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FAQ
(newbies: Frequently Asked Questions)
Are you all atheists?
Do I have to be an atheist to join?
(These Q's are so F they're nearly constant.)
No (to both).
While a majority of us are atheists or agnostics, we have a significant number of
Deists, unitarians (in the uncapitalized, etymological sense),
and other freethinkers who believe there is
"something out there, but nothing like the God of the Bible"
— that vengeful, sneaky, capricious, cruel Jehovah
(read all of the Old Testament and don't take the word of fanatics or televangelists).
There are many atheist or freethinker organizations throughout the Bay Area.
What distinguishes us is not what we don't believe in,
but what we do believe in:
we believe in humans, and we explicitly say so.
We believe in their ability to solve their own problems,
sometimes with help from human friends;
in their ability and willingness to provide such help;
and in their ability and willingness to participate in group efforts
to improve circumstances locally, nationally, and globally.
If this appeals to you, you are welcome to join us.
Can I join your local community without joining AHA?
Yes, many do.
But AHA gives many perks, such as Humanist and Free Mind magazines.
I live nearby. Can I join AHA without joining your local community?
Yes, a few disgruntled folks do. There is no advantage in doing so.
What, in your terminology, is a Friend?
A Member is one who belongs to both the AHA and us.
Members can run for Board of Directors, and vote for same.
A Friend is one who pays our dues and consents to be known to be associated with us.
You may also just subscribe to our newsletter with no such consent,
but let us know that, so there is no mistake!
What are the dues?
You can become a Friend,
or just subscribe to our newsletter, for $15/year.
To be a full-fledged member, you must join AHA.
For AHA dues, inspect the
joining procedure on the AHA website.
Please note that
our Forums, public gatherings, and meetings in private homes
are free. Friendly visitors are welcome to all publicized meetings.
I understand all the above.
Now what's the first step to become a member or friend?
We have simple joining forms; send your mailing address by e-mail to
hcinfo@humanists.org
or by USPS mail to
Humanist Community
P. O. Box 60069
Palo Alto, CA 94306-0069
Would you endorse political candidate X?
As a 501(c)(3) entity, like theist organizations in the same class,
we are forbidden to endorse political candidates.
But just like them, we may support positions on issues which may be political.
On our home page are links to positions we have agreed to adopt.
I have other questions; some may be good for this FAQ page. What do I do?
write e-mail to
hcinfo@humanists.org –
a monitor will pass each along to whomever can answer it best.
convenience links:
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... calendar
... Forums
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