Have you ever spoken in front of a crowd about your atheist beliefs? I just did today for my first time! I was invited to speak at a Religious Understanding Day at a community college and spoke among people representing the Pagan, Jewish, Scientology and 7th Day Adventist communities. I felt very proud to speak and received much support from the audience. I also received the most questions!
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I just wanted to add that I have been invited to speak at a local Universalist church because of my presentation at this particular event. I think that it's so cool that me speaking at one event led to speaking at another event. Not to mention the Universalists offered to pay me $50 for speaking ^^ Maybe I should take public speaking more seriously?
Wow, that's really cool you can get paid for this! Tell me, was it the Universalist who paid you the 50.oo, the one who invited you to speak at the church?
The group itself paid out of the main account - members make frequent donations. They feature lots of speakers to talk about various topics and pay them. I would really like to hear from people who have gone to other UU gatherings because the nearest UU group to me comprises of 50+ folk. The age isn't a problem, the problem is that they are so out of tune with technology and modern communication methods that they have no younger members coming in which means they are a ticking time clock. I have offered to be of assistance in developing their outreach methods but the main person in charge is literally scared of technology. I have never met a more indecisive person which has led me to feel it's not worth my effort.
I know of an Atheist group about an hour away that actually holds many of its meetings at a UU location.
I feel for you here I to have had trouble trying to bring newer technology to people who were very resistant to change. It can be a tough battle especially since they already have their won way of doing things. I recommend actually helping them do thing their way and getting getting to know exactly how they do it then actually automating something that take them a bit of time to accomplish and giving it to them this will rock their world and be more viewed upon as tool to help them rather than a tool to replace them if presented the right way!
It would be great to be able to make a living by waking people up from their religious prisons.
Congrats Lauren because when someone offers you money for something it means you are really good at it.Build reputation and start charging more and more for your services which are going to help out a lot of people in the process.
Hey if you can record any lectures you give out please do it and post them so we can hear your thoughts!
I do have a recording of my presentation here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAr0-R0fKBU
I did not present one scientific fact after the other but more-so encouraged tolerance and being open minded to learning about other religions. This was my first time speaking on the subject of religion so I was very subtle... Plus the event was called "Religious Understanding Day" not religious hounding day lol
I am struggling to organize meetups for as few as 5 atheists leave alone a hall full of people. Congrats Lauren. I will borrow hugely from your recorded presentations.
I haven't, but I would love to. If I was invited to do a lecture series, I could do dozens of them.
I've actually thought about putting some powerpoint stuff together. I've got a few ideas I think I could collate into some good information for people that haven't had the evidence presented before them. I honestly think so many people just aren't aware of what the evidence is for and against the things they hold true (or don't).
Good luck!
I am not sure where else to speak on the subject.. I have spoken at a Unitarian Universalist church as well. I had a MeetUp group for a while but did not receive much support from my community. There is an Atheist meetup group about 45 mins away that meets regularly and I have asked if they have connections in my area but they don't :(
Here I am doin' an impromptu bit.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_KdIMhZ9-w
This is really about Buddhism ONLY because no one bothered to ask me if the young monk, the one in the tale, got an answer.
If anyone had, I would've answered "Anywhere and Everywhere."
I wanted to get outta of there, I was becomin' quite bored, and.....mission accomplished.
You should see the one, you can read of it @ me blog, with the local Bishop's hatchet-man
[Rev. Kevin Qurik (truly) was supposed to speak of "The God Delusion" BUT instead gave a sermon - which I stated]
- NOT the same response from the crowd as Buddha vs Ape received.
Oh, yes...I'm NOW aware of the extra "d" in the credits.
I have not spoken before a crowd about my Atheism... well, not in real life. I love speaking in front of people, and I rarely get the chance to do so. I have daydreamed about doing so though. One of my favorite Atheists is Matt Dillahunty from "The Atheist Experience." I have watched almost all of his debates, and loved every one of them. I don't know if I have the talent for debate like he does, but I would jump at the chance if offered an opportunity to just speak in front of a crowd.