will be approximately 30 minutes in length, and will be followed by another 30 minutes of Q&A. So, please join us for what will be a most enlightening discussion:
Date: Thursday, November 3rd, 2016
Time: 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Place: The Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 Lincoln Ave. in Skokie (corner of Lincoln Ave. and and Howard St.)
Cost: Free
Free parking is available.
Upon conclusion of this speaking event, guests are invited to gather at The Curragh Irish Pub (8266 Lincoln Ave. in Skokie) where they will have the opportunity to “meet, greet & chat” with Andrew Seidel over a few drinks.
If you would like to attend, we kindly ask that you please RSVP on our Doodle poll by clicking here.

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Mythicist Milwaukee's Mythinformation Conference: Is Faith Rooted in Fiction?
2016-10-21 13:00 - 21:00 | Turner Hall, 1034 North 4th Street, Milwaukee, WI, 53203, United States
This year’s Mythinformation Conference hosted by
Mythicist Milwaukee asks, “Is Faith Rooted in Fiction?”
Join FFRF’s own president Dan Barker as he presents his talk titled “GOD: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction” along with other local secular groups coming together to debate and educate.
For more information about the lineup and to purchase tickets, visit their conference page here.

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Meetup with Dr. Richard Carrier!
2016-10-17 18:00 - 21:00 | Monk’s Pub, 205 W. Lake St., Chicago, IL, 60606, United States
Historian, philosopher, atheist, and author Dr. Richard Carrier will be visiting the Chicago area on his way to the Mythinformation Conference in Milwaukee.
Dr. Carrier will be in town on Monday night, October 17th and will be hanging out, having a few drinks and chatting with those who would like to join him at Monk’s Pub, 205 W. Lake St., Chicago 60606, from 6pm – 9pm. He will have books to sell and sign, including his latest on ancient science education.
So if you have time, and will be in the vicinity of downtown Chicago on the evening October 17th, you are welcome to meet up with Richard!

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Vigilance for Correcting State/Church Violations
2016-10-12 19:30 - 22:00 | DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, 1828 Old Naperville Road, Naperville, IL, United States
FFRF Attorney Ryan Jayne to speak in Naperville, Illinois
This Wednesday, October 12, the Humanists of West Suburban Chicago will host Ryan D. Jayne to speak on the topic of “Vigilance for Correcting State/Church Violations.” Ryan is an attorney and the Freedom From Religion Foundation’s Diane Uhl Legal Fellow. Ryan will examine recent FFRF complaints in the Chicago area, including a case he handled last year in Naperville involving a high school coach praying with his team, as reported on the front pages of the Naperville Sun on December 11 & 13, 2015. Ryan will also discuss several of the most common state/church complaints FFRF receives, particularly in public schools, and will equip attendees with effective violation-halting means.
This event is free and open to all freethinkers. You are invited to bring your personal perspectives and questions about local situations into the discussion. The program will be hosted by the Humanists of West Suburban Chicagoland.
When: Wednesday, October 12, 2016 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: DuPage Unitarian Universalist Church, 1828 Old Naperville Road, Naperville, IL
For more information please email info@ffrf.org, or call 608-256-8900.

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Second Saturday Coffee House Presents: A Prarie State Companion
2016-10-08 20:00 - 22:00 | Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie, IL, 60077, United States
The Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago hosts the Second Saturday Coffee House: A Prairie State Companion.
Not going to the FFRF National Convention in Pittsburgh this weekend? Well, you could always enjoy the Second Saturday Coffeehouse instead!
It’s an election year, so October’s Second Saturday Coffeehouse will present “A Prairie State Companion,” with sketches, stories, and songs. Ken Novak, Vicki Elberfeld, Susan and Joe Burck, and JoAnn Hoeppner will present a musical and comedic look at the upcoming election, including a visit from one of the candidates.
Also, artful storyteller Vicki Elberfeld will share a humorous account about her own “spiritual” journey away from religion.
This event will take place on Saturday, October 8th, 8:00pm at the Ethical Humanist Society, 7574 N. Lincoln Avenue in Skokie. Doors open at 7:30. The cost is $8.00 at the door and will include refreshments.

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Freedom From Religion Foundation National Convention - 2016
2016-10-07 - 2016-10-09 | IL
The 39th Annual Freedom From Religion Foundation National Convention will take place Oct. 7th – 9th in Pittsburgh, PA.
This year’s line-up of speakers is outstanding, and will include physicist Lawrence Krauss, evolutionary biologist Jerry Coyne, philosopher (and one of the “Four Horsemen of New Atheism”) Daniel Dennett and author Susan Jacoby.
The convention will be held at the Wyndham Grand Pittsburgh Downtown. FFRF has arranged for a block of rooms to be made available to convention attendees for a discounted rate of $159 per night, single or double room occupancy. When making reservations, you may use the special discount code “Freedom From Religion Foundation.”
To register online for your spot at the convention, please click here.

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Challenging Religious Beliefs Discussion Workshop #2
2016-09-24 11:00 - 13:00 | North Branch Pizza & Burger Co,, 4520 W. Lake Ave., Glenview, IL, 60025, United States
The FFRFMCC is pleased to announce we will be continuing our discussions on “Challenging Religious Beliefs,” which we began last spring. The objective of these workshops is to assist non-theists by facilitating a group discussion among fellow freethinkers, allowing them to share their thoughts about how best to address various talking points often posed by those of religious faith.
RSVP
Space is limited, so if you would like to participate in our 2nd workshop on “Challenging Religious Beliefs,” please click here to RSVP on our Doodle poll.
Admission: $10 per person suggested donation (to help cover food/drink/venue costs).
Our first such activity last May generated a great turnout, lively discussion, and some very rational counterpoints to religious positions regarding the compatibility between religion and science, and whether belief in a god is necessary for morality.
The summary of the May discussion workshop can be found here. The topics for our September discussion will be presented at the start of the event
The activity will begin with a session addressing two separate religious talking points. If more than one discussion group is required due to attendance size, we will then bring all attendees together to summarize what each group talked about.
At the conclusion of the workshop, we will then segue into our September meetup social, which will be a luncheon of bottomless pizza, salad and soft drinks, and more great secular conversation!
Find us in the Wabash Room at North Branch Pizza & Burger Co.

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3rd Quarter Board Meeting
2016-09-12 19:00 - 21:00 | IL
Quarterly Board Meetings are where Board Members discuss the budget, events, membership, and courses of action as the Metropolitan Chicago Chapter of the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

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Call for Volunteers for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois
2016-08-24 13:00 - 18:00 | St. John’s Lutheran Church and School, 4939 W. Montrose Ave, Chicago, Illinois, 60641, United States
The FFRFMCC would like to pass on a community service volunteer project to those who are interested.
The service will be a free kidney disease and diabetes screening for individuals in need through the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois. This will run in conjunction with a food pantry that operates at the same location, and will offer free medical tests and consultations with a doctor or nurse for those who utilize the pantry.
The organizer of this screening contacted the FFRFMCC as she would very much like to have non-theists volunteer for this project.
Date: Wednesday, August 24th, 2016
Time: 2:00pm – 6:00pm (volunteers arrive by 1pm)
Place: St. John’s Lutheran Church & School, 4939 W. Montrose Ave, Chicago, IL 60641
Free parking is available
Volunteers should arrive by 1:00pm for a brief training. Work will include:
– Greeting and directing people around the event site
– Aiding with registration and other non-technical duties
– Translating for non-English speakers (Many different languages are needed here! Polish, Spanish, Russian, Filipino, and more)
Training may also be provided to some to assist with the urinalysis or BMI/waist circumference stations, or to administer the blood pressure or blood sugar tests. Volunteers will also do some light packing-up at the conclusion.
As an FYI, volunteers will be allowed to receive the free medical screenings as well.
For those interested, please click here for more information and to sign-up as a volunteer with the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois.

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Final Summer Meetup in 2016 - FFRFMCC
2016-08-22 18:30 - 21:30 | Leona’s Restaurant, 6935 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL, 60626, United States
Please join us as the FFRFMCC hosts its final summer meetup of 2016. This will be a dinner social and all are welcome!
Date: Monday, August 22nd, 2016
Time: 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Place: Leona’s Restaurant in Rogers Park, 6935 N. Sheridan Rd., Chicago, IL 60626
The chapter will provide appetizers, but attendees will be responsible for their entrees and drinks. As an FYI, Monday nights are 1/2 price pizzas at Leona’s!
Free parking is available in the restaurant’s lot.
An RVSP is required by Sunday, August 21st.
To reserve your spot, please click here to RSVP on our Doodle poll. Or you may contact me directly.
Thanks, and hope to see you there!

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Celebration for the Restored Statue of the "Great Agnostic" Robert Green Ingersoll
2016-08-10 - 2016-08-11 | Peoria, IL, United States
A Two-Day Celebration for Robert Green Ingersoll
Dinner Party, Wed. Aug 10
Statue Restoration Dedication Thurs. Aug. 11
(Ingersoll Birthday)
Peoria, Illinois

More information about the the dinner and the restoration dedication is available here.
This is the FFRF article about the restoration.

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FFRFMCC Panel Discussion - "Challenging Religious Beliefs"
2016-05-22 15:00 - 18:00 | Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave., Skokie, IL, 60077, United States
One of the more frequently discussed topics among freethinkers is: “How can we effectively respond to questions and talking points from the religious when confronted with their beliefs?”
As rationalists, one of our objectives is to inject critical thinking into everyday conversation. Since most non-theists have friends and family who identify with a religious faith, sometimes conversations with them can veer in a religious direction. For those of us who are openly secular, listening to friends, family and acquaintances bring up the subject of their religious beliefs can often be a complicated and uneasy situation. How do we respond? Should we respond?
The FFRFMCC would like to help non-theists be more comfortable in these situations by hosting what we hope will be a series of productive discussion panels regarding how to rationally address questions most often posed to non-theists by the religious. These panels will involve participants gathering in groups with a facilitator, where freethinking individuals can each contribute to compiling rational responses designed to challenge unsubstantiated beliefs – those which the religious have typically come to accept as an undeniable truth.
To kick-off our first discussion, we will attempt to tackle the following questions/talking points often brought up by the religious:
1) “Science and religion are definitely compatible. One can certainly believe in both evolution and a created universe from the hands of God.”

2) “How can a person be moral, or even find purpose in life, if they do not believe in God?”
The role of each group’s facilitator will be not to lecture, but simply encourage discussion, keep participants on topic, and document the discussion points. This will be a group participation activity, with everyone being responsible for providing their input on what they consider the best way(s) to respond to dogmatic beliefs. The purpose is to not only allow individuals to share their viewpoints, but also discover alternative arguments they may not have previously thought of in tackling a complex subject. The session will conclude with each facilitator presenting the results from their respective groups to all participants.
So please join us for what will be a fascinating, educational, and challenging afternoon. And if you have any like-minded, freethinking friends or family members, you are welcome to invite them!
Light refreshments will be served at the conclusion of the discussion!
Cost: Free!

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2016 FFRFMCC Darwin Day Celebration
2016-02-13 15:00 - 19:00 | Ethical Humanist Society of Chicago, 7574 N. Lincoln Ave., Skoke, IL, 60077, United States
For this year’s event, we are pleased to present the 2009 feature film, “Creation,” starring Paul Bettany as Charles Darwin and Jennifer Connelly as his wife Emma. The film is a dramatic and captivating portrait of Darwin as he is driven to finish “On the Origin of Species,” despite efforts from those who seek to prevent its publishing, including his devoutly religious wife.
The film will begin at 3:30pm and conclude at 5:30pm. This will be followed by a dinner social including grilled chicken, deli sandwiches, salads, dessert and soft drinks.
Cost is free, but donations will be gladly accepted.

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